Chapter 035
Chapter 35: Sea Pearl
“I once had a fiancé, the former young lord of the Chen family,” Wan Yan Qian said, leaning against the carriage wall, “Chu Zhi Rou seduced him. That wouldn’t have been such a big deal, but that idiot Chu Zhi Rou had to provoke him into humiliating me in public.”
[So that’s how it is.]
No wonder Liu Cui Yu had shut her mouth when Ye He Qi mentioned Eldest Young Master Chen.
That Eldest Young Master Chen had lost his title as young lord because of this incident. And Chu Zhi Rou probably escaped retaliation from the Wan Yan Clan due to becoming the disciple of a respected master.
But from then on, a grudge had formed between Chu Zhi Rou and Wan Yan Qian.
“Four years ago, who knows what kind of dumb luck she had—she became Venerable Xing Lan’s personal disciple,” Wan Yan Qian’s expression chilled a bit. “After that, father wouldn’t let me go too far.”
But then Wan Yan Qian’s eyebrows lifted, showing a delighted look, “But last night, you did me a huge favor!”
Chu Zhi Rou had dared embarrass her in front of others, so she’d ensure Chu Zhi Rou found no medicine for her illness!
An eye for an eye!
Seeing Wan Yan Qian vent her resentment with relief, Shi Zi Chu decided to make her even happier.
“My Sixth Junior Sister is entangled with a betrothed man. Such conduct is inappropriate. I’ll inform Master about this.”
Wan Yan Qian abruptly sat up, staring at Shi Zi Chu with a mix of surprise and joy, “Would Venerable Xing Lan really bother with such matters?”
Shi Zi Chu smiled lightly and immediately took out her communication talisman to contact Xing Lan.
“Jiu Jiu, what’s the matter?”
Only Shi Zi Chu could hear the voice from the talisman, but Wan Yan Qian could guess who it was.
Shi Zi Chu winked at Wan Yan Qian and softened her voice, “Master, do you know about the conflict between Sixth Junior Sister and Eldest Miss Wan Yan?”
“No, I don’t.”
Far away on Rising Succession Peak, Xing Lan put down her wolf-hair brush, “Speak clearly.”
“Eldest Miss Wan Yan once had a fiancé. Sixth Junior Sister she…perhaps Sixth Junior Sister wasn’t aware.”
Listening to Shi Zi Chu’s vague words, Xing Lan instantly understood.
“I’ll have someone look into it. If her conduct is improper, I’ll summon her back to Jade Void Sect immediately for punishment.”
Shi Zi Chu obediently replied, “Then I won’t disturb Master further.”
Watching the talisman dim instantly, Xing Lan helplessly shook her head slightly.
[She tosses it away right after she’s done using it.]
Shi Zi Chu put away the talisman, her eyes curved into a pleasant smile, “Within five days, she’ll return to Jade Void Sect to face punishment.”
Xing Lan was strict with her disciples, and in some aspects, even she was not exempt.
However, Shi Zi Chu knew precisely how to soften Xing Lan’s heart. As long as it wasn’t a serious violation, Xing Lan would usually turn a blind eye.
Wan Yan Qian rejoiced but was also deep in thought.
[It seems I’ve underestimated how much Shi Zi Chu means to Venerable Xing Lan.]
[I’ll have Father investigate it further later.]
After a short while, the carriage stopped in front of a jewelry shop.
Looking at Shi Zi Chu’s gentle smile, Wan Yan Qian finally understood why some people spent fortunes just to make beauties smile.
If Shi Zi Chu hadn’t stopped her, she’d probably have bought even more.
Leaving the jewelry store, a subtly luxurious carriage blocked their path.
The curtain lifted, and Jun Yue Hua’s young and handsome face appeared. He directly looked at Shi Zi Chu, greeting simply, “Daoist Shi.”
Wan Yan Qian knew at once that their outing was over for today.
She turned to Shi Zi Chu, “Let’s exchange our contacts. It’ll be easier to meet up in the future.”
Shi Zi Chu nodded.
Their communication talismans touched briefly, exchanging information. Wan Yan Qian nodded politely toward Jun Yue Hua, then left.
“Young lady, this way please,” a guard respectfully said.
Shi Zi Chu stepped onto the stool, entered the carriage, and took her seat.
Seeing Jun Yue Hua reading a document, Shi Zi Chu did not disturb him and instead quietly adjusted her skirt.
