However, the Seven-Leaf Flowers had peculiar growing habits, and no one was able to cultivate them. What good would it do for these people to stand guard here? They were ownerless, after all. She had no reason to feel guilty for taking a little.
At the same time, an immense weariness and the sensation of her soul being torn apart swept over her like a tide, nearly drowning her.
She forced herself to draw one more breath, then vanished from the spot.
Several figures flew over. When they discovered that the Seven-Leaf Flowers were gone and only two holes remained in the earth, their pupils contracted in shock, and they fell into utter panic.
“The Seven-Leaf Flowers have been stolen! Report to the Valley Master at once!”
“The culprit’s martial arts and lightness kung fu are superior to ours. It must have been the greatest thief in the world!”
“Whoever they are, anyone bold enough to steal our Seven-Leaf Flowers is an enemy of our Valley of Unrequited Love!”
…
Cheng Yao fell into the weeds. Her body shuddered violently, and a sweet, bloody taste surged up her throat. A mouthful of blood nearly sprayed out, but she forcibly swallowed it back down.
She was drenched in cold sweat and so weak that she did not even have the strength to lift a finger.
She sank her consciousness into her space and looked at the quietly resting poria, dendrobium, purple ganoderma, and the two dreamlike Seven-Leaf Flowers. Only then did her heart ease somewhat.
The price had been enormous, but the harvest was abundant.
She had already altered the plot of the original novel. She had no idea how many unknown dangers awaited her, but the more resources she possessed, the more chances she would have to survive!
She slowly closed her eyes and forced herself into a state of deep meditation, recovering the mental energy that had been nearly exhausted.
However, Zhang Dapeng, who had been watching her intently, approached from behind. His small, vicious eyes remained fixed on her pale face.
“Cheng Yao!” His voice was deliberately lowered, carrying a menacing edge. “I was making my rounds just now and didn’t see you. Yet here you are, acting suspiciously—breathing hard, with a face paler than a ghost. Did you try to escape?!”
This despicable woman had thwarted him time and again. She had even exposed his intentions in front of everyone and humiliated him. He had to grind her completely into the mud before the hatred in his heart could be eased!
Cheng Yao could not even be bothered to lift her eyelids. She merely forced a cold sneer through her teeth.
“Does Constable Zhang’s head contain nothing but water? If I had escaped, why would I have come back? Or do you simply keep watching a weak woman like me because you’re afraid I’ll catch you insulting women again—or find you hiding in some corner like a coward?”
“Bullshit! I’ll rip your mouth apart!” Zhang Dapeng hated her for saying such things. He instantly lost all reason. In a fit of rage, he raised his fan-sized hand and viciously slapped it toward Cheng Yao’s face, the blow carrying the sound of rushing wind.
If that slap landed, Cheng Yao was so weak that she would likely be sent flying.
Just as his palm was about to touch her cheek, Cheng Yao’s right hand, which had seemed utterly limp at her side, suddenly shot upward!
Between her fingers was a silver needle as fine as a strand of ox hair, glinting with a sinister light. She drove it viciously into his palm.
Zhang Dapeng let out a scream. A sharp, piercing pain erupted from the center of his palm. The pain itself was not particularly intense, but it carried a strange, prickling numbness that instantly shot up his arm!
A tiny bead of blood appeared at the Laogong acupoint in his palm. The needle’s sting made his entire right arm go weak, robbing it of all strength.
“You… you demonic woman! How dare you ambush me?!” Zhang Dapeng exclaimed, both shocked and furious. Clutching his aching wrist, he glared at her as if flames were about to shoot from his eyes.
At the very moment he recoiled in pain, a shadow flashed past. It was as though he had been struck by an invisible force. His entire body was sent flying, and he lay there unable to move for quite some time.
Cheng Yao knew that one of Zhan Haoting’s hidden guards had made the move. She hurriedly called out, “Hold your hand!”
The situation outside was already tense, with everyone on edge. If a constable died because of her, it might cause trouble.
This had to be dealt with secretly. They could not make it obvious.
Song Ze and the others therefore remained still—their duty was to obey.
Cheng Yao fiercely pinched her own thigh, forcing tears to well up in her eyes. She then mussed her hair, pulled her collar askew, and bit through her lower lip. In an instant, she looked as though she had suffered terrible abuse and was utterly terrified.
