71 - Little Peasant Wife

This choice... If it were Jing Aoxue, she would undoubtedly choose the demihumans and the child. However, reflecting on Gu Qing's words earlier, she recalled that this Grandmaster was not as innocent as she appeared. Surely, she was currently savoring the struggle; once she extracted the information she wanted, she would mercilessly kill everyone involved. Jing Aoxue gritted her teeth as the event unfolded before her, flashing scenes of their desperate escape earlier today. Suddenly, she realized she couldn't continue like this. This place, though not the post-apocalyptic world, was more complex and fraught with danger. Placing herself in this situation, if such a formidable enemy appeared one day, her current capabilities would not only be a hindrance but also drag Shen Lümian down! No, she mustn't let it continue. The sense of crisis made her realize: "Adversity fosters growth; complacency breeds failure." If they could escape unharmed today, she would immediately focus on honing her wood-based abilities upon returning home. The second-in-command, experiencing equally complex emotions, was undoubtedly aware that today was his end. A clever man, he could not help the bitterness of seeing a glimmer of hope after years, only to end up in such a predicament. With a wry smile, he looked at the dumbfounded demihuman in the Grandmaster's hands and said, "I understand that Miss Lan discovered the secret of the treasure map. A Nascent Soul master from millennia ago left countless top-tier elixirs in their cave, and this cave is within the borders of this mortal nation." "However, Miss Lan is unsure of the exact location, so she's traveling the country in secret to investigate. It's only a matter of time before she finds the Nascent Soul master's cave and its opportunities." The Grandmaster, hearing this, narrowed her eyes. Relaxing her grip, she placed the male demihuman on the ground. She smiled and said, "You are wise to make the right choice. That wench only sees you as a tool for cultivation, unlike this demihuman who genuinely cared for you." She stepped forward, grasping the second-in-command's neck. Seeing him close his eyes, she sighed, "You are indeed clever. It's unfortunate you chose the wrong allegiance." With that, she used her dark arts to absorb all the spiritual energy within the second-in-command for her own use. Her cultivation surged immensely in a short time, her pale face blooming with a rosy hue. Opening her eyes with crimson lips, she smiled and remarked, "This tool is quite nourishing, I can feel...” She abruptly spurted blood from her mouth. Startled, she stumbled back in panic. The searing pain inside her forced more blood to spurt out; her hair turning white at a visible speed, her exposed skin wrinkled like an aged orange peel. In an instant, she transformed from a youthful seventeen or eighteen-year-old into a woman in her fifties or sixties. Flustered and disoriented, her voice turned hoarse and aged, she mumbled with disbelief, "Impossible! My cultivation advanced, reaching the late Foundation Establishment stage, why instead..." "It's her! That deceitful Hua Linglan framed me!" Her screams echoed, shaking the entire mountain. With eyes filled with bloodlust, she mercilessly finished off the only remaining bystander, drew her sword, and flew off the cliff's edge. Jing Aoxue and Shen Lümian exchanged glances, waiting a while longer to make sure no one else appeared before emerging. Jing Aoxue cast a glance at the lifeless bodies on the ground. The demihuman and the child within were beyond salvation. Even in death, the demihuman’s eyes remained open, their gaze fixed on the shriveled body of the second-in-command nearby. A sudden wave of sorrow washed over Jing Aoxue, a chilling empathy for the fallen. She chose not to dwell on it, hastening with Shen Lümian towards the cliff's edge. Using vines to rappel down, they found a cave entrance concealed by foliage, just high enough for a person. Entering the cave, Shen Lümian led the way. To their surprise, the passage was quite untroubled and straightforward. After about an hour’s walk, they saw a faint light at the end of the tunnel. Elated, Shen Lümian rushed out, finding they had indeed escaped. The entrance emerged amidst reeds by the riverside, a stone's throw from Lingbian Village. Glimpsing the ominous black smoke billowing from the mountain, they wasted no time, heading downstream along the waterway. By dawn, the two encountered a passing boat heading to town and boarded it. Jing Aoxue, seasick as ever, leaned weakly against Shen Lümian, whispering, “Honey, I must strive to become stronger.” Shen Lümian paused, saying, “This was just an accident. We're but ordinary mortals; such situations will not arise again.” Bitterly smiling, Jing Aoxue replied, “No, I have a feeling it won’t be that simple. Why didn’t the second-in-command or that Grandmaster notice us before?” Startled, Shen Lümian thought: because she was half-demon, with the other half being vine demon. In human form, their greatest skill was concealing their presence and