Immortal Tea Town.

Huang Rang had already been missing for half a month. The Huang family had naturally searched, but Huang Shu wasn’t concerned, so the household servants only casually asked people about it.

Huang Shu had many children. Being short one Huang Rang—what difference was it from being short a cat or dog?

So after a few days, not only did no one in the Huang family care, but many rumors arose instead.

The women in Huang Shu’s back courtyard began wagging their tongues. Some said that like her mother, Huang Rang couldn’t bear loneliness at her young age and had run off with some wild man.

The rumors spread as if they were true. Huang Shu felt disgraced and ordered the household not to mention Huang Rang anymore.

Xiyin’s gaze became even more vacant. Huang Jun did inquire around, running to all the places Huang Rang frequented.

But how far could she really go?

On this night, a carriage quietly entered Immortal Tea Town.

The Huang family’s evening was like any other. The household servants, having finished their day’s work, huddled in corners gambling and drinking. The family’s young masters had long since snuck off somewhere.

Huang Shu’s concubines still competed for favor and were jealous of each other.

Qu Manying, holding Huang Rang, quietly floated over the wall into the courtyard.

He Xijin, like a quiet and tall shadow, silently followed close behind.

Huang Rang curled up in Qu Manying’s embrace but secretly observed this married couple.

Qu Manying never thought that this matter actually had nothing to do with her.

She simply knew about this matter and then insisted on coming to investigate the truth.

And He Xijin didn’t at all feel that as the dignified Sect Leader of Ruyi Sword Sect, coming to Immortal Tea Town to manage Huang Shu’s family affairs was beneath his dignity.

“Good girl, where is your mother’s courtyard?” Qu Manying asked Huang Rang in a low voice.

Huang Rang naturally directed her obediently. Qu Manying thus held her all the way, sneaking to Xiyin’s residence.

With this married couple’s cultivation level, in a mere Huang household, naturally no one could discover them.

In the small courtyard, Xiyin was rarely not brewing medicine. She sat on a stone bench in the courtyard, her gaze somewhat dull.

At this time, Huang Jun entered from outside carrying a food box.

She kept her head lowered, opened the food box, took out the dishes inside, and arranged them on the table.

But Xiyin didn’t even look. With a sweep of her arm, she knocked the food to the ground. Dishes shattered, soup splattered everywhere.

“What are you coming back for?” Her voice was hoarse, revealing a powerlessness after hysteria. “You can’t even find one small child—how do you still have the face to come back?!”

She cursed at Huang Jun, but Huang Jun still didn’t speak, only silently cleaning up the soup and water scattered on the ground.

Qu Manying’s arms holding Huang Rang couldn’t help tightening. He Xijin patted her shoulder, signaling her not to be impulsive.

Neither husband nor wife spoke.

When night deepened slightly, Huang Jun had already cleaned the courtyard.

Xiyin still didn’t sleep, sitting dully in the courtyard.

Her gaze vacantly stared ahead—who knew what she was thinking.

So Huang Jun also didn’t speak. She silently stood under the eaves, accompanying Xiyin in silence together.

In the courtyard hung only one lantern under the eaves, emitting weak, dim light.

Such light couldn’t lick away the darkness. This small square of courtyard felt oppressively stifling.

Huang Rang nestled in Qu Manying’s embrace, listening sideways to her heartbeat.

On such a night, Qu Manying felt she couldn’t breathe just from secretly watching.

But in fact, since Huang Rang’s birth, every day and night had been like this.

She was born accompanied by Xiyin’s disappointment.

Not anticipated, much less blessed.

Even… detested by others.

When very small, Huang Rang even felt that it must be because she herself wasn’t good that Mother lived so miserably.

But her brain was naturally rebellious. This thought didn’t last long before turning into defiant disobedience.

Footsteps came from outside, and people from other courtyards poked their heads out one after another.

The entire Huang family, in this moment, was like corpses reviving—though soulless, it had movement.

