Chapter 80: Unable to Comprehend

Ou Xinlai casually dug a hole, then stripped Li Chengpeng of all his belongings before kicking his corpse into the pit and covering it with earth. She had never imagined that a chance encounter in the ancient cave of Chiyou would set so many things into motion. It seemed she and the father and son of the Li family were destined to clash, their fates irreconcilable, inevitably leading to confrontation where only one could survive. Yet, who had truly killed Li Chengfeng?

If not for Li Chengfeng’s death, she would never have crossed paths with Li Chengpeng, nor nearly lost her life at his hands.

"Are you just going to leave? Aren’t you going to settle accounts with Ou Xinya?" The little white snake raised its tiny head, eyeing Ou Xinlai, doubting she was one to let things slide so easily.

"How could I possibly leave it at that? If I don't finish off Ou Xinya, then I'm not Ou Xinlai." She glared fiercely at the little snake. If it weren't for Ou Xinya, how could she have been so easily captured by Li Chengpeng?

So, before leaving, she had to return to the Ou family. Initially, she intended to simply send a message, but the thought of Ou Xinya made her itch with anticipation—there was no way she could let her go.

Thus, Ou Xinlai traveled day and night, racing against time to return home.

However, when she finally arrived, it was already night. From the moment she entered the family grounds, something felt off. She didn’t reveal herself, instead seeking out Duo Xinya. To her surprise, Ou Xinya wasn’t in her room, though the chamber was crowded with people weeping.

Ou Xinlai frowned; something was clearly amiss.

Peeking from the rooftop, she saw Ou Xinyu and others weeping bitterly, muttering Ou Xinya’s name. Judging by the women's attire, Ou Xinlai paused—she hadn’t even made her move, and Ou Xinya was already gone?

"It seems you’ve arrived a step too late. The one you wanted to kill appears to be dead," the little white snake remarked, having guessed the situation inside. "What a coincidence," Ou Xinlai thought, feeling wary. "Be careful, it might be a ruse."

How could things be so coincidental? Moreover, the way Ou Xinya had previously deceived those at Ou Xinlai’s side was still fresh in the snake's memory. Someone as cunning as Ou Xinya couldn’t have died so easily; she was far too clever.

"Alive, I must see the person; dead, I must see the corpse," Ou Xinlai declared.

If Ou Xinya was truly dead, there should be a body. She began searching the Ou family estate but, after a thorough search, found nothing resembling a coffin.

Narrowing her eyes, she decided to seek out Ou Jinjue.

Recently, Ou Jinjue had been plagued by headaches. After Ou Xinlai went missing, he immediately reported it to the family patriarch, who dispatched many to search for her, but no one found a trace. There was no clue as to who had abducted her, not even a suspect.

If it wasn’t someone from the Ou family, could it have been the Xuan family?

The Xuan patriarch had caused an uproar in his own house, declaring that if anyone from his family dared harm Ou Xinlai, he would not tolerate it. He assured the Ou family unequivocally that no one from the Xuan family had acted against her, not in the past, present, or future.

Whatever the Xuan patriarch had done, his family was genuinely anxious about Ou Xinlai’s disappearance, including Emperor Xuan Yu, who sent many to search for her.

Half a month passed with no news, no matter how hard the Ou or Xuan families searched. Even Ye Zifei had mobilized his own resources to investigate.

Ye Zifei discovered that just before Ou Xinlai’s disappearance, those at her side had all been lured away by Ou Xinya. Naturally, Ye Zifei suspected Ou Xinya.

Ou Jinjue bluntly told Ye Zifei that he, too, bore responsibility for Ou Xinlai’s disappearance.

Ou Jinjue had once believed Ou Xinya liked Xuan Ye, and thus resented Ou Xinlai as a rival. Only recently did he realize that Ou Xinya’s true affection was for Ye Zifei.

If so, Ou Xinya’s animosity toward Ou Xinlai likely stemmed from Ye Zifei.

In the past, Ou Xinya had made moves against Ou Xinlai, but never with such ruthlessness, nor had she ever left no trace.

