Chapter 12: Beasts!

Hearing her words, Cheng Qiuluo, who stood nearby, opened her mouth.

Although Eldest Sister's cursing of the Emperor was well said, brilliantly said, there was one line she had gotten wrong.

There really are immortals in this world!

Thinking this, she looked up toward the sky.

Perhaps, at this very moment, they were watching over them.

Thinking of those five or six little girls, Cheng Qiuruo's brow furrowed tightly.

"Didn't it say only two were needed? Why take so many girls? If a girl isn't chosen as a child sacrifice, will they send her back?"

Hearing this, Feng Shan let out a cold laugh.

"How could they possibly send them back!"

"Those who aren't chosen are raised in Daoist temples built in various places. The lucky ones, who aren't taken a fancy to by some important figure, can still manage—serving as sweeping maids in the temple, they can live a bit longer. But those who are good-looking…"

An Luo had just clicked in when she heard this line.

What?!

How old are the children?

Under eight years old!

"Beasts!"

And after catching the unfinished meaning in Feng Shan's words, the women of the Cheng Family suddenly turned extremely pale, all grinding their teeth in fury.

"These animals!"

No wonder more and more Imperial Officials have been secretly backing the National Preceptor in recent years.

Turns out they're colluding, birds of a feather!

The official escorts whipped the Horse Carriage and quickly drove far away. The peasant women behind could only watch the carriage grow smaller and smaller through the flying dust, weeping in anguish.

Seeing this scene, Tian Shi held Yu'an's small body tightly.

Yu'an blinked in innocent confusion. He didn't understand why everyone was so angry, nor why his mother had suddenly become so afraid.

He reached out a little hand to pat his own mother's back in comfort.

"Don't be afraid, Mother. Yu'an will protect you."

He's really amazing now—Fairy Sister gave him lots of treasures to protect himself.

Tian Shi hugged him even tighter, nuzzling his forehead with her chin.

"As long as our Yu'an is safe and sound, Mother isn't afraid of anything."

Although she sympathized deeply with those women, they couldn't even protect themselves now, let alone do anything.

The group continued their journey in heavy hearts, and before nightfall, found an abandoned temple to rest in.

Cheng Qiuluo pulled Eldest Sister Cheng Qiuyun aside to whisper in a corner.

"What?!"

Cheng Qiuyun widened her eyes in disbelief, blurting it out instinctively.

Cheng Qiuluo quickly covered her mouth.

"Keep your voice down, Eldest Sister."

Cheng Qiuyun swatted her hand away and asked in a lowered voice.

"Is what you're saying true? Yu'an really met an Immortal?"

"Of course. Grandmother admitted it herself."

Saying so, Cheng Qiuluo swallowed.

"We even ate food bestowed by the Immortal."

"When Yu'an comes back, let him transform something for you to see, and you'll know."

Apart from her initial shock, Cheng Qiuyun's expression was now rather flat.

What Immortal?

She didn't believe a word of it!

If there really were Immortals in this world, how could so many good people die innocent deaths?!

If there really were Immortals, why would they let those utterly evil people live so prosperously?!

"Not good!"

Cheng Qiuruo rushed over, her face pale, looking panic-stricken.

"Not good, Grandmother! Yu'an is missing!"

"What?!"

Hearing this, Tian Qin suddenly fell backward, luckily caught by Wang Shi.

She rushed over and gripped Cheng Qiuruo's hand tightly.

"How could he be missing? Why weren't you watching him?!"

The hand Cheng Old Madam gripped her cane with trembled slightly.

"What exactly happened?"

Cheng Qiuruo was so anxious she was drenched in sweat, her words tumbling out incoherently.

"I-I just took Yu'an to relieve myself, and in the time it took to turn around, Yu'an was gone."

Wang Shi, both anxious and angry, pointed at her and stamped her foot heavily.

"You child! Why didn't you call two more people to go with you?!"

Cheng Qiuruo opened her mouth.

Actually, a Jiedai was following them—how could they possibly let them go out alone?

But who knows what the Jiedai went off to do in the middle of the trip — there's still no sign of him.

But saying any of this now is pointless.

