Just as he was lost in thought, Cheng Yao appeared before him again, a dagger pressed to the black-clad man’s throat.
The night wind stirred the loose strands of her hair, and the cold, star-like gleam in her eyes was even sharper than the blade. “Don’t move.”
The black-clad man froze. Then she said, “Hand over the antidote.”
His eyes shifted. “What antidote?”
Cheng Yao pushed the dagger forward. The blade sliced into his neck, and blood began to flow.
The black-clad man no longer dared pretend ignorance and hurriedly pulled out a small porcelain bottle.
Cheng Yao said coldly, “Open it.”
His movements slowed slightly. Spotting an opening, he was about to launch an attack when a sudden, sharp pain pierced his throat. A jet of blood sprayed into the air.
He glared at Cheng Yao, his lips moving as though he wanted to ask why she had killed him after he had handed over the antidote. But his throat only produced a wet, rattling sound. Blood gushed forth, and he could not utter a single word.
He toppled stiffly to the ground.
Cheng Yao stabbed him once more, wiped the blade clean on his clothes, and only then stored the dagger in her space.
In the novel, this black-clad man would secretly support Shao Yutong all the way through. Therefore, she was determined to kill him.
She simply had not tested the medicine yet and did not know whether it was genuine. She had intended to wait a while before killing him, but he had actually dared to attack her. Since he was so eager to die, she could only grant his wish.
She poured out one pill and held it beneath her nose to smell it. It did not seem like poison, so she fed it to Wei Qing.
Of course, she had also prepared spiritual spring water. If her judgment proved wrong, she could still save him.
Fortunately, she had chosen correctly.
Wei Qing’s breathing steadied as the remaining poison was purged from his body. He soon regained consciousness.
He instinctively searched for Cheng Yao. “Miss…”
“Shh. Don’t speak.” Cheng Yao helped him sit up. “Stay here and don’t make a sound. I’m going to check the main hall.”
Wei Qing grabbed her hand. “It’s dangerous there. You’re a young woman…”
“It’s fine. I’ll be careful.”
Cheng Yao pulled her hand free. She did not forget to hoist Shao Yutong over her shoulder before leaving.
The sounds of fighting and screams continued all around them. Not a trace of light penetrated the darkness; it was so black that she could not even see her own hand in front of her face. She had no idea who was fighting whom.
She casually tossed Shao Yutong onto the ground, then hunched down and crept into the main hall. Suddenly, a “ghost” drifted past her.
Cheng Yao instantly teleported forward and seized the ghost by the arm. The figure stumbled, revealing a pair of cloth shoes beneath the costume.
“Quit playing tricks!” Constable Wang shouted as he moved forward, but then a black shadow nimbly leaped down from the rafters, moving as swiftly as a cat.
The black shadow gripped a short club. Before the “ghost” could react, it struck him precisely on the back of the neck. The “ghost” let out a muffled groan and collapsed.
The black shadow tore away the ghost’s long hair, revealing the dark-skinned face of a villager.
At that moment, three more “ghosts” rushed in from beyond the courtyard wall. Some carried fake skeletons, while others dragged tattered cloth behind them like spirits. But before they could get close, the black shadow had already circled behind them like a phantom.
Three dull thuds rang out. All three villagers dressed as ghosts were knocked unconscious and piled together on the ground.
The situation in the main hall was also largely under control. Someone lit a fire, illuminating several black-clad figures.
Their faces were covered, their brows and eyes sharp, and flecks of mud stained their black clothes.
Cheng Yao was somewhat curious. Were all of them people sent by Zhan Haoting?
The leader of the black-clad men glanced at the unconscious villagers on the ground, then swept his gaze over the prisoners huddled in the corner. His voice was low.
“Whenever the people of this village pray for rain, they kill ten people as sacrifices to the River God. They specifically target travelers in distress. The constable who died secretly ate some poisoned dry rations, which means the food given to the constables has all been poisoned and can no longer be eaten. The Zhan family’s fat man, meanwhile, ate food secretly given to him by the village chief.”
“The villagers dressed as ghosts for two reasons. First, they wanted to frighten you into panicking and turning on one another. Second, even if some of you managed to escape, you would only tell outsiders that ghosts had been responsible, instead of suspecting them.”
“Several people have also died near the woodshed. Leave at once and report this to the authorities, before the villagers hiding nearby come back for revenge.”
The black-clad man explained everything in one breath. Constable Wang was stunned and had just opened his mouth to thank him when the men had already turned and leaped out through the broken window.
