[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ascending-to-divinity":3,"chapter-ascending-to-divinity-ascending-to-divinity-chapter-88":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Ascending to Divinity",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2280638,4461,"Chapter 88: Butterfly Dance Among Peach Blossoms","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-88",88,"\u003Cp>“Jiang Zhao.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian spoke again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Zhao shook her head vigorously, snapping back to awareness, and Mianqiang  sat up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyelids hung low, her expression still dazed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Jian.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl lifted her head, black hair falling down, “Why do I feel pain when I see you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Zhao looked at him and said softly, “What’s wrong with my headache?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Jian, you’ve always known, haven’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She glanced around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath her was a comfortable bed; beyond the partition, a luxurious cabin glowed with blue light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through the porthole, far off, she could see rolling clouds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m taking you to be treated.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian finally spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Zhao bit her soft lips and said, “Why have I lost my memories?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Jian, you know too, don’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was clever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From fleeting fragments of memory, she could deduce much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian said, “I know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Zhao smiled faintly: “So you’ve been lying to me all along?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl lifted her gaze, her pupils clear and pure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silver light flickered, cold as frost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I said.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian intensified his tone, “I’m taking you to be treated.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Zhao shook her head: “I’m not sick.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian looked at her: “Are you disobeying me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Obey.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Zhao whispered, “But you must tell me the truth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jixue, all four paws moving, tail curled around a water cup, walked to the bed: “Drink some water.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It placed the cup beside Jiang Zhao’s hand and looked at Jiang Jian: “I’ve already arranged with Anhe Academy; she’s been granted seven days’ leave.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian nodded, took the warm water cup, and handed it to his sister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Zhao did not take it, but fixed her gaze on Jiang Jian: “Just now, I gained a new memory.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Or rather—I remembered something from childhood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guangling City.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shadow Zone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Public Care Center.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl’s voice was calm, unlike her usual tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Someone tried to approach me—but their body shattered, dying in a bizarre manner.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I want to know what happened after.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Jian, tell me the truth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her gaze was equally clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep within her pupils lay an indescribable resolve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Zhao, too, was outwardly gentle but inwardly firm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A silence stretched for dozens of seconds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What you can know, I will tell you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian finally spoke, “But some things, you must not know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl finally took the cup and asked, “Things I can’t know? For example?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A soul-loss patient must never learn the truth of their illness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Zhao leaned against the bed rail, sipped warm water, her face still pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked at Jiang Jian and said softly, “Then tell me what I can know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I left for one night.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian said, “But the method I left behind to protect you was never used.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at his sister, his gaze calm, “Even now, I still don’t understand why.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Zhao’s expression shifted slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From these words, she had already deduced it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian did not know about this memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That day,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tall, muscular boy lunged at her—she merely glanced at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body collapsed into dust, dying in a bizarre manner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian clearly did not know this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was waiting for the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every time she thought of Jiang Jian, deep within her spirit, pain surged forth—the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her thoughts paused; the girl asked again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian said, “I killed the director, then returned to the courtyard and wiped out everything there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After that,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I took you to be treated.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cured your illness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian smiled, “Though there are some side effects.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s why I came to Anhezhou—to bring you here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Overborder Flyer pierced through clouds and mist, occupying the highest air corridor in the province, racing toward Guangling City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Zhao suddenly spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the first time she had ever said no to Jiang Jian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian looked at her, his brow furrowed, his smile gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Zhao said seriously, “Tell me the truth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian asked, “What truth?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Zhao spoke slowly, word by word: “Who treated my illness as a child? How was I cured?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She held the warm water cup, her fingers unnaturally steady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A longer silence followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Zhao.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian said coldly, taking the cup from her hand, “Enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few seconds later,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl lifted her head, her dark hair disheveled, a faint, soft smile curling at her crimson lips: “Fine, I won’t ask anymore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep within her pupils,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silver light surged, then vanished in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Overborder Flyer landed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its massive shadow fell, drawing crowds of onlookers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hatch opened, the gangway extended to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Below, people had already cast looks of awe and admiration, murmuring among themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where did this giant flyer come from?