Chapter Thirteen: Overwhelming Pressure

Ouyang Tianxing radiated an overwhelming spiritual force, his imposing presence pressing down like the weight of Mount Tai, invisibly enveloping Ouyang Xiaoyue.

Confronted with such terrifying pressure, Xiaoyue’s already delicate frame trembled slightly.

An unprecedented sense of crisis swept through her mind, causing her heart to pound uncontrollably.

Yet, despite the immense strain on her body, she gritted her teeth, refusing to yield.

A thin trickle of bright red blood seeped from the corner of her mouth, dripping to the ground and forming startling crimson blossoms.

Under this intense spiritual oppression, Xiaoyue's knees began to bend slightly, but with astonishing willpower and unyielding determination, she forced herself to remain upright, refusing to fall.

She lifted her head with difficulty, her gaze fixed unwaveringly on Ouyang Tianxing before her.

Her face was as pale as paper, utterly drained of color, yet astonishingly, within her beautiful eyes there was no trace of panic—only calmness and composure.

At that moment, a gentle voice whispered softly in her ear: “Master, if you truly cannot bear it, I can share the burden for you...” Without hesitation, Xiaoyue interrupted firmly, “I can endure it!” Then she focused all her attention once more on the unfolding situation.

Seeing Xiaoyue maintain such poise amidst adversity, Ouyang Tianxing’s expression darkened further, growing increasingly grim and bitter.

His eyes blazed with fury as his powerful hands slammed forcefully onto the priceless century-old huanghuali wood table beside him.

With a thunderous crash, the sturdy table shattered into countless tiny fragments, splintering and scattering everywhere.

Rising to his feet, Ouyang Tianxing bellowed harshly at Xiaoyue, “Kneel!”

Yet, facing his roar, Xiaoyue straightened her spine and stood motionless, her cold voice cutting through the air with two defiant words: “I won’t.”

Her tone was even colder than her pale complexion. She wiped the blood at the corner of her lips with a trembling hand, her clear, fearless gaze unwavering as she met Ouyang Tianxing’s eyes.

“Utterly unrepentant! You ordered your personal maid to steal the family’s secret manuals and secretly used forbidden techniques against the old family head and others. Had it not been for the guest elder discovering this today, who knows how long you could have deceived everyone with that innocent facade!”

The elder in gray squinted, his eyes sharp as blades, piercing through her as if to cut her to the core.

“Elder! All these deeds were committed by me alone, and have nothing whatsoever to do with the Fifth Miss!”

At these words, the maid, Cuizhu, prostrated herself repeatedly before the gray-clad elder.

Her forehead struck the hard ground with heavy thuds, blood slowly staining her hair, though she seemed oblivious to it all.

“Family head! Elder!” she cried hoarsely between bows, “I beg you to show mercy and spare the Fifth Miss!”

Nearby, Ouyang Xiaofeng struggled with all his might, trying to break free from two guards who firmly gripped his shoulders.

No matter how hard he fought, he could not escape their iron-like grasp, forced to watch helplessly as his sister endured the humiliation.

Suddenly, a voice echoed in Xiaoyue’s mind: “Master, I sense something is wrong with this maid!”

At that moment, the gray-clad elder’s eyes widened in rage as he pointed accusingly at Cuizhu. “What a reckless wretched servant!”