Chapter 474 - 474 Poisonous Mantis vs Shen Qianyue
Shen Qianyue slightly furrowed his brows and said, "Junior Sister, you don't know the ins and outs of what happened ten years ago, it's better not to comment too much!"
Huangfu Ziyu retorted, "Do you know the truth about the incident fourteen years ago? Why don't you make a comment then?"
Shen Qianyue fell silent for a moment and said, "Eldest Senior Brother will always be Eldest Senior Brother. He is no longer with us, and we shouldn't pass judgment on what he has done. Junior Sister, my main purpose in coming here today is to tell you that the Shen Family Manor will always be the place where you grew up. As long as you're willing, just go back and apologize to the Old Madam, and the gates of the Shen Family Manor will still be open to you!"
"Hahahaha..." Huangfu Ziyu covered her mouth with a delicate laugh, her frail body swaying provocatively, giving off an air of fragility yet an imposing aura.
Finally stopping her delicate laughter, Huangfu Ziyu looked at Shen Qianyue and said, "Brother, you just told me the funniest joke."
"I don't find it funny," Shen Qianyue softly replied. "Is it that you don't trust me, or you don't trust the Old Madam?"
"Unfortunately, I trust neither of you!" Huangfu Ziyu muttered with a light smile, strolling across the ground with her bare, jade-like feet, each step seeming to press upon the hearts of men. Just as Ye Qing had said, she was a woman more beautiful than a Heavenly Immortal, every movement radiating charm and allure.
"They say that the more a man appears loyal and good, the more cunning and deceitful he actually is. Brother, over the years you have been meticulous and scrupulous, never making a single mistake, just like a Saint. Everyone says that you will be the new Family Head of the Xihang Shen Family, the one to lead their rise," Huangfu Ziyu said, looking at Shen Qianyue. "But Brother, I have never thought so. Because in my heart, you are even less trustworthy than the Old Madam!"
Shen Qianyue gave a faint smile and said, "Junior Sister, what you think of me is your business. I can't change your mind; I can only say that I haven't done enough. But you cannot distrust the Old Madam, she is, after all, our highly esteemed elder!"
"That's your elder, not mine!" Huangfu Ziyu scoffed. "In the Shen Family, I only had one elder, but he's no longer in the Shen Family. There used to be another elder, but she was killed right in front of the people of the Shen Family, and not a single person in the Shen Family was willing to help her. Now in the Shen Family, who has the right to be my elder!"
Shen Qianyue let out a sigh, "I'm sorry about Third Aunt's matter as well. But, she truly broke the Old Madam's heart. You should know, her marriage to your uncle was truly disapproved by the Old Madam. Moreover, for the sake of your uncle's business and the growth of the Lin family, she did such things that broke serious taboos. When people came knocking on the door seeking justice, could our Shen Family not give them an explanation? If not, could we still be considered the Martial Holy Land of the Southern Six Provinces?"
"Martial Holy Land, bah!" Huangfu Ziyu sneered. "What Martial Holy Land—it's nothing but an empty name. For such an empty name, to watch their own daughter being beaten to death in front of them, yet that old thing could still sit still. Over the years, she still has the audacity to keep her granddaughter by her side; is she not afraid that the girl will ask how her mother died?"
Shen Qianyue's expression changed slightly as he said in a low voice, "Junior Sister, Hua Yu still doesn't know about this matter; it's for her own good. Her father and the Lin family have never mentioned it to her because they don't want her to live in pain. She's currently in a good situation, carefree, without needing to worry about anything. Third Aunt was once the kindest to you; do you really have the heart to let Hua Yu lose her current happiness over Third Aunt's issue?"
Mention of Lin Huayu finally brought some warmth to Huangfu Ziyu's face. Half of her life was due to Lin Huayu's mother's rescue. Towards Lin Huayu, she held a guilt and protectiveness that came from deep within, all because of a past kindness. Hence, just now downstairs, when she saw Lin Huayu, that unprecedented tenderness appeared on her face. But this tenderness would not be extended to anyone else!
"Brother, from the moment you entered until now, you haven't given me a single straight look," Huangfu Ziyu suddenly giggled, covering her mouth. "Are you afraid of something?"
Shen Qianyue still kept his head down, chuckling, "Junior Sister, you are like my sister, what do I have to be afraid of? Listen to me and come back with me to the Shen Family; the Old Madam will certainly forgive you!"
As he spoke, Shen Qianyue slowly extended his right hand, still holding the Green Silk Jade Belt.
"This is what the Old Madam gave you when you first entered the Shen Family. The Old Madam once held such high hopes for you, yet you threw it on the ground. How heartbroken would the Old Madam be if she knew?" Shen Qianyue said softly.
Huangfu Ziyu replied with a faint smile, "If I had given in to Eldest Senior Brother that night, would the Old Madam have been happy?"
Shen Qianyue replied, "Why bring up the past? Junior Sister, turning back is the shore!"
"Turning back is the shore? Hahaha..." Huangfu Ziyu suddenly burst into boisterous laughter, then casually grabbed a handful of steel balls from the table and flung them back at Shen Qianyue, exclaiming, "If I become a demon, then everyone else is a Buddha. Once I enter the sea of suffering, I'll never turn back! Why should I turn back, on what grounds?"
