Chapter 175

Chapter 175

Given that Nu Shi had escaped beyond the city walls, gates, and guards, Ying Jin didn't insist on assigning a personal escort for Chu Mi.

For the first two days, someone still shadowed her, but by the third day, when she wasn't in her room, Chu Mi's movements became noticeably freer.

During the day, she dedicated herself to teaching the tribe how to write.

Writing was a vast and profound subject, demanding considerable effort to master.

Chu Mi, having never been a teacher, was unfamiliar with lesson planning.

Consequently, preparing materials often left her flustered and utterly exhausted by day's end.

Fortunately, at night, she could retreat to her personal space to prepare; otherwise, she truly would have collapsed.

…

Today, after class, Chu Mi headed home. The tribal dwellings were spread out, and the path was deserted.

She noticed a man running towards her, cradling a child. Startled, she quickened her pace. The child in the man's arms was covered in blood, a horrifying sight that shocked Chu Mi. "What happened?"

"Madam, please, save him quickly!" The man sobbed as he gently laid the child down.

Chu Mi immediately checked the child's pupils and pulse, but the little body was cold and lifeless.

She treated the wounds and performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but to no avail.

The man watched her strange actions with confusion. "Madam, what's wrong with him?"

"There's no saving him." After all her efforts, the child showed no signs of life. A wave of sadness washed over her.

"Madam, there are more children over there," the man suddenly interjected. "Please come quickly—they're less injured."

"Alright." Without a second thought, Chu Mi set the lifeless child aside and followed him.

She couldn't dwell on the dead; the living needed her more.

But a question gnawed at her: How had the children been hurt so suddenly?

The wounds appeared to be from a blunt object—someone had harmed them!

"Where are the children?" A knife materialized in her hand. This man was suspicious; she didn't recognize him.

Reason told her to leave and find Ying Jin first.

But her heart argued—what if the man was telling the truth? What if there really were injured children?

…

The man pointed. "Here…"

He pulled another child from the tall grass. The child's face was deathly pale, clearly severely injured.

Chu Mi rushed forward to take the child and examine them.

Suddenly, the man sprayed a powder at her.

Though worried for the child, Chu Mi hadn't let her guard down.

The moment she saw the powder, she knew it spelled trouble. Her steel blade flashed towards the man.

But he used the child as a shield. To avoid harming the child, she had to retract her blade instantly.

She acted decisively to summon Tiger Baby—but then, a sharp blow struck the back of her neck, and she blacked out.

…

"So this is the Goddess. Once we bring her back, Sanzhou Tribe will soon become the dominant power." The voice belonged to San She, who had just appeared.

He crouched to inspect Chu Mi. He had been freed by the other man.

Gazing at her unconscious form, he marveled—truly divinely chosen. Her beauty and grace could inspire admiration in anyone.

Just as San She reached out, a wooden stake pierced his throat.

His eyes widened as he collapsed, dying with eyes wide open.

…

"Who do you think you are, daring to take what's mine?" The voice was none other than Nu Shi.

He looked at Chu Mi, then scooped her into his arms, before glancing at the child on the ground.

Without hesitation, he drove a stone into the child’s heart. The little body twitched before falling still.

He couldn't leave any traces behind that might lead others to him.

…

Carrying Chu Mi, Nu Shi strode away, his face alight with excitement.

While Nvshan had been treating him, he'd gained the trust of the children, coaxing them into revealing vulnerabilities in the city walls.

As for fooling Ying Jin—his golden hair had been a distinctive trait.

So he'd cut it off, tied it to another man’s head, and taken that man’s black hair for himself. By avoiding eye contact and minimizing contact, he'd gone unnoticed.

Deceiving Chu Mi hadn't been easy. He'd considered many schemes.

In the end, he realized she had a soft spot for the tribe’s children. So he abducted two, murdered one first to unsettle her, then claimed another was still alive—knowing she'd follow.

The only surprise was how quickly she'd seen through his deception and tried to attack.

Luckily, he'd released San She as backup. If she'd called for her divine beast, sneaking her away without a trace would've been impossible.

…

The tribe only realized Chu Mi was missing by afternoon.

When they found the children’s bodies—and San She’s corpse—their faces contorted in rage.

"Search! Now!" Ying Jin took a deep breath.

He never should’ve left her alone. No matter how busy, he should’ve spared guards.

He sent teams to track her, but no traces were found.

…

Chu Mi was carried out of the village.

The Wuzhou Tribe was already waiting outside. Nu Shi swung onto his horse and galloped off to rendezvous with Nvshan.

By midday, they reached the meeting point. Nu Shi dismounted, still holding Chu Mi in his arms.

He scanned the area and spotted his men lounging nearby, some eating, others sleeping, so he didn't think much of it.

As Nu Shi carried Chu Mi down from the horse, he spotted Nvshan sitting in a carriage, wrapped in a white fur blanket.

"I knew you could bring her back," Nvshan smirked.

Nu Shi placed Chu Mi in the carriage.

The carriage was a trade from the Jiuzhou Tribe.

Nu Shi looked at the unconscious Chu Mi and remarked, "It took some serious scheming to deceive her into coming with me."

"Color me impressed," Nvshan nodded with a chuckle.

…

Just as Nu Shi was about to untie the ropes binding Chu Mi’s hands and feet, he sensed killing intent behind him.

Realizing someone was trying to kill him, he dodged sideways and attempted to snatch Chu Mi back.

But Nvshan wouldn't let Chu Mi be taken again. Summoning every ounce of her spiritual energy, she yanked Chu Mi toward her, and they both went sprawling from the carriage.

"Kill him!" Nvshan spat venomously.

"Nvshan, you’re trying to kill me?" Nu Shi couldn't believe the woman would turn on him.

"Do you think I’d spare you? A rat trying to steal my tribe," Nvshan sneered. "If I die, do you really think your daughter could hold the tribe’s position?" Nu Shi frowned at the warriors surrounding them—she’d set this trap from the get-go.

The men he had seen sitting earlier were now lying dead, their chests pierced by fatal wounds.

Shadows came alive with armed men, and he realized Nvshan had deceived him all along.

"Haha… That brat? She could never lead the Wuzhou Tribe to greatness." Nvshan had never intended to monopolize the tribe for herself.

All she cared about was making the tribe strong, and her worthless daughter was unfit for leadership.

"Kill him!" Nu Shi was a walking disaster. Only by eliminating him could she rest easy.

No matter who ruled the tribe, they would never mistreat their own people—unlike that snake Nu Shi.

…

Chu Mi woke up during the journey, only to find herself caught in this treacherous situation.

Nvshan and Nu Shi had conspired to kidnap her, only to betray each other in a deadly double-cross.

Outnumbered by the warriors, Nu Shi had no choice but to retreat.

"Don’t let him escape! Kill him!" Nvshan shrieked like a harpy.

"Nvshan, you backstabbing bitch—" Nu Shi was surrounded. They’d snatched his horse right away, leaving him no means of escape.

A wooden stake pierced his abdomen, and he staggered, dumbstruck—he had been outmaneuvered by that scheming woman.

Nvshan licked blood from her lips, her eyes wild with bloodlust as she watched Nu Shi get impaled. She savored the moment.

"Nu Shi, you underestimated me. This is your price."