Tantai Jin had actually been awake all along; he hadn't been unconscious since the moment a yellow dog approached him.
Later, the yellow dog was poisoned to death by his blood, and a group of children gathered around.
He lay silently, thinking coldly to himself that when they came closer, even if it meant mutual destruction, he would find a way to kill them.
His body ached terribly. The Profound Ice Array was still embedded in his left eye, the blood had congealed, and a chilling cold seeped into his body. Half of his face was buried in the snow, but he refused to fall asleep.
If he fell asleep, he might never open his eyes again.
Even if he were to die, he wanted to see how it happened.
However, he hadn't expected to hear a familiar voice.
A young girl leaped out from the woods, grabbed the children by their ears, and chased them away.
His crippled body stiffened for a moment.
If Tantai Jin had a choice, the person he least wanted to see right now was Su Su. He had thought that even if she were alive, when they met again, he would be the lofty king, able to humiliate and torment her at will, deciding her life and death.
He never imagined it would be like this.
His tendons and meridians in all four limbs were severed, his left eye was gouged out, and he had become a complete cripple.
As she approached with light footsteps, countless thoughts flashed through Tantai Jin's mind.
God knew how much he despised this situation. Before Su Su could turn him over, Tantai Jin even wanted to snarl at her to get lost.
Unfortunately, he couldn't utter a word and silently let her flip him over.
When their eyes met, Tantai Jin saw the worry on the girl's face slowly fade, replaced by an expression of utter despair.
In a hoarse, cold voice, Tantai Jin said, "Laugh if you want."
Su Su hadn't expected either that the person who had been arrogantly hunting her down just days ago would now appear so wretched before her.
Half of Tantai Jin's face was covered in blood, flowing from his left eye socket, now dried. That eye was clouded with a gray film.
A few snowflakes clung to his dark lashes, and his limbs hung limp. Su Su's gaze shifted, noticing glaring wounds on his wrists and ankles.
No wonder even the children knew he was crippled and completely immobile, daring to bully him.
Seeing that she not only didn't laugh but was carefully examining his wounds, a feeling akin to humiliation surged within Tantai Jin. "Do you find it disgusting, an eyesore? Or have you never seen a cripple before and need a good look?"
Su Su, seeing his twisted, venomous expression, felt utterly exasperated. She slapped him on the head. "Shut up, you talk too much."
She set Tantai Jin down and turned to leave. Even after walking far away, she could still feel his gaze fixed on her, trailing her like a shadow.
Su Su couldn't be bothered to care what he was thinking and didn't look back.
When she found her chestnut horse and led it back, Tantai Jin's remaining good eye was staring at the gloomy sky.
The sky was darkening; night was about to fall.
His sinister expression was even uglier than the sky.
At this moment, Su Su felt a slight urge to laugh. As her footsteps returned, Tantai Jin said coldly, "Weren't you leaving? Why are you back?"
Su Su muttered, "If you want someone to save you, can't you say something nice?"
Tantai Jin fell silent.Su Su recalled how he used to be quite adept at putting on a facade when dealing with servants back at the estate. But at some point, when facing her, Tantai Jin's words seemed laced with poison and coated in ice.
Su Su crouched down, took a deep breath, and exerted all her strength to lift him.
Back and forth she went, panting heavily, yet the warmth in her embrace was surprisingly comforting. Tantai Jin's body leaned against the girl's delicate frame, and he caught the faint scent from her hair.
He turned his head away, thinking the fragrance resembled that of light "silk tree blossoms." He sneered coldly—even the scent on this woman was so wanton.
Unaware of his thoughts, Su Su would have undoubtedly thrown him aside and buried him in a hastily dug pit in the snow had she known.
The youth was so heavy that her steps faltered. With immense effort, Su Su barely managed to hoist him onto the horse's back.
Sensing that she intended to save him, Tantai Jin unexpectedly grew quiet.
Su Su snorted. If she hadn't entered his dreams, she would have been fooled into thinking he truly had no fear of death.
Heaven and earth gave birth to all things, yet perhaps no one in this world desired to live more than Tantai Jin.
"What happened to your injuries? Weren't you supposed to return to Zhou Kingdom with Lady Lan An? Who hurt you like this?"
Tantai Jin replied tersely, "Tantai Minglang."
Without lifting his gaze, his eyes fixed on the horse's hooves, he asked in a hoarse tone, "Why are you saving me?"
Su Su, leading the horse, deliberately provoked him, "Who knows? Maybe, as you said, I've never seen a cripple before and just wanted to watch the spectacle."
He let out a cold laugh. "You fell into the Huai River, yet you didn't die."
Su Su tapped his shoulder with a branch, displeased. "If I had died, you would have died today too."
"You can't save me. There are Profound Ice Needles in my eyes."
Su Su paused, frowning slightly.
She naturally knew what Profound Ice Needles were—a sinister object, one that tormented its victims slowly.
It was said that once the needles entered the eyes, a person would weep uncontrollably, in agony to the point of death. Some, unable to endure the prolonged suffering, chose to end their own lives.
