Chapter 284: Tragic Woman

Xia Chunyuan's words rang out like a bolt of thunder in the bedroom; apart from Jiang Feng, who stayed composed, everyone else was left gaping in shock.

Duanmu Ya finally let out a sigh of relief, the stone hanging in her heart finally settling.

Since it has nothing to do with the beauty‑preserving pill, Yitian Pavilion need not bear responsibility, nor face the wrath of the Divine Mechanism Celestial.

Xia Chunyuan collapsed onto the ground, his face full of fatigue and bitterness.

Then he lifted his head, looking at Duanmu Ya; the earlier pride and anger had long vanished.

"Duanmu Pavilion Master, thank you for inviting Mr. Jiang. However, this matter involves the greatest secret of our Xia Family and concerns the safety of the entire clan, so could you all leave for now?"

"Rest assured, the beauty‑preserving pill issue was our Xia Family's false accusation against you. I, Xia Chunyuan, in the name of the Xia Family Acting Head, guarantee that we will give Yitian Pavilion a satisfactory explanation and will never let you suffer unjustly."

Upon hearing this, Duanmu Ya did not agree immediately, but turned her head toward Jiang Feng.

Only after seeing Jiang Feng give her a slight nod did Duanmu Ya speak to Xia Chunyuan.

"Very well, Xia Family Head. In view of the Xia Family's previous assistance to Yitian Pavilion, this misunderstanding can be let go, but since the Xia Family Head has promised an explanation, please keep your word."

"Certainly! Certainly!"

Xia Chunyuan hurriedly nodded, his tone sincere.

"When the younger aunt recovers, I will immediately go to Yitian Pavilion in person with generous gifts to atone, apologize, and make a public clarification."

Duanmu Ya said no more, nodded at Jiang Feng, and turned toward the doorway.

Sun Boyong and Lu Shanqing, seeing this, also courteously followed and left.

Sun Boyong walked to Jiang Feng's side and patted his shoulder.

"Jiang Feng, Madam Xia's life is now in your hands. We'll wait outside; call us anytime you need anything."

The two lingered no longer, left the bedroom together with Duanmu Ya, and casually closed the door.

The bedroom fell silent instantly, leaving only Jiang Feng and the collapsed Xia Chunyuan on the floor.

Xia Chunyuan slowly rose from the floor, walked to the bedside, and looked at his pale‑faced younger aunt on the bed, his face full of guilt.

Then he reached out, gently brushing the stray hairs on Xia Junlan's forehead, his voice hoarse.

"I'm sorry, aunt, I, Xia Chunyuan, have been unfilial, and must now expose your secret."

He knew this secret was something his aunt had guarded all her life, but now, to save her life, he could only reveal everything.

Jiang Feng did not interrupt, merely standing quietly beside him.

After a while, Xia Chunyuan finally steadied his emotions and turned to look at Jiang Feng.

"Mr. Jiang, may I…"

"The younger aunt's backlash is related to the Divine Mechanism Celestial, right?"

Before he could speak, Jiang Feng was already the first to say.

"What?"

Hearing this, Xia Chunyuan's whole body jolted, his face full of shock,

He stared wide‑eyed at Jiang Feng, as if seeing the young man for the first time.

He never imagined Jiang Feng could even guess that!

This secret was known only to him and his aunt within the entire Xia Family; even his father Xia Junzhou was unaware of the details—how did Jiang Feng know?

Xia Chunyuan was stunned for more than ten seconds before slowly regaining his composure and giving a wry smile.

"Indeed, nothing can be hidden from you, Mr. Jiang. Yes, the younger aunt's backlash is truly linked to the Divine Mechanism Celestial. Since you've guessed it, I won't conceal anything—I will tell you everything."

He took a deep breath, as if making a huge resolve, and slowly began to recount the Xia Family's hidden secrets.

"Mr. Jiang, you might think our Xia Family, as the head of the Provincial Capital Nine Great Families, wields boundless power and glory. Yet only we know that all this is merely a façade, upheld by our younger aunt Xia Junlan."

