Redemption

"Grandma! Grandma!" The little girl searched around anxiously, calling out at the top of her lungs.

Seeing her grandmother leave her behind, she covered her face and sobbed, "Waaah, waaah!"

She had been abandoned after all.

Seeing the little girl, who was around ten, crying so sorrowfully, Yun Ling couldn't help but pity her. She went over and, with some effort, crouched beside her, stroking her bun as she gently comforted her. "Don't cry, Jingjing. Grandma just went to save your father. She'll be back in a few days."

Her family ran a congee shop, so she saw a great many customers every day. She also had an excellent memory, and knew nearly everyone in the Sky Fortune Tribe.

When Chen Jingjing was only a few years old, she had come to the congee shop with her father, Chen Zhou, to eat congee. Yun Ling had even teased the little toddler back then.

Grandma Chen wasn't actually surnamed Chen. No one knew what her surname was; everyone called her Grandma from the Chen family, and over time, that became Grandma Chen.

As she comforted her, Yun Ling drew Chen Jingjing into her arms.

"Grandma, I want Grandma!" the little girl cried even louder.

Ziyan and Muyang stood rooted to the spot like a pair of logs, at a loss for what to do.

After soothing the little girl, Yun Ling tried to stand up, but her leg suddenly went numb, and she fell onto the grass.

"Big sister!" Chen Jingjing cried out in alarm. She hurried over and tried to help Yun Ling up, but she was simply too small and weak.

Seeing this, the two women who had been idling nearby immediately sprang into action.

They rushed over in a flash, one on each side, and supported Yun Ling by the arms, lifting her with ease.

"Thank you," Yun Ling said with a sweet smile, glancing at the three girls. Two shallow dimples appeared at the corners of her mouth. "Come on, let's go home. I'll treat you to something delicious."

With the three of them around, she probably wouldn't be lonely anymore.

Tianyun Plateau.

Xian He escorted Grandma Chen all the way to the southern exit of the Sky Fortune Tribe.

The Sky Fortune Tribe had four exits in all: east, west, south, and north. The eastern exit faced the slave market, the western exit faced the road down the mountain, the southern exit faced Black Oil Forest, and the northern exit faced the farmland and Muyang Forest.

The meeting place named in Greedy Wolf's ransom letter was near Black Oil Forest. Black Oil Forest surrounded Black Spring, the forbidden grounds, and was extremely dangerous. It was said that Greedy Wolf had established its headquarters in Black Oil Forest, as its people often appeared in the area.

Seeing that no one was around, Xian He untied his money pouch and handed it to Grandma Chen, reminding her, "Keep the money safe. Don't drop it along the way. I can't go any farther with you."

"Thank you, young man!" Grandma Chen excitedly stuffed the pouch into her clothes. Her cloudy old eyes were full of hope.

With this money, she could buy back her only son.

Xian He smiled and waved a hand. "No need to thank me. Just pick out a few capable maids for me in the future. I'll wait for you at this crossroads, so hurry back." He held a hand over his brow and looked up at the sun. It would be noon in an hour or two.

"Very well! This old servant will be off!" Grandma Chen set out with her cane, hobbling away.

Few people went to Black Oil Forest, so no main road led there. There was only a winding, rugged path strewn with stones and choked with brambles.

Grandma Chen clenched her teeth, gripped her cane, and pressed on into the depths of the path. The vegetation grew thicker and thicker.

After who knew how long, a group of masked men blocked the middle of the road.

Some carried massive broadswords, others shouldered iron spears, and still others leaned on enormous stone hammers. A terrifying aura of murderous intent radiated from them.

Every man's face covering was embroidered with the character "Wolf."

"Hey! This mountain was opened by me, these trees were planted by me! If you want to pass through, leave your toll behind!" The masked swordsman at their head brandished his gleaming blade and glared menacingly at the prey before him.

Thud!

Grandma Chen fell to her knees. Kowtowing, she pleaded, "Mercy, Masters of Greedy Wolf! This old woman has come to buy back her son."

"Buying someone back?" The masked swordsman narrowed his eyes and asked coldly, "Which one do you want? The blacksmith, Li, the tailor, Zhang, or the carpenter, Zhao?"

"None of them. My son plants Muyang Trees. His surname is Chen, and his name is Chen Zhou," Grandma Chen replied, her voice trembling.

"A gardener?" The masked swordsman froze, then turned and asked, "Is there a man like that among the hostages?"

"I think there's a gardener who plants trees. But he tried to escape last night and even attacked one of our brothers, wounding him. He was hacked to death," one of the men recalled.

After hearing the report, the masked swordsman felt no sympathy at all. He asked coldly, "Where's the body?"

"I'll go get it right away!" The man called over two companions, and they hurried off.

By now, Grandma Chen had gone deathly pale.

Her son... was dead?

No, they must have made a mistake. How could Chen Zhou be dead? He was such a coward; there was no way he would try to escape, much less attack anyone. They had to be mistaken. That was the only explanation.

"Master of Greedy Wolf, are you sure you haven't made a mistake?" Grandma Chen asked.

A flicker of impatience passed through the masked swordsman's eyes. "We'll know soon enough. Hand over the ransom first!" He shot a glance at the man behind him.