Chapter 25: Second Sister-in-Law’s Might

"Do you really think I would believe you again?"

Wang Dalin had been deceived time and time again; he dared not trust Qin Hanxiao anymore. Qin Hanxiao felt nervous inside, but she feigned a calm expression.

"If you don't believe me, then just wait to bleed out when dawn breaks."

She frowned slightly, showing a hint of disgust, and took a step back.

"I have heard that even the master surgeons in the palace who specialize in castration cannot guarantee that every patient will survive. In your condition, once the hemorrhaging starts, it will likely affect your internal organs. If you are lucky enough to barely survive, the outcome won't be any better than Master Zheng's."

She was bluffing Wang Dalin. In truth, the most that would happen was permanent impairment; it would not be fatal. But because his own life was at stake, he dared not gamble. Faced with the threat of death, he could no longer care about Master Zheng, Master Chang, or wealth and glory. He only wanted to live.

"Give me the antidote first. Once I recover, I will let you go."

"Heh..." Qin Hanxiao sneered. "Enough nonsense. Have someone prepare the horses now. You will come with me, and once we reach a safe place, I will naturally give you the antidote. Don't try any tricks; I have said it before, I only want to protect myself."

Wang Dalin called his trusted aide to make arrangements. At this moment, he had no heart left to threaten Qin Hanxiao. The wait felt agonizingly long, and before long, the aide rushed in, panicked.

"Brother Wang, it’s bad! A large group of people has broken in by force. They’ve injured many of our brothers and are about to reach this room." He said this while glancing at Qin Hanxiao. "Those people came for her."

Qin Hanxiao was just as shocked as Wang Dalin. How could she possibly know such capable people? Could it be Huang Yuezhi?

Before Qin Hanxiao could guess further, she heard the commotion outside, and a group of burly men wielding sharp weapons burst into the room. Qin Hanxiao recognized the man in the lead. "Brother Jiang Qing!"

The moment she saw Jiang Qing, her heart, which had been tight with anxiety for so many days, finally relaxed. There was shock, yes, and confusion, but none of that mattered. Since they were able to break in, her life would be saved.

"Second Sister-in-law."

Jiang Qing stepped forward and kicked the aide who had brought the news to the ground. Seeing Wang Dalin naked and in such a disgraceful state on the bed, he immediately suspected the worst. He was too late. He pressed his blade against Wang Dalin's neck. "You’re courting death."

Wang Dalin wasn't unfamiliar with dangerous situations, but now he was the fish on the chopping block, and he dared not act defiant. "Spare me, good man! It's a misunderstanding, just a misunderstanding!"

Qin Hanxiao was also afraid he might actually kill the man, so she spoke up quickly. "Don't kill him."

It wasn't worth carrying a murder charge for the sake of such scum. Jiang Qing saw that she was dressed properly, with only some bruising on her face, and abandoned his intent to kill. "Second Sister-in-law, let’s go back first and talk later."

Qin Hanxiao did not want to stay in this place for even another second. As she turned to leave, she suddenly remembered the man surnamed Chang. "Brother Jiang Qing, there is also a man surnamed Chang here. He is the one in charge."

When Wang Dalin heard the name Jiang Qing again, a thought suddenly crossed his mind. He looked at the man in front of him in disbelief, then at the others, and involuntarily swallowed hard. Damn it, he had truly kicked an iron plate this time. He couldn't understand how Qin Hanxiao, a mere village woman, could possibly know people from the Chaohai Gang. Jiang Qing was the "First Blade" of the Chaohai Gang, famous for being ruthless and killing without blinking.

Before he could dwell on it, the blade at his throat tightened. A set of clothes was tossed at him. "Where is the man surnamed Chang?"

Wang Dalin dared not hide anything. As he dressed, he said, "Master Chang returned to the city yesterday."

"Who is this man surnamed Chang?" Jiang Qing asked again.

"Master Chang is the owner of the Zhisheng Gambling House and the brother of Vice Prefect Ruan."

