104.1 - Little Peasant Wife
**Banxia Web Novel** **Chapter 63: Fallen into Darkness** Jing Aoxue was still unaware that Shen Luman had already died. In her haste, she rushed to Liu'er, scrutinizing her thoroughly from head to toe. After confirming that Liu'er bore no injuries and showed no signs of... harm, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. She had been frightened out of her wits today. Holding Liu'er tightly, she cradled the small child in her arms, her voice filled with worry and fright, "Liu'er, you almost scared your mother to death!" Liu'er clung to her neck, sobbing uncontrollably, "Mother, it's my fault, I'm to blame." "How could that be? Liu'er is a good child; this isn't your fault." Jing Aoxue quickly comforted her, knowing full well that Liu'er wasn't at fault. Why should the victim feel the need to admit wrongdoing? Her thoughts drifted back to her previous life, before the apocalyptic world unfolded. There was a young girl at the orphanage who was raped, and both the children and the caregiver blamed her, saying she shouldn't have gone out at night or interacted casually with strangers. That girl always had a timid personality, venturing into the world to earn money at a very young age. Although child labor is prohibited, there are always places that will hire children. After that incident, she never recovered and eventually vanished without a trace. Jing Aoxue was young then and didn't give it much thought, but experiencing Liu'er's ordeal this time, she could no longer endure such... mistakes. Being kidnapped wasn't Liu'er's fault; she was merely a four-year-old child. The true blame lay with the wrongdoers. She was thankful she had spared Steward Liu's life earlier. On this return to the village, she vowed to make him suffer every conceivable torment, even if it meant using the most infamous tortures. Liu'er's tears flowed like a broken necklace, and with a few sobs, she choked out, "Mother, it's my fault, mother..." Her words reminded Jing Aoxue of Shen Luman, lying on the ground. Earlier, she had seen Shen Luman on the ground, assuming she was just injured or exhausted. She didn't dwell on it because she believed Shen Luman was wise and capable, surely not susceptible to any misfortune. Cradling Liu'er, she approached Shen Luman, taking her hand. Despite sensing that Shen Luman's wrist had grown stiff, she didn't pay much mind to it. Instead, she spoke to her, "My dear wife, good thing you're here, you..." Liu'er was trembling in her arms, unable to articulate a complete sentence as she cried. She wanted to say that her mother had died, but Xiao Hui might resurrect her. Too many words were stuck in her throat, and she... she couldn't utter them. Jing Aoxue finished speaking, but Shen Luman did not respond. Was Shen Luman too tired? Or was she seriously injured as well? Panic surged through Jing Aoxue as she quickly reached out to touch Shen Luman's face. Her skin remained smooth and delicate, but her body, it had grown cold. Jing Aoxue: "..." The National Master, standing not far off, sneered, "Are you really a fool? Haven't you realized this half-demon is already dead? Come to think of it, aren't you this half-demon's husband? Quite capable you must be, stumbling upon such a rare creature and even marrying and having children. In all my years in the cultivation world, this is the first time I've seen such a thing." Jing Aoxue froze completely, unable to comprehend the National Master’s words, or perhaps she simply refused to believe them. She reached out with trembling hands to feel for Shen Luman's heartbeat. There was no pulse on her wrist, none on her neck, and not a trace at her heart. Shen Luman's body was growing colder, turning ever more rigid. Jing Aoxue had witnessed countless deaths, once believing she wouldn't blink an eye at any corpse, but this one... No, it couldn't be real! Wu Zhiyong and the others around them also heard the National Master's words. Gu Baiwei instantly hugged Wu Mengqiu tightly, weeping, "Oh heavens! How vile!" Qin Yishu's eyes darkened slightly, but now was not the time to dwell on such matters. Surviving and escaping from the National Master's grasp, fleeing this perilous Liu household, were the most urgent priorities. She sympathized with Jing Aoxue's family's plight, yet after enduring years of warfare, she had grown numb to tragedy. Turning to the National Master, she smiled lightly and said, "Grand Master, truly unfortunate timing. Some of the Liu household's servants brazenly kidnapped a few children from the village in broad daylight, and these children are of significant background. I had no choice but to come to demand their return." "The children's families are my subordinates, and fearing harm, they ventured into the household searching for them. This is the situation you see now; I apologize for not handling it better. I will remember your kindness, National Master, and repay you someday." The National Master squinted slightly and responded, "General Qin, your words are too severe. Today, I merely witnessed a few intruders in the Liu household. One attempted to harm me and was dealt with on the spot, I..." Before he could