301 Shall We?

"He's got the grit."

"Or maybe he's got a death wish."

Xia Haoran looked at Rong as he continued, "Death wish? I don't think so. Ruru really loves him. I don't think she will hurt him."

Rong observed Ru's expressions that were darkening because of how abruptly she was stopped. With a graceful simplicity, he said, "It's a battle between rationality and emotions. Have you ever seen your Ruru being ruled by her feelings?"

Xia Haoran paused before he said in a casual tone, "That was back then. Ruru from back then and now are two very different people."

"And she thinks you are mature now." Rong shook his head and rubbed Xia Haoran's head saying, "A leopard can't change its spots."

Xia Haoran couldn't comprehend the meaning behind Rong's words but he didn't need to either.

On the side, Ru stood up to face Xiao Zhiren as she repeated, "No? Are you really trying to stop me right now from killing her?"

Ling Qiaolian tried to crawl up to Xiao Zhiren. Since her tongue was cut, she could only make incomprehensible sounds but from her pathetic expressions and tears in her eyes, one could tell she was groveling for her petty life before him. As if he was her life savior. 

This scene ignited the fury within Ru vehemently. 

"I don't want you to kill her," Xiao Zhiren said after trying hard to suppress his fear. 

"Oh, really?" Ru threw away the sword that originally belonged to Ling Qiaolian carelessly on the other side of the hall as she stood before Xiao Zhiren with a solemn expression. "You do realize that she isn't just the villain in my life. She had done no better with you and your family. And you still wish to save her?"

At this time, Xiao Zhiyuan had been quietly watching from sidelines moved up to his brother, and tugged at his sleeve saying, "Bro, that's not our mother. Don't get involved in this." All this while he didn't dare to look at Ru's face. As if he was really scared of her presence now. 

Keeping her voice level to a calming state, she said, "Listen to your brother. Step back."

"I'm not trying to save her," began Xiao Zhiren. "I just think that it should be handled legally. She is a criminal. I'm sure..."

"Save it!" Ru's voice didn't even let him finish. "You might be the saint, I've always been the devil. If it's my revenge, why would I hand it over to someone else?"

"Is it worth it to sully your hands with her blood?"

"Yes!" was Ru's reply. She stretched her hand behind her as she said, "Haoran, give me your sword."

Xia Haoran didn't even need to be said twice as he put it in her hand. 

"Not only my hands but even I'm also drenched in people's blood from head to toe. My hands can't be sullied when even my soul is already tarnished. What a joke!"

Taking a step towards Ling Qiaolian, she added, "There is no one who can stop me today."

Ru let out a burst of mocking laughter. "You?" Shaking her head, she went on, "The reason why I'm stuck in a predicament today is that I did the mistake of listening to my feelings instead of my rationality. Whenever it came to you, I always let my feelings rule me. Sorry, but today Young Master Ru is not even left with emotions."

Ru dragged Ling Qiaolian from her hair towards the wall and used the shuriken to nail her hands against the wall. Shuriken went right into the hollow of her palms and stuck into the wooden door behind her. 

Using the sword to stroke Ling Qiaolian's body, she added, "Today, I'll slice your skin off with three thousand and six hundred cuts until only your skeleton is left. Don't worry, I will let you see the process until the very end. In fact, when I corrode your skeleton with my special acid, I'll even do my best to make you feel the pain till the very end!"

Her words and mannerism only evoked fear in weak hearted people. Especially Xiao Zhiren and Xiao Zhiyuan who were left shaken. She didn't even flinch when she said it. And it didn't seem like she was kidding either. It was obvious that she planned on doing it with her own hands and she was planning on doing it exactly how she said it.

"Chop! Chop!" Ru clapped her hands urging, "Soft-hearted people can find their way out. Don't say this Young Master was heartless enough to not even warn you beforehand because this scene is gonna get unsightly. If you don't want nightmares for the rest of your lives, run for your dear lives!"

"When did Ruru started talking so much nonsense? She used to never announce it like this before. She would quietly do it and vanish." Xia Haoran was wondering out loud which earned him a smack on his head from his Rong brother. "Why did you hit me?"

"Can't you even understand that she is being thoughtful?" said Rong with a complicated gaze. "It's very obvious that Ru is worried about that youngster, Xiao Zhiyuan. She knows that today is gonna leave a big impression on him. It seems she really cares about him."

Xia Haoran's brows creased up, "Xiao Zhiyuan? Why does she care about him?" He turned to Rong as he complained, "I'm telling you Rong brother, I'm not sharing my brothers with anyone."

Rong rolled his eyes at this big kid. Just exactly where did Ru get the idea that he was a grown-up now? He was still that whiny kid who never let his brothers play with others. Because he was scared others will steal his brothers from him. Slinging an arm around his neck, he said, "Relax! I don't think there is anyone who can take your place in her life or in her heart. You're always our most favorite younger brother."

"It better be like that," said Xia Haoran as his brows eased up slightly. However, he was still vigilantly staring at Xiao Zhiyuan's trembling figure. He looked so weak and vulnerable. Clearly, all of this had done huge damage to his mental health. Poor him! His young soul is left scarred for life. Xia Haoran couldn't help pitying Xiao Zhiyuan not realizing that they were almost the same age. 

"Little brother!"

Xia Haoran was startled out of his thoughts when Ru called him.

"Yes? Yes, I'm here!"

"Ask your junior brother to escort his uncles out of here."

"Oh." Xia Haoran just had to look at Zhang Han who nodded in understanding before trying to drag both his uncles out of there.

Ru looked at Xia Haoran and Rong before saying, "You both should leave as well."

Then she looked at Ling Qiaolian's pale face as she smiled, "Now, shall we begin?"