The twenty-six direct descendants of the thirteen powerful families all died on their way back east.
This was because it aligned with their fundamental interests.
After all, with Su Nanyin exposing that video, the twenty-six young masters had not only become the thirteen families' biggest laughingstock but also the root of countless netizens' furious curses directed at the thirteen families.
What if they were tragically killed by "Li Qianfan's people" on their journey back east?
The thirteen families could then leverage this incident to stir up trouble in society and divert everyone's attention.
No matter how deserving of death the twenty-six young masters of the thirteen families were, once they were dead, who would dare to dwell on it and continue to curse them?
The thirteen families could then steer the narrative, blaming Li Qianfan (or his associates) for their murder.
At the very least.
The thirteen families could use this incident to accuse Du Junlin, the person in charge of the Dark Blade counter-killing operation: "Even if our people deserved to die, you shouldn't have let them embark on a long and perilous journey home alone while injured!"
By then, the messes the twenty-six young masters had made would gradually be forgotten as new conflicts arose.
With proper manipulation, the thirteen families could not only reduce the pressure but also, by accusing Du Junlin, implicate Su Nanyin, the mastermind behind him!
It had to be said.
The patriarchs of the thirteen families were veritable titans when it came to scheming.
However—
While they wished for Shen Congdao and the others to die, Shen Chongchong wished for them to live!
Both Su Ziyu and Su Nanyin wanted the thirteen families to personally eliminate Shen Congdao and the others on their way back east.
But neither of them had anticipated that the thirteen families might frame Li Qianfan for the deaths of Shen Congdao and the others!
It wasn't that they weren't smart enough.
It was because—
Both Su Ziyu and Su Nanyin had underestimated the extent of the thirteen families' depravity, which far surpassed that of ordinary people!
Shen Yun, Shen Chongchong, had also not foreseen this.
She was only in immense pain and self-reproach because Li Qianfan had been abducted by Luo Huayin, lamenting, "Why wasn't I by his side back then?"
(Su Nanyin eventually relayed this news to Bai Du Niao's shadow, who was playing the role of Li Wujiang by the Longjiang River, to attract experts from the Western Regions.)
Upon hearing that Li Qianfan had been abducted by Luo Huayin, Chongchong immediately handed over the role of playing Li Wujiang to her master, Li Nanfang.
Then, disregarding Li Nanfang's dissuasion, she traveled north alone.
She was going to the Arctic Circle!
If she couldn't find Li Qianfan within the Arctic Circle, she would detour to Africa.
In short.
Chongchong would not return home until she found Li Qianfan.
And return home with Li Qianfan!!
Perhaps due to excessive worry, pain, and self-blame.
Shen Yun fell ill with a fever on her solitary journey north. She was very sick.
She had to rest for two days midway.
When her condition improved slightly and she set off again, she encountered the thirteen families' operation to assassinate Shen Congdao and the others.
Originally.
Chongchong disdained to interfere in such a dog-eat-dog affair.
But as Chongchong, hiding in the shadows, was about to leave the assassination scene, she overheard Shen Qingming reporting to the mainland and mentioning Li Qianfan.
It was then that Chongchong learned that the thirteen families intended to frame Li Qianfan using the deaths of Shen Congdao and the others.
Chongchong was furious—
But she restrained herself.
She hoped to find Shen Congdao and Miao Hanyu, who might have escaped.
She wanted these two to survive!
She intended to groom these two into weapons to attack the thirteen families!!
What could be more gratifying to Chongchong than having the direct descendants of the thirteen families attack them themselves, exposing their ugly faces to the entire world?
Thus.
While Shen Qingming and the others searched for Shen Congdao and his party, Chongchong temporarily halted her northward journey, hiding in the shadows and silently observing them.
The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind!
Shen Yun's efforts were rewarded immensely when Shen Qingming and two others were brutally impaled.
She looked at Shen Congdao and the other survivor and asked calmly, "Do you want to live?"
Did Shen Congdao and the other survivor want to live?
Yes!
More than ever before!
Those who have never experienced death cannot truly appreciate the preciousness of life.
Even if they had to shed their pride as men.
What did it matter, as long as they could live and stay away from women from now on?
Women—
Only hindered their speed in drawing their swords!
After Shen Congdao and the other survivor nodded vigorously, Chongchong asked again, "Do you want revenge on the thirteen families who wanted to silence you?"
Shen Congdao and Miao Hanyu exchanged glances and gritted their teeth, nodding vigorously.
From this moment on.
They made seeking revenge against the thirteen families the sole motivation for their continued existence!
Shen Yun asked a third time, "Do you know what you need to do next?"
Shen Congdao and the other survivor cried out in unison, "We are willing to be dogs for Li Qianfan! Whoever he tells us to bite, we will bite!"
