"Mother, why are you running this way?"
In the crowd, a young woman in her thirties with a sallow complexion was dragged by an old woman into a small alley to hide!
"You silly daughter-in-law, you're just like that blockheaded Laoda!" The old woman said, pulling the young woman towards the alleyway. "The streets are so chaotic, so many people are blocking the intersections. Can't you see the situation? Do you think we, the two of us, can outrun them? If we're not careful, we'll be trampled to death. And there are rumors of murder everywhere ahead. This chaos might be caused by bandits invading the city and carrying out a massacre. In this situation, the more crowded the area, the faster we'll die!"
"Huh?" The young woman was taken aback. "Mother, why do you say that? Wouldn't it be safer with more people around?"
"Safety?" The old woman looked at him like he was an idiot. "Safety? What's the point of those people running? If everyone's running, nobody cares about anyone else. Besides attracting more attention, what kind of safety is that?"
"I see." The two hid in the alley, and sure enough, while it was chaotic and noisy outside, the alley was as quiet as another world. Hiding in a corner really did separate them from the outside world, and their panicked mood calmed down a lot!
"Mother seems to be quite safe."
"Hmph," the old woman chuckled smugly, "Of course! Back then, I accompanied your father-in-law, that weak scholar, to Cloud Capital to take the imperial examination. On the way, we encountered a massacre in the city. If it weren't for my quick thinking, he would have been killed long ago. Your mother was also a beautiful young woman back then. If it weren't for my cleverness, I would have been raped to death by those heartless bandits!"
The young woman nodded blankly. Although her mother-in-law was strict with her, she had never made a mistake when it came to making decisions. Take the tofu-making days, for example. Although it was hard work, it did help the family establish themselves in Liuzhou. The business was very successful. If it weren't for supporting her brother-in-law, her family could probably have bought a big house in Liuzhou!
"Mother, will it be safe for me to stay here?"
"That's hard to say." The old woman shook her head. "If it's just some bandits coming into the city, it's fine. The officials will be able to handle it sooner or later. At most, you'll only have to hide for half a day, and then everything will probably be fine. But if it's like the bandits who massacred the city during the great chaos of the past, it's hard to say. No matter where you hide, you might be caught by those damned devils. But don't worry, I'm old, and you're not exactly good-looking either. If we, mother and daughter-in-law, put some ash on ourselves and dress up like refugees, hiding in a corner pretending to be beggars, we'll most likely not be noticed."
The young woman's face flushed red as she choked on her words. After all these years, she still couldn't get used to her mother-in-law's words. What did she mean by saying she wasn't good-looking?
If she hadn't married your foolish son and suffered all these years, would she have turned out like this? When she was young, everyone said she was the most beautiful girl in the surrounding area. She was fair-skinned and delicate, and had never done heavy work; her hands were so soft and tender you could squeeze water out of them. Unlike now, her fingers are as thick as radishes.
"But the child is still at home," the young woman said with some concern.
"That's the General's residence. If something happens there, there's nothing we, mother and daughter-in-law, can do. Don't worry, we need to survive first. Only if we survive can we have a chance to save our grandson. If something happens to us, we'll lose everything, understand?"
The young woman nodded blindly. Over the years, she had become accustomed to her domineering mother-in-law making the decisions, and although the old woman was infuriating, she was also quite reliable when it mattered.
"Excellent, excellent. Although she looks like a country woman, she is more knowledgeable than most women from large mansions!"
The old woman was taken aback, and immediately pulled her daughter-in-law back two steps.
"Mother, it's an old gentleman, you don't need to be so nervous." The young woman's hand was sore from being squeezed, and she quickly comforted the old woman.
The old woman, nicknamed "Silly Daughter-in-Law," gave a wry smile, "This alley is only so big. If there had been anyone there, we would have seen them long ago. Don't you think he just appeared out of nowhere?"
"Forehead?"
"I'm just a country woman, I doubt you'd even look down on me, sir. Why did you come to me?" the old woman asked cautiously.
The old gentleman was none other than Shen Laoliu. He looked the man up and down with a smile and asked in surprise, " Chen Qing's mother?"
Old woman. "."
"Mother, this gentleman recognizes Chen Qing!" the young woman exclaimed in delight.
"Shut up!" the old woman said, her face turning ashen.
"It seems I was right." Sixth Master Shen said with a gentle smile, "It's really strange. That Young Lord Chen's methods are so bizarre and magical, yet his own mother is just an ordinary countrywoman. Tsk tsk, where did he get all those skills from?"
The old woman pulled her daughter-in-law back slowly, cursing inwardly. "I knew it was that troublesome little brat!"
Actually, when she was brought over from the north, she felt that her child must have run into trouble. She wasn't a completely ignorant country woman; she knew in her heart that no one could become the prefect of Liuzhou right after passing the imperial examination. Sometimes, a windfall isn't necessarily a good thing. Later, when Nanyang City was sealed off, she became even more worried. Now it seems that her worries were not unfounded; that brat really did run into trouble!
Without hesitation, she reached for the brick hidden behind her, ready to launch a sudden attack.
She didn't really expect to succeed in her attack, but she didn't want to drag that brat down with her. As for her daughter-in-law, she could only treat her poorly to the end. If she suffered misfortune along with her, she could only make it up to this foolish daughter-in-law in her next life.
Shen Laoliu naturally noticed the old woman's subtle actions, and a hint of admiration flashed in his eyes.
This country woman is calm and decisive. Although she's just an ordinary person, she knows how to read the situation, which is quite good. Otherwise, why not develop a relationship with her to threaten that brat Chen Qing?
"Mother"
A soft voice stopped the old woman's movements, tinged with helplessness. "When did Sixth Master Shen find out?"
