Chapter 65: Sudden Outburst!

The night was already late, and the sky was shrouded in dense clouds. The dim light and persistent rain cast a suffocating atmosphere over the grand estate ahead, as if a heavy weight pressed upon the hearts of all who approached.

Inside the carriage...

Liu Shen closed his eyes and drew a deep breath. Even the hand gripping his blade trembled slightly—not from fear, but from exhilaration.

Yes, exhilaration...

In his years working as a porter on the docks, he had witnessed far too much of humanity’s darkness. He had already anticipated the worst intentions a father might harbor toward his own daughter on this journey. Yet still, he had underestimated Pei Yingli!

The shame from his misjudgment, the thrill of blundering into danger, and the renewed disgust at the depths of human depravity all mingled together, licking at his nerves like tongues of fire, leaving his body so charged with energy that he shook.

Good... just excellent!

Pei Xueyan, noticing his demeanor, seemed to sense something as well. Her delicate hand clutched at her sleeve, knuckles turning white.

Her eyes rimmed with red, she bit her lower lip, her voice trembling. “Liu Shen, did... did my father sell me again?”

…

Liu Shen didn’t know how to answer her. He only managed a smile. “Master Pei is a man who does great things. He’s taught us both a lesson tonight.”

He smiled again, lowering his gaze in reflection. “If I ever have the chance, I’ll be sure to twist the head off such a ‘hero.’”

As his words faded, a bolt of lightning suddenly split the clouded sky outside. The brief flash tore through the darkness like a giant hand, rendering the night momentarily bright as day—short-lived, yet dazzling.

The rain seemed to fall heavier now...

Outside the carriage...

Yu Shan also sensed something was wrong. Yet the carriage was surrounded on all sides, herded into the courtyard of the estate like sheep to a pen.

Upon seeing his own territory, Hu Da, wearing a bamboo hat, jumped down from the carriage and stretched. He beckoned to one of his men to bring an oil-paper umbrella.

Taking the umbrella, he walked to the rear carriage and called out cheerfully, “Madam Song, we’ve arrived. It’s raining outside; I’ve brought you an umbrella.”

...

Yu Shan, beside him, kept her head bowed and said nothing, her hand inching closer to the hidden compartment as she feigned the harmless guise of a mere carriage driver.

From within came Pei Xueyan’s voice: “Where is my father?”

“You mean Master Pei?” Hu Da replied with a grin. “He left the matter of entertaining you to us. On a rainy night like this, he’s probably enjoying the warmth of his own home.”

“Entertaining?” Pei Xueyan asked. “What kind of entertainment do you mean?”

“We have all you’ll need here...” Before Hu Da could answer, Hu Er beside him laughed, “The conditions here are humble, nothing like the Song household. I’m afraid you’ll have to put up with a little discomfort, Madam.”

A bitter laugh came from within the carriage. “I just want to ask—did my own father sell me to you?”

…

Hu Da and Hu Er exchanged glances, surprise flashing across their faces; neither had expected Pei Xueyan to be so blunt.

“That’s right,” Hu Da nodded slightly.

Seeing how straightforward Madam Song was, he dropped his pretense and spoke plainly, “Pei Yingli struck a deal with me.”

“Since you hail from Xiyang County, you’ve likely heard of the Chiba Syndicate. I, Hu Da, am a hall leader of the Chiba Syndicate. This is private work I’ve taken on.”

“Pei Yingli told me about you, Madam. Said that if you stayed alone, tending to the vast Song estate, outsiders would eventually benefit. Better to hand it over to family, he said.”

“They say even a vicious tiger doesn’t eat its young, but that old man’s heart is truly ruthless. Even someone like me finds it hard to watch. So, I’ve treated you with the utmost respect on the journey—never overstepped once.”

“But a deal is a deal, and it must be done, mustn’t it?”

Hu Da sighed with feigned regret. “And now things have come to this, there’s no turning back. You’re a clever woman, you know what’s in your best interest.”

“I’m a straightforward man, so I’ll speak plainly.”

“If you cooperate and help us transfer the Song family assets, you’ll always have a place of honor with me, Hu Da.”

“If you bear any grudge against the Pei family, I promise, after this is over, I’ll help you settle every score.”

…

Hu Da assumed a reluctant posture, sighing as he subtly directed Pei Xueyan’s anger toward Pei Yingli. He rambled on for some time but received no reply from the carriage.

Outside, the drizzle continued to fall.

Though Hu Da wore a bamboo hat, rain still soaked his clothes. Seeing Madam Song remain silent, his patience wore thin.

“Xiyang County isn’t like Heyang, Madam. If I choose to use force, it’s only a matter of more effort for me.”

His tone was half regret, half threat. “You’re still young, with much of life ahead. If you were to perish here, with no one to claim your body, wouldn’t that be a waste?”

...

Still, there was no response from the carriage.

Hu Er, already impatient, sneered, “We’ve come this far and you still dare put on airs with me?”

He cursed, stepping forward to lift the carriage’s curtain.

Hu Da made no move to stop him, only sneered, “I’ve tried reason and threats. If you insist on testing my methods, Madam, then... forgive my offense.”

As his cold words fell, the sky was again lit by a dazzling flash, followed by a crack of thunder.

The lightning was brief—but deadly.

In the rain-soaked night, a swift blade sliced through the gloom like the flash itself, appearing from nowhere and vanishing just as quickly.

A drop of water, trickling from the edge of the carriage roof, split in two under the cruel light of the blade. At the same instant, so too was Hu Er’s arm—just as he reached to lift the curtain, it was severed completely!

Yu Shan, drawing the sword hidden beneath the floorboards, swept upward, his strike not only severing Hu Er’s arm but continuing unabated toward Hu Da.

He knew well enough who was the strongest here, and from the start, his target was Hu Da—the arm was merely collateral.

Hu Da’s eyes narrowed at this sudden turn of events. Instinctively, he leapt back, sweeping the oil-paper umbrella in his hand like a sword.

The umbrella struck the oncoming blade, knocking it aside. Though the steel missed his flesh, a razor-sharp gust still left a finger-long gash across his face.

Yu Shan, seeing his attack deflected, turned his weapon and swept it toward Hu Er.

Hu Da was a seasoned third-realm martial artist, quick to react in crisis. But Hu Er was only second-realm; having lost an arm in a surprise attack from the seemingly harmless coachman, the pain had barely registered before he saw another flash of white.

He stood there stupidly, that brief, brilliant flash forever imprinted upon his sight.

A thin line of blood welled at his throat, then spurted forth. He collapsed, lifeless, never uttering a single word.