Chapter 379: Viciousness
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
Lu Chao Chao gulped down her milk, her big eyes darting around as she tilted her head, looking innocent.
“Old ancestor? What old ancestor?” she asked in her sweet, childish voice.
The expression of Old Master Su darkened as he stood up and descended the steps one by one. The Su family members hurriedly made way as his presence grew heavier with each step.
His face was shadowed with gloom, his eyes carrying a menacing aura. He looked down at Lu Chao Chao, his gaze scrutinizing.
Suddenly, Lu Chao Chao reached into her robe and pulled out a handful of spiritual grains. As she lifted her hand, the Tracking Crane fluttered down onto her palm, eagerly pecking at the grains.
“Oh! So it just wanted some spiritual grains…” Lu Chao Chao’s eyes curved into a smile, her two dimples making her look especially innocent.
“Ah, I knew it! Why else would the Tracking Crane suddenly land on a three-and-a-half-year-old princess’s head?”
“Turns out, the little princess was carrying spiritual grains all along.”
A Su family member wiped his sweat in relief.
“Our old ancestor has cultivated for a thousand years; how could he possibly perish at the hands of a three-and-a-half-year-old girl? Impossible…” another clan member muttered.
The Tracking Crane finished the spiritual grains and took off once more, flapping its wings vigorously.
This time, it didn’t settle on Lu Chao Chao but circled above the Su family estate.
One moment, it landed on Old Master Su’s shoulder.
The next, it perched on Nan Mu Bai’s shoulder.
Then, it hopped onto the shoulders of the Su family elders, stopping briefly on nearly everyone present.
Old Master Su’s face turned black.
“Has the Tracking Crane gone mad? Why is it landing on our clan members?! Does that mean our old ancestor’s death has something to do with us?!” The old master’s voice thundered with rage.
Nan Mu Bai was utterly bewildered. “No… that’s impossible…”
“The Tracking Crane is tended to daily. Just a few days ago, it was still searching for lost objects in the palace!”
But Old Master Su had no patience for explanations. “Take the crane back!”
Taking a deep breath, he forced down his irritation.
Nan Mu Bai, still puzzled, reached out to summon the Tracking Crane.
However, the bird continued flitting from one shoulder to another, its black-and-white eyes fixating on Nan Mu Bai.
“Don’t be anxious, I’ll return to the palace and ask the Grand National Advisor for help,” Nan Mu Bai sighed, realizing his great-grandfather had no time to deal with him. With that, he took his leave, frowning as he cradled the restless crane.
Meanwhile, Lu Chao Chao stood quietly behind the Su clan members, giggling to herself.
She knew that grand noble families like the Su clan would always keep a soul tablet for their ancestors. If something unfortunate happened, the soul tablet would shatter, revealing the location of their demise.
Back then, she was fleeing with her family and didn’t dare to fight the Su clan head-on. So, she had left behind a remnant soul… and only crushed it today.
At this moment—
“Old ancestor, old ancestor! Who killed our Su family’s old ancestor?! This grudge is irreconcilable!!”
“All Su descendants, heed my order!”
“We must slay the murderer and avenge our ancestor!!” Old Master Su’s eyes burned red, his gaze fierce and bloodthirsty, his entire being radiating killing intent.
“Avenge our ancestor! Avenge our ancestor!!” The Su family roared in unison, their fists clenched, their voices resounding far and wide.
And the culprit?
She was sitting right there, cross-legged, grinning at them.
“Tomorrow, I will enter the palace and seek the Mirror of All Things…” The Grand National Advisor of the Southern Kingdom was highly skilled in divination and held a mystical mirror that could reveal all things.
It was said the mirror could even show the final moments of the deceased.
Old Master Su’s face was filled with grief, his back slightly hunched.
“Could this be the work of allied noble families trying to eliminate our ancestor?” Su Yu An, the young master of the Su family, helped the old master up as he voiced his suspicions.
The old master slowly shook his head.
“They wouldn’t dare! Though they fear the Su family, they would never push us into a desperate situation. They know well the principle of lips and teeth depending on each other.”
“Then… did the ancestor meet his end while searching for food?” Su Yu An knew that Mystic Turtle cultivated through live human sacrifices.
Lu Chao Chao wobbled forward and raised her little hand.
“I heard your old ancestor was a thousand-year-old turtle! And turtles are very nutritious! Could someone have eaten him?” She kindly offered a hint.
“Nonsense!”
“Do you think our old ancestor was an ordinary, defenseless turtle? Unless a god descended, no one could harm him!” Old Master Su scoffed with disdain.
Lu Chao Chao shrugged. “Believe me or not, up to you.”
“Enough. Tomorrow, I will borrow the Mirror of All Things. I must see who killed our Su family’s old ancestor!”
With a wave of his hand, Old Master Su dismissed the gathering.
His gaze fell upon Lu Chao Chao. “Our Su family has a rule—anyone who enters our gates must kneel in the ancestral shrine.”
“Go and kneel.”
Su Yu An gave them one last glance before helping his grandfather inside.
Lu Chao Chao lifted her head and peered at the sky above the Su family estate. The thick scent of blood hung heavily, congealing into tangible mist.
“I don’t like the Su family. It gives me the creeps…” Xie Yu Zhou shuddered, rubbing his arms as goosebumps spread across his skin.
Lu Chao Chao turned to the estate’s main entrance.
A seemingly unremarkable doorway stood firm, barring countless vengeful spirits outside.
“Little princess, follow me to the ancestral shrine.”
“Even imperial kin must offer incense when visiting the Su family.” A clan member spoke with unmistakable pride. This was the highest honor of the Su family.
The moment Lu Chao Chao stepped out of the courtyard, her ears were filled with agonized cries.
“It hurts! It hurts so much… Help…”
“Demons of the Su family, return my life! Return my life! It burns, it burns—”
“Little girl, run! Run away! The Su family sacrifices virgin boys and girls! Run!”
“It hurts, save me! Save me! The fire, the fire—”
“Heavens, why have you not punished the Su family for the slaughter of Peach Source Village?!”
Hearing this, Lu Chao Chao’s eyelids twitched, her breath hitching.
She glanced up casually.
The outer courtyard of the Su family was filled with countless vengeful spirits.
Their eyes were bloodshot, their bodies charred beyond recognition, shrieking in endless torment—
A true vision of hell.
They tried to approach the Su clan members, but as soon as they got close, the golden light surrounding the clan repelled them.
Each time they were struck by the light, flames erupted from their bodies, causing them to wail in agony.
These were the people of Peach Source Village!
The Su family slaughtered the village and, fearing the villagers would report them in the underworld, trapped their souls here—watching helplessly as the Su clan reveled in their prosperity.
“Big brother, what’s that on your waist?” Lu Chao Chao pointed at a yellow triangular talisman.
The clan member lifted his chin. “A warding charm. It repels evil spirits!”
No wonder. No wonder they couldn’t get close.
“Princess Sunshine, you’re too young to understand. You’d best leave early.”
“What can a tiny ant do to shake a great tree?”
“Madam Ning was just a lowly farm girl from Peach Source Village. How could she be fit to be the Western Palace’s empress? Give up your foolish dreams!”
“Seeking justice for your grandmother? Hah! See if you have the power first!”
At those words, the wailing spirits fell silent.
“She… she’s Ning’er’s granddaughter?”
“Only Ning’er survived from Peach Source Village! She is Ning’er’s granddaughter!”
“Child, run! The Su family are demons! Run, child, run!”
In an instant, countless spirits surged toward Lu Chao Chao, their eyes filled with shock and terror.