Everyone instinctively looked towards the source of the voice.
They were all curious as to who, at this moment, would dare to plead for Li Fengcheng without considering the consequences.
Unexpectedly, when they clearly saw the appearance of the person speaking, they were all stunned.
The one who spoke was actually Zhuang Ruoting!
For some unknown reason, Zhuang Ruoting, as one of Ying Chen's few friends in Hong Kong, should have arrived at Kowloon Peak early to await the start of this life-and-death gamble.
Yet, Zhuang Ruoting not only did not arrive early but chose not to come at all!
It was as if she didn't care about Ying Chen's life or death.
Only after the battle ended, after the most dangerous and urgent moments had passed, did Zhuang Ruoting arrive late.
Being late was one thing, but upon seeing Ying Chen, her first words were not to inquire about his battle, but to ask him to show mercy and spare his enemy!
What use was a friend like this?
Everyone present couldn't help but shake their heads, having already decided that Zhuang Ruoting was not someone to befriend.
They were even more certain that Ying Chen would absolutely not give face to Zhuang Ruoting.
After all, Ying Chen hadn't given face to Ming Ju or Hu Sansheng, so how could he possibly give face to a powerless young girl like Zhuang Ruoting?
But to everyone's surprise, Ying Chen actually put his hands behind his back, appearing to momentarily cease his attack!
This left everyone bewildered.
Could it be... Ying Chen had other intentions towards Zhuang Ruoting?
Otherwise, why would he be so doting on Zhuang Ruoting, stopping his attack just because she called out to him?
There was no reason for it!
Soon, Zhuang Ruoting, with an anxious expression, ran up to Ying Chen.
She was panting, her face flushed, clearly having run all the way.
Behind her followed her parents.
However, for some reason, her parents did not follow closely, but maintained a distance.
Furthermore, her parents' faces were somewhat grim, their eyes flickering with a hint of unspeakable shame.
"I... I'm sorry, Mr. Ying, I'm late."
"Actually, I wanted to come much earlier, but due to some... some messy affairs, my journey was delayed."
"In short, it's good that you're alright."
"As for this person..."
While apologizing to Ying Chen, Zhuang Ruoting's gaze fell upon Li Fengcheng.
Her eyes instantly became extremely complex.
Various emotions intertwined, finally turning into a long sigh.
"Can you let this person go? As long as you can let him go, I'm willing to agree to any request you have. I'll be your servant, tending to you for my entire life."
A blush crept onto Zhuang Ruoting's face, and her voice grew softer and softer, like a mosquito's hum, becoming inaudible as she uttered her last sentence.
However, while others couldn't hear, Ying Chen had no trouble, his ears catching every word Zhuang Ruoting spoke.
Ying Chen immediately glanced at Zhuang Ruoting with interest.
This glance, however, was misinterpreted by Zhuang Ruoting.
Zhuang Ruoting mistook Ying Chen's "interest" as being interested in her as a person.
That he was moved by her proposal.
Her face turned even redder.
Unbeknownst to her, Ying Chen was interested in why Zhuang Ruoting would suddenly plead for Li Fengcheng.
What had happened in just half a day?
What intricate and bizarre story was unfolding?
"Reason."
Ying Chen uttered two concise words.
The meaning was clear: as long as Zhuang Ruoting provided a sufficient reason, Ying Chen might not rule out sparing Li Fengcheng.
Zhuang Ruoting stammered, glancing at Li Fengcheng, then at Ying Chen, appearing hesitant to speak.
At this moment, Zhuang Ruoting's mother could no longer bear it. She suddenly stepped forward, as if having made up her mind, and declared loudly, "The reason is very simple! He is Ruoting's biological father!"
Whoosh!
Upon hearing Zhuang Ruoting's mother's words, the entire venue erupted in an uproar.
Everyone looked at Zhuang Ruoting's mother, Zhuang Ruoting, and Li Fengcheng with shocked and disbelieving eyes.
After a moment, all their gazes simultaneously fell upon Zhuang Ruoting's father.
Whether it was the lighting or their imagination, Zhuang Ruoting's father's head and face seemed to be tinged with a verdant hue.
Sensing the strange glances from around him, Zhuang Ruoting's father couldn't help but blush and his neck redden.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but such a matter was ultimately difficult to articulate.
He could only look at Zhuang Ruoting's mother.
Zhuang Ruoting's mother seemed to have completely let go of all pretenses, discarding all face and dignity.
She first snorted coldly and said, "Do you all need to be so surprised? As if every single one of you is a paragon of virtue. Among everyone here, who among you has a clean slate?
Who among you doesn't have one main family at home and three or four others on the side? And quite a few of you have illegitimate children, haven't you?
My situation is nothing compared to yours!
Not to mention, when I got pregnant with Ruoting, I hadn't completely broken up with Li Fengcheng. I wasn't cheating within marriage as you might imagine!"
The crowd, addressed by Zhuang Ruoting's mother, began to look away evasively.
Indeed, their private lives were not clean, and like crows on a pig's back, none of them had the right to judge another.
"Back then, I met Li Fengcheng at a wine reception. Although Li Fengcheng already had a wife, I didn't care. I firmly believed I had found true love.
Even without a formal status, I was willing to endure hardship.
But my naivety did not earn Li Fengcheng's pity. After his original wife discovered me, Li Fengcheng decisively chose to sacrifice the pawn to save the king, and abandoned me.
Heh, it seems laughable now. If I had met Li Fengcheng a few years later, when he was established and no longer relied on his original wife's family influence, perhaps he would have treated the latest mistress the same way he would have, choosing her without hesitation and then confining his original wife to death! It can only be said that fate is unfair!"
Whoosh!
Upon hearing Zhuang Ruoting's mother's words, everyone's expression changed.
The rumors about Li Fengcheng harming his original wife had previously been just that, unconfirmed.
Now, Zhuang Ruoting's mother had spoken of it without reservation, confirming it!
So, Li Fengcheng had indeed harmed his original wife for a mistress, and her remains were suppressed beneath a building!
Li Fengcheng's face also instantly turned extremely grim.
However, he said nothing.
After all, he was still counting on Zhuang Ruoting's mother to finish her story, confirm Zhuang Ruoting's identity, and then have Zhuang Ruoting save him!
"After I was abandoned, disheartened, I intended to drown myself. Then I met Xiao Zhuang.
Although Xiao Zhuang's family background was not as prominent as Li Fengcheng's, it was still quite well-off. Most importantly, Xiao Zhuang treated me extremely well. Even knowing I was pregnant at the time, he did not dislike me. He even swore to treat Ruoting as his own daughter.
Of course, I later learned that his intentions were not entirely pure. He simply wanted to use the relationship with Li Fengcheng's daughter to gain leverage from Li Fengcheng, helping their Zhuang family to flourish!
But regardless, he has treated my mother and daughter well over the years. Therefore, I have always kept this truth hidden, intending to conceal it until my dying day.
But I never imagined that paper could not contain fire forever. If this secret were to be kept any longer, Ruoting would be... helping an outsider to oppose her own biological father!
So, I decided not to conceal it any longer and revealed this secret to Ruoting before she came up the mountain to watch the battle today!"