Chapter 018
Chapter 18: Delivered to the Old Madam
One month later.
Several elders of the Ye Clan were already waiting outside. The death toll among the disciples entering the secret realm was alarmingly high. They urgently needed to report this to the Clan Chief and inquire about what had transpired within the secret realm.
Moments later, disciples from the Water Mirror Sect appeared on the open ground, slowly making their way out. Ye He Qi and Shi Zi Chu emerged together. Both were covered in blood, and their spirits seemed drained.
“Clan Chief!”
“Clan Chief, are you injured?”
The elders rushed forward, their concern evident.
Shi Zi Chu took a few steps back, exchanged a glance with Ye He Qi from a distance, then turned to leave.
Traveling with someone of her ‘kind’ had been utterly exhausting! Not only did she have to guard against the dangers within the secret realm, but also constantly be on the lookout for traps laid by her ‘kind.’
Back at her residence, Shi Zi Chu’s first task was to bathe and change clothes.
Once she was done, the communication talisman by her side had been glowing for an unknown period of time. She injected spiritual power into it and retrieved a spirit pill from her storage ring to undo the suppression of her cultivation, swallowing it down.
“You’re out?” A cold voice, as chilling as a glacier, emanated from the talisman.
Shi Zi Chu answered with a soft hum before calling out, “Master.”
Xing Lan responded with a brief “Hmm,” then asked, “When will you return?”
Recalling her agreement with Ye He Qi, Shi Zi Chu’s voice softened as she coquettishly replied, “It’s rare for disciple to come to Supreme Virtue City. I want to stay and play for a little longer before returning.”
“Be careful,” Xing Lan advised, “Don’t forget your body tempering.”
Shi Zi Chu obediently responded, and when the talisman didn’t dim, she began recounting her experience in the secret realm. Of course, she left out some details, only mentioning what she could openly discuss.
“Knock, knock, knock.”
The sound of knocking interrupted their conversation. Shi Zi Chu’s displeasure flashed briefly in her eyes.
“Someone’s here. I’ll speak to you later, Master.” She spoke softly.
Xing Lan responded with a hum.
Shi Zi Chu tucked away the talisman and walked to the door. Upon opening it, she was met with an arrogant face.
She took two steps back and looked at the maid standing before her. “What’s the matter, young lady?”
The maid was one of the trusted attendants of the Ye Clan’s Old Madam, her cultivation at the late stage of Foundation Establishment.
Hong Ye had been sent on orders and, feeling protective of her young miss, her attitude was far from pleasant. However, when Shi Zi Chu appeared at the door, her beauty was so striking that it made Hong Ye falter for a moment.
Dressed in the azure robes of Rising Succession Peak, Shi Zi Chu’s graceful figure was outlined perfectly. Her flawless features seemed like a masterpiece crafted by the heavens themselves. Her mesmerizing peach blossom eyes shimmered like stars, her red lips gently curving in a soft, dignified smile. Everything about her radiated nobility and quiet pride.
Regaining her composure, Hong Ye looked at Shi Zi Chu with growing jealousy. Then, with a disdainful sneer, she spoke in a harsh tone, “Shi Zi Chu, my Old Madam wants to see you!”
Old Madam? That must be Ye He Qi and Chu Zhi Rou’s mother?
Shi Zi Chu acted as if she didn’t notice Hong Ye’s attitude and smiled warmly. “Come in.”
Hong Ye stepped forward, impatience written all over her face. “You—”
Shi Zi Chu flicked her hand, glancing at her reddened palm, her brow furrowing slightly at how delicate her skin had become.
Hong Ye’s cheek stung from the slap, and her anger flared. She gathered her spiritual energy, preparing to attack.
“Uh—”
Before Shi Zi Chu could even make a move, a guard who had rushed to the scene swiftly killed Hong Ye with a thrust of his sword.
Shi Zi Chu took two quick steps back to avoid the splatter of blood staining her new hundred-fold skirt.
The guard sheathed his sword and bowed respectfully to Shi Zi Chu. “Daoist Shi, do not be afraid. I will report this to the Clan Chief.”
These guards were specifically assigned by Ye He Qi to protect Shi Zi Chu, ensuring that no harm came to her while she was in Ye Clan territory.
Shi Zi Chu glanced at her palm, which had turned red, her brows furrowing with a hint of sadness.
