Chapter 27: The Shura Field Continues (Second Update)

Perhaps it was out of a desire to avoid impropriety, but Chuyi’s method of hauling Jiang Wu along was quite unsightly. Jiang Wu felt as though she were being clamped under his arm, head facing the ground. His lightness skills were so rapid that by the time he finally set her down, her legs were so unsteady she couldn't even stand properly; she stumbled back several steps, unable to shake off the nausea for quite some time.

For the first time, she felt a murderous impulse toward someone other than Chu Ling. Damn it, was this man’s brain as abnormal as his master’s?

"My Lady!" Chuyi’s cold tone made Jiang Wu temporarily ignore her discomfort to look over.

One glance, and she was startled.

The meadow that had been covered in flowers just moments ago was now littered with the corpses of men in black, the ground stained with blood. Only then did the smell of blood finally register in her nose.

Chu Ling had many bitter enemies, and this was not the first time Jiang Wu had encountered such an assassination attempt. Given how cleanly and efficiently he dealt with them, the scene wasn't overly gruesome, yet her stomach, which had only just settled, began to churn again.

She looked at Chu Ling, who stood in the center of the pile of bodies.

The man was rarely seen in white robes, but now they were completely stained with blood, and his fair face hadn't been spared either. His hair was more disheveled than before, with loose strands fluttering slightly in the breeze. He had originally been unarmed, but the blood-dripping sword in his hand had likely been snatched from one of the assassins.

Though people always called him a living Yama, only at this moment did he truly resemble the King of Hell.

His silent eyes held no light, only the crimson glow of the slaughter.

Seeing him with eyes burning with the madness of killing, and now walking toward her, Jiang Wu subconsciously hid behind Chuyi.

Instinctively, Chuyi blocked his mistress, but upon realizing the sudden surge of violent aura radiating from Chu Ling, he caught himself and stepped aside, exposing Jiang Wu once more.

"My Lady," he whispered, "you need not be afraid. The Master will not harm you."

Observing that the Master had suffered no injuries other than a sprained ankle, Chuyi retreated to the side.

The Lady was too busy being frightened to notice, but he had seen it clearly: the moment the Master saw her, the murderous aura vanished entirely. His steps toward her, though slightly awkward due to the sprain, were without a hint of hesitation.

With the return of light to his eyes, the man seemed to transform in an instant from a fallen demon back into a human.

Chuyi lowered his gaze, no longer watching the two of them.

Jiang Wu wanted to die. How could she not be afraid? She was so terrified right now that she wanted to "let bygones be bygones" and grab the clothes of this stone-faced man to beg him not to leave. Didn't he care that his master was currently out of his mind and killing anyone in sight?

Only a final shred of reason stopped her from reaching out. She had a feeling that if she did, the man nearby would only become more frantic. Still, she couldn't help but retreat two more steps.

This action seemed to snap the man back to his senses. His eyes regained their clarity in an instant, and after a moment’s pause, he dropped the sword in his hand.

Jiang Wu took a cautious look. Although Chu Ling’s gaze was no longer terrifying and he had discarded the bloody sword, who wouldn't be afraid of a blood-soaked living Yama walking toward them with a dark expression?

Moreover, his ankle was sprained because of her, and the assassins had appeared after she left. She even suspected that Chu Ling might think she had arranged the ambush.

She felt incredibly wronged.

When the man stood still before her, Jiang Wu shifted her eyes everywhere, afraid to look at him. But then she thought, wouldn't that just make her look guilty? Just as she was gathering the courage to look up, she saw Chu Ling’s hand move.

She shrank her neck, a chill washing over her.

As it turned out, the man simply brought his hand to his chest and, under Jiang Wu’s trembling gaze, pulled out a flower crown… A flower crown?

Jiang Wu was stunned.

The crown was beautifully woven, with colors and sizes perfectly matched. If not for the fact that the owner was Chu Ling, one would think it had been meticulously designed.

Unlike the man, who was covered in blood, the crown was completely spotless.

"I told you to walk so fast when you were supposed to be enjoying the scenery. Now, you can't see anything at all."

Indeed, with corpses scattered everywhere, what was there left to see?

