Chapter 279: Falling Abyss
Miss Qiao had no desire to waste words with this girl who clearly had a script from a palace drama.
Martial Sister Qiao Wan: "Where is she?"
Mu Xiaoxiao looked up at the cold and intimidating eyes that were close by, and couldn't help but tremble. Tears started flowing from her eyes as she bit her lip and said with teary eyes, "Martial Sister Qiao Wan... you have misunderstood, I mean no harm..."
Qiao Wan: ...the familiar scent of white lotus and green tea.
The timid and pitiful girl resembled a small hamster, which made Qiao Wan's villainous nature stand out even more.
Calmly, Qiao Wan pressed the tip of the knife against the girl's fair face and asked in a deep voice, "Where is she?"
Finally unable to hold back, Mu Xiaoxiao started crying. The young girl looked pitiful, gasping for air. But Qiao Wan remained indifferent and kicked her to the ground.
Even Qiao Wan felt her patience running out at this point. With a furrowed brow and a belly full of anger, she lowered her voice and asked forcefully, "Do you really think I won't dare to hurt you?"
The feeling of ineffective communication was terrible for Qiao Wan. She bit her lip and thought firmly, constantly reminded of the fear of being controlled by group assignments.
Even a saint wouldn't be able to keep patience in the face of such ineffective communication that only made people cry.
Mu Xiaoxiao suddenly stopped her tears. There were still tear drops hanging on her eyelashes. She stood there in a funny way, frozen. The edge of the sword was pressed against her throat, drawing blood. It felt like if the sword went just a little deeper, it would pierce her throat without hesitation.
Qiao Wan grabbed Mu Xiaoxiao and slammed her to the ground. She then kicked her and flipped her over. Expressionless, she said, "Speak."
Qiao Wan... was serious.
Mu Xiaoxiao trembled and shivered. She looked into Qiao Wan's eyes, seeing the two cold glints. Suddenly, a strong feeling surged from the depths of her heart. She bit her lip, lowered her head, and tears dripped down, afraid to look at her anymore.
At that moment, Mu Xiaoxiao suddenly understood that all the things she had done to Qiao Wan for such a long time were simply using Qiao Wan's care for her subconsciously.
Now, Qiao Wan's slight feeling of care in her heart had completely disappeared. In her eyes, she was no different from those who died by her sword. When necessary, she would even strike Mu Xiaoxiao's dantian without hesitation.
And indeed, as Mu Xiaoxiao had said, the sword had pierced one inch into her throat.
Blood immediately splattered, sending a chill into Mu Xiaoxiao's skin. She panicked and turned her eyes away, her nose turning red from crying. "She... she... she's in the Falling Abyss."
The Falling Abyss?
Qiao Wan's gaze fell upon the visibly anxious girl.
Qiao Wan's eyebrows twitched. "Come with me."
Sure enough, Mu Xiaoxiao began to tremble all over.
"No..."
The young girl looked at Qiao Wan with big, teary eyes. "I... I won't go."
Qiao Wan : ...
She silently closed her eyes, trying to hold back the urge to punch someone.
Suddenly, her wrist turned and she sheathed her blade.
Mu Xiaoxiao saw this and immediately ran out unsteadily, holding onto her dress: "Pei... Pei Chun ..."
Before she could run far, Qiao Wan quickly caught up to her, restraining her hands and pressing a cold, icy blade against her lower back. Qiao Wan gently patted the girl's face without expression: "Lead the way."
Mu Xiaoxiao looked up in a state of anxiety and glanced at the guards in front of them.
Help... Save her...
However, the maids and guards who had witnessed the internal struggle exchanged looks, but none of them dared to step forward.
It wasn't that they were unwilling, but mainly because this "Demon Queen" was too damn fierce!! If it was just a typical jealousy among the imperial concubines, they would have stepped in, but now it was clear that approaching would be a matter of life and death!
If this Demon Queen became unhappy and started chopping them...
Although demons were warlike, they were not foolish idiots.
And, honestly speaking, compared to Miss Mu who enjoys playing tricks, they obviously preferred this lady a bit more.
Mu Xiaoxiao tightens her grip on her skirt, slowly loosening it, along with a heart that grows colder and colder.
No one dared to step forward.
Mu Xiaoxiao wears a blank expression, allowing Qiao Wan to place a hand on her shoulder and another on her waist, guiding her slowly out.
They continue until they reach a place called Falling Abyss.
Once they arrive at Falling Abyss, Qiao Wan finally understands why this girl refused to speak.
This place is like a massive graveyard.
As soon as they set foot on this land, Qiao Wan immediately senses something unsettling.
The sunset is blood-red, staining the earth, with withered grass rustling, and scattered unknown skeletons and broken statues, with piles of white bones almost forming mountains.
And in that instant, Qiao Wan saw several people crawling out of the hollow eyes of the Buddha statue. These people had abnormally long limbs and were covered in smooth, white skin. Their pale faces only had three tiny holes the size of rice grains - two symmetrically placed for "eyes" and one serving as what could be called a "mouth." They crawled on the ground like reptiles, slowly making their way forward.
It reminded Qiao Wan of a movie she had watched called "Pan's Labyrinth," with its pale white skeletal creatures.
