The protagonist committed numerous evil deeds.

Chapter 40 Die Here

Unbeknownst to her, Wen Li arrived at the temple where the Jiang family once worshipped.

She cried for a long time, so long that it got dark and the temple became dark as well.

At this point, she became a little scared, but fortunately, there was still half a candle burning in front of the temple. She used magic to light the candle, and the temple became a little brighter.

Only when she saw the light did she realize where she had wandered off to. This temple had been built for hundreds of years and was specifically used by the Jiang family to enshrine the fallen God of the Green Lamp.

But ever since the Jiang family was wiped out, no one has taken care of the temple anymore. Only her mother would occasionally secretly bring her there to worship.

The temple's candlesticks were covered in a thick layer of dust, and the candlesticks and incense burners were scattered and overturned. The entire temple, adorned with dust, cobwebs, and weeds growing from the crevices, looked even more ancient.

The statue is somewhat worn, making its appearance unclear, but it is still relatively well-preserved.

The statue was two meters tall, clad in armor, and holding a long spear. It appeared to be compassionate and benevolent, dedicated to saving all living beings. Wen Li looked up at it and felt only the glare of the statue.

In particular, his arrogant attitude made Wen Li very unhappy.

She thought of what her mother often said: God loves all living beings, and all living beings are equal.

"Equality my ass! Even gods have their own selfish desires! Otherwise, why do others have things that I don't? No wonder they deserved to fall!"

Wen Li grew angrier the more she thought about it, feeling that all her bad luck was because of this so-called god who hadn't blessed her.

"You're biased! You bless the other children but not me, I'll smash you to death!"

Wen Li picked up a stone from the ground and started throwing it at the statue. Not satisfied, she took out a ghost talisman and tried to knock the statue over.

Normally, she hadn't used the ghost talisman perfectly, but today it went surprisingly smoothly.

"Borrowing divine power to relieve my worries."

The statue fell backward, and as it hit the ground, dust and dirt flew up. The left eye of the statue, along with half of its head, was smashed off.

"If you can save the common people but not me, then die."

Wen Li finally felt relieved.

She also had to start thinking about her future path.

She ran away from home because her mother didn't want her anymore. So she won't go back, since her mother doesn't love her at all anyway.

She would go begging on the streets every day, and if she starved to death, she would make her mother regret it to death!

Thinking of this, she felt sad again, thinking that she would starve to death here tonight.

She curled up against the pillar, imagining her miserable future, and gradually fell asleep in self-pity.

It started raining in the middle of the night. The summer rain was like a lullaby, and Wen Li slept soundly.

But when she opened her eyes again, she saw Jiang Yanhong beside her.

Jiang Yanhong was soaked to the bone, her hair was disheveled, and her feet and the hem of her skirt were covered in mud.

Wen Li had never seen Jiang Yanhong like this before. She was always dignified and proper, and even when she was insulted, she always appeared gentle and resilient.

"Mother, Mother, wake up!"

Wen Li anxiously shook Jiang Yanhong awake, and when she saw her open her eyes, Wen Li finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Let's go home."

Jiang Yanhong didn't show any emotion. As soon as she woke up, she pulled Wen Li and kept walking outside.

Later, Wen Li learned that Jiang Yanhong had searched the entire Zishui City alone that night.

After returning home that time, Jiang Yanhong fell ill, so ill that she was no longer able to personally teach Wen Lijiang family swordsmanship.

Ke Wenli was very well-behaved; she became more diligent and obedient than ever before.

But by winter, Wenli was eight years old, while Jiang Yanhong was no longer able to.

Jiang Yanhong called Wen Li to her bedside, as if to give her final instructions: "Ali, tomorrow, Lord Li from the government will come to arrange my funeral. You don't need to be afraid."

Her voice seemed to float in the air, as if it would dissipate with a gust of wind. Wen Li listened intently, yet she couldn't help but burst into tears.

"Don't be afraid, I'm just going to find your uncle and the others. Don't cry."

Wen Li cried even more uncontrollably, unable to utter a single word.

Jiang Yanhong continued, "Lord Li, entrusted by your father, will arrange for someone to send you back to the Wen family in the capital. Since you are surnamed Wen, the Wen family will naturally protect you."

"I, hmph, no, hmph, no, waaaah..."

Jiang Yanhong was already exhausted, but she still held Wen Li's hand tightly: "Listen, your surname is Wen. Before the Jiang family's case is overturned, this surname can guarantee your life! As long as you live, you must seek the light for me and for the Jiang family, and you cannot marry before that, do you understand?"

Wen Li couldn't speak, she just nodded frantically.

Jiang Yanhong had said these words many times since Wen Li could remember. But as it was time to leave, he still couldn't let go of his worries.

Jiang Yanhong had been through it all; she knew that once a woman got married, her heart would settle down, and all her ambitions and future prospects would disappear.

They are more soft-hearted, more adept at sacrifice, and more easily hurt. Compared to themselves, they are more willing to support their husbands' and children's pursuits and futures.

"Ali, after I'm gone, the Jiang family's sword path will be your foundation in this world. You must not abandon it. You must protect yourself. I have truly wronged you in this life."

Jiang Yanhong was breathing less and less through her mouth and nose; she was too tired to speak anymore.

Wen Li's tears kept flowing. She shook her head desperately, wanting to say, "Mother, don't abandon me," and that she would definitely be obedient from now on. She also wanted to say that she was very scared to be alone and that she wanted to leave with her.

She cried for a long time but couldn't utter a single word.

She didn't even know when Jiang Yanhong had completely stopped breathing. She was still lying there crying, unwilling to leave even as night fell. She thought it would be bad if Jiang Yanhong suddenly woke up and couldn't see her.

Mother is just asleep; she'll wake up soon.

The scene shifts to her alone on Shangjing Road.

The rumored Lord Li did indeed intend to send her to the capital. However, he slandered his recently deceased mother in front of her, and Wen Li, unwilling to accept his favor, took the money and ran away alone.

From the South China Sea to the capital, a journey that took several months, Wen Li grew from eight to ten years old.

In those two years, she got lost, was scammed, nearly starved to death, considered giving up, and even secretly ran back.

But in the end, she accepted her mother's death and was pushed forward step by step. She realized how impossible it was to do something.

To overturn the Jiang family's case, she would have to go against the entire world. She had no idea whether there were other hidden details in the Jiang family case as her mother had said.

But she had no choice but to believe.

If the Jiang family is truly the culprit who released the demon, then every breath she takes is a sin.

Winters in the South China Sea are snowless, while the snow in the capital city reached up to her thighs.

Outside the city gate, all that could be seen was white snow, the sky and earth merging into one, the wide, flat ground devoid of trees, covered only in thick snow. Looking into the distance, the city gate seemed so close, yet it felt as if she could never cross it again.

She never knew winter could be so cold, so cold that her skin was stiff and red, so cold that she wanted to cut off her own hands and feet.

Every step was extremely difficult. She could see the city gate in the distance and wondered how it could be so far away.

That was the second time she had thought about death. She thought it would be better to die, since no one would be sad for her anyway.

If she died on the way to the capital, then she died on the road to seeking light for the Jiang family, and she did not break her promise.

Her mother wouldn't blame her.

Wen Li stopped and fell into the snow, while the Second Master desperately tried to pull her forward.

"Woof, woof woof..."

Hearing the Second Master's call, Wen Li mustered her last breath and took off her clothes to put on the Second Master, then threw the remaining food in front of him.

After doing all that, she collapsed in the snow and lay motionless.

Die here, the winters in the capital are too cold.

Die here. Living for the Jiang family is too tiring.

Let her die here; no one will know anyway.