Chapter 606

Chapter 606: Retribution

Nightfall.

Lu Chao Chao checked on several disciples’ conditions. “We will rest in the village for a day tomorrow. The detachment from the Nether Mind has left their souls unstable…”

She had not rested at all that night, instead transferring spiritual energy to stabilize her disciples’ spirits.

Deep into the night.

A peaceful mountain village was suddenly disturbed by the wailing of a young girl. However, the cries were quickly muffled, as if someone had covered her mouth, and the silence returned just as swiftly.

Standing at the doorway, Lu Chao Chao furrowed her brows. Windchaser, in his furry large dog form, crouched at her feet. Xie Yu Zhou lifted a finger to his lips in a shushing motion before they quietly moved toward the neighboring house.

“Zhu Mo, stay behind and watch over Shan Shan and the others.”

The villagers seemed to be gathered in the ancestral hall for a meeting.

Inside the hall, a heated argument was taking place, though voices were kept low. The village chief sat at the head of the hall, silently smoking his pipe.

“Who came up with such a foolish idea—allowing that worthless girl to attend school for free? If she goes to school, who will cook, wash clothes, feed the pigs, and do the house chores?”

“Zong Bao is the true heir of our family. Why should a money-losing girl get such an opportunity?”

“I won’t allow it.”

“That’s right, Village Chief, we all disagree!”

“I heard that the academy does not only have great scholars teaching, but also cultivators instructing in magical arts. Even if she learns a little, it could change her fate. Such fortune, why should it go to a worthless girl? Once she marries out, she will belong to another family. I won’t allow it!” The crowd’s expressions darkened as they voiced their objections.

A place in the academy under a great scholar’s tutelage was something for which even outside scholars fought, offering thousands of silver taels for a chance.

And cultivation?

They dared not even dream.

When magical arts first spread, almost everyone attempted cultivation. Yet few truly broke past the threshold into the path of immortality.

Those who succeeded were taken away by officials, rising to great heights in a single step.

It was an impossible dream.

But should even one succeed, the entire village would prosper alongside them, gaining prestige even in the county town.

“But this was an imperial decree from the capital. If we are discovered, it would be a grave crime of deception against His Majesty,” the village chief hesitated.

“Scholars from the outside world fight tooth and nail for a place in that academy, and you would give it away to a dead girl?”

“I have a solution.”

“The academy is enrolling girls. At such a young age, it is hard to distinguish gender. We simply need to dress Zong Bao and Tian Ze as girls.”

“This is a girls’ academy—will they strip children to check their gender?”

“Besides, boys are far more valuable than girls. Do you really think we would risk our sons for some worthless girl?” One of the men sneered, speaking as if it was the most logical thing in the world.

“I want to study! I want to study… Let me go, I want to study…!” Zhao Di, who had been eavesdropping from the corner, burst into sobs upon hearing the villagers’ plan to replace her.

But her mouth was swiftly covered, for fear of alerting the esteemed guests staying next door.

The entire village was present in the ancestral hall. At that moment, Old Madam Wang shot a vicious glare at Zhao Di. “You brought death to your father, and now you want to study? Spit!”

“Village Chief, I have no sons. How about selling Zhao Di’s spot to one of the boys in the village?”

Behind her, a young woman bit her lip. “Mother, Zhao Di is my husband’s only child. Let her—”

Old Madam Wang turned and slapped the woman so hard she stumbled backward.

She had given birth but never had the chance to recover from childbirth, leaving her weak.

“Get lost!”

Turning back to the village chief, she declared, “I have only one condition—pay me the money!”

The village chief deliberated for a moment before nodding.

The young woman immediately burst into tears. “This defies the emperor’s will! Who are you to rob girls of their chance? Even His Majesty does not discriminate against daughters, but you—!”

“I will get justice for Zhao Di!”

She stepped forward, trying to leave.

But with a single glance from the village chief, strong young men blocked the hall’s entrance.

“Lock her up. Don’t let her ruin the boys’ chances of enrolling.”

With that, both mother and daughter were imprisoned.

Throughout the night, the village remained awake.

All were busy dressing their sons as girls.

Before dawn, the village chief set off with a cart full of ‘girls’ bound for the academy.

On the ox cart sat several children, their postures proud, looking around with haughty expressions.

Zhao Di, however, was carrying a massive bamboo basket on her back, filled to the brim with wild grass that weighed her down.

“Zhao Di, stay home and raise pigs. That’s all you’re good for… I’ll take your fortune for myself.”

“A money-losing girl dreaming of learning cultivation and studying under a great scholar? Keep dreaming.”

“Girls in the village are meant to be sold for money.”

“Once I return with knowledge, you’ll be nothing but my horse to ride, haha…!”

The disguised ‘girls’ laughed smugly.

At that moment, noise came from the ancestral hall’s side.

The village chief shot them a look, and they immediately sat upright on the cart. Zhao Di’s chest rose and fell rapidly, her eyes brimming with tears, yet she dared not let them fall.

“Zhao Di, I heard that today is the academy’s registration. Why aren’t you going?” Xie Yu Zhou asked.

Zhao Di opened her mouth, but the village chief swiftly answered, “Someone must stay behind to tend the household. Zhao Di’s elder sister is gone, so her grandmother sent someone to take her place…” He pointed at a ‘little girl’ beside him.

The ‘little girl’ smiled nervously but kept silent, afraid that their voice might give them away.

“Honored guests, please rest well. When you depart, simply leave as you wish. I will first take the children to register,” the village chief said before driving the cart away.

Those boys, dressed in stolen names, were stepping on the blood and sacrifices of the village girls.

Perhaps fearing Zhao Di might speak, the villagers urged, “Zhao Di, hurry back home. Your grandmother is calling for you.”

Zhao Di, however, looked at Lu Chao Chao, at her beautiful dress and clean pink shoes.

Growing impatient, the villagers glared at her. “Zhao Di, hurry up!”

Zhao Di hesitated before whispering, “Can I… touch your dress?”

She blushed in shame, lowering her head. “S-sorry…”

Lu Chao Chao took her calloused little hand and smiled. “Of course. If you like it, I’ll give you a dress just like this.”

Zhao Di’s eyes shone with both shame and yearning. She lightly brushed the fabric before withdrawing her hand. “My hands are rough… I might ruin your dress. I—I don’t deserve it.”

Then she hurried away.

The villagers sighed in relief.

Lu Chao Chao’s gaze darkened. “Prepare some fitting dresses for her.” Not deserve? Soon, she would.

The villagers waited anxiously, pacing by the entrance.

They all knew that the academy was the path to changing a poor family’s fate.

By dusk, the ox cart creaked back into the village.

Accompanied by ragged, hoarse sobbing.

“They’re back,” Xie Yu Zhou remarked as Lu Chao Chao withdrew her spiritual energy from her disciple.

Before he finished speaking, the village was already filled with the sounds of wailing despair.

“Heavens curse you! My dear grandson!”

A woman collapsed at the sight on the cart, wailing in agony.

“My son! What happened?!”

“Zong Bao!”

“Tian Ze…”

Beneath the cart, a dark red pool of blood seeped into the earth.