Lin Xue returned to Hong Yanzhi’s room.
Yuan Bao was standing at the door.
When he saw she had come back alone, a curious look appeared on his cat face, as if wondering why his companion hadn’t come back with her.
Hong Yanzhi sat at her dressing table, grooming herself in the mirror.
Hearing Lin Xue come in, she turned her head to take a look and asked, “Why are you back alone? Where’s Yuan Ding?”
Lin Xue replied, “He’s behind me.”
Hong Yanzhi turned around, a bit of doubt in her eyes. “Why didn’t you two come back together?”
Lin Xue said, “I walked a little faster, he couldn’t catch up.”
Hong Yanzhi stared at her for a while, then turned back to the mirror and ordered, “Come here and brush my hair.”
Lin Xue thought to herself: I don’t even know how to brush hair.
I’ve been a man for more than twenty years, always getting short haircuts, never really brushed my own hair.
She braced herself, walked over, and took the jade comb from Hong Yanzhi’s hand to brush her long hair.
Fortunately, Hong Yanzhi’s hair was in great condition, so combing it went smoothly.
She had only brushed a few strokes when Yuan Ding’s voice sounded from outside, “Demon Princess, Shao De is back. There’s something to report to you.”
Hong Yanzhi ordered, “Come in.”
Yuan Ding entered the room and knelt down. “Demon Princess, Shao Ye is injured.”
Hong Yanzhi immediately turned her head, glaring as she asked, “What? What happened?”
Lin Xue was a bit surprised.
That Tigerzi Shao Ye had just been bouncing around beating people up—how did he get hurt in the blink of an eye?
Yuan Ding told everything that happened after Lin Xue left, in full detail.
Lin Xue suddenly understood.
No wonder that little tyrant didn’t catch up; turns out the rat demon stabbed him.
She was secretly delighted.
This was just perfect.
From Yuan Ding’s account, that little tyrant took a pretty serious stab.
Wouldn’t he have to lie in bed for ten days or half a month?
Wouldn’t that mean she wouldn’t have to worry about that jerk for a long time?
She was very happy.
Hong Yanzhi’s face turned deathly pale as she listened to Yuan Ding’s account.
She slammed the table and cursed, “Those bastards from Tian Jia! After Pingping died, I already punished Tigerzi and killed his followers as revenge for her. Are they still not satisfied?”
“And that wretched mouse dares stab my brother—are they rebelling now?”
“Looks like I’ve been too lenient with them.”
She gave a murderous order, “Yuan Ding, go tell Hua Ban Tongling to gather a team. Go arrest everyone from Tian Jia, young and old! I will publicly punish these outrageous rats as a warning to others!”
Yuan Ding snapped to attention, “At your command!”
Then he turned and left.
Lin Xue couldn’t help but complain inwardly.
Your brother committed all kinds of evil, forcibly took someone’s daughter and killed her, and you call it settled after giving him a slap on the wrist?
Then Tian Shiqi, outraged and seeking revenge for his sister, stabbed your brother and was killed for it—doesn’t that make it even?
Yet now you want to take it out on his family and have them all punished.
That’s just bullying.
Lin Xue thought of the things the Yang Family had done in Xichuan and suddenly felt that there was no real difference between humans and demons.
Hong Yanzhi stopped grooming, sitting in anger for a while.
After some time, Yuan Ding returned to report. Hong Yanzhi stood up and walked outside.
Lin Xue put down the comb and followed, not knowing where Hong Yanzhi was going.
Hong Yanzhi led Yuan Ding, Yuan Bao, and Lin Xue toward Hong Lao San’s cave.
Lin Xue saw several little demons standing at the door of Hong Lao San’s cave—they were Tigerzi Shao Ye’s subordinates from earlier.
It looked like Tigerzi had run to cry to his father.
When they saw Hong Yanzhi approach, all the little demons showed fear on their faces, bowing their heads and greeting, “Greetings, Demon Princess.”
Previously, for the matter with Tian Pingping, Hong Yanzhi had beaten them half to death, and even killed the one who instigated Tigerzi to take Tian Pingping away.
They all feared Hong Yanzhi like she was a tiger.
Hong Yanzhi’s brows arched sharply, and she scolded, “You useless lot, what’s the point of having you? So many of you watching, and you still let that rat hurt my brother? Looks like I was too soft on you last time!”
