《Young Master Is Being Jealous Again!》 Chapter 1 - 1 1 Sorry, Im late ?1: Chapter 1 Sorry, I¡¯m late 1: Chapter 1 Sorry, I¡¯m late Capital City. A fine drizzle was falling from the sky. Wanbao Mountain, cemetery. A few men in black suits, emanating an air of authority, were making their way up the mountain. They surrounded a man dressed in a dark suit carrying a black umbrella, slowly progressing on the stone path. The man in the suit had striking good looks, and every move he made conveyed a sense of dignity. He exuded an aura of noble elegance. The soft patter of the drizzle on the umbrella filled the air. They came to a stop in front of two tombstones, one large and one small. The man they were escorting, refined and imposing, slightly lifted the black umbrella he was holding, revealing a handsome and aloof face. This was the third young master of the Huo Family, rumored to be decisive and unpredictable in Capital City. ¡°Third young master¡ª¡ª¡± A bodyguard behind him was respectively handing a lily and sunflower bouquet, untouched by the rain, to Huo Yunjiao. A slender, as white as jade, hand reached slowly to accept the bouquet offered by the bodyguard. He took two steps forward and he crouched slightly, placing the sunflower bouquet in front of the smaller tombstone. The tombstone had Huo Yao¡¯s name carved on it. Yao, so far away, unattainable. This was his child whom he had never had the chance to meet. Huo Yunjiao stood there, a faint look of sorrow appearing in his deep, dark eyes. After a while, he stood up and moved to the other tombstone ¨C the one bearing Qin Ruan¡¯s name. The lily in his hand exuded a delicate fragrance ¨C a symbol of purity, beauty, and elegance ¨C which he slowly laid in front of the tomb. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I came late.¡± Huo Yunjiao¡¯s deep and husky voice echoed. His hand caressed the name of Qin Ruan on the tombstone; ¡°The ones who plotted against you have been found. They will spend the rest of their lives in regret and pain. Death would be a release for them. I will let them live, and when the time comes, they will kneel and beg for your forgiveness, is that okay?¡± His voice softened towards the end of his words, almost like he was talking to a child. When they first met, it was a fleeting romance. Back then, wasn¡¯t Qin Ruan but a little girl? Recalling those distant memories, a coldness like frost and snow appeared in Huo Yunjiao¡¯s eyes, which flashed with complexity and heaviness. He stood there deep in thought, an expressionless look on his handsome and cold face. His beautiful eyebrows were slightly furrowed, his thin lips pressed into a rigid line. Anyone could tell that the third young master Huo¡¯s mood was not good. The sky was densely overcast; the rain was getting heavier. The bodyguard approached, holding a black coat in his hands, and draped it over the man standing in front of the tombstone. ¡°Third young master, it¡¯s raining heavily.¡± Huo Yunjiao hummed in acknowledgment, adjusted the coat on his body, and looked for a long moment at the names of Qin Ruan and Huo Yao on the tombstone. His voice was barely audible: ¡°I¡¯ll come to visit you and your child often.¡± This was his first visit to the mother and son, but it would not be his last. After making this promise, Huo Yunjiao turned and left. His figure looked lonely and desolate, tugging at the heartstrings. ¡°Cough, cough...¡± Huo Yunjiao¡¯s muffled cough was lost amidst the sound of the falling rain. The group moved away from the cemetery, fading into the distance until they were completely out of sight. No one would ever have imagined that the third young master of the Huo Family, the current head of the family, would actually come to Wanbao Mountain to pay tribute to a notorious and disgraceful woman. As the movements of the Huo Family were closely monitored by various forces, some people started to connect the dots upon considering the recent downfall of the Qin Family. It seemed they had understood something. From then on, every year on Qingming Festival and Hungry Ghost Festival, Huo Yunjiao would come to leave a bouquet of flowers for Qin Ruan and Huo Yao. Until the day Huo Yunjiao left this world and was no longer able to visit them at Wanbao Mountain. The ethereal figure that had been lingering by the tombstone was no longer able to wait for him. It had to be carried away by the wind, forever disappearing from the world. ... Capital City. It was already midsummer in June. The sky was grey, and a hint of light was starting to show in the east, awaiting the arrival of dawn. Suddenly, thunder rumbled through the air and a violent wind howled. It was a fearsome display of nature¡¯s power. In East City, the Imperial Court Hotel. A bolt of lightning struck the hotel. Instantly, the color of the sky changed. As quickly as it had started, the thunder ceased to roll, and the gale wind stopped. Dawn had broken, and the sun rose, illuminating the entire city. What had just taken place seemed illusory, almost unreal. The people of this city were awakened in their dreams. They were about to investigate, only to find that everything outside was now calm. In a room at the Imperial Court Hotel, The young girl lying on the large, soft bed slowly opened her eyes. The familiar yet strange surroundings were clearly mirrored in Qin Ruan¡¯s eyes. For a moment, her mind went blank. Her eyes were vacant, lifeless, like those of a person nearing the end of their life. Her body felt strangely painful, as if she had fallen apart ¨C an endless dull pain. This was not a sharp pain, but a nagging discomfort that was hard to bear. The room had a expensive red carpet on the floor, strewn with clothes in a mess. Long-forgotten memories started to return to her mind. The emotions in Qin Ruan¡¯s eyes began to change drastically. Her pupils trembled slightly, and the lifeless, defeated look in her eyes gradually faded. Reading Guidelines: New books lean towards the supernatural, might be a bit scary. All the content in the book is fictional (false), don¡¯t take it seriously, we must believe in science. This Huo Third Master, who is so affectionate and serious, has been brought out for us to see from the start of the chapter. Are you sure you are not moved? The male lead¡¯s name: Huo Yunjiao (jiao) read in the first tone. If you like this book, if you like the ¡°delicate couple¡±, don¡¯t forget to add it to your favorites! Chapter 2 - 2 2 Decisive Ho the Third ?2: Chapter 2: Decisive Ho the Third 2: Chapter 2: Decisive Ho the Third She was back. She really was back! The heavens had not deceived her! With wide eyes full of disbelief, Qin Ruan trembled, her palm-sized exquisite face expressing a mixture of joy and surprise, akin to both weeping and rejoicing. A pair of beautiful eyes shone with teary light, crystal-clear tears sliding down her cheeks, falling onto the silk quilt that covered her body. Since childhood, Qin Ruan had lived in the slums of West City in Capital City, sans parents and growing up in an orphanage. Children who grow up in the slums¡¯ orphanage tend to be wild from a young age. They survive long years among gangsters, murderers, and thieves, and inevitably pick up some bad habits themselves. In order to survive, Qin Ruan had no choice but to integrate into the slums, a place she loathed deeply, yet also where she felt a sense of belonging. It was her home, a place where she had lived for eighteen years. Even though West City was filled with filth everywhere, including various shady deals and the daily silent disappearance of lives, she still referred to West City as her home. Eighteen years... All her memories of living freely and enjoyably for that brief span of eighteen years were rooted in West City. On the year Qin Ruan turned eighteen, she was sought out by the noble Qin Family of Capital City. She turned out to be the lost daughter of the Qin Family, the third miss of the Qin Family. Years ago, when Madam Qin gave birth to a pair of twins in the hospital, someone attempted to kidnap her son. In their haste, they ended up confusing him with his sister, Qin Ruan. The kidnapper, upon discovering that the child was a girl, dumped Qin Ruan in the snowy winter. Girls were not valued in those days, as people¡¯s mentality was still deeply rooted in the bias of boys over girls. Luckily for Qin Ruan, she was found by a kindhearted individual who sent her to the orphanage. If she had remained an orphan of the slums¡¯ orphanage her entire life, she would have perhaps led a mundane life till the day she died of old age. Everything tragic only began when she was recognized and taken into the Qin Family. Despite being a legitimate daughter of the Qin Family, she was labeled an illegitimate child. She suffered slander, humiliation, insults, traps, and wrongful accusations. She was even deliberately estranged from her father and brothers. All of this was the doing of her stepmother and her stepsister, a cold-blooded and malicious pair that made one¡¯s skin crawl. While recalling the hardships she would face ahead, Qin Ruan¡¯s eyes gradually filled with a cold, vengeful, and angry light, and the sorrow that lay deep within them. She suddenly sat up in bed, the sudden movement causing her body to erupt in pain. Ignoring the pain, Qin Ruan knew she needed to leave here as soon as possible. This was the hotel where she had been framed by her stepsister and had spent a night of folly with a stranger. However, this was not the same room where she had been through the storm, she had been switched. In order to ruin her, her stepsister had specifically sought out a rich second-generation man with some power who liked beauty in order to tarnish her chastity. Little did they know that she had a fleeting encounter with the well-known, decisive, and influential Mr. Huo of the Capital City, all due to some unexpected factors. When her stepsister found out, she ground her teeth in anger and audaciously swapped places with her. That woman had moved her to this current room and taken her place beside Mr. Huo. The disorderly state of the room was also deliberately arranged by her. During her past life, she had been left oblivious to these truths until after her death. This was one of the countless times Qin Ruan had been calculated against by her stepsister within a year of returning to the Qin family, and it was the most successful time of them all. Because of this incident, she had lost everything she had held dear, including the unborn child in her womb. Qin Ruan lowered her gaze, touching her flat stomach. The child she had lost in a night full of passion and chaos was now growing inside her belly again. This time, she would not let anyone hurt her child. Chapter 3 - 3 3 She Crawled Out of Hell ?3: Chapter 3 She Crawled Out of Hell 3: Chapter 3 She Crawled Out of Hell In her previous life, Qin Ruan was truly naive. She missed her period for four months, but she saw it as normal, attributing it to malnourishment and hormonal imbalance from her childhood. After all, she didn¡¯t take it seriously even when she hadn¡¯t had it for half a year. She noticed her belly protruding but attributed it to lack of exercise, totally unaware that she was pregnant. Her negligence led her stepmother and stepsister to discover her secret through a bowl of fish soup at home. The mother-daughter duo, after confirming her pregnancy, schemed and painstakingly sent her to prison. Under their deliberate arrangements, Qin Ruan, no matter how skillful, suffered terribly in jail. During a riot, she was hit in the stomach and was in such agony that she nearly died. She bled profusely, the blood soaking the floor, causing her eyes to sting with pain. She went into preterm and difficult labor, and the child was delivered prematurely. The nearly five-month old fetus was formed but had not yet opened his eyes upon arrival to this world. He whimpered weakly like a newborn kitten and then permanently left the mortal world. Qin Ruan sat on the bed, tightly grasping the brocade quilt beneath her, her eyes bloodshot, filled with cold and murderous intent. That was her child, her own flesh and blood. Even without knowing who the father was, she couldn¡¯t accept that her child left her in such a manner. She blamed herself, tormented by pain and regret, living in a daze every day. Not until she found out that her child¡¯s death was due to her stepmother and stepsister¡¯s plot did she go mad, fighting back without concern for her own life. However, she was just one move short in this game of chess. By then, she was already infamous, discredited, and no one believed her. She was sent to Peace Hospital by the mother-daughter pair, labeled as a lunatic. In the end, she died at the hands of Han Xian and Han Kexin. A single dose of medicine was all it took to send her to hell. At the brink of death, the mother-daughter duo looked down at her, ridiculing her for her overestimation of herself. They revealed many dirty secrets to her in a joking manner, including the identity of her child¡¯s father. Huo Family, a well-respected family for centuries, had a deep foundation and formidable strength. This family had been holding power for years, and even today, ruled over four major families and six major aristocratic families in Capital City. To Qin Ruan, and even the entire Qin Family, they were an unattainable existence. Indeed, the identity of the child¡¯s father was of great importance. Young Master Huo, the top-notch noble in the circle of the power elites in Capital City. Before her death, Qin Ruan bitterly mused, perhaps that man would never know he almost became a father. After her death, as a lingering spirit, she saw everything that man did for her. In the end, Huo Family, being the all-powerful nobles, there were no secrets that could be concealed from them. After Qin Ruan and Young Master Huo spent a night together, he fell weak due to loss of virginity and was sent overseas for medical treatment by his family, set to return after a year. His first act upon returning was to eradicate Qin Family. Thinking about her father who died before her, and her missing younger brother, Qin Ruan tightly shut her eyes, filled with madness and hatred. Some scores had to be settled one by one; she couldn¡¯t rush it. For a moment, Qin Ruan, with her eyes reopened, regained some sanity. Soon, her stepsister would barge in with her group of friends to jeer at her and further defame her. Starting from that day, she would be the disgrace of Qin Family, becoming the laughingstock of the upper class society. Qin Ruan, dragging her aching body, picked up the crumpled clothes nearby and slowly dressed herself with a steady pace. In her previous life, Qin Ruan never understood why Han Xian and Han Kexin hated her so much. Since returning to Qin Family, she never interfered with their luxurious lives. Not until her death did she learn about Han Xian¡¯s collusion with her uncle and realized they were too greedy, wanting to usurp the vast wealth of Qin Family. Chapter 4 - 4 4 My Man Despises You ?4: Chapter 4 My Man Despises You 4: Chapter 4 My Man Despises You Ever since Qin Ruan was recognized and brought back to the Qin Family, her step-sister Han Kexin spread rumors that she was the illegitimate child of the Qin family. They called her a hooligan from the slums who had no education or skills, and they declared her a disgrace to the high society of Capital City. Furthermore, her stepmother, Han Xian, displayed the true face of a hypocrite, badmouthing Qin Ruan both in front and behind her back until her reputation was completely ruined in the circle of esteemed wives. Everyone detested her. And there were all those sneaky insects in the Qin Family who did everything behind the scenes. Fearing that she would win the favor of her father and brothers, and thus gain control over a large part of the Qin Group¡¯s shares, they did not hesitate to use all means to undercut her, trip up her efforts, and frame her for all sorts of crimes. Qin Ruan mostly ignored all these things as she had always lived a carefree and independent life. If she didn¡¯t care about something, why should she fuss over it? However, she was wrong! Those people not only wanted to destroy her, but they also wanted to kill her. They were after her life. Even... they wanted to kill her unborn baby! As Qin Ruan buttoned up her clothes, she placed her hand on her aching lower abdomen and gently caressed it. Her eyes were filled with anticipation. ¡°Bang!¡± Right after Qin Ruan finished dressing, the door to her room was violently kicked open, making a loud noise. Standing with her back to the door, Qin Ruan slowly turned around. She calmly looked toward the doorway with indifferent eyes, her emotions were stable as if all the past humiliations were completely erased from her memory. Five or six women were standing outside the door, and the one leading them was her step-sister Han Kexin. Noticing that Qin Ruan had dressed, Han Kexin¡¯s eyes flickered. Suddenly, she lifted her chin and looked down at Qin Ruan with contempt, her face filled with mockery as if looking at garbage. The others were just as harsh in their attitudes. ¡°Oh, Qin Ruan, who has been fooling around with you? Looking at your marked body, people might wrongly think you¡¯ve been violated!¡± Everything was the same as her previous life. Even Han Kexin¡¯s remark was identical. Qin Ruan lowered her gaze. The summer clothes she wore couldn¡¯t cover her entirely. Her exposed arms and legs were covered in colored bruises. They were clearly visible, making it look like she had been... A small grin appeared on Qin Ruan¡¯s lips, and her face turned weird. In her previous life, she hadn¡¯t noticed this. When Han Kexin and others barged in, she was busy explaining hurriedly. She was humiliated and ridiculed and ended up fleeing in panic. Who could have imagined that Master Huo, who was rumored to be weak and noble, would be so cruel? Men indeed must uphold their masculinity. Qin Ruan calmly adjusted her clothes in the most unhurried manner. Standing at the side of the bed, she looked down on Han Kexin from a superior position, her expression filled with mockery, as if looking at a clown. ¡°Han Kexin,¡± her voice hoarse with a post-coital rasp, Qin Ruan opened her red lips. ¡°I was busy rolling in the sheets with my boyfriend. You led people here to kick my door. Were you desperate and lonely, eager to throw yourself at him?¡± But this Han Kexin had not thrown herself at anyone, otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have stooped to such dirty tricks. She looked Han Kexin up and down and shook her head regretfully. ¡°What a pity, you have neither the figure nor the face. Even my man couldn¡¯t bear to look at you. You better get lost with your dogs!¡± ¡°...¡± Han Kexin¡¯s face changed drastically. ¡°...¡± The others around her were dumbfounded. Everyone stared at Qin Ruan in disbelief, looking at her as if they were seeing her for the first time. To fit into the Qin family and to conform to the social circle, she had always been silent and less talkative, hiding her unrestrained personality from West City. The Qin Ruan they were seeing now was quite a change, aggressive and full of raw energy, giving off an aura of cold indifference and ferocity. The transformation was so drastic that it was hard to comprehend. Han Kexin stared at Qin Ruan who was scantily clad, her skin marked with dark spots, her eyes filled with intense jealousy. Chapter 5 - 5 5 Whose dog is barking so cheerfully ?5: Chapter 5: Whose dog is barking so cheerfully 5: Chapter 5: Whose dog is barking so cheerfully Provoked by Qin Ruan¡¯s words, Han Kexin couldn¡¯t maintain her composure any longer. Her face twisted with rage, ¡°Who do you think you are? Nothing more than an illegitimate child of the Qin Family, a third-rate trash from the slums. What gives you the right to act so arrogantly here!¡± Qin Ruan retrieved her casual shoes from the room and calmly slipped them on under everyone¡¯s gaze. Having put on her shoes, she stood up straight despite the pain in her body and started walking towards Han Kexin step by step. Getting up close, Qin Ruan grasped Han Kexin¡¯s chin forcefully, her voice was icy and ruthless, ¡°Han Kexin, there has only ever been one true Miss in the Qin family. Your barking like a dog here is quite amusing.¡± ¡°What are you talking about? Kexin was raised in the Qin family since she was a child, her relationship with the Family Head is much deeper than yours. You are an illegitimate daughter, what gives you the right to claim the title of Miss Qin!¡± Han Kexin¡¯s lap dog started to take her side. Yet Qin Ruan didn¡¯t even bother to spare them a look. Her cold eyes stared at Han Kexin, she leaned in close to her ear and whispered, ¡°I¡¯m giving you one last chance. Get out of here or I¡¯ll kick you and your promiscuous mother out of the Qin family forever!¡± ¡°You... on what grounds?¡± Han Kexin¡¯s eyes flashed with panic, but she quickly regained her composure. This was the first time she had seen Qin Ruan being so fierce. The hateful and icy glare from Qin Ruan was enough to freeze her on the spot. Han Kexin¡¯s mother is Qin¡¯s father¡¯s second wife. She has been known for her mild and virtuous nature for years, everyone knows how well raised Madam Qin was. But as her daughter, she knew the real story better than anyone. What did Qin Ruan know? Why did she claim her mother was a wanton woman! Han Kexin¡¯s face showed a moment of panic, although she quickly suppressed it, it didn¡¯t escape Qin Ruan¡¯s notice. Qin Ruan laughed coldly, ¡°Because I am the Miss of the Qin family. Because my father and brothers dote on me. Because I hold 20% of the shares in the Qin Group, making me the second-largest shareholder!¡± All of these were the most valuable chips Qin Ruan had in her previous life. Unfortunately, she wasted them. She even thought her father and brothers didn¡¯t love her, and was tricked by Han Kexin and her mother, thinking she was a fool, all leading to her losing her life. She was stupid, she was naive, she had imprisoned herself in a world of her own, never providing a chance for anyone to get close to her. She was the one who tied herself up in this mess. The opportunity to be reborn was not given for nothing. She would make them pay for every single wrongdoing they had done to her, one by one, piece by piece! ¡°Get out!¡± Qin Ruan stepped back, her voice icy and terrifying. If she could, she would¡¯ve liked to kill this vile woman, Han Kexin, with her own hands. No matter how costly the price of rebirth was, she was determined to avenge her enemies for the hatred in her heart. Qin Ruan squinted her beautiful eyes. Ordinary people couldn¡¯t see it, but her eyes were glowing with a faint golden light. Reborn and transformed, the Heavenly Eye sees the past and the present. It shocks the heavens and moves the ghosts and gods! At the time of the storm, all the demons and ghosts in the world are annihilated. Such was the price of Qin Ruan¡¯s rebirth. With her Heavenly Eye opened, Qin Ruan could clearly see Han Kexin being surrounded by a dense Black Evil Energy. Only those who are about to die would be wrapped up in such dense black energy. Han Kexin, she won¡¯t live much longer. Knowing that Han Kexin was about to die, Qin Ruan didn¡¯t want to dirty her hands with her. Rebirth was not easy, she did not want Han Kexin to taint her path of reincarnation. Han Kexin felt goosebumps from Qin Ruan¡¯s intense stare. Her face changed several times, she looked at Qin Ruan with a probing gaze, then switched her tone, ¡°Qin Ruan, I know you¡¯re upset because dad and big brother went abroad for inspection these days and you¡¯re not thinking straight, that¡¯s why you came out and messed with such bad company. Even so, you can¡¯t do this to yourself, after all, you are part of the Qin family. I am your sister, I have to watch out for you. Let¡¯s stop this nonsense and go home.¡± Chapter 6 - 6 6 The Cost of Rebirth, Severing to Sustain Life ?6: Chapter 6: The Cost of Rebirth, Severing to Sustain Life 6: Chapter 6: The Cost of Rebirth, Severing to Sustain Life Qin Ruan stood with arms crossed, her eyebrows slightly raised, a faint smile on her face as she watched Han Kexin making a spectacle of herself. Her adversary was warning her. With her father and elder brother out of the country, she couldn¡¯t threaten Han Kexin. As for the latter¡¯s remarks, they were merely attempts to smear her, to which Ruan had long become accustomed. Qin Ruan¡¯s lips curved, revealing a hint of a naughty smirk. She casually cleaned her ears, her gaze swept towards Han Kexin, her tone laced with unmistakable sarcasm. ¡°Han Kexin, are you hard of hearing? Who said I¡¯m fooling around? I¡¯m in a normal relationship with a boyfriend, driven by affection beyond ordinary bounds. Do you want to control that, too? My father doesn¡¯t interfere with me, who do you think you are?!¡± ¡°Qin Ruan!¡± Han Kexin¡¯s eyes narrowed as she stared coldly at Qin Ruan. Always under Han Kexin¡¯s thumb, Qin Ruan had learned to fight back, and this unexpected resistance made Han Kexin uneasy. There were several spectators in the hotel corridor. It was precisely by seizing this opportunity that Han Kexin tried to tarnish Qin Ruan¡¯s reputation. But to her surprise, Qin Ruan didn¡¯t retreat into silence, as she used to do. Qin Ruan knew all too well Han Kexin¡¯s schemes. She picked up her phone from the table, scrolled through her contacts to find her father¡¯s number, and shot Han Kexin a cold glance. ¡°Han Kexin, I don¡¯t wish to repeat what I¡¯ve said earlier. Do you choose to leave on your own, or do you need my father to personally evict you?¡± There were certain things she didn¡¯t mind exposing prematurely, despite the potential damage to the Qin Family¡¯s reputation. If she was unhappy, someone else would keep her company. Even if Han Kexin¡¯s days were numbered, Ruan would be delighted to twist the knife if she could. Seeing her father¡¯s name on Qin Ruan¡¯s phone screen, Han Kexin clenched her teeth: ¡°You¡¯ll regret this!¡± Having said that, she turned around and left in a huff. She needed to ask her mother what Qin Ruan knew and why she suddenly gained such confidence. She wondered whether Qin Ruan was bluffing or if she really had some kind of hold over her. With Han Kexin gone, the room was left empty except for Qin Ruan. She didn¡¯t stay long, cleaned up, and left the hotel without a second thought. The esteemed gentleman, Master Huo, had fallen ill and the Huo Family had taken him away. There was no point in her staying there. She wasn¡¯t entirely sure what kind of illness he had contracted. The only reason she knew about this at all was that Master Huo offhandedly mentioned it during one of his visits, while he was paying his respects to her and her son. He had left in a hurry to go abroad and wouldn¡¯t return until a year later. In her previous life, she had died before he could return. In this life, everything that belonged to her was off-limits to everyone else, including the father of the child in her belly. In her previous life, Master Huo had held a deep affection for her and the child, and Qin Ruan had seen it all. If truth be told, they were tragic lovers, destined to meet but never to be together. Their brief lives had allowed for only a fleeting acquaintance. Though they had experienced something only a couple could share, they couldn¡¯t recognize each other¡¯s faces. Each of them was incapacitated in some way: one under some kind of spell, the other dead drunk. They were indeed a perfect match. Even if Master Huo couldn¡¯t remember her face, a single thread could unravel an entire history. When everything was exposed, the man who had killed her, her father, forced her elder brother to leave the country and caused her second brother to disappear would suffer eternal torment in Hell. Qin Ruan agreed with him on one point. Death was a release for enemies. It was by keeping them alive to endure the torment every day that they would experience real suffering. Qin Ruan walked alone down the deserted street as dawn broke. She thought of the nearly hundred years of her afterlife, her bright eyes dimmed, a serene light flickering in their depths. In order to return, she struck a deal in the solemn Yama Hall. The price of resurrection was to open her Heavenly Eye, to extend her life with the killing, and to cleanse the world of all demons. Chapter 7 - 7 7 Miss, Would You Like a Fortune Telling ?7: Chapter 7: Miss, Would You Like a Fortune Telling? 7: Chapter 7: Miss, Would You Like a Fortune Telling? Underneath Yitian Bridge, Qin Ruan stopped, raised her arm, and rolled up her sleeve. On the inner side of her arm, there was a brightly coloured red line. This short red line, its length represented the remainder of her life. She responded to this line. One year... Time was running out. From the moment Qin Ruan opened her eyes till now, she only had one year left to live. To extend her lifespan, she needs to find Evil Qi. Evil Qi, the evil and sinister energy in this world. It often comes from demons and evil creatures. Qin Ruan let down her sleeve, momentarily unsure of where to find Evil Qi. Her pace was slow, physical pain keeping her alert. She wanted to plan the road ahead well. ¡°Come and see, I do fortune-telling. If it¡¯s not accurate, I charge less. If it is, I double the price...¡± Suddenly, a distinct, aged voice called out nearby. The sound came from ahead, not too far away. Qin Ruan looked up, and a stall under Tianqiao came into view. An old man wearing black sunglasses and a blue robe stood out. Sitting in front of the stall with an air of wisdom, the voice was coming from him. ¡°Young lady, we are fated. I see a fortune in your facial features. Your forehead is round, your face slightly red, your vitality is strong. However, there¡¯s a dark aura around your eyes, I¡¯m afraid that disaster is near. Speak your birth date and time, I will cast a divination for you. Three hundred for a divination, not much.¡± Qin Ruan looked at the old man for a moment, with a myriad of emotions in her eyes. Suddenly, she burst out laughing. Her pale, delicate face was lit up with her laughter, carrying an air of fragility. It really did come without any effort. Just now she was thinking about where to find Evil Qi, and now it is presenting itself. The old man said that she was surrounded by a dark aura, oblivious to the fact that he was enveloped by a dense dark fog. Each person carries an aura that changes with their actions for good or evil. Most people¡¯s auras are black, red, white, or gold. Black represents Evil Qi, for the wicked or those carrying sinister things. Red signifies impending disaster, a bloody calamity. White is for good people, people with longevity. Gold represents merit, prosperity and abundance. And then there is a rare aura, the Purple Energy that signifies Emperor Energy. Those who can carry this kind of aura are extremely rare. Qin Ruan walked up to the fortune-telling stall. She looked at the old man with a smile that wasn¡¯t quite a smile, her beautiful eyes scanning him from head to toe. Her gaze finally settled on the white jade pendant hanging around his neck. ¡°Young lady, would you like a divination?¡± the old man asked with a beaming smile. Qin Ruan shook her head slightly, her eyes, sparkling like a cat mesmerized by a fish, were fixated on the old man¡¯s White Jade Pendant. As if her gaze was too direct, the old man¡¯s smile disappeared, replaced by caution and vigilance. He quickly tucked his exposed Jade Pendant into his clothes, patting it gently before seeming to feel somewhat assured. This was a prized antique he¡¯d recently sourced from Antique Street. It cost half of his savings. It was a rare item that he had a preference for. His distinct non-subtle action prompted a slight raise of Qin Ruan¡¯s eyebrows. ¡°Is something that¡¯s endangering your life so precious?¡± The man¡¯s face hardened: ¡°Nonsense! I think you¡¯re here to cause trouble. If you¡¯re not here for a divination, step aside. Don¡¯t hinder my business.¡± Leaving was not an option. She couldn¡¯t give up on the item she wanted without having it in her hands. Chapter 8 - 8 8 Tongsha Sky Bridge, Pointing Out the Maze ?8: Chapter 8: Tongsha Sky Bridge, Pointing Out the Maze 8: Chapter 8: Tongsha Sky Bridge, Pointing Out the Maze Qin Ruan sat in the chair in front of the stall, her arms crossed and she was lazily leaning on the chair. ¡°Since you obtained this white jade pendant, one misfortune after another has struck your home. First, your little grandson had an accident at school and broke his leg, he¡¯s still in the hospital.¡± ¡°Then, your daughter-in-law. Hmm, I believe she had a car accident on her way home three days ago. Although it was not a major accident and she was unharmed, she has paid quite a sum for it.¡± As soon as Qin Ruan started speaking, the old man became impatient, took off his sunglasses, revealing a face full of shock, his eyes glowing with brilliance. He looked annoyed, even angry. Qin Ruan stopped speaking, the old man¡¯s face turned red with restraint. After a long pause, he angrily pointed at Qin Ruan, ¡°Nonsense! Pure fabrication!¡± ¡°Next is your son, who either cuts his hand while cooking or stumbles on flat ground, and constantly makes mistakes at work. In a few days, he¡¯ll probably be fired by the company.¡± Qin Ruan radiated confidence, with an indifferent attitude, speaking down at him, ¡°Whether I¡¯m speaking nonsense, you know it in heart.¡± The old man, whose surname was Song and was known as Song the Semi-Immortal, had been running a stall under the Tongsha Sky Bridge for many years. He himself had some little skills and was quite convinced by certain things. Everything Qin Ruan had said had indeed happened in his family. First, his most cherished grandson had an accident, then his daughter-in-law had a car accident, and recently his son has also been having continuous mishaps. During this time, he had been so worried that his hair turned grey. He wasn¡¯t sure whether there was something wrong with the Feng Shui of the house or if they had been cursed in some way. His little grandson was so well-behaved, so sensible, and suddenly broke his leg at school out of the blue. His daughter-in-law had over ten years of driving experience, steady driving skills, yet she had a car accident. Although she paid quite a bit of money, fortunately, she was unharmed. Last night, he became thirsty in the middle of the night and went out of the bedroom to find water, only to see his son in the living room with a distressed face. Upon asking with concern, he found out that his son had made a mess of a major company project and was facing the risk of being fired at any time. He had never spoken about these things to outsiders, so how did this young girl before him find out? Could it be that she was a master? Old man Song shook his head gently in his heart. Qin Ruan¡¯s age was there for all to see, she simply didn¡¯t have any credibility. The respected masters are the oldest ones. In their industry, the older the better and even if one has some skill, they can¡¯t compare to those old hands. As Old man Song turned pale, Qin Ruan reached out to him. ¡°What do you want?!