Chapter 307 Unexpected Changes

On the way back to the inn, Hua Pingyang deliberately slowed down his pace, watching the two walking side by side under the moonlight, he couldn't help but think of the conversation his father and the Hua family had after dinner that day.

If the Hua family hadn't undergone changes, Zhi'er could have lived a peaceful and smooth life, with a decent husband, obedient and clever children, a powerful maternal family. No one would have difficulty praising her for being blessed.

From her later behavior, it can be seen that she had countless abilities but was willing to hide them, living a life that was so proper and faultless that no one could find any fault. If the Hua family had not forced her to give up those rules, then they have no right to say she has lost her manners!

If Zhi'er could grow old with this man, that would be the best outcome. If they were to part ways in the end, Zhi'er would remain the eldest granddaughter of the Hua family forever. Anyone who dared to look down on her even a little bit would be immediately expelled from the family!

His father was determined to protect Zhi'er at all costs, even if future generations cursed him. It wasn't that he didn't trust the future generations of the Hua family to remember this favor, but he was just too heartbroken. The girl who had been reluctant to leave the house not long ago had suddenly become a giant tree supporting not only the family in the capital but also the family in the northern region.

Before she first came, they were just enduring, without a goal, without hope, not knowing what the future held. They just lived day by day, worrying about the Hua family's future and whether the old father could endure it.

But when Zhi'er arrived, she brought not only money that made their lives a little easier but also a sense of hope. She injected this hope into their hearts, allowing them to anticipate the future and find peace in their hearts.

It was only after that first time that the members of the Hua family gained energy and spirit, there was less resentment, more unity. The younger generation would help each other with medicine when they had blisters from work, they would learn to care for and look after the elders, they would do things they had never thought of before just to make things easier for others.

This was all thanks to Zhi'er.

No one knew how much she had endured and sacrificed during this forced growth process, but they understood the hardships involved. They didn't know how to treat this seemingly invincible girl, so they could only protect her by sacrificing a layer of skin, leaving her with the biggest retreat.

Watching the man who subconsciously protected Zhi'er as she crossed the threshold, Hua Pingyang smiled and thought that things might not necessarily go as far as he had imagined. He already knew Zhi'er's goodness, knew her differences from other women, and he didn't believe that Mr. Lu would be willing to let go of this delicacy and choose plain water.

"We have to hit the road early tomorrow, so rest up."

"Yes." Hua Zhi blessed herself and smiled at Yan Xi before entering the room.

The two men faced each other for a moment, Hua Pingyang clasped his hands and said, "I'll rely on Mr. Lu to protect Zhi'er on this journey."

Yan Xi returned the gesture, "It's my duty, you can rest assured."

On the final night before their departure, Hua Zhi knew she should rest and gather her strength for the journey ahead, but sleep stubbornly eluded her. Every fiber of her being yearned to linger here a little longer, to soak in the peace and delay the chaos awaiting her back in the capital. But she couldn't afford such indulgence. The web she was weaving wasn’t wide enough yet, the stakes were too high, and there was no room for slack.

Hours passed in restless frustration, her thoughts tangling like threads in a storm. Eventually, exhaustion won, and she drifted off. It felt like mere moments later when a sudden noise shattered the fragile quiet. Eyes snapping open, Hua Zhi sat upright, her senses razor-sharp. She strained to catch the sounds outside, her pulse quickening as unease coiled around her. Without hesitation, she swung her legs out of bed, dressed swiftly, and was on her feet in a heartbeat. Just as she tightened her sash, a sharp knock echoed at the door.

"Ah Zhi?"

It was Yan Xi. Hua Zhi'er quickly went to open the door, and Yan Xi could tell from her defensive posture that she wasn't just waking up, "There may be changes at the border, I need to go take a look."

"Take everyone with you."

Yan Xi adjusted his sleeve, "I'll leave one person to stay with you."

At this moment, the door next to them also opened, and Hua Pingyang, while fastening his belt, asked, "Is this a night raid?"

"I don't know the specifics yet," Yan Xi replied before looking at Hua Zhi. "Stay in the inn for now and act accordingly."

"Okay, you be careful."

