TSWPF -Chapter 397 Assassination

In the middle of the night, Diandian, who had been curled up sleeping in a corner, suddenly climbed up, its eyes sharp and alert as it looked outside.

After a moment, it silently crept out, clearly seeing a group of men dressed in black silently landing in the backyard.

Its eyes darted around, then it howled loudly, “Ao-woo! Ao-woo! Ao-woo!”

Its cry woke Ah Huang and Ah Bai, and even the patrolling guards immediately became alert.

“What’s Diandian howling at?”

“Could something be happening?”

“Let’s go check it out.”

The guards quickly ran toward the backyard, fearing that something might really be amiss.

The men in black were startled—they had never expected to encounter a large tiger in the magistrate’s mansion.

Clearly, they had been discovered.

“Boss, what do we do?”

The leader of the black-clad men’s eyes turned cold. He looked at Diandian and spoke one chilling word: Kill.

Their assassination could not be foiled by this beast.

Diandian sensed the murderous intent radiating from the intruders. It shivered, then quickly turned and ran back.

It remembered Li Qingling’s words: if you can’t win, flee. A gentleman can take revenge in ten years. It would wait until it had the strength to repay its enemies.

Ah Huang slowly walked over, positioning Diandian behind itself. Squinting at the men in black, it realized they were not here with good intentions—perhaps they were the very villains Li Qingling had warned about.

It suddenly opened its mouth and let out a powerful howl.

Its roar shook more than Diandian’s had.

Not only did it awaken everyone in the mansion, but even nearby villagers heard it, scrambling to check doors and windows, afraid that the tiger had descended to wreak havoc.

“Brother Zhimou, there are bad people!” Li Qingling looked at Liu Zhimou nervously. “Ah Huang and the others ran into them.” This was the message Ah Huang conveyed to her.

Liu Zhimou knew Li Qingling could understand what the animals were saying, so he trusted her words completely.

He hurriedly got up, quickly dressed, and helped Li Qingling put on her clothes, instructing her to stay in the room and not go outside.

No sooner had he finished giving instructions than Liu Shi’s voice came from outside:

“Master, a group of black-clad men attacked the mansion. You and madam should not come out; leave it to us to handle.”

It was not the Netherworld assassins—this was a relief.

If it had been the Netherworld assassins, the situation would have been much more dangerous.

Liu Zhimou responded with a nod and instructed Liu Shi to send people to escort Mr. Luo and the others here, concentrating forces to protect the courtyard.

The family was too scattered—it was not ideal for defense.

“Yes…”

Soon after, Mr. Luo and the others were escorted over.

“Old Luo, who do you think sent them?” Old Man Xue furrowed his brow, looking at Mr. Luo. Could it be that the rebels suspected something and struck in advance?

Mr. Luo lightly tapped the table and, after a moment of contemplation, admitted he did not know.

He too wondered whether these people had struck preemptively. If so, why? Was someone leaking information?

“Sister… are there really bad people?” Li Qingning, feeling nervous, snuggled close to Li Qingling. Being woken from a warm bed and quickly escorted here had scared her.

Liu Zhirou’s mind involuntarily replayed the night they had fled Song Mountain years ago. Her small body shivered.

“Sister… it’s… it will be okay, right?” She was terrified that something might happen to the family.

Li Qingling held Li Qingning and Liu Zhirou’s hands tightly, softly reassuring them that they had nothing to fear, that everything would be fine.

With Li Qingling’s comfort, the two children gradually calmed down.

Gently patting their heads, Li Qingling asked if they wanted to rest a bit.

The two shook their heads. How could they sleep in such a tense atmosphere?

Seeing they wouldn’t rest, Li Qingling didn’t push further and instead chatted quietly with them to distract their attention.

Half an hour later, the door was knocked again.

“Master, the danger has been eliminated.”

Hearing Liu Shi’s voice, Liu Zhimou breathed a sigh of relief, strode forward, opened the door, and saw Liu Shi covered in blood. Frowning, he asked if he was injured.

Liu Shi shook his head casually. “It’s nothing, just a small wound.”

After carefully examining him and confirming he wasn’t seriously hurt, Liu Zhimou nodded.

“How many of our brothers were injured?”

“Eight or nine sustained minor injuries, nothing serious.”

Hearing they were only lightly injured, a huge weight lifted from Liu Zhimou’s heart. He tugged at the corner of his mouth and managed a faint smile. He told them to rest while he asked his grandfather to prepare medicine for them.

Liu Shi nodded but looked a bit guilty. “We didn’t catch any alive. The black-clad men, seeing capture was inevitable, bit the poison hidden in their teeth and killed themselves.”