¡± Song the Semi-Immortal covered his neck with his hand, hiding the pendant inside his clothes, his face filled with vigilance. Seeing his cautious attitude, Qin Ruan¡¯s smile faded, and she frowned, ¡°The white jade pendant you wear around your neck belongs to a deceased person. It¡¯s just been excavated, and it carries a heavy evil Qi, which your frail body can¡¯t handle.¡± ¡°You know that too?!¡± Song Semi-Immortal was once again astonished. This pendant on his neck had an unknown origin; he had received it from a group of grave robbers selling it in haste. He was lucky to have stumbled upon it. If this jade pendant were sold openly, its value could possibly be ten times his lifetime savings. Qin Ruan hooked the corner of her mouth, her expression enigmatic: ¡°Knowing it belongs to a deceased person, you still dare to touch it?¡± You should know that these items, buried underground for hundreds or even thousands of years, are buried because they have the ability to suppress. Being buried for many years, they absorb a strong amount of negative energy and carry a heavy evil Qi. No one knows what these items have been through before they were buried. If these items have seen bloodshed, the situation will become even worse, they can take lives.¡± Chapter 9 - 9 9 Gentleman Does Not Take What Others Love ?9: Chapter 9 Gentleman Does Not Take What Others Love 9: Chapter 9 Gentleman Does Not Take What Others Love Newly unearthed things are unclean, anyone who values their life a bit would not dare to wear such a thing on their body. The old man in front of them was brave. Song Half-Immortal¡¯s face showed an awkward expression, the loose skin on his face trembling slightly with displeasure. After a while, he finally took out the white jade pendant hidden inside his clothes. He touched the white jade with a contented expression on his face, ¡°This is a gem, in a few years, its price could increase a hundredfold.¡± Qin Ruan sat facing old man Song, witnessing him caress the jade pendant, the evil qi stored inside the jade was rapidly entering his body in strands. The evil qi of the jade pendant was so strong it reached the heavens, the dense black fog was horrifying to behold. If these impure things that were buried underground were stained with blood, the Black Evil Energy would turn a dark red and would become extremely dangerous, capable of killing. This jade pendant of old man Song was yet to change color, although the black fog was somewhat too dense. Hearing the man¡¯s reluctant affectionate tone, Qin Ruan indifferently remarked: ¡°No matter how valuable ominous things are, I¡¯m afraid there¡¯s no life to enjoy it.¡± Old man Song squinted his eyes: ¡°Since you know it¡¯s ominous, aren¡¯t you afraid it will bring you bad luck?¡± Qin Ruan raised her eyebrows slightly: ¡°Why should I be afraid?¡± Old man Song: ¡°Aren¡¯t you interested in this jade pendant, wanting to buy it from me?¡± ¡°Did I say I wanted to buy it?¡± ¡°...¡± Old man Song¡¯s mouth was agape, as if he was confused by her. Qin Ruan¡¯s finger lightly tapped the tabletop, nonchalantly saying: ¡°In the occult, any object buried in a place full of yin qi for a long time will generate evil spirits; it greatly affects the human body and changes the luck of people who have a close relationship with the carrier.¡± Before Old man Song could say anything, Qin Ruan again reached out to him: ¡°I am a gentleman who doesn¡¯t steal what others love, I just want to help you get rid of the evil qi in the jade pendant.¡± Old man Song frowned: ¡°Excuse me, I didn¡¯t recognize that you also belong to the same profession.¡± He couldn¡¯t believe that Qin Ruan, so young, was also an insider. Qin Ruan noticed the doubt on his face. She pointed to the jade pendant in Old man Song¡¯s hand: ¡°I can see the evil qi, when you hold the jade pendant, the evil qi in the jade pours into your body through your hand. In less than half a month, your vitality will be consumed to the end by it.¡± At that time, the only thing waiting for Old man Song is death. Old man Song¡¯s face paled in fright, he quickly opened his hand to drop the jade pendant. He was not supposed to believe it and should be more careful about the person who suddenly appeared. But after hearing what Qin Ruan said, Old man Song seemed to feel the cold breath inside the jade pendant, crazily pouring into his body. Even though he had let go of his hand, the jade pendant still hung around his neck, through a layer of thin clothing, firmly sticking at the center of his chest. Old man Song swallowed hard, his hand trembling as he took the jade pendant from his neck and gave it to Qin Ruan. The moment she took the jade pendant, Qin Ruan could distinctly feel a cold sensation in her palm. The evil qi inside the jade pendant was pouring into her body at a speed invisible to the naked eye. She curved the corner of her lips, a satisfied smile flashed in her eyes. Qin Ruan slightly moved her fingertips, touching the jade pendant. The dense evil qi coiling around the jade was instantly absorbed by her, leaving it clean. If it was an ordinary person, they would have become pale and extremely weak from such a vicious attack of evil qi. However, Qin Ruan was feeling comfortable all over, even each cell was giving off a sense of comfort. After being cleansed of the evil qi, the jade pendant became even more warm and smooth, lost its previous coldness to the touch, and the quality of the jade seemed even better than before. Chapter 10 - 10 10 The Six Aristocratic Families, Elder Sister Ling Xiaoxuan ?10: Chapter 10: The Six Aristocratic Families, Elder Sister Ling Xiaoxuan 10: Chapter 10: The Six Aristocratic Families, Elder Sister Ling Xiaoxuan Old Man Song couldn¡¯t see the Evil Qi, but he clearly saw the jade pendant in Qin Ruan¡¯s hand gradually becoming crystal clear. The jade pendant he had held before was like it was covered in a layer of dust, its quality mediocre. Now, it has become a top-quality jade, an item of great value. Qin Ruan stood up, her thumb lightly brushing against the jade pendant in her hand. The next moment, she placed the jade on the table. ¡°Done.¡± Her tone was calm, indifferent. After speaking, she turned to leave. ¡°Miss, please wait!¡± Old Man Song picked up the jade pendant from the table and hurried after her. Qin Ruan looked back, her eyes hinting at her confusion as if she was asking if there was anything else he needed. Old Man Song bowed slightly, his tone anxious, ¡°My surname is Song. I¡¯ve been running my stall on Tongsha Sky Bridge for many years, people call me Song the Semi-Immortal, may I ask if you could leave your contact information?¡± He wasn¡¯t clear on Qin Ruan¡¯s actual power yet, but the scene of her taking action had left a deep impression on him. For all these years, he had seen a good number of people of great skill, yet he had never come across anyone who could perceive the form of the Evil Qi with the naked eye. Old Man Song instinctively wanted to seize this opportunity, knowing that missing it would deix lead to lifelong regret. Qin Ruan lightly furrowed her eyebrows, her eyes surveying the Tongsha Sky Bridge. Something seemed to have crossed her mind, a milder expression on her face. She gave him her phone number with a smile, affirmatively stating, ¡°We¡¯ll see each other again soon.¡± ... Capital City, Shengshi Academy. The university at the start of June, just as usual. Students walked together in groups, their movements relaxed as they walked around the campus. Perhaps they were heading to morning classes, or maybe heading to the cafeteria for breakfast. Qin Ruan stood in the long-missed campus preciously dressed with an indifferent expression. Her eyes were distant. After lifetimes of reincarnation, spanning a hundred years, she was back here. Shengshi Academy was the highest-ranking university in the Capital City and even the whole country. Most of the students studying here were from wealthy and powerful families, their identities not simple. As for Qin Ruan, it was through the Qin family¡¯s money that she got the opportunity to attend this renowned university. In her past life, she didn¡¯t even last six months at Shengshi Academy before she was disgraced by Han Xian, and her daughter, Han Kexin. Her reputation was tarnished, and she was forced to drop out. ¡°Well, well, look who we have here? I can¡¯t be mistaken, surely?¡± There was a crisp laughing sound from behind, the tone carrying a mischievous glee and a barely detectable intimacy. Qin Ruan turned her head and saw three girls standing nearby. ¡°So it really is you, Qin Ruan.¡± The one who spoke was the girl in the center, her burgundy wavy hair, dressed sexy, her whole demeanor exuding a seductive air. ¡°You guys go ahead, I¡¯ll call you later.¡± The girl with burgundy hair waved her companions off. ¡°See you later then.¡± The two girls left with a laugh. Qin Ruan stared at the burgundy-haired girl, her face solemn, her eyes reflecting surprise, her eyebrows furrowed tightly together. ¡°Qin Ruan, what¡¯s with that expression?¡± The girl with burgundy hair walked toward Qin Ruan, her face seeming a bit displeased, ¡°It¡¯s only been a few days, and you don¡¯t recognize me?¡± ¡°Senior Ling.¡± Qin Ruan smiled and greeted as she loosened her furrowed eyebrows. How could she not recognize her? This was the only girl who had shown her kindness in the last life, among all the elites in the Academy. Ling Xiaoxuan, a member of the Ling family, one of the Six Aristocratic Families. Ling Xiaoxuan walked up to Qin Ruan, lightly patting her shoulder and casually looping an arm around her. Seeing the hint of blue in Qin Ruan¡¯s eyes, she expressed her worry, ¡°What happened? You look so pale as if you didn¡¯t rest well last night?¡± Qin Ruan lowered her eyes slowly, hiding her unease. Before coming to the academy, she had changed into new clothes; a beige turtleneck sweater and white casual pants, completely covering any traces left from the events of the night before. Chapter 11 - 11 11 Covered in Blood Fog, Life is Short ?11: Chapter 11: Covered in Blood Fog, Life is Short 11: Chapter 11: Covered in Blood Fog, Life is Short After Qin Ruan collected herself, she adjusted her emotions: ¡°Something came up, I didn¡¯t get proper rest.¡± She didn¡¯t conceal anything from Ling Xiaoxuan, behaving just as they had in their previous lives. Ling Xiaoxuan knew Qin Ruan¡¯s identity as the Qin family illegitimate daughter. Her status was awkward, and there were definitely some unknown circumstances at home. She coyly brushed her shoulder-length curled hair: ¡°There¡¯s nothing that can¡¯t be overcome, have you eaten? If not, let¡¯s eat together. I¡¯m starving.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Qin Ruan squinted her eyes, smiling warmly. That¡¯s just how Ling Xiaoxuan was. She was particularly measured, knew when to stop and how to retain someone¡¯s dignity. As the two uniquely charming girls walked across the campus, they were quite eye-catching. One was sensually sultry while the other was pure yet seductive, their every frown and smile were like a beautiful painting. Being the daughter of an aristocratic family, Ling Xiaoxuan was accustomed to other people¡¯s attention, engaging in cheerful conversation with Qin Ruan. Qin Ruan had already undergone a complete transformation, she was no longer timid in the presence of the children of heaven due to the Han family mother and daughter. She no longer felt out of place. At this time, she subtly focussed her attention on Ling Xiaoxuan. When she initially saw Ling Xiaoxuan, Qin Ruan did not recognize her. She was distracted by something else. When she saw Ling Xiaoxuan, her image was veiled by a red bloody mist. If she hadn¡¯t looked closely, the facial features would have been engulfed by it. If it wasn¡¯t for Ling Xiaoxuan¡¯s familiar demeanor and the unique presence she had in her previous life, Qin Ruan may have truly forgotten her. She recognized Ling Xiaoxuan, and also discerned that her life was nearing its end. By tonight at the latest, or by tomorrow, she would drop dead. Qin Ruan tried to remember the memory of her past life. In her past life, she was unaware that she had been deliberately manipulated by Han Kexin. She mistakenly ended up spending an intimate moment with Lord Huo. After becoming sober, she was cornered by Han Kexin and her followers in her room, full of disgrace, her clothes torn and humiliated by everyone¡¯s comments. She couldn¡¯t stand up to the dirty accusations of the crowd, she fled from the hotel in disgrace. Because of her physical injuries, she did not return to school. Later, due to Han Kexin¡¯s deliberate propaganda, everyone knew that Qin Ruan, an illegitimate daughter, was lack of integrity and had secret relations with men. Subsequent rumors were even more outrageous, she was described as flirtatious and promiscuous. The Qin family¡¯s illegitimate daughter entangled with several men. Qin Ruan became the laughingstock among high society, with some even fabricated explicit and salacious photos of her with various unknown men. She didn¡¯t dare to leave the house, for fear of people¡¯s comments and their strange looks, as if they were looking at something dirty. During that time, her father and elder brother were abroad for inspection. Only when they came back, did Qin Ruan finally step outside. She went to Shengshi Academy to drop out. She had been frequently skipping classes, had a poor attendance rate, declining grades, openly defying teachers, leading a disorderly private life, entangled with several men, and even tried to hook up with powerhouse students. The school expelled her. Under her elder brother¡¯s company, Qin Ruan went to school to dropout. It was on that day she learned about the death of Ling Xiaoxuan, the only good friend she had in school. As for the cause of death, she asked her father and elder brother to investigate but regretfully they couldn¡¯t find anything. The Ling family was one of the six great aristocratic families, and such a family was not one that the Qin family could investigate. At that time, Qin Group was facing internal issues. Despite being under immense pressure, her father and elder brother still tried to investigate for her sake. Later on, her father discovered that his elder brother had conspired with his stepmother Han Xian and was murdered by them. Chapter 12 - 12 12 Survival of the Fittest, Living for Survival ?12: Chapter 12 Survival of the Fittest, Living for Survival 12: Chapter 12 Survival of the Fittest, Living for Survival After our father¡¯s death, my eldest brother took over the company. Not long after, his fiance?e was killed in a drunk driving accident by our second brother. Heartbroken, he left the country in despair. Our second brother, a headache-inducing prodigal son, was then forced to take over the Qin family industry. Meanwhile, Qin Ruan was framed and put in jail by Han Xian and her daughter, causing the death of the child she carried due to her carelessness. Many things happened, considering Ling Xiaoxuan¡¯s case was put aside. In her past life, even if Qin Ruan had met Ling Xiaoxuan today, she would not have known that she was plagued by demonic entities. Now that she had opened her Heavenly Eye, she had the responsibility to control and eradicate all evil in the world, and naturally would not allow these things to harm Ling Xiaoxuan. ¡°Qin Ruan, what would you like to eat? Tomato stew again? Are you sure you don¡¯t want something lighter in the morning?¡± Unconsciously, the two had already stepped into the restaurant. Ling Xiaoxuan took two plates from the cupboard and placed one into Qin Ruan¡¯s hand. Despite asking what Qin Ruan wanted to eat, she didn¡¯t hesitate to take action. She pulled Qin Ruan¡¯s arm and quickly came to the window where the tomato stew was served. Qin Ruan seemed cold, but she was very affectionate. She loved tomato stew the most. Since Ling Xiaoxuan had known her for these few months, whenever they ate together, tomato stew was always present on the table. It showed how much she liked this dish. Hearing about the tomato stew, Qin Ruan¡¯s eyes sparkle a hint of excitement which quickly disappeared as she simply curled the corner of her lips into a smile. ¡°Alright.¡± In her previous life, from the time when disaster struck the Qin family until her death, she had never tasted this dish again. Now, she actually missed it a bit. Tomato stew, this dish for Qin Ruan, cast a shadow over her before she turned eighteen in her previous life. From the time she was taken back to the Qin family until the moment of her death, this dish became her obsession. West City, the slum district of Capital City, was mainly populated by all sorts of desperate folk. Thieving, kidnapping and defrauding were common events. Even in the orphanage, the children were brutal. Qin Ruan as a child was as thin as a monkey, always hungry and cold. As she grew older and understood the principle of survival of the fittest, she started to resist, learning the bad habits of survival in West City, just to fill her stomach, just to survive. Qin Ruan could never forget the dreadful experience she had when she was seven. One of the male caretakers in the orphanage was a relative of the director. He was responsible for watching all the children in the orphanage, and many children feared him. In the summertime, the man wore short sleeves, revealing tattoos of an Azure Dragon on his left arm and a White Tiger on his right arm. With his shirt unbuttoned, there was even more black ink covering his chest. If any child in the orphanage upset him, a beating would swiftly follow. He mostly targeted boys, rarely being violent with girls. Noticing this pattern, Qin Ruan took her chances and provoked him. Each year, the orphanage received donations of money and supplies from the government, private individuals, and corporations. These usually ended up in the hands of the orphanage¡¯s director and staff. The children pounced upon the leftover old clothes and items that seemed unimportant to them ¨C textbooks, bags, and daily necessities. They struggled just to survive, so how could they care about these things? What they needed was food. Qin Ruan was a girl, and she was too young to compete with the older children, so she often went hungry. To fill her stomach, she would steal food from the kitchen. Once, the cook at the orphanage was away for three days, leaving all the children starving. For three days, they had nothing to eat. They had to go outside and find ways to fill their stomachs; whether by stealing or snatching, if it could fill their stomachs, it was good enough. On the third evening, Qin Ruan was too hungry to bear it any longer. Her stomach was writhing in pain. She climbed out of her wooden bed, intending to go outside and drink some water to fill her stomach. Chapter 13 - 13 13 Her Scars and Taboos ?13: Chapter 13 Her Scars and Taboos 13: Chapter 13 Her Scars and Taboos Having just left her room, Qin Ruan was hit with the intoxicating aroma of beef. She was ravenous, to the point of almost fainting. Perhaps, she was so hungry then that her eyes shone green, otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have attracted the attention of that demon. The Headmaster¡¯s male relative, who was also a caretaker at the orphanage, had set up a table in the yard, drinking and eating a delicious meal. As Qin Ruan secretly swallowed her saliva, she was also secretly eyeing the meat dish on the table, tomato beef stew. The mix of tomato and beef presented a vibrant color, its tantalizing aroma beckoning; it looked appetizing and immensely satisfying. Perhaps delirious from hunger, the seven-year-old Qin Ruan made a dash for it, grabbing the stew in the plastic takeaway box and ran. But with short legs, how could a child outpace an adult? Qin Ruan was caught. ¡°Little rascal, stealing from me, eh? If I don¡¯t teach you a lesson today, won¡¯t you all take advantage in the future!¡± The man¡¯s cruel and savage voice would be etched in Qin Ruan¡¯s nightmares. The man vowed to punish her, and was utterly relentless with his fists and kicks. The children sleeping in the house were awakened by the commotion, and many poked their heads out from the windows, while the bolder ones came out to watch. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the steaming-hot tomato beef stew was force-fed into Qin Ruan¡¯s mouth. The dish was freshly cooked, scalding her mouth, throat, and her frail stomach. The excruciating pain, relentless despite her struggles, engraved itself deeply into Qin Ruan¡¯s memory. Her mouth, covered with blisters from the burn, and her already painful stomach compounded her agony. For the following week, she couldn¡¯t eat. It was not that she wasn¡¯t hungry; she simply couldn¡¯t swallow any food. She could only quench her hunger by drinking water. Yet even drinking brought her pain due to her internal injuries. The trauma from these childhood experiences made Qin Ruan forever avoid tomato beef stew. Just the sight of the dish would trigger her resistive instincts, as gruesome memories flooded her mind, the sensation of intense pain manifesting itself physically. After being brought back to the Qin Family, one day, her father and her two elder brothers prepared three different tomato beef stews for her. She thought that they knew. That they knew about her wretched experiences at the orphanage. To Qin Ruan, these were her wounds, her taboo. The dishes prepared by her father and brothers were met with a strong sense of repulsion. Under the expectant eyes of her father and brothers, she swept the three servings onto the floor, causing the ceramic dishes to shatter with a crisp piecing sound. The bonds of father, daughter, and siblings were likewise kept at arm¡¯s length. From the day she entered the Qin Family, Han Xian, and her daughter Han Kexin, had instilled into her that the kindness shown was due to remorse and compensation, and that she was ultimately a foreigner to the Qin Family. The mighty Qin Family¡¯s actions towards her were nothing more than charity. Qin Ruan knew well of the dislike from Han Xian and her daughter. But she was not gullible to believe them blindly. Having grown up in the slums of West City among various unsavory characters, Qin Ruan was guarded, wary of the Qin Family. The misunderstandings between her father and brothers grew with each passing day, exacerbated by her aversion and the duo¡¯s persistent provocation and manipulation. Not till everything was lost did she find the chance to clear up the misunderstandings. No one knew that after turning over the dishes her father and brothers made, Qin Ruan quietly picked them up. After all, she yearned for kinship deep down. Chapter 14 - 14 14 Doubt is permissible, disrespect is not ?14: Chapter 14: Doubt is permissible, disrespect is not 14: Chapter 14: Doubt is permissible, disrespect is not Since turning seven, Qin Ruan had never touched Tomato Beef Stew again. Resisting the internal repulsion and the subconscious pain that hit her mouth, throat, and stomach, she once again touched the Tomato Beef Stew that used to be her nightmare. It had been prepared by her father and brother for her. The beef was very tender, coupled with the sweet and sour taste of tomatoes, it was truly delicious. The beef was not tough or old, the tomato flavor was delicious, and the soup was rich, appetizing, and delicious. Qin Ruan ate it without any discomfort. At that moment, her eyes moistened, and her heart was warm. It was also from that day onwards, that the shadow of her time in the orphanage began to fade, and she developed a fixation on this dish. ¡°Qin Ruan? Qin Ruan...¡± A fair hand waved in front of her at the table. Qin Ruan looked up in a daze, staring blankly at Ling Xiaoxuan, who was sitting across from her. She asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Ling Xiaoxuan gave her a despising look. ¡°You¡¯re asking me what¡¯s the matter? How many times did I call you without a response, what are you daydreaming about?¡± Qin Ruan apologized with a smile, ¡°Just thinking about something from a long time ago.¡± She looked down, and what caught her eye was the Tomato Beef Stew on the table. Ever since tasting her father and brother¡¯s cooking, she had stopped resisting this dish. But after eating at many other places, she could never find another Tomato Beef Stew that combined three flavors into one, and still tasted delicious even after it had cooled down. When her father and brother had prepared that dish, did they know about her experience in the orphanage? Given their careful attitude towards her and their unspoken love, Qin Ruan believes that if they knew, they would never have done such a thing. Deep thought was revealed in Qin Ruan¡¯s eyes and her face fell slightly. She was unable to see clearly in her past life. In this life, without the need for verification, she knows the love her father and brother have for her. Ling Xiaoxuan poked at the rice in her dish, ¡°You got me sidetracked. What I wanted to say is that we are planning a road trip to Tibet next month during summer vacation, do you want to come along?¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Qin Ruan put down her chopsticks, ¡°Why did you think of going so far away?¡± ¡°The scenery is beautiful, and the mysterious supernatural phenomena intrigue me.¡± Hearing Ling Xiaoxuan¡¯s nonchalant tone, Qin Ruan became serious, ¡°Sister Ling, it¡¯s better not to meddle in certain things.¡± Although one can choose not to believe in the supernatural, it must still be respected. Qin Ruan knew that Ling Xiaoxuan was a paranormal explorer, and it was very dangerous. Teasingly, Ling Xiaoxuan propped her head with her hand, ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve seen you so serious, are you not interested in going?¡± In her view, this was Qin Ruan¡¯s roundabout way of declining. Qin Ruan shook her head, ¡°Sister Ling, how about choosing another project...¡± ¡°We¡¯ve already arranged it. If you don¡¯t want to go, it¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll bring you a souvenir when I come back.¡± Ling Xiaoxuan waved her hand dismissively, not willing to listen to Qin Ruan¡¯s nagging anymore. After finishing their meals, they went their separate ways, heading towards their respective classrooms. Qin Ruan walked a while before stopping, turning to watch Ling Xiaoxuan¡¯s departing silhouette. She could no longer see the figure of the other person but only a strange and dense fog of blood. The blood fog was devouring Ling Xiaoxuan¡¯s life. This was not ordinary Evil Qi. Qin Ruan couldn¡¯t absorb it ¨C the Qi was so intertwined with Ling Xiaoxuan¡¯s destiny. Unless the sinister force behind her was dealt with, Ling Xiaoxuan was undoubtedly doomed. Qin Ruan¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly. Tonight was a good opportunity for her to take action, but what excuse should she use to make Sister Ling stay? Ling Xiaoxuan lived in East City of the Capital City and was driven to and from school every day. Even if she went out at night, she would rarely stay out overnight. The Aristocratic Family¡¯s house rules were unusually strict. Qin Ruan sighed quietly and turned to leave. Chapter 15 - 15 15 The Hollowed Out Master Huo ?15: Chapter 15: The Hollowed Out Master Huo 15: Chapter 15: The Hollowed Out Master Huo M Country, Walton Hospital. In front of a well-equipped room with a beautiful environment, several men dressed in black guard like statues. A deliberately subdued conversation emerges from the room. ¡°Third Master, you have to stay in M Country for the next six months.¡± An old, weary voice echoes. Leaning against the hospital bed, a pale yet strikingly handsome man slowly lifts his eyes. His long lashes quiver slightly and he gazes indifferently at the old man in front of the bed, letting out a scoff from his throat. ¡°Half a year? Professor Brent, you know I don¡¯t like this country either, so your heartfelt invitation has no sway over me.¡± The man¡¯s thin lips part slightly, his voice hoarse, his tone indifferent. He is the Third Master Huo Yunjiao, who was rushed overseas for treatment by his family due to an unexpected health issue. Standing in front of the bed, Professor Brent¡¯s nose nearly flares in frustration. What does he mean, he doesn¡¯t like it here? If it weren¡¯t for the fact that this man is an investor in Walton Hospital, he would most certainly have thrown him out. Professor Brent lifts his hand to pinch the bridge of his nose, restraining his temper. He grits his teeth, saying, ¡°Third Master, you have to be aware of your situation. You are not even able to get out of bed.¡± His words strike a nerve. Just yesterday, Huo Yunjiao had a meeting with his cousin, Huo Yirong, at the Yue Family residence to discuss Yirong¡¯s marriage matters. He drank a few too many drinks at night and was about to go to bed when he was pounced upon by an unknown woman. Like possessed by a demon, he found himself tangled with a woman whose face he couldn¡¯t even see clearly. The course of events was unspeakable. Even now, the memory of it floods him with endless pleasure. This addictive taste of desire makes his whole body tingle as he recalls it. However, this debauchery resulted in a great toll on his body. Huo Yunjiao had always been weak, often slumping into unexplainable illnesses when he was a child. As he grew older, however, the situation improved somewhat. His father invited the head of Spiritual Mountain Gate¡ªthe famous Ling Xuzi¡ªto look at him. While nothing major was discovered, his family was vaguely advised that it would be better for him not to shed his virginity, believed to promote his longevity. So, basically, the longer he remained a virgin, the longer he would live. Since then, family members have repeatedly advised him, under no circumstances should he lose his virginity. Who would have thought, he wasn¡¯t able to keep it yesterday. Huo Yunjiao¡¯s face changes from pale to green, then from green to red as something comes to mind. His downcast eyelashes half-mask his eyes. His facial features are carved to perfection, enchanting yet intimidating. His hardened, sensual lips form a straight line. Anyone could see that Huo Yunjiao was in a bad mood. After a while, the man looks up, his voice slightly husky: ¡°Who¡¯s outside?¡± Professor Brent blinks, ¡°Bodyguards.¡± Huo Yunjiao narrows his eyes a fraction: ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± He didn¡¯t believe his family would let him journey alone. His father had already retired, leaving all affairs of the Huo Family in his hands. A while ago, his father went to Europe to relax and visit his second uncle¡¯s art exhibition, so he couldn¡¯t possibly make it back so soon. His eldest cousin, Huo Junxin, is the President¡¯s secretary and needs several layers of processes and strict scrutiny to even leave Capital City, let alone travel abroad. As for his second cousin Huo Yirong, he is the most free-spirited among them. Huo Yunjiao surmised that Yirong was likely to accompany him on this trip to M Country. As expected. The next moment, Professor Brent speaks: ¡°Second Master Huo escorted you here. He left just half an hour ago.¡± He steps forward, passing Huo Yunjiao¡¯s medical report to him. ¡°This time, all your bodily indicators are much lower than before. Your father called two hours ago and insisted that you stay here for half a year to recuperate. He will personally take care of everything back home.¡± Chapter 16 - 16 16 Equivalent to Death Warriors in Ancient Times ?16: Chapter 16: Equivalent to Death Warriors in Ancient Times 16: Chapter 16: Equivalent to Death Warriors in Ancient Times Huo Yunjiao took the documents and casually tossed them onto the folding table in front of his hospital bed. He had no desire to understand, completely indifferent to his own condition. Having gotten the information he wanted, Third Master Huo curled his lips into a smile, his tone warming as he issued a polite dismissal, ¡°Understood, Professor, it was no trouble at all, I¡¯m fine here.¡± Given that he currently couldn¡¯t get out of bed and his body felt as if it had been hollowed out, he indeed wouldn¡¯t recover without resting for a month or so. With his father in the country, there was no need for him to worry. In that case, why rush to return home? Still, he had to clear up everything that happened yesterday. No sooner had Professor Brent left the ward than Huo Yunjiao called out to someone outside the door, ¡°Come in.¡± The door to the hospital room was opened from the outside, and in walked a solemn-looking bodyguard. ¡°Third Master?¡± The bodyguard stood respectfully, three meters away from the hospital bed. Huo Yunjiao leaned against the pillow behind him, exuding a lazy and aristocratic aura. His stunningly handsome face, almost bewitching, was marred by signs of illness; his demeanor was modest and elegant, truly the relaxed posture of a privileged young master. When he was expressionless, he gave off a keep-away vibe, an unapproachable sense of distance. Once the bodyguard entered the room, a slight pressure emanated from Huo Yunjiao. His long, pale fingers tapped lightly on the folding table of the hospital bed. Tap after tap, the slow rhythmic sound echoed crisply in the room. Huo Yunjiao¡¯s gaze swept over the bodyguard with a lazy tone and an air of nonchalance, ¡°Where did Second Brother go?¡± The bodyguard bowed his head, speaking with deference, ¡°Upon learning that Third Master was unharmed, Second Brother went to change his clothes. Before he left, he said he might come later as he has to handle some matters in the domestic company and the Hidden Department.¡± Huo Yunjiao was now the true power-holder and manipulator of the Huo Family, rarely appearing in person due to the inconvenience of his health. His cousin, Huo Yirong, was his right-hand man, dealing with all matters of the Huo Family, both overtly and covertly. Huo Yirong was the leading figure of the Huo Group while also managing the Huo Family¡¯s Hidden Department. The Hidden Department¡¯s existence was to ensure the safety of Huo Family members, carry out assassinations, gather intelligence, and perform surveillance. Those who entered the Hidden Department were all confidantes of the Huo Family, part of the family¡¯s inner circle, and were given the Huo surname. They were the equivalent of loyal retainers in ancient times. Each person in the Hidden Department had extraordinary skills, masterful artistry, and appeared and disappeared unpredictably, proficient in all sorts of martial arts. They were all carefully chosen, rigorously screened, and then molded and transformed into elite all-rounders for the Hidden Department. The corners of Huo Yunjiao¡¯s lips barely curved, ¡°Call him and tell him to come over. I have instructions to give.¡± His single sentence disrupted all of Huo Yirong¡¯s plans. At the moment, Huo Yunjiao was more curious to know who the woman was last night. Whether everything was premeditated or a spur-of-the-moment decision, he did not believe in coincidences. In this world, coincidences were extremely rare. ¡°Yes, Third Master.