PWE – Chapter 66 Zhan Songbai Gets His Retribution

Xiao Wange found it funny that Zhan Hongxin would actually ask Zhan Zeyan for help. This Zhan Hongxin really had no brains at all.

The people around them thought the same.

Just a moment ago, Zhan Hongxin had been helping that Taoist priest go against Zeyan’s family. And now, in the blink of an eye, she was asking Zeyan for help.

Did she think Zeyan was stupid? Did she think that by crying a little, he would forget what happened just now?

Everyone secretly sneered, looking at Zhan Hongxin with disdain.

“Brother Zeyan…” Seeing Zhan Zeyan stand still without responding, Zhan Hongxin called out again.

Zhan Zeyan slowly lifted his eyes.

He glanced at Zhan Hongxin and said coldly, “Your affairs have nothing to do with me. If you want help, you should find your father or your brother. As for me… I have nothing to do with you.”

He should have cut ties with that family next door long ago. Everything they had done was nothing like what relatives would do.

“Brother Zeyan, you… how can you say we’re not related? You’re my cousin, my blood cousin. How can you—”

“If you really saw me as your cousin, then just now you wouldn’t have helped that priest harm my wife. You wouldn’t have wanted my wife dead! Zhan Hongxin, a person cannot be so selfish. You can’t remember we’re ‘relatives’ only when your interests are threatened!”

Zhan Zeyan spoke every word coldly, one by one.

The people around them nodded in agreement. Yes, Zhan Hongxin was indeed too selfish. Her whole family was selfish. After doing such cruel things to Zeyan’s family, they still had the nerve to bring up family ties now—how shameless.

Some villagers, unable to stand her behavior, spoke out directly.

Hearing the villagers’ accusations, Zhan Hongxin gritted her teeth, feeling no guilt at all—only anger and resentment.

In the end, she was taken away by the Hu family. And once they got her home, they naturally beat her severely.

…

After Zhan Hongxin was taken away, the scene fell quiet for a moment. Zhan Songbai glanced in the direction his daughter had been dragged off, his face dark, then turned and glared fiercely at Zhan Zeyan.

Zhan Zeyan clearly could have helped, yet refused! He just stood there, watching his daughter being taken away.

Yes, people said his family had done wrong, that they had chilled Zeyan’s heart. But if Zeyan were even a little kind, he wouldn’t have stood by and watched! In the end, Zhan Zeyan was also cold-hearted!

In the end, Zhan Zeyan was not a good person at all!

Seeing Zhan Songbai’s hateful expression, Xiao Wange curved her lips and nudged Zhan Zeyan with her elbow. “Your uncle seems to be blaming you—for not helping Zhan Hongxin earlier.”

She felt that the family next door was truly hopeless. Even now, they had no remorse whatsoever. They probably didn’t even have a heart; if they did, they wouldn’t behave like this.

Zhan Zeyan gave Zhan Songbai an indifferent glance, his voice cool: “If he wants to blame me, let him. I don’t care what he thinks.”

Xiao Wange smiled, “Exactly. People like that aren’t worth caring about. Taking them seriously only gives yourself trouble. Besides… he’s about to feel even worse.”

Just as she finished speaking, black smoke suddenly rose from the young Taoist’s body, and with it he began rolling on the ground in agony.

“It hurts… it hurts so much! Master, why does it hurt so much?! What’s happening to me?!” Zhu Qingfeng cried as he rolled, looking desperately at his master for help.

The old Taoist looked at him and shook his head. “You’re suffering backlash from an evil art. You’ve devoured so much of others’ lifespan and committed deeds against heaven. Heaven is punishing you!”

Zhu Qingfeng froze, face turning deathly pale.

The pain intensified, as though someone were slicing his flesh with knives.

The onlookers watched his agony and sighed.

It seemed one truly must not do evil. Look what happened to this Taoist—he was punished by heaven.

Zhan Songbai’s breath tightened as he watched Zhu Qingfeng rolling on the ground. A shiver ran through him.

That priest had said Zhan Songbai would suffer backlash too. Would he also… end up like this?

The thought had barely formed when pain suddenly surged across his body.

It was unbearable—like someone hacking at him with a cleaver.

He bent over instantly, his face draining of color.

The crowd clicked their tongues as they watched.

Zhan Songbai was suffering backlash too. This was retribution! Seeing how quickly it came felt satisfying to them.

Zhao Lijuan spat in Zhan Songbai’s direction and mocked, “Serves you right! You do evil and harm others—now you’re getting what you deserve!”

Many people nodded. Yes, he deserved it! Watching Zhan Songbai writhing in pain, not a single person felt sympathy.

Zhan Songbai couldn’t even speak—he had no strength to glare at them. He collapsed on the ground, pale as a corpse.

Zhan Hongda and Zhan Hongjun were terrified and rushed to help their father, wanting to take him to the barefoot doctor.

But He Xiuyan said, “This kind of backlash can’t be cured by medicine. Even most immortals can’t help. Only the will of heaven can interfere.”

Only heaven could help…

Meaning there was no cure. Meaning he could only endure it.

Zhan Hongda and Zhan Hongjun slumped in despair. Their family had only their father left to rely on. If he collapsed, what would become of them?

After five or six minutes, the pain of both Zhu Qingfeng and Zhan Songbai faded.

But Zhu Qingfeng’s appearance had changed drastically—he aged dozens of years in an instant, turning into a white-haired, eighty- or ninety-year-old man.

