Chapter Forty-Four: Injustice in the Mortal World

“Mother!”

As soon as Widow Qin returned to the house, she was embraced around her slender waist.

Her mood was excellent; she lowered her gaze and patted her daughter’s small head. “What is it?”

Huaihua’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Brother Fang gave you something, didn’t he?”

“Hm?”

Widow Qin immediately grew wary, instinctively folding her sleeves tighter. “Little girl, why do you ask so many questions?”

“I heard it all!”

The little girl huffed indignantly. “I know, he gave you a Beauty Retaining Pill!”

“Good heavens!”

Widow Qin clapped a hand over her mouth. “What nonsense are you spouting?”

Huaihua could only mumble and struggle, unable to escape, finally quieting down obediently.

“That wasn’t from your Brother Fang.”

Widow Qin released her, giving her a reproachful glance. “That was from that fat Daoist, who asked him to deliver it to me!”

Huaihua pouted. “You just accept it like that? How will you repay the Daoist’s favor in the future? Will you offer yourself?”

“You little fox!”

Widow Qin pinched her daughter’s cheek in frustration. “Talking nonsense again. Mother knows what she’s doing!”

Widow Qin understood it well.

This time, she owed Daoist Pang an enormous favor.

And Daoist Pang’s feelings for her—

Among the more than a thousand people in Zhenjia Village, there wasn’t a soul, save for babbling infants, who didn’t know about it!

But this was a Beauty Retaining Pill!

No matter what, Widow Qin found it impossible to refuse.

Her gaze involuntarily drifted to the bronze mirror atop the wooden cabinet.

The mirror instantly reflected a face full of alluring charm.

Even if she tried to conceal her beauty,

This face still bewitched the village men, leaving them utterly enthralled.

Many village women secretly cursed her as a temptress!

Widow Qin instinctively raised her hand to touch the corner of her eye.

To her shock, she discovered a faint crow’s foot.

Though barely noticeable,

It struck a chord deep within her heart!

Whether human or spirit, unless one achieved immortality, none could withstand the ravages of time.

Aging was inevitable, creeping in bit by bit.

The beauty of the world is fleeting; rosy cheeks fade from the mirror, blossoms abandon the tree.

Those two lines Daoist Pang had once recited to her echoed quietly in Widow Qin’s heart.

That fat fellow truly had some literary talent.

Unable to resist, she gripped her sleeve tightly, resolved to take the Beauty Retaining Pill tonight.

Even if it meant owing the Daoist a karmic debt, she would not hesitate!

Having made up her mind, Widow Qin felt no more anxiety or hesitation.

She patted her daughter’s cheek and said earnestly, “Little girl, Brother Fang is a good person. Don’t use him to practice your enchantment arts anymore.”

“I never did!”

Huaihua’s eyes widened in shock, her face full of innocent grievance. “I didn’t!”

“Well, if you didn’t, then you didn’t.”

Widow Qin smiled gently, then suddenly turned her head to glance at the doorway.

She frowned and said, “That old woman is acting up again. Go call her back.”

“Alright.”

Huaihua replied crisply and darted out of the room.

Meanwhile, Fang Xiao had left Widow Qin’s home,

making his way towards the village entrance.

He hadn’t gone far when a shrill voice called out from behind him. “Young Master Fang!”

The sound made Fang Xiao’s skin crawl.

He instantly remembered the yellow-furred creature he’d encountered that night!

Fang Xiao instinctively gripped his weapon belt.

“Young Master Fang, wait!”

The person calling him hurriedly caught up—it was none other than Widow Qin’s mother-in-law!

Despite her age, she moved remarkably fast.

Seeing Fang Xiao stop,

she forced a smile and asked, “Young Master Fang, did the Abbot Pang ask you to deliver some silver to my daughter-in-law?”

This old woman, already near the end of her days, likely had only a few years left.

Yet when she spoke of “silver,” her aged eyes gleamed with greedy desire.

Fang Xiao shook his head. “No.”

Though it was their first meeting,

his first impression of her was very poor.

Now, he felt even more disgusted.

Fang Xiao wasn’t the type to hide his emotions.

His dislike for Widow Qin’s mother-in-law was plainly written on his face!

The old woman was sensitive and her gaze turned venomous. “You…”

“Grandma!”

Before she could finish, Huaihua burst out after her. “Mother wants you to come home.”

The old woman’s eye twitched a few times, and suddenly her spirit deflated.

She turned and left quietly.

Huaihua winked at Fang Xiao. “Goodbye, Brother Fang!”

Fang Xiao waved to the little girl,

watching her and the old woman return home together,

and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

He continued onward.

“Master Wang, please, give us a few more days!”

“Father! Mother! Save me!”

“You old fool, get out!”

After only a few dozen steps,

Fang Xiao saw the gate of a house wide open by the roadside, with cries and pleas and curses coming from within.

He peeked inside.

There, the courtyard was in chaos; an elderly farmer and his wife knelt on the ground, clutching the clothes of a middle-aged man, weeping and begging desperately.

Beside them, a burly man with a fierce expression was tightly gripping a young girl in homespun, who was sobbing uncontrollably.

Two others stood behind the middle-aged man, arms folded.

Seeing this scene,

Fang Xiao’s blood boiled. He strode forward and shouted sternly, “Let go of that girl!”

He was not one to tolerate injustice!

“Where did this brat come from?”

One of the men behind the middle-aged fellow grew furious, rolling up his sleeves, ready to teach Fang Xiao a lesson.

“Wait!”

The middle-aged man’s expression changed as soon as he saw Fang Xiao.

He quickly stopped his subordinate, shrugged off the farmer and his wife,

and stepped forward, cupping his hands in salute. “May I ask, young sir, are you Abbot Pang’s disciple?”

Fang Xiao frowned. “You could say so.”

As the saying goes, you don’t strike a smiling face.

Had the man been aggressive and unreasonable, Fang Xiao would have used his belt and fists to teach him some sense.

But this middle-aged man was polite, smiling, and spoke respectfully.

He couldn’t just punch him, could he?

Pointing at the homespun girl held by the burly man, Fang Xiao asked in a deep voice, “In broad daylight, are you trying to abduct her?”

He’d seen movies, after all!

The middle-aged man signaled, and the burly fellow reluctantly released the girl.

She immediately threw herself into her mother’s arms, sobbing all the while.

“Little Daoist, you’re mistaken!”

The middle-aged man hurried to explain, “We’re only here to collect taxes. This family owes more than half a year’s worth. My master is merciful and hasn’t charged compound interest.”

“But the county office is pressing us hard—we have no choice!”

Fang Xiao glanced at the kneeling farmer.

The old man’s face was numb,

and he made no attempt to argue.

Fang Xiao shook his head. “That doesn’t mean you can just grab people.”

The middle-aged man gave a bitter smile.

Fang Xiao asked again, “How much does this family owe?”

The man quickly replied, “Including interest, three taels and seven coins of silver.”

That’s all?

Without hesitation, Fang Xiao pulled a silver ingot from his satchel.

“I’ll pay!”