Protoganist's Sidekick Fights Back-Chapter 53: Bai Yunxi Speaks

The soft glow of lanterns cast flickering shadows across the courtyard, their gentle sway mirroring the warm atmosphere in the air.

Under the dim light, Dong Yue's calm gaze rested on Bai Yunxi, curiosity evident in the slight arch of her brow.

"So," Dong Yue began, her voice steady, yet carrying a weight that made Bai Yunxi unconsciously straighten her back. "My son fell in love with you. I'm curious—how did he pursue you?"

Bai Yunxi's fingers curled slightly at her sides. A faint warmth crept up her cheeks as she glanced at Su Kang, but before she could find the right words, Dong Yue raised a hand, cutting off any response.

"Kang'er, leave with your father."

Su Chen, who had remained mostly quiet, gazed at his wife's sudden command.

"I want to speak with my daughter-in-law alone, and I think you must have some questions for Su Kang as well " she said simply, her smile still present but firm.

"Go, leave us alone."

Su Chen didn't object. Rising to his feet, he cast a sharp glance at Bai Yunxi before turning back to his son.

"Come with me. We need to talk."

Su Kang hesitated briefly. His eyes lingered on Bai Yunxi before he finally inclined his head. "Yes, Father."

The sound of retreating footsteps faded into the night, leaving only the whisper of the wind rustling through the trees.

The moment they were alone, the air between Dong Yue and Bai Yunxi grew heavier, a silent pressure settling around them.

Bai Yunxi clasped her hands together, steadying herself. She had known this conversation was inevitable.

Yet now, standing before Dong Yue with no distractions, the weight of her choices pressed down on her like an unseen force.

Memories surfaced, unbidden—fragments of a past both bitter and sweet.

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Her childhood days, where laughter once echoed through halls that no longer felt like home.

Her teenage years, marked by ambition, achievements, and the cruel hand of fate that robbed her of control.

A marriage that had bound her to Li Xiao, once a source of stability, later a chain of regret.

The joy of motherhood—then the nightmare of poisoning, helplessness, and the quiet agony of her parents' disappearance.

She had seen too much. Suffered too much.

But in her darkest moments, Su Kang had stood beside her.

He had shielded her son, risked his life for him, and given him a future when she had nothing left to offer.

He had found her mother, broken the chains around her heart, and given her not just a new body but a new will.

She had not merely fallen for him—she had given him everything.

Bai Yunxi lifted her gaze, the storm inside her settling into something resolute.

"I will tell you everything from the beginning," she said, her voice steady.

Dong Yue observed her in silence, as if sensing the turmoil beneath her composed facade.

Bai Yunxi continued, her voice unwavering.

"I don't want to hide anything. Because no matter what happens, you are my mother-in-law, and Su Kang is my husband."

A flicker of surprise crossed Dong Yue's face. The shift in Bai Yunxi's aura was subtle yet undeniable—no longer hesitant, but firm, unwavering.

"Husband already?" Dong Yue murmured, her brow furrowing slightly. The words hung in the air, their implications settling deep.

But she remained silent, waiting.

And Bai Yunxi began to speak.

---

Su Kang followed his father in silence as they entered a private hall, the scent of aged sandalwood and parchment filling the space.

The warm glow of the lanterns flickered against the wooden walls, casting elongated shadows that danced with the quiet tension between them.

Su Chen gestured for Su Kang to sit before taking his own seat. His fingers tapped against the polished wood of the table, a rhythmic sound that seemed to echo with unspoken scrutiny.

He studied Su Kang for a long moment, his piercing gaze like a sword seeking the smallest crack in his son's armor.

"Tell me, Kang'er," he finally said, his voice calm, yet carrying the weight of something far sharper. "Where did you get such a detailed map of an unexplored realm?"

Su Kang's heart tightened. He had expected this question—but expecting and answering were two different things.

He couldn't tell his father the truth—that he had foreseen the future. Nor could he reveal that he had already ventured into the realm in a different timeline.

So, he chose the path of half-truths.

"It wasn't entirely detailed," Su Kang admitted, his voice carefully measured. "The information regarding the spiritual plant regions—I obtained it from people I encountered during an accident."