Chu Ling, who had just finished killing, had already returned to his calm and breezy self. Even the bloodstains on his face made him look all the more bewitching. As he spoke, he placed the crown on Jiang Wu’s head.

Jiang Wu’s expression was blank. She reached up to touch the flowers; they felt soft and were indeed freshly picked.

What was wrong with this man?

Such a Chu Ling made Jiang Wu feel at a loss. Her intuition told her that this was even more dangerous, and that… it would be even harder to divorce him.

Why?

Why was he acting like this all of a sudden?

Perhaps because the woman remained in a daze, Chu Ling’s expression softened further. "What is it? Do you not like it?"

Jiang Wu clutched the edge of the crown and answered bluntly, "I can't see what it looks like while I'm wearing it."

A flash of unreadable emotion crossed Chu Ling’s eyes, as if he were seriously considering that there was some logic to her words.

"Then shall I wear it so you can see?"

What kind of terrifying thing was this man saying? Jiang Wu clutched the crown tightly, looking as if she were terrified he would snatch it away, though in truth, she was genuinely afraid of him doing such incomprehensible things.

Chu Ling didn't move, but his eyes, swirling with hidden depths, revealed a hint of good humor.

Seeing that he didn't seem to be in a killing mood anymore, Jiang Wu felt relieved and asked out of routine, "My Lord, are you alright?"

He had sprained his ankle, was all alone, yet so many assassins hadn't been able to kill him. Truly, a scourge lives for a thousand years.

"I am fine. The blood belongs to the others."

Fine, she got it. Jiang Wu felt a small pang of regret. Seeing that Chu Ling was in a good mood after her inquiry, she secretly pondered: he wouldn't think she was actually concerned about him, would he?

Chuyi, who had finished searching the bodies, walked over. "My Lord, there are no clues on the corpses."

"Hmm," Chu Ling didn't seem surprised. "Hang these corpses on the city gates to dry in the wind. One escaped; seal off this area and hunt him down."

How terrifying!

Having regained her composure, Jiang Wu finally remembered the earlier incident. She glared at the stone-faced man with annoyance, wondering what excuse she could find to have Chu Ling punish him properly. The grudge between them had grown significantly.

Before she could think of an excuse, she heard Chu Ling’s deep, chilly voice: "Is Chuyi so good to look at?"

Huh?

Jiang Wu saw Chuyi tremble slightly and realized her gaze had been lingering on him. Meeting Chu Ling’s dark, heavy eyes, she immediately switched to a fawning tone: "No, I was just thinking that Chuyi failed to protect his master, and you should punish him severely!"

A few extra lashes would be best!

"Severely?" Chu Ling looked at the head-bowed Chuyi with a cryptic smile, his hostility easing considerably. "It was I who told him not to follow; I do not blame him."

Jiang Wu was furious. Why was Chu Ling so lenient toward this stone-faced man?

"Let’s go."

Since Chu Ling had spoken, Jiang Wu could only follow along sullenly. She deliberately kept a distance, not wanting to get Chu Ling’s blood on her. Besides, since he was capable of killing so many people, where was the need for him to be supported?

***

Chu Ling didn't force the matter, nor did he ask Chuyi to come over; he simply walked slowly on his own.

Jiang Wu accommodated his pace, but suddenly remembering something, she shuffled toward him like a turtle.

"This assassin has nothing to do with me." She clarified seriously.

Chuyi, walking not far behind, twitched the corner of his mouth. Although they certainly knew the assassin had nothing to do with her, the way she specifically explained it made it sound as if she were blatantly saying, "Even though I do have thoughts of assassinating you."

What kind of wife clarifies this when her husband is ambushed?

Fortunately, Chu Ling did not seem displeased. Instead, the corners of his lips curled upward slightly. "It doesn't matter whether you did or not."

"Hmm?"

"In any case, you couldn't kill me."

Jiang Wu clenched her fists. She had been looked down upon! Be careful, next time she would assassinate him while he was asleep!

She followed him slowly the entire way, and just as they were finally nearing their destination, the man stumbled as if he had lost his footing while climbing the stairs.

Jiang Wu reached out instinctively, but before she could touch him, he grabbed her hand in a firm grip. The man’s significant strength caused her to lose her balance, forcing her to lean into him. As their robes tangled, even though the blood was already dry and hadn't stained her, she still felt uncomfortable.

