Picked Up a White Cut Black Wife - Chapter 27

When Shen Qiao recognized the newcomer, her expression froze, the smile vanishing instantly from her face. Her pupils dilated, darkening like ink, becoming bottomless and radiating an icy chill.

Long time no see.

Shen Qiao narrowed her eyes, fixing her gaze on the figure ahead. She slammed her foot down on the accelerator, sending the car hurtling forward, the tires screeching against the pavement.

Amidst the raging wind, Xi Su remained rooted to the spot in the middle of the road, her white robe billowing in the gale.

In that instant, a white blur flashed past the windshield, moving with the speed of lightning.

Refusing to give up, Shen Qiao yanked the steering wheel, charging forward relentlessly to deny Xi Su any respite. Yet she effortlessly evaded her attack.

Having already wasted too much time, Shen Qiao’s patience frayed. Before the car had even come to a complete stop, she burst out of the vehicle, her long hair whipping behind her like countless sharp claws, enveloping her entire figure.

Xi Su stood serenely in place, two fingers raised before her chest. Her thin lips parted slightly as she spoke, “This is not a place for you! Come with me!”

“You’re like a persistent ghost!” Shen Qiao sneered, her eyes gradually turning crimson, burning like fire. Her body dissolved into a blur as she lunged at him. “Mind your own business!”

The colors of heaven and earth shifted abruptly.

At that moment, Xi Su’s eyes remained tightly shut as her lips moved rapidly. Golden talismans gradually coalesced into a shimmering wall, poised to collapse into a prison the moment her opponent breached it.

Still the same old trick, Shen Qiao thought with a flicker of disdain. Aiming for Xi Su’s chest, she unleashed a ruthless strike, intent on killing her with a single blow.

Suddenly, Xi Su’s eyes snapped open. “Break!”

The still-forming talismans scattered wildly, hurtling directly toward Shen Qiao.

Damn it! Shen Qiao’s pupils contracted. When did this old Taoist become so strong?!

She was no match for her now. Retreat first!

With a final, resentful glare, Shen Qiao turned decisively and bolted toward the breach in the barrier.

“You won’t escape!” Xi Su swooped forward like a phantom, seizing Shen Qiao’s arm while chanting ceaselessly.

Shen Qiao felt an oppressive weight pressing down on her, suffocating her. Overwhelming panic surged through her, turning her already pale skin almost translucent. Flames flickered beneath the surface, as if about to erupt.

At that moment, Xi Su released her, slicing her finger through the air. Crimson bl00d flowed, and a yellow talisman flew from her sleeve. She completed the ritual in one smooth motion.

In the brief respite, Shen Qiao struggled free, but the talisman immediately followed, trapping her in place.

Almost simultaneously, the still-bloody talisman adhered to her arm. Her soul felt as if it were being torn apart, the excruciating pain nearly making her eyes burst. She couldn’t suppress a low, strangled groan.

“Obsession runs deep, ultimately harming both yourself and others,” Xi Su said, standing calmly to the side, her tone detached and transcendent.

“Never!” Shen Qiao’s eyes blazed with murderous intent, but her body remained bound by an invisible force. She couldn’t move an inch; the more she struggled, the more her bones felt as if they were being crushed.

Xi Su stood against the wind. “After wandering this mortal realm for so long, it’s time you departed.” As she spoke, she closed her eyes, her voice softening, her expression gentle.

“No!” Shen Qiao screamed, a flame flickering faintly on her forehead as her body teetered on the brink of collapse.

Two opposing forces clashed, causing Xi Su’s brow to furrow deeper as she chanted faster, “Cease your torment of others!”

The surrounding air compressed, gradually draining Shen Qiao’s strength until her consciousness began to fade into chaos.

“Shen Qiao! Get down here—”

“Fine, is this enough?”

“Shen Qiao, don’t push your luck!”

“Who said I wanted to sleep with you… Don’t get so close, move back…”

The distinctive ringtone of her phone blared repeatedly, conveying the urgency of the caller on the other end.

