Xiao Yulong's words made Xiao Lie tremble all over. His pupils suddenly shrank and he stood there in a daze.
Looking at Xiao Yulong's sinister sneer, how could he not understand that his whispers in front of his son Xiao Ying's grave that day... were all heard by him!
Xiao Yulong's words immediately caused an uproar at the scene. Everyone's mouths dropped open, and their eyes turned to Xiao Lie. When they saw Xiao Lie's unusual reaction, the astonishment in their hearts suddenly increased several times, and the voices of discussion also became louder.
Xiao Che was completely stunned. When he noticed Xiao Lie's reaction, he was completely stunned. Xiao Lingxi also had a dull expression, staring at Xiao Lie blankly.
"Yulong! What's going on?" Xiao Yunhai frowned and asked in a deep voice.
Xiao Yulong turned sideways and said respectfully, "Father, a few days ago when I went to the cemetery in the back mountain to worship my ancestors, I happened to meet the Fifth Elder. At that time, he was standing in front of the tombstone of his son Xiao Ying, muttering to himself... I heard it very clearly. He was saying... Xiao Che is not Xiao Ying's biological son at all!"
From Xiao Yulong's words and Xiao Lie's reaction, people had vaguely guessed this fact, but Xiao Yulong's extremely straightforward statement at this time was still like a thunderclap that exploded out of thin air. Everyone in the Xiao Clan was completely stunned, and those who were familiar with Xiao Lie and had good relations with him had their eyes widened, their faces full of disbelief.
"This..." Xiao Yunhai was also shocked, and immediately said seriously: "Yulong! This is a matter related to bloodline, you must not talk nonsense!!"
Xiao Yulong said sternly, "For such a big matter, I dare not lie. Just ask the Fifth Elder to find out the truth... Fifth Elder, I think you have heard what I said clearly. If you have no guilt in your heart and Xiao Che is really your grandson, then do you dare to swear on all the honors of your son Xiao Ying during his lifetime?"
All eyes were focused on Xiao Lie. He froze there, his expression becoming increasingly bitter. For a long while, he did not speak or make excuses... His son, Xiao Ying, was his greatest pride in this life. Even if he died, he would never swear at the cost of all the glory Xiao Ying had in his lifetime.
Xiao Che opened his mouth, but was unable to utter a word. A heavy feeling of depression quickly spread throughout his body.
“Dad, how could Xiao Che not be your biological grandson… Dad, please speak up, tell them!” Xiao Lingxi shook Xiao Lie’s body vigorously, shouting in panic.
But Xiao Lie was like a petrified man, and he didn't say a word for a long time. His face became depressed quietly, and he seemed to have aged by ten years in the blink of an eye.
"Fifth Elder, what's going on? Is what Yulong said true?" Xiao Yunhai frowned and said to Xiao Lie excitedly.
Xiao Lie slowly raised his head and took a deep breath. Xiao Yulong forced him to swear on his son Xiao Ying... This was something he could not do no matter what. Then, this matter he had concealed for sixteen years was destined to be concealed no longer. He thought that this matter would be concealed for a lifetime, until the day he died, but he did not expect that it would be ruthlessly torn apart in such a short time, in such an occasion that he could never have imagined, in front of so many people.
Xiao Lie's expression showed that he had acquiesced. Otherwise, he could have sworn without any scruples and sealed Xiao Yulong's mouth. Everyone in the Xiao Clan was dumbfounded. Even Xia Qingyue was surprised. Xia Hongyi, who had been standing silently on the periphery, was also shocked... Xiao Che was not Xiao Ying's son? How could... this be possible!!
"grandfather……"
Xiao Che walked in front of Xiao Lie, and each step he took was extremely heavy. Looking at his face that seemed to have aged a lot in an instant, Xiao Che felt a pang of pain in his heart. He tried his best to remain calm and asked in a very soft voice: "Grandpa... could this be... true?"
Xiao Lie lowered his head and looked at Xiao Che. He smiled bitterly. In his cloudy eyes, there was a complexity that Xiao Che could not see clearly: "Although you are not my biological child, I have always treated you as my grandson over the years..."
The previous silence was a tacit agreement, but this sentence was a clear acknowledgement that everyone could hear!
The Xiao Clan was in an uproar. This was undoubtedly the most explosive news they had heard in all their years in the Xiao Clan.
Xiao Che was completely frozen there, silent for a long time, as if he had lost his soul. Xiao Lingxi was also completely stunned. She shook her head vigorously and shouted excitedly to Xiao Lie: "Dad! What are you talking about... Xiao Che grew up with me and is my brother Xiao Ying's biological son. How can he not be your biological grandson... You must be kidding... right!?"
A hand reached out and grasped Xiao Lingxi's hand. Xiao Che's expression had returned to normal by then. He looked at Xiao Lingxi with a faint smile on his face and shook his head gently, "It's okay, little aunt. Grandpa has always been my grandpa, and you have always been my little aunt. We have always been the closest relatives. Regardless of whether there is a blood relationship, our feelings will never change... So, does it really matter whether we are biological children or not?"
“Xiao Che…” Xiao Lingxi’s eyes suddenly became hazy.
On the other side, a few mad dogs who suddenly caught Xiao Lie's huge "handle" started barking wildly.
"This is outrageous! This is outrageous! The descendant that our Xiao Sect has raised for sixteen years is not our biological child, but a bastard with outer sect blood... This is simply the biggest joke in the history of our Xiao Sect!" The great elder Xiao Li roared angrily.
"Xiao Lie! You actually brought a bastard to our Xiao Sect and made us raise it for sixteen years! You are making us...what can I say to you! Alas!" The third elder Xiao Ze sighed heavily.
