58 - Little Peasant Wife

Upon hearing the words, the older brother was terrified beyond reason. Nevertheless, he knew he couldn't persuade her. His only chance of survival was to cooperate with his comrades to confront this demi-human together. With that thought, he promptly addressed his brothers, saying, "Don't be afraid. There's only one of her, and there are more than twenty of us. If we work together and kill her, we may have a chance to survive today and perhaps even demand more silver from Liang Sheng Rong!" The men on horseback looked defeated. What concern did they have left for silver? All they wanted was to escape this place alive. Yet, they were fully aware that Jing Ao Xue wouldn't spare them, gazing at them with disdainful contempt, as if they were mere ants on the ground. These men had fire in their blood, being bandits who lived by the sword, accustomed to murder and plundering. If not for Jing Ao Xue's terrifyingly swift and lethal methods, they wouldn't have been so paralyzed with fear. With the realization that only by following the older brother's plan could they survive, they steeled themselves, biting the bullet, their resolve firm. With a seamless, mutual understanding born from past collaboration, they drew the machetes from their belts and charged at Jing Ao Xue. Jing Ao Xue sensed the battle spirit, and her heart thrilled. Yes, this was what she desired. It would be meaningless if the opponents were utterly powerless to resist. She chuckled coldly, easily dodging as the machetes came slashing her way. The attackers dared not get too close, hoping only to wound her; regardless of whether they succeeded or not, they would immediately steer their horses away from her hands. They hadn't forgotten the prior scene—only atop a horse were they safe; getting caught by this demi-human meant certain dismemberment. Jing Ao Xue was annoyed by their hit-and-run tactics. She licked her lips but didn't bother trying to grab anyone. Instead, she fixated on one person, using her wood element ability to enhance her legs. With Zhuo Qun's leaping power, she soared into the air, landing directly behind one of the riders, her gentle breath whispering into his ear, marking the end of his memory. His head was brutally ripped off. Supreme in the art of killing, Jing Ao Xue favored the most violent methods. Initially, she hadn't liked killing either, but after chopping down zombie after zombie—universally known as requiring decapitation for cessation of their activity—she had grown numb to it over ten years. The warm blood splattered over her face and clothes. She didn't care, merely slightly troubled by the thought: her clothes were soiled, and Shen Lv Man would undoubtedly be displeased. Perhaps she should wash them in the river before returning home. Lifting her head, she tossed the corpse aside, gripped the horse’s reins tightly, and pursued the men fleeing in despair. She jumped from horse to horse, leaving mangled bodies falling in her wake. The path of pursuit was drenched in blood, the road’s edges lined with the severed limbs of humans. Consumed by the bloodshed, Jing Ao Xue saw nothing else as she relentlessly hunted down every last one, tearing off each individual's head—a scene of gruesome massacre. Once everyone was slain, Jing Ao Xue leisurely trotted back on horseback. The earth was littered with bodies, blood staining the grass dark red. She couldn’t be bothered with it. After searching their bodies and securing silver coins and notes, she moved on to the next. Fearless, she roved, knowing in this strange world there were no surveillance cameras or forensic investigations. The surrounding desolation made it the perfect crime scene—no witnesses under the dark of night, with speculation easily falling on robbery and murder for the silver carries. Jing Ao Xue rode on until she reached her own horse. Stripping off her outer garment now soaked crimson with blood, she found it utterly unwearable. Fortunately, this was plundered from her first kill today. Nevertheless, her inner wear was heavily stained as well. She furrowed her brows, feeling somewhat troubled. She had gotten used to this routine; her killing methods ensured she was always drenched in blood. While she fancied the sensation, it was troublesome to clean up. After wringing out her blood-soaked clothing and wiping her hands on a nearby corpse’s clothes, she nonchalantly mounted her horse to continue towards the village. This time, however, she carefully avoided main roads, choosing the path along the river. Midway, she took a bath in the river, washing her clothes. Though after sniffing them, traces of blood still lingered. Pursing her lips, she thought wistfully: This would be so much easier with a washing machine. She indulged in the fantasy while scrubbing at the riverbank. Only once she felt adequately clean did she ride the horse home. The straw-covered trail ran not far from the riverbank. Returning home, she found the courtyard still lit with candlelight. Jing Ao Xue mused that Shen Lv Man must be waiting for her. It was already late, yet instead of sleeping, she had left the lights burning, awaiting her return. This thought filled Jing Ao Xue's heart with warmth. Smiling, she entered, guided the horse to the stable, and just as she was about to announce her return, she found the main room empty. A table set with food, covered by a wooden frame, greeted her. Jing Ao Xue pouted, thinking: Oh, she had only left me some supper and a few oil lamps. Thankfully, Shen Lv Man hadn't stayed