The Hellborn Heiress​ - chapter 32

On the other side, Jiang Ci didn’t find any Lightning-Struck Peach Wood in the Peach Grove, but instead discovered a wild jujube tree by the roadside not far away. The tree was very old, and bore marks of being struck by lightning-more than once, in fact.

Song Ran came over to take a look, shocked. “Did this tree violate the Heavenly Law or something? It’s been struck so many times and still hasn’t died.”

Jiang Ci was delighted. “A wild jujube tree that survives multiple strikes of Heavenly Thunder is even harder than Peach Wood. It’s perfect for carving!”

Lightning-Struck Jujube Wood was extremely rare, and when carved into a Five Thunder Seal, its power was immense.

Turning that Little Ghost into ashes would be no problem.

Song Ran immediately said, “I’ll get someone to come and chop down this jujube tree, and help Lady Jiang bring it back!”

“All things have spirits. It survived so many Heavenly Thunder strikes, dying at your hands would be too unjust. Just cut off the section of Lightning-Struck Wood.”

Jiang Ci pondered, wondering whether she should find Bo Hanzhou and use his natural Yin-attracting constitution to lure out the Green Fiend Evil Child.

After taking the Lightning-Struck Jujube Wood back to the Incense and Candle Shop’s backyard, she didn’t rest for a moment and immediately began carving the Five Thunder Seal.

Meanwhile, in the shop, a woman appeared-disheveled, covered in wounds, and looking utterly lost. She asked Hao You if there were any custom-made coffins for sale.

“We’ve got coffins. What size do you need?” Hao You kept his head down, playing a game, not even looking at the woman.

The woman’s voice was hoarse. “A small coffin, less than a meter long will do…”

“Less than a meter? Is it for a pet? If it’s for a pet, cremation is recommended, dear.” Hao You hadn’t finished speaking.

A middle-aged man with a face full of flesh and rage stormed over, and without a word, slapped the woman hard across the face.

The woman was knocked to the ground by the blow.

Hao You was startled, quickly put down his phone, and rushed to help the woman. “Hey! How can you hit someone?”

The middle-aged man’s face was full of malice. “She’s my wife, what business is it of yours? Keep yapping and I’ll hit you too!”

He grabbed the woman by the hair and dragged her outside. “Bitch, who told you to come buy a coffin? Wasting my money-get home!”

The woman was already frail. With his rough handling, she collapsed completely, dragged along the ground like livestock awaiting slaughter, her knees and arms scraped and bleeding.

Hao You looked at the burly man, then at his own skinny arms and legs-like a scrawny dog-knowing he couldn’t win in a fight.

So he grabbed a manure ladle, ran to the manure pit behind the house, scooped up a full ladle of dung, and charged out.

“Let her go, or I’ll dump this shit all over you-believe it or not!”

Hao You brandished the manure ladle, deliberately putting on a fierce look.

Seeing the man still refusing to let go, he made as if to throw the manure.

“You little bastard, you’re really going to do it! Just you wait!”

The man, afraid of being covered in dung, released the woman and gave her a vicious kick. “Try buying a coffin again! And if you’re not home before dark, you know what’ll happen!”

As he left, he spat a glob of yellow phlegm onto the woman’s head.

The woman lay on the ground, sobbing.

Hao You put the manure ladle back and hurried over to help her. “Big sister, get up first.”

But just as he reached out to help, he suddenly saw several Short Ghost Shadows behind the woman.

He’d always kept the Ghost-Seeing Talisman on him, but never expected to see other ghosts in broad daylight-and more than one!

“One… two… three… four!”

Hao You’s lips turned pale with fear. He collapsed to the ground, wailing miserably, “Master Jiang! Master Jiang, come quickly-”
Jiang Ci had just finished carving the Lightning-Struck Jujube Wood when she heard a scream like a pig being slaughtered and walked over.

“Master Jiang, look!” Hao You pointed with a trembling finger behind the woman.

Jiang Ci noticed it.

Behind the frail woman stood four Little Ghosts, all girls, covered in wounds.

“Sister… please save Mom.” The oldest girl looked timidly at Jiang Ci, two streams of bloody tears running down her dirty little face.

The other three were also crying blood, their expressions miserable, their souls covered in bruises and scars.

Jiang Ci’s gaze darkened. She told Hao You to help the woman into the side room in the backyard.

Unexpectedly, the woman struggled and said, “No need… Thank you, but I have to go back and cook.”

Hao You said angrily, “Cook what? Let him eat shit!”

The woman’s eyes were full of fear, and she gave a bitter smile. “If I don’t go back, he’ll go crazy and hurt my parents.”

She broke free from Hao You and staggered away, her back full of indescribable sorrow and helplessness.

Hao You stomped his feet in anger and told Jiang Ci what had just happened.

“Master Jiang, you didn’t see how hard he hit her. One slap made her mouth bleed, and he even spat on her head. Even someone as uncouth as me couldn’t stand it!”

“Sister, please save Mom. He really will beat her to death…” The little girl cried as she grabbed Jiang Ci’s sleeve.

The other three little ones came over too, timidly tugging at her sleeve.

“Sister… save Mom…”

Each of them looked at her with tearful eyes, begging.

Jiang Ci felt her heart soften. She squatted down and gently patted each of their little heads, her tone gentle: “Alright, I will save your mom. You all need to stay here and be good, okay?”

The little girl hesitated, “I’m worried about Mom…”

“With me here, you don’t need to worry.”

The little girl stared at Jiang Ci, tears shimmering in her eyes.

She had begged many people, but none of them could see her or hear her cries for help.

Only this living sister gave her a glimmer of hope.

Hao You hurried to the nearby convenience store and called Grandma Hao, who was listening to gossip, over.

Grandma Hao saw the four little girls covered in wounds and cursed angrily, “That damned Li Yong is at it again! Good children, come to Grandma, Grandma will give you something tasty.”

The three little ones looked timid and uneasy, glancing at their big sister.

The little girl nodded, and only then did the three dare to approach Grandma Hao.

Afterward, the little girl insisted on leading the way for Jiang Ci.

On the road, she briefly told Jiang Ci about her family situation.

Her name was Li Pandi, and her three younger sisters were Li Sidi, Li Zhaodi, and Li Laidi.

Their father was Li Yong, and their mother was Zhang Yanfen. They lived in an old house in the West Suburb Old Factory Area. Both parents had little education, and the father was extremely patriarchal.

Jiang Ci learned that in recent years, Zhang Yanfen had been giving birth repeatedly, but all the children were girls. Li Yong, who had never gotten a son, often beat her, venting all his life’s frustrations on Zhang Yanfen.

Zhang Yanfen had tried to run away several times, but was always caught.

The last time, she almost escaped, but Li Yong found her father-in-law and broke his legs, using the lives of her parents to force Zhang Yanfen to return.

Over the years, Zhang Yanfen had given birth to five children. The first four were the four sisters Jiang Ci saw.

All of them had died tragically in accidents.