Coercion

Li Yu had not returned to the Laundry Room for a long time.

Steward Zhang was rather curious. Li Yu had said some time ago that she would stay in the Laundry Room at night, so why had she left early today before work was even over?

It was not until Eldest Sister said someone had come looking for her that he learned of it.

Only after questioning her closely did Steward Zhang learn that it was an Old Woman.

He knew quite a bit about Li Yu's family affairs and felt that something was amiss, so he hurriedly sent someone to deliver word to the Li Family.

At the Li Family home, Li Youde was pacing in tight circles.

Li Youde anxiously paced around the courtyard. Someone from the Laundry Room had just come to report that Li Yu had been taken away by an Old Woman.

From the look of it, she had been forcibly abducted. He immediately panicked—there was no need to think about it; it had to be that black-hearted Granny Wang's handiwork!

Li Youde was sweating profusely with anxiety.

"Xiao'er still hasn't come back. If anything happens to Yu, how am I supposed to go on living..."

Just then, Li Xiao pushed the door open and entered.

Li Youde immediately got up and told Li Xiao what had happened.

After hearing it, Li Xiao flew into a towering rage.

"Granny Wang!" Fire seemed ready to burst from Li Xiao's eyes.

He grabbed his bow and arrows, slung them over his back, and was about to head out.

"Xiao'er! Where are you going?" Li Youde hurried after him on his lame leg and grabbed his arm.

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to Granny Wang's house!" Li Xiao's eyes were red, his voice filled with barely restrained fury.

"She dared lay a hand on my Eldest Sister. I'll make her pay with her life!"

In his heart, he had long since regarded these two as his family. Anyone who dared touch them would have to pay the price.

"You can't!" Li Youde clung to him desperately.

"Xiao'er, don't be rash!

No matter how vile that Granny Wang is, you can't let lives be lost!

If you kill someone, even if you avenge her, your whole life will be ruined! What will become of me and your Eldest Sister?"

"Then what about my Eldest Sister?" Li Xiao violently shook off his hand, his chest heaving.

"If I get there and, what if... what if..."

He did not dare think further. It felt as though a Giant Stone were crushing his chest, leaving him unable to breathe.

"Let's report it to the authorities! Yes, report it!" Li Youde had a flash of inspiration in his desperation.

"Granny Wang snatched someone in broad daylight. The Government Office has to do something!"

"Report it?" Li Xiao gave a cold laugh, his eyes full of disappointment.

"Dad, have you forgotten that Chen Hu's elder brother is a Martial Master, with a gang backing him?

Will the Government Office stand up for poor families like ours? By the time they investigate, it'll already be too late..."

He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down—this was not the time to act rashly. Eldest Sister was still waiting for him to save her.

"Dad, wait at home. I'll go to Granny Wang's house and take a look."

Li Xiao's voice softened somewhat, but it carried an Unquestionable resolve. "I won't act recklessly, but I have to go."

Without waiting for Li Youde's reply, he turned and rushed out of the courtyard, moving so fast he nearly seemed to fly.

Meanwhile, at Granny Wang's home, a faint smell of cooking smoke permeated the low Earthen House.

She was an outsider, and neither she nor her son was welcomed by the villagers. Thus, they lived at the Foot of the Mountain.

Granny Wang was holding a bowl of thin porridge, sitting beside the kang as she fed her paralyzed son.

In his younger days, her son had seduced another man's wife and had both legs broken by the husband. Now, he could only lie in bed.

That was also why she was scrambling for money. She had to find a woman to carry on the Wang Family line, but no normal person would ever want a cripple, so she could only buy one with money.

"Eat slowly. Don't choke."

Granny Wang's movements were unusually gentle. After feeding him a mouthful, she wiped the corner of his mouth.

"Mother, where did you go today?"

Her son's voice was muffled, his eyes dull.

Ever since his legs had been broken, he had become like Trash, needing Granny Wang to wait on him in everything. Several times he had wanted to end his life, but Granny Wang had stopped him every time.

"Mother went to earn money to buy you a wife."

Granny Wang sighed, though her mind was calculating matters concerning Li Yu.

She believed she had concealed it well enough, tying the girl up directly in the Firewood Room.

What she did not know was that Chen Hu was being kept under strict watch by Chen Long and could not get away at all.

