Chapter 4: Discovering the Dimensional Bracelet, Recognizing a Master by Blood

Jiang’s father nodded solemnly. “As soon as that boy from the Lu family came to propose, our daughter had that dream. Even if it wasn’t some divine warning, it’s still not a good omen. I say, from now on, we’d better stay away from Lu Yaozu.”

Jiang’s mother was still shaken and nodded repeatedly.

She thought to herself, no wonder their usually kind and gentle daughter had acted so coldly toward Lu Yaozu today—there really was a reason behind it.

Jiang Xiaoci cried for a while but quickly calmed herself. She couldn’t just drown in sorrow; there were more important things to do.

“Dad, Mom, regardless of whether the things in my dream are true or not, we must prepare early. What if Lu Yaozu really intends to frame us and secretly reports us? What would we do then?”

At the mention of this, Father and Jiang’s mother exchanged a troubled and helpless look.

If someone were to report them for being capitalist sympathizers, they had no real way to prevent being sent down to the countryside. The truth was, this idea had never even crossed their minds before their daughter mentioned it.

Their ancestors had indeed run a business and had saved up some money over the years, but to say they were actual capitalists would be an exaggeration.

However, with the recent crackdown on capitalist tendencies, if someone reported them and officials came to confiscate their property and found a substantial amount of wealth, the consequences would be dire. They’d be labeled, stripped of their belongings, and exiled.

To keep a low profile, their house wasn’t extravagant—just cleaner and more orderly than most in the compound. The only possible giveaway was that they couldn’t bear to let their daughter suffer.

So their meals always had meat, and Jiang Xiaoci had new clothes every season.

Compared to many families struggling with hunger and cold, their conditions were indeed far better—perhaps too good. That might’ve led Lu Yaozu to believe they lived a bourgeois lifestyle and given him the idea to report them.

Jiang’s mother, not as composed as her husband, grew worried and anxious. “Xiaoci, we were originally planning to help you get a job. You’re eighteen and just graduated high school. But if we get reported, even if you have a job, you’ll be sent to the countryside with us. What should we do?”

They couldn’t just sit and wait for that day to come without trying to find work. She habitually looked to her husband, hoping for his opinion.

But Jiang’s father’s expression was grim. He hadn’t thought of a better solution either. He could only sigh heavily. “Don’t panic. This can’t be rushed. We need to think carefully and make long-term plans.”

Jiang’s mother was a little disappointed, but she had no better ideas either.

Seeing her daughter’s tear-streaked face, she gently wiped her cheeks and pulled her into a tight embrace. “No matter what happens, your father and I are old already. We can bear the suffering—but you mustn’t suffer with us.”

Jiang’s father nodded firmly. He and his wife were of one mind: regardless of what would or wouldn’t happen, they had to find a way to protect their daughter.

Jiang Xiaoci was deeply touched—and equally sorrowful.

In her past life, her parents had only ever thought about what was best for her, but she had done nothing in return.

This time, she would not passively wait. She would change her fate—and protect her parents while she was at it!

Having lived two lives, she didn’t believe she couldn’t fight back against fate—or against Lu Yaozu.

Leaning into her mother’s warm embrace, Jiang Xiaoci earnestly recalled all the details related to this matter from her previous life.

She remembered that after Lu Yaozu reported them, officials soon came to search their home. Upon discovering their wealth, they concluded that her family was part of the capitalist class.

Her expression grew cold. She had to deal with the family assets. Only by managing them properly could they avoid giving others any excuse to act against them.

Those possessions were the fruit of her ancestors’ lifelong hard work. Even though everything would eventually be passed down to her, she would never allow anyone to smear them, confiscate their belongings, and let others profit from it.

Then, she suddenly remembered what Bai Miaomiao had said before her death in her past life—about the space.

She immediately asked, “Mom, don’t you have a pair of antique jade bracelets?”

Jiang’s mother was surprised by the sudden question but replied, “Yes, why do you ask?”

That pair of bracelets had been passed down through the family and were part of her dowry. She barely remembered their origin.

Jiang Xiaoci grew anxious. “Mom, take them out and let me see. Those bracelets are no ordinary items. I found out in my dream—they hold a mysterious power!”

Upon hearing that, Jiang’s mother got up immediately. “Alright, I’ll go get them now.”

She had always kept those bracelets safe.

Soon, she returned from the bedroom carrying a camphorwood box. The three of them gathered around it, opened the box, and moved aside some miscellaneous items. At the very bottom was a beautifully carved wooden case.

Jiang Xiaoci’s eyes lit up. She quickly opened the case—and inside lay a pair of blood-red jade bracelets.

She picked one up with curiosity. Its texture was warm and smooth, and it seemed to emit a strange, compelling energy.

Without hesitation, Jiang Xiaoci grabbed a small knife and cut her finger.

A drop of crimson blood fell onto the bracelet.

She moved so quickly that her parents didn’t have time to stop her. To their shock, the blood was instantly absorbed into the bracelet—as if pulled in by an invisible force—and disappeared without a trace.

The three of them stood frozen in place, too stunned to speak.

“The bracelet… it absorbed the blood?” Jiang’s mother gasped in horror.

Jiang’s father stared at it wide-eyed, blinking several times as if he’d seen an illusion.

“This… this is too strange!”

Even Jiang Xiaoci herself was surprised.

It felt completely different to see it for herself than to merely hear about it in her dream.

She quickly explained, “Dad, Mom, don’t worry—it’s not absorbing blood like a cursed item. This is a blood recognition ritual—it’s acknowledging me as its master!”

Father and Jiang’s mother looked at each other. After hearing her explanation, they relaxed slightly and began to understand this pair of jade bracelets was no ordinary heirloom.

The old couple was both excited and a little nervous, though more than anything, they were confused.

They looked at the bracelet, then at their daughter. Just what kind of magical powers did this bracelet have?

They also realized that since the moment Jiang Xiaoci spoke of her dream, their once-spoiled daughter seemed to have matured rapidly—as if she had become the very pillar of their household.

And she was only eighteen, fresh out of high school.

In these times, getting into high school wasn’t easy, and having a diploma made her quite valuable.

Father and Jiang’s mother were filled with both pride and sorrow—pride that their daughter had grown up, and sorrow that the dream had frightened her into this transformation.

Jiang Xiaoci didn’t know the complicated emotions her parents were experiencing. She was still focused on the bracelet, thinking of how to access the space inside it.

After it absorbed her blood, the bracelet glowed red, then began to emit a faint light.

Before she could examine it closely, the light engulfed all three of them.

In the next instant, they were no longer at home—but inside the mysterious space.

Once they recovered from the shock, they realized they were in a completely unfamiliar yet magical world.

What lay before them was unlike anything in the real world.

Father and Jiang’s mother held their daughter’s hands on either side, instinctively protective.

Jiang Xiaoci held their hands tightly too, just as astonished.

All three stared wide-eyed at the surreal space.

There was a beautiful Western-style villa, a plot of farmland, and even a small pasture nearby with chickens and ducks freely roaming.

The birds clucked and quacked as they pecked at the ground—so realistic and yet so surreal.

Jiang’s mother gasped, “Xiaoci… this isn’t a dream, is it?”

Jiang’s father scanned the area in awe. “This… could this be the dwelling of a god?”

Who else but a deity could hide such a world inside a bracelet?