As Grandma Ji mulled this over, her grip tightened.
"Mother, canât you be reasonable? I am your own son. If you hurt me, wouldnât you be the one heartbroken?"
Ji Youran, being struck repeatedly, was leaping about, desperately trying to find places to hide.
Xiaosuisui stood under the eaves, staring in astonishment!
When Ji Youran saw the wide-eyed little toddler under the eaves, he instantly guessed her identity. His eyes darted, and he quickly moved to stand next to her.
Grandma Ji caught up. She had been aiming for her rascal son but nearly hit her precious little treasure instead. The old woman was so startled she almost couldnât stop her hand in time.
"You little rascal, come over here! What kind of man hides behind a child?"
Grandma Ji was so angry her chest trembled.
This foolish lad! Mother is here, painstakingly trying to save you, yet youâre insisting on courting death!
"Iâm not coming over; youâll just hit me again!" Ji Youran retorted. "Mother, let me tell you, if you want to hit me, Iâll take it. If you want to scold me, I wonât talk back. But how can you slander me like this?"
Ji Youran was deeply indignant. Stiffening his neck, he stood behind Suisui and argued his case!
After speaking, he deliberately pulled the little girl closer into his arms.
Sheâs my human shield; I need to keep her close!
Seeing his actions, Grandma Ji was so furious she was out of breath. "You... you unfilial son! When did I ever falsely accuse you? Which of my words isnât true?"
Ji Youran stubbornly retorted, "I can admit to everything else you said, but I will not admit to abandoning my wife and child!"
"You..." At his words, Grandma Ji grew even angrier.
You obstinate... son! You can refuse to admit anything else, but you canât deny this! Canât you see your wife over there, sharpening her knife? Arenât you afraid youâll lose your head in your sleep tonight?
"If you wonât admit it, then Iâll beat you to death!"
Grandma Ji raised her stick, about to lunge forward. Seeing this, Ji Youran quickly snatched up the little toddler in front of him and held her close.
Again, Grandma Ji hastily stayed her hand.
"Mother! If I recall correctly, I ran away from home right after we got married, before we even consummated the marriage, didnât I? So, while I might reluctantly admit to abandoning my wife, saying I abandoned my child? Thatâs baseless, isnât it?"
As a Divine Physician and the Sect Leader of the Medicine King Residence, Ji Youran could assert with absolute certainty that a woman cannot conceive out of thin air!
"You..." Grandma Ji was speechless, realizing she had misspoken.
But wasnât that just because I got carried away by the argument? Wait, thatâs not the main point! The main point is that your wife is sharpening her knife!
"Fine, so you didnât abandon your child!" The old woman gritted her teeth.
"But you did abandon your wife. Thatâs a fact, isnât it?"
As Grandma Ji spoke, she glanced out of the corner of her eye at Huo XingâEr, who was sharpening her knife.
You better admit your mistake quickly! Hurry! If you donât confess soon, your wifeâs knife will be ready.
Ji Youran lowered his head in silence, tacitly admitting it.
After a moment, Ji Youran raised his head and took a deep breath. Just as he was about to speak, he heard a sharp "HA!" Huo XingâEr, who had been sharpening her knife, raised her hand. A tree trunk in the courtyard, as thick as a manâs thigh, snapped in two!
Grandma Jiâs heart instantly hammered in her chest.
This death-courting son of mine... it seems heâs beyond saving.
"Itâs ready. One clean cut, completely painless."
Huo XingâEr looked at the tree trunk, now in two pieces, then at the blade in her hand, and nodded with satisfaction.
Grandma Jiâs vision went black, and she almost fainted.
Itâs over. My second son... heâs done for.
"Mother! Whatâs wrong?"
Sensing something was amiss with Grandma Ji, Wang Dongxue hurried over, her expression full of concern. Then, she looked at Ji Youran.
"Second Brother, apologize to Mother quickly! Look how upset youâve made her!"
Wang Dongxue was very filial, and over the years, her bond with Grandma Ji had become as close as that of a mother and daughter.
"Yes, Second Brother, just apologize quickly! Hurry and apologize so Mother can calm down!" Zhu Xiuxiu also stepped forward to say.