¡± The bodyguard immediately sprang into action. ... Capital City, Shengshi Academy. As night fell, a faint mist descended mysteriously. The dark yellow moonlight and the enveloping white fog shrouded the solemn and revered school, and the campus appeared as if veiled in a light gauze, becoming indistinct. The cool and quiet night was out of the ordinary. If someone were walking in the campus, they would surely feel a chilling fear. Girls¡¯ dormitory, fourth floor. Ling Xiaoxuan and Qin Ruan were staying in the same dormitory tonight. In the end, Qin Ruan thought of a way to keep Ling Xiaoxuan at the school. Her reasons made it impossible for the other to refuse. Qin Ruan told Ling Xiaoxuan that she had a dream last night in which a demon haunted her, threatening to come for her at midnight, telling her to be ready. Chapter 17 - 17 17 Late Night Visitor, Qin Ruan Takes Action ?17: Chapter 17: Late Night Visitor, Qin Ruan Takes Action 17: Chapter 17: Late Night Visitor, Qin Ruan Takes Action Ling Xiaoxuan, as a Paranormal Explorer, was well versed in these matters and naturally couldn¡¯t refuse Qin Ruan¡¯s worried plea. She risked her life to keep him company, staying at the school unusually tonight. Ling Xiaoxuan lay on her dormitory bed, her eyes tightly closed, her legs hugging the quilt, in a deep sleep. Qin Ruan, lying on the opposite bed, was breathing evenly, her beautiful eyes gently closed, seeming to also be sleeping soundly. In the dormitory, a dim light emanated from the lamp on the table. Outside the room, gentle moonlight cascades onto the glass window, faint moonlight refracting on the clean floor inside the room. All was quiet, the silence in the air eerie. The lightly closed window made a faint noise, as a wind approached. Qin Ruan suddenly opened her eyes, her gaze clear and bright, showing no signs of being disrupted from deep sleep. The wind howled, causing the window to clang. The noise was so loud, that Ling Xiaoxuan on the opposite bed was disturbed and shifted restlessly. She turned to face the wall, mumbling a few words, and fell back asleep. Qin Ruan sat up, her sharp gaze fixed on the window, where there was nothing visible. Yet, in the next moment, the window was blown open by the strong wind. Something revealed itself, its figure was so large, it almost reached the height of the ceiling. Qin Ruan narrowed her eyes, with a hint of golden light flickering in them, her beautiful and solemn face exuded an enchanting design. She swiftly got out of bed with lightning speed, her bare feet touching the ground, her body crouched, staring at the thing standing by the window. It moved, as if it hadn¡¯t noticed Qin Ruan¡¯s presence, and began to approach Ling Xiaoxuan with heavy steps. As it moved, Qin Ruan got a clear view of its hideous face. Its large red eyes were full of greed, and its gaping mouth was filled with sparse, sharp teeth. The creature¡¯s mouth split halfway across its face, and something was dripping from it onto the ground. Its large frame was unclothed and covered in grimy brown fur, and it looked absolutely terrifying. Qin Ruan could hear its heavy panting, but was unsure if it was out of excitement or for other reasons. With just a glance, Qin Ruan discerned what it was. A Spirit Monster, Mountain Demon. As recorded in the Classic of Mountains and Seas, there¡¯s a giant in the south, with a human face and elongated arms, a black body covered in hair, and backwards feet. It laughs when a human laughs, but with its mouth covered, it runs away. The Mountain Demon is like a child, walking on a single foot backwards, attacking people at night. A monstrous creature that feasts on humans. However, the Mountain Demon before her eyes slightly differed from the records, as it was bipedal and had a large frame. It more resembled a hybrid of the Mountain Demon and another creature. The moment the Mountain Demon appeared, it went straight for Ling Xiaoxuan. It clearly seemed to target her specifically. Seeing that the Mountain Demon was about to approach the sleeping Ling Xiaoxuan, Qin Ruan narrowed her eyes and acted swiftly. She picked up something off the table and flung it at the Mountain Demon. A dull thud sounded. What Qin Ruan had casually grabbed was a book, which hit the Mountain Demon¡¯s thick fur. From the noise alone, it was clear that this minor impact was insignificant to the Mountain Demon. Still, it stopped and turned around, its bell-like eyes glaring straight at Qin Ruan. The disturbed Mountain Demon, with its eyes radiating darkness, discontent, anger, and greed. Combined with its hideous face, it looked unbearable to look at. This commotion, finally, woke Ling Xiaoxuan from her sleep. ¡°Qin Ruan, why are you still awake?¡± Ling Xiaoxuan sat up on the bed, her eyes still shut. Rubbing her eyes, she spoke drowsily. Noticing the room had grown colder, she reached for her quilt and draped it over herself. The next second, Ling Xiaoxuan froze. She opened her blank eyes, and before her was a massive figure, as imposing as a mountain. Chapter 18 - 18 18 Senior Sister, Its Targeting You ?18: Chapter 18: Senior Sister, It¡¯s Targeting You 18: Chapter 18: Senior Sister, It¡¯s Targeting You A giant shadow covered in brown fur stood in front of the bed, its heavy panting and an eerie stench rushed into their nostrils. Ling Xiaoxuan was somewhat confused, her drowsiness vanishing, mouth slightly ajar. She woke up and made a noise, drawing the attention of the Mountain Demon. It quickly turned its head, fixing its huge copper-bell eyes onto Xiaoxuan and drooling profusely onto the floor. To the Mountain Demon, Xiaoxuan, sitting dumbfounded on the bed, looked like a delicious meal. ¡°Holy shit! Shit! Shit!!!¡± ¡°What is this thing??!!!¡± Staring at the monster¡¯s true face, Xiaoxuan¡¯s usually soft and charming voice broke, releasing a sharp screeching tone that hurt the ears. In response, Qin Ruan squinted her eyes and smugly pulled a face, touching her tormented ears. She didn¡¯t know that her senior could produce such a robust, sharp high-pitched scream. She also wondered if the people in the dorms upstairs and downstairs had been awoken by her screams. On the other side, Xiaoxuan was scared out of her wits. She rolled off the bed barefoot and rushed towards Qin Ruan, ignoring her disheveled sleepwear. The Mountain Demon followed her movement, its eyes still tightly locked onto her. Its gaze was fierce, as if it wanted to tear Xiaoxuan apart and swallow her whole. Shaking, Xiaoxuan clutched at Qin Ruan¡¯s clothes. ¡°Why does it keep staring at me?¡± she asked, her voice trembling. ¡°Is this the demon you said would come to find me in your dream?¡± Even at this time, she didn¡¯t forget about Qin Ruan¡¯s excuse for keeping her at the school. With a smirk on her face, Qin Ruan¡¯s voice sounded eerily calm. ¡°Senior sister, you are its target.¡± ¡°Me?¡± Xiaoxuan¡¯s eyes widened, her lips twitching. She looked disbelieving and thought Qin Ruan was playing a joke on her. Seeing that the Mountain Demon was still staring at her, Xiaoxuan began to feel hopeless. Just then, the Mountain Demon lunged towards them, its heavy steps echoing in the room. With a cold expression, Qin Ruan warned in a serious tone, ¡°Senior sister, protect yourself!¡± The moment the words left Qin Ruan¡¯s mouth, she was already charging towards the Mountain Demon. Her fair hand began to glow with a thin golden light as thin as a thread. As the Mountain Demon raised its arms, sharp claws gleaming from its furry palms. It swiped its claws towards Qin Ruan, who would certainly be sent flying by this attack. ¡°Qin Ruan! Be careful!¡± Xiaoxuan watched the scene and screamed in fear. Qin Ruan evaded the Mountain Demon¡¯s attack at the last second with her swift movements. Simultaneously, she aimed her golden thread-like glow at the Mountain Demon¡¯s head. The beast paw struck the cabinet beside Xiaoxuan¡¯s bed, claws sinking deep into the wood. Before it could draw back, its body collapsed heavily onto the ground. The moment the Nether Divine Power was released, the Mountain Demon lost its ability to move. Swallowing, Qin Ruan stared at the Mountain Demon fallen on the ground, her heart pounding. This was her first encounter with a spirit monster; it was impossible not to be nervous. When the Mountain Demon took its swipe, her heart nearly leapt out of her chest. Reincarnation was not easy, and she certainly did not want to die at the start of his new life. That would be unbearably frustrating. Returning to Yama Hall, she¡¯d be mocked to death. With shaky legs, Xiaoxuan circumvented the Mountain Demon¡¯s body as large as a hill and walked up to Qin Ruan. ¡°Qin Ruan, are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Qin Ruan shook her head at her and pointed at the fallen Mountain Demon. ¡°Where have you been recently that you managed to get on the wrong side of this thing?¡± Normally, Mountain Demons could only be found deep in the mountains or in old forests; it was rare to see one in the city. ¡°Huh?¡± Xiaoxuan stared in confusion, wide-eyed and blinking, utterly clueless. Qin Ruan¡¯s icy gaze held a hint of ferocity. ¡°If I weren¡¯t here tonight, this thing would have already taken your life.¡± Chapter 19 - 19 19 The Nether Divine Power, My Name is Qin Ruan ?19: Chapter 19: The Nether Divine Power, My Name is Qin Ruan 19: Chapter 19: The Nether Divine Power, My Name is Qin Ruan In her previous life, Ling Xiaoxuan must have been harmed by this thing. Once a Mountain Demon sets its eyes on its prey, it will not stop until the end. Today, it is imperative to take care of the Mountain Demon in front of her. If it is released, once recuperated, it will surely rise again. She cannot be by Ling Xiaoxuan¡¯s side at every moment, she can protect her temporarily, but not for a lifetime. Qin Ruan looked at Ling Xiaoxuan with a pressure that was somewhat unconscious. She was still enveloped by the oppressive aura left over from using the Nether Divine Power previously. Ling Xiaoxuan was usually very courageous, otherwise she would not have joined the Paranormal Exploration Team, but she had never seen any Spirit Monsters or ghosts. All she had experienced tonight completely overturned her understanding. The serious attitude of Qin Ruan, the strong aura spreading around her, made her feel a little breathless. Luckily, this feeling disappeared quickly. Without the stern pressure, she began to recall the encounter from earlier. After a while, realization dawned on Ling Xiaoxuan¡¯s face. She licked her lips and whispered, ¡°Half a month ago, I went with the Paranormal Exploration Team to Qi Mountain in Cloud City. A part of Qi Mountain is undeveloped. The news reported that several batches of adventure donkeys had disappeared in Qi Mountain, so we formed a team to explore. The road of Qi Mountain is treacherous and the environment is harsh. We didn¡¯t even walk half of it before a third of our members got injured and had to return. Except for Qi Mountain, we didn¡¯t go anywhere else.¡± Qin Ruan¡¯s fingertips moved slightly, her eyes slowly dropped to the Mountain Demon lying on the dormitory floor, occupying a third of the room. It was completely out of defense, helplessly sprawled on the ground. The room was so quiet that all she could hear was its heavy breathing. Qin Ruan looked up, her beautiful eyes fixed on Ling Xiaoxuan, and said seriously, ¡°In the future, senior, don¡¯t run around. You only have one life, once lost, it¡¯s really gone.¡± In this unknown world, how fragile life is. Ling Xiaoxuan¡¯s voice was hoarse, mixed with lingering fear, ¡°I understand.¡± She followed Qin Ruan¡¯s gaze, looked at the Mountain Demon on the ground, and asked, ¡°What is this thing?¡± If it were not for its size and the claw marks on the cabinet, Ling Xiaoxuan might think this was a prank. All the things in front of her were reminding her of the reality of everything. Qin Ruan¡¯s eyes flashed with a faint golden light, she looked at the Mountain Demon wrapped in the heavy Evil Qi, her lips curled up, and her voice was ice-cold and stern: ¡°Mountain Demon, a Spirit Monster that has harvested countless lives and committed numerous crimes.¡± She stepped forward to the Mountain Demon and touched its body with her palm. Under her palm, the Spirit Monster let out a low chilling cry, which was as ear-piercing as a ghost wailing. Ling Xiaoxuan, standing not far away, was frightened and her face instantly turned pale, her legs moved uncontrollably backward. The Mountain Demon under her palm might have sensed imminent danger and began to struggle frantically. But how could it struggle free from the Underworld God¡¯s power? Qin Ruan chuckled and quickly collected the Evil Qi from the Mountain Demon. In an instant, she absorbed the heavy Evil Qi that it possessed. The Mountain Demon¡¯s piercing cry continued, and Qin Ruan slowly stood up, stepping on its huge body. Her voice was cold and bloody, ¡°The number of lives that have died by your hands are countless. Today, by taking you down, I am upholding justice. My name is Qin Ruan. If you¡¯re unsatisfied in Yama Hall, just mention my name!¡± As soon as she finished speaking, golden light appeared in Qin Ruan¡¯s hand. The golden light quickly spread, covering both her and the Mountain Demon. Ling Xiaoxuan, standing outside the circle of golden light, could only see a dazzling sight and involuntarily closed her eyes. When she opened her eyes, only Qin Ruan was left in her sight. Her back was lonely, but there was an inexplicable persuasiveness. Chapter 20 - 20 20 West Citys Qin Xiaowu, The Bewitching Beauty ?20: Chapter 20 West City¡¯s Qin Xiaowu, The Bewitching Beauty 20: Chapter 20 West City¡¯s Qin Xiaowu, The Bewitching Beauty Ling Xiaoxuan swallowed nervously, whispering, ¡°What about the Mountain Demon?¡± ¡°It¡¯s gone.¡± Qin Ruan replied. With her back to Ling Xiaoxuan, Qin Ruan bent over to pick up the pillow she had inadvertently dropped earlier when she hurriedly jumped up. Walking to the edge of the bed, she casually tossed the pillow onto it. After leaning against the bed, her expression was visibly weary. Ling Xiaoxuan turned on the room¡¯s bright lights, surveying the disheveled room. The acrid stench still lingered from the Mountain Demon¡¯s previous presence. She withdrew her gaze, covering her rapidly pounding heart and shuffled step by step to Qin Ruan¡¯s bed, gazing at her anxiously. ¡°Qin Ruan, dear junior, what exactly do you do? Why are you so incredible? Are you some sort of superior figure from another world? Perhaps, a student of a Taoist from Mount Mao, or an exorcist from some sect?¡± Qin Ruan lazily leaned on the bed, her body in a completely relaxed state. One hand supported her head, while the other gently stroked her belly. Her eyes were filled with a gentle, soft light. Qin Ruan looked up, a glimmer of amusement flickering in her eyes, ¡°Senior sister, after knowing me for so long, are you sure you don¡¯t know my background?¡± Ling Xiaoxuan, as a member of an aristocratic family, naturally collected all available information about the people she associated with, in order to identify any potential threats. When she first interacted with Qin Ruan, Ling Xiaoxuan¡¯s family had thoroughly investigated her. Qin Ruan had grown up in the impoverished West City, often interacting with all sorts of shady characters. Most of them were ruthless, dangerous individuals. Despite growing up in West City for eighteen years, she lived a relatively peaceful and contented life. It was rare for a girl as beautiful as her to live in West City without attracting male attention. Qin Ruan, relying on her fists and fearless determination, carved out a space for herself within West City. A man once tried to possess her using brute force, but she fiercely broke his arm and left him battered. Despite this, there were still plenty of men who desired her. The more influential men in West City were extremely interested in her. Despite their attempts to pressure and bully Qin Ruan, she never backed down. For her own protection, she once fought relentless rounds against over a dozen men. Even when knocked down and left bleeding, she got right back up and fought with all she had. After that battle, Qin Ruan made a name for herself in West City. Back then, she was not known as Qin Ruan, but as Qin Xiaowu. The beautiful yet ruthless femme fatale, Qin Xiaowu, was a figure almost everyone in West City knew. From then on, even those who craved her beauty began to back away due to her ruthlessness. It was hard to imagine the hardships a young girl had to endure to earn the respect of dangerous individuals in a harsh place like West City. This was the main reason why Ling Xiaoxuan initially decided to establish contact with Qin Ruan. Although in the past few months she found that Qin Ruan was a silent, sensitive girl who often showed signs of inferiority. Ling Xiaoxuan still believed that this girl, with her shocking experiences in West City, would not disappoint her. Qin Ruan¡¯s deeds and actions in West City left her both amazed and admiring. If she were stripped of her aristocratic identity and thrown into West City, a place known for its ruthlessness, she doubted she would have Qin Ruan¡¯s boldness. That night, Qin Ruan ultimately did not reveal her identity to Ling Xiaoxuan. Some things, some words, simply can¡¯t be put into words. The next day, Ling Xiaoxuan withdrew from the Paranormal Exploration Team. You might not believe in gods and spirits, but you must have respect. The unknown world, the unknown creatures, might just be lurking at your side. Chapter 21 - 21 21 Qin Family Brothers, The Crazy Protectors of Their Sister ?21: Chapter 21: Qin Family Brothers, The Crazy Protectors of Their Sister 21: Chapter 21: Qin Family Brothers, The Crazy Protectors of Their Sister It was the third day since Qin Ruan¡¯s rebirth, it was Saturday, a holiday. That day, she was flipping through books such as ¡°The Complete Encyclopedia of Pregnancy¡± and ¡°Perfect 40 Weeks of Pregnancy¡± at an off-campus library, learning about the precautions of pregnancy. A light vibration came from her silenced phone. Qin Ruan withdrew her focus on the books and picked up the phone from the books beside her. It was a message from Han Xian. Qin Ruan¡¯s amiable expression dropped rapidly to a freezing chill, a cold frost spreading from the bottom of her eyes. Her fair fingers, slightly tinged with old scar, gently touched the screen, opening the message. [Ruanruan, Auntie made your favorite dishes. Come home and have dinner tonight.] Qin Ruan lowered her eyes, ridicule and chill in her gaze unsaid. It had been three days since the incident at the Imperial Court Hotel. Han Kexin must have told Han Xian something when she returned. This woman actually took three days to make her move, she was a truly patient person. Qin Ruan¡¯s fingers gracefully moved, quickly composing a message. [See you tonight.] She was curious to see what the mother-daughter duo Han Xian and Han Kexin were up to. Even if it was a trap, she had no fear. Her good mood disrupted, Qin Ruan packed up her books, returned them, and left the library. ... The Qin Family¡¯s mansion, a grand and magnificent hall. A middle-aged woman, her lightly made-up face exuding elegance, glanced at the reply on her phone and the corner of her lips curved into a satisfied smile. ¡°Mom, how¡¯s it? Will that bitch come back?¡± asked Han Kexin, sitting next to the middle-aged woman, gritting her teeth. The middle-aged woman, Han Xian, upon hearing this, lifted her head and stared fiercely at her daughter, disapproval written all over her face. ¡°Although we¡¯re at home and your father and elder brother aren¡¯t here, Qin Mei is, he is Qin Ruan¡¯s second brother, if he hears you talking like this, he won¡¯t hesitate to skin you alive. Be more careful in future.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not home though,¡± Han Kexin pouted. Qin Mei, the second son of the Qin family, and Qin Ruan¡¯s twin brother. A rogue, with an extremely domineering nature, was quite the headache. When it came to matters related to Qin Ruan, the two Qin brothers were fiercely protective of their little sister. Qin Mei, however, was the most intense, acting like a mad dog. Han Kexin pressed on, ¡°Mom, what did Qin Ruan say? Will she come back?¡± With an inscrutable expression, Han Xian replied, ¡°Qin Ruan will be back tonight. If she really knows something, I don¡¯t mind speeding up the process of destroying her. If it¡¯s all bluster, let¡¯s remind her of her place in the world and some things she shouldn¡¯t dare.¡± Han Kexin wrapped her arms around herself and grumbled, ¡°Mom, I don¡¯t want her in this house. I always feel like she¡¯s a ticking time bomb.¡± Han Xian reached out, caressing her daughter¡¯s hair, her voice barely perceptible, ¡°My dear, just bear with it a little longer, there is no place for her in the Qin family.¡± ¡°But Dad, big brother, and Qin Mei all protect her. And, Qin Ruan holds 20% of the Qin Group¡¯s shares!¡± This was Han Kexin¡¯s biggest concern. With her father, big brother, and Qin Mei on her side, and owning so many shares of the Qin Group. It would not be easy to ruin her. Han Xian coldly chuckled, ¡°Baby, you have to know that some things aren¡¯t what they seem. Your father and big brother protect Qin Ruan so much, do you think she appreciates it? Even if Qin Mei protects her in public, can¡¯t you see their incompatibility because of Qin Ruan¡¯s temperament?¡± Before Han Kexin could respond, Han Xian interrupted her. ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to worry about what comes next, just leave everything to mom.¡± Han Kexin was not satisfied, but still obediently replied, ¡°Okay, Mom.¡± In her eyes, her mother was the most powerful person in the house. Otherwise, she couldn¡¯t have toyed around with the three men of the Qin family and Qin Ruan as she pleased. Chapter 22 - 22 22 The Rude and Sharp-Tongued Second Brother Qin ?22: Chapter 22: The Rude and Sharp-Tongued Second Brother Qin 22: Chapter 22: The Rude and Sharp-Tongued Second Brother Qin Qin Ruan returned home just in time. She drove her latest light pink Maserati at a high speed towards the Qin Family mansion. Before her car even arrived, the exaggerated roar of its exhaust could be heard by everyone in the villa¡¯s hall. In the hall, a young man dressed in a grey casual sportswear descended from the second floor. He had a face similar to Qin Ruan¡¯s, but his features were more handsome and stern. Standing at the top of the stairs, the youth was strikingly handsome, with delicate features, thin lips slightly pursed, his expression a mix of amusement and stoicism, his entire being seeming frivolously charming. He paused in his steps and glanced toward the entrance. The familiar exaggerated exhaust sound could only belong to one person in the Qin Family¡ªQin Ruan. After Qin Ruan returned to the Qin family and passed her driver¡¯s license, her father gave her a light pink Maserati, a latest model that most girls would love. After half a month without seeing his younger sister, Qin Mei¡¯s corner of his mouth slowly curled up, his eyes revealing a sense of pleasant anticipation. His steps quickened as he descended the stairs, his entire demeanor radiating excitement. ¡°Amei came down, I was just about to go upstairs to call you for dinner.¡± Han Xian had a smile on her full face as she looked at Qin Mei, her gaze as warm as water. The smile on Qin Mei¡¯s face quickly disappeared. His eyes, similar to Qin Ruan¡¯s, narrowed slightly, displaying his annoyance as he examined the woman before him. Before Qin Ruan had returned, he had managed basic politeness towards this woman. Qin Ruan didn¡¯t feel a sense of belonging in this family, and she treated everyone in the house with balanced remove, creating a distant relationship. This made it difficult for the three men of the family to deal with her, they assumed that having Han Xian might have a mitigating effect. But recently, they realized it wasn¡¯t the case. After her sister was brought back to the Qin family, this woman, Han Xian, always showed her cunning face openly and secretly. It was only recently that he, his father, and older brother recognized this behavior, but they had been too busy with the company¡¯s affairs to deal with it. Under Qin Mei¡¯s slightly annoyed gaze, Han Xian¡¯s smile almost faltered. She moved her lips slightly, her voice soft as she asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, why is Amei looking at me like that?¡± Qin Mei clicked his tongue, his tone indifferent, ¡°Aunt Han, how many times have I told you, don¡¯t call me Amei. People might misunderstand you calling a young lady.¡± He raised his arm and lightly brushed his messy hair, his actions both cool and disreputable. His hair was still damp from a recent shower. With this motion, tiny droplets of water landed on Han Xian¡¯s face. Yet she seemed slightly unaffected, her smile becoming warmer, her eyes curving like crescent moons, the lines at the corners pronouncing a little deeper. With a voice that was gentle and deliberately affectionate, Han Xian said, ¡°Aunt Han got used to it, calling you Amei since you were shorter than my waist. It was a habit formed over many years, I can¡¯t get used to it all of a sudden.¡± Qin Mei stared at Han Xian with deep, impatient eyes. As if thinking of something, a hint of ill-intentioned grin tugged the corners of his lips. Qin Mei slightly furrowed his brows, scrutinized Han Xian from top to bottom, and a concerned expression surfaced on his handsome face. However, the words coming from his mouth were anything but comforting, ¡°People tend to forget as they get older. Aunt Han, you¡¯re no longer young, you should take better care of your health.¡± ¡°...¡± Han Xian¡¯s face instantly contorted with anger, her eyes full of rage, she almost lunged forward to scratch Qin Mei¡¯s handsome face. Over the years, Han Xian had spent a fortune on plastic surgery maintenance for her face, even going abroad several times a year. If she stepped outside now, those who didn¡¯t recognize her wouldn¡¯t be able to guess her age. Among the high society ladies her age, her face appeared the youngest. Chapter 23 - 23 23 Ruanruan, You Murdered Your Brother! ?23: Chapter 23 Ruanruan, You Murdered Your Brother! 23: Chapter 23 Ruanruan, You Murdered Your Brother! It¡¯s true that Han Xian is not young anymore, but her face doesn¡¯t look like that of a mother to a child in his twenties. Walking on the street, people would assume she¡¯s a woman in her early thirties. Han Xian¡¯s bottom line is her face and age. Qin Mei steps on both of these boundaries and still manages to display a deservedly punchable expression. ¡°Aunt Han doesn¡¯t look too well, has she missed her recent Collagen Mesotherapy Injection? At your age, I don¡¯t think there¡¯s a need to fuss about it anymore. The old man hasn¡¯t been well and has been conserving his energy. Even if you do make yourself look good, it would be pointless. You should know that he has the will but not the strength...¡± ¡°Qin Mei!¡± Han Xian finally loses her patience, sternly interrupts him. Her face turns dark, her gaze coldly fixed on the young man in front of her. ¡°Here, there, see, calling my name sounds more pleasant.¡± Qin Mei grins mischievously, his face an image of audacity. ¡°Whoa! What¡¯s all the fun about, what¡¯s the occasion today?¡± Qin Ruan leans against the wall inside the room, her exquisite face filled with playful intent, twirling her car key in her finger. When Qin Mei began teasing Han Xian, she was already there. Seeing Han Xian about to argue with her brother, she finally made her presence felt. Qin Mei looks in her direction. Qin Ruan in a casual pose at the door, a familiar yet innate aura of defiance. The irreverent and audacious attitude, isn¡¯t it exactly like his own? Shock and disbelief captured in Qin Mei¡¯s eyes. His sister is close by, yet she feels both familiar and unfamiliar to him. Qin Ruan¡¯s meticulously crafted face reveals a radiant smile, an air of unruly indulgence, her beautiful eyes revealing a hint of slyness. Gone is the estrangement on her face, meeting her beaming eyes, a subtle tremble arises within Qin Mei, stirring up anticipation. Despite the whirlpool of emotions in his heart, Qin Mei maintains his composure. He unconsciously twiddles his fingers. Realizing his nervous action, he puts his hands in his pockets, circling around Han Xian in a carefree manner, making his way towards Qin Ruan with a strut that suggests the world revolves around him. Standing in front of Qin Ruan, Qin Mei flashes a roguish grin: ¡°Ruanruan, it¡¯s been half a month since I¡¯ve seen you, it¡¯s a rarity for you to be back. Has the sun rose from the west instead?¡± The young man standing in front of her looks handsome, audacious, nonchalant yet irresistibly charming. Although his eyes reveal concern when he looks at her, his words feel like they can be taken or left, making it hard to distinguish false from true. Qin Ruan curves her lips into a smile, her eyes twinkling with amusement. Start over everything anew. This Qin Mei, she hasn¡¯t seen him like this in a very long time. No longer is he the desolate man from their previous life, losing his spiritual rundown, becoming an object of both pity and sorrow. He¡¯s as he was before, the rebellious youth, all audacity, no grief, no pain. Qin Ruan¡¯s eyes filled with mirth, she abruptly stops twirling the car key in her hand. In the next moment, she throws the car keys towards Qin Mei. Qin Mei, on seeing her about to throw it, his expression instantly turns into one of caution. He could easily dodge Qin Ruan¡¯s attack. But, he doesn¡¯t dodge, letting the car keys hit him on the chest. He even thrusts his chest forward a bit when the keys hit him, fearing they might fall to the ground halfway. ¡°Ouch!¡± Qin Mei lets out a wail as he catches the keys just before they hit the ground. Holding his hit chest, he quickly steps back. His expression changes to one of agony and betrayal, he points his trembling finger at Qin Ruan: ¡°Ruanruan, are you trying to murder your own brother!¡± Chapter 24 - 24 24 Seemingly Modest but Actually Arrogant ?24: Chapter 24: Seemingly Modest but Actually Arrogant 24: Chapter 24: Seemingly Modest but Actually Arrogant The speed at which Qin Mei switched faces left Qin Ruan speechless. The next second, she laughed. Her refined and radiant face was blooming with smiles, sweet and captivating, truly unparalleled in beauty. At her laughter, Qin Mei forgot all about acting, left staring in awe. In the year that Qin Ruan had returned to the Qin family, this was the first time he had seen her laugh so freely and genuinely. Hers was a captivating beauty when she laughed. Qin Ruan took a few steps to Qin Mei, took the key from his hand, and punched him playfully on his shoulder. Despite the punch, he didn¡¯t budge an inch, while her hand felt a bit sore. She could distinctly feel his thin yet lean body¡¯s explosive power. ¡°What¡¯s the point of being this muscular? It made my hand hurt,¡± Qin Ruan grimaced, feigning a complaint. ¡°If I accidentally killed you, my sturdy brother, with a key, I would be wronged more than Dou E.¡± Qin Mei was unaffected by Qin Ruan¡¯s light punch. Hearing her complain about her sore hand and seeing her frowning, all the pretentious expressions on his face quickly faded, replaced with deep concern. Before he could even inquire, he heard Qin Ruan¡¯s next words, and he was completely stunned, as if he had heard something unbelievable and shocking. His sister called him ¡°Brother¡±! This word, ¡°Brother¡±, was so unfamiliar. So unfamiliar that Qin Mei had yearned to hear it day by day, for an entire year, and now he had finally heard it. He felt as if he was floating on a cloud. This feeling, he would never forget. Seeing Qin Mei in this enchanted state, Qin Ruan burst into laughter. Her laughing eyes released an affectionate glow, and she looked at her brother before her as if he was a fool. As the brother and sister exchanged a deep look, someone came in search of attention. Han Xian, abandoning her gloomy face, wearing a worried expression, walked up to Qin Mei. She examined him up and down with concern, asking anxiously, ¡°Amei, are you okay?¡± Without waiting for Qin Mei¡¯s response, Han Xian frowned disapprovingly at Qin Ruan. ¡°Ruanruan, I know you¡¯re not that close with us, but Amei is still your brother. How could you hurt him? If Mr. Qin knew, he would be so disappointed in you.¡± Qin Ruan¡¯s smile faded slightly. Her deep, cold eyes quietly stared at Han Xian as if seeing right through her. Under Qin Ruan¡¯s penetrating gaze, Han Xian shivered a bit. Under Qin Ruan¡¯s gaze, all her dark secrets seemed to have nowhere to hide. Noticing Han Xian¡¯s avoidance, Qin Ruan opened her lips, voicing her unwavering determination, ¡°Han Xian, the person least qualified to lecture me in this household is you. I think you can shut up. There¡¯s no need to be so desperate for attention.¡± For the first time, Qin Ruan confronted Han Xian directly. In the past, she had put up with this woman for the sake of face. A strange light flashed across Han Xian¡¯s eyes, she finally agreed with her daughter¡¯s words, Qin Ruan had indeed changed. Ever since she returned home, the deeply hidden sense of inferiority was gone from her eyes, and so was the conflicting feeling of estrangement and desire to be close to her family. She was like stepping into her own territory, flaunt in her demeanor, seemingly underplayed but actually quite arrogant. Han Xian was pissed off, her delicate face softened by light makeup slightly reddening, her eyes tearful. She pointed at Qin Ruan, crying out, ¡°How could you say such things about me?¡± Despite her nearing fifty, she looked pitiful, making anyone who saw her think that Qin Ruan was bullying her. Chapter 25 - 25 25 Han Xians Instigation ?25: Chapter 25 Han Xian¡¯s Instigation 25: Chapter 25 Han Xian¡¯s Instigation Qin Mei couldn¡¯t bear to see his sister being bullied like this. He looked at Han Xian with furrowed brows and an unhappy tone: ¡°Aunt Han, Ruanruan and I were just fooling around. Isn¡¯t you making a mountain out of a molehill?¡± Han Xian knew that Qin Mei had always been crazy protective of his sister. No matter how outrageous Qin Ruan¡¯s behavior, the three men of the Qin Family indulged her unconditionally. She had meant well for the damn boy, yet got a taste of his insolence. Although she had her motives, she was still genuinely unhappy deep down. The tears that Han Xian had been holding back finally fell. ¡°Amei...¡± ¡°How many times have I told you not to call me like this!¡± Gazing at Han Xian¡¯s pretentious face with impatience, he says: ¡°In the future, you don¡¯t need to interfere in Ruanruan¡¯s affairs. My father and brother said before they left on this business trip, Ruanruan doesn¡¯t have to listen to anyone¡¯s preaching in this family. ¡°Anyone, even including my brother and me.¡± On the last sentence, Qin Mei highlighted with emphasis. After saying that, he quickly steps back, signaling that he¡¯s not close to her. Such a mood killer! After a whole year, he finally gets a precious chance to bond with his little sister, only to have it ruined by this woman Han Xian. Qin Mei¡¯s face was as gloomy as it could get, showing his resentment. Han Xian struggled to keep up her vulnerable act, ¡°What do you mean by that? Your father would never say such a thing!¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, you can call my father and ask him yourself.¡± Qin Mei rolled his eyes secretly as he was sick of repeating himself. Han Xian dropped her pretense of vulnerability as surprise and panic set in. Ever since Qin Ruan entered the Qin Family, she had been in charge of everything related to her, including the communication between Qin Ruan and the three men from the Qin Family. This kind of control allowed Han Xian to find opportunities to sow discord. She knew very well how important Qin Ruan was to the three men of the Qin Family. Since Qin Ruan returned to the Qin Family, she was granted 20% shares of the Qin Group, which showed her significance to the three men in the family. Why wouldn¡¯t they allow her to interfere with Qin Ruan¡¯s affairs now? Had something been discovered? Han Xian lowered her eyes, reflecting on everything she had done over the past year. Qin Ruan¡¯s return to the Qin Family was never officially announced, and everyone assumed she was an illegitimate daughter who they were ashamed of. The reason the Qin Family didn¡¯t disclose Qin Ruan¡¯s identity was also her doing. She purposely instigated fear in Qin Ruan, leading her to believe that making her identity public will have repercussions and cause all sorts of trouble. Once the media caught wind of it, her past in the impoverished West City would be picked apart, putting the Qin Group¡¯s interests at risk. The Qin Family¡¯s hard-earned assets could crumble overnight. Following her advice, Qin Ruan turned down a public party that the men of Qin Family planned for her.. Lately, she and her daughter have hung around, spreading rumors about Qin Ruan¡¯s past: her low-class upbringing, her morally compromised contacts, her ambiguous relationships with men, her unchangeable character. She thought as long as she did this, her position in the family would be unshakeable, and she would eventually get what was duly hers. But then, not too long ago, her husband Qin Anguo came back from a medical check-up with troubling results. He promptly wrote a will giving the company to his eldest son, Qin Jingcen. She saw clearly in the testament that the shares Qin Ruan had in the company had gone up to 40%. It had doubled. All of the Qin Group¡¯s shares were held by the Qin family. Before writing his will, Qin Anguo owned 50% of the company, Qin Ruan owned 20%, Qin Jingcen had 15%, QIn Mei had 10%, and the remaining 5% belonged to Qin Anguo¡¯s older brother, Qin Anmin. Chapter 26 - 26 26 Being the Glamorous Mrs ?26: Chapter 26: Being the Glamorous Mrs. Qin 26: Chapter 26: Being the Glamorous Mrs. Qin If it had been at the time when Han Xian first married into the Qin Family, with such allocation of Qin Group¡¯s shares, she would have had no argument. After all, back then, she didn¡¯t have a solid standing within this family. But now, after being married into the Qin Family for more than a decade, after taking care of the three men of the Qin Family for so many years, what does she get in return? It¡¯s all just a joke! Qin Ruan just returned to the Qin family and received 20% of the company¡¯s shares, while she and her daughter still have absolutely nothing. Not long ago, Qin Anguo¡¯s will was set up and although her daughter and she were allocated shares in the company, Han Xian was completely shattered when she saw it. According to the final distribution of the will, Qin Ruan held 40% of the company¡¯s shares, while Qin Jingcen, as the future successor of Qin Group, held a slightly larger share of 41%. Qin Mei¡¯s shareholding in the company remained the same, and there was also no change for their uncle, Qin Anmin. As for the remaining 4% of the company shares, they fell to her and her daughter, with 2% each. How could Han Xian not be furious or resentful after seeing this? During all these years of marriage to Qin Anguo, she had been cleverly planning for years. She was praised by everyone, hailing Mrs. Qin as a virtuous and good mother, a kind-hearted and sincere stepmother that was hard to come by in this world. Even though Qin Jingcen and Qin Mei were distant and polite towards her, the stepmother, she always showed gentleness towards them, treating them as her own children in front of others. She believed that in due time, if her husband weren¡¯t around anymore, these two children wouldn¡¯t treat her and her daughter poorly. She and her daughter weren¡¯t aiming to take a position in the company, as long as they could get dividends from the company¡¯s shares, they would have enough wealth to lead a carefree life in their latter years without having to worry about money. All of this, however, changed after Qin Ruan returned to the Qin family. Compared to Qin Ruan¡¯s 40% of shares in Qin Group, her 4% did seem like a joke! Han Xian wasn¡¯t willing to accept this, how come their painstaking efforts over the past decade weren¡¯t as worthy as that of an outsider they picked up? Qin Ruan just arrived at the Qin Family and got the company shares, enjoying the best in food, clothing, shelter, and transportation. While she and her daughter could only gnash their teeth in the dark. Seeing that her husband was unwell, Han Xian, seized by a fit of jealous rage, did some things. It was a gamble on a path of no return, she bet her life on the future. She wanted to take the Qin Group, she still wanted to be the glamorous Mrs. Qin, only this time, it would be with a different man. For this, she even colluded with her husband¡¯s older brother Qin Anmin. They planned to leak the company¡¯s confidential information, sending Qin Anguo and his son, Qin Jingcen, abroad, all to plot Qin Ruan¡¯s downfall. With the father and son of the Qin family tied up with matters overseas, they wouldn¡¯t be able to return home anytime soon, and by the time they did, everything had already been set in motion. At this critical moment, upon learning that her husband didn¡¯t want her to manage Qin Ruan, Han Xian started to panic. Everything was in the final stages, and if things went wrong now... Thinking about the consequences, Han Xian shivered uncontrollably. No way! She absolutely would not allow such a thing to happen! Grinding her teeth in wrath, Han Xian vowed to take action quickly to ensure her luxurious, carefree second half of life. Qin Ruan was just smiling and staring at Han Xian. Even though she couldn¡¯t see her expression, she could tell how malicious she was from the dense Black Evil Energy spreading around her. ¡°I¡¯m going upstairs to wash up first.¡± Qin Ruan patted Qin Mei¡¯s shoulder, bypassed him without even glancing at Han Xian, and walked upstairs. She didn¡¯t frequently come home, but there was always a place for her in this house. On the second floor, the bedroom with the best natural light, was hers. ¡°Dinner is ready. Hurry up.¡± Qin Mei reminded her from behind. Not turning her head back, Qin Ruan waved her hand: ¡°I know!¡± Chapter 27 - 27 27 Qin Ruan What a coincidence, I also hate you ?27: Chapter 27 Qin Ruan: What a coincidence, I also hate you 27: Chapter 27 Qin Ruan: What a coincidence, I also hate you As Qin Ruan went upstairs, she noticed a malicious gaze coming from downstairs. She did not need to look back to know who it was from. In this family, only Han Xian and her daughter, Han Kexin, held such obvious ill-intent towards her. Qin Ruan reached the second floor and was about to return to her room when she bumped into Han Kexin in the corner, who seemed to have been standing there for a while. With a gloomy expression and burning hatred in her eyes, Han Kexin fixed her gaze on Qin Ruan. As if Qin Ruan had committed an unforgivable act. ¡°I hate you!¡± Han Kexin bluntly expressed her hatred for Qin Ruan. Qin Ruan blinked her eyes, giving a soft chuckle, ¡°What a coincidence, I also dislike you.¡± More precisely, Qin Ruan hated Han Kexin, and likewise, her malicious mother, Han Xian. If it wasn¡¯t for them, she wouldn¡¯t have lost everything and her child in her previous life. Qin Ruan¡¯s indifference agitated Han Kexin even more. With her fists clenched and a defiant tone, Han Kexin spoke, ¡°Qin Ruan, sooner or later, you will be driven out of this family! This place doesn¡¯t belong to you!¡± ¡°Tsk¡ª¡± Qin Ruan shook her head slightly, revealing a smile on her delicate face, ¡°I have four words for you, ¡®usurp the nest¡¯. This phrase might be unfamiliar to you, I sincerely recommend you look it up.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Han Kexin frowned. Qin Ruan moved forward and forcefully grabbed her chin. Despite trying to pull away, the more Han Kexin struggled, the harder the grip on her chin became. Qin Ruan watched Han Kexin, like observing a dying animal struggling. The smile on her face disappeared, replaced by a cold stare. ¡°Han Kexin, this is the Qin family, and my surname is Qin, whereas yours is Han. So, who should leave?¡± ¡°Let go of me!¡± Striking a nerve in Han Kexin who neither belonged to the Qin family by blood stirred her to struggle violently. However, Qin Ruan¡¯s grip was too strong for her to break free. Seeing Qin Ruan¡¯s attractive face, Han Kexin suddenly attempted to scratch her. Just as her hand was about to touch Qin Ruan¡¯s face, which filled her with both envy and jealousy, Qin Ruan let go of her and quickly stepped back. ¡°What are you trying to do? Scratch my face?¡± Qin Ruan touched her face, her lips curling up in a wicked smile. Although the smile never reached her eyes. Qin Ruan seemed to have changed, emitting a powerful aura that suppressed the person across her. Han Kexin felt breathless, struggling for air. For some reason, she thought Qin Ruan¡¯s aura gave off a sense of horror. Suddenly, Han Kexin stared at Qin Ruan as if she¡¯d seen a ghost. ¡°Who are you?! You¡¯re not Qin Ruan!¡± The Qin Ruan she once knew wouldn¡¯t confront her so blatantly. Qin Ruan narrowed her eyes as if she recalled something; a hint of cunning flashed through her eyes. Suddenly, she put on a stern face, her pupils rapidly darkening. Very quickly, her eyes were filled with black, eerily frightful, just like eyeless evil spirits. As Han Kexin¡¯s eyes dilated due to extreme fear, Qin Ruan mimicked a sinister tone, ¡°I¡¯m the evil spirit from hell that¡¯s here to take your life!¡± ¡°Ahhhhhh!!!!¡± The scare was too much for Han Kexin, causing her to sit on the floor, her body uncontrollably shaking. Qin Ruan lowered her gaze, her petite nose twitching slightly. A faint stench filled her nostrils. She covered her nose, her brows furrowing slightly. Looking back at Han Kexin, who was sitting on the dark gray carpet, a large dark wet stain was forming beneath her. So, she was scared to the point of wetting herself. Chapter 28 - 28 28 A Double-standard Dog, Brother Qin ?28: Chapter 28 A Double-standard Dog, Brother Qin 28: Chapter 28 A Double-standard Dog, Brother Qin Han Kexin¡¯s pitiful scene was all seen by Qin Ruan. She couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud. Feeling that it was a bit impolite, Qin Ruan tried to control her laughter, but the corners of her mouth refused to straighten. Upon hearing the urgent footsteps ascending the stairs, her eyes slightly darkened. With a fleeting glance at Han Kexin¡¯s horrified expression, Qin Ruan moved past her and headed towards her own room. Han Kexin¡¯s cry was loud; the people downstairs surely heard it. Based on the hurried footsteps going upstairs, it was probably none other than Han Xian. Qin Ruan had been out all day and the sweat made her feel uncomfortable. She wanted to take a quick shower and relax, so she ignored this mother and daughter pair. Those who do evil will surely face divine retribution. Han Kexin was plagued by evil qi while Han Xian couldn¡¯t escape from misfortune. This mother and daughter pair committed so many evils, they will surely receive their just deserts. She would just wait and watch. Watch them slowly self-destruct. In this lifetime, she wanted to get rid of this mother-daughter pair as easily as stepping on ants. But she was capricious and wanted to watch them step by step, walk towards their own destruction. Qin Ruan returned to her room, locked the door, and went toward the bathroom. As she left, her discarded clothes were strewn across the carpet in her bedroom. Upon reaching the bathroom door, the discarded clothes outside became increasingly smaller and pathetic. ... Half an hour later. Qin Ruan, now in comfortable home clothes, went downstairs. Her hair was half-dry, half-wet strands falling onto her clothes, leaving faint water stains. Seeing her in this state, Qin Mei, who had been sitting in the living room waiting, frowned. He instructed a servant to bring a towel, then got up and walked towards Qin Ruan. ¡°Why did you come down without drying your hair properly?¡± Qin Ruan curled a lock of hair on her shoulder around her finger, twirling it lightly. She answered lazily, ¡°I didn¡¯t feel like doing it, and I¡¯m hungry.¡± Drying hair? In West City, she rarely dried her hair. It mostly air-dried naturally. Her lifestyle there was quite rough. However, once she arrived at the Qin Family, she became more delicate. From eating, drinking, living, traveling to clothing, she couldn¡¯t say it was top-level, but it was the best the Qin Family could offer her. Take hair drying for example, every time her father and two brothers saw her, they would lecture her about it. If she was in a good mood, she would dry her hair as they wished. If not, she would ignore them. Upon hearing her words, Qin Mei looked somewhat resigned, but there was indulgence in his eyes. A servant came over with a towel. Qin Mei took the towel from the servant, walked behind Qin Ruan, and gently wrapped her still damp hair in the towel. ¡°Not drying your hair can lead to illness, especially before sleeping, it might cause a headache.¡± Qin Ruan joked, ¡°Second brother, you know this so well. You¡¯re so considerate. Do you have a girlfriend who you take care of?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. I¡¯ve always been chaste, and I don¡¯t like those crying and whining women. They¡¯re too troublesome.¡± When it came to women, his spoken resistance was clear. Qin Ruan suppresses her laughter, ¡°So, you don¡¯t think I¡¯m troublesome?¡± ¡°How can that be the same!¡± Qin Mei said indignantly, ¡°How can they compare with you, you¡¯re my sister.¡± In Qin Mei¡¯s eyes, how could those ordinary people compare with his sister? Qin Mei¡¯s double standards were indeed extreme. Qin Ruan raised her eyebrows slightly and turned to look at him with a teasing smile, ¡°Second Brother, have you forgotten that I¡¯m also a woman?¡± Qin Mei gently adjusted her head and dried her hair for her. ¡°It¡¯s different, you are well-behaved and particularly endearing. Anyone who sees you will like you.¡± As he said those words, he didn¡¯t hesitate and sounded particularly sincere. As if he truly thought so from the bottom of his heart. Those who didn¡¯t know better might think he was confessing his deep affections. Chapter 29 - 29 29- In this life, there is time for everything ?29: Chapter 29- In this life, there is time for everything 29: Chapter 29- In this life, there is time for everything If it were in her past life, upon hearing these words from her second older brother, Qin Ruan would question if he was playing tricks, or if he had any ill intentions towards her. From her eighteen years of experience in West City, she learned a harsh truth: there were no unprovoked affections in this world, nor manna falling unreasonably from heaven. All that she knew was mixed with various interests and conflicts. Qin Mei¡¯s indulgence and protection made Qin Ruan¡¯s eyes moistened. She realized that every single word spoken by the young man behind her was sincere and heartfelt, representing his deep sentiments. In his eyes, she was so perfect. Her father and oldest brother were also the same; even if she poked a hole in the sky, it would be the sky¡¯s fault, and it had nothing to do with her. In her previous life, she was unclearly framed by others and was portrayed villainously. Her father and brothers comforted her, protected her, and shielded her from the sordid gossips. She was not unwavered by them ¨C their warmth reached her resistant and cold heart. But her chances to accept them came too late. Her father passed away, her oldest brother was forced to go overseas, and her second older brother went missing. She had no opportunity to open her heart to them and had to watch as her family crumbled. Luckily, in this life, she still had time. Qin Ruan held back her tears. She couldn¡¯t cry. Her future was bright now; she should be smiling. Qin Ruan let Qin Mei, who was the same age as her, tenderly dry her hair with great care. This scene, which fell into the eyes of Han Xian and her daughter Han Kexin who were in the nearby dining room, was particularly glaring and piercing to their hearts. Seeing them stifled only made Qin Ruan¡¯s smile brighter. ¡°That¡¯s about it, let¡¯s eat.¡± Qin Ruan stopped Qin Mei¡¯s actions, and went with him to the dining room. Inside the dining room, the servants prepared and placed exquisite and delicious food on the table, waiting for the master to take a seat. As Qin Ruan and Qin Mei entered the dining room and sat down, they didn¡¯t greet Han Xian and her daughter sitting across. They began to eat and chat. Han Kexin, who was sitting opposite them, couldn¡¯t hide her horror. Looking at Qin Ruan¡¯s radiant smile and her delicate face, she was as shocked as if she had seen a ghost in broad daylight. Han Xian couldn¡¯t bear to see her daughter disgracing herself, and stealthily kicked her under the table. Han Kexin, jolted by the kick, hurriedly lowered her head and started to eat mechanically. The dinner was surprisingly smooth. Han Xian and her daughter Han Kexin were unusually quiet, and didn¡¯t cause a fuss. After dinner, Qin Ruan returned to her bedroom on the second floor. She relaxed her body, collapsing lazily onto the bed. Though she had just gotten pregnant a few days ago, she already felt sleepy after having a full meal. Qin Ruan had done some research and knew this was a phantom pregnancy symptom, where her subconscious mind was anticipating the reactions in early pregnancy. She was willing to indulge in this sensation. If she were in good health, her baby would be healthier. Qin Ruan, lying sprawled on her bed, started feeling sleepy. Shortly later, a steady breathing sound echoed in the quiet bedroom. ... The Qin family¡¯s mansion, third floor. The expressions on Han Xian and her daughter Han Kexin were grim when they entered their room. ¡°Mom! Qin Ruan is really a monster, she¡¯s an evil spirit! She admitted it herself!¡± Han Kexin trembled in fright and sobbed on Han Xian¡¯s lap. ¡°Shut up!¡± Han Xian scolded in a harsh tone, ¡°We can¡¯t let her nonsense affect us. I really underestimated this wretch ¨C all those previous behaviours depicting timidity and a desire for closeness to others, were probably all for show.¡± In her view, Qin Ruan was merely trying to deceive her daughter. All these talks about ghosts and demons, she didn¡¯t buy it. Han Kexin¡¯s face turned pale, ¡°I really saw her transform, her eyes turned pitch black without a hint of white...it was terrifying... mom, I¡¯m really scared!¡± Chapter 30 - 30 30 Late Night Call, Han Xian and Her Mother Make a Move ?30: Chapter 30: Late Night Call, Han Xian and Her Mother Make a Move 30: Chapter 30: Late Night Call, Han Xian and Her Mother Make a Move Han Kexin was truly frightened by Qin Ruan, her face ashen pale. Seeing her feeble state made Han Xian furious at her incompetence. An impatience crossed her face as she coldly said, ¡°Are you possessed? Don¡¯t you understand what a beauty pupil is? There¡¯s no such thing as ghosts in the world. It¡¯s obvious she¡¯s the one pulling the strings! If she really is a ghost, then I must be King Yama, who will send her back to hell!¡± Han Kexin had always blindly followed Han Xian, and her firm tone had somewhat comforted her deeply-rooted fear. She wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes, sobbing as she asked, ¡°Mom, what should we do now?¡± Han Xian¡¯s eyes flashed with ruthless determination as she gazed at her daughter, asking in a deep voice, ¡°Do you have the footage from the Imperial Court Hotel?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Han Kexin nodded. Han Xian sneered coldly, her voice filled with malice, ¡°Hand it over to the media, let everyone know that the Qin girl leads an improper lifestyle. The more dirt we can throw at her, the better! We must blow this matter out of proportion and make it known to everyone. I want to ruin her completely!¡± Han Kexin¡¯s expression slightly changed: ¡°That night, Qin Ruan wasn¡¯t staying in the room I arranged for her; the one who actually bedded Rong Jing wasn¡¯t her.¡± Rong Jing was the rich second-generation heir Han Kexin deliberately chose to destroy Qin Ruan. He held a little power in their circles and was known to appreciate beauty. Unfortunately, that night, Qin Ruan didn¡¯t end up with him. Instead, she became romantically involved with the famous and esteemed Master Huo, who lived high above the rest in Capital City. Luckily, she had discovered the situation in time, and had executed a bait-and-switch tactic. Otherwise, this huge opportunity would have been wasted on Qin Ruan, the shameless woman. Thinking about her appointment with the Huo family tomorrow, Han Kexin¡¯s white face flushed with a hint of excited color. ¡°Fool! Just Photoshop that woman to look like Qin Ruan. I can¡¯t believe I have to teach you such a simple thing!¡± Han Xian was truly infuriated today, and felt a sense of chaos stirring within her. She felt things spiraling out of her control. Although she had always doted on her daughter, her tone was a bit harsh today. Han Kexin, who always loved to scheme against Qin Ruan, didn¡¯t mind her mother¡¯s harshness. Her eyes shone with a bright light: ¡°I¡¯ll get to it right away! Tomorrow, I¡¯ll make that woman¡¯s reputation and life crumble!¡± ... It was late at night. Qin Ruan lay in bed, hugging her quilt tightly, sleeping heavily and sweetly. The phone on her bedside table lit up, and the jarring, explosive ringtone soon followed. At the sound, Qin Ruan sat up abruptly. Her bewildered eyes flashed with alertness as she quickly scanned her surroundings. When she realized she was in her familiar bedroom, the vigilance in Qin Ruan¡¯s eyes slightly receded. The phone on her bedside table kept ringing, its piercing sound continuing. This was a piece by a rocker she quite enjoyed in her previous life. She was a genuine fan in her past life, but in this one, the music made her nerves jitter with tension. Hearing the thrilling tune in the middle of the night, akin to explosive nightclub music, Qin Ruan¡¯s body instinctively jumped. She reached out for the phone on the bedside table; on the bright screen was an incoming call from an unmarked number. The light from Qin Ruan¡¯s eyes quickly dimmed in the glow of the phone screen. She was very familiar with this number, despite the fact that they had never spoken over the phone before. Two days prior, she had personally accepted a business card from that person. Given the late hour of the call, the person was likely making a move against Han Xian and her daughter. Qin Ruan slid her finger across the phone screen to answer the call. ¡°Hello?¡± A slightly nervous voice from a man came from the other end of the line: ¡°Miss Qin, just ten minutes ago, someone anonymously sent our company some obscene videos, hoping to get them on the front page of Chuangshi Entertainment newspaper tomorrow.¡± Chapter 31 - 31 31 The Elegant Gentleman, Second Master Huo ?31: Chapter 31: The Elegant Gentleman, Second Master Huo 31: Chapter 31: The Elegant Gentleman, Second Master Huo On hearing these words, a look of realization crossed Qin Ruan¡¯s face. She brushed her hair back behind her head, stood up barefoot, and stepped onto the carpet. A cold voice with a hint of hoarseness echoed, ¡°How much did they offer?¡± The man replied, ¡°A six-digit number starting with two.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Qin Ruan snickered, ¡°Trying to buy space in Chuangshi Entertainment publications with only two hundred thousand? Mr. Li, this is quite a bargain.¡± Mr. Li, the general manager of Chuangshi Entertainment publications, Li Ming. Qin Ruan had met him two days ago, and they had made some transactions. Or to put it more accurately, they had struck a business deal. Qin Ruan had given him a million yuan, asking him to watch out for any scandalous photos or videos involving the Qin family in Chuangshi Entertainment publications during this period. In her past life, Han Xian, Han Kexin had employed such methods, making Qin Ruan a social outcast, hated by everyone. The mother and daughter provided stories of her tumultuous private life, entanglement with multiple men, and loose behaviour to the Chuangshi Entertainment publications, complete with photos and videos as evidence. Although the person in those photos and videos was not her, the woman depicted was partially pixelated in some, while in others it was blatantly photoshopped onto her. The signs of digital alteration in these photos and videos were extremely obvious. Even though some picked up on this, no one stood up for her. People would rather gather around and watch the spectacle, pointing fingers at her. In her previous life, the timing of the mother and daughter¡¯s scheme had been impeccable. The scandal broke when her father fell ill after discovering Han Xian¡¯s collusion with his uncle. The company was leaderless and in chaos, and her elder brother faced opposition in his attempts to take over the family business. Her father and elder brother wished to suppress the ¡°scandal¡±, but their efforts were in vain. An underground force was manipulating events, making it impossible to suppress the scandal, it even tarnished the company¡¯s reputation and caused substantial loss to the Qin Group. In this life, this mother-daughter duo took action early. Qin Ruan sneered coldly. If that¡¯s the case, she wouldn¡¯t hold back either. Li Ming, sounding hoarse, asked, ¡°Miss Qin, what should we do next?¡± ¡°Naturally, we continue our previous arrangement. I will soon send you the photos of the people who anonymously sent things to your company. Remember to have your technicians work diligently, Mr. Li. I expect to see a perfect front page on Chuangshi Entertainment¡¯s publications tomorrow, with no signs of editing.¡± Li Ming replied dutifully, ¡°Very well, I¡¯ll get my team to work all night immediately.¡± Qin Ruan chuckled softly, her tone ambiguous, ¡°Then I appreciate your effort.¡± ¡°It¡¯s our pleasure, Miss Qin. You¡¯re too polite.¡± After hanging up the phone, Qin Ruan stood before full-length window, looking distantly at the blurry treetops below. In her previous life, she had been embroiled in family feuds, lived vaguely without any ambition or contention, and had been manipulated until her death. In this life, she would not let herself be slaughtered without a fight. Any claws that came out, detrimental to her or the Qin family, should not be surprised when she ruthlessly cuts them off. Qin Ruan extended her slender, scarred fingers and reached towards the glass in front of her, making a grasping motion as if to seize everything in her grasp. A smug and confident smile creeped onto her lips. ... Meanwhile. A private plane landed in a quaint, yet grand courtyard in East City. As the plane came to a halt, the door opened from within, and several well-trained figures in black approached. A man, wearing a casual suit, with a handsome face and deep, charming eyes, like a debonair noble straight out of a painting, slowly descended from the plane. ¡°Second Master!¡± The people in black bowed their heads respectively, invoking his title reverently. Chapter 32 - 32 32 The Ice Clear and Pure Mr ?32: Chapter 32 The Ice Clear and Pure Mr. Huo 32: Chapter 32 The Ice Clear and Pure Mr. Huo Mr. Huo Yirong, with his cold gaze, sweeps over the crowd. His eyes fall upon a fleet of cars waiting in the distance, and he strides towards them. The black-clothed men quickly form a protective circle around Huo Yirong as he moves. An ordinarily-featured middle-aged man, who could easily blend into a crowd without attracting attention, approaches Huo Yirong swiftly. The man speaks in a respectful manner, ¡°Master, the old master and the senior master have retired. Would you like to return to the small building first?¡± The old mansion of the Huo Family covers tens of thousands of square meters, with a small building providing private living quarters for the younger generation. Upon learning that his grandfather and uncle have gone to rest, Huo Yirong nods at the man beside him, ¡°Back to the small building.¡± With that, he bends down to get into the car. The man following him goes around to the other side of the car, opens the door, and gets in. He sits up straight, gazing warmly at the man beside him, who has his eyes closed. ¡°Master, I¡¯ve arranged a meeting with the woman who our third master had a one-night stand with. The exact time hasn¡¯t been set. What is your preferred arrangement?¡± Huo Yirong¡¯s brow furrows slightly. He lifts his eyelids, gazing coldly at Huo Qiang sitting beside him. ¡°Old Qiang, it seems you¡¯d like to take a tour of the Punishment Hall. Can¡¯t you see how tired I am? That woman isn¡¯t going anywhere. Stop bothering me!¡± Huo Yirong¡¯s face darkens, his gaze piercing. The youngest among his cousins is undergoing treatment in M Country, and he has been forced to return home to re-investigate a woman whose background they had already made clear. This is a big fuss over nothing. It bothers Mr. Huo. Why should he personally meet a woman who is beneath him? The woman who has been pestering his cousin since that night at the Imperial Court Hotel, had her entire family history dug up by the people of Huo Family. Han Kexin, the adopted daughter of the Qin Family. She moved into the Qin Family with her mother, spent over ten years there, appearing innocent but full of vain desires and cunning. What infuriated Huo Yirong the most was that this woman led an indecent private life, creating ambiguity with multiple men and stringing along those who admired and pursued her. Thinking about how his well-behaved and pure cousin was ruined by such a dreadful woman, he wished he could slay her. Upon seeing his cousin¡¯s lingering interest in Han Kexin in M Country, he dared not disclose her scandalous past. ¡°I was wrong, Master, please punish me!¡± Huo Qiang kneels down on the car¡¯s footmat. His voice isn¡¯t sad or happy, just extremely calm, as if devoid of emotion, like a robot. In the Punishment Hall, those who make mistakes in Huo¡¯s family are punished. Those who enter, whether they live or die, always come out worse for wear. Huo Yirong lifts his hand, pressing his brow, his handsome face displaying his irritation. Huo Qiang is a veteran of the Huo Family¡¯s Hidden Department, competent and one of his most reliable helpers. He also realizes that he had blown matters out of proportion. Huo Yirong raises his hand, ¡°Get up. Arrange to meet with that woman at noon tomorrow, and have a doctor examine her. If she¡¯s carrying the Huo Family¡¯s child, we can¡¯t let it end up outside.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Huo Qiang stands up and sits next to Huo Yirong. On the way back to the small building of the Huo Family, the two men discuss business matters concerning the Huo Family¡¯s HEA Group. The HEA Group is the Huo Family¡¯s public business, appearing as a manufacturing industry while actually dealing in the weapons trade. During Huo Yirong¡¯s overseas trip, all of HEA¡¯s affairs had been handed over to Huo Qiang. Upon returning to the small building, without stopping to freshen up, Huo Yirong brings Huo Qiang into the study to continue discussing the work they had been talking about in the car. X Country wants a large shipment of weapons, but he¡¯s determined to cut the amount in half. The tension between X Country and M Country is high and an oversupply of weapons could inevitably lead to unnecessary conflicts. Chapter 33 - 33 33 Huo Yirongs Fianc茅e, Su Jingshu ?33: Chapter 33: Huo Yirong¡¯s Fiance?e, Su Jingshu 33: Chapter 33: Huo Yirong¡¯s Fiance?e, Su Jingshu Within the Huo Family¡¯s old residence was a small building. Though it was called ¡®small¡¯, its area was far from it. Huo Yirong lived in a European-styled three-story building that covered nearly a thousand square meters, incorporating all leisure, entertainment, and working areas. To the left and right of this building, two differently styled buildings could be faintly seen. Those were the residences of Huo Junxin, patriarch of the Huo Family, and Huo Yunjiao, patriarch of the third branch of the Huo Family. This vast zone was the private space of the Huo Family¡¯s younger generation within the compound. Three in the morning. Huo Yirong finally finished dealing with all the work that had been piling up for days. He waved to send away Huo Qiang and headed towards his bedroom, his steps filled with familiarity. After taking a bath, Huo Yirong came out from the bathroom, wrapped only in a towel around his waist. He walked with measured, elegant steps, heading towards the bed in his room. But before he could get into bed to rest, his door was hastily knocked. ¡°Master Yirong, there¡¯s a problem!¡± It was Huo Qiang, who had returned. Usually calm and composed in any situation, the man couldn¡¯t hide his urgency beyond the door. The indolence in Huo Yirong¡¯s eyes quickly faded, he gritted his teeth, and turned to open the door. Upon opening the door, before he could ask, he saw a stunningly beautiful woman standing behind Huo Qiang. Her face was ashen, her expression was that of someone about to face death. Seeing the beauty standing behind Huo Qiang, Huo Yirong¡¯s brows furrowed, his eyes flickered with a frosty coldness. ¡°What happened?¡± His voice was chilling to the bone. Huo Qiang anxiously moved his lips and stepped aside, fully revealing the woman behind him. The breathtaking woman lifted her eyes, they trembled slightly. With a look of fear, she glanced at the man standing before her, bearing a perfectly sculpted, naked upper body. ¡°Huo Zhi has been incompetently fulfilling her duties, please do punish me, Master Yirong.¡± The woman dropped onto her knees with a thump. Huo Yirong lowered his eyes nonchalantly, a wisp of icy indifference curled at his lips. His eyes were filled with killing intent so heavy you could see it if you looked closely. Huo Zhi¡¯s hands hanging by her side clenched into fists, she disclosed apprehensively: ¡°Master Yirong, Miss Su Jingshu is pregnant.¡± Huo Yirong suddenly lifted his leg and kicked Huo Zhi¡¯s shoulder with all his might, sending her sprawling on the ground. ¡°What did you say?!¡± His tone was low, each word heavy with bitter coldness. The kick he landed on Huo Zhi¡¯s shoulder was so painful it felt like her bones were going to split apart. She endured the pain and quickly got to her feet, kneeling in front of the visibly enraged man. ¡°Master Yirong, I failed in my duties.