Chapter 112
Chapter 112: What If I Say I’m Not Happy?
Shi Zi Chu tilted her head and leaned against Xing Lan’s shoulder, her mischievous hand resting lightly on his back, gently tapping his spine in rhythm.
Xing Lan couldn’t help but laugh. “What are you doing?”
“I’m trying to cheer up my master~” The warmth in her voice was like sweet, sugary candy, a playful tone that softened the air.
“Has master cheered up yet?”
Xing Lan chuckled softly. “What if I say I’m not happy?”
“Well, then I’ll keep cheering you up until you are,” she replied, her tone unwavering and serious, without hesitation.
Xing Lan reached up and patted her head gently. “Alright, go rest now.”
“Together. I’ve missed you, master.” Shi Zi Chu straightened up, her eyes filled with a soft sorrow as she gazed at him. “Master, you haven’t coaxed me to sleep in a long time!”
Xing Lan gave her a gentle tap on the back, his voice carrying a hint of helplessness. “So spoiled.”
His mind drifted back to the times when he had comforted her to sleep. It had been so long, yet the memories resurfaced clearly.
When he had first brought Jiu Jiu to Rising Succession Peak, she had been plagued by nightmares every night, too frightened to sleep. He would sit by her bed, reciting cultivation techniques to calm her. Later, when his duties at Rising Succession Peak kept him occupied, he hung the Huanchu Bell by her bedside, hoping it would help soothe her to sleep.
But now, reflecting on it, those nightmares seemed to warrant more questions.
“Master is the best, master~” Shi Zi Chu’s voice softened, dripping with affection as she tried to achieve her goal.
Xing Lan rose and walked toward the bed.
Once standing at its side, he spoke. “Come down.”
Shi Zi Chu obediently climbed down.
After more playful antics, she finally relaxed into his arms, lying on the bed as he began recounting stories of his youthful trials.
The next morning.
Before dawn, Xing Lan gently pulled Shi Zi Chu from her warm blankets.
In the courtyard, Xing Lan sat to the side, his gaze focused as Shi Zi Chu performed her morning exercises with diligent precision.
Two golden rings, etched with swirling grass patterns, rested on her wrists and ankles. They were perfectly weighted, far more efficient for body tempering than the old iron bags.
As her morning exercises came to a close, Jiang Wan Sheng appeared.
He gave a brief greeting to Xing Lan before turning to Shi Zi Chu. “I’ve brought breakfast.”
Shi Zi Chu nodded and cast a quick glance at Xing Lan.
Not seeing any sign of discomfort from him, she turned to Jiang Wan Sheng and asked, “Any progress on the investigation?”
“My father visited the City Lord’s manor.” Jiang Wan Sheng walked over and placed the food container on the table. “He’s currently at the main hill, discussing matters with the elders.”
Shi Zi Chu sat down on a nearby stool. “And the blood gu?”
Jiang Wan Sheng handed her the chopsticks. “There’s no progress on the blood gu. The maid only mentioned she was ordered to assassinate your mother, but she knows nothing of the blood gu.”
Shi Zi Chu took the chopsticks and, while eating, sank into deep thought.
“After the massacre of the Gu Master clans, Gu Masters have nearly become extinct. Acquiring a blood gu is no simple task,” Xing Lan spoke, his voice cold.
Shi Zi Chu bit down on the chopsticks, her expression deepening as she thought further.
Xing Lan raised his hand, signaling for Jiang Wan Sheng to sit.
Jiang Wan Sheng settled on a nearby stool. “As Venerable Xing Lan said, raising a blood gu requires not only great expense but also advanced skill in the Gu arts.”
Shi Zi Chu picked up a small bun, swallowing it in one bite before chewing thoughtfully.
“Though many Gu Masters are hidden within the cultivation world, they are all mediocre. The only ones truly skilled in Gu techniques are Madam Jiang and Young Master Jiang.”
Shi Zi Chu raised her eyes to look at Xing Lan. After swallowing her food, she asked, “Is this information reliable?”
Xing Lan nodded.
Shi Zi Chu’s gaze drifted upward to the deep blue sky.
In the storyline, Jiang Wan Sheng, who later became the Clan Chief of the Jiang family, was a madman.
The female villain system had once said, “This madman can’t even conquer the female lead.”
Thus, to allow the female lead an opportunity to redeem herself and seduce Jiang Wan Sheng, the plot had Aunt Lin perish in three different ways, with Uncle Jiang dying in the process.
