Lei Ting thought for a moment and said calmly, “I will explain.” As for what kind of explanation, Lei Ting didn’t specify.

But at least this shut Tongxi up.

However, Lei Ting subsequently discovered that from this moment on, Tongxi always liked to look at him with a strange gaze that made him feel inexplicably puzzled.

Tongxi was quite wronged. Who told Lei Ting to be so perceptive, observing everything around him and listening carefully? Tongxi was just trying to secretly study what admirable qualities this man, who might become Prince Xian’s grandson-in-law, possessed.

“The people have been captured?” Lei Ting asked Xiao Hua. Xiao Hua had participated in rescuing Ren Yaohua earlier, and now that he was standing here, it meant Zeng Kui’s side had been resolved.

Xiao Hua nodded: “Yes, it wasn’t easy.”

Others hearing this would think Xiao Hua meant Zeng Kui’s people were difficult to deal with. However, Lei Ting knew that Xiao Hua, who came from being Xiao Jingxi’s shadow guard and was one of the four top experts of the Yanbei Prince’s household, had no weak subordinates. So Xiao Hua meant that pretending to be ordinary martial artists to snatch two people from Zeng Kui’s group while controlling them all wasn’t easy.

“How do you plan to deal with Zeng Kui?” Lei Ting had previously thought that since Zeng Kui had confronted him because of his involvement, he should ultimately handle the aftermath. But now that Tongxi had also appeared here, Lei Ting wondered if Xiao Jingxi might have other arrangements.

Xiao Hua also glanced at Tongxi.

Although in terms of position and seniority, Tongxi was far inferior to Xiao Hua, Xiao Hua felt that Tongxi’s current status was equivalent to an imperial commissioner sent by the court or a chief eunuch beside the emperor – it was necessary to hear his opinion when making decisions.

Unaware that he had been silently compared to a chief eunuch, Tongxi stroked his chin and said with a grin: “We’ll follow Master Lei’s lead.”

Lei Ting frowned: “Follow my lead?”

Tongxi winked: “Yes, didn’t Master Lei’s people say we should pretend to be Wu Yiyu’s people and take something from Zeng Kui? Then we can watch the Wu and Zeng families fight like dogs, right? Master Lei’s strategy is brilliant!”

Lei Ting now remembered that the person who had earlier mocked Wu Yiyu’s desire to castrate Zeng Kui was his subordinate.

Xiao Hua silently glanced at Tongxi, thinking: Returning to ancient times to be a general, truly worthy of being the master’s close attendant. Even when wanting to deal with someone, he drags the Lei family head into it. How exactly does this person’s brain work? He’s too cunning! No wonder throughout history, few eunuchs have been good people – they have too many devious thoughts…

Seeing Lei Ting ponder silently, Tongxi sighed: “Originally, I also felt somewhat reluctant, after all, the Zeng family only has this one heir. Ending someone’s bloodline will bring divine retribution! But hearing from Brother Xiao Hua about Third Miss Ren’s tragic condition, my heart truly burns with righteous indignation! What did our Third Miss Ren ever do to anyone? Does she deserve to be bullied like this? What are the Zeng and Wu families anyway? They casually come to our Yanbei Prince’s territory to cause trouble – do they think Yanbei has no one? If we don’t teach the Zeng and Wu families a lesson this time, it would truly be intolerable by heavenly justice!”

Xiao Hua: How did he get dragged into this?

Lei Ting recalled Ren Yaohua’s earlier appearance, dragging her injured leg as she crawled with difficulty toward the slope. Anger also rose in his heart. Although he knew Tongxi’s words were meant to drag him into this, he still nodded: “Since it’s intolerable by heavenly justice, then let’s act on heaven’s behalf.”

Lei Ting had learned that Zeng Kui had previously harmed and tortured many innocent women. Castrating him would indeed be acting on heaven’s behalf.

Seeing Lei Ting agree to take the lead, Tongxi felt considerably more favorable toward him. He was also testing Lei Ting. As a man, if he dodged when facing issues and hesitated over everything, Tongxi would look down on him. Fortunately, this Lei Ting seemed quite responsible. Moreover, knowing he was being calculated against, he didn’t mind and agreed anyway – his heart was broad enough.

“I’ll send Third Miss Ren away from here first.” Lei Ting got on a carriage parked nearby and brought down a long cloak.

Tongxi thought for a moment and said, “Why don’t we all go back together? Although we have quite a few people, Third Miss Ren doesn’t know them. She just encountered danger, so she’s probably feeling unsettled right now. Having a familiar person like you around would be more reassuring. Besides, dealing with Zeng Kui won’t take long anyway. We can wait here with Third Miss Ren for you.”

Hearing Tongxi say this, Lei Ting recalled Ren Yaohua’s earlier hesitant question about why he wasn’t going back together, and secretly blamed himself for being too careless – he hadn’t thought of this point. So he nodded: “That’s better. I’ll go tell her.”

At this moment, both men forgot that actually, Tongxi was also acquainted with Ren Yaohua, and had known her before Lei Ting did.

Seeing Lei Ting go back in, Xiao Hua couldn’t help but quietly ask Tongxi: “Were all those words just now ordered by the master?”

