“You bastard, what do you think you’re doing?”
“Oh? The little one’s awake, huh!”
Jiang Che roared, and Xie Xuan, who had already reached Xiao Xia’s side, immediately turned his head toward Jiang Che.
He glanced at Jiang Che, then at Xiao Xia, before bending down and grabbing her chin.
“Doing what? What else does a man want from a woman?”
Thud!
Xiao Xia was forcefully pressed down onto the ground by an immense force, the rough dirt and stones digging painfully into her skin as she let out a muffled whimper.
She struggled in vain, but her hands were firmly clamped by Xie Xuan.
“Isn’t raising a mute exactly for this?”
Xie Xuan’s voice was filled with a disgusting, lecherous sneer as he leaned in, greedily licking across Xiao Xia’s smooth cheek, leaving behind a wet, repulsive sensation.
While he moved, he deliberately shot a twisted grin in Jiang Che’s direction.
“Heh heh, little one, this is a rare chance. Let your ears enjoy the show!”
“Beast! Let her go!”
A fury surged straight to Jiang Che’s crown, burning away his rationality in an instant.
Perhaps out of sympathy for another disabled person, he truly wanted to kill this bastard right then and there!
Nearby, the child began crying loudly because of the commotion.
The noise drew Wu Qing down from the upper floor.
“What’s all this noise about?”
Wu Qing shouted impatiently, and upon seeing Xie Xuan pinning down the mute girl, his face immediately twisted with contempt.
“Are you out of your mind? Doing this kind of thing at a time like this!”
Xie Xuan stood up, licking the corner of his mouth.
“It’s not too early yet, is it? Besides, she’s mine, so I can do whatever I want! Why should I listen to you?”
“I can’t stop you, but this little brother over here looks like he wants to kill you.”
Wu Qing’s words carried a pointed meaning, and Xie Xuan quickly understood, turning to glare at the furious Jiang Che, who was grinding his teeth.
But he didn’t care.
“So what? Tell your master Lin Yin to come deal with it.”
Hearing this, Wu Qing sighed deeply, as if talking to his idiot younger brother was even more exhausting.
“Isn’t your confidence now just because your master said he had a way to deal with Lin Yin? But just because your master said so, does it mean it’s true? Do you really believe your master?”
Xie Xuan’s previously smiling face stiffened.
He was an orphan who longed to be powerful, powerful enough to control everything about himself.
Until he met his master, who taught him the treacherous Sacrificial Array technique.
The first time he plunged the dagger into his sacrifice’s heart, he felt nothing but excitement.
So he obeyed his master without question.
But Wu Qing’s words suddenly opened his eyes: what if his master really had no way to deal with Lin Yin?
Seeing that Xie Xuan seemed to be considering this, Wu Qing continued.
“Besides, that thing you’re doing that only lasts about ten breaths? Better not do it.”
“You! How do you know that!”
Xie Xuan’s shocked face instantly flushed red.
Because of his path as an Xie Xiu, his vital energy was heavily drained, affecting his body.
“Pft!”
Seeing this, Wu Qing couldn’t help but open his fan to cover his mouth, hiding a laugh.
“You! You laugh! Enough of this! You say this child’s master is Lin Yin, but that’s just your one-sided claim!”
“Ah? It’s not just my one-sided claim. Didn’t my brother also say his master is Lin Yin? Look at my brother’s face—it’s because his master beat him.”
Wu Qing was still speaking when Xie Xuan had already stood and was heading upstairs.
After some thought, he decided to wait until after tonight to deal with this.
Wu Qing watched Xie Xuan leave and let out a deep breath.
“Thanks.”
Wu Qing was startled as the voice came from Jiang Che.
He squinted with a smile and said, “No need to thank me, I’m just repaying a favor.”
With that, he turned to leave.
Jiang Che called out to him once more.
“Listen to me. Don’t trust them. If they dare to do such things in Shenxiao Town, there’s definitely something wrong.
It’s better to let me out. I can find people to handle this.
You haven’t committed any real wrongdoing. You might even get a decent reward.”
Wu Qing froze at Jiang Che’s calm words.
He hadn’t expected Jiang Che to regain composure and try to turn them.
A hint of admiration appeared in his eyes.
“Also, anyone who works for the Demonic Sect deserves to be exterminated. Think carefully.”
“Is that so?”
Wu Qing’s expression barely changed as he slowly walked over to Jiang Che.
He crouched down, studying Jiang Che’s face carefully.
He noticed that Jiang Che’s expression was not forced; his calmness was chilling.
Most enviable to him was the fact that Jiang Che would grow up to be far more handsome than himself—Wu Qing had seen countless people and could tell.
But that was not the important part.
Leaning close to Jiang Che’s ear, Wu Qing lowered his voice.
“At midnight, we’ll go out to meet someone. That’s when you can run.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Wu Qing didn’t linger and stood up, leaving.
Back upstairs, Wu Qing approached Wu Meng.
“Old Meng, I’ve got something to tell you.”
“What’s up, boss?”
Wu Qing whispered in Wu Meng’s ear, “Tonight, you come with us.”
“Ah? Boss, didn’t we agree I’d stay here? You go with that guy, right?”
“Tsk, keep your voice down! I’m afraid that guy will cheat us. We don’t need a guard here, you follow us secretly.”
………
Shenxiao Town, inside the Town Chief’s residence, the old house was simple, the furniture worn.
Lin Yin sat holding the baby but was restless, frequently looking around.
She couldn’t sense Jiang Che, and her heart grew anxious.
Though she knew it was likely Jiang Che deliberately blocked her Shen Shi from lingering inside him, she still couldn’t sense him after all this time.
Besides, Qin Zifeng had told her to wait here and then went out to find news about the child’s parents, but he hadn’t returned for a long while.
Gradually, the originally cold and aloof glint in her eyes revealed a trace of unease.
Creak—
The old wooden door opened, and Qin Zifeng entered hurriedly, slightly bowing with a nervous yet respectful expression.
Lin Yin, who had been restless, hurriedly stood up, her urgent gaze turning toward Qin Zifeng as if wanting to ask about the child’s parents.
But only two men followed behind him?
Huh?
Her brow furrowed even tighter.
She instinctively pulled the baby closer, her voice growing colder.
“Town Chief Qin? Where are the child’s parents? Don’t tell me it’s these two?”
Qin Zifeng quickly bowed, a bead of sweat forming on his forehead.
“Reporting to First Seat, you misunderstand. These two are Inner Disciples sent from the sect to patrol. They insisted on coming to pay their respects when they heard you were here.”
Lin Yin took a closer look at the two men.
The lead man was tall and burly; the other caught her attention.
He looked no older than seventeen or eighteen, about half a head shorter than Wu Meng, slender but with a well-proportioned frame.
His face was cold and stern, almost matching Jiang Che’s looks back then.
Both wore black cloud-patterned brocade robes of Shenxiao Sect Inner Disciples.
Upon seeing Lin Yin, they both cupped their hands and bowed.
The leader spoke first: “Disciple of Shenfu Peak, Wan Yanfeng, pays respects to Chief of Lingjian Peak.”
Then the other stepped forward.
“Disciple of Shenfu Peak, Xu Yan, pays respects to Chief of Lingjian Peak.”
Lin Yin pondered silently.
Both had late Foundation Establishment stage cultivation, which was curious but not the most curious thing.
In her memory, it was usually disciples from her own Lingjian Peak who carried out this kind of task.