Yuhu Xuanzong.

Qilu Terrace. Xie Jiu’er was washing clothes. Huang Rang had particularly many dresses and skirts, and their styles were complex. She washed with great difficulty. So many clothes—in a short time, there was simply no way to finish washing them all.

Xie Jiu’er wanted to cry. She knew Huang Rang was just bullying her.

Her heart was full of resentment, but she had no recourse. Though Xie Hongchen seemed to favor her, if she was disrespectful to her elders, he would likewise reprimand her. Xie Jiu’er could distance herself from Huang Rang but didn’t dare openly disobey her words.

Xie Jiu’er had washed clothes for two hours and was naturally also very puzzled.

—Huang Rang still hadn’t returned. Earlier she’d seen her carrying a food box, but not heading in the direction of Dianicui Peak. To whom was she delivering food that required this much time?

The outer gate, in the merchant residence.

When Xie Yuanshu awoke, the first thing he saw was Huang Rang sitting at the edge of the bed.

He sat up in alarm. By this time, the wine had mostly worn off. So his earlier boldness had also dissipated until little remained. He frantically grabbed his clothes and threw them on. After quite a while, he smiled awkwardly. “Sister-in-law, I… I was truly drunk. I truly deserve to die.”

He used his hand to pound his own head. Huang Rang’s tears came as soon as called for—still one pearl-like teardrop crushed by lashes, starlight scattering in all directions, pitiful enough to move heaven itself. She stood up, arranged her dress properly, and said, “I’m also at fault. I clearly knew how could elder brother possibly… how could it be possible?”

The remaining words she didn’t continue saying. She walked to the table’s edge and picked up the food box. Just as she was about to leave, she suddenly said another sentence. “As for Hongchen, I’ll try to persuade him again. After all, that girl is already dead. There’s no need to implicate elder brother further.”

Huang Rang’s heart was ice-cold, but her voice carried a nasal tone, each word lingering like pear blossoms after rain. “But with his temperament, these few days he probably won’t be willing to see me again. Elder brother, take care of yourself. I’ve lingered at elder brother’s place for a long time. After all, there are many prying eyes. Elder brother, please handle this properly. Otherwise, if it reaches his ears, you and I… I fear we’ll both have no path to survival.”

Having finished speaking, she buried her head and slowly walked out the door.

Xie Yuanshu followed out, wanting to call her back, but didn’t.

He wasn’t originally a person with courage. Though anger was pent up in his heart, actually doing something was another matter.

And today he had actually dared to defile Huang Rang. After his lust passed, he was very remorseful. This person Xie Hongchen, though he handled matters mildly and justly, if one thought this meant he could be provoked, that would be a grave error.

If he were to find out about this matter…

Xie Yuanshu simply didn’t dare think further.

Huang Rang made her way back to Qilu Terrace. Xie Jiu’er was washing clothes for her.

Seeing her return, Xie Jiu’er’s expression was strange, but she still smiled reluctantly and said, “Foster Mother, why did you return so late today? Where did you go?”

She inquired carefully. Huang Rang didn’t pay attention to her, instead yawning and saying, “Children shouldn’t meddle in adult matters. I’m tired. I’ll rest for a while first. After you finish washing the clothes, you may leave.”

Having said this, as she left, she seemingly carelessly dropped a jade pendant.

Seeing her fatigue, Xie Jiu’er’s heart had already grown suspicious—Huang Rang had lingered outside for more than two hours.

She’d carried a food box. If she was distributing food to other disciples, it definitely wouldn’t take this long. So where had she gone? Her heart was turning over these thoughts when she saw Huang Rang drop something. Xie Jiu’er originally harbored ulterior motives, so naturally she didn’t call out to her.

She waited until Huang Rang returned to her room before stepping forward a few paces to pick up the object. With just one careful look, she was immediately shocked and horrified.

—It was a jade pendant.

Everyone in Yuhu Xuanzong valued jade and naturally everyone wore jade. And on this jade pendant was carved the character for Shu.

It was precisely the commonly worn item of Xie Lingbi’s son, Xie Yuanshu.

Xie Jiu’er’s heart raced wildly. How could Xie Yuanshu’s personal item appear with Huang Rang? Moreover, Huang Rang’s behavior today was truly too bizarre. She couldn’t help but think deeply about it.

Foster Father didn’t like Foster Mother—she knew this. If she reported this matter to Foster Father, would it make her more able to win his favor?

Xie Jiu’er calculated in her heart.

After finishing washing the clothes, she indeed tucked away that jade pendant and made her way to Dianicui Peak.