Chen Qing had actually arrived long ago, but he had also discovered Sixth Master Shen's whereabouts long ago. He had not dared to make a move because he was too close and was not confident that he could protect his mother and sister-in-law.
Behind him, Shen Laoshi frowned. He wanted to make a move directly, after all, the blood feud of Twelve was right in front of him, but he was being stared at by the fierce little boy next to him, as if he would kill him if he dared to make a move!
Although Laoshi was arrogant, he was self-aware. The powerful aura that this little kid had displayed in the restaurant was stronger than that of Yuchi Peng. If they fought at such close range, even with his Divine Wind, he might not be able to escape unscathed.
After all, she wasn't the eldest sister-in-law, who cultivated both magic and martial arts.
"I discovered it quite early," Sixth Master Shen chuckled. "The entire Nanyang is under my surveillance. Hong Rui, a general, was so polite to two country women; I could naturally guess that their identities were not simple. A few days ago, that country man took a young woman towards Liuzhou. And according to your intelligence, Lord Chen, they came from a family of farmers and scholars who lost their father at a young age. Connecting these points, it's not difficult, is it?"
" Sixth Master Shen really has a lot of free time," Chen Qing said coldly. "Ordinary people wouldn't observe Lord Hong's quarters so closely."
"There's no other way. He's a regional commander-in-chief, after all. Even though the intelligence says he's a spoiled brat, what if he's sent by the court to monitor me?" The Laoliu laughed. " The Laowu went to the capital. Even though I'm cooperating with him, it's still a question of whether he'll trust me. This Hong Rui is a perfect candidate for surveillance. His identity is that of a gilded playboy, making him the least likely to arouse suspicion, isn't it?"
"Ha," Chen Qing laughed, "I thought you and Fifth Master had been working together for so many years and already trusted each other."
"I'm curious," Sixth Master Shen, looking at Chen Qing. "Even after years of working with Laowu, I still don't dare to trust him. Yet you dare to trust him so easily and cooperate with him. Tell me, which of my brothers did you reach an agreement with, Lord Chen?"
Why does Sixth Master think I've cooperated with your brothers?
"Why pretend to be stupid, Lord Chen?" Sixth Master Shen sneered. "The Nine Heavens Mirror Valley has trapped us for ten thousand years. We brothers know its rules and methods by heart. Without their help, no matter how capable you are, you can't get out of the Nine Heavens Mirror Valley's blockade."
"Can't I come from the Yin-Yang Road?"
" Wang Ye's skills are still shallow; he can't possibly use the Flying Star Technique twice in such a short time. As for the thing beside you... the Ghost Child, right?" Laoliu sneered, "Given the current situation on the Yin-Yang Road, do you dare ride Ghost Horse in?"
As he spoke, Shen Laoliu took a step closer to the old woman. "Time is of the essence, Lord Chen, it would be best not to delay."
Chen Qing's face darkened. Looking at the distance between Shen Laoliu and his mother, he finally admitted honestly, " Princess White Jade!"
"You really dare to do that, hahaha!" Sixth Master Shen laughed loudly, "Among the nine brothers and sisters, if we're talking about the most ruthless, the Laoqi is definitely in the top three. Lord Chen is young and impetuous, could he have been bewitched by the Laoqi's appearance?"
"It's not impossible," Chen Qing said with a smile. " With Princess White Jade's refined air, what's a little risk if we can win her heart?"
"Ha, don't bother with those words." Shen Laoliu glanced at the enormous eye in the sky that had been observing them for a long time and said, "Take me out of Nanyang City, and I'll let your family go!"
"Even if I wanted to, Seventh Master Shen and the others wouldn't let you go. Sixth Master just brutally murdered someone's brother right in front of them."
"I don't care about that." Sixth Master Shen shook his head. "This is your business. If you can't do it, I'll kill these two old women!"
Sister-in-law Chen Qing's face twitched. Although she knew the scene was serious and she shouldn't be thinking about such details, she was still a little angry. What did she mean by "two old women"? You're the old woman!
"Alright!" Seeing that Sixth Master Shen had taken another step closer, Chen Qing knew that he was about to make a move, and quickly called out, "I'll take you out!"
"Son," Chen Qing's mother pinched the brick hidden in her sleeve, "Is it alright?"
"Don't worry, Mother, everything will be alright!" Chen Qing reassured her mother, "Don't do anything rash, your Laoda and younger sister are still waiting for you over there."
"Good, good, it's good that they're alright!" Chen Qing's mother's eyes immediately filled with tears. During the days that Nanyang City was under lockdown, her biggest worry was her daughter and eldest son who had already gone to Liuzhou.
" Lord Chen, isn't this inappropriate?" Laoshi frowned, about to say something, when Ghost Child grabbed his neck.
"Please trouble you to see us out, Tenth Master."
"You—" Shen Laoshi's face immediately turned ashen; he had been threatened for the second time today!
Then he looked at Shen Laoliu and said, "Please, Sixth Master, show yourself. Otherwise, how can we safely send you out?"
Shen Laoliu looked at Chen Qing with a hint of doubt in his eyes. To be honest, he felt that the situation should be in his hands, but for some reason, he still felt that something was not right.
"What are you worried about, Sixth Master?" Chen Qing frowned and said, "Are you afraid that I will make a move if my true form appears? You can rest assured about that. Although I am unfilial, I would not dare to joke about my mother's safety. If you are really worried, you can establish a spell, how about that?"
It certainly seems quite sincere.
Sixth Master Shen also felt that the other party should be unable to outsmart him, unless he was a ruthless person who would not even care about his own mother's safety.
Thinking of this, Sixth Master Shen suddenly found it somewhat amusing; what he was now gambling on was actually a person's conscience.
I'm the one who believes in this stuff the least!