Chapter 016: At

Ou Xinlai walked up to Ou Xinya. Seeing that Ou Chendong was about to strike at her, Ou Xinlai merely smiled, patted him lightly, and instantly, Ou Chendong's muscles became rigid as stone; he could not move an inch. With a swift kick, Ou Xinlai sent the stiffened Ou Chendong toppling to the ground, where he landed naturally, as if he were no more than a fallen boulder. Leaning over Ou Xinya, who now sat on the ground, Ou Xinlai said, “When my father's energy sphere erupted from beneath the earth, you should have realized the Five Elements Array had been activated. Yet you still threw down mercury and sabotaged the geomantic array. Was that to help me? No, you meant to kill me!” Her tone left no room for doubt.

“Don't pretend to be so loyal and righteous. In my eyes, you're nothing but a wretch. You feared I would suffer, so you ruined the array. That scoundrel, Lord Xuan, nearly took my life because of your meddling. If you truly cared for me, why didn't you seek justice on my behalf, demand retribution from Lord Xuan, and take his life instead? So, in your eyes, the interests of the Ou family aren't as important as Lord Xuan, is that it? Just because he's royalty, you don't even dare curse him. But since we're both part of the Ou family, you think ruining the array is fine, that whatever consequences come, you'll bear them along with the rest of us, so it doesn't matter to you.”

With just a few words, Ou Xinya deftly shifted all blame for the ruined array onto Ou Xinlai.

Ou Xinya was known for her kindness, unwilling to see her sisters suffer—a trait recognized by many in the Ou family. Thus, the problem appeared to lie with Ou Xinlai: if not for her complaints to Ou Xinya, if not for Ou Xinya's soft heart, how could the array have been destroyed?

Yet, Ou Xinlai's words now painted Ou Xinya as someone who bullied the weak and feared the strong. She seemed to believe that, since they were both part of the family, it didn’t matter if the array was ruined; she would simply share the consequences with everyone else. In the end, didn’t this make Ou Xinya nothing more than a tyrant in her own home?

So, after the crowd's accusatory stares had turned to Ou Xinlai, they now looked upon Ou Xinya with renewed contempt.

“Xinlai, I did it all for you. Perhaps I chose the wrong means, but you can't say such hurtful things to me.” Tears streamed down Ou Xinya’s cheeks, though inside she was anxious. When had Ou Xinlai become so sharp-tongued? And what had she done to her father, leaving him paralyzed?

“Enough with your pretense.” Ou Xinlai glanced at her. “In the future, stay out of my way, or things won’t end as simply as they did today.”

“Ending your life would be far easier than you imagine.” With that, Ou Xinlai blew gently toward Ou Xinya, dusted off her clothes, and strode away.

“Tsk, tsk, who would have thought this girl had such skill?” Elder Jin stroked his beard with admiration.

The elders nodded; Ou Xinlai had handled matters decisively.

“A tiger’s daughter is no dog,” Elder Shui remarked, patting Ou Chenfeng’s shoulder. With a temperament like Ou Xinlai’s, she would be difficult to bully in the future.

“I’m more interested in what will become of Ou Chendong,” Elder Earth said, eyes sparkling as he watched the crumpled figure of Ou Chendong on the ground.

Elder Wood remained silent, merely observing the proceedings.

After a while, Ou Chenfeng finally spoke, shaking his head. “Too lazy.” He could see through the girl’s scheme. The reason she made such a spectacle today, using Ou Chendong as an example, was to announce that from this day forth, she was no longer a pushover; no one should think to use her as a scapegoat.

Lai’er’s actions were a warning, a way to resolve all trouble at once.

Ou Chendong was her elder and held a certain status in the Ou family. If he weren’t the family head, Lai’er’s actions would have been tantamount to courting disaster, planting the seeds of her own demise.

But there was no “if.” He, Ou Chenfeng, was the family head.

Ou Chenfeng smiled; Lai’er was counting on this fact, which was why she dared act so boldly against both Ou Chendong and Ou Xinya.

“Father, father, are you all right?” Ou Xinya clung tightly to Ou Chendong’s clothes, helplessly trying to hoist him to his feet. But Ou Chendong showed no response at all.

Faced with the reproachful and mocking stares of those around her, Ou Xinya made no reply. She merely clenched her teeth, suppressed her urge to flee, and with sheer determination, managed to lift Ou Chendong from the ground and support him step by step back to their home.

“In truth, there’s something admirable about Ou Xinya,” Elder Shui remarked, a smile on his lips. To see the younger generation mature—what more could an elder wish for?

Most girls would have run away in shame, leaving Ou Chendong behind. But despite having schemed against Ou Xinlai, Ou Xinya was still a filial child. Even after suffering such public humiliation, she refused to abandon her father. Such devotion was rare and precious.

Elder Jin looked at Elder Shui with disdain. “To be so old and still fooled by a little girl—what a disgrace. Don’t tell anyone you know me, much less that you’re my equal as a Five Elements Elder of the Ou family.” With that, Elder Jin left without looking back.

Elder Shui was so furious at these words that he nearly stamped his foot.

Ou Chenfeng shook his head. “After Xinlai’s onslaught, Ou Xinya’s true nature has been exposed for all to see. If she now loses her composure and abandons her immobilized father, what will others think of her? If someone can forsake her own father’s life, how could anyone trust her? In that case, Ou Xinya would lose all respect and support.”

“Furthermore, we all understand Ou Chendong’s status in the Ou family. He dotes on Ou Xinya, but she is not his only daughter. If she were to abandon him at this moment, how much of his affection for her would remain, and for how long?”

With these words, Ou Chenfeng glanced at Elder Shui and left him there, deep in thought.