Chapter 296: Su Min Visits, Part II

At that moment, Su Min seemed to become a different person. The weakness and gentleness of the past were gone from her eyes, replaced by firmness and resolution. Facing those disaster victims who had lost their minds and attempted to harm her and her brother, she drew her weapon without hesitation, using her Bone Refining Initial Stage strength to defend the path to survival for the two siblings.

Every swing of her weapon was accompanied by a cry from the depths of Su Min's heart. She was not fighting; she was fighting for survival, fighting for her brother's life. Her strength and determination struck terror into those disaster victims, causing them to gradually lose the courage to continue their attack.

When the battle ended and everything returned to silence, Su Min found herself bathed in tears. Her face was covered in blood—some of it the enemy's, some of it her own.

Looking at the dozen or so corpses lying on the ground, tears and blood intertwined, sliding down her cheeks and leaving behind shocking trails.

She had personally ended the lives of over a dozen refugees; this fact pressed upon her heart like a giant boulder, making it impossible for her to breathe. She was in pain, filled with self-reproach, and even began to doubt whether her choices were correct.

But amidst this pain and self-reproach, she realized more clearly that she could not stop her steps.

Her brother's life was hanging by a thread; she had to find Cheng Feng and obtain the Black Jade Intermittent Ointment in his possession—that was her brother's only hope.

For the sake of this hope, she was willing to endure all pain and torment.

Su Min took a deep breath, struggling to calm the waves within her heart. She slowly wiped away the tear stains on her face, carefully put away her weapon, and her gaze became firm and cold once again.

The Su Min of this moment was no longer the young lady of the Su Family who could hide under the protection of her clan, but a warrior who had to fight for survival and the safety of her loved ones.

Carrying this realization, she turned to look at her brother, Su Qiang, who was sitting in the carriage. Su Qiang's eyes were filled with complex emotions—pity, relief, and also a sense of emotion at his sister's growth.

Throughout this journey, his sister had endured too much pressure and pain, yet she had never uttered a single complaint, always walking firmly in front to hold up the sky for him.

"Sister, you have grown up," Su Qiang said softly, his voice carrying a hint of choking. He reached out his hand, wanting to stroke his sister's head, but was afraid of dirtying her.

Su Min smiled slightly; that smile carried a bit of bitterness, but even more strength. "Brother, we will definitely find the Black Jade Intermittent Ointment. No matter how difficult the road ahead is, I will protect you until you recover." Her words were firm and powerful, as if she were making an unshakable vow to herself and her brother.

Su Qiang nodded, his eyes slightly red. "I believe in you, sister. Let's work hard together; we will definitely be able to overcome this difficulty."

After some tidying up, the two siblings once again set out on their journey toward Qingxi County.

The silhouette of Qingxi County gradually became clear in the distance. Although this city had also been affected by the disaster, compared to what they had seen along the way, it was clearly more prosperous and orderly.

Su Min, driving the carriage, looked at the city, and the exhaustion in her heart seemed to dissipate by more than half in an instant; the corners of her mouth finally curled into a long-lost smile.

"Brother, we've arrived." Her voice carried a hint of excitement and relief, as if all her efforts and persistence had been rewarded at this moment.

Su Qiang, inside the carriage, heard this and also tried to sit up straight. Although his severely injured body caused him unbearable pain, his eyes also flickered with the light of hope.

"Yes, we've finally arrived." Although Su Qiang's voice was weak, it was full of firmness. This city might be the starting point for the two siblings' rebirth.

Su Min gripped the reins tightly, looking ahead with a firm gaze, and let out a sigh of relief in her heart.

From here on, as long as she found Cheng Feng and agreed to his conditions, she could obtain that precious Black Jade Intermittent Ointment.

Just treat it as being bitten by a dog; after it's over, she would just commit suicide to end it all. She only hoped her brother could live on peacefully.

Cheng Feng was the only hope they had grasped in their despair; no matter what price she had to pay, she had to find him.

Just as Su Min was driving the carriage toward the city gate of Qingxi County with full confidence, a sudden voice interrupted her thoughts.

A gate-guarding soldier stood in the middle of the road, waving his hand to signal her to stop, his face carrying a hint of impatience and a bureaucratic attitude.

"Hey, hey, hey, stop for a moment. You have to pay an entrance fee to bring your carriage through the gate." The soldier's voice echoed on the empty road, breaking the surrounding silence.

Su Min heard this and frowned slightly. As someone who was the young lady of the Su Family half a year ago, when had she ever spoken to a gatekeeper?

Looking at the other soldiers at the gate, she had no choice but to stop the carriage and take a few copper coins from her bosom.

"Big Brother, we are here to look for someone. This is the entrance fee, please accept it." Su Min tried to keep her tone calm and polite, while not forgetting to observe the surrounding environment to ensure there were no potential dangers missed.

The soldier took the copper coins, his eyes scanning between Su Min and Su Qiang, seemingly curious about their situation, but he did not say much. After simply confirming the entrance fee was correct, he waved his hand to signal they could pass.

"Go on in. Pay attention to the rules in the city and don't cause trouble." The soldier's voice carried a hint of warning.

Su Min nodded to express her thanks, then drove the carriage forward.

After the rushing and hardships along the way, Su Min was no longer the naive, inexperienced young lady of the Su Family. Her body and mind had been tempered in countless life-and-death trials, and every slaughter had made her more resilient.

From her initial discomfort and struggle when facing killing, to being able to act decisively now, Su Min's mentality had undergone a earth-shaking change.

She had learned how to remain calm in chaos and how to find a way to survive in desperate situations. This growth was not just an improvement in strength, but a Transformation of the soul.

The family-inherited Martial Dao Photography Step and the Five Elements Illusory Extinction Sword Technique were given new life in her hands. In the process of fighting others, she constantly explored and practiced, gradually mastering the essence of these two martial arts.

Her footsteps became increasingly light, as elusive as a ghost; her Sword Technique also became increasingly sharp, with every strike containing destructive power.

The current Su Min was already able to achieve the greatest victory at the lowest cost. In life-and-death combat, any hesitation or delay could lead to fatal consequences.

She had long since learned to solve problems in the simplest and most direct way. If she could kill with the first move, she would absolutely never use a second. This decisiveness and ruthlessness were the keys to the two siblings reaching Qingxi County.

Along the way, Su Min had experienced countless unbearable things regarding human nature.

She had been deceived and taken detours,

Some even wanted to eat the flesh of her and her brother,

And they were almost tricked into drinking well water laced with knockout drops.

All sorts of things, deceit and treachery.

Having managed to escape alive, Su Min had long since become like a different person.