Chapter 009: A Good Father, A Dark Father

Originally, Ou Xinlai comforted herself with the thought that Ou Chenfeng was merely trying to scare her. If he truly discovered she was not the real Ou Xinlai, he would have sliced her into pieces. Since he still treated her as his daughter, why should the original enjoy a carefree life while she had to suffer?

Little did she know, the next morning, while she was still half-asleep, hugging her quilt and burrowing into it, Ou Chenfeng entered her room accompanied by five peculiar old men.

The Five Elements Elders, seeing Ou Xinlai sleeping soundly like a pig, all wore exasperated expressions. They had always known Ou Xinlai was somewhat withdrawn, but when had she become so oblivious? Six grown men had entered her room, yet she slept on, undisturbed by even thunder.

“Should we wake her?” asked the Fire Elder, dressed in red. After all, she was the clan leader’s daughter; some respect was due.

“Ou Xinlai, Ou Xinlai!” the Metal Elder in yellow was less patient. If she hadn’t been the clan leader’s daughter, she would never have qualified to enter the Five Elements Array.

His thunderous voice had no effect. Ou Xinlai’s legs clamped the quilt, her little face rubbed against its fragrant fabric, and she continued her heavy slumber.

The Water Elder, seeing her so unresponsive, used his water abilities to splash cold water onto her face. The Earth Elder conjured a shield, cutting off her breath, while the Wood Elder produced a willow branch and whipped her body with it.

Despite their rough treatment, Ou Xinlai kept snoring, leaving the Five Elements Elders utterly frustrated: did she even have nerves at all?

Compared to their brute force, Ou Chenfeng’s actions made it clear he was truly her father. He wrapped Ou Xinlai entirely in her quilt and hoisted her onto his shoulder.

The Wood Elder shook his head. “Ou Xinlai may be lacking, but Heaven granted her a kind father. Otherwise, this child’s life would be much harder.” The Five Elements Elders seldom interfered in clan matters, but that didn’t mean they knew nothing. Ou Xinlai was useless, but never a bad child. Sadly, such children were destined to be ignored in the clan.

Hearing this, the Fire and Earth Elders nodded in agreement, while the Metal Elder remained silent. The Water Elder, however, looked awkward. “Why do I feel Chenfeng is abusing Ou Xinlai? Doesn’t he look like he’s carrying a dead pig?” Was Ou Chenfeng really good to her? He had doubts.

The other elders said nothing, unwilling to admit they might have misjudged the situation or agree with the Fire Elder’s words.

“Won’t you wake her?” the Wood Elder asked, watching Ou Xinlai, still sweetly asleep, bundled in her quilt.

Ou Chenfeng shook his head. “Since she likes to sleep, let her rest a while longer. Don’t wake her.”

The Water Elder raised his eyebrows triumphantly; he’d always said Ou Chenfeng was cunning. His words sounded caring, but sending a powerless Ou Xinlai into the Five Elements Array was a matter of life and death. Tossing her in asleep—was he not risking her life?

The Fire Elder hesitated. “Are you sure?” Are you sure you want to give up on this daughter?

“This child sleeps so soundly, I can’t bear to wake her,” Ou Chenfeng continued his performance as a loving father.

The Wood Elder rolled his eyes. If he wants to act, let him.

The Metal Elder observed Ou Chenfeng. In the past, though Ou Chenfeng treated Ou Xinlai decently, he never neglected her, nor abandoned her for her ugliness or inability to awaken her spiritual roots. Yet, he always felt something was missing between them.

Now, Ou Chenfeng seemed outwardly attentive, yet the Metal Elder sensed genuine affection from him, which confused him. Why was it so complicated? Ou Chenfeng was still Ou Chenfeng, Ou Xinlai was still Ou Xinlai; why all these tangled feelings?

“Elders of the Five Elements, please activate the Five Elements Array.” Ou Chenfeng cared nothing for their opinions and acted as he pleased, instructing them to initiate the array.

The Five Elements Elders exchanged glances. If her own father didn’t care about her fate, why should they?

In the five corners of the room stood five stones. Each elder took his place and infused his elemental energy into his stone, which began to shine in different colors. Five beams converged at the center of the room, merging into a single point of white light.

Suddenly, beneath that white glow in the sealed room, a pitch-black hole opened.

Upon seeing it, Ou Chenfeng, without hesitation, tossed the cocooned “baby” from his shoulder into the abyss. The black hole swallowed Ou Xinlai’s body in an instant and closed with a snap. The five colored lights—gold, green, blue, red, and yellow—followed her, vanishing into the darkness with her.