Vol. 2 - Chapter 65 - This Is the Justice You Speak Of!

Hearing the elderly woman’s concerned voice, Xiaolian’s eyes welled up slightly.

“Grandma, I’m doing well.”

“I met someone very kind…”

“I work as a maid now. Four taels of silver a month.”

“I occasionally go out to run errands. Not many. It’s quite relaxed.”

Xiaolian held the old woman’s hand, her voice turning gentle.

Hearing Xiaolian’s words, everyone nearby twitched at the corners of their mouths.

A maid?

Four taels a month?

You, a dignified second-rank assassin, are working as someone’s maid?

This thought flashed through everyone’s mind.

Qiong Longshan and Lu Nuo’s expressions changed as they heard this.

A maid?

Behind Xiaolian stands Grandmaster Donghua…

Suddenly, many things clicked into place for them.

Even if she’s a maid, it depends on whose maid she is!

To be a maid for a Grandmaster…

Hiss…

Could it be…

Qiong Longshan remembered Xiaolian mentioning her surname was Chen. A possibility dawned on him.

Inexplicably, Qiong Longshan’s expression stiffened.

Xiaolian spoke only of the good in the past two years, leaving out all the suffering.

Though old, the woman wasn’t senile.

From the reactions of those around her, she could tell her granddaughter was far more than what she claimed.

The elderly woman gently patted Xiaolian’s hand and nodded with a tone of heartfelt relief.

“Good…”

“Being a maid isn’t so bad.”

“When our Qiong family was still poor, Grandma used to wash clothes for others too…”

Her eyes were distant with memories.

Standing beside the old woman, Xiaolian felt her heart settle somewhat.

After a few more casual exchanges, a plea quietly surfaced in the woman’s eyes.

“Xiaolian…”

“He’s your father, after all. That matter… he didn’t handle it well.”

“But…”

“You can’t do such a thing…”

Seeing the expression on her grandmother’s face, Xiaolian clenched her silver teeth and turned away, unable to bear the sight.

The old woman clutched the corner of Xiaolian’s clothes, tears streaming from her eyes.

Xiaolian’s body trembled slightly, fists tightening.

More than two years as an assassin.

Multiple brushes with death...

All of it had been for this day.

Her hatred ran bone-deep.

How could she simply let it go?

How could she not avenge her mother’s death?

Xiaolian looked toward Qiong Longshan, her eyes sharp with killing intent.

“Child…” the old woman choked out softly, sobbing.

Xiaolian’s nails pierced her palms. Blood trickled down her fingers and splattered on the ground.

What now…

What should I do now?

She bit her lip, eyes full of confusion.

Her mother’s dying face remained vivid in her mind.

Everything she had done these two years was for revenge.

Now, her enemy stood before her—

—but she couldn’t strike.

She could not kill Qiong Longshan in front of her grandmother.

What now…

What do I do…

She stood motionless beside the prison cart, lost in thought.

“Still the same advice—think carefully before you act.

If you’re not sure… watch a bit longer.”

Chen Ye’s words echoed in her ears.

Xiaolian bit her lip, her gaze shifting between Qiong Longshan and the woman inside.

After a moment, she exhaled deeply.

Her eyes firmed with resolve—she had decided.

She smiled faintly, turned to the old woman, and whispered, “Don’t worry, Grandma.”

The elderly woman blinked in confusion, just about to speak—

“Pa!”

A soft sound.

Her eyes fluttered shut, and she collapsed into Xiaolian’s arms.

Xiaolian had gently struck her grandmother’s sleep acupoint.

She wouldn’t wake for at least an hour.

Xiaolian laid her down gently on the cart.

Her gaze turned frigid as she stared at the woman inside.

“You envious harpy. Because of you, my mother took her own life.”

“Today… I return the favor.”

A glint of frost shimmered in Xiaolian’s eyes.

A suffocating murderous aura radiated from her.

The young child in the woman’s arms trembled at her gaze and curled up in fear.

The woman met Xiaolian’s stare—and felt real fear.

Even Lu Nuo didn’t dare intervene.

How the hell is this girl so terrifying?!

Xiaolian flicked her wrist—suddenly, a Bone-Piercing Needle appeared in her hand.

She stepped softly, slowly approaching the woman.

Qiong Longshan’s once-imposing face now showed panic.

He shouted, “Xiaolian!”

“Stop this at once!”

Xiaolian reached the outside of the prison cage.

The woman clutched her son tightly, huddled in a corner.

In that moment, she truly realized—

She might die here.

Xiaolian turned to Qiong Longshan, sneering.

“What’s wrong?”

“You feel sorry for her?”

“When she scarred my mother’s face, where was your pity?”

Qiong Longshan had no words.

A guilty look washed over his face.

