A Mother's Strength

After turning the carriage around and setting off, Qiushui rode up beside Jiang Shuyue, lowered her voice, and said coldly, "By the Young Lord's order, Jiang Shuyue shall be solely responsible for all of Zhao Ping'an's food, clothing, and daily needs!"

"Furthermore, my lady is merciful and permits you to send one person into the Marquis Estate to attend to Zhao Ping'an's daily life."

Zhao Yingpeng had decreed that Jiang Shuyue was to support Zhao Ping'an for the rest of her life, while Su Yingluo never wanted Jiang Shuyue to set foot in the Zhennan Marquis Estate again. Thus, she had no choice but to allow Jiang Manor to send someone into the Zhennan Marquis Estate to care for Zhao Ping'an.

After Qiushui finished speaking, she paid no heed to Jiang Shuyue's or Jiang Manor's reactions, leading the Zhennan Marquis Estate's entourage away in a cloud of dust.

An hour later, Zhao Ping'an was brought into the Zhennan Marquis Estate and taken to a secluded Small Wooden Cabin in its southwestern corner.

This wooden cabin was precisely where his Mother had lived after the Zhennan Marquis Dowager drove her out of Great Peng Courtyard all those years ago.

Qiushui sternly warned Zhao Ping'an, "Young Master Ping'an, listen carefully. This cabin and the open ground around it are the extent of where you may move about from now on. You are not to step beyond it by so much as half a pace."

"If you dare run around the Marquis Estate, you will receive twenty strokes of the paddle the first time you are caught, forty the second time, and sixty the third!"

"Do not even dream of escaping the Marquis Estate. If you escape once and are caught and brought back, you will receive fifty strokes of the paddle, and one person surnamed Jiang will be put to death. If you flee and never return, the entire Jiang Manor will be executed!"

With that, she took everyone away, leaving behind only Zhao Ping'an and an old black dog.

Zhao Ping'an walked up to the Small Wooden Cabin and said with some self-mockery, "I never thought I'd come back here again."

What enraged him was not his own plight, but the unfair suffering his Mother had endured back then.

When he opened the wooden door, a stale, rotten stench rushed into his face.

More than four years and three months ago, after that Old Hag had forcibly seized his Mother's dowry, she had been unable to remain in the Zhennan Marquis Estate to nurture her pregnancy. She could only leave the estate at once and return to her natal home. This Small Wooden Cabin had not been opened since.

The food and belongings inside had rotted until maggots grew in them, and then even the maggots had died.

Four years and seven months ago, his Mother had personally repaired this abandoned little firewood shack, which had been on the verge of collapse. Now, after more than four years of wind, rain, and insect damage, the Small Wooden Cabin was crumbling once more.

"Zhao Ping'an, I'm making a run for it." The old black dog peered into the cabin from the doorway, its face showing an expression of disgust that even a dog would disdain. "Given your current circumstances, I'm afraid even you'll starve to death. I can't follow you into an empty belly."

Zhao Ping'an hurriedly said, "Senior Old Black, you are a senior whose word carries the weight of nine tripods. Besides, I'd rather starve to death myself than let you go hungry."

"Quit buttering me up." The old black dog refused to take the bait and said, "Let's settle the terms first."

Zhao Ping'an pulled himself together. "Please, tell me."

The old black dog said, "My condition isn't high. You must promise me one thing."

"What is it?"

"I haven't thought of it yet. But don't worry—it will definitely be something you can do, and I won't ask you to die."

"No problem!" Zhao Ping'an immediately agreed without hesitation.

In truth, there was no other choice. At present, he had nothing that could tempt the old black dog.

Long after night had fallen, Zhao Ping'an was meditating inside the cabin when he suddenly heard a familiar call from outside: "Cousin Young Master, Cousin Young Master..."

"Chen Donglai?" Thinking he had heard wrong, Zhao Ping'an immediately stood up and walked out of the cabin.

He saw a lantern outside. The person carrying it was Chen Donglai.

Chen Donglai had a huge bundle strapped to his back, so absurdly large it looked like a small house.

"Chen Donglai, it really is you!" he said in great surprise.

He did not know that the Zhennan Marquis Estate had permitted Jiang Manor to send someone in to attend to his daily life.

As Chen Donglai set down the enormous bundle, he said, "I'm sorry, Cousin Young Master. I came late."

