Chapter Sixty-Eight: Using Underhanded Tactics

"Look! There it is!"

Duan Yuyang pointed to the cave on the mountaintop, which was mostly covered by vines with only a small gap left, and his excited voice trembled. He seemed to see his future days of great glory and power.

Gu Shang's breathing became heavier, and the light in his eyes could almost blind someone.

The Gu family is about to become his! Once he obtains this treasure, Gu Shang will be the head of the Gu family!

Several ordinary-looking people in the group exchanged glances and silently prepared themselves.

Gu Zuozuo quietly blended in with them, hiding herself discreetly in the background, and no one even noticed that there was an extra person in their team.

"Let's go in!"

Bang!

The last two people fell silently outside the cave, and Gu Zuozuo grabbed one of them and threw them far away, making sure that the people in front didn't hear a sound.

Those in front were so engrossed in the imminent windfall that they were completely unaware of the dwindling ranks behind them.

Down the mountain, at Malutun.

Duan Jianhua had just finished dealing with the Ma family's mess and returned home exhausted. Before he could even settle in, the front door was opened and a squad of heavily armed soldiers walked in. Leading them was Wang Ming, whom Gu Zuozuo had once saved.

"Squad Leader Duan! Long time no see! Please cooperate with us on this mission!"

Looking at his expressionless face, Duan Jianhua felt a chill run down his spine, and a growing premonition that he was about to go bald grew stronger.

The villagers who were eating at home came out with their bowls, their faces blank and frightened as a group of soldiers in green uniforms walked past them. They lowered their heads and whispered among themselves, wondering whose family had committed a crime that had alarmed the army.

Ma Zhaodi walked quickly home with a grim expression, her demeanor revealing a sense of desolation. Her usual timidity was nowhere to be seen. She broke down the door and barged inside.

"You're going to die! You good-for-nothing! Don't you know your brother is sleeping..."

Ma Zhaodi's eyes were bloodshot, and the look in her eyes as she stared at her mother was almost murderous.

"Still thinking about your precious son? Pack your things and run! The army is coming!"

Ma Guihua paused for a moment, then sneered with a disdainful expression.

"So what if they come? They might not even be looking for us. What are you panicking about! You really don't have any of the responsibility your father should have!"

"My father! Ha! If I could, I would rather he wasn't him! I wouldn't be suffering like this, worse than death!"

Snap!

"You ungrateful wretch! Have I raised you for nothing? How dare you talk to your own father like that! If you keep spouting nonsense, I'll never take you with me when your father treats us to the best of everything!"

Ma Zhaodi gave a desolate smile. Perhaps only her mother was still dreaming of returning to China with her father and wearing gold and silver. That man had seen through her true nature long after she learned about her background.

Ever since she accidentally stumbled upon her mother's affair with that man when she was ten years old, she was struck dumb after learning about her origins. She couldn't believe that she actually had the dirty blood of that country flowing in her veins.

She would rather her father be the kind of honest, hardworking man who would bring her and her sister wild fruit than the kind of shameless man who was filthy, vicious, and disgusting to the core.

So from then on, she tried to earn work points and food to support herself and her two younger sisters. She wanted to save money to escape her mother and this family, and she worked hard for it.

Later, as more educated youth went to the countryside, some of them were given the opportunity to return to the city. One even brought the man she had married in the countryside with her to the city.

At that moment, she saw her chance to escape. She was almost there when she saw soldiers coming to her home. She knew that the day she had been dreading had finally arrived.