Liu Juan genuinely thought her friend wasn’t going to survive.
Unable to hold back her tears, she wiped her eyes and said,
“We’re neighbors. If we can help, we should help a little…”
“You can help if you want. We’re not getting involved in this mess. It’s bad luck!”
“Exactly! Let’s go, let’s go! What if she asks us for help later? We absolutely can’t get dragged into this. Bad luck sticks to you for life!”
“Hurry up and leave!”
Afraid that Lin Xiazhi might actually beg them for assistance, the villagers scattered like frightened birds.
Even Liu Juan and Zhao Xiaomei were dragged away by their families while being loudly scolded.
By the end of the beating, every bone in Lin Dagou’s body had been broken.
Only his right hand could still move.
Once the villagers had left, Lin Xiazhi stopped pretending.
She pulled a divorce document from her clothing and grabbed Lin Dagou’s blood-covered finger.
Press.
A fingerprint was stamped onto the paper.
After carefully storing the document away, she took out two declarations of severed family ties and a brush, placing them in front of him.
“Sign them.”
Unlike a divorce agreement, a severance document required signatures from both parties and the village chief as a witness.
Chen He’s name was already written on it.
That was the real reason Lin Xiazhi had arrived so late.
When he was young, Lin Dagou had attended school for over half a year.
He could recognize a few common characters.
“Severance documents…”
His muddled mind finally understood what he was looking at.
“No… impossible. I won’t sign…”
If he severed ties, how was he supposed to sell his son to repay his debts?
If Lin Xiazhi didn’t destroy him first, the debt collectors would beat him to death anyway.
Since death seemed inevitable, he refused to give her what she wanted.
“Won’t sign?”
A bloodthirsty smile appeared on Lin Xiazhi’s lips.
Without hesitation, Bonebreaker sliced across his left hand.
Lin Dagou broke out in cold sweat from the pain.
Just as he was about to scream, something rolled in front of his eyes.
A bloody white finger bone.
His breathing stopped.
He stared at the severed bone in horror.
Every muscle in his face twitched uncontrollably.
A dark stain quickly spread beneath him.
He had literally wet himself from fear.
“!!!”
Zhang Cuiyu stared at the finger bone.
Instinctively, she hid both hands behind her back.
What if Lin Xiazhi decided to remove her bones next?
Even thinking about it made her scalp tingle.
The five burly men exchanged uncomfortable glances.
They had witnessed plenty of violence before.
But even they couldn’t help shuddering at Lin Xiazhi’s methods.
This little girl was truly ruthless.
No wonder she was acquainted with Mu Zheng.
The two of them were equally merciless.
Ignoring everyone’s reactions, Lin Xiazhi casually twirled Bonebreaker in front of Lin Dagou’s face.
“Will you sign?”
“No… AHHHH!”
Another finger bone landed before him.
Ten fingers connected directly to the heart.
The pain was so intense that no injury elsewhere on the body could compare.
Lin Dagou felt as though his heart was about to explode.
His eyes bulged.
Blood vessels spread through them like crimson spiderwebs.
The agony he endured was beyond imagination.
“Will you sign?”
The cold question descended from above once more.
His eyes bloodshot, Lin Dagou finally nodded weakly.
His trembling hand reached for the brush.
“I’ll sign… I’ll sign…”
The corners of Lin Xiazhi’s lips curved upward.
“Make sure it’s legible.”
“Otherwise…”
“I understand! I understand!”
Gathering the last of his concentration, Lin Dagou quickly signed both documents and pressed his fingerprint onto them.
Satisfied, Lin Xiazhi put away both the severance papers and Bonebreaker.
Then she stood and handed the ten taels of silver to the five men.
“Thank you for helping me conceal everything. It’s not much, but please accept it as a token of appreciation.”
The leader immediately stepped back.
“This was nothing. Brother Mu—”
“Cough!”
Another man interrupted him.
Smiling, he accepted the silver instead.
“Since it’s the young lady’s gratitude, we’ll gladly take it.”
Earlier, Mu Zheng had specifically instructed them.