However, Chu Ling gripped her wrist so tightly that she couldn't step back. In that moment of proximity, Jiang Wu vaguely heard him sigh.

It sounded like helplessness, yet also satisfaction.

"You were the one who reached out first," he said.

His tone carried an inexplicable softness that Jiang Wu couldn't understand.

"Why?" Jiang Wu couldn't fathom why his attitude had changed so suddenly.

"Didn't you say you wanted me to treat you better?"

When had she ever said that?

Before Jiang Wu could react, she heard Qingyang’s voice from nearby: "Lord Chu, what happened to you?"

She looked up and saw Qingyang approaching with a worried expression, followed by Mo Yangzhou not far behind.

She wanted to slap herself again. Why had she reached out?

Mo Yangzhou stood at a distance and did not approach. Jiang Wu locked eyes with him for a moment before turning away.

She felt incredibly restless. She couldn't shake Chu Ling’s hand off, and it felt as though nothing she said could explain the situation.

What Jiang Wu didn't know was that from Mo Yangzhou’s perspective, the two of them leaning against each other looked jarringly well-matched.

The man, dirty and covered in blood, and the pure, flawless woman with flowers in her hair—the contrast was so sharp that they should have been mismatched, yet because of the man’s possessive hold, they presented a strange harmony.

He seemed to lean on Jiang Wu for support, but when Mo Yangzhou met his cold, piercing gaze, he knew it was a display of territorial dominance—a warning to other encroaching threats.

"Ran into a few blind assassins," Chu Ling said nonchalantly. "Already taken care of."

"Is Lord Chu unharmed, then?" Qingyang asked again.

"Hmm." Chu Ling’s gaze swept over the people present and quickly withdrew. "I am unharmed. Only one assassin escaped, which is why I have ordered the villa to be sealed off. I must trouble the Princess to stay for a few more days."

Although the news of the villa being sealed had only just been ordered by Chu Ling, Chuyi had already sent the signal, and the men below were executing the order with speed. Now, no one was permitted to enter or leave.

Jiang Wu realized belatedly: oh no, wouldn't that mean Yangzhou couldn't leave either?

She bit her lip tightly. She knew nothing good ever came from being with Chu Ling. What an unlucky day.

Since Chu Ling had spoken, Princess Qingyang naturally had no room to object, so she simply said there was nothing urgent and agreed to stay.

Mo Yangzhou and his daughter were also unable to leave.

That same day, Ah Ye and his sister were also brought over.

Chu Ling really did what he said.

Jiang Wu was happy to see them, but the thought of an assassin still being at large in the villa made her uneasy.

If that assassin had any conscience, he should just assassinate that wretched Chu Ling and leave her precious children alone.

"Hasn't the assassin been found yet?" she asked worriedly. "Wouldn't it be dangerous for Ah Ye and Nian Yin to be here?"

"Assassin?" Chu Ye had only just heard. No wonder there were so many guards in the villa. He looked at his mother with a tense expression. "Are you alright, Mother?"

Nian Yin also looked worried, her bright eyes fixed on her.

Seeing her children look at her with such concern, Jiang Wu felt wonderful. After basking in the feeling, she feigned a casual look toward Chu Ling. "Oh, Mother is fine. It was your father who was ambushed."

She felt a touch of schadenfreude.

However, she was happy, but what was with the "thank goodness" expressions on the siblings' faces?

Tsk tsk, Jiang Wu sighed inwardly. Look at how much of a failure Chu Ling was as a human being; nobody liked him.

Still, the two children didn't go too far. They offered a perfunctory greeting to their father, their routine, hollow tone bearing a striking resemblance to Jiang Wu’s own style.

Chu Ling didn't seem to mind, turning to answer Jiang Wu’s question instead: "The villa is heavily guarded now; that single assassin can't stir up much trouble. I had them brought here to keep you company."

Jiang Wu didn't know what to say. "If I wanted company, couldn't I have just gone back to the manor?"

Chu Ling put down the book in his hand.

"Weren't you having fun? Stay here and play for a few more days," he said.

