From the family treasure tree to build an eternal family

Chapter 179 Love at first sight

It was more than ten miles away from the battlefield.

After Granny Jin left, a group of carriages were left parked on a deserted road.

If someone gets close, they can hear faint sobbing coming from inside the carriage.

Miao Yingying, her hands and feet bound by hemp rope, was struggling desperately, trying to break free.

At her age, she stood out from the other girls in the carriage who were around ten years old.

"Sister, don't cry! Please help me! This is our chance to escape!"

She knew that the immortal who was guarding them must have encountered an urgent matter and left in a hurry.

They had been captured with great difficulty, and now that they were in that old woman's hands, their fate was sure to be miserable. She didn't want to sit and wait to die; she wanted to live.

She used a few words to stop the girl beside her from crying and to make her bite the rope binding her hands with her teeth.

"Almost there, keep going!"

Miao Yingying encouraged the girl, and the rope in her hands finally loosened.

She struggled fiercely, letting the rough hemp rope chafe her wrists, and finally managed to break free. Then, she deftly untied the ropes binding her feet.

After breaking free, she did not leave alone, but instead helped the girl beside her.

"Hurry, hurry!"

Her heart pounded, and her hands trembled as she untied the ropes one by one.

More and more girls were untied, helping to rescue people. Moments later, all fifty-odd girls on several carriages were freed.

"Everyone, scatter and run for your lives, don't stay together."

After Miao Yingying finished speaking, she randomly chose a direction to escape. She knew that if so many of them gathered together, the immortals would easily catch them when they returned.

Taking separate actions might offer a glimmer of hope.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The fighting in the distance has ended.

"Liushui," a female cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Refining who was spared by Xu Xiaohou, committed suicide immediately after her dantian was destroyed, without giving Xu Xiaohou a chance to interrogate her.

There was also Granny Jin, whose dantian had been pierced by the feather-patterned flying sword.

She didn't want to die, but she had no choice.

She glared at Xu Xiaohou with venomous eyes, a cloud of black mist flew out from her body and enveloped Xu Xiaohou, while she herself collapsed to the ground, dead.

"poison?!"

Xu Xiaohou had seen this move before; his third brother had died more than a decade ago from the soul poison used by that demonic cultivator before his death. He threw a punch, his qi shooting three zhang away, scattering the poisonous mist.

"careful!"

Xu Xiaoniu quickly spoke up to remind him, and at the same time, he used the Xuan Tu Wall Shield Technique to block Xu Xiaohou's path.

They should learn from their mistakes. They can't afford to make the same mistake twice.

The escaping poisonous mist was all blocked by the earthen wall and slowly dissipated.

"call--!"

Xu Xiaohou let out a long breath. This battle was won with great difficulty. He and his elder brother used all their methods and even used up their only two Void Sword Talismans.

However, the results were very encouraging; a group of demonic cultivators at the ninth level of Qi Refining and three at the eighth level of Qi Refining were wiped out by the two.

“These demonic cultivators committed suicide without hesitation, without giving us a chance to interrogate them.”

Xu Xiaoniu frowned; the origins of these demonic cultivators were definitely extraordinary.

Without any survivors, how can we find out Xiaoxi's whereabouts?
"By the way, those girls should still be alive over there. I wonder if they can provide any clues?"

Xu Xiaohou pointed into the distance.

Just then, Xu Zhongyao arrived late with the Demon-Subduing Guards of the Demon-Subduing Division.

"Big brother, I'm leaving the rest to you."

After Xu Xiaohou finished speaking, his figure disappeared into the darkness.

Although the Demon-Subduing Guards knew that Xu Xiaoniu had one or more powerful allies behind him, they never dealt with them directly.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"You lot, take the demonic cultivator's corpse back to the Demon Subduing Division."

"Zhongyao, take the rest of the men over there to rescue the girls who have been trafficked."

Xu Xiaoniu assigned tasks.

He then ascended into the sky and flew away into the distance.

His figure swept low through the air, and a moment later he spotted two girls walking hand in hand in the wilderness.

In the dead of night, two girls, around ten years old, were in the wilderness.

He descended from the sky, startling them so much that they trembled with fear.

After revealing his identity and offering some comfort, he learned what had happened: since the demonic cultivators had all been killed by them, the girls had taken the opportunity to scatter and escape.

"These girls aren't stupid; they know to run for their lives."

Xu Xiaoniu thought to himself.

Since dozens of girls had scattered and escaped, he ordered Xu Zhongyao and the Demon-Subduing Guards to search for them everywhere.

This place is located in a desolate mountain area, rarely visited by people. Those girls have no ability to survive here, and they will starve to death if they get lost.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Xu Zhongyao used his lightness technique to leap and land in the wilderness, covering dozens of meters in a single bound.

The girls had limited mobility and were mostly within a two-mile radius of the carriage, so they weren't hard to find.

"Another one found."

He saw a little girl with tears streaming down her face walking slowly forward.

After the girl was discovered, she was so frightened that she begged for mercy and cried out incessantly.

He quickly identified himself: "I am from the Demon Subduing Division of Tonggu County, and I am a good person! Those bad people are already dead. I am here to save you."

The Demon Slayers? Save me?
The girl was skeptical.

"Where are you from? Our Demon Extermination Division will arrange to send you home right away."

"go home?"

