Chapter 92
While Ling Yunxiao and Qi Qingxiong were busy fighting each other, Lou Yuqing and her group successfully slipped into the Hu Family estate.
The moment they crossed the barrier, a picturesque garden unfolded before them. Artificial hills rose among winding paths, streams flowed beneath elegant stone bridges, and lush greenery filled the grounds.
It was clearly the Hu Family's rear garden.
Just then, two maids carrying food boxes emerged from a moon gate ahead.
The four immediately ducked into the hollow space within a nearby rock formation.
Fortunately, most of the Hu Family's servants were only at the Qi Refining Realm. After concealing themselves with invisibility techniques, Lou Yuqing and the others went completely unnoticed.
As the maids passed, their hushed conversation drifted over.
"Ever since Second Miss learned that her affair with Young Master Xie had spread across the entire city, she's been smashing things nonstop."
The maid lowered her voice even further.
"I doubt she's calmed down yet. We'd better walk slower. If she loses her temper and decides to punish someone..."
The other maid sighed bitterly.
"How much slower can we go? We're just food-delivery servants. No status. No backing. If we're late, that'll just give Second Miss another excuse to vent her anger on us."
The two women exchanged miserable looks before cautiously making their way across the garden toward Hu Ruofeng's courtyard.
After the group disappeared into the distance, Si Nidie cautiously peeked out from behind the rocks.
"There are too many of us moving together."
After a moment's thought, she added, "Let's split up and investigate separately."
Her eyes swept over the others before settling on Lou Yuqing.
"Who wants to come with me and investigate Second Miss Hu?"
Lou Yuqing lowered the communication jade slip in her hand and shook her head inwardly.
She had tried contacting Ling Yunxiao several times already, but there was still no response.
"I will."
Originally, she had assumed the Hu Family's protective barrier was interfering with communication. Now that they were inside and still couldn't connect, she wasn't sure what the problem was.
The four quickly divided into pairs.
Lou Yuqing and Si Nidie headed toward Hu Ruofeng's residence.
Meanwhile, Shen Lijun and Chu Qingyang naturally teamed up and departed in the opposite direction.
Before separating, they agreed to regroup later in the rear garden.
The Hu Family estate was enormous.
Servants moved through the grounds constantly.
Lou Yuqing and Si Nidie maintained their invisibility techniques as they followed behind the food-delivery maids.
As long as they refrained from using spiritual power, cultivators of lower realms would have no chance of seeing through their disguise.
Before long, a series of crashes erupted from a nearby courtyard.
Bang!
Crash!
Shattering sounds rang out one after another, followed by Hu Ruofeng's furious voice.
"Commoners! A bunch of filthy commoners!"
Her shrill scream nearly shook the entire courtyard.
"What right do they have to meddle in my affairs?! I'll tear their mouths apart! I'll tear their ears off!"
Inside the room, a maid's trembling voice tried to placate her.
"Miss... please calm down..."
But her plea was instantly drowned out.
"Calm down?" Hu Ruofeng shrieked. "How do you expect me to calm down?!"
The crack of a whip split the air.
One lash was followed by another, then another, each accompanied by miserable cries that made even those standing outside feel a chill run down their spines.
The two maids delivering food froze at the gate, their faces turning pale.
They had always known the Second Miss was vicious, but they had never imagined she would beat even her personal maid like this.
Suddenly, neither of them felt particularly safe carrying food into that courtyard.
Nearby servants hurried away with their heads lowered, all eager to put as much distance as possible between themselves and the courtyard.
Over the past few days, the rumors sweeping through Baishi City had only grown more outrageous.
Everyone knew exactly why the Second Miss was in such a foul mood.
Though, truthfully, Hu Ruofeng had never needed much of a reason.
Among the servants, many actually preferred the First Miss. She was quiet, gentle, and rarely made things difficult for anyone. If the former madam had not passed away so early, the current mistress would never have risen to the position of head wife.
Beside Lou Yuqing, Si Nidie's expression darkened.
The crack of the whip and the shrill cries echoing from within made her frown.
"This woman really is a perfect match for Xie Wenheng," she transmitted coldly. "They're exactly alike."
Lou Yuqing wasn't particularly surprised.
The system had already revealed more than enough about Hu Ruofeng's character. Still, hearing those screams with her own ears left an unpleasant weight in her chest.
Just then, another group approached from the far end of the courtyard.
At its center walked a richly dressed woman draped in embroidered silk and glittering jewels. Her features bore a strong resemblance to Hu Ruofeng's.
