After the sandstorm subsided, the two returned to Silver Sand City.

From far away, Xiang Haikui noticed something unusual at the city gate—there were at least twice as many guards as when they had left.

Drawing closer, she saw two men fighting in the area between the inner and outer city gates.

The silk-robed swordsman was Lu Xiqiao, whom she had kicked on the flying boat earlier.

The bare-handed man was Wu Mian, her father’s third disciple.

He had the face of a boy-next-door, but once he started fighting, he was like a red-eyed wild wolf.

“How has Third Senior Brother gotten into a fight as soon as he returned?” Xiang Tianqing worriedly asked a guard.

“Young Lady, the City Lord previously ordered that Young Master Lu not be allowed to leave the border, but he…” The guard answering had a battered face, obviously having been beaten by Lu Xiqiao.

Xiang Haikui truly admired this young master from the Imperial Capital—a man who had nearly died once still continued to court death.

The guard had used the term “leave the border” rather than “leave the city.”

Lu Xiqiao was trying to leave the Central Province border to explore deep into the desert.

With a loud “boom,” Lu Xiqiao was slammed against the city wall, his sword falling from his hand.

“Too weak,” Wu Mian said, blowing on his fist and smirking with disdain. “So this is the level of Jin Ling Academy’s elite disciples?”

Lu Xiqiao slid down the wall to the ground. After being mocked, he looked up but cursed not at Wu Mian: “Meng Xilou! You son of a bitch!”

Xiang Haikui had already spotted her father’s eldest disciple, Meng Xilou. With shoulder-length black hair and severe features, he wore a dark green embroidered long robe with a standing collar, standing with his hands behind his back on the inner city wall.

Xiang Haikui noticed him because she had first felt his gaze.

Looking up to meet his eyes, he gave a cold smile, then shifted his gaze to Xiang Tianqing, who was carrying a small bamboo basket. His eyes instantly softened.

After being called out by Lu Xiqiao, Meng Xilou shouted: “This is your final warning. Next time you cause trouble, don’t blame me for getting serious!”

The cursing Lu Xiqiao was led away as city residents buzzed with discussion.

All were praising Meng Xilou.

In the Imperial Capital, the Meng and Lu families were considered evenly matched, and the two houses were traditionally at odds. Meng Xilou personally preventing him from leaving was saving his life, yet this young master showed no gratitude—truly biting the hand that feeds.

At this moment, Meng Xilou was sending a mental message to his confidant: “Keep an eye on Lu Xiqiao. If he tries to sneak past the border again, let him go, and then…”

He paused, “After he leaves, kill all the border guards, using the Lu family sword style.”

Confidant: “Yes!”

Meng Xilou inwardly sneered. If the fool wanted to die, let him—he couldn’t care less.

But on his territory, he had to keep up appearances.

“Little Junior Sister!” Wu Mian walked toward Xiang Tianqing with a radiant smile.

Xiang Tianqing reminded him somewhat awkwardly: “Third Senior Brother, Little Sister Kui is now our little junior sister.”

Wu Mian turned his head to look at Xiang Haikui, his gaze carrying a hint of challenge: “So you’re the ‘daughter’ Father left outside?”

Xiang Haikui shifted her gaze from his hands: “Ah, yes. Greetings, Third Senior Brother.”

“A sword cultivator?” Seeing her carrying a sword box, Wu Mian clenched his fist again and swung it toward her face.

Logically, Xiang Haikui knew she should pretend to be frightened and hide behind Xiang Tianqing, but Tian Kuang was vibrating nonstop in its box, seemingly enraged and eager to be drawn to kill him.

Besides, playing the weakling wasn’t easy for her.

Fortunately, as she hesitated, Meng Xilou grabbed Wu Mian’s wrist: “What are you doing?!”

Wu Mian seemed somewhat afraid of him and stuck out his tongue: “Just joking. I only used a fraction of my strength—just wanted to test ‘Little Junior Sister’s’ abilities.”

He muttered under his breath, “Didn’t you hear what everyone’s saying?”

Of course, she heard.

Xiang Haikui heard it all very clearly.

After discussing Lu Xiqiao, everyone’s attention focused on her.

“She doesn’t look anything like the City Lord. I heard she doesn’t have the aptitude for cultivation. Could the rumors be true?”

“What rumors?”

“You know…”

The rest was communicated through meaningful glances.

Just like in her dream, someone was stirring up trouble, claiming she was a seductress who had bewitched the City Lord. Her cultivation aptitude was too poor to be taken as a disciple, so he recognized her as a daughter instead.

That kind of “godfather” and “goddaughter” relationship.

Hearing these rumors tarnishing her father’s reputation, Xiang Tianqing was angry but couldn’t explain. She tugged at her hand and glanced at Xiang Haikui.

There was blame in her eyes.

Seeing Xiang Tianqing’s expression, Meng Xilou’s gaze toward Xiang Haikui grew increasingly hostile: “Little Junior Sister would be better off staying in the City Lord’s mansion from now on, rather than going out.”

Xiang Haikui also couldn’t stand others slandering her father, but this wasn’t her fault—what did it have to do with her?

She felt wronged inside.

She reached out to take the small bamboo basket from Xiang Tianqing and left with the little black snake.

After walking a few steps, Xiang Haikui turned back and smiled at Meng Xilou: “First Senior Brother, right? If you’re really capable, you’d control their mouths, not my legs.”

With that, she rolled her eyes at him and turned away.

Meng Xilou was stunned by her words, then suddenly clenched his fist.

…

After returning to the City Lord’s mansion, Xiang Haikui first went to the kitchen and took out the little black snake from the basket.

