Return to the City: The Strongest King
Chapter 285 - 286: Overwhelmed with Sorrow

Chapter 285: Chapter 286: Overwhelmed with Sorrow

Sun Zhen left, and Song Xiaodong knocked on the door. Miao Qingqing and Miao Xuanxuan immediately pushed open the door, both waiting at the entrance, but since Song Xiaodong didn’t ask them to come out, they knew they shouldn’t disturb the two.

"Xiaodong, how is my dad?" Miao Qingqing immediately grabbed Song Xiaodong’s arm, while Miao Xuanxuan looked at him with a pitiful face.

"Heizi has already sent people to that war zone, and we should have news soon, let’s just wait," Song Xiaodong sighed inwardly, knowing full well that he couldn’t avoid telling them the truth, but at that moment, he simply couldn’t bear to reveal the real situation, thinking that delaying even one more day was a day gained.

"I hope my dad is safe!" Miao Qingqing prayed with reddened eyes.

At that moment, Miao Xuanxuan was truly vulnerable, looking at Song Xiaodong and saying, "Xiaodong, do you think my dad will be alright?"

"There won’t be any problems, you two just relax," Song Xiaodong said with a pained heart, forcing a smile.

That day, no news came, and Miao Qingqing and Miao Xuanxuan paced back and forth in their room as if each day were a year, asking Song Xiaodong over and over again.

The next afternoon, Heizi once again came to Song Xiaodong, holding a black bag in his hand.

"Heizi, where’s my dad?" Miao Qingqing and Miao Xuanxuan immediately rushed forward to greet him, anxiously looking at Sun Zhen.

Sun Zhen glanced at Song Xiaodong, who took a gentle sigh and then nodded.

Sun Zhen grimaced and then said, "Sisters-in-law, we were too late, by the time our people arrived, he had already... died, we just found some of his belongings."

"Ah!" When Miao Qingqing and Miao Xuanxuan heard Sun Zhen say that he died, they both let out a terrible scream and then collapsed backward, no longer aware of what came after.

Song Xiaodong reached out quickly, his arms enveloping their waists, and then helped them onto the sofa, gently rubbing the midpoint of their palms and the space between their thumb and index finger, until their eyes opened one after the other.

"Xiaodong... what he said... is it not true?" Miao Xuanxuan asked, her lips trembling.

Song Xiaodong held onto each of their hands, squatting in front of them, he sighed softly and said, "Uncle Miao... is no longer with us."

"No! It’s not true, it’s not true." Miao Xuanxuan shook her head violently, then shouted, "You’re lying to me! You’re lying! My dad won’t die, Xiaodong you’re lying to me! Tell me you’re lying."

Song Xiaodong’s heart ached, but he steeled himself and said, "Xuanxuan, uncle is gone."

"No! You’re lying! You’re lying!" Miao Xuanxuan shook her head frantically, then threw herself at Song Xiaodong, beating on his back with all her might.

Song Xiaodong allowed Miao Xuanxuan to vent, his gaze turning towards Miao Qingqing.

Miao Qingqing’s tears flowed freely, yet she wasn’t as impulsive and crazed as Miao Xuanxuan. Biting her lip hard, she stood up and, looking at the bag on the floor, she said, "Heizi, are these things..."

Sun Zhen said, "These are the things we found, they should be Mr. Miao’s belongings."

"And my dad’s... body?" Miao Qingqing asked painfully, holding back her inner grief.

"This..." Sun Zhen looked towards Song Xiaodong.

Song Xiaodong sighed, pulled Miao Xuanxuan into his arms as he stood up, and said, "Just tell the truth."

Sun Zhen said in a low voice, "Mr. Miao’s body has already been burned by them, and where exactly, we can no longer find."

Miao Qingqing’s body shook again, and Song Xiaodong quickly reached out one hand to support her, while Miao Xuanxuan started crying loudly once more.

Miao Qingqing squatted down, opened the bag, and saw that the contents inside were indeed some of the clothes and other items her father had taken with him. As for items of value, they were gone, but the belongings her father had on him before he left were prepared by Miao Qingqing herself, so she recognized immediately that these were indeed her father’s.

Miao Qingqing’s body was trembling nonstop, and suddenly she looked up at Song Xiaodong with bitten lips and said, "Dongzi, I want to avenge my father."

At the side, Sun Zhen said, "Eldest Brother has already taken care of it, that armed group, with a total of two hundred and four soldiers, we’ve killed them all without leaving a single survivor."

"Good riddance!" A fierce killing aura now emanated from Miao Qingqing, who then took a deep breath, turned to Sun Zhen with a deep bow, and said, "Heizi, thank you for avenging us."

Sun Zhen quickly stepped aside in a fluster and said, "Sister-in-law, we couldn’t save Mr. Miao, that’s already our fault, and killing them to vent our anger for the sisters is the only thing we could do. Moreover, it was Eldest Brother who ordered us to do so. You should thank Eldest Brother instead."

Miao Qingqing turned and looked at Song Xiaodong, her nose tingled, and tears involuntarily streamed down. She wiped her eyes and then squatted down again to sort through her father’s belongings.

Sun Zhen hesitated for a moment, then said, "Eldest Brother, I’ll go out first. Call me if you need anything."

Song Xiaodong nodded, and after Sun Zhen had gone out, he also let Miao Xuanxuan help with sorting the belongings.

Miao Xuanxuan had been crying hard, and upon seeing her father’s belongings, she cried even harder. Although Miao Qingqing was constantly in tears, she did not cry out loud. At such a moment, she showed her remarkable strength.

In his interactions with Miao Qingqing, Song Xiaodong had always taken advantage of her, so he hadn’t truly realized Miao Qingqing’s resolute nature. Now he knew, when faced with significant events, she truly had a strong and ruthless side, much like when she had spoken of seeking revenge earlier, a sentiment not typical of most women.

After the belongings were sorted, Miao Xuanxuan cried bitterly once again but eventually fell asleep in Song Xiaodong’s arms, exhausted.

Song Xiaodong looked at Miao Qingqing, who still refrained from crying out, and said softly, "It’s okay to cry; holding it in like this can easily make you ill. Now that Uncle Miao is gone, you’ll have to bear the burden of the Miao family alone. If you fall ill, Xuanxuan won’t be able to shoulder such a responsibility."

Miao Qingqing looked at Song Xiaodong, her lips pouted, and finally, she could no longer hold back, and with a loud sob, she threw herself into Song Xiaodong’s arms and began to cry.

Her crying woke Miao Xuanxuan, who also began to sob. Both clung to Song Xiaodong, seeking solace in him.

The crying went back and forth until late into the night before the two finally fell asleep from exhaustion.

Song Xiaodong carried both of them to the bed. As he tried to get up, they both opened their eyes and clung tightly to Song Xiaodong’s arms.

Song Xiaodong sighed and did not attempt to get up again, but stretched his arms out, passing them under the necks of the two, hugging them one on each side.

Then, Miao Qingqing and Miao Xuanxuan closed their eyes again, occasionally letting out a sob, their bodies occasionally twitching. Song Xiaodong’s hands gently patted their shoulders as if comforting children to sleep. This simple gesture provided a sense of security, allowing them to sleep more soundly.