Su Xiao drew his weapon and slashed at the black energy, but it had no effect.
The eerie cackling assaulted everyone.
Su Mengmeng wailed loudly in fear, turning the already chaotic scene into complete disarray.
The yin wind howled, directly blowing Su Xiao toward the cliff edge.
He barely managed to stabilize himself by driving his sword into the ground.
Looking back, he saw a bottomless abyss behind him.
Just one step away from falling off the cliff and being shattered to pieces.
His soldiers were all entangled and bound by the black energy, unable to move.
Old Madam Su had been thrown out of the carriage and, along with Su Mengmeng, was tied to a tree by the black energy.
Cold sweat poured from Su Xiao’s forehead as he shouted, “What evil spirits are you? What grudge do you hold against me that you would seek to exterminate our entire party?”
“Hahaha… Su Xiao, look at you now…”
“You shameless villain! You stole military merits yet became a General! This outrage offends both gods and men!”
“No one will save you! Prepare to repay us with your life for our brothers’ deaths…”
They shouldn’t have died, yet they transformed into the most resentful evil spirits, striking fear in all who heard of them.
Su Xiao frowned and retorted, “Nonsense! I earned my military honors through blood and sweat on the battlefield! How could they be stolen? You evil spirits spout nothing but lies! This is Da Xia – you think I’d fear you?”
With that, he leveraged himself up, pulling out the protective talisman hanging around his neck and attaching it to his sword.
He swung wildly at the black energy.
Enraged, the black energy blotted out the sky, continuously blowing Su Xiao toward the cliff edge with intensified winds.
Old Madam Su and Su Mengmeng’s faces were distorted by the wind, their skin rippling like waves.
“Father… sob… save me…”
“Son, my son, I don’t want to die…”
Distracted, Su Xiao was blown right off the cliff, but his strong arms managed to grip the edge tightly.
It seemed these ghosts were determined to kill him today.
Just then.
A voice came from nearby.
“Qing Bao, did you notice we’ve passed through here before?”
“Mhmm, didn’t expect these guys to still be here after all this time. It’s okay, Mother can just follow Qing Bao!”
It was Si He and Qing Bao!
A spark of hope ignited in Su Xiao’s eyes as he strained to look.
Through the swirling black mist, he saw little Qing Bao walking ahead holding a brush. The red tip of the brush glowed with crimson light, burning like flame.
The black energy around Qing Bao rapidly dissipated, only to regroup behind them after they passed.
The Judge’s Brush vibrated, its bristles issuing a command that only evil spirits and ghosts could hear:
“The Judge approaches—all of you, make way immediately!”
The black mist retreated at extreme speed, as if fleeing for their lives.
Remembering what their ancestors said about Qing Bao being blessed with great fortune that evil spirits couldn’t harm, Su Xiao saw his lifeline.
Like grasping at straws, he screamed hoarsely, “Qing Bao, Qing Bao! Come save your father! I’m over here!”
“Si He, Si He! Come save me!”
All the arrogance he had shown toward the mother and daughter in the Ancestral Hall that morning had vanished. Now, Su Xiao only hoped to survive.
He prayed that his wife and daughter would hear his cries and come to his rescue.
Si He paused mid-step and asked, “Qing Bao, I think I heard your father calling for us.”
The two soldiers behind also said, “Yes, I heard the General’s cries too.”
“But it’s so dark here—where is the General?”
“Could they be lost here as well?”
Qing Bao had already covered her ears, her large eyes blinking innocently. “Then why didn’t I hear anything?”
Si He raised an eyebrow. “If you didn’t hear it, neither did I. Let’s go—this place is dangerous.”
The two soldiers hesitated for a moment but ultimately followed Qing Bao.
After all, they had never encountered such an eerie path before. If they didn’t stick with Qing Bao, they might die here without anyone knowing.
“You unfilial daughter! Not only are you leaving, but you’re taking my soldiers with you!”
Su Xiao was practically spitting blood in fury. He had been on the verge of reaching Qing Bao’s side for protection—if only someone had given him a hand.
To his dismay, Qing Bao had clearly heard his pleas for help yet still chose to lead the others away!
If he had known she was such an ungrateful child, he should have beaten her to death right in the Ancestral Hall in front of their ancestors!
Evidently,
Qing Bao’s presence cut through the murky black energy surrounding them like a sacred light.
Not only had Su Xiao seen her, but Old Madam Su and Su Mengmeng had spotted her too.
Witnessing their heartlessness, Old Madam Su gritted her teeth and shouted, “Si He, don’t you want to know what happened to your adoptive parents?”
Before Old General Su became a general, the Su Family lived together in Su Family Village.
The Old Madam and Si He’s adoptive parents were clansmen and neighbors.
Si He and Su Xiao had been childhood sweethearts, growing up inseparable since their arranged marriage in infancy.
But after Old General Su earned military merits and was granted a residence in the capital by the imperial court, the whole family rose in status and began looking down on Si He.
Old Madam Su believed it was only natural that Si He wasn’t good enough for her son—what kind of cold-hearted woman would hear her husband’s cries for help and refuse to save him?
If it were Si Yao, she would have rushed to their rescue without a second thought!
Hearing the Old Madam mention Si He’s adoptive parents, both Qing Bao and Si He halted and turned to look at Old Madam Su.
The red-glowing brush in Qing Bao’s hand filled Su Mengmeng with both fear and a twinge of envy.
Last night, Qing Bao should have died—but this brush had appeared out of nowhere and saved her.
Now it seemed this brush was an even more powerful treasure than she had imagined.
Uncontrollable greed flashed in Su Mengmeng’s eyes.
“Qing Bao Jie, please come save us! Grandmother has so much to tell you.”
If Qing Bao stepped closer, the black energy around them would automatically retreat.
Once she and her grandmother were free, she would have the Old Madam seize Qing Bao’s brush for her!
A trace of anxiety showed in Si He’s eyes. After receiving a nod from Qing Bao, the mother and daughter walked toward Old Madam Su.
The black energy parted for them, making the pair seem like deities descending through darkness.
However, the deities stopped ten steps away—precisely at the edge of the glowing circle.
Though the black energy in front of Old Madam Su had vanished, the tendrils binding her remained.
“What are you waiting for? Take a step forward!” Old Madam Su had clearly sensed how the black energy recoiled from the mother and daughter.
Thus she urged them impatiently.
Si He did not advance, instead asking coldly, “You said earlier that you know where my adoptive parents are?”
At this moment, Old Madam Su suddenly realized—Si He would not obey her.
Her eyes darted, “First save Xiao’er, then I’ll tell you!”
She knew that Si He’s adoptive parents were the most virtuous people in the village—they would rather suffer losses themselves than refuse to help their neighbors, and they had always treated Si He with utmost kindness.
She refused to believe that Si He could ever abandon the parents who had raised her with their own hands.
“Si He, if you don’t save my son now, I’ll take this secret and leap off the cliff with him!”
“Leaving you to search for them through all eternity, never to find them!”