Chapter 112 I'm leaving

It was noon, and the area outside Caishikou was packed with people; almost half of Xiling City had come here.

The Shen family has been one of the most prominent families in Xiling City for over a century. Yesterday, the Mingjing Division posted a notice announcing the Shen family's crimes, which shook the entire city.

Among the crimes were raising demons, bribing officials, and harming hundreds of people in Xiling and the surrounding area.

In fact, what the Mingjing Division found in the Shen family was far more than that.

Over the years, Shen Zhiheng has bred half-demons through the Jiaomu (a type of dragon), but he has only obtained one Jiaolong King with excellent talent. He felt that this was far from enough, so he continued to use demon cores to create half-demons.

However, those who carried the inner core were not from the Shen family, but were carefully selected by him from the surrounding area and Xiling City.

When the Mingjing Division thoroughly investigated the Shen family, they also found many surviving corpses that had become half-demons.

Not to mention, he used living people to filter the violent demonic energy in the demon core until it became mild before introducing it into the selected target's body. Each attempt resulted in the deaths of at least a dozen people.

These messages were not made public, but were instead presented to the emperor directly through the special channels of the Mingjing Bureau.

Otherwise, the emperor would not have so quickly issued an order to execute the entire Shen family on the spot.

The appointed time had not yet arrived, but the surrounding people's discussions mingled together, forming a wave of noise.

Shen Qingwu followed Chen Hui, the two of them mingling in the crowd. Although there were still two rows of people blocking their view, they could still clearly see the Shen family members kneeling on the execution ground.

Among those executed today were almost all familiar faces to Shen Qingwu: her elder brother and sister-in-law, her niece, her cousins ​​and their children, and many others.

She saw Shen Zhiheng's terrified face, and her memory lingered on the moment he subtly persuaded her to participate in her father's experiment.

Shen Qingwu's lips curled up slightly. It really is true that fortunes change. Did Shen Zhiheng ever think that he would have this day?

At noon, Shen Zhuo, the executioner in charge, gave the order, and the executioners, who were guards from the Mingjing Division, raised their ghost-headed swords. As the swords fell, heads rolled.

Shen Qingwu calmly watched this scene unfold, witnessing the downfall of the Shen family.

Once, the demon hunter family existed for the sake of humanity and justice, but in the end, they met their demise, sent to their doom by her own hands.

Shen Qingwu laughed silently, thinking, "Great, finally they're all dead."

No one can threaten her Returning Snow anymore.

Chen Hui also found Xue Ying and her head among a pile of fallen corpses as she had hoped.

When Xue Ying died, her eyes were still open, and her young face was full of despair and resentment.

She probably didn't want to die, and she never imagined that she would die in such a way.

Even after the beheading, the people lingered, some in fear. For a long time to come, this event would be the biggest topic of conversation in Xiling City.

Chen Hui led Shen Qingwu through the crowd towards their home. As they arrived at the courtyard, Chen Hui, while talking to Shen Qingwu and opening the gate, suddenly turned her head and glanced around.

"What's wrong?" Shen Qingwu asked.

Chen Hui looked puzzled and replied, "These past two days, every time I come back, I feel like someone is watching me. I used to think it was just my imagination."

She had recently absorbed the blood of a demon beast, and although she hadn't advanced in rank yet, she had become more perceptive than before. This feeling that made her wary kept recurring, finally making her alert.

Shen Qingwu was somewhat worried upon hearing this: "Should we tell Achan that if someone is spying on us, it must be for my sake and Huixue's sake?"

Chen Hui nodded thoughtfully: "I'll let her know in a bit."

The two entered and saw Shen Huixue, who had regained her human form. Achan was instructing her on how to use her demonic powers, and they stopped when they saw the two of them.

"Mother," Shen Huixue called out to Shen Qingwu.

Shen Qingwu looked her daughter up and down, and finally felt relieved: "It's good that you're alright."

Chen Hui then approached A Chan and said to her, "I have already seen Xue Ying. She was beheaded today along with the Shen family."

Ah Chan commented in a pretentious manner, "What a pity, so young, sent to his death by his own parents."

When Ji Chan died, her family was still happily admiring the lanterns. How quickly fortunes change!

"By the way, I've had a feeling that someone is watching us these past two days."

Achan didn't suspect her, but said, "I happen to have something to discuss with Bai Xiuming. I'll tell him about it later."

"I'll go with you?"

"No need, you can stay home and help Huixue and the others pack their luggage."

"Are you packing your bags now because you're leaving in the next couple of days?" Chen Hui asked in surprise.

Upon hearing her words, Shen Huixue turned around and smiled at Chen Hui, then said to her and Shen Qingwu, "I've already discussed it with Achan. We'll leave here as soon as possible. The weather should be nice tomorrow, suitable for traveling."

Shen Qingwu had no objections, but Chen Hui felt a pang of reluctance. They had spent the whole journey from Shangjing to Xiling, and now it was time to part ways.

Shen Huixue added, "If there is an opportunity in the future, Huiniang can bring Achan to the wilderness to find me."

