Chapter 9: Instigation

Hearing the commotion, the womenfolk of the Cheng Family came out one after another.

She looked over the villagers one by one, but did not see the few who had come to deliver food last night.

Cheng Old Madam's heart trembled; the hand gripping her cane shook, nearly losing its hold.

She stepped forward a few paces and knelt before the surviving villagers.

Seeing her do this, the other Cheng Family womenfolk were startled at first, then knelt as well.

Cheng Old Madam's tone was sorrowful, carrying a deep sense of guilt.

"Last night's disaster was indeed caused by my Cheng Family. We have wronged you all!"

Having said this, Cheng Old Madam led the women of the household in kowtowing once.

When had the villagers ever seen such a sight?

That was the Cheng Family, the guardian gods of their Da Yin!

How could they kneel to mud-legged folk like them?

The villagers, terrified and uneasy, also knelt one after another.

"Old Madam Cheng, please don't say such things. We all fled here because of the war. If not for the Cheng Family Army, we would have died in the chaos long ago!"

"The Cheng Family even helped settle us, gave us a place to live, land to farm, let us put down roots in a new home…"

A white-haired old man, both hands resting on his cane, had reddened eyes and a grief-stricken tone.

He then wiped at the corners of his eyes and turned to look at the burly man who had dragged a few corpses over.

"It's you, on the contrary!"

"Whose junior are you?! Your kin have passed, why won't you let them be laid to rest in the earth?! You dare move them about so casually. You look unfamiliar to me — you're not from our village, are you!"

At these words, the other villagers looked over as well, all saying they had never seen this person before.

"That's right, we've never seen you in the village!"

Hearing these accusations one after another, the burly man grew somewhat flustered, but still stuck out his neck and shouted loudly.

"I work away from home year-round, haven't returned in many years. It's perfectly normal you haven't seen me. I came back this morning only to see my family's corpses. My one thought was to seek justice for my kin — what wrong is there in that?!"

These villagers are all fools, aren't they!

Their village was already massacred because of the Cheng Family, yet they don't hate the Chengs?

The old man stood up, his aged, slack but no less piercing eyes narrowed as he scrutinized him.

"Is that so? Then whose household are you from? And how dare you be so certain those people came for the Cheng Family?"

Suddenly, a middle-aged woman pointed behind him and shouted:

"Look, in his cart is Old Tian!"

"Old Tian is our village's famously lifelong bachelor. I've been his neighbor for twenty years and never once heard him mention having any kin!"

"Who on earth are you?!"

Seeing his instigation had failed, the burly man turned to bolt, but was still seized by the guards Cheng Qiuyun had brought.

Guard Cheng Feng grabbed his hand and took a look.

"He's a trained fighter!"

The old man, leaning on his cane, walked over and struck the ground heavily with it a few times, his face a mix of grief and hatred.

"You're last night's bandit!"

Hearing this, the villagers' fury was instantly roused.

"Folks, it's those murderous bandits! Beat him! Avenge our dead kin!"

The burly man was punched and kicked by the furious villagers, finally lying on the ground with a battered face, unconscious.

The old man spoke up to dissuade them a couple of times.

"Enough, everyone. These men are guilty of monstrous crimes, but we must not become murderers and dirty our own hands!"

Wu Meng and Feng Shan stepped forward and carried the burly man away.

There was no helping it — after last night's fighting, of the twenty-plus Jiedai, only the two of them were not seriously injured.

"Third Grand-Uncle, the village chief is gone. You're now the most respected person in our village. Tell us, what should we do next?"

At these words, someone immediately echoed in agreement.

"Right! We'll all follow your lead, elder!"

The old man raised a hand to press down, his tone firm.

"Run! The village is no longer safe. Scatter and flee — the farther, the better."

"Those people definitely won't let it rest, so before we leave we must set fire to the village!"

……

What happened after that, An Luo did not know, because the scene followed Yu'an; the Cheng Family was also discussing countermeasures.

