Chapter 178
After being subdued by Leng Qiao, Xi Quan calmed down a bit, but upon hearing these horrifying words, he instantly struggled like a fish desperately wagging its tail.
If he doesn't struggle to break free at this moment, he will be like a fish on a chopping board, at the mercy of others.
He was drenched in cold sweat, his face as pale as a ghost, especially when he saw the sharp boning knife in Tao Tao's hand. His limbs went cold and weak, and he was terrified.
Not only was he terrified, but Tu Miaoling was also trembling with fear, her scalp tingling. She had never even killed a pig with her own hands; it was always her father who did it. At most, she had only dissected some parts.
Now he's actually asking her to kill someone. Even if she hates him, she doesn't have the courage to do it.
"No, no, no... No, that won't do, murder is against the law!"
She hurriedly shook her head, looking panicked, and tightly grasped Tao Tao's hands while trying to persuade her.
"Tao'er, I can't do this, and you can't do this either! A life for a life! Even if he cheated me out of so much money, at most we can only report it to the authorities and let them judge him."
"If we really kill him, we're all doomed."
Tao Tao looked at her quietly, sighed silently, and a hint of disappointment flashed in her lowered bright eyes.
He's truly hopeless; he has no potential for improvement.
"Don't worry, I've redeemed him from his servitude. No one will know if he dies, really."
She still wanted to see if she would do it, but after all, she was the butcher's daughter. How could she be more timid than her?
"Spare me! Your Highness, spare me... I was blind and didn't recognize her as your friend. Please have mercy and let me go!"
“I had no choice. If I didn’t do this, the people at the gambling den would chop off my hands and feet.”
He cried and shouted, his fair and delicate face looking quite pitiful at first glance.
It's no wonder she came from Chu Feng Pavilion; her demeanor and temperament are just different.
Tao Tao's gaze swept over his face, scrutinizing his expression. She blinked, then turned to Tu Miaoling and placed the boning knife into her hand.
"Stop dawdling and get started."
Tu Miaoling seemed stunned, motionless. The knife was shoved into her hand, and she was trembling, almost dropping it. Tao Tao caught it with quick reflexes.
"How could you be so careless? What if you hurt your foot?"
She frowned, looking at Tu Miaoling with displeasure.
"Tao'er, have you gone mad! I won't do it, I certainly won't kill anyone!"
After saying that, Tu Miaoling hurriedly turned around to leave, but the next second her arm was grabbed and she looked back in surprise.
Tao Tao stared at her expressionlessly and said calmly, "Are you really not going to make a move?"
"Tao'er! You can't do this! I swear I stopped gambling a long time ago, and I won't go looking for Qinglin anymore. Just let him go. At least he's alive and can pay back the money."
"Aren't you right?"
Tu Miaoling looked at her with pleading eyes, but the girl in front of her remained unmoved.
Tao Tao couldn't help but think to herself, "He's lied to me so badly, he's even lost his house, why am I still pleading for him?"
Tu Miaoling was genuinely advising her not to make a mistake. Even though it was hateful that he cheated her out of money, it wasn't worth ruining her future for such a person.
She was so flustered that she didn't notice Xiquan calling Tao Tao "County Princess".
Tao Tao slowly pulled her arm away from Leng Qiao's hand, glanced at her, and said, "Let him go and guard the door."
Upon hearing this, Leng Qiao released his grip. Sure enough, Xi Quan rushed towards the door immediately, but someone was faster and blocked his way.
Footsteps sounded behind her, followed by a girl's light voice: "Xiquan, don't rush to run. Since Tu Miaoling isn't going to make a move, I'll give you a choice. If you can do it, I'll let you go."
He shuddered, mechanically turned his stiff neck, and said with a bitter laugh, "County... County Head, please speak."
Tao Tao stopped, handed the boning knife in her hand to him, glanced at the bewildered Tu Miaoling, and said in a calm voice, "Kill her, and I will let you go."
"One of us must die today. It's either you or her. You have two seconds to think it over."
Before Xi Quan could speak, Tu Miaoling behind her exclaimed in shock, "Tao'er! What are you saying?! I'm your best friend! How could you be so treacherous?"
"What are you waiting for?! If you don't make a move now, I'm losing my patience."
As soon as he finished speaking, he seemed to wake up from a dream, snatched the boning knife from his hand, and approached her step by step with a fierce look on his face.
Tu Miaoling's eyes widened in terror as she retreated backward, only to find her legs suddenly going weak.
As Tao Tao watched, she walked back to the stool and sat down, her eyes sparkling and her lips slightly upturned, a playful smile on her face.
Leng Qiao frowned, looking at her young mistress with a puzzled expression. She felt that this strange and perverse taste of looking down on others and enjoying their miserable escape was extremely similar to that of her master.
But Tu Miaoling is Miss's friend, how could Miss make such a request? Would Miss be willing to kill her?
The two engaged in a chase within the house. When there was nowhere left to escape, Tu Miaoling hid behind Tao Tao.
She didn't believe Tao Tao really wanted to kill her; maybe it was just to punish her for gambling.
But when Xiquan dragged her along and raised the boning knife that gleamed with a cold light, Tao Tao did not stop him at all.
Finally, she gritted her teeth and fought back fiercely, her face streaked with tears. She shouted to bolster her courage, then grabbed a machete from the shelf and began hacking at the stream.
Although women are not as strong as men, Tu Miaoling is the daughter of a pig butcher. She may not have slaughtered a pig, but she has chopped pig bones.
That strength is honed through years of practice, far surpassing the power of a stream that can't lift anything by hand or carry anything on its shoulders.
Soon, both of them had been slashed once, and blood flowed down like a torrent. Tu Miaoling screamed in pain, her hair disheveled, her face pale, and she looked utterly wretched.
Despite the pain, Xi Quan seized the opportunity to press his advantage, his scarlet eyes filled with murderous intent as he raised his hand and chopped down at her head.
In a flash, his wrist was twisted hard, and he felt a numbness, causing his hand to involuntarily loosen.
It was caught just before it fell on her head.
Xi Quan looked up in surprise, only to find Tao Tao smiling.
"That's it, I won't kill you."
"As for you, I won't pursue the matter any further." She looked down at Tu Miaoling, who was slumped on the ground, tears streaming down her face.
This stream may look weak, but it is actually brave, resourceful, and quite daring. In contrast, Tu Miaoling is inferior and is still crying.
You can pretend to be terrified, but you can't actually be terrified.
Tao Tao slowly squatted down, reached out and hugged her, comforting her, "It's alright, it's alright, don't be afraid, it was just a joke."
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