Volume One, Chapter Ninety-Six: Disembowelment

Fox Third Lady felt that speaking up for her was a little absurd, because she had no idea what had actually happened between them. Besides, Tu Zhe didn’t even know who she was.

What standing did she have to make such a request?

And yet the problem was that the other two demonesses and the more than twenty dragon guards all seemed unwilling, or perhaps simply unable, to plead on Trishna’s behalf. The knot looked a hard one to untie.

Still, the more Fox Third Lady looked at Trishna, the more she felt an inexplicable kinship. It was as if the two of them belonged to the same road, carried the same aura, perhaps even practiced similar arts.

Most importantly, the girl did not seem all that wicked. What could she possibly have done to provoke heaven and earth alike?

Fox Third Lady was the sort of person who was blunt, easygoing, and simple-minded. Since Trishna suited her temper, she felt she ought to help if she could.

Tu Zhe stared at Fox Third Lady for a long time without speaking, smiling all the while, though there was something deeply off about that smile.

He was smiling, yes, but the smile that lingered in his eyes seemed far too cold.

Fox Third Lady immediately felt ill at ease. She thought, Fine, it was people from our Wasteland Star in the Heavenly Stables who saved you, and this is the look you give us? What, because you have a little money you think you’re something special? I don’t care for you. If I had cared, I’d have married into a noble house long ago. Would I be here suffering for it now?

So she lost her temper, planted her hands on her hips, and snapped, “What kind of attitude is that? We saved you from our Wasteland Star and you’re still making trouble? I say, you’re not just made of stone and iron, you’re barely even human. Your own people can do whatever wrong they like and still have to carry the blame? Whatever you say goes, is it? Are you even a person anymore...”

Doggy instantly bristled. “You’re the one who isn’t human! Your whole family isn’t human! What, you want to argue sense with me? Fine, we’ll be unreasonable with you too. What are you going to do about it?”

Tch.

It was like a needle stabbing directly into an awl.

Was Fox Third Lady the kind of woman to back down? She rolled up her sleeves, her willow brows shooting up, her almond eyes flaring wide, her red lips twisting with anger. There was not a trace left of that coquettish, lightly offended beauty.

Good heavens, whose trousers burst and let out some beastly thing like this?

So what if you’re an alien? Big deal, an alien coming to our Wasteland Star to throw your weight around?

Listen here, little doggy, we’re short on plenty of things here, but not on bandits. If you’re going to talk like that, then I’ll settle it with you for real. This mountain was opened by me, this tree was planted by me. If you want to pass through, leave the toll. Dare to say one no, and I’ll kill you without burying you!

With that, Fox Third Lady conjured up a huge cleaver, planted one foot on a rock, slung the blade over her shoulder, and extended one hand toward Doggy and Tu Zhe, flicking her fingers as if to say, Hand it over.

What in the world was all this?

Tu Zhe was speechless. He held back Doggy, who had already hopped forward, itching for a fight, and gave Fox Third Lady a proper bow.

“Lady Fox,” he said, “this is my fault. I’m very grateful that you saved all of us. But this is truly a family matter. Could you perhaps... ? Ha...”

Given the opening, Fox Third Lady naturally was not going to insist on playing the highway robber.

She sheathed her cleaver, glared at Tu Zhe, and said, “Who has the leisure to meddle in your family business? Not to mention I’m no magistrate, and even if I were, I still couldn’t be bothered.”

With that, she turned away and went off to watch the show.

At that moment, Gourd Boy came over and tugged at Tu Zhe’s trouser leg, saying in a coaxing tone, “Dad, look how pitiful my mom is. She already knows she was wrong. Give her a chance, will you? Otherwise, how about you throw my mom onto the bed and give her a good beating?”

Tsk.

Why did that sound so wrong? If you’re going to beat someone, why insist on the bed?

Tu Zhe studied Gourd Boy’s eyes carefully, trying to find something improper in them, but Gourd Boy’s gaze was clear and full of tears. However one looked at him, he did not seem like some natural-born lecher.

Tu Zhe’s teeth ached. Damn it, was a mother something you could just go around recognizing? If you say she’s my mom, doesn’t that make me her husband? What kind of son are you, meddling in your father’s private affairs? Are you asking for a spanking?

But seeing his son so frightened and desperate, he still could not bear to be harsh with him.

He only said, “Stop interfering in this, son. It’s not such a trivial matter. We have to know where the line is. As for people who have no line at all, we can’t afford to provoke them. But we can always avoid them, can’t we?”

What did that mean? It meant he wasn’t planning to go too far.

Gourd Boy immediately ran up to Doggy, rubbing and wriggling about as if he had a wicked itch. He kept speaking in a flattering, ingratiating way, not even bothered by her feminine tone.

“Aunt Doggie, um... you’re a grown-up, so you won’t hold it against us, right? My mom... she knows she was wrong. Please give your nephew a bit of face. Otherwise, let my dad pin my mom down on the bed and bully the life out of her to get your revenge?”

Doggy had already been unhappy when she saw Gourd Boy recognize Trishna as his mother, and now he was begging on Trishna’s behalf too. Naturally, she was not inclined to care.

Aunt Doggy? Aunt Doggy was furious. The consequences would be severe!

But hearing the last sentence, she felt that something was off. What kind of filthy thought had taken root in this brat’s head? Make his dad bully that little hussy to death on the bed? How could that be allowed? She had already become a mother first. If she were then bullied, bullied to death at that, wouldn’t I be the one taking the loss?

So Doggy let out a sharp cry, gently pinched Gourd Boy’s cheeks, and put on a fierce expression.

“You little brat, when you go around finding yourself a new mom, why don’t you tell your aunt first? Looking for a beating, are you?”

Gourd Boy cooperated perfectly, howling miserably, “Auntie, I won’t dare again! If I ever recognize another mom again, I’ll ask you first. Ow, you’re pinching me to death—somebody save me—”

The scene descended into chaos.

Tu Zhe paid them no mind. He looked straight at Trishna and said, “You do not need to die. You should go back. When you see my master, tell him I asked you to pass on a message: I have arrived safely in the Polar Star Domain, so he needn’t worry. As for anything else, say no more. It would only make the old man angry.”

How could Trishna possibly agree to leave? She drew a sharp blade at once and met his gaze.

“I’m not leaving. I was in the wrong. I can make amends with merit. If you want me to go, I’d rather die here and now.”

Tu Zhe gave a cold laugh. “And if Doggy and I never come back? Would your death accomplish anything?”

Trishna froze. A flicker of despair crossed her eyes, and then she raised the blade toward her own belly, trying to follow the old ritual of disembowelment in atonement.

But Rotiroga, standing nearby, was not about to let her succeed. She rushed up, hugged her from the side, snatched at the blade with the other hand, and took the big sister down in one stroke. Instantly, the woman broke into loud, heartbroken sobs and collapsed onto the ground, refusing to get up.

Tu Zhe thought to himself, So you’re acting? Let me see how long you can keep this up.

Doggy, watching from the side, blinked and thought: Is she really going to die? I was just angry. I never meant for her to kill herself for real. But if we let her off like this, isn’t that a little too much?

Gourd Boy was a sly little imp. His eyes darted from one person to another, and then a wicked idea came to him. He suddenly put on a solemn, resolute face, stepped forward, took Trishna’s hand, and cried at the top of his lungs:

“Mom, let’s go. Anyway, we’re not welcome around here. Worst case, your son will wander the universe with you. That saves money too—interstellar travel and all that, we’d be the envy of everyone! Waaaaah...”