Soon, bursts of footsteps reached the ears of Tie Qinghua and Chen Yuan.
Outside the small courtyard.
Song Lao Liu looked ahead, his heart stirring, finally able to kill this wicked woman and finally able to become his own master.
Tie Xuan...hah.
"Break in, we mustn't let the thief escape!" Song Lao Liu ordered loudly, charging in first with a dozen Protectors armed with knives shouting behind him.
After Chen Yuan had gone in, Song Lao Liu had been watching him closely, very certain he couldn't escape.
Killing him for revenge on behalf of Tie Qinghua, even under the furious wrath of Tie Xuan, would merit nothing more than a scolding at most.
And he had found a strong patron long ago, otherwise, how would he dare to lay a hand on Tie Qinghua?
"Lady, lady..."
Song Lao Liu burst into the room with a look of urgency, expecting to see a body collapsed on the floor. Before his heart could even rejoice, he saw Tie Qinghua looking at him with a face full of hatred and somewhat unable to accept the sight before her.
"La...lady, you are unharmed... truly, that is wonderful, where is the thief?" Although his heart was fillled with shock and rage, Song Lao Liu quickly changed his expression.
Altering it to one of surprise and deep concern.
However, Tie Qinghua was no longer deceived by this facade, watching Song Lao Liu coldly.
Timely, Chen Yuan coughed lightly:
"Brother Song, Yuan is right here!"
Song Lao Liu's face stiffened, goosebumps forming on his body as he turned to look towards the screen not far away, with Chen Yuan slowly appearing, holding a long knife.
Locking eyes with Song Lao Liu for a moment.
At the doorway, several Protectors saw the stern expression on Tie Qinghua's face and glanced at each other, not quite understanding what was happening.
Nor daring to take any rash action.
Song Lao Liu's eyes flickered with murderous intent, now realizing that this man surnamed Yuan had tricked him.
"Scoundrel!"
"You Song, I gave you status, gave you power, and this is how you repay me!" Tie Qinghua's face was full of fury.
"Qingqing, listen to my explanation," Song Lao Liu swallowed, invoking Tie Qinghua's nickname.
"Alright then, explain it..."
Chen Yuan was somewhat surprised; he had thought that Tie Qinghua would say something like, 'I'm not listening, I'm not listening.'
"I... I..." Song Lao Liu was momentarily at a loss for words.
Seeing the look of disappointment on Tie Qinghua's face, he hurriedly said:
"I was confused for a moment, Qingqing..."
"Shut up!" Tie Qinghua stood up and rebuked him.
"You Song, since you are so heartless, don't blame me for not considering our marital feelings anymore..."
"Qingqing, I was confused for a moment, yes, I was misled by this scoundrel," Song Lao Liu pointed at Chen Yuan standing aside.
"At this point, you still have excuses, I'm truly blind," Tie Qinghua's eyes shimmered with tears.
Seeing that he was doomed, Song Lao Liu's expression turned gloomy:
"Qingqing, what I did, I did out of necessity, for I don't want the Song Family to end with me."
"You still have the cheek to say that, why can't I bear a child? Isn't it because I was severely injured while saving you from robbers in the past? What did you say then, that you would not fail me in this life...
"Hah, and now you send people to kill me?"
Tie Qinghua quickly moved to the bedside, grabbed a long spear, and pointed it at Song Lao Liu rebuking:
"Since you have betrayed me, then I shall fulfill the vow I made back then and kill you!"
Song Lao Liu blanched, turning around trying to flee.
"Stop him!"
Tie Qinghua shouted, and the few Protectors at the door exchanged looks, simultaneously saying:
"Yes!"
The crowd drew their knives and attacked Song Lao Liu, who then slashed off the arm of the first Protector who approached, shouting:
"Scram!"
The men were frightened but still dared not disobey Tie Qinghua's orders, pressing forward.
Taking advantage of the moment, Tie Qinghua crossed dozens of steps in an instant, sending a cold gleam of her spear toward Song Lao Liu.
"Ding."
The sound of metal clashing rang out as Old Six Song turned around to block a spear.
Immediately following was a flurry of combat, Tie Qinghua's spear technique was swift, and her strength was extraordinary, striking a tree trunk thick as a bowl in the courtyard.
"Bang!"
The tree was snapped by a spear strike, with flashes of cold light stabbing, whipping, or flicking, knocking Old Six Song's long knife to the ground, as the spear pierced into his shoulder bone.
"Ah!"
Old Six Song cried out in pain.
"Qingqing, don't... don't kill me."
Tie Qinghua didn't answer, her spear penetrated through the shoulder bone, leaving a bloody hole.
"Lady Tie, please hold your hand..."
Chen Yuan suddenly spoke.
Tie Qinghua's spear tip rested against Old Six Song's neck as she looked toward Chen Yuan.
"Brother Yuan, what is the matter?"
Chen Yuan stepped forward slowly, ignoring the wary expressions of the Song Family's Protectors, and looked down at Old Six Song, saying:
"Doesn't Lady Tie want to know who's been backing Old Six Song from behind?"
Tie Qinghua frowned slightly:
"What do you mean?"
"Although I have only met Brother Song a few times, I surmise based on his cautious nature, that he wouldn't rashly make a move on Lady Tie?"
"You should know, killing Lady Tie might lead her brother to no longer support Old Six Song, and he might even suspect the role Old Six Song has played."
"Old Six Song's foundations in South City—if not supported by her brother, how could they withstand? Old Six Song must know the secrets involved."
"Thus, I surmise, Old Six Song must be supported by someone from behind."
Chen Yuan smiled lightly, looking at Old Six Song:
"Brother Song, am I right?"
Tie Qinghua's expression faltered as she also figured out the implications.
Indeed, by killing her, could he control all the foundations?
You should know, all these foundations are backed by her brother, Tie Xuan. Without him, Old Six Song would surely lose everything.
"You... who exactly are you?"
Old Six Song's face was terrified, as if he couldn't believe it.
"It seems, I guessed right..." Chen Yuan smiled.
Tie Qinghua felt a chill on her back, realizing Old Six Song was actually conspiring with others to seize the Tie Family's foundations, even... it was aimed at her brother, Tie Xuan.
"You all go down..." Tie Qinghua instructed the Protectors.
"Yes."
The crowd retreated, leaving only Chen Yuan and two others behind.
Although Tie Qinghua also signaled Chen Yuan to leave, he pretended not to see it.
"Surname Song..." Tie Qinghua was full of anger, her face cold as she wanted to ask who was behind all this.
Chen Yuan interrupted Tie Qinghua's questioning, saying:
"Lady Tie, Brother Song won't confess so easily."
"Do you have a way?"
Chen Yuan smiled, stepped forward, lifted his foot, and pressed down on one of Old Six Song's fingers, applying slight pressure.
"Ah...ah...."
As fingers are connected to the heart, Old Six Song's face contorted in agony, unable to suppress his cries of pain.
"Stop...stop..."
Chen Yuan paid him no mind, one by one, he crushed the fingers of Old Six Song's left hand into mush, with blood soaking into the ground.
"Brother Song, can you talk now?"
"You... just ask me!!!"