Beixing Sect and the Rao Manor weren't far apart, and it took the captors twelve hours to return to the sect. Cao Wenyan, Red Mice, and several disciples guarded Dong Lanying and entered the cell block. Cao Wenyan then parted ways with Red Mice and the disciples to report back to Cao Fengge.
Dong Lanying, seizing the opportunity, quickly reached out and snatched the sword from a disciple's sheath. She swung the sword, killing one of the surprised disciples. She then jumped up, kicked the ceiling lantern onto Red Mice, and quickly disappeared into the depths of the Beixing Sect.
Dong Lanying had sneaked into the Beixing Sector many times, so she knew her way around, but she accidentally found a small, unfamiliar section of the grounds. Exhausting the last of her internal strength, she leaped over a wall. She then limped toward a room where a light was still on. As she approached, she saw a woman in a white-gray outfit kneeling in front of a small statue of Guying. Hearing people searching outside and seeing disciples already in the small courtyard, Dong Lanying rushed into the room and closed the door behind her.
The old woman turned around and looked at Dong Lanying. Dong Lanying quickly pointed the sword at the woman. "Shout and I will kill you," she threatened, though she hesitated, noting the woman was wearing a nun's robe.
The woman turned her back to Dong Lanying and said, "You must be one of Cao Fengge's enemies. If you want to kill me, go ahead and kill me. I will thank you very much." She calmly continued kneeling on the yellow cushion and praying.
Dong Lanying cried out and fell to the floor due to the agonizing pain in her calf and the relentless bleeding. The sword fell to the ground with a loud clanging sound, causing the old woman to turn her head and look at the young woman. The woman stood up and walked toward Dong Lanying.
Dong Lanying desperately reached for her fallen sword but couldn't reach it. Her vision became blurred, likely from excessive blood loss. She shook her head repeatedly, but her vision remained unclear.
The woman squatted beside her and asked, "You are still young. What is your grudge with Cao Fengge?"
"Who are you?" Dong Lanying managed to ask.
The woman answered, "You don't need to know who I am. You can hide here until after the guards finish searching. They dare not enter this room." She walked to a nearby table and retrieved a medicine box. "Let me clean your wound and stop the bleeding."
Dong Lanying looked at the old woman suspiciously. Just then, a sharp knock came at the door. The voice on the other side was Cao Wenyan's.
A firm knock sounded at the door. "Mother, are you alright?" It was Cao Wenyan.
Madam Cao's voice was calm. "Yes."
"Mother, there is an assassin tonight," Cao Wenyan explained.
"I don't see one. You can look around and leave," she instructed.
"Mother, let us know if you find anything suspicious."
"Don't break anything," Madam Cao added.
"Yes, mother."
After a short while, the guards reported back that there was nothing unusual. Cao Wenyan bid farewell and led the guards out through the front door.
As Madam Cao turned around, Dong Lanying leveled the retrieved sword at Madam Cao's throat.
"You are Cao Fengge's wife?" Dong Lanying asked.
"Yes," Madam Cao confirmed without flinching. She walked forward gently. "Let me take care of the wound for you. After that, you can decide whether to leave or kill me."
Dong Lanying, exhausted, sat down on a nearby chair. Madam Cao took off her shoe and began to roll up her pants. Madam Cao stared at the severe wound on Dong Lanying's calf. She looked up, her face darkened, and when she met Dong Lanying's gaze, she let out a small, quiet sob.
Dong Lanying looked at Madam Cao, her own lips trembling slightly. She mistook the tears for fear of the injury. "It's okay. I can wrap myself up," she offered.
Madam Cao then asked, "Guniang, what is your last name?"
"You don't need to know. I will leave here after treating the wound," Dong Lanying insisted.
Madam Cao pleaded, "Tell me your name. I haven't seen anyone for many years. I will remember you."
"Dong Lanying," she relented.
Madam Cao's lips trembled. "Dong Lanying, is your father Dong Shun?"
"Yes," Dong Lanying confirmed.
Madam Cao quickly wiped her tears. "I'm really sorry, but I have never seen such an injured person. I was terrified." She quickly grabbed water and began to gently wipe the blood from Dong Lanying's leg.
Dong Lanying pulled back slightly. "You don't have to do it, if you are afraid, I will do it myself."
Madam Cao insisted, "No, let me do it for you. I want to do something for you." While cleaning the wound, she asked, "Dong guniang, has anyone cared for you all these years? Has anyone mistreated you in any way? You are a woman; you shouldn't be fighting a man's battle for him."
"My shifu and shimu cared for me. They never mistreated me in any way, but they died," Dong Lanying replied.
