Chapter 52

Chapter 52

As her voice trailed off, Li Shuchen flashed in like a ray of light.

Seeing her pained expression and furrowed brow, Li Shuchen's heart tightened: "Where does it hurt?"

There were three urgencies in life, and he had merely gone downstairs to answer one of them, yet she had gotten injured.

"My back hurts." Qi Huan's eyes brimmed with tears. She was about to tell him to stop Lu Baiian when she saw Lu Yueming had already grabbed his arm.

After being obstructed, Lu Baiian glared at his defiant daughter, clenched his fist, forcefully broke free from the restraint on his arm, and swung his fist.

Lu Yueming struggled to block it, but refused to back down: "You're in no position to lecture me! What kind of father are you? From childhood until now, how many times have you paid attention to me?

I thought you were just busy with military affairs, but I never imagined you were busy keeping a concubine and fathering illegitimate children!"

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she forced them back, stubbornly looking at her birth father with utter resentment.

"Mother always said you were a great hero who saved her from mounted bandits, and I should take pride in you and learn from you. Pah!

It was all lies, including your vow to my grandfather that you would only marry my mother for life. You broke that vow—aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning?!"

Pressed by her accusations, Lu Baiian wished he could strangle this unfilial daughter right then and there.

The two figures, one red and one black, grappled with each other.

Lu Yueming was gradually overwhelmed and struck down, spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood.

"How I deal with your mother is a family matter, not something for you to lecture me about. You dared to write to your grandfather behind my back and get him to use his connections to deprive me of my military position—you're outrageously audacious and utterly unfilial. Your mother has failed to discipline you properly, so today I'll do it myself!"

Thinking of his stripped Commander-in-chief position, Lu Baiian's anger flared even higher. He grabbed his daughter from the ground and viciously slapped her.

Seeing Li Shuchen still concerned about her injury, Qi Huan urgently pushed him: "Li Shuchen, quickly go help!"

After gently setting her on a nearby stool, mindful of her back injury, Li Shuchen's gaze turned icy cold. He picked up a tea cup shard from the ground and lightly tossed it, instantly slicing open Lu Baiian's arm and causing blood to gush out.

It was that hand that had hurt Qi Huan.

The white porcelain shard embedded in Lu Baiian's bronze-colored skin, the relentlessly flowing crimson blood creating a powerful visual impact.

Not daring to carelessly pull out the shard, Lu Baiian shot Li Shuchen a vicious glare, pushed open the window and jumped out.

By the wall, Lu Yueming's right cheek was severely swollen, her words slurred: "Qi Huan, are you all right?"

Understanding her meaning, Qi Huan answered truthfully: "My back is a little bruised... Lu Yueming, your facial injury looks quite serious. Let's go to the Medical Clinic together."

Leaning against the wall to support herself, Lu Yueming felt her swollen cheek, wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, and before she could say anything, Mrs. Lu rushed over and embraced her.

"Mother, it hurts..."

Outside, Li Shuchen listened to Qi Huan's pained moans from within and gradually clenched his fists.

He returned to his room, changed into nighttime garments, donned a randomly purchased mask, and slipped out into the night.

He headed to the Yunying Caravan's compound.

Li Shuchen's sudden arrival made Yan Jiu, who was on night watch duty at the caravan, perk up.

"Your Highness," he cupped his hands in greeting.

"Investigate the former Commander-in-chief of Mo County."

"Yes, sir."

Yan Jiu departed to carry out the order.

By the time the last wisp of steam had dissipated from the tea cup, he returned: "I've gathered all the information about him here, Your Highness. What aspect would you like? Allow me to locate it for you."

"His residence."

Yan Jiu acknowledged the command, rapidly flipping through the pages in his hands. When he reached the third page and scanned down, his finger paused: "To report to Your Highness, based on Lu Baiian's usual habits, he would mostly stay overnight at the military camp. The rest of the time, he only returns to the Lu's Residence on the first day of the month, otherwise spending his nights at the fourth residence on Jingyou Alley in Plum Fragrance Lane's Jingjing District in the western part of the city."

Having obtained the desired information, Li Shuchen gave a slight nod of acknowledgment and departed with purposeful strides.

The crescent moon hung curved in the thick night. Li Shuchen lifted a roof tile and dropped inside.

Lu Baiian, thoroughly engrossed in the tender paradise with the soft cries of a beautiful companion, had no attention to spare for any surrounding noises.

Between the bedcurtains, the pale naked body irritated Li Shuchen, causing his brows to furrow. He nonchalantly grabbed a white jade vase from the table and flung it, knocking Lu Baiian unconscious.

Lady Mei, who had been ardently performing, was abruptly crushed by Lu Baiian's falling body, her melodious cries cutting off as she confusedly tried to push the dead weight off her, fearfully wondering if he had suffered a stroke.

Soon after, she too was knocked out by a flying teacup.

Li Shuchen lifted the tablecloth and tossed it over to cover the unsightly scene on the bed.

He approached, found the bandaged bronze arm, flipped out a dagger, and deftly severed the tendon in Lu Baiian's hand.

Lu Baiian was jolted awake by the pain, about to counterattack with his left hand.

Catching the fist swinging towards him, Li Shuchen forcefully twisted it with a cracking sound, causing Lu Baiian to lose consciousness from the pain once more.

Disdainfully tossing aside his wrist, Li Shuchen pondered briefly before disabling the tendons in Lu Baiian's hand.

Regaining consciousness in agony with his hands rendered useless, Lu Baiian attempted to kick Li Shuchen.

Displeased, Li Shuchen knocked him out again, flipped his dagger, and severed the tendons in Lu Baiian's feet.

Awaking in excruciating pain yet again, Lu Baiian finally realized his opponent's martial arts prowess far surpassed his own, and bellowed furiously, "Why don't you just slit my throat and be done with it!"