The direct disciples of Xie Hongchen’s lineage all lived here, and Xie Hongchen himself lived in Yeyun Hall at the peak’s summit. Xie Jiu’er made her way into the hall. The great hall had plain curtains flying, simple furnishings—one could see the inhabitant’s heart was cold and empty of worldly things.

“Foster Father!” Xie Jiu’er knelt in the hall, her voice already carrying a sobbing tone.

From the inner room, separated by plain curtains, Xie Hongchen’s voice said, “What has occurred?”

Xie Jiu’er knocked her head to the ground and said, “Just now Jiu’er went to Qilu Terrace to wash clothes for Foster Mother. I discovered, discovered…”

Xie Hongchen’s voice then carried several parts displeasure as he said sternly, “Speak.”

Xie Jiu’er hurriedly said, “I discovered Foster Mother went out and only returned home after three hours. She… not only was her hair bun disheveled, but also…” She exaggerated and embellished, wanting to draw Xie Hongchen’s attention.

Sure enough, Xie Hongchen asked, “But also what?”

Xie Jiu’er hurriedly presented the jade pendant and said, “And also Foster Mother accidentally dropped an object. Your daughter originally intended to pick it up and return it to her, but upon seeing this object, I truly didn’t dare make a decision on my own. I could only come up to find Foster Father!”

She lowered her head, both hands holding up the jade pendant.

Suddenly she felt her hands lighten—that jade pendant had already reached Xie Hongchen’s hands.

Xie Hongchen was silent for a long time, then said, “Elder Brother is always rough and careless, unexpectedly not even knowing his personal item has fallen. It must be that your foster mother picked it up and hasn’t had time to return it. You may go down now.”

Xie Jiu’er’s brows furrowed slightly—didn’t Foster Father dislike Foster Mother? Why did it sound like, receiving evidence of her wrongdoing, he didn’t seem very pleased? But she didn’t dare disobey Xie Hongchen’s orders, so she said, “Yes.”

She turned to withdraw. From the inner room, Xie Hongchen spoke again, “The jade pendant, Father will return it to your elder uncle. This matter ends here. Children should concentrate on cultivation and not have their attention divided by other matters.”

Xie Jiu’er understood his words were warning her not to speak recklessly. She hurriedly said, “Jiu’er understands.”

In the inner room, only after Xie Jiu’er left did Xie Hongchen carefully examine the jade pendant in his hand.

It was indeed Xie Yuanshu’s object, no mistake.

But Xie Yuanshu was currently at the outer gate and ordinarily couldn’t enter the inner gate. How would Huang Rang pick up his personal jade pendant? If speaking of the two having an affair, Xie Hongchen didn’t believe it. Though Huang Rang’s nature wasn’t good, she wasn’t stupid.

Now she was already the sect mistress, and he absolutely had no intention of taking more concubines. Her position was secure. She should be sleeping soundly without worries. How could she have any entanglement with Xie Yuanshu? Xie Yuanshu was an unconscionable person, of poor character, and lustful by nature. What could he give Huang Rang?

Huang Rang had an abacus in her heart. She calculated gains and losses clearly.

However, if speaking of Xie Yuanshu coveting Huang Rang, that was possible.

Huang Rang’s beauty was known to all the world. But how beautiful she truly was—probably only Xie Hongchen knew. Xie Yuanshu was already lustful by nature. To say his heart had no impure thoughts would be laughable.

Thinking of this, Xie Hongchen immediately said, “Someone come. Summon Xie Yuanshu to enter the hall and see me.”

Yuhu Xuanzong’s outer gate, within the merchant residence. By now night had fallen.

Xie Yuanshu was precisely feeling anxious and uneasy. If the matter of causing Zhen’er’s death was exposed before Xie Lingbi, Xie Lingbi would definitely beat him half to death. But if the matter of defiling Huang Rang was exposed, never mind that Xie Hongchen wouldn’t spare him—Xie Lingbi would definitely skin him alive.

He had done something guilty. Yet just when he’d done this guilty thing, it was like meeting a ghost knocking at the door—the head shopkeeper came running in and said, “Eldest young master, the sect master summons you to go to Yeyun Hall at Dianicui Peak!”

Xie Yuanshu’s heart immediately nearly jumped out of his chest!

Could it be the matter had been exposed?

Yes, it must be!

Otherwise, could Xie Hongchen summon him over late at night?

With Xie Hongchen’s temperament, if this matter was exposed, then going to Yeyun Hall he definitely wouldn’t survive. Other matters—Xie Hongchen might tolerate and forgive him for Xie Lingbi’s sake—but this matter…

Xie Yuanshu was originally a coward, but at this kind of moment, even a coward surged with a bit of courage.

Anyway, the matter with Zhen’er was already on his hands. Might as well simply eliminate him…

In this moment, what he’d said earlier to Huang Rang surfaced again—if I become sect master, you’ll be the sect mistress!

