Chapter 16 – Person Or Ghost?
Wet Nurse Chen somewhat blankly opened her eyes when the expected pain didn't come, and saw Butler Li's hand frozen in mid air.
His wrist and body were restrained by a thin rope, no...rather than saying a rope, it would be better to say it was a whip. Or, more accurately, a white whip with a thin barb on the end.
Butler Li angrily turned his head, “Damn, who is it that doesn't have eyes and dared to attack me?!”
Just as he was about to release spiritual power all over his body to break the whip, he suddenly felt a burst of mind numbing pain, as if he would be ripped into pieces. Following the pain, his whole body unexpectedly soared into the air.
“Ah ah ah—–!” Screams resonated throughout the courtyard.
The servants in the room were stupefied by the scene before their eyes, frozen solid with shock. They stared blankly at the usually powerful Butler Li, who now resembled a broken sack. After being tossed into the air, he was severely thrown to the ground.
“Crack—-crack—-“
The sound came from Butler Li's body, making the servants' feel their blood run cold. That was….that was the sound of all the bones in his body fracturing!
Butler Li's eyes suffused with white. From the corner of his mouth a trickle of blood started to flow, and in the blink of an eye, he stopped breathing and died!
The complexion of all the servants paled. Shocked, they slowly looked towards the doorway. In the darkness outside, the slowly emerging figure of a little girl walked into the room.
“Ah——!!” Xiao Si, the small servant boy that always followed closely at Butler Li's side, issued a loud shout, “How can it be? You...how can you can come back? Why are you still able to come back?”
The other servants, though not so frightened like him, still expressed faces full of doubt and panic.
The person before their eyes had pale skin and a petite stature, with a praiseworthy figure. Clearly this was the Master of this courtyard – Nalan He Xi.
But, was this really Nalan He Xi?
They always had the impression of the good for nothing Third Miss being weak and timid. How could she ever expose such a terrible expression?
What's more frightening, is that with only one blow she easily managed to overwhelm Butler Li with her strength. Breaking all the bones in his body, tragically killing him on the spot.
That's right, after destroying the entire Zhu manor, He Xi relied on the former's memory to return to the courtyard.
She thought she had understood how miserable Nalan He Xi's situation was. However, when she saw that recent scene, only then did she fully realize how terrible the former He Xi's life had been. Nalan He Xi, along with the only one who had always cared about her, Wet Nurse Chen, had lived a life that was lower than a dogs.
The Miss had been driven away to the firewood room, while this group of evil slaves occupied the Main House. Nalan Manor would also regularly send food and drink over, but that was completely stolen by the evil slaves who divided it amongst themselves. Leaving only the leftovers for Nalan He Xi and Wet Nurse Chen, which wasn't nearly enough to fill their stomachs.
Even more unimaginable is that when their Miss disappeared, this group of evil slaves didn't even worry. Instead they wanted to kill Wet Nurse Chen, who had always been by her side.
Although sympathetic with Nalan He Xi's bitter experiences, she knew that people who didn't have the innate talent to cultivate in this world, would not find it easy to survive. He Xi couldn't help but sigh. As a Miss from a prosperous family, the former Nalan He Xi's days really were that of living like a dog.
Step by step, He Xi slowly entered the main room. For every step she took, the servants would retreat a step, trembling with fear.
Xiao Si, who collaborated with Butler Li, was so scared that his entire body was shaking.
“You...who are you?” His hurried steps retreat backwards, caused him to stumble and fall to the ground, but still he desperately tried to crawl away.
“You...you're a ghost right, you're the Third Miss' ghost who comes for vengeance right?”
“No—-! No—-! Don't blame me, that matter was not my doing! I merely obeyed Butler Zhang's order, if you want to find someone to blame just go find Second Miss and Butler Zhang! This matter and I do not have any relation!”
Chapter 17 – Who Disposes Of Who?
“Please let go of me—-! Let me go!!”
