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There's no denying it—Jiang Rou is a stunningly beautiful woman, the kind of seductress that could be considered dangerous. That slight, tantalizing flicker of her alluring eyes could evoke boundless temptation.

Even the faintest, simplest gesture from her might make one feel she's reached the pinnacle of beauty…

If such a temptress targeted a man, Qin Fang figured that aside from those entirely indifferent to women, no normal man could ever resist her.

Although he managed to escape, he had to admit that had Jiang Rou known his true nature and launched more than a probing gesture, he might have already been hit by her gun.

The more he pondered over this, the more unsettled Qin Fang felt.

The effects of the Heavenly Demon Sound are potent, capable of hypnotizing a person into falling prey without even realizing it—doing or saying things they wouldn't even remember afterward…

Qin Fang carries far too many secrets, most of which are unspeakable. If exposed, his fate would undoubtedly be nothing short of tragic…

For his safety and to protect his secrets, Qin Fang felt he must stay far away from this sorceress, Jiang Rou. Ideally… he'd never see her again.

After leaving the racetrack, Qin Fang temporarily cast aside all the matters involving Tu San, Han Long, Jiang Rou, and the Demon Sect, allowing himself a brief respite.

Without waiting for Qu Yuancheng, Qin Fang returned alone to the Qu family's mountaintop estate. Tang Feifei and Chen Qi hadn't returned yet—they were perhaps still enjoying themselves—so Qin Fang didn't bother them.

Within the Qu family's old mansion, there weren't many people present—aside from the elderly couple, only Qin Fang's mother, Qin Qing, and the Qu family's servants remained.

"Greetings, young master…"

As Qin Fang arrived, the Qu family's old steward, Uncle Fu, happened to walk out and greeted him respectfully.

This form of address was something Qin Fang could never fully get used to. Though he knew correcting it would be futile, he chose to remain silent and merely nodded at Uncle Fu.

"Young master, the old master has something urgent to discuss with you. He's been waiting half a day already…"

Initially, Qin Fang thought this polite exchange would end there and the two would part ways, but Uncle Fu unexpectedly mentioned this.

Upon hearing these words, Qin Fang's brows furrowed slightly, revealing some displeasure in his expression.

The "old master" Uncle Fu referred to wasn't Qu Zhenhang or Qu Zhenyu, the two brothers, but rather Elder Master Qu—a man whose actions caused irreparable tragedy for Qin Fang's family.

Though Qin Fang typically respected the elderly, he felt no goodwill toward Elder Master Qu. If not for his deliberate interference back then, Qin Fang's father wouldn't have mysteriously disappeared, leaving his pregnant mother to endure endless hardships far away…

All of this—the suffering, the loss—was caused by that old man! Even his father's mysterious disappearance likely bore traces of the old man's "poison hand"…

Currently, Qin Fang lacked concrete evidence to substantiate these suspicions. If he possessed such proof, he wouldn't hesitate to confront Elder Master Qu, irrespective of his status as Qin Fang's maternal grandfather.

A father's vendetta remains unresolved!

Though he wasn't someone who indulges in blind vengeance, circumstances like these demanded careful consideration from Qin Fang.

"If he wants to see me, he should come himself…"

Qin Fang's dislike for the old man was evident in his response—he had no intention of bowing to the whims of someone he neither belonged to nor respected, even while staying at the Qu family's estate.

"The old master is already waiting near the young master's room…"

Uncle Fu's expression remained neutral, seemingly unfazed by Qin Fang's attitude, perhaps having anticipated such a reaction. He continued to speak courteously.

"Hmm?"

Hearing this, Qin Fang's brows furrowed tighter. Clearly, the old man was insistent on meeting him, though his intentions remained unclear. Qin Fang realized he would only learn the truth by confronting him.

While Qin Fang harbored resentment toward Elder Master Qu, refusing entirely to see him might seem petty. Some things needed to be addressed, and confronting the old man was part of his purpose in coming here.

Since the old man took the initiative to approach, Qin Fang decided that avoiding him would seem distinctly childish. Thus, he continued walking toward his room.

Despite Uncle Fu's comment, the old man hadn't actually entered Qin Fang's room—a testament to his adherence to propriety. Instead, he sat in a chair near the doorway, waiting for Qin Fang's return.

