CHAPTER 59: CHAPTER 59: THE CRIME OF GENDER 59

Inside, where food was once stored, it now appeared like a scene from Purgatory!

The inside of the passageway had been constructed into the shape of a room. At this moment, the floor and walls of this room had been stained a purplish-black by the seepage of fresh blood, releasing a nauseating stench from both the floor and walls.

In a corner of the room, there was a heap of white bones! These bones appeared quite small and should all belong to children. Under the flickering torchlight, the pale bones emitted an eerie glow.

Not far from this pile of bones, there was a large square table. Fang Yaoyao, dressed in only a thin garment, was tied spread-eagle on top of it, her head thrown back deeply over the edge of the table, exposing a long stretch of her snow-white throat,

Beneath Fang Yaoyao’s head, there was a large wooden basin, inside which lay a razor-sharp sickle! It seemed to be used for bloodletting.

In the gaps of the wooden basin, it was stained with dark red clots of blood, which looked as if they had been congealed for a long time! They were already dry, solidified on the wooden basin. Bound to the table, Fang Yaoyao, her eyes tightly shut, was unconscious, her life or death unknown!

Fang Zhongyi and Qin Shuangshuang, without taking much time to think, rushed forward in a fluster to untie Fang Yaoyao’s hands and feet. Testing her breathing, it was a relief to find out that she had merely fainted, with nothing seriously wrong.

Qin Shuangshuang felt very angry inside, but she knew that Fang Zhongyi had a strong attachment to the Fang Family Village, and since she was not from there, it wouldn’t be appropriate for her to take any actions against the people of the village. She quickly dressed Fang Yaoyao and carried her home, leaving the aftermath for Fang Zhongyi to handle.

Fang Zhongyi was deeply worried about his daughter, especially having just experienced the fear of nearly losing her. He really didn’t want to part with Fang Yaoyao.

Fortunately, Qin Shuangshuang was someone he could trust. He was at ease letting Qin Shuangshuang take Fang Yaoyao away. More importantly, the anger and frustration in his heart needed an outlet. He had given his all to the people of Fang Family Village, yet those he protected had treated him this way, leaving Fang Zhongyi both furious and heartbroken. He needed to stay behind to avenge his daughter, ensuring the culprits don’t have it easy.

Bidding farewell to Fang Zhongyi, laden with reluctance towards leaving his daughter, Qin Shuangshuang carried Fang Yaoyao back to her own home. At home, Mrs. Bai and Qin Miao were pacing restlessly in the room, their hearts both worried and stifled with gloom.

After walking around the house countless times, Qin Miao slumped into a chair with a sigh, saying dispiritedly: "Mom, when will this kind of life end? People who used to be honest and kind-hearted have now all turned into something neither human nor ghost. It’s scarier to see a person than a ghost when going out. If the people in our village weren’t good, I don’t think I could live even one more day."

As Qin Miao spoke, her nose turned sour, and she couldn’t help but lift her hand to wipe away tears. Such a futureless life really made one feel hopeless. She and Fang Yaoyao used to rely on their martial skills to fend off men, venturing around the villages alone without encountering much trouble. Most of the encounters were with decent people. Even when they ran into a couple of lewd ruffians, dealing with them with fists ensured no one dared bother them again.

But now, it felt like her world had suddenly descended from the mortal world into Hell, where evil ghosts lurked everywhere. Even if they managed to knock down one or two or ten, there would always be more evil ghosts swarming in, eager to devour their flesh, drink their blood, and extract their marrow until the last drop was drained.

Qin Miao had been under constant tension during this time. Now that Fang Yaoyao had been lured away and her life was uncertain, Qin Miao felt like she was about to collapse.

Mrs. Bai sighed, reached out to gently caress Qin Miao’s head with some heartache. Such days, even for her, not to mention a child of ten or so like Qin Miao, felt incredibly oppressive.