*Vice Prefect, surnamed Ruan? The brother of Madam Qin?* What a small world. Jiang Qing sneered. "Trying to threaten me with the name Ruan?"

Would his Chaohai Gang be afraid of a Ruan? Even if Ruan himself were standing in front of him, he would still have to show him some respect.

Wang Dalin waved his hands repeatedly. "No, no, I wouldn't dare!" He wasn't sure who held more power between this man and Vice Prefect Ruan, but he was certain this man could crush a small fry like him. "I didn't know Madam Qin knew you. It’s all Qin He’s fault—he was the one who approached me to sell his daughter; it really has nothing to do with me. If you don't believe me, ask Madam Qin; I haven't made things difficult for her these past few days."

As he spoke, he looked at Qin Hanxiao ingratiatingly. "Madam Qin, I was blind and offended you. You said yourself there is no feud between us, so there is no need for such hostility. Look, could you please give me the antidote?"

*What antidote?* Jiang Qing didn't understand.

Qin Hanxiao took out her silver needles, approached the bed, pricked Wang Dalin a few times, and then recited a few medicinal ingredients. "Take these for two days, and you will be cured."

In reality, even if he took them, it wouldn't help. Under Jiang Qing's puzzled gaze, Qin Hanxiao explained the situation of the past few days in a few sentences, including her plan to escape that night. Hearing this, Jiang Qing and the others looked at Qin Hanxiao with expressions that shifted constantly, all of them instinctively feeling a chill in their own lower bodies.

They couldn't help but break into a cold sweat for Pei Yuantang. But the next moment, realizing that Pei Yuantang was already... they breathed a sigh of relief. Regardless, Second Sister-in-law was formidable!

As Qin Hanxiao and the others were leaving, Wang Dalin tried to ask, "And what about Master Zheng?"

Jiang Qing’s grip on his blade tightened. "Don't push your luck!"

Wang Dalin swallowed hard and dared not say another word. He had done his best.

Returning home after five days felt like a lifetime had passed. Everyone in the house looked visibly haggard, especially the eldest, Madam Bai, whose spirit had been drained away. Qin Hanxiao was pulled into Madam Bai's embrace. "It’s good to be back, it’s good to be back."

The embrace was frail and lacked warmth, but it held a genuine affection and protectiveness that Qin Hanxiao had never experienced before. In her memories, she had never received love from her mother; her mother wasn't capable of loving her, pouring all her affection instead into the brother she had with her stepfather. As for the father of her original self, his eyes only saw profit—not worth mentioning. Conversely, these family members who shared no blood relation with her had given her warmth and kinship she had never known.

"Mother, I am fine. I’m sorry to have made you worry."

Her gaze shifted past her mother-in-law's shoulder to meet Pei Yuantang, who was sitting in the main hall. Pei Yuantang said nothing, only watching her with a smile. The smile was soft and tender.

While Qin Hanxiao consoled her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jiang Qing had already explained the situation. Qin Hanxiao thanked them again, but Jiang Qing replied, "Even without us, Second Sister-in-law would have managed to return. You have already thanked us many times on the way back; we dare not accept your thanks again."

The others echoed him, "Indeed, we didn't do much."

They were being modest, but Qin Hanxiao knew clearly that without their timely rescue, she would never have returned so easily.

"I will keep the kindness of all you brothers in my heart. Once this matter settles down, I will invite everyone to my home for a meal. Please don't be strangers; you must all come."

Jiang Qing instinctively looked at Pei Yuantang and found him smiling, his eyes filled with affection as they rested on his wife. The look he gave her was one of admiration and pride. Jiang Qing felt moved; if he had a wife as capable as her, he would be proud too.

He immediately cupped his hands and laughed, "Then we shall impose upon you, Second Sister-in-law."

He then added, "Tomorrow, the magistrate’s office should send someone to summon you for questioning. It is just a routine matter; you need not worry."