After continuous labor, even Army Commander Zhou was starting to struggle. After all, he already had hidden injuries in his body, and age was catching up with him.
Both he and Zhou Yunting were, consciously or unconsciously, helping Liu Zhixia with her work.
Even though she had already shown enough strength, the father and son still treated her like a delicate young lady, taking care of her in subtle ways.
Zhou Yunting’s gaze stayed fixed on her side the entire time, constantly watching her.
Liu Zhixia had an extremely sharp perception. The moment his gaze first landed on her, she already noticed—but she pretended not to know.
She was curious: how exactly were those people planning against the Zhou family?
The father and son were not weak.
Old Master Zhou also came out to check a few times. He understood everything clearly in his heart.
This girl was worried that others might make small moves because of his age.
But in reality, this young girl was no less capable than his old bones.
She was too stubborn. He had no choice but to compromise.
Days passed like this.
Just when the Zhou family had begun to slightly relax their guard—
Two panicked cattle suddenly went mad and charged toward Zhou Yunting and Zhou’s father, who were working alongside villagers.
The father and son immediately realized: the scheme had begun.
At a moment of life and death, as soldiers, they could not ignore innocent people.
But Liu Zhixia was still observing the surroundings.
She knew the enemy’s plan would not be so simple.
Otherwise, with the Zhou father and son’s skills, how could they end up crippled in the original story?
The surroundings grew quieter and quieter.
Then faint slicing sounds broke through the air—hidden weapons, infused with inner force.
If the Zhou father and son were fully focused, they might still have a fifty-fifty chance of dodging them.
But now they were distracted dealing with the crazed cattle and protecting villagers. They simply could not care for themselves.
Their belief and duty were deeply ingrained: human lives came first.
Liu Zhixia’s eyes turned cold.
Those who dared to touch her people would not get away easily.
She did not directly intercept the hidden weapons. Instead, with a subtle movement of her hands, she neutralized the inner force attached to them.
Even so, if they hit, there would still be injuries—just superficial ones, not fatal.
Otherwise, the enemy would not relax their vigilance.
The hidden weapons followed their original trajectory and struck the Zhou father and son.
Blood appeared on their clothes, but the force was clearly reduced. The injuries were only skin-deep.
Still not convincing enough.
Liu Zhixia secretly circulated her internal energy.
In that instant, Zhou Yunting and Zhou’s father suddenly felt alarm bells ringing in their minds.
What kind of expert was this?
Such profound inner force—able to strike them without warning, yet not truly injure them.
The control was terrifying.
The father and son reacted instantly, exchanging a glance and nodding.
They had encountered two groups of people—one hostile, one friendly.
And that hidden force just now was likely a diversion, meant to disguise the fact that they were actually unharmed.
Zhou’s father and Zhou Yunting immediately collapsed to the ground, their faces turning pale.
At the same time, Liu Zhixia noticed the hidden observers had withdrawn.
They had left—thinking their plan had succeeded.
It seemed their goal was not to kill the Zhou father and son, but to leave them alive in misery—unable to ever return to the capital.
Zhou Yunting did notice Liu Zhixia’s reactions twice during this time. He had briefly suspected she might have intervened.
But thinking of that unfathomable inner force, he quickly dismissed the idea with a self-deprecating smile.
Even though she was mysterious and knowledgeable, internal energy was not something one could acquire overnight.
He had overthought it.
Liu Zhixia… she was probably not someone who could endure martial training hardship.
Even after years of military training and cultivation, he felt he was still far inferior to that hidden expert.
How could he suspect such a delicate woman?
Although her shocked expression earlier seemed somewhat fake… she was probably just frightened.
Their Zhou family carried secrets unknown to outsiders.
They were originally a ancient martial arts family. But as times changed, their lineage had thinned and gradually returned to the secular world.
Still, they had never abandoned their cultivation, which was why he had achieved so many military merits so quickly.
And why certain powerful families feared them and wanted them eliminated.
If not for that mysterious helper, their father and son would likely have been either dead or crippled.
The attacker was definitely a martial artist—that hidden weapon confirmed it.
Cold killing intent filled Zhou Yunting’s eyes. Even from a distance, Liu Zhixia could feel the chill.
She curled her lips slightly, then hurried over with a slightly panicked expression.
Her face turned pale as she said, her voice trembling slightly:
“Uncle Zhou, Zhou Yunting… are you alright? Where are you injured?”
When Old Master Zhou arrived, he only needed one glance to relax slightly.
Fortunately—it was not as bad as it looked. Though they appeared seriously injured, they were actually fine.
Then he looked at the girl beside them.
Her watery eyes were now slightly misty, yet her gaze carried a sharp edge.
A strange but fitting contradiction.
Then he glanced at his usually indifferent grandson, who was subtly looking over.
Old Master Zhou sighed inwardly.
If not for these troubles, this would truly have been a match made in heaven.
The Zhou father and son were carried back, surrounded by grateful and confused villagers.
Liu Zhixia’s eyes were red as well. Because their injuries looked serious, they were quickly sent to the county hospital.
The doctor’s diagnosis was exactly as she expected—and exactly as in the original story.
One had spinal damage. The other… might never stand again.
When the diagnosis was announced, Old Master Zhou’s eyes widened in shock.
How could it be this serious?
He knew the doctor would not lie. The only explanation was that the results truly were this way.
His legs weakened and he nearly collapsed.
He had accepted exile and hardship, but he could not accept disability for his son and grandson.
Zhou Yunting and Zhou’s father also heard the diagnosis. They had believed it was only superficial injury.
They had survived countless injuries before; they knew their bodies.
But now, confusion and shock overtook them.
Only Liu Zhixia, who knew the truth, calmly withdrew her gaze after noticing a nurse in a white coat in the corner of the hospital.
Zhou Yunting was a seasoned soldier. He noticed that nurse from the beginning.
What shocked him more was that his newlywed wife had also noticed her.
That fleeting glance—he could not have been mistaken.
It seemed he still did not understand Liu Zhixia well enough. The reality was far beyond the information in his investigation.