Chapter 74: A Killing Intent

Shen Ting’s curses grew increasingly vile until Lu Hao could no longer bear it. He swiftly produced a silver needle and sealed Shen Ting’s mouth shut. Watching her now mute, clutching her own throat, Lu Hao shook his head, offering a bitter smile to Zhao Cuihua, who had just returned after applying a cold compress. “I have no idea where such a shrew came from,” he said.

Though Zhao Cuihua’s face showed signs of pain, she managed to endure it. “It’s a shame about the fish soup. I bought fresh carp at the market today, and now it’s wasted,” she remarked, gazing regretfully at the chaotic mess on the table.

“It’s alright, Sister Cuihua. We can go out and find something to eat later,” Lu Hao replied.

As the two spoke, the door suddenly swung open. In strode a tall, burly man wearing an army-green short-sleeved shirt, his square face and thick brows lending him a somewhat stolid appearance. This was Li Tiezhu, known locally as Li Pillar.

He entered, and his eyes narrowed upon seeing Zhao Cuihua and Lu Hao together. Then his gaze fell upon his wife, writhing on the floor, and rage immediately flared across his face.

“Did you dare hit my wife?” Li Pillar growled, glaring at Lu Hao and rolling up his sleeves.

“I didn’t hit your wife,” Lu Hao replied calmly. “She started with insults. I couldn’t stand it anymore, so I sealed her mouth. If you don’t believe me, ask her yourself.”

Li Pillar, however, was not a reasonable man. Without another word, he strode toward Lu Hao, his anger barely contained.

“Li Pillar, what are you doing!” Zhao Cuihua interjected. She had been his neighbor for years and knew that, despite his dull look, Li Pillar was ruthless and prone to violence, especially when relying on his size and strength. He had even tried to hit her a few times after she rejected him.

“Cuihua, what’s going on? Are you involved with this man? Have you slept with him?” Li Pillar demanded, his anger now directed at both of them.

He was about to attack Lu Hao, but Zhao Cuihua’s pale, delicate face blocked his way, making him hesitate.

“You’re not allowed to hurt Lu Hao. He’s my friend,” Zhao Cuihua said firmly, locking eyes with Li Pillar.

Yet inside, Li Pillar was consumed by rage and jealousy. Lu Hao was taller, leaner, younger, and clearly educated—a far cry from himself. He hadn’t managed to win Cuihua’s affection, and now it seemed she was drawn to this pretty boy. The thought gnawed at him.

“Cuihua, tell me honestly. Have you already taken up with him?” Li Pillar pressed, moving closer in agitation.

Zhao Cuihua bit her lip and turned away. She wanted to admit her feelings for Lu Hao, but after glancing at his face, she decided to keep quiet. Lu Hao was still unmarried, one of the few college graduates in the village. If rumors of a relationship spread, it would surely affect his prospects. She couldn’t ruin his life or future.

“Li Pillar, what nonsense are you talking about? I don’t understand you. Just take your wife and leave. Stop pestering me. Your wife already suspects you. You’re a married man—there’s no possibility between us,” Zhao Cuihua replied politely, voicing her truest feelings.

Since becoming a widow, the only man who had ever opened her heart was Lu Hao.

“Cuihua, you really have taken up with him. You don’t lie—I know you. Why? Why him?” Li Pillar’s eyes reddened, his fists clenching, veins bulging, hair bristling. The notion of Cuihua being with Lu Hao mattered far more to him than his own wife being struck; it was a direct assault on his nerves.

Now, Li Pillar had lost control—his reason gone, his emotions wild. “Why! Why would you rather sleep with this pretty boy than me? Is it because I can’t satisfy you? I’m stronger, more capable than him! Why won’t you choose me?”

“Zhao Cuihua, I’ve watched over you for years, only to see you sleep with another man—a pretty boy, no less. Damn it, I want to kill you!” he raged, as if Cuihua belonged to him.

Lu Hao regarded Li Pillar carefully, reading the violent temperament in his features. Once swept up in emotion, he was uncontrollable—dangerous.

To think Sister Cuihua had managed to fend him off for years was no small feat.

“Li Pillar! Stop this nonsense. Take your wife and go home. If you insult Sister Cuihua again, I won’t be so polite,” Lu Hao declared coldly, issuing an ultimatum.

Infuriated, Li Pillar pointed at Zhao Cuihua’s bed. “You two are planning to sleep together tonight, aren’t you? Let me tell you, Zhao Cuihua—any woman I, Li Tiezhu, can’t have, no one else will. I’d rather destroy you!”

In a frenzy, Li Pillar drew a butcher’s knife from his belt and lunged at Lu Hao and Zhao Cuihua.

“He’s trying to kill us!” Zhao Cuihua screamed in terror, never imagining such violence could happen to her.

Li Tiezhu roared like a madman, the blade now at Lu Hao’s abdomen.

“Enough!” Lu Hao barked, and in an instant, a silver needle shot from his hand.

With a metallic ring, the needle struck the butcher’s knife in Li Tiezhu’s hand.

“You dare to kill?” Lu Hao’s eyes flashed with menace, and another needle flew from his hand, striking Li Tiezhu’s shoulder and lower abdomen.

Employing the same technique he’d used earlier against Zhou Run, Lu Hao rendered Li Tiezhu temporarily paralyzed—unable to move.

Li Tiezhu collapsed, limp.

Lu Hao hurried to support Zhao Cuihua. “Sister Cuihua, are you alright?”

Clearly shaken, Zhao Cuihua clung to Lu Hao, trembling with fear. “He tried to kill us! What do we do?”

“Don’t worry, he’s under my control now. In a while, we’ll hand him over to the police, along with this weapon,” Lu Hao said, glancing at the knife on the floor and retrieving the audio evidence he’d recorded earlier.