Zong Ziheng woke up from the nightmare.
He dreamed that Yan Shu was holding a dagger, piercing his flesh bit by bit, cutting and scratching, digging out the golden core that had been condensed by his life-long cultivation from his dantian, he yelled and begged for mercy, he was in pain.
But that "Yan Shu" took off the human skin on his face, revealing a familiar and ferocious face, it was actually his biological father—Zong Minghe!
"Big brother, big brother." Zong Zixiao hugged Zong Ziheng in his arms like coaxing a child, stroked his back, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and said distressedly, "Are you having a nightmare? Don't be afraid, I'm here Here it is, all right."
It took a long time for Zong Ziheng to withdraw from the chaos. He looked at Zong Zixiao, his eyes were as big and black as a deer, but at this moment they were full of fragility, helplessness, and despair.
Zong Zixiao's heart was pulled together. The big brother in his mind was always gentle and strong, as if nothing could stop him. He had never shown such an expression before.
"Brother, don't do this." Zong Zixiao touched his face and said softly, "Miss Hua's death was not your fault, we will definitely avenge her."
"It's my fault." Zong Ziheng said regretfully, "She shouldn't have been involved in this matter, I lied to her."
"The person who lied to her was Concubine Shen, not you."
Zong Ziheng shook his head: "What's the difference?"
"Brother..."
"How did we get out?" He couldn't remember when he fainted.
"Xu Zhinan and Qi Mengsheng gathered everyone in the underground palace together, and Father rescued us."
Just the word "Father" made Zongzi Heng tremble all over.
Yan Shu, no, every word Lu Zhaofeng said in the underground palace was like a gangrene, eating his soul and flesh. He didn't fully believe in Lu Zhaofeng. It is very possible that those words were half-truths and adulterated in order to slander his father and separate their father and son. He must not be easily fooled, but he will not allow himself to escape out of fear, he must find out the truth.
Zong Ziheng suddenly remembered something. When he was devastated by Hua Yuxin's death, and when Lu Zhaofeng was about to kill him, he said a word, that sentence was...
"Uncle!"
Zong Zixiao was puzzled and said, "What? Uncle? What's wrong with Uncle?"
Zong Ziheng looked forward in horror, his body ached and cold.
Their uncle Zong Mingfu is also their master, the most powerful monk of the Daming Zong Clan, he has been in seclusion since he became an adult, just to break through the eighth heaven of Zongxuan Sword.
But what Lu Zhaofeng meant was that his uncle... is gone
"Uncle has been in retreat for five years."
"Yeah, it's been five years." Zong Zixiao looked at his elder brother worriedly.
It is not uncommon for high-level monks, especially those who have reached the master level like his uncle, to retreat for more than ten or ten years, and no one will disturb them easily.
If, if his uncle is really gone, the only one who can do this in Wuji Palace is probably his father.
"Do you miss Uncle?" Zong Zixiao said softly, "Uncle has already reached the eighth heaven before retreating, and he will definitely be able to break through."
Zong Ziheng secretly clenched the quilt tightly. He took a deep breath and calmed down: "After we left the underground palace, what did Father say?"
"Yan Shu has escaped, and my father wants him from the entire Nine Provinces."
"The Five Aggregates Gate?"
"Nowadays, any family of the Immortal Sect, whoever has a monk who died from stealing pills, must ask the Wuyun Sect for an explanation. When such a scum comes out, no one will believe that the Wuyun Sect has no knowledge. Now, Liu Zheng and his son are in Wuji The palace is begging for mercy."
Liu Zheng is one of the elders of Wuyun Sect and Zong Ruoning's future father-in-law. The former head of the Wuyun Sect died, and the current head is a pill thief who was punished by everyone. He also took away the treasure of the town school to drive the mountain whip. Zong can keep the Wuyun Gate, and only Liu Zheng and his son, who have a marriage contract with Zong, can intercede.
"When something like this happens, Ruoning must not be allowed to marry."
"Well, how can Third Sister marry such a family?"
The eldest son Heng pondered for a moment: "Where is Hua Juncheng?"
