Chapter 33: with translation of chapter title

The smell of blood was thick and cloying, like an invisible giant hand gripping Jiang Xiaomu's throat.

He coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Shapozi's stronghold had been razed to the ground, raging flames devouring everything, crackling as if mocking his pyrrhic victory.

What does it matter that I killed his adopted daughter? That old witch still got away!

Jiang Xiaomu struggled to sit cross-legged, intense pain shooting through his limbs, making it nearly impossible to keep his balance.

He gritted his teeth, and a luminous screen visible only to him appeared before his eyes—the Heavenly Fate System.

Three hundred Heavenly Fate Points. The reward for slaying the Black Widow—truly ironic.

A worthless life, three hundred Heavenly Fate Points—what about his own? It's probably not even worth that much.

Jiang Xiaomu's gaze swept over the dazzling array of system items, finally settling on the qilin fruit emanating a warm, lustrous glow.

【Exchange for qilin fruit, deducting two hundred fifty Heavenly Fate Points.】

The system's cold notification tone sounded.

Only by staying alive will I have a chance to grind that old hag to ashes!

A fruit exuding a rich medicinal fragrance appeared in his hand; Jiang Xiaomu didn't hesitate, swallowing it outright.

A warm current instantly coursed through his body, the tearing pain gradually subsiding, replaced by a tingling comfort.

He closed his eyes, feeling the power surging within, and a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

Overnight, Jiang Xiaomu's wounds healed, and his internal strength grew considerably.

……

On the training ground, Jiang Xiaomu wore a fitted martial outfit, his long blade flashing with a cold light, the edge slicing through the air.

More than half a month had passed since that fierce battle; Jiang Xiaomu's body gradually recovered, he practiced his blade daily, awaiting the next hunt.

Yet he could not let go of Shapozi's disappearance.

That old witch is his mortal enemy.

"Any news yet?" Jiang Xiaomu said, his tone tinged with impatience.

Xiong Kuohai replied:

"Boss, scouts from all sides report—still no trace of Shapozi."

"Some say they saw her heading to the Western Regions; others claim she hid in the city under an assumed name. I've sent people to verify each lead, but all came up empty."

Jiang Xiaomu furrowed his brows,

"Damn it! Where the hell has that old witch hidden herself?!"

Under heavy rewards, all kinds of rumors mixed together, making truth and falsehood hard to discern.

Jiang Xiaomu increased the bounty, posting notices throughout every corner of the city and even sending people to neighboring towns to put them up.

On the notice, Shapozi's ugly, ferocious portrait stood out prominently, beside which it read

Those who provide clues will be richly rewarded!

In an instant, the whole city erupted.

Countless people, eager for the generous reward, scoured the city for news, hoping to find Shapozi's whereabouts.

Yet days passed, and still no definite news of Shapozi surfaced.

Jiang Xiaomu's anxiety grew day by day, feeling like a trapped beast with no way out.

One day, a ragged old beggar came to the Jiang manor gate, claiming to know Shapozi's whereabouts and demanding an audience with Jiang Xiaomu.

The guards were about to drive him away.

But the old beggar refused to leave, shouting at the top of his lungs:

"I know where Shapozi is! I demand to see Jiang Xiaomu!"

His shout startled the others in the camp, and the news quickly reached Jiang Xiaomu's ears.

Although Jiang Xiaomu harbored doubts, he still decided to receive the old beggar.

What if he's telling the truth?

The old beggar was brought before Jiang Xiaomu, his hair disheveled and filthy, making him hard to approach.

"You say you know where Shapozi is?"

Jiang Xiaomu's eyes blazed like torches, locked onto the old beggar.

The old beggar trembled as he pulled from his bosom a bundle wrapped in dirty cloth, carefully unfolded it, and revealed a jade pendant carved with a special mark.

Jiang Xiaomu instantly recognized the jade pendant—it was Shapozi's personal item!

"This jade pendant… where did you get it?"

Jiang Xiaomu's voice trembled slightly.

The old beggar recounted how, near the outskirts' mass graves, he had once seen a woman wearing an identical jade pendant:

"That woman's clothes were tattered, her hair disheveled, her expression dazed, as if she had lost her mind, constantly muttering strange incantations."

"She… she looks like that?"

Jiang Xiaomu produced Shapozi's portrait and handed it to the old beggar.

The old beggar narrowed his eyes, examined the portrait closely, then nodded sharply,

"Yes! It's her! It's that old witch!"