Only then could it explain why Aunt Lin had failed to detect the blood gu inside her.
Shi Zi Chu turned her gaze back, looking at Jiang Wan Sheng with a touch of sympathy in her eyes.
Suddenly, as if sensing her gaze, Jiang Wan Sheng looked at her, confused.
A low, cold voice rang out, “Have you thought of something?”
At his words, Xing Lan waved his hand, conjuring a sound-isolating barrier.
Shi Zi Chu pointed at herself. “Master, do you remember when I was soul-possessed?”
Xing Lan nodded, his eyes darkening with an ominous chill.
Jiu Jiu’s soul possession had been caused by Chu Zhi Rou.
Yet he did not know when exactly Jiu Jiu had been possessed.
The fact that she had been possessed so quietly, without him noticing, was something even a tribulation-crossing expert would struggle to achieve. Whoever had possessed her was no ordinary being.
If this had been the cause, it would explain why Madam Jiang had failed to detect the blood gu within.
After a brief moment of contemplation, Xing Lan spoke. “Is this related to Chu Zhi Rou?”
Jiang Wan Sheng narrowed his eyes but did not immediately speak.
Shi Zi Chu nodded slightly, then shook her head.
She couldn’t speak of the plot, but it was clear that Xing Lan had figured out a great deal.
“Does she have the ability to obtain the blood gu?” Jiang Wan Sheng voiced his doubts.
Not to exaggerate, but even Ye He Qi might struggle to acquire a blood gu. He didn’t believe Chu Zhi Rou had the means to do so.
Shi Zi Chu took a sip of porridge before responding, “I’m not sure.”
A flicker of killing intent flashed in Jiang Wan Sheng’s eyes. “Qing Qing, can I go and kill her? Right now?”
He had thought it over long enough; why not just end it quickly?
As for whether it was the wrong person, he didn’t care. Better to kill the wrong one than leave a potential threat alive.
“…” Shi Zi Chu tugged the corner of her lips into a soft smile, replying firmly, “No.”
At this, Jiang Wan Sheng’s expression darkened, his confusion clear.
Why not?
She was hardly important. Killing her would be no trouble at all.
Xing Lan’s voice cut through the silence. “Chu Zhi Rou holds a secret.”
A dangerous glint appeared in Jiang Wan Sheng’s eyes.
In his mind, once the secret was pried out, he would just kill her—simple and efficient.
“Sheng Sheng~” Shi Zi Chu suddenly softened her tone.
The sudden coquettishness took Jiang Wan Sheng by surprise.
He glanced at Xing Lan, whose cold expression remained unreadable, and then realized something was amiss.
Seeing the wary look in Jiang Wan Sheng’s eyes, Shi Zi Chu’s tone grew even sweeter. “Why don’t you try to seduce Chu Zhi Rou for me?”
Jiang Wan Sheng: ?
He must have heard wrong.
Xing Lan’s calm expression, however, with just a touch of amusement, hinted at something more.
There were only two reasons for Jiu Jiu to suddenly act so affectionately: either she had done something wrong, or she was preparing to do something.
“Sheng Sheng~”
Jiang Wan Sheng burst out laughing. “You’re really generous!”
Shi Zi Chu blinked innocently, her eyes wide and sweet.
“Not possible,” Jiang Wan Sheng immediately rejected, his tone final. Ignoring Shi Zi Chu’s pitiful expression, he added, “No way. Absolutely not!”
With Qing Qing’s temper, if he got dirty, she would throw him away immediately.
Such self-sacrificing acts were simply not worth it.
Shi Zi Chu gazed at him with sorrow in her eyes. “Really? Not even a little?”
Jiang Wan Sheng turned his head away, his resolve unshaken.
After a long pause, seeing that he would not budge, Shi Zi Chu sighed and said, “Alright then.”
Jiang Wan Sheng snorted.
At that moment, Lin Qing Yu appeared at the door.
She bowed slightly to Xing Lan. “Venerable Xing Lan.”
Xing Lan gestured for her to enter.
“Aunt Lin.” Shi Zi Chu put down her chopsticks and walked over, ready to assist Lin Qing Yu, but she was suddenly handed a baby.
?
Shi Zi Chu looked down at the sleeping infant in her arms, then raised her gaze to Lin Qing Yu.
Was this for real?
Seeing her stunned, rigid expression, Jiang Wan Sheng couldn’t hold back a laugh.
“Aunt Lin.” Shi Zi Chu looked at Lin Qing Yu, her face a picture of deep grievance.
She really didn’t like children!