Song Zhang suppressed the urge to vomit, covering his face as he retreated inside the door, waving his hand toward the dark.

Several agile figures immediately leaped out from the darkness, swiftly carrying away the burlap bags.

Song Zhang first went to the side room and washed his hands three times vigorously before trudging to the dining hall.

The meal was nearly finished, and Mrs. Song noticed her husband returning, called her children, and left first.

As she passed by Song Zhang, she wrinkled her nose and whispered, "Why do you have a strange smell on you, it’s nauseating..."

Mrs. Song suspiciously scanned Song Zhang up and down, finding no source of the stench, then departed.

After she left, Song Zhang immediately lifted his sleeve to sniff, "There’s clearly no smell anymore, is my sister’s nose that sensitive?"

He should have just changed clothes earlier.

This inevitably reminded him of Qin Yao’s blood-covered body, and the three large burlap bags...

"Ugh—"

Song Zhang rushed out of the dining hall, his stomach churning, a wave of heat surged up.

Wang Jin frowned, stepped behind him, sniffing the faint scent of blood in the air, calmly asked, "I didn’t expect she was only severely injured; Qin Yao’s martial arts are truly formidable."

"No." Song Zhang wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, raised a hand invitingly, and the two turned inside the hall. While taking the cold tea handed by the servant to rinse his mouth, Song Zhang said to Wang Jin:

"She wasn’t injured."

Wang Jin was startled, instinctively refuting, "Impossible."

He was well aware of the opponent’s strength, let alone going all out?

Not even an iron body could escape unscathed; furthermore, Qin Yao is merely mortal flesh; her escaping severely injured was already extraordinary.

Unwounded escape, how is that possible!

Song Zhang’s silent and sympathetic gaze was his response.

Wang Jin was inexplicably made anxious by his stare, "County Magistrate Song, why are you looking at me like that?"

Song Zhang wanted to say: You’re doomed, you’re finished, you’ve offended Qin Yao, you’ll never have peace in this life!

But the other party is, after all, the Imperial Censor, a small official with great power, and his position is half a rank higher than this County Magistrate.

So, this was just satisfying to say in his mind.

Song Zhang felt if he told Wang Jin that Qin Yao not only escaped unscathed but took her husband and steward with her, eliminating the assassin group as well, Wang Jin would just think he was praising Qin Yao mindlessly.

Thus, he signaled Wang Jin to follow him, to see something more stimulating.

He couldn’t be the only one who vomited out his overnight meal.

Song Zhang led Wang Jin to the water room of the county government.

Thirty heads had been cleaned out, neatly arranged in three rows, laid on the white cloth-covered ground.

Song Zhang knew his stomach’s limits and didn’t go inside.

Raised a hand, gesturing for Wang Jin to enter.

Wang Jin hesitantly stepped into the water room, looked up, and his body suddenly stiffened, as if he had been struck a pressure point, frozen on the spot!

The scene was so horrific yet so shocking that in the long years that followed, whenever he heard someone mention the name "Qin Yao," Wang Jin would uncontrollably shiver violently.

After a long while, Wang Jin walked out of the water room, face pale, steps unsteady.

He asked, "Did she leave any message?"

Song Zhang expressed every word of Qin Yao’s message to him.

Finally, he added, "Sir, allow me to speak frankly, today’s matter was indeed handled poorly by you."

"If it weren’t for Qin Yao’s extraordinary martial arts, even someone as skilled as you, sir, would be doomed against these assassins."

Wang Jin sighed heavily, "I never thought they would go to such lengths to kill me."

But saying this now is pointless.

Wang Jin tentatively asked, "Based on Mr. Song’s understanding of Mrs. Qin, do you think she will come to assassinate me tonight?"

Song Zhang shook his head, "That won’t happen, but..."

Wang Jin just relaxed half a breath, only to be high-strung again by Song Zhang, nervously asking, "But what?"

Song Zhang looked at Wang Jin sympathetically, "But you might find it hard to repay this favor. As far as I know, she’s usually quick to avenge, quick to express anger, yet she’s holding back now, indicating her ambition is not a trivial matter."

After hearing this, Wang Jin truly relaxed; he’s not afraid of her plans, he just worried she’d fail to suppress her anger tonight, causing him to perish!

"So it’s good, it’s good..." Wang Jin muttered, patting his chest, not daring to look back at the water room.

He had been among the best, but today he realized what the saying "there’s always a higher mountain" truly meant!

"Brother Song!"

As the two returned to Song Mansion, each planning to retire to their rooms, Wang Jin suddenly called Song Zhang.

The title Brother Song sent a chill down Song Zhang’s spine; he couldn’t flee directly, forced to suppress his anxiety, turning around, "Sir, is there anything else?"

Wang Jin extended an enthusiastic invitation, "I fear the dark, and in a new place, this condition worsens; can I sleep with Brother Song tonight?"

Song Zhang instantly understood; he’s afraid Qin Yao might come for his head at midnight.

Thinking: Sir, if you knew this would happen, why did you do what you did?

Yet, appearances must be maintained, so Song Zhang reluctantly agreed.

But sharing a bed was out of the question; they could only share the room, with Lord Wang sleeping on the floor and him sleeping on the bed.

...

The county town was far less lively than the Prefecture at night; it just turned 9 p.m., and shops were closed, citizens already dreaming with Zhou Gong.

Liu Ji lay on his designated floor mat, unable to sleep, quietly climbed up and peeked beside the bed, delighted to find his wife also awake!

Immediately snuggled closer, placing his hands on the bed edge, resting his head on his hands, tilted his head and smiled, "Wife, you can’t sleep either?"

Every time Liu Ji closed his eyes, all he saw were heaps of human heads, evidently traumatized by the day’s slaughter.

Qin Yao responded with a hum, but not because of the slaughter she couldn’t sleep.

She was analyzing the details of Wang Jin’s deception, growing increasingly angry, angrier with each thought, completely unable to sleep!

Liu Ji asked displeasedly, "Wife, are we really swallowing this anger? If it weren’t for your invincible skills, in today’s danger, we three would be cold corpses by now!"

Qin Yao remained silent, her thoughts having come to a halt.

Liu Ji continued disgruntledly, "That corrupt official treats our peasants’ lives as nothing; had I known earlier, it would be better letting the assassins kill him!"

"Watch your words." Qin Yao shook her head, "Having owed a favor, don’t mention this again."

"Even if he were killed, it’d only be venting anger; what benefit would it bring us? What’s the point of seeking temporary satisfaction? Killing a court official brings catastrophic consequences for our family, it’s not worth it."

This remark from Qin Yao didn’t seem meant for Liu Ji but as if she was convincing herself.

"Scholar, farmer, artisan, merchant, officials... really remarkable."

In the dim guest room, Qin Yao murmured quietly.

Liu Ji suddenly lifted his head, his peach blossom eyes unusually serious, "Wife, once I become a high official, the first thing I’ll do is cut off Wang Jin’s head for you to play ball with!"

"Are you sick? I’m not a pervert." Qin Yao slapped him, "Go to sleep!"

Liu Ji quickly lay down, perfectly dodging.

Peace lasted less than three seconds before he popped out again, "Wife, are you feeling better now?"

Qin Yao: "..."

No response came, so someone kept calling "wife" nonstop, chanting like a spell, annoying Qin Yao enough to hurl a pillow at him, "Shut up, sleep!"

Liu Ji: "Oh~"

Placing the thrown pillow under his head, he inhaled deeply; surprisingly fragrant, feeling content, he finally drifted off to sleep.