Yet Tantai Jin hadn't shed a single tear. He didn't even appear to be in much pain, which was why Su Su hadn't initially considered the possibility of Profound Ice Needles.
Now that she knew, her heart sank.
She hadn't yet been to the Desolate Abyss, so she couldn't let Tantai Jin die. But the eye pierced by the Profound Ice Needles was already necrotic. To save him, she would have to replace the eye before the cold energy spread through his body.
The horse's hooves crunched softly on the snow-covered ground.
Su Su said, "It's getting dark. Since we saw a child earlier, there must be a village nearby. Let's find a household to seek shelter for the night. It's too cold in winter to stay in the forest overnight. In your condition, you might scare ordinary people. I'll tell them you're my elder brother, and we encountered bandits and fell into the mountains. Surely, some kind-hearted soul will take us in."
Tantai Jin remained silent, still preoccupied with the matter of his eyes.
Just as Su Su had predicted, they soon arrived at a village. Su Su stepped forward and knocked on a door. A wary eye peered at them through the crack.
"Go away. We don't take in strangers here."
Su Su explained their situation, but the homeowner remained unmoved.
Left with no choice, Su Su moved on to the next household. To her surprise, several houses in a row responded the same way.
Tantai Jin said, "There's something off about this village."
Su Su asked, "What makes you say that?""Not a single household in the village had their lamps lit, and at night, no sounds from domestic animals could be heard. When you knocked on their doors, they were all terrified, peeking through the cracks. This village must be plagued by either bandits or monsters nearby," Tantai Jin said calmly.
Su Su felt a twinge of admiration for him. Even though he was likely trembling with pain deep down, he remained vigilant and observant of their surroundings.
Knowing he was right, she took the lead when knocking on the next door. "We’re not bad people, nor are we monsters. I’m a Monster Exterminator passing through the village. Could you let us stay for the night?"
Hearing the words "Monster Exterminator," the homeowner finally hesitated.
After a long pause, an elderly voice still refused them. "Please leave."
Su Su was disappointed and about to turn away when a young girl’s voice spoke up. "Grandpa, let them in. I saw that this older sister is very powerful."
The wooden door slowly swung open.
An elderly couple and a little girl stood there, their faces filled with unease and anxiety as they looked at Su Su and Tantai Jin.
The little girl turned out to be the same one they had encountered at dusk.
The old woman beckoned to Su Su. "Come in quickly."
Once they were inside, she hurriedly closed the door.
The little girl hid behind the elderly couple, tugging at her grandfather’s sleeve as she peered at Tantai Jin, who was still on horseback.
Because Tantai Jin was severely injured, the elderly couple helped Su Su settle him in an empty room.
The village houses were simple, and the only place to sleep was a kang, a heated brick bed.
Aside from a wooden table, the room had only two small wooden stools.
Fortunately, the mountain folk lacked many things, but firewood was not one of them. The girl brought in a brazier filled with glowing embers, and the room soon warmed up, driving away the winter chill.
The old man lit a candle.
Su Su settled Tantai Jin on the kang and quickly took out a silver ingot to give to the old woman.
"My brother and I will be staying here. Sorry for the trouble."
Seeing such a large silver ingot, the old woman waved her hands repeatedly.
"No, no, you mustn’t. As you can see, our place is very humble. We’re just glad you and this gentleman don’t mind it."
Su Su insisted on giving her the silver. "For us, having a place to stay is a blessing. It’s so cold outside—if we couldn’t find shelter, we’d likely fall ill by tomorrow. My brother is badly injured, and we may have to trouble you for a few more days. Please take it."
After several rounds of polite refusal, the old woman finally accepted the silver.
She brought hot water and clean cloth, and Su Su quickly thanked her.
The little girl lingered by the door, looking as if she wanted to say something but holding back, until the old woman pulled her away.
Su Su knew there was something strange about the village, but she didn’t rush to ask them about it. It was already late, and there was nothing they could do even if they found out.
The most urgent matter was tending to Tantai Jin’s horrifying wounds.
She soaked a cloth in the hot water and wiped the bloodstains from his face. Tantai Jin’s dark eyes watched her intently. As her fingers brushed his cheek, he instinctively wanted to turn away but forced himself to stay still.
Her fingertips were soft.
Unlike the pain wracking his body, her touch brought a strange sensation to his skin.
If his hands and feet were uninjured, he would have coldly swatted her hand away.
But now, he could do nothing.
Su Su then tended to his wrists and ankles, cleaning away the blood and wrapping his wounds with clean cloth strips.She had studied swordsmanship and could tell the person who struck had used an extremely tricky angle—not only crippling Tantai Jin's limbs but deliberately making him suffer excruciating pain.
Knowing he was likely in agony worse than death, her movements became gentler.
Tantai Jin pressed his lips tightly together.
Under the candlelight, the girl lowered her eyes, her lashes casting delicate shadows like small fans on her eyelids. She spoke with utmost seriousness, "We have no medicine, so you'll have to endure it for now. After daybreak, I'll go into the mountains to find herbs for you."