Huang Shu swayed unsteadily into the back residence.

This back residence had over ten wives and concubines, not to mention those beautiful maids and attendants not yet formally taken in.

His footsteps stopped at Xiyin’s courtyard entrance. Before long he came into the courtyard.

Huang Jun began trembling just hearing his footsteps.

Xiyin’s expression also changed. When Huang Shu entered the courtyard and saw Xiyin sitting dully, he immediately said: “What are you doing sitting here so late at night? Don’t even know to light a lamp! So unlucky!”

Xiyin stared at him. After a long while she said: “Arang ran off and still hasn’t been found.”

“That wild girl definitely ran out to play!” Huang Shu reeked of alcohol. “When she’s played enough, she’ll naturally come back. Speaking of which, isn’t this your fault?! As a mother, is this how you usually teach your daughter?”

Xiyin didn’t speak. Huang Shu seemed to remember something and said: “No rules, no manners. Truly what kind of mother raises what kind of daughter!”

“What did you say?” Xiyin’s eyes went blood red. Like an enraged lion, she charged at Huang Shu: “Huang Shu! What did you say?!”

But Huang Shu pushed her to the ground with one hand. With a face full of contempt, he said: “What did I say—can’t you understand? Back then when you were with me, what faces did your Xi family people have? You’ve forgotten quickly enough! How did your father humiliate me back then? Said that I, Huang Shu, was born lowly and didn’t deserve even to look at your Xi family’s gate wall. And the result? I thought his daughter was some noble and upright young lady of a great household.”

“You… you…” Xiyin was so angry she couldn’t speak a sentence. She hadn’t closed her eyes in days. Now her pupils were full of bloodshot veins, hair disheveled, grotesquely frightening.

“Look at your ghastly appearance.” Huang Shu muttered. “I was truly blind back then.”

As he spoke, he walked before Huang Jun. Huang Jun’s fear of him gave him a kind of pathological excitement.

Through her sleeve, he touched Huang Jun’s arm and said: “You’re still lovable and dear. But with the heavy wind and cold dew, why are you dressed so lightly?”

Huang Jun retreated two steps. Huang Shu said: “In a few days, Father will have someone make you some new clothes, alright?”

He was drunk and reeking, his alcohol breath spraying out. Huang Jun’s face went deathly pale.

Qu Manying, hidden at the wall corner in the courtyard, trembled all over with rage.

Her hands gripped Huang Rang’s arms deadly tight. Huang Rang felt pain, but she didn’t move. Such pain was too slight for her. All the memories of her childhood outside the dream were awakened.

She was like being soaked in this viscous, disgusting darkness, struggling to grow, using all her strength, wanting to break free and escape.

“You shameless public dog!” Behind them, Xiyin suddenly charged forward. She gripped a hairpin in her hand and thrust it hard, trying to pierce through Huang Shu’s throat.

But though Huang Shu’s cultivation was lowly, compared to her it was ultimately somewhat better.

He grabbed Xiyin’s wrist with one hand and twisted hard. A crisp crack sounded and Xiyin screamed. Her wrist was already broken.

“Wretched woman!” Huang Shu kicked her to the ground with one foot, then heavily kicked her several more times.

Qu Manying was about to jump out when He Xijin blocked her, gently shaking his head at her.

After Huang Shu beat Xiyin to the ground, Huang Jun could no longer endure it. She stepped forward to block him: “Don’t hit her anymore!”

Her voice was very weak, like blocking, yet also like pleading.

Only then did Huang Shu stop. He cursed: “If not for Jun’er’s sake, this old man would beat you to death today!” Finishing, he seemed to think of something and sneered again: “Still think you’re some remarkable young lady? If this old man beat you to death and threw you at the family gate, no one would even ask a single question.”

When he said this, he was extremely smug.

Qu Manying’s eyes were full of tears.

