Zi Linling smiled coldly and said, "You are quite frank! So, what about now?"
Xu Rongwei gave a dry laugh. "Now that I know Miss Zi is the chosen one, how would I dare to covet your treasures?"
Shangguan Yulin said sarcastically, "You're quite adaptable, aren't you!"
Xu Rongwei did not get angry. Instead, he forced a smile and said, "Since ancient times, adaptability has made a hero! I am untalented, but I am willing to follow Miss Zi's lead and obey her command. I wonder if Miss Zi can give me this opportunity?"
Hearing Xu Rongwei's words, Du Kang became anxious.
He quickly said, "Our Du family is also willing to follow Miss Zi's lead. Please cooperate with us, Miss Zi!"
Zi Linling stared at Du Kang for a moment, her eyebrows raising almost imperceptibly.
Then, she looked at Xu Rongwei and said, "You don't look like a good person!"
Xu Rongwei burst into laughter. "I have never considered myself a good person. In this world of the strong preying on the weak, good people do not live long. I have indeed killed many people, but I have only killed those who deserved to die."
Du Kang scoffed. "What a fine saying, 'I only kill those who deserve to die'! What about your father? Do you deserve to die?"
Upon hearing Du Kang's words, Zi Linling became curious.
Xuan Yuanxun, Rong Guang, Shangguan Yulin, and Shen Liuxing, who were beside her, also looked intrigued.
They had expected Xu Rongwei to deny it directly, or at least become enraged. However, he did not.
He said calmly, "He was certainly someone who deserved to die! He married my mother and gave birth to me, but he never cared about me or my mother."
"He would marry one today and another tomorrow, never caring about my mother's feelings, causing her great sorrow and heartbreak. In the end, he even ripped open her abdomen himself, just to use her exquisite heart as medicine."
"Can such a heartless, even inhumane, person not be killed?"
Although Xu Rongwei tried his best to suppress his emotions and keep his tone even, none of the people present could fail to hear his anger.
After hearing his story, Du Kang felt a pang of guilt, but he forced himself to remain calm and said, "No matter what, he was still your father. You cannot escape the crime of patricide."
Xu Rongwei glanced at Du Kang dismissively and said, "Why should I escape? Patricide it is. I have never denied this crime, but if I had to do it again, I would still kill that beast!"
"..."
Du Kang was speechless. What else could he say?
"Clap, clap, clap!" Zi Linling applauded.
"Clap, clap, clap..."
Xuan Yuanxun, Rong Guang, Shangguan Yulin, and Shen Liuxing also applauded.
"Well killed!" Shangguan Yulin exclaimed heartily.
Zi Linling nodded and said, "Patriarch Xu, you are very honest. To do evil deeds so openly, you are indeed unique. In this regard, although you are a villain, you are a genuine one."
"Compared to those hypocrites, I prefer dealing with true villains like you. I can give you an opportunity, but where is your sincerity?"
Xu Rongwei thought for a moment. "I can give up the position of Patriarch of the Xu family..."
Hearing this, Du Kang became anxious again. He quickly stepped forward and said, "Miss Zi, although Patriarch Xu's patricide had its reasons, it was patricide after all! What is there that such a person, who can even kill his own father, would not do? What could you do if he were to stab you in the back?"
Zi Linling looked at Xu Rongwei with a half-smile and said, "What do you say?"
Xu Rongwei's expression turned grim. "Du Kang, do you not know how your Du family's Patriarch position came to you? If you have forgotten, I can remind you. If Du Ziteng were still alive, would you even have a chance at the Patriarch's seat?"
Du Kang's face changed drastically, and he said sternly, "Xu Rongwei, what nonsense are you spouting?"
His demeanor clearly showed his guilt.
Xu Rongwei snorted coldly. "Whether I am spouting nonsense or not, you know it in your heart! You also know how Du Ziteng died!"
"You..."
Du Kang was so angry he didn't know what to say.
But if he didn't ask, someone else would.
When the name Du Ziteng was mentioned, a killing intent flashed across Zi Linling's face. This was because Du Ziteng was the full name of Old Man Du.
"Du Kang, is it? Let me ask you, how did Du Ziteng die?"
"He... he... he encountered a powerful enemy, was severely injured, and died from his wounds!"
Du Kang was clearly flustered. After stammering for a long time, he concocted a story.
Zi Linling smiled coldly without a sound.
Although Old Man Du had told her that he had encountered a powerful enemy and was rescued by Xuan Feng when he was on the verge of death, falling into a coma, he did not know what happened afterward.
If this matter truly involved Du Kang, then it was likely what Du Kang did after Old Man Du was rescued by Xuan Feng and fell into a coma.
Zi Linling finally understood why she had always disliked the Du family, even to the point of detesting them.
It turned out that everything was waiting for her here.
"Du Kang, I'll give you one more chance. You'd better tell the truth, or you will lose the chance to even regret it!"
Zi Linling's voice, gaze, and entire aura were as cold as ice.
Such a Zi Linling sent a chill down Du Kang's spine.
He shivered and said frantically, "He... he really... encountered a powerful enemy, was severely injured, and died from his wounds!"
Zi Linling smiled like frost. "Very well! You have wasted the opportunity I gave you!"
Then, she turned to Xu Rongwei and said, "You tell me, how did Du Ziteng die?"
Xu Rongwei looked at Du Kang with disgust and said, "He was eliminated by people sent by him."
"You're talking nonsense!" Du Kang shouted in a panic.
"I'm talking nonsense?"
Xu Rongwei smiled coldly. "After Du Ziteng left the Xuan family, why did he encounter a powerful enemy?"
"How... how would I know?" Du Kang said, avoiding her gaze.
Xu Rongwei snorted coldly. "You don't know! Didn't you find his mortal enemy and leak his whereabouts? Didn't you learn that he was rescued by Xuan Feng and then send people to ambush him on his way back to the sect to eliminate him completely?"
Du Kang's greatest secret was exposed, and his face turned deathly pale.
However, he could not admit it.
He forced himself to rage, "Xu Rongwei, you are talking utter nonsense! Du Ziteng is my cousin. Why would I harm him? If I had harmed him, why would I have heavily relied on his twin brother, Du Zihao?"
Xu Rongwei completely disdained Du Kang, a person who dared not act on his deeds.
He said contemptuously, "Aren't you just jealous of Du Ziteng's talent for dual cultivation of spiritual essence?"