Earlier, Du Hangwu had been knocked unconscious by the lightning, but he finally came to. He groggily stumbled from the backyard to the front courtyard, just in time to be startled by a series of thunderclaps and flashes of lightning, which drenched him in cold sweat. As his memory began to return, he realized what he had been doing before he passed out.

His heart pounded rapidly… It had to be divine intervention! The Lu family was definitely under the protection of a deity, no doubt about it!

Looking at the mass of people kneeling from the courtyard all the way to the front gates, Du Hangwu swallowed nervously. The other day, when the deity had struck with a bolt of lightning, each strike had killed someone.

Remembering that he had been spying from the shadows today, fear coursed through him. His body went weak, and he nearly wet himself. With a thud, he also knelt before the altar along with the servants and common folk, mumbling prayers:

“Oh great deity, I’ve sinned many times before, but I’ve come to my senses today. Please, spare me and don’t hold a grudge against a humble servant like me…”

---

Meanwhile, inside the house, the two bodyguards gripped their swords, too afraid to move forward but also too terrified to retreat. Every thunderclap felt like it was flaying their skin, torturing them with fear.

One of them trembled so violently, from his hands to his legs, that he looked like he was about to cry. “I told them the Lu family had divine protection, but Lord Yu didn’t believe it. Now we’re all going to die together!”

“And I haven’t even gotten married yet! All the silver I hid under the latrine—I should’ve spent it yesterday! Now I’m going to die without even getting to enjoy it!”

Gu Xingzhao almost lost her composure. Wait, what?!

Are you serious? You hid your silver under the latrine?

Just imagining the scene made her feel like she could smell it. Unable to hold back any longer, she waved her hand, sending a bolt of lightning through the roof that knocked the servant unconscious.

Yu Heng, lying on the bed, his pupils dilating in fear, tried to get up but collapsed to the floor, his legs too weak to support him. He clung to the bedclothes, his gaze fixed on the servant who had just been struck by lightning. His voice trembled with disbelief, “How is this possible… How?!”

This kind of supernatural nonsense can’t be real!

With a loud clang, the other servant dropped his sword. He scrambled on all fours towards Lu Qing and his grandson, kowtowing furiously and wailing, “Please, great deity, spare me! I was only following orders! Please, have mercy!”

Lu Xingyao’s eyes widened in shock, marveling at the ease with which the deity had struck down the servant. Killing someone seemed as effortless as crushing an ant.

Lu Qing was equally astonished.

Gu Xingzhao’s casual display of power had stunned everyone in the room into silence.

She was baffled. What? All I did was knock someone out. Why are they all so terrified?

Thunder continued to rumble overhead, threatening to strike again at any moment.

The remaining servant clung desperately to Lu Qing’s robes, as if he were holding onto a lifeline. He sobbed and begged for his life. “Lord Lu, please plead for me! I don’t want to die! I have an eighty-year-old mother and young children at home. Please, spare me!”

The sound of his desperate kowtowing echoed through the room.

Gu Xingzhao finally realized what was going on. They thought she had just killed someone with her lightning bolts.

Lu Qing kept his face stern, unwilling to speak on their behalf. They offended the ancestor—this fate is their own doing.

Lu Xingyao, on the other hand, was both shocked and awed. What power! I wonder how the ancestor attained such abilities… Could I perhaps become her disciple?

The thought of wielding such divine power made him tremble with excitement.

Gu Xingzhao was speechless. We’ve been living together for over half a month now. Do I really seem that ruthless to you?

I’m a modern, civilized person. I don’t even step on ants when I walk! How did I suddenly get a reputation for killing people with lightning?

Feeling unfairly misunderstood, she waved her hand again, and another thunderclap resounded as the remaining servant, who had already wet himself in fear, was knocked out cold.

Yu Heng, seeing his personal guards struck down one after another, went rigid with fear. His body went numb, and he could only extend a trembling hand toward Lu Qing. “Master…”

But Lu Qing turned away, unwilling to look at the disciple who had broken his heart.

Lu Qing had taught many of the emperor’s princes and princesses, and he had long since learned to recognize their natures from a young age. He had seen first-hand the ruthless and underhanded methods used in the fight for the throne.

Prince Su, once a promising contender for the throne, had lost his chance after being scarred in an assassination attempt. While he had avoided the deadly political struggles of the capital, he had not given up his ambitions, instead amassing power in the southern regions and surrounding the capital with his spies.

Many elder officials who advised caution against Prince Su had died under suspicious circumstances.

The emperor may be cruel and incompetent, but Prince Su is no better.

Gu Xingzhao, seeing that Lu Qing was clear-headed enough not to plead for Yu Heng’s life, felt relieved. Before this, she had worried that Lu Qing might ask her to spare him.

Now, it seemed that Lu Qing was truly a wise man, capable of seeing the bigger picture. He wouldn’t switch sides just because the emperor was heartless. He wouldn’t ally himself with someone as treacherous as Prince Su.

Feeling pleased, Gu Xingzhao raised her hand and gave Yu Heng a merciful end.

Another thunderclap rumbled as Yu Heng convulsed in terror. His eyes rolled back, and he fainted.

Lu Qing, his heart heavy with grief, raised his sleeve to wipe away his tears. No matter how much this disciple had disappointed him, he had once nurtured him with care, treating him like his own son. How could he not feel heartache?

Gu Xingzhao glanced around the room and asked the system, “Can I take anything from here?”

[Yes, host. Since there is an altar in the estate, items here can be taken, but a tax will be applied.]

Fearing the system might change its mind, Gu Xingzhao immediately grabbed a few valuable-looking items.

Meanwhile, Lu Qing pulled a blanket from the bed and covered Yu Heng’s unconscious body. With a sigh, his voice hoarse and weak, he murmured, “Consider this my last act of kindness toward you. I hope in your next life, you’ll be a good person and stay far away from treacherous people like Prince Su…”

As he spoke, he wiped away more tears.

The atmosphere was somber. Lu Xingyao walked over to pat his grandfather on the back, offering comfort. But all he could feel was how much older his grandfather seemed, as if he had aged ten years in an instant.

Gu Xingzhao, her arms full of loot, wondered if she should leave a note behind. After all, I did spend quite a bit of money saving them. A little payment would be fair, right?

She didn’t dare touch the offerings outside, but the items in this room seemed just fine, and they could be useful to Lu Qing and his family.

She turned to share her thoughts with the old man, only to find him mourning over his unconscious disciple.

“???”

“What are you doing? He’s not even dead!”

They had even covered his head. All that was missing was a coffin.

Hearing this, Lu Qing froze, his hand halting mid-air. “Not… dead?”

Lu Xingyao also froze, then quickly rushed over to check on the two servants who had been struck by lightning. Sure enough, they were still breathing.

His face lit up as if he had discovered something extraordinary. “Grandfather! They’re still alive!”

Lu Qing’s emotions were complex as he silently uncovered part of the blanket, revealing Yu Heng’s face. “The ancestors are merciful… I hope when you wake, you’ll live a good life and stay away from people like Prince Su.”

Lu Xingyao couldn’t help but wonder, Did the ancestor’s magic fail today? Earlier, she didn’t kill Du Hangwu, and now she’s left these three alive too…

Gu Xingzhao was speechless.

Thunder rumbled overhead. She was seriously tempted to zap this kid a couple of times just to teach him a lesson.