Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 729 - 730: The Past (Part 3)

Fourth Master Xiao leaned against the tree with his eyes closed, relaxed. Xiao Yancheng, however, was slowly sweating on his forehead. He naturally foresaw the outcome of this situation. Fourth Master Xiao’s attitude was clearly designed to let him suffer bit by bit, like a frog boiled in warm water.

The Grand Dowager, supported by Xiao Yanyi, approached Fourth Master Xiao and slowly closed her eyes. The children had grown up; they had their own thoughts and decisions, their independent actions. She, as a mother, no longer had the ability to interfere with them.

In her helplessness and desolation, with anger and shock battling in her chest, she blacked out and fainted.

Xiao Yanyi stopped the Grand Dowager, shouting towards Fourth Master Xiao, "Fourth Brother!" Fourth Master Xiao turned his gaze over, frowned, then quickly walked over, lifting the Grand Dowager in his arms and said to Xiao Yanyi, "I’ll take you out."

Xiao Yanyi knew it was not wise to linger here. He glanced towards the fighting Xiao Yancheng, sighed softly, nodded, and said, "Alright!" Then followed Fourth Master Xiao out of the woods.

Xiao Yancheng saw from the corner of his eye Fourth Master Xiao carrying the Grand Dowager away and exchanged a look with the bound Third Madam...

Amidst the clashing swords and spears, Xiao Yancheng quickly approached Third Madam, swiftly untying her ropes with remarkable speed. Third Madam picked up a sword dropped by a dead soldier on the ground. The two fought and retreated step by step towards the outskirts, with Xiao Yancheng whispering, "On the horse!" Third Madam quickly nodded, flipped up onto the horse that was stopped nearby, and Xiao Yancheng likewise mounted up behind her. The horse’s hooves kicked up and galloped away.

Cheng Chong was shocked and shouted, "Stop them!"

Prince Rong was even more furious, shouting, "Xiao Yancheng, you treacherous scoundrel." Yet he did not cease his actions, though in his heart he started to have thoughts of retreat.

The horse sped rapidly, with Xiao Yancheng and Third Madam galloping swiftly toward the forest’s outer area, contrary to Fourth Master Xiao’s direction, leaving everyone far behind in the distance. Third Madam asked as they rode, "Husband, where are we going?"

"We’ll return to the village first and plan further." Today was a misstep; he only sought revenge for the past, but instead fell into Fourth Master Xiao’s trap. Now, calling for reinforcements was too late and impossible, so they had to leave here first and plan slowly.

Third Madam’s face was full of anger, and she muttered under her breath, "One day, I will cut Fourth Master Xiao into a thousand pieces!" Branches overhead flew past and fell behind them, and arrows shot from behind grazed Xiao Yancheng’s back and fell to the ground.

After running a bit further, Third Madam finally breathed a sigh of relief, her tense nerves relaxing. She asked, "Where did you put Lyuzhu?"

"On the way back to Miaojiang, don’t worry, she’s very safe." Xiao Yancheng whipped the horse’s back with the blade, and the horse, in pain, ran even faster.

Third Madam was reassured, but before she could fully express her relief, she suddenly froze, seeing a person and a horse standing firmly a hundred meters ahead on their only path. On the horse stood a man in a black robe, resembling a demon, with narrowed, fox-like eyes. In his hands was a bow, drawn across his chest, with a long arrow nocked, its tip gleaming coldly.

"Fourth Master Xiao!" Third Madam exclaimed in shock, "How could he be here?" He had clearly gone the other way with the Grand Dowager and Xiao Yanyi.

Hearing this, Xiao Yancheng was also startled, looking up and freezing in place.

But in the blink of an eye, Xiao Yancheng reacted quickly, pulling the horse’s reins to turn around...

In a flash of lightning and thunder, Fourth Master Xiao’s lips curled into a chilling smile, and the sharp arrow in his hand shot forth like lightning.

"Husband, go quickly!"

At almost the same instant the words fell, she felt a heart-wrenching pain in her chest. Looking down, her left breast was pierced through. With disbelief in her eyes, she looked up at Fourth Master Xiao. But there, at the edge of the forest, was no longer his figure, as if he had vanished like a phantom.

"Danlan!" Xiao Yancheng was shocked, hurriedly catching Third Madam, but his grip was unstable, and both rolled off the horse to the ground. The horse didn’t stop, galloping wildly away. Xiao Yancheng held Third Madam, rolling on the ground. Alarmed, he looked at the arrow in her chest, "Danlan, Danlan!"

Third Madam’s face was already pale. She gritted her teeth, looking at Xiao Yancheng, cursing in Miaojiang dialect. Xiao Yancheng dared not pull out the arrow and asked, "Don’t move, I’ll find a horse to take you back."

"Husband!" Third Madam clutched Xiao Yancheng, shaking her head vehemently, "Don’t go!" Gazing intently at Xiao Yancheng, she spoke with labored breath, "There isn’t time. Husband, I have something to ask you, and you must tell me honestly." Clutching her chest in agony, without waiting for Xiao Yancheng’s reply, she eagerly asked, "Husband, do you hate me?"

"Don’t talk right now. Wait here for me." Xiao Yancheng, in no mood for a relationship discussion, only hoped that Third Madam wouldn’t die: "I won’t let you die."

Yet Third Madam tightly clutched his sleeve, also grabbing his hand, clinging with all her strength, "It’s no use." Then she coughed, blood overflowing from her mouth. Pursuing relentlessly, as if confirming, she asked, "Husband, tell me, do you hate me? I forced the love poison on you, made the decision to give birth to Lyuzhu, stayed home against your wishes, insisted on capturing Fourth Brother’s wife, disrupted your plans. Do you hate me?"

"Don’t say such useless things." Xiao Yancheng impatiently furrowed his brows, "What’s the use of talking now? We can discuss it after you recover!" But Third Madam shook her head, withered and resigned, giving a bitter smile: "So you really do hate me!" Grasping Xiao Yancheng’s hand with all her might, she asked once more, "Then... have you ever loved me?"

Xiao Yancheng halted while holding her arm, looked at Third Madam’s young and beautiful face. Had he ever loved her?

What is love? He didn’t know.

He didn’t know what love was, how could he know if he had ever loved.

Thoughts swirling, he looked at Third Madam. Third Madam already disappointed, closed her eyes, tightly biting her lips. Blood flowed rapidly from her mouth and chest, and tears trailed down her cheeks. She looked at Xiao Yancheng, suddenly laughed, the smile indescribably bitter: "So, all these years, you’ve never loved me. Xiao Yancheng, you... have always been using me, haven’t you?"

Seeing her like this, Xiao Yancheng felt as if a sharp knife was carving at his chest, the acute pain suffocating him. He shook his head, trying to smile reassuringly, "Silly, we’ve been together for so many years, don’t you believe me?" After speaking, he held Third Madam briefly and said, "Wait here for me. I’ll find a horse. I will definitely take you out."

Third Madam fixed her gaze on him, missing nothing. She wanted to say to avenge me, but she also knew that with her death, Xiao Yancheng wouldn’t survive either. Seeking revenge suddenly seemed so futile.