In the back courtyard of the inn, several lanterns hung from the flower branches.

Huang Rang and Qu Manying sat down at the stone table, and servants naturally brought tea.

Qu Manying used a small dish to shell the sugar-roasted chestnuts and placed them in front of Huang Rang. It took Huang Rang quite a while to realize these were for her.

“Come, try them. They’re probably a bit cold now, not fragrant and soft enough.” Qu Manying said, “If you have time in the future, come to Ruyi Sword Sect for study visits. Then I’ll have your uncle roast them fresh for you.”

She spoke these words extremely casually, yet Huang Rang listened in stunned amazement.

“Sect Leader He usually… does such things?” Huang Rang asked.

In her mind, this seemed simply too incredible.

From childhood to adulthood, the family heads she’d seen were either like Huang Shu, immersed in pleasure-seeking, or like Xie Hongchen, far removed from the kitchen. Which of these two seemed like they would roast chestnuts?

“He does.” Qu Manying said while shelling chestnuts for her, “All the children at home like them, so he learned. Pavilion Master Zhang can even steam buns. Ah, Sect Leader Wu also enjoys making food. You’ll know once you visit.”

Every word contained a smile. Huang Rang found it interesting.

Huang Rang had thought Qu Manying would bring up the matter of quality seeds, but she didn’t. She only shelled a large plate of chestnuts for Huang Rang, then said, “In the future, when you look for a husband, you must let Aunt help you evaluate him. With you winning the championship among new disciples this time, there will surely be many with burning eyes. But don’t be hasty. For a daughter to marry—that’s a lifetime matter…”

She rambled on, truly like a loving elder.

So Huang Rang also settled her temperament to listen. From childhood to adulthood, no elder had ever spoken to her this way.

Even when Elder Xi’s family came to claim kinship, they were lofty and arrogant.

The night breeze brushed gently, insects chirped from time to time.

Huang Rang felt such an evening wasn’t bad at all.

She and Qu Manying chatted about everyday matters, more or less also discussing Xiyin.

“Your mother… was just too naive. Huang Shu bewitched her completely.” When Qu Manying spoke to this point, she gave a soft sigh and said, “Look at this mouth of mine. He’s still your father after all. Just forget these words after hearing them.”

Huang Rang recalled the past and suddenly asked, “If… back then Mother had sought Aunt’s help, would Aunt have helped her?”

Qu Manying pondered for a while, saying, “Once she married Huang Shu, she couldn’t return to the Xi family. If she’d sought my help, I would at least have found a way to let her leave the Huang family, even if it meant living alone with you sisters. But you don’t know Xiyin’s temperament—she would never have sought my help.”

Huang Rang picked up a chestnut and put it in her mouth. The chestnut was very sweet, fragrant, soft, and delicious. After a long while she said, “I know.”

How could that woman ever admit her failure?

Her entire life was spent in resentment. Resenting Huang Shu, resenting Huang Shu’s concubines, resenting the children those concubines bore, then resenting Elder Sister and me.

That night, Huang Rang didn’t bring up the matter of quality seeds again. She sat leisurely with Qu Manying drinking tea and ate a bag of sugar-roasted chestnuts.

For the first time, Huang Rang chatted so leisurely with an elder, without needing to deliberately curry favor, and without any ulterior motive.

She rather liked this feeling.

The next day, the new disciple rankings were finalized.

Such demonstrations naturally came with rewards. The immortal sects had specially forged magical treasures and refined pills. Xie Hongchen, He Xijin, and others, as immortal sect masters, would naturally personally bestow these upon the future pillars of the immortal sects.

Many common people came to watch today, so the scene was naturally lively.

Huang Rang and the others were surrounded by envious gazes. Unfortunately, such honor held little attraction for her. However, that sword was quite nice—entirely silver-white, with the four characters “Standing Alone in Excellence” carved on the hilt.

The forger’s mark was actually Xie Lingbi’s.

Ah, truly ironic.

Huang Rang still scanned the viewing platform but didn’t see Di Yiqiu.

