Chapter 34: A Downward Spiral

Pointing his sword at Xie Mengmeng, he said coldly, "You witch, what have you done to Lin Chen?"

Xie Mengmeng retorted without a hint of hesitation, "None of your business. What right do you have to call me a witch? Do you even know how many innocent women you've harmed today?"

"What do you mean?" Yan Ruyu asked, confused.

"With that brain of yours, even a pig is smarter. Instead of wasting time talking to me, you’d be better off returning to the Mo family's backyard to see for yourself." Xie Mengmeng spoke with a mocking smile, her eyes filled with undisguised contempt and derision.

"You had better not be lying to me, or you'll regret it." Leaving those words behind, Yan Ruyu hurried back toward the Mo residence.

Lin Chen stood before Yan Ruhu, who was dead drunk, completely oblivious to the impending danger.

"Shall I play the villain?" Xie Mengmeng approached gracefully, drawing a short blade from her waist.

"No need! It’s unnecessary." Before he could finish his sentence, Lin Chen thrust his bamboo staff into Yan Ruhu.

Blood bloomed across the floor like a crimson rose, and he died on the spot.

Just then, a group of guards swarmed in, surrounding the two of them tightly.

Yan Ruyu rushed in from outside the crowd, throwing herself over Yan Ruhu.

Weeping bitterly, she cursed, "Lin Chen, how could you be so heartless? Why? Why? How has my Yan family ever offended you?"

When she had set out for the Mo residence, she had felt that the witch was up to no good, which was why she had turned back. She had never imagined that Lin Chen would actually kill her brother.

"You go first; I'll hold them off," Xie Mengmeng said, holding the dagger before her.

"The reason I killed him is that he participated in the massacre of the Xiao family and used Mo Qinghai to ruin countless families. If you think that’s not enough to warrant his death, feel free to come for revenge—I’ll be waiting," Lin Chen said coldly, pulling Xie Mengmeng away.

"Fine... just you wait! If I don't kill you, I am no human," Yan Ruyu vowed, her cold eyes brimming with murderous intent.

At that moment, a golden-armored warrior materialized before them, radiating an immense and boundless aura that kept everyone at bay.

Under the gaze of the crowd, the two stepped into a Golden House. With a flash of golden light, they vanished.

Yan Ruyu followed the guards in a daze, watching as Yan Ruhu’s body was carried away, her emotions in turmoil.

Inside the Golden House, Xie Mengmeng said with a touch of pity, "That madwoman took quite a blow this time."

"When you do wrong, you must pay the price. Let’s go, we’re going to the Mo family to save the others." Lin Chen stepped out of the Golden House.

Xie Mengmeng smiled brightly and followed. Though she felt a flicker of sympathy, she was never soft-hearted toward those who deserved to die. Otherwise, she wouldn't have advanced so quickly.

The two returned to find the Mo residence quiet in the night, save for the faint, rustling sounds of pleas for help from the officials' female relatives.

As they neared a room in the back courtyard, they heard lewd, unbearable sounds coming from within.

Xie Mengmeng instinctively moved to kick the door down, but Lin Chen held her back. "What are you doing?"

"Saving them! Don't you hear that someone is being violated in there?" Xie Mengmeng was clearly incensed.

"Cool your temper. Have you ever seen a victim of such violation be so compliant?" Lin Chen said calmly.

Indeed, the next moment, a weak and breathy voice came from the room: "Young Master Mo, I am yours from now on. Please, be gentle."

Even Xie Mengmeng, who was accustomed to the cultivation of the Harmony Arts, found it hard to believe.

Unsurprisingly, Mo Qingshan’s cold voice followed: "You are a married woman; what makes you think you can be my woman? If you want to climb the social ladder, look at yourself first. Get out."

The woman dared not argue and fled the room in tears. Lin Chen and Xie Mengmeng remained silent, hidden in the shadows.

Lin Chen mused to himself that the woman had no shortage of ambition, hoping to trade herself for the Mo family's wealth and status. Evidently, Mo Qingshan had no interest in her. He wondered which official’s wife she was, to have so casually cuckolded her husband.

"Bah! Shameless," Xie Mengmeng spat with disdain.

In the past, such words were usually used against her, but now she realized how satisfying it was to hurl them at someone else. She was tempted to rush in and beat the woman, then expose her deeds, but she kept the thought to herself.

Once the woman was gone, the two emerged from the shadows and burst through the door.

Mo Qingshan, startled, began dressing while cursing, "Who? How dare you enter without knocking! Can’t you curs learn some manners?"

"Who are you calling a cur?" Xie Mengmeng retorted.

Hearing this, Mo Qingshan felt a surge of rage and turned around, teeth gritted. When he saw Xie Mengmeng’s adorable face, his expression softened into a grin. "Do you want to be my woman too? Come, sit here. I’ll give you the chance."

Xie Mengmeng paused and glanced at Lin Chen, who immediately understood and quietly retreated from the room. He made a throat-slitting gesture at the doorway before vanishing into the darkness.

Seeing Lin Chen leave, Xie Mengmeng put on an innocent expression and walked slowly toward Mo Qingshan.

Mo Qingshan grew bold, his hands greedily exploring her body. But as time passed, he made no further moves. It was clear the man was impotent. Xie Mengmeng’s look of feigned interest turned into one of murderous disgust.

With a sudden, violent movement, she struck. Mo Qingshan’s face twisted in agony; he clutched his groin, blood flowing down his legs and onto the bed. "Damn you... you bitch, what are you doing?"

Xie Mengmeng mocked him with a cold smile, "What’s the point of keeping something useless?"

Simultaneously, she drew a dagger from her storage ring and plunged it into Mo Qingshan’s heart without a moment's hesitation.

Mo Qingshan’s eyes widened in shock, unsure whether to clutch his chest or his groin. He couldn't believe that the girl who had been playing the coquette just moments ago could turn so vicious in an instant.

"You can't kill me... if you kill me, Young Master Yan won't let you go."

"Yan Ruhu? You can go down and keep him company! If things go as planned, you should meet on the path to the afterlife."

Although Mo Qingshan had some cultivation, to her, he was nothing more than an ant jumping about.

Xie Mengmeng dressed herself calmly and strolled out of the room. Behind her, the mattress was soaked in blood, and Mo Qingshan slowly closed his eyes.

That night, all the officials' female relatives were released, and the news of Mo Qingshan and Yan Ruhu’s deaths spread throughout Jinxiu City. No one knew the reason, and the only person who did, Yan Ruyu, kept her lips sealed. She was determined to kill Lin Chen herself. To that end, she threatened everyone who had witnessed the scene, forbidding them from uttering a single word.