As if sensing the presence of the visitor, within the piles of decaying bones, thin black ghostly figures began to rise slowly. These dark apparitions silently and contortedly stared at the visitor.
Compared to the demon realm that Qiao Wan had encountered in the past, this Falling Abyss finally had some of that same eerie atmosphere.
Witnessing this scene before her, an icy chill shot up Qiao Wan's spine, leaving her feeling sick to her stomach.
What kind of place was this...?
In front of her, everything seemed a bit thrilling for a college student who had only watched some scary movies.
The harmonious time they had spent together had made her less cautious, and even made her forget that this was the "demon realm".
Qiao Wan's expression became serious, though she still appeared calm on the outside, her determination to leave grew stronger inside.
She had to, she would definitely leave this place, it was only a matter of time.
As thoughts raced through her mind, a slight change appeared on Qiao Wan's face, and she tugged at the corner of her lips. "Did you bring me here on purpose?"
Her hand tightened around the short sword, and Qiao Wan's face became tense.
She rarely got angry, but in this moment, her heart grew cold involuntarily.
With a glance, she removed the cold light from her eyes. "Go, bring her back."
Mu Xiaoxiao didn't move, her peripheral vision fixed on the crawling skeleton in front of them.
Qiao Wan placed her hand on Mu Xiaoxiao's shoulder, causing her to tremble even more. She shook and unconsciously took a step back. "No... I don't..."
"I... I didn't expect Falling Abyss to be so scary."
Losing patience, Qiao Wan didn't feel like wasting more words with her. She kicked her foot towards the crawling skeleton in front of her, where Mu Xiaoxiao was still struggling to crawl.
The crawling skeleton looked up, its tiny eyes meeting Mu Xiaoxiao's gaze.
Breathing became long and slow.
"Ahhhhhhh!"
The girl was terrified, sobbing uncontrollably, and shouted desperately. She used all her strength to retreat, crying and gasping for breath. "I... I'll take you... I'll take you to find her..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Qiao Wan dragged her back. With lowered eyes, Qiao Wan wiped away the tears at the corner of the girl's eyes and patted her face. She said calmly, "That's better."
With a whimper, Mu Xiaoxiao had a hint of crying in her voice, her eyes turning as red as a rabbit.
Qiao Wan... Qiao Wan was too scary...
But she didn't dare to argue anymore and could only suppress her anger as she slowly walked forward. "I... I told them to leave her here... She should be here..."
As her footsteps turned, she went around a nearly six-meter-tall statue, and behind it, Chu Jiaojiao's face finally appeared.
The little girl seemed exhausted from crying and had curled up behind the statue, fast asleep.
Mu Xiaoxiao clenched her lips, struggling to speak, tears sparkling in her eyes. "I... I never intended to harm her..."
She had only heard that this was a graveyard for those sacrificed by those people. The failed experiments were thrown here. She had only wanted to bring Qiao Wan here, seeking revenge for the little phoenix. She even... even instructed others to take good care of Chu Jiaojiao...
In countless days and nights, she often wondered, if only the little phoenix hadn't died, if only the little phoenix hadn't died.
...
What kind of place is this and what kind of people and values are these...
Looking at the girl in front of her, Qiao Wan felt confused and a chill ran down her spine. At the same time, a hidden fire burned even stronger in her heart.
That's why she didn't like watching palace dramas. If it wasn't for occasionally accompanying her mother and best friend, she preferred not to watch them at all. Mainly because she couldn't agree with the values portrayed in these dramas, where human lives were treated as insignificant and people would sacrifice anything to compete against each other. Even the kindest female protagonist who just entered the palace would eventually turn into a villain.
Qiao Wan took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and focused her mind. "Who said you could leave?" she said firmly.
Mu Xiaoxiao was completely shocked, as if she had foreseen some intense struggle. She screamed, "No! Qiao Wan, please! Don't!"
"Come here." Qiao Wan grabbed her collar and dragged the girl in front of the crawling white skeleton. She kicked Mu Xiaoxiao in the knee.
The young girl stumbled and fell to the ground, unable to get up. She immediately grabbed tightly onto Qiao Wan's wedding dress.
"Please... I beg you..."
Mu Xiaoxiao's voice was hoarse and desperate as she held onto her head. Qiao Wan didn't move a muscle, but instead pressed the girl closer.
"Ah! Ah! Ah!"
Mu Xiaoxiao's hands flailed in the air, trying to escape. But in her struggle, she accidentally hit the white skull-faced person in the face.
She stared at the three tiny holes right in front of her and felt a chill run through her body. She was terrified.
"Please, Qiao Wan, please, I was wrong. I really was."
But the warm and rough palm of the young girl's hand pressed firmly against the back of her head and pushed her face against the white skull-faced person.
They had an unexpected and intimate encounter.
"Sob... Sob... Mmm... Mmm..."
"Do you know?"
Qiao Wan didn't hesitate and continued pressing forward, saying firmly, "I always believed that when dealing with criminals and villains, one sword is enough."
"No one has the right to judge others, and no one has the right to take the law into their own hands."
"There's no need for torture or humiliation."
Qiao Wan pulled the corners of her mouth, forcing a stiff smile. "But you really have angered me."
"So, I can only ask you to stay here."
