“Unable to absorb even inner energy—could it really be over? Little Henry, why is your fate so bitter…” Tears streamed down his face as Alice Thompson actually lay beside Henry Thompson, crying.

One has to admit, this domineering Sword Soul Dao technique is truly top-notch for playing dead, feigning injury, or pretending to be ill.

However, determined to get to the bottom of things, Henry Thompson steeled his heart, ignoring Alice Thompson’s wailing and tears, remaining unmoved.

……

The wind and snow raged. Grace Thompson’s face was pale, her lips tinged blue. The sudden cold was so severe that even as she galloped at full speed, a chill still seeped through her body.

Grace Thompson was just an eleven-year-old girl. Though children of the martial world matured early, at eleven, she was still at the age to be coddled in her parents’ arms.

Her hands were red from the cold, the reins of the white horse soaked and dripping, her body already dusted with tiny snowflakes.

Bit by bit, the snowflakes accumulated, melting from the misty true energy she emitted. The icy water soaked her crimson clothes, clinging coldly to her skin. When the wind blew, she couldn’t help but shiver.

At this moment, Grace Thompson truly wanted to cry—a feeling of grievance, discomfort, and heartache!

She missed home, missed her once-dignified father, her gentle mother. But recalling the sharp killing intent from last night, Grace Thompson couldn’t help but shed tears again.

“Brother, you must hold on. Grace is coming to save you. Brother, brother, can you hear Grace’s voice?” Grace Thompson shouted in her heart, then, braving the biting cold, she fiercely lashed her whip and shouted, “Hyah—!”

“Clop clop clop, clop clop clop—”

The white horse neighed in pain and suddenly broke into a wild gallop.

……

“Has that little wretch Emily Thompson still not succeeded? Alice Thompson has already gone in!” Edward Thompson muttered to himself in the shadows, feeling a wave of irritation.

With Alice Thompson present, things would be a bit more troublesome.

He glanced at the black-clad men beside him, his anger flaring. “Can’t wait any longer. By dawn, it’ll be too late. While the night is dark and the wind is high, we must act now!”

Having made up his mind, Edward Thompson waved his hand, his eyes flashing with murderous intent as he stared at the distant, lamp-lit pavilion. “Shadow Kill Squad, hear my order: anyone you see—kill without mercy!”

“Master, should we also kill Julia Thompson and the other two?” one of the black-clad men asked in a low voice.

Edward Thompson hesitated for a moment, then said, “Kill! Once Alice Thompson is dead, search everywhere. Any martial arts manuals or secrets, take them all. When it’s done, get oil from the storeroom and burn the manor! Await my command for everything!”

“Yes, Master!” The shadows answered respectfully, then several figures shot out like lightning, vanishing once more into the darkness.

On the other side, in the boudoir of Julia Thompson and the other two.

“Big sister, second sister—” Emily Thompson lowered her head, the white dagger in her hand gleaming coldly.

“You did it?” Helen Thompson said grimly.

“There was both crane’s red and arsenic in the food. The young master ate it,” Emily Thompson said, her voice trembling.

“Smack—” Julia Thompson slapped her hard. “You little wretch, you really went through with it? After all the young master has done for us! Even if we were to be humiliated to death, we shouldn’t have done this! I warned you, and you still dared—”

Chapter 013: A Tragic Death

“Big sister, Emily only did this so you could leave Tianshui Manor and regain your freedom. You can’t blame her!” Helen Thompson said loudly.

“For me?” Julia Thompson was stunned, her raised right hand unable to fall.

After a long moment, she finally slapped herself hard across the face.

“I’ve let the young master down. I deserve to die!” Julia Thompson burst into tears.

As for Emily Thompson, she was already sobbing uncontrollably.

Helen Thompson looked coldly at the two, her voice sharp: “Why are you crying? Didn’t we agree to this from the start? What, did the young master steal your hearts? Since we didn’t follow the master’s orders, we’re as good as dead anyway. Now, we should think of a way to get Uncle Alice to expose the master’s plot!”

“If the master finds out about this betrayal, we’ll wish for death but be unable to die!” Emily Thompson said in terror.

“Wish for death but be unable to die? Hmph, at worst, it’s just death. But seeing the young master’s gaze, feeling his smile, and his kindness to us, I realized I’ve regained my basic human dignity. For this alone, the young master is a good man. We can’t let him down! We can’t let down the old master who raised us!” Helen Thompson choked out through tears.

“Is there still hope for the young master?” Julia Thompson asked anxiously.

“The young master only ate a little, so he shouldn’t have ingested too much poison. But his face looks terribly frightening,” Emily Thompson whispered.

“Come on, let’s go check on him!” Julia Thompson immediately grabbed her sword and rushed out first.

Then, Helen Thompson and Emily Thompson also took up their swords and followed.

……

Alice Thompson was heartbroken, truly heartbroken, because at this moment, Henry Thompson’s face had already turned a terrifying shade of bluish-purple, almost black.