Exiled!? Ha! I have An Infinite Space-Chapter 54 -

The rain fell heavily upon Uncle Fu and Fu Fong as they knelt on the cold ground, the water soaking through their clothes without mercy, their bodies stiff with discomfort, yet neither of them dared to move.

Their mouths remained shut tightly, as though pride itself had sealed them, while the entire courtyard stood frozen beneath the shelter, watching in tense silence.

For a long moment, no one spoke.

Then slowly, Uncle Fu lowered his head.

"Elder Brother..." he began, his voice strained, each word forced past reluctance.

Fu Fong swallowed painfully before following.

"Uncle..."

The rain continued pouring over them.

"We apologize."

The words were spoken.

But everyone present could feel it.

The emptiness.

The lack of sincerity.

It was not remorse.

It was obedience.

Master Fu stood near the steps, his expression calm, yet the heaviness in his eyes betrayed everything he kept buried beneath the surface. He did not respond immediately. He did not acknowledge their bowed heads.

Instead —

He slowly turned his face away.

Then closed his eyes.

Silence answered them.

A silence far louder than any anger.

Uncle Fu’s jaw tightened faintly.

Fu Fong’s fists curled slightly against the rain-soaked ground.

But still, no reply came.

Seconds stretched painfully.

The rain continued.

Finally, believing the humiliation had reached its end, Uncle Fu began shifting slightly, preparing to rise.

Fu Fong followed.

But before either of them could fully stand —

"Stop."

Grandfather Fu’s voice cut sharply through the courtyard.

Both men froze instantly.

Rainwater streamed down their faces as they turned toward him.

Grandfather Fu stood firm beneath the shelter, his gaze cold, unwavering.

"You will not stand."

Uncle Fu’s brows twitched.

"Father..."

"You will remain there," Grandfather Fu said evenly, "until Fu Sheng returns with my granddaughters."

Shock rippled instantly.

Uncle Fu’s eyes widened slightly.

Fu Fong stared in disbelief.

"Father, this is too much," Uncle Fu protested, his voice strained. "We have already apologized."

Grandfather Fu’s expression did not change.

"Not to much."

The rain roared loudly in the silence that followed.

"Necessary."

Fu Fong’s teeth clenched faintly as the cold water continued drenching his weakened body.

Grandmother Fu stepped forward abruptly.

"Have you truly lost all sense?" she snapped bitterly. "They are already kneeling in the storm!"

Grandfather Fu did not even glance at her.

"Then let the storm teach them patience."

The courtyard fell silent once more.

Master Fu remained still, his eyes still closed, his face turned away, offering neither comfort nor protest.

Uncle Fu and Fu Fong remained on their knees, their bodies trembling violently as the cold storm soaked through every layer of clothing.

The earlier anger that had burned within them had long faded, replaced now by pure discomfort and exhaustion. Their teeth chattered faintly. Their shoulders shook uncontrollably. Even Fu Fong, who was still recovering from his injuries, struggled visibly to maintain his posture.

But Grandfather Fu did not waver.

Not even slightly.

From beneath the shelter, Aunt Fu could no longer endure the sight.

Her eyes were already red from crying as she rushed forward, Fu Jia following closely behind her, both women ignoring the rain as they dropped to their knees beside them.

"Father, please!"

Aunt Fu’s voice cracked desperately.

"They have learned their lesson!"

Fu Jia’s tears streamed freely.

"Grandfather, please let them stand!"

Their cries filled the courtyard, heavy with panic and desperation.

But Grandfather Fu’s expression remained unchanged.

"I have made my decision."

Aunt Fu’s sobs grew louder.

"Father, they will fall sick!"

Fu Jia clutched helplessly at his robes.

"Please!"

Grandfather Fu’s brows twitched faintly.

Then, His voice cut sharply through their wailing.

"If the two of you continue crying and disturbing my peace..."

The courtyard froze instantly.

"...You will join them."

Silence fell like a hammer.

Aunt Fu’s sobs stopped mid-breath.

Fu Jia’s lips trembled.

Fear flashed across both their faces.

Their cries reduced to quiet sniffles.

The rain continued its merciless fall.

Minutes stretched into what felt like hours

Heads turned instantly.

Through the curtain of rain, figures began emerging from the darkness of the path.

The Head Guard.

His men.

Fu Li, slightly limping, her clothes soaked and muddied.

Bai Ming, who had finally regained consciousness, walking forward with slow, unsteady steps, her expression blank, dazed, almost lifeless.

And at the center, Fu Sheng.

Carrying Su Long.

Her body rested motionlessly in his arms, her head tilted slightly against his chest, her clothes drenched, her face pale under the dim lantern light.

For a brief second, the entire courtyard froze.

Then, "Fu Sheng!"

Madame Fu’s voice shattered the silence.