The Xi family was a noble clan of high standing. Xiyin was even Old Master Xi’s biological daughter. Back then she too was raised with a thousand affections and ten thousand doting.

For someone of Qu Manying’s background to call her “sister” was actually climbing above her station.

But who could have imagined she now lived such days?

Qu Manying lowered her head, unable to bear watching the woman fallen in the dust anymore.

Huang Rang only felt a coolness on her forehead. She raised her hand to touch it and discovered it was tears.

Qu Manying’s tears.

So there were still people in this world who would shed tears for her.

Huang Rang thought quietly.

Huang Rang had never seen Xiyin at her most glorious.

When she was born, Xiyin was already like this. Sometimes mad, sometimes abnormally silent. She wore a face of venom toward the courtyard full of women, and even more frequently beat and scolded the Huang sisters.

What “legitimate daughter of the Xi family” bearing was there?

Naturally, Huang Rang had few feelings about it.

The warmth in her heart had been exhausted completely in a lifetime of adversity.

At this moment, she raised her head and used her small hands to wipe Qu Manying’s tears.

Qu Manying froze slightly. In an instant, she grasped Huang Rang’s hand.

After Huang Shu “disciplined” Xiyin, he took Huang Jun’s hand and said: “Jun’er, be good. Come with Father to your room and keep Father company talking for a while.”

With his years of sexual tyranny, Huang Jun had long dared to be angry but not speak. Huang Shu was even more unrestrained.

Half-leading, half-dragging Huang Jun, he walked toward the side room.

Qu Manying handed Huang Rang to He Xijin, signaling him to stay and watch the child.

He Xijin shook his head, signaling that he would go down and let her stay here with Huang Rang.

Qu Manying despised He Xijin for not being decisive in handling matters. In a low voice she said: “This beast deserves to die—you don’t need to go!”

He Xijin still shook his head. He had come secretly this time and naturally wasn’t wearing Ruyi Sword Sect attire.

Over these years, Sect Leader He had traveled everywhere and long had the knack for concealing his identity.

He pulled out an outfit from his storage treasure, put it on, then covered his face with a red cloth—he became a bandit.

Sect Leader He held a golden-ringed great saber and jumped down from the courtyard wall.

Xiyin was covering her face crying when she suddenly saw him jump down. She couldn’t help freezing.

He Xijin didn’t speak. With the back of his blade, he knocked Xiyin unconscious, then charged into the side room.

Inside the room, Huang Shu was taking advantage of his drunkenness to grope Huang Jun.

Seeing He Xijin’s getup, even his alcohol vapors scattered by more than half in fright: “Who are you?”

He Xijin said nothing and dragged him out.

Huang Shu struggled while saying: “You, you bandit, daring to cause trouble here—don’t you see what place this is? This is Immortal Tea Town! My Huang family are renowned seed cultivators. Don’t you want your life?”

He Xijin wasn’t articulate with his mouth, so he simply didn’t bother with him.

With the back of his blade, he struck Huang Shu’s back. Having lived in comfort for many years, how could Huang Shu have suffered such hardship?

He immediately screamed in pain.

The household was alarmed and rose one after another to check.

He Xijin dragged Huang Shu to the courtyard and waited until all the household members had gathered. Sect Leader He wore a bandit’s outfit, face covered with a red cloth, golden nine-ringed saber on his shoulder.

He threw out a bag and said: “Money!!”

Because his mouth wasn’t articulate, he could only say this one word.

The Huang family people naturally understood, but at this time everyone looked at each other—who would move?

Seeing this, Sect Leader He was perfectly satisfied!

His golden saber chopped down on Huang Shu’s thigh!

White bone immediately appeared on Huang Shu’s thigh, blood spraying everywhere. Huang Shu froze, then screamed like a pig being slaughtered: “Give him money, give him money!”

The Huang family panicked and only then took the bag He Xijin had tossed out and filled it with some gold and silver valuables.