As she moved, the tassels of her crescent moon hairpins tinkled faintly.
Jun Yue Hua closed the document and saw Shi Zi Chu gracefully smoothing her sleeves.
His cold voice softened, losing its usual sternness, “It’s nearly lunchtime. Why don’t we eat first, then visit the manor?”
Shi Zi Chu lifted her gaze to meet his eyes, deep and cool like still waters, a bit surprised yet smiling softly, “Clan Chief Jun is personally accompanying me to inspect the manor?”
“I happened to have free time,” Jun Yue Hua answered, reaching for the food box at his side and laying several delicate dishes on the table.
“Pastries from Jade Dew Pavilion. Daoist Shi, please try them.”
Seeing Jun Yue Hua’s gentle and friendly manner, Shi Zi Chu smiled lightly, took up chopsticks, and tasted the food.
Compared to yesterday’s snacks, today’s pastries were even more delicate and delicious.
After swallowing, Shi Zi Chu gave her evaluation, “They’re wonderful.”
Amidst casual conversation, they soon arrived at the restaurant.
Once they finished lunch, Jun Yue Hua accompanied Shi Zi Chu to the manor.
The newly built manor had no signs of prior occupancy, satisfying Shi Zi Chu greatly.
It took an hour to tour the entire estate.
At the entrance, Shi Zi Chu said to Jun Yue Hua, “I am very pleased with the manor. Many thanks, Clan Chief Jun.”
Jun Yue Hua nodded slightly, “Then I’ll see you next time.”
“See you next time.”
Watching his low-profile yet luxurious carriage depart, Shi Zi Chu was about to go back inside when another carriage approached.
It looked familiar, resembling Ye He Qi’s.
Shortly afterward, the carriage stopped at the gate, and Ye He Qi stepped down.
Meeting Shi Zi Chu’s gentle smile, he climbed the steps leisurely, saying as he approached, “Aren’t you going to invite me in for a stroll?”
Shi Zi Chu replied softly with a faint smile, “Can I close the doors to visitors?”
Ye He Qi pretended disappointment, his voice suitably downcast, “Then I suppose I’ll have to head back home.”
Shi Zi Chu raised a hand invitingly, crossed the threshold, and entered.
Ye He Qi slowly followed behind her.
After wandering for a bit, Ye He Qi’s gentle voice drifted warmly, “Are you planning a banquet to celebrate moving in?”
Shi Zi Chu immediately shook her head without hesitation.
If she held a banquet, she’d have to invite Master, and Jiang Wan Sheng couldn’t be excluded either.
If those two met, the one who’d suffer would definitely be her.
But even without a banquet, those two would inevitably come. She would have to carefully arrange their visits to avoid any trouble.
“If there won’t be a banquet, then let me present my gift now.” Ye He Qi took out an elegant box carved from rosewood and handed it over.
After Shi Zi Chu accepted the box, Ye He Qi smiled, “Now that you’ve accepted my gift, why not honor me with dinner to celebrate your new home?”
Shi Zi Chu weighed the box in her hands, smiling as she teased, “Clan Chief Ye, are you trying to buy me off?”
“Hmm…” Ye He Qi appeared to ponder seriously as he examined her, “I think I could fetch a high price.”
Facing his teasing, Shi Zi Chu opened the box. Inside lay a fist-sized, luminous, water-blue pearl.
A Sea Pearl.
It was the dream of every cultivator with a water spiritual root, capable of cleansing impurities and purifying spiritual energy, greatly boosting cultivation speed.
A Sea Pearl fetched billions of spirit stones at auction, yet was rarely available at any price.
The last Sea Pearl appeared decades ago.
“This is so precious!” Shi Zi Chu looked up at Ye He Qi, “Clan Chief Ye, are you truly intending to sell me off?”
Indeed, the Ye Clan, one of the seven great clans, was impressively wealthy!
“I wouldn’t dare,” Ye He Qi chuckled lightly.
Noticing Shi Zi Chu’s exaggerated look of unease, he teased gently, “You could act a little more convincingly nervous.”
Her innate confidence revealed everything.
“Next time,” Shi Zi Chu said, closing the box and placing it into her spatial storage ring.
Xue Gu caught the box, swiftly taking the Sea Pearl away to study it.
Shi Zi Chu leisurely showed Ye He Qi around the manor until dusk approached, then left to enjoy dinner together.