“Really?” Lu Xiao Shu questioned.
“Of course it’s real! There’s no way I’m wrong. The painter had painted a realistic portrait, I won’t be wrong! And our village is not far from here. Why don’t you follow me and I’ll show you?” Gu Lao Si’s heart was thumping in excitement.
He secretly snickered: She is indeed a gullible one!
Lu Xiao Shu gave it a thought and nodded, “Alright, take me with you! If he really is my father, I will definitely repay you.”
She didn’t fully trust Gu Lao Si because he looked like he was up to no good. However, she was unwilling to give up even the tiniest of hope. Even if he was not telling the truth, she still wanted to give it a try. Otherwise, she would not have a peace of mind!
Besides, if she could not handle this brat, the two lives that she had lived would be in vain!
Hmph! I was still wondering where I should vent out my unhappiness! If this bastard dares to cheat on me, I’ll make sure he regrets it!
Gu Lao Si was overjoyed and giggled, “Repay me? No worries, no worries! That’s very kind of you, little girl. It’s not easy for a young girl like you to be alone, and you are filial as well…… Let’s go, let’s go, I’ll take you there now!”
“Okay.” Lu Xiao Shu smiled. She discreetly left a mark for Lin Fang before she followed Gu Lao Si.
Gu Lao Si was clearly very familiar with the area. He took her into the secluded forest and shortly left the marketplace far behind them.
“How much longer until we reach?” Lu Xiao Shu wiped away her sweat on her forehead when they were passing by the mountain col.
“Soon, soon! We’ll be there once we get past that mountain! There, it’s just there, I can see it!” Gu Lao Si also wiped his sweat with his sleeves.
Lu Xiao Shu glanced at the place with smoke plumes. “Oh.” She briefly replied without further questions and carried on their journey.
Gu Lao Si surprisingly didn’t lie to her, his house was indeed in the small village behind the mountains. He didn’t want to attract the villagers’ attention to him because Lu Xiao Shu was by his side. Therefore, they could only choose to take the tedious route of the barren hills and ridges. As a matter of fact, he himself was out of breath and he secretly regretted his decision.
Gu Lao Si secretly glanced at Lu Xiao Shu and thought to himself: This little girl has a fast walking pace! She just had a little sweat on her forehead, and she doesn’t even look tired! Is she used to doing chores? But judging by her attire and appearance, she doesn’t look like one……
“Look, little girl! There it is! My house is located at the end of the village. Let’s have a drink and rest at my house before I take you to search for your father, alright?” Gu Lao Si suggested. He noticed Lu Xiao Shu seemed reluctant to his suggestion and pulled a long face, “Aren’t you tired, little girl? My legs are shaking for the sake of your father!”
“All right then!” Lu Xiao Shu nodded.
“Hehe, let’s go!” Gu Lao Si certainly could not swagger into the village with Lu Xiao Shu. Therefore, they went around the village again and went through the pathways behind the mountains. Finally, they reached two small shabby huts located at the end of the village.
Lu Xiao Shu’s brows drew together, not willing to go in.
How would Gu Lao Si let her escape when they had already reached his hut? He nudged her and smirked, “Go inside and have a seat.”
Lu Xiao Shu glanced at him and dodged his hand. “Um,” She said but ended up going in.
There was nothing in his dilapidated house except four bare walls. Gu Lao Si took out a worn-out-deformed stool from a corner and cleaned the dust with his sleeves. He offered the stool to Lu Xiao Shu and chortled, “Little girl, come and have a seat. I’ll get some well water to wash our face. Geez, the weather is really killing me!”
“Oh.” Lu Xiao Shu was getting more and more suspicious. As her disappointment grew, her unhappiness also doubled.
Up until this moment, she was certain that this scoundrel was fooling around with her.
She was not annoyed that she had been fooled, but annoyed that he had ruthlessly destroyed her scarce hope!
How dare you try to fool me, let’s see what you’ve got!
Lu Xiao Shu stayed calm and collected. She sat on the stool that he offered and had her eyes fixed on him when he went out.
Gu Lao Si went out the front door and took an old garment from the clothesline. He prepared a hemp rope and held them in his arms. He sneaked into the house from the back door behind Lu Xiao Shu.
He intended to use the garment to cover her face and to make her pass out. Then, he would tie her up, place her in a sack, and carry her out when the sun sets.
He planned to knock her out with a wooden stick initially, however, he was worried that he would fail to control his strength and hit the wrong area. If he caused her to bleed or to lose her sanity by any chance, it would ruin his plans instead.
Unfortunately, the reality did not meet his expectations. Lu Xiao Shu was already aware of his presence when he came in. He tried to strangle and gag her from behind, but she swiftly dodged his attack. She stood up and lifted her leg. “Ouch!” Gu Lao Si tripped and crashed to the ground in agony. Lu Xiao Shu stepped on his back and sneered, “Aren’t you supposed to take me to my father? What the hell are you up to?”
