At first, Tang Qingluo endured their vile attitude and their unreasonable demand to speed up the journey. But when they began abusing the two little girls, Tang Qingluo finally exploded.
Xie Wanxuan, the tenth child, and Xie Wanning, the eleventh, were still so young. Walking such a long distance was already more than they could bear. As their family, why shouldn’t they carry them for part of the way? Why did it have to come to a whip being lashed across them, beating the two girls’ backs until they were torn and bloody?
Crack!
The bailiff’s whip lashed out again.
Jiang-shi and Ruan-shi, hearts aching, threw themselves over their respective children, taking the blow for them.
“Stop it! Are you even human? Don’t you have children of your own? You can be so ruthless toward children this young—you’re worse than beasts! Heaven should strike you all dead with a bolt of lightning!”
Having lost all reason, Tang Qingluo rushed forward and snatched the whip from the bailiff’s hand.
Her words and her audacious behavior enraged the leading bailiff, a man called Brother Hu.
“You tell us to stop and we stop? Who do you think you are? You even dare curse us—clearly you’re courting death. Looks like you need to be taught a lesson. Brothers, give this cheap woman a proper beating. Beat her to death if you want—let her learn how powerful we are!”
Brother Hu shouted, calling for Tang Qingluo to be beaten to death.
Tang Qingluo communicated with the system in her mind. She wanted to buy the silenced firearm—even if it exposed her, she couldn’t care anymore.
This was the first time since transmigrating that she had harbored the intent to kill—not passively carrying out a mission, but actively wanting to wipe out these beasts.
But before she could take out the silenced weapon, someone stepped forward to stop Brother Hu.
It was the group of bailiffs who had escorted them from the capital prison. Their leader was someone Tang Qingluo remembered the others calling Brother Qian.
“Brother Hu, we’re on official duty. By order of Lord Zhuge, I’m to ensure they’re safely delivered to Yazhou. It’s fine if you rough up the prisoners a bit, but you absolutely can’t cause deaths. Otherwise, we won’t stand by and watch.”
Brother Qian had children about the same age as the tenth and eleventh girls. He stepped in partly because of the assignment, and partly because the little bit of conscience he still had couldn’t tolerate Brother Hu’s heavy-handed treatment of children.
“Brother Qian, a wise man knows when to mind his own business. I advise you not to interfere, or you won’t have a good ending,” Brother Hu said coldly. He wasn’t worried—he had powerful backing.
He had come here specifically for the Xie family.
His superior had told him that as long as he killed the Xie family, endless wealth and glory would await him when he returned.
So no one was allowed to block his path. Whoever dared stand in his way would die.
With Brother Hu showing no intention of backing down, would Brother Qian be afraid?
He wouldn’t. Brother Qian also had connections.
“Brother Hu, let me give you a piece of advice. Leave yourself a way out—so you can meet again in the future. If you insist on opposing me, then I, Qian Dazhuang, am not afraid of you either. Go ahead and try it. Let’s see who ends up without a good fate.”
Hearing this, Brother Hu rushed forward, wanting to punch Brother Qian, but one of his underlings grabbed him tightly.
“Brother Hu, Brother Hu, don’t act rashly! You can’t fight Brother Qian. I heard that he—” The underling whispered a few words into Brother Hu’s ear.
Brother Hu’s expression immediately changed.
He smiled, clasped his fists, and apologized. “Brother Qian, you’re right. Prisoners can be roughed up, but we can’t cause deaths. Don’t worry—I, Brother Hu, won’t ruin your assignment. I’ll be more careful in the future. Careful, careful.”
But the moment he turned away, his face darkened, his gaze sinister and venomous.
Tang Qingluo happened to see that vicious look. After thanking Brother Qian for his help, she reminded him, “Brother Qian, that Brother Hu seems extremely petty. You embarrassed him just now—he might act against you in secret. You should be careful and avoid being alone.”
“I know. I’ll be careful. But I doubt he’d dare do anything to me—he can’t afford the consequences,” Brother Qian said, not taking it seriously.
Seeing this, Tang Qingluo said nothing more. She had already warned him—if he didn’t listen, there was nothing she could do.
She returned to the Xie family and found Jiang-shi and Ruan-shi.
“Third Aunt, Fourth Aunt, hurry and apply some medicine.” She took out four medicine bottles—two containing hemostatic powder and two containing anti-inflammatory powder—giving one of each to them.
“Qingluo, thank you,” they said. Their eyes were still red, clearly from crying.
After taking the medicine, they first applied it to Xie Wanxuan and Xie Wanning. Watching the wounds on the children’s backs fade away, they finally felt somewhat relieved.
To be honest, Tang Qingluo didn’t feel well either.
As she treated the injuries on the soles of her own feet, she plotted how to eliminate Brother Hu without exposing herself.
Yes—Tang Qingluo had not let this matter go.
She was now one hundred percent certain that this group of bailiffs sent over from the Fanyang post station was problematic. From their actions, it was clear they intended to kill the Xie family.
If she didn’t strike first, the tenth and eleventh girls would definitely be the first sacrificed.
System, system—do you have a way to lure Brother Hu to a deserted place? Or do you have any kind of mind-altering powder?
【Host, at your current level, you cannot obtain such high-level items. Please work hard and strive to reach your goal as soon as possible.】
Then what if I get killed before I reach my goal?
【Bzzz…】
The familiar sound filled Tang Qingluo with hope.
She became a little excited, thinking the system might help her.
But—
【The host must learn to rely on herself. Please resolve this on your own.】
So all that anticipation was for nothing—the system was just toying with her?
While Tang Qingluo was worrying about how to quietly deal with Brother Hu, she noticed him sneaking off in Brother Qian’s direction.
Wasn’t this the perfect opportunity?
She looked around and, seeing no one paying attention, quietly followed him.
Brother Qian likely hadn’t expected Brother Hu to strike so soon after their confrontation. When he went to fetch water, he was completely unguarded—and Brother Hu succeeded.
He could feel it—he had been poisoned!
“You—you dare—”
Brother Hu burst into loud laughter, then shouted wildly, “Why wouldn’t I dare? There’s nothing I won’t do. This is my best chance. Anyone who blocks my path to office and riches dies. You too! You think having connections makes you special? I’ll kill you anyway.”