The Hu Family's matriarch.
The moment she arrived, her gaze swept over the two maids kneeling outside the gate.
"If you're here to deliver food," she said lightly, "why are you still standing around?"
The two maids immediately dropped to their knees.
"Madam, we—"
Before they could finish speaking, the matriarch waved a hand impatiently.
"Take them away."
Her expression never changed.
"Beat them to death."
For a brief moment, the entire courtyard fell silent.
The two maids stared at her in disbelief, their faces draining of color.
Then panic exploded.
"Madam!"
"Madam, spare us!"
They threw themselves forward, desperately kowtowing, their cries echoing through the courtyard.
Neither of them had ever imagined that delivering a meal could cost them their lives.
Si Nidie's fingers tightened instantly.
Spiritual energy surged through her palm before she could stop it.
Lou Yuqing reacted at once, catching her wrist and giving it a firm squeeze.
A silent warning.
Si Nidie's jaw clenched.
The two maids were nothing more than ordinary servants, yet a single casual sentence had condemned them to death.
If this weren't a trial inside the small world...
The thought flashed through her mind before she forcibly suppressed it.
Meanwhile, the matriarch didn't spare the servants another glance.
After ordering everyone else to remain outside, she stepped into the courtyard alone.
"Ruofeng."
The cold indifference from moments ago vanished completely.
Her voice softened at once.
"Mother came to see you."
The doors creaked open.
Before they could close again, Lou Yuqing and Si Nidie slipped through the gap like shadows.
The moment the doors shut behind them, the sound of the whip finally ceased.
"What good is Mother coming?"
Hu Ruofeng's furious voice rang through the room.
"If I can't shut those people's mouths, how am I supposed to face anyone ever again?!"
The room reeked of blood.
A maid lay sprawled across the floor, barely conscious. Her body shuddered occasionally, as though each breath required all the strength she had left. Angry welts covered her from head to toe, and her clothes were almost entirely stained red.
Not far away, Hu Ruofeng still gripped the whip in her hand.
Blood had splashed onto her robes and even dotted her face.
Combined with the fury twisting her features, the sight was genuinely unsettling.
Yet the matriarch seemed not to notice any of it.
She walked straight over, took out a handkerchief, and gently wiped the blood from her daughter's face.
"You've gotten yourself into quite a state."
Her tone carried nothing but motherly concern.
"Come. Go clean yourself up."
The contrast was so jarring it felt almost unreal.
Apparently still dissatisfied, Hu Ruofeng pointed at the maid lying on the floor.
"Mother."
Her tone was casual, as though she were talking about a piece of rubbish.
"She dirtied my floor. Get rid of her. I don't want to see her again."
"Of course." The matriarch smiled indulgently. "Whatever my daughter wants."
She didn't hesitate for even a moment.
A flick of spiritual power sent the half-conscious maid sliding across the floor and out the door.
The woman's limp body disappeared from the room as though she were nothing more than an unwanted object.
"Clean this up."
"Yes, Madam."
The waiting servants lowered their heads immediately.
Lou Yuqing watched the exchange in silence.
A familiar saying surfaced in her mind: behind every spoiled child stood an even worse parent.
Looking at the mother and daughter before her, she found it hard to argue with that logic.
Forcing down the strange feeling in her chest, she continued listening.
After Hu Ruofeng changed into clean clothes, the matriarch smiled helplessly.
"Ruofeng, you need to keep your temper under control for the next few days. All the branches of the Hu Family are already on their way back, and we can't afford any mishaps right now."
Hu Ruofeng's expression immediately darkened. "Mother, did you come all the way here just to lecture me?"
She pointed at herself, disbelief written all over her face.
"I'm the victim here! You haven't heard the disgusting things those commoners are saying about me."
The more she spoke, the angrier she became.
"I wanted to kill every last one of them."
Behind her hiding place, Si Nidie nearly rolled her eyes.
You've practically done that already and you're still worried about what people are saying?
The matriarch sighed. "Mother isn't blaming you. The deaths of a few servants aren't worth mentioning."
Her expression gradually turned serious.
"But the ancestral worship ceremony is only three days away. That's the day the family's heir will be decided. Until then, you absolutely cannot cause any more trouble."
Lou Yuqing and Si Nidie exchanged a glance.
Ancestral worship ceremony.
They silently committed the information to memory.
Hu Ruofeng let out a cold snort.
"Mother, you're worrying too much."
Among the younger generation of the Hu Family, she had always considered herself unrivaled.
