Chapter 70: Chapter Seventy Recently, Several Outsiders Have Come to the Village

Chapter 70: Outsiders Have Visited the Village Several Times Recently

Wei Zheng, having searched fruitlessly for a full month, was on the verge of madness. His temper grew more volatile by the day, making life a living hell for the assassins and guards who bore the brunt of his fury. They silently prayed for Wei San to surface soon, convinced that if he remained elusive, their master would likely behead them all to vent his frustration.

"Can't find him! Can't find him! Is that all you're capable of saying?"

"What good are you useless wretches if you can't even track down one person?"

An expensive white jade cup shattered into fragments on the floor, tea splattering everywhere. The kneeling assassins and guards were utterly silent, frozen in fear.

Wei Zheng, seething with rage, took a deep breath, massaging his throbbing temples.

Duan Lin cast a quick glance at the terrified, breathless assassins and guards before stepping forward to intercede on their behalf. "Wei San is a master of disguise and adept at remaining hidden. If he truly wishes to conceal himself, it's effortless for him. Furthermore, the search area is vast, and no one knows his exact whereabouts. Without alerting the Emperor and the Crown Prince, finding him quickly is indeed a formidable challenge."

In essence, they needed more time.

Wei Zheng gritted his teeth. "Difficult to find? How long do you require? A year or two, or perhaps a decade? Do you truly believe I can wait that long?"

Wei San was carrying his child. How could he bear to let Wei San endure hardship alone outside?

"I'll grant you one more month. If you still fail to find him, consider the consequences yourselves!"

He issued his ultimatum. The assassins and guards were inwardly distraught but dared not betray their feelings, merely bowing their heads in reluctant agreement.

Wei Zheng was about to dismiss them when a sudden thought struck him. He added, "Instruct Wei Er and Wei Liu to keep a close watch on Ruan Xingji. Should any suspicious individual approach him, detain them immediately."

Only Ruan Xingji possessed the ability to help Wei San safely deliver the child. Since Wei San desired the child, he would undoubtedly seek contact with Ruan Xingji. By closely monitoring Ruan Xingji, they were confident Wei San would eventually reveal himself.

***

Wei San had already become a familiar face in the small village. Most villagers knew about the pretty, pregnant young widow who had recently moved in.

The young widow had lost her husband before her child's birth and had no one to rely on. However, her striking beauty, even with a child on the way, sparked interest among the village's lonely bachelors.

Today, Wei San planned to visit Aunt Li next door to trade for a chicken to make nourishing soup. As he opened his door, he saw Auntie Gui, the village matchmaker, smiling as she scrutinized him from head to toe.

He found her calculating gaze deeply unpleasant, and his tone grew colder.

"Oh, what brings you to my humble abode?"

Auntie Gui waved her red handkerchief and beamed. "Why, I'm here because you have wonderful news!"

Wei San frowned in confusion. "What wonderful news could I possibly have?"

Auntie Gui declared, "Well, Niu Sanwa has asked me to propose marriage on his behalf."

Niu Sanwa was a notorious troublemaker in the village—lazy, idle, and a bully who preyed on the weak but cowered before the strong. When drunk, he'd rampage through the village, earning him a terrible reputation. No family was willing to marry their daughter to him.

Now, the aging Niu Sanwa, still unwed, had set his sights on this "widow."

Auntie Gui spoke volubly, praising Niu Sanwa as if he were the most exceptional man on earth, assuring Wei San that marrying him would bring no disadvantage.

Wei San sneered inwardly but feigned heartbroken sobs and curses. "My husband's body isn't even cold, and you're already rushing to arrange a marriage for me? Has your conscience been devoured by dogs? How can you commit such an immoral act? Aren't you afraid my deceased husband will haunt you at night?"

The more isolated the village, the more superstitious its inhabitants. At these words, Auntie Gui immediately grew uneasy, rubbing her arms nervously and glancing around as if expecting a ghost to materialize from any corner.