Xia Chunyuan's tone carried a hint of self‑mockery.

"Our Xia descendants are born without any cultivation talent. Since my grandfather's generation, the family has never produced a decent master. In my generation, it's even more pitiful. Had it not been for the younger aunt, our Xia Family would have long been pushed out by the other Eight Major Families, and we could never have attained today's status."

"The younger aunt is the Divine Mechanism Celestial's adopted daughter; many in the jianghu know this, but few realize how dearly the Divine Mechanism Celestial cherishes her. Because of her, the Divine Mechanism Celestial has bestowed many resources upon our Xia Family."

"I could barely reach the Eight-Grade Master level only thanks to those resources."

Xia Chunyuan paused, his eyes filled with gratitude.

"The younger aunt has spent her whole life laboring for the Xia Family. She could have taken a better path, following the Divine Mechanism Celestial in devoted cultivation, perhaps already breaking through to the Heavenly Human Realm. Yet she couldn't bear to abandon the Xia Family or us incompetent juniors, so she stayed, silently supporting the entire clan."

"To keep the Xia Family's current standing and continual protection from the Divine Mechanism Celestial, the younger aunt often uses the Divination Technique taught by the Divine Mechanism Celestial to forcibly perform Divine Mechanism Prediction."

"You also know that performing Divine Mechanism Prediction is inherently Defy Heaven, and each prediction drains the practitioner enormously—lightly damaging vital energy, heavily shortening lifespan."

"These years, the younger aunt has performed Divine Mechanism Prediction seven times for the Xia Family. After each, her body deteriorated markedly, her cultivation stalled, and even showed signs of regression."

"This time, too, because in recent years the other Eight Major Families have accelerated, hinting at overtaking our Xia Family, and several have linked with hidden sects, eyeing us hungrily. The younger aunt feared trouble for the Xia Family, so she decided to perform Divine Mechanism Prediction again, seeking a way to break the deadlock."

"She knew this prediction's risk was great, but she didn't expect the backlash to be so fierce; she had no chance to react, and thus ended up like this now."

After saying this, Xia Chunyuan's face was full of guilt.

"This is all our Xia Family's failing to the younger aunt; we have burdened her. If it weren't for these incompetent juniors,..."

Jiang Feng listened quietly, his face showing no ripple of emotion.

When Xia Chunyuan finished, Jiang Feng finally spoke slowly.

"I do have a question. Given that Xia Junlan is already in her sixties, long past caring about appearance, and as a Nine-Pin Grandmaster, cultivators don't care about the flesh, why does she still take the beauty‑preserving pill?"

Xia Junlan, as a Nine-Pin Grandmaster and the Divine Mechanism Celestial's adopted daughter.

Logically, she shouldn't care about whether her looks age, yet she insists on taking the beauty‑preserving pill; there must be some reason behind it.

Hearing Jiang Feng's question, Xia Chunyuan's expression instantly grew complex.

He remained silent for a long while before slowly speaking, his tone low.

"This... this indeed concerns a romantic episode from my aunt's youth."

"In fact, when she was young, my aunt was a famed beauty in the Jiangnan region. At that time, she also had someone she loved."

"But just as they were preparing to marry, the Divine Mechanism Celestial took notice of..."

Aunt, for the Xia Family, ultimately chose to accept the Divine Mechanism Celestial. She personally cut off the emotional Silk with that man, stayed in the Xia Family, and began following the Divine Mechanism Celestial to study the Divination Technique and cultivation methods.

That man, upon learning the news, Injury heart to the extreme, finally died in melancholy… This is also Aunt's greatest regret in this life.

Speaking of this, Xia Chunyuan's voice carried a hint of choking.

Before This Time's divination, Aunt had a vague premonition that she might not return. She hoped that when she died, she could meet him with her youthful appearance, and even Under the Nine Springs, there would be a little less regret.