The last man looked stunned for a long time before he woke up from his dream-like state. He howled loudly and lunged at Cai Wei. She quickly dodged his attack and, while he was open during his punch, she flung a handful of powder at him. It hit him straight in the face, and he fell to the ground, unconscious, as if his soul had been ripped out from him.
"Tch, such useless creatures, daring to kill people?"
With a mocking sneer, Cai Wei slowly reached the side of the bearded man, picked up the long chopper he dropped, and, without batting an eye, severed one tendon in his hand and foot. She then walked over to the other two men and did the same.
The yellow-faced child, terrified by Cai Wei’s cruel actions, peed his pants. His face hurt terribly, but he was too scared to scream. He could only tremble and cover his injured face, watching in utmost horror as the young girl slowly approached.
Cai Wei finally walked up to him, playing with the bloodied sharp blade in her hand. Her eyes were filled with a chilling cold, "This is just a small punishment for your senseless murders. Today I will spare your dog lives. Go tell Lady Yu the matter of today is not settled. Tell her to wait, I will be sure to settle this account with her."
The man covered his face, watching Cai Wei as if seeing a ghost, nodding repeatedly. His bloody, exposed bones on face were swollen with pain, as if it would explode.
Having said everything, Cai Wei stopped looking at them, brought over a red date horse, got on it, and left.
The yellow-faced child watched her walk away before finally letting out a cry of relief. "Ay-yo— I’m in so much pain—" His cry was heart-piercing, echoing across the wilderness.
On the official road to the county town, the young girl looked heroic on a galloping horse. A green bird was circling above her, excitedly chirping non-stop.
Cai Wei raised her head and commanded, "Brother Ying, go check where my mother is? Also, check where my father is now?"
Brother Ying flapped his wings flew away swiftly. He had just had a fight, and the excitement hadn’t worn off yet. He felt full of energy and could hardly wait to find something to do.
It was getting dark, and the city gates must have been closed by now. Cai Wei was deeply worried she didn’t know if her mother had entered the city. If she hadn’t, and the city gate was closed, they would have to spend the night in the cold inside the cart. They had hurried on their journey and hadn’t prepared a charcoal basin. Without Grandma Tang, the weather was freezing, and it would drop to below minus thirty degrees at night. If they froze outside overnight, how could they bear it?
Just as she was thinking, Brother Ying passed on a message, "Master, Madam has already entered the city and is staying in an inn. You don’t need to worry anymore."
Cai Wei let out a sigh of relief and asked, "What about my father? Have you found him yet?"
"I found him. The old master is staying in a feather shop in the suburbs. He appears to be sick, his body is shivering..."
Cai Wei’s heart twitched, an automatic reaction triggering a pang of pain.
Though she hadn’t met this father in her current life, in the original host’s memories, her father was a kind and affectionate person. He had taught her how to write and read, braided her hair, took her and her siblings to forage for wild vegetables on the mountain, collected firewood...
Their life at home was poor, but under their father’s care and protection, they were all very happy!
This father, compared to the heartless one she had in her past life, was undeniably better by many folds. How could she not be moved?
"Brother Ying, you stay there and keep an eye on my father. I’ll be there soon."