finish, Jing Aoxue coldly interjected, "Did you kill Shen Luman?" The National Master chuckled, "Who told her to overestimate herself? General Qin, I..." In the next instant, Jing Aoxue set Liu'er down and charged at the National Master. Her wood-based powers morphed into a glowing green chain, blocking the National Master's escape. Fire energy coalesced on her fist, and she swung it toward the National Master. Unprepared, the National Master never anticipated a third-level Qi Refining cultivator like Jing Aoxue could have any real impact, given the chasm in their ranks. Yet, his lack of preparedness led to her punch landing squarely on his face. Her strikes rained upon him like a storm, preventing any evasion from the glowing green chains, and he found himself unable to counter as Jing Aoxue closed in for physical confrontation. Like many Dao cultivators in the cultivation world, the National Master focused solely on spiritual cultivation, neglecting physical conditioning. Now, he found himself as a helpless punching bag, subjected to Jing Aoxue's merciless onslaught. Although a Foundation Establishment cultivator, having tempered his body with spiritual energy, the blows weren't particularly painful. However, with so many onlookers, a glance at their stunned expressions filled him with embarrassment. Furious and humiliated, he finally managed a defensive hand seal, causing Jing Aoxue's subsequent punches to bounce off a protective barrier. Standing up disheveled, he wiped his mouth coldly, "You've got guts!" Yet Jing Aoxue seemed deaf to his words, relentlessly pounding the defensive barrier. The National Master stood baffled at the sight, knowing such a barrier's strength corresponded to his cultivation level, nigh indestructible to someone at her stage. Yet her gaze was one of desperation, like a ravenous beast on the prowl. Within her eyes burned a fierce malice, surpassing even the terrifying aura of the demon lord she encountered from demonic sects. Jing Aoxue's body shimmered with a faint red-green glow. Despite her bruised and bloodied fists, she continued unabated, determined to shatter the shield, driven to destroy him. The National Master shuddered; in all his years of cultivation, he had yet to encounter such a reckless foe. Mere ants should not... Conflicted with fury and fear, he bellowed at the stunned dark guards, "Why are you just standing there? Seize her!" The dark guards promptly surged forward, but Jing Aoxue sidestepped their assaults effortlessly. Her bloodshot gaze fixed on the group of dark guards, trained to a mere Qi Refining stage, their cultivation augmenter in the mundane world solely through using devilish methods, namely dual cultivation practices. These very guards bore nefarious hands. Jing Aoxue raised her hand, licking the blood off the back, the metallic tang fueling her fiery wrath-driven mind. She cared for nothing, faced no one. All she sought was to kill the one before her, the National Master responsible for Shen Luman's demise. Every other person was merely an obstruction she wouldn't hesitate to eliminate. A red smile curled her lips as blue-green flames erupted around her, revealing an ability never before unleashed. Today, she aimed to unleash chaos, repaying blood with blood. The dark guards, cowed by her menacing glare, wore faces marred by fear. Yet under the National Master's orders, they had no choice but to unleash a fierce attack. With determination etched across her face, Jing Aoxue infused spiritual energy into her legs, turning into a lightning bolt, determined to butcher, to avenge, to eliminate all obstacles. Unyielding, she displayed a grisly mercilessness. The wood abilities in her hands formed semi-transparent blades. Targeting every warm body before her, she plunged her hand through their chests, extricating whatever she grasped, be it heart, intestines, or livers. Blood and organs littered the ground as maniacal glee painted her face even as blows rained on her. Though her steps faltered momentarily, she resumed her indiscriminate slaughter. Nothing mattered. Everything that crossed her path was destined to die. Her gaze remained locked on the National Master, behind all these people. The National Master was drenched in cold sweat, murmuring to himself, "Impossible! She's just a third-level Qi Refining cultivator! Impossible!" How could there be such a powerful Qi Refining cultivator? He would almost believe she was at the start of the Foundation Establishment stage. It was terrifying, especially the blood-soaked methods she unleashed, the myriad of screams and cries of anguish, the scattered remains and organs on the ground... even the wailing couldn't stop her relentless march towards him. For the first time, the National Master felt fear towards a cultivator of a much lower rank. If even their kind was terrified, the ordinary folk from the mortal world watching from the sidelines were paralyzed with fear, some even wetting themselves. Gu Baiwei hurriedly covered the eyes of Wu Mengqiu and Wu Xunchun. Qin Yishu squinted, feeling a visceral discomfort at the sheer savagery of the scene. Occasionally, enemies on the battlefield would act with such