The mountains and forests swayed, causing the grass and trees to shake and shed leaves. Because of this significant movement, it startled the birds in the forest. Their chirping echoed between the heavens and the earth like a symphony.


    Eventually, pping their wings and flying away, they fluttered, causing leaves to fall from the sky, spiraling down from midair.


    In a dense thicket, there was a faint figure constantly moving back and forth. She allowed thorns to tear her clothes, hands, and cheeks, leaving behind tiny scratches.


    Run!


    This was the only thought in Alisha’s mind.


    Soon, she arrived near thergest square in the vige, hiding behind a house. She peeked out to survey the surroundings. Since it was daytime, there were quite a few people in the square. Elderly people basking in the sun, men sitting on the steps ying with crickets, women squatting by the ditch washing clothes…


    If she dashed out now, it would undoubtedly announce to everyone that a fugitive was on the loose, and she would be that fugitive. It might even bring danger to her fellow sisters. Thinking of this, Alisha had to abandon the idea of rushing to steal the car now.


    Observing her surroundings, she found that only the roof could provide cover. So, with a few quick movements, she climbed onto the roof of a bamboo building and covered herself with the thatch on top.


    Eyes watching outside, she waited for the best time.


    —


    In just half a day, there were significant changes in the vige. First, Howard and Captain Camren fought over a woman; then Howard betrayed the vige chief and was thrown into the punishment room. These two incidents were enough to serve as cautionary tales for the vigers.


    At this moment, everyone gathered together, discussing fervently.


    “Why is Howard so foolish, giving up such a promising future for a woman?”


    “Yeah, he was the most likely candidate to be the next vige chief.”Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Previously, everyone was very afraid of Howard, but they had to admit that he was the toughest fighter in the vige.


    “The most unfortunate one is Captain Camren. His tendons and bones were all broken by Howard. Even if he recovers, he’ll be useless.”


    “Losing two talented individuals, the vige chief must be the most troubled person. I wonder who will take over their tasks in the future?”


    “Tonight at the ritual site, the vige chief will probably rmend the newest candidate. My son Frank has the best chance of taking over the captain’s position.”


    “Who said that? My son Porter is also not bad.”


    The two argued over whose son had a better chance of bing the militia team leader.


    Just then, because they waited for Frank, Porter, and others to bring the “goods” for exchange for too long, the people couldn’t help but go and check for themselves.


    The militia team mobilized once again.


    The sight of the vast procession made everyone panic. Thest time such a situation urred was over twenty years ago.


    “What’s going on? Has something happened in the vige again?”


    “Who knows, but it looks dangerous outside. I’d rather go home and stay safe.”


    Because of this incident, many people left the square.


    From dawn to dusk, when thest person finally left the square, Alisha easily leaped down from the roof. In the dark moonlight, she stealthily approached the car, keeping her body low.


    Suddenly, the bright mes illuminated, and the sound of vigorous footsteps came from afar. She looked up and saw two groups of people in ceremonial attire holding torches walking from the other two entrances of the square.


    The firelight illuminated the darkness, and the red mes swayed in the wind, resembling a dance.


    After the two sides met in the middle of the square and exchanged their weapons, one group left while the other continued patrolling with torches and weapons in hand.


    From their well-trained reactions, it seemed that these people were not simple vigers.


    What kind of secret did this small vige hide?


    Sensing that the footsteps of those people were getting closer and closer, Alisha slipped awaypletely.


    She could see pairs of feet in front of her, illuminated by the firelight, casting shadows on the ground. The shadows perfectly concealed her presence. The vignt militia members deliberately nced at the vehicles, noticing nothing unusual before turning away.


    When the footsteps faded away and the surroundings gradually grew quiet, Alisha crawled out from under the car. Her face was smeared with gasoline, looking dirty andical. However, she couldn’t care less about that issue. She hurriedly used the keys to unlock the cars and turned on themunication devices inside.


    “Beep beep…”


    The signal in the mountains was poor. It took her a long time to tune in, hearing only static on the other end.


    “The patrol team is about to arrive, please answer.”


    “Beep beep…”


    Alisha still needed to rush back to the temple to save people. If she dyed, what would happen to Cheche and the others?


    In her extreme impatience, themunication device finally responded. A muffled voice came from the other end.


    “Hello…”


    “Number 0187 Reports, I am currently in Mountmend, requesting support…”


    The vige chief’s house.


    The sky was dim, but the room was brightly lit as if it were daytime.


    Sitting facing the mirror, a woman gracefully painted her eyebrows with a brow pencil, her movements elegant.


