As Madam Jiang's birthday approached, she fell ill with an old ailment, leaving her in poor health.
The birthday banquet had been in preparation for months, with esteemed guests from various sects already arriving. It couldn't simply be canceled, and holding a grand celebration also carried the hope of bringing good fortune to dispel the illness.
The banquet was set for tomorrow evening, and the birthday hostess would need to make an appearance to greet the guests. The family's medical practitioner prescribed some elixirs to help Madam Jiang regain her vitality.
However, the elixirs had side effects, and taking them would likely make her sleep restlessly that night.
Jiang Qiaoqiao sat by her mother's bedside, lost in thought as she reflected on her encounter earlier that day with the chef, Jin San.
The figure and demeanor of that "Brother Jin" gradually overlapped with the memory of her senior brother, Shen Jizhi.
As a rare wind-attribute spiritual root cultivator, Jiang Qiaoqiao's instincts were sharper than most.
What were Shen Jizhi and the others doing, disguising themselves as Jin San and sneaking into her home?
As she pondered, a servant's hushed voice came from outside the courtyard: "Greetings, City Lord."
Jiang Qiaoqiao quickly snapped out of her thoughts, tucked the blanket around her mother, and stepped out of the room. She saw her father's imposing figure striding through the night and hurried over to greet him. "Father! You're back. Is your work finished?"
Seeing his beloved daughter, Jiang Wei smiled warmly and waved for the servants to withdraw. "Almost done. How is your mother?"
"She still wakes up occasionally, but she's sleeping more soundly now than before," Jiang Qiaoqiao replied, taking her father's arm. "Father, you must take care of your health too."
"I'm fine," Jiang Wei patted his daughter's hand as they walked up the stone steps to the house. "By the way, Qiaoqiao, Jing Chi mentioned that you'll be leaving in three days to explore a secret realm?"
Jiang Qiaoqiao nodded. "Yes, Father. I've made arrangements with some senior brothers and sisters. They'll arrive tomorrow afternoon to attend Mother's birthday banquet."
"Good. Make sure to treat them well and don't neglect them," Jiang Wei said, his eyes flickering subtly toward the room. A faint shadow lurked in the depths of his hawk-like gaze.
He hesitated before adding, "Qiaoqiao, your mother's illness stems from the complications she had when she gave birth to you..."
Jiang Qiaoqiao was taken aback and lowered her head, whispering, "I know, Father."
"These past few years, you've been away at the Jade Purity Sect learning swordsmanship, often not returning home. Your mother hasn't been well for months, but she didn't want to trouble you with it, fearing it would disrupt your cultivation." Father and daughter paused outside the door, and Jiang Wei sighed softly, his tone earnest. "Qiaoqiao, I'm still here to support the Jiang family. There's no need for you to rush your cultivation. Spend more time with your mother. At least wait until she's feeling better before you leave, alright?"
Hearing this, Jiang Qiaoqiao was overwhelmed with guilt.
The image of her mother's pale face flashed before her eyes, and her own eyes reddened as she choked back tears. "Father, I understand. I've been unfilial..."
"No, my Qiaoqiao is wonderful. The Jiang family will rely on you in the future," Jiang Wei reassured her. "I didn't mean anything else by it. It's late now, so go rest. I'll take care of your mother."
Jiang Qiaoqiao nodded firmly, curtsied to her father, and returned to her own courtyard.
Sitting on the edge of her bed, she wiped the corners of her slightly red eyes and gazed out at the sky, her brows furrowed with worry.
No matter what Shen Jizhi and the others were planning, her mother's birthday banquet tomorrow evening must not be disrupted.
Yet, deep down, Jiang Qiaoqiao didn't want her family to find out about this, nor did she want... anything to happen to Shen Jizhi.
After all, Shen Jizhi had once saved her life.
After a moment of hesitation, Jiang Qiaoqiao decided to act. She carefully avoided the guards her father had stationed to protect her and stealthily made her way to the guest quarters.
She intended to persuade Shen Jizhi and the others to leave before dawn.
This was the best solution for everyone.
In the guest courtyard, the atmosphere in the room, which had been warm and intimate just moments ago, was now tense.
The girl's face was still flushed, but her eyes burned with anger as she glared at Shen Jizhi. "Shen Jizhi!"
After their earlier escapades by the cabinet and the mirror, Shen Jizhi had carried her to the bed to clean up.
As a seventh-level Golden Core cultivator, Jian Huan's body wasn't easily exhausted, but perhaps due to trying Ran Mu'er's dual cultivation techniques, she felt unusually weak and listless.
This state of affairs was unacceptable.
Jian Huan ate some spirit fruits she had brought to recover her energy, but as she circulated her dantian, she noticed something unusual.
Amidst the flourishing, blossoming imagery of her Golden Core, a small, five-colored frost flower rested on a green leaf, faintly radiating Shen Jizhi's aura...
No wonder she had found the dual cultivation techniques so challenging.
Shen Jizhi crouched by the bed, one hand holding Jian Huan's ankle and the other clutching her embroidered shoe.
