Xu Xiao'e froze, touching the painful spot on her right ear. It really looked like an earring hole.
"This is what you did to me," Xu Xiao'e argued, trying to hold on. "I believe the county magistrate will see clearly. If I were wearing an earring, why would I only have one pierced?"
"Is that so?" Shen Xiaoyan smiled, and said reluctantly, "Then I'll help you a bit more."
As she finished speaking, Shen Xiaoyan quickly threw another golden needle, this time aimed at the lobe of Xu Xiao'e's left ear.
When Xu Xiao'e heard Shen Xiaoyan say she would help her, she was already startled and wanted to prepare herself, but her body's reaction couldn't keep up with her brain.
As a result, Xu Xiao'e could only be miserable. She felt her left ear instantly pierced by something, followed by a burning pain.
"Shen Xiaoyan, you're going too far," Xu Xiao'e shouted, covering both her ears.
"How am I going too far? I'm just sitting here, what are you talking about?" Shen Xiaoyan spread her hands.
"Didn't you injure my ears with those golden needles? Why are you pretending to be innocent?" Xu Xiao'e was about to explode. How had she never realized that Shen Xiaoyan had such a shameless side before?
"As a country girl, how could I possibly pierce your ears from such a distance? Stop joking," Shen Xiaoyan said, her smile fading from her face.
"Xu Xiao'e, I've already given you too many chances. If you're not satisfied with your current life, then don't regret it later," Shen Xiaoyan said, then stood up.
Zheng Wei and Shen Xiaoming, who had been silent, also stood up. The three of them turned to leave.
"Where are you going?" Baili Ziyun, who had stopped watching, strode forward and blocked Zheng Wei's path.
"Get out of the way," Zheng Wei glanced at Baili Ziyun faintly, his voice cold.
Did this woman think he had a good temper, provoking him time and again?
"I told you, you saved me, and I want to repay your kindness," Baili Ziyun insisted.
"I don't need it."
"But I do. I've taken a liking to you, so you must come with me." Baili Ziyun's face sank. She no longer looked at Zheng Wei, but clapped her hands twice.
Following her clapping, several burly men in black suddenly appeared in the room.
Shen Xiaoyan and Zheng Wei were both surprised by the sudden appearance of these people. Each of the burly men was six feet tall, with stern faces and an aura of killing intent. They were clearly not ordinary servants or guards.
"Zheng Wei, either you come with me obediently, or..." Baili Ziyun's expression turned cold, and her tone became forceful. "Or you'll be forced to come with me. No matter what, since I've taken a liking to you, you have no choice."
"What if I refuse?" Zheng Wei narrowed his eyes, a dangerous glint flashing in their depths, but his voice remained calm.
"Then don't blame me," Baili Ziyun gave a smug smile, her eyes flickered, and she looked at Shen Xiaoyan. "Oh my, such a charming face. You look just like your seductive mother. It's better to ruin it than to let it continue to harm people."
"Then come and try," Shen Xiaoyan said, looking at Baili Ziyun with a hint of sarcasm. Did this woman think she could trouble her and Zheng Wei with just these few people behind her?
"I know you're good at martial arts, and these people are no match for you. Therefore, I've specially prepared an opponent for you, guaranteed to keep you entertained."
Baili Ziyun smiled confidently at Zheng Wei. As her words fell, a person suddenly flew in from the doorway.
His shadow was so fast that it was impossible to see clearly, only a figure in black.
When he got close, he didn't stop, but drew a long sword and stabbed towards Zheng Wei.
Zheng Wei didn't dodge the long sword, but leaned back, evading the masked man's attack.
The masked man flew over Zheng Wei's head, then quickly turned around and flew back, continuing to attack Zheng Wei.
Zheng Wei didn't just dodge. His speed was faster than the masked man's, and he would occasionally kick the masked man.
Each kick had immense force, and when it landed on the masked man, it would make him grunt.
"Mi Mi, be careful," Zheng Wei instructed Shen Xiaoyan, then immediately flew out of the room, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
"It seems you don't mean much to him, leaving you behind alone," Baili Ziyun said sarcastically to Shen Xiaoyan, her tone laced with schadenfreude. "Attack, and disfigure her face first."
As Baili Ziyun gestured, the burly men immediately sprang into action, encircling Shen Xiaoyan and Shen Xiaoming.
"Xiaoming, stay behind sister," Shen Xiaoyan looked back at Shen Xiaoming and instructed in a low voice.
"I know, sister. Be careful," Shen Xiaoming's gaze was firm, showing no fear.
The burly men tightened their circle, and as they were about to reach Shen Xiaoyan, she unleashed her hands, spinning rapidly, and dozens of golden needles shot towards the burly men simultaneously.
These men had no idea Shen Xiaoyan had this skill. They weren't in the room when Shen Xiaoyan shot Xu Xiao'e, and Baili Ziyun hadn't warned them.
Seeing Shen Xiaoyan's delicate appearance, they treated her as a weak woman with no strength to even tie a chicken.
In such an unguarded state, with golden needles shot at such close range, they had no time to dodge.
However, even if they couldn't dodge, they didn't care. These few golden needles, even if they pierced their bodies, wouldn't do anything to them.
Therefore, as the golden needles pierced their bodies, their movements and expressions didn't falter at all, and they continued to advance towards Shen Xiaoyan and Shen Xiaoming.
But when they tried to attack Shen Xiaoyan, they found themselves without strength, their bodies somewhat out of control.
Baili Ziyun stood by the door and couldn't see the shocked expressions on the faces of the burly men.
She only saw them all standing still, and her anger flared up.
"What are you doing? Get them!" Baili Ziyun shouted furiously.
But her only reply was the thudding sound of several burly men falling to the ground.
Baili Ziyun was shocked. What was going on?
"Your subordinates are really pathetically weak, what a waste of such large frames. Are they fake? Is there straw stuffed inside their clothes? Are your servants just pretending to scare people like this?"
Shen Xiaoyan said, her disdainful expression deepening, making Baili Ziyun grit her teeth.
Looking at the men lying on the ground, Baili Ziyun cursed them internally as useless.
But how did Shen Xiaoyan do it?
Seeing Baili Ziyun's puzzled gaze, Shen Xiaoyan chuckled inwardly. The golden needles she used earlier were different from the ones she shot at Xu Xiao'e.
The ones shot at Xu Xiao'e were plain golden needles, while the ones used just now were coated with anesthetic.
When she had thought of cultivating Yue Qingxin into a second Dongfang Bubai, she had prepared these golden needles. It was a pity that when she and Yue Qingxin became pregnant successively, this matter was delayed.
However, being prepared was always good, and it was useful now.
Baili Ziyun, of course, didn't know what Shen Xiaoyan was thinking.
But she wasn't someone who would give up so easily.
Although Zheng Wei had left, she couldn't guarantee he wouldn't return. She had to take advantage of the moment to deal with Shen Xiaoyan, otherwise, it would be troublesome later.
Thinking this, Baili Ziyun untied a belt from her waist.
Shen Xiaoyan looked at the yellow belt in Baili Ziyun's hand, then at the other belt tied around her waist, and a look of understanding flashed in her eyes.
No wonder she had felt Baili Ziyun's belt looked strange earlier, slightly bulging and too long. It seemed to be a whip.
Indeed, Baili Ziyun's next action confirmed Shen Xiaoyan's guess.