Shen Yun's gaze was cold: "You must remember that besides Li Qianfan, no one else can guarantee your safety now."
This was a hard fact.
No matter how stupid Shen Congdao and the other survivor were, they understood this principle.
Shen Yun said no more, took off her backpack, took out food, and casually threw it on the ground.
Upon seeing the food, Shen Congdao and the other survivor let out excited "woofs" and pounced like dogs, devouring it frantically on the ground.
After they had eaten a quarter of their fill, Chongchong stopped them from eating.
They knew that after starving for days, they absolutely could not eat their fill at once.
Otherwise, they might die of overeating.
Even with only a quarter of their fill, coupled with the powerful motivation of narrowly escaping death and their injuries healing, they quickly staggered to their feet.
"I will personally escort you back to the country."
Shen Yun looked at them and said, "I will temporarily arrange for you to stay at Su Nanyin's place. You should recuperate well, and when you are needed, you know what to do, right?"
Temporarily changing her plan to search for Li Qianfan in the north and arranging for them to stay at home was a reluctant decision for Chongchong.
This was because she felt that Shen Congdao and the other survivor had significant use for Li Qianfan.
Similarly.
Besides hiding them at the Su family's residence and having Su Nanyin personally "train" them, Chongchong could not think of a better solution.
After all, in terms of scheming, Chongchong's skills were far inferior to Su Nanyin's.
Shen Congdao and the other survivor, who had narrowly escaped death and vowed to fight the thirteen families to the bitter end, naturally had no objections to Chongchong's arrangements.
"Brother, after I arrange for these two dogs, I'll come find you immediately. Wait for me. Whether you are at the ends of the earth, I will find you."
Chongchong said silently to herself, looking up at the northern sky as she walked out of the woods with the two dogs.
Daybreak.
This was the East Land, Dong Tu!
Beneath a mountain in the provincial capital, there was a courtyard that retained its elegance even in winter.
Flowing Water Pavilion.
Jiao Yin, who had been squatting in a corner all night, slowly opened her eyes and lay on her back.
She raised her legs high, mimicking pedaling a bicycle.
After squatting for an entire night, her lower body circulation was definitely different.
Every time she woke up, as long as circumstances permitted, she had to lie flat and pedal a bicycle with her feet held high.
Looking at her own shapely, straight legs, Jiao Yin's thoughts began to wander.
Regret.
Jiao Yin regretted not staying in Blackwater Forest for a few more days back then.
If she had, she could have joined Du Junlin in the counter-killing operation against the Rhode team!
She could have seized that opportunity to gain more benefits!!
But because—
She thought Li Qianfan was doomed, she had no choice but to return east alone under the suggestion of the Chief President.
"Who could have imagined that that little guy could survive sub-zero temperatures and hide in the snow for so long?"
"Damn it!"
"He not only used Miss Murong but also used me."
"But I can be sure that I didn't reveal the slightest flaw."
"He treated me and Miss Murong the same, as slaves to be ordered around."
"If only I could have stayed in Blackwater Forest—"
"Damn it, where the hell did he go?"
"Why is there still no news?"
"Is he alive or dead?"
"And why can't the Chief President find out the whereabouts of those experts from the Battle Demon Hall?"
"Could it be that the little guy really died?"
Just as Jiao Yin thought this, her phone rang.
Bai Yujing called: "Mom, are you up? I'm at the front courtyard of Flowing Water Pavilion now."
The front courtyard of Flowing Water Pavilion.
Whenever Bai Yujing came here before, he felt a sense of shame.
Therefore, he avoided coming here whenever possible.
However, now, sitting in a small pavilion and casually observing his surroundings, Bai Yujing no longer felt that shame.
There was a saying: "Since the Bai family's first wife cannot be stopped from finding so many men, it's better to acknowledge more stepfathers and gain great benefits from them!"
Especially considering the immense profits the Bai family had gained since the vampires broke out in large numbers in the East Land, Bai Yujing was even more composed.
From a distance, footsteps could be heard.
Bai Yujing turned his head to look.
His mother, Jiao Yin, walked gracefully from the back courtyard.
Looking at her naturally swaying waist, Bai Yujing couldn't help but swallow, and he quickly averted his gaze.
Although he was more rational than anyone and knew he couldn't have any thoughts about this woman, he couldn't deny that his heart stirred every time he saw her.
"You came so early, is there something urgent?"
Jiao Yin walked gracefully into the small pavilion, looking at her son, Jiao Meibi, with kind and gentle eyes.
"Mom."
Bai Yujing lowered his head and respectfully reported, "I've already made an appointment with Chu Yazhi. She's waiting for you at Zhizhi Club. She wants to personally discuss the business of gloves and domestic special medicines with you."