Chapter 960: I Can’t Possibly Be Her!

“I just felt a huge surge of power hit me. When I woke up, the Treasure Pavilion was already in this state. Miss Yue was hanging by the edge of that hole over there. She almost fell from it.” While giving her recount, Ye Wenxin observed for any reaction from Han Shanxue. But Han Shanxue was as cold and quiet as ever, showing nothing unusual.

Recalling how Long Qingyue deliberately pretended to faint, Ye Wenxin had to admire her foresight. Long Qingyue said Han Shanxue had broken free of her control halfway through, and because of her low cultivation, she only appeared after the seals were all gone.

So, Han Shanxue saw Gu Qingcheng instead of Ye Wenxin. Long Qingyue had even slightly adjusted her memories, catering to Ye Wenxin’s questionable fondness for role-playing. As long as Ye Wenxin intentionally guided things, the one in trouble would only be the peach blossom demon impersonating Immortal Lord Taohua.

As for Fairy Zhuling, Han Shanxue should be able to kill her, given her wounded state. But Ye Wenxin wasn’t concerned about all that right now. She wanted to know more about Han Shanxue’s enmity toward Immortal Lord Taohua and Fairy Zhuling.

“This looks like the aftermath of a battle between masters,” someone said. “But only a handful of people within the Golden Age Dynasty can fight at that level.”

Fear lingered among those present. Qian Duoduo and Sister Hong looked with vacant eyes at the Treasure Pavilion, now gone. The barrier from earlier had blocked everyone from witnessing the battle. Now, the authorities, Secret Guards, and various factions had mobilized to launch a thorough investigation.

Ye Wenxin was starting to regret things. Had she known how troublesome the authorities and Secret Guards would be, she would have followed Long Qingyue’s lead and pretended to stay unconscious instead of forcing herself to endure the nightmare of endless questioning.

Ye Wenxin’s nerves remained taut throughout. Even worse, she had to display various emotions to avoid having her poor acting give her away.

Several hours passed, and Long Qingyue was still asleep. Ye Wenxin couldn’t muster any energy after the questioning. As a cover, she started searching through the ruins for Ghost Mother.

Han Shanxue had been staying at her side the whole time. She appeared concerned, but to Ye Wenxin, it felt more like surveillance. Han Shanxue possessed the luck of a female lead and didn’t lack in intelligence. She probably would have killed Ye Wenxin and Long Qingyue if they hadn’t tricked her earlier.

Dealing with female leads was extremely troublesome. They were impossible to kill and only grew stronger with each fight. Ye Wenxin couldn’t afford to make a move against one unless her luck had severely diminished.

“Chouchou! Where did you go?!” Ye Wenxin called. She wasn’t the only one. Sister Hong, the storyteller, and Fei Chai were searching as well.

Meanwhile, Long Qingyue lay peacefully in place, feigning sleep. Ye Wenxin felt exasperated. She squatted down, searching for any sign of Ghost Mother amidst the rubble.

“Miss Ye, perhaps Miss Gu has already left.” Seeing Ye Wenxin so crestfallen, Han Shanxue spoke to comfort her for the first time.

Ye Wenxin immediately put on an emotional expression. “No! She promised to stay with me forever!”

Inwardly, however, she realized maybe Han Shanxue had offered her those comforting words, thinking the Gu Qingcheng she killed was Ghost Mother.

Earlier, Han Shanxue’s hesitation to take a person’s life showed kindness. Also, thanks to Long Qingyue’s cheat, she figured Ghost Mother for Gu Qingcheng, the Immortal Lord Taohua she so hated.

“Perhaps she isn’t as simple as you think,” Han Shanxue added, then squatted beside her.

Ye Wenxin looked anguished and indignant. She considered taking the chance to hug Han Shanxue and feel her frosty aura, but thought better of it. Yet surprisingly, Han Shanxue held her hand, opened her palm, and placed a piece of jadeite on it.

Ye Wenxin remembered this item was called the Heart Jade. It seemed to be the Phoenix Feather Robe’s true form and could control emotions. Even Long Qingyue had trouble keeping her feelings in check because of it. She found it hard to believe Han Shanxue would hand it to her just like that.

Han Shanxue focused on Ye Wenxin’s palm. Icy fingertips touched her briefly before pulling away, but the jadeite remained in her hand.

“Miss Han, what is this?” Ye Wenxin looked at the jadeite, puzzled and a bit uneasy.

“Hold it. Relax your body and mind,” Han Shanxue instructed. Looking at that cold visage, Ye Wenxin eventually followed her instructions.

She felt all her negative emotions disappear when she relaxed, almost as if the Heart Jade had absorbed every trace. Ye Wenxin didn’t hide the astonishment on her face.

Han Shanxue took the jadeite back.

“Thank you, Miss Han. I suddenly feel much better.” Knowing the gesture was likely well-intentioned, Ye Wenxin became more convinced that Immortal Lord Taohua had once wronged the pitiful Han Shanxue. Either she or someone dear to her had gotten hurt, causing Han Shanxue to hold a grudge so deep that even after a thousand years, she couldn’t let go. So, she seized a new body to seek justice.

Ye Wenxin’s image of Han Shanxue improved. Someone whose luck had taken the form of a pure golden qilin would harbor a kind heart despite having seen the ups and downs of the human world.

Han Shanxue wouldn’t have killed the illusion clone if it weren’t for the misunderstanding.

Thanks to the Heart Jade, the now-calm Ye Wenxin resumed her search for Ghost Mother. Of course, Ghost Mother was still inside the umbrella sword. Since she had been injured and Han Shanxue was suspicious of her, Ye Wenxin planned to let Ghost Mother hide there for a few more days while she milked more sympathy from Han Shanxue.

“Grandmaster, please rest. The Madam will be fine,” urged Priest Wang.

“He’s right, Celestial Master Ye,” Sister Hong said. “You haven’t eaten for a whole day.”

Ye Wenxin had also spent an entire day there to maintain her persona. Long Qingyue had already gotten up but casually found an excuse to leave so she could investigate everything related to Han Shanxue and Immortal Lord Taohua.

Ye Wenxin continued stalling for time, expressing her longing and love for Ghost Mother, which made Han Shanxue feel even more guilty. She stayed by Ye Wenxin’s side for several days straight.

When Long Qingyue reappeared after finishing her investigation, Ye Wenxin finally coaxed Han Shanxue away, giving her privacy to talk to Long Qingyue.