Chapter 93

Chapter 93: A Worthy Death

“My Lord, what happened? Why… why was it in my courtyard?” Meng Yang was dazed and startled.

Qi Shu Xian, though feeling somewhat displeased by the turmoil inside, reminded himself it was his own doing. Comfortingly, he patted Meng Yang and rose, saying, “Enough. It was merely an animal. If you’re upset, I’ll buy another one exactly like it for Pinglan Residence.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Sheng Zhi Wan stepped out from the small kitchen.

Lai Fu’s limp body was now cradled in Ting Lan’s arms.

Sheng Zhi Wan approached Qi Shu Xian and Meng Yang, her eyes devoid of any warmth, filled only with endless coldness.

Seeing her like this, Qi Shu Xian immediately frowned, stepping protectively before Meng Yang. He was about to speak when a flash of silver streaked by, followed by a sharp pain in his arm.

Meng Yang instantly saw blood dripping from Qi Shu Xian’s sleeve, shrieking in horror, “My Lord!”

Her eyes caught sight of the kitchen knife in Sheng Zhi Wan’s grip, and she screamed again in panic, “Sheng Zhi Wan, have you gone mad? You dare harm the Heir Apparent!”

Sheng Zhi Wan ignored her completely, slashing the knife again toward Qi Shu Xian’s neck.

Qi Shu Xian had been caught off guard the first time. Now alert, he quickly grasped Sheng Zhi Wan’s left hand, gripping it so tightly that the knife clattered onto the ground.

Fury blazing in her eyes, Sheng Zhi Wan had known she couldn’t overpower him. Why else would she have a second plan?

Her right hand clenched a sharp silver hairpin. Taking advantage of Qi Shu Xian’s distraction, she stabbed it fiercely into his shoulder.

“Ugh!” Qi Shu Xian groaned in pain as the hairpin pierced deeply into his shoulder blade.

He lowered his gaze and met Sheng Zhi Wan’s ruthless eyes. Without hesitation, she twisted the hairpin deeper into the wound before swiftly pulling it out.

Qi Shu Xian clutched his left shoulder, the pain rendering his arm almost useless.

“My Lord, are you alright?” Meng Yang was terrified. Sheng Zhi Wan truly was a madwoman—utterly merciless!

“Don’t touch me!” Qi Shu Xian snapped, feeling thousands of needles stabbing through his arm.

Meng Yang hurriedly pulled her hand back in panic.

“Sheng Zhi Wan, what did you do?” Qi Shu Xian glared at her miserably.

Only then did Sheng Zhi Wan give a cold smile, followed by another.

“Qi Shu Xian, I’ll ask once, and you answer. Or else this arm of yours will be crippled forever.”

“What?” Qi Shu Xian stared at her, incredulous.

Ignoring his disbelief, Sheng Zhi Wan continued, “Who did it?”

Qi Shu Xian pressed his lips tightly together, refusing to speak.

Sheng Zhi Wan smiled again, icy and cruel. “Very good. It seems you don’t value your arm. A general who loses an arm could easily meet death on the battlefield. I suppose that would suffice as revenge for Lai Fu.”

Finished speaking, she turned coldly to leave.

“Wait!” Meng Yang cried, seeing Qi Shu Xian’s suffering. Gritting her teeth, she pleaded, “Princess, it’s all my fault. If… If it helps, I’ll pay with my life. Just spare the General’s arm!”

She threw herself toward a pillar nearby.

Touched, Qi Shu Xian swiftly stopped her with his other hand.

Meng Yang sobbed uncontrollably.

“No need,” Qi Shu Xian growled. “This minor injury won’t cripple me.”

“Oh?” Sheng Zhi Wan mocked coldly, “The spot I stabbed is the Tianzong acupoint. As a martial artist, you must know the consequences of damaging this acupoint. If you don’t believe me, circulate your inner Qi and try.”

“My Lord…” Meng Yang looked anxiously at him.

Qi Shu Xian hesitated. He couldn’t believe Sheng Zhi Wan knew anything about acupoints; she’d never mentioned it before.

But her confidence was unsettling. After a brief hesitation, he channeled his inner Qi.

“Argh!” A sharp agony pierced his arm, far worse than before.

Qi Shu Xian was stunned—could it truly be?

Sheng Zhi Wan had crippled his arm! But how was that possible?

Refusing to accept it, he desperately attempted several more times, sweat drenching his forehead from the intense pain.

“My Lord, what’s happening? Please, speak to me!” Meng Yang cried, more distressed as Qi Shu Xian’s expression darkened yet remained silent.

“Six times already,” Sheng Zhi Wan warned ominously. “Allow me to remind you: after ten attempts, your arm will truly be lost.”

Qi Shu Xian immediately ceased his attempts.

He stared at Sheng Zhi Wan in disbelief. “Since when did you learn these things? Why did I never know?”

“Are you certain now is the right time to discuss that?” Sheng Zhi Wan replied coldly. “I’ll ask again: who killed Lai Fu?”

Qi Shu Xian remained silent.

Sheng Zhi Wan turned to leave once more.

“It was me!” Qi Shu Xian finally admitted.

Sheng Zhi Wan froze mid-step.

“But who can blame me?” Qi Shu Xian continued bitterly. “If not for your ruthless insistence on punishing Qing Liu with severe beating over mere words, disregarding life entirely, Yang’er wouldn’t have been frightened into a fever!”

“So, why did you kill Lai Fu?” Sheng Zhi Wan turned slowly, fixing him with a penetrating gaze.

Qi Shu Xian’s expression twisted painfully. “Because dog blood wards off evil! It was merely an animal. If its death saves Yang’er and our unborn child, isn’t that a worthy death?”