She wore the coarsest, cheapest dress, mended in many places, and was covered in mud.
The little girl looked at Bai Ran. Though she was of the purest age, her eyes were listless.
"Yao'er!" A desperate cry was heard, and a gaunt woman hurried over.
No one expected the woman to drop to her knees with a thud.
The woman repeatedly slammed her head against the ground: "Please! Don't take Yao'er away!"
"She's my only child!" Her voice was filled with terror and unease.
The surrounding villagers seemed accustomed to such scenes. They cast sympathetic glances at the woman, then quickly retreated into their homes.
Bai Ran looked at the little girl tugging at her clothes, her heart heavy: "Jiang Ye, why would they do such a thing?"
Jiang Ye's mood was also extremely somber: "The people from other cities see our city as weak and have been plundering and slaughtering us with impunity."
They snatched the remaining grain, oppressed the people, and even abducted children to sell them off as child brides for a high price.
Ultimately, it was because the Su family was too weak... The weak had no right to resist...
Zhuque, unable to bear it, helped the kneeling woman up and gently comforted her: "Auntie, we are not bad people."
The woman's eyes were full of fear. She quickly broke free from Zhuque's hand, snatched the little girl, and fled in a hurry.
"Mom, I'm so hungry," the little girl said in her mother's arms, not crying or making a fuss.
From afar, the woman's voice carried back: "Yao'er is hungry, shall Mommy make you braised chicken?"
Upon hearing this, the little girl's eyes turned red: "Mommy always lies..."
This scene left everyone with a heavy heart.
"Heiyao City is like this," Jiang Ye pursed his lips. "Young Master, let's go to Liangye City."
Bai Ran looked at the mud on her clothes and shook her head. "Here is fine."
She turned to Jiang Ye: "Where is the Su family?"
Jiang Ye pondered for a moment, then pointed in a direction: "Young Master, why do you ask?"
A smile curved Bai Ran's lips: "Naturally, to help them."
Help them... Jing Feng glanced at her suspiciously. Would Miss Bai be so kind?
...
At this moment, in the Divine Realm, Wen Yan knelt with a grim expression in the Nine Heavens Palace.
"You say that fallen immortal betrayed us?" Mo Huai'an narrowed his eyes from the main seat symbolizing authority.
Wen Yan gritted his teeth, feeling only fear: "Yes..."
After a tense silence, a loud announcement rang out: "Divine Lord Baili requests an audience—!"
Mo Huai'an took a deep breath: "Let him in."
Baili Xiao walked slowly, his body covered in wounds of various sizes: "Greetings, Divine Emperor."
Mo Huai'an stared intently at him: "I don't recall summoning you."
"Baili Xiao presumes to beg the Divine Emperor to withdraw his decree," he said, head bowed, his expression calm.
"Withdraw my decree?" Mo Huai'an snorted coldly and slowly stood up. "I haven't even settled the score with you, and you dare to negotiate terms with me?"
He stared at Baili Xiao, his expression fierce: "As the most powerful being in the Divine Realm, you couldn't even capture a woman from the middle realm alive!"
Baili Xiao's expression darkened slightly, but he listened quietly.
Mo Huai'an walked step by step towards him and stopped in front of him: "Baili Xiao, don't forget, her corpse is still in my possession."
Baili Xiao clenched his fist, his expression filled with pain and hesitation, as if he were suppressing unknown emotions.
Wen Yan frowned and secretly glanced at the Divine Emperor. A corpse... whose corpse?
Looking at Divine Lord Baili, it seemed the Divine Emperor had found his weakness.
"Bang—!" Wen Yan's eyes widened. He lowered his head trembling, only to see a fist-sized hole piercing through his heart.
"Thud—" Wen Yan fell to the floor of the Nine Heavens Palace with his eyes open, no longer breathing.
Baili Xiao turned his face away, his palm already bleeding from being clenched.
"Do you think you can hide it from me?" Mo Huai'an leaned close to Baili Xiao, his voice low.
"Although I don't know how you managed to revive that demoness's daughter, I will not allow her to live in this world."
Mo Huai'an laughed maniacally: "The Divine Maiden of Yaochi Palace has always admired you, haven't I spoken correctly?"
Baili Xiao suddenly looked up: "What do you want to do!"
Mo Huai'an glanced at him dismissively: "What do I want to do? I merely kindly informed her of the whereabouts of your destined one."
Baili Xiao clenched his teeth tightly, his body trembling terribly.
Mo Huai'an, however, felt his mood improve seeing him like this: "Baili Xiao, if you cannot act, I will find someone else to do it for you."
"Hahahaha!" Mo Huai'an laughed heartily and walked out of the palace.
In the empty Nine Heavens Palace, Baili Xiao was on the verge of collapse...
No... this is the last life... he had to kill Bai Ran with his own hands...
He clenched the black jade at his waist, his lips trembling: "But I really... can't hold on any longer..."
After a long while, Wu Si rushed into the palace anxiously.
"Divine Lord! Divine Lord, how are you!" she looked at Baili Xiao in a panic.
Baili Xiao stood up shakily, his face haggard: "I'm fine..."
Wu Si looked at him, her heart aching: "Divine Lord, she will never know all that you have done for her."
He took out the small peach wood sword from his embrace, his voice sounding heartbreaking: "She doesn't need to know."
At this moment, Bai Ran was unaware that Baili Xiao had retrieved the peach wood sword that severed the Star Disc.
Hearing this, Wu Si's heart ached. She quietly supported Baili Xiao and walked out of the Nine Heavens Palace.
...
Meanwhile, Bai Ran and the others had arrived at the entrance of the Su family.
"Who are you!" several guards stopped Bai Ran and her companions.
"Is Lord Su here?" Jing Feng called out earnestly, "We have important matters to discuss with him!"
After speaking, he cast a guilty glance at Bai Ran. That was the right thing to say, wasn't it...
Bai Ran chuckled and nodded. Seeing this, Jing Feng felt more confident.
"Important matters? What important matters?" the guard sized them up. "If it's not a major issue, Lord Su won't come out!"
Jing Feng cleared his throat: "This is a matter of life and death for Heiyao City! If it's delayed, you won't be able to bear the consequences even with ten lives!"
The guard seemed intimidated by his demeanor. After whispering to a companion, he still invited Bai Ran and her group in: "Please come inside, sirs."
The Su mansion was not extremely poor, but it was exceptionally simple. There were only three guards at the main entrance.
After the guards seated them in the main hall, they retreated.
Not long after, a thin middle-aged man walked out, leaning on a wooden stick.
"Who are you?" he asked, looking at the unfamiliar faces in the hall, and slowly sat down.
Bai Ran glanced at his leg and then averted her gaze: "Lord Su, are you selling Heiyao City?"