Tongxi looked puzzled: “Which words?”

Xiao Hua was referring to how Tongxi had immediately accused Lei Ting upon arrival, and just now persuaded Lei Ting to deal with Zeng Kui. However, although Xiao Hua was internally rich and lively, he was externally silent and inarticulate, so he could only use his eyes to try to make Tongxi understand his meaning.

Tongxi suddenly understood and said, “Oh,” then looked at Xiao Hua with some disdain: “If we need the master to instruct us on everything before knowing what to do, what’s the point of having us? Understanding the master’s intentions and being anxious about what the master is anxious about – do you understand?”

Xiao Hua silently squeezed out: “Don’t understand.”

Tongxi nodded understandingly: “That’s why I’m the master’s indispensable attendant who knows his needs, while you can only be a blade in the master’s hand.”

Xiao Hua: “…”

Xiao Hua was cursing internally: Indeed, no matter what era, personal eunuchs always like to act superior in front of guard commanders! Just because they lack martial bearing – damn, this is jealousy!

Tongxi didn’t hear Xiao Hua’s internal roar. Seeing him remain silent, he thought Xiao Hua was learning from him and felt this shadow guard leader was quite decent, so he continued: “Besides, this matter involves the Zeng family. It’s not quite appropriate for us to act directly, right? After all, there’s a big difference between national affairs and personal grudges.”

Xiao Hua frowned: “When the Prince’s household acts, it can be called national affairs. Why would the Lei family act be personal grudges? What relationship do the Lei and Ren families have?”

Tongxi patted Xiao Hua’s shoulder and smiled mysteriously: “You’ll understand this later.”

Xiao Hua: Eunuch supervisors and such always like to act profound, making others think they’re superior. They’re too annoying!

After Lei Ting went in, he found that Ren Yaohua had gotten down from the earthen bed herself and was slowly walking while supporting herself against the bed edge. Seeing Lei Ting enter, Ren Yaohua almost lost her balance and fell.

Lei Ting quickly stepped forward to help her sit down. He handed her the cloak he’d brought in, then scolded with a stern face: “Do you want to walk with a limp for the rest of your life?”

Ren Yaohua said awkwardly, “I thought you were going to be busy. I couldn’t very well have someone else carry me to the carriage, so I wanted to try if I could walk out myself. If I had a crutch for support, it would be manageable.”

Lei Ting sighed, then said, “Wait for me here. I’ll go handle some nearby business and return immediately. Then we’ll go back to Yunyang City together. There are people with excellent martial arts guarding outside, so don’t be afraid.”

Ren Yaohua touched the cloak in her hands, draped it over her skirt, and nodded: “Alright, go handle your business first.”

Lei Ting felt reassured and went out again. Just as he was leaving, Ren Yaohua quickly said: “Be careful.”

Lei Ting paused, then walked out the door.

When Lei Ting, Xiao Hua, and Tongxi returned to the area near the woods, Zeng Kui and his attendants had indeed been tied up and thrown on the ground.

When they arrived, they happened to hear Zeng Kui sneering: “So? How does your employer plan to deal with me?”

Tongxi couldn’t help but sneer coldly, then said loudly: “The young lady said she wants to cut off your manhood so that even if you marry her, you won’t be able to consummate the marriage!”

Zeng Kui’s men immediately cursed: “You dare! Our master won’t let you go!”

One of the masked men said angrily: “What’s there not to dare? You severed our eldest and second brother’s hand and foot tendons, making them cripples. We’re people of the martial world – even without the Wu family young lady’s orders, we must seek vengeance for vengeance and settle scores!”

Lei Ting changed to a hoarse voice: “The employer said that after dealing with this toad who wants to eat swan meat, she’ll arrange for us and our families to leave. What can your Zeng family do? The employer is very generous – she gave us half of her dowry silver.”

Xiao Wei only had one daughter, Wu Yiyu, and had been preparing her dowry early on. The Wu family was wealthy, so Wu Yiyu’s dowry was naturally very generous. With great rewards come brave men, so it wasn’t surprising that Wu Yiyu could hire so many martial artists to work for her.

All of Zeng Kui’s men began cursing. They were specially selected by Zeng Pu to protect Zeng Kui – if anything happened to him, they certainly wouldn’t survive.

Zeng Kui’s face also turned somewhat pale as he cursed Wu Yiyu thousands of times in his heart. He swore that if he could leave here alive, he would make that bitch beg for life but not get it, beg for death but not achieve it!

Lei Ting gave his subordinate a meaningful look: “Time’s getting late. Act quickly – we still need to rush to Zhuozhou!”

Lei Ting’s subordinate understood and walked to Zeng Kui with a sharp, long dagger, laughing strangely: “Young Master, don’t be afraid. I’ve seen my father castrate livestock several times – one cut and it’s done immediately.” This man was originally from the streets, and his speech was full of rogue flavor, truly resembling someone from the martial world.

“No…” Zeng Kui couldn’t help but move his body backward, trying to avoid the dagger in the man’s hand.

Any man would fear becoming a eunuch. No matter how twisted Zeng Kui’s mind was, he was still a man.

But the man’s action was indeed very swift. With one stroke of the blade, Zeng Kui let out a piercing, anguished scream.