The Xi family members who had been so imposing yesterday also hadn’t come.

At the government office, the Director Jianzheng was dealing with this mess.

Elder Xi and his group indeed refused to leave the prison. The condition he proposed was also very simple: “To release this old man, have Shi Wenyu come in person!”

But who dared to summon Shi Wenyu?

As expected, Li Lu had no choice but to steel himself and forcibly drag Elder Xi and his group out.

Then… dumped them on the main street.

On one side of the street, the Director Jianzheng stood behind a window, observing in secret.

Elder Xi’s group had long been furious enough to burst. Now their faces had turned liver-colored.

But Di Yiqiu had figured correctly—with their status, they couldn’t very well make a scene in the street. That would only make them a laughingstock.

After being imprisoned for a night and suffering such indignities, how could Elder Xi still have the mind to find Huang Rang?

The group, like balls about to explode, left Kanyue City with dark expressions and returned to the Xi residence.

In the afternoon, the immortal sect new disciple demonstration ended, and everyone was to return to their respective sects.

Huang Rang also bid farewell to Qu Manying and the others, leaving Kanyue City with Xie Hongchen to return to Yuhu Xuanzong.

At this time, at Yuhu Xuanzong, Anlei Peak, Luofu Hall.

Xie Lingbi sat cross-legged on the bed. Now that Xie Hongchen had gone to Kanyue City, without his orders, no one would intrude into Luofu Hall.

He formed hand seals with both hands, eyes closed in cultivation. Yet from the incense burner before him rose wisps of black smoke. The black smoke twisted as it approached him, drawn by him, slowly seeping into the space between his brows.

Gradually, the black smoke became fainter and lighter.

Xie Lingbi opened his eyes, murmuring, “Too little, too little.”

He put away the incense burner and paced a few steps in the hall. Finally, as if thinking of something, he said, “Someone come.”

“Old Ancestor!” A disciple entered from outside and knelt before him.

Xie Lingbi said, “The things I had you catch yesterday—did you catch them?”

The disciple said hurriedly, “Reporting to Old Ancestor, recently rats have indeed been causing trouble, gnawing on spirit herbs. This disciple and others have already captured them as Old Ancestor instructed.”

As he spoke, the disciple quickly had someone bring in a wire cage. Inside the cage were indeed several plump rats.

Xie Lingbi nodded with satisfaction, saying, “Leave the cage, you may withdraw.”

“Yes.” Several disciples bowed and withdrew.

Xie Lingbi picked up the cage and opened the hidden door leading underground. He traveled through the dim passageway all the way to the deepest secret chamber.

Blue talisman light flashed on and off with breathing patterns. Xie Lingbi observed for a long time. Finally, he opened the secret chamber.

In this dark mountain belly, rows upon rows of “people” stood quietly.

They gazed ahead with empty eyes, completely unresponsive to everything around them.

Xie Lingbi surveyed these people, a trace of a smile appearing on his face. Then he opened the wire cage and released the rats inside. As soon as the rats entered the secret chamber, they immediately scattered and fled.

“You committed countless evils and deserve ten thousand deaths,” Xie Lingbi said softly. “Now that you can be used by this old man, at least you haven’t lived in vain.”

No one responded to him. His voice echoed high and low in the secret chamber.

Every person here had once left behind some reputation in the world.

But now, they were all just his medicinal catalysts.

Rats in the darkness scurried past rapidly, making squeaking sounds. Xie Lingbi closed his eyes, sensing even stronger resentment, anger, and fear.

“This is the feeling… this is the feeling.” He murmured.

Outside Yuhu Xuanzong, Xie Hongchen returned with four new disciples including Huang Rang.

Originally, several of them should routinely go to Luofu Hall to pay respects to Xie Lingbi. But Xie Lingbi didn’t appear. Using secluded cultivation as an excuse, he didn’t even summon Xie Hongchen.

This wasn’t really anything. It was better not to see him. Huang Rang returned to her room and took out her treasures to examine carefully.

This trip to Kanyue City, she had gained quite abundantly.