If Lin Xiazhi offered payment, they were to accept it without argument.
“Now that everything is settled, we’ll be leaving.”
Lin Xiazhi nodded.
“Safe travels. I still have some matters to handle, so I won’t be seeing you off.”
“No need for formalities. If you ever need people again, come to the escort agency. We’ll help however we can.”
“Thank you.”
…
Only after the five men drove away in the carriage did Lin Dagou and Zhang Cuiyu finally understand.
These people weren’t debt collectors at all.
They were helpers hired by Lin Xiazhi.
They had been completely fooled.
“You little bi—”
Zhang Cuiyu began cursing in fury.
But after uttering a single word, she met Lin Xiazhi’s murderous gaze.
Her mouth immediately snapped shut.
She hurriedly looked away.
No matter how much Lin Dagou regretted signing the documents, he didn’t dare utter another word either.
That crazy girl truly intended to kill people.
Both of them lay motionless on the ground, pretending to be dead.
After checking Shen Ying’s condition again, Lin Xiazhi administered a painkiller injection and antibiotics.
Only then did she stand and survey the courtyard.
Her eyes soon landed on three hens inside a fenced enclosure.
She walked over, grabbed them one by one, and snapped their necks with crisp cracking sounds.
Then she tossed the chickens directly into her space without the slightest hesitation.
Lin Qingbei was busy caring for Shen Ying and didn’t notice.
But Lin Dagou and Zhang Cuiyu saw everything clearly.
“Y-You! Where did the chickens go?!”
A terrifying thought surfaced in Zhang Cuiyu’s mind.
The Lin Xiazhi standing before her couldn’t possibly be human.
She had to be some sort of spirit or monster.
Otherwise, how could three chickens simply disappear?
Lin Dagou’s face turned ashen.
We’re dead.
We’re definitely dead.
Lin Xiazhi continued searching the property.
Once she confirmed there were no more living creatures, she entered the house and began collecting anything useful or valuable.
Using her ability, she unexpectedly discovered a hidden treasure.
Beneath a stone slab in the pigpen sat a ceramic jar.
Inside were several paper-like objects.
Curious, she lifted the slab, retrieved the jar, and opened it.
Her eyes immediately brightened.
Inside were several banknotes, silver jewelry, and two property deeds.
Adding those to the two deeds she had already taken from the Chen family, she now possessed four properties in total.
If she sold them all…
She would make a fortune.
Smiling in satisfaction, she carefully stored everything away.
By now, the sky had darkened.
Night was approaching.
A moonless, windy night.
The perfect night for murder.
Before dealing with Lin Dagou and Zhang Cuiyu, however, she planned to settle her mother and younger brother somewhere safe.
“Qingbei, go see if there’s anything worth packing. Once you’re ready, we’re leaving.”
“Okay.”
Lin Qingbei hurried into the house.
A short while later, he emerged carrying a flat, worn bundle.
Lin Xiazhi raised an eyebrow.
Embarrassment flashed through the boy’s eyes.
“It contains spare clothes for Mother and me.”
Though there was only one set each.
Lin Xiazhi said nothing.
Gently lifting Shen Ying into her arms, she headed toward the gate.
“Follow me.”
The Chen family courtyard was completely deserted.
The gate stood slightly ajar.
Lin Qingbei pushed it open with ease.
Tiptoeing inside, he asked cautiously,
“Big Sister, did the village chief approve this? Will he throw Mother and me out?”
“They don’t dare.”
Worried that Shen Ying’s condition might worsen, Lin Xiazhi strode directly into the eastern room.
Lin Qingbei hurried after her on his short legs.
Inside, Wang Chuntao and Chen He lay on the large bed.
Both were covered in injuries.
Thinking about their son receiving fifty strokes of the board and possibly losing his scholar status, the couple had been sighing in misery all day.
Suddenly, they heard rapid footsteps approaching.
Both sat upright in alarm and stared toward the doorway.
Sure enough.
The very person they feared most appeared.
Lin Xiazhi marched straight into the room carrying someone in her arms.
Every alarm bell in their heads immediately went off.