Chen Hui thought about it and realized that the future didn't seem so far away.

She's almost at the second tier. Once she reaches the third tier, she might be able to go out and see the outside world like Huixue.

"Okay," she replied solemnly.

Achan went out alone. She didn't feel like she was being watched when she left the courtyard, probably because she was oblivious.

Arriving at the Xiling Prince's Mansion once again, the guards were still the Mingjing Guards.

Hearing that she wanted to see Bai Xiuming, the guard did not reprimand her but told her to wait. After waiting for about fifteen minutes, the guard led her to the outside of the dungeon.

Achan waited for a while at the dungeon entrance before Bai Xiuming came out.

He smelled of blood.

Seeing Ah Chan wrinkle her nose in disgust, Bai Xiuming deliberately took two steps toward her: "Did you need something?"

He looked much better after two days. Achan's gaze swept across his face, and she felt satisfied. Thinking that she should be polite first, she said, "You look good today."

Bai Xiuming raised an eyebrow.

Then she complained with some disdain, "It just doesn't smell very good."

"Okay, let me know in advance next time we meet, and I'll take a shower before I see you?"

Achan nodded: "It's not impossible."

It seems they really dislike it.

Bai Xiuming glanced down at the clothes he had changed into that morning, and led her toward his courtyard: "Let's go."

Where to?

"It's not that I dislike the taste, I'm just going to change my clothes."

"Oh." Achan followed.

While Bai Xiuming went to the inner room to change his clothes, she sat in the outer room drinking tea, with several plates of delicate pastries beside her. She tasted each one and found them delicious.

Bai Xiuming changed into a dark purple, narrow-sleeved, cross-collar long robe and came out. Seeing Achan staring at the snacks, he asked, "Hungry?"

Achan shook her head: "I just ate."

The chicken stewed by Hui Niang is really delicious.

"Then why don't you stay for dinner?"

After Bai Xiuming finished speaking, he noticed that Achan was staring at him intently.

"What are you looking at?" he asked.

"You seem like a good person lately," Achan said sincerely, even inviting her to stay for a meal.

"So all those times you said I was a good person were lies to me?"

This man is so petty.

Having been caught red-handed again, Achan immediately changed the subject with a calm expression: "Don't change the subject, I came to you to talk about serious business."

Bai Xiuming didn't argue with her. He sat down on a chair and said, "Speak, what is it?"

"Hui Niang told me that she felt someone was watching her these past two days. Do you think it's possible that someone has realized Shen Huixue isn't dead and is investigating?"

"Um."

"What do you mean by 'um'? Say something!" Achan was dissatisfied with his perfunctory attitude.

"The day after you returned to Xue and her daughter, Zhang Jinghuai came to me asking for them. I told him they were dead, but he didn't believe me."

Zhang Jinghuai failed to see Qin Heng, but he also did not leave Xiling.

He immediately set his sights on Achan, who was close to Shen Huixue, but he was still sensible enough not to send anyone into the house to investigate, and only kept watch from outside.

"Him?" Achan frowned. Although she disliked this person, she still said something that was fairly fair: "He does have some sense of responsibility."

After all, it was a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family. The fact that this shrewd and worldly-wise heir of the Duke of Li was willing to hand over the evidence to Bai Xiuming at least proves that he does care about Huixue.

However, Achan quickly realized a problem: "He's been watching both of my houses for days. Maybe he's already discovered that Huixue is in my house. Does that mean he's got something on you?"

"Yes, have you figured out how to make it up to me?"

Achan didn't want to offer compensation, so she suggested, "Why don't we just silence them?"

Bai Xiuming was almost laughing out of anger.

"I'll be sending Shen Huixue and her daughter away tomorrow. I hope the heir of the Duke of Li won't cause any trouble?" she said with some worry.

"Don't worry about him, he won't make a big deal out of it." Bai Xiuming's tone was casual, as if he really didn't care about Zhang Jinghuai, and instead asked her, "Which path do they plan to take?"

"The shortest route to leave the Great Xia is through the West Gate, but that requires a warrant, so we decided to go to Yongzhou first and then change our route."

"No need for that trouble." Bai Xiuming handed her a piece of paper. Achan took it and saw that it was a travel permit issued by the government, with a three-day time limit and an official seal.

With this, you can go directly through the west gate.

Judging from the date above, he had already issued the document on the day he released the man.

As Ah Chan thought to herself how thoughtful this person was, she quickly put away the documents, a sweet smile blooming on her face: "Thank you, Lord Bai."

In the end, Achan was unable to stay for dinner at the Xiling Prince's Mansion. Tomorrow, Huixue will be leaving, and she can see Bai Xiuming anytime. She can still distinguish between what is more important and what is less important.

As dusk fell, the guard who had been watching Achan's residence finally left. He circled around and entered an inn.

Zhang Jinghuai stayed at this inn yesterday.

The guard knocked on the door, and soon a voice came from inside: "Your Highness, I'm back."

"Come in." Zhang Jinghuai's voice rang out. After the guard walked in, he found that there was another person in the room besides Zhang Jinghuai, and this person was somewhat unfamiliar.

