“Old hag.”
Li Ao, emboldened by the presence of the constable, acted like a fox borrowing the tiger’s might: “Hand over the Blood Ginseng!”
Madam Liu was furious: “We found the Blood Ginseng. Why should we give it to you?”
“You are criminals, government slaves.”
Li Ao sneered: “You have no personal freedom. What right do you have to possess the Blood Ginseng?”
“What crime has the Mu Family committed?!”
Madam Qin was overwhelmed with grief and indignation: “My two sons sacrificed their lives for the country, dying on the battlefield. My third son was framed by others and is missing.”
“The foolish emperor is unjust, unable to distinguish right from wrong!”
Old Madam, leaning on her Dragon-head Cane, angrily rebuked: “He fell for Xiliang’s treacherous scheme, framing the loyal and virtuous.”
“Old hag, you dare insult the emperor.”
Liu Gao seized the opportunity, swiftly drawing his saber: “Such treason deserves death!”
“Kill her!”
Liu An, cunning and treacherous, took the lead in a sneak attack, slashing his saber toward Madam Qin to divert Old Madam’s attention.
“Mother, be careful.”
Madam Qin had no martial skills. She watched helplessly as a blade filled with killing intent came straight at her, her face turning pale with fear.
Mu Yufu and her sister cried out in alarm.
Old Madam was indeed distracted. Unable to deal with Liu Gao, she extended her cane to block Liu An’s sneak attack.
Liu Gao’s eyes gleamed with malice. Seizing the opportunity, he thrust his blade toward Old Madam’s heart.
“Old Madam, be careful!”
Jiang Shi and Madam Liu watched in horror, rushing over from left and right, instinctively wanting to use their own bodies to shield Old Madam from the blade.
Li Ao gave a sinister laugh, kicking Jiang Shi aside and raising his saber to slash at Madam Liu.
The sudden change happened in an instant. The threat of death loomed over every member of the Mu Family.
~
“Stone Slave, appear!”
Shi Bao, hidden in the void, witnessed this scene and was filled with righteous indignation. Waving his plump, pink little hand, he summoned the Stone Slave.
Suddenly, a whirlwind swept through the cave, raising sand and stones, making it impossible to keep one’s eyes open.
Countless rocks trembled and rose from the ground, gathering inside the cave to form a colossal stone giant.
“Roar!”
The moment the Stone Slave took shape, it seemed to come alive, letting out a furious roar, its two eyes glowing with golden light.
“Kill them.”
Shi Bao, his little face cold and stern, issued the command.
“Roar!”
The Stone Slave roared fiercely, its golden eyes locking onto Liu An.
“Ah!”
Liu An, blinded by the sandstorm, had no time to react before the Stone Slave smashed him into pulp with a single punch.
“Crack!”
The ground couldn’t withstand the Stone Slave’s powerful blow, splitting open a fissure.
Hearing the screams, Liu Gao raised his saber, intending to resist.
The Stone Slave paid him no heed. Lifting its foot, it stomped him into the fissure.
“Ah!”
Liu Gao screamed a few times from within the fissure before falling silent.
Li Ao was terrified out of his wits. He threw down his saber, wanting to beg for mercy.
The Stone Slave, obeying its master’s command, grabbed him in its palm, which was as large as a fan, and squeezed hard.
Li Ao’s bones were crushed, blood flowed from his seven orifices, and he died on the spot.
“Mon… monster!”
“Run!”
The remaining three officials were so frightened they nearly wet their pants, scrambling and crawling in an attempt to escape the cave.
“Stop them.”
Shi Bao would never let them escape.
“Boom, boom, boom.”
The Stone Slave strode after them, each step causing the ground to tremble.
“Spare… spare us!”
“Old Madam, spare us!”
“We didn’t want to kill you. We were forced!”
The three officials were terrified out of their wits. They fell to their knees with a thud, kowtowing and begging for mercy.
“Shi Bao.”
