As the ox cart approached the town, it sped forward with a sense of urgency, propelled by the silent determination of its occupants. Ling Jingxuan, Ling Chenglong, and Zhao Dalong remained stoic, their expressions a mix of anger and despair illuminated by the moonlight.

"Stop! Who is there?"

Their journey was interrupted by a group of officers and soldiers who blocked their path, demanding to know their business in the town. Ling Jingxuan, despite his rising fury, maintained a facade of calm as he produced a silver ingot, attempting to bribe the officers into allowing them passage.

 

"We have an appointment with the shopkeeper Zhang of the Xinyuan Restaurant in the town," Ling Jingxuan explained, his voice laced with forced politeness as he handed over the silver. "Please, make it easier for us, Brother Guan."

In the past, he had never heard that he couldn't go into the town at night. It must have been caused by the plague. Ling Jingxuan was worried about his children and didn't plan to entangle with them anymore.

"The plague broke out in the town, and the county lord ordered a curfew. If it's not important, you'd better wait until dawn." Quietly bumping the silver ingot in his hand, the tone of the officer and soldier was a little better. But he still didn't agree to let them pass. After all, the county magistrate is still sitting here at this time. If something happens, they will be the one dealt with.

Ling Jingxuan is also shrewd. He rolled his eyes and then took out another silver ingot and stuffed it to the officer. "It's an urgent matter, Brother Guan, please help me."

 

After some deliberation, the officer relented, allowing them passage through the town.

"Okay, just this once, go!"

With a nod of gratitude, Ling Jingxuan directed Zhao Dalong to continue their journey towards Zhao's grocery store.

Zhao's house has three entrances, including the left and right sides, the grocery store in the front and with the courtyard garden in the middle.

The ox cart came to a halt in front of the grocery store, and Ling Jingxuan, Ling Chenglong, and Zhao Dalong exchanged a brief glance before knocking on the door. They were not skilled fighters, and their only option was the most straightforward: knocking and entering.

 

"Who's there? Do you know it's night?" a man's impatient voice demanded from inside the shop. Ling Jingpeng was about to respond when Ling Jingxuan stopped him abruptly. Instead, he continued to pound on the door forcefully while drawing the sharp dagger he had acquired just the day before at the market. Little did he know it would be needed so soon.

 

"Come on, come on, stop knocking?" The man who came to open the door hadn't seen the situation outside clearly, his body was grabbed by someone, and a cold dagger was placed on his neck coldly.

“Don't move! Or I'll slit your throat!" Ling Jingxuan's voice was firm as he pressed the dagger against the man's neck, his actions causing the man to tremble in fear and stutter out pleas for forgiveness.

 

"Please, spare me, good sir, spare me!" the man begged, his legs quivering with fear.

 

"Inside, now!" Ignoring the man's pleas, Ling Jingxuan grasped his arm firmly, swiftly binding it behind his back with one hand while holding the dagger against his neck with the other. With the man in tow, they entered the shop, Ling Jingpeng and Zhao Dalong closing the door behind them without a sound, as if nothing had happened at all.

 

Upon hearing the commotion, Ling Jingwei emerged from the back of the shop, accompanied by a young woman in a silk brocade dress who appeared to be in her early twenties—presumably Ling Jingwei's wife, Ling Zhao. Spotting Ling Jingxuan and the others, Ling Jingwei's expression briefly flickered with recognition before quickly smoothing over. Meanwhile, Ling Zhao let out a scream of fright, her eyes wide with fear as she beheld Ling Jingxuan, the dagger held menacingly in his hand.

 

"Jingxuan? How could you... What's going on?" Ling Jingwei feigned surprise, wrapping his arms around the trembling Ling Zhao, his expression clouded with feigned confusion.

 

Ignoring his uncle's attempts to deflect, Ling Jingxuan's voice remained cold and unwavering as he demanded, "Where are Xiaowen and the others?" He noticed the flicker of unnaturalness in his uncle's eyes, only serving to solidify his conviction that his little bun was indeed here.

 

"Xiaowen? Jingxuan, what are you talking about? How could I know about Xiaowen and the others?" Ling Jingwei's response came quickly, his tone laced with false innocence.

 

"You can continue to deny, but if you don't want him to die right here!" Ling Jingxuan's voice was sharp as he pressed the dagger slightly against the man's skin. A thin line of blood appeared, crimson against the pale flesh, a tangible threat lingering in the air.

 

The man cried out in pain and fear, his eyes pleading for help as he looked towards Ling Jingwei and his wife. Ling Jingpeng and Zhao Dalong stood by, their expressions tense, but they made no move to intervene. They trusted Ling Jingxuan to act with restraint, but they couldn't suppress a slight frown at the unexpected turn of events.

 

Caught off guard by Ling Jingxuan's resolve, Ling Jingwei's grip on Ling Zhao tightened involuntarily. His mind echoed with the words his parents had imparted earlier in the day, realizing now the gravity of their actions. Had Ling Jingxuan truly grown into someone capable of such decisive action?

 

"Are you really Ling Jingxuan? What nonsense are you spouting? We have no knowledge of any Xiaowen. We haven't seen anyone," Ling Jingwei retorted, his voice tinged with apprehension.

 

The man who had been kidnapped was Zhao Xiaosi, a family servant. Ling Zhao, being a woman, trembled at the sight of the bloody scene before her. She had heard of Ling Jingxuan but had never met him. Having married Ling Jingwei after his expulsion from the Ling family, they rarely visited, so she was oblivious to the recent events. The adoption matter hadn't seemed serious to her, as her second uncle and aunt had rejected it outright. Now, facing the reality unfolding before her, she couldn't help but wonder what was truly going on.

