Seeing Qin Yao appear, Zhang San recalled her methods and felt a surge of fear in his heart. He immediately gripped the vital points of the two children’s lives tightly and shouted sharply:

"Don’t come any closer! Otherwise, I’ll strangle them right away!"

The two children’s faces visibly darkened.

Qin Yao furrowed her brows in displeasure, suddenly erupted, and her hands darted towards Zhang San’s head like lightning. Before anyone could react, they heard a crisp "crack" sound, and Zhang San’s head twisted unnaturally, leaving him lifeless.

The hands gripping Second Lang and Si Niang’s vital points lost their strength and fell heavily.

Air rushed back into their nostrils, and Second Lang and Si Niang collapsed weakly on the carriage floor, breathing heavily and rapidly.

Whether regretting their lack of fear or fearing the encroachment of death, suppressed sobs came forth, with snot, tears, and saliva flowing unstoppably.

Si Niang reacted violently, retching, while Da Lang pushed aside Wang Wu, who was weighing him down, trying to comfort her but was pinned in place by Qin Yao’s cold stare.

"Gulp~"

Da Lang swallowed hard, lowering his head in mixed emotions.

Qin Yao looked coldly at Wang Wu beneath her, his eyes slightly bulging in shock. Feeling her gaze upon him, he shivered all over.

If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn’t believe someone in this world could move so fast.

So fast that it exceeded the reaction capabilities of normal people — was this even human? 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

She was like a maniacal killer ready to erupt at any moment!

"Wooo!" Wang Wu struggled violently, his hands and feet bound, he curled up like a worm, trying to escape from the carriage.

With school time approaching, Qin Yao didn’t have the patience to waste time on him. She kicked him deep into the carriage, with Zhang San’s already lifeless body.

"You’d better behave, maybe there’s a slim chance for survival if you reach the government office."

Qin Yao said harshly, "I originally didn’t intend to take your lives, but unfortunately, your companion did the most unforgivable thing, daring to harm the children. I won’t let him live!"

"You’d better behave sensibly too."

Giving Wang Wu a cold glance, Qin Yao saw him finally quiet down. Only then did she send Sanlang into the carriage, placing Jinhua and Jinbao on the front of the carriage, and cautioned them: "Don’t look inside, or you’ll be responsible for the consequences, okay?"

She wore a slight smile, but it appeared eerie. Jinhua and Jinbao swallowed nervously, obediently sitting on the front, not daring to look back.

As for the matter of a dead person in the carriage, if they couldn’t see him, he didn’t exist. Yes, he simply didn’t exist!

The carriage started moving again, the atmosphere inside bizarrely quiet for a full quarter of an hour, finally broken by restrained coughing sounds.

Si Niang and Second Lang snuggled in their elder brother’s arms, while Sanlang stood by, gently patting his sister’s back. The four siblings, safely distant from Zhang San and Wang Wu now, clung closely to the carriage door, ever ready to jump out.

Da Lang kept his eyes fixed on Wang Wu, no longer daring to underestimate him. If Wang Wu made the slightest move, he would immediately tense up and adopt a defensive posture.

Second Lang, usually the sibling who showed the least emotion among them, experienced very few instances of great joy or sorrow.

But today, having walked past the Yama Hall’s gates, he buried his head in his elder brother’s shoulder, crying more fiercely than Si Niang.

Si Niang, stifled for a long time, grew more scared and aggrieved the more she thought about it. No longer suppressing her voice, she burst into tears.

Outside the carriage, Qin Yao heard the piercing cries, feeling inexplicably irritated. She turned to glance back at the carriage, prompting a certain little girl’s cries to grow louder.

Though unsaid, it was evident she desired some affection and comfort.

Qin Yao shifted her sitting position, determined not to care for them, as it was best to leave them this deep impression.

The young girl’s cries were heart-wrenching; even Wang Wu curled up alone in a corner couldn’t help but sympathize.

Yet observing Qin Yao driving the carriage, seemingly unaffected by the cries — she truly deserved the title of villain, absolutely ruthless!

Si Niang cried for a while, seeing that Mother wasn’t showing any intention of comforting her, pouting and no longer crying.

If the mountain doesn’t come to me, then I’ll go to the mountain!

Qin Yao sensed some rustling movements from behind. The next second, her back’s clothing was seized in a small grip and even shaken somewhat pleadingly.

"Mother, I’m scared..."

The voice, tinged with tears, was so gentle it softened the heart.

Qin Yao coughed lightly, shaking her shoulder to signal for her to let go.

But Si Niang refused, clinging tightly, even trying to climb up, wrapping her arm around her mother’s neck — her small body adhering like an octopus to Qin Yao’s back.

She leaned her head, her tear-streaked cheek rubbing against her, "Mother, I know I was wrong..."

The little girl hadn’t intended to cry anymore, but unexpectedly, before she finished speaking, tears began to fall.

Her little head kept nudging Qin Yao’s neck, sniffling and saying, "Hug me, Mother... Hug me, please..."

Qin Yao sighed heavily, exclaiming inwardly, who could resist that!

Her purposely stern face showed a crack, and she used her left hand — devoid of holding the whip — to embrace the little bundle on her back briefly. "Alright, alright, get back in position; we’ll reach the school soon."

Si Niang shook her head, unwilling to return to her seat, she clung to her mother’s back, arms encircling her neck, pitifully saying: "Mother, my chest hurts."

Qin Yao’s stern expression had completely broken down, she replied sympathetically, "I’ll take leave for you and Second Lang for a couple of days; a bit of rest at home will help."

Second Lang, head buried in elder brother’s shoulder still crying hard, perked up at those words — no school?

No way!

What if he fell behind in his studies!

Second Lang quickly wiped his tears dry, hoarsely declaring, "Mother, I’m okay, I can still go to school!"

Sanlang looked at him in shock, "Second brother, are you crazy?"

Refusing to skip school — this wasn’t human behavior!

"Mother, if Second Brother doesn’t want to take leave, can you give me leave? My chest is hurting too, only resting for two days will help." Sanlang offered himself sincerely.

Qin Yao gave a cold glance, "You seem perfectly fine; are you sure your chest hurts?"

"...Not anymore." Sanlang hesitated for a moment, then retreated guiltily.

Qin Yao looked at Da Lang, who was nervously clenching his jaws unknowingly, and coolly inquired, "Anything wrong with you?"

Da Lang shook his head, finally relaxing his clenched, twitching jaw muscles.

Qin Yao addressed the four siblings, "Did this scare you?"

The little head on her back nodded vigorously, "Yes."

The remaining siblings, Da Lang, Second Lang, and Sanlang all quickly nodded, fear briefly flashing in their eyes.

Seeing that, Qin Yao said, "At any time, facing anyone or anything you don’t understand, maintain a sense of reverence, remember?"

The four siblings answered in one voice, "Remember!"

Second Lang rubbed his neck, bitterly thinking he’d never forget in this lifetime.

If someone asked him what dying felt like, he might just be able to answer.

The sensation of suffocation, vacuum, all perception disappearing, the world rapidly slipping away, leaving only endless cold and fear.

Recalling it, Second Lang couldn’t help feeling tears welling.

Fearing his mother’s notice, he quickly wiped them away, closly snuggling beside his brothers for warmth.