He did not answer he just steered with a look that says what she doing out here.
Mo Caili stood there.
For the briefest second—
Shock flashed in his eyes.
Even a trace of fear.
But it disappeared just as quickly
"What are you doing here?"
He asked.
She crossed her arms.
"That's what I should be asking you.
Silence lingered.
"…Nothing."
"I just came to take some fresh air around here."
But then—
His tone shifted turned heavier and distant cold.
"From now on…"
"Everyone will keep their distance away from me."
I have lost all my bonds to rumors and scheme—
Hah!! He sighed.
Mo Caili frowned and said her eyes slanted looking angry I am asking you what you are doing here.
And he answered out of the pressure and intimidation she emanated.
"I came to pray for the deceased."and—
"For the one person who showed more sincerity than anyone else."
A pause.
"…Not even my own family could do that."
Those words carried weight and his pain.
Tch!
Mo Caili clicked her tongue.
"He showed you that much honesty… love… care…"Her eyes hardened.
"And you still killed him?"
Silence.
Tianzun looked at her directly into the eyes and asked.
"How do you know I killed him?"
His voice—calm and sharp
"Where is your evidence?"
Mo Caili froze.
Her lips parted.
"…You—"
Before she could speak—
He suddenly heard a sound coming from the stairs his eyes widened he grabbed her wrist he held it grabbing her inside he closed the door behind her silently.
He stopped her pointing on the shadow approaching the door he uttered ''we have to hide" but there was only place to hide very well in the temple it was the wardrobe.
He entered but mo caili didn't so he dragged her inside instinctively pulled her close to himself.
Though he was eight but was already taller than mo caili who was twelve showing he has potential to grow very tall in the future.
And the very reason he decided to not leave mo caili outside was because she can't lie and was very honest to a fault a d he doesn't want to be exposed just yet he hasn't give justice to his benefactor.
Their breathing in the wardrobe was ragged and mo caili face has a red hue to it he could see her now as her head was at his chest she didn't struggle until the shadow they awaited finally entered and through a narrow gap—
They saw him.
Mo Beihan.
"…What is he doing here…?" she questioned her voice in a whisper.
Suddenly everything changed when he began his laughing in mockery—
"…Old man… in the end, you still died…"
A low, chilling chuckle followed.
And he started laughing like a psychopath did you see what happens yesterday with the little rat you passed your inheritance to and protect by eating and drinking those cakes and tea.
Unfortunately it was all according to the plan
We just saw you as an hindrance and decided to remove you.
Hope you don't blame me.... Blame yourself for not taking my advice well the least I could do is thank you— ummmmMmh he cleared his throat his voice turning more professional like that of a king advisor he said
You did well protecting the child unless I would have really resort to using other means but I tell you now you are gone no one can protect him from us.
"Oh!' It echoed" .
'Hahahaha" he mockingly laughed.
He stopped.
He continued....
I forgot you are dead you can't hear me anymore and he smiled he bent to his knees shed tears for some few seconds.
He uttered apologising i am sorry for doing this I miss you dad as he weeped so hard the emotion looking real that even tianzun would have believed that his hands was not in his grandpa death assuming he did know the truth or have evidence.
But what shocked them next is when mo beihan started chuckling, the chuckling to a sparks of laughter and finally turned to laughter full of mockery—
It was so dark and sinister as he further states mockingly—
Like hell I miss you laughing out coldly.
They were now sure he was a madman under facade.
He was a psychopath.
He raised his hand and covered his face and as he spoke out loud questioning himself—
"what am I even doing?'
A small gasp escaped mo caili's mouth her small body shaking in tianzun embrace she felt guilty.
She had judged him like the other's so quickly she didn't see the play at hand.
As she thought in her mind "A heart ruled by greed is really a soul destined for corruption."
She was just witnessing the display of her father tears rolled down her eyes.
Mo Caili's breath hitched.
"…No…"
Her world shook violently
Her father… saying such things?
She tried to step out to confront her father on his misdeeds.
But—
Tianzun held her back as he held her tightly and covered her mouth instantly so she wouldn't scream.
—He looked into her eyes colored red.
—Tears constantly rolling down from her eyes to her cheeks.
—Her small chest growing up heaving endlessly.
He used his hands to wipe away her tears even though the space was tight.
She looked like a cute little puppy that got wet he was full of pity since he knew no one is as broken as her who mistakenly found out that her grandfather's death was caused by her father.
He kind of understood the feeling she clenched her teeth in anger she saw the pity in his eyes she stepped on him to let her go but he was firm and unyielding he didn't allow it to happen but she struggled more but still held her tighter making her feel leave all her burden to the hands opened for her she stopped struggling.
But the struggle she made earlier caused a sound that caught mo beihan's attention—
Mo beihan gaze stopped at the source of direction of the noise.
"…Hm?"
His gaze sharpened.
He stood up.
He walked closer to the wardrobe.
Ting—
He took out a small dissecting knife
His gaze cold, sharp and deadly.
His face expression turned to one with no emotions.
Tianzun gasped in fear.
Shit! he blurted out as he looked through the open cracks of the closet.
Step… step…
He was getting—Closer.
Shit!!!. Tianzun cursed.
Tianzun's heart tightened.
So this is what Grandpa meant…
If he didn't eat it…
They would resort to force.
The distance closed.
Closer.... Closer...
Their death was approaching.
He thought to himself he has to make a decision.
It was now or never.
If they were found—
There would be no mercy.
No second chance.
Only silence.
As he thought should I pass my tab to mo caili to help me hand it over to my uncle.
He thought for a sec and decided to give to her.
In that instant—
Tianzun moved.
As he moved to take the position mo caili was in his butt pressed against something on the wall of the ward robe which had an ancient mural with rough carving inside of it—
Click.