    In the mirror reflected a face full of exotic charm yet extremely enchanting. Kiara was the protagonist tonight, so she had to dress up meticulously.


    She specially put on a brand new embroidered silver dress, with red and blue camellias embroidered on the cor and cuffs. She wore a pleated skirt below, with a waistband embroidered with eerie and terrifying entwined snake patterns.


    Her hair was styled into a high bun, adorned with silver pins andbs, with aplex patterned silver hairpin on the sideburns, the headpiece very heavy.


    After dressing herself up, Kiara put on thest silver ring and approached the man lying on the bed with light steps.


    The many on the bed with his eyes closed, his clothes already changed into traditional male attire. Nheless, his face was still handsome enough to please Kiara’s eyes. She gently touched the man’s eyebrows with her slender fingers, smiling brightly.


    “Mr. Foley, after tonight, you will be mine, hahaha.”


    “Love begins with fate, and fate follows love. Entangled by fate and love, there is never an end.”


    Just as Kiara was fantasizing about her future with Kelvin, a knocking at the door interrupted her thoughts.


    “Who is it?”


    She looked up and saw a young boy wearing thin clothes.


    The boy appeared to be about five or six years old, with delicate features.


    “Mom, something happened. Grandpa wants you to go find her.”


    Kiara realized that this was her child. He was her eldest son born to her and her ex-husband, but unfortunately… this child was born weak and couldn’t practice magic.


    How could the child of a witch be useless?


    So she abandoned the child at the temple, leaving him to fend for himself. She had never expected him to survive so stubbornly.


    “It’s you. What’s your name again?”


    Since her ex-husband’s death, she had had too many men around her, so she had given birth to many children. Except for Aden, who had the purest bloodline, she had sent all the others away. Seeing her eldest son now, Kiara suddenly remembered that she had more than just Aden as her child.


    “Yes, I have had three sons and two daughters over the years. What are their names again?”


    “Maybe I never got around to giving you names.”


    The little boy looked at his beautiful and noble mother under the light, his eyes revealing a longing for maternal love. He knew that this was his biological mother, even though she had never cared for him for a day.


    “I’m Rowan Shaffer.”


    “This name was given by father.”


    Rowan remembered his father as a very gentle and kind man. He was very affectionate towards his mother, and he was very fond of him. Before his younger brother was born, his father would always hold him to read and write together.


    But one day his father fell seriously ill, bleeding from his seven orifices. Before he died, he held his hand and said:


    “Don’t… me your mother after I die… she’s your only family.”


    Yes.


    His father was killed by his mother.


    At the age of three, Rowan saw his mother put a ck snake all over his father’s room. That night, his father fell ill, and he didn’t make it to the doctor before he died in bed.


    And at that time, his mother was still being intimate with another man.


    Rowan hated her for abandoning himself and his father like this.


    But he always remembered the days when they were a family of three.


    Father would treat vigers, mother would catch medicine, and he would eat fruits picked from the mountainside.


    But all this beauty came to an end that night.


    After his father died, he was also sent to the deste and dpidated temple. Several times he wanted toe back, back to her side. But he was always driven away when he reached the door.


    Even Grandpa didn’t like him. Except for the asional bits of food, he couldn’t see the two of them at all.


    Perhaps Kiara had never noticed the little boy.


    He always watched her take his youngest brother around to y with envy.


    While Aden enjoyed his mother’s love, he was mercilessly abandoned by his rtives in the broken temple.


    Rowan wished that his father hadn’t died, and that nothing had changed.


    “Your name is Rowan? This name isn’t good. How can a useless waste like you deserve such a good name?”


    “From today on, Rowan will be Aden’s real name, and you… you dirty thing, just call yourself Dirty Thing, hahaha.”


    Kiaraughed wildly.


    Not only did she take away Rowan’s father, but now she even wanted to take away his name.


    Rowan felt a pang of sadness in his heart. He followed his father’sst words and regarded her as his only family.


    But in his mother’s eyes, he was never her son.


    Under the firelight, the boy’s eyes were filled with despair and sadness, and also-


    Hatred!


    Unfathomable hatred!


    After capturing his true emotions, Kiara didn’t hesitate to p him.


    “What’s wrong? Aren’t you satisfied with the name I gave you?”


    Her p was quite strong, and a five-finger mark soon appeared on Rowan’s fair face.


    He didn’t feel any pain, because he had been numb to it.


    “Thank you, Mom, for giving me this name… I’m… very satisfied with it!”