Tantai Jin said, "If you truly want to help me, capture that little girl and bring her here."
Su Su asked in confusion, "What for?"
Tantai Jin curved his lips into a smile as he looked at her, the expression carrying a hint of mockery, "What do you think?"
Seeing his venomous smile, Su Su understood—he actually wanted the child's eyes. Tantai Jin knew perfectly well himself that he needed to replace his eyes as soon as possible.
Disdaining the eyes of the elderly, he wanted young, vibrant ones instead.
Su Su said, "Don't even think about it! They've taken us in, and you're plotting something like this?"
Tantai Jin replied, "Heaven destroys those who don't look out for themselves."
Knowing his extreme nature, Su Su couldn't be bothered to reason with him. She pinched his cheek, "Abandon your vicious thoughts. If you dare try this, I'll make you understand the meaning of regret."
Tantai Jin stared coldly at her, his gaze seeming to pierce through every bone in her body.
Su Su released him, "I know what the Mystic Ice Needles are. They won't endanger your life for now—we still have time."
He closed his eyes, clearly disbelieving her words.
She didn't need Tantai Jin to trust her anyway. In his current state, causing harm would be difficult.
There was only one heated bed in the room, given to Tantai Jin, forcing Su Su to sit on a chair. Having traveled for days, she was utterly exhausted. Wrapping herself in a quilt, she slumped over the table and fell asleep.
When her breathing steadied into a rhythmic pattern, Tantai Jin opened his eyes and turned to look at her.
The candle flame flickered, illuminating the girl's slightly pouted lips as she slept restlessly.
Su Su woke early the next morning, her entire body aching. Having slept hunched over all night, her neck felt nearly broken.
Tantai Jin was awake.
His remaining functional eye gazed out the window, lost in thought.
Soon after, the elderly man brought in two bowls of rice porridge.
The porridge was watery, with no side dishes. Su Su smiled her thanks. The old man nodded awkwardly before leaving.
Not one to suffer unnecessarily, Su Su quickly finished her portion before feeding Tantai Jin.
When it came to survival, Tantai Jin cooperated fully—opening his mouth whenever Su Su offered food.
Though both came from noble backgrounds, neither complained about the nearly grainless porridge. After washing the bowls outside, Su Su returned to find the little girl from yesterday standing at the doorway.
Tantai Jin was also awake, watching the child.
Remembering his words from the previous day, Su Su quickly shielded the girl behind her and asked, "Is something wrong?"
The girl bit her lip, "Are you really a Monster Exterminator?"
Su Su nodded.
Though not entirely accurate, she was far more capable than many mortal Monster Exterminators.
The girl said, "Then can you save my older sister?"
Su Su asked, "What happened to your sister?""In the town, there was a young master from the wealthy Yuanwai family. Suddenly one day, his temperament changed drastically. Every so often, he would come to the village and abduct a young woman. My sister was taken away," the little girl said, tears beginning to fall. "I miss my sister so much. The villagers all say that the young master has turned into a monster and has already killed my sister."
Su Su quickly wiped her tears. "Since you've taken me in, I promise I'll help you find out what happened to your sister."
"Really?"
"Yes."
The old woman came out, her face full of worry. "Miss, can you really help us?"
Su Su said, "Grandma, could you tell me the details?"
The old woman explained, "Not far from here is Zhaoguang Town. The wealthiest person in Zhaoguang Town is Wang Yuanwai. His son used to be charitable and kind, but a year ago, his personality suddenly changed. He said he wanted to take concubines. At first, the village girls were happy, but then, every two months, he would take another concubine."
"The women who were taken never returned, and their families couldn't find them. The villagers found it strange and protested, but those who caused trouble were found dead at the village entrance the next day."
"No one was willing to 'marry' Young Master Wang anymore, so he declared that if a woman he fancied refused to marry him, her entire family would die the next day. Some refused, and sure enough, the next day, they were all dead."
"Two months ago, he took a liking to my granddaughter Xiao You. To protect us and Xiao Ling, Xiao You got into the bridal sedan." The old woman's eyes filled with tears. "If you can truly find Xiao You, I will kneel to you."
Su Su quickly helped her up. "I'll do my best."
A human turning into a monster? Apart from possession, Su Su couldn't think of any other reason. A monster capable of possessing a body would certainly be difficult to deal with.
The old woman said, "The villagers say Young Master Wang has become a monster. Today is the time, and he'll likely come to the village again to snatch a bride. That's why no one in the village was willing to take you in when you knocked on the door last night."
Su Su glanced back at Tantai Jin and saw him deep in thought.
The moment their eyes met, he suddenly smiled and said to the old woman, "Don't worry, my sister will definitely help you. After all, that Young Master Wang needs a bride, and who could be more suitable to take the villagers' place than her?"
Su Su gritted her teeth and smiled. "Yes, yes. Even if I can't do it, my brother can. With a little makeup, he's prettier than a woman."
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