"Wh-what nonsense are you spouting? I'm doing this for your own good. How can you manage, heavy with child and without a man to care for you? If you marry him, Niu Sanwa will surely look after you properly."

She persisted in her persuasion. Wei San's patience wore thin, and he said coldly, "My love for my late husband runs deep. I intend to remain loyal to his memory for the rest of my life. Tell those people to abandon their hopes."

Without another word, he pushed Auntie Gui out and slammed the door shut.

Auntie Gui called out several times but couldn't stop him. She pounded on the door but received no response. Having been rebuffed, her true colors emerged. She placed her hands on her hips and spat, "You husbandless little hussy! You should be grateful someone is willing to take you in. Who are you putting on airs for? When it's time to give birth and you have no one to attend to you, you'll come crying and begging to me!"

After her tirade, she stormed off in a huff. Behind the door, a cold glint flashed in Wei San's eyes. He was no magnanimous saint; he preferred to settle scores immediately. He slowly opened the door a crack, flicked a silver needle, and accurately struck Auntie Gui's numbing pressure point.

The needle was not poisoned, but being struck in that pressure point would cause her frequent, debilitating aches from then on.

It wouldn't kill her, but it would make her life miserable.

Wei San dismissed the incident, putting it out of his mind. He took some money to buy two old hens from the neighbor and asked her to bring back some fabric and wool if she went to the city market. He needed to start making clothes for the baby in advance.

The child would be born in the dead of winter. Infants were delicate and fragile, so keeping them warm was crucial to prevent illness.

Wei San had many daily concerns. A year ago, he never would have imagined that raising a baby would require so much effort.

Having no experience with childcare, he spent his free time seeking advice from the village women, learning how to make small leather coats and blankets. To ensure his child would never go hungry, he even began learning to cook. Several days passed without a moment's rest.

Today was market day, held every five days. Villagers gathered in small groups, carrying baskets and boarding ox carts to head into the city.

Before they departed, the neighbor called out to Wei San, "Qiu Niang, are you truly not coming with us to the city market?"

Wei San shook his head. "It's not convenient for me to go."

The baby in his belly was already over six months old. The later the pregnancy, the faster the baby grew, and his body felt significantly heavier. Wei San was very protective of the child and generally avoided unnecessary activities. While the village wasn't far from the capital, a round trip by ox cart took at least two hours, and the bumpy journey was indeed unsuitable for him.

The neighbor considered this and agreed, not pressing further. She took the silver he offered and boarded the ox cart.

Market day was a major event in this remote village. Most of the villagers had left, leaving only a few elderly people and some older children at home to mind the houses.

After seeing the neighbor off, Wei San closed his door to visitors. Not far away, Niu Sanwa, carrying a basket, paused. He watched Wei San disappear behind the door, his slitty eyes narrowing with malicious intent.

He glanced around. Most of the villagers had departed, and Qiu Niang lived in a secluded spot. If he were to do something to her, no one would be around to rescue her in time. Once he had his way, wouldn't she be forced to marry him, whether she wanted to or not?

The thought of Qiu Niang's beautiful face and graceful figure, even with her pregnancy, stirred a powerful excitement within him.

Niu Sanwa's face flushed with exhilaration; he yearned to get his hands on that "little hussy" and have his fun.

He waited patiently for a moment, confirming that most of the able-bodied men had left the village, then crept stealthily, hunched over, to the courtyard wall.

The wall wasn't high, less than nine feet. Niu Sanwa, being tall and sturdy, stacked a few bricks, climbed up, and easily vaulted over.

Before he could even steady himself after landing, he looked up to see Qiu Niang standing on the steps beneath the eaves, arms crossed, staring at him expressionlessly.

"Who permitted you to enter?"

Qiu Niang possessed captivating peach-blossom eyes that, when she smiled, conveyed deep affection. But when she subtly lifted her chin and gazed down at someone, it was chilling.

Niu Sanwa felt an inexplicable surge of nervousness and fear, but then he reminded himself that she was merely a woman. As a man, couldn't he mold her to his will?

