Picked Up A Husband For Farming Chapter 418 - Dejected Return
Previously on Picked Up A Husband For Farming...
418 Dejected Return
Xu Qing's heart shattered upon hearing her sister's anguished cries. In that moment, any perceived utility of the Nian family vanished; she knew only that these individuals deserved retribution. Unleashing her remaining poison needles and toxins, she charged forward, desperate to assess the condition of her sister and Sizhi.
However, this very moment was a meticulously laid trap for Xu Qing. Ji Yueyue, seeing Xu Sizhi arrive with others, initially despaired at a missed opportunity. Yet, Xu Qing's unexpected appearance brought a surge of dark elation. The absence of Qiao Yanhui seemed to be a sign of divine favor toward her scheme.
"Eliminate her! Kill Xu Qing! A substantial reward awaits!" Ji Yueyue's command echoed, instantly transforming the Nian family's humble courtyard into a chaotic battleground swarming with assassins.
Witnessing the attackers surge forth, Xu Qing felt a chilling wave of anxiety and dread. Her arsenal was depleted, and Xu Sizhi remained imperiled. Just as Ji Yueyue's attack was about to land a damaging blow on Xu Qing, Zhuo Wuyou made a timely intervention.
Wasting no precious seconds on pleasantries, Xu Qing implored Zhuo Wuyou to engage Ji Yueyue while she dashed towards Xu Sizhi. Fate intervened once more as Nian Chongju emerged, his eyes falling upon the tragic demise of his kin. In a fit of rage, he unleashed his hypnotic abilities, seeking to exploit Xu Qing's momentary distraction.
"Xu Qing!" Zhuo Wuyou's roar preceded a powerful palm strike that sent Ji Yueyue careening away. He attempted to reach Xu Qing, but the distance proved too great.
Lu Yao, positioned perilously close to Xu Qing, mustered her remaining strength. Despite her severe injuries, she threw herself in front of Xu Qing, intercepting the fatal blow. Lu Yao never anticipated meeting her end while shielding a supposed love rival, yet this was her grim reality. Her heart meridians, already compromised by Qiao Yanhui's actions, rendered her subsequent pursuit a desperate gamble. Protection now was her only thought, a final act born perhaps from a desire to spare Zhuo Wuyou further grief, but also from a deeper, unspoken wish to see Xu Qing survive. After all, Xu Qing was… his sister-in-law…
Clutching Lu Yao's lifeless form, Xu Qing unleashed her final two silver needles with all her might. They found their mark in Nian Chongju's eyes, permanently severing his potent hypnotic prowess.
"Lu Yao, you…" Xu Qing's voice cracked as she held the rapidly cooling body. The irony was sharp: she had finally located Qiao Yanhui's sister, only for her to perish saving her own life.
"Little Xiang!" Before Xu Qing could fully process her grief, Xu Sizhi's heartbroken wail tore through the air. Dropping Lu Yao's body, Xu Qing hurried towards the room.
Xu Sizhi, his arm cruelly severed, used his remaining hand in a desperate attempt to dissuade Xu Xiang from her suicidal intent. "I will care for you forever. Please, don't do this…" he pleaded weakly.
Xu Xiang, her spirit utterly broken, shook her head, the scissors poised at her throat. Hope had abandoned her, and she could no longer bear to remain by Brother Sizhi's side with any semblance of peace. The incomprehensible nature of her ordeal left her adrift in despair.
"Little Xiang, I'm here. Put down the scissors! I've captured the one responsible. We'll bring him to justice! He is the one at fault, not you. You must not punish yourself!" Xu Qing spoke gently, careful not to provoke her sister further, recognizing a despair deeper even than Deng Chengxi's past anguish.
To Xu Qing's horror, her very presence seemed to ignite Xu Xiang's desperation further!
The scissors trembled in Xu Xiang's grip, slicing through the artery in her neck.
Blood stained the scene once more. Today, Xu Qing lost her sister.
Outside the room, Zhuo Wuyou stood frozen, Lu Yao's death an unforeseen tragedy. How could she, who had endured so much, succumb now? A profound emptiness consumed him, a grief for his most steadfast companion of over a decade, now lost forever. Casting aside all else, Zhuo Wuyou gently retrieved Lu Yao's corpse and began his journey back to the Nujiang Kingdom.
Qiao Yanhui arrived to find Nian Chongju blinded and Ji Yueyue and her cohorts teetering on the brink of death. He offered no words, nor did he strike further. Yet, their fate was far from sealed. He dispatched Qiao Jun to alert Deng Chengxi and locate Nian Chongju, while entrusting the remaining culprits to Xu Huai and his brother, allowing them the catharsis of their righteous fury.
Qiao Yanhui approached the stunned Xu Qing, his steps measured. He lifted her into his arms, carrying her away in silent procession, fearing the fragile state of her mind. Before departing, he addressed the despondent Xu Sizhi, "If you wish to preserve this family, you must recover swiftly."
A heavy pall settled over the entire Qiao family estate. Qu Feng, inconsolable, had fainted multiple times from her grief, her state truly pitiable. Xu Jiangxi instructed Xu Huai and the others to proceed with Xu Xiang's hasty burial.
A palpable sense of foreboding seemed to grip the entire capital, causing its inhabitants to tread with unusual caution. An unspoken intuition suggested that a momentous event was on the horizon.