The Dramatic Changes in the Xu Family (Part 1)

Lin Shi settled down in Xu Yuxian's dowry estate.

Besides the steward, nannies, maids, and servants, Lin Shi was the only person in the estate who could barely be considered a mistress. Although Lin Shi wasn't born a young lady, she was, after all, the head maid of the Xu family mansion and the object of the young master's affections. Everyone in the estate treated her with courtesy, knowing that Lin Shi might become the young mistress or concubine in the future. She lived a very comfortable life in the estate. Aside from her daily needs of eating, drinking, relieving herself, and sleeping, Lin Shi only needed to spend some time each day embroidering or perusing the estate's books. Because Lin Shi had originally been the head maid of the eldest young lady, Xu Yuxian, she had learned to read, paint, embroider, and manage the household affairs every day, so she could understand almost any book she read.

In less than seven days, Lin Shi had finished reading all the books in the manor. On the seventh day, before Lin Shi could even feel bored, she was shocked by the sudden news from the Xu family. Her face paled, and she was filled with panic, almost falling off her stool.

"Miss Shi, Xu Family Village has been wiped out!" The village steward came to tell Lin Shi this shocking news with a heavy expression. It was morning, and the sun hadn't even risen high in the sky yet.

Lin Shi immediately went to the residence where Xu Yuxian and her husband's family lived and met with her and her husband's family.

"Five days ago, Xu Family Village was wiped out. The stench of blood even reached the town market, but no one dared to help collect the bodies. Two days ago, someone went to investigate, but all they heard were their agonizing screams, and then no one came out. Lin Shi, what should I do? I sent a letter to my elder brother, but he hasn't replied." Xu Yuxian paced back and forth in the living room, completely distraught. She was only in her early twenties and heavily pregnant, her belly protruding high. Her eldest son was only three years old and still needed care. Her husband was equally frantic, and could only support her as they paced back and forth in the living room.

“Miss, why don’t I go and see for myself? If I come back alive, I’ll tell you the relevant information. If I don’t come back, you should wait for the young master to return before making any plans. Don’t be too anxious; you still need to take care of the baby in your belly.”

"No, no, it's too dangerous!..."

Lin Shi suggested that she go and gather information, but her suggestion was quickly opposed by Xu Yuxian and her entire in-laws. The fate of those who had gone to Xu Family Village to gather information a few days earlier was unknown, but it was estimated that they had likely perished. After that, no one dared to go near Xu Family Village. Lin Shi, being a frail woman, was even more unsuitable.

Lin Shi could only analyze the pros and cons with Xu Yuxian, patiently persuading her and her in-laws for a long time, and also urging her to continue contacting the eldest son, Xu Xingran. Only when Xu Yuxian and her in-laws softened their stance did Lin Shi put a dagger at her waist, carry a long sword in her hand, and take some dry food and medicine, before returning alone to the vicinity of Xu Family Village.

The once bustling town of Qiupu was now eerily silent, and the closer one got to Xujia Village, the more eerily quiet it became. The residents of Qiupu were all holed up in their homes or basements, doors and windows shut. A pile of incense and sandalwood burned in front of each house, and some unburnt paper money drifted in the streets. The fallen leaves weren't swept up and burned to ashes; they were simply scattered haphazardly on the ground. A thin layer of withered yellow and reddish-brown leaves now covered the ground, making the entire town appear even more desolate.

Lin Shi walked alone on the deserted street, heading towards Xu Family Village. Her light and hurried footsteps kicked up dust, fallen leaves, and paper money, which swirled behind her. Holding the long sword in her right hand, she walked quickly while keeping a watchful eye on her surroundings and listening intently for any subtle sounds.

A few daring residents in the apartment buildings along the street peeked through the windows to watch what was happening on the street. Some kind-hearted residents recognized Lin Shi and tried to persuade her not to go to Xujia Village, but their families quickly covered their mouths.

Lin Shi sensitively heard the subtle sounds, but she didn't stop for a moment, and just walked straight towards Xujia Village. It took her more than half an hour to travel from one end of Qiupu Town to the outside of Xujia Village on the other side.

When Lin Shi reached the familiar Xu Family Village, she stopped under the large banyan tree at the village entrance and rested briefly to calm her rapid breathing. Leaning against the thick branches of the banyan tree, she saw the clearly visible village name stone tablet next to it.

Xu Family Village is nestled in a valley, surrounded by mountains on three sides. Further afield, the towering mountains are shrouded in a layer of white mist, as always, resembling a fairyland or a secluded paradise, showing no signs of anything amiss. However, the sky above the entrance to Xu Family Village is shrouded in a cloud of black and bloody mist. A heavy stench of blood, along with the foul odor of corpses, assaults the senses, almost causing Lin Shi to vomit up all the undigested food she had just eaten. Lin Shi's keen intuition tells her that she is being watched like prey by the fierce gaze of a wild beast, and goosebumps instantly rise on her skin. She feels her hair stand on end, her scalp tingling, and for a moment she is too afraid to move, even her breath catches in her throat.

Lin Shi endured the unpleasant smell, only using a thin handkerchief from her bosom to cover her mouth and nose, making the stench less overwhelming and almost bringing tears to her eyes. Her heart, which had been hanging in mid-air, plummeted to the bottom. She knew that the people of Xu Family Village were probably all dead. She herself estimated that she would hardly leave Xu Family Village alive either.

But Lin Shi didn't scream and run away like a startled rabbit. She simply took a deep breath, then exhaled, repeating this several times. She calmed her heart, which was pounding in her chest, and silently told herself, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid," before resolutely carrying her longsword into Xu Family Village.

Once Lin Shi stepped into Xu Family Village, the chilling feeling of being watched lessened considerably. Only the stench of blood and corpses was stronger. She simply pushed open the gates of the first two houses at the village entrance, saw the corpses lying on the ground and the pools of blood beneath them, and then headed straight for the Xu family patriarch's mansion in the very center of Xu Family Village.

When Lin Shi arrived at the Xu family patriarch's mansion, she found the vermilion gate ajar, but there were no corpses or pools of blood in the entrance or the alley next to it. She listened quietly for a while at the entrance to hear any sounds from inside the mansion, but heard nothing, only a deathly silence.

Lin Shi steadied herself, then used her left hand to push open the slightly ajar door, while her right hand gripped the hilt of her sword tightly. The sweat on her palms almost gave her the illusion that the sword was about to slip from her control, but upon closer inspection, it didn't. Large beads of sweat streamed down her forehead and smooth, fair face, soaking through the handkerchief covering her mouth and nose and dripping into her clothes. Her back and the front of her clothes felt damp, completely drenched in sweat.