34. Chapter 34: The Child She Had with Another Man

"My, my, who could it be, causing such a stir? Lord Xiao, you certainly possess remarkable audacity!"

Feng Xiyan had just entered the territory when she encountered several families fleeing the city in a frantic, disheveled state. She had assumed some catastrophe had befallen Huanlan, only to arrive and witness Xiao Junwang single-handedly holding his own against a hundred men.

And indeed, it was one against a hundred.

Once the young master of the Feng family was injured, some of his followers fled, while others, more loyal, secretly notified the family head. It didn’t take long for Feng Yi, the patriarch, to arrive with dozens of skilled fighters. Upon seeing the state of his eldest son, he immediately mobilized more henchmen, determined to mince Xiao Junwang into a thousand pieces.

Feng Yi was a burly man with a face full of thick, bristly whiskers. Standing there, he brandished a heavy blade with a fierce expression, shouting at Xiao Junwang, "You dare to touch my reverse scale? Pay with your life!"

This was the scene Feng Xiyan stepped into. Lu Ya had already been taken hostage to the side, and the crisp, clear sound of Feng Xiyan’s voice cutting through the tension offered a moment of respite.

Feng Wujiang stood on the sidelines, watching his father in sheer terror. His eldest brother had already been carried away, and given his injuries, he would surely be crippled for life. With his father at the peak of the seventh level, did he really stand a chance against this man whose true strength was unfathomable? Feng Wujiang broke into a cold sweat, completely unaware of the person who had appeared beside him.

"If you don't want him to die, you should advise him to stop."

A cold, clear female voice rang out, followed by the soft gurgling of an infant, as if in agreement with the woman.

Feng Wujiang turned around in surprise. His expression shifted through a myriad of emotions—excitement, conflict, disappointment—as he beheld the beautiful face beside him. His cheeks flushed red, and he stammered, "M-Miss Mo..." His eyes were filled with undisguised infatuation.

The person beside Feng Wujiang was Mo Liuli, holding the little one in her arms. She had yet to name the child, having decided to wait until she found Xiao Junwang to let him do the honors; after all, she still couldn’t determine if the "Xiao" on his robes was a surname or a given name.

"There's no need to fight; I already know he will win. If you care about that bearded man, you’d better go and stop him. Otherwise, once things escalate, I cannot guarantee anything."

After speaking, Mo Liuli turned her attention back to playing with the baby. "Little one, Mommy has finally found your dear daddy. Aren't you happy?"

Mo Liuli cooed at the baby with such intimacy that her previous detached air had vanished entirely. The two men standing beside her—seeing her treat the little child with such tenderness—felt both jealousy and a profound sense of loneliness.

Feng Wujiang cast one last lingering look at Mo Liuli before running toward the center of the arena, shouting, "Father! Father! Stop fighting, stop!"

Xiao Junwang remained indifferent to the sudden cacophony. From start to finish, he kept his eyes fixed on the bearded Feng Yi. He found it rare for a man to grow such a ridiculous beard while possessing such a naturally imposing stature; to a child, this appearance was surely a sight to behold. Furthermore, it was truly remarkable that such a rugged-looking father could produce two such refined and handsome sons.

Feng Wujiang’s cries drew the attention of Feng Xiyan and Lu Ya. In an instant, they spotted the delicate figure standing by the stone lion in the distance.

Mo Liuli! She had actually returned? And she really had given birth to a child?

Feng Xiyan glanced again, and when she saw the cloaked figure standing slightly behind Mo Liuli, her heart trembled. "Yuan Lie..."

Sensing the two burning gazes, Mo Liuli instinctively looked up. Upon seeing them, she paused, then shifted her gaze back to Xiao Junwang within the circle of people. Her willow-leaf brows furrowed—could it be that for the past two years, Xiao had been with them?

With this doubt in mind, Mo Liuli felt a tightness in her chest. She no longer had the heart to tease the baby, instead pushing the child into the arms of Chou Xue behind her and walking toward the fray.

Since her recovery, she had remained barefoot. She couldn't explain why, but she simply loved the cool sensation of bare feet against the bluestone. As for Chou Xue, she had gradually grown accustomed to calling him that—after all, he now possessed blood-red eyes. Yuan Lie was a beautiful memory within the original Mo Li’s heart, and she did not wish to destroy it.

The standoff on the battlefield had stalled due to Feng Wujiang’s interference. Feng Yi tugged at his beard and glared at his second son. "I am going to avenge your brother today! Don't stop me!"

"Father, I know you have always been kind-hearted, but today, he is the one who harmed your brother! You saw it yourself! How can I not seek revenge?" the bearded man roared, his voice growing louder with each word, prompting the surrounding henchmen to raise their blades in support.

Mo Liuli’s approach did not affect their exchange at all. However, Xiao Junwang, who had been out of focus, suddenly narrowed his eyes. He stared in disbelief at the barefoot woman who had appeared so abruptly, his muscles tensed.

Feng Wujiang was the son Feng Yi cared about most, both for his talent and his appearance. That was why he hadn't immediately clashed with Xiao Junwang, and why the murderous intent had been delayed until now. The arena fell into a sudden, heavy silence due to Mo Liuli’s arrival. She was like a star igniting, dimming everything around her.

She was far more vivid and moving than the portraits that had circulated years ago. Her air of aloof pride was so intense that it was daunting, making others afraid to overstep. Her eyes, in particular, seemed to pierce through the soul of anyone who dared to meet her gaze.

Xiao Junwang kept his eyes locked on her, watching her graceful, lotus-like gait. A long-lost sense of satisfaction filled his heart; he simply stood there, waiting for her arrival.

In the distance, Chou Xue also stared fixedly at Mo Liuli’s back. The blood-red eyes beneath his cloak held too many turbulent emotions. Once the baby was in his arms, it struggled for a moment before falling into a deep sleep.

"Yuan Lie..." Feng Xiyan approached from the front, step by step, yet she could not block his gaze as he followed Mo Liuli. Mo Liuli, Mo Li... no matter which name she went by, this person was her nemesis, having stolen the thing she loved most!

What was most hateful was that she did not cherish what she had taken, instead bearing a bastard child with another man!

Feng Xiyan’s gaze shifted from infatuation to hatred. She lunged to snatch the child from Chou Xue’s arms, and as soon as she succeeded, she held the baby high, ready to dash it against the ground.

"Waaah!"

A loud, piercing wail erupted the second Feng Xiyan raised the child. It caused Chou Xue, lost in his own jealousy and hatred, to shudder violently. He reached out desperately for the infant. "Don't hurt him!"

His cold, gravelly voice made Feng Xiyan’s hands tremble uncontrollably. In a state of near-madness, she pulled the child back into her arms, clutching him tightly as she backed away. "You are willing to speak to me? You are finally willing to speak to me? Hahaha!"

"Give him back to me!" Chou Xue gritted his teeth and reached out, his blood-red eyes bulging, looking every bit the killer.

"You actually care about this bastard she had with someone else? Hahaha! Yuan Lie, oh Yuan Lie! You’ve gone mad!" Feng Xiyan screamed, her emotions swinging wildly.