News of Chen Ya's return to her parents' home spread through the village overnight.
Several women squatting by the river to wash vegetables were gossiping about it.
One of them could not help shaking her head with a sigh as she spoke. "Who would have thought Wang Donggou would actually plot against Chen Ya just to be with Immortal Master Xu? I remember he went to her family himself to ask for her hand. A man's heart really can change just like that."
Another raised her eyebrows. "Still, Wang Donggou must have some ability to catch an immortal master's eye. But isn't the immortal master getting the short end of the stick?" After all, to many mortals, immortal masters were lofty beings far beyond their reach.
Someone scoffed. "If you ask me, it's hard to say who's getting the short end of the stick. That immortal master only has a hundred-year lifespan, and she's already fifty. She's old enough to be Gouzi's mother."
A young woman who had always disliked Xu Hui's manner said, "What immortal master? Don't insult that title anymore. Xu Hui is still lying in Wang Donggou's house, unable to get out of bed."
At that, they thought of the little girl who had taught Xu Hui a lesson. Her methods had been downright savage. Most of them instinctively avoided mentioning her, afraid their words might reach the girl's ears and displease her.
After Wang Donggou helped Xu Hui home, she discovered that she had not merely suffered external injuries. Her dantian had also been severely damaged. She hurriedly swallowed two Blood-Coagulating Pills, only to find that they did nothing.
From time to time, her entire body would turn cold, and she kept feeling a chill darting wildly through her meridians.
Wang Donggou looked unhappy when he