The little demons instantly knelt down, kowtowing furiously, saying, “Shao De knows his fault! Shao De knows his fault! Demon Princess, spare our lives!”
Hong Yanzhi snorted coldly. “If this happens again, I’ll kill every last one of you!”
The big, burly little demons pressed their heads to the ground, not daring to raise them, cold sweat pouring down, bodies trembling, and said in unison, “Shao De understands, it will never happen again.”
Hong Yanzhi ignored them and strode into the room.
Yuan Ding and Yuan Bao stood guard at the door.
Lin Xue hesitated.
She didn’t want to go in and face that little tyrant.
When Hong Yanzhi saw she hadn’t followed, she turned her head and gave her a cold look, humming, “Hmm?”
Lin Xue had no choice but to grit her teeth and follow.
Entering Hong Lao San’s bedroom, Lin Xue saw the plump cat-eared youth lying on the luxurious jade bed, clothes open, pointing to the bandaged wound on his waist, crying his eyes out.
Hong Lao San sat by his side, face full of worry, comforting him.
“Dad, you don’t know how much that stab hurt. Your son almost died from the pain! You almost lost your only son.”
Hong Lao San was weeping, saying, “Oh, my precious, my treasure, it pains your father so. That damned rat stabbed you so deep.”
He gnashed his teeth and cursed, “That damned Tian Shiqi! If he weren’t dead, I, Hong Lao San, would have chopped him into a thousand pieces! He hurt my son, I’ll repay him tenfold!”
The plump youth was sobbing, but when he saw his sister Hong Yanzhi enter, his face stiffened, a look of fear appearing, and his fake crying softened considerably.
Then he noticed Lin Xue behind Hong Yanzhi, and his eyes lit up.
But then, remembering how his sister beat him last time, the light in his eyes dimmed, and he lowered his gaze, not daring to look at Lin Xue in front of his sister.
Hong Yanzhi walked to the bedside and looked at Hong Tigerzi’s wound, her face tight as she scolded, “You’re always making trouble. Now you’ve learned your lesson, haven’t you?”
Hong Tigerzi nodded timidly, not daring to speak, only glancing at Hong Lao San.
Hong Lao San was displeased and scolded his daughter, “Yanzhi! Your brother’s hurt, can’t you be a bit kinder to him? Look how scared you’ve made him.”
Hong Yanzhi retorted angrily, “Father, you just spoil him!”
She asked, “What did Elder Huai say?”
Hong Tigerzi stayed silent.
Hong Lao San replied, “Elder Huai came to report just now. He said the stab was deep, but it didn’t hit the demon core. He gave Tigerzi some Rejuvenation Herb, and put Bone-setting Flower pollen on the wound. He should recover fully in two days and won’t lose any cultivation.”
Hong Yanzhi let out a sigh of relief, then said coldly to her brother, “You’re lucky this time; the wound isn’t too serious. Next time, you might not be so lucky. Take this as a lesson! From now on, restrain yourself and stop causing trouble everywhere—so you don’t invite revenge again!”
Hong Lao San scolded, displeased, “What do you mean, ‘next time’? There won’t be a next time! What nonsense are you saying? Can’t you wish your brother well?”
Hong Yanzhi pressed her forehead helplessly, saying, “Father, didn’t we agree to discipline Tigerzi? Every time you say you will, but as soon as you see him, you forget all your promises!”
Hong Lao San deflected, “This time is different. Your brother’s hurt; he needs good care. Let him recover first.”
He held his son’s hand, gently stroking it with affection, saying, “My treasure, just rest and recover for these two days. If there’s anything you want to eat, the kitchen will make it and bring it to you. If there’s anything you want, just tell your father. As long as I can give it to you, I will.”
Hong Tigerzi’s eyes lit up and he asked, “Really? I can ask for anything, and you’ll give it to me?”
Hong Lao San patted his chest. “Of course! When have I ever lied to you?”
Immediately, Hong Tigerzi glanced over at Lin Xue.
Lin Xue shrank back, trying to hide behind Hong Yanzhi, doing her best to be invisible while watching this family drama play out.
When she saw Hong Tigerzi turn his gaze to her, her back went cold and she had a very bad feeling.
Sure enough, Hong Tigerzi looked at her, grinned, licked his lips, pointed at her and said, “Dad, then I want that demon girl to come to my room and look after me for two days. When I’m healed, I’ll give her back to Sister.”