Chapter 277: Su Tao Is Just a Small Innkeeper
Deng Zixuan clenched her fists, remembering the bite wound on her face.
That damn dog bit her so hard that she’d definitely have a scar on her forehead!
Once they arrived in Xindu, if she couldn’t find an ability user to heal her, she wouldn’t let those people off the hook.
She bit her lip and asked Wei Xiang, “Who were the people in that RV?”
Wei Xiang immediately understood—the mother and daughter were blaming Su Tao for Deng Chengye’s death.
His spirits lifted as he fanned the flames and exaggerated,
“It was a woman, the owner of a small inn, named Su Tao. She must have ordered everyone not to save Boss Deng—otherwise, no one would have dared to just stand by and watch him die.”
Deng Zixuan was shocked, “A woman? And just an innkeeper? Then who was the man that got out of the RV?”
Shi Zijin’s presence was too striking. It was the kind of aura that came from years of bloodshed, carrying an undeniable air of danger.
And yet… his face was refined and elegant?
Deng Zixuan thought he looked even better than her brother-in-law—the kind of man who turned heads wherever he went.
If he hadn’t set that dog on her…
She bit her lip again, completely unable to believe that a man like him would be just a lackey for a small-time innkeeper.
His position was probably similar to Wei Xiang and the others—a glorified guard dog.
Wei Xiang thought Shi Zijin looked familiar but couldn’t place him. Still, to fuel the Deng family’s hatred for Su Tao, he didn’t mind telling a little lie:
“He’s probably just a bodyguard. Su Tao is really just a small-time transit station owner, her place is barely 1,000 square meters, and she’s only been open for three or four months. The reason I had issues with them was because Su Tao thought I had some skills and wanted to keep me working for her—but I refused and left with my men.”
Fang Yan wiped her tears and said bitterly,
“You did the right thing. What future is there in some rundown inn? And that Su Tao is too petty and cruel—she refused to save my husband just because of some grudge. How is she any different from those raiders? She’s got blood on her hands—how does she even sleep at night?!”
Wei Xiang played along,
“A woman like her? She wouldn’t feel guilty at all. Back then, to make us submit, she even shot one of our companions dead, just to make an example of us. Good thing I led my brothers out of there—otherwise, who knows how she would’ve tortured us!”
Now, Fang Yan and Deng Zixuan were completely convinced that Su Tao was a vicious and ruthless old woman.
Yet, someone like her could still attend the Alliance Summit?
Once they arrived in Xindu and met President Zhuo, they had to expose her true colors and make Zhuo Ercheng kick them all out of Xindu.
Meanwhile, Su Tao didn’t interfere when Xu Qi gave his supplies to Tang Le and the others.
Once she distributed the supplies to everyone, how they used them was their own business—she couldn’t be bothered to care.
At night, Lin Fangzhi prepared the next day’s supply packs, but Xu Qi refused to take his.
Everyone tried to convince him, but he shook his head and refused. Then, he apologized to Su Tao, saying that from now on, he wouldn’t take his daily supply share anymore.
He knew that giving away the boss’s supplies without permission was wrong.
But at that moment, he had to do it.
He had worked with Tang Le for seven or eight years, and no matter what, they had some brotherhood.
Besides, Tang Le had helped him before. This supply pack was his way of cutting off their past ties.
Lin Fangzhi, holding Xu Qi’s supply pack, was not happy.
Su Tao specifically told him to make sure Xu Qi took it, but Xu Qi stubbornly refused.
To Lin Fangzhi, this was affecting his ability to carry out Su Tao’s orders.
If he couldn’t handle even this simple task, Su Tao would be disappointed.
“You. Are you taking it or not?”
Lin Fangzhi’s usually beautiful face turned serious, making him look imposing and difficult to refuse.
Xu Qi was at a loss for words.
Lin Fangzhi threw the supply pack onto him and glared,
“You. Must. Take. It.”
For a second, Xu Qi felt like if he refused again, this kid might actually beat him up.
Normally, Little Lin was cold and indifferent, barely looking at anyone except Su Tao. But when he got angry… he was actually a little scary.
Xu Qi instinctively caught the supply pack.
Seeing him accept it, Lin Fangzhi’s expression softened slightly. He even gave him some advice:
“Listen to her. Don’t question right or wrong.”
Xu Qi was stunned.
Was he really getting lectured by a kid who wasn’t even twenty?
He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but in the end, he politely thanked him.
Lin Fangzhi ignored him and walked away.
Xu Qi looked down at the supply pack in his hands and sighed deeply. No matter what, Su Tao really did take care of them.
After Su Tao sang a lullaby to put Mu An’an to sleep, she could feel Qu Jingwen’s consciousness fading further.
At the same time, she realized that her ability, “Manipulate,” only had three days left before it expired.
She felt a little reluctant—it was too useful.
Even when she wasn’t consciously using it, people who heard her voice became more patient, more trusting… even mesmerized by it.
Even Shi Zijin was affected.
Of course, it was also possible that he just trusted her completely.
That’s why, right now, she didn’t dare talk to him.
Instead, she nudged him with her toe and handed him a still-warm savory pancake.
This was something Master Qin had prepared before they left.
Lin Fangzhi’s spatial ability had a section enhanced with Ding Heyu’s “Stasis Hourglass”, so any freshly cooked food placed inside stayed as if it had just come out of the oven.
Perfect for when she wanted a hot meal.
Shi Zijin raised an eyebrow at her and deliberately tried to make her speak.
“What’s this?”
Su Tao, always stingy with words, replied, “A pancake.”
“What kind? Where’s it from? Why is it still warm? Aren’t you eating?”
Su Tao rolled her eyes and slapped the pancake into his hand.
“Too many questions. Eat it or don’t.”
She didn’t have many of these left, but he had been driving all day and making calls about Dongyang at night, never resting.
She thought he was working too hard, so she reluctantly gave him one of her favorite foods.
Shi Zijin, seeing her annoyed expression, smiled slightly and stopped teasing her.
He slowly unwrapped the pancake and ate it gracefully.
Outside the RV, the wind howled, loud yet bringing only waves of heat.
In the pitch-black night, a crow streaked across the sky.
No one noticed.
On the RV’s roof, Black Sesame suddenly stood up, its sharp eyes locking onto the distant crow.
