Chapter 378 - Apology

Chapter 378: Chapter 133 ApologyThe raven had received the same treatment, affected by the chill, the death ray was forced to cease. However, Xina also couldn’t endure it and fainted, clearly not yet fully recovered from Bai Ling’s attack, and now suffering another heavy blow, it was indeed difficult to bear.

The raven knew all too well how powerful the Formation that was hidden beneath the mansion was. Taking a step, he grabbed Lu Hong’s shoulder and whispered, "Let’s go, if we don’t, we’ll both end up staying here!"

"No! I want revenge!" Lu Hong couldn’t forget the scene when he was ambushed. Now that Piao Miao was right in front of him, he couldn’t rest without avenging himself, for not taking revenge would be unworthy of a true gentleman.

The raven had no choice but to drag Lu Hong along because staying meant they truly wouldn’t be able to leave.

The raven took a deep breath, and a surge of black energy burst forth from his body, transforming into a black crow, fiercely slamming into the Formation, opening a gap.

Scooping up Lu Hong, the raven made a hasty escape.

"Mother, what are you waiting for? Block him quickly!" Piao Miao was in a state of panic. If Lu Hong did not die, she would never have peaceful days.

Duke Xin Lei was powerless even if she wanted to do something. Although the Formation was formidable, it was still an inanimate object, and this was merely a projection of the clan’s core grand Formation. There was no way she could detain the raven.

Staring at Piao Miao’s evidently frantic expression, Duke Xin Lei slapped her across the face: "Rebel! What else have you been hiding from me?"

Had Piao Miao informed her earlier, they wouldn’t have found themselves in such an inextricable situation. Even Duke Xin Lei could have devised a plan, targeting Bai Ling while secretly eliminating Lu Hong.

But it was all too late now. Opposing Lu Hong had come at a heavy cost. Because dealing with Bai Ling, the old devil, Lu Hong was the main force. If he wanted to fill the Xin Lei family’s people into the sacrificial pit, the alliance wouldn’t object—in fact, they would be pleased to see such a situation unfold. Duke Xin Lei’s back ran cold at the thought of the Xin Lei family falling into a death Formation during the alliance’s convention to discuss strategies against Bai Ling in three days. A grand family like hers couldn’t possibly be brought to ruin by her own hands!

"You will come with me to apologize tomorrow, and if he still insists on killing you..." Duke Xin Lei paused for a moment before speaking in a low voice, "then you’d better take your own life!"

Piao Miao lifted her head, eyes brimming with despair. She was a Third Transition Peak powerhouse and the first heir of the Xin Lei family. Yet, when it came to the continuation of the family, sacrifice was inevitable.

Just like in the policies of marriage alliances between two nations, how many seemingly insurmountable Imperial Authorities and nobles had to make sacrifices for the sake of their survival? And weren’t those who were sacrificed filled with deep sorrow?

If one were to say Piao Miao regretted, it would be true regret, but not for once attempting to assassinate Lu Hong with poison; rather, she regretted not having slaughtered him into mincemeat to avert today’s calamity.

Of course, time could not be turned back. Duke Xin Lei had given her one last evening to reminisce, as well as the last chance to fight for her life. She needed to reconsider how she could make Lu Hong spare her life.

Back at Nuoshan’s mansion, Lu Hong had recovered from the chill’s influence. Although he was frustrated, he also understood the situation. This chill was so mysterious and unpredictable that not even a Heavenly God descending to earth could defend against it, let alone killing Piao Miao.

"Back so soon?" Nuoshan waved his hand, dismissing the surrounding nobles and servants, and the raven nodded at him before turning to leave.

"You knew all along?" Seeing Nuoshan’s I-know-everything expression, Lu Hong was taken aback—how could Nuoshan have learned everything so quickly? He had just returned, and Nuoshan was already informed?

"Nonsense! With such a commotion, all the nobles of the Seven Layered Heavens knew about it!" Nuoshan retorted impatiently: "I told you to come back if you were unhappy, and instead, you stirred up a massive upheaval, forcing the raven to act. I had to be on guard, in case Xin Lei retaliated, what then?"

"What now? Is there any movement?" Seeing Nuoshan’s expression was not overly reproachful, Lu Hong let out a sigh of relief and plopped down beside him.

Nuoshan gave Lu Hong a disapproving look: "No movement for the time being, and most likely there won’t be any. If she brazenly comes here to kill you, Lei Shan and Chen Hui would not agree. But then again, what kind of deep grudge do you have with the Xin Lei family that has escalated to this point, giving no room for mitigation? It’s just that Zun Long once tried to assassinate you, and he didn’t succeed. Can’t you be a bit more magnanimous and not just focus on immediate gains or losses?"

"Piao Miao once tried to assassinate me, and nearly succeeded. And the Xin Lei family’s earlier machinations with the Lion Blood Department were made using my blood," Lu Hong stated bluntly: "Piao Miao, once a spy within the empire, had dealings with me and coveted my Bloodline Power, thus she harmed me, stole my Bloodline Power, and almost caused my death. If not for my great fortune, I would have already died."

