Chapter 281 - 283: Reaping What You Sow (Part 1)

Chapter 281: Chapter 283: Reaping What You Sow (Part 1)

Hua Li stared at the person coughing up blood before her, her expression instantly turning grim as shock filled her face.

"How could this be?"

"How did the Devouring Human Technique end up on Jinxin?"

"And how did it activate in less than seven days? What is happening?"

She held Hua Jinxin’s body, panic seizing her. She tried to wipe away the blood, but it was impossible to clean it all.

She comforted the girl in her arms, her mind racing to find a solution. "It’s okay, Jinxin. I’ll find a way. Just hold on. Your godmother will definitely figure out how to save you."

Hua Jinxin’s body grew incredibly weak. Her entire body itched and ached, and blood streamed from her nose, eyes, and ears. She endured the bleeding and pleaded with Hua Li, "Godmother, it hurts so much. You have to save me. I feel like I’m about to bleed dry."

"I’ll get you some Blood Stopping Grass. Wait for me, I’ll go right now..."

There was a tremor in Hua Li’s voice as she got up to leave.

Suddenly, Hua Jinxin let out another spray of blood. Using her last ounce of strength, she grabbed Hua Li’s hand and shook her head. "Godmother... I don’t think I can hold on... Someone... someone must have set me up... Mo... ther... You have to... avenge... avenge me."

"And that... that bitch from the Lower Domain... don’t let her get away with this."

"Jinxin, hold on! Your godmother will find a way to save you! I’ll save you!"

Hua Li fumbled in a panic, her already pale face instantly turning a deathly white.

But her words were useless. After coughing up more blood, Hua Jinxin’s body went limp and slid from Hua Li’s arms. She had breathed her last.

"Jinxin!"

"Jinxin, no!"

Hua Li shook her head, refusing to accept what had happened. Her arms tightened around Hua Jinxin’s body.

But when her hand touched the cold neck, the last of her hope died.

"AH! Who did this?! Who did this?! I will not let them get away with it!"

Hua Li’s already twisted face became even more sinister and terrifying. Her eyes bulged, giving her a ferocious expression.

She gently laid Hua Jinxin on the ground, then ran frantically toward the room where she performed her witchcraft.

’The Devouring Human Gu couldn’t have failed. I’ve tested it so many times.’

’Something... something must have gone wrong.’

She ran back to her room, heading straight for the ceramic jar containing the Devouring Curse.

With trembling hands, she opened the sealed jar. When she saw its contents had fermented into a black sludge, her face filled with grim disbelief.

’How is this possible?’

’The scorpions and centipedes have been in there for less than a day. How could they have fermented so quickly?’

Suppressing her shock, she plunged her gaunt, bony hand inside and, a moment later, pulled out the wooden effigy. After wiping it clean with a nearby piece of beast skin, Hua Jinxin’s face was revealed.

Her legs instantly gave out, and she collapsed to the floor.

’How did the effigy of that female from the Lower Domain become one of Jinxin?’

’Was it me? Did I kill Jinxin?’

’No, it wasn’t me. It was that bitch.’

’Who else but that bitch would have swapped the wooden effigy for one of Jinxin?’

’How did she do it?’

’My house is obviously protected by wards. How did she get into my room?’

A wave of terror washed over her. ’How did that female manage it?’

’I never told anyone my plan... Could Jinxin have let it slip?’

...

While Hua Li was lost in self-doubt, Gu Wanyi was also fraught with troubles.

She frowned at the beast skin portraits on her table. After some picking and choosing, she finally found a few decent-looking ones.

’Jinxin was fond of that Fu Feng boy, but she was mostly infatuated with his handsome face.’

’I’ve picked out a few good new ones for her. I refuse to believe she won’t like at least one of them.’

’But convincing her is another matter. And who knows where that girl has run off to these last few days.’

’After her last tantrum, she disappeared without a trace.’

She propped her head in her hand and asked the Mystic Bird Servant Beast at her side, "Did Jinxin come back yesterday?"

The servant beast shook its head. "The Young Miss hasn’t returned since she left that day. However, I had someone follow her. They said she went to Wugou Mountain."

Although the Madam had said not to follow the Young Miss, the servant beast knew that if it let her run wild, it would be punished later.

Hearing this, Gu Wanyi’s frown deepened. "Why would she run off there? That Hua Li has always been treacherous. Didn’t I tell Jinxin to stay away from that place?"

"Madam, would you like me to go to Wugou Mountain and bring the Young Miss back?"

Thinking of her willful daughter, Gu Wanyi waved a dismissive hand. "She’s angry with me right now. It won’t do any good if you go."

"Fine, I’ll go myself. Jinxin is far too proud; I’m afraid she won’t come back unless I’m the one to get her."

"You are so good to the Young Miss, Madam!"

’Good?’

’How could I not be? Jinxin is my only child. If I’m not good to her, who would I be good to?’

After she spoke, Gu Wanyi transformed into a red bird and flew toward Wugou Mountain.

When she landed, she saw the mountain was crawling with snakes and bugs, and a look of disgust crossed her face. ’I haven’t seen Hua Li in ages. How has she managed to get even filthier?’

She suppressed her disgust and called out toward the wooden hut, "Jinxin, I’m here for you! Come on out!"

When there was no movement from within, she softened her voice. "It’s all my fault. Mother shouldn’t have hit you. Just come home with me first. I’ve found you a number of handsome Beastmen. You can pick whichever one you want, alright?"

Still, there was no sound from Hua Jinxin.

Gu Wanyi finally lost her patience. Since Hua Jinxin wouldn’t come out no matter what she said, she would have to go in and drag her out. With a flap of her wings, she flew into the hut.

After searching the main room and finding no trace of Hua Jinxin, she pushed open the door to the room where Hua Li usually practiced her witchcraft.

She was about to call out for Hua Li when she spotted an unexpected figure.

Not only was this person in Hua Li’s room, but the two of them were locked in an embrace.

Her eyes blazed with fury. She hurled a Flame Ball at them. "You treacherous beastman and you harlot! Daring to have an affair behind my back!"

"Wanyi, what are you doing here?" Struck by the Flame Ball, Hua Daisan instantly batted it aside with one hand.

He looked surprised to see Gu Wanyi.

"Hmph. If I hadn’t come, how would I have ever found out that you two have been carrying on behind my back?"

’That Hua Daisan really isn’t picky. How could he stomach someone like Hua Li?’

Hua Daisan froze. He looked down and saw he was holding an emaciated Hua Li. His face went stiff with disgust as he let her go. "How could I be holding you?! What did you do to me?!"

He remembered feeling dazed after waking up this morning. For some reason, he had felt an urge to come to Wugou Mountain. Then he saw Hua Li crying and, on some strange impulse, had started to comfort her.

His expression changed dramatically. He turned to Gu Wanyi and explained, "Wanyi, listen to me, I’ve never liked her! It has to be Hua Li! Hua Li must have done something!"

"Hua Daisan, you have the gall to do it but not to admit it! I saw it with my own two eyes, and you’re still trying to make excuses!"

"No, that’s not it at all."

"How could I possibly like her? She’s so ugly."

Although Hua Li knew her looks couldn’t compare to Gu Wanyi’s, it still broke her heart to hear the man she liked say such a thing.

She hadn’t done a thing. She had been mourning Jinxin’s death when Hua Daisan suddenly appeared. Heartbroken, she had told him what happened, and for some reason, he had started to comfort her.

She had thought he might harbor some small affection for her, but she never imagined this is what he truly thought.

She immediately retorted, "I didn’t do anything! You’re the one who came here. This has nothing to do with me."