Chapter 224: Cutting Ties
Throughout their exile, Yu Zhengqing had undergone a complete shift in attitude. Whenever the direct descendants tried to stir up trouble, he would step in to put an end to their schemes before they could take shape. His stance toward Yu Haojie’s family had also changed drastically—he constantly sought reconciliation, attempting to repair their irreparable relationship.
But today, standing before this grand estate, his tone was no longer the same.
Yu Luo narrowed her eyes, sensing something was off.
“I wonder what brings you here? Surely, the esteemed heir of Anrong didn’t come just to question us over a mere estate?”
Yu Haojie wasn’t one to back down. Seeing Yu Zhengqing’s sudden shift in demeanor, he responded sarcastically, unwilling to tolerate any veiled accusations.
“Yu Haojie!”
The moment he heard that mocking tone, Yu Zhengqing’s anger surged. He turned abruptly, his gaze sharp as a blade, and gritted his teeth in fury.
“I thought of you as my brother! I wanted to repair our bond! But why—why couldn’t you even spare an old woman?!”
Yu Haojie was stunned.
Yu Luo and Ye Jiamei exchanged baffled glances.
Looking at Yu Zhengqing, his eyes bloodshot with fury, glaring at Yu Haojie as if ready to tear him apart, the three of them were completely dumbfounded.
“What are you talking about? What do you mean?” Yu Haojie asked, his confusion deepening.
“Don’t play dumb!” Yu Zhengqing roared, his rage boiling over. “Why did you kill my mother?! Yu Haojie, from today onward, we are no longer brothers! I have come to avenge her!”
The shock in Yu Haojie’s eyes mirrored that of Ye Jiamei and Yu Luo.
They were so caught off guard by his words that they momentarily forgot to react.
Before they could process what was happening, Yu Zhengqing drew his sword and swung it directly at Yu Haojie!
Though Yu Haojie had great strength, he had no martial training and no inner energy.
His reaction speed was nothing compared to a trained warrior.
Seeing the sword thrusting toward his chest, he instinctively staggered backward!
At that very moment, Yu Luo’s hands moved on instinct.
A crossbow appeared in her grasp, and she fired without hesitation!
Bang!
Whoosh!
The sound of an arrow piercing flesh was muffled by the rain.
A short bolt embedded itself in Yu Zhengqing’s shoulder blade, sending him stumbling backward.
He crashed against the threshold, completely off guard.
Yu Xiaoran, who had followed his father here, barely had time to react. He quickly flashed forward, catching Yu Zhengqing before he could hit the ground.
If not for his quick reflexes, Yu Zhengqing would have been sent flying several meters.
When the father and son steadied themselves, they looked up to find that Yu Haojie, Ye Jiamei, and Yu Luo were now surrounded by more than a dozen warriors.
Their eyes flickered with shock—followed by seething hatred.
“So that’s it… Now I understand.”
Yu Zhengqing laughed bitterly, his eyes glistening with unshed tears.
“I wondered why you suddenly had the guts to go after my mother while I was away in Feng City. Now I see—it was because you had all these new warriors backing you up! You finally felt powerful enough to act without fear!”
He barely seemed to notice the bolt still lodged in his shoulder.
His gaze was fixed on the warriors behind Yu Luo, his face twisted with grief and rage.
“I swore to protect you as my only brother. But why—why did things have to come to this?!”
Watching Yu Zhengqing’s madness, Yu Luo, Ye Jiamei, and Yu Haojie exchanged bewildered glances.
It finally clicked.
Yu Luo stepped forward, parting the warriors who stood protectively in front of her.
She locked eyes with Yu Zhengqing, amusement flickering in her gaze.
“Wait… what did you just say?”
Hearing her nonchalant tone, Yu Zhengqing’s anger burned even hotter.
“Don’t pretend! You’ve hated my mother for years! Once you got these warriors, you decided to strike while my father and I were away! You killed her, didn’t you?!”
Yu Xiaoran, who had remained silent all this time, finally snapped. His bloodshot eyes burned with pure fury.
Supporting his father, he turned to snarl at Yu Luo.
“Yu Luo! You always act fearless! But now, when it matters, you’re playing dumb and trying to deny it?!”
One of Yu Luo’s newly acquired warriors, Zhang Xiaoliang, had been watching the spectacle in confusion.
Hearing Yu Xiaoran’s accusations, he couldn’t hold back any longer.
“That’s nonsense! Our miss was in Feng City yesterday! These warriors—”
“Shut up!”
Yu Luo’s sharp command cut Zhang Xiaoliang off immediately.
The normally boisterous servant instantly clamped his mouth shut, though his displeasure was evident.
His glare toward Yu Zhengqing and Yu Xiaoran remained filled with contempt.
“What’s wrong, Yu Luo?” Yu Xiaoran sneered. “Why stop him from speaking? Are you scared the truth will come out? If you refuse to admit what you did, then let’s end this once and for all!”
Enraged beyond reason, Yu Xiaoran brandished his sword and charged at Yu Luo!
Yu Luo smirked.
She stepped back, letting her newly acquired warriors move in front of her.
“Well then, let’s see how useful you all are.”
Her calm order came as a mild command.
“Try not to break the furniture. Take them outside if you want to fight.”
As she watched the battle erupt in the courtyard, Yu Luo’s eyes sparkled with amusement.
The truth about her grandmother wasn’t something they desperately needed to uncover.
But if Old Madam Chen was truly dead, there was only one thing she regretted—
She hadn’t gotten to torment the old woman enough before she died.
“Tsk. What a shame. I wanted her to suffer like Yu Yingying—cripple her first, then break her spirit. She deserved a long, miserable death.”
The mere thought of that wretched old woman dying so easily was almost disappointing.
But, on the other hand…
The fact that she was finally gone was delightful.