Liu Zhimou’s expression darkened. He turned to Mr. Luo and the others. “I’m going to check the backyard with Liu Shi.”

Mr. Luo and Old Man Xue also stood up, wanting to see for themselves.

Liu Zhimou nodded in agreement.

Li Qingling stepped forward, advising them to be careful.

“We will. We’ll be back soon.”

Watching Liu Zhimou leave, Li Qingling exhaled deeply, rubbed her face, and then smiled at the children, letting them rest assured that everything was fine.

“Sister, did they catch the bad people?” Li Qingning blinked, her eyes still a little wary.

“Yes, they did.” Li Qingling returned, ruffling her hair. “Do you feel sleepy? Why don’t you rest here for a while?”

Li Qingning nodded and collapsed onto the bed, soon falling asleep.

Seeing this, Li Qingling chuckled and turned to help Liu Zhirou and the others get onto the bed. They shouldn’t force themselves to stay awake.

They nodded, removed their shoes, and climbed in, lying close to each other. Soon, even breaths became steady and calm.

Li Qingling adjusted their covers, watched them for a while, then rose and sat in the outer hall.

“Madam, aren’t you going to rest?” Xichun asked softly. A pregnant lady shouldn’t stay up so late.

“I can’t sleep, I just want to sit for a while.”

Seeing Li Qingling’s determined look, Xichun sighed and asked if she wanted something to eat to fill her stomach.

Li Qingling smiled at her and agreed.

Seeing her response, Xichun’s face brightened slightly and she quickly went to the kitchen, leaving Nian Xia to watch over Li Qingling.

“I’ll go. You stay here with madam,” Nian Xia said before running off. She feared Xichun might be frightened by the bloody scene; Nian Xia herself had a brave heart.

Xichun raised her hand, helplessly shaking her head. The girl really was fast.

But her heart warmed—she knew Nian Xia was only concerned she might be scared.

Li Qingling couldn’t help but smile again as she prepared to return to her room—only to see Diandian, covered in blood, running toward her.

She gasped in surprise. “Diandian! Are you hurt?”

Hearing her cry, Li Qingling rushed out. “Diandian, are you hurt? Come here so I can see!” She anxiously looked at the tiger and urged it closer.

Diandian howled at Xichun and dashed past her to Li Qingling.

“Where are you hurt? Why didn’t you avoid them?” Li Qingling bent down to check, reaching out to pick it up.

Xichun stepped forward, blocking her motion. “Don’t bend down; I’ll hold Diandian. Madam, you’re pregnant—how can you squat like this?”

Diandian shook its little head, avoiding Xichun’s hand. “I’m not hurt. This blood is the enemy’s.”

Li Qingling raised her eyebrows. “You little thing… did something big happen?” Surely it had gone after the enemy itself.

Indeed, what followed confirmed her thoughts.

Diandian proudly trotted two circles in front of her, chattering about its deeds.

“Master, am I impressive?” It had not only discovered the enemy but had bitten them, protecting its master. It felt very proud.

Li Qingling praised it generously. “You were amazing. Without you, the consequences would have been unimaginable.”

She hadn’t expected this little thing to spot the enemy first—it truly had saved them. She felt deep gratitude toward it.

Diandian, excited by the praise, spun several times and then, in a mischievous turn, asked if it could have a rose-petal bath.

“…Ah, so that’s your main goal.”

Li Qingling laughed, tapping its little nose. “Sure. I’ll have Xichun pick some rose petals for your bath. You’re a hero—you deserve a reward.”

“Ao-woo, ao-woo…” Okay, okay!

Diandian playfully ran to Xichun and licked her in thanks for fetching the petals.

Xichun smiled and quickly went to gather the petals while Diandian stayed with Li Qingling.

Ever since Diandian developed a taste for rose-petal baths, the mansion’s roses had often been at its mercy.

This little creature was clever and adorable, and the whole household spoiled it, granting its every request.

Diandian sat before Li Qingling, looking up and asking if she had been scared.

Li Qingling shook her head. “No. Knowing Diandian was protecting me made me feel safe.”

Diandian blushed a little, shifted its tiny bottom, and, puffing out its chest, promised it would always protect her.

It would become even stronger and would not allow anyone to harm her.

“Thank you, Diandian.”

“No need to thank me,” it replied. Protecting its master was simply its duty.

Li Qingling talked with Diandian for a long while, only stopping when Liu Zhimou returned. She stood and asked how it had gone.

Liu Zhimou held her hand and shook his head. “We don’t know who sent them. We found no clues.”

According to Liu Shi, this batch of men were death warriors. Only death warriors, when captured, would bite a hidden poison in their teeth and commit suicide without hesitation.

They still had no idea who would send death warriors to assassinate them.