Chapter 377: Do You Want to Try?

The guard returned to the inn and came before the emperor.

"Your Majesty, his outward appearance is fine, but when he struck the plank, the force was insufficient, the plank didn't hurt, the wailing was all learned, and sending him to the prison was just to tease."

The emperor's expression was rather unpleasant. "Hmm, you may go rest."

After this incident, Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi also didn't fall asleep; the Old Emperor came over with the Empress.

"Mother‑in‑law, you must vent my anger, otherwise I'll die of fury."

"Speak, how shall it be released?"

"We bound people and sent them to the Yamen; the people are alive, they were struck with the plank, and once they're in the Prison they're no longer our concern. I want those people who were stealthily killed just now to all die!"

"Hehe, once they're together, rest assured, within three days they'll die."

"What? Three days?"

Prefect Wu had cultivated a group of Death Warriors loyal to him; to be safe, he deployed them all, intending a one‑strike kill.

"You don't know the rules; I'll tell you now, you just blocked my money flow, and you'll have to bear that loss, understand?"

Is this group of people someone he can't afford to offend?

He doesn't mind losing a son; he has plenty of sons. As long as there's money and women, he can be like the emperor, having one nest for a lifetime.

"Hehe, he's almost become your tail; whatever he does he drags you along. When we return to Tianshui, you can Seclude yourself in peace; I'll handle the outside affairs, and then it will be quiet."

"One thousand taels,"

Qiao Mai pulled Yuan Jiaqi behind her, took a silver note from her cuff and handed it over.

"Yes, Master."

The emperor and empress's faces turned pale. "Is there such a medicine in this world?"

Suddenly, it looked up toward the distance, communicating with Qiao Mai by thought.

Silently and without sound, the poison was administered; the death expression remained the same, and Prefect Wu truly feared the poison affecting his own body.

Qiao Mai turned around, looked at Xiyu, stuck out her little tongue, "Master, it was I, the servant, who tripped him just now."

"A thief who steals, anyone who sees will intervene."

"People come and go; when trouble arises it affects mood. Your master's silver isn't so easy to obtain; just wait and see."

How cruel must the poisoner's heart be? How much hatred for them?

"Alright, but it does cause some trouble for the Old Emperor."

"You're a Seven‑Tier Demon Beast, don't tell me you can't beat a few mortal Death Warriors. When you go to the Cultivation Realm, you'll be the laughingstock."

"Exactly, it would be best if the whole family perished; none of them are good."

Occasionally he also takes the four little servant girls out, to broaden their experience.

Originally he thought he could manage without silver, offering them to him; those few servant girls were decent, could be sold for money. He didn't expect Qiao Mai to be so generous—asking for one thousand taels and giving exactly one thousand taels. It was like a pie falling from the sky.

Heizi's head twitched. "Alright, the master's words struck a chord." It hadn't moved for a long time; it stood, stretched lazily, and let out a howl toward the sky.

Yuan Jiaqi's angry hand trembled; this son of a gun was even more bandit‑like than bandits, yet he was so brazenly righteous.

At home he was like an ant on a hot pan; finally he gritted his teeth, decided to fight first and then be courteous—if he can't win, courting them later won't be too late.

Heizi bared his big teeth, "Master, you really aren't generous, these people are all Death Warriors."

Now they have no reason to make things difficult, "Hum, be careful next time; meddle any more and it won't be a matter of one thousand taels."

"Ya he, truly a wealthy master."

"You can be polite too?"

Qiao Mai waved her hand, laid a Barrier over the three‑story building, "A few little thieves are yours; don't disturb our good sleep."

The emperor and his party ate breakfast at the Small Food Shop; upon hearing the news, the old face finally broke into a smile.

"Outsiders?"

"You wait for me."

Yuan Jiaqi, seeing the little thief behind the burly man, instinctively shielded Qiao Mai, "Not bad."

