Chapter 260: The Debt Owed to Xiao Hu

The child's father is said to be a rustic villager; a child of such a despicable man lives as a disgrace!

Ye Qingran closed her eyes and told herself that she had come to save Xiao Hu and must endure.

Ling Qingwu greatly admired Ye Qingran's current state; she was finally no longer, as before, confident and composed from start to finish.

"Ye Qingran, do you know? When I ordered people to torture him, he cried terribly, crying while shouting 'mother,' tsk tsk, it really makes one's heart ache."

Ye Qingran took a deep breath, her eyes blood‑red. She couldn't help imagining Xiao Hu crying and calling out to her.

He was still so young, just having returned to her arms; she had once sworn to make it up to him, but…

In her heart, she was filled with overwhelming guilt!

"What exactly must you do to let him go?"

"Let him go? It's not impossible. If your performance satisfies me, I might consider sparing him!"

Ling Qingwu said this, then gave a signal to a few disciples beside her. The men flashed a malicious grin, one of them brandished a weapon and walked toward Ye Qingran.

"My junior brothers and sisters have been very critical of you lately; if you can appease them, perhaps I'll spare your son!"

Ye Qingran cast a sideways glance at the few, grasping their intent. Yet her mind was crystal clear; even if they killed her, they would not easily release Xiao Hu.

But for that infinitesimal chance, she was willing to gamble.

This is what she owes Xiao Hu.

"Xiao Hu, all these years mother has not been by your side; this time let mother protect you!"

Ye Qingran whispered to herself. She lifted her head, eyes blazing, "Begin."

Ling Qingwu threw her head back and laughed heartily, delighted.

"Ye Qingran, you've finally met your day!" she said, her expression turning sharp as a blade, she flung her sleeve and shouted, "Hit me! Hit hard!"

She wanted to leave Ye Qingran with no way to live and no way to die!

Three Xuan Yuan Sword Sect disciples, each bearing a weapon, approached Ye Qingran.

Their weapons were, respectively, a barbed long whip, an iron staff, and an iron hammer.

A disciple raised a long rod, his face fierce, swinging it from behind Ye Qingran and smashing it into her back with a heavy, muffled thud.

Ye Qingran let out a muffled hum, still unsteady, when a black iron hammer struck her abdomen.

The five organs and six viscera seemed to have shifted!

With a front‑and‑back assault, Ye Qingran clenched her teeth, enduring excruciating pain; the black, barbed whip whooshed down, carving a bloodstain on her arm, blood splattering like falling plum blossoms across the ground!

The three Xuan Yuan Sword Sect disciples had not escaped Ye Qingran's wrath these past days, especially after that slap‑exchange on the Xuanwu Platform, which left a deep impression. Seizing the chance now, they showed no intention of mercy, each striking heavier than the last.

After an unknown amount of time, Ye Qingran was already covered in wounds.

The three Xuan Yuan disciples wore expressions of lingering exhilaration.

Even though not a single spot on her body remained unscathed, Ye Qingran stayed motionless, not uttering a single cry.

Strong, making one unable to help but destroy her!

This made Ling Qingwu feel extremely frustrated.

"Enough!" she shouted, halting.

"Now, you should finally be satisfied, right?" Ye Qingran's eyes were filled with blood, a sickly red, her voice hoarse as if sand filled her throat.

"It's too late tonight; we'll talk tomorrow!" Ling Qingwu said, sneering as she turned and left.

She had long lost interest.

Perhaps making Ye Qingran wait through the endless night was an even greater torment for her!

Her voice carried through the night, "Tomorrow at noon, come to Lin Jiang Ge to find me!"

Ye Qingran stared at the departing silhouette, her hand at her side clenched into a fist.

As long as Ling Qingwu still wished to torment her, Xiao Hu would not face a life‑threatening danger for a while.

She comforted herself thus.

Returning to Ting Yu Xuan, Han Xing Leng Yue had not yet returned; Ye Qingran glanced at Fu Qianchi, confirming he was still asleep, let out a sigh of relief, and went back to her room to tend her wounds.

Her injuries were too severe.

Her whole body was riddled with wounds; hardly any part remained intact. Blood soaked her clothes, and her internal organs suffered severe damage.

It was almost the worst in five years.

After she finished treating her wounds, the east was already bright, Han Xing Leng Yue still hadn't returned, and she knew Xiao Hu's whereabouts were still unknown. The pain in her body, combined with endless worry and guilt, caused her to faint.

Fu Qianchi woke up early and was astonished to find that the habitually sleepy Mo Xiaohu had already gotten up. After dressing, he looked around the Courtyard but didn't see mother. Usually at this hour mother would be doing morning exercises in the Courtyard.

Sister Xing Er and sister Yue Er were also nowhere to be seen.

Mo Xiaohu was also missing.

Could they have gone out to play without him?

With puzzlement, he pushed open Ye Qingran's door, found it ajar, and upon entering saw mother asleep, curled on the table.

"Mother, why are you sleeping on the table?"

Fu Qianchi rubbed his eyes, walked to Ye Qingran's side, smelled a strong scent of blood, and his heart jolted. Approaching her front, he saw her complexion as pale as paper, a thin sheen of sweat on her forehead. He reached out to touch mother's forehead; the scorching feel made his heart seize.

"Mother!" Fu Qianchi shouted.

No one answered.

Where are the others?

Where have they all gone?

What should he do now?

Fu Qianchi, after all, was still a five‑year‑old child; his heart burned with impatience, unsure what to do. He forced himself to calm, recalling the simple fever‑treating methods mother had taught them. He took a fever‑relieving pill from mother's spare medical box, gave it to her, then fetched a blanket to cover her, confirming she was temporarily stable, and hurried to find his father.

Unfortunately, Fu Hanxiu had fallen into a mortal state last night and still hadn't regained consciousness.

However, Fu San had already learned the news from the Dark Guard and sent people out to search for Mo Xiaohu's whereabouts.

Ye Qingran woke up from a sleep, and found Fu Qianchen sitting in front of her, looking worried.

"Xiao Chen, how did you get here?"

Fu Qianchen, seeing Ye Qingran wake up, let out a breath of relief, "Mother, you have a fever! And, why are there so many wounds on your body?"

Ye Qingran's complexion was pallid, her body as if sliced by a thousand cuts, yet she forced out a comforting smile, "Mother's fine. Xiao Chen, don't worry, okay?"

She said, glancing out the window; noon was approaching.