Hearing those two words, a warm feeling welled up in the girl's heart.

The girl was brought back to the caravan by Xu Zhongyao, and by this time most of the girls had been found. This time, they weren't bound with rope; the people from the Demon Subduing Division were comforting them and trying to calm them down.

After that, Xu Zhongyao searched for the next person.

He searched for a long time but couldn't find them: "Those scattered girls should have all been found by now."

He searched a very far place, but thinking that the frail girls couldn't have run that far, he turned back.

However, he stopped as he passed a dense bush.

"Huh? There's someone here?"

Fortunately, he was observant, otherwise he would have missed the person hiding in the bushes.

"Come out."

The bushes rustled a few times, and Miao Yingying emerged from them, holding a pointed stick in her hand and pointing it at Xu Zhongyao: "You, you stay away!"

Seeing this, Xu Zhongyao could only patiently explain his identity again: "I'm not a bad person. I'm from the Demon Subduing Division of Tonggu County. I'm here to take you home."

Demon Extermination Bureau?
Miao Yingying believed it. Given her frail condition, there was no reason for the other party to lie to her. Her hand went limp, and the wooden stick fell to the ground.

Then everything went black and he fainted.

She was already physically weak and severely malnourished. This ordeal, and then escaping this far in one go, had pushed her to her physical limits. Upon hearing the words "Demon Suppression Division," her taut string snapped.

Xu Zhongyao reacted quickly, rushing forward to catch and support the fallen Miao Yingying.

"They're probably just exhausted."

He picked her up around the waist and carried her away into the distance.

"So light."

He noticed that this girl was different from the other girls. She was at least thirteen or fourteen years old, but she was extremely thin, her body so slender that she looked like skin and bones. Her bones seemed hollow.

Because he was at the third level of Qi cultivation, he could use "cultivational spiritual energy" to replace his daily meals, so he did not carry dry food or water pouches.

He carried Miao Yingying to a mountain spring and gently placed her on a flat rock.

He took out a Qi and Blood Pill from his storage pouch, crushed it into several pieces, and fed Miao Yingying a small piece. He was worried that the girl was too weak to handle such nourishment.

He scooped up a handful of spring water, helped her up, and fed her a few mouthfuls.

Miao Yingying opened her eyes and was greeted by a handsome young face.

She recalled that the young man had said he was from the Demon Subduing Division.

She didn't know what she was being fed, but her stomach felt warm and cozy, as if it were turning into energy to nourish her body.

"Come on, I'll take you home."

"Thank you."

Miao Yingying regained her strength, stood up, and followed behind Xu Zhongyao.

"Where are you from? My colleagues in the Demon Extermination Division will make sure to send each and every one of you home."

Xu Zhongyao had already learned that these trafficked girls came from Tonggu County and Puye County.

"..."

Miao Yingying fell silent, then shook her head and remained silent.

Xu Zhongyao didn't care, assuming she hadn't recovered from her fear: "How much do you know about those demonic cultivators?"

Miao Yingying continued to shake her head and remain silent.

Xu Zhongyao stopped asking questions. Given the cunning of those demonic cultivators, they couldn't possibly learn about the power behind them from these girls.

And so, the two walked back to the convoy.

"Zhongyao, we've been waiting for you!"

The Demon Slayers have all gathered, and they have brought back all the abducted girls.

"Escort these carriages to Puye County. Take these carriages back to our Tonggu County."

They were located at the border of two counties and needed to travel in two different directions.

"Hey, where are you from?"

The Demon-Slaying Guards inquired about Miao Yingying in order to arrange for her to return home by carriage.

Miao Yingying shook her head and said, "I...I don't have a home."

"Then where are you going?"

She raised her hand and pointed at Xu Zhongyao: "I want to follow this gentleman."

"I?"

Xu Zhongyao was taken aback for a moment, then thought that there were too many people in the world who were poor, had pitiful backgrounds, and were homeless, while his family was not short of food.

"Alright, I'll arrange for you to be a maid in our household. You can rest assured about your treatment."

The maids in Baihe Mountain ate and lived well, and their monthly salary was relatively high compared to other large families in Tonggu County.

Maid?

Miao Yingying repeatedly expressed her gratitude: "Thank you for taking me in, sir."

She was born into a lowly family, and she was content to be Xu Zhongyao's maid for the rest of her life.

The moment she opened her eyes and saw Xu Zhongyao, she felt a stirring of romantic feelings—a feeling she had never experienced before.

She used to think it didn't matter who she served, as long as she could live and have food to eat.

At this moment, all she wants is to stay by this person's side for the rest of her life.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Xu Xiaoniu flew back to the Demon Subduing Bureau to deal with the demonic cultivators.

Xu Zhongyao, accompanied by several demon-slaying guards, escorted the carriage back to Tonggu County.

During his free time, he chatted with Miao Yingying and learned about her background.

Miao Yingying was born in a large village in Puye County. Her family was well-off and were considered wealthy farmers in the village.

Her mother died in childbirth, and her father remarried.

Her stepmother was very shrewish; she bore several sons for her family, making her, as a daughter, seem particularly superfluous.

She has been working at home since she can remember, and she is often beaten and scolded.

When she got a little older, her stepmother had the idea of ​​selling her.

Her father agreed because she had several sons to support.

(End of this chapter)