The next day, Prefect Wu's son died violently at home, and all his subordinates perished as well.

"Corruption Poison rots from the inside out, leaving only a skeleton."

Two days later, the gang that collected protection fees on the street died in a batch again; their death expressions matched those of Wu's eldest son.

A few people turned and left; Xiyu pursed her lips.

They were clearly from the underworld, five big and burly, their cheek flesh quivering as they spoke.

"Master, it's alive, it's alive."

The burly man sized up the two of them and the four little servant girls behind them.

"Could it be that he and his son hit the iron board?"

"Do you want to try?"

The two shook their heads quickly in fright; Yuan Jiaqi laughed out loud, "The lady is so cute!"

On the fifth day in Liangzhou City, the emperor's Golden Dragon Guard arrived silently; they ignored Qiao Mai's arrangements, pushed the couple aside, and the couple, now safe, went out alone.

The two held hands, with four well‑behaved little servant girls following behind.

They all began practicing internal skill; despite their small size, after only a few months they were already agile.

Just the Ink Jade at Yuan Jiaqi's waist was priceless; his cloth robe was a Low‑Grade Defensive Spirit Artifact, and ordinary swords could not get close at all.

The townsfolk spread the word, "Did you hear? The Wu family's scourge is dead, haha, heaven has eyes!"

"Master, why did you give money?"

"It's necessary."

"Look at how happy the townsfolk are; the Wu family really caused a lot of trouble here."

A few people were strolling down the street when a group stopped them.

"I originally said that after finishing Ling'er's wedding affairs, I'd go to Taihang Mountain Qingfeng Temple."

"That won't delay anything; let's head southeast and have a look?"

The eldest son had provoked this group, and those who collect protection fees had also been provoked; although the incident occurred several days later, the deceased clearly died from poisoning.

If we still can't kill those people this way, then we'll have to smash them with silver.

"It would be best if they died a gruesome death,"

Qiao Mai gave the emperor a glance, "Could it be that I should still give them a tonic?"

"Hmph, but here, once you're in charge, you must see it through. Hand over a thousand taels, otherwise you can either roll out of Liangzhou City immediately, or if you don't, I'll chop you up and feed you to the dogs!"

The little thief scrambled up from the ground, glaring viciously at Qiao Mai's party moving forward.

At night, with a moonless, windy sky, it is the prime time for murder and robbery.

In contrast, Qiao Mai and her spouse were dressed plainly, with no distinguishing features, but that was only on the surface.

On the inn's rooftop, Heizi lay at the highest spot, looking around; there wasn't even a moon, so he probably wasn't in the mood for a wolf's howl.

"I, the emperor, understand; the result will come immediately."

"Mother‑in‑law, truly correct, thank you?"

The drizzle, without a sound, suddenly kicked out, tripping the thief, giving the people behind a chance to pounce; the thief was captured, the money was recovered, and he also took a beating.

"During the earlier fight, I was on the side administering medicine to them,"

On the road she also bought snacks for a few little girls; those who didn't know would have thought they were her daughters.

"Poison?"

Prefect Wu was terrified inside; he wasn't a fool—if you send someone to investigate the successive incidents, they can be linked together without much difficulty.

The news exploded throughout Liangzhou City.

This Liangzhou City, you could call it a bandit city!

"Hmm, well done, but you are still young and lack the strength to protect yourselves; don't go out with me, and don't meddle in idle affairs,"

The four little maidens were dressed exquisitely, looking nothing like maidens at all.

Without waiting for the black‑clad man to approach, they rushed forward immediately.

The night was too dark to see how it eliminated those people; anyway, shadows flickered, human screams rang, and dogs howled like wolves, rising and falling, startling sleepers, who shivered in terror and dared not come out.

Prefect Wu couldn't sleep, pacing back and forth in his study.

Dawn was approaching, and none of the dispatched people had returned; he knew the situation had gone sour.

(End of Chapter)