Gu Lao Si could barely move. He lied on the ground and groaned in pain.
Lu Xiao Shu was even more annoyed by his whines. She stepped harder on his back and growled, “Say something! Aren’t you good at storytelling? Are you mute?”
“Ah!” Gu Lao Si bellowed in agony. He wanted to turn his head around to look at her, but he was without strength and his forehead was covered in cold sweat. This was when he realized that this little girl was in fact from a family that practiced martial arts.
Gu Lao Si was in disbelief. I’m an experienced mischievous rascal by any means. Would I give up this easily? He grimaced and grumbled, “Little girl, I really wanted to help you! Little girl, don’t you think you’re going too far? Do you still want——Ouch! Stop, stop stepping so hard!”
Lu Xiao Shu snapped, “Did you really think that I’m a gullible little girl? So you refuse to speak the truth, right? Hmph, believe it or not, I’ll really cut your tongue out! Was it you who hurt my father? Was it you?!”
“No!”
“Then where’s my father? Where is he?”
Gu Lao Si was in such agony that he nearly blacked out. He gave in and cried, “Please spare me, little girl! I don’t know anything! I, I was lying to you about everything!”
“Lying to me?” Lu Xiao Shu snarled, “I worked so hard to search for my father, just to be fooled by you! Didn’t you say you met the person on the portrait scroll? Give me back my father! Give him back!”
Lu Xiao Shu was aggrieved and furious. She lashed out her anger by tieing Gu Lao Si up and whipping him with a wooden rod. She was beating him up while yelling and forced him to hand over her father.
Gu Lao Si was beaten up painfully and miserably. He agonizingly endured the throbbing pain as he dared not to let out his howl of anguish. This is my house! If my cry attracted unwanted attention and someone caught sight of my current condition, I’ll be humiliated for the rest of my life!”
Gu Lao Si finally knew what it meant to spin a cocoon around oneself and cry without tears. This little girl was so convinced that her father was missing because of me! Where in the world can I get her father back?
I am considered once a named scoundrel, yet, I am still a far cry from this little girl!
This little girl looks adorable and attractive at first, but she is clearly a lunatic! One hundred percent a lunatic!
“Girl, Missy, Mistress! Please spare my life! My naive self should not have upset you in the first place. Please, I beg for your mercy!” His face had swollen up and his body was in excruciating pain. By what he was experiencing, he knew it would take ten days to two weeks to recover. If she continued beating him up, he would have to stay at home forever.
“Where’s my father? Give me back my father!” Lu Xiao Shu snapped at him again.
“I!” Gu Lao Si was on the verge of tears. He was in despair when all of a sudden, he regained hope. He pulled himself together and suggested, “Girl, I’m sure your father is waiting for you to find him! Are you really going to waste your time on me? Haven’t you vented all your anger at me by now? You’d better start searching for him! ”
Lu Xiao Shu became startled. He’s right, searching for Father is far more important than wasting my time on him!
She scorned, “You’re right. You happen to be a resident in this area, I’m sure you’re familiar with this area. You’ll bring me around to search for my father.”
“…” Gu Lao Si would rather blackout instead. He pulled a long face, “But my appearance…”
“Can’t you walk?” Lu Xiao Shu glanced at both of his legs and uttered, “How about I break your legs then you don’t have to come along with me! You choose!”
Gu Lao Si was stupefied. He looked at her in astonishment.
This wench is so cruel!
“Why are you staring at me?” Lu Xiao Shu scowled at him, “Are you going or not, give me an answer! Hmph, don’t pull any more tricks on me, otherwise, I will not spare you anymore!”
If I can’t find my father, I will not spare you either. Lu Xiao Shu furiously thought to herself.
“I’ll go, I’ll go!” There was no room for Gu Lao Si to choose.
Lu Xiao Shu glanced at him and untied him. She commanded, “Go! We’ll head back to the dock!”
Gu Lao Si rubbed his face and his palms were covered in bloodstains. He smiled awkwardly, “Girl, could you at least allow me to wash my face?”
Lu Xiao Shu squinted and glared at him.
Gu Lao Si shuddered under her intense glare. He muttered, “Nevermind, I’ll just wipe these off…”
He picked up the old garment that was supposed to gag Lu Xiao Shu. He carelessly wiped his face and fixed his attire and hair. He smiled apologetically at Lu Xiao Shu and obediently walked in front of her.
Lu Xiao Shu was not worried that he would escape as his calves were both trembling. She followed behind him.
She noticed his intentions to go behind the mountains and around the village. She raised her eyebrows and snapped, “Stop! Take the village entrance route!”
Gu Lao Si caressed his unpresentable filthy face. He thought of pleading with her, but quickly and sensibly dismissed the thought of it and turned around, following her request.
