Chapter 333 Snatching the Corpse

The burial was scheduled for the following afternoon, a time chosen by Qi Da Xian for its auspiciousness.

After ensuring Liu Fuqu's condition stabilized, Shi Jing Tian braved the rain, leading a group of people to Luantou, east of the iron chain bridge.

At that moment, the rain was torrential. The waist-high reeds were beaten down, swaying this way and that. More than ten men, carrying tools, began to dig only after Qi Da Xian had completed his incantations and rituals.

"Fate plays cruel tricks. It's a great pity that Brother Ren, full of chivalry, quick wit, and extraordinary talent, passed away in his prime."

Shi Jing Tian couldn't help but shake his head and sigh.

"Destiny is always determined by heaven. If the King of Hell wants you to die at the third watch, he won't let you live to the fifth. We can only blame ourselves for being too careless. If we had gone with the Benefactor, at least we could have helped."

Qi Da Xian and the others had been regretting the matter, but Shi Jing Tian waved his hand. "No, it was absolutely the right choice for Brother Ren not to bring you along. After all, he was going to seek medicine, not to seize it. You cannot be blamed for this."

Raindrops continuously splashed from the umbrellas held over their heads. The reeds, already flattened by their combined efforts, formed a large patch of sod. They worked with fervent energy, as if releasing their immense sorrow in this manner.

Just then, all the ESPers, including Qi Da Xian, suddenly felt weak all over. Stinging pain, like electricity, coursed through their bodies. In a mere three to four seconds, they all collapsed onto the ground!

Shi Jing Tian's face turned ashen. Just as he was about to bend down to check Qi Da Xian's pulse, Liu Yu grabbed his shoulder and exclaimed with sudden realization, "No need. I just remembered, these people all took my brother's medicine, which suppressed their pain. Now that its effects have worn off, their bodies have reverted to their original condition. I am so foolish; seeing them so vigorous, I completely forgot about this."

"Brother Liu, I'll go back for the medicine chest and call some people to continue the work. I'll leave this place to you."

After hearing this explanation and looking at the people lying on the ground, Shi Jing Tian's expression changed slightly, and he rushed towards the mountain path.

Meanwhile, at Shi Jing Tian's home, more turmoil was unfolding.

Shi Ke Xin, distraught, stayed by Ren Yuan Hao's side. From time to time, she forced a stiff smile, tentatively placing her fingertips near his nostrils to check for breath.

But no matter how many times she did, Ren Yuan Hao's only response was his increasingly cold body.

As she performed this action for the tenth time, a series of shouts and arguments erupted from outside the inner courtyard gate. Her grandfather, like a kite with a broken string, crashed through the door, landing heavily on the lawn in the inner courtyard!

Shi Ke Xin rushed out, helping her grandfather up and checking his injuries, while simultaneously hearing a harsh voice shout, "Hahahaha! Heaven truly aids me! That arrogant young man just now is now dead! He deserved it!"

Shi Ke Xin helped her grandfather into the inner room. Upon seeing the newcomers, her brow furrowed deeply.

"It's you again!"

"Yes, that's right. You dared to challenge the mighty Qin Tian. Offending the Qiu family is a death wish!"

The arrivals were thugs hired by the Qiu family, euphemistically called 'guards,' led by a man named Li Dan.

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Dan raised his hands and gestured forward. Immediately, about twenty to thirty men surged in from both sides, their imposing aura and hawk-like eyes glinting with malice. The lawn, under their trampling feet, seemed unable to hold its head up.

"You've really gotten brave, coming to my house to cause trouble?"

"What's so daring about the home of a mere small doctor? Little girl, I advise you to scram. I'm not here to pick on you today. Just obediently hand over that brat's corpse!"

Shi Ke Xin's brow furrowed. She thought, the news really travels fast. There isn't anyone capable of fighting at home now. I must find a way to stall for time. Even if I die, I won't let them take Brother Ren's body.

She calmed her mind, suppressing her immense grief, and glared with cold eyes, saying in a low voice, "Oh? Your noses are really quite sharp. Ah, yes, if Brother Ren hadn't met with misfortune, you pack of weaklings probably wouldn't have dared to come and harass us. Aren't you pathetic?"

"Little girl, your mouth is indeed sharp. I wonder if you can withstand our brothers' fists! Attack!"

Li Dan knew very well that the Shi family was now an 'empty city.' After all, he was from the Qiu family and not privy to all information. He raised his hands, and his men on both sides pounced into the house like hungry wolves!

"Stop! Do you really think my Shi family has no one?"

Shi Ke Xin's expression remained unchanged. Her defiant glare managed to startle those men.

"What are you afraid of? I've already investigated thoroughly. There's no one in the Shi family. Attack!"

Shi Ke Xin was, after all, just an eighteen or nineteen-year-old girl. Faced with such a situation, her imposing presence weakened. Yet, she still stood in front of Ren Yuan Hao's body, her hands spread wide like a fragile hen.

"Aren't you afraid my father will come back and settle the score with you?" Shi Ke Xin could only invoke her father at this point.

"Your father? Come on. A doctor who seeks fame and reputation, what can he do to the Qiu family? Don't waste time. Let's finish up quickly and go home to our wives!"

Li Dan's words immediately drew loud laughter from his subordinates. The two leading men saw that Shi Ke Xin seemed determined to guard the body and refused to budge even when pushed. Their anger flared, and one of them landed a heavy kick to her abdomen.

Shi Ke Xin was sent flying backward, crashing against a wooden board, knocking over the medicinal herbs her father had prepared for drying. A rich medicinal fragrance instantly filled the air.

"Beasts! I'll fight you!" Her grandfather grabbed a shovel and swung it towards the assailant's head. But the other man was much faster. Before the shovel could land, he grabbed a stool beside him and smashed it onto her grandfather. Wood chips flew, and dust stirred.

How could her grandfather's eighty-something-year-old body withstand such abuse? After being hit by the stool, he staggered back two or three steps and immediately collapsed like a dead dog, losing consciousness!

"Grandfather!"

Shi Ke Xin scrambled to her feet. Like a sheep charging into a pack of lions, she didn't have good martial arts skills, so she used her teeth. She fought madly. These thugs had not expected such ferocity from a girl who had barely come of age. Several of them fell victim to her, their flesh on their arms being torn off by her bite, causing them to yelp in pain.

Shi Ke Xin's mouth was full of blood, and she looked truly terrifying. The thugs seemed stunned by her frenzied appearance, and their fists stopped.

"Damn it, you are all useless! At this point, don't think about chivalry! Beat her!"

With Li Dan's command, those thugs felt their honor challenged. After two or three moves, the leading man accurately grabbed Shi Ke Xin's hair and dragged her. His fingers, like a knife, struck directly at the back of her head. Shi Ke Xin felt the world spin, and she instantly wilted and fainted.