Zong Zixiao obviously didn't want to say: "Hua Juncheng arrested all Wuyun Sect disciples who came to Jiaolonghui, and the head of Huaying sent to Wuji Palace to demand severe punishment from father. At this time, there is a stalemate."
Zong Ziheng closed his eyes, his complexion was so pale that it was almost transparent, as if it would disappear in an instant.
"It's chaotic outside, don't go out these few days, and rest at ease."
"Let me see Hua Juncheng." Zong Ziheng said hoarsely, "I didn't protect his sister well, so I should apologize to him."
Zong Zixiao was silent.
"Go."
"Father won't let you leave Qinghui Pavilion, and won't let anyone in except me."
"… What?"
"Brother, if father blames you, you just admit your mistake." Zong Zixiao pressed Zong Ziheng's shoulder, "You have suffered such serious injuries, you must not be punished again."
"...Father, did you say why?"
Zong Zixiao shook his head.
The eldest son Heng felt cold in his heart. Could it be that he was worried about what "Yan Shu" said to him in the underground palace
"Where are Brother Xu and Qi Mengsheng?"
"Still in the city for the time being, my father summoned them yesterday to discuss how to arrest Yan Shu."
"Xiao Jiu, find a way to help me hide from my father, I want to see them."
Zong Zixiao looked at Zong Ziheng suspiciously: "Why?"
"..."
"Brother, are you hiding something from me?" Zong Zixiao frowned, "What happened in the underground palace, what did Yan Shu tell you?"
Zong Ziheng lowered his head, he was not good at lying, not to mention Zong Zixiao was extremely smart, at this time he said "nothing", it just seemed to be trying to cover up. He was silent for a while, and then said: "It's about Cheng Yanzhi. This matter is a bit private, so I can't tell you."
Zong Zixiao didn't believe it at all, but seeing Zong Ziheng's poor condition, he couldn't bear to press him: "If you don't want to say it, I just don't ask, but now the guards inside and outside the Wuji Palace are heavily guarded, and there are barriers everywhere, and there are people on our territory. For such a big event, my father will naturally strengthen the guards, and it will be difficult for them to come in."
Zongzi Heng took a deep breath.
Could it be that he was under house arrest
"Brother, you can rest at ease and heal your wounds, I will be with you every day." Zong Zixiao held his elder brother's hand, "If you don't want to see Concubine Shen, I will stop you for you."
Thinking of Shen Shiyao, Zong Ziheng's already suffering heart became angry again. Hua Yuxin's death, she could not absolve herself of the responsibility, from now on, how will he face his mother
Zong Zixiao smoothed Zong Ziheng's frowning eyebrows with his cold fingers: "Brother, I don't want to see you like this, I know you don't like to stay in the palace, you wait for me for another year, and when I grow up we will Go away, take your orchids, let's go south, live the life you like."
Zong Ziheng stared at his younger brother, his eyes could not hide the sadness, but he still forced a smile: "Are you really willing to give up the glory and wealth here, and live a casual cultivating life with your eldest brother?"
Zong Zixiao said seriously and firmly: "Yes, I will come back to visit my father and mother every year, and stay with my eldest brother at other times."
Zong Ziheng stroked his younger brother's hair, feeling very sore in his heart.
Suddenly there was a notification sound outside the door, it was Zong Minghe who had come.
Zong Ziheng's body stiffened almost instantly, Zong Zixiao squeezed his hand: "Brother, don't worry."
Zong Minghe walked in surrounded by Shen Shiyao and his entourage, and sat comfortably in the chair prepared by the servant.
"Father, Concubine Shen." The eldest son Xiao bowed his hands and greeted him.
"Father, mother." The eldest son Heng forced himself to calm down, his face was pale and weak, and there was nothing wrong with it.
"Heng'er, your father is here to see you." Shen Shiyao said softly with tears in her smile, "You need to get well soon."
"My son and minister are not filial, and my father and mother are worried." Zong Ziheng said that he was about to get out of bed.