Cheng Qiuyun's eyes were filled with killing intent.

"Grandmother, I need to make a trip into the city."

Saying so, she took out a waist token inscribed with the Hede County Office.

Cheng Old Madam glanced at the waist token and said only one thing.

"Stay safe."

Cheng Qiuyun took two guards and left at once.

In the courtyard, the villagers had already departed.

Wu Meng walked over and cupped his fist in salute to Cheng Qiuyun.

"Greetings, Young Madam of the Sun family. This subordinate thanks Young Madam of the Sun family for saving my life last night."

Cheng Qiuyun gave him a nod.

Wu Meng ventured a probing question.

"May I ask what brings the young madam here?"

Cheng Qiuyun glanced at him, a chill in her tone.

"I came to see off my kin — is that a problem?"

Wu Meng lowered his head even further.

"This subordinate wouldn't dare."

After watching Cheng Qiuyun and her guards leave, Wu Meng hurried back to his room and wrote a letter.

Once it was written, he held the envelope between his fingers, frowning in thought for a long while, then finally pulled out a Fire Folder and burned the letter.

He gave a wry smile and shook his head.

"Forget it. In times like these, playing the fool might just keep one alive longer."

……

Meanwhile, in another room, after Cheng Old Madam had dismissed everyone else, she watched Yu'an vanish before her very eyes.

Even though she had steeled herself, witnessing such a miraculous sight with her own eyes still gave her an involuntary fright.

After a moment, the hand gripping her cane loosened slightly.

Then a look of regret crossed her face.

She'd forgotten to ask Yu'an to bring some offerings — would the Immortal take offense?

At An Luo's home.

"Fairy Sister! Yu'an is here again!"

An Luo set the last little wonton on the table, wiped her hands, and gently pinched the little fellow's cheek.

"Did you get scared last night?"

Yu'an pressed his little mouth together and shook his head.

"I wasn't!"

An Luo raised an eyebrow.

"Really not?"

Yu'an's little face scrunched up like a bitter melon, and he pinched his thumb and forefinger together.

"Only a little bit scared."

That little look was too endearing to resist — An Luo ruffled the little fellow's head several times.

"Let's eat first."

Looking at the table laden with food — buns alone came in several varieties — Yu'an swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

"Fairy Sister, I want to…"

An Luo, of course, knew what he was thinking, and gently cut him off.

"I've already prepared some for your family. You eat first, and Elder Sister will pack some things for you."

Yu'an nodded and climbed up onto the chair by himself.

An Luo was still busy packing things.

Suddenly, she remembered something and took a box of ice cream out of the Bing Xiang.

"Yu'an, put this into the box."

When she takes it out later to see if it has melted, she'll know whether the space inside is frozen in time.

Seeing the little fellow munching on milky buns the whole time, An Luo pushed over the chicken feet, shrimp siu mai, and sticky rice chicken.

"Try these."

Yu'an sniffed and shook his head.

"I can't eat them."

"Great-Grandmother said no meat these few days."

Thinking of those innocent villagers who died so tragically, An Luo nodded in understanding and sighed.

What a tyrant!

Then she pushed over the walnut buns and pineapple buns.

"Then try these two — they're sweet."

Afterward, she quietly swapped out the meat buns and beef jerky she'd prepared.

Ten minutes later, having confirmed the space inside was frozen in time, An Luo finally set everything out at ease. Just as Yu'an put them into the space, the broadcast time arrived.

Buzz! The limited-time sale has begun — more items at up to 90% off, hurry and grab them!

An Luo tapped the top item.

"Peace Talisman?"

Notes below:

Guarantees the wearer's life safety (can withstand three lethal attacks).

Original price 999, now only 9.99 yuan.

"Nine-nine."

She'd already spent thirty thousand — ten more yuan wouldn't make a difference.

An Luo reached out and tapped it.

"Bought!"