Chapter 277: Song Meilin The Mediator!
Shen Xing lowered her head.
She could not bring herself to meet either of their eyes.
Song Meilin closed her eyes briefly.
After a few seconds, she finally sighed.
"Last night, Xing came to find me. She said she saw the attacker’s face."
The moment those words left her mouth, the atmosphere inside the room subtly changed.
Su Mo’s expression became colder. "Why are you only tell me this now?"
Song Meilin continued. "At the time, I didn’t tell you because her answer sounded impossible."
She paused. Then slowly spoke the name.
"She claimed the attacker was Wu Yuna."
Yang Qingxi froze.
Su Mo’s eyes narrowed.
Song Meilin forced out the rest.
"She believed it’s her mother."
Silence filled the hall.
For a brief moment, nobody spoke.
Then—
"Not believed. She was really my mother!"
Shen Xing suddenly shouted. Tears gathered in her eyes again.
"I know what I saw! It was her!"
Song Meilin looked at her complicatedly.
"Xing..."
"No!"
Shen Xing shook her head stubbornly.
"Even if nobody believes me, I know it was Mom."
Shen Kai finally spoke. His voice was neither angry nor cold.
Instead, it carried the helplessness of a father who had repeated the same conversation countless times.
"Then let us assume you are right."
Shen Xing immediately looked up. Hope appeared in her eyes.
Shen Kai continued.
"Even if that really was Yuna, think carefully."
His gaze softened slightly.
"With her personality, would she attack innocent people?"
Shen Xing froze.
The answer should have been obvious.
Wu Yuna had always been gentle.
Even within the sect, she was known for treating others kindly.
Hurting strangers for no reason was completely unlike her.
Yet Shen Xing still clenched her fists.
"It was Mom."
Her voice became softer.
"But something is wrong with her."
The image from last night surfaced again in her mind. That familiar face but the unfamiliar gaze.
She swallowed hard before continuing.
"She didn’t recognize me."
A trace of pain appeared in her eyes.
"I think she lost her memories. We need to find her."
"Once we find her, everything can be fixed."
"Enough."
This time Shen Kai’s tone became slightly heavier.
"Xing. Stop forcing yourself to chase ghosts."
The words had barely fallen when a terrifying pressure suddenly swept across the room.
Everyone’s expressions changed.
Even Shen Kai’s eyes widened slightly.
Golden Core?!
The pressure was unmistakably of a Golden Core Stage Cultivator.
His gaze immediately shifted toward Su Mo. Such a young Golden Core cultivator.
He had never seen such a terrifying genius in his life. He prepared to counter attack.
However, Shen Kai quickly realized something. Su Mo wasn’t attacking anyone.
The pressure came from a momentary loss of control.
Pure emotional outburst, full of anger.
Shen Xing, facing the pressure, felt her breathing become difficult. Her face turned pale.
"S-Su Mo..."
For the first time since entering the hall, Su Mo looked directly at her.
His expression was calm.
But, that calmness frightened her more than anger would have.
"Shen Xing."
He didn’t call her Miss Shen like before.
He didn’t soften his tone. The familiarity they had built yesterday seemed to vanish in an instant.
"You better pray that the attacker wasn’t your mother."
Every word was spoken clearly. He showed no hint of compromising.
"Because anyone who dares to attack Qingxi only has one ending."
His crimson eyes locked onto hers.
"And that is death."
The room became silent. Shen Xing’s face turned pale.
The words struck harder than any weapon.
Yesterday they had sat together drinking tea.
She had listened to his ridiculous stories and laughed. She had even considered him a friend.
Yet now, the person standing before her was speaking about killing her mother.
Even if she believed her mother was innocent. Even if she believed there was some misunderstanding.
She could not refute one thing. Yang Qingxi had nearly died.
If their positions were reversed... Would she have acted differently?
The thought made her chest tighten.
She opened her mouth.
Wanting to argue.
To defend her mother.
To explain on her behalf.
Yet no words came out.
Everything became stuck in her throat.
The grievance she had been holding back all morning finally surged upward.
Her eyes reddened again.
Not because she was angry at Su Mo.
But because she suddenly realized how cruel the situation truly was.
If the attacker was really Wu Yuna...
Then one side was her mother.
The other side was the good friend who she had gotten along with. Even if they had known each other only for a short while. She truly enjoyed the time.
No matter which side she chose... Someone would end up hurt. She doesn’t want that.
***
Shen Kai could no longer endure watching his daughter stand there with reddened eyes.
Another pressure erupted inside the hall directing at Su Mi.
His gaze locked onto Su Mo.
Before, he had remained patient because these two were guests. More importantly, Shen Xing genuinely seemed to enjoy their company. As her father, he had not wanted to interfere.
However, there were limits.
Threatening his daughter right in front of him had clearly crossed that line.
"You brat."
His voice was calm, but everyone could hear the displeasure hidden underneath.
"I held back because you are guests and because Xing considers you her friends."
He took a step forward.
"But now you dare threaten her."
Su Mo met his gaze without avoiding it.
The atmosphere between the two instantly became tense.
"Whoever dares hurt Qingxi will face my wrath."
His answer came without hesitation.
"If anyone tries to stop me, I won’t care whether they’re a Great Elder, a Sect Master, or someone’s grand uncle."
The corner of Shen Kai’s eye twitched.
"Good."
His tone sounded almost appreciative.
Unfortunately, the veins bulging on his forehead completely ruined the effect.
"Very good."
For a moment, even Song Meilin felt a headache coming.
One was a stubborn old man and the other was a stubborn young man.
