Chapter 23

Jiu Fang Zhanghua’s long gaze slightly narrowed. Amid the crackling sounds of fireworks outside the window, he silently listened to the words of the young man across from him.

“…The body of the Seventeen has already been transported back to Meicen for burial. I examined it carefully through the communication formation. The flesh and blood are filled with stone powder. The person is skilled in refining Qi, but someone so adept at refining Qi from stone should not be of noble family origins.”

Even a poor student who couldn’t afford jade or emeralds would use cheaper agate or jasper.

The purer the jade, the easier it is to refine Qi, and the higher the purity of the Qi.

The fact that the person couldn’t even afford these materials and had to use common white marble or even crushed stones as mediums suggested they were likely from a lower social class, even beneath the common folk.

If they were truly just ordinary commoners, even a highly gifted cultivator in the Eighth Realm wouldn’t be something to fear.

The power of celestial families—could it be opposed by an individual?

“Is my cousin suspecting something?”

Jiu Fang Xinglan carefully studied Jiu Fang Zhanghua’s expression and reassured him:

“Don’t worry about it. Even outside the family, this child has always been arrogant and domineering, making many enemies. It is normal that someone took advantage of the chaos in Taiping City to strike. It’s just his bad luck that he ended up caught in the conflict between the demons of Luming Mountain and the Nine Underworld Demons.”

The demons of Luming Mountain were just a cover for the assassination of Yinshan Qi—few knew the details of this.

For most people, Yinshan Qi and the Jiu Fang family’s Seventeen Young Master were simply unfortunate casualties caught in the internal strife between demons.

The rising steam from the tea blurred the long eyelashes, and in his dark, glossy pupils, the tea’s rippling surface was reflected.

Jiu Fang Zhanghua said, “Yinshan Qi’s body wasn’t sent back to the Immortal Capital, Yujing.”

“There’s no body. It’s said that the young master, when cornered, panicked and leaped down a cliff full of demons. His family’s men in Taiping City only managed to recover a few scraps of his clothing,” the young man remarked with a tsk, as though he wanted to gossip with Jiu Fang Zhanghua about whether Yinshan Ze had argued with Nangong Jing over this matter—after all, Yinshan Qi had initially been sent to Taiping City as a punishment by Nangong Jing, yet they had suddenly found a corner of powder-pink fabric.

Jiu Fang Xinglan stopped speaking and, with a sweet, innocent smile, said:

“Ah, Sister Yan Ning has arrived.”

The attentive young man immediately stood up and, as he passed by Tan Ning, winked at her and complimented the jade hairpin flower she was wearing, saying it was very unique and beautiful.

Tan Ning looked at him with a ghostly expression on her face.

She hadn’t forgotten a few years ago, when Jiufang Xinglan had stirred up trouble at the Lingyong Academy to isolate and ostracize her sister in order to please her.

How come it seemed like he had forgotten all about it?

“—Were you involved in the assassination of my uncle?”

As soon as she sat down, Tan Ning went straight to the point with that question.

Jiufang Zhanghua, his face calm, did not show the slightest ripple in his expression from her words. The young man, elegant and composed, quietly gazed into Tan Ning’s eyes.

His serene, composed gaze instantly diminished the pressure in Tan Ning’s stance.

“If the Jiufang family really planned the assassination of Yin Shanqi,” his voice was clear and distant, warm like water, “in terms of sentiment, my relationship with Yin Shan’s master-apprentice bond isn’t enough for my father to trust that I wouldn’t leak secrets. Logically, such a major matter would usually be entrusted to my third brother or fourth sister to handle, not me.”

Upon hearing his words, Tan Ning’s previously guarded gaze froze for a moment.

She was momentarily filled with anger and almost forgot.

Although Jiufang Zhanghua was the eldest son of the Jiufang family, he had been marginalized due to his inability to practice the family’s martial arts and was not valued by the Jiufang family’s head.

That was why he had been picked up by Yin Shanze and taken into the Yin Shan family to be personally trained.

Even if the Jiufang family had been involved in the plot, he likely… wasn’t aware of it.

“How did you get hurt on your hand?”

Tan Ning came back to her senses and saw Jiufang Zhanghua’s long lashes lowered as his gaze fell on the joints of her right hand.

“Earlier…” Tan Ning pulled her hand back into her sleeve, mumbling a bit reluctantly, “I had a contest with Zhongli Lingzhao in archery. I missed the target and accidentally hurt my hand.”

The young man opposite her let out a soft laugh, the sound gentle like rippling water.

He took out some medicine from his pouch and extended his hand toward Tan Ning.

“Would you mind if I applied the medicine for you?”

Tan Ning’s face immediately flushed.

His cool fingertips gently wrapped around Tan Ning’s hand, the silk of the bandage winding around her fingers, tightening her heart ever so slightly.

Tan Ning discreetly examined his face.

His delicate, calm features, his emotions veiled in a mist, made it hard to gauge his true thoughts.

Even in the Jiufang family, he must be suspected by his relatives of being too close to the Yin Shan family.

Caught between two families, his position was awkward, and it seemed he couldn’t fully integrate into either side.