"I'm the most talented person in the entire family. Who else could possibly become heir besides me?"
The matriarch studied her daughter for a moment before saying slowly, "Hu Ruoyan's talent is no less than yours."
Hu Ruofeng shot to her feet.
"Her?"
The contempt in her voice was impossible to miss.
"Father removed her from the list of heir candidates years ago. Her cultivation hasn't improved in ages, and these days she can't even compare to some of the branch family disciples."
She let out a mocking laugh. "What qualifications does she have to compete with me?"
Ever since childhood, Hu Ruofeng had regarded Hu Ruoyan as her greatest rival.
But as the years passed, she gradually became convinced that she had already left her sister far behind.
That belief filled her with pride.
She no longer bothered wasting effort suppressing Hu Ruoyan.
Instead, she much preferred watching her remain below while she herself climbed higher and higher.
That was exactly why she had seduced Xie Wenheng on the night he came to propose marriage.
In her eyes, Baishi Sect was the most powerful force in the entire region.
If Hu Ruoyan formed ties with them, she would gain the means to challenge her position.
That was something Hu Ruofeng could never allow.
As for whether Hu Ruoyan actually wanted the marriage, she had never cared.
The truth was, she didn't particularly care about Xie Wenheng either.
She simply saw value in him.
Being courted and admired suited her vanity, so she accepted his attention without much thought.
Unfortunately, things quickly spiraled beyond her control.
Their affair became the talk of the entire city.
The moment the rumors reached her ears, she had nearly exploded with rage.
The matriarch reached out and patted her shoulder.
A faint, unreadable look passed through her eyes.
"Mother has noticed Hu Ruoyan making some unusual moves lately. I still don't know what she's planning."
Hu Ruofeng frowned slightly.
In her mind, Hu Ruoyan had already lost years ago.
The possibility that her sister still hadn't given up genuinely caught her off guard.
"But none of that matters." The matriarch smiled gently. "As long as Mother is here, she won't be able to shake your position."
The reassurance worked immediately.
The tension in Hu Ruofeng's expression gradually eased.
That's right.
With her mother standing behind her, what could Hu Ruoyan possibly do?
Once the ancestral worship ceremony ended, Hu Ruoyan would become nothing more than a toy in her hands.
Originally, she had considered showing mercy.
Now?
Not anymore.
Since Hu Ruoyan still dared to scheme behind the scenes, Hu Ruofeng no longer saw any reason to preserve what little sisterly affection remained between them.
"Don't worry, Mother." Hu Ruofeng's lips curved into a cold smile. "I'll stay quiet until the ancestral worship ceremony. Then I'll make Hu Ruoyan kneel before me."
The matriarch nodded in satisfaction.
"Good. At least you understand what matters." She smiled faintly. "As for Hu Ruoyan, she's nothing worth worrying about. Let her struggle for a few more days."
Hu Ruofeng nodded, but then something seemed to occur to her.
"Mother..." Her eyes narrowed. "Has Hu Ruoyan's face really healed completely?"
Seeing the jealousy hidden beneath her expression, Lou Yuqing couldn't help thinking that the relationship between the children of the first wife and the second wife was truly a mess.
"It has." The matriarch sounded utterly unconcerned. "If a pretty face were all that important, your father wouldn't have married me less than three months after the first madam passed away."
By then, the Hu Family's rise had already begun. Their marriage had never been about beauty.
It had been about power.
Unfortunately, Hu Ruofeng clearly didn't share her mother's indifference.
Her expression twisted with resentment.
"Why didn't that demon completely ruin her face?" she spat. "Useless thing. It even got itself killed by a demon hunter."
A trace of vicious satisfaction flashed through her eyes.
"It deserved it."
The bitterness in her voice was impossible to hide.
Lou Yuqing fell silent.
Then she finally realized why the communication jade slip had never responded.
The demon had already been captured.
Which meant Ling Yunxiao must have left the Hu Family by now.
After the matriarch left, Hu Ruofeng continued venting her anger at Hu Ruoyan.
One insult after another spilled from her mouth without end.
Even Lou Yuqing and Si Nidie eventually found it impossible to keep listening.
Seeing that there were no more useful clues to uncover, the two quietly slipped away and continued searching elsewhere.
Meanwhile, Ling Yunxiao and Qi Qingxiong watched their three companions disappear into the distance.
Their gazes met briefly.
Neither spoke.
Yet both arrived at the same conclusion.
Since there was nothing more to gain here, they turned and left as well.