Kill you within five days!

The front hall of Spring Return Hall.

The patients who had been waiting for treatment were long since driven out by the guards, who barked insults and threats at them.

The entrance was also blocked tight by the guards, allowing no one to enter or leave.

In an instant, the entire front hall became the private domain of Xie Chong.

Xie Chong himself sat in the seat of honor, legs crossed, acting as if he owned the place.

Manager Ren stood to the side, serving him with extreme caution, not even daring to draw a full breath.

"Master Xie..."

Manager Ren offered a sycophantic smile, his voice trembling as he asked, "What instructions do you have for us on this visit?"

"Instructions?"

Xie Chong snapped his folding fan open, nose held high, his gaze wandering wantonly around the hall as if teasing the space. Then, he asked with utter indifference, "Old thing, I ask you: when does your young mistress plan to marry me?"

His tone was airy, yet carried an unmistakable air of arrogance and threat.

Upon hearing this, Manager Ren's heart sank; sensing that disaster was imminent, he whispered, "Re—returning to Master Xie... the young mistress is still considering it. After all, this is a major matter. I beg you to grant us a few more days..."

"Considering?"

The smile on Xie Chong's face vanished instantly.

The next moment.

BANG!

Xie Chong slammed a palm onto the table. Wood chips exploded into the air as the entire table shattered into splinters.

Seeing this, Manager Ren's legs went weak, and he collapsed to the floor.

Xie Chong leaned in viciously, his eyes locked onto Manager Ren as he said, "I gave you three days, and you dragged it out for three. Now you tell me you're still considering?"

Xie Chong then sneered, pressing his folding fan against Manager Ren's throat with a light nudge. "I will give you five more days. Five days from now, Ren Zhining will crawl, roll, or walk—she must be married into my Xie Family."

His tone turned ice-cold. "Otherwise, your entire Spring Return Hall will be buried with her."

"Of course, don't think about running away. I've already spoken to the garrison. If you dare to flee, don't blame this young master for being ruthless!"

Hearing Xie Chong's threat, Manager Ren nodded repeatedly, his entire body shaking.

Watching Manager Ren's reaction, Xie Chong gave a disdainful laugh, snapped his fan shut, and turned to walk toward the door.

Just as Xie Chong reached the entrance, he caught a glimpse of a young girl with her head bowed, trying to shrink herself into nothingness.

That young girl was none other than Chen Chunmiao.

Xie Chong glanced at Chen Chunmiao before walking straight out the door.

Seeing Xie Chong leave, Manager Ren hurried toward the back hall, while Chen Chunmiao's tense body finally relaxed, and she was just about to let out a long sigh of relief.

But the very next moment.

Xie Chong actually walked back in, his eyes fixed intently on Chen Chunmiao as if he had discovered gold in the sand.

"Tsk tsk, little lady, even though you're dressed like a street urchin in coarse cloth, your figure is quite curvaceous—you can't even hide it!"

The look in Xie Chong's eyes as he appraised Chen Chunmiao was undisguised, and he clicked his tongue in wonder. "If you were properly groomed, dabbed with some powder, and put into a silk dress, I'm afraid even Ren Zhining would be overshadowed by you!"

As he spoke, Xie Chong stroked his chin, adding with a mocking smile, "It's only because I have a sharp eye that I noticed; if it were anyone else, they might have been fooled by your poverty-stricken disguise!"

"You... what do you want..."

Hearing these words from Xie Chong, Chen Chunmiao retreated two steps in terror.

Xie Chong looked at Chen Chunmiao and asked with a lecherous grin, "What is your name!"

Hearing Xie Chong's inquiry, Chen Chunmiao felt a burning anxiety; she instinctively wanted to make up a fake name to brush him off.

But she realized that everyone in Spring Return Hall knew her. If she gave a fake name and someone else blurted out her real one, not only would she be in trouble, but she might even drag Chen Jing down with her.

Thus, Chen Chunmiao had no choice but to honestly state her name: "Chen Chunmiao..."

Xie Chong nodded in satisfaction. "Very good."

Then, the declaration that cast her into the abyss fell: "Five days from now, little lady Chen, you will marry me along with Ren Zhining!"

"When the time comes, you two—mistress and servant—will serve me together. It will be quite the romantic tale when word gets out!"

"Hahahaha..."