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What a beautiful airship.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bigger than an entire apartment building!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even the city government’s unmanned flyers are several times smaller!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you sold this thing for Alliance coins, how many hovercars could you buy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So beautiful, so imposing!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the bustle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian stepped down the gangway first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl sat sideways on the back of a gray fox, following behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd instantly scattered, retreating far away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian’s academy uniform was luxurious and exquisitely crafted, its embroidered patterns glowing faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The identity tokens of these Shadow Zone residents could not log into the Linjiang Forum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, they had no idea this was the Linjiang Academy uniform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they knew that luxury airships were expensive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone who descended from an airship wearing such attire was certainly beyond their ability to provoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why did they go to Jin Po’s place?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jin Po is lonely and destitute—how could she possibly have ties to such important people?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s their relationship with Jin Po?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is truly bizarre!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they saw Jiang Jian heading toward a low house beside the neighborhood, their murmurs of confusion grew louder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fluffy gray fox the girl rode on drew no attention at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Shadow Zone,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>non-citizens were far too common.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ordinary fox spirits were practically everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the front door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian knocked gently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few seconds later,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a frail voice came from behind the broken wooden door: “Come in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room was cramped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the light was unusually bright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Po smiled at Jiang Jian: “It’s you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her hair was white, her face lined with wrinkles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But her eyes were like clear mirrors, utterly free of cloudiness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian said softly, “I’ve come to pick something up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Po, hunched over, coughed a few times and smiled bitterly: “By the calendar, it’s time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She reached out, pulled a wooden box from a drawer, and placed it on the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Take it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian did not touch the box. He looked at Jin Po and asked: “Where is she?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Po pointed to the wall: “There.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the side wall hung a photograph.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A figure clad in a loose, hooded black robe, face obscured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A strand of jet-black hair hung down from the robe’s edge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Jian.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl stepped into the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the photograph crumbled to ash and scattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Leave quickly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Po coughed more violently; somehow, her face had turned as pale as paper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian picked up the wooden box and bowed to Jin Po in an ancient gesture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was something “she” had taught him personally when treating his sister’s illness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A tribute to the passage of life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next second,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian seized his sister’s wrist and walked straight out of the house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Jian?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl raised an eyebrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian shook his head: “She stayed here solely to deliver the medicine for her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He led Jiang Zhao up the gangway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as they entered the cabin, he opened the wooden box.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside lay a single snow-white pill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without the box to contain it, a pure, fragrant aroma spread through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian stared at the pill for several seconds, then closed the box and placed it in his backpack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Zhao, you must stay aboard the flyer until the 15th.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian looked at his sister: “On the 15th, I’ll watch you take the medicine, then escort you back to Anhe Academy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, the girl asked no further questions and nodded: “Alright.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cabin door closed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The interzone flyer rose into the sky, pierced through thick clouds, and hovered in the uninhabited upper air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Scientific Principles, Acupoint Mastery, Introduction to Theology.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve annotated them all for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian pulled out three books and handed them to his sister: “Take them back. Study them during your free time, following my annotations.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Zhao asked: “Can I start cultivating now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian nodded: “Once I take you back to Anhe Academy on the 15th, you can begin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took out a brand-new Frostband and slipped it onto his sister’s wrist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This will suffice—for now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Later, once your cultivation progresses, we’ll replace it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Zhao lifted her wrist, staring at the bracelet wreathed in frost blossoms, and asked: “How much does this cost?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jixue leaned forward, nudging her skirt with its fluffy head: “This thing is expensive!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1542,"2026-06-20T01:21:34.271Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","ed552e4a654298fbb674835f50d5349dc222f325740b9ba3d26a7c8c302628cb","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-89","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-87",306,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fascending-to-divinity-cover.jpg"]