Su Chen's eyes narrowed slightly. "And these people... they had already explored the realm?"

"To an extent," Su Kang replied. "Their knowledge wasn't complete, but it was enough to guide me toward useful locations."

A heavy silence stretched between them. His father's gaze remained unreadable, his thoughts a mystery behind dark, assessing eyes.

Then, with a slow nod, Su Chen leaned back.

"I see," he murmured.

But inwardly, doubt flickered through his mind.

If such a group of people had truly discovered a secret realm, why would they wander so far from it? And if they had explored it, why had they not taken anything of value?

Something didn't add up.

His fingers tightened slightly against the table. This realm would not remain hidden forever—eventually, others would find it. But for it to have gone undiscovered until now...

"It must have appeared recently," Su Chen thought.

And yet, another possibility loomed in his mind.

"My son must have obtained some opportunities for himself."

Su Kang watched his father carefully, suppressing a sigh of relief. He had steered the conversation away from dangerous truths.

Su Chen's voice dropped, the sharp edge of his words cutting through the air like a blade.

"Good. Now tell me the truth, Su Kang."

Su Kang stiffened.

His father's eyes locked onto his own, unwavering, relentless.

"Who is Bai Yunxi?"

Su Kang had anticipated his father's question.

Su Chen's fingers drummed a measured rhythm against the wood as his icy gaze bore into his son—each tap echoing the weight of unspoken judgment.

"Does she have any connection to Li Fang?"

In that split second of hesitation, Su Kang's eyes faltered—a nearly imperceptible pause that did not escape his father.

A tight nod. "Yes."

A heavy silence fell, thick with implication. The Su family had long supported Li Fang, and Su Chen already knew all too well who Li Fang's mother was.

Su Chen's face darkened. His features, usually unreadable, twisted briefly into a mask of shock and disbelief. His jaw clenched; his hand curled into a fist atop the table.

"You..." he exhaled sharply, struggling to maintain composure. "Do you have any idea what you've done?"

Su Kang remained silent, his resolve steady despite the tension crackling between them.

Then Su Chen's voice dropped, low and grave. "You took your sect brother's mother as your lover. Do you understand what that means?"

Su Kang pressed his lips together. "I do."

"You don't," Su Chen cut in, his tone slicing through the stillness. "Do you know how the powerful families will see us now?"

"They already whisper, mocking our heritage as barbarians from the Southern Barren Lands. But if this leaks, they won't just whisper—they'll laugh openly, disgracing our name without mercy."

Su Chen's eyes searched his son's face, demanding a sign of regret or hesitation. But Su Kang met that burning gaze without a flicker of doubt.

"Explain yourself," Su Chen ordered, his voice hard and unyielding.

Su Kang drew a slow breath. His mind raced, yet he knew he had to choose his words with care.

"I saved Yunxi five years ago," he began evenly. "Our first meeting was... awkward."

A long, silent beat passed as Su Chen absorbed his words.

"As time passed, that admiration grew deeper. I never thought of pursuing her back then—I only wanted to ensure she and her son were safe." His voice softened.

"When Li Fang left for the Central Region, I stayed by her side. The more time I spent with her, the more I realized just how much I liked her. Eventually, I proposed. And after learning everything, she accepted me."

For a moment, Su Chen's eyes softened, then narrowed as he searched his son's face for any sign of faltering.

Silence reigned again—a silence heavy enough to crush hopes. Su Chen's mind churned; Li Fang was a genius cultivating in the Central Region.

Should Li Fang ever return allied with a major sect, particularly the Heavenly Sword Sect, our Su Family could be eclipsed within decades. If he turned against us... it would be a catastrophe.

His fingers tapped the table in a relentless, staccato rhythm. His gaze was a mix of calculation and warning.

Su Chen leaned forward, his voice dropping into something lower, quieter—more dangerous.

"You've made a dangerous choice, Su Kang." The words carried weight, like the slow unsheathing of a blade.

"If Li Fang returns with the Heavenly Sword Sect's backing and demands retribution, do you think the Su Family can withstand that pressure?"