Chapter 269

The voice was cold, devoid of any warmth.

Like a gleaming blade, it stabbed sharply into Tu Tu Xuehua's heart.

Tu Tu Xuehua's face turned deathly pale; she stared blankly at Sun Biyun, frozen for two seconds before large tears spilled from her eyes, then she turned and bolted out the door.

"Sister!"

Tu Xuejuan hurried after her.

Tu Jin, seeing this, felt pity and wanted to say a few words of comfort.

But when he saw Sun Biyun's expression—cold yet unmistakably pained—he quietly closed his mouth.

He feared both his own wife and upsetting Sun Biyun further, causing her more suffering.

……

Tu Xuejuan chased after Tu Tu Xuehua and saw her sister sobbing into the arms of a man.

And the man held her waist with no hesitation.

What was going on?

Where had this man come from? What was his relationship with her sister?

Tu Xuejuan was stunned.

Tu Tu Xuehua did not notice Tu Xuejuan's arrival, nor did she realize how improper her closeness to Jiang Sishui was; all she wanted now was a shoulder to cry on freely.

She didn't understand—she had only wanted to show concern for her biological mother, why was she so despised?

Was it because she was Gu Gu Jianhun's child that everything she did was wrong?

At this moment, Tu Tu Xuehua even began to doubt whether she was truly Sun Biyun's biological daughter.

Her shoulder's fabric was soaked with tears; the delicate body in his arms trembled uncontrollably. Jiang Sishui, in direct contact, could deeply feel her overwhelming grievance.

He likewise held strong dislike for this woman, Sun Biyun.

But dislike as he might, he would not say so outright in front of her daughter.

Now, he gently patted Tu Tu Xuehua's back and spoke soothing words, as if comforting a child.

After a long while, her sobs gradually ceased; her emotions calmed, as if all her grievance and bitterness had been released with these tears.

At this point, Tu Xuejuan finally dared to step forward and ask: "Sister, who is he?"

Hearing her sister's voice, Tu Tu Xuehua snapped back to reality.

Realizing how intimate her actions had been with Jiang Sishui, she quickly stepped back, creating distance; her tear-stained face flushed red, her expression flustered and awkward.

Her hands, unsure where to go, nervously twisted her sleeve hem, stammering: "I… I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—I just…"

Jiang Sishui smiled gently: "It's fine. A shoulder is just a shoulder. Tu Xuehua, you may borrow it whenever you wish, for as long as you like."

Hearing these words, which carried the weight of confession, Tu Tu Xuehua was not only embarrassed but utterly at a loss.

Fortunately, Tu Xuejuan was beside her; Tu Tu Xuehua quickly changed the subject, pulling her sister forward and introducing her: "Brother Jiang, this is my younger sister, Xuejuan."

Tu Xuejuan wore a rose-red dress; though her face was veiled, the exposed eyebrows and eyes radiated unmistakable beauty.

Curved brows, large eyes, gaze flowing like autumn water, skin dewy and lustrous, figure graceful, curves elegant.

Clearly a young girl, yet with a hint of mature womanly charm.

But as a martial cultivator, like Tu Tu Xuehua, she was not frail like a sheltered lady—she carried a touch of boldness and spirit.

Unfortunately, though Tu Xuejuan concealed it well, Jiang Sishui still saw a trace of inferiority in her eyes.

Jiang Sishui feigned not to notice and greeted her: "Miss Xuejuan."

At this moment, Tu Tu Xuehua added to her sister: "This is Brother Jiang—I invited him here to heal your injury."

Heal?

Tu Xuejuan froze for a moment upon hearing this; once she understood, her emotions surged wildly.

"Heal? Heal! Sister, you mean… you'll cure the scars on my face?"

Overwhelming joy flooded into her heart; Tu Xuejuan trembled all over, eyes fixed on Tu Tu Xuehua, terrified she might say something to crush her hope.

Finally, in eyes full of expectation, Tu Tu Xuehua gave a slight nod.

"Didn't I promise you? I'll definitely fix your face. When have I ever broken a promise?"

Though the diary said Tu Xuejuan and she were half-sisters, their years of bond were real; Tu Tu Xuehua still doted on this younger sister.

Upon receiving the confirmation, Tu Xuejuan let out a joyful cry and leapt up.

She threw her arms around Tu Tu Xuehua and kissed her face several times.