For Ou Xinlai’s sake, Ye Zifei confronted Ou Xinya. The joy in her eyes confirmed Ou Jinjue’s suspicions—she truly harbored feelings for Ye Zifei. He realized that he’d been deceived; Ou Xinya’s intentions were for him all along.

Ye Zifei told her directly that he wanted Ou Xinlai back, or he would make her life miserable.

Ou Xinya was furious. "Why? You know Ou Xinlai likes Prince Xuan—she nearly married him. Why are you so concerned about her?" It was a question she’d long wanted to ask.

"Let me repeat: I only want Ou Xinlai back. Otherwise, don’t blame me for what happens," Ye Zifei replied coldly, staring her down. If she hadn’t been of the Ou family, he would have cared nothing for face.

"Zifei, Ou Xinlai will never be with Xuan Ye, and she’ll never come to love you. She’s not worthy of you. Open your eyes and see clearly who truly loves you, who deserves to stand at your side." Ou Xinya nearly confessed her love outright.

"Very well." Ye Zifei’s demeanor grew even colder. Hearing her obstinacy, he knew she’d never willingly reveal Ou Xinlai’s whereabouts.

Since that was the case, there was nothing more to say.

He turned to leave.

Ou Xinya had loved him for so long, suppressing her feelings all the while. Now, face-to-face with her beloved, she found no trace of herself in his gaze—only another woman, whom she considered far inferior. The bitterness was unbearable.

In that moment, all her years of pretense fell away.

"Ye Zifei, why won’t you look at me? I love you, I truly love you—I have loved you for so long!" she cried, rushing forward to embrace him.

He shifted aside easily, never letting her touch him.

Seeing him avoid her as if she were a plague, Ou Xinya’s face twisted in humiliation. "What’s so good about Ou Xinlai? She’s so ugly. What do you see in her? What do you see in her?" she screamed.

"Indeed, I do like Ou Xinlai very much. In fact, I intend to marry her," he replied, showing no mercy for her lack of self-awareness.

"No, no, you’ve been deceived by her! She’s tricked you! How could you possibly like her?" Ou Xinya refused to believe it; she had always thought Ye Zifei might have a slight fondness for Ou Xinlai, but never genuine love.

Hearing him confess it himself was a devastating blow.

"Ou Xinlai has no abilities, and she’s ugly—how could you possibly like her?" Ou Xinya could not accept such a truth.

"No, I like her very much. As I said, I intend to marry her and make her my only wife." Ye Zifei, knowing exactly how to wound her, delivered his words with perfect candor.

Hearing the depth of his affection, and that he wished to spend his life with Ou Xinlai, Ou Xinya was driven mad with jealousy. "Zifei, look at me—just look at me. You’ll realize you were wrong before."

She tried to embrace him, but Ye Zifei gave her no chance.

Ou Xinya panicked. She could not allow him to marry Ou Xinlai.

She had always believed she had time, since Ye Zifei had never shown particular interest in any woman, not even Dan Qing’er. She thought that, once she completed her tasks, she would be gloriously crowned and finally worthy to stand by his side.

For that goal—to stand openly at his side—she had worked tirelessly, caring little for betraying the Ou family or even the Xuanwu Kingdom.

If, after all her efforts, she gained neither his recognition nor his heart, what meaning would any of it have?

Thus, Ou Xinya resolved to abandon her plans, focusing solely on seizing her own happiness, unwilling to let Ye Zifei end up with Ou Xinlai.

She cast aside all restraint, suddenly loosening her sash—her robes slipped from her body like petals, revealing her jade-white form.

Ye Zifei looked upon her with scorn—how shallow she was.

His eyes narrowed, radiating an overbearing, oppressive aura that bore down on her.

With a roar, a surge of power crashed over Ou Xinya. She had thought herself strong, having reached level nine in her abilities, believing she was now worthy to stand beside Ye Zifei. But his strength was beyond anything she imagined—she had not even a shred of resistance.