When Jiang Manor had selected someone to enter the Zhennan Marquis Estate and care for Zhao Ping'an, he had immediately volunteered.

When Zhao Ping'an had been attacked two years ago, he had failed to protect him in the slightest. Yet afterward, Zhao Ping'an had never blamed him, still allowing him to purchase medicinal ingredients and rewarding him from time to time. He had always felt deeply ashamed.

Now that Zhao Ping'an was in trouble, he was the first to step forward to help.

After weighing everything, Jiang Manor had agreed to Chen Donglai's request.

First, Chen Donglai was a Family Born Servant of Jiang Manor, loyal to the core.

Second, the Zhennan Marquis Estate was a dragon's pool and tiger's den. Zhao Ping'an needed someone capable to protect him, lest any stray cat or dog bully him.

Third, Zhao Ping'an already trusted Chen Donglai.

Zhao Ping'an smiled. "You followed me into this hellhole. Not bad."

Receiving Zhao Ping'an's approval, Chen Donglai broke into a delighted grin.

He said, "Cousin Young Master, you must be hungry, right? I brought food."

As he spoke, he turned and opened the large bundle, taking out a round, multi-tiered wooden food container.

Zhao Ping'an took the food container and called toward the cabin, "Old Black, come out and eat."

Since Chen Donglai was present, he called the old black dog Old Black so as not to expose that it was a cultivated dog capable of speech.

The old black dog barked, "Woof," and crawled out of the cabin.

"Uncle Chen, carry on with your work. Old Black and I are going to eat." Zhao Ping'an spoke to Chen Donglai, then carried the food container several steps away and sat directly on the wild grass.

Naturally, the old black dog followed him over.

After splitting the food with the old black dog and finishing their meal, Zhao Ping'an entered the cabin and saw that, under the lamplight, it finally looked somewhat fit for habitation.

"Cousin Young Master, this wooden cabin is far too crude. Tomorrow, I'll bring construction materials in and tear it down to build a new house," Chen Donglai said.

Zhao Ping'an shook his head. "This cabin cannot be torn down. But one can be built beside it."

He wanted to keep this ruined cabin as a constant reminder that one day, he would avenge his Mother and wash away her humiliation!

"Yes, Cousin Young Master," Chen Donglai replied.

Zhao Ping'an asked, "How is my Mother after I left?"

"The young lady, she..." Chen Donglai hesitated.

Zhao Ping'an frowned and said in a deep voice, "Tell me the truth!"

Chen Donglai let out a sigh. Wiping away tears, he said, "The young lady was too heartbroken. She vomited so much blood, then fell unconscious."

"Mother—" Zhao Ping'an could not help clenching his fists, his eyes filling with tears.

Seeing this, Chen Donglai hurriedly consoled him, "Cousin Young Master, the master said he will take good care of the young lady. Please remain calm. You must not cause a disturbance in the Zhennan Marquis Estate."

Zhao Ping'an took several deep breaths in succession before slowly loosening his fists. He took out a bottle of Greater Revitalizing Pills and discreetly rubbed the writing off the jade bottle with his fingers.

Then he said to Chen Donglai, "This medicine can treat my Mother's internal injuries. Take it back to Jiang Manor immediately."

The Greater Revitalizing Pills were far too precious. He feared some mishap might prevent Jiang Shuyue from receiving them for her injuries, so he did not directly tell Chen Donglai the name of the Spirit Pills.

As he spoke, he placed the bottle of Greater Revitalizing Pills into Chen Donglai's hand. "I'll trouble you."

"Rest assured, Cousin Young Master. I'll take the medicine back at once to treat the young lady's injuries," Chen Donglai answered.

He carefully put away the bottle of Greater Revitalizing Pills, then hurried off carrying his lantern.

About an Incense Stick later, Chen Donglai returned and said with great shame, "Cousin Young Master, the estate guards said that no one is allowed to enter or leave the Marquis Estate freely after dark. They would not let me out. I offered them silver, but they still refused to make an exception."

"Damn it!" Zhao Ping'an gritted his teeth in fury.

If the Greater Revitalizing Pills could not be delivered to Jiang Manor tonight, then his Mother would have to go an entire night without effective treatment and endure an entire night of terrible pain.

His Mother had vomited so much blood that she had lost consciousness.

If anything happened to her, even flattening the entire Zhennan Marquis Estate in the future would not be enough to vent the hatred in his heart.

He paced back and forth in extreme anxiety, his chest filled with indignation until it nearly exploded.