He Xi's s eyebrows creased slightly, before suddenly taking out her whip and flicking her wrist. The whip made a graceful arc in the air, landing with a firm pressure on the small servant boy's body.
Xiao Si felt severe pain spread throughout his body, causing his limbs to spasm. Without even managing to scream, he passed out into a dead faint.
However, from this wicked slave's mouth, useful information could still be gained. The corner of He Xi's mouth lifted into a sinister grin. Therefore, for the time being, this person's life would be spared.
The bloodstained Wet Nurse Chen, who had been pushed to the ground and was covered with injuries, finally chose this moment to lift her head and look towards the origin of the commotion.
Her dim eyes reflected He Xi's familiar figure, and in a flash, tears poured down her cheeks. She struggle to scramble over
with red eyes.
“Miss, it's really Miss! I knew you wouldn't die, I knew...Madam would protect you!”
He Xi looked at Wet Nurse Chen still collapsed on the ground. Her face was covered in tears and drying blood. He Xi's eyes flashed with a complicated light but then quickly vanished.
She could hear in the way Wet Nurse Chen spoke to Nalan He Xi, with such profound friendship and deep love, that she was a truly loyal servant. Her loyalty was so deep that she was even willing to die to avenge her Miss, not willing to take even the slightest advantage of her disappearance to scheme.
In the former Nalan He Xi's miserable memory, Wet Nurse Chen had always taken care of her since she was a small child. She would rather starve and be exhausted, than let her Miss suffer an injustice or grievance. If she hadn't been there, Nalan He Xi wouldn't have been able to survive up until now.
This kind of affection made her feel strange as it was unfamiliar to her yet, at the same time, it also made her envious. The kind of person that pledged to defend and protect her, on her previous world there was also someone like that, but...
He Xi harshly exhaled and leaned over to prop up Wet Nurse Chen. Next, He Xi raised Wet Nurse Chen's head, and gently pressed on several of her acupuncture points.
Wet Nurse Chen had been feeling a piercing pain in her chest, like her heart was tearing. A sharp stabbing feeling around her lungs, and a difficulty to breathe, caused by the overwhelming sensation in her belly. Suddenly, she felt the pain almost vanish! Even her hands, that had originally been bleeding incessantly from multiple wounds, started to slow to a drip before stopping.
Wet Nurse Chen lifted her head in surprise, and saw He Xi standing before her. A cold, arrogant expression on her face.
She suddenly felt dumbfounded. The Miss before her eyes, even her appearance, seemed to have become entirely different.
He Xi didn't explain anything to her, she just faintly chuckled, “Wet Nurse Chen, please return to our room first. Wait until I settle affairs with them, then I'll heal you."
Set...settle affairs with them? Wet Nurse Chen's eyes opened wide, exclaiming, “Mi-Miss, a few of them have Cultivation Bases at the Qi Refining stage, you...how could you be their opponent?”
Wet Nurse Chen's surprised cry suddenly made the surrounding people startle into action.
Zhangsan, who was amongst the remaining people, had the highest Cultivation Base. In recent years he had reached the peak of the Qi Refining stage second layer. His intelligent pair of eyes could clearly see that, sure enough, He Xi was still that trash, completely lacked Spiritual Power and a Cultivation Base. With this knowledge, Zhangsan could feel his previous shock turn to rage.
That they, Cultivators of the Qi Refining stage, could actually be frightened until they spilt their guts. By an ordinary person and trash that was unable to cultivate, to speak of it, it was so shameful that they wanted to die. As for how Butler Li could be killed, it was certainly because he was attacked at a time he was unguarded.
Zhangsan fiercely glared at her, “Third Miss is speaking so boldly today, we still don't know who will dispose of who. Let us teach you what is known as one's boundaries!”
Wet Nurse Chen became frightened, her complexion turning deathly pale. Without thinking she stood in front of He Xi, blocking her from their view, “Miss, you run away quickly! This Wet Nurse will stop them, you immediately go back to Nalan Manor and beg Master for help!”