Then she turned to Jiang Sishui and said softly: "Brother Jiang… can you really heal my… I don't mean to doubt your ability, I just want to say…"

Tu Xuejuan's eyes shone with excitement and nervousness—she longed for Jiang Sishui's assurance, yet feared saying the wrong thing and upsetting him.

Thus, she became incoherent.

Tu Xuejuan herself quickly realized this, and her heart grew anxious.

The more anxious she became, the worse her words came out.

Seeing her distress, Jiang Sishui couldn't help but smile.

"Wait for me a moment."

He said nothing more; the light array appeared and vanished, and he returned directly to Shanzhuang.

298 Lost and regained, the girl's kiss

Seeing a living person vanish into thin air, Tu Xuejuan froze instantly, her mind going completely blank.

One breath… two breaths…

"Ah!"

Tu Xuejuan finally screamed in shock, stumbling backward, clutching Tu Tu Xuehua's hand with a terrified expression: "Sister, he… he… how did he just disappear?!"

Tu Tu Xuehua smiled faintly: "Don't worry—he's human, not some demon or ghost. He's just… unusual."

Tu Tu Xuehua saw her so calm, her own emotions infected, and she unconsciously became much steadier: "Sister, what is going on?"

Tu Xuehua countered, "Do you remember what I told you a month ago, that I could definitely find someone to heal the scars on your face?"

"Of course I remember. If it weren't for Sister's words, I would still be wallowing in self-destruction." Speaking thus, Miss Xuejuan's face showed shame.

When her looks were ruined, Miss Xuejuan felt the sky was about to collapse.

Later, when the Jade Toad mentioned by the Indian divine monk could not be found for a long time, and it was even uncertain whether such a creature still existed in the Ten Thousand Poisons Forest, Miss Xuejuan lost all hope.

In her despair and giving up on herself, Miss Xuejuan even began secretly smoking "Five-Stone Powder."

Having lost all hope in reality, only by immersing herself in the hallucinations brought by "Five-Stone Powder" could she temporarily forget her pain and gain a sliver of comfort.

Later, it was Tu Xuehua who found her and told her very firmly that there was someone in this world who could restore her looks, and that Tu Xuehua could find this person.

Miss Xuejuan originally did not believe it, thinking only that her sister was speaking falsely to comfort her.

Only after Tu Xuehua swore an oath did she have to believe.

Afterwards, she followed the arrangements, stayed honestly at home, and quietly waited for Tu Xuehua to bring the person over.

Until Tu Xuehua brought back Jiang Sishui.

"Sister, could he be the person you mentioned back then?" A flash of realization passed through Miss Xuejuan's eyes.

Tu Xuehua nodded slightly: "The full story cannot be explained to you in two or three sentences. Once he has healed your face, you will know everything yourself."

Hearing this, Miss Xuejuan felt somewhat puzzled.

But since Tu Xuehua had said so, she did not dare to press for the root of the matter.

She believed her sister would not lie to her.

And indeed, the facts were exactly so.

The reason Miss Xuejuan did not have a diary copy was that she had been disfigured by a poison spider before the diary copy appeared.

After Tu Xuehua obtained the Fortune Source, she used her only single permission opportunity to check Miss Xuejuan's score, thus knowing this matter.

Then, as long as Miss Xuejuan's looks were restored, she would definitely receive the diary copy; at that time, all questions would be resolved.

Watching her younger sister's expectant and excited expression beside her, Tu Xuehua's expression grew slightly dazed, sinking into memories.

Originally, with her pride, she would absolutely never have thrown herself at a man with many wives and concubines.

But for her sister's sake, she had to take the initiative to approach Jiang Sishui.

Learning that Jiang Sishui was coming to Jinzhou, fearing she might miss him, she specially rushed to Pingyao.

Thinking that in this way, the chance of the two meeting would be greater.

On the way, she accidentally overheard several leaders of the Qisha Sect talking, learning they intended to rob the secret manual of the "Tathagata Buddha Palm," so she secretly followed them, waiting for an opportunity to act.

That's right, Tu Xuehua also wanted to seize the secret manual of the "Tathagata Buddha Palm"!

Because she knew Jiang Sishui was determined to obtain This art, and he possessed the "Object-Locking Compass" to lock onto the manual's location.

Then, as long as the manual was in her hands, Jiang Sishui would definitely come to find her.