She realized he had entered the divine realm of cultivation.

Her vision went dark and she fainted.

Ye Zifei, ruthless as ever, took the naked Ou Xinya and bound her at the gates of Dragon City, where all who entered or left could witness her youthful beauty.

It became the greatest scandal in the history of the Ou family, leaving Ou Xinya unable to show her face in public ever again.

Faced with this disgrace, Ou Jinjue felt both satisfaction and sorrow. After all, she was his blood sister, though there had never been any affection between them. This punishment ensured that no noble in Dragon City would ever dare to marry her; it was more than enough. Yet, he felt it was nothing more than she deserved.

No one expected that while Ou Xinlai remained missing, Ou Xinya would die in a great fire before everyone’s eyes, with not even her ashes left behind.

Returning to his room, Ou Jinjue was suddenly seized by someone—he was about to strike when a voice said, "It’s me."

Hearing Ou Xinlai, his heart leaped with joy. "You’re all right?!" For days, he had feared she’d met a tragic end, certain she would not return. Given Ou Xinya’s hatred, if she acted, she would never leave Ou Xinlai alive for Ye Zifei’s sake.

That was the rational thought, but emotionally, he could not accept such an outcome.

"I’m fine. Where’s Ou Xinya?" Seeing his eyes brighten at the sight of her, like a starving puppy finding a meaty bone, Ou Xinlai smiled.

"Ou Xinya is dead—perished in a fire, not even her bones remain." At the mention of Ou Xinya, Ou Jinjue’s face grew stiff. "She deserved it!"

"Not even her bones?" Ou Xinlai sneered. "Don’t tell me she committed suicide." Someone as vain as Ou Xinya would never take her own life, and she could not imagine any reason for her to do so.

Seeing her disbelief, Ou Jinjue quickly recounted what Ye Zifei had done to Ou Xinya.

No girl could endure such humiliation. In Dragon City, or even the entire Xuanwu Kingdom, Ou Xinya had lost all hope of happiness. Even in the other three kingdoms, word of such a scandal would not be hard to find.

"Even so, I don’t believe she killed herself, much less by fire that left nothing behind. Ou Xinya was so obsessed with her looks—she’d never choose self-immolation. What if she survived, only to be disfigured? She’s not that foolish." Ou Xinlai’s reasoning was unshakable.

Ou Jinjue found it compelling. "You think she faked her death?" He nodded. "Yes, it’s possible. With such a scandal, she couldn’t remain in Dragon City. Only by feigning death and assuming a new identity could she start anew."

"But what kind of identity could she adopt?" As the elder’s daughter in the Ou family, what support would she have outside?

She might end up worse off than before.

"You really don’t understand your sister at all. Once free of the Ou family, Ou Xinya will find even greater opportunities." Ou Jinjue didn’t know her secrets, but Ou Xinlai did.

"Ou Jinjue, can you be certain that the Ou Xinya we’ve always known was truly Ou Xinya?" For her abilities to be above level seven, and her connections to the Vermilion Bird Kingdom—none of this made sense. Even her useless father was unaware of her true power. Were it not for the little white snake, she herself would never have known how formidable Ou Xinya truly was.

Clearly, Ou Xinya had been going easy on her all along. With her skills, defeating the so-called ‘talentless’ Ou Xinlai would have been as easy as crushing an ant.

"What? Ou Xinya connected to the Vermilion Bird Kingdom? How could that be?" Ou Jinjue was shaken to the core. "Impossible, impossible!"

He could accept her plotting against her own kin, but not that she would betray her family and country to conspire with a rival power.

"Last time in Chiyou’s ancient cave, agents from the Vermilion Bird Kingdom tried to capture me. I brought two of them back and handed them to my father; the third escaped, and I suspect that one was Ou Xinya. So yes, she is connected with the Vermilion Bird Kingdom."

Even Ou Xinlai herself found it baffling—how had Ou Xinya become entangled with those from the Vermilion Bird Kingdom? It was hard enough for her to accept, let alone expect Ou Jinjue to do so.