Yan Xi nodded at Hua Pingyang, took a few steps forward, then stopped and turned back. He placed a dagger in her hand before quickly leaving.

Hua Pingyang's brow twitched, but he didn't say much. Instead, he started speculating about Mr. Lu's identity. If it was indeed an enemy night raid, it should be the responsibility of the border defense commander.

Why did he hurry there?

It didn't seem like a mere display of force.

Whose side was he on?

After a stretch of aimless contemplation, Hua Pingyang concluded that no one fit the description of this person's description, so Hua Pingyang stopped thinking about it. "Yingshan Pass is relatively stable. There shouldn't be any trouble. Go on—get some rest."

"Yes, Fourth Uncle." Hua Zhi replied, though couldn't really fall asleep. Instead, she waiting anxiously at the table, fidgeting with restless energy. The faint sounds of turmoil drifted in from outside, carried by the wind—low voices and scattered movement hinting at the unsettling possibility of enemy forces stirring trouble at the border.

After a brief moment of reflection, Hua Zhi was interrupted by a sharp knock at the door. Assuming it was Jia Yang, the guard left behind by Yan Xi to deliver some report, she hurriedly swung the door open without a second thought.

But the sight that greeted her left her momentarily stunned. Standing there, against all odds, was Zeng Xian's young son. How the boy had managed to make his way here under such precarious circumstances was beyond her. It was almost reckless—a daring act of someone unbroken by the fear of danger or towering enemies.

Dropping to her knees in front of him, she urgently asked, "How did you get here? Is something wrong with your father?"

The boy's lips tightened as if bracing himself. Then, with a quiet but chilling calm, he delivered his message: "Father said the Hua family is in danger."

The seemingly harmless words struck Hua Zhi like a lightning bolt from a clear sky. Just as the sound of knocking echoed, Hua Pingyang, already at the door, caught wind of the exchange. His expression darkened, his tone sharp and demanding as he asked, "Did your father say anything else?"

The child simply shook his head, silent but resolute.

Forcing herself to regain her composure, Hua Zhi swiftly pulled the child into the room, her voice firm and deliberate. "It's not safe out there. Stay put for now. If that brother shows up, you tell him—no hesitation—that he needs to head to the Hua family immediately. Got it?"

The child nodded without flinching, his face calm, untouched by fear.

Without wasting another moment, Hua Zhi seized a dagger and bolted toward the Hua family. Behind her, Hua Pingyang and the guard, Jia Yang—left in her charge by Yan Xi—hurried to keep pace, their steps echoing with urgency.

Even though it was just a few hundred steps away, the cool breeze did nothing to stop the sweat pouring down Hua Zhi’s face. Her chest tightened, and her pulse raced faster with every step she took, the anxiety eating at her nerves as she closed the distance. Fear gripped her, gnawing at her insides—she was terrified she might already be too late.

But as she neared the Hua family home, the absence of chaos, paired with the steady glow of lights spilling from the windows, drained the tension from her body. Relief crashed over her like a wave, and she doubled over, hands on her knees, gasping for air as her heart struggled to catch up.

But before she could even steady her breath, chaos exploded from the shadows.

Out of nowhere, a swarm of nearly twenty figures emerged, pouring from the deserted alleys on either side. Their dark silhouettes were draped in black—masks hiding their faces, their sinister attire screaming bloodshed and arson. This wasn’t an ambush; it was a declaration of intent for murder.

Hua Zhi’s jaw tightened, her pulse pounding as she bit back a curse. "Jia Yang," she barked, her voice sharp and commanding, "take the left. I'll handle the right."

"Understood," Jia Yang snapped, and without hesitation, they split, darting in opposite directions.

Caught off guard, the assailants faltered. Their advantage—their precious element of surprise—crumbled in an instant. But hesitation quickly morphed into retaliation, and their assault came fast and furious.

Jia Yang cracked his whip with calculated precision, its sharp snap slicing through the night, throwing the attackers into disarray.

Hua Zhi, ever the tactician, didn’t waste a moment. She struck with surgical focus, her movements aimed for their weak spots—fast, relentless, merciless.

Principles? Boundaries?

None of that mattered now. Not when the lives of her family hung by a thread.

These people wanted to take the lives of the defenseless Hua family members!

Over her dead body!