Madam Cao asked softly, "Are you married?"
"No."
After Madam Cao finished bandaging Dong Lanying's wound, she walked to the table and poured two cups of tea. She smiled. "Don't worry, the tea is not poisonous. Are you hungry?"
"No," Dong Lanying said. She picked up her sword and started walking toward the door.
Madam Cao quickly grabbed her hand. "Dong guniang…"
"Cao furen, what do you want?" Dong Lanying asked.
Madam Cao said gently, "Dong guniang, you are injured, be careful." When Dong Lanying stepped toward the door, Madam Cao grabbed her hand again, this time with urgency. "Dong guniang, take me with you. I can be your hostage until you are safe."
Dong Lanying was stunned. "You are not afraid that I will hurt you?"
Madam Cao's gaze was steady. "If you wanted to harm me, you would have already harmed me."
Dong Lanying, accepting the strange offer, and Madam Cao walked toward the back of the Beixing Sect, where two guards stood by the door.
Madam Cao grabbed Dong Lanying's hand, her voice urgent. "Quickly, hold me hostage, or you will not get out of this door."
Dong Lanying immediately placed her sword against Madam Cao's throat, and the two walked toward the exit. When the guard saw Madam Cao being taken hostage, he instantly sent a signal.
Dong Lanying shouted, "Get out of the way, or I will kill her!"
The guards slowly began to move aside. Just as they reached the door, Cao Wenyan rushed in with Red Mice. Cao Wenyan shouted angrily, "Let go of my mother!"
Dong Lanying shouted back, "If you come any closer, I will kill her!"
Madam Cao murmured quietly to Dong Lanying, "Dong guniang, you will die if you leave me before you are safe."
The two women turned and walked out. Dong Lanying shouted a final command at Cao Wenyan, "You close the door. If the incense stick is not burned out, if you chase us, I will kill her!"
Cao Wenyan's face was frantic. "If you dare to hurt my mother, I will kill you!" He slowly closed the door, following her instruction.
Cao Yanmei shouted from behind, approaching the scene. "Ge, what's the matter? I went to protect mother, but I saw that the ground was full of blood."
Red Mice quickly explained, "Young mistress, Dong Lanying is holding Cao furen hostage."
Cao Yanmei's heart sank. "What? What should we do? We and Dong are enemies. She will definitely kill mother!" She grabbed Cao Wenyan's hand, tears welling up. "Gege, what shall we do?"
Cao Wenyan was frantic with rage and fear for his mother. "Go get everyone, I want Dong Lanying dead!"
Dong Lanying and Madam Cao walked for nearly two hours. Due to the agonizing pain in her calf, Dong Lanying finally stumbled and fell to the ground. Madam Cao quickly bent down and helped Dong Lanying up, settling her onto a nearby rock.
"Dong guniang, you stay here, and I will find water for us to drink," Madam Cao offered.
Dong Lanying felt she had to give the woman a way out. "Cao furen, you can go back now."
"You are hurt this much, how can I go back," Madam Cao insisted.
"I can still walk. I have suffered more severe injuries than this many times in my life. I am still alive. This time is no exception," Dong Lanying said, trying to reassure her.
Madam Cao looked at her in horror. "You have suffered more injuries than this?"
"Yes," Dong Lanying confirmed simply.
Madam Cao held Dong Lanying's hands tightly. "Dong guniang, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. Would you find it within yourself to forgive me?"
Dong Lanying was confused by the profound apology. "Cao furen, you are not the one that wronged me."
"Let me help you to a safe place, after that, I can leave," Madam Cao pleaded. She turned her back to Dong Lanying and knelt down. "Dong guniang, I will carry you."
"Cao furen…" Dong Lanying began to object.
Madam Cao cut her off gently. "Please, let me do something for you to repay for what my husband had done to you and your family."
Dong Lanying, exhausted and in pain, finally yielded and climbed onto Madam Cao's back. Madam Cao then led them slowly down the hill. Dong Lanying glanced at Madam Cao's face; Madam Cao seemed to be smiling slightly.
In that momentary glance, and perhaps because of the blurred vision caused by her injury, Dong Lanying suddenly saw the smiling face of Xue Luxia, her shimu. Dong Lanying's tears fell onto Madam Cao's shoulder. "Shimu, I miss you very much," she sobbed, hugging Madam Cao tightly and burying her face on her shoulder. "I'm sorry."
Madam Cao's lips trembled, and she murmured a heartbreaking apology, seemingly lost in her own past. "I'm sorry Mingyu, I'm not a good mother."