… Just like her, being Yin Shan’s adopted daughter.

“Zhongli Lingzhao’s archery skills, few in the entire Lingyong would dare to compete with him. You’re quite bold.”

He spoke as though casually chatting. Hearing this, Tan Ning’s thoughts shifted, and her mood became complex.

“Who said that? You… didn’t you once surpass Liu Yu for something she wanted?”

Upon hearing Liu Yu’s name, Tan Ning saw Jiufang Zhanghua’s hand freeze for a moment. The subtle, ambiguous atmosphere between them immediately dissipated.

An expected reaction.

Tan Ning’s heart tightened, and she turned her head to glance at the stage where Zhongli Lingzhao was sitting. She met his gaze, and his cold, sculpted beauty stood out in the crowd, his indifferent eyes showing no emotion.

Tan Ning’s expression stiffened.

“This hand seems to be slightly bruised too… Should I apply some medicine here as well?”

Jiufang Zhanghua looked at the faint red mark on her white wrist, then raised his eyes to glance at her without saying much. He obediently took out a small jar of ointment and applied it for her.

Tan Ning smiled, her eyes locking with Zhongli Lingzhao through the window.

But the next moment, her smile faded.

She saw one of Zhongli Lingzhao’s followers writing a note, crumpling it up, and seemingly preparing to throw it onto the Moonlight Appraisal stage.

The Moonlight Appraisal, hosted by the Ji family, took place on the first day of each month near the Yujing Yanque Gate. It was an event where contemporary figures, including poets and artists, were praised or criticized.

Though the Ji family wasn’t a compound surname, they had produced court officials for generations and were trusted by the imperial family. The current head of the Ji family, Ji Yu, was also the palace official of the Lingyong Academy.

Being praised by a distinguished family could make an unknown person famous overnight, or elevate the value of a known person by a hundred times.

However, the name written on the paper by Zhongli Lingzhao and others was—Yin Shan Liu Yu.

Tan Ning immediately stood up.

Jiufang Zhanghua was somewhat surprised and followed her gaze outside.

“What’s wrong?”

“She wrote Liu Yu’s name and is about to throw it onto the Moonlight Appraisal stage!”

Upon hearing this, Jiufang Zhanghua furrowed his brows.

Tonight’s Lantern Festival was crowded with people, and if someone from the Ji family spoke out on the stage, it would quickly spread throughout the empire.

The two quickly rushed out, and Tan Ning reached out to grab the crumpled paper, but it was dodged.

“Zhongli Lingzhao, are you so jealous of Liu Yu that you’ve gone crazy!”

Zhongli Lingzhao met her gaze and smiled coldly.

“Don’t project your feelings onto others. Don’t you know who’s more jealous of her between the two of us?”

Tan Ning was stunned and for a moment couldn’t find the words to respond.

Jiufang Zhanghua didn’t speak to Zhongli Lingzhao but turned to look at the red-clad woman following him.

“You can throw that paper onto the Moonlight Appraisal stage, but you’d better be prepared for the wrath of the Yin Shan family.”

The red-clad woman immediately froze, nervously glancing at Zhongli Lingzhao’s back.

Zhongli Lingzhao, staring at the young man in front of him, spoke calmly.

“Let Tan Ning walk farther away. This paper will still be in my hands.”

Tan Ning’s eyes widened. “You—”

“Ni Ni,” Jiufang Zhanghua spoke softly, “Don’t worry, I won’t let her damage the reputation of the Yin Shan family.”

“…”

Tan Ning glared fiercely at Zhongli Lingzhao before finally walking away.

Watching Tanning’s figure leave, Jiu Fang Zhanghua blocked out the outside world and said to Zhong Li Lingzhao:

“This time, in the action at Taiping City, almost all the people from our two families were wiped out. However, someone from the Zhong Li family, I heard, came back to Xian Du Yu Jing completely unharmed, and it was almost all the information about Taiping City that he brought back.”

He wanted Yan Wushu.

Zhong Li Lingzhao looked straight ahead.

“Are you trying to borrow someone from me? Your Jiu Fang family is so useless that you couldn’t even bring back a single piece of information. Why should I lend you anyone?”

“The Jiu Fang family and the Zhong Li family are in a cooperative relationship now.”

Zhong Li Lingzhao played with the crumpled paper in her hand.

“If we’re talking about cooperation, then it needs to be reported layer by layer to my grandmother.”

Jiu Fang Zhanghua turned his head slightly, his eyes dark and glossy like jade, reflecting her figure.

The woman’s cold features showed a rare hint of softness under the flower lanterns.

His eyes flickered, and he raised his head to look straight ahead.

“I’ve heard that the King of Zhong Zhou sent a set of mechanical puppets made by the young emperor himself to the Zhong Li family. Congratulations, the next emperor will be someone descended from the Zhong Li family.”

Zhong Li Lingzhao noticed the hint in his words and a cold smile appeared at the corner of her lips.

“Whether I marry into the royal family of Zhong Zhou or not has nothing to do with you, someone who is destined to never inherit the Jiu Fang family.”

