Lang Jiuchuan returned to the Marquis’s residence carrying the Vajra Pagoda, with Jian Lan following close behind her every step of the way. Once they were inside the room, Jian Lan seemed to steel herself and spoke up: “Miss, this servant will absolutely keep your secret.”

“Hmm?” Lang Jiuchuan turned to look at her. What secret of hers required keeping?

“The abilities you possess — this servant will keep them completely confidential and say nothing to anyone.” Jian Lan pressed her lips together as she said this.

Lang Jiuchuan gave a faint smile. “What is there to keep secret about? I have never concealed it, nor will I.”

She depended on these abilities to stay alive. She could conceal it for a time, but not for a lifetime — and concealment held no meaning besides.

Jian Lan said somewhat sheepishly, “This servant only noticed that you have never spoken of it openly.”

“There is nothing particular to speak of.” Lang Jiuchuan said. “I only hope that no one in this residence will ever have need of me.”

Jian Lan’s expression shifted. Was Miss harboring such deep resentment toward the Marquis’s residence?

Lang Jiuchuan saw what she was thinking and sighed. “If they have no need of me, that means they are safe. Go and have someone bring water for me to wash up, and then…”

She glanced at the sky — it had already grown deeply dark — and changed her words: “I won’t eat. You go find yourself something.”

After all, whether she ate or not, missing a meal made no difference to her.

The words had barely left her mouth when Nanny Gu appeared with Xiao Man, carrying a food hamper. “Miss has not eaten yet, I imagine? The room has had a small stove simmering bird’s nest and shredded chicken congee all this time. There is also a bowl of ginseng chicken soup and several light refreshments. Miss, please eat something before washing up.”

She unpacked the contents of the food hamper — everything was steaming and fragrant, stimulating the appetite. Lang Jiuchuan’s stomach gave an uncooperative gurgle.

Nanny Gu personally ladled a bowl of congee and handed it over. She took one look at the girl’s complexion and felt a twinge of alarm.

Out for just one day, and her color had grown even worse.

She glanced over at Jian Lan — hadn’t they said she was going to the Ou residence? What on earth had happened to leave her looking like this? Had she been mistreated?

Jian Lan felt a twinge of guilt, stole a glance at Lang Jiuchuan, and said, “Nanny is right. Miss, at least put something in your stomach — in this bitter cold, your little face has gone white from the chill.”

Lang Jiuchuan: “……”

Thank you for going to such lengths to cover for me.

She did not refuse the kind gesture. Taking the congee, she began to eat.

Her appetite was decent, but her stomach was small — she left half of each dish untouched and sent the remainder down with Jian Lan to finish.

Nanny Gu had Da Man and Xiao Man attend to the washing-up, then slipped over to Jian Lan’s room. “What happened at the Ou residence? Why did Miss come back looking even worse, and your own color is off too.”

Jian Lan swallowed a mouthful of congee, and whatever thought crossed her mind left her looking shaken. “Nanny, of everyone in this residence, the one who must not be offended is our Miss. Remember this well. In this courtyard, we are Miss’s people — our loyalty must be entirely to her. Even the Madam — even she cannot claim the kind of loyalty we owe Miss.”

Nanny Gu’s eyes went wide. Seeing how solemn and formal Jian Lan had become, she was silent for a long moment, then said, “Finish eating and go attend to Miss.”

Seeing that she had not pressed further, Jian Lan let out a quiet breath of relief.

Miss had said there was no need for secrecy, but that didn’t mean she should go around talking freely either. When others in the residence eventually discovered things, they would discover them on their own. Words lead to errors — saying nothing was the wiser course, lest someone use this information to attack Miss.

As night deepened, in the Qichi Pavilion not far from Lang Jiuchuan’s courtyard, Cui Shi listened to what the servants came to report, then waved her hand dismissively. “Lock the courtyard gate and put out the lights.”

Nanny Cheng shook her head slightly. Stubborn to the bone, both of them.

As for Lang Jiuchuan — after washing up, she went into the study and placed the Seven-Star Vajra Pagoda on the desk to examine it carefully.