Besides the sword called “Standing Alone in Excellence,” there was also the jade and gold thread sachet Di Yiqiu had given her. Ah, and a rather interesting aunt.

Huang Rang lay on the bed, taking stock of her gains, quite pleased.

Meanwhile, in the capital.

As soon as the Director Jianzheng returned to the capital, without waiting for Shi Wenyu to summon him, he immediately went to the Xi residence bearing generous gifts.

Accompanying him was Vice Director Bao Wu.

The Xi family’s grand mansion saw him but only opened a small door.

“Who are you looking for?” The household servant looked right through the Director Jianzheng’s official attire, as if not recognizing it.

Even Bao Wu, with his thick nerves, felt something wasn’t right.

The Director Jianzheng smiled broadly, saying, “Di Yiqiu from Si Tianjian, requesting to see Elder Xi.”

“Si Tianjian?” That household servant looked him up and down, then said, “Wait here then.”

Having said this, his head ducked back inside and he was seen no more.

The Director Jianzheng waited patiently at the door, but Bao Wu couldn’t stand it.

He said, “Director Jianzheng, this isn’t right! When we’ve come in the past, the Xi family was never so rude!”

“Really?” The Director Jianzheng asked knowingly.

Bao Wu said angrily, “How much quality seed business does the court have with the Xi family each year? Even if Elder Xi doesn’t look at the monk’s face, he should look at the Buddha’s face!”

“Mm!” The Director Jianzheng nodded seriously.

Watching time pass bit by bit, the sun began to shift westward.

Yet the Xi family’s main gate remained tightly shut, with not the slightest intention of opening to welcome guests.

Bao Wu frowned. Even with his intelligence, he discovered things were not simple.

He asked, “Director Jianzheng, did you offend that old man?”

Di Yiqiu grunted, saying, “The word ‘offend’ isn’t quite appropriate.”—It was far more serious than that.

Bao Wu became even more confused. “Then this makes no sense.”

At this time, in the Xi residence, a crowd of household servants all gathered behind the door, everyone speculating wildly.

But no one had any intention of opening the door.

Clearly, the family head intended to leave this Director Jianzheng waiting.

As for the reason… they weren’t quite clear.

—Everyone assumed Huang Rang had delivered the message about the Kanyue City incident. Naturally, no one else was sent to inform them. The other Xi family members didn’t know what had happened.

But Elder Xi’s group had been arrested and thrown in jail over a mere waist token, kept overnight in disgrace.

Who would have the face to mention this?

So everyone stood by watching, while their hearts buzzed with speculation.

Just then, the Director Jianzheng drew a letter from his sleeve and handed it to Bao Wu, saying, “Read it.”

“Oh.” Bao Wu took the letter and immediately unfolded it. This man had always had a booming voice, and now his breath was full and vigorous. He read loudly: “To Venerable Elder Xi! This junior, Di Yiqiu, while conducting inspections in Kanyue City, discovered that Elder lacked a waist token, and thus arrested Elder and others and imprisoned them! Though this was impartial law enforcement, upon reflection afterward, it also lacked human consideration.”

The more Bao Wu read, the more wrong it seemed—what did you say you did?!

But the crowd of household servants behind the door found it even more wrong—ar-res-ted and im-pri-soned?

“After Venerable Elder Xi entered prison, he refused to leave on his own and demanded His Majesty come in person. Though this doesn’t accord with law, it is understandable human sentiment. This junior should not have refused, but instead expelled Elder and his group to the main street…” Bao Wu read with mouth agape and eyes wide.

But sharing his terror were all the household servants behind the door!

Bao Wu was about to continue reading when at that moment, the gilded copper door creaked open.

A middle-aged man stood before Bao Wu with a stern face.

Bao Wu, the top fighter of Si Tianjian, sensed piercing killing intent from an earth cultivator! Such intense resentment and rage that even a martial cultivator like him couldn’t help but step back.

This middle-aged man’s gaze was like knives, stabbing at Di Yiqiu. Word by word, he said, “The old master says, come in and speak!”