"You knew he was a bastard, but you still kept him in the Xiao Clan and let him enjoy the treatment of an elder's grandson! Xiao Lie, you actually deceived our entire clan for sixteen years. If it wasn't for the good fortune of being discovered by Yulong, we might have been deceived by you for the rest of our lives. By then, the bloodline of Xiao Clan's descendants will be mixed with the blood of outsiders! Xiao Lie, do you know how great a sin this is!" The fourth elder Xiao Cheng pointed at Xiao Lie, his old face flushed with excitement.
The second elder Xiao Bo cursed loudly, "No wonder our Xiao Sect's descendants are all gifted, but suddenly there appeared such a useless person with crippled profound veins! It turns out that this useless person that Xiao Sect has raised for sixteen years is actually a bastard! If this gets out, our Xiao Sect will become the laughing stock of Liuyun City!"
Not only the four elders, but also the middle-aged generation, the deacons and stewards belonging to the four elders also stood up and accuse Xiao Lie mercilessly. For a time, Xiao Lie became the target of public criticism.
"Fifth Elder, you...this...ah!" Xiao Yunhai's face changed for a while and he let out a long sigh.
“Haha, I really witnessed a hilarious show. The Xiao Clan, which has finally developed to where it is today, is actually mixed with bastards who don’t know where they came from! Even I feel ashamed for you!” Xiao Kuangyun spoke, his voice still sharp and unpleasant. He glanced at Xiao Che and said lightly: “Today is the Xiao Clan’s conference. In addition to the Xiao Clan members, there are also guests who are allowed to enter. No outsiders are allowed to exist! Master Xiao, what are you waiting for? Get this bastard out and never set foot in the Xiao Clan again in the future!!”
“Ah… this…” Xiao Yunhai showed an expression of “reluctance” on his face, but after hesitating, he gritted his teeth and said to Xiao Che, “Xiao Che, the Fifth Elder has already admitted that you are not his grandson, and you don’t have the blood of our Xiao family in your body… Although our Xiao family has raised you for sixteen years in vain, you were completely unaware of these sixteen years. If we demand anything from you, it would be obvious that we are heartless and petty… Go away, leave our Xiao family immediately, and from now on, you will have no grudges against us, and you are not allowed to set foot in our Xiao family again!”
Their eyes were focused on Xiao Che again, and many people sighed silently in their hearts. However, there was no trace of pleading or sadness on Xiao Che's face. After hearing what Xiao Yunhai said, he just smiled slightly, and his smile was plain and sarcastic: "Don't bother the Sect Master and the elders. Since I don't belong to your Xiao Sect at all, I will leave... and leave immediately!"
He stood in front of Xiao Lie, his eyes trembling. After a long while, he asked in a daze: "Grandpa...if I am not your grandson, then who are my biological parents?"
Xiao Lie had known that he would ask this question. He closed his eyes and shook his head slowly: "I don't know. You were picked up by Ying'er from outside. Even he doesn't know who your biological parents are..."
"..." From the complex light in Xiao Lie's eyes, Xiao Che knew that this was not what Xiao Lie really said. He must know something about his true life experience, but he couldn't say it in front of so many people.
With a plop, Xiao Che knelt heavily in front of Xiao Lie and said sincerely: "Grandpa, although I am not your biological child, you have treated me much better than your own child in the past sixteen years. You raised me, educated me, and protected me. You spent countless energy and efforts on me. I will never be able to repay you for the sixteen years of kindness. I have always been extremely fortunate to have such a good grandfather like you. Although I just found out today that I don't have the blood of the Xiao family, but, so what? You are my grandfather and I am your grandson. Even though our blood is different, I will always keep this family love in my heart! As long as Grandpa doesn't despise me, I will always be your grandson!"
These words made everyone's heart tremble. Xiao Lie's eyes moistened quietly. He nodded heavily and said "OK" in a hoarse voice, then he raised his hand to help Xiao Che up.
But Xiao Che avoided his hand, prostrated himself, and kowtowed three times to Xiao Lie.
"Grandpa, little aunt, after I leave, no matter what happens, you must protect yourself and take good care of your health..."
When Xiao Che stood up, his forehead was already bruised. But the smile on his face was still as gentle as the spring breeze. He turned around and walked calmly towards the door. He didn't want to leave... because grandpa and little aunt were still here, and he wanted to protect them with his life... But he had to leave, otherwise, grandpa and little aunt would be implicated in unexpected ways. Moreover, even if he wanted to stay, he would be forced out.
“Xiao Che!!”
Xiao Lingxi's sobbing voice came from behind him. Xiao Che paused for a moment, but he did not stop or look back. He walked towards the door resolutely... No one knew that beneath his quiet and peaceful appearance, he was hiding multiple layers of anger, resentment, and murderous intent...
He had an extraordinary mind and cunning, but he had no power... Without power, he could not fight back, could not protect his grandfather and little aunt, and did not even have the strength to struggle... He could only be expelled like this...
On the day he was reborn, he longed for power, which was just a natural pursuit of power. But now, his desire for power is more than a hundred times or a thousand times stronger than it was then...
He wanted to gain powerful strength to protect his grandfather and little aunt, to wash away all the shame, to make all those who showed their ugly faces today regret it, to make Xiao Kuangyun die without a complete body... He even wanted the entire Xiao clan to pay a price that would never be forgotten!
"Protect my grandfather and my aunt... please..."
As he passed by Xia Qingyue, Xiao Che spoke in a voice that only she could hear.
This man who was full of mystery and arrogance, when he said this, his eyes revealed a deep pleading... Perhaps, he had never begged anyone in his life, so his pleading seemed particularly heartbreaking. Xia Qingyue's heart trembled heavily, and she even felt suffocated for a moment... Almost involuntarily, she nodded slowly.
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