The body of the pagoda was entirely black, coated in a layer of dark, murky resentful malevolent energy. That would have to be erased. Best of all would be to purify it with a lightning tempering — that was the only way to completely strip it of all traces left behind from cultivating ghost malevolence, and the tempering by the intent of thunder and lightning would also restore the dharma instrument to its original nature.

Jiangche examined it alongside her. “As I recall, this pagoda’s spire was a golden hue — why has it gone black? Surely it isn’t ruined?”

“It has been tainted by the yin malevolent aura. If it continues this way, the sacred vessel will completely transform into an evil instrument — and that would truly be a waste.” Lang Jiuchuan pressed her hand against the pagoda’s surface, gently closed her eyes, and channeled her Daoist heart through her palm, seeking to resonate with the vessel.

Nothing. Her brow furrowed slightly. She added another layer of Daoist intent — and the effort left her face snow-white.

An instant later, she felt a cry of sorrow and a surge of fury transmitted from the body of the pagoda, and her eyes flew open in delight.

“The instrument-soul has not scattered.” She cradled the Seven-Star Vajra Pagoda with undisguised joy. “The instrument-soul still endures — then there is yet hope.”

Excellent, truly excellent. This journey was not wasted at all.

Jiangche was likewise pleased. “Then hurry and restore it to its original nature!”

Lang Jiuchuan’s face turned greenish. “Do you see any strength left in me right now?”

Always bringing up the one thing that stings.

Jiangche said sheepishly, “You always give me the feeling of being so capable — so I just assumed you were all-powerful.”

“Stop making excuses for your own weakness — I won’t wear that flattering hat.” Lang Jiuchuan gave a cold sound. “And you had better start cultivating too. If I’m the only one fighting, no matter how high my cultivation, I can’t withstand this kind of rotation. Just those two and this body of mine was already at its limit — what happens when something even more formidable comes along?”

She harrumphed, then continued: “Furthermore, you’ve said yourself that the Xuanzu are insufferably conniving. Setting aside for a moment whether the person trying to kill me is from the Xuanzu, just consider the fact that they actively recruit talented itinerant Daoists into their fold as disciples or protective elders. In your assessment — does someone like me measure up in their eyes?”

Jiangche: “Certainly — I doubt even they could match you…”

Its words abruptly halted.

Lang Jiuchuan did possess genuine ability. But she also carried a deep-seated rebellious streak. With her temperament — was she the sort to willingly bow beneath another’s authority? Especially the Xuanzu, who she and they had a seemingly adversarial relationship with!

And the way of the Xuanzu was simple: those who submit to us flourish; those who defy us are crushed.

“You’ve figured it out.” Lang Jiuchuan said coolly. “If I attract their attention and they find they cannot win me over — do you think they would quietly put me down? The kind of putting-down from which there is no recovery?”

Some people were so accustomed to standing above all others that they would never concede to being beneath anyone.

If they truly felt threatened, who could say what methods they might deploy? The righteous path?

Who ever said that those of the righteous path necessarily possessed righteous hearts, or that everyone of the so-called evil path was wicked?

It all came down to human nature.

Lang Jiuchuan’s head suddenly ached. She gave a muffled groan as feelings of loathing and resistance rose from the depths of her heart.

She drew a deep breath, and when she opened her eyes again, she said, “The Xuanzu and I are destined to walk different roads. If we can maintain peace, so much the better. If we are true enemies, there will come a day when we stand against each other. If you are a weak and useless creature who cannot help me, and I end up crippled, you’ll be finished along with me. So — figure out what you want to do.”

Jiangche said dejectedly, “I understand!”

Thinking about running now seemed impossible — they had sworn a contract before Heaven and Earth. Fighting it then, perhaps that had been rash — recklessness has its pit, and impulsiveness means falling right in!

Lang Jiuchuan flicked a glance at it, too tired to bother responding. Even if it had figured out the raw end of this deal, there was no going back now. That was the price of acting without thinking — impulsiveness digs the hole you fall into.

She turned back to the Vajra Pagoda, thinking to herself that she needed to purge the dark malevolent aura from the pagoda as soon as possible. With a sacred vessel in hand, she would add at least some measure of strength.

As she studied the ancient, weathered Vajra Pagoda, a plan gradually took shape in her mind.