reckless abandon, but at least they still feared pain and retained a shred of reason. Yet Jing Aoxue... She was devoid of such humanity, completely transformed into a killing machine. Her wicked grin revealed a disturbing enjoyment of the carnage. She relentlessly crushed everyone, and within minutes, the dark guards were reduced to chaos by her hand. She was no better, her body riddled with sword and blade wounds, appearing as if she had been dredged from a pool of blood. Wu Zhiyong had intended to help as the dark guards attacked Jing Aoxue, but... This was beyond any human warfare he had ever witnessed; stepping in might only result in his indiscriminate demise at her hands. Finding himself ineffective, he instead moved to Liu'er, cradling the already dead Shen Luman and standing behind General Qin. Liu'er, her cheeks wet with tears, followed closely, aware her mother was on a killing spree and unwilling to disturb her. Her mother was still alive, and she was determined to stay by her side until she revived. She was somewhat afraid but could sense Xiao Hui's joy, almost making her want to leap with happiness. Petting Shen Luman’s heart, she silently pleaded, "Xiao Hui, please! I'll always listen to you from now on." Xiao Hui rolled her eyes. She had already mended Shen Luman's body, but with the depleted spiritual energy at the Liu household and the presence of too many outsiders, the setting was unsuitable for awakening her bloodline. Since Shen Luman's true form as a vine could endure for days, there was ample time. Moreover, this slaughter was too exhilarating to miss. She had previously considered Jing Aoxue an inferior human but was astonished at her prowess, her body exuding pure demonic energy. Indeed, Jing Aoxue had succumbed to demonic influence. Ha! A Dao cultivator swaying towards darkness. More so, blessed with great fortune, such individuals required no former cultivation accumulation and could instantly ascend several levels. Consequently, Jing Aoxue would grow more formidable as her bloodlust intensified. Just one final strike was all she needed to completely fall into the demonic path, her future boundlessly promising! Xiao Hui, a demon cultivator, disliked the human and demon clans alike, standing in opposition to both. Yet, compared to the demons who lay dormant for eons, she naturally loathed humans more, the ones who engaged in bitter, frequent, half-century conflicts with the demon clan. Between the demons and humans, it was a battle to the death, and she eagerly anticipated Jing Aoxue’s fall into darkness. With Jing Aoxue having brutally slain all the dark guards, she attacked the National Master's defensive barrier once more. The National Master was pale with terror, knowing things couldn't continue like this. Her pride wouldn't allow her to be beaten by a mere third-level Qi Refining disciple. Moments ago, she had been unprepared, but no matter how powerful her adversary was, surely as a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, she wouldn't fear her. Jing Aoxue's current unstable mind presented a perfect opportunity. In a flash, she vanished from her defensive shield, reappearing behind Jing Aoxue, drawing her life-bound sword, and aiming fiercely at Jing Aoxue’s back. Seeing this, Liu'er shouted, "Mother, behind you!" But it was too late. The National Master's movements were imperceptible to the naked eye, and by the time the scene was clear, the silver-white sword had already pierced through Jing Aoxue's chest. Jing Aoxue looked down at the sword protruding from her chest, grasping it with blood-covered hands as a torrent of blood bloomed from her wound. As she opened her mouth, blood spewed forth. The National Master twirled the sword hilt with satisfaction, "Just a low-tier cultivator. No matter how capable, in the end, will you not end up like your wife, slain by me?" Jing Aoxue coughed up another mouthful of blood, a maniacal laughter escaping from her throat. Liu'er ran toward her, witnessing this as her last clear image before everything blacked out, leaving her unaware of anything else. The National Master withdrew her sword with a derisive laugh, "Insolent." Jing Aoxue's body fell toward the ground. Liu'er rushed to hold her, overwhelmed by the day's traumas, far too young to do anything but cry. Though Jing Aoxue was as heavy as an adult, Liu'er, despite her trained body, couldn’t support her weight alone. As Jing Aoxue fell, Liu'er was pulled down under her. In tears, Liu'er trembled, her face stained by the perpetual blood flow. Blood and tears mingled, tracing down her cheeks. She clung to Jing Aoxue's neck, crying uncontrollably and hoarsely, "Mother!" Those watching could not fathom the welling emotions; they were shocked, sympathetic, and more, but dared not reveal any of it before the National Master. The National Master eyed Liu'er, squinting slightly, "Your talent isn't bad. You’ve seen what happens to those who defy me like your mother and uncles. If you want to live, you’ll come with me willingly." Qin Yishu coldly retorted, "National Master, you killed this child's mothers. Keeping her at your side, aren't you afraid she'll seek revenge once she's