The elderly figure trembled slightly, his frail health apparent. Perhaps waiting for so long had taken its toll—his pale complexion and stiffened joints starkly reflected his condition.

"Xiao Qin… You're back!"

As soon as the old man saw Qin Fang, a hint of rosy warmth appeared on his otherwise pallid complexion. His lips quivered briefly before he spoke.

Though his tone was steady, his expression gave Qin Fang an unsettling impression, as if the old man was trying to curry favor with him.

"Hmm!"

Resentment aside, Qin Fang didn't completely ignore the old man's greeting. He grunted lightly as acknowledgment.

"May I come in? I have something I need to give you…"

Despite Qin Fang's clear lack of warmth, the old man appeared utterly unaffected, even happy, with an expression full of approval. He seemed almost eager, his gaze fixed hopefully on Qin Fang.

Shifting slightly, the old man caught Qin Fang's attention. On the corner of the wicker chair sat a document envelope—a plain, unassuming object the old man seemed to be struggling to retrieve.

It was clear this envelope contained whatever he intended to give Qin Fang.

As for its contents, only opening it would reveal the truth. Despite his advanced Scouting Skill, Qin Fang couldn't divine its secrets through the envelope.

"Come in…"

After a moment's hesitation, Qin Fang nodded and gestured for the old man to enter his room. There wasn't anything particularly private inside that he'd need to keep hidden.

However, he was curious about the envelope's contents. If his instincts were correct, its mystery likely connected to his father.

The unsolved tragedy and mystery of two decades ago—all the heartbreak and suffering—might finally find answers within that envelope. Qin Fang wouldn't miss this opportunity.

The old man rose shakily, leaning heavily on his cane as he followed Qin Fang into the room. He closed the door himself, clutching the envelope tightly as though it were more important than anything else.

"Alright, what do you want to give me?"

Though Qin Fang had already guessed the envelope was his intended gift, his tone remained curt—a reflection of his deep-seated bitterness toward the Qu family.

"If it's money, keep it. While my fortune doesn't compare to the Qu family's, it's more than enough to ensure my mother lives the rest of her life in comfort…"

He still had to make it clear from the outset.

One couldn't predict the envelope's contents before opening it, and for all he knew, the old man might be offering a slice of the Qu family's assets as a gesture of reconciliation. But Qin Fang had no interest in such notions.

Though his wealth fell short of the Qu family's, it was sufficient to secure a carefree life for his mother and himself for generations.

"Sigh… Just look at it yourself!"

The old man's expression darkened somewhat, clearly stung by Qin Fang's comment. Perhaps it was a blow to his pride that he hadn't faced in decades.

Yet, ultimately, he sighed gently and said little else, handing the envelope to Qin Fang with a subdued demeanor.

"Twenty years ago, it was my mistake! I wronged your parents… For this, I lost my daughter and endured twenty years of unending pain…"

The old man's voice was tinged with sadness and seemed genuine—a lamentation for the mistakes he had made two decades prior.

Yet Qin Fang merely smirked faintly, showing not the slightest inclination to believe him. His attention remained riveted to the envelope in his hands.

Taking a deep breath, Qin Fang reached out and began opening the envelope.

Its contents were tied to the twenty-year-old tragedy that had brought grief to so many—an incident that left Qin Fang fatherless before birth and caused his mother years of hardship.

The word "father" was foreign to Qin Fang—a concept so distant he had nearly forgotten how to pronounce "dad."

As a child, other kids had dads and moms—just not him. He was the anomaly, and their mockery had often made him cry.

But he never dared ask his mother about it, fearing her sorrow. Even now, he remembered the night she cried inconsolably, heartbroken, when he first asked, "Mom, why does everyone have a dad, but I don't?"

From that day onward, Qin Fang buried the word "father" deep within himself, never speaking of it again.

But that didn't mean he forgot about the man he had never met. At this precise moment, the figure in his mind grew mysterious and towering.

"This is…"

As Qin Fang glimpsed the contents of the envelope, his expression froze, his gaze hardened with shock and disbelief. His eyes betrayed profound surprise and incredulity…(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

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