He Xi stared, stunned, at Wet Nurse Chen's unflinching figure before her eyes. Even though her back was shivering, she still didn't step back
She that had originally dried up her emotions and frozen her heart, could now feel a trace of warmth flowing. In this lifetime, there was actually still someone willing to disregard their life to protect her.
Chapter 18 – The Shame Of Nalan Manor
He Xi placed a hand on Wet Nurse Chen's thin shoulder, her voice holding a rare trace of gentleness, “Wet Nurse don't be afraid, I can easily find methods to deal with them.”
Finished speaking, her cold gaze glared like a tiger watching her prey. Her stare fixed towards the servants who crowded around, “You all shouldn't forget that no matter what I am your Master. This kind of offence to your Master, were you not afraid of being punished by Nalan Manor's people?”
“Ha ha ha ha……” The servants in the room all raised their heads and laughed loudly, their faces exuberant with their ridicule and gloating, “Nalan Manor? He he, I advise you not to indulge in wishful thinking, who doesn't know you're Nalan Manor's shame? You being alive is exactly what causes Nalan Manor to lose face. Maybe if you died Master would then be able to be happy!”
Another person agreed, “That's right! The Master and everyone else in the Nalan family all have awe-inspiring innate talent, which one of them is not a famous young talent in the city of Yan Jing. Then unfortunately out you come, this trash, to throw shade on Nalan Manor's face. No one even knows whether or not you are really Master's biological child.”
“Maybe she's really an illegitimate child! Who doesn't know her mother was famous for having the appearance of a fox, who knows how many random men were tricked by her!”
Subsequently the main room filled with uproarious laughter.
Wet Nurse Chen was so angry that her entire body shook, resisting the urge to rush up and drag out the these wicked servants that produced such evil tongues with all her might.
However He Xi didn't get angry in the slightest. Restraining Wet Nurse Chen, she faintly swept her eyes over several people, “Oh, so that's to say that me secretly being sold off, the idea came from Nalan Manor?”
In the depth of Nalan He Xi's memory, there was a strong yearning hidden. A yearning for recognition from Nalan Manor paired with a child's admiration towards Nalan Zhengze. Even throughout her childhood, though she was often bullied by
Nalan Feixue, there was not even the slightest hint of hatred. Instead, she regarded her as a sister.
Such a kindhearted, weak little girl. Even if Nalan Manor had abandoned her, she could still tolerate it.
Zhangsan coldly snorted, disdain written across his face, “If we received the order to directly kill you, there would of course be no harm in doing so. It's simply the goodness in our hearts' that allowed you to find a way to survive. Moreover for useless trash like you, being sold as a slave is already the best ending!”
The servants here didn't clearly know about the matter of He Xi being sold like Butler Zhang and Xiao Si, but they did know that something had happened to her. They just didn't care
Each one of them felt an implacable hatred towards Nalan He Xi. They all wished for her to disappear quickly, so that they could leave this desolate place and return to Nalan Manor.
Nalan He Xi may be obstructing their return, but even then they wouldn't dare act blindly without thinking. She was still Nalan Manor's Third Miss after all. Now that someone in Nalan Manor wanted her to die, all of them would certainly be happy to see it happen.
Zhangsan retrieved a dagger from behind his back, and slowly approached He Xi , “Since you didn't feel grateful and appreciate the kindness we gave you, instead coming back here to find death, then don't blame us for being ruthless.”
“Brothers, all together!”
The words were barely out, when the remaining five servants in the room joined him in attacking. Zhangsan brandished the dagger that gave off a cold light, while the others gathered their spiritual powers in their palms as they attacked He Xi.
He Xi sneered, her figure moving slightly as she gently pushed the screaming Wet Nurse Chen away from her.
The long whip in her hand unraveled, fiercely whipping towards the six servants.