Zong Zixiao quickly supported him: "Brother, don't move."
Zong Minghe waved his hand, but his attitude was very peaceful: "You are injured, so there is no need to be formal."
"Thank you, Father."
Zong Minghe sized him up: "How is your recovery?"
"It's much better, and the wounds are all healed." Zong Ziheng was a frank and upright person, and he was never used to lying and cheating, but at this moment, he devoted all his attention to not revealing his true emotions in front of his biological father. He looked at Zong Minghe with a flattered expression, just like every time he received his father's attention and affirmation in the past, "Thank you father for your concern."
"Well, fortunately, you are all fine." Zong Minghe glanced at Zong Zixiao, "The two emperors of this seat were almost killed by thieves on my Zong's territory. It is simply unreasonable."
"Yan Shu has a human face and a heart of beasts, and is full of cunning, no one expected to be like this." The eldest son Heng said, "Thanks to the father for saving us."
Zong Minghe nodded, and said in an ordinary tone: "You all step back first, and Ziheng and I will have a few words alone."
Zong Ziheng's heart tightened, his pupils contracted violently, and a chill immediately climbed up his spine.
No doubt about him, everyone backed out and closed the door gently.
Zong Minghe stared at Zong Ziheng: "This incident has caused panic in the entire world of cultivating immortals. The Huaying faction is clamoring for me to punish the Wuyun Sect severely, and the Wuyun Sect is eager to cut off the table with Yan Shu, asking me to uphold justice. , don’t wrong a good person, tell me, what should I do?”
"This matter is really difficult."
"Embarrassed?" Zong Minghe sneered, "It's not just embarrassing, it's just a matter of desperation! That night, I invited you, Xu Zhinan and others into the palace. In fact, you have already planned, why didn't you say anything?" Very strict.
The eldest son Heng panicked and said: "Father, it's not that I'm concealing something intentionally, I really don't know about some things. Since I returned to my name last year, the trial of Chen Xingyong has been handed over to the Cangyu Sect. I only know that Chen Xingyong is not dead, but I never thought that Qi Mengsheng would bring him to the Jiaolong Club to test each person one by one."
Zong Minghe squinted his eyes and looked at Zongzi Heng. In his impression, his eldest son was pure and upright, even a little too straightforward. He didn't know how to turn around. It didn't look like he was lying. He said coldly: "You and Xu Zhinan have a very close personal relationship, so did he not tell you anything?"
"Before we parted, we were in touch with each other, but later, he was seriously injured, and his two junior brothers died. He fell into a slump and we lost contact for several months. When we met in Daming this time, he didn't say anything. , Maybe it’s because I’m afraid that there will be too many people here, maybe it’s because... I’m also wary of my ministers.”
Zong Ziheng's hands were already sweating under the quilt, and he was afraid that he would miss a single word. He kept thinking back to Lu Zhaofeng's words that it was his biological father who wanted his own Dan, and when he faced this man alone, he felt horrified.
Zong Minghe stared at Zong Ziheng silently for a while: "Did Yan Shu say anything to you in the underground palace?"
Zong Ziheng shook his head: "He used a Wu Sheng brush to draw the appearance of a stranger. My servant was caught off guard and was attacked by him. After that, Miss Hua..." He lowered his head as if overwhelmed.
"Any clues that can help us catch Yan Shu?"
"For the time being, son... I can't think of it."
Zong Minghe's face was sullen, he couldn't ask any questions, and lost his patience: "In the past few days, you will honestly recuperate in Qinghui Pavilion, don't run around, and you don't need to take care of the rest, understand?"
"My son understands."
Zong Minghe stood up.
"Father." The eldest son Heng said, "Should something like this happen, should Ruoning's engagement be canceled?"
"This matter is also out of your control."
"..."
Zong Minghe turned his head and left.
Zongzi Heng lay down on the couch with exhausted strength, his eyes widened, and he stared blankly at the void, as if he was the rest of his life after a catastrophe.
Now there is only one thought in his mind, and that is to meet his uncle. He had to personally verify what kind of person his father was.