Her words were as cold as frost in December, leaving no room for courtesy.

The young man, as tall as a jade mountain, rarely showed any signs of agitation.

“If you still want to borrow someone from me—”

Zhong Li Lingzhao gave him a mocking look, nodding toward the flower lantern across from them.

“How you took what I valued and gave it to Yin Shan Liuyu before, today, you will return it to me in the same manner.”

Their eyes met, one full of sharpness, the other hiding murderous intent.

But in the end, Jiu Fang Zhanghua had no choice but to compromise.

His jade-like face remained cold as he stepped toward the street, but after taking a few steps, he heard a voice from the judging platform behind him:

“The next scholar to be reviewed—Yin Shan Liuyu from Xian Du Yu Jing.”

Jiu Fang Zhanghua suddenly turned back.

Zhong Li Lingzhao also looked at the crumpled paper in her hand with some surprise.

The two of them looked toward the platform, and from Zhong Li Lingzhao’s viewpoint, she immediately noticed the shadow in black clothing by the tree next to the stage.

Yan Wushu was still holding a brush, and when he saw Zhong Li Lingzhao looking over, the young man, hidden among the branches, raised an eyebrow and slowly bowed to her.

Zhong Li Lingzhao smiled for the first time in a while.

This person… really knows how to understand his superior’s thoughts.

Arriving at Jiuyou Yedu, it was already the early hours of the morning.

The sky was bright, and Liuyu had a good sleep in the ghost car. When she woke up, she found that she was draped in an outer robe with the scent of morning mist, and the owner of the robe was leaning against the carriage wall, resting with his eyes closed.

There was still some distance to the Extreme Night Palace, and with nothing to do, Liuyu rested her chin on her hand and observed him.

This person furrowed his brow even while asleep.

She wondered what could be troubling him.

Her gaze wandered across his straight nose, slightly pale lips, and the prominent Adam’s apple moving with his breath. His pale skin, almost sickly, revealed faint veins beneath, but his strikingly sharp features gave him an unsettling yet captivating look, almost like a ghost from some eerie story.

Her eyes then inadvertently shifted to his broad shoulders.

If only he were like one of those delicate, fragile ghosts—it would be fine, but instead, he had a strong, muscular body built for martial arts and cultivation.

Recalling how she had guided him in drawing the bow to shoot the fireflies last night, Liuyu felt a sense of achievement as a teacher, mixed with a slight, subtle jealousy.

She was competitive by nature. Despite her appearance of being pampered, she wanted to be the best at everything.

In the past, in Xian Du Yu Jing, no one her age could surpass her.

But she hadn’t expected to marry a gifted demon.

If only she had such strong arms and broad shoulders…

Suddenly, Mo Lin opened his eyes.

Without thinking, he instinctively grabbed her arm. Realizing it was Liuyu, he reacted, but Liuyu didn’t stop and instead started to wrestle with him.

The space in the carriage was small, making it difficult for Mo Lin to move, but it was more advantageous for Liuyu.

In less than twenty moves, she had forced Mo Lin into a corner, pressing her knee against his tense thigh, both hands locking his wrists and pinning them to his chest. Unfortunately, her hands were too small, and his wrists were unexpectedly thick, making it difficult to maintain a firm grip.

The carriage filled with the scent of fragrance as they sweated lightly after their struggle.

Her hair fell across his neck, and Mo Lin stared at her.

Liuyu blinked.

“Are you angry?”

Mo Lin didn’t understand how she could detect any signs of anger from his expression.

“…What are you doing?”

He saw her fist lightly pound his tense arm.

Liuyu clicked her tongue.

So annoying.

Why doesn’t she have that?

In just a moment of distraction…

Liuyu suddenly felt her footing slip. Mo Lin had used the opportunity when she was distracted to break free from her leg lock, and reversed the position with his legs trapping her lower body. With a slight shift of his waist and abdomen, he effortlessly flipped their positions.

The table was pushed to the floor.

He grabbed her wrist and pressed it above her head. By the time he realized the awkward position, the mountain demon outside the curtain had sensed the movement and turned around, ready to lift the curtain to see what was happening inside.

“…”

Mo Lin covered Liuyu’s eyes with one hand while using his other to whip out a tendril, pulling the curious mountain demon back and pressing the curtain back down.

Even in battle, Mo Lin didn’t feel he could react this quickly.

Not far away, Yin Shan Qi, who had received news from Xian Du Yu Jing, saw this scene and squinted his eyes in confusion.

What was that shadow he just sent out?

Although the surroundings were pitch black, Liuyu could guess what he had done just by listening to the sound.

Her thoughts wandered, and a sudden idea popped into her head.

“I’ve realized that if you can’t see those tentacles, they’re not that scary… Maybe we could try blindfolding ourselves next time?”

Mo Li paused for a moment, still holding her wrist.

As he processed what she had said, a myriad of… unpleasant images flashed through his mind in an instant.

After a brief silence, the car, which had been parked at the side of the road, suddenly erupted with countless sharp, writhing tentacles.

Yin Shanqi finally understood what they were.

His steps faltered.

And he collapsed straight to the ground, fainting.