Thinking that there was an Immortal watching over Yu'an, Cheng Old Madam steadied herself a little, and said in a low voice to the others.

"No use talking — finding the child is what matters."

Thinking of what they had seen and heard along the road, the Cheng Family women grew even more anxious.

"Right, right, right — let's split up and search!"

Just as they were about to go out, the Jiedai blocked them at the door.

"No! You can't leave!"

Cheng Qiuluo clenched her fists tightly.

"The child is missing — we have to go out and find him!"

One Jiedai curled his lip.

"How do we know your family's child is really lost, and not just pretending?"

Another Jiedai beside him nodded in agreement.

"Exactly — maybe you hid the child on purpose, and are using 'going out to look' as an excuse to shake us off and run!"

Cheng Qiuyun gave a cold laugh, and advanced step by step with her sword in hand.

"If we really wanted to run, do you think your twenty-odd wounded and crippled men could stop us?"

Seeing her stance, the few Jiedai showed fear on their faces and instinctively took two steps back.

One Jiedai hid behind his companion, craning his neck and squawking.

"What — you're going to strike a Jiedai?!"

"Enough!"

Wu Meng walked over and waved his hand to have the Jiedai step back.

"We are under orders to escort the prisoner — we absolutely cannot let you leave on your own."

Cheng Qiuyun didn't pick up that thread, and turned to look at Cheng Qiuruo instead.

"Where did you all just go?"

Cheng Qiuruo wiped at her tears and pointed in a direction.

"The outer edge of the little grove to the east."

The worry on the brows of the Cheng Family members deepened.

That made the search area very large.

At that moment, under the moonlight, a small figure walked in.

"I know where Little Sister went."

Hearing the voice, the others looked over and saw a Little Sister of about six or seven, filthy all over, with grass roots and dead leaves stuck in her hair.

Tian Qin hurried over.

"Who are you? How would you know? Where?"

The little girl's expression was calm; her eyes carried a composure and coolness beyond her years.

"I was sold by my family, and substituted in for another family's child to be sent off as a candidate for the maiden selection. I took the chance when the official's men weren't looking and escaped. When they couldn't find me, they tied up and took Little Sister instead."

After that, she hurriedly added a weak explanation.

"I only wanted to run away — I never meant to hurt anyone."

Hearing that Yu'an had been taken by those officials, Tian Shi's heart gave a jolt; she felt blackness wash over her eyes, and her body uncontrollably swayed backward.

"Eldest Sister-in-law!"

Cheng Qiuluo quickly supported her and helped her sit against the wall.

Meanwhile, Cheng Qiuyun continued questioning the little girl.

"Then do you know where they'll send the child?"

The little girl nodded.

"Halfway up the Mountain ahead, there's a Daoist temple. All the girls being selected are kept there. I also heard that tonight some important person is coming."

Hearing this, Cheng Qiuyun took three guards and hurried out.

"I'm going to rescue him!"

This time Wu Meng didn't stop her — besides, he had no right to interfere. As long as the prisoner wasn't missing, that was all that mattered.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Two officials were running quickly along the Small path in the Mountain, one of them carrying an unconscious little child over his shoulder.

That child was none other than Yu'an.

The official carrying Yu'an spat.

"What rotten luck — one actually got away!"

The official beside him offered some comfort.

"Alright, at least we happened to run into a lone little girl on the road — otherwise, the lot of us brothers would've been in trouble."

"But speaking of which, the fabric of this little kid's clothes is pretty nice — must be from some wealthy family. We won't be causing trouble for ourselves, will we?"

The Jiedai who had spoken first gave a contemptuous snort.

"What's there to be afraid of? Have you forgotten who our Old Master has behind him? No matter how big they are, can they be bigger than that one?"

Off-screen, An Luo was frantic — she had sent several bullet comments, but Yu'an showed no reaction at all.

The shop had been busy today, and she had come back a little late; she didn't even notice when her phone ran out of battery.

After charging it, the moment she logged on she saw this scene.

Zaituan was actually captured!

And she's unconscious, so she can't contact Yu'an.

"Oh no, what do we do now?!"