After hearing Lu Hong’s story, Nuoshan fell silent for a moment before saying, "So it’s that girl Piao Miao you have a grudge against. I just learned that Xin Lei will be bringing her over tomorrow to apologize." The term "Lion Heart Bloodline" reverberated in Nuoshan’s mind—how terrifyingly powerful would Lu Hong be now if he hadn’t lost his Bloodline Power?!

"Apologize? Only with Piao Miao dead will I be appeased, anything else is impossible!" Lu Hong waved his hand dismissively, not believing a word. They just tried to prevent him from killing Piao Miao at the mansion, how could they possibly bring her over to face death tomorrow? Sёarᴄh the Nôvelƒire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"Don’t disbelieve so quickly; it’s very possible. Killing the Xin Lei heir on their home ground is something that absolutely cannot happen. But if it means ensuring the survival of the family, Xin Lei might actually have the resolve to make such a sacrifice. There’s a difference between their heir dying out there and dying at home," Nuoshan analyzed flawlessly, a man of worldly wisdom.

Unable not to believe, and with a somewhat strange expression, Lu Hong finally let out a sigh: "You families are really boring..."

"Who isn’t?" Nuoshan shrugged his shoulders, "I’m also tired of this kind of life, but what can we do about it? Dissolve the Nuoshan family? When your great enterprise flourishes, some things... aren’t as simple as you’d wish."

Nuoshan Duke stood up, patted Lu Hong on the shoulder, "Kid, grasp the understanding well, your day will come." Having said that, he strode away.

The night passed without conversation, and early the next day, Duke Xinlei truly came visiting, bringing along Piao Miao, shackled in chains of Sealing Demon Stone.

Nuoshan didn’t show his face; instead, he had his subordinates invite the two inside and informed Lu Hong.

Duke Xinlei’s face bore an anxious expression, while Piao Miao, kneeling on the ground, felt like her heart had died. She genuinely had no idea what to do; sacrificing her beauty had not succeeded at the outset and it would be even less likely to work now.

"The two of you, did you rest well last night?" Lu Hong walked into the living room still in his pajamas and slippers. He glanced at Piao Miao on the floor, then seated himself in the master’s chair.

Duke Xinlei forced a smile and said, "I know Lord Champion Marquis bears a deep grudge against my Xinlei family. Thus, today I bring my sinful daughter Piao Miao to your doorstep. From now on, this woman is at your disposal, and I won’t obstruct you in the slightest, even if it means her life, as long as Lord Champion Marquis would treat the Xinlei family fairly."

Her words were quite clear: killing Piao Miao was an option, but if she were killed, they’d better not use dirty tricks against the old devil Bai Ling or show any less courtesy to the Xinlei family.

Lu Hong remained silent, his lips curling into a cold smile. He drew the sword from the guard by his side and stepped toward Piao Miao.

"You... you can’t kill me, I beg you, please don’t kill me, I... I can be your slave, I can serve you for a lifetime, I beg you not to kill me!" Seeing Lu Hong approaching step by step, Piao Miao cried uncontrollably, begging for mercy as she knocked her head on the floor.

"You too have met this day," Lu Hong sneered, "I recall not long ago you laid siege to the Holy Institute, wanting to make me a prisoner at your feet."

"It was my fault, I shouldn’t have opposed you, I beg you, please spare me, I won’t ever do it again..." Piao Miao’s pleas were cut short as the cold sword rested against her lips.

"Shut up!"

Piao Miao complied, not daring to speak further, though tears kept streaming from her eyes.

Having done this, Lu Hong glanced sideways at Duke Xinlei, only to see the Duke turn his head away, likely feeling not a little agony. Who would want to watch their own child die before them, especially when they had delivered her themselves?

"Am I to really do this?" Lu Hong said to Xinlei.

Duke Xinlei slowly nodded, "At the... discretion of Lord Champion Marquis!"

"Fine!" Lu Hong’s word fell, and the sword in his hand flashed coldly.

But with a "zing" sound, Lu Hong quickly retreated, and the long sword in his hand snapped accordingly.

Duke Xinlei’s face was full of confusion, while Piao Miao, still in shock, couldn’t recover her energy.

"Eh...," Lu Hong seemed very embarrassed, having intended to break the Sealing Demon Stone chains and release Piao Miao, but had miscalculated their hardness and made a blunder, "Well... your shackles seem a bit too sturdy."

"You mean...," Xinlei was also bewildered for a moment, unclear about Lu Hong’s intentions.

"I suddenly don’t feel like killing her anymore, take her and go," Lu Hong dropped the long sword, waved his hand, and turned to leave. Although Piao Miao deserved to be killed, he truly couldn’t bring himself to do it so plainly.

As if reborn, Piao Miao kept kowtowing, "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

Duke Xinlei also let out a sigh of relief and helped Piao Miao up, "Come, let’s go home."

Home? A coldness surged in Piao Miao’s heart. Was that place still home? Could it still be her home, that place where they’d tied her up to give to her enemy?