"If it was him, then he wouldn’t have blinded himself." I couldn’t stand others slandering Yu Longting, and my expression inadvertently became serious.

Zhang Shuying chewed on peanuts and took a sip of cola, "Even if it wasn’t him, the person who gouged your eyes has a deep connection with him."

In the past, I always thought Zhang Shuying was exceptionally intelligent; if the person he encountered wasn’t Yu Longting, they would have been thoroughly manipulated by him.

Now, his perception of people and events seemed even more insightful.

Just by looking at the Snake Eye, he could guess the situation with almost pinpoint accuracy.

"Regardless, this matter is long settled. Bringing it up again is meaningless," I said.

Zhang Shuying nodded repeatedly, fully agreeing with me, and gulped down his cola. "It truly is meaningless; the Snake Lord gave you his own, what more is there to say?"

"Enough about me. Let’s talk about you." I stared steadily at Zhang Shuying.

Zhang Shuying felt uneasy under my gaze, placing his cola can on the ground, "What do you want to say about me?"

"Let me ask bluntly, what was your reason for killing your father?" I asked directly.

"That’s certainly... quite presumptuous!" Zhang Shuying’s expression was exaggerated, and a hint of killing intent flashed in his half-closed eyes.

If I hadn’t had some rapport with him, I reckon others asking this would likely get attacked.

He stared at me for quite a while, gradually suppressing his aggressive gaze, and slowly said, "It’s actually nothing; I just found out he was going to have another daughter."

I held my breath, waiting for Zhang Shuying to continue.

With Zhang Shuying’s character, it’s impossible that he killed his father for such a shallow reason.

There must be more to the story...

"He chose the Shichen, and went into the bridal chamber with my first love." Zhang Shuying looked at me deeply, as though his gaze was about to bore a hole into my face.

As if I was the first love who betrayed him...

Then, I understood. "Were they trying to create a Cauldron Furnace for Ancestor of Foxes?"

"I didn’t know that when I killed my damned old man," Zhang Shuying gave a sinister smile, taking out a dagger and lightly licking it with his tongue.

The dagger cut his tongue, filling his mouth with blood, like a bloodthirsty monster. "They were caught in the act by my mom, and not long after, she fell off a cliff. After you appeared and told me about the Ancestor of Foxes’ Soul, I seemed to understand the Cauldron Furnace matter..."

"Why are you licking the dagger like that? Planning to cut your tongue off?" My gaze couldn’t help but follow the slowly dripping blood on the blade, feeling inexplicably complicated.

The Ancestor of Foxes seduced men like Lin Gang, Su Chongwen, Zhang Shuying’s father, and perhaps Sangsang’s man...

The experiences of Medicinal Snake Sangsang and the Meishan Mountain Witchcraft she knew irresistibly reminded me of the Ancestor of Foxes’ deceitful tricks.

These men were all seduced, but their inherent wickedness was undeniable.

It was merely awakened by Ancestor of Foxes...

Zhang Shuying stated deliberately, "At the time, I only killed my damned old man to avenge my mom. I didn’t touch Lin Lu; she married into a good family."

"It shows you must have realized that girl was only involved with your father but... wasn’t part of the exact plan." I thought inwardly that perhaps that girl was half a victim.

Just like Su Chongwen harmed my mom back then, he too harbored intentions.

He made my mom transfer her affections from Zhang Che, completing Su Chongwen’s plan for her to give birth to me.

But Zhang Che differed from Zhang Shuying; Zhang Che’s love was deep as the ocean.

No matter the past events, he remained where he was, waiting for my mom, never leaving.

Suddenly, in the silence, I heard footsteps, my tense back straightened, "Who is it? Didn’t I say, I want to chat more with Zhang Shuying, and no one should disturb us?"