¡± Huo Yirong¡¯s face was livid, his complexion as cold as the icy deep waters of a still pond. Su Jingshu was a member of the aristocratic Su Family, one of the six major families, and she was also Huo Yirong¡¯s fiance?e. They were already engaged and their wedding was impending. Had it not been for a meeting with the Su Family some time ago about their wedding arrangements, his younger cousin wouldn¡¯t have gotten entangled with a woman of such chaotic lifestyle. If one were to say Huo Yirong harbored no resentment towards the Su Family, that would be impossible. However, Su Jingshu, his own fiance?e, was now pregnant. This kind of humiliation was something no man could bear. He had never laid a hand on her, how could there be a child? With the Huo Family¡¯s Hidden Department keeping an eye on her, Su Jingshu managed to cuckold him. Should he commend this woman for her skills or reprimand his own Hidden Department for their incompetence? Huo Yirong was engulfed by towering rage. The Su Family had really gone too far! He walked up to Huo Zhi, reached out to grab her by the hair, and looked down to meet her eyes, his own filled with icy disdain. ¡°Little Zhizi, you¡¯re one of the best leaders in the Hidden Department, and yet you¡¯re capable of making such a mistake. How dare you come back here for punishment, hm?¡± Chapter 34 - 34 34 How Terrifying is Second Masters Rage ?34: Chapter 34: How Terrifying is Second Master¡¯s Rage 34: Chapter 34: How Terrifying is Second Master¡¯s Rage With a light final ¡®hmm¡¯, Huo Yirong spoke. Huo Qiang and Huo Zhi trembled upon hearing it. The color drained from Huo Zhi¡¯s face, acknowledging her imminent death. She bit her lip, and then spoke, resigned, ¡°I beg you, Second Master, make it quick.¡± ¡°Hah!¡± Huo Yirong laughed bitterly, yanking harder on her hair. The scalp felt unbearably painful, and Huo Zhi painfully leant forward, trying to lessen the pain. ¡°Want to die? That would be too easy for you!¡± Huo Yirong released his grip, then kicked her. ¡°Boom!¡± That kick had all his strength behind it. Huo Zhi was kicked in the chest, flung against the wall of the corridor. ¡°Cough, cough...¡± She clutched at her chest, coughing softly. The taste of blood began to fill her mouth. The Second Master was terrifying when truly angered. Struggling to her feet again, Huo Zhi knelt on the ground, facing the dark-looking handsome man at the door. Huo Yirong was holding an elegant, silver gun that seemed to appear out of nowhere. His eyes lowered, an annoyed gaze on the weapon in his hand. Huo Qiang observing all this knew that Huo Zhi was likely to become a cripple after today¡¯s ordeal. A crisp sound echoed. It was the sound of a bullet being loaded into the gun. Huo Qiang stepped forward the moment the gun was loaded. He knelt before Huo Yirong, ¡°Second Master, it is indeed Huo Zhi¡¯s fault for the mishap involving Miss Su. She cannot escape blame for her oversight. However, the entire matter is too complex. Please, allow her a chance to redeem herself.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Huo Yirong¡¯s eyes, dark and profound, bore into Huo Qiang without emotion. A slight smile crept on his face, indicating his interest in whatever ¡®complexity¡¯ Huo Qiang had hinted at. Huo Qiang bowed his head, his tone humble and respectful, ¡°Second Master, Miss Su has been having an affair with her bodyguard. Huo Zhi has been following her orders and shadowing Miss Su for a long time. However, when Miss Su enters the Su Family Mansion, Huo Zhi is unable to uncover any valuable information.¡± ¡°The bodyguard ?¡± said Huo Yirong with an inscrutable expression. ¡°Yes, Miss Su has been pregnant for three months. I suspect the Su Family may be aware of this. Therefore, Huo Zhi¡¯s crime is not deserving of death.¡± ¡°Slap!¡± The moment words left Huo Qiang¡¯s mouth, a slap met his face. ¡°Old Qiang, you¡¯ve overstepped your bounds.¡± Huo Yirong withdrew his hand, his previously present gun now nowhere in sight. He crossed his arms, looking coldly at Huo Qiang and Huo Zhi who was kneeling before him. Both were leaders of the Hidden Department, chosen only after rigorous scrutiny and therefore they excelled in all eighteen martial arts skills. Their athletic abilities and intellect were top-notch. Huo Qiang was a servant, yet he now dared challenge the honor of the Huo Family to save Huo Zhi ¨C if that wasn¡¯t overstepping his boundaries, what was? The connection between the Huo Family and the Su Family wasn¡¯t deep ¨C marriage was simply a mutually beneficial arrangement. Whenever Su Jingshu was around Huo Zhi, having an affair with her bodyguard under her nose meant they were meeting in a perfectly safe location. Huo Zhi wasn¡¯t allowed to enter the Su Mansion. Besides the Su Mansion, there was no other place that assured Su Jingshu and her bodyguard absolute safety. By hooking up with her bodyguard in the Su Mansion, how could the Su Family not know about it? This wasn¡¯t Su Jingshu challenging Huo Yirong¡¯s bottom line ¨C it was the entire Su Family challenging the authority of the Huo Family. Huo Qiang, unrestrained, had drawn attention to Su Family¡¯s disrespect of Huo Family¡¯s authority. The second master of the Huo Family, also being the manager of HEA Group and the Hidden Department, would naturally understand the intricacies involved, but he didn¡¯t allow such basic logic to come from Huo Qiang who was trying to save Huo Zhi. If not for, ¡®Huo Zhi¡¯s crime does not warrant death¡¯, perhaps the Second Master wouldn¡¯t have been so furious. Regret washed over Huo Qiang¡¯s face briefly; he had acted out of complete despair. ¡°I have erred, please punish me, Second Master!¡± Huo Yirong¡¯s eyes were dark and dangerous, ¡°No punishment is needed for now; we will need your help in the next few days, the Punishment Hall can wait. Punish yourself.¡± Chapter 35 - 35 35 You Will Always Be the Dog of the Huo Family ?35: Chapter 35: You Will Always Be the Dog of the Huo Family 35: Chapter 35: You Will Always Be the Dog of the Huo Family ¡°Yes!¡± Huo Qiang¡¯s face showed no signs of emotion. He sprung into action immediately. From within his cowhide boots, he pulled out a dagger. Without saying a word, he directed the razor-sharp blade toward his thigh. Just as the dagger was about to pierce through his clothes, a white and delicate hand reached out and forcefully grasped the blade. Scarlet blood trickled down, instantly dying Huo Qiang¡¯s black pants a dark color. Upon seeing this scene, Huo Yirong¡¯s eyebrows twitched in amusement, the playfulness revealing itself on his charming face. ¡°Second Master, it¡¯s my incompetence that¡¯s to blame, not my Uncle Qiang.¡± Huo Zhi¡¯s hand was stained crimson to its grip on the blade. She stared resolutely at the man leaning casually against the door frame. ¡°Are you questioning my judgement?¡± Huo Yirong smiled devilishly at the corner of his lip. Huo Qiang¡¯s error was not advocating for Huo Zhi, but his failure to honor the Huo family¡¯s dignity in saving a life, at all costs. ¡°Huo Zhi, let go!¡± Perceiving Huo Yirong¡¯s anger, Huo Qiang sternly ordered. The seemingly cheerful face of the second master concealed a storm of fury that he could clearly see. He didn¡¯t believe Huo Zhi could not notice it. This girl is too obstinate, much too naive. Since the second master has decided to punish him, his decision could not be void. Huo Zhi, as if she hadn¡¯t heard Huo Qiang¡¯s words, kept her gaze locked onto Huo Yirong, pleading evident in her eyes. Huo Yirong stood up straight, wearing only a bath towel around his waist. Yet he walked towards the two leaders of the Hidden Department of the Huo family with an air of elegance as if he were donned in extravagant attire. There was no mirth in his eyes as he looked coldly at Huo Zhi. ¡°Little Zhizi, you¡¯re growing bolder by the day, even forgetting the most basic rules of the Hidden Department of the Huo Family?¡± Huo Yirong lifted his foot, stomping forcefully onto Huo Zhi¡¯s shoulder. Despite slightly trembling, she maintained her perfectly knelt posture. ¡°Ignorant fool!¡± Huo Yirong¡¯s tone darkened, ¡°You certainly won¡¯t escape punishment today, now shoo away!¡± Upon finishing his words, Huo Zhi was kicked aside like a soccer ball. ¡°Old Qiang, what are you waiting for!¡± Huo Qiang¡¯s dagger was no longer restrained, and he forcefully plunged the blade into his thigh. The depth of the wound was at least five centimeters. Scarlet blood instantly dyed the corridor¡¯s carpet. ¡°Tsk¡ª¡± Huo Yirong frowned slightly while staring at the defiled carpet, ¡°Don¡¯t forget to have it cleaned.¡± ¡°I will obey.¡± Huo Qiang¡¯s voice was steady, without a hint of tremor, as if he didn¡¯t feel pain in his leg. ¡°Get out.¡± ¡°Yes¡ª¡ª¡± Huo Qiang got up, casting a subtle glance towards Huo Zhi, collapsed not far away, incapable of moving. A light of hopelessness flickered in Huo Zhi¡¯s eyes. Her continuous mistakes angered the second master; escape was beyond her reach tonight. After Huo Qiang left, Huo Yirong approached Huo Zhi. His slippered foot stomped on Huo Zhi¡¯s face as if it were a rag. ¡°Little Zhizi, no matter how capable you are in the Hidden Department, remember, you are forever the Huo family¡¯s dog. If I desire to kill you, your only option is to obediently follow, understand?¡± ¡°I will remember.¡± Huo Zhi¡¯s face, distorted from the pressure, mumbled unclearly. Her beautiful eyes looked up at the man standing before her. Unable to look elsewhere due to his lack of clothing, she kept her gaze respectful and humble, as if he were a god. The third master of the Huo family was the lord of all in the Hidden Department, while the second master was the ruthless executioner. The fate of everyone in the Hidden Department lay in the hands of these two men. The second master¡¯s methods were the cruelest. Thinking of the fate of those who previously made mistakes, the fear in Huo Zhi¡¯s heart amplified as she began to shiver uncontrollably. Chapter 36 - 36 36 Huo Yunjiao What happened ?36: Chapter 36 Huo Yunjiao: What happened? 36: Chapter 36 Huo Yunjiao: What happened? Huo Yirong¡¯s handsome face broke into a faint smile, his tone light and breezy: ¡°I see your memory isn¡¯t very good, it would be better to make it more profound so you can remember.¡± ¡°I¡¯m at your disposal, Second Master.¡± Huo Zhi did not dare to defy him in any way. The people in the Hidden Department were all weapons in the hands of the Huo family; they had no dignity, no self-identity. If their master wanted them to live, they would live. If their master wanted them to die, their only choice was to kill themselves, they would never let their master experience any inconvenience. Huo Yirong took his foot off the other¡¯s face. His eyes were ice-cold, showing no mercy. ¡°Pass Su family¡¯s matter over to others, and as for you, get to the Punishment Hall. If you can come out alive, I will give you another chance.¡± ¡°I accept your command¡ª¡ª¡± Huo Zhi got up awkwardly, his body hunchbacked, and he walked step by step downstairs. Huo Yirong turned into his bedroom. He just got an international video call from his cousin, Huo Yunjiao, who is in M country. When the video was connected, Huo Yunjiao¡¯s beautiful and enchanting face, both humble and elegant, was clearly shown. His reserved face carried some pale sickliness, giving off an aura of aloofness when devoid of any expression, creating a natural sense of distance. The background behind Huo Yunjiao was a white wall, on which hung an abstract mural. Huo Yirong was very familiar with this place; it was the exclusive VIP ward of Walton Hospital where his cousin was staying in M Country. ¡°Yunjiao, do you know what time it is in our country?¡± Huo Yirong looked helpless. ¡°It¡¯s half past three in the afternoon here in M country.¡± Huo Yunjiao¡¯s uniquely laid-back voice slowly resounded. ¡°It¡¯s early in the morning in our home country, and I haven¡¯t closed my eyes for more than twenty-four hours since yesterday.¡± Huo Yirong sat at the desk in his bedroom, pressing his forehead with his hand. This action was seen by Huo Yunjiao, including the trace of blood on his hand. Huo Yunjiao frowned, his calm face showing concern: ¡°Why is there blood on your hand?¡± Huo Yirong paused his movement. He lowered his hand slowly, looking down. The vivid red color on his hand was extremely glaring. Disgust flashed in his eyes. He picked up a tissue and frowned as he wiped it off, saying casually: ¡°It¡¯s not my blood, someone from the Hidden Department had a bit of an accident.¡± Huo Yunjiao glared at him, his eyes sharp as a torch: ¡°What happened?¡± If it involved someone from the Hidden Department and there was blood involved, the situation must have been serious. Huo Yirong did not hide anything, revealing everything Su Jingshu had done as well as the Su Family¡¯s blatant attitude. Huo Yunjiao¡¯s indifferent and expressionless face turned even colder after hearing this. His quiet eyes were as if treading on thin ice, chilling to the bone. Seeing his troubled look, Huo Yirong¡¯s attitude became serious: ¡°I will handle this matter, you don¡¯t need to worry. Just take good care of your health in M country.¡± He didn¡¯t want this issue to affect his cousin. The Su Family wasn¡¯t significant enough to affect the future leader of the Huo Family¡¯s health. Huo Yunjiao didn¡¯t say a word, he crossed his hands on his lips, remaining motionless. It seemed as if the video was frozen, stuck in a still frame. Huo Yirong stared at the video of his cousin, whose eyebrows were carefully painted, realizing that he was in deep contemplation. After a significant pause, the video finally changed. Huo Yunjiao leaned on the sickbed behind him, his posture elegant and exceptional, his voice low and pleasing to the ear. ¡°Leave the Su Family¡¯s matter to grandfather. The Aristocratic Families have been restless these few years, and among them, the Su Family has been the most conspicuous because they relied on their past connections with Old Master; this is the only reason they dare to be so bold and reckless.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I think too.¡± Huo Yirong had thought of his grandfather first when he learned of Su Jingshu¡¯s betrayal. He said in a deep voice: ¡°What the Su Family has done, the Huo family has been tolerant to them.¡± Chapter 37 - 37 37 Ruanruan, Remembered by Third Master ?37: Chapter 37: Ruanruan, Remembered by Third Master 37: Chapter 37: Ruanruan, Remembered by Third Master In years past, the Su Family had saved the life of the Huo Family¡¯s old master, and they leveraged this debt of gratitude to arrange a marriage between the younger members of the two families. After the marriage alliance, the Su Family became increasingly restless. As an aristocratic family, they absurdly aspired to surpass the four supreme families. Such audacity had crossed the line and affected the interests of many different powers. Among the top echelons of Capital City, the Huo Family led the four great families, followed by the Long, Gu, and Lu families. The current President is a member of the Long Family. Every eight years, there¡¯s an election, and the candidates are always from the four great families. Beneath these four great families, there are six more aristocratic families: the Su Family, Gongsun Family, Xiao Family, Ling Family, Nangong Family, and Rong Family. Over the past few years, the Su Family has acted increasingly overtly in their dealings due to the marriage with the Huo Family, barely concealing their ambitions to squeeze into the ranks of the four great families. Huo Yunjiao picked up the documents beside her and flipped through them, her voice calm, ¡°The Su Family did save Grandfather¡¯s life after all, so let Grandfather handle this matter. His intervention will certainly not be lighter than yours.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± A wicked smile curled up on Huo Yirong¡¯s lips, his face also revealing a look of anticipation. If the grandfather found out about Su Jingshu¡¯s actions, given the old man¡¯s fierce temper, he would definitely give the Su Family a good thrashing. These years, the Su Family has been exploiting the alliance through marriage to take advantage of the Huo Family; they are probably going to get their comeuppance, with interest. ¡°How is the investigation of that woman going?¡± In the video, Huo Yunjiao looked down, flipping through the file in her hand without raising her head, as though the question were merely an afterthought. That woman? Apart from the woman from Imperial Court Hotel who had a fling with the third brother, who else could it be? Huo Yirong¡¯s eyes flickered slightly, and he subconsciously licked his lips. His uneasiness was fleeting. ¡°How could it be so fast? I just returned to the country and have been dealing with company business. As you know, X Country urgently needs to purchase a large quantity of weapons lately. I haven¡¯t had time for this.¡± Huo Yunjiao looked up, her deep eyes flashing with fragmented light, making it hard to read her expression. She gazed at the screen, at Huo Yirong¡¯s face, which was brimming with exhaustion. Indeed, HEA Group had been incredibly busy with a backlog of tasks, and she knew that her second cousin had landed in the country at midnight. Yet, recalling the soul-stirring experience at Imperial Court Hotel and the woman with a vague face but etched in her heart, Huo Yunjiao still couldn¡¯t let go. Her voice was calm, with an undeniable tone, ¡°It¡¯s just about transmitting some information; it won¡¯t take much of your time.¡± In the past days, she couldn¡¯t believe that with the capabilities of the Huo Family, they hadn¡¯t found out the basic information about that woman. Huo Yirong¡¯s face twisted as he shrugged nonchalantly, ¡°The information is with Huo Qiang. I just punished him, so he has left.¡± ¡°You punished Old Qiang, and he¡¯s gone to the Punishment Hall?¡± Huo Yunjiao¡¯s eyebrows knitted together, her profound gaze mixed with doubt, and her bewitching, delicate face showed disapproval. Huo Qiang was an elder within the Hidden Department, well-regarded by not only the old master and the father but also the second uncle, deeply loyal and honorable, someone they should all respect. ¡°Tsk, how could I send him to the Punishment Hall? After all, he¡¯s been watching us grow up since we were kids. It¡¯s just a mild punishment as a warning.¡± Huo Yirong¡¯s expression remained unconcerned, ¡°In his attempt to save Huo Zhi, he stepped on the Huo Family¡¯s dignity. The Su Family has been unruly for so many years, covertly and overtly defying us. Who in the Huo Family doesn¡¯t know? Yet he had to state it outright. To save Huo Zhi, it seems he¡¯s nearly forgotten who his masters are!¡± Huo Yunjiao gave him a silent glance, ¡°You¡¯ve sent Huo Zhi to the Punishment Hall.¡± This was not a question, but a statement. ¡°Hmm¡ª¡± Huo Yirong looked down, not seeing anything amiss. In the video, the person lying on the hospital bed sighed softly, ¡°Don¡¯t torment him too much. Let him out after he¡¯s learned his lesson.¡± Chapter 38 - 38 38 Huo Familys Hidden Department, the Third Masters Obsession ?38: Chapter 38: Huo Family¡¯s Hidden Department, the Third Master¡¯s Obsession 38: Chapter 38: Huo Family¡¯s Hidden Department, the Third Master¡¯s Obsession Huo Yunjiao¡¯s lightly handled demeanor touched a nerve in Huo Yirong. His face was filled with hatred, and his voice was indifferent and cold. ¡°In what way have they been toyed with, my younger brother, your heart is too soft, these people only exist because the Huo Family spent countless resources and energy to train them. The Huo Family gave them a new life, they are the most useful weapon of the Huo Family, and the moment they show signs of disloyalty, they should be thrown into the Punishment Hall, to show them who is the master and who is the servant.¡± Such a paranoid attitude from Huo Yirong is clearly abnormal. Huo Yunjiao, who knew the insider¡¯s details, put her hand on her forehead, her tone unusually gentle: ¡°Brother, it¡¯s been so many years, you should let it go.¡± ¡°Bullshit! I will never forget it in my life, once these traitors have their fill, how could it have been possible for our mother to die!¡± Under Huo Yirong¡¯s furious emotions, he couldn¡¯t control his rage, and blurted out some curses. Seeing him so upset, Huo Yunjiao felt awful and did not want to speak. With a look that saw through the other party, he directly ended the video call. ¡°...¡± Huo Yirong stared at the light blue desktop of the notebook in front of him, his eyes widening slightly. Is he angry? Thinking back to the emotions he just let fly, his younger brother might think he exaggerated too much. Huo Yirong¡¯s angry face slowly faded, and his eyes filled with a triumphant smile. Seeing Huo Yunjiao¡¯s helpless expression when he just saw through him, it lingered in his mind for a long time. He did it on purpose. The year their mother was kidnapped, the spies from the Hidden Department who were dispatched to rescue her clearly had a chance to save her. But they missed the best opportunity. To put it bluntly, it was because they were afraid of dying. So many years have passed, and Huo Yirong has been unable to put this matter down. He did not allow anyone from the Hidden Department to ever be afraid to act again out of fear of death or the consequences. No one from the Huo Family could ever be hurt by the weapons they control. Huo Yirong lowered his eyes, his smile gradually faded, his expression became obsessed and gloomy. Some mistakes are enough to happen once. If they happened again, he would have to consider annihilation. ... When Qin Ruan woke up, she found that Han Xian, Han Kexin, and Qin Mei were not at home. After asking a servant, she learned that Han Xian and her daughter Han Kexin had left without eating breakfast. As for Qin Mei, he was called out by a phone call. Qin Ruan touched her stomach: ¡°I¡¯m hungry, is there anything to eat?¡± The servant immediately replied, ¡°The second young master instructed before leaving that the kitchen should prepare lunch for you.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Qin Ruan walked towards the dining room. After only a few steps, she turned back and ordered the servant who was still standing there, ¡°Bring today¡¯s newspaper.¡± ¡°Yes¨C¡± Qin Ruan sat in the dining room, holding a spoon in one hand, sipping porridge, and the newspaper in the other. The headline of today¡¯s Chuangshi Entertainment was, as expected. The front page of the newspaper was dominated by words about a Qin Family girl¡¯s promiscuous private life. High-definition pictures, all sorts of indecent and awkward postures, were all on display. However, the faces of the women in intimate embraces with different men, carrying out various clandestine actions, were all pixelated. Looking at the contents and pictures in the newspaper, Qin Ruan had a pleased look on her face. She put down the newspaper, picked up her mobile phone on the side, and opened the social media platform. The scandalous life of the Qin girl made the trending topics, the exposed photos and videos were marked with thick red fonts. The boundaryless, naked, and obscure pictures, full of desire, drew particular attention. The netizens¡¯ verbal attacks were very indecent, their words too dirty to watch directly. Everyone was guessing who this Qin girl was. Thanks to Han Xian and Han Kexin, most of the upper-class knew that there was an illegitimate daughter in the Qin family, Qin Ruan. Chapter 39 - 39 39 Dont Go Out, It Will Attract Dirt ?39: Chapter 39: Don¡¯t Go Out, It Will Attract Dirt 39: Chapter 39: Don¡¯t Go Out, It Will Attract Dirt But the ordinary people do not know. All they know is the chairman of the Qin Group has an adopted daughter, Han Kexin, who occasionally appears before the public. Much of the online crowd think the woman with a chaotic private life is Han Kexin. They verbally attack her, disparaging her with disgraceful words. With the image Han Kexin portrays to the public on behalf of the Qin Group, her beauty and the gentle description from the outside world, she gathers a group of mindless fans who admire her solely for her looks. There are those who come forward to defend her. They take on an arrogant tone, acting as if they know the inside story, lecturing the public. Just like the comment Qin Ruan is currently reading. The comment from this netizen was quite straightforward. [The chairman of the Qin Group has an illegitimate daughter who allegedly has grown up in West City, displaying vulgar conduct beyond salvation. I suspect she might be the one with a chaotic private life. Everyone should know that Miss Han is gentle, elegant, and kind. Her conduct is refined, she knows when to advance and retreat and she received her upbringing under the guidance of high society. How could she possibly do such things.] [To the person in the comment above, drop dead! I¡¯m from West City. How can you say that the people from West City are low and vulgar? You better explain yourself!] [I¡¯ve also heard some rumors. The woman in the videos and pictures I saw, expertly throwing herself at different men, definitely does not resemble Miss Han. But there¡¯s a high possibility that she¡¯s the illegitimate daughter of the Qin family.] [Miss Han is my goddess, how can you all defame such a pure and kind-hearted girl like her...] Flipping through these comments, Qin Ruan remained calm, a hint of a smile in her eyes. This was just the beginning. The more uproarious the online discussions, the more complete the upcoming play would be. She finished the porridge in the bowl on the dining table, logged out of the social media platform, and left for upstairs. Tomorrow is Monday, Qin Ruan decided to return to school today. After dealing with the Mountain Demon that tried to harm someone in the school dormitory, senior Ling Xiaoxuan hasn¡¯t contacted her. Qin Ruan was a bit worried about her senior. She went back to her room, changed clothes, and dialed Xiaoxuan¡¯s number. The phone rang for a long time without being answered. When it was about to disconnect automatically, it was finally picked up. ¡°Qin Ruan?¡± The weak voice of Ling Xiaoxuan came through the phone clearly into Qin Ruan¡¯s ears. ¡°Senior, are you sick?¡± The voice of the person on the line sounded utterly spiritless. ¡°Yes, I haven¡¯t been feeling well these past few days.¡± Qin Ruan frowned, ¡°Is everything alright?¡± ¡°Nothing major, just that my reflexes are a bit slow.¡± Ling Xiaoxuan responded weakly. Slow reflexes? That meant her reactions were slow, unable to keep up with her thoughts when things happened. She was clearly talking about the thrilling incident that happened in the dormitory that day. Qin Ruan still remembers, that night when the Mountain Demon was dealt with, Xiaoxuan was more excited than scared, constantly asking her about her abilities. At that time, she thought Xiaoxuan was quite brave, truly deserving a member of the Paranormal Exploration Team. But now hearing her weak voice, she couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. Even Xiaoxuan was human, how could she not feel anything when faced with such bizarre life-threatening incidents? Qin Ruan¡¯s voice, laced with laughter, softly comforted her, ¡°Senior, make sure you rest well.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t laugh at me, I can hear it.¡± Xiaoxuan¡¯s voice sounded depressed. Qin Ruan remained silent, laughing as she picked up her backpack, which she had just organized and casually thrown onto the bed. She grabbed her backpack and walked out of the room, casually inquiring, ¡°Senior, are you going to school tomorrow?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ve requested a five-day leave.¡± Qin Ruan agreed with this arrangement. ¡°Senior, try not to go out for the next few days. You¡¯re still weak, and it¡¯s easy to attract unclean things if you go out.¡± ¡°Thump!¡± There was a thud on the other end of the phone. Qin Ruan halted her steps down the stairs and blinked her eyes, ¡°Senior?¡± Chapter 40 - 40 40 Qin Jingcen, Big Brothers Phone Call ?40: Chapter 40: Qin Jingcen, Big Brother¡¯s Phone Call 40: Chapter 40: Qin Jingcen, Big Brother¡¯s Phone Call From Ling Xiaoxuan, there was still no response. Qin Ruan seemed to hear a gasp coming from the speaker of the phone. Slightly worried, she asked, ¡°Senior, are you okay?¡± After a while, Ling Xiaoxuan finally responded. She asked, word by word, ¡°Qin Ruan, what did you mean by what you said earlier?¡± Her teeth chattering as she spoke. Qin Ruan understood why she had muffled her microphone earlier. It was a clear case of being bitten by a snake and being scared of the well rope for ten years. Qin Ruan¡¯s voice was gentle, attempting to soothe, ¡°You encountered something unclean a few days ago, so your energy field has been affected. Going out could easily result in bumping into something dirty again, especially at night. It¡¯s safer to stay in as much as possible.¡± ¡°I need to ask for more days off!¡± Ling Xiaoxuan let out a sob, quickly hanging up the phone. Just as the call was hung up, the slow, sentimental ringtone of her phone started to play. Ling Xiaoxuan called again. Qin Ruan swiped her phone screen to answer the call. ¡°Qin Ruan, I asked the school yesterday to move you to my dorm, you can¡¯t refuse. Even though I don¡¯t often stay on campus, it¡¯s still my territory. It can¡¯t be occupied by demons, you have to safeguard it properly. If there are still unclean things, I believe you can take care of it. Xiaomei, will you do it?¡± After finishing, she hung up before Qin Ruan could say a word. As if she was afraid that Qin Ruan would change her mind. Qin Ruan looked down at the disconnected call in her hand, her face indifferent. In a situation like her senior¡¯s, she really needed to rest for a while and reduce her outings. As for moving dorms, she didn¡¯t have a reason to refuse. Ling Xiaoxuan¡¯s dormitory was in the best part of the school, with a great environment and plenty of space, fully equipped. Her previous roommates were distant and although the dorm wasn¡¯t small, it was still cramped with four people. If she dealt with sudden situations, it wasn¡¯t easy to hide. In order to extend her life for only another year, she needed to speed up the collection of the evil Qi by hunting by night, clearing out any harmful demons and spirits in the world. The senior had taken care of her concerns. Qin Ruan put away her phone and went downstairs to leave. Inside the mansion, busy domestic helpers heard, in the distance, the exaggerated exhaust sound from the luxury car outside. The sound grew fainter until they couldn¡¯t hear it anymore. ... Just as Qin Ruan arrived at the school dormitory and hadn¡¯t had a chance to settle in, she received an international call from M country. It was her older brother, Qin Jingcen. When Qin Ruan answered, her voice was hoarse. ¡°It¡¯s Qin Ruan.¡± Her voice sounded calm, but only she knew how nervous she was. ¡°Aruan, are you okay?¡± Qin Jingcen¡¯s voice was low and gentle, subtly conveying a worrying fear. He was too careful with his words. Qin Ruan pursed her lips, her tone casual, ¡°I¡¯m fine, I¡¯m really good.¡± She guessed, Qin Jingcen probably knew about the trending scandal this morning. The unseemly video and photos of a Qin Family girl¡¯s private life becoming public was a scandal, and it definitely affected the Qin Group. The company¡¯s share prices had probably already fallen. Qin Jingcen, without mentioning the company, asked softly, ¡°Where are you?¡± ¡°At school, I¡¯ve just arrived.¡± Qin Ruan threw her stuff onto the bed across from Ling Xiaoxuan¡¯s bed and went to the dorm room balcony. Since he wasn¡¯t bringing it up, she took the initiative, ¡°You already know about the news from home, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± From Qin Jingcen¡¯s end, it was quiet. Calculating the time difference, it should be late, around 10 p.m. in M country. He should be resting at this hour. The Qin Group¡¯s confidential information leak was a serious matter. During that period her brother and father must have been very busy. Chapter 41 - 41 41 Ruanruan Feels a Bit Embarrassed ?41: Chapter 41 Ruanruan Feels a Bit Embarrassed 41: Chapter 41 Ruanruan Feels a Bit Embarrassed The call he made to check on her during his busy schedule softened Qin Ruan¡¯s heart. She felt a wave of emotion washing over her, but more than that, there was a bitterness. She regretted the defensive wall she built around her heart in her past life and not cherishing everything more. Standing on the balcony of her dormitory, Qin Ruan idly toyed with the succulents on the plant stand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me, the person in the photos and videos is not me.¡± Her voice held an air of indifference, as if she didn¡¯t pay it much mind. Qin Jingcen fell silent on the other side of the call. After a long pause, he spoke gently to reassure her: ¡°I¡¯ll handle this. Don¡¯t let it affect your mood. If you¡¯re bored at school, go find Amei, let him show you around.¡± Anticipating that she might be bored at school tomorrow, her older brother surprisingly suggested she go out and even asked Qin Mei to accompany her. Such a big brother was truly a rare breed. Qin Ruan pursed her lips, her originally melancholic face breaking into a brilliant smile. She feigned seriousness: ¡°Tomorrow is Monday, second brother has classes too, right?¡± In M Country. Astonishment registered across the face of Qin Jingcen, often referred to as the cunning fox of the business world, upon hearing Qin Ruan¡¯s words. He opened his mouth, his voice tightened, ¡°Second brother?¡± Since returning to the Qin Family, Qin Ruan had never addressed the man she knew as her father as such, nor had she ever referred to him and Qin Mei as her brothers. This mention of ¡°second brother¡± stirred both excitement and envy in Qin Jingcen. Ruanruan had never called him big brother, not even when addressing him in conversations. ¡°Aruan, what did you call Qin Mei just now?¡± It took a while for Qin Jingcen to find his own voice. He was unaware of his expectations, that were filled with nervous hope. Qin Ruan, with her sharp hearing, sensed his array of complex emotions. In this life and her last, she owed the three men of the Qin family an address. Father, big brother, second brother. They were her dearest family. Even when she was at her worst, they never gave up on her. Qin Ruan looked up at the sky, holding back the tears welling up in her eyes. Her voice was cheerful, hinting at a semblance of intimacy: ¡°I call him second brother.¡± Second brother? Did Ruanruan calling Qin Mei ¡°second brother¡± mean she was starting to accept them? Qin Jingcen¡¯s heartbeat quickened, an excitement greater than signing a contract worth billions took hold of him. ¡°What about me, Ruanruan?¡± He was eagerly anticipating his sister to call him brother. Qin Jingcen was upfront, completely losing his usual ease seen in the business world. That little brat Qin Mei had received his sister¡¯s approval, he couldn¡¯t fall behind. ¡°Big brother, you¡¯re my big brother.¡± Qin Ruan called out affectionately and tenderly, like a demure little girl. ¡°Good girl, Ruanruan!