Abyssal Chronicles

Chapter 286 - 287: Troubled Xiumu [1/2]

Note: [Limo’s Illustration is out==> Chapter 00 [characters] ]

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Yuan’er’s attack was so powerful that it not only broke through the defenses of the prison guards but also completely destroyed the facility. The barrier shattered, unleashing a raging fire that engulfed the prison. The thick black smoke, infused with shadow power, quickly overwhelmed and incapacitated many guards.

The series of explosions caused significant damage, rendering the once impenetrable prison nearly useless.

Amidst the chaos, the Marquis and Marchioness, who had been bound by magic deep inside the prison, seized the opportunity to break free. With the weakening of the magic restraints due to the erosion of shadow power, the elderly couple acted swiftly and destroyed the spell that had suppressed them for so long.

Afterward, Marquis Xiumu, accompanied by his wife, Aurora, hurried toward the outskirts of the prison. The intense shadow power in the area rendered numerous guards powerless, but it had no effect on the Marquis and Marchioness. Despite their aura being suppressed by the Soul-Subduing Dagger used by Xue Tian’ao, their seventh-tier constitution remained formidable. Their resistance to shadow power surpassed that of ordinary soldiers of the fifth or sixth tier.

Dragging their injured bodies, Marquis Xiumu cautiously maneuvered through the ruins while solemnly gazing at the sky, observing the densely packed black monsters above...

"Why would the Abyssal Horde appear here? How did they come here?"

Marquis Xiumu’s voice unintentionally trembled,

"And this aura... it belongs to Yuan’er..."

Having encountered Yuan’er transformed into an Abyssal Demon before, Xiumu quickly recognized the source of this aura as his granddaughter.

’The prison explosion was caused by Yuan’er...’

In an instant, Xiumu’s expression became unusually grave, and his calloused fists clenched tightly.

"Wait a minute?! Did you just say Yuan’er?"

However, before the old Marquis could say anything, his wife, Aurora, excitedly grabbed his hand.

"Yuan’er?! Did you say Yuan’er has come? Is this black aura belong to her?!"

Although she had been shocked upon learning that her granddaughter had turned into an Abyssal demon, the subsequent joy quickly replaced her astonishment. For Aurora, as long as Yuan’er could survive, no matter what she became, she would accept it—even if it meant becoming the detested demon.

Upon hearing the news about Yuan’er, Aurora paid no attention to the abhorrent Abyssal creatures swarming around or the eerie aura emanating from Yuan’er. The Marchioness only wanted one thing to be clear: where was her granddaughter Yuan’er?

"Where is Yuan’er?"

Facing Aurora’s excited questioning, Xiumu couldn’t help but purse his lips, revealing a bitter expression.

"Wife that child, she is now an Abyssal Demon... she is no longer our granddaughter..."

However, before Marquis Xiumu could finish his words, a sudden black light flashed amidst the nearby ruins. Aurora, who had been scanning her surroundings with her peripheral vision, seemed to notice something, and her expression changed drastically. Her brows furrowed, and even her veins bulged as she clenched her teeth.

Then, with a determined look on her face, and catching Xiumu off guard, Aurora leaped up and delivered a punch directly to her husband’s head.

"Bang~"

"Ah! Ahhh!!!"

After a crisp and loud bang, Xiumu was suddenly hammered in the head by Aurora’s iron fist, sending him flying and crashing into a nearby wall. Before Xiumu could recover from his dazed state, Aurora’s angry voice reached his ears:

"So what if she’s an Abyssal Demon? Even if she were to become one, she would still be our granddaughter! Regardless of her transformation into an Abyssal Demon, Yuan’er remains Yuan’er. She will always be our beloved granddaughter!"

"But... Abyssal Demons are bloodthirsty monsters. Such monsters, even if it’s Yuan’er, once they lose control..."

"Who cares about losing control!"

Listening to Xiumu’s words, Aurora completely disregarded her previous noble demeanor. She swiftly appeared by Xiumu’s side and pulled her somewhat rigid and old-fashioned husband up from the ground.

"There are exceptions to everything! Even Abyssal Demons! Yuan’er is a human turned Into An Abyssal Demon. How can she be compared to those mindless creatures? And you said it yourself, Yuan’er had normal conversations with you before! That means she can maintain her sanity!"

