Chapter 1427 418: Do You Prefer Sour... or Spicy? (6k)_2

"What do you think, is it big enough?" Shen Yunzhou boasted proudly.

Second Uncle suppressed his discomfort and reluctantly nodded, "Indeed... extraordinary. Where did you get this... treasure?"

Shen Yunzhou carefully cradled the dung beetle in his palm and took out a small porcelain bottle.

As soon as the cork was pulled out, a stench ten times stronger than before struck Second Uncle's skull.

"Ugh—" Even the well-traveled Second Uncle couldn't help but turn away and dry retch.

"Don't worry, it's just ordinary corpse fluid, Little Black loves drinking it!" Shen Yunzhou shrugged it off and poured a few drops into his palm.

The black-gold dung beetle immediately crawled over happily, producing a creepy "rustling" sound as it sucked.

Hearing this made Second Uncle feel nauseated once more.

"Speaking of my bond with Little Black..." Shen Yunzhou gently petted the beetle's shell, his eyes filled with reminiscing colors, "it all started when I accidentally fell into a pit full of Demon King's feces..."

...

Inside the hall, the conversation between Zhou Qing and Shen Hanyi fell into silence once again.

Knowing Shen Hanyi was not good with words, Zhou Qing realized he must take the initiative to bridge the gap between them.

He pondered slightly and then spoke seriously, "It appears that your Second Uncle and Third Uncle are teaming up to put you to death. What... do you plan to do in response?"

Shen Hanyi's eyes flashed with coldness, but also a hint of complex contradiction.

Both Second Uncle and Third Uncle were at Spirit Slash Realm Perfection, how could she easily move against them?

Moreover, if they died, she would inevitably turn against the younger generation in the Shen Family.

The Shen Family's status would surely plummet, possibly even falling out of the Eight Great Families.

The forces reliant on them would scatter like monkeys from a fallen tree, turning to other Noble Families.

By then, the Shen Family's controlled mines, trade routes, and connections would all collapse.

It could be said that the Shen Family's decline spanning tens of thousands of years would be caused by her own hand.

Of course, they harmed her siblings, killed her mother, and now intended to kill her.

She already had little affection or sense of belonging to the Shen Family. If the family were to decline, what did it matter to her?

But... what about Grandfather?

Every brick and tile of this estate was his life's work.

Now his years are nearing their end, and he can peacefully retreat to try for Supreme Realm Perfection only because of the three uncles holding up the family.

And Grandfather always doted on her and Yunzhou, how could she let the Shen Family fall into irrevocable ruin at this critical juncture, leaving Grandfather to bear the pain of family decline in his later years?

This had been the most painful and struggling heartache for her over the years.

As for those cousins, they knew nothing.

Though they each had their shortcomings, they all took pride in being members of the Shen Family and diligently worked for the family's honor.

And she, how could she make them bear the pain of losing loved ones and the loss of family protection?

She knew all too well the feeling of losing close kin—especially now that she was about to become a mother herself.

But how could she not avenge her mother's murder?

Seeing Shen Hanyi's furrowed brows, Zhou Qing already guessed what she was thinking.

This indeed was a dilemma.

But—

Currently, the head of the Second House, Shen Yunlan, is applying for a new assassin from the [Blood Contract Pavilion] to take your life.

While you consider the family and everyone else, have they ever thought of you?

The Shen Family might suffer losses without him as its pillar, but would losing you, the rising star, be insignificant?

What a ridiculous reasoning!

All I know now is that someone wants to harm my wife, my child's mother, and that is a matter of "til death do us part" with me, Zhou Qing!

Such people, I must kill them!

You have ties, but I do not.

The thing you can't bring yourself to do, I'll do on your behalf!

If a family is destined to decline, then let it decline.

Time changes, the world shifts, supreme prosperity inevitably leads to decline, a universal truth.

Only when old orders collapse can new life emerge.

"It's okay, take your time, there will be a solution." Zhou Qing softly comforted, though a flicker of determination glinted in his eyes.

...

The night was deep, moonlight flowed like water.

The area of the Fourth House was marked by decay and silence, with only the rustling sound of the night wind sweeping over the treetops.

A lone grand hall stood in the darkness, its weak candlelight casting a solemn yellow glow.

On the table, a pitch-black Spiritual Tablet quietly lay, inscribed—

"In memory of beloved wife Liu Qingci."

Shen Hanyi stood before the tablet, silver hair draping down, her veil covering half her face, but unable to hide the redness in her eyes.

She slowly knelt, hands clasped in prayer, bowing deeply.

In her mind, childhood memories surged like a tide—

In the morning, sunlight filtered through the window panes, and her mother would take up a wooden comb, her fingertips gently threading through her hair.

"Our Han Yi's hair is so beautiful, when you grow up, surely you'll be a beauty who can captivate all men."

At night, candle flame flickering, she and her brother curled up in their mother's warm embrace, listening to her softly hum songs.

In those moments, she felt like the happiest person in the world.

On the practice field, she injured herself in haste, her mother scolding for her recklessness while tenderly dressing her wounds...

Those long-blurred warm moments now felt acutely clear, tremoring her heart.

She trembled slightly and spoke in a low voice, "What should I do?"

"Kill!!"

The hoarse voice from behind made the candle flame flicker.

In the slanting moonlight, a disheveled figure leaned against the doorframe, thick alcohol scent drifting in with the night breeze.

His clothes were disorderly, appearance haggard, yet his eyes were no longer the drunken blur outsiders often saw, but clear like a cold pond, quietly gazing at the tablet.