Xu Hengyi was stunned to hear this. Why were they still selling Xiao Tao?
Selling her to a lecherous old man was still selling her, wasn't it? Was selling her to him any different?
Did Xiao Tao's mother know what kind of person he was, to demand to sell Xiao Tao to him with just a word?
Was she not afraid that he, like Lu Baofang, was a beast in human skin?
Xiao Tao's father, who had been trampled underfoot by Yishan and Yishui, stopped his foul-mouthed curses upon hearing this. He immediately changed his tune and began demanding the sale price for Xiao Tao from Xu Hengyi.
"One hundred taels! You can take Xiao Tao away right now..."
Xu Hengyi looked at Xiao Tao's father's repulsive face, then at Xiao Tao's mother's timid and expectant expression, and finally at Xiao Tao, who was lowering her head in silence.
A surge of indignant anger suddenly rose in his chest.
Hearing Xiao Tao's father's shameless words, Xu Hengyi kicked him, making Xiao Tao's father cry out in pain.
Because Xu Hengyi's back was to Xiao Tao and her mother, he did not see Xiao Tao's mother's pained expression.
Yishan spoke with a cold face, "My young master does not buy concubines, nor does my household lack maids. My young master intervened twice out of pity." Don't harbor any improper thoughts!
Xiao Tao's mother looked somewhat disappointed at Yishan's words.
Xiao Tao silently fiddled with the hem of her clothes, her head bowed.
Xie Jiang stood at the doorway and watched for a while before slowly walking in from outside.
With a clang.
A dagger, glinting with coldness, fell at the feet of Xiao Tao and her mother.
The mother and daughter were startled and instinctively retreated.
Xie Jiang looked at Xiao Tao and her mother, his tone calm yet utterly cold and merciless, "Pick it up and end that beast with one strike. From this day forward, no one will ever harm you again."
"You mother and daughter have the skill to make flatbread, enough to support yourselves. Without that beast, you can live a good life."
Then, he gestured with his chin towards Xu Hengyi, "Don't worry about the penalty for murder. His own second brother is the county magistrate, who can guarantee you won't be arrested."
Xu Hengyi looked at Xie Jiang in astonishment. He had no objection to stabbing the beast to death, but was it not a bit unrighteous to sell out his second brother like this?
His second brother was on the path of becoming a righteous official!
Xiao Tao and her mother were completely dumbfounded.
Xu Hengyi felt Xie Jiang was right. Killing the beast would solve everything. "I can immediately arrange for people to send you to Yongfeng Village. It's a place isolated from the world with simple customs, where you can live a peaceful life."
The mother and daughter had just recounted the various atrocities Xiao Tao's father had committed over the years, and their words clearly indicated they wished for Xiao Tao's father to die immediately.
Now was the time for them to realize their dream!
Luo Shou, who followed Xie Jiang, remained silent.
Why was their Yongfeng Village being dragged into this? However, Young Master Xu San's method was indeed feasible.
Young Master Xu San was truly thinking of Xiao Tao and her mother.
The opportunity to completely escape the beast that tormented them was right before them.
Xu Hengyi even wished he could pick up the dagger and thrust it into their hands!
There was no need to fear the penalty for murder!
Today, he would rely on his status as the third young master of the Duke of Wei's mansion to support this unfortunate mother and daughter. Even if his father found out and he received a beating, it would be worth it if it meant Xiao Tao and her mother could have a new life.
Yishan stepped on Xiao Tao's father's face and ground it down forcefully, grinding his face against the ground until it was bloody and mangled. Yishan stated that he could hold the man down firmly, ensuring that when the mother and daughter made their move, Xiao Tao's father would only be able to watch his own death with wide eyes.
"No, no, no, you can't kill him, you can't kill him... How can you kill someone, how can you kill Xiao Tao's father..."
Xiao Tao and her mother finally reacted. They were serious. They truly intended to kill Xiao Tao's father. The mother and daughter shook their heads like rattles.
"No, no..."
Xiao Tao's father was so scared that he wet his pants. These people were clearly powerful and wealthy individuals. What were they capable of? If they said they would stab him to death, they wouldn't be joking.
"Spare my life, spare my life! Esteemed young masters, spare my life... I'll never dare again, I'll never dare again... Spare my life... Xiao Tao! Xiao Tao! I am your father, I will never hit you and your mother again, quickly beg these young masters not to kill me..."
Xiao Tao and her mother fell to their knees, their faces filled with terror, and kowtowed to Xu Hengyi, begging him not to kill Xiao Tao's father.
"You're still interceding for him! He beat you to death when he hit you!" Xu Hengyi was furious at their lack of spirit.
Xiao Tao's mother pleaded, "Her father said he won't hit us anymore. Her father said he won't hit us again. Please, show mercy and don't kill Xiao Tao's father."
"Then break this beast's legs, so he can never stand up again. Let's see how he can hit you then!"
Xu Hengyi suppressed his anger, thinking that perhaps ordinary women were afraid to commit murder, and were probably frightened by the word "kill."
If so, they wouldn't kill him, but find another way!
Unexpectedly, Xiao Tao and her mother continued to cry and beg him, firmly refusing to have Xiao Tao's father's legs broken.
Xu Hengyi looked at the mother and daughter kneeling before him, pleading, "Do you believe what this beast says? What if he beats you again in the future? What if he tries to sell Xiao Tao to an old man again?"
Xiao Tao's father wailed and swore that he would never hit Xiao Tao and her mother again, nor would he sell Xiao Tao.
"My father said he won't hit us anymore, and he won't buy us anymore. Please, young masters, have mercy and don't kill my father, don't break my father's legs..."
"Your mother's legs were broken by this beast, so why can't this beast's legs be broken?!"
"My legs are already healed, I can't break Xiao Tao's father's legs. If his legs are broken, he'll become a cripple..."
"Then I will help you send this beast to the authorities, and have him imprisoned for ten years or eight. You mother and daughter can have a few years of peace."
"No, no, we can't go to the authorities. We are common folk, we can't see officials..."
Xu Hengyi stared at Xiao Tao and her mother for a long time without speaking, then suddenly kicked a nearby stool.
It was the same stool Xiao Tao's father had just used to beat Xiao Tao and her mother to death.
With a clang, the stool hit the courtyard wall and fell back down.
Xu Hengyi strode out of Xiao Tao's house, never looking back at Xiao Tao and her mother.
Luo Shou picked up the dagger from the ground, wiped it on his body, and left with Xie Jiang and Xu Hengyi.
Yishan and Yishui kicked Xiao Tao's father fiercely in the stomach twice before leaving.
Behind them, Xiao Tao and her mother's startled cries could be heard.
"Dad, Dad..."
"Her father! Her father! How are you..."
Xu Hengyi walked faster and faster, his face grim.
"Are they out of their minds!" After leaving the alley where Xiao Tao's house was located and reaching a distant street, Xu Hengyi finally couldn't help but curse.
"That beast beat them like that, completely disregarding their lives, and they still want to protect that beast! What are they thinking! Can't they live without that beast!"
Xu Hengyi stood on the street with his hands on his hips, his face contorted with anger. He couldn't understand, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't understand!
"They would rather be beaten bloody by that beast, rather have their limbs broken by that beast, rather have Xiao Tao sold to a lecherous old man, than get rid of that beast!"
Xu Hengyi had walked too fast. Xie Jiang didn't intend to catch up. After walking at a leisurely pace for a while, he finally reached Xu Hengyi.
"Do you still think you can actually save Wu Hongyun and her mother now?"