Everyone gasped. Heaven’s punishment was truly extraordinary.

And looking at Zhu Qingfeng’s state, it seemed he didn’t have long to live.

Unable to withstand the blow, Zhu Qingfeng fainted in his master’s arms.

The old Taoist sighed, “If you had known, why do it? Now… you only have half a month of life left. You could have lived for decades…”

People clicked their tongues again. Truly—one must not do evil. Heaven’s punishment was something humans couldn’t endure.

They turned to look at Zhan Songbai. He had aged too, though not as severely—he had aged about ten years instantly. His once slightly graying hair was now entirely white. His face was deeply lined with age.

The old Taoist looked at him and said, “Layman, I hope after this you will devote yourself to goodness. If you do, perhaps heaven may show mercy.”

He had intended to tell Zhan Songbai how long he had left to live but feared the man couldn’t bear the truth, so he didn’t say it.

Then he left with Zhu Qingfeng. He Xiuyan bowed to Xiao Wange, then hurried after the old Taoist.

After they left, Zhan Hongda and Zhan Hongjun helped Zhan Songbai back home.

Once inside, they slammed the courtyard door shut.

Zhao Lijuan walked up to Xiao Wange and Zhan Zeyan. “Having relatives like Zhan Songbai must be such a burden for you. But fortunately heaven stands on your side. Now that Zhan Songbai has been punished, he should quiet down for a while.”

Xiao Wange smiled—another retribution was coming for Zhan Songbai. When it arrived, he wouldn’t be able to stir up trouble again even if he wanted to.

Zhao Lijuan held Xiao Wange’s hand and comforted her, worried she would feel wronged after everything today.

But Xiao Wange wasn’t upset at all. Watching Zhu Qingfeng and Zhan Songbai suffer… she was delighted.

After everyone left, Xiao Wange and Zhan Zeyan returned to their courtyard.

Floating above them, Wen Feilan suddenly laughed. “I finally saw that wretched Taoist get what he deserved. And Zhan Songbai too. My vengeance is settled now. Since it’s done, I should head to the underworld.”

Zhao Zhao had been inside the main hall.

He had wanted to watch earlier, but his father wouldn’t let him—he said children shouldn’t watch adult matters. So Zhao Zhao had stayed inside practicing writing his name.

Hearing his grandmother’s words, he rushed out.

He looked at her, unwilling. “Grandma, I don’t want you to go. I don’t want you to go to the underworld.”

Wen Feilan floated down to him, touched his head gently, and said with a kind smile, “Grandma doesn’t want to leave you either. But grandma is already dead. The dead cannot stay in the living world. According to the laws of heaven and earth, I must report to the underworld and go reincarnate.”

“Wuu… Grandma…” Little Zhao Zhao threw himself into her arms and cried.

Wen Feilan sighed sadly. She wished she could stay, but as a ghost, she could not remain long in the mortal world.

Zhan Zeyan stood by, his expression full of reluctance as he looked at his mother. He hated the neighbors even more—if they hadn’t killed her, none of this would be happening.

Xiao Wange watched the bittersweet farewell, her heart heavy.

Thankfully she had set up a barrier around the courtyard—otherwise the neighbors would have overheard everything. It was also thanks to this barrier that the old Taoist hadn’t sensed Wen Feilan.

About half an hour later, the farewell ended.

Xiao Wange opened the Gate of the Underworld, and a judge personally came to receive Wen Feilan.

Xiao Wange gave a few instructions, and the judge nodded respectfully. “Rest assured, my lady. I will find the best family for your mother-in-law’s next life.”

Wange nodded. “Good.”

Wen Feilan floated to her and said, “Wange, after I leave, I’m entrusting Zeyan and Zhao Zhao to you. I know Zeyan is clumsy and not good enough for you. But tolerate him a bit. He may be a fool, but he’s devoted—once he loves someone, he’ll never love anyone else. And I know he already likes you—a lot. Wange, please be patient with this fool. If you leave him, I fear he’ll never find a wife again.”

Fool Zhan Zeyan: “…”

His mouth twitched—did his mother really need to insult him in front of Wange?

For some reason, the word “fool” made Xiao Wange want to laugh.

She held back her smile and nodded. “Don’t worry. I won’t leave him.”

Hearing this, Wen Feilan brightened with joy. “Good. That’s good.”

Zhan Zeyan also smiled faintly.

She said she wouldn’t leave him.

She was someone who kept her word… so she would stay with him forever, right?

He glanced at her, looking at her bright profile, and felt waves of emotion rolling in his heart.

…

Wen Feilan followed the judge into the Gate of the Underworld, which vanished moments later.

With that done, Xiao Wange finally relaxed. A ghost staying too long in the mortal world was never good—especially when it was her mother-in-law.

She turned toward the kitchen, ready to prepare lunch.

Zhan Zeyan glanced at her back and hurried after her.

Zhao Zhao wanted to follow too, but Zhan Zeyan shooed him back to practice calligraphy.

Without the little rascal around, the world felt quiet.

Zhan Zeyan stepped into the kitchen behind her. Seeing her approach the water jar and lift the ladle—

His gaze flickered, and he suddenly moved closer, so close that his padded coat brushed her clothes. He looked at her steadily and said, “Wange, let me cook today. You cook every day—you must be tired. Today let me do it.”

She frowned slightly and turned toward him, wanting to push him away. But he suddenly reached out and held her hand—the one holding the ladle.

“What do you want to eat? Is there something you especially crave? Whatever you want, I’ll make it for you.”