“I’ve raised you for over a decade, it’s time to collect some interest!”
The hoarse, urgent voice in her ear felt like a thousand-pound weight pressing down on her body, making Li Jinu struggle for breath.
In extreme discomfort, she woke up. What met her eyes was a massive bluish-purple birthmark.
As the birthmark grew clearer before her eyes, Li Jinu felt horrified—
It was actually her adoptive father, Butcher Li!
Before she could process this, her adoptive mother Nian Cuilan’s shrill voice came from outside the door:
“I’m going out for some business. Old Li, have your fun, just leave her alive.”
Hearing her adoptive mother’s cruel words, Li Jinu trembled all over—not from fear, but from excitement.
She had actually been reborn on the night before her reputation was completely destroyed!
In her previous life, on this very day, the Royal City Zhennan Marquis Estate had sent someone on horseback to verify that she was the true daughter of the Marquis Estate, promising to come for her the next day.
Yet that very night, her adoptive father and the village bully had ruined her virtue!
That wasn’t all—her adoptive mother had arranged to catch them in the act, subjecting her to utter humiliation.
As a result, the usually hot-tempered Butcher Li was drowned in the pond, while she, having lost her purity, became a laughingstock.
She had desperately hoped the Marquis Estate would stand up for her, but never expected that when the Marquis Estate Matron heard about it, she immediately conducted a physical examination on the spot.
Her reputation was utterly destroyed, and from then on, she was looked down upon even by servants.
She had thought that entering the Marquis Estate would bring her better treatment, but never imagined that as soon as she arrived at the estate gates, Ye Jintang—the one who had taken her place—left behind a death note.
Written in fresh blood, the note claimed she knew nothing about the truth back then, but as the daughter of evildoers, she had no face to see her true family again and would atone with her death.
She then truly attempted to hang herself with a white silk rope, nearly succeeding, and from then on, the Marquis Estate regarded her with utter disgust.
Later… later her own brother sold her into a brothel, even bringing his classmates to humiliate her…
In the brothel, she could neither live nor die freely. If not for a miraculous encounter, she didn’t know how the rest of her life would have turned out.
In this life, would it be the same? Li Jinu didn’t know, but it all started from this very night!
Butcher Li’s rough hands had already begun tearing at her clothes, his tone urgent, the garlic smell from his breath filling her nostrils, nauseating to the extreme.
“Jinu, be good. Dad will treat you well!”
Li Jinu’s heart was filled with hatred, but she immediately calmed herself.
She knew clearly that if she wanted revenge, she must first overcome the immediate crisis.
She bent her knee, intending to strike Butcher Li’s vulnerable spot, but having not eaten or drunk all day, she was weak, and her limbs were firmly pinned, unable to move.
The man on top of her mistook her struggles for coy compliance and grew even more excited, his movements quickening.
Li Jinu took a deep breath, enduring extreme disgust, and bit down on his forearm.
The resentment from her past life transformed into strength. In one bite, her mouth filled with the taste of iron, followed by a cry of pain.
“You little bitch, refusing honor when it’s offered!”
Butcher Li was furious. He pushed himself up, his large hand swinging in a full arc ready to strike down.
Freed one hand, Li Jinu suddenly pulled out her wooden hairpin and swung her arm to stab.
Butcher Li grunted, his eyes widening, then his slap fell weakly.
Blood dripped onto Li Jinu’s face—one drop, two drops.
Warm.
He convulsed a few times, his obese body suddenly collapsing, a wooden hairpin embedded in his temple, dead with eyes wide open.
Just then, the clouds parted, and a strand of moonlight shone into the wood room, serene and solemn, as if capable of cleansing all sins.
Li Jinu looked at her hands, her heart surging with waves—
Her movements just now had been so fast, as quick as when she was a Shadow Guard in her previous life!
After casually practicing a few moves, she slowly broke into a smile.
Apart from weaker physical strength, this body was no different from when she served as a Shadow Guard in her previous life!
The brothel’s patrons included many peculiar individuals. By a twist of fate in her past life, she had rescued the fleeing Ghost Doctor and learned medical skills from him.
It could be said heaven took pity on her, giving her the chance to poison the madam and escape the brothel.
During her flight, she nearly got captured but killed several pursuers with just a pair of scissors, catching the attention of the passing Imperial Grandson who recruited her as a Shadow Guard.
Only upon entering the training camp did she realize she was naturally gifted in martial arts.
Though talented, she never slacked off. In the camp, she wasn’t just the most gifted but also the most hardworking.
Every day was spent either eating, sleeping, or training.
The diligent command respect, but a genius who spares no effort is destined to shine.
After completing her training, she never failed an assassination mission. In her most perilous mission, surrounded by dozens of starving wolves, she escaped using only a single sword.
After this feat, she became Great Xia’s most renowned genius assassin, ranked second among Shadow Guards, earning the epithet: Jade Faced Rakshasa.
Many nobles tried to bribe her, countless Shadow Guards adored her, and the White Lotus Sect even risked exposure to offer her the position of Holy Maiden.
She should have had a brilliant future, yet she never imagined she’d die from a poisoned cup of wine handed by her beloved.
Remembering her past life felt like needles pricking her heart, each memory bringing sharp pain.
The rustling of leaves in the wind outside the window drew her attention. She looked down at Butcher Li, her gaze growing increasingly fierce.
Grabbing a stool, she smashed it against the butcher’s head without hesitation.
Once, twice, until his face was unrecognizable.
Then she calmly walked out of the Wood Room, gazing at the dappled shadows under the moonlight as she curled her lips.
One down, time for the second.
Standing in the shadows, her eyes gleamed like a lone wolf awaiting its prey.
Soon, a figure staggered into view.
Bathed in moonlight, his features gradually overlapped with those of the man who had violated her in her past life.
Hatred made her blood boil. She crouched slowly, pressing her right hand against her vocal cords. When she spoke again, her voice carried a rough, masculine tone:
“Brother Wang, didn’t you always fancy my worthless daughter? She’s inside.”
Sure enough, the figure paused as if trying to get his bearings.
“I’m Butcher Li! As long as you protect my business from now on, you can have your way with that worthless girl!”
The figure seemed to sober up slightly, stopping to ask suspiciously:
“Old Li? Why does your voice sound different?”
“Ah, business has been tough lately—got a sore throat from the stress! Otherwise I wouldn’t be offering up my pretty daughter!”
The man suddenly understood and stopped hesitating. Undoing his belt as he approached, he walked toward the room.
Behind the door, Li Jinu waited like an experienced angler, patiently gripping her hairpin as she awaited her prey taking the bait.