A dense, throbbing pain spread from his dantian throughout his body. His frame trembled slightly, and beads of sweat formed on his forehead, dampening his black hair.
He swallowed hard, glancing at her with a hint of guilt, his lips moving hesitantly. "This... was a rather unorthodox technique devised by a disciple of the Harmony Union Sect to please their partner. During dual cultivation, they imprint their partner's Golden Core. Through this mark, you can always sense where I am. If we get separated in the depths of the abandoned well, you'll be able to find me..."
Jian Huan closed her eyes and touched the five-colored frost flower again.
Shen Jizhi couldn't hold on any longer. The embroidered shoe fell to the ground with a soft clatter, and he slumped to the floor, his face pale and unable to speak for a moment.
Jian Huan released the flower and stared at him. "Shen Jizhi, do you think I'm a child?"
With just a slight movement of the flower, he was in this state. If she destroyed it, he'd be meeting the King of Hell in no time.
What this mark was really for, she could easily guess.
Shen Jizhi exhaled slowly and looked up, his eyes reflecting the girl's furious expression. He smiled faintly and said softly, "Jian Huan, we both know this is the best way."
If nothing went wrong, the mark would be harmless.
If something did go wrong, it would be invaluable.
Jian Huan remained silent, her lips pressed tightly together as she thought of his fate in the original story. Tears welled up in her eyes.
She understood his reasoning.
If she were the one with the demonic origin stone inside her, she would likely make the same choice.
But how could he so easily place his life entirely in her hands...
Shen Jizhi glanced at her, picked up the embroidered shoe again, and silently slipped it onto her foot.
A tear fell with a soft plop onto the back of his hand.
Shen Jizhi paused, set her foot down, and reached up to wipe the tear from her face.
Jian Huan sniffled and protested, "Your hand just touched my foot, and now you want to touch my face?"
Shen Jizhi: "..."
Shen Jizhi: "Sorry, I forgot in the moment."
Jian Huan snorted and wiped her face herself, muttering, "You were like this earlier too..."
Shen Jizhi, who was meticulously cleaning his hands with a purification spell, raised an eyebrow suggestively and murmured, "Oh? How was I earlier?"
Jian Huan: "..."
Remembering the indecent things he had done that she couldn't bring herself to mention, Jian Huan's face turned red, and she clamped her mouth shut.
She lightly kicked his shoulder, jumped to the ground, and darted toward the window, intending to return to her room.
The sky outside was beginning to lighten as night gave way to dawn.
They weren't exactly "guests," so they weren't housed with the other visitors.
However, as Jin San was a renowned chef from the Nine Provinces and not a servant of the Jiang family, he couldn't stay in the servants' quarters either.
Thus, they had been assigned to this guest courtyard.
Few people of their status were present, so the guest courtyard was sparsely populated.
The surroundings were quiet, but Jian Huan remained cautious, pressing herself against the wall and peeking out with one eye.
Inside the room, Shen Jizhi moved about, using purification spells to erase any traces of their presence, particularly the chair by the mirror.
After thoroughly cleaning it several times, he noticed Jian Huan's gaze and turned to her with a questioning look. "?"
Jian Huan's eyes were filled with alarm as she silently mouthed three words: "Jiang. Qiao. Qiao."
Shen Jizhi's brow furrowed, and he quickly glanced out the window.
In the deep blue twilight, a figure in white robes was swiftly approaching like a gust of wind.
The wind grew stronger, rustling the trees and bushes, their leaves clattering noisily.
Standing on either side of the carved wooden window, Jian Huan and Shen Jizhi exchanged rapid, silent glances.
Jian Huan touched the Hidden Breath Talisman still active in her hair, pointed a finger under the bed, and took out the Xuantian Mirror to compare it with the room opposite. Finally, she clasped her hands under her chin, revealing a radiant smile, and threw a flirtatious glance at Shen Jizhi.
Shen Jizhi pursed his lips and watched quietly.
She had said she would hide under the bed to set up an ambush, notify Ran Mu'er, and then have him... use his charm to achieve certain goals.
Shen Jizhi's mouth twitched slightly.
He wasn’t exactly skilled at using his looks to deal with enemies.
But given the current situation, there was no point arguing with Jian Huan. Shen Jizhi nodded hastily, his mind racing as he recalled everything related to the Jiang family and Jiang Qiaoqiao over the years.
He decided to rely on his wits instead.
Knock, knock, knock. The sound of knocking echoed.
Shen Jizhi, still on the bed, glanced under it and adopted a hoarse voice, feigning drowsiness. "Who is it?"
Jiang Qiaoqiao stood before the wooden door, smoothing her hair and nervously twisting her skirt. "It's me."
'Chef Jin' sounded puzzled. "And you are?"
Jiang Qiaoqiao spoke softly. "We met on the corridor yesterday. I’m Jiang Qiaoqiao."
"Jiang Qiaoqiao?" 'Chef Jin' repeated, as if just realizing who she was. There was a hurried rustling of clothes and the sound of someone getting up. "Please wait a moment, Miss."
