Chapter 8: Young person, do not act on impulse

The group emerged from the Tongtian Division, none of them looking pleased.

The State Duke blocked Cheng Xi, squeezing out a smile. "Xi Xi, I know I have no face to beg you, but Weiran is still so young; he cannot truly lose an arm. Uncle begs you, for the sake of the many years of friendship between our two families, will you give me the antidote?"

"Ever since I was found to have no talent, the State Duke's wife has not returned a single holiday gift to me, nor have I ever received a single invitation from the State Duke Mansion. When the State Duke's wife acted this way, did she ever consider the kindness my mother showed in saving Jiang Weiran?"

"Jiang Weiran knew full well that Cheng Fenglan was my stepsister and knew that she and I were not on good terms, yet he still engaged in illicit relations with her behind my back. Did he ever remember that my mother was his savior?"

"When you were ungrateful, you didn't think of friendship, but now you bring it up—how do you have the face to speak? If I were truly heartless and ruthless, I should let Jiang Weiran pay with his life. If it weren't for saving him, my mother wouldn't have fallen ill and passed away so early."

Cheng Xi knew that there were many shameless people in the world, but it was rare to see people as shameless as the State Duke and his wife.

"Cheng Xi, do you really think we have no choice but to beg you?" The State Duke's wife had lost all face today and, having been insulted by Cheng Xi like this, could no longer hold back.

"Then why come to beg me?" Cheng Xi sneered.

The State Duke's wife was so angry her face became ferocious. "You must not..."

"Shut up!" the State Duke barked. "Are you not coming back with me yet!"

Having been rejected once again, the State Duke no longer maintained his mild demeanor toward Cheng Xi; he grabbed his wife and boarded the carriage with a cold face.

Before the carriage left, the State Duke lifted the curtain and looked at Cheng Xi. "Eldest Miss Cheng, leave a path for others in life so you may meet again later. It is not impossible that you might have a time when you need to beg the State Duke. Young person, do not act on impulse."

"Instead of spouting harsh words here, State Duke, you would be better off hurrying to beg someone else to save your son."

The State Duke dropped the curtain with a dark expression, and the carriage sped away.

"How is it?" Li Zhi'an asked, looking at Bi'an.

"There is nothing unusual to be seen from the bloodstains, and when she passed through the main gate earlier, I did not detect anything strange about her soul," Bi'an's voice echoed from the void.

"Three years ago, she was still a person with no talent, yet now she is this formidable. You are telling me there is nothing unusual about her?" Li Zhi'an sneered.

"That is what I see," Bi'an looked at Li Zhi'an. "There is one more method to investigate thoroughly, and that is Soul Searching. However, Soul Searching carries great danger; given that little girl's current cultivation, she would be reduced to an imbecile immediately after. Are you certain you want to do this?"

Li Zhi'an remained silent with a dark face.

Seeing this, Bi'an turned and left; nagging and spouting harsh words without taking harsh action was pointless.

Jiang Boyu let out a slight sigh of relief. Eldest Miss Cheng was already pitiful enough: her fiancé had fallen for her stepsister and wanted to break off their engagement, her own father was scum, her stepmother was cruel, and her grandmother resented her because she held a grudge against her mother.

If someone were to turn her into an imbecile on top of all that, he truly could not bring himself to commit such a wicked act.

"Division Master, the Division Guard has sent word that there is an aura of a Four-Eyed Demon Fox in the South City." The jade plate at Jiang Boyu's waist lit up; his expression shifted slightly, and he immediately stepped forward to report.

"Let's go." Li Zhi'an immediately strode outward.

On the other side, Cheng Xi did not return directly to Cheng Fu, but went to Ghost Street to buy some things first.

Ghost Street was not called Ghost Street in the past. Early on, this street sold incense, candles, paper money, gold ingots, and the like, which was quite normal. Later, shops selling things like cinnabar, Talismans, and spices gradually opened here.

These spices were not exactly legitimate; Soul-Attracting Incense, Ghost-Attracting Incense, Demon-Attracting Incense, and other strange and peculiar spices could all be bought here. As time passed, the street began to exude an aura that normal people avoided at all costs.

"Liang Popo."

Cheng Xi stopped in front of an incense and candle shop, smiling as she called out to the white-haired old woman inside.

Liang Popo was dressed in clothes washed to a pale white, her sallow face covered in wrinkles. Before she even raised her head upon hearing the voice, she spoke: "Cheng girl? Haven't seen you in a long time."

The original owner used to buy paper money and other items from Liang Popo every time she went to pay respects to her mother, so they had become familiar over time.

"Yes, I stayed at the manor for a few years and have just returned. Liang Popo, I want to buy some Hundred-Year Willow Wood. Do you know where I can find some for sale?"

The smile on Liang Popo's face stiffened, and she squinted as she sized up Cheng Xi. "Cheng girl, that is not a good thing. What do you want that for?"

"Liang Popo, I have awakened my talent and want to make some things myself to practice."

"I see." Liang Popo was pleased. "That is a good thing, a good thing. My own granddaughter didn't have that fortune; she can only be an ordinary person for her whole life."

Liang Popo grumbled as she bowed her back and walked out, shouting to the shop next door: "Lao Wutou, you have a customer."

Soon, an old man wearing coarse cloth clothes walked out from inside. He was not tall and was very thin. He raised his eyes to look at Cheng Xi. "You want to buy something? Buy what?"

"Hundred-Year Willow Wood. I remember you just acquired a piece two days ago," Liang Popo said tremulously.

Seeing Lao Wutou's face change instantly, Cheng Xi stepped forward and revealed a sweet smile. "Uncle Wu, the price is negotiable. A palm-sized piece is enough for me."

"If you have business, do it; why are you dawdling? Why not just take it out?" Liang Popo muttered.

Lao Wutou held his breath. If it were anyone else, he would have turned around and closed the door, but he could not afford to offend Liang Popo.

With a dark face, Lao Wutou went inside and brought out a palm-sized piece of willow wood. With Liang Popo's small, dark eyes fixed on him, he gritted his teeth and offered a low price.

Cheng Xi was astonished. Was Hundred-Year Willow Wood really this cheap now?

She paid the silver readily. Knowing that Lao Wutou also sold other spices, she bought a few more types before bidding farewell to Liang Popo.

After she left, Lao Wutou said sarcastically: "That little girl's awakened talent is a bit ruthless. Liang Popo, you should keep an eye on her; don't let her cause any deaths."

"What did you say? My old ears are deaf and I can't hear you. Say it again," Liang Popo said loudly, turning her ear toward him.

Lao Wutou: Heh!

I'd sooner believe the ghosts on your grave than believe that!

Cheng Xi returned to Cheng Fu, and Zhao Mama and the others immediately surrounded her upon seeing her. "Eldest Miss, you've finally returned."

Mulan glanced toward the direction of the main courtyard. "Several groups of people have come from that side to watch this courtyard."

Cheng Xi looked at the courtyard, which had been renovated inside and out, and did not care about their words, saying with a smile: "Bring me a bucket of well water."

"This servant will go at once." Jinxiang, who had been silent the whole time, lifted her feet and ran out.

Mulan couldn't help but laugh, looking at Jinxiang's back. "She used to be the laziest, and Eldest Miss always indulged her."

But ever since Eldest Miss left, the calluses on Jinxiang's hands were all worn down over these past few years.