"You... you..."
Jiang Chaoshan’s mouth fell open. He tried to scream, but only a gurgling gasp escaped as blood poured from the corner of his lips.
The wicked lust and excitement in his eyes were instantly replaced by terror.
But before he could react, the woman pulled out the silver hairpin and plunged it viciously into his heart once more.
Jiang Chaoshan stared intently at the stunningly beautiful yet frost-cold face before him. The strength rapidly drained from his body, and he collapsed limply, convulsed a few times, then fell silent forever.
The woman, or rather, the Snow Fairy, yanked the silver hairpin free, sending a spray of blood into the air.
She gasped for breath, her face flushed an unnatural red from the exertion and intense emotion.
The Snow Fairy shoved him off her in disgust, not even bothering to spare him a glance. There was no pity in her eyes, only the fierce satisfaction of vengeance and the finality of release.
At noon, the woman who had captured her had paid a sudden visit.
Her consoling words still echoed in her ears. "...Little sister, I’m speaking to you from the heart. You have to be more open-minded. Isn’t it a woman’s fate to find someone to rely on for the rest of her life? Everything else is fleeting.
Serve our master’s son well tonight. With your beauty, you’ll surely have him wrapped around your finger. Then you can live a peaceful, stable life as a wealthy Young Madam, dressed in silks and eating delicacies. It’s much better than roaming the Jianghu..."
Pah!
’What damn wealthy Young Madam!’
’Just a plaything imprisoned in a different cage.’
’Better to die in glory than live in shame!’
The Snow Fairy struggled to sit up, taking a few ragged breaths.
’That man who severely injured me that day... I’ve killed his son. He will never let this go.’
’Who knows how he’ll torture me then.’
’It’s better to die than to suffer endless humiliation!’
’But I can’t just die for nothing.’
She tore a clean corner of white silk from her under-robe. Without hesitation, she bit her own fingertip and, enduring the pain, used her blood to write a line of twisted yet clear symbols on the silk—a secret code unique to the Celestial Sword Sect.
This code could only be deciphered by the core disciples of the Celestial Sword Sect. It meant: "His father captured me and Bao Busan. Avenge us!"
She carefully rolled up the blood-written note and scanned her surroundings. Her gaze landed on a brick on the inner wall by the bed.
With great effort, she pried the brick loose, stuffed the note into the crevice behind it, and then pushed the brick back into place.
Finishing this task seemed to drain all of her remaining strength.
She straightened her torn clothes and sat upright on the edge of the bed. Glancing at the sliver of daylight filtering through the window, a flash of defiance and pride crossed her eyes.
Slowly, she raised the silver hairpin and aimed it at her own pale neck.
"Master... Xue’Er... is leaving now!"
There was the faintest sound of a sharp point piercing flesh.
A tragic, beautiful bloom of red blossomed on her neck, like a plum blossom flowering defiantly in the snow.
The small courtyard returned to a deathly silence.
...
「Drunken Creek Pavilion.」
The lavish feast spread across the table had long since grown cold.
The women Zhang Heming had arranged for entertainment saw that everyone at the table wore a grim expression, with no interest in dalliance, and found it dull themselves.
Furthermore, after several of the Village Chiefs waved them away, they took the hint, curtsied gracefully, and slipped out of the room in silence.
Just as the group was preparing to leave, a sudden rush of footsteps echoed from the staircase, the back hall, and the second-floor corridor.
A dozen or so rough-looking men of various appearances swarmed out.
The young man leading them stepped forward, his face dark. His gaze swept over the crowd before finally landing on Chen Li. "Village Chief Chen, Chen the Scholar, I’m afraid you two can’t leave just yet."
Chen Shouheng’s brows furrowed. He took a step forward and said in a low voice, "What is the meaning of this?"
The young man sneered. "The girl who was attending to you two just now suddenly died a strange death shortly after returning to her room. And before her violent death, the only outsiders she came into contact with were you two. We have already sent someone to report this to the County Magistrate’s Office. Until the Government Office officials arrive and uncover the truth, I must ask you both to stay and cooperate with the investigation."
Rage flared in Chen Shouheng’s heart. This was clearly a blatant frame-up. He said sharply, "Absurd! We have no grievance or grudge with her, why would we harm her? This is clearly..."
"Shouheng."
Chen Li raised a hand slightly, stopping his son.
He looked calmly at the young man. "I’m not sure which girl you’re referring to? I wasn’t paying attention just now."
His nonchalant reaction took the young man and his posse of surrounding men by surprise, catching them off guard.
The young man composed himself and forced a stern tone. "Village Chief Chen, no need to play dumb. The incident happened right after she finished serving you. You are the prime suspects. If you have anything to say, you can say it to the Lord Officials from the County Magistrate’s Office when they arrive!"
Chen Li said coolly, "If we are waiting for the Government Office, then I shall wait here."
He found a place to sit down and even gestured for Chen Shouheng to join him, as if the menacing encirclement was nothing more than a host’s enthusiastic attempt to make them stay.
The young man glanced at the others and said coldly, "The rest of you, leave."
The other Village Chiefs felt as if they had been granted amnesty and breathed a small sigh of relief.
Village Chief Qian cupped his fists toward Chen Li and his son, a forced smile on his face along with a hint of imperceptible worry. "Village Chief Chen, my dear nephew Shouheng, we... have some trivial matters at home, so we’ll be taking our leave now."
The others quickly echoed his sentiments, rising to bid farewell. They hurried away, eager to leave this place of trouble immediately.
Chen Li nodded slightly, saying nothing more.
Once the other Village Chiefs had all departed, only Chen Li and his son, Chen Shouheng, remained in the vast main hall of the Drunken Creek Pavilion.
Seeing how composed Chen Li was, the young man felt a flicker of uncertainty. But the thought of the arrangements he had in place bolstered his courage, and he said harshly, "If you know what’s good for you, you’ll surrender without a fight. If you resist, don’t blame us for being rough."
Chen Li didn’t even lift an eyelid.
The young man’s expression changed. Just as he was about to speak again, a hoarse and chilling voice came from the top of the stairs. "That’s enough."
Following the sound, they saw an old man in a brocade robe with a wizened face slowly descending the stairs.
His steps were steady, his gaze sharp as a hawk’s. Wherever he looked, the Jiang Family Guests bowed respectfully and addressed him, "Elder Wu."
The man’s aura was profound, far surpassing that of an ordinary Spirit Realm cultivator.
Elder Wu walked closer, ignoring everyone else. His eyes locked directly onto Chen Li as he spoke in a raspy voice, "Chen Li, this old man won’t beat around the bush with you. Recently, several of my Jiang Family’s Guests have disappeared on Mirror Mountain. They haven’t been seen alive, nor have their bodies been found. This matter is not unrelated to your Chen Family, is it?"
Chen Li’s expression remained calm as he looked at the old man. "And who might you be? If the Jiang Family’s Guests have gone missing, that is a matter for the Government Office to investigate. What has it to do with me? In what capacity are you questioning me?"
"Chen Li, stop playing dumb. It’s pointless!" Elder Wu shook his head. "If you’re unwilling to talk, then come back with me to the Jiang Family to be investigated."
Chen Li coolly refused. "And by what right do you demand I go with you to the Jiang Family for investigation? Is the Jiang Family planning to set up its own private court, in defiance of the law?"
Hearing this, Elder Wu sneered, a mocking look on his face. "The law? That’s for the common rabble. Chen Li, you’re an old man yourself, how can you be so naive? How laughable!"
He couldn’t be bothered to waste any more words. With a sharp wave of his hand, he commanded, "Seize them! If they dare to resist, kill them without mercy!"