Chen Hu had not taken Chen Long's words to heart either, nor had he told Granny Wang not to make a move on Li Yu for the time being.

"Before long, I'll be able to buy you a wife."

Granny Wang stroked her son's head, a glimmer of hope flashing in her eyes.

Bang!

The old Wooden Door was kicked open by Li Xiao, splinters flying everywhere.

With his bow and arrows on his back and his eyes bloodshot, he was like an enraged wild beast as he stared fixedly at Granny Wang inside the house.

The porridge bowl in Granny Wang's hand crashed to the floor, scattering thin porridge everywhere.

Seeing Li Xiao like this, she shuddered from head to toe, all color draining from her face in an instant.

How could he be here so quickly? Did this brat grow wings?

"Y-you... what are you trying to do?"

Granny Wang's voice trembled. She instinctively shrank back, her frantic eyes darting toward the door.

"In broad daylight, you dare break into someone's home? I'll call for help!"

As she spoke, she tried to rush outside, hoping to call the villagers over to bolster her courage.

How could Li Xiao possibly let her have her way?

He stepped forward and blocked the doorway, his blade-sharp gaze sweeping across everything in the room.

At that moment, he caught sight of the person lying on the kang—that man had a waxen complexion, his legs twisted unnaturally, his eyes dull. He was clearly Granny Wang's paralyzed son.

Unable to rush out, Granny Wang scratched at her head in panic before suddenly screaming:

"Murder! The hunter's boy is Killing People!"

Li Xiao's eyes narrowed. Ignoring her cries, he pulled the bow from his back, drew an arrow, nocked it, and slowly pulled the string taut.

The arrowhead was not aimed at Granny Wang, but steadily at the person on the kang.

"Don't move!" Li Xiao's voice was icy and piercing, carrying Unquestionable intimidation.

"Tell me where my Eldest Sister is.

Otherwise, this arrow will pierce his throat."

The man on the kang, whose eyes had been dull, was instantly filled with terror. Hoarse sounds came from his throat as his body began trembling uncontrollably.

Granny Wang's scream stopped abruptly. She stared at Li Xiao in horror, then at her son on the kang, her lips quivering.

"Y-you've gone mad! He's crippled!

Try touching him if you dare!"

"Just watch me."

Li Xiao's fingers tightened slightly. The bowstring gave a soft hum, and the arrowhead gleamed with cold light in the dimness.

"I'll ask one last time. Where is my Eldest Sister?"

He knew Granny Wang's weakness all too well—everything she did was for that paralyzed son.

Using him to threaten her was more effective than anything else.

Seeing how terrified her son was, then seeing the desperate ruthlessness in Li Xiao's eyes, Granny Wang lost her last sliver of hope.

She knew this boy truly dared to shoot.

"She's... she's in the old Firewood Room at the west end of the village..." Granny Wang finally broke down, her voice choked with sobs.

"I didn't do anything to her. I just... just tied her up..."

Li Xiao's gaze hardened. He did not lower his bow immediately.

"Who went with you? Was there anyone else?"

"N-no one else, just me..." Granny Wang hurriedly waved her hands.

"I was blinded by greed, I was wrong. Let my son go, and I'll take you to her. Right now!"

Li Xiao stared at her intently for a moment. Only after confirming that she was not lying did he slowly loosen the bowstring, though the arrow remained nocked and was not put away.

"Lead the way."

He said coldly, "If you dare play tricks, or if my Eldest Sister is missing so much as a hair, I guarantee he won't live past today."

Granny Wang did not dare delay another moment. She scrambled up from the ground and shakily made her way toward the door.

Li Xiao followed behind her, his bow aimed at the person on the kang the entire time. Only after stepping out of the house did he turn the arrowhead toward Granny Wang's back.

The old Firewood Room at the west end of the village was not far from Granny Wang's house. Along the way, Granny Wang scarcely dared breathe, her steps quickening.

Li Xiao stayed close behind, his wary gaze sweeping the surroundings, afraid there might be an ambush.

At last, the dilapidated Wooden Door of the Firewood Room appeared before them.

"She's... she's inside..." Granny Wang pointed at the Firewood Room, her voice trembling.

Li Xiao took a deep breath and kicked the Firewood Room door open.