"Kid, stop pacing around. You're making my eyes spin." At that moment, an aged voice sounded in his ear, tinged with dissatisfaction.

It was the old black dog, speaking through Secret Sound Transmission.

Zhao Ping'an suddenly turned to stare at the old black dog. An idea struck him, and he hurriedly used Secret Sound Transmission. "Senior Old Black, could I ask you to make a trip? My Mother is at death's door and urgently needs the Greater Revitalizing Pills. Can you help me deliver them back to Jiang Manor?"

Before the old black dog could agree or refuse, he quickly added, "I am willing to do one more thing for you in the future."

"You said it. You owe me two things in total!" the old black dog said.

Overjoyed, Zhao Ping'an immediately said, "Thank you, Senior Old Black! I will do everything in my power to repay your great kindness."

Thus, he retrieved the Greater Revitalizing Pills from Chen Donglai and handed them to the old black dog.

The old black dog opened its mouth and swallowed the entire jade bottle, then slipped out of the cabin and swiftly vanished into the vast night.

Late at night, in Jiang Manor's Osmanthus Moon Courtyard, inside Jiang Shuyue's bedroom.

Jiang Shuyue lay unconscious on the bed, her breath as thin as gossamer. Her face was deathly pale, without the slightest trace of color.

Jiang Wen sat at the bedside, his upper body hunched as he stared blankly at his daughter. His brows were tightly furrowed, tears filled his eyes, and his fists were clenched.

He regretted it—regretted it beyond measure. He regretted ever agreeing to let his daughter marry into the Zhennan Marquis Estate, to marry that bastard Zhao Yingpeng.

After Jiang Shuyue vomited blood and lost consciousness, he had immediately sent for a famous physician. But after taking Jiang Shuyue's pulse, the physician had simply shaken his head and told him to prepare himself.

"Woof—"

Suddenly, a dog barked inside the bedroom.

Yet Jiang Wen heard nothing. He had become unresponsive to the outside world.

The old black dog had no choice but to step forward and tug at Jiang Wen's trouser leg with its teeth. Only then did Jiang Wen snap out of his grief-stricken numbness.

He slowly turned and looked down at the old black dog, recognizing it as the one Zhao Ping'an had brought back.

The old black dog opened its mouth and spat out a jade bottle of Spirit Pills.

At the sight of the jade bottle, Jiang Wen's heart stirred. He immediately bent down, picked it up, uncorked it, and poured out a Spirit Pill.

"It's a Greater Revitalizing Pill!" Ecstatic joy appeared on his face.

He lowered his head and asked the old black dog, "Did Ping'an send you with this?"

The old black dog nodded in a remarkably human manner, then turned and ran off in a flash.

Jiang Wen came back to himself and immediately helped Jiang Shuyue sit up, fed her the Greater Revitalizing Pill, and then poured True Essence into her body to help her refine the pill's medicinal power.

About an Incense Stick later, Jiang Shuyue slowly awakened.

Her eyes were half-open, staring unfocused at the mosquito net canopy overhead. There was not only no color in her eyes, but not the faintest spark of life.

Jiang Wen knew that his daughter had been too heartbroken, that her heart had turned to ashes.

To make her recover, he had to awaken her will to live.

"Yue'er, after Ping'an learned that you had vomited blood and fallen unconscious, he specifically had that old black dog he brought back deliver a Greater Revitalizing Pill to you," Jiang Wen said beside Jiang Shuyue's ear. "You only woke up because you took his Greater Revitalizing Pill."

At the word "Ping'an," a flicker finally appeared in Jiang Shuyue's eyes.

Jiang Wen continued, "Ping'an is so sensible and filial. As his Mother, you must make proper plans for him."

"He is now under house arrest in the Zhennan Marquis Estate. His food, clothing, and daily needs all depend on you. If you do not pull yourself together, he will starve to death alive."

"Besides, the gates of noble houses are as deep as the sea. He is all alone in the Zhennan Marquis Estate. If no one stands behind him to support him, he will be bullied to death..."

Before he could finish, Jiang Shuyue suddenly leaped from the bed and screamed over and over like a madwoman, "I want to cultivate! I want to become a Divine Treasury Realm expert! I want to become a top Dragon Transformation Realm expert! I want to become a Law Manifestation Realm Great Power! I want to become the strongest person in the Great Barrens! I want to save Ping'an..."