Though life was oppressive and difficult, Mrs. Bai didn’t feel hopeless, for she still had two daughters, Miao Miao and Shuangshuang, who needed her, as well as Yaoyao, who although didn’t call her mom, felt no different emotionally after these years.

Just as Mrs. Bai and Qin Miao sat there in oppression, staring blankly, Qin Shuangshuang returned with Fang Yao on her back.

Seeing Fang Yao brought back by Qin Shuangshuang, both Mrs. Bai and Qin Miao felt their spirits lifted instantly. However, upon seeing Fang Yao’s tightly closed eyes, they became somewhat panicked. Qin Shuangshuang quickly explained that Fang Yaoyao had merely fainted with no serious issues, which reassured Qin Miao and Mrs. Bai.

They stayed by Fang Yao’s side the whole time. Fortunately, Fang Yao soon awoke. Upon waking, she felt a bit confused as to how she ended up back here. Her head ached. Reaching back, she felt a bump on her occiput, and touching it made it hurt more.

It was Qin Shuangshuang who explained everything to her, which made her understand what had happened, filling her heart with a chill of fear!

Fang Yao told Qin Shuangshuang that the girl named Xiao Xia was a friend she knew before getting to know Qin Shuangshuang. The relationship between the two had always been good.

Later, after Qin Shuangshuang became a disciple of Fang Zhongyi, Fang Yao spent most of her time with Qin Shuangshuang and Qin Miaomiao. However, when Qin Shuangshuang and Qin Miaomiao were not around, it was Xiao Xia with whom Fang Yao spent the most time, and she trusted Xiao Xia very much.

Early that morning, Fang Yao had told Qin Miao and Mrs. Bai that she was going out to check some information and then left. Upon ensuring the outside was clear, and seeing Qin Shuangshuang talking with the village chief and others, she did not say anything and thought to herself she would return to inform Mrs. Bai and Qin Miao of peace, before going to help prepare meals at the ancestral hall.

Fang Yao had everything well planned. Just when she was about to reach home, she happened to bump into Xiao Xia wandering about Qin Family Village. Due to the frequent visits of outsiders fetching water, villagers were not particularly mindful of women and children from other villages appearing.

Fang Yao stepped forward to greet Xiao Xia, intending to ask about how her father, Fang Zhongyi, was doing. It had been three or four days since her father had last visited her, and she was somewhat concerned.

Xiao Xia was slightly stunned upon seeing Fang Yao, then suddenly exhibited an urgent expression, saying to Fang Yao, "Yaoyao, something’s wrong! Your father had an accident on the mountain, and I’m here to get you back. Hurry, come with me!"

At this point, Fang Yao, recalling the incident, realized Xiao Xia’s attitude was somewhat odd back then. Yet, at that time, Fang Yao was completely absorbed by Xiao Xia’s words about her father being in trouble, unable to think about anything else, and merely followed Xiao Xia.

On the way, Xiao Xia said that her father had been surrounded and attacked by starving wild beasts on the mountain, and he was almost done for. He had been discovered by her father and several villagers and was now being carried to their home, asking Fang Yao to just follow her to their place.

Worried about her father Fang Zhongyi being in trouble, Fang Yao’s mind was in chaos, and without even thinking, she followed Xiao Xia to her place, only to be knocked unconscious upon entering—what happened later, she didn’t know.

It was fortunate that while Fang Yao was leaving, Sister-in-law Li, who was heading to the ancestral hall to prepare meals, saw her. And shortly after Fang Yao left, Qin Shuangshuang returned and, upon discovering Fang Yao was missing, intended to search for her.

By chance, Sister-in-law Li, who was coming back from fetching water and knew whom Fang Yao left with, encountered Qin Shuangshuang, which allowed her to save Fang Yao in time.

By dusk, exhaustion written all over him, with his head hanging low and spiritless, Fang Zhongyi arrived at Qin Shuangshuang’s home, sighing frequently. He recounted what he did to handle the situation with Xiao Xia’s family after Qin Shuangshuang and Fang Yao had left.