The Concubine's Grievance Shakes the Thatched Hut, Immortals Peer Through the Truth and Shatter Misconceptions

Yiqing and Lecheng looked at each other, utterly bewildered. "Th-This... what's going on? Did we say something wrong?"

"Alas!" The old woman sighed, but said nothing more.

Seeing the heavy atmosphere, Yiqing tried to change the subject. His gaze fell upon the child hiding behind the door, and he removed a plain yet elegant jade hairpin from his hair.

It had been a gift from his master when he first entered the sect. Though not valuable, it was exquisitely made.

With a smile, he held it out to the child. "Child, we have troubled you for half a day and brought no gift to thank you. Take this jade hairpin. Give it to your mother later—she will surely be delighted."

But the child shrank back, clutching her little hands even tighter. Her eyes reddened as she stubbornly turned her face away, then ran into the inner room, gently closing the door behind her.

Yiqing stood frozen in place, still holding the jade hairpin, even more confused. "This family... why are they all so strange?"

The atmosphere in the house grew ever more stifling. Only the occasional crackle of firewood from the kitchen could be heard.

Helpless, Yiqing and Lecheng could only huddle together and speak in low voices.

"What a pity. We weren't able to rescue County Magistrate Wang and the others as well."

Yiqing lowered his voice, his tone full of regret. "That Blood Butcher is so savage. County Magistrate Wang and the rest are likely..."

"Alas, the martial uncles had already exhausted every ounce of strength just getting us out."

Lecheng sighed. "That Heaven and Earth Transposition Formation consumes an enormous amount of energy to begin with. If they had brought a few more people, I'm afraid even we would not have escaped.

Given Blood Butcher's temperament, County