In her dazed state, she seemed to see a spring day: a young man stood behind her, sword in hand, at a respectful distance. She held a round fan, carefully fluttering it over a butterfly perched on a flower’s stamen, her peripheral vision unconsciously drifting toward her until she tripped over a pebble at the edge of the flowerbed.

“Princess, be careful!”

Steadying her, the young man swiftly masked her concern before releasing her and bowing to retreat.

Her gaze remained fixed on her face as she grabbed her hand, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she savored her flustered and awkward expression.

“Princess, this… it’s improper. Please let go.”

“What’s improper about it?” She leaned closer, her voice teasing. “Once I come of age, I’ll have Father Emperor bestow the title of Imperial Son-in-Law upon you.”

“This… there are people around, Princess! Please let go!”

“Shen Qiao, let go of me!”

The two voices overlapped, deafeningly loud.

No! This can’t be happening!

She had waited so long, so very long, finally finding her only to have her slip away now? How could she bear it?

Her head throbbed violently. Shen Qiao’s eyes snapped open, the talisman instantly crumbling to dust.

“Ah—!” Surrounded by raging flames, she gripped Xi Su’s throat with brutal force.

Xi Su’s face rapidly paled, then turned blue, and finally purple. Yet her hands moved relentlessly, her bloodied hand seizing Shen Qiao’s wrist with lightning speed.

Burned, Shen Qiao recoiled, knowing she was no match for her today.

With a moment’s calculation, her body dissolved into a phantom-like shadow, vanishing without a trace.

Having lost the initiative, Xi Su didn’t pursue her. Instead, she released a paper butterfly the size of her thumb, sending it to track Shen Qiao’s path. Then she knelt in place, closing her eyes to heal her wounds.

Having escaped to a relatively safe place, Shen Qiao could no longer endure. She transformed back into her human form and immediately collapsed to the ground, coughing up a mouthful of bl00d.

Her phone continued to ring incessantly, Shen Zhao’s voice, alternating between anger and helplessness, echoing through the speaker. Shen Qiao struggled to sit up and reached for her phone, only to find her hand passing right through it, unable to grasp the solid object.

How is this possible?! No! No!!!

Painful memories flooded her mind, overwhelming her consciousness.

She couldn’t remember when or where, but she recalled a similar scene: she had joyfully rushed toward a young girl, only to pass straight through her body.

On the bustling street, no matter how she screamed, no one responded. In that moment, she understood the true meaning of utter abandonment.

Unable to bear it any longer, her vision blurred, and she fainted.

“It has been reported that at 12:57 PM today, a car accident occurred on the midsection of Huan Mountain Road. Preliminary investigations suggest the vehicle was speeding and plunged off a cliff… No injured parties have been found at the scene, and further investigation is underway…”

After leaving the company, Shen Zhao hadn’t even reached home when she heard the latest news report on the radio:

…At 12:57 PM today, a car accident occurred on the mid-section of Mountain Ring Road. Preliminary investigations suggest the vehicle was speeding and plunged off a cliff… No survivors have been found at the scene, and further investigation is underway…

Instantly, her heart felt like a hole had been torn through it, sinking into mid-air. The icy wind rushed in, leaving her gasping for breath.

How could such a coincidence be possible?

Shen Zhao forced a smile, desperately suppressing the panic that was growing like wildfire within her. Her hands tightened involuntarily on the steering wheel, and she pressed down on the accelerator, pushing the car faster and faster.

She rolled down the window, letting the frigid wind whip through the car, hoping it would clear her head.

As she rounded a sharp bend, she suddenly saw several police cars parked ahead. Officers stood at the cliff’s edge, some peering down into the ravine, others speaking into walkie-talkies.

As if guided by some unseen force, Shen Zhao found herself getting out of the car.

Her face remained expressionless as she began walking slowly toward the scene. Gradually, her pace quickened, faster and faster, until a policewoman stepped in front of her, blocking her path.