Family Cultivation: My entire family are Villains

Chapter 176: 121, Nanjiang Infatuation Gu

Maiden Hong, true to her name, floated in mid-air with her dress swaying gently with the breeze, a crimson like blood, casting a strange and penetrating glow against the pitch-black night sky.

Hou Yuxiao tilted his head slightly to look up, and a hint of discomfort immediately surfaced in his eyes, for beneath his gaze, Maiden Hong, bore the serenely peerless face of Sikong Yue.

After first seeing Maiden Hong at the ruined temple, he had also specifically looked through some ancient texts for this matter and now understood why this was so.

In this world, demons are born from resentments, taking myriad forms, most adept at stirring the obsessions in people's hearts. The more powerful the demon, the more so it is. Therefore, Hou Yuduan, Hou Yujie, and he each saw a different Maiden Hong.

Hou Yujie, having been crippled and developed a cruel and murderous character, had only revenge left in his heart, so on Maiden Hong, he saw a face without features.

As for why he saw Sikong Yue, Hou Yuxiao had pondered over this.

It must have been the shadow cast by Sikong Yue's detached demeanor, as if she understood everything, during the chaos at Zhaoyang at the end of last year, which was too profound. It even caused him to develop a trace of dread deep down. Hence, he formed this obsession to overcome the fear at the bottom of his heart.

"So, you killed the Sacred Land Successor, confident that I would appear to help you solve it. If I didn't show up, it would perfectly fulfill your wishes, right?" Maiden Hong said with a slight undertone of malice.

Hou Yuxiao's thoughts were pulled back by Maiden Hong's words. Detecting the slight hostility in her tone, an unnatural expression appeared on his face as he bowed slightly and said, "Mr. Hou does not understand your meaning, please speak plainly, Maiden Hong!"

Maiden Hong gazed at the Holy Blood Seal floating in her palm and then cast her gaze down at Hou Yuxiao below her, her eyes flickering with a hint of ruthlessness.

"Each successor of the ten sacred lands carries a Holy Blood Seal left by their sect. Gu Chenfeng bore one as well, and you could not be unaware of this. Are you planning to kill him, to lure the mighty powers of the Wanjian Holy Sect to come after me?"

Although Hou Yuxiao kept his head low and his expression unchanged, his pupils contracted sharply. He hastily bowed and said with a hint of fear in his voice, "Mr. Hou swears to heaven, I have no such intention. If Maiden Hong would inquire a little, she would know that the trouble in Zhaoyang at the end of last year was orchestrated by Gu Chenfeng behind the scenes, and moreover, he humiliated me in every possible way.

For half a year, Mr. Hou thought of nothing but killing this man. Today, I have achieved my revenge and the matter of the Holy Blood Seal indeed slipped my mind. I ask for Maiden Hong's forgiveness!"

Thinking of the gap in strength between them, Hou Yuxiao indeed wanted to kneel down and say these words but then he thought it would make him seem too guilty, so he didn't kneel.

Waiting for more than a dozen breaths and still not hearing from Maiden Hong, Hou Yuxiao felt increasingly apprehensive and continued, "Moreover, if the Holy Blood Seal truly drew the powerful figures of the Wanjian Holy Sect here and they knew that it was I who killed Gu Chenfeng, wouldn't I be walking a path to my death? Even if I truly harbored ill will against Maiden Hong, I wouldn't risk my own life."

"With all the masters gathered in Tongling County now, if the powerful figures of the Wanjian Holy Sect dare to cross regions to attack, the Rakshasa Demon Sect certainly will not ignore it. If the two sacred lands come to conflict, more people will arrive. At that time, you could seize the chance, while I am dealing with others, to take Jade Gentleman away from my control. Your cunning plan is indeed exquisite!"

Accompanying Maiden Hong's questioning and sensing her aura becoming increasingly frightening due to anger, Hou Yuxiao's forehead broke out in a dense sweat. He hurriedly lifted his head with a wronged expression and said, "How can you say that? For Yu Jie to receive Maiden Hong's favor, it's a great blessing he could not beg for in a lifetime. Mr. Hou would rush him on a fine palanquin to marry Maiden Hong at the earliest, rather than commit such a despicable act!"

Looking up, Hou Yuxiao realized he was enveloped in a cloud of blood mist, and the Maiden Hong in front of him gradually became hazy. The once pitch-black night sky turned into a thick red. He helplessly watched as Maiden Hong extended a simple and elegant finger and placed it on his forehead.

"I've taken root in the Sanling Region for hundreds, even thousands of years. I've seen those with extraordinary strategies, not one thousand, then eight hundred. How many years have you lived to dare to play these little tricks with me!

Out of consideration for Jade Gentleman, I commanded my demons not to wreak havoc in Zhaoyang, ensuring the Hou Clan's safety for over three months. Instead of showing gratitude, you plot against me!

Tell me, should I kill you today or not?"

As she asked the last question, Maiden Hong's originally soft and graceful voice suddenly turned cold and terrifying. The dense blood mist throughout the sky instantly transformed into countless tendrils like vines, wrapping Hou Yuxiao into a large bundle, leaving only his face exposed. At first glance, the sight was somewhat comical.

However, Hou Yuxiao's face quickly became twisted, as the vines enveloping his body seemed to have tiny needles piercing into him, sending stabbing pain that instantly reached his mind.

And that wasn't all: A horrifying suction came from those needles, and seeing Maiden Hong's threatening gaze focused on him, Hou Yuxiao realized that she could decide his fate with a single thought. His body shook, and his brain began to frantically spin.

He couldn't admit it, absolutely not. He had a reasonable excuse for killing Gu Chenfeng, and as long as he did not confess, she would not have sufficient reason to kill him.