89 Self-reproach

Ao'ye's heart skipped a beat. Seeing the girl look like she was trapped in her demons, Ao'ye hastily bowed and called "Little Lord" a few times.

Qiao Mu's bone-chilling gaze landed on the old granny's badly mutilated body, but there was not any reflection in her chilly, pitch-black eyes.

"Little-little Master," Ao'ye raised his volume, his expression slightly shifting, as he tried to pull Qiao Mu out of her emotions.

Her hands instantly relaxed their tight grasp of the ferule, and her frosty face also eased slightly. She turned to the anxious-looking youth in black and nodded and said, "I'm fine. Take care of the body, don't leave behind any evidence."

"Yes." Ao'ye nodded and skillfully picked up the corpse, his left hand sprinkling some white powder on the ground.

The puddle of blood swiftly receded and disappeared, and the courtyard appeared to have recovered its typical tranquility.

However, Qiao Mu's heart could not be calmed.

She looked down at Brother Xiao Hu lying unconscious in the corner, and her fists subconsciously clenched by her sides.

She was aware that staunching the blood superficially was not too useful. The old granny's attack had severely injured Brother Xiao Hu's organs, and she was afraid no one could cure him in this tiny mountain village.

"Little Lord, this little brother's injuries are a bit serious, perhaps he won't survive…" Ao'ye said with the intent of comforting her since he knew that the girl must be having a hard time.

However, Qiao Mu nodded and interrupted him, "Go take care of it."

"Yes." Ao'ye walked forward with the old biddy in his hand.

Then, he heard the girl's fragmented voice, close to a mumble. "I caused… trouble for you. Next time… I… will be careful."

Ao'ye started and paused his steps for a few seconds. For some reason, he had mixed feelings. She was young, but the expression that she inadvertently revealed made her seem like she had experienced decades of plights in the world, gripping people's hearts with distress.

Ao'ye cupped his fist in salute and said, "This subordinate isn't afraid of trouble." Then, he picked up the corpse and leaped onto the roof with a swish, his figure disappearing after a few jumps.

Qiao Mu carried the unconscious Qiao Hu into the house and sat by his head for half a day, lost in thought. Her icy hand was grasping the boy's slightly rough hand.

"Xiao Hu." Qiao Mu's voice could not help but become choked, and her hand deathly gripped the boy's hand, sorrow infiltrating her mind.

Was this life? In her previous life, Xiao Hu was ripped to shreds by zombies. To avenge his son, Second Uncle joined an operation squad and accepted zombie-killing missions everywhere, and he ended up losing his life in a level five mission.

In this life, she originally intended to do whatever she could to change the lives of him and his father, but she did not expect…

It was her oversight. It was her fault. She should not have let Xiao Hu stay outside the door, nor should she have rashly taken out the Heart of Paradise. The crown prince had even outright reminded her earlier. It was her ignorance that harmed other people and herself. It was her. It was all her fault!

Qiao Mu sat with her head drooping down and her eyes closed, tightly clutching the boy's hands to press against her forehead. She continued using his hand to knock her forehead, not noticing at all the faint green light that emitted from where she held the boy's hand.

"Master, Master, don't torture yourself anymore. You used to be able to treat this boy's minor injury with a single gold needle."

Qiao Mu looked up in shock, glancing left and right. Besides Qiao Hu who laid on the bed and whose breathing was barely perceptible, she was the only one here. Who? Who was speaking?!