5314

Chapter 5314: Bounty

She always felt that when her sister-in-law stared into the distance with vacant eyes like that, a dark vortex seemed to swirl rapidly in their depths. This Mu Xiaoxue was likely in for some serious misfortune!

When Mu Xiaoxue awoke again, a pungent smell of blood assailed her. Her body felt heavily weighed down. She desperately suppressed a horrified scream in her throat, extending her arms to forcefully push away the corpse that had fallen on her.

Mu Xiaoxue gasped for breath, her eyes darting around in fear and unease. Corpses, corpses everywhere. She felt waves of dizziness and quickly reached out to steady herself against the wall, her legs weak and her entire body incredibly sore. She barely managed to stay upright, preventing herself from collapsing.

Mu Xiaoxue numbly looked through the corpses, but she couldn't find her father, nor Kang Yaofa or Gu Yixuan. Where had they all gone? Had they just abandoned her without a second thought? Mu Xiaoxue felt a surge of anger and hatred, furious beyond measure. Just because she had no cultivation or spiritual power, was she simply abandoned on the street like this?

Each of them had martial arts to protect themselves; in times of crisis, everyone could protect themselves and escape. What about the man who had promised to protect her with his life? He just left her behind when danger struck! Mu Xiaoxue was filled with extreme hatred and rage, wandering disoriented out of the alley.

Seeing that it was already deep night, she shakily emerged from the alley, thinly dressed and penniless. In the chilly winter night, every step was a struggle. Mu Xiaoxue was thirsty, hungry, and panicked, scurrying around aimlessly like a headless fly. The faint moonlight stretched her desolate silhouette long.

From a distance, she suddenly heard the orderly sound of footsteps from around the street corner.

Mu Xiaoxue recoiled in fright, immediately ducking under a roadside stall. A team of people ran past, holding glowing torches. One of them pointed ahead and asked, "Have you searched there?"

"No."

"Keep looking! We have orders from above: capture Miss Mu Xiaoxue, and receive a reward of five thousand spirit coins."

Mu Xiaoxue quickly clapped a hand over her mouth and nose, not daring to make a sound. Only when the team had run far away did she, with weak limbs, crawl out from under the stall. Like a rat scurrying across the street, she scuttled and hid in a nearby dark alley.

Unbeknownst to her, after the team passed, someone within it glanced at her hiding spot, a mocking smirk playing on their lips. Orders from above dictated that for the next two days, they were to relentlessly pursue and drive Miss Mu Xiaoxue, allowing her no rest. They were to keep her constantly on the run, hiding and dodging, but never actually capture her—just dangle her heart and continually frighten her.

Though they didn't understand why such an order was given, the city guards merely followed instructions. Obedience was key.

Two days later.

Mu Xiaoxue, now disheveled, filthy, and half-mad, felt as though she had endured countless hardships and eighty-one trials of life and death. She had finally "evaded" the pursuing soldiers, and, relying on her own cleverness and wit, she tearfully returned to the long-lost Changle Courtyard.

This Changle Courtyard was where the Second Young Master had imprisoned her mother. Where she once despised it, she now adored it. As long as she found her organization, her current predicament could be resolved. She had been hungry for at least three days, both thirsty and famished. If she hadn't forced herself to drink some dirty water from the ditch last night, she probably wouldn't have had the strength to make it back.

You Ba, who had been following her all along, casually swept his gaze over the words "Changle Courtyard" before disappearing into the night.