The Director Jianzheng was thoroughly courteous this time. He bowed deeply to the ground. “Thank you for Venerable Elder Xi’s magnanimity.”

Those around all looked pained—could they afford not to be magnanimous?

Who knew what else was written in that letter.

Given Elder Xi’s temperament, he probably wanted to eat his heart.

But no matter what, the Director Jianzheng ultimately still entered the Xi family’s door.

Venerable Elder Xi didn’t see him, only made him wait another hour before having his eldest son Xi Feng come out to send him away.

Of course, the Director Jianzheng didn’t mind.

After all, the Xi family and the court were interdependent. The court couldn’t do without the Xi family’s quality seeds, and the Xi family couldn’t do without the court as their main employer.

Even with deep hatred—what could they do?

Hold their noses, endure the disgust, and continue on.

Meanwhile, at Yuhu Xuanzong.

Huang Rang continued to immerse herself in diligent cultivation, but Xie Hongchen discovered—recently, outer sect disciples coming for study visits were increasing daily.

Moreover, these people were all children of prominent families, and mostly males.

They entered the outer sect but didn’t properly pursue their studies. They just craned their necks looking around, trying to get close to Huang Rang.

Huang Rang rarely went out, but she often went to Qilu Platform.

So these prominent family disciples put effort into Qilu Platform. They helped Huang Rang move fertilizer and dry seeds, everyone diligent.

And Huang Rang was always smiling, not really refusing.

Xie Hongchen began intentionally or unintentionally keeping her at Yeyun Hall to practice.

He couldn’t get close to her, but he also didn’t want others getting close to her.

Fortunately, Huang Rang didn’t mind. What difference did it make where she practiced? When she could touch the hem of Xie Lingbi’s robe—that was the important matter.

At Yeyun Hall, she would occasionally make small snacks for Xie Hongchen. She even cultivated a pot of orchids herself and placed it on Xie Hongchen’s desk.

Speaking of it was laughable. Outside the dream, she often made small snacks, but Xie Hongchen never paid attention. She cultivated orchids all over the mountain, but Xie Hongchen never gave them an extra glance.

But now in the dream, Xie Hongchen would praise her cooking skills and care for the orchids she sent. More than once, Huang Rang had seen him watering that pot of orchids.

Today, Huang Rang came to Qilu Platform and routinely tended her quality seeds. She carried the Xirang that Huang Shu had transformed into—this thing was a treasure. She only needed to sprinkle the Xirang on the soil, and it would naturally make the quality seeds mature rapidly.

As for the cost, naturally it was Huang Shu’s cultivation.

Huang Rang used his cultivation without the slightest heartache.

—Father, you’re far more useful this way than when alive.

So, better not think about cultivating your human form.

Huang Rang scattered the golden Xirang onto the soil, and the entire plot seemed warmed. All the quality seeds in the ground instantly unfurled their leaves, as if stretching comfortably.

After the soil was fully nourished, Huang Rang collected the Xirang. Lowering her head, she saw a letter held down by a stone.

A letter?

Huang Rang picked it up and opened it, only to see written inside—”Miss Ah Rang: Since seeing you at the apprenticeship banquet in the fifth year of Chengyuan, I have thought of you constantly. Hearing that you were also at this demonstration, I was overjoyed…”

—This was actually a love letter.

Boring.

Huang Rang crumpled the letter into a ball. Without even looking at the signature, she casually tossed it aside.

At that moment, someone below the mountain said, “Senior Sister Huang, someone from the outer sect has sent you a gift!”

“A gift?” Huang Rang’s brow furrowed slightly. That disciple said, “Yes, a very… strange gift.”

Currently in the immortal sect, only He Xijin and the others would send her bank notes. Who else would send her gifts?

She walked down the stone steps, following the winding mountain path to find the outer sect.

At the outer sect courier station, there was indeed a very strangely wrapped gift. This thing looked like a person.

No, this was a person!

Others cast strange looks—don’t get the wrong idea! Huang Rang hurriedly said, “Unwrap it for me!”