"But... only temporarily..."

"Even if Yuan’er lost control before, what about afterward? Have you seen Yuan’er lose control after you met her?!"

"...No..."

Upon hearing this, Xiumu helplessly lowered his head and fell into temporary silence under his wife’s reprimand. Meanwhile, Aurora patted Xiumu’s back and continued persuading him.

"’No’ is the answer, right? No matter what, Yuan’er is your granddaughter. Old man, you have to believe in your granddaughter. She can control herself... We are her family. If we don’t believe in her, who will? Besides, that child risked so much to save us. If we treat her with that kind of guarded and hostile attitude, how heartbroken will Yuan’er be..."

"..."

"So, no matter what happens, let’s face it together. Let go of that attitude you had just now. And don’t ever draw your sword against Yuan’er like you did back in Windy City. Do you understand, old man?"

"...Hmm."

After a moment of inner struggle, Xiumu finally nodded slightly, acknowledging Aurora’s words. Then, with a bitter expression, he looked up at the sky.

"But these Abyssal Demons..."

As he gazed at the countless black monsters filling the sky, Xiumu remained conflicted. It was the duty of his family to guard the borders and defend against Abyssal invasions. And now, the people of his family, who should be fighting against the Abyssal creatures, had become Abyssal creatures themselves. If she hadn’t done something outrageous, Xiumu might have been able to accept it.

But...

If the Abyssal creatures that invaded the capital this time were also caused by Yuan’er.

Even if this child’s intention was to save himself and Aurora, Xiumu found it difficult to approve. After all, this solution, the massive attack of the Abyssal Demons, would undoubtedly cause countless innocent lives to suffer and die at the hands of these creatures. Xiumu couldn’t accept such a reality.

Although he was thoroughly disappointed in the current royal family after understanding Xue Tianao’s intention to annihilate his family, and he wanted to teach this arrogant ’chosen one’’ a lesson, he didn’t want innocent civilians to sacrifice in the process.

If Yuan’er had to pay such a price to save him, Xiumu would rather have died under torture.

"Sigh..."

With a conflicted heart, Xiumu couldn’t help but sigh deeply, looking up at the sky. At this moment, Aurora seemed to understand the reason for her husband’s conflict and shook her head helplessly.

"Old man, are you thinking about the problem with these Demons?"

"Hmm..."

Xiumu nodded slowly, his mood complicated.

"If these Abyssal Demons are really attacking the capital and ’slaughtering’ the common people under Yuan’er’s command, I really don’t know... what to do either."

"I believe it’s not that child’s doing. Although Yuan’er used to be a bit stubborn, she wouldn’t do something like that."

"I know, but if she becomes an Abyssal Demon, wouldn’t the nature of Abyss affect her..."

"I still believe she wouldn’t."

Aurora said without hesitation,

"If you’re not sure, why don’t you ask the girl yourself? You know, Yuan’er wouldn’t deceive us."

"I want to, but..."

Covering his face, Aurora chuckled bitterly, "Let’s just ask her."

"Ah, wife, there is no one around here. Only these lingering traces remain. Ask? Where do we ask? Who knows where that girl has gone?"

"In Yuan’er’s case, she’s right next to us."

"Next to us? don’t joke..."

"No, I’m not joking."

"Not joking? "

"??!!"

"Wait, next to us?! What do you mean by that?"

Xiumu’s expression changed dramatically as he suddenly realized the meaning, looking at Aurora with disbelief and a puzzled expression.

" You’re not joking? Right next to us? What does that mean?"

"It means exactly what I say~"

Aurora composed herself, putting on a serious face and then, for a long time, revealed a gentle smile. Then, the marquise’s wife slowly lowered her head and looked at her own body.

"Don’t worry, come out, Yuan’er."

"Yuan’er??"

Hearing these words, Xiumu’s eyes widened like light bulbs, filled with astonishment.

Then, under Xiumu’s breathless and focused gaze, a cute little girl wearing a white dress and having mismatched red and blue eyes timidly poked her head out from behind Aurora. With a pitiful expression and watery big eyes, she looked at the Shoked Xiumu.

"Grandpa..."

"Yuan... Yuan’er..."

"Grandpa, these Abyssal Demons, really weren’t brought by me. I also don’t know where they came from..."