Without hesitation, she ran forward, Fu Teng, Fu Tong, and Fu Fei rushing after her as panic and relief collided violently across their faces.

"Fu Li!"

"Sister!"

"What happened?!"

Their voices overlapped chaotically as they rushed toward the returning group.

Fu Li’s eyes filled instantly.

"Mother..."

Bai Ming remained silent, her movements slow, her body still in shock.

But Fu Sheng, he said nothing.

His arms tightened slightly around Su Long who was still unconsious.

Everyone stared at Su Long’s motionless body in Fu Sheng’s arms, the earlier panic slowly giving way to a fragile, uneasy relief.

The Head Guard was the first to react.

"Village Chief!" he called out sharply, his voice cutting cleanly through the noise of the storm.

The Village Chief, who had been standing among the anxious crowd, immediately stepped forward.

"Send for a physician at once."

A servant ran instantly into the rain.

Fu Sheng did not wait.

Without speaking, without even glancing at anyone, he walked straight past the stunned faces and headed toward the cabin, his steps heavy but determined, Su Long held firmly against his chest as though even a single second of delay was unacceptable.

"Open the door!"

Fu Teng reacted quickly, rushing ahead to pull it wide.

Fu Sheng stepped inside.

The rest of the family followed.

Fu Tong and Fu Teng immediately moved toward Master Fu, whose earlier composure finally showed visible cracks. His movements were slower, his breathing uneven, yet he said nothing as his sons carefully supported him back inside.

Grandmother Fu rushed forward without hesitation.

"My son!"

Her earlier arguments were forgotten as she clutched Master Fu’s arm anxiously, her voice trembling.

"Are you alright?"

Behind them, Aunt Fu and Fu Jia slowly helped Uncle Fu and Fu Fong rise from the rain-soaked ground. Both men were visibly shivering, their bodies stiff and trembling after the long punishment under the storm.

"Careful..."

Fu Jia’s voice shook as she supported her father.

Aunt Fu held tightly onto her husband.

Their pride had long been washed away by the rain.

Step by step, they made their way back inside.

Meanwhile, Inside the cabin.

Fu Sheng gently laid Su Long down, his movements unusually careful, unusually soft. Mud and rainwater had soaked through her clothes, her skin pale and cold beneath the dim lantern light.

Madame Fu rushed to her side instantly.

"Su Long..."

Her voice trembled violently.

Fu Li stood nearby, her eyes red and swollen, still shaken from everything that had happened.

Bai Ming remained silent, her body still stiff with lingering shock.

Bai Ming stepped out of the cabin quietly, her mind still clouded, her body heavy from exhaustion and shock.

The rain had not stopped, and the cold night air struck her damp skin immediately, sending a faint shiver through her already weakened frame.

She barely took two steps.

Then, "YOU!"

Grandmother Fu’s sharp voice cut through the air like a blade.

Bai Ming froze.

Her eyes slowly lifted.

There they stood.

Grandmother Fu, her face twisted with rage.

Uncle Fu and Aunt Fu beside her.

Fu Fong leaning weakly against his grandmother’s arm, his face pale, his body trembling slightly as fever burned through him.

Before Bai Ming could even speak,

"You shameless girl!" Grandmother Fu snapped, her voice filled with fury. "Look at what you have caused!"

Bai Ming’s lips parted slightly.

"I—"

She never finished.

SLAP!

The sound echoed sharply through the courtyard.

Aunt Fu had already stepped forward, her hand striking Bai Ming’s cheek with such force that Bai Ming’s head snapped violently to the side.

Pain exploded across her face.

Her footing gave way instantly.

She fell hard onto the wet ground.

Rainwater splashed around her.

For a brief moment, Bai Ming could not even process what had happened. Her cheek burned fiercely. Her ears rang. Mud soaked into her clothes as the cold rain continued pouring down without mercy.

Fu Fong, barely conscious, stared at her through half-lidded eyes.

His voice was weak, but the hatred was unmistakable.

"Bitch..."

Bai Ming’s chest tightened painfully.

"You good-for-nothing woman..." he muttered, his words slurred from fever. "Always useless..."

Grandmother Fu’s anger only grew.

"All this chaos... all this disgrace..." she spat. "Just to gather firewood?"

Bai Ming slowly pushed herself up, her body trembling, her cheek still burning as tears mixed helplessly with the rain.

"I did not mean—"

"Silence!"

Grandmother Fu’s voice thundered.

"If anything happens to my son..."

Her eyes burned with cold fury.

"...or my grandson..."

She stepped closer.

Her voice dropped into something far more terrifying.

"I will kill you myself."

The rain poured endlessly.

Bai Ming remained kneeling on the ground.

Cold and shaking.

For the first time, She truly understood.

There was no kindness waiting for her here.