Xie Chong's laughter exploded in her ears like a demonic claw before gradually fading into the distance.

After Xie Chong had completely departed, the entire Spring Return Hall fell into a deathly silence.

Chen Chunmiao could no longer hold herself up; she collapsed into a chair, gasping for air, her back soaked through with sweat.

"What do I do... am I really... going to marry a man like that?"

Chen Chunmiao clenched her hands until her knuckles turned white, muttering to herself, "Should I tell my little brother?"

"Should I tell him... but my little brother hasn't been practicing martial arts for long... he can't beat Xie Chong... and it will only implicate... my little brother."

"If I don't tell him... I'll be dead in five days..."

"Those old hags said that once Xie Chong's novelty wears off, he beats and berates his wives and concubines at the slightest provocation. Two women have already been beaten to death..."

Chen Chunmiao clenched her fists, tears swirling in her eyes as she struggled internally.

Just as Chen Chunmiao was lost in thought, Chen Jing and Ren Zhining walked over from the back hall.

"Second Sister, what's wrong? Did that Xie Chong lay a hand on you just now?"

Seeing that Chen Chunmiao's expression was clearly off, Chen Jing asked with concern.

"I... I'm fine..."

Hearing this, Chen Chunmiao quickly looked up at Chen Jing, took a deep breath, and slowly shook her head.

"Are you really okay?"

Chen Jing was skeptical.

"I'm really fine."

Chen Chunmiao forced a smile, though it looked incredibly strained.

"As long as you're okay."

Chen Jing looked at Chen Chunmiao's trembling hands, his heart sinking further.

He turned to Ren Zhining and cupped his hands in a salute. "In that case, Miss Ren, I will take my Second Sister home now."

On the way here, Chen Jing had heard from Manager Ren that Xie Chong would be coming to marry Ren Zhining in five days.

Spring Return Hall had become a dangerous place, and Chen Jing naturally wouldn't let Chen Chunmiao stay here any longer.

"Mm, take care on your way..."

Listening to Chen Jing, Ren Zhining responded with a look of worry.

Clearly, Xie Chong's five-day deadline had thrown Ren Zhining into a state of panic.

After leaving Spring Return Hall.

Along the way, Chen Chunmiao kept her mouth shut, not saying a single word, as if her soul had been drained away.

Chen Jing walked beside her and asked, "Second Sister, it's just the two of us here. What exactly happened?"

Hearing Chen Jing's persistent questioning, Chen Chunmiao stopped in her tracks. After a long silence, she finally spoke softly, "Little Brother, that Xie Chong... he has his eyes on me too. He said I am to marry him alongside Miss Ren in five days!"

"What!"

Chen Jing stopped in disbelief, his fists clenching tightly.

That bastard Xie Chong! It was one thing to target Ren Zhining, but to set his sights on Second Sister as well!

He wanted to marry both of them at the same time!

What did he take Second Sister for?

Back at the teahouse, Second Sister had mentioned how that guy Xie Chong would beat and abuse his wives and concubines at will.

If Second Sister married into that house, wouldn't she be walking straight into a pit of fire?

"Little Brother..."

Seeing Chen Jing's tightly clenched fists and the bulging veins, Chen Chunmiao hurried forward, took his hands in hers, and said with a choked voice, "Little Brother, I... I know your difficulties..."

"In five days... I... I will marry him along with Miss Ren..."

By the end, she couldn't hold back any longer, and tears dripped onto the back of Chen Jing's hand.

Every single tear felt like a heavy blow to Chen Jing's heart.

Chen Jing took a deep breath, reached out to gently wipe away her tears, and spoke with unprecedented firmness, "Second Sister!"

"Don't worry..."

"I won't let you marry Xie Chong."

"I will find a way within these five days."

"My senior brother and my master both have status. If they step in, it will be enough to call off this marriage."

Chen Chunmiao looked up, her eyes teary, and asked, "Little Brother... really?"

After all, who would want to die if they could live?

"Really."

Chen Jing gripped Chen Chunmiao's shoulders and said softly, "Trust me."

"...Okay."

Chen Chunmiao nodded.

The siblings then walked side by side toward the slums.

But in Chen Jing's heart, only one thought remained.

Xie Chong, is it?

You dare touch my Second Sister?

Within five days... I will kill you.