All that remained were their sharp, agile silhouettes. In the blink of an eye, they vanished into the curtain of rain.
The room fell silent for a moment. Only the rain continued beating against the roof.
Zhan Yunhe’s eyes shone with excitement. He whispered, “What benevolent heroes! Are they… martial heroes?”
No one answered him. Everyone straightened and emerged from the shadows.
“Constable, we can’t stay here another moment. Let’s leave quickly.”
“That’s right, Constable. If we don’t leave now, we’ll all die.”
Constable Wang said solemnly, “First, count the people from each household. If anyone is missing, search for them. Report back to me only if you can’t find them. Be quick.”
After giving his orders, he and the other constables bound Village Chief Sun and the villagers together.
Zhang Dapeng dragged Village Chief Sun into the room like a dead dog. He was drenched from head to toe, and a dagger was still embedded in one foot. Blood and rainwater dripped down, winding across the floor in a tiny stream.
Everyone crowded around him and began kicking and punching.
“You poisoned our food!”
“You’re a superstitious murderer!”
“You treat human lives like weeds!”
“We’ll beat you to death!”
Everyone vented the fury they had been holding inside on the village chief, beating him until his flesh was torn and mangled, with only a thread of life remaining. Constable Wang finally shouted for them to stop. He then bound the man’s hands and feet with a straw rope and threw him into a corner.
Cheng Yao lit several fires, making the surroundings brighter, and then went to look for her family.
Fortunately, aside from Zhan Qingrou, who had been frightened into trembling and sobbing, everyone else was in fairly good condition.
“Mother, where did all of you go? I couldn’t find you. I was so scared.”
Madam Zhan looked awkward and ashamed.
She had been terrified as well. In the chaos, she had clung tightly to Hongxiu and had not even thought to look for her daughter.
She opened her mouth. “Qingrou, I…”
“Mother! Little Sister!”
Zhan Haochen emerged from the shadows with Zhan Haoting on his back.
Just then, a blindingly pale bolt of lightning tore across the night sky, instantly illuminating the dilapidated hall as brightly as day. Almost at the same time, thunder exploded overhead, making everyone’s ears ring.
At the very moment the thunder drowned out every other sound—
Something changed!
Several black shadows slipped silently through the broken window frames and even through holes in the leaking roof, like ghosts.
They moved with the speed of leopards. The weapons in their hands reflected the occasional flash of lightning from outside, radiating a deadly chill. Their target was clear: they charged straight at Zhan Haoting!
“Look out!” Cheng Yao threw herself forward without thinking.
Yet someone was faster than she was!
The instant the assassins appeared, several terrifying figures had already leaped down from the rafters.
Blades and swords collided violently in the ruined hall, ringing out with the ear-piercing clash of metal!
Blood sprayed through the air. One assassin staggered backward and slammed into the mottled wall, leaving behind a vivid smear of blood.
Chaos erupted in an instant!
Women screamed, children cried, men shouted, weapons clashed, and thunder and rain mingled into one deafening roar.
The constables shouted loudly as they tried to maintain order, their whips cracking through the air. But no one paid them any attention. Everyone rushed about like headless flies, desperate only to get away from the deadly battlefield.
“Husband, wait for me!”
Feng Xianxian clung desperately to Zhan Jinmo’s hand.
Zhan Jinmo was carrying Old Madam Zhan on his back when she tugged at him, making him stumble and nearly fall.
Furious, he turned around and shouted, “Can’t you be more independent and walk on your own?”
“Why are you yelling at me? I’m scared!”
Feng Xianxian looked pitiful, tears streaming down her face. Zhan Jinmo gritted his teeth in anger and kicked her away.
“Zhan Jinmo!” Feng Xianxian fell to the ground, pounding it in fury.
Second Master Zhan, carrying Second Madam Zhan on his back, passed by her and said, “Xianxian, if you don’t get moving, that ghost will catch you and eat you.”
Only then did Feng Xianxian scramble after the others on all fours.
“Qingrou, you must hold on tight to me!”
Madam Zhan’s voice trembled as she clung tightly to Zhan Qingrou’s hand.
Zhan Qingrou followed her, stumbling through the uneven ground as they fled. “Mother, what about Eldest Brother and Eldest Sister-in-Law?”
“Don’t worry about them.”
Zhan Qingrou grew frantic. “Mother, how can you say that? They’re our family. We can’t just—”
Madam Zhan patted her hand. “You and I couldn’t even fight our way out of a paper bag. We’d only hold them back. Taking care of ourselves is the greatest help we can give them!”