There was a smile in his eyes—a smile that made Jiang Wu’s skin crawl. A word flashed through her mind: *ill-intentioned*.

Between corpses and assassins, having both her husband and her lover present, and both her biological and non-biological children here—what kind of "fun" was this? She didn't want to play at all!

***

The group continued to stay at the villa, though Jiang Wu was utterly baffled by how the situation had developed.

When everyone gathered for breakfast the next morning, Jiang Wu noticed that Nian Yin’s voice sounded different than usual.

Ever since she learned the child had a heart condition, Jiang Wu had been extremely cautious. She became anxious the moment she heard it.

"What's wrong? Are you not feeling well?" She gripped her daughter’s hand, which felt a bit cold. "The temperature difference between day and night in the mountains is vast. You must make sure to cover yourself well at night."

"I know, Mother. It’s nothing serious," Nian Yin smiled.

Jiang Wu personally served her a bowl of hot porridge and told her to drink it while it was warm.

"I hear that Miss Mo is also staying here."

It was Chu Ling’s voice.

Nian Yin’s expression shifted. "Which Miss Mo?"

"Is it Mingzhu?" Chu Ling said casually. "The one your brother lost to in the horse race? She seems quite compatible with your mother; they seemed very happy riding horses together earlier."

Jiang Wu was annoyed the moment she heard his voice; she wished she could sew his mouth shut. Why hadn't she realized before that he was so talkative?

The two siblings, upon hearing this, lowered their faces in unison.

Nian Yin’s complexion looked even paler than before. She forced a smile. "So it is that young lady. However..." her hand clutching the handkerchief tightened slightly. "Since she is here, why not invite her to join us for breakfast? If she is compatible with Mother, I would like to get to know her as well."

Jiang Wu hesitated. She had originally wanted to refuse, but then heard her daughter say, "I don't have many friends, and I just want someone to talk to. I met her once before and liked her quite a bit. Mother, is it okay?"

She said the last sentence while acting spoiled toward Jiang Wu. With that pathetic and adorable look, how could Jiang Wu refuse? Her heart softened, and she agreed. "Alright, then… ask your father."

Jiang Wu looked at Chu Ling, as he was the highest authority here. Chu Ling didn't refuse, and Jiang Wu even felt there was a hint of him wanting to watch the drama unfold.

"Since we are inviting Miss Mo," Chu Ye, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up, stopping the servant who was about to leave, "we should invite Mr. Mo as well. With the father and daughter both present, it won't be seen as a lack of courtesy on our part."

He looked at his father across the table with a hint of provocation. The faint smile at the corners of Chu Ling’s mouth indeed stiffened for a moment, but he quickly returned to normal and instructed the servant waiting for his signal: "Do as the young master says."

Jiang Wu didn't know how to stop it.

Her head began to throb again, so she looked at Qingyang. Qingyang put down her spoon without changing her expression and elegantly wiped her mouth.

"Lord Chu, please enjoy your meal slowly. I have finished, so I will take my leave."

Jiang Wu gritted her teeth. That was your "intimate guest," and you’re just leaving? Is that appropriate? If Chu Ling makes things difficult for them later, who will speak up for them?

But Qingyang’s glance seemed to say, "I won't interfere in your family affairs."

"Safe travels, Princess," Chu Ling said, and Qingyang left gracefully.

Fine, Jiang Wu thought, at least this time they were eating, not performing a public humiliation.

Her children were also well-bred and wouldn't do anything to embarrass others. Thinking this, she relaxed slightly.

Before long, Mo Yangzhou and his daughter arrived with the servant.

As they bowed, Jiang Wu noticed that Mo Mingzhu’s complexion was also devoid of color; she must have caught a chill as well.

*Sigh*, she worried inwardly. Why did they all fail to take care of themselves?

After bowing, the two sat in the lower seats.

Nian Yin glanced toward Mo Mingzhu, then took the initiative to start a conversation: "Miss Mo, I met you once during the spring outing, and I felt a sense of kinship with you. It’s a pity I was suffering from my old illness then. Now, I am glad to have this opportunity to get to know you."

Chu Nian Yin had a pitiful face, and her eyes were very similar to Jiang Wu’s. When she looked at people with such timidity, most men and women alike would feel pity.