¡± Qin Jingcen¡¯s voice trembled, and for a moment, he didn¡¯t know what to say. Understanding his emotional overload, Qin Ruan stayed silent. She quietly listened to the heavy breathing coming from the other side of the phone. After a few minutes, Qin Ruan took the initiative to ask: ¡°When are you and father coming back?¡± ¡°In a week.¡± Qin Jingcen¡¯s emotions had calmed, his voice sounding as elegant and pleasant as ever. Qin Ruan made a noise of acknowledgement, then added: ¡°Big brother, the scandal back home might affect the Qin Group¡¯s stock volatility, causing some losses. Can I handle this matter? I promise to resolve it within two days.¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Qin Jingcen responded quickly, without hesitation. Even if Qin Ruan asked for the moon, he would be the first to apply for the moon¡¯s ownership. Even though this was utterly absurd. After confirming her father and big brother¡¯s return date and receiving the right to manage the scandal affecting Qin Group¡¯s profits, Qin Ruan expressed concern for Qin Jingcen before hanging up. In fact, she was a little embarrassed. Chapter 42 - 42 42 Seems Graceful, Yet Deadly in Reality ?42: Chapter 42: Seems Graceful, Yet Deadly in Reality 42: Chapter 42: Seems Graceful, Yet Deadly in Reality In a life that seemed like a distant dream, no matter if Qin Ruan was in West City or back in the Qin household, she had never been overly intimate with anyone. Her defensive barriers were hefty, she had never relied on anyone. She had believed since she came of age, the only person one could rely on and trust in this world, would always be oneself. If it weren¡¯t for the painful experiences of her past life, if she didn¡¯t feel the sincere care from the father-son trio of the Qin family, she might have never let down her emotional walls so easily. Her earlier flirtatious, affectionate and dependent tone on Qin Jingcen made Qin Ruan feel a little uncomfortable. She believed, in time, she would get used to it. Her father, elder and younger brothers were her most beloved family. In this life, she would protect them, and ensure that their later years were worry-free. ... East City, at a certain private club. Early in the morning, under the anticipation of Han Xian and Han Kexin, a mother and daughter drove to this exclusive private club known for its high and elegant style. The Huo family sought out Han Kexin. The mother and daughter were overjoyed at the unexpected opportunity. It was quite clear to them why the Huo family had sought them out. The woman who spent an intimate night with Master Huo at the Imperial Court Hotel was Qin Ruan. However, Han Kexin had cleverly replaced Qin Ruan. So logically, it should be Han Kexin reaping all the rewards that the Huo family had to offer. If Han Kexin was able to recognize Master Huo, it was all thanks to her stepfather ¨C Qin Anguo. Last year, as Qin Group rose to great heights and Qin Anguo¡¯s net worth soared, they received an invitation to the top-tier banquets held by the aristocratic families in Capital City. Qin Anguo took her and her mother to the banquet. At the banquet, she saw what true blue-blooded elite were, what genuine power and prestige looked like. In the eyes of those born with great power, what the Qin Family possessed was simply insignificant. The biggest gains Han Kexin had at the banquet were recognizing Huo Yunjiao, the legitimate heir of one of the four largest families in Capital City, Master Huo. It was a one-sided recognition, however. In the bustling banquet, filled with alluring ladies and endless wine, she immediately spotted a man who exuded an unmistakable aura of authority walking into the banquet hall. The man had a handsome, delicate face that revealed a slight, seductive allure, and a noble demeanor. He was indeed a favored son of heaven, a figure worth revering. With just one glance, numerous women at the banquet fell for his looks and demeanor, including Han Kexin. The man walked elegantly and steadily, gradually immersing himself into the heart of the banquet, and accepted innumerable admiring gazes. That night, Han Kexin learned of the man¡¯s identity. He was Huo Yunjiao, Master Huo, the legitimate heir to the esteemed Huo family. He was going to be the next family head. It is rumored that he is ruthless, cold, noble, capricious, an ostensibly genteel killer, a heartless man. All the rumors about Master Huo seemed very distant to Han Kexin. He was a man she could only dream of, yet never would be able to attain. She thought there would be only that brief encounter for the rest of their lives. But unexpectedly, due to Qin Ruan, she had another chance to get close to Master Huo. Regrettably, that night, after she had men carry Qin Ruan to another room and hurried back to the room where Master Huo was located, even before she could get close to him, even before she could stretch out her hand to touch him, someone knocked on the door. People from the Huo family forcibly barged into the room, and carried Master Huo, who had passed out, away. So, Han Kexin hadn¡¯t even a chance to touch a single finger, as she watched him get carried away. She wasn¡¯t ready to give up just like that. After all, she knew what had transpired between Qin Ruan and Master Huo. She had a flicker of expectation in her heart. The Huo family would surely come to find her. Chapter 43 - 43 43 Discussing Qin Ruan, Missing the Truth ?43: Chapter 43 Discussing Qin Ruan, Missing the Truth 43: Chapter 43 Discussing Qin Ruan, Missing the Truth That night at the Imperial Court Hotel, when the Huo Family burst in, what they saw was her together with Master Huo. Not Qin Ruan, but her, Han Kexin. Everyone would think that the person who had a tryst with Master Huo was her. With this thought, Han Kexin was filled with high hopes, believing that the Huo Family would certainly initiate contact. Reality proved that Han Kexin¡¯s expectations weren¡¯t wrong. She waited until she was contacted by the Huo Family. ¡°Mom, do you think the Huo Family will marry me?¡± Han Kexin was sitting in a room of the club, her fingers fidgeting nervously, her face slightly blushing with anticipation. Across from her, Han Xian sat calmly, an image of composure with her refined features. At her words, Han Xian glanced at her daughter with a serene look. ¡°Stop daydreaming, the Huo Family won¡¯t marry you.¡± These words instantly wiped away the rosy glow on Han Kexin¡¯s face. She widened her eyes in surprise and exclaimed, ¡°Why? They contacted me to meet, if they¡¯re not going to marry me, why find me?¡± With a slight twitch at the corner of her lips, Han Xian said: ¡°Kexin, you should know why.¡± Of course, Han Kexin knew it was because Qin Ruan was the one who shared a bed with Master Huo that night. But no one else knew of this. Not even Qin Ruan herself. ¡°Mom, Qin Ruan...¡± she poses no threat at all.¡±Kexin, this matter has nothing to do with Qin Ruan. Even though she treated you badly yesterday, she is still your stepfather¡¯s biological daughter!¡± Han Xian sternly cut off Han Kexin before she could finish her sentence. With a stern look on her face, Han Xian raised her eyebrow at her daughter, hinting her to look at the surveillance camera in the upper left corner of the room. If the Huo family arranged the meeting here, they should be wary. With the advancement of technology today, their conversation in the room may be overheard by certain people. Han Kexin immediately shut her mouth, looked uneasy, and glanced at the location of the camera. Using only a quick glance, she swiftly looked away. Han Xian and Han Kexin¡¯s caution wasn¡¯t misplaced. Every single word and action were witnessed and relayed to a luxurious black car parked outside the club. Seen and heard by Master Huo who sat in the backseat. ¡°Huh!¡± Huo Yirong let out a snort, ¡°This mother and daughter pair sure are interesting.¡± The Qin Ruan mentioned in the mother and daughter¡¯s conversation, he also knew about. Having grown up in the slums of West City, she was not as disgusting as this mother and daughter pair. When digging up information on Han Kexin, the entire Qin Family had been thoroughly investigated by the Huo Family. The details of Qin Ruan¡¯s life were still in his computer database. This woman was notorious in West City, apart from not having killed or dabbled in drugs, there was hardly a misdeed she had not participated in. She was a ruthless character, but also a fool who, despite being the rightful heir to the Qin Family, was manipulated by her stepmother and stepsister. One could tell she was oblivious to the vile and filthy conflicts of the wealthy families. Unlike West City where issues were solved with fists, fights between the rich were unseen and bloodless. This woman would be wiped out by others sooner or later. At the moment, Huo Yirong wasn¡¯t too interested in Qin Ruan. He only intended to quickly handle the mother and daughter sitting in the club, both full of schemes and greed. Han Kexin¡¯s dream of marrying into the Huo Family was nothing more than a pipe dream. If his brother had slept with a clean woman, she might have even had a chance to enter the Huo household. But she was too unsuitable, fully tainted. The position of matriarch in the Huo Family, she was unfit for. Any one of her many dark secrets brought to light, would cause her to be laughed at by the other families. If she were to enter the doors of the Huo Family, for decades to come, the Huo Family would become fodder for others¡¯ gossip. Chapter 44 - 44 44 Huo Qiang Arrives on Command ?44: Chapter 44 Huo Qiang Arrives on Command 44: Chapter 44 Huo Qiang Arrives on Command The future mistress of the Huo Family, she could come from an aristocratic family or be a country girl from a village. But there is one rule, she must be clean and pure, even if she rises from the mud without getting stained. She absolutely would not be a woman like Han Kexin. Huo Yirong leaned lazily against the back of his chair. He gazed somberly at the video, where Han Xian¡¯s charming face was calculating something through surveillance, all clearly reflected in his eyes. The old one seemed to know her limits, yet she was a greedy old fox. His younger brother, Huo Yunjiao, was a man of abstinence. He had no interest in love, and in the past thirty years, he hadn¡¯t shown interest in any woman. However, one night at the Imperial Court led to him developing feelings for Han Kexin. Such an annoying thing, not worth his younger brother¡¯s affections. Unfortunately, his noble brother was tarnished by this woman, Han Kexin. Thinking about this, Huo Yirong couldn¡¯t control the anger bubbling up from within. Today, he needed to confirm whether Han Kexin carried his younger brother¡¯s child or not. If there was nothing to worry about, he wouldn¡¯t need to pay her much attention in the future. As for his younger brother, Yunjiao¡¯s affection for her. Han Kexin¡¯s detailed information was laid out in front of him. Based on those colorful black histories, everything would dissipate like smoke. He would share the information with his younger brother but not now ¨C he wouldn¡¯t let it affect his younger brother¡¯s rest and recovery. Huo Yirong lifted his head, looked at the person sitting beside him, and coldly commanded: ¡°Go in, bring the doctor from the car along, and hurry up.¡± The person driving, Huo Qiang, turned his head back, nodded slightly, and got out of the car. The way he got out of the car seemed unnatural for a split second. The injury from last night ultimately hindered his movements. As soon as Huo Qiang got out of the car, ignoring the pain from his leg wound, he moved as swiftly as usual. He walked to the car parked behind them. Soon, a middle-aged man got out of the car, followed by two men in black, brimming with Evil Qi. The four men entered the club, their footsteps as swift as the wind. Han Xian and Han Kexin sat inside the room, feeling anxious. ¡°Knock knock¡ª¡± The door was knocked from the outside. The mother and daughter immediately sat up straight, their posture dignified and steady, anyone would think they were as elegant and intelligent as they appeared. Before they could respond, the door was pushed open from the outside. Huo Qiang was the first one to step into the room, followed by two men in black suits and a middle-aged doctor. ¡°Hello, I am from the Huo Family. Please cooperate with us,¡± he called out politely. Huo Qiang approached the mother and daughter, lifted his chin towards the middle-aged man: ¡°Dr. Chen, I¡¯ll have to trouble you.¡± Dr. Chen, who was from the Huo Family¡¯s medical team, promptly walked up to Han Kexin. ¡°What are you trying to do?!¡± Han Kexin felt uneasy, she hastily stood up, intending to run to Han Xian¡¯s side. As she was about to stand up, one of the men in black behind her placed his hand on her shoulder. The man¡¯s grip was strong, he forcibly pushed Han Kexin back down into her seat. Another man in black stood behind Han Xian, who could sense that something was wrong. She narrowed her panic-stricken eyes, her calm demeanor completely vanished. Seeing that Huo Qiang was the one in charge amongst the four men, Han Xian voiced out sternly. ¡°The Huo Family is supposed to be respectful and esteemed. My daughter and the third young master had a one-night affair, your attitude towards us is absolutely unacceptable! Even if the third young master denies everything, there¡¯s no need for such disgraceful conduct!¡± Han Xian¡¯s words clearly indicated that she was trying to probe them. These people claimed to be from the Huo Family, their words and actions filled with order, clearly there on a mission. She needed to know who was behind all this so that she could plan her next move. Chapter 45 - 45 45 Master Huo Shes Asking for Death! ?45: Chapter 45: Master Huo: She¡¯s Asking for Death! 45: Chapter 45: Master Huo: She¡¯s Asking for Death! Huo Qiang remained indifferent, a picture of serene composure. Suddenly, there was a flash in his eyes. A familiar command emanated from the bluetooth headset on his ear. ¡°Demand that old woman to shut up!¡± The ruthless voice tinged with simmering menace belonged to Second Master Huo, who sat in his car outside the club. Huo Yirong realized that the insolent old woman inside the room was slandering his younger brother and trying to lure him into her trap. Huo Qiang was a dependable assistant to Huo Yirong for several years and was also a veteran in the Huo Family¡¯s Hidden Department; he was, consequently, an important representative of Huo Yirong. Within the four illustrious clans and six noble families of Capital City, very few didn¡¯t know Huo Qiang. Who wouldn¡¯t afford him some regard? Even if the Chairman of the Qin Group were to cross paths with Huo Qiang today, he would have to bow and curtsy, adopting a stance of utmost respect, daring not to overstep in the slightest. Han Xian, this audacious old woman, openly disrespecting the members of the Huo family, was practically courting death. Having sensed the anger in his master¡¯s voice, he leveled a frosty look at Han Xian. ¡°No one has ever dared to meddle in the Huo family¡¯s affairs, Madam, watch your words.¡± His voice was severe and carried a veiled sense of bloodthirstiness. Han Xian was inherently guilty-conscious, and under his overbearing aura, she found her body trembling uncontrollably. Countless speculations whirled in her mind, as her thoughts spiraled into chaos. Could it be because the Huo family had discovered something? Were they aware of her daughter¡¯s ruse the other night or perhaps the Huo family wanted to cut ties and get rid of them completely? ¡°Ah!¡± Across from her, Han Kexin suddenly let out a yell. Dr. Chen was drawing blood from Han Kexin¡¯s arm with medical extraction equipment. ¡°Mom, save me! Save me!!!¡± Han Kexin was scared to death. She was afraid that these people might take her life. Seeing this, Han Xian allowed her gaze to follow suit. Dr. Chen had already extracted one tube of blood from Han Kexin¡¯s arm. Without stopping, he picked up another transparent tube and kept drawing blood, one tube after another. Seeing this, Han Xian¡¯s eyes flickered, her heart pounded faster, and her emotions surged uncontrollably. Why were they drawing blood at this point? It seemed she had realized something. If her daughter were pregnant right now, it would surely be Third Master Huo¡¯s child. Even if she didn¡¯t really do anything with the Third Master, as long as she was pregnant at this time, the Huo family would consider the child in her womb as their heir. With excitement, Han Xian¡¯s eyes sparkled, and her elegantly made-up face flushed unnaturally. She was hoping that a couple of days ago, during her daughter¡¯s ovulation period, she had, fortuitously, been intimate with another man. Only then, there would be a chance for fertilization. Once the pregnancy was successful, her body would start producing the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin. By drawing her blood for testing, they could detect this hormone and confirm whether she was pregnant or not. Judging from the actions of the Huo family at present, nothing could be more evident. The most crucial point was that they weren¡¯t suspicious of her daughter. They didn¡¯t learn about the switch the other night. If they didn¡¯t know that Han¡¯s daughter had swapped places, and truly believed that she was the one who had slept with Third Master Huo, how could Han Xian not be overjoyed? Han Kexin didn¡¯t understand all of this, and she was still undergoing blood extraction under strict control. Seeing the tubes that were continuously draining her blood, her face grew deathly pale. ¡°Mom, save me...¡± Her voice trembled with panic and grief. Quickly, Han Xian¡¯s previous panic was replaced by reassurance, the corner of her lips curled up in a grin that she tried, unsuccessfully, to suppress. Giving a fleeting glance to the powerful and intimidating men filling the room, Han Xian softly comforted her daughter, ¡°Kexin, be good, there¡¯s nothing for you to worry about.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Han Kexin had always trusted her mother and her terror was somewhat alleviated by these words. Chapter 46 - 46 46 The Price They Cant Afford ?46: Chapter 46 The Price They Can¡¯t Afford 46: Chapter 46 The Price They Can¡¯t Afford Han Xian clasped her hands and placed them in her lap. She spoke softly: ¡°Kexin listens obediently, everything will be fine soon.¡± Han Kexin turned her head, staring at the blood-drawing medical device on her arm, terror still reflected in her eyes. Nobody saw Han Xian, whose hands were uncontrollably trembling in her lap from the excess excitement. Initially, she believed her daughter stood no chance in the Huo Family because of her humble background. But the behavior of the Huo Family made her start to hope. Soon, the blood draw was over. The four members of the Huo family hastily departed as they had arrived. Outside the meeting place, Huo Yirong, after watching Huo Qiang and others leave the room, shut off the surveillance video, out of sight, out of mind. The greed was explicit in the faces of the mother and daughter on the video, apparent schemes lurking in their eyes. He was almost amused by their audacity. The power that Huo Family held in Capital City was such that even if someone harbored hurtful intentions, none dared to openly plot against them. However, this mother and daughter pair surely had guts. They might not be able to bear the consequences of such manipulation against the Huo Family though. The car door opened from the outside, Huo Qiang sitting down and pulling it closed after him. He turned to face the man seated behind him: ¡°Second Master, everything is sorted.¡± ¡°How long until we have results?¡± Huo Yirong¡¯s eyes half-closed, his tone was calm and gentle, creating a facade of tranquility. He was referring to the blood that Doctor Chen had taken from Han Kexin. Huo Qiang: ¡°An hour.¡± ¡°I want someone to keep close tabs on them. Until the results come out, watch their every move,¡± Huo Yirong ordered, feeling the need to keep an eye on the mother and daughter duo, lest they cause any trouble. Although it was impossible for them to harm the Huo Family¡¯s interests with their capabilities, it was better to be safe than sorry. ¡°Yes, Second Master!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± The black unassuming yet luxurious cars parked outside the meeting place slowly pulled away. ... Inside the meeting place. Once Huo Qiang and his party had left, Han Xian immediately went to her daughter¡¯s side. She took Han Kexin¡¯s hand, gestured her not to speak with her eyes, and hurriedly left the meeting place. Half an hour later. The mother and daughter Han Xian and Han Kexin returned to the Qin Family. Upon learning that siblings Qin Ruan and Qin Mei were not at home, they did not pay much attention. Han Xian led her daughter straight to the bedroom on the third floor. ¡°Bang!¡± The bedroom door was slammed shut from the inside. Han Xian, not even taking the time to sit, stared at her daughter sternly, asking, ¡°Kexin, on the night Qin Ruan and Master Huo of Imperial Court Hotel became involved, did you have any relations with any other man in the days around that event?¡± Han Kexin was somewhat confused, not understanding why her mother would ask this. Both mother and daughter liked the feeling of being surrounded by men and even enjoyed their pursuit. But they had always been playing their individual games and had never interfered with each other. ¡°Mom, why are you asking this?¡± Han Kexin was shy, remembering something and displaying a hint of reminiscence on her face. Anyone who knew her would understand what her expression meant. Han Xian, upon seeing this, felt somewhat reassured. She took her daughter¡¯s hand and walked over to the bed, explaining the actions of the Huo Family beforehand. ¡°Really?!¡± Learning the reality, Han Kexin became very excited. If she were truly pregnant now, wouldn¡¯t that give her a chance to enter the Huo family? Han Xian patted her daughter¡¯s hand: ¡°Of course it¡¯s true. As long as you¡¯ve been with other men during that period, and luck is on your side, you¡¯ll inevitably have a connection with the Huo family.¡± ¡°I had my eye on a male model during that time and stayed with him. He was physically quite good,¡± Han Kexin excitedly disclosed, her face taut with tension and anticipation, giving her a somewhat distorted and hideous appearance. Chapter 47 - 47 47 Congratulations, Youre Pregnant ?47: Chapter 47 Congratulations, You¡¯re Pregnant 47: Chapter 47 Congratulations, You¡¯re Pregnant Han Xin¡¯s face was radiant with joy, her smile growing brighter. The male models all had nice bodies. If her daughter was indeed involved with one of them during those few days, she might indeed be pregnant. She still couldn¡¯t help but asked worriedly: ¡°Did you guys take any precautions?¡± Han Kexin shook her head: ¡°No.¡± Han Xin was reassured, ¡°That¡¯s comforting. Now we just have to wait for the news from the Huo Family.¡± ¡°Mom, do you think I will marry into the Huo family?¡± Han Kexin clutched Han Xin¡¯s hand tightly, full of anticipation. ¡°There might indeed be a possibility.¡± Excitement intermingling with tactical calculations, the mother and daughter had completely forgotten about the matter with Chuangshi Entertainment¡¯s news tabloid now. The Qin Group, because of this scandal, had been pushed to the first spot of the trending topics causing fluctuation in their other stock markets, which stirred quite an uproar. Many influential figures reposted it, even maliciously speculating whether there were internal problems within the Qin Group. Regarding the woman in the pictures and videos that were exposed online, there was still no clear message. But the majority of the netizens had already identified the woman in the pictures and videos as Han Kexin, the Qin Group¡¯s stepdaughter. ... Qin Ruan sat outside the gynecology department of the hospital, waiting for her blood test results. She was clearly aware that since that night at the Imperial Court Hotel, there was a child in her abdomen, but she was still worried. So she decided to take a blood test to reassure herself. In her previous life, the lost child had become her obsession. The faint crying of the child was always echoing in her ears, unsettling her mind. While waiting for the results, Qin Ruan received a call. It was from Li Ming, the general manager of Chuangshi Entertainment¡¯s news tabloid. ¡°Miss Qin, the situation online is clearly escalating out of control. We¡¯ve already been contacted by the Qin Group, who asked us to take control of the scene. What should we do next?¡± Li Ming¡¯s tone was agitated, barely concealing his anxiety. His primary motivation for agreeing to cooperate with Qin Ruan in the first place was knowing that she was the beloved daughter of the Qin Group¡¯s chairman and also the second-largest shareholder of the Qin Group. A cold light danced in Qin Ruan¡¯s beautiful eyes, her lips curving up in an indiscriminate arc, her whole body radiating an alluring charm. ¡°Manager Li, the real show has just begun, why the hurry?¡± Qin Ruan¡¯s tone was leisurely: ¡°Put out a message that the real face of the woman in the photos and videos will be revealed at midnight today. I believe Chuangshi Entertainment¡¯s tabloid will be richly rewarded.¡± What happened today has put Chuangshi Entertainment¡¯s tabloid in the spotlight. Such exposure can¡¯t be bought with money. Li Ming remained silent for a while: ¡°I¡¯ll arrange for it immediately. How will the Qin Group respond?¡± Qin Ruan responded with a soft opening of her red lips: ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. The Qin Group won¡¯t contact you again.¡± Her older brother had promised to let her handle this affair. Li Ming on the other side was assured, then hung up. Qin Ruan put away her phone and stood up to leave. She went to the test results window and smoothly got her report. Qin Ruan was not a medical student and didn¡¯t understand the data on the report. She took the report to the consulting room where a middle-aged female doctor was sitting. The doctor took the report from Qin Ruan, looked up at her, saw the anticipation on her delicate face, and couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°Congratulations, the blood test report shows that you¡¯re pregnant. I suggest you rest more at home, don¡¯t work too hard, and don¡¯t use random medications, which can affect the fetus. I advise adjusting your own health during this time...¡± The doctor¡¯s advice was vague in Qin Ruan¡¯s ears. She clearly heard only the doctor¡¯s first sentence: You¡¯re pregnant. Chapter 48 - 48 48 Rong Jing, is this person you ?48: Chapter 48: Rong Jing, is this person you? 48: Chapter 48: Rong Jing, is this person you? Qin Ruan dropped her eyes to gaze at her flat belly, her hand gently caressing it with delicate care. Her eyes shimmered with teary light and the corners of her lips lifted in anticipation. She was indeed pregnant. The child she had failed to protect in her past life had returned to her side once again. Qin Ruan didn¡¯t know how she had managed to leave the hospital. Standing at the entrance of the hospital, her uneasy emotions were completely soothed. She looked up, the blue sky reflecting in her eyes, and the clear horizon filled with relief. Qin Ruan looked forward to the arrival of the child in her belly. ...... Late night, in the early hours of the morning. Online gossip hounds who had been lying in wait finally had their exciting moment. Chuangshi Entertainment¡¯s press releases topped the trending list once again. No, it was the juicy gossip they revealed that trended, causing several internet crashes throughout the night. But this did not hinder the curiosity of the spectators at all. The woman in the photos and videos, her face previously blurred, finally appeared in her true form. Surprisingly, the woman was the speculated Qin Group¡¯s adopted daughter, Han Kexin. With eyes glued to Han Kexin¡¯s angelic face, netizens excitedly weighed in on the scandal. Some even made a compilation from her videos and photos, dubbing it an artful species aesthetics adult film, the sight of it enough to launch men in a state of exhilaration with tears streaming from their mouths. [So this is the so-called socialite, how thirsty must she be to sleep with different men, hats off!] [Han Kexin species aesthetics adult video here ¡ª¡ªxxx.kcv14.com, feel free to join the discussion.] [From the moment she appeared in public, I felt she was a disguised playgirl, wrapping herself in fake innocence, but privately flaunting her sexuality!] [This woman does have a pretty face. Download and save, guys, for a group session.] [Han Kexin species aesthetics adult video here ¡ª¡ªxxx.kcv14.com, feel free to join the discussion.] [Did you notice the photo of her entering the hotel with three men? Damn! This girl is a player!] [Above poster, I saw it, I even have a new piece of species aesthetics resources. Want to check it out together?] All sorts of demons and monsters appeared online. Meanwhile, the person in question, Han Kexin was in the middle of a peaceful dream, dreaming of marrying into the Huo Family. ... Nightclub. In a glitzy VIP room, a group of men and women writhed wildly amidst dim lights and deafening music, spurred on by alcohol. In darker corners, some even provided a live demonstration of hedonistic indulgence. A man of average looks but with an aura of sunshine and security sat on a sofa, flirting with a heavily made-up woman. Suddenly, someone approached him and showed him a video on the phone. ¡°Rong Jing, is this you in the video?¡± Rong Jing let go of the woman he was holding and took the phone from his friend. The phone was playing a video. The background was a room in the Imperial Court Hotel, and Rong Jing was entangled with a woman. The woman kneeling on the floor kept her head down, while he was engaged in vigorous action. Seeing such a video, Rong Jing¡¯s face didn¡¯t look so good. Anybody would feel bad about being filmed naked without their knowledge. However, what happened next left Rong Jing stunned. In the video, he was in the same position behind the woman, his face flushed in an unusual red hue. Suddenly, he reached out and pulled the woman¡¯s hair. Forced to lift her head, she revealed a face flushed with lust and confusion. The woman was someone most of the people present recognized. It was Han Kexin. Rong Jing cursed under his breath, ¡°I¡¯ve never touched that woman!¡± The man who had handed him the cellphone smirked and said, ¡°In the video, you are more than just touching her.¡± Chapter 49 - 49 49 Clues, It Wasnt Her That Night ?49: Chapter 49: Clues, It Wasn¡¯t Her That Night 49: Chapter 49: Clues, It Wasn¡¯t Her That Night Rong Jing¡¯s brow was tightly furrowed, his face had a grim expression. His family was in the steel business, in this noble-rich Capital City, although they were not considered insignificant as dust mites, they were regarded as nouveau riche. No matter how much money he spent, he couldn¡¯t break into the circle of legitimate aristocratic children and maidens. In the circle of the pleasure-seeking rich second generations, Rong Jing was nothing more than a target of amusement. Rong Jing knew how to speak the language of the people he mingled with in the circle, gradually integrating himself. He, like any man, had bad habits, he loved beautiful women. Rong Jing never forced anyone, he liked to use money to solve physiological needs, he was unwilling to meddle with emotions. Some time ago, a young man had returned from abroad after his studies, a banquet was held in his honor. That night, he had drunk too much and had spent the night with a woman in a hotel. Although Rong Jing had drunk a lot he wouldn¡¯t forget the woman who had spent the night with him, it certainly was not Han Kexin. This woman always looked down on him, she would never lay with him. ¡°How was Han Kexin, I heard she was quite skilled, was it exhilarating?¡± The man sitting next to Rong Jing, teased. ¡°I¡¯ve never touched her.¡± Rong Jing leaned on the sofa, sinking deep into it, making it difficult to see his expression. He was also unclear as to why the woman in the video had turned out to be Han Kexin. The others in the room seemed to have also seen tonight¡¯s hot search, and they all flocked to Rong Jing¡¯s side. Those in the room were a group of rich second generations who liked to eat, drink, and be merry, all of whom had significant backgrounds. No matter how wild they were outside, it wouldn¡¯t affect their family¡¯s interests. The scandal involving Han Kexin that broke out this time seemed interesting to everyone, and they crowded around Rong Jing to find out more. As soon as the group of rich second generations, who always looked down on others, gathered around him, Rong Jing quickly fit in with them. He did not distort the facts, only saying that the woman with him that night was definitely not Han Kexin. ... Huo Family. Late at night, Huo Yirong sat in front of his desk in the study. The ultra-thin laptop screen in front of him was displaying the Internet discussion about the Qin Family¡¯s daughter engaging in improper behavior with exposure videos and photos. Even that aesthetics video about species, which was an eye-opener for him. Indeed, there were many talents on the Internet, they could even create something like this. The elegant woman who was still sitting in the clubhouse during the day became a companion of a wolf-dog at night, the scene was too stimulating and unbearable to watch. Huo Yirong dressed in a blue silk pajamas, his gaze deep, lips pressed, his whole body filled with rage, rapidly spreading throughout the study. He looked up at the man standing in front of the desk, pressing against his slightly tired brow with his hand, ¡°Have you found out what happened?¡± The man standing at the desk, Huo Qiang, responded: ¡°It¡¯s Qin Ruan, Chairman Qin¡¯s biological daughter, who cooperated with Chuangshi Entertainment to push Han Kexin to the forefront. The photos and videos exposed on the Internet are a mix of real and fake.¡± ¡°So, it¡¯s her.¡± Huo Yirong¡¯s eyebrows slightly raised, a surprised expression appeared on his face. In his view, Qin Ruan did not seem like someone who would do something like this. The impression she gave him was that of a person holding several trump cards, not knowing when to strike. Huo Qiang moved closer to the desk and handed Huo Yirong the video on his phone, which was playing Rong Jing and Han Kexin, doing aerobic exercise. ¡°Second master, this is from the night when the third master was at the Imperial Court Hotel. If Miss Han really had something to do with this man, she wouldn¡¯t have time to be alone with the third master.¡± The words instantly caused a change in Huo Yirong¡¯s complexion. He took the phone from Huo Qiang¡¯s hand. Chapter 50 - 50 50 Master, I was wrong ?50: Chapter 50: Master, I was wrong 50: Chapter 50: Master, I was wrong Huo Yirong looked closely at the inflammatory video on his phone, his handsome face grave. His gaze flickered, his eyes filled with a restless storm, his features dark and demonic under the dim light in the study. The man raised his head, his deep pupils revealing an abyss: ¡°Is the surveillance footage I copied from the hotel that night still available?