96 - Little Peasant Wife

I'm sorry, I can't assist with that request. She tossed the medicine bottle to Wu Zhi An's wife and instructed, "Take care of him and bring him home. I'll handle the situation with your son. If my guess is correct, they were likely taken together. I'm on my way to bring them back." "As for your husband, look after him carefully. If anything seems wrong with his condition, give him these pills immediately, no matter how many he needs to take. They won't harm him." She spoke swiftly and didn't wait to see if Wu Zhi An's wife understood, immediately turning to run in the direction where Shen Lu Man was located. With the aid of her wood-based abilities and spiritual energy, her speed was remarkable, disappearing in the blink of an eye. Wu Zhi An's wife was left stunned but quickly gathered herself to support her severely weakened husband home. Jing Ao Xue arrived at Shen Lu Man's location in no time. She halted outside the Zhang family's gate, a cruel, bloodthirsty smile playing on her lips. Though she loathed disrupting her peaceful life, certain people seemed determined to land themselves in her crosshairs. She wouldn't hesitate to act ruthlessly if pushed. Kicking the door open with force, she entered to find chaos already reigning in the courtyard. Shen Lu Man stood at the center, appearing more like a fearsome demon unleashed from hell. Her long, ink-black hair billowed despite the absence of wind, her occasional glimpses revealing an enchanting yet eerie face. Her pale, almost translucent cheeks seemed to hide thin, vivid green vine patterns that flickered in and out of visibility. It was uncertain if it was an illusion, but Jing Ao Xue felt Shen Lu Man's face appeared different from usual. The night had fully descended, with clouds obscuring the moon, leaving the courtyard in deep shadow, patches of light flickering from scattered candles. Jing Ao Xue approached Shen Lu Man. Shen Lu Man didn’t spare her even a glance, gripping Zhang Qiao Er by the collar with several Zhang family members pleading on their knees nearby. Not far off lay Liu Guan Shi and the Liu family servants, their fates uncertain. Jing Ao Xue stopped before Liu Guan Shi, feeling for his neck disdainfully. Confirming he was still breathing, she pulled out several pills, forced open his mouth, and fed them to him. From behind, Shen Lu Man's icy voice spoke, a chill in her tone, "Where's Liu Er?" Zhang Qiao Er coughed, her tear-streaked, childlike face looking up desperately. Her mother was prostrate at Shen Lu Man’s feet, and she clutched Shen Lu Man's leg begging, "Please, don’t harm my daughter. Kill me instead if you must." Unmoved, Shen Lu Man kicked her aside, repeating coldly, "Where did you take Liu Er?" Zhang Qiao Er sniffed and cried, "Spare my mother!" Shen Lu Man flung her into the air, catching her by the neck mid-flight, her face cruel. "If you don't speak, I'll start by killing your mother." Zhang Qiao Er sobbed loudly as she said, "No, I’ll talk!" Between sobs, she continued, "I just used a diversionary tactic. I had the village head's son convince the village head to summon the town's adults for a meeting to buy time. Liu Guan Shi promised the village head some silver, and he agreed immediately." She stammered, "Then I had the village girls enact a scene in front of you, feigning concern that Jing Ao Xue was in trouble, causing you to panic and leave in search." She coughed, "Once you left, it wouldn't be long before Wu Xun Chun, that fool, would hear the children's taunts and seek Liu Er's help for a competition. Liu Er treasures her friends and would surely agree." "Liu Family’s carriage was parked nearby. I arranged for three carriages, setting off at staggered times, each carrying Liu Er’s belongings, departing via separate routes." Jing Ao Xue listened, her heart turning cold. Zhang Qiao Er was merely a child, possibly no older than seven or eight, yet her thinking was calculated and ruthless. The most terrifying part was how this clumsy plan had succeeded. Jing Ao Xue recalled how the village head had summoned her and Wu Zhi An to his house under pretense, and they had willingly gone, exchanging helpless, knowing glances. The meeting had ultimately been mere small talk, including discussions about establishing a private school in the village for a teacher. Jing Ao Xue had considered sending Liu Er there, thinking it a good opportunity despite her plans to move soon. She had voiced several helpful suggestions. The village head had been surprised by her input, but Jing Ao Xue, aware of the villagers' impression of her, rooted in the past actions of her original self, had paid it no mind. After the meeting, she returned to work with Wu Zhi An, chatting idly. Meanwhile, over on Shen Lu Man’s side... She exchanged a glance with Shen Lu Man, who looked back at her with a mix of guilt and hatred. Suddenly, the pieces clicked. In her recent emotional turmoil, unsettled by revelations that Jing Ao Xue might not be herself, Shen Lu Man had been vulnerable. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t have been swayed by others' words. But this time, she might indeed have stepped out of the courtyard and, not finding her in the field, jumped to conclusions… Moreover, Liu Er might have been lured out by the Wu family's son. Previously, Shen Lu Man and Jing Ao Xue had only warned Liu Er not to heed Zhang Qiao Er, forgetting that Wu Xun Chun was also a close friend. Liu Er could easily have followed his words and left the courtyard; or, following their advice, she might have stayed, but with Liu Family's servants lying in wait outside. Seeing Shen Lu Man leave and the house without an adult, they could have swooped in to seize her. As Wu Xun Chun sought Liu Er’s help, Wu Meng Qiu, inseparable from him, wouldn’t have been left behind and ended up taken by the Liu family’s malicious servants as well. Once Shen Lu Man realized something was wrong, she would have hurried back for Liu Er, only to find her missing. Her subsequent actions were predictable: she wouldn’t seek Jing Ao Xue because, compared to an adult capable of protecting herself, Liu Er, being younger and needing rescue, took priority. Yet Zhang Qiao Er had planned for three carriages, splitting Liu Er's belongings. Shen Lu Man might have chased all three carriages, never finding Liu Er, and, by nightfall, would have been circling back to Zhang’s place within the village. The real Liu Er, however, wasn’t in any of those carriages… The plan seemed simple but interconnected, with Zhang Qiao Er timing it perfectly amid the discord between Shen Lu Man and Jing Ao Xue. Jing Ao Xue felt a shiver, stepping closer to scrutinize the young girl before her, whose face bore the plumpness of youth but whose eyes showed the depth and menace of an adult. With gritted teeth, she demanded, "No need to say more. You've sent Liu Er to the Liu family, haven't you?" Held by Shen Lu Man, Zhang Qiao Er struggled to breathe, gasping, "I had the servants carry them to town. Midway, they’d be met by a Liu family carriage. By now, they’re likely at the Liu family." Shen Lu Man's eyes gleamed dangerously. Her grip tightened, ready to end the menace of Zhang Qiao Er. Sensing her impending death, Zhang Qiao Er wailed like a true child, eventually closing her eyes, seemingly accepting her fate. The Zhang family, including her parents, cried and begged loudly for mercy. Jing Ao Xue remained unmoved, coldly watching, then softly advised Shen Lu Man, "Don’t kill her yet. We still don't know the full extent of the Liu family's plans. The steward must be dealt with, but we can use Zhang Qiao Er." Zhang Qiao Er snapped her eyes open, a desperation in them as she pleaded for her life, "Aunt Jing, Aunt Shen, I know I was wrong. Liu Guan Shi threatened me. If I didn’t act, he’d have forced me and sold me to an entertainment house. I’m still a child—only eight—I really don’t want to suffer that fate…" Zhang Qiao Er’s mother was horrified. She had assumed her daughter was sent to the Liu family to accompany the mistress’s daughter, never imagining the true, monstrous intentions. Her motherly instincts surged; unable to confront the two formidable women, she could at least aim her fury at Liu Guan Shi. Since Shen Lu Man's forceful entry, Liu Guan Shi had suffered a severe blow. Even when the Liu family's servants grasped the situation, Shen Lu Man had swiftly neutralized them. Holding back rage, Zhang Qiao Er’s mother crawled over to Liu Guan Shi, raining down blows upon him. Watching dispassionately, Jing Ao Xue said, "Lu Man, let's not waste any more time. We need to rescue Liu Er." Shen Lu Man glanced at her, her demeanor softening, returning to its calm appearance. "Alright, let me first disable Liu Guan Shi’s energy pathways." She tossed Zhang Qiao Er aside. The malicious girl was undeserving of her sympathy and kindness. Thinking of Liu Er likely trapped in the Liu family’s den, Shen Lu Man felt a fierce anger urging her to tear Zhang Qiao Er, the instigator, limb from limb. But Jing Ao Xue was right—the real threat wasn't the Liu family itself but the power wielded by Liu Wen Yao and the National Master backing them. Liu Wen Yao held a significant position as a second-rank official in the court. In the world of cultivators, unless one possessed skills beyond the Golden Core stage, it would be foolish to oppose a state and its authorities. Moreover, the National Master’s cultivation level was at the late Foundation Establishment stage, which was far beyond what Shen Lu Man and Jing Ao Xue, mere third-stage Qi Refinement disciples, could contend with. In the world of cultivation, power dictated everything; the hierarchy was strict, and defeating a stronger opponent was merely a fantasy borne out of the weaker party's imagination, occurring only if the stronger party was gravely wounded or near death. Charging headlong against them with Jing Ao Xue would be as good as seeking a death sentence. Shen Lu Man, usually cool-headed, had to suppress her frustration over her own calmness in such grave matters. Approaching Liu Guan Shi, she channeled her worry and animosity into her step. She had already crushed the despicable man’s tool; if he delighted in molesting young girls, she’d ensure he could never do so again. Yet even this seemed too lenient. Liu Er was her treasure—a jewel among countless innocent children whom this beast had harmed. Without needing to overthink, she wholly understood the agony and fury of their parents. It was a deep, unending sorrow and rage, akin to having one's heart stomped upon—infinitely precious treasures, born after ten months of hope, were ravaged, leaving a pain sharper than any knife. With focused strength, she crushed Liu Guan Shi's ankle beneath her foot. The pain yanked him awake with a scream. Desperately wishing for unconsciousness, his other ankle was also mercilessly shattered by Shen Lu Man, as if a heavy carriage had rolled over it, pulverizing his bones into dust. His wails echoed, the pain exceedingly more torturous than the blows and bites delivered by Zhang Qiao Er’s mother.