Jiang Xiaomu's heart pounded violently; he could almost certainly say that the madwoman was Shapozi!

The mass graves… could this old witch be feigning madness? What game is she playing?

"Take me there!"

Jiang Xiaomu sprang to his feet, a cold light flashing in his eyes.

Night fell, and Jiang Xiaomu, accompanied by a few trusted aides, followed the old beggar to the mass graves outside the city.

The chaotic burial mound was gloomy and terrifying, with graves and rotting coffins everywhere.

The group walked carefully through the chaotic burial mound, and from time to time the sound of breaking dry bones came from under their feet, making people's hair stand on end.

Just ahead!

The old beggar pointed to a patch of overgrown graves ahead and said.

Jiang Xiaomu and the others pushed aside the weeds and saw a woman in tattered clothes curled up beside a grave, murmuring to herself and clutching tightly the familiar jade pendant.

By the dim moonlight, Jiang Xiaomu made out the woman's face.

Although her hair was disheveled and her face dirty, he still recognized her at once—it was Shapozi!

But Shapozi at this moment had empty eyes and a dazed expression, like a soulless shell.

Shapozi!

Jiang Xiaomu let out an angry roar and lunged forward.

Old witch, prepare to die!

He let out a roar, drew his long sword, and lunged at Shapozi.

However, at this critical moment, a cold arrow whistled through the air, aiming straight at Jiang Xiaomu's face.

Startled, he instinctively rolled and narrowly avoided the fatal blow.

The cold arrow thudded into the dead tree behind him, its shaft still vibrating.

He looked up and saw a squad of black-clad men emerging from the weeds around the chaotic burial mound, surrounding him.

Each of them held a sharp blade, their eyes cold, killing intent palpable.

Jiang Xiaomu instantly realized he had fallen into a trap.

He glared fiercely at the pretentious Shapozi, silently cursing: 'Damned old thing, there's actually an ambush!'

Only then did he notice that beside Shapozi stood a ragged old beggar.

That old beggar leaned on a cane, a sinister smile on his face, as if everything were under his control.

Old bastard, so it's you!

Jiang Xiaomu swore through gritted teeth.

He recognized the old beggar as the very guy who had just led him here.

Back then he had felt pity for the old beggar, giving him a few copper coins, never expecting to be played by this old thing!

Kid, you're too inexperienced.

The old beggar gave a weird laugh, tapping his cane on the ground, 'You think just you can kill us?'

Shapozi also let out a harsh, shrill laugh:

Want revenge? In your next life!

Jiang Xiaomu looked around, silently calculating.

It seemed unlikely he would escape unscathed today.

These black-clad men were well-trained and coordinated; at a glance they were no ordinary thugs.

Although his martial skills were decent, two fists could not fight four hands, especially since the enemy also had archers lying in ambush.

Want to kill me? Not that easy!

Jiang Xiaomu gave a cold snort, swung his long sword, and drove back the two black-clad men who rushed forward.

Although the black-clad men outnumbered him, they could not overcome Jiang Xiaomu.

Yet every one of their attacks was neutralized by Jiang Xiaomu.

For a moment, blades flashed and cries of killing shook the chaotic burial mound.

Jiang Xiaomu fought while retreating, looking for a chance to break through.

He knew that if he were held up by these people, once the archers struck again he would surely die.

Just then, Jiang Xiaomu suddenly spotted a dense forest at the edge of the chaotic burial mound.

His heart stirred, and he decided to take a risky gamble.

Want to run? No way!

The old beggar seemed to see through Jiang Xiaomu's intention, shouting loudly and directing the black-clad men to intensify their attack.

Jiang Xiaomu remained calm, deliberately showing a flaw to lure several black-clad men into pursuing him.

Then he suddenly changed his move, backhand slicing with his long sword and severing the arm of one of the black-clad men.

Blood spattered; the black-clad man cried out in pain, clutching his wound as he fell to the ground.

The other black-clad men, seeing this, couldn't help but hesitate a little.

Jiang Xiaomu seized the opportunity, leapt forward, and rushed into the forest.

Moving nimbly through the forest, he quickly shook off his pursuers.

However, just as he thought he was safe, a sudden cold laugh came from behind him.

Kid, do you think you can escape?

Jiang Xiaomu snapped his head back, only to see the old beggar and Shapozi somehow already behind him.

The old beggar waved his cane, and a black shadow shot out from it, heading straight for Jiang Xiaomu's chest.