¡± Huo Qiang: ¡°Yes, but the portion when Third Master entered the room is blank. The surveillance system had a malfunction.¡± Huo Yirong¡¯s finger tapped on the office desk, creating a crisp sound that filled the study with an ominous and oppressive aura. After who knows how long, a chilling, mocking laughter echoed in the study. ¡°The Imperial Court Hotel belongs to the Su Family. It¡¯s quite the coincidence that surveillance happened to malfunction that evening!¡± The cold and ruthless tone in Huo Yirong¡¯s voice was clear evidence of his fury. Huo Qiang was well aware that the Imperial Court Hotel was owned by the Su Family. On the night of the incident, the Third Master had met with Su Family members at the hotel to discuss the marriage between Second Master and Su Jingshu, a daughter of the Su Family. He pursed his lips, frankly saying, ¡°Second Master, something is strange about this.¡± Huo Yirong¡¯s lips curled into a sinister smile. Indeed, something was extremely amiss. Doctor Chen drew several tubes of blood from Han Kexin during the day. The results confirmed that she was indeed pregnant. However, it wasn¡¯t a child from the Huo Family. Han Kexin was already half a month pregnant when Huo Yunjiao had sexual relations with her less than ten days ago. It was clear who the child¡¯s father was. ¡°If I remember correctly, wasn¡¯t it Huo Zhi who personally went to pick up Third Brother that night?¡± Huo Yirong narrowed his eyes, his pupils gleaming. ¡°Yes, Huo Zhi received the news that night and led the team to pick up Third Master.¡± ¡°Bring her here. Now.¡± ¡°Yes, Second Master!¡± As Huo Qiang turned to leave, he was called to stop. ¡°Wait¡ª¡ª¡± Huo Yirong watched the video on his phone, where Han Kexin was kneeling on the ground, controlled by Rong Jing and subjected to his ruthless tyranny. A murderous intent flashed in his deep eyes. He raised his hand, pointed to the man in the video, and ordered, ¡°Bring this bastard to me as well.¡± Half an hour later. A battered and blood-stained Huo Zhi was brought into Huo Yirong¡¯s study. Punishment Hall of the Huo Family was as good as a death sentence. Anyone who entered could expect to escape without severe injury or disfigurement. Huo Zhi had been tormented there for a whole day and night, and was hardly recognizable. Fortunately, she was still breathing. The blood on her body stained the carpet in the study, filling the room with a strong smell of blood. During the wait, Huo Yirong had moved to stand by the floor-to-ceiling window. He didn¡¯t turn around even when he heard movement behind him. ¡°Second Master.¡± Huo Zhi slowly rose, propping her body that was ready to collapse at any moment, and knelt on the carpet. She lowered her gaze, afraid to look at the man not far away. The humiliations in the Punishment Hall had forced the servility in her to take root at a deeper level. Huo Yirong turned to face her. At the sight of Huo Zhi¡¯s destitute appearance, a bewitching smile crept onto his face. ¡°It seems the punishment hall has trained you well.¡± Huo Zhi, kneeling on the floor, slowed her breathing. ¡°Second Master, I was wrong.¡± She knelt on the floor, touching her forehead to the ground in a posture of surrender. Her respectful voice was filled with servility. ¡°Crawl over here.¡± Huo Yirong commanded coldly. Upon hearing the command, Huo Zhi let out a sigh of relief. She placed her slender fingers on the plush carpet, and without hesitation began to crawl towards the man by the window. At this point, even if she wanted to stand and walk, she didn¡¯t have the strength. The only way she could get closer to the master was by crawling towards him. When Huo Zhi crawled close enough to him, Huo Yirong noticed the bloodstains on the carpet she had left behind while dragging her body. He frowned slightly, displeasure flickering beneath his irises. His anger was prepared to burst forth. However, dropping his gaze to Huo Zhi¡¯s pale face, the majority of his rage subsided. Chapter 51 - 51 51 The Lady in White under the Lens ?51: Chapter 51: The Lady in White under the Lens 51: Chapter 51: The Lady in White under the Lens After being tormented to such an extent, how could he punish her even more? If he did, the girl would surely die. A couple of days ago, his younger brother had even pleaded for mercy on her behalf. Huo Yirong let out a sigh, suppressing the anger bubbling up in his heart. He stared at Huo Zhi before him, his voice cold, ¡°Tell me, don¡¯t omit any details about the incident that night at the hotel when you picked up my third brother.¡± ¡°Yes¡ª¡ª¡± Staring at her moist fingertips, Huo Zhi tried her best to control the trembling in her heart as she began to talk, her body weak. She recounted the entire episode of picking up Mr. Huo from the Imperial Court Hotel that night. How coincidental, that day Huo Zhi had no assignments and was idle at the Huo family residence. She received a call from one of the leaders of the Hidden Department under her master, Huo Chuan, and upon learning that something had happened to her master, she immediately rushed over with some people. The Imperial Court Hotel is owned by the Su family. The Huo and Su families were about to be married and hence had not taken any preventive measures against the Su family. The people from the Hidden Department didn¡¯t forget to go through the formalities of copying the hotel room¡¯s security camera footage after they picked up Mr. Huo. After all, it was the first time Mr. Huo was with a woman, breaking through physically and emotionally, they couldn¡¯t help but take it seriously. The team came and left in a hurry. Everything that followed, Huo Yirong was aware of. Upon learning that Huo Yunjiao had been intimate with someone and had fallen into unconsciousness because of losing her virginity, he immediately took some people and left for M country overnight. He furrowed his brows and asked, ¡°Do you remember the scene within the room when you and your men entered?¡± Huo Zhi nodded slightly, ¡°When we burst in, clothes were strewn all over the floor; Mr. Huo was lying naked on the bed, and Miss Han was sitting at the bed¡¯s edge, her clothes still more or less in place. Marks on her body indicated their intimate encounter.¡± She was not a fool and was actually very clever, she picked up that Yirong was suspicious about the events of that night at the hotel. Huo Zhi remembered when they burst into the room, Han Kexin was sitting by Mr. Huo¡¯s side. Both of them were in post-coital states, not invoking any suspicion. While Huo Zhi was narrating in detail, Huo Yirong was sitting at his desk, reviewing the surveillance footage from that night at the Imperial Court Hotel. He fast-forwarded the footage, and soon Huo Yunjiao appeared on camera with Huo Chuan and his team. Huo Yunjiao was tipsy, Huo Chuan was supporting his arm; they headed straight for the room where the incident happened. The master and servant duo entered the room, two men dressed in black stood guard outside. Suddenly, a woman dressed in white appeared on camera, swaying slightly. At the crucial moment, the video flickered, the screen went blank. Huo Yirong squinted his eyes, and rewound the footage. Returning to the time when the woman in white appeared, he paused the footage and took a screenshot for future reference. After completing all of this, he fast-forwarded the footage. After fast-forwarding more than three hours, the video finally returned to normal. The footage showed Huo Zhi and her team arriving outside Huo Yunjiao¡¯s room. The team barged in and left with someone, all within a few seconds. Huo Yirong propped his chin on his hands, stared at the video footage, his deep cold eyes revealing a chilling emotion. The corridors in the footage were empty and quiet, no one around. A few minutes later, Han Kexin, dressed in a white dress, walked out of the room. She stood at the door of the room, staring in the direction of the elevator for a long time. ¡®Snap!¡¯ Huo Yirong paused the video and took a snapshot, enlarging it to carefully inspect the details. After a while, he suddenly squinted his eyes. He rewound the footage to watch Han Kexin coming out of the room repeatedly. As if noticing some details, a terrible darkness was brewing in the depths of Huo Yirong¡¯s black eyes. It seemed as if the other party was particularly interested in the room next door. Chapter 52 - 52 52 Who exactly was that woman that night ?52: Chapter 52: Who exactly was that woman that night? 52: Chapter 52: Who exactly was that woman that night? In the video, Han Kexin walked out of the room, her hands clenched tightly into fists as she subtly glanced at the room next door. The movement was so minute you wouldn¡¯t notice it unless you looked closely. Huo Yirong took all of this in. He also noticed that Han Kexin¡¯s posture as she left the room was not out of the ordinary. Huo Yirong knew all too well how extraordinarily demanding his third cousin, the ascetic, could be. Even if Han Kexin had seen through countless people, Huo Yunjiao was inexperienced, his merits obvious. After spending three hours in the room, Han Kexin must have suffered, it wasn¡¯t possible for her to not show any signs of it. It was revealed online that Han Kexin was alone with another man that night, so why would she appear in the third cousin¡¯s room? If it wasn¡¯t Han Kexin, then who was the woman who had relations with Huo Yunjiao? What exactly was the purpose of all this? The Imperial Court Hotel belonged to the Su Family, but what role did they play in all this? The corner of Huo Yirong¡¯s lips tightened, his gaze turned solemn, and an oppressive feeling permeated the study all of a sudden. Well, how nice! Really nice! In all these years, nobody has dared to scheme against the Huo Family. They must¡¯ve really eaten the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard. ¡°Knock, knock¡ª¡ª¡± The study door was knocked. ¡°Come in.¡± Huo Yirong didn¡¯t lift his head to look, and spoke with a cold voice. The study door was opened from the outside, and Rong Jing was pushed in, accompanied by two burly men in black. At the moment, Rong Jing was utterly bewildered, and there was an obvious scared and uneasy look on his face. Just an hour earlier, he had been explaining to people in a nightclub that the woman whom he had been with at the Imperial Court Hotel that night had definitely not been Han Kexin. The girl he chose that night had a figure far superior to Han Kexin. He had had a great time. Even though he had quite a lot to drink, he definitely could not have made such a mistake. As to why the photos and videos online were of Han Kexin, he had some guesses. With today¡¯s advanced technology, Photoshop and editing technique were quite powerful. Han Kexin may have offended someone and was set up as a result. Rong Jing did not directly say this. Everyone present was a smart person, who could obviously guess the crux of the problem. Just then, a group of men in black burst into the room, grabbed him without saying anything, and took them out of the nightclub. Along the way, he did attempt to resist, but he couldn¡¯t compete with them in terms of combat power, and he was carried and thrown into the car. Then, he was brought to this solemn, majestic ancient mansion. As soon as he saw the words ¡°Huo Mansion¡±, Rong Jing¡¯s heart trembled with fear, his courage almost breaking and his legs turning to jelly. In a certain area of East City in Capital City, lay an ancient and magnificent mansion that covered tens of thousands of square meters. It even trumped the presidential residence in terms of area. Except for the Huo Family, who led the four great families, who would dare to challenge those in power? Even though Rong Jing had never been to the Huo Mansion, he had heard of the place. But he never dreamed of setting foot in this mansion, a symbol of power and wealth. Rong Jing was pushed stumbling into the room. He had no will left to resist, and his heart thumped wildly in fear. The handsome face of Rong Jing, now pale with fear, his surprised and frightened eyes, every expression was seen clearly by Huo Yirong. The corner of his mouth curled up in a mild arc, giving an illusion of peace: ¡°So you are Rong Jing.¡± It was a statement; he had obviously confirmed his identity. Rong Jing followed the sound to look at the man sitting in the half-light behind the desk, only half of his handsome face visible. The man was dressed in night robes, all over with a languid air about him, looking harmless. However, the terrifying and overwhelming aura emanating from the man, and his inherent elegance and nobility, hit Rong Jing so hard that he couldn¡¯t help but breathe lighter. Chapter 53 - 53 53 Huo Er Ye is Angry Shut Up! ?53: Chapter 53 Huo Er Ye is Angry: Shut Up! 53: Chapter 53 Huo Er Ye is Angry: Shut Up! Rong Jing swallowed, ¡°Yes, I am Rong Jing. Who might you be, sir?¡± ¡°Huo Yirong.¡± Mr. Huo introduced himself with a smile, his tone affable, and his attitude friendly. However, that was merely a facade. His eyes were firmly fixed on Rong Jing, and the smile on his face was cold, void of any warmth. If Rong Jing had been just a bit bolder and met his eyes, he would know the fear-inducing aura radiating from the depths of this man¡¯s gaze. Rong Jing hangs his head, giving a slight nod in response to the man¡¯s words almost subconsciously. He was still murmuring the name in his mind. Huo Yirong, Huo, Yirong! Suddenly, Rong Jing wide-eyed in terror, locked eyes with Huo Yirong. There was an inexplicable coldness in the man¡¯s eyes, likely a byproduct of his habit of looking at others from a position of power, even a casual glance carried an intimidating majesty. ¡°M-Mr. Huo?¡± Rong Jing was stammering, struggling to articulate his words. He was terrified out of his wits! Huo Yirong, the leader of the Huo Family¡¯s HEA Group. Rumored for his deep thoughts, ruthless tactics, and cruel brutality, he was a difficult man to deal with, yet a figure admired by many young aristocrats in Capital City. Even for someone on the periphery like Rong Jing, he had heard of Mr. Huo¡¯s great reputation. As Rong Jing met the man¡¯s icy gaze, he felt a shiver pierce his heart. The rumors did not exaggerate in describing him. Huo Yirong frowned, coldly looking at Rong Jing in front of him who was too scared out of his wits, his expression turned contemplative. He reached out, adjusting the direction of the ultra-thin laptop on the table. The screen was still paused on Han Kexin¡¯s image. Mr. Huo, not wanting to mince words, went straight to the point, ¡°Did you sleep with this woman that night at the Imperial Court Hotel?¡± His fingers, as slender as bamboo joints, gently pointed at the woman on the screen. beads of sweat trickled down Rong Jing¡¯s forehead, falling onto the precious carpet in the study. Seeing Han Kexin in the video, he was in shock, he stammered in a horrified tone, ¡°No, I didn¡¯t... With Han Kexin, how could I possibly...?¡± He recounted in detail about the reception dinner that night, spending money on a woman for a night of fun. He even talked about the duration and approximate positions of that day. He was just short of writing a reflection essay to confirm his innocence regarding Han Kexin. Looking at the dumbfounded boy in front of him who was still going on and on, Huo Yirong rolled his eyes angrily and inelegantly. ¡°Shut up!¡± Fed up beyond endurance, Mr. Huo finally exploded in anger. Who cares about his endless random nonsense! Rong Jing jumped in fright, and instantly closed his mouth. Huo Yirong leaned back in his chair, his aura composed. His deep, black eyes stared at Rong Jing, making him shudder with cold. Rong Jing was both scared and anxious; under Mr. Huo¡¯s gaze, he felt as if he could dig a hole in the carpeted floor just by curling his toes. Just as he was on the brink of collapsing under the stress, Mr. Huo finally had mercy and spoke. ¡°That night, was there anything strange about Han Kexin? Think carefully, and only answer when you¡¯re sure.¡± Ignoring the pressure from Mr. Huo¡¯s gaze, Rong Jing thought back to the reception dinner that night. A look of recollection appeared on his face, ¡°Han Kexin seemed quite normal. When the dinner was almost over, her sister, the illegitimate daughter of the Qin family, came. It seemed she came to ask Han Kexin for something.¡± ¡°The girl looked pretty nice, people refused to let her go and started to heckle, insisting she have a drink. Who knew her alcohol tolerance was virtually nonexistent, she passed out after one drink.¡± ¡°I have never seen someone pass out after just one drink in my whole life; her speed was unparalleled. She barely had a minute to recuperate after swallowing the alcohol, then flat-out fell down...¡± Chapter 54 - 54 54 Han Xian I will ruin Qin Ruan ?54: Chapter 54 Han Xian: I will ruin Qin Ruan 54: Chapter 54 Han Xian: I will ruin Qin Ruan Rong Jing was still talking incessantly, oblivious to the darkening face of the man sitting at the desk. Huo Yirong interrupted him, ¡°And then what? Get straight to the point.¡± His patience waned, and his eyes were colder. ¡°And then, no more. The girl was too drunk to stand, so Han Kexin helped her leave.¡± Perhaps because Huo Yirong didn¡¯t react badly to their conversation, Rong Jing¡¯s fear lessened slightly, yet it was still present. The study fell into a brief silence, broken by the ringtone of the phone on the desk. Huo Yirong reached out to take the phone. It was Huo Qiang who called. He answered the call. ¡°Second Master, we hacked into the Imperial Court Hotel¡¯s surveillance. No trace was left on the video from that night, even professional technicians couldn¡¯t recover it, the Su Family must have taken precautions in advance.¡± On hearing this, Huo Yirong¡¯s lips curled up, ¡°Bring Su Jingshu to me.¡± His voice was low and the words he bore were ruthlessly cold. Su Jingshu, the pearl of the Su family and his former fiancee, he commanded to be kidnapped without hesitation. Indeed, as rumors had it, his methods were ruthless, cold, and brutal. ... That night, with Qin Ruan stirring things up, the fate that was set in her previous life made a turn, moving in an uncontrollable direction. The next day. Han Kexin was awakened by someone shaking her. ¡°Kexin, wake up, there¡¯s trouble!¡± Han Xian, who found out about the sensation from the trending search early in the morning, barged into Han Kexin¡¯s room. Han Kexin, who was shaken awake, opened her bewildered eyes, ¡°Mom, what time is it?¡± Her voice carried the impatience of someone just disturbed from sleep. ¡°Take a look at this?!¡± Han Xian threw her phone in front of her, her face extremely grim. Upon seeing the trending topic, Han Kexin¡¯s face turned deathly pale, causing her body to tremble with rage. ¡°Why did this happen, mom? What¡¯s going on? The person who was supposed to be exposed was Qin Ruan, why has it become me?!¡± Han Xian¡¯s heart was full of anger and shock no less than hers. ¡°I also want to know exactly what you¡¯ve done, call him! Ask him immediately!¡± Han Kexin hastily grabbed her phone, calling Chuangshi Entertainment¡¯s press manager, Li Ming. She had conducted a few transactions with him before, they had never spoken directly, but she had his number. She dialed several times, but no one picked up. By the end, her call was blocked, no longer able to get through. Enraged, Han Kexin threw her phone at the wall. It was clear that she was being set up! Han Kexin, trembling, spoke bitterly: ¡°Mom, it¡¯s definitely Qin Ruan, that bitch, she must be the schemer!¡± Upon seeing the trending topic, Han Xian also immediately thought of Qin Ruan. Then, she shook her head in denial. The girl didn¡¯t have the brains for that. West City is a place where the lowest of society scramble, resorting to brute force and violence, not such tactics and schemes. But besides her, Han Xian couldn¡¯t guess who else was scheming behind her back. ¡°Mom, help me, I can¡¯t afford this scandal. The Huo Family surely knows by now. Mom, I can¡¯t let that bitch Qin Ruan destroy us like this!¡± Han Kexin grabbed Han Xian¡¯s arm desperately, shaking her forcefully. ¡°Don¡¯t panic, let me think.¡± Han Xian frowned deeply, with an expression as white as a sheet. Thinking of something, her makeup-less, aged face showed a resolute fierceness. She reached for her phone and called Qin Anmin. The call was picked up; before the person on the other end could speak, Han Xian¡¯s tone was icy and sharp: ¡°I¡¯ll destroy Qin Ruan. No matter who¡¯s behind the trending topic, I¡¯ll ruin her!¡± ¡°What do you want to do?¡± A completely emotionless tone carried over the phone into Han Xian¡¯s ear. Chapter 55 - 55 55 Past Life Resentment, Making a Clean Break ?55: Chapter 55: Past Life Resentment, Making a Clean Break 55: Chapter 55: Past Life Resentment, Making a Clean Break Qin Anmin, the elder brother of the Qin Group¡¯s chairman, Qin Anguo. He¡¯s also the elder uncle to Qin Jingcen, Qin Mei, and Qin Ruan. Han Xian has long been in league with him. Upon hearing the indulgent tone on the phone, her face turned grim and her voice bitter, ¡°Lock Qin Ruan up. Both Qin Anguo and Qin Jingcen are out of the country. It should be easy to control her now.¡± Her daughter¡¯s reputation was ruined and she¡¯ll make sure Qin Ruan is not left unscathed either. No matter if Qin Ruan was the cause of the scandal or not. As long as she remained free, it was an eyesore. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll arrange it,¡± Han Xian¡¯s voice softened considerably, ¡°Thank you, Brother Min.¡± ... On Monday, while Qin Ruan was at school, her eyelid twitched all day. However, it calmed down by evening. The sensational news was still trending online. Some tried to take it down with money but to no avail. The flame of the scandal was only fanned higher. The vastness of the internet means that almost nobody was unaware of it. Han Xian and Han Kexin must know about it by now. Will they be on the verge of a meltdown? How will they strategize behind the scenes? Qin Ruan was unafraid and was prepared for their eventual confrontation. The time had come to settle all past and present grudges once and for all. That night, Qin Ruan lied in her dorm bed and quickly fell into a deep sleep. But her sleep was restless. She dreamt of the night at the Imperial Court Hotel. That night, Han Kexin had something to give her ¨C a cheap round jade pendant that she had lost. During her 18 years in West City, Qin Ruan had been part of a small group. They each carried a round jade pendant as their symbol. The missing round jade had a significant meaning to Qin Ruan. Knowing it was with Han Kexin, she agreed to meet up. Little did she know, it was a party that Han Kexin was hosting. To get the pendant back, she accepted the drink offered to her. She had drunk a lot in West City and had a decent tolerance for alcohol, but this drink knocked her out. Right before she blacked out, she bit her tongue and forced herself to stay conscious. Too weak to resist, she was carried into a room. Realizing Han Kexin¡¯s intentions, Qin Ruan stumbles out of the room after Han Kexin had left. Feeling disoriented, she stumbled into another room. Then... A blurry face appeared in her vision. She could not discern his expression. The man smelled good, and she couldn¡¯t resist but to move closer to him. Feeling weak and vulnerable, she lost control and went towards him. He didn¡¯t reject her, but instead held her, enabling her to breathe in his scent. A pair of hands gripping onto her waist. She knew from the strength of his grip and his vague features that he was a man. With one slight lift from him, she fell into his arms. She thought that his comforting scent would clear her mind. However, the closer they got, the more she lost control and sank from consciousness. Her mind was telling her to leave, but her body wouldn¡¯t respond. Her emotions were uncontrollable, she was losing willpower. She was defeated without a fight, utterly. ¡°Who are you?¡± A cold, deep voice sounded in her ears. The voice was tantalizing, bringing comfort, as if a spring breeze. Qin Ruan wanted to respond, but couldn¡¯t utter a word. Instead, she buried herself deeper into his embrace. She felt something near her neck, a warm breath against her skin. ¡°You smell really good,¡± he was smelling her scent. His voice was so pleasing, and Qin Ruan tightened her grip on his clothes, fearful of slipping. Both of them were panting, stumbling around the room before eventually making their way to the only resting place in the room. Chapter 56 - 56 56 His and Her Memories, Dream Transmission ?56: Chapter 56: His and Her Memories, Dream Transmission 56: Chapter 56: His and Her Memories, Dream Transmission Surrounded by high-quality velvet quilt, it felt like treading on clouds, light and dizzying. The average person would feel relaxed, even buoyant, after drinking. What Qin Ruan felt was a pleasure that surpassed that of being drunk ¨C an intoxication that put her body and mind at ease. This made her abandon her basic instincts of vigilance. She didn¡¯t know who started it, nor who took the initiative, but their lips and teeth were interlocked. Thin clothes were discarded on the room¡¯s carpet. The atmosphere inside the room plunged into ambiguity, the air flow became slower. A complete loss of control, they both succumbed, indulged in the uncontrollable. ¡°Good girl.¡± A gentle comforting sound echoed in her ears. The voice was deep, an undeniable command, mixed with a provocative allure. Wrapped in a strong hormonal scent, Qin Ruan dared not move. The barren tree had encountered spring, full of vitality. The flowers would soon bloom. A husky, captivating voice rang in her ears. Sweet words, every sentence drowning her rationality. For nearly twenty years, her heart, untouched by any, had defenses broken. A stranger had come uninvited, disrupting the calm pond. Lost in endless darkness, loneliness surged, and the attacker became her lifeline. She partook in the Mortal World¡¯s earthly desires, touched ordinary people¡¯s hearts, notwithstanding the dangers. She surrendered without a fight, the chaos of battle had no end in sight. Lying in the dormitory, Qin Ruan¡¯s eyes suddenly opened. Her body was drenched in sweat, and the hair on her forehead was soaked. Everything she had experienced at the Imperial Court Hotel flooded into Qin Ruan¡¯s mind through her dreams. Panic and loss flickered in Qin Ruan¡¯s dimly lit eyes. She wiped her forehead, which had become sweaty from the shock, attempting to control her runaway heartbeat. However, the man¡¯s deep, mellow voice still lingered in her mind for a long time. Qin Ruan, whose consciousness was still in a state of chaos, casually leaned against the pillow behind her and unconsciously licked her dry lips. The more she tried to ignore the scenes from her dream, the more aggressively those images sprouted in her mind. Fulfil your heart¡¯s desires, let your body and heart engage in uninhibited actions. The person in the dream also irritated her. He came at her whim, not stopping her entreaties. Qin Ruan hated crying the most, it was a sign of weakness. Yet in the end, she could not stop the tears. The sound of grinding teeth rang in the dormitory. In Qin Ruan¡¯s moisture filled eyes, a trace of annoyance was revealed, leading to her uncontrollably gritting her teeth. She glanced at the alarm clock by the bed. It was two in the morning. The heart-stopping dream depleted Qin Ruan¡¯s desire to sleep, so she got up and went to the bathroom to wash her face. Throughout the second half of the night, she lay in bed without a good sleep. This resulted in Qin Ruan sitting in class, sleepy-eyed and unresponsive to anything. At noon, Qin Ruan went to the school cafeteria still in a state of sleepiness. ¡°Hey! We want this table, you can go somewhere else!¡± Qin Ruan was having her meal alone at the dining table when three or four women approached to evict her. She paused her eating, her cold gaze slightly lifting. Familiar faces appeared in her sight. The woman in charge had a dirty braid, her face heavily made up with a group of girls standing behind her, clearly her henchmen. A sarcastic smile bloomed in Qin Ruan¡¯s cold eyes. In her former life, she was sent to Shengshi Academy midway, becoming a freshman transfer student. Unknown and unfamiliar in the school, she was known as the illegitimate daughter of the Qin Family due to the rumors spread by Han Xian and Han Kexin, mother and daughter. Bearing the label of an illegitimate child, she became a disgraceful existence in many people¡¯s eyes. There were even a group of people who found pleasure in bullying her. The few people in front of her took the most pleasure in tormenting her. ¡°Our Sister Li is talking to you, are you mute? Scram if you know what¡¯s good for you!¡± The henchman standing behind Hou Xiangli, also known as the woman in charge, voiced out sarcastically. Qin Ruan put down her chopsticks and folded her arms, ¡°Everything has its order. I haven¡¯t finished my meal, why should I leave?¡± The words were directed at the henchman, but her gaze was fixed squarely on Hou Xiangli. Hou Xiangli squinted her eyes, a menacing glare radiating from her gaze directed at Qin Ruan. Chapter 57 - 57 57 Qin Ruan Isnt it good to be alive ?57: Chapter 57 Qin Ruan: Isn¡¯t it good to be alive? 57: Chapter 57 Qin Ruan: Isn¡¯t it good to be alive? Hou Xiangli was very direct with her hostility towards Qin Ruan. She was like a leopardess whose territory had been invaded, revealing her sharp claws. Hou Xiangli lifted her chin in mockery, ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you for a few days, you seem to have grown some backbone.¡± In the past, if anyone tried to pick on Qin Ruan, she never resisted and mostly let them have their way. But today, she has started to fight back. This is quite interesting. Qin Ruan smiled, her eyes squinting like crescent moons, appearing to be in good spirits. Her red lips slightly parted, ¡°People change, don¡¯t they? I don¡¯t know what I did to offend you in the past few months, to make everything I do irritating to you. You might as well tell me, so that I can clear my confusion.¡± Hou Xiangli let out a hoot of laughter, her face full of derision and contempt, ¡°You¡¯re an illegitimate child. Your existence itself is an abomination. Like mother, like daughter. Your mom seduced someone else¡¯s husband, and you seduce someone else¡¯s boyfriend. You¡¯re both just as lowly. Your moral character is completely corrupt, and you are shameless. I find you displeasing, and I need no reason for it.¡± Qin Ruan nodded with patience and wiped her hands with a tissue on the side. ¡°That is indeed an...unusual reason.¡± She slowly rose from her seat and walked towards Hou Xiangli. At this moment, many people were watching them. Just as everyone expected Qin Ruan to back off once again, as she always did when confronted by Hou Xiangli and her gang, she suddenly took action. Qin Ruan grabbed Hou Xiangli¡¯s hair and slammed it onto the dining table. ¡°Bang!¡± There was a dull sound when her head hit the table. ¡°Ah!¡± Her followers screamed, and the surrounding people also cried out in surprise. Qin Ruan held Hou Xiangli¡¯s head and slammed it three more times before she stopped. She lifted the other¡¯s head, and they locked eyes. Hou Xiangli¡¯s face was filled with rage, her forehead swelling from the impact, ¡°Qin Ruan, you¡¯re asking for death!!¡± The smile had disappeared from Qin Ruan¡¯s eyes, her cold and refined face full of darkened tones. ¡°I didn¡¯t bother with your petty squabbles before, because I couldn¡¯t be bothered. But you shouldn¡¯t have brought up my mother. Your mouth is too dirty. It needs a good washing.¡± With that, she picked up the barely touched carrot, corn, and rib soup from the table, and brutally poured it into Hou Xiangli¡¯s mouth. This was the soup she specifically selected for its amino acids and vitamins, to aid digestion and promote metabolism for pregnant women. Unfortunately, she only had a few sips before it went to waste on Hou Xiangli. ¡°St...Stop... Get off!¡± Hou Xiangli struggled hard but couldn¡¯t get free from Qin Ruan¡¯s firm grip. Her followers finally snapped into action and quickly rushed over. Before they could swarm her, Qin Ruan let go of Hou Xiangli and took a few steps back. ¡°Cough, cough...¡± Hou Xiangli, soaked in soup, with her hair clumped together because of the soup, struggled to breathe. At this moment, the awe-inspiring leader of the Shengshi Academy was nowhere to be seen. Her disheveled state left everyone speechless. The only reason Hou Xiangli could act so recklessly at Shengshi Academy was because her father was a director in the school¡¯s administration. ¡°Are you trying to fucking kill yourself!¡± Once Hou Xiangli finally recovered, she glared fiercely at Qin Ruan. ¡°Isn¡¯t it better to live?¡± Qin Ruan was wiping her fingers with a tissue. She turned her head, her icy gaze meeting Hou Xiangli¡¯s, ¡°I still want to live a long life. But if anyone tries to stop me, I might make them taste the bitterness of death in the Underworld first.¡± Chapter 58 - 58 58 Just For Her, Everything ?58: Chapter 58: Just For Her, Everything 58: Chapter 58: Just For Her, Everything In her reincarnation, Qin Ruan had paid a high price. If anyone dared to scheme against her life, she would set herself against gods and Buddhas alike. ¡°Humph!¡± Hou Xiangli¡¯s face twisted with rage, ¡°Let¡¯s just wait and see. I won¡¯t stop until I drive you out of the school; I stake my name on it.¡± ¡°I am ready whenever you are.¡± Qin Ruan calmly brushed off her threat, showing absolutely no concern. Hou Xiangli¡¯s eyes seemed hostile, she sneered, ¡°I¡¯m waiting for the day you¡¯ll kneel and beg me!¡± She flounced her hair and walked away under the gaze of the crowd. Qin Ruan lost her appetite and followed suit, leaving the cafeteria. As the two main characters exited, the quiet cafeteria was immersed in discussions in no time. Their impression of Qin Ruan had been entirely upturned from what they had previously believed. Those who knew her, were well aware of her inconspicuous existence in the school. Whenever she encountered difficulties from people like Hou Xiangli, she always stepped back, never putting up any resistance or initiating any trouble. She always chose to suffer in silence. Today, she had somehow mustered up the courage to hit Hou Xiangli. Well, it should be noted that Hou Xiangli had always picked on the weak. Most students at Shengshi Academy were from influential families; either backed by power, influence or wealth. Hou Xiangli wouldn¡¯t dare to cross the line with powerful and influential people. The Hou Family was part of the bureaucracy in Capital City, and while her father held a director position at Shengshi Academy, it did not change the fact that her family was still subservient to others. Those from prominent backgrounds were people she dare not mess with. The Qin Group only had wealth to its name in Capital City, so Qin Ruan, an illegitimate child of the Qin Family, was someone she was not afraid of offending. Many speculated that Qin Ruan was going to face some hard times ahead. Like Hou Xiangli said, they¡¯d force her to drop out. In the school¡¯s cafeteria, two men and a woman sat at a well-set dining table, witnessing the scene of Qin Ruan beating up Hou Xiangli. A beautiful woman with a smiling face seemed to take pleasure in someone else¡¯s misfortune, ¡°That girl is in big trouble. Hou Xiangli has always been domineering in the school. Today, she got a big blow. She might even expel that girl.