grown?" The National Master sneered, "Just her?" Despite her dismissive words, she recalled the initial flames that erupted from Liu'er’s body, wary of facing the same blaze again, uncertain if her body could withstand it. As she pondered, Qin Yishu interjected, "This child, I cannot hand her over to you." With her words, she signaled her subordinates, and in a moment, a thousand soldiers appeared atop the surrounding courtyard walls. The National Master's face turned grim, as did Liu Wenyao’s, as he yelled, "Qin Yishu, are you rebelling?" Qin Yishu shook her head, "I'm merely protecting my adopted daughter. How is that rebellion?" "Adopted daughter?!" Both the National Master and Liu Wenyao were taken aback. Pointing at Liu'er, Qin Yishu continued, "I mentioned this child was special, hence my search here at the Liu household. She is my adopted daughter and the next heir to the Qin family!" Upon hearing this, Gu Baiwei hesitated but refrained from speaking up against Qin Yishu, recognizing it wasn't the appropriate moment. Liu Wenyao snickered, "You claim she's your adopted daughter, but who can prove that? Moreover, with the Qin family being a century-old military household and the Qin patriarch an imperial protector, matters concerning your family are significant. Can someone like you, an invalid, even hold influential power within your family?" Qin Yishu also smirked, signaling her subordinates to produce a token, "This is my grandfather’s token. According to Qin family rules, seeing this is akin to seeing the head of the household. I am the head of this generation, and my adopted daughter is the Qin family heir. Do you have any objections? Furthermore, this is an internal Qin family matter, beyond even the emperor's intervention. Liu Daren, it's audacious of you to claim more influence than the emperor!" Liu Wenyao stammered, "You... you must watch your words!" Such an accusation was grave. Considering the emperor’s long-standing displeasure with him, any chance to exploit this would spell trouble for him. Realizing this, he dared not further involve himself, casting a helpless glance at the National Master. The National Master, squinting dangerously, said, "Qin Yishu, you've grown audacious, daring to oppose me. Setting aside other matters, do you think you, a mere invalid along with the old and weak of the Qin family, can defy me? Even if I take the child, what can you do about it?" Merely mortal affairs, she wouldn't spare attention to them, even with the Qin family's military background. With the emperor in her favor, could she not deter Qin Yishu and the Qin family? These thoughts fueled her, watching Qin Yishu with malice, "I wish you remember the consequences of angering me are beyond just becoming a cripple." Gu Baiwei was incensed, yet restrained herself from recklessly opposing the National Master, for otherwise... Qin Yishu's gaze remained indifferent, seemingly unfazed by the words, "The world does not revolve around one court alone. National Master, perhaps you've long forgotten in your high position that there's also the Martial Alliance in this world. Coincidentally, I happen to be the leader of this Martial Alliance. Should you act against me, the Alliance..." Her words hung heavy with implication, leaving the National Master both furious and flustered. The Martial Alliance is the sole force in the mortal realm capable of challenging cultivators, boasting true experts akin to the nine-star martial artists whose prowess equates to the early stages of Foundation Establishment. An eight-star martial artist stands at the peak of the tenth level of Qi Refining. Qin Yishu, in front of them, is a seven-star martial artist, comparable to the eighth level of Qi Refining. While seemingly insignificant, the crux lies in the sheer numbers of martial artists in the mortal realm. They even maintain significant ties and a deep rapport with the cultivator world's Rogue Cultivator Alliance. The leader of the Martial Alliance can even exchange information with those from the cultivation world. Should a brutal demonic cultivator wreak havoc across the mortal realm, the leader can request righteous cultivators from the Rogue Cultivator Alliance to come and uphold justice, quelling the demonic menace. When she first arrived in the mortal realm and spent time understanding its societal intricacies, she had her people inquire about the Martial Alliance. Over the years, she spared no expense in suppressing the Alliance's influence, yet the leader's identity remained shrouded in mystery, completely elusive. She operated cautiously, fearing any exposure would alarm the Martial Alliance. Who would have thought the Alliance's leader dwelled right under her nose? As a fierce gleam flashed in her eyes, poised to eliminate Qin Yishu and eradicate this threat, a powerful female cultivator dressed in white descended from the sky, landing right in the midst of everyone. The National Master froze, her expression shifting dramatically, "It's you!" Indeed, this was the very same female cultivator who had appeared outside her courtyard, leading her to this place. (Hyperlink and non-relevant content omitted for consistency.)