After a brief pause, the door creaked open, and 'Chef Jin' appeared at the entrance, looking surprised. "Miss Jiang, what brings you here at this hour? Is there something Madam Jiang needs?"
Jiang Qiaoqiao bit her lip, glanced at Shen Jizhi, and stepped inside without answering. "Let’s talk inside."
'Chef Jin' stood at the door, scanning the empty hallway outside before lowering his gaze and closing the door. He turned back, about to speak, but Jiang Qiaoqiao beat him to it.
"Senior Brother Shen," she said with a bitter smile, "I know it’s you."
At her words, the man's expression, which had been uncharacteristically animated, faded.
The room fell into a tense silence, a faint aura of killing intent swirling in the air.
Outside the window, Ran Mu'er hid in the bushes, releasing a scentless fragrance that silently seeped into the room, attaching itself to Jiang Qiaoqiao's hair, clothes, and embroidered shoes.
Under the bed, Jian Huan lay quietly, her talisman sword at the ready.
She listened intently to the conversation outside, waiting for Shen Jizhi's signal to attack.
Ideally, they could avoid a fight and simply deceive Jiang Qiaoqiao.
Jiang Qiaoqiao was the only daughter of the Jiang family. If the servants noticed her disappearance, the Jiang household would be thrown into chaos, forcing Jian Huan and Shen Jizhi to rush to the dry well before the Jiang family realized something was wrong.
But Jiang Wei of the Jiang residence was no ordinary opponent.
A Nascent Soul cultivator, he could instantly sense if someone intruded into the dry well and arrive to eliminate them.
However, during Madam Jiang's birthday celebration, Jiang Wei would be occupied entertaining guests in the main hall, including sect leaders and elders. He wouldn’t risk leaving abruptly in front of such important figures to investigate the dry well in the demonic forest.
Moreover, Ran Mu'er planned to cause a disturbance at the celebration, which would further distract Jiang Wei, giving Jian Huan and Shen Jizhi a fighting chance.
Jian Huan silently cheered Shen Jizhi on, hoping he could channel the same charm he had used to seduce her back in Ningzhang City.
After a moment of silence, Shen Jizhi asked Jiang Qiaoqiao, "What do you intend to do?"
"Senior Brother Shen, you’re at the Golden Core stage, while I’m at the Nascent Soul stage. You’re no match for me right now," Jiang Qiaoqiao said, her voice growing softer. She looked up at him and continued, "Senior Brother, I don’t want to fight you, and I don’t know why you’ve come to the Jiang family. But now that I know, I can’t just let it go. Tonight is my mother’s birthday celebration, and I can’t let anything happen to it. So—"
"Senior Brother Shen," Jiang Qiaoqiao said solemnly, "you and your two sisters should leave the Jiang residence immediately. Otherwise, I’ll have no choice but to act."
Shen Jizhi remained expressionless. "The three of us won’t be leaving the Jiang residence right now."
Jiang Qiaoqiao pleaded, "Senior Brother Shen..."
"My culinary skills are decent. We’ll ensure your mother’s birthday celebration goes smoothly. We mean no harm to her and won’t disrupt the event," Shen Jizhi said calmly. "Leaving abruptly before the celebration would tarnish the reputation of the Jin chefs. They’ve done me a favor, and I can’t let them down."
Jiang Qiaoqiao was momentarily taken aback, but before she could fully process his words, Shen Jizhi continued, his tone measured. "Also, don’t you want to know why I’ve come to the Jiang family?"
Jiang Qiaoqiao nodded instinctively. "I do, but I doubt you’ll tell me..."
Under the bed, Jian Huan felt a mix of emotions.
Well, Jiang Qiaoqiao had fallen into the trap.
Shen Jizhi might not talk much, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t skilled at it.
He was, in fact, quite adept—whether it was cryptic remarks, straightforward statements, or even flirtatious banter.
In modern terms, he’d be a top-tier talent in the art of psychological warfare.
"But you’ve come to me, haven’t you?" Shen Jizhi, wearing the unremarkable face of Chef Jin, clasped his hands behind his back and began pacing the room. "Three years ago, Jian Huan was severely injured in an attack."
Jiang Qiaoqiao’s gaze followed him, puzzled as to why he was suddenly bringing up Jian Huan’s injury.
"I’ve been investigating this for years," Shen Jizhi stopped and turned, his gaze piercing as he looked at Jiang Qiaoqiao. "I’ve discovered that it was Jing Chi, the head of your family’s guards, who ordered Hu Zhi to carry out the attack." He emphasized the names, his voice dropping to a whisper.
Jiang Qiaoqiao’s face turned pale, and she murmured, "Brother Jing Chi... Hu Zhi..."
She took a few steps back, visibly shaken and guilty.
Shen Jizhi frowned slightly. Jiang Qiaoqiao’s reaction was unexpected, and his eyes darkened. "From the look on your face, it seems you know something about this?"
Jiang Qiaoqiao opened her mouth, her lips trembling, but no words came out.