Seeing this, the woman’s face twisted with hatred. She glared at Xiaolian.

“If you’re going to kill me, then do it! Enough with the damn talking!”

“Your mother was just a maid—trying to seduce her master!”

“A filthy wretch!”

“Hmph…”

“You say you’re a maid too—don’t tell me you’re pulling the same tricks she did!”

Her eyes were full of mockery as she shielded her son.

“You’re just like your mother…”

Before she could finish—

“AHH!”

A blood-curdling scream.

Xiaolian’s eyes were icy, her needles already flying.

Several black streaks shot out, all piercing the woman’s body.

The Bone-Piercing Needles sliced through her flesh effortlessly. Blood gushed out.

In moments, the white prison garb turned crimson.

But none of the needles struck a fatal spot.

Xiaolian wouldn’t let her die so easily.

“Xiaolian!” Qiong Longshan cried out.

She looked back at him, eyes frozen with fury.

“Don’t kill her!” he pleaded.

“If someone must die—let it be me!”

Qiong Longshan’s voice trembled.

He had seen the needles pierce the woman and felt a stab in his heart.

Xiaolian caught that pain in his eyes. Her gaze turned colder.

“You feel sorry for her?”

“Then why didn’t you feel sorry for my mother?”

“Because she gave you a son? Because you looked down on my mother’s status?”

Her voice was cold as steel. Her eyes glinted with hatred.

Qiong Longshan closed his eyes in anguish.

“No…”

“I never looked down on her…”

The memory seemed to tear at him.

He sighed, “Xiaolian… I handled it poorly.”

“Back then…”

He choked—unable to go on.

Xiaolian snorted. She finished his thoughts for him.

“You mean to say, by the time my mother’s face was scarred, punishing that bitch wouldn’t help.”

“And her brother had second-rank strength—useful for the Haijing Gang’s future.”

“And my mother, just a maid, couldn’t compare.”

She had long since guessed his thinking.

“My mother’s face was ruined—and you only punished her with half a year’s confinement.”

“Qiong Longshan—this is the justice you speak of?”

Her voice thundered with righteous fury, her killing intent growing ever colder.

Qiong Longshan lowered his head, silent. His once-imposing presence now seemed old and withered.

Around them, constables and Haijing Gang members stood quietly.

They, too, now understood what had happened.

Many constables frowned—so this was the true face of the famed Qiong Longshan?

He raised his head. His eyes held deep sorrow.

In a hoarse voice, he said, “A life for a life.”

“My life is worth more than hers. Take it.”

“My conscience is clear—except for that one mistake.”

“Karma has come. I blame no one.”

He stood tall and exposed his chest toward Xiaolian.

“When I die, let her live.”

His voice was calm, composed.

But Haijing Gang members gasped in shock.

“Leader!”

“You mustn’t!”

They stepped forward, surrounding Xiaolian with blades drawn.

Cold steel flashed in the sun.

Xiaolian glanced at them—expressionless.

She stared long at Qiong Longshan, then at the blood-drenched woman.

The woman slowly sat up, wiping her son’s tears. Her voice was weak.

“I’m the one who ruined your mother’s face. Qiong Longshan had nothing to do with it.”

“The grudge lies with me.”

“Kill me instead.”

Her prison robe soaked with blood, her face pale.

Yet her eyes were sharp.

Like a wounded tigress.

“Xiao’er…” Qiong Longshan murmured.

The woman stared Xiaolian down.

She came from a martial family. Fierce by nature.

She glared at Qiong Longshan and cursed:

“You coward! If you die, what happens to the Haijing Gang?!”

His eyes turned red at her words.

She took a deep breath and faced Xiaolian calmly.

“Do it.”

“Make it swift.”

She closed her eyes, clutching her child tightly.

Veins bulged on her pale hands.

“No!” Qiong Longshan turned to Xiaolian, a desperate firmness on his worn face.

“A life for a life—take mine instead!”

His voice was unshakable.

Hearing this, the woman opened her eyes. Tears flowed.

She held her son, torn between grief and relief.

The mute child sobbed, eyes wide as he looked at the blood seeping from his mother’s body.

Tears streaked his cheeks.

His eyes turned to Xiaolian, now burning with hatred.

Listening to their back-and-forth, a strange emotion flickered in Xiaolian’s eyes.

She looked at Qiong Longshan and asked coldly:

“If the one in that cage were my mother, not her—would you still say the same?”

Qiong Longshan looked straight at her and answered firmly:

“Yes.”

His voice was full of guilt.

“I failed your mother. I was too caught up in the gang’s affairs.”

“If I’d made time to comfort her… she wouldn’t have jumped into that well.”

“That was my failure.”

“Xiaolian—words are meaningless now. Do it.”