He Xijin was naturally unsatisfied. With a body full of killing intent, he simply sliced open Huang Shu’s pants with one stroke!

Huang Shu only felt a chill below his waist. His blood froze and he hurriedly shouted: “Give him everything, give him everything!”

But these Huang family people each cherished wealth like their lives.

Usually Huang Shu kept all the public account money in his own pocket. As for his concubines and children, who would be willing to pay out of their own pockets for him?

At this time, it would be good enough if everyone didn’t hope he’d die.

Therefore everyone was somewhat dragging their feet.

But Sect Leader He didn’t care—he made this commotion to seek wealth?

He grabbed up Huang Shu and by lamplight let the Huang family people see clearly his current wretched and miserable state.

The Huang family people didn’t know where this fierce bandit came from. No one dared make a sound.

Some bold servants wanted to ambush He Xijin from behind.

But He Xijin was like he had eyes in the back of his head. With a backhand stroke, he sent that servant flying over a zhang away.

That servant was knocked unconscious to the ground and never managed to get up again.

Seeing this, who else would come forward?

Anyway, this Huang Shu creature didn’t usually bestow favors on people. At the critical moment, who would risk their life for him?

Everyone just watched. Huang Shu also knew things were bad.

He pleaded repeatedly: “Spare my life, sir! Sir, my Huang family has plenty of gold and silver. As long as you release me, I will definitely offer it all to you respectfully…” He begged pitifully, and He Xijin’s response was a blade strike toward between his legs.

Sect Leader He’s blade was incomparably accurate, on the spot gouging out his root of evil.

That disgusting thing flew far away, bloody and mangled, falling before the Huang family people. Huang Shu’s scream caught in his throat. His eyes rolled back and he fainted.

He Xijin threw him to the ground, leaving him to soil himself with excrement and urine.

The small bag containing gold and silver valuables was originally a storage treasure. He Xijin stepped forward to pick it up. Seeing Huang Shu’s ruined mud-like appearance, he kicked him again before stepping onto the courtyard wall and quickly leaving.

When He Xijin struck with his blade, Qu Manying had already covered Huang Rang’s eyes.

At this time, holding Huang Rang, she chased after He Xijin. In Huang Rang’s ears still echoed Huang Shu’s pig-slaughtering screams.

Huang Rang had seen many schemes and plots. Even when Xie Hongchen dealt with Huang Shu, it wasn’t this satisfyingly thorough.

Held by Qu Manying, she took a long while to catch up with He Xijin.

“Well cut.” Qu Manying praised her husband. “If I went down, I’d have cut off his neck.”

Sect Leader He hummed in acknowledgment, squinting his eyes. Qu Manying said: “What should we do next? Are we just letting him off this cheap?”

He Xijin said: “He, he, he will, will, will seek, seek help from, from the im-immortal sects.”

Qu Manying’s eyes lit up and she said: “So we can come to his door to help him pursue the ‘bandit’?”

He Xijin nodded: “Pre-pre-precisely! Then, then then, we, we can…”

Qu Manying slapped her thigh in admiration: “He was publicly castrated, known to all. We can then find an excuse to legitimately take away Xiyin and the Arang sisters!”

For the first time, Huang Rang felt that Sect Leader He could also be a person lacking all virtue.

Sure enough, the next day, the matter of a bandit breaking into the Huang family spread throughout Immortal Tea Town.

This bandit was truly vicious and evil. Not only did he rob wealth, but he also… castrated the Huang family head Huang Shu on the spot. His methods were so cruel they were simply outrageous.

Immortal Tea Town was greatly shocked, because this bandit came and went on high—he was from an immortal sect. At that time the imperial court was completely unable to control it, so the town mayor could only report to Yuhu Immortal Sect. “Coincidentally,” at this time Sect Leader He was also nearby.

So Sect Leader He of Ruyi Sword Sect also came along “to capture the bandit and uphold justice.”