“Ah ah ah—–!” Pained screams echoed throughout the room, “My hand! My hand!!”
In the blink of an eye, three people's wrist bones were neatly crushed. Their hands hung powerlessly as their palms mottled with vivid purples and greens.
Chapter 19 – Let You Off? It May Be Possible
Zhangsan's hand that had been holding the dagger had his wrist completely fractured. Badly mutilated with bones exposed in his broken wrist.
The remaining three people were scared stiff by the scene before their eyes, causing their complexions to turn deathly pale.
He Xi once again waved her whip, and their screams filled the air as they fell hard to the ground.
As He Xi looked down at the people rolling around in pain, the corner of her mouth lifted into a slight sneer.
Based on these peoples' three-legged cat's[1] skills, they can in no way be compared with Zhu Zhongba's guards. She didn't even need to use her Invisible Needles.
“Didn't you all say, that you wanted to properly teach me?” She raised the whip, lightly slapping it to the ground, causing sparks to fly everywhere, “Didn't you all say, that since I'm an illegitimate child, I'm courting death? Now that you've already spoken, in the end, who is courting death?”
Hexi's whip slashed at Zhangsan's body, causing him let out a sorrowful scream, “This kind of good for nothing trash, you dared to be so arrogant to your Master? In the end, who gave you a dog's courage?”
As if watching a group of dying ants,
He Xi looked down at them with disdain. A faint purple light flickered in her cold black eyes, making them seem brighter.
The six people on the ground trembled, so terrified that they didn't even dare scream.
Zhangsan first recovered, with difficulty he use his uninjured hand to support himself on the ground. Climbing to his knees, his sorry figure crawled to He Xi's feet, “Miss, we know we've been wrong! I beg you to have mercy on us!”
“Miss, we received Butler Li's order, only then would we dare to attack you! But the matter of selling you, we really only just heard about it then. We were completely unaware! You're known to be generous, I beg you to spare us!”
“Right! Right! Everything was Butler Li and his nephew, Li Si's doing. Miss, we're all innocent!”
He Xi smiled with cold amusement while watching their performance. Allowing them to kowtow for awhile, only then did she lazily say, “For me to let you off may be possible. However, how do I know you will not turn your heads' again, and frame me in the future? Maybe you'll try to sell me again?”
Zhangsan stared blankly, before quickly raising his uninjured left hand. Pointing to heaven to make an oath, “I, Zhangsan, willingly swear that from now on till afterwards to follow Miss. I will work extremely hard to serve Miss, never betraying her. If I were to ever disobey, let me be struck by heaven's thunder!”
The other five people naturally followed Zhangsan's lead. Enduring their pain, they crawled towards He Xi. Striving to be the first, and fearing to be the last to swear.
Wet Nurse Chen was stunned by the scene before her eyes. She didn't expect her Miss to be so ferocious after merely disappearing for a day.
In her hands, the six cultivators of the Qi Refining stage didn't have any ability to resist.
However, even after hearing the six people's oath, she still felt worried. No one knew more clearly than her these servants' viciousness. How could it be possible for them to sincerely vow loyalty and devotion to Miss. Miss' natural disposition was kindheartedness, but by all means she wouldn't believe them!
Wet Nurse Chen anxiously wanted to warn her, however, He Xi had already leisurely sneered, “Alright, since you are so sincere, I'll give you a chance to turn over a new leaf.”
The six people heard what was said and immediately became ecstatic. Although when they lowered their eyes, a thread of ruthlessness swept past.
Humph, loathsome lady, actually daring to punish them! Wait until they went to Nalan Manor to seek help, see if she could still be so cocky then. At that time, this loathsome girl must properly experience suffering. Every inch of the bones in her body would be broken, her hands and feet completely crippled. Have a taste of living while wanting to die!
“Miss, you can't believe them—!” Wet Nurse Chen exclaimed.