Mu Xueyan transmitted a voice message through her mind: “These three men are still useful. Let’s spare their lives for now.”
“Okay.”
Shi Bao waved her little hand, and the Stone Slave blocked the cave entrance, driving the three men back before the Old Madam.
~
“Old Madam, spare our lives!”
“We never intended to harm you.”
“It was Li Ao—he incited the captain to seize the blood ginseng and plot against your entire family.”
The three officials kowtowed and begged for mercy, their foreheads bruised and bleeding from the repeated impacts. They dared not stop without permission.
“Enough.”
The Old Madam watched the Stone Slave glaring fiercely at the three men, ready to crush them into pulp at any moment. Concealing her inner shock, she forced herself to remain calm. “Li Ao and the other two are dead. The mastermind has been punished. Let this matter end here.”
“Roar.”
Upon hearing the command, the Stone Slave let out a roar, its massive body disintegrating and scattering into a pile of rubble.
“Whew.”
Having narrowly escaped death, the three officials collapsed to the ground like limp mud.
“Heavens?”
“What just happened?”
“Was it really a stone man that saved us?”
“Am I dreaming?”
Madam Qin and the others snapped out of their extreme shock, still unsettled and wondering if they had seen an illusion.
“Hehe.”
Seeing the matter resolved smoothly, Mu Xueyan smiled, her eyes curving with joy.
Hearing the soft, adorable baby voice, the Old Madam felt a sudden inspiration. She lifted the cloth curtain and walked inside.
Mu Xueyan stopped smiling, her lively, dark eyes shifting curiously as she stared at the Old Madam.
“Yan Jie’er, my precious.”
The Old Madam gently stroked the swaddling clothes, attempting to communicate with her newborn granddaughter. “If you can understand what your great-grandmother is saying, blink your eyes.”
This action seemed quite peculiar. Yan Yiqing widened her eyes in surprise, unable to fathom why the Old Madam would suddenly do such a thing.
Mu Xueyan was also a bit bewildered, not expecting the Old Madam to speak to her so directly.
“Old Madam, Yan Jie’er was just born…”
Seeing her daughter dazed and unresponsive, Yan Yiqing instinctively tried to defend her.
“Don’t interrupt.”
The Old Madam raised her hand to stop her.
The next moment, both were delighted to discover that the newborn baby actually blinked several times in response.
“Yan Jie’er, my precious.”
The Old Madam could hardly contain her excitement. “Great-grandmother will ask you one more thing. Was that stone giant just now something you summoned?”
“Yiyaya.”
Mu Xueyan wanted to admit it without modesty, but unfortunately, she was too young to speak. She could only wave her little hands and babble a few drool bubbles.
To outsiders, it looked like a happy baby waving her arms and legs.
“It really is you, my precious.”
Inspired, the Old Madam instantly understood her baby talk and shed tears of joy.
“Old Madam, what are you saying?”
Yan Yiqing was utterly bewildered, looking incredulously at the old woman and the baby.
“Yiqing, you have given birth to a granddaughter for the Mu Family. You are a great contributor.”
The Old Madam wiped the corner of her eye, overjoyed. “Every member of the Mu Family will thank you.”
“Old Madam.”
Yan Yiqing grew even more confused. “Your granddaughter-in-law doesn’t understand. What are you saying?”
“This daughter of yours is exceptionally gifted, a phoenix among people.”
The Old Madam said meaningfully, “Take good care of her. Your good days are still ahead.”
“Hehe.”
Hearing the Old Madam praise her, Mu Xueyan happily kicked her little feet, overjoyed.
“Mhm.”
Yan Yiqing finally understood this time, her heart filled with joy: “Even if Old Madam hadn’t said so, your granddaughter-in-law would still cherish and care for her daughter.”
“Yan Jie’er, there are dead people in the cave—it’s inauspicious.”
Old Madam nodded with satisfaction, then, after a moment of deep thought, earnestly asked her little granddaughter: “Do you think we should leave this place? Should we keep moving forward?”