“What’s wrong?”
A man in a dark blue embroidered robe walked in from the courtyard, his gaze lingering on the body for a brief moment before turning to Shi Zi Chu.
Shi Zi Chu was still gazing at her palm, displeased yet slightly pained.
The two guards quickly knelt before Ye He Qi, summarizing the situation in brief.
Noticing Shi Zi Chu’s distressed expression as she examined her hand, Ye He Qi approached her, his tone gentle as he repeated, “What’s wrong?”
“My hand hurts.” Shi Zi Chu lowered her hand and looked up at Ye He Qi. “Was it you, Clan Chief Ye, who sent her in?”
Ye He Qi immediately understood which person she was referring to. He shook his head.
Shi Zi Chu chose to trust that Ye He Qi was telling the truth.
If it wasn’t Ye He Qi who allowed Yu Wen Ying into the Floating Flower Secret Realm, then who was it?
“Take her to the Old Madam.” Ye He Qi’s voice was calm but firm, tinged with an authority that brooked no argument.
The two guards nodded and hurriedly carried Hong Ye’s body away.
Ye He Qi handed Shi Zi Chu a handkerchief, about to invite her to meet the Old Madam, when another guard hurried over.
The guard bowed respectfully and reported, “Clan Chief, Young Miss has returned!”
Chu Zhi Rou was back?
It seemed that her punishment was over, and she had returned to report. But whether Xu Zhou Ye and the others had been released remained uncertain. After nearly two months, they should be freed by now.
Shi Zi Chu wiped her palm slowly with the handkerchief, the shadows cast by her lashes darkening her gaze.
Ye He Qi gestured for the guard to step down before turning to Shi Zi Chu. “Let’s go.”
At Cui An Hall.
Liu Cui Yu, the Old Madam, looked at the two who had entered. A fake smile remained on her graceful face.
“Old Madam, I am deeply sorry. I do not know why this maid suddenly attacked me. The guard had no choice but to strike her down,” Shi Zi Chu said, her smile serene as she apologized.
Inside the luxurious room, Hong Ye’s lifeless body lay to the side, the stench of blood mixing with the incense smoke. Shi Zi Chu pulled her sleeve over her nose to block the smell.
Liu Cui Yu watched as Shi Zi Chu covered her nose, and the smile on her face began to crack. The glint of sharp calculation in her eyes quickly turned to coldness.
Who didn’t know that Hong Ye was her person? Shi Zi Chu had the audacity to kill her and send her body back—was this not a slap in Liu Cui Yu’s face?
This woman was truly treacherous, cruel, and vicious!
Ye He Qi sat down in a chair nearby, his usual warm tone now carrying a note of detachment. “As Daoist Shi said, it was necessary.”
Liu Cui Yu shifted her gaze to her son, who appeared distant and aloof, her lips curling into a bitter smile. She suppressed her rising fury, forcing a fake smile as she said, “It’s just a servant. She got in Daoist Shi’s way and deserved to die.”
“After all, it was due to me that she died. I can’t help but feel a little uneasy,” Shi Zi Chu murmured, her eyes lowering in apparent remorse. She then walked up to Liu Cui Yu.
“Clink, clink, clink.”
A few spirit stones dropped from Shi Zi Chu’s hand, their clear sound ringing out on the wooden table.
Ye He Qi leaned back in his chair, looking on with detached amusement.
Over the past month, his understanding of Shi Zi Chu had been continuously reshaped. He hoped the Old Madam wouldn’t be so furious that she lost her temper—it wasn’t as though she had the ability to overturn the table.
Shi Zi Chu dropped a few spirit stones onto the table and then looked up at Liu Cui Yu with a playful smile, her eyes filled with mischief. “These spirit stones should serve as an apology to the Old Madam.”
No need to ask why only a few spirit stones had been thrown—ask and she’d tell you it was because she was stingy.
Liu Cui Yu stared at the less than ten spirit stones on the table. Her cheek twitched in fury. The smile on her face faded, and her expression darkened with hatred as she glared at Shi Zi Chu.
Shi Zi Chu, sitting beside Ye He Qi, met Liu Cui Yu’s darkened gaze with a smile that was as bold and provocative as it was unapologetic.
Liu Cui Yu gritted her teeth, her hatred for Shi Zi Chu growing by the second.
This little wretch had the gall to challenge her!
She would make her pay!