The handful of steel balls thrown by Huangfu Ziyu's delicate hands were like a hail of bullets, all aimed at Shen Qianyue. The speed was enough to astonish anyone.
If Ye Qing were here, he would definitely dodge these steel balls in an instant. But Shen Qianyue was ultimately Shen Qianyue; upon seeing the steel balls flying out, he too moved, and suddenly in his hand appeared a Folding Fan. With his right hand holding the fan, he casually swept all the steel balls away. Not a single ball thrown by Huangfu Ziyu could get close to him!
Shen Qianyue said, "Junior Sister, you already have a Heart Demon. It's not too late to turn back now; don't sink any deeper."
"Impossible!" Huangfu Ziyu let out a delicate shout, her bare feet stamping on the ground, and in a few quick steps, she had already rushed in front of Shen Qianyue. Her right hand transformed into a palm and struck towards Shen Qianyue's chest.
Shen Qianyue put away his folding fan and clenched his fists. With a casual flick, he deflected Huangfu Ziyu's palm. However, the fame of the East State Poisonous Mantis was not undeserved; as soon as one palm was deflected, another came smashing down at an extreme speed. Moreover, Shen Qianyue, who was exchanging blows with her, understood the most that every single strike of hers held terrifying power. If he were hit, he would undoubtedly sustain serious injuries.
After exchanging a few techniques with Huangfu Ziyu, Shen Qianyue was clearly at a disadvantage. Huangfu Ziyu couldn't help but let out a gentle laugh, saying, "Senior Brother, after so many years, your martial arts have fallen behind!"
Shen Qianyue let out a light sigh, then suddenly spread his fists into palms, and, just like Huangfu Ziyu, struck with extreme speed. As the two continued to fight, they actually reached a draw, neither able to gain the upper hand over the other.
"Junior Sister, Grandfather was right; you indeed have great talent. It's just a pity that your malice is too strong. In your hands, martial arts is nothing more than a tool for killing!" Shen Qianyue said softly.
"I practice martial arts for the very purpose of killing, what's wrong with that? Could it be that you practice martial arts just for keeping fit and healthy? What a joke!" Huangfu Ziyu scoffed coldly. "Ten years ago, when the Shen Family slaughtered over three thousand miles, did you never consider that martial arts wasn't cultivated for killing?"
Shen Qianyue responded, "You don't understand the right and wrong of what happened ten years ago, so why bring it up again and again?"
"Then let's not talk about it. Let our skills under our hands be the judge!" Huangfu Ziyu reprimanded sharply, her left palm suddenly forming into a fist, striking out with even more ferocity, punching and elbowing, kneeing and kicking, transforming from her previously gentle movements into aggressive techniques.
Shen Qianyue let out a light exclamation of surprise, clearly confused by Huangfu Ziyu's sudden change in fighting style. However, his strength was formidable as well. Facing Huangfu Ziyu's attack, fierce as a storm, he managed to block everything, Huangfu Ziyu unable to land even a touch on him.
After fighting for a while, Huangfu Ziyu changed techniques again, and this time, Shen Qianyue was greatly astonished. In half an hour, Huangfu Ziyu switched her boxing techniques six or seven times, each switch leaving Shen Qianyue quite surprised.
As the battle continued, Shen Qianyue suddenly took a step back and said in a deep voice, "Junior Sister, you didn't come today to determine the winner between us, did you?"
Huangfu Ziyu giggled, "That's right, I didn't come to determine the winner. I came to kill you!"
Shen Qianyue furrowed his brows and suddenly turned to walk outside.
"Senior Brother, where are you rushing off to?" Huangfu Ziyu took a few light steps, blocked Shen Qianyue's path, and laughingly said, "We haven't finished fighting yet, and you want to leave?"
"You constantly switch your techniques to arouse my curiosity, to make me stay here a bit longer. Junior Sister, if I'm not mistaken, you're helping someone stall for time!" Shen Qianyue said coldly, "Don't forget, when you were at Shen Family Manor, Qingyi treated you very well. Do you really have the heart to see her suffer a calamity?"
Huangfu Ziyu laughed gently, "Senior Brother, what are you talking about? I don't quite understand what you mean!"
"Never mind if you don't understand!" Shen Qianyue declared sternly, "I have no time for idle chatter with you!"
As he spoke, Shen Qianyue sidestepped Huangfu Ziyu and walked toward the door. Huangfu Ziyu wouldn't let him go so easily and stepped forward to block him again, and they began to fight once more. However, this time both were truly serious. In a matter of minutes, several large pieces of furniture in the room were smashed to pieces, showing the force behind their moves.
Shen Qianyue was clearly anxious and did not want to prolong the fight. After exchanging blows with Huangfu Ziyu for a while, he found an opportunity to push Huangfu Ziyu back several steps and hurriedly turned to open the door. But, to his surprise, the door had been locked from the outside, and he couldn't open it.
Huangfu Ziyu giggled, "Senior Brother, I advise you not to be in such a hurry. You should have a proper fight with me, and only then can you leave this room!"
Shen Qianyue frowned, standing at the doorway and falling silent for a moment. Suddenly, he grabbed a wooden rack beside him and threw it at Huangfu Ziyu in midair.
Huangfu Ziyu twisted her body to dodge, but during this time, Shen Qianyue had already run past her, straight to the window, and jumped out without hesitation.
This was the top floor, situated twenty to thirty meters above the ground!