aura. Unless the opponent was a cultivator above the Core Formation stage, she could elude detection from others. This truth... She dared not speak, nor could she. Redirecting her gaze to the river, she remarked, “Perhaps...we were just lucky. We’ll soon reach the town, let’s gather Liu’er at the Herb Hall and head home.” With these words, Jing Aoxue opened her eyes, observing Shen Lümian’s tensed jaw, smiled, and answered, “Alright, let’s go home.” Chapter 45: Sharing a Sleeping Space Jing Aoxue closed her eyes, channeling her wood element powers to alleviate the discomfort from seasickness. She had no sense of how much time had passed; it felt interminable to her, but finally the boat docked at the pier. Before Shen Lümian could rouse her, Jing Aoxue was already on her feet, albeit unsteady, disembarking onto solid ground. Only then did she start to feel slightly better. Pale-faced, she murmured, "Let's go, dear." Seeing her condition, Shen Lümian moved to support Jing Aoxue as they walked. As they progressed a few steps, Shen Lümian noticed that the town's security had significantly increased. There were more patrols on the streets, led by the constables, scrutinizing anyone suspicious. Bowing her head, Shen Lümian whispered to Jing Aoxue, "There are patrols about, let's be careful." Jing Aoxue squinted her eyes. Until Shen Lümian's reminder brought it to her attention, she had been too absorbed in her discomfort to notice the tense atmosphere around them. As her gaze casually swept over the gathered people, she inadvertently met the eyes of a refined young man in a green robe. Han Juren smirked and whispered to the constables beside him. The constables, along with their patrols, approached Jing Aoxue directly, blocking her path. "Routine check—hand over everything you have on you!" they commanded officiously. Jing Aoxue felt a chill internally, but outwardly she maintained a cheerful demeanor, saying to her spouse, "Well, since the officials are investigating, let's cooperate and show them everything we have." Nodding, Shen Lümian pulled out several pouches from her waist and some pieces of silver from her sleeves. Jing Aoxue had only one pouch herself, which she handed over promptly. The constables were surprised by her compliance and glanced back at Han Juren. Seething with hatred, Han Juren harbored no lingering affection for Jing Aoxue; his only reason for causing her trouble was his habitual disdain. In his life, Han Juren had meticulously planned each step from the time he understood the world, applying himself diligently to achieve the rank of scholar. He joined the town's academy, mingling with other promising students, cultivating valuable connections. His path should have been straightforward toward advancing his aspirations. Yet fate was unkind; his family couldn't afford his schooling, rendering his efforts futile. To pursue his dreams further, he was forced to ingratiate himself with the demihuman. Each demand from his aunt to curry favor with the demihuman fueled his resentment and rage. When he finally succeeded in his exams, his patience snapped. He arranged to eliminate Jing Aoxue, hoping if she couldn't be killed, she'd at least be crippled. To his frustration, she had survived unscathed, continually flaunting her persistent existence in his path. Being intolerant of slights, and spurred by relatives urging him to discipline Jing Aoxue, Han Juren fumed with stifled anger, biding his time for when he could teach her a harsh lesson. Now, seeing the inept constable seek his guidance, he silently cursed the incompetence, stepping forward himself. With chin slightly lifted, his expression was one of feigned humility—his constant façade. Lowering his gaze to Jing Aoxue and the woman supporting her, he coldly queried, "Aren't you Jing Aoxue? What are you doing here instead of staying in the village? Plotting something nefarious, perhaps?" Jing Aoxue shrugged with a smile, retorting, "Isn't this Han Juren? What are you doing here instead of in the village? Plotting something nefarious, perhaps?" Her echo of his accusation incensed Han Juren, who snarled, "You dare mock me! Constables, thoroughly inspect their belongings. I suspect they are the rebels the Governor is searching for!" Jing Aoxue replied nonchalantly, "I've always been bold—my child is already four. But you, after all these years, haven't shown interest in women. Could it be... you have a penchant for men?" Feigning curiosity, her question caused the constable, who had been checking the pouches, to steal a glance at Han Juren, before stepping back discreetly and signaling others to do the same. Seeing this, Han Juren nearly exploded with rage. He seethed, "I am not!" As a scholar, he had envisioned securing a noble wife after achieving his ambitions. He had no interest in women or men, solely fixated on ascending the social ladder. Unable to defend his reputation with words, Han Juren could only fume as Jing Aoxue sullied his name. Infuriated, he personally snatched the pouches to inspect them himself, finding nothing but loose coins and silver notes within.