He mustered his courage again, his gaze lingering on Qiu Niang with a lecherous, repulsive intensity as he approached her with a lewd smirk. "Darling, your husband is here to cherish you."

Wei San recognized him as Niu Sanwa, who had failed to propose days earlier. He had assumed the man had given up, never imagining such a disgusting scheme.

He watched the approaching man with cold detachment, his eyes devoid of any emotion, already viewing him as a lifeless carcass.

He didn't want to kill Niu Sanwa. Besides the fact that such a lowlife wasn't worth his effort, his primary concern was avoiding trouble.

A sudden death would be a major incident and might attract officials. He had finally found a good hiding place and didn't want to expose it because of such a scoundrel.

"Come here, little lady, I'll show you a good time, guaranteed to make you..."

Niu Sanwa lunged forward, but Wei San sidestepped, causing him to stumble past and lose his balance. Before he could regain his footing, Wei San delivered a swift chop to the back of his neck, and the burly man collapsed to the ground with a thud, unconscious.

Wei San kicked him over like a piece of trash, then paused thoughtfully for a moment before turning and heading inside. After rummaging around, he finally found a small jar of aphrodisiac among the vials of toxins for his poisoned needles.

He forced open Niu Sanwa’s jaw and poured nearly half the bottle down his throat, then dragged him out through the back door.

With most villagers away at the market, what had been convenient for Niu Sanwa now worked to Wei San’s advantage. He dragged the unconscious man to the neighbor’s pigpen and dumped him inside, then dusted off his hands, his good deed done in secret.

He had only taken a few steps from the neighbor’s house when he encountered a few elderly men returning from working in the fields.

They greeted him warmly, "Qiu Niang, out for a stroll?"

Wei San nodded, "Yes, it was stuffy inside, so I thought I’d take a walk."

Most of the villagers were simple and kind-hearted, and seeing him pregnant and alone, they were especially solicitous. The men were carrying sweet potatoes, and without asking, each insisted on giving him some. Wei San tried to refuse, but they grew displeased.

"Are you refusing our sweet potatoes because you look down on them, or because you think they're not good enough?"

Second Master Liu's face hardened, his words stern. Wei San quickly denied it, and without another word, Second Master Liu shoved the sweet potatoes into his hands. "Then take them."

The other men followed suit, all forcing their shares on him.

Wei San had no choice but to accept, feeling both touched and helpless as he thanked them.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Wei San prepared to head back, but Second Master Liu suddenly called out to him.

"Qiu Niang, some outsiders have been coming around the village lately, seems like they’re looking for someone. They look tough and nasty—definitely not good people. Be careful when you’re out walking, and try not to go too far. Stay away from strangers too—who knows what they’re up to? If they turn out to be bad news, you won’t be able to run in your condition."

Wei San’s heart sank, but he nodded calmly. "Alright, I understand. Thank you for the warning, Second Master Liu."

After bidding farewell to the men, Wei San pretended to continue his stroll before quickly returning home. He stored the sweet potatoes in the kitchen, then went inside and locked the door.

He studied his disguise carefully in the bronze mirror. The woman reflected had soft, delicate features—pretty and unassuming, the very image of a girl next door. It was a world away from his true appearance.

One was a ruthless assassin, the other a pregnant, helpless young widow—no one would ever connect two such disparate individuals.

Wei San had great confidence in his disguise skills, but he couldn’t shake a sense of unease.

Any disguise would eventually be seen through—he had to prepare an escape route in advance.

As he lost himself in thought, a commotion broke out outside his courtyard, sounding like a crowd gathering noisily.

Snapping back to attention, he opened the door and stepped out to find a crowd gathered around the neighbor’s backyard.

He suddenly remembered Niu Sanwa, whom he’d dumped in the pigpen, and a flicker of understanding crossed his eyes. But he feigned ignorance and asked a woman nearby curiously, "What’s going on?"

The woman was bursting to share the gossip. "That Niu Sanwa from the end of the village—the one who can’t find a wife—has gone mad! He’s actually trying to have his way with a pig!"