Lu Jiaojiao stood amidst the corpses scattered on the ground, her eyes wide open.
The eerie black aura surrounding him hadn't dissipated yet, and his face was stained with blood, making him look both fierce and frightening.
As Shen's mother watched, her heart tightened, and she subconsciously took half a step back. She never expected that her granddaughter, whom she had raised for so long, could unleash such terrifying power.
This is not a skill that an ordinary person should have.
"Stop pretending to be so innocent and pure?" Shen Qingtang walked over, her tone full of sarcasm. "You killed all these people, not a single one was spared, and now you want to pin the blame on me?"
"It's all your fault! You pushed me to them! You forced me to do this!" Lu Jiaojiao trembled with anger as she roared in rebuttal, but she knew the truth in her heart.
She was terrified by the uncontrollable force she had just experienced, and now she could only use anger to mask her panic.
Shen Qingtang stopped arguing with her and turned to the officials and other rescued people, shouting, "Don't just stand there! The reinforcements from the Northern Desert might arrive soon. If you don't want to die, get out of here!"
The group then came to their senses, quickly packed their belongings, and helped the injured person down the mountain.
But Lu Jiaojiao stood rooted to the spot, staring intently at Shen Qingtang: "I'm not leaving! This is all your conspiracy! You just want to leave me here to die!"
She had used up too much energy when she unleashed her power, and now her whole body was weak. She didn't want to move at all, let alone follow Shen Qingtang.
Shen Qingtang was too lazy to argue with her. She turned around and pushed the wooden cart carrying Old Master Shen, her tone firm: "Those who want to leave, hurry up. Those who don't, stay here and wait for the Northern Desert people to come!"
Shen Minglan and Shen Mingzhao walked behind, looking at Lu Jiaojiao's back with solemn expressions. The power that Lu Jiaojiao had just unleashed was too strange.
That invisible shockwave could kill a person instantly.
It's simply beyond the capabilities of normal human beings.
They exchanged a glance and both saw worry in each other's eyes.
"Sister, that girl..." Shen Minglan leaned closer to Shen Qingtang and whispered a reminder, "The way she acted just now was really strange."
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." Shen Qingtang said calmly without turning her head. "What's on her will be dealt with sooner or later. The most important thing now is to get out of here as soon as possible, so we don't cause more trouble when the Northern Desert people arrive."
Lu Jiaojiao watched as everyone was really about to leave.
He was both panicked and angry, but he didn't have the strength to chase after them, so he could only stand there.
Watching Shen Qingtang and her group gradually walk away, the resentment in his eyes deepened. "Shen Qingtang, you just wait! I will never let you go!"
Pei Wuwang was carried by Shen Mingzhao to another stroller, where he lay down, still conscious.
Everyone else was rushing down the mountain to escape, but Lu Jiaojiao stood still and refused to move.
Lu's mother leaned over and pulled her along, repeatedly telling the people around, "My dear granddaughter is so lucky! You all saw it just now, she was able to protect herself! It's definitely safe with her, why did she have to run away in such a panic?"
Her intervention slowed the already chaotic procession even further.
Lu Jin looked at Lu Jiaojiao with delight in his eyes and chimed in, "Jiaojiao is right! With your amazing skills, you're not afraid of the Northern Desert people! We don't need to run away at all. With you here, we'll definitely be safe!"
His mind was now filled with Lu Jiaojiao's "good fortune" and that strange power, and he felt that following her was much more reliable than following Shen Qingtang.
Uncle Lu the Second and Uncle Lu the Third also chimed in.
They surrounded Lu Jiaojiao, praising her incessantly: "Jiaojiao is truly amazing! No wonder she's a child of the Lu family, she has such great abilities!"
The Pei family also had their own ideas.
Grandma Pei didn't want to follow Shen Qingtang in the first place, but seeing how "powerful" Lu Jiaojiao was, she immediately went over and said with a smile, "Jiaojiao, you are such a lucky child. Grandma knew you were extraordinary!"
Pei Yurou and Pei Mingxuan nodded in agreement, their eyes full of flattery, clearly hoping to bask in Lu Jiaojiao's "good fortune".
A group of people surrounded Lu Jiaojiao, praising her one after another, making her feel dizzy with their flattery.
Lu Jiaojiao grew even more smug, hands on her hips, and sneered at Shen Qingtang's departing figure: "Shen Qingtang is just too sensitive! The Northern Desert people have long been terrified of me, how could they possibly come back? She's just trying to scare everyone so they'll listen to her!"
Shen Qingtang pushed Old Master Shen's cart.
They had long since hidden in the dense forest at the foot of the mountain with the Shen family, Qin Xian and his daughter, and the officials.
She glanced back at the group of people dawdling on the mountain, her eyes as cold as ice. The reinforcements from the Northern Desert could arrive at any moment, yet Lu Jiaojiao and the Pei family were still deceiving themselves, practically courting death.
"Grandpa, let's hide further in and leave when it gets light."
Shen Qingtang helped Old Master Shen sit down, and then checked the injuries of Pei Wuwang and Shen Minglan. "We can't control those people on the mountain, and there's no need for us to."
Grandpa Shen sighed, looked towards the mountain, and shook his head: "They're all blinded by greed. Let them be. You did the right thing; take care of ourselves first."
Pei Wuwang lay to the side, listening to Shen Qingtang's calm instructions.
My curiosity grew stronger.
She always makes decisions so decisively.
The strange feeling in my heart deepened even more.
Lu Jiaojiao was still being pampered by everyone, completely unaware that danger was approaching in the distant mountains and forests. A troop of cavalrymen dressed in Northern Desert attire was rapidly approaching the dilapidated temple. The sound of hooves grew closer and closer, and a new crisis was about to unfold.
The officials were already exhausted and afraid, and they looked at the two roads in front of them.
Immediately, a commotion broke out, with some people wanting to follow Shen Qingtang and escape for their lives.
Some people were persuaded by Lu Jiaojiao's "good fortune" and felt it would be safer to stay. They argued back and forth, and neither could convince the other.
"Stop arguing." Shen Qingtang said coldly, her clear voice instantly silencing the crowd's discussion. "Those who want to live, come with me now. Those who want to stay and gamble with their lives, stay here with Lu Jiaojiao. You chose this path, so you have to bear the consequences."
Lu Jiaojiao immediately put her hands on her hips and raised her chin triumphantly: "Did you hear that? You're only safe if you follow me! The Northern Desert people don't dare to come at all. Shen Qingtang is just trying to scare you!"
Some people were misled by her words, but were also afraid of having to walk the mountain road again.
Hesitantly, he stood next to Lu Jiaojiao.
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