[1]Three-legged cat “三脚猫(sānjiǎomāo)” — Three-leg cat is equivalent to “Jack of all trades and master of none” in English. At first the word referred to a three-leg cat which was mistaken by people for a flying bear. Later the word indicated the cats which were skilful in hunting but had difficulty in walking. Gradually the word changed to mean being unprofessional when doing things.
Chapter 20 – Only Puppets Will Not Betray
The six people rejoiced in their hearts, maliciously imagining what will happen in the future. But they weren't going to find out, since, without anyone noticing, He Xi had already raised her left hand. Six Invisible Needles lay between her slender fingertips.
Her Internal Energy burst forth, propelling the needles to fly forward. In the blink of an eye, they entered the heads of the six peoples.
“Ah!” The six people uttered a pained shout, feeling something cold drill into their brain.
Zhangsan suddenly lifted up his head and looked at He Xi with fear, “You...what did you do to us?”
He Xi's finger gently fiddled with the barbed whip, the corner of her mouth revealing the hint of a blood thirsty smile, “In this world, there's no oath that can be trusted, there are only soulless and mindless puppets that you could trust to never betray you. Well then, what do you think I'll do to you?”
“You...you want to extract our souls from our body?” Zhangsan and the other's eyes filled with shock and fear, as well as a deep resentment towards He Xi.
“Loathsome girl, you will.....ah ah ah—–!”
The sharp pain in their brain spread in a flash. Eroding their brains' nerve, the six people desperately wanted to struggle and resist, but the control they had over their bodies' had disappeared.
The method He Xi used to create the puppets, naturally it wasn't the one of extracting souls that was usually used in this world – that was truly something that went against morals and the order of heaven. For the person that had their soul taken, not only was life as a puppet irreversible, they would also never be able to reincarnate.
He Xi only needed to use the Invisible Needle to control their brain domain, then feed them some special medicines, to make their consciousness vague. Resulting in them only being able to listen and obey her orders.
As long as He Xi was willing, the Brain Domain Restriction spell could be removed, returning them to their normal state.
Half an incense stick later, the six people that originally had sinister expressions, had now become calm and compose with their eyes lifeless and expressionless demeanor.
He Xi coldly gazed down at them as they crawled to kneel on the ground at her feet, respectfully kowtowing and saying as one, “Master.”
He Xi then ordered them, “Remember, from now on, anything that happens in this small courtyard, you're not allowed to spread outside, that includes informing people from Nalan Manor.”
“Yes, Master.”
“In addition, if I'm not here, consider Wet Nurse Chen as your Master. You have to make sure to carry out her orders. Did you all hear that clearly?”
The six people, as one, responded with a yes. Without a trace of rebellion, they paid their respects to Wet Nurse Chen and saluted her.
He Xi waved a hand, “Now all of you can withdraw. About Li Si, find him and guard him strictly, don't let him die, in a while I have something to ask him.”
After ordering them to withdraw, Hexi turned around, coming into contact with Wet Nurse Chen's shocked filled watery eyes.
He Xi held up Wet Nurse Chen's hand to feel her pulse, preparing to examine the condition of her injuries', but suddenly she stared blankly, confusion appearing on her face.
“Wet Nurse, was the meridian of your cultivation base forcibly destroyed by someone?”
Wet Nurse Chen's eyes suddenly opened wide with shock, her face expressing surprise and confusion.
When her cultivation base had become crippled, Miss was simply too young to remember it happening. Moreover, to go through more than ten years with eating only the dirty crops, her spiritual roots had long ago being destroyed, her Dantian no better than an ordinary person's. Because that person had used a highly skilled method, common doctors couldn't treat it, not to mention that even the symptoms of the illness were invisible. In the beginning she had held onto her hope of finding someone in the streets to cure her illness, but even the student that aided the doctor of Yan Jing City's court was helpless. Since then she had given up, but why would Miss know about it and mention it now?