“What?” Immortal Lady Liu was equally shocked.

At that moment, Immortal Lady Liu sat on the bed, one hand clutching her chest, her face pale.

Originally, she had thought that if Old Madam Feng’s eyes didn’t improve within three days, she could make up another excuse. Now, even the gambling houses in the capital were setting up bets on this. Under such scrutiny, not only would it be impossible to overcome this hurdle, but some of her past deceptions might also be exposed.

People in the Great Zhou dynasty loved to gamble, from small items like needles and thread to large ones like carriages and houses. Anything could be used as a stake for betting.

Immortal Lady Liu could easily imagine the excitement these two days had stirred up because of her ritual.

This wouldn’t do. She couldn’t stay at the Earl’s manor anymore; staying would be her downfall.

Immortal Lady Liu had the idea of leaving the capital and fleeing far away. She instructed her young disciple to inform Madam Xiao that she needed to go out for a while.

Madam Xiao, still not recovered from the shock, reflexively refused when she heard the disciple’s request.

When the disciple returned with the report, Immortal Lady Liu decided to go see Madam Xiao herself.

“Madam just fainted and is still very dizzy. She’s only just lying down. If Immortal Lady has any matters, perhaps you could come back later,” Madam Xiao’s head maid intercepted Immortal Lady Liu.

“Then please let Madam rest well. I’ll go speak with Old Madam instead,” Immortal Lady Liu said calmly, showing no irritation despite being refused twice.

“Cough, cough—” A cough came from inside. “Please, ask Immortal Lady to come in.”

Immortal Lady Liu walked in steadily.

Madam Xiao was being supported by her maid, half-reclining against an ink-patterned pillow.

“What does Immortal Lady need to tell Old Madam?” Facing Immortal Lady Liu, Madam Xiao could hardly maintain a pleasant expression.

If she could, she would have thrown this charlatan into a fire pit to burn!

Of course, she had just sent someone to contact her elder sister-in-law at her maiden home. She refused to believe this charlatan truly had such supernatural abilities, never having failed in exorcisms before.

“I need to buy some talisman paper. After the ritual, I’ll burn it into charm water for Old Madam to drink,” Immortal Lady Liu said calmly.

Since they had already fallen out, she naturally had to maintain her air of otherworldly expertise.

“If it’s just buying talisman paper, Immortal Lady could send her disciple.”

“That won’t do. The quality of the paper, and the color of the cinnabar – they all have subtle differences. Even a slight deviation would greatly reduce the effectiveness of the charm water, which would affect Old Madam’s eye recovery. So I must personally select these items,” Immortal Lady Liu said seriously, then looked meaningfully at Madam Xiao. “Madam surely wishes for Old Madam’s eyes to recover quickly, right?”

“Of course,” Madam Xiao was taken aback. After a moment’s thought, she nodded to the servant woman beside her, “In that case, take two people to accompany Immortal Lady.”

“Yes, Madam.”

Immortal Lady Liu cursed inwardly but smiled outwardly, “Talisman paper and cinnabar are light items. There’s no need for so many people.”

Madam Xiao smiled coldly, “Old Madam’s eyesight depends entirely on Immortal Lady. I must be concerned for Immortal Lady’s safety.”

Immortal Lady Liu’s smile tightened, and she said no more.

In her years of experience, she had escaped after failed exorcisms before and was quite experienced in the art of slipping away unnoticed.

Immortal Lady Liu left the Earl’s manor with her young disciple, unconcerned about the two sturdy servant women following behind. She headed straight for her usual shop.

The shop was a two-story building facing the street, with a large character for “Dan” written on a fluttering white flag.

“Oh, it’s Immortal Lady,” the shop assistant greeted familiarly.

“The usual,” Immortal Lady Liu said expressionlessly.

“Certainly, Immortal Lady, please go upstairs,” the assistant led Immortal Lady Liu and the others upstairs, curiously glancing at the two servant women following closely behind.

Immortal Lady Liu was a regular customer, usually accompanied by her female disciples. These two servant women were unfamiliar.

Ah, these two must be from Dong Ping Earl’s manor!

By now, the joke about Dong Ping Earl’s Second Madam inviting Immortal Lady Liu to perform an exorcism only to have her daughter exorcised had spread throughout the city.

“Immortal Lady, will Old Madam Feng’s eyes recover?” the assistant quickly glanced back and asked in a low voice.

Immortal Lady Liu gave him a sidelong glance and said proudly, “You doubt this Immortal Lady’s abilities?”

The assistant immediately smiled, “How could I? Your word is enough. To be honest, I even placed ten copper coins on your success at the Tianlong gambling house.”

“Ten copper coins?” Immortal Lady Liu frowned.

Was her reputation only worth ten copper coins?

“Hehe, I’ll grit my teeth and bet a tael of silver later. If Old Madam Feng’s eyes recover, it’ll immediately multiply fivefold!”

“The odds are—”

“One to five,” the assistant said, then realized his slip and smiled awkwardly, “Immortal Lady, please go in.”

Immortal Lady Liu entered with a gloomy face.

One to five odds? How insulting!

Fortunately, she was about to leave the capital. Let them do as they please.

The assistant busily presented various talisman papers and cinnabar, “Immortal Lady, please take your time selecting. If you need anything, just have your disciple call for me.”

As the door closed, the temperature in the room seemed to rise suddenly.

Immortal Lady Liu didn’t even look at the two servant women, focusing entirely on selecting talisman paper.

The two servant women, following Madam Xiao’s instructions, watched Immortal Lady Liu’s every move intently. Gradually, their eyelids began to feel heavy, and about a quarter-hour later, they fell asleep.

Immortal Lady Liu put down the items on the table and stood up, softly instructing her young disciple, “I’ll leave through the east side of the washroom. You stay here for a quarter-hour, then go downstairs and meet me at the usual place. Understand?”

The young disciple nodded repeatedly.

Immortal Lady Liu’s lips curled into a cold smile as she glanced at the two sleeping servant women, then openly pushed open the door and left.

The washroom was at the end of the corridor.

Immortal Lady Liu hurried towards it, when suddenly the door next to it opened, and a handsome youth with a likable smile appeared, “Where is Immortal Lady going?”

Immortal Lady Liu’s expression changed dramatically when she saw the youth’s face.

It was that demon’s maid, A Man!

Not only did Immortal Lady Liu not stop, but she quickened her pace.

A Man took off his shoe and threw it.

The soft-soled shoe hit the back of Immortal Lady Liu’s head. She staggered, and when she regained her senses, she found A Man already standing in front of her.

“If Immortal Lady wants to use the washroom, please hold it for a bit. Our Miss is waiting for you inside,” A Man put his shoe back on and pointed at the room door.

Resignedly, Immortal Lady Liu walked in and saw the beautiful young lady sitting by the window, smiling at her just like when they first met at the Tianxiang Teahouse.

Immortal Lady Liu couldn’t help but shudder.

At their first meeting, she had been tricked onto this dangerous path by this demon. What did she want this time?

“Was Immortal Lady planning to leave the capital?” The young lady’s jet-black eyes sparkled with mirth as if chatting idly with an old friend.

Immortal Lady Liu, having nothing left to lose, plopped down opposite Jiang Si, “What else does Miss want?”

“I have a business proposition. I think we could cooperate,” Jiang Si said.

Immortal Lady Liu instinctively felt this wasn’t good and warily stared at Jiang Si.

“Immortal Lady needn’t be so nervous. This business is closely related to you.”

Immortal Lady Liu: “…”

Great, now she was even more nervous. What should she do?