To Love You Again

Ming Zhi Yi's question caused the room to sank in unbearable silence.

This story...was no doubt related to Ming Zhi Yi and Old Lu themselves. 

Those who were quick-witted such as Xiong Zhi and Guan Gu Ri realized that this familiar narrative was what transpired between the fallen Qian family and the Lu family long ago.

The four families did not dwelve into a ruined families' history, thus the present generation had long forgotten the Qian family along with the others who have fallen and never risen.

However, the sudden downfall of the Qian family left a deep impression on the previous generation. Hereby, they transmit this knowledge to their heirs as one of their bedtime stories. The lesson was obviously the importance of power and status. And what fate awaits for those weak people if they have less than others.

"Have you forgotten that story too?" Ming Zhi Yi asked in a cold tone. "Perhaps it was so long ago that your old memory could not recall it?"

Old Lu swallowed hard. The uncontrollable anger that he was trying to push down started to rise in his heart. How could he ever forget that?

That year was the most devastating year for him. Forty years ago, he had lost his wife and rightfully destroyed a family of murderers. 

If it wasn't for the situation right now, he would have condemned Ming Zhi Yi for bringing up this story where his family was obviously the villains.

Ming Zhi Yi narrowed his eyes at Old Lu's silence. "What? Do you want me to make you remember it?" He stood up with a knife in his hands and started to approach the two young misses.

Old Lu bears the shame and hurriedly spoke out loud with gritted teeth, "I remember."

Ming Zhi Yi halted, "What do you remember?"

Old Lu closed his eyes and told what transpired in the story while holding down his fury,  "That family committed a heavy sin. They naturally have to pay for it. Their actions caused their demise."

Ming Zhi Yi played with his knife while he listen to Old Lu's answer. The old man's words did not make him happy. "You did not answer the question completely. That day, the old man offered his grandson, why did you not accept him?"

Old Lu gritted his teeth harder. How could he accept a child that came from the murderer who killed his wife? Unless he was a devil who wanted to torment a child's life to avenge his wife that was caused by his mother, then he would accept him only for that reason. 

But no, the only pity he could give to the child was to spare his life when the Qian family fall into ruins. Which he deeply regretted right now. If he took and burned everything from its root then he would not be having this shameful situation.

That pity...lead everything to here. He should have killed this bastard when he was young. 

"Is it because as you said, that I will turn into a monster? Ha." A laugh escaped from Ming Zhi Yi's lips. "How can you foresee the future? I indeed became one. I become a monster that you feared right now." 

Ming Zhi Yi stepped forward in Xiong Zhi's direction. He untied the rope on her hands.

When Old Lu saw that Ming Zhi Yi was targeting Xiong Zhi, his heart thumped nervously. "What are you doing?!"

"I told you. If you answered me wrongly, I would have to carve your surname on their flawless skin."

"You bastard! I told you the right answer! Stop right there!"

Xiong Zhi still had the sack on her head. She suddenly felt a cold sensation on her wrist. It was Ming Zhi Yi's cold fingertips. His hand that was like an ice block slowly traced her wrist. She felt goosebumps all over. Unconsciously, her body began to tremble.

Even she prepared herself mentally, her body was still afraid of the pain to come.

Ming Zhi Yi felt her shivering. The corner of his eyes was curved. "Ah, I felt like I am bullying someone. Don't worry. The knife is sharp, I can carve your flesh easily like writing on a piece of paper. Just treat it as a tattoo." The cheerfulness in his voice caused the fear in Xiong Zhi's heart to spread fast.

"Hmph! Hmph!" Lu Yin Ze struggled hard. The cut on his hand was getting bigger because of his struggle. The rope binding him was already soaked with his blood.

The rest of the people watched in fear and alarm as Ming Zhi Yi pointed his knife to Xiong Zhi's flawless skin. The tip of the silver knife started to sink in her smooth flesh until blood come out.

"Aghh!" Xiong Zhi could not help but groan. The piercing pain on her arm caused her to be wide awake and felt every movement of the knife on her body. She immediately blocked her scream by biting her lips. 

The knife continued to sink, when it was deep enough, Ming Zhi Yi slowly carved characters on her arm. 

'Lu'

As Xiong Zhi continued to stifle her painful scream, Old Lu and Lu Yin Ze's eyes were red. They struggled, shouted, and begged to stop Ming Zhi Yi. But all of it was futile. Once again, they felt how powerless they were in this situation. 

It felt like an eternity for Xiong Zhi. When Ming Zhi Yi withdrew his hand, the ground beneath Xiong Zhi was full of her blood. 

Xiong Zhi could feel the excruciating pain left behind by the character Lu in her arm. The pain was overwhelming that it almost made her faint. But she struggled to wake up. She could not afford to lose consciousness. 

"Ah, that was so satisfying." Ming Zhi Yi sighed in satisfaction. 

He then turned his head to smile at the weary Old Lu who seemed to lose all energy in his life. 

"Why do you look so down? You have to congratulate yourself for owning a new property! It was none other than the Xiong heiress! How happy Old Xiong would be if he saw his granddaughter's arm were carved with your surname! I bet this would be fun!"

Old Lu could only stare at him with raged eyes and defeat.  "You bastard...this is not even a game....this is only a slaughter for you." 

Ming Zhi Yi just laughed happily. Amidst the defeated look of the people kneeling on the ground, their painful growls and cries, he was the only one laughing happily in this situation. 

If his hand and shirt were not covered in the blood of several people, they would admire his handsome figure laughing under dim lighting.

However, everyone who would look at him would feel discomfort. The Ming Zhi Yi right now was the exact epitome of mania, depravity, and insanity.

When Ming Zhi Yi had his laugh, he finally looked down on his pitiful subjects. 

"The first round was fun. Now, to my second question." 

Tang Xinyang who was worried about Xiong Zhi felt her back turned cold. It would be her turn next.

Ming Zhi approached Old Lu. He raised the old man's chin with the knife that was still stained by Xiong Zhi's blood and flesh.

His dark eyes suddenly turned eerily cold, his voice was freezing as well, "Did you regret not choosing my dignified mother over a prostitute?"