Except for Mo Mingzhu.

She sneered inwardly. This act of feigned fragility could only fool that silly woman who thought, "My daughter is the best."

But since the silly woman was watching, no matter how reluctant she was, she had to play along. "Miss Chu is too kind. I am but a commoner; I don't deserve your favor."

"Miss Mo, why say such things? I am not someone who cares about status. Besides, it is rare for you to be so compatible with my mother. It is a pity my health is poor, so I cannot join Mother in activities like horseback riding."

Jiang Wu had originally been happy that Nian Yin liked Mingzhu, but hearing this, her heart ached terribly. She patted her daughter’s hand. "Why say that? It doesn't matter if you can't ride horses; there are plenty of other things we can do."

Mo Mingzhu swore she absolutely saw the smug, triumphant smile on that scheming girl’s face.

She wasn't someone who usually lost her composure, but when it came to anything involving Jiang Wu, she couldn't help but lose her temper.

Especially now, being provoked like this.

Mo Yangzhou probably sensed her rising emotions and tugged on her sleeve under the table, signaling her to stay calm.

But it was clear he couldn't control Mo Mingzhu.

Mingzhu pondered for a moment, then put on a smile. "Since Miss Chu doesn't mind, it is my honor to get to know you. In that case, why not just call me Mingzhu from now on?"

This time, even Jiang Wu noticed that the smile on Nian Yin’s face vanished for a moment. She secretly thought it strange—her daughter clearly didn't dislike Mingzhu, so why did she seem to hate that name?

But quickly, Nian Yin’s expression returned to normal. "Miss Mo should be older than me, right? Calling you by your first name might not be quite right. How about I call you Sister Mo?"

The words were seamless.

Mo Mingzhu hadn't been happy at first, but looking at Jiang Wu, she thought: *Fine, I’ll just take the advantage.* She smiled at Chu Nian Yin. "Of course, Sister Nian Yin."

Jiang Wu was very relieved. Although she didn't know what was odd about it, she was genuinely happy that the two of them could get along well.

Calling each other sisters wasn't wrong. If she really did divorce Chu Ling later and ended up with Mo Yangzhou, she would logically be called "Sister" anyway.

Thinking of the divorce, Jiang Wu couldn't help but think of the strange behavior of Chu Ling recently. She looked up and saw the man with his head lowered, as if nothing had to do with him.

Yet, the moment Jiang Wu looked over, he seemed to sense it and looked up.

After locking eyes for a moment, Jiang Wu awkwardly looked away. She suddenly realized that since Chu Ling could bring Ah Ye and his sister here, she should bring Chu Yan and her children here too. If they wanted a reunion, they might as well have a grand reunion altogether.

She was genuinely planning the feasibility of this in her mind when Nian Yin suddenly asked, "Mother, your hairpin is very exquisite."

"Ah?" Jiang Wu smiled awkwardly. "It is quite beautiful." She noticed Chu Ling looking over, but with Yangzhou here, she absolutely didn't want to admit it was a gift from him.

Nian Yin continued to ask, "I’ve never seen you wear it before. Did you buy it recently?"

Her daughter was just being purely curious, and Jiang Wu couldn't blame her, but she still felt a slight sense of suffocation in her chest. At this point, continuing to avoid mentioning Chu Ling would be too deliberate.

She could only say, "It was a gift from your father."

As she spoke, she subconsciously looked at Mo Yangzhou and, as expected, saw his hand move under his sleeve, clenching into a fist.

She was furious. She couldn't blame her daughter, so she blamed Chu Ling. That Chu Ling—why did he have to send gifts for no reason? If she had known, she wouldn't have worn it this morning, no matter what.

Yet Nian Yin was all smiles, looking at her with envious, sparkling eyes. "Mother and Father have been together for so many years, and your affection is still so deep. Father didn't even bring us gifts when he went out this time."

Jiang Wu felt even more stifled. Her silly daughter lived at her grandmother’s house, so naturally, she didn't know—where was there any "deep affection" between them?

But she couldn't bear to break the illusion and disappoint her daughter, so she nodded with a forced smile and continued to drink her porridge.

This meal was absolutely miserable.