Chapter 496: Someone Moved the Xiao Family's Ancestral Tomb
"But later, I realized that wouldn't work. Once Liu Loulan was dead, things would spiral even further out of control, so I could only spare her life for the time being."
"I thought I would resolve the matter myself, but I never expected to be betrayed."
Xiao Ling gave a bitter laugh. Those twenty years had truly been a period of darkness, the kind where you couldn't see even a sliver of light.
Xiao Ye leisurely picked up his wine glass. 'Let's see what else this guy has to say.'
'Just what kind of game is the Angel Association playing?!'
'Are they trying to replace me?'
'That would make sense. The Xiao Family is the most powerful family in the Dragon Country right now, so of course the Angel Association wouldn't give up on it. Otherwise, they wouldn't have repeatedly forgiven me for my past actions.'
Xiao Ling paused for a moment to compose himself before continuing, "I was recalling the ancestral teachings and documents I saw back then and discovered a critical problem."
"They mentioned the matter of ancestral worship. The records at the time said that if you walk continuously to the southeast, you will find a poplar grove, and that is the location of the Xiao Family's ancestral tombs."
"But I discovered that the Xiao Family's ancestral tombs are not in the southeast at all, but to the northeast. Although there is a poplar grove there too, the direction is wrong."
"There's no way the Xiao Family ancestors could have gotten something like that wrong. Therefore, I have reason to suspect that someone has tampered with my Xiao Family's ancestral tombs!"
"During a time of crisis for the Xiao Family, they took the opportunity to move all the ancestral tombs!"
Xiao Ye frowned. "That's impossible. Unless the clan was wiped out, there's no way the Xiao Family's lineage could have been broken. It's impossible that no one would know the ancestral tombs were moved. That doesn't make any sense."
"What if... what if all the high-ranking members of the Xiao Family at the time were involved? Or what if they had all been bought off? Those in the Xiao Family under the age of eighteen are not allowed to participate in the ancestral worship."
"Only those over eighteen can attend. So, if only those people were bought off, or perhaps didn't know the exact location in the first place, then it would be entirely possible to move the ancestral tombs without anyone knowing!"
'That was a possibility.'
Xiao Ling sighed heavily. "Every twenty-odd years, the Xiao Family experiences a major upheaval. Every Patriarch has had to rush around dealing with it."
"It's easiest for people to take advantage of the chaos at times like these. That's what Liu Loulan did. Otherwise, I would have never allowed her to step foot through the Xiao Family's doors!"
"At that time, I was also investigating the Xiao Family's affairs and was often away from home. I went on a long journey to seek the help of a master, and by the time I returned, Liu Loulan was already there."
"The family Elders all persuaded me to let her stay. On top of that, she tricked her way into my bed, so I had to bite the bullet and accept it."
"Later, I discovered she was the root cause of the turmoil in my Xiao Family, but by then, it was too late."
Even as the Patriarch, there were many things that were beyond his control.
Moreover, back then, Xiao Ling had to delegate authority to solve the Xiao Family's problems. Once he relinquished his power, he was effectively held over a fire.
This was also why Xiao Ye was determined to keep the core power of the Xiao Family firmly in his own hands. He had no desire to be constrained by anyone.
Xiao Ling stared intently at Xiao Ye. "I strongly suspect that the true target of the mastermind isn't just the Xiao Family, but our former ancestral tombs!"
"Therefore, only by finding the ancestral tombs can we figure out what's going on and break this recorded curse. Otherwise, the Xiao Family will continue to face disaster."
"And this year is when the Xiao Family is due for another disaster!"
Despite all Xiao Ling had said, Xiao Ye still wasn't convinced. He simply asked nonchalantly, "How did you escape?"
"I'm not sure. There was a sudden, massive tremor. It must have been an earthquake or an explosion."
"A crack appeared in the place where I was being held, and I took the opportunity to escape."
This part matched the earlier explosion. It seemed he had been imprisoned in that laboratory all along.
'For all I know, he could also be a clone developed in that very lab.'
"Then how did you find me?"
"I saw you earlier, but the hospital wouldn't let me in, so I could only wait here."
Xiao Ye smiled faintly. "So that's how it is. Since things are clear now, you can come back with me for the time being. As for how to arrange things for you, I'll give it some more thought."
'If I want to know the Angel Association's next move, I naturally have to keep this Xiao Ling around.'
"However, I have one condition. You are not to tell anyone that you are Xiao Ling. After we get back, I'll have someone prepare a mask for you, and you must wear it at all times."
"Can you do that?"
'If he can't, it means he has treacherous ambitions.'
'Now it's up to him to decide.'
Xiao Ling was silent for a moment before agreeing. "Fine. You are my son. I believe that sooner or later, you'll be able to tell whether I'm real or fake."
"But even if you can't, you still have to deal with the Xiao Family's affairs."
"The Xiao Family is my family now. I will naturally take responsibility for it, so you don't need to worry about it."
Xiao Ye looked at the flight attendant. "We can take off. Back to the Dragon Country."
"Yes!"
The plane took off shortly after.
The flight would take over ten hours, so Xiao Ye simply closed his eyes to rest.
Xiao Ling watched him, his eyes filled with longing for his deceased wife.
They had once looked forward to the birth of this new life with such anticipation. But alas... now, so much had changed, and things were no longer the same.
He knew that for a man who was supposed to be dead to suddenly reappear would inevitably arouse suspicion. He didn't blame Xiao Ye.
The only ones to blame were the people who had hurt him back then!
'Perhaps the culprit is still in the Xiao Family even now. I must help my son find that mastermind!'
'Only then can the Xiao Family be saved from disaster!'
'And Liu Loulan... I have to deal with her!'
「Twelve hours later.」
The plane landed.
Xiao Ye and Xiao Ling disembarked together.
The person sent to meet them had already brought the mask.
Xiao Ling put it on without complaint. From this day forward, he would not take it off unless Xiao Ye gave the word.
「The Xiao Family Estate.」
Hearing that Xiao Ye had returned, the butler and the rest of the staff had already prepared dinner.
Some of the Xiao Family's Elders had also arrived.
After all that had happened, they now understood what kind of person Xiao Ye was.
If they tried to oppose him, there was only one way it would end: death.
"Xiao Ye, you're back!"
"Patriarch Xiao, welcome home!"
Xiao Ye nodded. "Why are you all here?"
"We heard you were back, Patriarch Xiao, so we came as well. It's a good time to report on matters concerning the Xiao Group."
As they were speaking, they noticed Xiao Ling standing behind him.
"And this is?"
Before Xiao Ye could speak, Xiao Ling took the initiative and said, "I'm just an outsider, temporarily accompanying Patriarch Xiao."
Xiao Ye nodded. "That's right. He's an acquaintance who ran into some trouble, so I brought him back. Let's begin."
He didn't deliberately exclude Xiao Ling during the reports.
By the time the reports were finished and they had eaten dinner, the sky had grown completely dark.
Xiao Ling couldn't help but ask, "Where is Liu Loulan?"