The snake was already cold. Xiang Tianqing had checked its teeth and said it was non-venomous. Xiang Haikui didn’t process it much—she just casually scraped off some scales and sprinkled salt on its many small wounds.

She even pressed hard on the wounds with her thumb.

She asked the kitchen maid for a porcelain jar, tossed the snake in, closed the lid, and placed it on the windowsill.

She stretched lazily and asked the kitchen maid to heat some water for her bath.

With her current cultivation level, although she didn’t sweat much, she still felt fatigued. A bath was very refreshing.

Previously, due to her psychological shadow, she hadn’t dared to take a bath.

When she returned from the kitchen to her small courtyard, the beautiful youth Bai Xingxian was sitting in the yard, leaning over a stone table, writing something.

For convenience of support, they lived in the same courtyard.

“My father has already entered seclusion. I should be quite safe for the next few days—we’ll see about the seventh day.”

The seventh day was when her father’s true qi would complete a grand cycle.

Xiang Haikui walked over, initially intending to sit opposite him, but changed to sit beside him.

She didn’t want to see those two big gold teeth when he spoke.

But Bai Xingxian turned sideways, resting his chin on his palm to face her: “Little Sister Kui, have you figured things out yet?”

Xiang Haikui shook her head: “I can’t guess who it is, so I’m not guessing anymore. I’ll just wait for them to come.”

She now hoped the person would come quickly, so she wouldn’t have to keep hiding her abilities.

Once Tian Kuang was unsheathed, those rumors would collapse on their own.

Who would dare say she wasn’t like her brave, battle-hardened father then?

“Then we’ll wait.” Bai Xingxian nodded and continued writing.

Xiang Haikui wasn’t trying to peek, but she accidentally glimpsed her name followed by a number: “Little Bai, what are you writing?”

Bai Xingxian: “Keeping accounts—our expenses along the way.”

Xiang Haikui was incredulous: “With your wealth, you still record such minor expenses?”

Bai Xingxian looked pitiful: “I’m very poor. Uncle is the one with money, and I have to pay it all back.”

Xiang Haikui: …

“By the way, is this your first time away from Senior Yin?”

“Yes, ever since I can remember, I’ve always been by Uncle’s side—about five hundred years now.”

Observing Bai Xingxian, Xiang Haikui felt that Yin Changli hadn’t given her this silly Tuntun as a teammate.

It seemed more like he was going on a long journey and had dumped his pet with her for temporary care.

Xiang Haikui took the opportunity to inquire: “Little Bai, is Senior Yin helping me really because he doesn’t like the romantic fate the heavenly dao arranged for him?”

Bai Xingxian: “I suppose so.”

Xiang Haikui: “Why did he choose me? Did he see that I was suited for the Tian Kuang Sword?”

“Not really.” Bai Xingxian put down his pen and recalled: “Uncle said smart people act in traceable ways, following certain logic. You’re different—you’re hard to control, which makes you perfect for stirring up troubled waters.”

What did that mean?

After pondering for a while, Xiang Haikui finally understood—he was saying she was stupid, with a brain the size of a cherry!

She was angry but gradually understood the point.

It was like competitive gaming—at high-level matches, expert players could predict opponents’ movements, rarely making mistakes.

But in beginner-level games, the experts would frequently err.

Why?

Because no matter how strong their prediction ability, it was useless against bronze-level noobs who had no movement patterns at all.

…

Meanwhile, after returning, Xiang Tianqing remained restless and uneasy.

It was as if she had to do something, but had forgotten what it was.

Xiang Tianqing decided to leave her room and walk slowly along the corridor under the moonlight.

Without any destination in mind, she somehow arrived outside the kitchen.

And there, she heard a faint sound coming from a jar on the kitchen windowsill.

As if drawn by some mysterious force, she went over and opened the lid, seeing the little black snake twisting its body inside the jar.

It wasn’t dead?

Hadn’t it already died when they brought it back?

Perhaps it had been hanging on with its last breath, and the pain from the salt had revived it?

But it wouldn’t live much longer. Xiang Tianqing was about to close the lid, but for some reason, she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

The little black snake’s eyes were full of pleading, as if begging for help.

Xiang Tianqing, not usually tenderhearted, suddenly felt a strong urge to save it.

This feeling was strange, almost like…

It was destined.

Xiang Tianqing extended her slender finger and gently touched the snake’s head, her eyes full of pity, her voice soft: “Mm, I hear you. I’ll save you.”

Just as she was about to take the little black snake away, Xiang Haikui walked in with her messy bun: “Oh? Sister, are you hungry too?”

Xiang Haikui had fallen asleep in the bath and woke up starving, so she came to find something to eat.

Xiang Tianqing hastily said, “You’ve come at the right time. Look, this little black snake is still alive. Pickling it with salt like this is too cruel.”

Xiang Haikui was startled and quickly came forward to check—indeed, it was still alive.

She loved meat and often said, “Our ancestors spent countless years putting humans at the top of the food chain, not for us to be vegetarians.”

But while she believed in killing for food, she understood that torture and cruel killing were wrong: “I’m sorry, snake brother, for making you suffer. It’s my fault.”

Xiang Tianqing thought the matter was resolved and was about to say she would take the little black snake away, promising to catch some larger snakes for her to eat tomorrow.

But then she saw Xiang Haikui move swiftly, grabbing the little black snake from the jar with one hand and tossing it onto the cutting board. With her other hand, she picked up a kitchen knife. The blade fell with a thud, chopping the snake in two.

“There, now it’s truly dead and not suffering anymore.”

Xiang Tianqing was stunned, her finger trembling slightly.

This decisive, ruthless girl before her filled her with dread.

She believed people would soon start saying that this girl was more like her father’s daughter.

Just thinking about that day made Xiang Tianqing anxious.