This was a very charming man, handsome and refined, with a refined air that came with age—truly a dragon among men.
Qin Chuan had encountered this type of man many times before; frankly, it was hard to associate such a man with evil. He seemed like a doting husband, a fiercely protective father…
how could he possibly think of killing his own child or wife? Even if he was sometimes blinded by greed or acted impulsively, it was still difficult to see him as a villain.
In life, some mistakes can be made—once, twice, even for a lifetime—but some mistakes cannot be made even once, because they will leave an unhealable wound in one's heart.
No matter what impression this man gave, no matter how good he seemed, once he did that, it was done, and nothing could cover it up.
The man looked up at Qin Chuan and his junior sister, and the moment his gaze fell on her, he froze.
Qin Chuan knew this man had instantly recognized his junior sister's background; it was the strength and ability of a powerful person, nothing extraordinary.
But the man was still shocked. He looked at his younger brother, a meaningful glance that made his brother's face stiffen, and he bowed slightly before leaving.
The junior sister looked at the man. She naturally knew who he was; she remembered him, so she recognized him at a glance.
Having been an orphan for so many years, and now having children of her own, she suddenly realized she actually had a family, a father and a mother, and her family was a very prestigious one—one of the twelve royal cities of the Immortal Wood Kingdom.
She felt a deep sadness. If it weren't for that memory that reminded her of her mother's existence, she wouldn't have come, nor would she have expected anything.
For example, this man before her—she should call him father, her blood father—but she felt nothing.
As for him killing her mother's family, she wasn't particularly heartbroken; she just wanted to see her mother.
The only person she was connected to was her mother; she had no feelings or understanding towards anyone else.
If her mother hadn't desperately helped her escape, she wouldn't want to see anyone again. No parents, no worries; she'd consider them dead.
But now everything was disrupted. She calmly looked at the middle-aged man and said, "Where is my mother? I want to see her."
The man, who had been shocked, had only just recovered. Seeing the junior sister's calm demeanor, he knew she knew everything.
This was his daughter, now grown up. Think about it, how many years has it been? Decades, almost a century, perhaps?
"Are you alright?" the man asked calmly, but Qin Chuan sensed a turmoil beneath the surface.
This was, after all, his flesh and blood, his child. So many years apart; if he felt no emotion, would he even be human?
"What does it matter to you whether I'm alright or not?" the junior sister asked calmly.
A flicker of embarrassment crossed the middle-aged man's face—or perhaps more like guilt. One woman was already torment enough.
Now, with a daughter appearing, he didn't know what to do. Besides, this woman was definitely up to no good; could he really bring himself to hurt her?
"I know it's impossible for you to forgive me, but you have to believe me, I have my reasons," the man said bitterly.
He knew it was pointless to say these things, but he still said them, for reasons he didn't understand.
"You don't need to tell me this, and I don't want to hear it. And what about my mother? You don't intend to let me see her?" the junior sister's voice turned cold.
The middle-aged man, Li Wang, the lord of a city and one of the Twelve Heavenly Kings, held an extremely high position and was a legendary figure. Yet, at this moment
, he was somewhat at a loss. He hadn't felt this way in years. He had felt it long ago, a time etched in his memory, an event related to his daughter.
Today, it was connected to his daughter again; frankly, what was about to happen was a continuation of that long ago's events.
He had a feeling something bad was going to happen today. He knew that those who came were not friendly, and those who came with good intentions would not come to die in vain.
He was curious about what his daughter had gone through all these years, but he knew he had no right to ask.
Although he was her father by blood, he was truly unworthy to call himself her father; he knew this very well. If he continued to hope for something, he would only end up suffering unbearable pain.
Rather than that, he should have been as ruthless as he had been long ago, perhaps even never recognizing her in the first place, suppressing her with swift and decisive action.
But he knew that was his inner demon, something he could not eliminate. Such a method couldn't even deceive himself.
Even tigers don't eat their cubs. For so many years, he had carried a heavy burden, one he couldn't shake off—a mental shackle that had suffocated him.
Naturally, he didn't want his daughter to see her mother. After all, she had been imprisoned for so many years, and that woman was in poor condition; his daughter would only hate him more if she saw her.
Was he afraid his daughter, who didn't acknowledge him, would hate him?
He thought about it and realized he might still be afraid, a fear of the heart, like the inexplicable love parents have for their children.
He had killed his woman's entire family, even considered killing her, but never considered killing his daughter.
However, his family had attempted to do so, but failed, saving his daughter's life.
He had been happy and even relieved at the time.
Although large families were said to be devoid of kinship, even fathers and brothers turning against each other, humans are emotional beings. Even animals, like tigers, don't eat their cubs; how much more so should humans?
"I'll say it again, I want to see my mother," the junior sister said, her face turning completely cold.
The man sighed deeply.
"Come on, I'll take you!" the man said softly.
Qin Chuan and his junior sister followed, but at this moment the man turned back to look at Qin Chuan: "You can't go."
Qin Chuan narrowed his eyes, looking at the man: "You'd better not bother with her. Even if you imprison her, it won't work. I can easily bring her out."
Hearing Qin Chuan's words, the junior sister's face turned icy cold, and she turned back to stare at the middle-aged man.
"Young man, if I wanted Qiu Jin, would you need such despicable methods?" the middle-aged man said arrogantly.
"Oh, then why won't you let me go?"
"Who are you to her?" the man asked, looking at Qin Chuan.
"What does that have to do with anything?" Qin Chuan asked.
"No, but I still advise you not to go in," the middle-aged man said.
"If I want to go, you really can't stop me," Qin Chuan said calmly, his tone full of strong confidence.