Chapter 36: The Greatest Figure in History

Ou Chendong cast a contemptuous glance at Ou Xinlai, who was lying on the recliner. “Patriarch, though you are Ou Xinlai’s father, there is not a single descendant of the Ou family who only knows how to hide behind their elders. Are you really going to keep indulging her like this?” he said, making it clear that he thought Ou Xinlai lacked any sense of responsibility, always cowering behind Ou Chenfeng at the slightest sign of trouble, not even daring to utter a word.

A person like that, let alone being the patriarch of the Ou family, was hardly worthy of bearing the family name at all.

Ou Jinjue was fuming. Was there anyone more despicable than Ou Chendong? He constantly compared Ou Xinlai to Ou Xinya, just to deepen the impression in everyone’s minds that Ou Xinlai was nothing compared to even a strand of Ou Xinya’s hair.

If not for having seen such tricks too many times in the past, perhaps even Ou Jinjue would have been brainwashed by Ou Chendong and Ou Xinya by now. Ou Chendong wasn’t merely trying to make trouble for the patriarch and Ou Xinlai; what he really wanted was to burn into everyone’s mind the image of Ou Xinlai as a useless good-for-nothing, through one incident after another.

He wanted people to utterly despair of Ou Xinlai, to believe that no matter how outstanding Ou Chenfeng was, it was a pity that he had no worthy heir!

“That’s enough, say no more.” The patriarch maintained his dignity, refusing to argue with Ou Chendong—it would look undignified to quarrel with a junior. “There’s no need to keep asking, because even the patriarch doesn’t know whether Ou Xinlai’s ability has awakened or not!”

Wasn’t Ou Chendong arrogant? Didn’t Ou Xinya pride herself on being exceptional? Today, Ou Jinjue would let the two of them be as arrogant and proud as they liked!

With a flourish, Ou Jinjue threw back the thin blanket covering Ou Xinlai, revealing her face, pure and ethereal as a celestial maiden in slumber. “See for yourself—since last night, Ou Xinlai has been in this state. Who knows if her ability has awakened or not!” As he spoke, Ou Jinjue was torn between anger and excitement.

Everyone who entered the Five Elements Array emerged battered and exhausted, regardless of whether their ability had awakened. But Ou Xinlai had gone in asleep and had been spat out by the Five Elements Array still asleep. Not a scratch on her, not even a hair out of place—how could this be possible?

He was exasperated that Ou Xinlai seemed to have wasted yet another opportunity, so lacking that she’d simply slept her way through the Five Elements Array. And yet, it was thrilling—how had she managed to emerge so completely unscathed from within the array? It was nothing short of miraculous!

Ou Jinjue’s dramatic gesture was deliberate, bordering on boastful. Other juniors of the Ou family who had entered the Five Elements Array fared far worse: at best, their hair was singed off and they staggered out, needing support; at worst, they had to be carried out and would spend ten days or half a month bedridden.

But look at Ou Xinlai—rosy-cheeked, skin like snow, hair dark as ink, and a faint fragrance of plum blossoms wafting from her. Was this suffering in the Five Elements Array, or a holiday in a sea of flowers?

“She… really just came out of the Five Elements Array?” Ou Chendong was stunned; Ou Xinlai’s current state defied all reason.

“Obviously. Did you think we were joking?” Seeing Ou Chendong’s astonished expression, and Ou Xinya’s eyes nearly leaping from their sockets with envy, Ou Jinjue felt utterly satisfied and vindicated.

Though exasperated that Ou Xinlai had wasted another chance with the Five Elements Array, her flawless emergence—no matter how strange—had brought considerable honor to the patriarch.

Wasn’t it because Ou Xinya’s ability had awakened that Ou Chendong favored her over him? No matter how much Ou Chendong flaunted it, could he truly outshine the patriarch? His status was no match for the patriarch’s, and even his daughter fell short. Compared to Ou Xinlai, Ou Xinya was worlds apart.

If Ou Xinya had the guts, she should try entering the Five Elements Array and see if she could come out unharmed—never mind emerging as peacefully asleep as Ou Xinlai.

At first, seeing Ou Xinlai sleeping so soundly had made Ou Jinjue anxious, like a monkey was scratching around in his heart. But now, her sleeping face was a sight for sore eyes—he almost wanted to rush over, kiss her a few times, and sing her some lullabies, just so she could sleep even better.

Who could possibly sleep as impressively as Ou Xinlai?

In truth, the five elder stewards of the Ou family were also anxious to know what was going on with Ou Xinlai. Seeing her still sleeping as she had the day before, they found it all deeply uncanny. Yet, for her to emerge from the Five Elements Array so wholly unharmed—it was clear she was a legend in the making for the Ou family.

Elder Dong patted Ou Chenfeng on the shoulder. “From the looks of it, your daughter may not be a sleeping tiger, but a fierce one—her future depends on your guidance.”

His words made Ou Chenfeng, who had so far remained expressionless, twitch slightly. Heaven knew he was at a complete loss; he had never imagined that Ou Xinlai would come out of the Five Elements Array asleep. He couldn’t tell if she had brought him shame or pride—perhaps, for now, it was best to consider it the latter.

Elder Zhong stroked his beard thoughtfully. “Actually, I think this child is remarkable. No one else has ever managed to sleep their way through the Five Elements Array. Whether or not her ability has awakened, she’s already a unique figure in our family’s history. I suspect that for the next five centuries, no one in our family will surpass your daughter in this regard. Keep it up!”

“Brother, you’ve worked hard. Given the current situation, you’ll certainly be kept busy,” said Elder Xi, turning to the Elder of the Five Elements. His words were an implicit endorsement of Ou Chenfeng’s repeated attempts to activate the array for Ou Xinlai. After all, while it was a waste of resources, the spectacle was far too entertaining.

He was eager to see what would happen the next time Ou Xinlai entered the Five Elements Array—how she would go in, and in what state she would emerge.

Ou Xinqing came skipping up to Ou Jinjue and said, “Well, it looks like you and Ou Xinlai have become the stars of the Ou family now!”