"Ahhh~~~"
"Please, just kill me."
"Ahhhh~~~~~ I can't take it anymore, I really can't hold on."
"My lord, I know I was wrong, I truly know I was wrong. Please, just kill me, please, let me die."
Under the burning flames, under the torment, the members of the Zhao Residence had already lost all hope of living — they had actually begun to beg for mercy.
But Chu Feng paid no heed whatsoever to their pleas.
Under these circumstances, the wretched screams of the Zhao Residence people grew increasingly harrowing, and increasingly unbearable to hear.
However, the Zhao Residence people — perhaps too terrified of Chu Feng — did one thing that was rather wise.
Even though their pleas for mercy went unanswered, they did not hurl insults at Chu Feng.
But even so, Chu Feng continued to ignore them completely.
On his face, there was not the slightest flicker of emotion at their wailing and shrieking.
This pain was the punishment he wanted to inflict upon them.
"Chu Feng, why don't you just kill them outright?"
Song Xi said to Chu Feng. He was actually pleading on behalf of the Zhao Residence people — though this time, he wasn't asking Chu Feng to spare them, only to give them a quick death.
But still, he had gone soft-hearted.
Song Xi's change of heart was likely because his mother appeared to be unharmed now. But what he didn't know was that his mother only *appeared* unharmed — in reality, she wouldn't live for more than three days.
Seeing this, Chu Feng called Song Xi aside and ultimately told him about his mother's condition.
This was something Chu Feng couldn't hide forever. Song Xi would find out sooner or later, and rather than let him learn the truth at the very end and be devastated, it was better to let him prepare himself mentally in advance.
At the very least, knowing his mother's days were numbered, Song Xi would cherish every moment he had left with her.
"Chu Feng, you... you're not joking, are you?"
After hearing Chu Feng's words, Song Xi found it hard to believe — or perhaps he simply didn't want to accept the reality. A bitter smile crossed his face.
"Do I look like I'm joking?" Chu Feng asked, his expression deadly serious.
"No." Song Xi shook his head, and by now even the bitter smile had vanished from his face.
"They did this to your mother, and yet you were still thinking of pleading on their behalf. Song Xi, when will you ever put away that soft heart of yours?" Chu Feng asked.
"It was my mistake." After uttering those four words, Song Xi fell silent.
But he only remained quiet for a moment before forcing a smile back onto his face. He no longer pleaded for the Zhao Residence people, nor did he ask Chu Feng to continue tormenting them.
Instead, he turned around, walked to his mother's side, and resumed caring for her.
Song Xi chatted and laughed as though nothing were wrong — presumably, he didn't want his mother to learn about any of this.
Chu Feng also felt that it wasn't good for Song Xi's mother to keep hearing the heart-rending screams of the Zhao Residence people.
After all, it would genuinely affect one's mood.
So Chu Feng led Song Xi and his mother away from that place. As for the Zhao Residence people, Chu Feng paid them no further mind.
In his eyes, their death was certain — no one could save them.
Back at Song Xi's previous dwelling, Chu Feng reconstructed the residence exactly as it had been before.
Song Xi, his mother, and Aunt Jing could once again live together.
Chu Feng did not leave either. He wanted to accompany Song Xi's mother through her final days.
Song Xi's mother had been unconscious the whole time, so she didn't know much about Chu Feng. The little she did know — that Chu Feng even existed — she had only learned under duress from the Taishan Gate, when they had coerced her into revealing information.