CHAPTER 385: CHAPTER 358: AGGRIEVED

By the time Yu Xiaolian and Su Jingchen walked to the foot of the mountain and reached their rented house, it was already dark.

Su Jingchen looked around inside and out, and both horses and the carriage were nowhere to be seen.

Yu Xiaolian was about to go find the owner to ask when she saw the owner leading a large group of people, armed with tools, surrounding the two of them.

"Where’s our carriage?" Yu Xiaolian put her hands on her hips. She hadn’t even gone to look for them, yet they dared to confront her.

The owner held a long wooden stick, sharpened into a bright iron fork on one end. Seeing Yu Xiaolian asking about the carriage, he found the girl amusing, "You little girl, almost at death’s door, and yet you’re still concerned about worldly possessions."

Yu Xiaolian snorted coldly, "Has no one told you that we came back from the mountain?

The Witch Clan on the mountain couldn’t handle us, and yet you dare target me? It would be wise to return my carriage quickly."

Just as the owner was about to swing his iron fork, he paused and asked the person next to him, "Did they really go up the mountain?"

That person looked Yu Xiaolian and Su Jingchen up and down; they were just a couple of teenagers, how formidable could they be, "She’s just bluffing. Is the road up the mountain really that easy?"

The owner thought it was true; many people had attempted the mountain for medicine, and he never heard of anyone coming back unharmed. These two must be posturing to scare them.

After the second day of the second lunar month every year, there had never been a living outsider left in their area, and this year would be no exception; otherwise, if word got out, they wouldn’t have living sacrifices for the Witch Clan next year.

"Get them, stab them to death!" The owner didn’t waste words, as that’s how they handled survivors in previous years.

The group raised their iron forks and charged forward.

Yu Xiaolian didn’t expect them to attack so quickly, and there was no time to dodge. She instinctively lifted her foot and kicked the person coming at her first.

Then, the unexpected happened.

Yu Xiaolian kicked the attacker flying, who then crashed into a large group of people behind her.

Yu Xiaolian looked down at her foot. Was this still her foot?

How did she have such strength?

Could it be related to the Inner Strength Miao Danyi transferred to her? If so, that would make sense, given that Miao Danyi could move freely with two thick iron chains, like a nimble swallow.

Yu Xiaolian chuckled and stopped Su Jingchen, who was trying to block in front of her, "Don’t move, I’ll take care of them!"

It was just right to use these people for practice.

But earlier, Yu Xiaolian kicked instinctively, and now that the others were staggering back up and charging again, she found she didn’t know whom to hit first, and the wooden sticks of their iron forks were so long, it seemed her leg wasn’t long enough.

"Ah, Su Jingchen, help!" Yu Xiaolian suddenly ran behind Su Jingchen.

Su Jingchen had already picked up a wooden stick and naturally stood in front of Yu Xiaolian, swiftly knocking all the tribesmen on the opposite side down.

Su Jingchen stepped on the owner’s chest and pressed the stick against his head, "Tell me, where’s our carriage?"

"Spare me, young hero. We thought you were both dead. We sold the carriage and shared the money among us." The owner spoke while casting sidelong glances at his comrades, seeing them all lying on the ground moaning, none of them clever enough to run for help, which made him both angry and fearful.

Su Jingchen knocked the owner on the head with the stick, sending him to see King Yan. From the first day they arrived, the owner ogled Yu Xiaolian lecherously, which made him uncomfortable. He was also the first to rush over and attack Yu Xiaolian. If he didn’t kill him, he’d really be a reincarnated saint.

The rest of them, seeing their leader dead, begged for mercy, saying they’d go home to get the money and repay the money from the carriage sale.

Su Jingchen went up and knocked them out one by one, took Yu Xiaolian’s hand, "There’re many villagers at the foot of the mountain, and if they all gather, we won’t be able to leave. We should forget about the carriage and leave quickly."

Yu Xiaolian knew these tribesmen were Witch Clan lackeys. Though they weren’t truly skilled, they had numbers, and getting entangled with them would eventually lead to trouble.

"Let’s go!" Yu Xiaolian and Su Jingchen made their way downhill and encountered a few tribesmen, but they only looked at them suspiciously and didn’t ask questions.

The owner wanted to silence them because they knew about things halfway up the mountain.

Finally reaching the foot of the mountain, Yu Xiaolian found more new foreigners arriving. Seeing them coming, those people approached to ask if anyone had successfully obtained the Immortal Powder from the Witch Clan during the festival, as they had hurried but missed the event.

Su Jingchen pulled Yu Xiaolian along without stopping, coldly saying, "We didn’t see any Immortal Powder but saw a mountain full of corpses. If you want to live, leave quickly!"

When Su Jingchen and Yu Xiaolian walked away, the newcomers gathered, "Bah, who are they trying to scare! We aren’t easily frightened.

Everyone knows Immortal Powder isn’t easy to get. They’re trying to scare us away for their gain.

Bah, these snot-nosed kids dare play tricks with me, a bit green!"

Some cursed in agreement, others contemplated silently, some left, while others stayed.

None of this mattered to Yu Xiaolian and Su Jingchen anymore.

Those who shouldn’t die get the hint, while those who should, even if you bang their heads in pain, they won’t believe.

After walking some distance to a deserted area, Yu Xiaolian took out clothes for Su Jingchen to change out of his torn ones.

While Su Jingchen changed, Yu Xiaolian said, "You wouldn’t believe it, they used two fake yous to deceive me. The second one even had a bloody shirt, and when I saw the sleeve was exactly like yours, I was horrified.

Luckily, I was smart enough; otherwise, I would’ve been fooled by them."

"How did you know that wasn’t me?" Su Jingchen tied his belt and took Yu Xiaolian’s hand again.

In fact, after falling from the cliff last night, he was badly hurt with many painful injuries, but he endured it without telling Yu Xiaolian, so as not to worry her.

And his little fiancée was still excitedly talking about how she distinguished the fake him, completely unaware of his slow arm movement while tying his belt.

Su Jingchen felt a little uncomfortable; his little fiancée didn’t care about him at all.

Just when Su Jingchen thought his worries were unfounded, Yu Xiaolian’s conscience suddenly kicked in, and she asked, "How high did you fall off the cliff?"

Seeing the opportunity, Su Jingchen said, slightly aggrieved, "It was very high!"

Yu Xiaolian cried out, "Oh gosh, did you break any ribs? Is it serious?"