Upon seeing him enter, the man bowed to Zhang Jinghuai and said, "Your Highness, this humble official will take his leave now."

Zhang Jinghuai hummed in agreement, still recalling the news the man had brought earlier: Bai Xiuming had sent someone to the yamen to obtain a clearance document, with a three-day deadline, and tomorrow was the final deadline.

After the door was closed, the guard reported in a low voice, "Your Highness, this morning the zombie and a woman whose face was not clearly visible left Ji Chan's courtyard. Judging from her figure, it was not Ji Chan. As you instructed, I did not approach them, but I feel that the woman is very likely to be Miss Hui Xue's mother."

“I went to buy a map yesterday, and today there’s suddenly an extra person in my house…” Zhang Jinghuai sneered. “I thought Bai Xiuming was heartless and without desires, but it turns out he can also bend the law for personal gain.”

The guard kept his head down, not daring to interrupt.

After a long silence, Zhang Jinghuai suddenly stood up, seemingly intending to leave.

"Your Highness," the guard finally called out to him.

"Is there anything else?" Zhang Jinghuai asked.

"Now that Lord Bai has rescued Miss Huixue, why should the young master get involved in this matter?" The guard said, a little sweat beading on his forehead. He knew he shouldn't speak recklessly because of his status, but he couldn't just watch the young master get more and more involved.

"Shut up." Zhang Jinghuai's voice was extremely cold, indicating that he was already angry.

The guard knelt down with a thud, but did not shut up.

“Your Highness, you know perfectly well that after this incident, there’s no way Miss Huixue will stay by your side.” The guard took a deep breath and continued, “Why don’t we just let her go?”

As Zhang Jinghuai's personal bodyguard, he had grown up with him since childhood and knew Zhang Jinghuai even better than the Duke of Li.

Although everyone in the Duke's mansion thought that Zhang Jinghuai was keeping Shen Huixue as a mistress for the thrill of youth, he knew that the young master actually liked Miss Huixue. Otherwise, he wouldn't have taken her away after just a few pleading words from her when he first met her.

These years have passed since I started raising them.

What good is liking someone? In the eyes of the world, social status and identity are not even the issue between them; race is.

The wife of the heir of the Duke of Liguo's mansion could not possibly be a half-demon.

The crown prince was well aware of this, so he delayed for many years before finally getting engaged to someone else.

If these unexpected events hadn't happened, perhaps the prince could have managed to keep Miss Xue by his side, but now, there's no hope left.

"Get out," Zhang Jinghuai said, enunciating each word clearly.

The guard remained kneeling, raising his head to look at Zhang Jinghuai: "Besides, our Duke of Li's mansion cannot afford to offend Bai Xiuming. Young Master, he is already at the fourth realm. Even the combined efforts of two fourth-realm demons could not take his life. If nothing unexpected happens, he will be the next Bright King of our Great Xia."

"Get out!" Zhang Jinghuai shouted angrily.

The guard kowtowed to him, then got up and left.

The guards stood at the door the whole time, but Zhang Jinghuai ultimately didn't step out of the door.

The next day, before dawn, Achan got up. It was foggy outside, making everything look hazy.

Everything was ready. Hui Xue used the "Hidden Universe in the Sleeve" technique that A Chan had taught her to temporarily put away her personal belongings. The mother and daughter changed into light clothes and made up their faces to conceal their appearances before the four of them went out together.

There weren't many people on the street. The west gate was quite far from where Achan lived, but such a long distance was covered in the blink of an eye.

The soldier guarding the city today was the same one that Achan and Bai Xiuming had seen last time. He seemed to be the leader of these guards. Achan showed him her pass and asked him if she could go out to see off a friend and return shortly. He agreed without hesitation.

Achan was still wondering why this person, who had always been very particular about rules, was giving Bai Xiuming face.

To their surprise, as the four of them exited the city gate, they saw a figure already waiting for them in the thick fog.

Before the others could recognize who it was, Shen Huixue recognized him at a glance—it was Zhang Jinghuai.

She hadn't thought about Zhang Jinghuai for days, but last night she suddenly remembered him, though the thought only flashed through her mind.

Zhang Jinghuai was once her lifeline; for a long time, she could only draw affection from him, but it could not last.

I thought I would leave quietly without saying goodbye, but I never expected him to appear here.

At this moment, Achan had already identified the person's identity. She frowned slightly, thinking that Bai Xiuming had said yesterday that there was no need to pay attention to this person, but today the person appeared like this. He was truly a persistent ghost.

Zhang Jinghuai didn't come over. Shen Huixue looked in his direction for a moment, then walked towards him.

"Hui Xue," A Chan called out to her.

Shen Huixue smiled at her: "Achan, I'll just say a few words to him, it's alright."

Shen Qingwu seemed to have guessed who the newcomer was from their conversation, but she did not stop her daughter from going forward.

Shen Huixue walked up to Zhang Jinghuai, who was still riding a horse. As she approached, he dismounted and stood in front of her.

"Zhang Jinghuai, I'm leaving." She looked at him and said this.