up waiting. Otherwise, her condition would not go unnoticed. With these thoughts, Jing Ao Xue fetched clean clothes to change into, dismissing today’s outfit as unsalvageable. Resolved, she told herself to opt for a gentler approach next time to prevent ruining more of Shen Lv Man’s handmade clothing. After changing and having supper in the dining room, she deliberated whether to go straight to bed or greet her wife first. To just go to bed felt wrong, but disturbing her wife if she was already asleep might bring displeasure. Alas, disturbing her seemed best. Jing Ao Xue promptly chose the latter, stepping quietly to Shen Lv Man's door. She gently pushed it open, hoping to admire her sleeping face, only to find the bed occupied by a small, sleeping Liu Er, but no sign of Shen Lv Man. Concern creased her brow. So late already, where could Shen Lv Man be? Chapter 38: Tentacles Jing Ao Xue raised a hand to gently feel Liu Er’s forehead, reassured that she was indeed in deep sleep and not troubled by anything else. With a sigh of relief, she tiptoed out of the room. The flickering candles in the main room reminded Jing Ao Xue of the scum she encountered on the way back to the village. She thought, "Could it be that Liang Sheng Rong sent more people ahead to deal with Shen Lv Man?" Her lips tightened with a stern determination: "They'd better not, or Liang Sheng Rong will find himself in a fate worse than death." She forced herself to remain calm, examining the subtle clues left in the house. From these, she could ascertain that when Shen Lv Man had left, there had been no struggle or signs of conflict. Liu Er was tucked in neatly, with the blanket corners folded in the peculiar way that Shen Lv Man preferred. This detail suggested that Shen Lv Man had watched over Liu Er until she fell asleep, closed the door, and then left voluntarily. This realization left Jing Ao Xue even more unsettled. Before she had arrived in this world, she had silently pitied Shen Lv Man, who unjustly remained by the original owner’s side, despite being a wife who endured the misuse of her resources, endured abuse, and witnessed the harm to the child she cared for. Such loyalty to the original owner seemed illogical, if not pathological. As their relationship developed, Jing Ao Xue came to understand Shen Lv Man’s true nature—equally ruthless and resolute as her own. A person like that would never remain steadfast to the original owner without reason. Whatever the reason may have been, Jing Ao Xue, when it came to those closest to her, chose not to delve too deeply. After all, everyone has their own secrets. She was no exception, protecting the secret of her transmigration and her abilities. By the same token, Shen Lv Man deserved her space. She could understand, hence she wouldn’t force it... Originally steadfast in her belief that Shen Lv Man would never leave voluntarily, as naturally as the earth orbits the sun, reality slapped her hard with the fact: Shen Lv Man had left of her own accord. What if she never returned? Cold sweat broke out over Jing Ao Xue, her fists clenching so tightly her nails dug into her palms, as she fought to anchor herself against the overwhelming tide of panic. She bit down on her lip, hard enough to draw blood. No, she had to trust Shen Lv Man. Surely, the improved treatment she offered compared to the original owner’s was enough to keep Shen Lv Man from leaving? If Shen Lv Man had still left her, then surely she had lost her mind! And madness must be treated! She vowed that if Shen Lv Man had truly escaped, she would pursue her to the ends of the earth to bring her back! Not only would she retrieve Shen Lv Man, but she would imprison her in a space where only they existed, brainwashing her incessantly, making Shen Lv Man fear to ever leave again. A cold smile touched Jing Ao Xue's lips before she frowned again: No, perhaps she should explain things sensibly first, and if that failed, then resort to extreme measures. Hundreds of tormenting methods flitted through her mind, but when it came to Shen Lv Man, she found herself reverting to the simplest—tickling her or peeling her clothes—such lowbrow techniques. Lines of frustration marred her face, a mix of exasperation and amusement filling her heart. Just then, the candle in the main room crackled loudly, flickering a few times before it extinguished completely. With half her face illuminated by moonlight and the other hidden in shadow, Jing Ao Xue finally pieced together some sense. She reasoned: Could Shen Lv Man have gone searching for her along the path to town? Yet, she quickly dismissed the thought: Impossible. She had returned via the riverbank—a route close to the main road—yet heard nothing from Shen Lv Man. If Shen Lv Man was seeking her, it was unlikely she would search in silence. That would be absurd. Moreover, the neatly prepared meal and lit candles showed Shen Lv Man had anticipated her return, knowing she would be home by nightfall. Given that, Shen Lv Man had likely left for some reason, anticipating she wouldn’t be back right away. Jing Ao Xue walked heavily, slumping into a chair. She sighed deeply, deciding to patiently wait for Shen Lv Man's return while closing her eyes to replenish her depleted wood element abilities. Regret washed over her. She berated herself—for the thrill of the slaughter, for indulging in the rush of bloodlust—she had recklessly exhausted her powers. If only she hadn’t been so extravagant in dealing with those men, she wouldn’t have drained her abilities so entirely.