Chapter 271: Any Fish That Slipped Through the Net?

"We are the underlings of Prince Ding of the capital."

"And then?"

"I heard your Xianggong is only a fifth‑rank official, while Prince Ding is the emperor's eldest son. If you're clever, bring all the formulas from your shop and pledge allegiance to our Prince Ding; thereafter fifty percent of your family's assets will go to our Prince, and when our Prince gains power in the future, he certainly won't mistreat you."

"What if I don't?"

"One who knows food is a hero; don't refuse a toast, drink the penalty wine?"

Their lips curled smugly, their words laced with vicious tones, as if the shop had originally been theirs and Qiao Mai were snatching it from them.

Qiao Mai glanced outside: the weather was bitterly cold and it was early; apart from these few men, no customers had arrived yet.

She waved her hand, and the shop's door slammed shut instantly.

"Do you realize how detestable you are?"

"You, you damn woman, don't pretend you won't eat well!"

"As you wish."

"Very rewarding."

"Yes!"

Originally Qiao Mai intended to keep these few men, but she reconsidered; with elders and children at home, she decided to kill them all cleanly, leaving no lingering threat.

"Yes, Master."

"As long as you get it, that's enough. A bunch of shameless scum, unable to earn money on their own, only plot against others—just deserts. I trust that sooner or later Lady Qiao will lose patience and take action against Prince Ding; you return now."

"You go back and serve properly as your Prefect; just find some excuse to brush this off, no need to worry about it."

"Father, what do you think of this matter?"

Before anyone could scream in terror, the person was whisked by her into a space.

The three goats also became alert, staring at the ceiling; there were many people this time, making a silent resolution impossible—if the master acted, it would be wonderful.

Qiao Mai waved her hand, and the several corpses vanished completely.

From mid‑November to mid‑December, five waves of troops came and were completely annihilated at Jixiang Yuan.

What a pity; she thought well, but reality always opposed her plans. After those few disappeared, someone began searching for them in secret.

"If any more show up, should we still confront them?"

"I despise you; even if you come, stay in my shop as a ghost and watch my business swell with gold day by day."

One palm strike each; before they could react, the people all gasped their last breath.

A row of bodies, still quite tidy; Qiao Mai got up and saw this scene.

Qiao Mai stared at the barely alive man, without even removing his face cloth, she pressed her palm straight onto his forehead.

"The New Year is just around the corner; do you want to go home?"

Qiao Mai lightly thrust a palm; one of them immediately slumped onto the table. Since she had acted, she naturally wouldn't give those people any chance to chatter.

"Father, do you know about this?"

The greater the master's ability, the happier he becomes; life is fleeting, and only by following such a master does he feel there is a future.

The Duchess of the State Duke still has a month before she can get out of bed; in the capital, the only two people unfavorable to her are probably these two.

"Huh? That's Prince Ding."

Just then, she suddenly sensed a murderous aura—damn bastard, it's broad daylight, and I can't wait any longer.

She calculated in her mind that the former Princess Yihe probably hasn't fully awakened yet.

"When will Feng'er over there be able to return?"

"Then just have a good New Year; tell me if you lack anything."

Qiao Mai's spiritual power sensed the commotion and she sprinted away instantly; her speed was extraordinary. While the man in white hadn't reacted, she had already seized the back of his garment, gave a gentle tug, and struck his back heart with a palm.

Wang Zongsheng left; after Qiao Mai learned this she said nothing. The New Year was imminent, so she kept Mu Guniang locked at home for a year, and then sent someone to invite her.

One by one, people cloaked in white capes fell from the ceiling; together with the three goats' attack, a dozen experts were quickly dealt with.

Shopkeeper Niu gave the other clerks a hard stare, "Just do your work properly. Don't you get the master's temperament? Those are all bad people, those who plot against our shop—kill them well!"

"Don't come empty‑handed!"

"Who could it be? Damn bastard, only skulking in the shadows. Whatever number of people you send, I'll kill that many."

"How has your stay at my house been this year?"

When those people came yesterday, he knew they were not to be trifled with; he didn't expect that today, when the master appeared, they were killed outright.

"Of course, anyone who enters Jixiang Yuan without my permission will be killed outright."

"Mother, they all watch the master calmly drinking milk tea, the same master who just moments ago took lives with a flick of the hand."

"Master, these few people have arrived; each courtyard is being searched, as if looking for something."

"Stop standing around; get to work. If anyone asks about those people, just say you didn't see them."

There are still two months until the New Year; hope the family can be safe before the year ends.

"Aunt, I'm used to being busy; having nothing to do feels uncomfortable."

In the middle of the night, someone broke into the Qiao family and was dealt with by the three goats; the master said to finish them off, and indeed those people were killed, their corpses all displayed in Qiao Mai's small courtyard.

"Yes, Master."

"It should be soon, fighting every day, there aren't that many to fight."

Shopkeeper Niu and the shop's clerks were terrified; it turned out that offending their master led to this fate.

Liu Hai's shop had just opened; she looked toward the south of the Guan Dao and thought, "The enemy hides, I am clear; don't let me know who is behind the mischief, otherwise—hm!"

The house suddenly lost two people, feeling very desolate.

After Mu Guniang left the back courtyard, Qiao Mai sighed lightly, hoping that the two younger brothers would return in spring.

"Father and mother are fine; I want to spend the New Year at your house and return after the holidays."

Wang Zongsheng inhaled sharply, "Dizi understands."

Snow was still falling, and there was not a single person on the Guan Dao; none of the surrounding shops, including his own, had opened their doors early.

She specifically bought a Soul Search Technique manual on the Platform; this kind of Soul Search Technique is low-level—once the soul is searched, the person becomes useless.

Hmph!

"What's wrong with King Ding? You say you can't investigate; what can he do to you? At most he'll say you're incompetent."

Fearing to be seen, he waved his hand, sending everyone into a void, letting Xiao Qing deal with them.

The old man naturally guessed something in his heart, but he didn't bring it up; Wang Zongsheng said anxiously.

At this point, Mu Guniang had shed her innocence, gaining a hint of maturity and reason; Qiao Mai nodded at her change.

"Starting from Ming'er, you won't have to do anything; get ready to have a good New Year, okay?"

"You, in broad daylight, dare to commit murder?"

"I don't want to say much else; the first wave of people came for Qiao Niang's shop—they set their sights on her silver, and not only that, they also want to get involved with the Zuofang in Shexian; do you think Qiao Niang would just watch this happen?"

Shopkeeper Niu sees more clearly than anyone, and is open about it; after all, I've lived these many years and have seen plenty of living people.

Just as Qiao Mai was about to act and gather them, a white figure in the distance was slowly fleeing.

While they were pondering this, Qiao Mai made a move.

"It's not looking for things, it's looking for people,"

These few people at a glance are not good; they died, just about to eliminate evil for the people.

"That son left, but our family will still come for the New Year."

For some reason this matter alarmed Wang Zongsheng; perhaps those above him disappeared on his territory and were pressuring him, so he found the old man and told him about it.

"Any fish that slipped through the net?"

She finished the milk tea in her cup, stood up and opened the shop door; the thick clean cotton curtain blocked the cold outside.

In this person's memory, she saw a man dressed in splendid robes, a man known as King Ding.

This man in white was a subordinate Dark Guard of King Ding, also a minor leader among the Dark Guards; he was in the final ambush, wanting to know who had killed so many of them.

Seeing Qiao Mai raise her hand and kill the man without a word, those three goats, astonishingly, flew into the air and with a single strike killed his men; it was truly unbelievable.

Just as they tried to flee, Qiao Mai spotted them.

(End of Chapter)