 

"Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean others haven't. Ling Jingwei, my patience is wearing thin. Hand over Xiaowen and Xiaowu, and I'll overlook today's events. Otherwise, blood will be spilled!" Ling Jingxuan's piercing gaze fixed on Ling Jingwei, disregarding Ling Zhao's confusion.

 

Feeling the blade draw closer, Zhao Xiaosi trembled in fear, while Ling Zhao, sensing something amiss, scrutinized her husband suspiciously. "Jingwei, what is happening? What is all this about?" Her intuition told her there was more to the situation than met the eye.

 

Gathering his wits, Ling Jingwei attempted to reassure his wife with a smile, hugging her tightly. Addressing Ling Jingxuan, he feigned ignorance, insisting, "I truly don't understand what you're talking about. Xiaowen and Xiaowu are not here, Jingxuan. We're cousins, why would I take them without your consent? Let Xiaosi go, and we'll keep this quiet."

 

His words, intended to placate, failed to sway Ling Jingxuan or the others, who remained skeptical.

 

"Hmph, it seems this hostage isn't valuable enough," Ling Jingxuan remarked coolly.

 

"Bump!"

 

His gaze sharpened, and with a cold snort, Ling Jingxuan pushed away Zhao Xiaosi, who was practically draped over him. Then, with a subtle flick of his left hand, almost imperceptible powder surged toward the entwined couple.

 

"Bump?"

 

"Huh? What's happening here?"

 

In the blink of an eye, Ling Jingwei and his wife collapsed to the ground, clutching their throats in agony. Their faces, previously composed, flushed crimson in an instant. Paying no heed to their distress or Ling Jingpeng's confusion, Ling Jingxuan approached, squatting before them. With delicate fingers, he gently lifted Ling Jingwei's chin.

 

"Don't be afraid. It's just a slow-acting poison. Since you wanted to play games, I'll indulge you. After you've been tormented to death by the poison, I'll have plenty of time to search for Xiaowen and the others. Ling Jingwei, has anyone ever told you that before committing evil deeds, one should thoroughly investigate their adversary? To know oneself and know one's enemy is to ensure victory in every battle. If you dare to harm my child, you must be prepared to face the consequences."

 

His words were soft and measured, yet dripped with chilling indifference—a coldness that showed no regard for life.

 

Fear finally flickered in Ling Jingwei's eyes, his slender frame trembling uncontrollably. Ling Jingxuan now seemed as terrifying as a specter, devoid of any semblance of humanity.

 

"Stop! The child is here!"

 

Suddenly, an enraged voice pierced the air. Moments later, a man in his thirties or forties emerged with a few clerks, two of whom cradled sleepy children in their arms. And there they were—Ling Jingxuan's precious little ones!

 

 

As soon as seeing Xiaowen and Xiaowu, Ling Jingpeng and Zhao Dalong rushed over excitedly, but they were stopped by some other guys before they got close to the child.

 

Ling Jingxuan clapped his hands and stood up slowly: "Return the children to me?"

 

After confirming that the children were fine, Ling Jingxuan stepped forward to face shopkeeper Zhao. Behind him, Ling Jingwei and his wife had already fallen to the ground in pain, clutching their necks.

 

"Hand over the antidote first."

 

"You are not qualified to negotiate terms with me!" His voice rose suddenly. Ling Jingxuan's narrow and cold Danfeng eyes locked onto the other's angry gaze. He had to ascertain the condition of the two children as soon as possible and had no patience to procrastinate with them any longer.

 

"You." Shopkeeper Zhao was furious, pointing at him with trembling fingers.

 

Ling Jingxuan forcibly stopped him with a cold voice: "Shopkeeper Zhao, don't blame me for not warning you. They can hold on for a quarter of an hour at most. After that, blood will inevitably bleed, suffocating to death. I have no problem if you continue to procrastinate. At worst, I will wait until you are all dead before taking back the children."

 

He had concocted the poison himself and knew its effects better than anyone else. This was one of the reasons he had to return home before going out. For the sake of the two children, he wouldn't hesitate to deal with the Ling family, even if it meant poisoning them all.

 

 

 

 

"Give him the children, and save my daughter and son-in-law quickly."

 

Hearing this, and seeing the murderous intent on Ling Jingxuan's face, shopkeeper Zhao didn't dare to confront him anymore. He hurriedly ordered the clerk to hand over the children, reminding Ling Jingxuan to take out the antidote.

 

Ling Jingpeng and Zhao Dalong took the children from the clerk. Ignoring Zhao's reminder, Ling Jingxuan checked the pulses of the two children. After confirming that they were just drugged and temporarily unconscious, a hint of warmth crept into his cold eyes.

 

"Brother, how are they?" Ling Jingpeng asked with concern.

 

"It's okay, they'll recover in a couple of days."

 

Offering them a reassuring smile, Ling Jingxuan gently touched the faces of the children, his eyes betraying a sense of self-blame. If only he had been more careful, they wouldn't have had to endure this ordeal.

 

"Father, save me."

 

On the ground, Ling Jingwei and his wife writhed in pain, bloodshot eyes appearing at the corners of their mouths. Shopkeeper Zhao rushed to their side, shouting, "The antidote, where is the antidote?"

 

"Hehe... As expected, I only hurt the child. Shopkeeper Zhao, since you brought my children out immediately, you must know about it, right? When you planned to kidnap my children, did you ever consider how anxious I would be when they suddenly disappeared?"

 

Now it was the other party's turn to panic. Ling Jingxuan motioned for Ling Jingpeng and the others to step back with the children in their arms. Leaning against a shelf, he looked at them indifferently and mockingly, as if he was relishing their pain and struggle, his blood running ice-cold.