Chapter 206:
Xie Wanning looked around. The room was very small, so small that there wasn’t even a wardrobe, nor any box or other place that could hide a person.
Only… under the bed could barely hide someone.
This was the most rudimentary bed board, with four posts and a single bed board, completely unable to fully shield her body.
Time was pressing, leaving her no room to be choosy. Xie Wanning didn’t hesitate long before quietly slipping under the bed.
This hiding spot was extremely perilous. She could only pray that those three wouldn’t suddenly look under the bed.
She had even prepared herself to be discovered, but unexpectedly, not long after she lay down, not far from the bedside, the mother from that mother and daughter pair whom she had thought was already dead actually arduously turned her body sideways, facing the door, making a posture as if she wanted to crawl toward her daughter.
That naked back fully blocked Xie Wanning under the bed.
Xie Wanning’s eyes were bloodshot. She tightly covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face.
At the same moment, from next door came the sound of the door opening, followed by several sets of footsteps drawing nearer.
It seemed someone really glanced over here.
“Eh, that woman is still alive,” the voice carried a lecherous tone, “As expected, women are durable—fuckable, so slutty.”
From that tone, it seemed he even wanted to come over to vent, but was stopped by his companion.
“Enough, it’s almost dawn,” the companion looked out the window and said, “Steward Li said matters involving deaths are only permitted at night.”
With that, that person even proactively closed the door.
Although the commotion last night was so great that probably no one on the entire ship was unaware, the necessary facade of peace still had to be maintained.
After all, this passenger ship still needed to pick up passengers in this area.
Xie Wanning knew this was the Li Family’s merchant ship. The Li Family had been doing business in this region for many years with considerable renown, yet they had unexpectedly colluded with thugs.
It was just unknown whether such evil deeds were merely the steward under them acting on his own opinion, or if the master above had also tacitly approved.
But none of that mattered anymore.
She hid under the bed for a little longer, and only after seeing that group wasn’t coming back did she quietly crawl out from under the bed, take the cotton quilt from on the couch, and walk in small steps to that mother’s side.
“Are you alright?” She wanted to cover the other with the cotton quilt, but saw the other’s gaze turn toward her daughter.
Understanding her meaning, Xie Wanning reached out to check that daughter’s breath.
After a long while, her finger trembled. She closed the other’s already stiffened legs, carried her to her mother, and covered them both with the cotton quilt.
“Thank you…” She could no longer hold back, sobbing softly, “Thank you for saving my life. I promise you, those few people will all die without a burial place, including the Li Family that condoned this incident—everyone will pay the price for tonight.”
Her things weren’t so easy to take. If even one of those pieces of jewelry circulated, tonight’s events would be known to Lu Ziyan…
That woman’s numb eyes turned to her, a line of hot tears flowing from her eye sockets.
Xie Wanning hurriedly nodded, “I won’t deceive you. They will undoubtedly die.”
Falling into Lu Ziyan’s hands, death might be the best release.
With that, Xie Wanning went to help her up, but the other gently shook her head.
Her voice was hoarse, every word dripping with blood, “I… already have the will to die. Young lady, save your strength.”
Xie Wanning wanted to persuade her, “In this world, for you mother and daughter to travel alone, there must surely be some extremely urgent matter. Don’t you feel it a pity to die midway?”
But that woman said nothing, arduously lifting her hand to embrace her daughter beside her, her pupils gradually dilating…
She was indeed not long for this world.
Xie Wanning suppressed her sobs fiercely and said, “I survived only because of your protection. If you have any unfinished matters, I will exhaust every effort to accomplish them for you.”