The tender feelings of daytime still had endless aftertaste. In this moment, Xie Yuanshu suddenly made up his mind! He calmly dressed properly, used storage treasures to bring all the magical tools and poison pills he’d usually collected, and made his way into the immortal sect’s inner gate.

By now night had fallen. He walked slowly on the inner gate’s mountain path. Though he’d also steeled his resolve, his heart was very clear—relying on himself alone, how could he possibly be Xie Hongchen’s match?

Thinking of this, he didn’t go directly to Dianicui Peak, but instead quietly went to Qilu Terrace.

—Qilu Terrace was remote and wouldn’t encounter many people on the road.

Because the sect mistress lived here, other disciples wouldn’t come to disturb her. Xie Hongchen came rarely. Ever since Xie Jiu’er moved to Dianicui Peak, Huang Rang almost always lived here alone. For Xie Yuanshu to do such a great deed, he naturally needed allies. And in the entire immortal sect, was there a more suitable candidate than Huang Rang?

Qilu Terrace was indeed completely quiet. Before the snow season, plum blossoms didn’t bloom either. Only in the triangular pavilion, a single lamp burned alone.

And Huang Rang was sitting right in the small pavilion.

The clothing on her body was thin. She was too slender, giving a feeling of being too frail to bear clothes.

Xie Yuanshu looked at the beauty under lamplight and only felt such a worldly treasure should belong to himself. He became even more determined in his courage, quietly came to the pavilion, and called out, “A-Rang?!”

Huang Rang seemed startled. Turning her head to see him, she appeared dazed. “Elder brother? How did you come?”

Xie Yuanshu stepped forward a few paces and immediately tried to grasp her hand. Huang Rang hurriedly withdrew her hand, so Xie Yuanshu only grasped a section of her sleeve. That sleeve was both soft and light, smooth and slippery like a beauty’s skin.

Xie Yuanshu was intoxicated by it. He said with determination, “A-Rang, I’m going right now to kill Xie Hongchen! From now on, I’ll never let you be alone and solitary again!”

Huang Rang gazed at him. After a long while, seemingly seeing his expression was resolute, her eyes brightened as if covered with a layer of tears. “Elder brother…”

Xie Yuanshu said, “Call me Shulang!”

Huang Rang sobbed slightly and finally said, “If Shulang has made up his mind, A-Rang is willing to die for Shulang.”

Xie Yuanshu covered her sandalwood mouth and said, “I won’t let you die. I want you to splendidly and gloriously be my sect mistress. I’m going to Yeyun Peak right now! But my strength alone is ultimately limited. A-Rang, you’ve followed him for a hundred years after all and know him deeply. Do you have any way to help me?”

Huang Rang’s gaze lowered. Her long lashes came down, trembling lightly like butterflies. “As long as it’s for Shulang, no matter what, A-Rang will do it. But I’m just a small earth spirit without any cultivation. I can’t help Shulang. And Qilu Terrace doesn’t have any magical treasures or poisons…”

Each of her sentences was pitifully touching, yet between the lines carried slight hints.

Qilu Terrace naturally didn’t have any poisons—after all, she, such a gentle and dignified sect mistress, where would she need such things?

But Xie Yuanshu managed the entire Yuhu Xuanzong’s shops. Getting any kind of poison wouldn’t be troublesome for him at all. Sure enough, a flash of inspiration struck Xie Yuanshu’s brain. He grasped Huang Rang’s hand and said, “Good sister, you’ve reminded me. I have some things here. Make him a bowl of soup and add it in. As long as he drinks it, even just one mouthful, I’ll naturally have a way to take him down!”

Huang Rang was both startled and frightened. “This… this…” She hesitated several times, then bit her lip and said, “I’ll listen to Shulang.”

Because she knew this person was stupid, she reminded him again, “Only his… cultivation is so profound after all. Ordinary poison pills probably can’t harm him. Besides, he knows the pills of Yuhu Xuanzong inside and out. Shulang, will we succeed?”

Xie Yuanshu’s pupils revealed a streak of viciousness. “I’ve managed the shops for so many years. Could I not have even a bit of private stock? A-Rang, rest assured. As long as he takes this pill, I will definitely take his life!”

Dianicui Peak, Yeyun Hall. Lamps were raised high, yet it was silent and soundless.

Xie Hongchen sat beside a desk, reading through a classic text. Beside him was placed Xie Yuanshu’s personal jade pendant. His peripheral vision swept over it and found it glaring to the eyes. As a man, no matter how magnanimous, there was always a reverse scale.

Today, he would let Xie Yuanshu know the consequences of touching his bottom line, making him never again dare to act presumptuously.