Chapter Twenty-Nine: Words of Censure
At that moment, a sudden exclamation erupted from the crowd: "Look! Isn't that Ouyang Xiaofeng and his sister at the entrance? To think they would have the nerve to show their faces here!" The shout was like a bomb, instantly setting the entire hall ablaze.
Every eye turned sharply toward the entrance. Ouyang Xiaofeng and Ouyang Xiaoyue were seen walking slowly into the grand hall. In an instant, countless gazes—some curious, some disdainful, others hostile—converged upon them. Feeling the weight of these stares, Ouyang Xiaoyue felt her nerves tighten once more, with only one thought echoing in her mind: to get out of there as quickly as possible.
However, Xiao Ling, who was always by her side, keenly sensed her master's inner turmoil and hurriedly urged, "Master, please, just bear with it for now." Hearing this, Ouyang Xiaoyue clenched her fists slightly, suppressing the impulse to turn and flee.
Just then, someone noticed the small, adorable spirit pet cradled in Ouyang Xiaoyue’s arms and cried out in surprise: "Look at what she’s holding! How could she possibly have a spirit pet?"
"Hmph, what’s so surprising about that? The Third Elder probably just took pity on her, that useless good-for-nothing, and gave her a pet to amuse herself with. After all, for a waste like her, that’s the only way to find any sense of relevance," another sharp, biting voice chimed in, drawing raucous laughter from those nearby.
Though mocking words swirled incessantly around them, Ouyang Xiaoyue walked on as if she heard nothing, following Ouyang Xiaofeng deeper into the hall.
Along the way, Ouyang Xiaofeng met the disdainful and contemptuous glares of the crowd. He gritted his teeth, his fists clenching tighter and tighter, as if he were trying to channel all his fury into his locked knuckles.
In truth, he had not wanted to bring Xiaoyue with him today. Yet, when he had roused from his sleep that morning, he was surprised to find her already waiting quietly in the courtyard, her delicate face glowing with anticipation and excitement.
"Fourth Sister, Second Brother, you’re finally here! I thought..." As Ouyang Xiaoyue appeared, she instantly drew the attention of everyone present. Ouyang Chenxi, who had been the center of attention, breathed a secret sigh of relief. After all, she truly loathed being constantly compared to the scions of the other three great families.
However, whenever Ouyang Chenxi’s gaze fell upon Ouyang Xiaoyue’s flower-like, jade-perfect face, an involuntary memory of the excruciating pain from the day her wrist had been snapped surfaced in her mind. The hatred buried deep in her heart began to sprout and spread like wild spring grass.
Suddenly, Ouyang Chenxi’s eyes were locked onto a flash of fiery red in Ouyang Xiaoyue’s arms. At first, she merely felt the color looked vaguely familiar, but as the spirit pet shifted, revealing a cunning and adorable fox face, Ouyang Chenxi nearly screamed out loud.
It was them! It was her!
Was this not the very black-robed person who had humiliated her so thoroughly at the black market? Recalling the misery of her snapped wrist and the unbearable shame of that day, Ouyang Chenxi felt an urge to rush forward and kill this detestable woman with her own hands.
Yet, despite the rage boiling within her, a shred of lingering reason reminded her: this was not the perfect moment for revenge. She knew that if she wanted her enemy to truly taste the depths of pain and despair, she had to be patient and wait until Ouyang Xiaoyue had fallen into an abyss from which there was no return. Only then would she deliver the fatal blow, ensuring she could never rise again.
"Hmph, thought what? Did you really think we would be afraid to come?"
Ouyang Xiaofeng raised his eyes slightly, his cold, sharp gaze piercing through everything as he locked eyes with Ouyang Chenxi. His expression held an undisguised defiance and disdain, revealing his utter contempt for the person standing before him.