Because of her status and abilities, other disciples were quite respectful toward her. Immediately someone came over to help her unwrap this strange gift.

Inside really was a person—just a puppet made of iron and wood.

This puppet was very tall, its joints connected ingeniously.

It bore no forger’s mark, but Huang Rang knew at a glance who the maker was.

She had seen such puppets at Miao Yunzhi’s White Bone Cliff.

Di Yiqiu…

Huang Rang swallowed back all her complaints. She suspiciously poked at the puppet. The thing had no life force whatsoever. And because it was made of refined iron and thick wood, it was extremely heavy.

This wasn’t White Bone Cliff, and she didn’t need to decoct medicine or do chores.

Why was he sending her this puppet?

Huang Rang was completely baffled but still had people carry the puppet, crossing mountains and ridges all the way back to her room.

The puppet was tall and incredibly heavy. The immortal sect disciples carrying it panted and sweated profusely.

Meanwhile, at Si Tianjian.

The Director Jianzheng sat in his study. On the opposite wall hung fine snow-colored silk. The Nine-Curve Spirit Eye upon it was projecting a scene.

Several immortal sect disciples were carrying his masterpiece across mountains and ridges. On the puppet’s earlobe hung a string of gleaming bronze keys.

“…” The Director Jianzheng wanted to speak but stopped himself.

In the study, after the disciples left, Huang Rang touched and squeezed the puppet. Then she finally saw the key on the puppet’s ear.

She removed the key and searched for a long time before finally finding a keyhole in the puppet’s ear. She inserted the key and gently twisted. The puppet’s head lifted slightly, and something clicked inside its body.

Si Tianjian, in the study.

The Director Jianzheng saw Huang Rang’s face pressed right before the puppet’s eyes. Even at such close distance, that little face was so exquisite and lovely. The Director Jianzheng propped his chin on his hand, watching intently.

Just then, Huang Rang turned the bronze key inserted in the puppet’s ear one rotation, then another rotation, then another rotation…

The Director Jianzheng’s brow furrowed—this… she turned it too many times. This type of combat puppet’s maximum combat ability was quite formidable.

Sure enough, the puppet suddenly raised its arm and swung at Huang Rang!

Huang Rang couldn’t dodge in time. Smack—the puppet hit her in the face.

She covered her face, utterly shocked.

Equally shocked was the Director Jianzheng before the Nine-Curve Spirit Eye.

In the room, Huang Rang dodged left and right, chased all over the room by the puppet. That puppet had tremendous strength and a large frame. It smashed tables, shattered flower pots… before long, Huang Rang’s room had become ruins.

Huang Rang had no choice but to flee from the room.

She seemed to have run outside its range. The puppet lost its target and didn’t pursue further.

But she couldn’t go in. As soon as she entered, the puppet would attack.

…

Huang Rang stood at her room’s doorway, staring at each other with the puppet amid the ruins.

The Director Jianzheng gazed at her through the Nine-Curve Spirit Eye.

Witnessing firsthand as the shock in her eyes slowly transformed into fury.

—This… hadn’t she realized this was a combat puppet?

Of course Huang Rang hadn’t realized it.

Who could tell?! She was born an earth demon. How would the Huang family ever buy combat puppets?

Yuhu Xuanzong focused on seeking the dao and immortal cultivation, with masters personally teaching. Only the court’s schools, to rapidly increase combat power, had the Director Jianzheng personally forge these combat puppets.

Where would Huang Rang have seen such things? Besides, it wasn’t written on the thing’s face!

She’d set it to maximum combat power, then was blocked outside the door by this puppet, while her room was a complete mess—she couldn’t enter at all.

At such a miserable moment, how could heaven not add insult to injury?

So it began to rain.

Huang Rang stood in the drizzling rain. Several times she wanted to rush in but couldn’t defeat it. The puppet guarded the door, waiting for her to approach, then beating her violently.

The light rain gradually intensified, soaking her dress and hair. She was drenched like a drowned rat.

The Director Jianzheng covered his forehead with his hand, simply unable to bear watching.