"What about Qing Li's three children? If they make mistakes, you won't care?" I knew that asking this way could easily mislead Lin Huan into thinking I was inquiring about Lin Qianshan's fate.
Lin Huan indeed thought of Lin Qianshan, "Lin Qianshan is nothing more than a mixed breed picked up from a wolf's den, completely unrelated to Qing Li. He must die."
"And what about the backgrounds of Lin Xinmei and Lin Xintang? Are they Qing Li's daughters?" I asked.
Lin Huan furrowed his brow, "I'm not sure about that. Tomorrow I will go up to the attic and ask her."
"Actually, Grandfather, Xintang is a Human-Snake Hybrid." I cautiously told Lin Huan about Lin Xintang being used as the eye of the Thousand Corpses Formation.
Lin Huan exploded, slamming his hand on the table, "She turned out to be a monster? I've never realized this all along…" ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ NoveI-Fire.ɴet
Seeing the hatred for monsters in Lin Huan's eyes, my heart skipped a beat, preparing to flee with Xintang, "Grandfather... can you spare Xintang? She is naturally kind-hearted, hasn't committed any evil, and is still Qing Li's daughter."
"Qing Li threw her away to be sacrificed. Does she care whether my Lin Family deals with her or not?" Lin Huan shot me a sharp glance, "Wanwan, why are you pleading for a monster? Having lurked in the Lin Family for so many years, if I don't execute her publicly to uphold justice, where would the dignity of the Lin Family lie?"
"She didn't even know she was a monster. How can that be lurking? Grandfather, you really don't plan to spare her? Even my pleading won't work?" I stood up and tiptoed to Lin Huan's side, pulling at his sleeve, making one last attempt.
Grandfather's prejudice against monsters was deep. Knowing it was a dead end, I wouldn't let Xintang die in vain.
Lin Huan stated slowly, "Wanwan, does this mean you want to trade the merits you established today for Lin Xintang's life?"
My heart tensed, yet I still courageously replied, "Yes. I don't want any rewards, just don't harm her."
"Where is Lin Xintang now? I want to see her."
His words didn't commit to either option.
He neither promised to spare Xintang's life nor said he would kill her.
My heart was fraught with anxiety, fearing that Lin Huan might harm Xintang at the ancestral hall, yet I dared not refuse, "She's in the ancestral hall, with Lin Hang."
If Lin Huan caused trouble, I would ask Yu Longting for help.
We would take Tangtang and never return to the Lin Family.
"Let's go!" Lin Huan said decisively.
Lin Huan grabbed my arm, dragging me out of the Punishment Hall in a disheveled manner.
Outside, the sky was about to dawn.
A swath of fish-belly white hung across the horizon.
When passing by Yu Longting and my mother, Lin Huan just shot them a cold glance, silently leading me to the ancestral hall.
I couldn't help but cast a look toward Yu Longting.
With my eyes, I told him not to worry about me; Grandfather was just taking me to the ancestral hall.
Although I wasn't sure if he could understand the meaning in my eyes...
"Still reluctant, don't you have any backbone?" Lin Huan snorted softly.
I reluctantly withdrew my gaze and followed Lin Huan with my head down.
After walking a distance, Lin Huan said in a sudden deep tone, "Wanwan, I've decided to accept Xintang and continue to support her in the Lin Family, with the same treatment as before."
"Are you serious? Grandfather, you're too kind, too enlightened! I knew you couldn't be harsh to Xintang." I smiled broadly, looking up at Lin Huan with an admiring gaze.
But I met Lin Huan's sharp gaze, and my heart suddenly skipped a beat, fearing he might change his mind. Then I heard Lin Huan say coldly and mercilessly, "Lin Xintang should be grateful to Little Dumpling. If it weren't for Little Dumpling, I would have killed her tonight."
"Eh..." Grandfather's gaze was very fierce, even carrying a terrifying murderous intent.
I was so scared my hair stood on end.
However, pondering Lin Huan's words, I seemed to understand his intent.
Little Dumpling is a Human-Snake Hybrid. If he were to truly lead the Lin Family in the future,
no matter how Lin Huan arranged it, it would be hard for him to be accepted.
If Lin Xintang were there before to desensitize the Lin family's disciples, then it would be paving the way for Little Dumpling...
Understanding this, I said, "Thank you, Grandfather, for your underlying intentions. Little Dumpling must love you to death, adore you! He respects you most, even more than his own parents, Grandma!"