’Although she sensed something was wrong with Yun Ying, she could also see that she was a naive young woman, not some sinister, cunning schemer. From how nervous Yun Ying had been when she arrived, Juhua could guess that she had come to do something but was hesitant.’

So, once she concluded that Yun Ying planned to do something that would harm either her or Qin Feng, she decided to try and shock her with her words, hoping to intimidate her into inaction.

Who would have thought her words would strike a nerve? Yun Ying shouted, "A joke! What could an ugly country girl like you possibly be worthy of me doing?"

With that, she snatched up her bundle, gave Juhua a hard shove, and stormed off.

Juhua stumbled from the push. By the time she regained her balance, the young woman was already out of the courtyard.

A stunned Liu Xiaomei rushed over to steady her, utterly baffled as to why they had started fighting after exchanging just a few sentences.

Juhua was in no mood for this. A gut feeling told her something major was happening, and her heart suddenly began to pound.

She hurried to the courtyard gate just in time to see Yun Ying about to mount her horse and ride away. In a panic, she glanced around and spotted Qingmu and Zhang Huai on the village path. Relief washed over her.

When Yun Ying saw Juhua run out after her, she wasn’t afraid, but for some reason, she despised having to face this ugly country girl. Her usual sense of high-minded purity seemed diminished in Juhua’s presence, making her deeply uncomfortable. She had to get away from this place.

She vaulted onto the horse, yanked the reins, and squeezed its sides with her heels. The horse broke into a trot.

Juhua threw caution to the wind and yelled at Qingmu and Zhang Huai, "Stop her! Don’t let her get away!"

With that, she broke into a run and chased after them herself.

Right behind her, Black Dog shot out, barking furiously as he chased the horse. ’He’d been wanting to bite that big oaf for a while now.’

Qingmu and Zhang Huai had already seen a youth emerge from the courtyard and prepare to mount a horse. Then Juhua came running out, her shout of "Stop her!" ringing with an undeniable, tense resolve.

The two boys didn’t know what this person had done, but if Juhua was shouting like that, she must have a good reason. With grim expressions, they planted themselves in the middle of the path, unflinching as they stared down the approaching horse.

Yun Ying hadn’t expected Juhua to be so relentless.

Panic and hatred welled up inside her. All her guilt and self-recrimination vanished; she felt her decision had been absolutely correct. ’This girl is too much of a threat. I can’t let Senior Brother come looking for her ever again.’

’That powerful shout... how could a twelve- or thirteen-year-old girl sound like that? Did she really grow up on a farm? From the very beginning, aside from her coarse-spun clothes, nothing about Juhua seemed like a country bumpkin.’

Yun Ying’s lips tightened. Ignoring Qingmu and Zhang Huai’s blockade completely, she kicked her heels hard and cracked the whip against the horse’s rump. The animal broke into a full gallop, charging straight for the two boys.

Behind the horse, Black Dog was in hot pursuit. Farther back, Juhua was also sprinting with all her might.

Qingmu and Zhang Huai exchanged a quick glance and nodded. They sidestepped slightly, preparing to flank the rider and pull her from the saddle.

Juhua saw the girl’s blatant disregard for their safety. The horse was about to trample her brother and Zhang Huai. Anger and terror surged through her.

Qingmu and Zhang Huai had a good plan. Like all country boys, they had the reckless courage of youth, but they didn’t understand horses. As the steed bore down on them, its rider did something—and the horse leaped into the air, soaring right over their heads.

Zhang Huai caught a glimpse of the panic and desperation in Juhua’s eyes. He knew the rider must have done something unforgivable. A surge of anger gave him a burst of strength, and he spun around, sprinting wildly after the horse’s rear.

He stared at the pounding hooves, chasing like a man possessed. An incredible burst of speed allowed him to close the distance. Just like the horse, he suddenly leaped, lunging forward and grabbing a handful of its tail.

But before he could get his footing, an immense force yanked him forward. His legs couldn’t possibly keep up with the horse’s speed, and he ended up being dragged along the ground. He tried several times to get his feet back under him, to stand up, but it was impossible.

Black Dog shot forward ferociously, running alongside the horse and barking wildly. He lunged several times, trying to sink his teeth in, but the speeding horse was always just out of reach. He never managed to land a bite.

Qingmu was right behind them in pursuit.

When Juhua saw the horse dragging Zhang Huai, her heart seized with fear. She was terrified it would kick him. If he was seriously hurt, it would be a disaster.

She gathered all the air in her lungs and yelled, "Stop right now! If he gets hurt, you’re not leaving this village alive!"

She had no idea that Yun Ying was also in a state of utter panic. Juhua’s threat didn’t make her stop; it only made her more desperate to escape.

’If all the villagers come out to stop me, I’m done for, aren’t I?’

’If they find Qin Feng’s letter, how will I ever explain it?’

’Besides, these people don’t know I’m Qin Feng’s junior sister. If they think I’m a villain, they won’t go easy on me. Country folk are savage and unreasonable when they get riled up.’ 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

She could feel someone tugging on the horse’s tail, and misery washed over her. ’I really have become a villain, being chased by people and a dog like this.’

’When has anyone ever treated me like this?’

’Everywhere I’ve ever gone, people have treated me like a beautiful, kind-hearted fairy—adored, respected, and cherished. Anyone who dared to lust after me would be beaten until they ran away screaming. But today... today, these two boys are chasing me like I’m a criminal.’

’It’s all because of that Juhua!’

Tears streamed down her face. Gritting her teeth, she drew the dagger she carried for protection, twisted around, and swung it backward, severing the horse’s tail.

The tension in Zhang Huai’s hands vanished. He lost his balance and fell to the ground, watching helplessly as the horse galloped away in a cloud of dust. Only Black Dog was left, still in furious pursuit.

Having shaken off Zhang Huai, Yun Ying galloped wildly out of Qingnan Village without stopping. She paid no mind to the chaos she caused—chickens scattering and dogs barking—and once clear of the village, she headed straight for Xiatang Market.

She wept loudly in the saddle, as if mourning a past innocence that was gone forever. From this day forward, she would never know peace of mind again. A thorn had been lodged in her heart, and it could never be removed.

When she reached Erli Village, she ignored the strange looks from the local men. With red, swollen eyes, she rented a boat large enough for both herself and her horse, instructed the boatman to head for Qinghui County, and only then allowed herself to relax. She sat at the bow, replaying everything that had just happened.

The beautiful mountain village, the farmhouse courtyard, the pig intestines hanging from the eaves, the masked Juhua, the two farm boys chasing her—the images flashed through her mind one by one. When she thought about how it had all started, a sharp pain twisted in her gut. ’My life was perfectly fine. How did it come to this?’

She reached for her bundle, pulled out the source of all her troubles, and, without a second thought, tossed it into the Qinghui River. ’I never want to see it again.’

Her heart ached with misery, utterly unaware that what she had just carelessly discarded was a matter of life and death for Juhua. When Qin Feng eventually learned of this, it drove a permanent wedge between them. A single misstep had led to eternal regret.