Volume One, Chapter 16: The Widowed Mother Abandoned by Her Sons in the Year of Famine [Expression]

In the center of the main hall, a bonfire blazed as the mountain bandits greedily clutched their wine flasks and large chunks of meat, feasting without restraint.

No one noticed a figure silently appear at the doorway.

Several beasts pressed a captured woman beneath them, indulging in their debauchery with wanton abandon.

Nearby, a pot simmered with boiling water in which severed limbs bobbed; in a corner, a dozen trembling women were bound.

On a tattered straw mat on the floor, a bandit grinned maliciously as he tore at the clothes of a struggling six-year-old girl.

His gaunt, repulsive face was twisted with lecherous delight.

What a hellish scene this was!

A surge of fury ignited within Mo Mo’s chest. “You damned bastards! Damn you!”

Clutching her knife tightly, she lunged forward, delivering a brutal slash to his neck.

His head fell to the ground, rolling twice with a hollow thud.

The world seemed to freeze, then a short, stout man screamed sharply, “Ah!!!”

He scrambled toward the door, crawling and rolling, but just as he was about to step outside, his body split in two—blood spraying in a grisly spectacle.

Mo Mo’s face darkened; turning, she shook her Cloud-Cutting Blade, blood dripping from its tip onto the floor.

The bandits snapped back to reality, shrieking and scattering in all directions.

“Bao’er, seal the windows and doors! Not a single one of these beasts can live today!”

“Understood!”

These petty criminals, usually skilled in thievery and deceit, were like scattered sand even when gathered in a group of more than fifty.

Mo Mo moved like a ghost amid them, slicing through them one by one with ruthless ease.

Reaching the door, a few bandits tried to escape but found an invisible barrier blocking their way.

Overcome by terror, they urinated themselves and clawed at the barrier like zombies.

The strongest among them, likely their leader, realizing total annihilation was imminent, shouted, “Listen up! No one runs! It’s just a woman—what the hell is there to fear? Grab your weapons and fight! Whoever cuts off her head becomes second-in-command!”

Two fearless men rushed to the wall, snatching up rusty machetes hanging there and charging at Mo Mo.

“Good! That’s the spirit, brothers!”

The bandit leader laughed heartily, watching the blades come down toward her.

But in the next instant, his laughter died.

With a sharp “shing shing,” two round heads flew off, landing at his feet.

The two headless bodies still clutched their weapons as they fell, blood spurting wildly from their severed necks.

“Ugh…”

The bandit leader’s throat went dry; swallowing hard, he wondered where such a killing demon had come from.

Seeing Mo Mo advancing with her knife, his legs nearly gave way.

“Mercy, heroine! Spare me!”

Backing toward the door, he grabbed a small lackey to shield himself.

But he was unaware of the true power before him.

The blade easily pierced through both men and punched a hole in the door beyond.

After dispatching them, Mo Mo swiftly slaughtered the remaining bandits.

Then she went to the corner, untying the ropes binding the captured women.

Blood covered her, her face fierce and terrifying, her strong physique exuding the aura of a demon queen.

Yet to the rescued women and children, she was a goddess descended from the heavens.

Tears filled their eyes as they gazed at their savior, faces shining with admiration.

“Thank you, benefactor! Thank you!”

After expressing their gratitude, they hurried to support the women who had been abused.

They were remarkably strong, showing no signs of despair, instead slowly moving forward with help.

The little girl who had nearly been violated stared directly at Mo Mo, reaching out her hand.

Mo Mo raised an eyebrow, crouched down, and scooped her up.

From the women’s stories, she learned they all came from the same village.

After fleeing there, they were captured; the village elders were killed on the spot.

The men were taken into the mountains to be slaughtered and cooked, and the bandits intended to torment the women before eating them.

Fortunately, their savior had arrived just in time.

As they recounted their ordeal, many began to weep uncontrollably.

“Thank you for saving us all! We have no way to repay such great kindness. Please allow us to stay with you; we will serve you wholeheartedly!”

“Yes, yes! Sister! We’re willing to work like oxen or horses to serve you!”

“Please let us stay. We have nowhere else to go.”

They began listing their skills, clearly desperate to survive.

Their lips, dry and cracked from long hunger and thirst, bled faintly as they spoke urgently.

Mo Mo quickly comforted them, “Don’t worry. Follow me first.”

Leading them to a clean room up front, originally meant for night guards, she said, “Wait here a moment. I’ll get some things and be right back.”

She handed the little girl she carried to someone nearby and strode out.

Watching their savior’s departing figure, the women feared being abandoned yet dared not stop her; panic spread among them.

“Wahhh…”

One began to cry but was immediately scolded, “Hold it in! If our benefactor sees you crying like that, she’ll be upset!”

She herself clenched her sleeves tightly.

Fortunately, Mo Mo returned quickly, carrying a large bundle on her back and holding two jars and a water pot.

The group brightened and hurried forward to help her with the load.

“There’s ginger in the water pot—boil ginger water later to dispel bad luck. One jar contains rice—make porridge with it. The other jar is for boiling water to wash yourselves. These clothes in the bundle are for you to change into once you’re cleaned up.”

Setting everything down, she went out again, “Light a fire yourselves. I’ll fetch more water.”

Inside, everyone exchanged glances—such thoughtfulness from their savior was overwhelming.

Mo Mo retrieved two large wooden barrels from her space, filled them with water, then packed over a dozen wooden bowls and spoons to carry on her back.

Bao’er sprinkled a few drops of Spirit Spring Water, purchased from the system’s store, into the barrels.

“Mo Jie, the price of Spirit Spring Water has gone up again! It now costs five hundred energy coins per drop in the store—ripoff.”

“Well, we don’t have Spirit Spring Storage. No worries, I’ve got money! Bring a few more drops!”

When Mo Mo returned with the water, they openly shed their clothes.

The wounds and bruises etched on their bodies pained her deeply; her eyes itched fiercely.

“Damn those bastards and their eighteen generations of ancestors! They died far too easily!”

After everything was settled, the dozen or so girls sat together, sipping porridge in small, careful mouthfuls.

Warm and sweet, the steam on their faces masked their tear stains.

Mo Mo patiently comforted them for some time.

Then she assured them fully, “I’ll stay watch tonight. Rest easy and sleep well. Don’t worry—we’ll leave first thing tomorrow morning.”