<h4>Chapter 1034: Chapter 1034: Life and Death Left to Fate (2nd Update)</h4><h4></h4>


    The banquet hall was as silent as the grave.


    Elder Madam Zhuo was trembling with rage, her well-maintained, oiled, and slippery face now utterly gloomy.


    "Good! Very good! Zhuo Yangyang, my dear child! Are these the kind of friends you bring home?"


    Before her words had finished, Xue An’s figure suddenly appeared in front of Elder Madam Zhuo. Without waiting for her to react, he grabbed her neck and lifted her into the air.


    "What... what do you think you’re doing? I am the Family Head of the Zhuo Family; if you dare to harm a hair on my head, even the Empress won’t let you off!" This Elder Madam Zhuo, ustomed to a life of luxury, still roared fiercely even at this moment.


    "The Empress?" Xue An gave a coldugh and raised his hand to deliver several ps, back and forth.


    The crisp sound of the ps echoed throughout the entire banquet hall, causing Zhuo Ya to subconsciously cover her face and then watch Xue An on the distant high tform with eyes full of fear.


    Others may not know, but she knew better than anyone how painful the ps from Xue An were.


    Elder Madam Zhuo’s already plump face swelled visibly at an rming speed after being pped by Xue An.


    In the blink of an eye, Elder Madam Zhuo’s face had swollen up like a pig’s head.


    Seeing this, everyone present couldn’t help but take a sharp intake of breath.


    It was well known that Elder Madam Zhuo had been in control of the Zhuo Family for over a century, and the respect shemanded had long since been etched into people’s hearts.


    Moreover, with her violent nature, narrow-minded vengeance, and her petty and graceless demeanor, she was feared by many like a snake or scorpion.


    Yet this very figure, whom people desperately avoided, had just been pped several times in session by a young man.


    It was more fearsome than even Xu Bao’s death.


    Indeed.


    As Elder Madam Zhuo,pletely stunned by the ps, slowly regained consciousness, she tried to open her swollen eyes to a mere slit, ring at Xue An with a gaze filled with deep resentment.


    She looked as if she wanted to devour Xue An alive.


    "What’s wrong? Look like you’re not convinced? How about another couple of ps?" With that, Xue An again raised his hand.


    Elder Madam Zhuo shuddered all over, and a hint of fear finally surfaced in the depths of her eyes.


    After all, her life was still in the hands of this young man, and she had no choice but to bow her head.


    Seeing this old hag reluctantly lower her head, Xue An smiled and then turned to look at Zhuo Yangyang, who stood isted in the center of the banquet hall, shunned by everyone.


    "Speak, do you want her to live or die?"


    In an instant.


    All eyes were focused on Zhuo Yangyang.


    The young girl was trembling, her face pale, her eyes revealing hesitancy and struggle.


    She certainly hated Elder Madam Zhuo for personally ruining everything she had.


    She also hated the Zhuo Family, as it was like a cage that subjected her to humiliation from her childhood.


    But when truly faced with this life-or-death decision, she began to hesitate.


    After all, no matter how much she hated, she was still a Zhuo!


    If she really went through with the killing, she too would be severed from the Fangtian Domain.


    Because no noble families would tolerate someone who had betrayed their own family.


    So, she was internally struggling, her expression varying uncertainly.


    Xue An just watched with a smile, but the hand clutching Elder Madam Zhuo’s neck was gradually tightening.


    The sensation of slowly suffocating finally instilled fear in Elder Madam Zhuo.


    "Yangyang... don’t kill me! No matter what, I am still your grandmother!" Elder Madam Zhuo struggled to shout.


    Zhuo Yangyang shuddered, her beautiful eyes filled with anger and sorrow.


    But just then, there was a sharp, crisp snap.


    Xue An delivered another p to Elder Madam Zhuo’s face.


    The p caused Elder Madam Zhuo’s hair to be disheveled, and even her nose began to bleed.


    She looked utterly wretched.


    "You... you."


    "What you? Did I allow you to speak?" Xue An said indifferently.


    Then he gave a nod to Zhuo Yangyang below the stage, "I know you are also uncertain about what to do. How about this! I’ll leave the life or death of this old witch up to fate!"


    Fate?


    The crowd exchanged puzzled nces, unsure of what Xue An meant by his words.


    At that moment, Xue An flipped his hand, and a Gold Coin appeared in his palm.


    "Do you see it? In a moment, I’ll toss this copper coin. If the character is on top, it means you should die, and I’ll kill you without any hesitation!"


    "If the cloud pattern is on top, then I’ll spare you for the time being! Understand?"


    Elder Madam Zhuo, her nose bleeding profusely, looked panicked, "But I... I..."


    "Hm?" Xue An cast a cold nce at her.


    Elder Madam Zhuo immediately swallowed her words.


    Xue An then tossed the Gold Coin into the air and caught it in his hand.


    The entire venue fell silent.


    Yet Xue An wasn’t in a hurry to check the oue; instead, he smiled faintly at Zhuo Yangyang, "Miss Yangyang, do you think it’s the character or the pattern on top?"


    Zhuo Yangyang, with aplex expression, looked at Xue An’s hand for a long while before she finally exhaled softly, "The pattern!"


    Having said that, she lowered her head.


    Xue An smiled, then opened his palm—indeed, the cloud pattern was on top.


    A subtle stir went through the crowd.


    A trace of joy shed in Elder Madam Zhuo’s eyes.


    But before she could express it, Xue An raised his hand and delivered several more ps.


    This time, the ps thoroughly dazed Elder Madam Zhuo. It was a good while before she came to her senses, then asked with a face full of grief and anger, "Why did you hit me again?"


    "No reason, just because I find you unpleasant!" Having said that, Xue An let go of his hand.


    Bang.


    Elder Madam Zhuo copsed on the ground, unable to stand up.


    Xue An stood with his hands behind him in front of her and said lightly, "This time, heaven decreed that I should spare you, so I will—just this once! But I hope next time, you’ll be just as lucky!"


    Having spoken, Xue An strolled down from the high tform as if leisurely walking through a garden, looking around the entire venue.


    Wherever his gaze fell, everyone bowed their heads.


    This was especially true for Zhuo Ya and her mother, Madam Zhuo, who at this moment wished they could bury their heads in the ground.


    Their bodies trembled slightly with fear.


    Xue An, seeing this, merely smiled and then approached Zhuo Yangyang, "Shall we go?"


    Zhuo Yangyang stood still, staring nkly at Xue An until, after a moment, tears overflowed her eyes. She then took a deep breath, looked up at Elder Madam Zhuo on the high tform, and said,


    "Elder Madam Zhuo, from this day forward, I, Zhuo Yangyang, sever ties with you—I owe you nothing!"


    With those words, she pulled out her hairpin and threw it to the ground.


    An uproar spread through the venue.


    Yet Zhuo Yangyang, tears streaming down her face, spoke with a smile as radiant as flowers, "My lord, let us leave!"


    Xue Anughed heartily, "Good! Let’s go!"


    With that, Xue An led Zhuo Yangyang away with long strides.