Then she stumbled toward the constables, using all her remaining strength to shout, her voice even breaking as she cried:
“Help! Constable Wang! Zhang Dapeng… he tried to assault me! He dragged me into the weeds, but when I refused, he beat me! He even tried to kill me to silence me!”
The sudden turn of events left everyone stunned!
The members of the Zhan family were the first to react. Several hot-blooded young men immediately went red in the eyes and charged forward, roaring:
“Zhang Dapeng! You beast! How dare you assault a woman of the Zhan family!”
“Let’s fight him!”
Everyone rose to their feet and glared at Zhang Dapeng outside, their eyes filled with fury and disgust.
It was common for constables to bully exiled prisoners, but attempting to violate a female prisoner in such a despicable manner—and doing so in front of the entire clan—was utterly outrageous!
The other constables were also stunned. They looked at Zhang Dapeng with expressions of utter contempt.
Zhang Dapeng was usually lecherous and fond of drink. Not long ago, he had tried to assault Shao Yutong, but Lady Cheng had stopped him. After that, he had turned his hostility toward Lady Cheng. As his colleagues, the other constables had naturally taken his side and deliberately looked the other way.
But now, with the injured man’s condition improving, Zhang Dapeng had still dared to assault Lady Cheng—and, after failing, had even tried to kill her. He was practically begging for death!
“You’re slandering me!” Zhang Dapeng trembled with rage. He pointed at Cheng Yao, frantic and furious, his words stumbling over one another. “She stabbed me with a needle! Look! My hand!” He raised his right hand, which was still faintly aching and trembling.
However, the needle mark was so fine that it could not be seen in the dim light.
His arm, on the other hand, was covered in bruises here and there, making it look as though he had injured himself when he fell.
Compared with Cheng Yao’s miserable, grief-stricken appearance, the small injury he had suffered looked laughable. By bringing it up to accuse her, he only made himself seem vile and ridiculous.
“That’s enough!” Constable Wang bellowed, his face dark with anger.
His sharp gaze swept between Cheng Yao and Zhang Dapeng.
He knew very well that Cheng Yao was far from as weak and helpless as she appeared, and that Zhang Dapeng was no good person either.
Most likely, Zhang Dapeng had provoked her first, and Cheng Yao had retaliated before taking the opportunity to pin the blame on him.
Regardless, Zhang Dapeng had a prior record. With everyone watching, Constable Wang had to maintain the appearance of impartiality. Otherwise, if these exiled prisoners rioted, he would be unable to bear the consequences.
“Zhang Dapeng! You’ve caused trouble repeatedly and shown complete disregard for the law. You are sentenced to three days without water or rations. On the road, you will push Zhan Haoting’s cart as penance! The Zhan family’s punishment is lifted. Starting tomorrow, water and rations will be distributed to them again!”
Constable Wang’s voice was severe and left no room for argument.
“Chief! She framed me!” Zhang Dapeng roared unwillingly.
“Whether you were framed or not, I will make that judgment myself! If you say another word, don’t blame me for enforcing military discipline!” Constable Wang’s eyes turned icy, and his hand came to rest on the saber at his waist.
Zhang Dapeng looked at the contemptuous or indifferent expressions of his fellow constables, then at Constable Wang’s merciless attitude. He knew that continuing to argue would only bring him further humiliation.
He shot Cheng Yao a venomous glare.
Then he sullenly retreated to the side, clutching his numb and aching right hand. His hatred of Cheng Yao had reached its peak.
Cheng Yao, meanwhile, was helped aside by several women of the Zhan family, who began comforting her in low voices.
She lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly as though she were still shaken by what had happened. In reality, she was doing her utmost to calm the qi and blood roiling from the intense movements and emotional upheaval moments earlier.
In the shadows, Song Ze and the others were left dumbfounded.
The Madam’s reaction, acting skills, and schemes were simply incredible!
With such a female strategist by his side, their master would truly be unstoppable!
Cheng Yao sensed a deep, complicated gaze fall upon her—one filled with scrutiny and a trace of indescribable anger. It was Zhan Haoting.
He was leaning against the wall. Though he was weak, his eyes remained as sharp as ever, as if they could see straight through a person’s heart.