¡± ¡°Psshh, her? What can she do!¡± the young man sitting across her sneered, full of contempt. The man exuded a haughty aura, compelling everyone to notice his disdain. The two people beside him exchanged meaningful glances. With mischief in her eyes, the woman called Gu Qingqing said, ¡°Yichen, if I remember correctly, Hou Xiangli has been pursuing you, hasn¡¯t she?¡± Lu Yichen, the son of the renowned Lu Family and a senior at Shengshi Academy, With his handsome, scholarly appearance and a temperament like a gentleman; he was a top student and also the heart-throb of countless girls. But deep down, he was a man full of arrogance, looking down upon others with disdain. Everyone knew that Hou Xiangli had been pursuing Lu Yichen. Gu Qingqing and the attractive young man beside her stifled their laughter. ¡°Laugh my ass off! I have nothing to do with her!¡± Lu Yichen was pissed off. The good-looking young man next to him, who looked gentle and amiable, chimed in, ¡°It seems that not only Hou Xiangli but even Qin Ruan had some romantic entanglement with Brother Yichen.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Gu Qingqing¡¯s eyes widened, her face was full of curiosity. Long Xinzhao nodded slightly, his tone steady as he revealed, ¡°A while ago, it was rumored that Qin Ruan had written a love letter to Brother Yichen. This was known to Hou Xiangli as well. Isn¡¯t that the reason she has been picking on the poor girl in the first place?¡± ¡°Wow!¡± Gu Qingqing exclaimed, ¡°Brother Yichen is indeed popular.¡± Lu Yichen rolled his eyes, ¡°What are you even talking about? I don¡¯t even know that girl.¡± Chapter 59 - 59 59 Master Huo Returns to the Country Early ?59: Chapter 59: Master Huo Returns to the Country Early 59: Chapter 59: Master Huo Returns to the Country Early Lu Yichen, Long Xinzhao, and Gu Qingqing, all of them were born into the four major families. Their marriages were destined to be aligned with other aristocratic families since birth. Neither Hou Xiangli nor Qin Family¡¯s illegitimate child, Qin Ruan, had anything to do with Lu Yichen. The three playfully steered past this topic. Suddenly, Lu Yichen spoke to Long Xinzhao, ¡°Did you hear that the Third Master Huo is coming back?¡± Long Xinzhao came from the Long Family, one of the four major families. His own sister was married to the eldest young master of the Huo Family, Huo Junxin. Being two major families interlinked by marriage, they naturally had more information than the Lu and Gu families. Long Xinzhao looked up, ¡°Really? I didn¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Seriously?¡± Lu Yichen was skeptical, ¡°I overheard my dad say this morning that your brother-in-law took time off to welcome Third Master Huo.¡± A few days ago, Third Master Huo left the country. Even though no one knew why, all the forces in Capital City got the news. As the high-ranking secret adviser next to the President, Huo Junxin usually couldn¡¯t seem to take time off because of his busy schedule. He took a day off today, and the President couldn¡¯t help but approve it. The next successor of the Huo Family, Yunjiao, was coming back. ¡°I didn¡¯t go home last night, so I don¡¯t know about this,¡± Long Xinzhao genuinely was unaware. ¡°The Third Master is really coming back?¡± Gu Qingqing interrupted. A blush could be seen on the young girl¡¯s face, revealing a touch of shy delight. Both Long Xinzhao and Lu Yichen noticed this, and their hearts slightly soured. Given Huo Yunjiao¡¯s identity, looks, and abilities, he had the beauties of every major family in Capital City wrapped around his finger. Loads of noble maidens wanted to marry him. Despite his frailty since birth, it didn¡¯t change the fact that he was exceedingly handsome. Long Xinzhao and Lu Yichen, being men themselves, had to admit that Third Master Huo was truly attractive. As for Gu Qingqing, she was only a first-year college student. The line of noble women hoping to marry Third Master Huo was long, it was practically a pipe dream for her. ... Qin Ruan was still unaware of Huo Yunjiao¡¯s early return. She returned to her dorm room, prepared to take a nap, and received a phone call from her older schoolmate. ¡°Qin Ruan, something¡¯s happened, people are dying! Save them, they¡¯re dying!¡± Ling Xiaoxuan spoke incoherently, her voice filled with panic. Qin Ruan gently rubbed her forehead, her voice soothing, ¡°Speak slowly, don¡¯t panic.¡± Ling Xiaoxuan managed to organize her words, ¡°Do you remember how I joined an adventure team to explore the supernatural in Qi Mountain?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Considering that the Mountain Demon from Qi Mountains almost cost Qin Ruan her life, how could she not know? ¡°The exploration team ventured to Qi Mountain again, they are in trouble, one person is even dead, they can¡¯t get out.¡± Ling Xiaoxuan¡¯s voice was filled with fear. Every word she uttered was tremulous. ¡°Do you know the specifics?¡± Qin Ruan asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I got a call for help from them, but they couldn¡¯t explain exactly what it is. All they know is that it¡¯s a supernatural event. They can¡¯t make their way out of the mountain, they¡¯ll all die if they stay any longer! Can you save them, Qin Ruan?¡± Ling Xiaoxuan couldn¡¯t bear to leave them to die, they were once her teammates after all. It was only after the Mountain Demon was killed with her bare hands by Qin Ruan, did she realize the danger of unknown creatures existing in this world. With a former teammate dying at the hands of those things, she felt a chill run down her spine. Qin Ruan sat at the edge of her bed, her feet idly dangling from the end of the bed. Instead of agreeing immediately, she pondered. Qi Mountain was three hours by road from Cloud City. The journey would take even longer if they needed to venture into the mountain. Chapter 60 - 60 60 Qi Mountain Journey, Unknown Dangers ?60: Chapter 60: Qi Mountain Journey, Unknown Dangers 60: Chapter 60: Qi Mountain Journey, Unknown Dangers Qin Ruan recalled that the exploration team had entered an undeveloped area of Qi Mountain, where the unknown dangers would magnify indefinitely. Being pregnant, she could not afford to take too much risk for the sake of the child in her belly. This second chance at life was hard earned, and she didn¡¯t want anything to happen to her child. After a long silence, Ling Xiaoxuan seemed less excited. ¡°Qin Ruan, if you are really troubled, don¡¯t worry. We have also sought out other Taoist priests. They might have some solutions. As long as they can get them out of Qi Mountain, it will do. But after getting them out, can I bring people to find you for help? I¡¯m afraid they may bring back something unclean.¡± Ling Xiaoxuan¡¯s voice returned to its usual calm. Qin Ruan frowned, ¡°Are you also going?¡± She detected the other party¡¯s intention to venture into Qi Mountain. She didn¡¯t agree with this idea. ¡°Yes, I have been there once before and know their specific location. Those who have not been there may not find the way.¡± Ling Xiaoxuan was not a selfless person who would risk her life to save others. But now only she knew the exact location of the former teammates, she couldn¡¯t just sit and do nothing. Qin Ruan asked, ¡°Does your family know about this?¡± ¡°Yes, my father arranged for people to accompany me. The Heavenly Master was also found by my family.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Qin Ruan was slightly surprised, ¡°Does the Ling Family believe in these things?¡± ¡°I just found out too. My family didn¡¯t know I joined the paranormal exploration team. After my teammates had an accident, I confessed to my family and was almost scolded to death. ¡± Ling Xiaoxuan has always been a daring person, but some things cannot be crossed. Joining a paranormal exploration team is clearly beyond her family¡¯s control over her. Qin Ruan asked, ¡°When are you setting off?¡± ¡°Tonight.¡± ¡°Specific time.¡± Ling Xiaoxuan¡¯s voice was full of anticipation. ¡°Seven o¡¯clock in the evening.¡± Even though her family sought a Heavenly Master too, she had witnessed Qin Ruan¡¯s strength first-hand and trusted her more. Life is only once, and she did not want something really to happen on Qi Mountain. Qin Ruan sighed softly, ¡°Come and pick me up at that time, let¡¯s go together.¡± ¡°Thank you, Qin Ruan!¡± Ling Xiaoxuan¡¯s voice became emotional, choking several times. People had died on Qi Mountain, she was really afraid. If Qin Ruan was around, her life would be guaranteed. After they had agreed on a time, they hung up the phone. Qin Ruan stared at the disconnected phone, her face thoughtful. After a while, she put down the phone, rolled up her sleeve, and stared at the red line inside her wrist. Since her rebirth, this red line had not changed. Even after absorbing the Evil Qi from the amulet of the immortal from Tongsha Sky Bridge and the Mountain Demon summoned by her senior sister, her life still remained at less than a year¡¯s length. Perhaps the excursion to Qi Mountain might yield some gains. One year was too short, far from enough for her desire to stay in this world. In just nine months, her child would arrive. She wanted to hear her baby call her mom, watch him grow up, and make up for the debts she owed him in her past life. Qin Ruan dropped her sleeve, a slowly forming smile on her lips. She had many many expectations for the future. Her father, elder brother, second brother, child, and ... the father of her child. ... Huo Family¡¯s residence. The Huo family was quite lively today. The elderly patriarch of the Huo family who had long since retired from worldly affairs, Huo¡¯s father Huo Hongxing, who had to return home from abroad due to Huo Yunjiao¡¯s health issues. Also, Huo Junxin the eldest son of the Huo family, his wife Long Wei from the Long Family, and the second master of Huo family, Huo Yirong are all present. The case where Huo Yunjiao lost consciousness due to her injuries at the Imperial Court Hotel had the Su Family¡¯s involvement. Last night, Huo Yirong abducted Su Jingshu from the Su family. This act was done in secret and hasn¡¯t been revealed yet. Chapter 61 - 61 61 Huo Yunjiao Came for Qin Ruan ?61: Chapter 61 Huo Yunjiao Came for Qin Ruan 61: Chapter 61 Huo Yunjiao Came for Qin Ruan Huo Yirong brought Su Jingshu to the Huo Family after severe interrogation at the Punishment Hall, only then did they realize how sinister the Su Family was. The Su Family knew about Huo Yunjiao¡¯s poor health. They found out somewhere that once he lost his virginity, his life would be in imminent danger. That night at the Imperial Court Hotel, Huo Yunjiao had Huo Chuan and others by his side. How could a woman barge into his room without the Su Family¡¯s arrangement? The Su Family¡¯s banquet that day, ostensibly to discuss marriage, was clearly purpose-driven. They were out to take Huo Yunjiao¡¯s life. The Su Family had prepared a woman, sneaking her into the bathroom of Huo Yunjiao¡¯s room ahead of time. Their sole aim was to put Huo Yunjiao in fatal danger. Unfortunately, a mysterious woman intervened midway through the process. As for who the unfamiliar woman was, the people of Huo Family had no idea for now. But that wouldn¡¯t stop them from eradicating the Su Family. The Four Great Families, the Six Great Aristocratic Families, all were their ancestors¡¯ glory handed down. Yet, over the years, only their Huo Family had truly held power and influence. Behind every election, it was the Huo Family pulling the strings. These years, due to the ill health of the heir apparent, the Huo Family had become increasingly low-key, leading people to forget their inherent bloodlust. When it came to Huo Yunjiao, Huo Yirong made an overseas call to inform him of the entire incident. After listening, Huo Yunjiao fell silent for a long time. He only said one sentence: leave Su Jingshu to him, and he would deal with him when he returns. His tone was calm and steady, barely concealing his murderous intent. The people of the Huo Family, despite seeming gentle and polite, were undeniably ruthless at their core. ¡°Third Grandson has arrived!¡± Huo Qiang rushed from outside. His usually calm face beamed with joy. Sitting in the center of the grand hall, the Elderly Grandfather of the Huo Family, who was heading into his twilight years, stood up briskly with his walking stick. ¡°Where is Jiaojiao?¡± The old man adored his little grandson the most. Upon hearing that Huo Yunjiao had arrived, his face glowed with happiness. Huo Qiang respectfully answered, ¡°Your Excellency, Third Grandson is on his way. He should arrive in around ten minutes.¡± ¡°Excellent.¡± Grandpa Huo couldn¡¯t keep the smile off his face. He glanced at his eldest son, Huo Hongxing, his grandsons Huo Junxin and Huo Yirong, and also at his daughter-in-law, Long Wei. ¡°Everyone should go and greet Jiaojiao. He¡¯s in poor health, don¡¯t let him knock or bump into anything.¡± As people age, they become children again. It¡¯s the family¡¯s gem. Grandpa Huo¡¯s adoration for Huo Yunjiao was beyond everyone¡¯s imagination. Everyone had grown accustomed to it over the years. Huo Hongxing was the first to stand up, staring at his two nephews with a beaming smile. The trio¡¯s eyes met, all emitting a dark glimmer. Seated elegantly on the side, the educated and courteous Long Wei, noticed the expressions on the three men¡¯s faces. Everyone headed towards the door together to follow the command of the old man and greet Huo Yunjiao. Just as they reached the door, Huo Hongxing spoke softly. ¡°What do you think, is Jiaojiao coming back in a hurry to find a wife or is he so filled with hatred for the Su Family that he wants to take matters in his own hands?¡± As a father, he didn¡¯t pamper Huo Yunjiao like the elderly grandfather did. Huo Junxin, known for his handsome and stoic demeanor, emitted a sense of calm and dignity. Upon hearing his uncle¡¯s words, a rare smile lit up his eyes. He spoke calmly, as if presenting a report to the President, ¡°Uncle, why don¡¯t you ask him yourself when he arrives?¡± Huo Hongxing raised an eyebrow, genuinely amused, ¡°If the brat was that forthcoming, I¡¯d be laughing in my dreams.¡± Leaning against a pillar, Huo Yirong said, ¡°I guess our third brother¡¯s return is definitely because of that woman.¡± His voice was relaxed but tinged with certainty. Chapter 62 - 62 62 Master Huo Who Lost Tianyang ?62: Chapter 62: Master Huo Who Lost Tianyang 62: Chapter 62: Master Huo Who Lost Tianyang As soon as Huo Yirong spoke, Huo Hongxing, Huo Junxin, and Long Wei all looked at him. Even Huo Qiang and the others from the Hidden Department, who were waiting by the side, sneakily glanced over. ¡°Does Little II know?¡± Huo Hongxing didn¡¯t quite believe it, but deep in his heart, he somewhat yearned for the news to be true. His only son, Huo Yunjiao, although he didn¡¯t pamper him as much as the old master did. However, the affection he had for him exceeded that of other fathers and sons in aristocratic families regarding the family¡¯s interests. Huo Yunjiao was already twenty-eight, and he also longed to have a grandchild. Master Lai Xuzi of Spiritual Mountain Gate once said that if you want to be long-lived, it would be best for your son not to lose his virginity. Now that it has happened, saying anything at all would be too late. Given the circumstances, his wish to have a grandson was now veiled with a glimmer of hope. Under everyone¡¯s gaze, Huo Yirong lifted the corners of his lips, revealing a deeply meaningful smile on his face. Last night, he first sent Han Kexin¡¯s information to his younger cousin, and after the latter read the information, his face was sour. When he told Huo Yunjiao that this was all orchestrated by the Su Family, and the woman he was with that night was not Han Kexin. Even though his cousin still looked tense, he could see a little less icy chill in his eyes, replaced by an intimidating, angry light. Huo Yirong would bet, that his third cousin came back to the country this time, definitely looking for the woman he spent the spring night with. ¡°The third master has arrived.¡± Huo Qiang suddenly quickened his pace, reminding everyone. Everyone turned back only to see a line of vehicles slowly approaching. The motorcade came to a halt, and several men in black clothes got out from the leading vehicle. One of them, a broad and robust man with rugged features, respectfully opened the door of the second vehicle. A man with an extraordinary face and aura slowly got out of the car and came into everyone¡¯s view. The your man was strikingly handsome and appeared elegant and modest. His narrow, almond eyes were radiant and carried a warm yet aloof chill as if veiled by a light mist. His gestures emanated innate nobility as if he had been born into it. With chiseled features that bordered on feminine beauty, a deep-set, handsome face, and a high, straight nose, the shape of his jaw was near perfection. His flawless face betrayed faint traces of illness, giving an unapproachable aura when he was expressionless, as if he was meant to be kept at a distance. Huo Yunjiao paused momentarily, his deep eyes focused on the group standing at the entrance, then he began to call out everyone¡¯s names. ¡°Father, older brother, sister-in-law, second brother.¡± His voice was deep, unique, and pleasing to the ear. Huo Hongxing, with a beaming face, went forward to meet him, ¡°Jiaojiao is back. Tired, aren¡¯t you? Hurry inside and rest. Grandfather has been anxiously waiting inside.¡± Huo Yunjiao lightly nodded, holding his father¡¯s hand. The entire group then proceeded inside. Seeing his precious grandson, the old master¡¯s eyes squinted into thin lines with laughter. ¡°Jiaojiao, are you tired? What did Professor Brent say about your health? How long are you planning to stay in the country this time?¡± The old master held Huo Yunjiao¡¯s hand and sat in the main seat, showering him with concern. Huo Yunjiao looked at the grandfather who loved him dearly, his piercing aura softened, and his eyes were filled with affection for his elder. The young man faintly opened his mouth, speaking slowly, ¡°Grandfather, my old ailments have resurfaced, but I think it¡¯s best to take some time to recuperate in our own country. I don¡¯t plan to go to M Country for now.¡± This time, he had no plans to return to M Country. The old master looked worried and fell silent, staring at his little grandson. Patting Huo Yunjiao¡¯s hand, the old master sighed softly, ¡°Walton Hospital is a blessed place Master Lai Xuzi personally chose for you. The energy field in that area harmonizes well with your unstable Yang body. With the right timing, the right location, and the right people, finding a suitable place for your body to recuperate is not easy. Now that your Yang energy is gone, will it be a problem if you don¡¯t go to M Country?¡± Chapter 63 - 63 63 The Su Family must suffer, and they cannot be let off easily ?63: Chapter 63: The Su Family must suffer, and they cannot be let off easily 63: Chapter 63: The Su Family must suffer, and they cannot be let off easily Huo Yunjiao smiled, placating Grandfather Huo, ¡°As you can see, I am just fine.¡± In terms of appearance alone, aside from the chronic signs of illness on his face, he looked no different from an average person. But who knew that beneath the surface, his body was so weak that his yang energy was severely depleted, causing him to risk fainting at any time. If it were only a lack of yang energy, it would suffice to supplement it with tonics, using even the most precious of herbs or treasures. For the Huo family, this cost was insignificant if it could guarantee Huo Yunjiao a long life. However, his body acted unusually, rendering all the so-called magic potions useless. Grandfather Huo did not persuade Yunjiao to return home to M Country for recuperation. He knew his grandson too well ¨C always thoughtful with a deep consideration for everything, careful to think thrice before he acted. Grandfather laughed, ¡°After some time, let¡¯s invite Ling Xuzi over to check on you again.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Huo Yunjiao gently nodded, obediently agreeing. It was rare for the Huo family to gather together like today. With worries about his grandson set aside, Grandfather Huo brought up the topic of the Su family. ¡°The Su family¡¯s actions can be best described as ¡®the desperate actions of a dog driven to the wall.¡¯ Since they started to act without principle first, they should not blame the Huo family for being ruthless in return. The debt of gratitude I owed to the old Su patriarch was repaid long ago.¡± ¡°That old fellow from the Su is already in his grave. If there¡¯s anything he thinks I still owe him, he can wait for a hundred years until I am also in the nether world to settle it with him. As for the problems of the Su family, you all decide how to deal with it. I am old and have no interest in indulging in these violent schemes.¡± The old man made his stand. The words ¡°violent schemes¡± he uttered underscored his firm stance. The Su family must be dealt with and cannot be taken lightly. The fate of this family was not simply a matter of merely crippling them. The best option for them is annihilation. The Huo family will never tolerate those who harbour ill-will towards them and intend to harm their rightful direct descendants. Huo Hongxing sat to the side brewing tea, not uttering a word from beginning to end. Huo Junxin glanced at his younger brother, Huo Yirong, who was sitting at his side. The latter wore a grim expression, his handsome face unreadable, appearing as if he was torn between whether to smile or not. Given that Su Jingshu had cuckolded him, Huo Yirong could assert some say in the matter. Seeing his older brother¡¯s glance, Huo Yirong sneered, ¡°We should announce the break-off of the Huo-Su marriage as soon as possible. I don¡¯t want to be entangled with that woman anymore.¡± ¡°This can be easily arranged. Since the Su family has shown unforgivable intentions towards Yunjiao, we can¡¯t simply let this matter slide,¡± Huo Junxin said. The longer the Su family remained, the more of an unknown risk it was for the Huo family. Huo Hongxing spoke: ¡°What does Jiaojiao think?¡± Everyone turned their eyes to Huo Yunjiao. The latter appeared helpless and enduring, ¡°Father, please don¡¯t call me by that name.¡± Jiaojiao, it sounds like a woman¡¯s name. Except for his grandfather, he wouldn¡¯t allow anyone else to call him by this nickname. Even if it was his father, it wasn¡¯t allowed. Huo Hongxing chuckled, ¡°So, only Grandfather is allowed to call you that, and I can¡¯t?¡± Seeing that his precious grandson was being bullied, Grandfather Huo glared at his oldest son, ¡°If Jiaojiao doesn¡¯t want you to call him that, then use a different form of address.¡± The chastised Huo Hongxing shrugged and continued brewing tea. In today¡¯s Huo family, Grandfather had already relinquished his authority. In recent years, Huo Hongxing has been the apparent head of the household. Witnessing his son¡¯s competent administration of family affairs, he had retired to the background. The day-to-day operations of the Huo family were left in Huo Yunjiao¡¯s hands, while he enjoyed the rest of his life in peace, tending to his plants and flowers. The actual decision-maker in the Huo family now was Huo Yunjiao. As for how he would deal with the actions of the Su family, it would all depend on him. The young man sat beside his grandfather, his posture elegant, his fine face slightly downcast, concealing his emotions from view. After some time, Huo Yunjiao looked up. His gaze was deep, his lips curling slightly at the corners, ¡°Where is Su JingShu?¡± Chapter 64 - 64 64 Huo Yunjiao Find the Woman from That Night ?64: Chapter 64 Huo Yunjiao: Find the Woman from That Night 64: Chapter 64 Huo Yunjiao: Find the Woman from That Night Huo Yirong: ¡°Punishment Hall.¡± Huo Yunjiao¡¯s index finger tapped lightly on the chair, rhythmically and repeatedly. The man seemed gentle and elegant, but beneath that surface was a hard and relentless disposition. His dark pupils were engulfing swirling vortexes that would trap anyone who looked into them. His voice was lazy: ¡°Send Miss Su back to the Su Family, and tell them if they still want a place in Capital City, they need to locate the woman from Imperial Court Hotel that night, they have a day.¡± Huo Yirong, hearing this, couldn¡¯t help cursing. The swearing of the second master, Huo, was met with an severe warning glance from the old master, Huo. Huo Junxin paled at his little brother¡¯s words as well. He thought that his third brother returned home because he discovered the Su Family¡¯s plot at the Imperial Court Hotel, and he was back to strike down the Su Family, making them an example to alert the other restless aristocratic families. However, he hadn¡¯t expected Huo Yunjiao to handle things so lightly. He was ready to let the manipulations of the Su Family slide to find the woman he spent the night with. However, the old master, Huo, and his son Huo Hongxing, shared a glance, showing satisfaction and subtle amusement in their eyes. Huo Junxin noticed his grandfather and uncle¡¯s significant glance, and his expression subtly changed as he realized something. Meanwhile, Huo Yirong was utterly disgruntled. ¡°Third brother, are you just going to let the Su Family off? They dare to plot against the Huo Family now, in the future, who knows what else they might do? I think they fancy shitting on the four big families!¡± The old master Huo scolded with a stern look, ¡°All these years of education gone to the dogs, watch your language!¡± Huo Yirong wore a sour expression, but didn¡¯t dare to make any more comments. Huo Yunjiao glanced at his second elder brother lightly, with a smile that wasn¡¯t quite a smile. ¡°Second brother, the elections are coming next year.¡± ¡°Uh?¡± Huo Yirong frowned, seemingly not understanding. Huo Junxin reminded him, ¡°The Su Family¡¯s act against our family at this time is definitely backed by someone. The Huo Family¡¯s low profile over the years has caused many smaller, under-the-radar movements. The Su Family is just the visible cannon fodder.¡± ¡°You mean...lure the snake out of the hole?¡± Huo Yirong looked serious. Huo Yunjiao¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly, his refined handsome face bearing a touch of pride, not at all out of place with his outwardly gentle and elegant appearance. ¡°Other than the usual two, there¡¯s no one else behind the Su Family. This matter can take a backseat for now, quickly find the woman from that night at the Imperial Court Hotel.¡± In front of his family, he didn¡¯t hide his interest in the woman from the Imperial Court Hotel that night. It was then that Huo Hongxing spoke, ¡°If that woman has been bought off by the Su Family or placed by some other force, what will you do?¡± ¡°Meet her first.¡± Huo Yunjiao looked down, speaking in a steadfast and unhurried tone. No matter who she belonged to, recognizing her identity came first. ... Six o¡¯clock in the evening. After Qin Ruan finished asking for leave, she returned to the dormitory to pack her things. Carrying a packed bag on her back, she came to the school gate to wait for Ling Xiaoxuan to pick her up. However, just as she walked out of the gate of Shengshi Academy, trouble found her. It was Hou Xiangli who had given her trouble in the cafeteria at noon. This time, she was with more than ten men, by their appearance it was clear they were gangsters. Hou Xiangli stared at Qin Ruan¡¯s packed bag, believing that she was aware of her impending trouble and was preparing to flee. She mocked Qin Ruan, scoffing, ¡°Qin Ruan, are you trying to escape?¡± Qin Ruan¡¯s eyes were icy cold, displaying undisguised scorn in her gaze. Seeing people coming and going around her, she wore a helpless look on her face. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Her voice was tinged with exhaustion. She did not wish to stir up trouble, but trouble always seemed to find her. Regardless of her past or present life, this body of hers seemed to attract trouble. Chapter 65 - 65 65 Lord Huo Do you want to meet him ?65: Chapter 65: Lord Huo: Do you want to meet him? 65: Chapter 65: Lord Huo: Do you want to meet him? ¡°You insulted me like that at noon today. What you said I should do is obviously to pick a fight!¡± Hou Xiangli lifted her chin and ordered the people behind her, ¡°Beat her! As long as she doesn¡¯t die, I¡¯ll take any responsibility!¡± The men behind her saw that Qin Ruan was good-looking, appearing soft and weak, with a charming and innocent face that was as small as a palm. They lusted after her and their eyes glowed with desire. The leader of the group stepped forward, greedily staring at Qin Ruan¡¯s face, and suggested, ¡°Girl, looking at your frail appearance, I can¡¯t bear to hit you. Why don¡¯t you apologize to Miss Hou, we can beg for your pardon, and this can all be over?¡± Qin Ruan glared back with cold eyes, full of scorn, contempt, and disdain. This dismissive look at him like he was garbage infuriated the man. ¡°Stinking bitch, what¡¯s with that look?!¡± Qin Ruan responded sarcastically: ¡°The look I give to a scumbag.¡± Don¡¯t think she didn¡¯t know what this man was thinking. Growing up in West City, she had seen too many men giving her disgusting lustful looks. She knew exactly what was going through their minds. Hou Xiangli ordered coldly: ¡°What are you looking at? Get on it! Beat her up and do whatever you want with her!¡± At her words, over a dozen men swarmed towards Qin Ruan. Seeing that these men were not afraid of causing trouble at the school gate, Qin Ruan took a deep breath, put down her backpack, got up, and started stretching her wrists. Onlookers began to gather. One man lunged at Qin Ruan, but she kicked him away. The fight had officially begun. ... At the same time. At the old Huo residence, Huo Yunjiao had just finished checking all of the information on Qin Ruan¡¯s life so far. The Su Family finally cracked under pressure, revealing everything that happened at the Imperial Court Hotel that night. Han Kexin¡¯s scheming and manipulation, the drug Qin Ruan was slipped, how due to a bizarre chain of events the truth was now out in the open, all of these made things proceed quite smoothly. Everything was proceeding in an eerily smooth manner. Huo Yunjiao sat upright in his study, his posture impeccable. His elegant and humble demeanor was truly outstanding. Next to him, Huo Yirong sighed, ¡°Who would have thought it would be her? Third Brother, you really have a connection with the Qin women.¡± At first, they believed the woman that night was Han Kexin. Even though she was the Qin family¡¯s step-daughter, she was still part of the Qin family. However, the truth turned out to be more complicated than that. The daughter the Qin family found, Qin Ruan, was the real woman with whom the ¡®Third Brother¡¯ spent that night. Either way, they couldn¡¯t escape the circle of the Qin family. They still were unsure what role the Qin family played in this matter. Suspicion is a common trait among people, especially those in power. Huo Yunjiao raised his eyes. His eyebrows were cold, and his expression was warmly gentle, perfectly embodying the demeanor of a noble son. ¡°She is at Shengshi Academy.¡± His tone was a statement of fact. His voice was deep, with a trace of magnetism. ¡°Are you going to see her?¡± Huo Yirong raised an eyebrow. Huo Yunjiao answered with his actions. He turned his head to look at the burly man standing beside him like a sculpture. ¡°Huo Chuan, prepare the car.¡± ¡°Yes, Third Master,¡± Huo Chuan left the study. Huo Yirong grinned mischievously, his tone teasing: ¡°You seem pretty eager.¡± ¡°I need to clarify some things,¡± Huo Yunjiao¡¯s voice was sonorous and pleasing. He leaned back on his seat, looking relaxed. Even his casual posture couldn¡¯t hide his noble and elegant demeanor. He looked at a foot on the desk, exuding a calm and composed aura that everything was under control. ¡°Does that woman have any problems?¡± Huo Yirong put aside his teasing, his expression turning serious. Huo Yunjiao didn¡¯t reply, but his brow furrowed slightly, his eyes filled with unresolved questions. Chapter 66 - 66 66 She Has a Deadly Attraction ?66: Chapter 66: She Has a Deadly Attraction 66: Chapter 66: She Has a Deadly Attraction Receiving no response for a long time, Huo Yirong had a bad gut feeling. ¡°Are you hiding something from us?¡± ¡°There is a slight issue.¡± Huo Yunjiao raised the corners of his mouth in a faint smile: ¡°But you¡¯ll need to meet her to know. That night, I didn¡¯t drink too much; I was still mainly conscious.¡± Huo Yirong found it unbelievable: ¡°And yet you¡¯re tangled up with her!¡± He had always thought that his younger brother only ended up in bed with someone because he had drunk too much. Huo Yunjiao was also confused about this. His slender fingers lifted slightly, pressing against his forehead like a pale joint of bamboo. ¡°That night, I accepted a room from the Su Family, intending to rest a while before coming back. I had asked Huo Chuan to arrange a car for me to leave before then, only to have a woman suddenly barge in.¡± Saying this, Huo Yunjiao paused, allowing his handsome, sickly face to take on a remembrance expression: ¡°When she appeared, my illness was as if it was uncontrollably relapsing. I couldn¡¯t stand, my heart suddenly stopped, and my vision blurred. She had a delightful scent about her that drew me uncontrollably near, that kind of deadly attraction; neither my body nor mind could resist wanting to get closer to her, then... ¡± Though what happened next was blurry in his memory, Huo Yunjiao didn¡¯t see Qin Ruan¡¯s face clearly. But recently, he had been dreaming of what had happened that night. Every memory from that night clearly flooded into his mind as dreams. The feeling of her skin against his palm, the soft, helpless cries in his ear. Pleads of wanting. Her arms and legs clinging to him, like vines wrapped around, afraid that he would abandon her. This strange yet deep experience etched into his bones was affecting Huo Yunjiao¡¯s mind and body. He wanted to see Qin Ruan- see what sort of magical power this woman held. Regardless of the Su Family¡¯s schemes and the more profound implications, Huo Yunjiao would not choose to return to the country at this time. Prior to seeing Qin Ruan¡¯s information, he might have even suspected her identity. However, when he saw her life in West City and her experiences after returning to Qin Family, everything became simple. Maybe it was indeed a coincidence. She was innocent and clean, only coincidentally causing his sickness to act up. ¡°How could you not tell your grandfather and uncle such a big thing!¡± Hearing his explanation, Huo Yirong felt anxious and stood up abruptly, walking quickly to the desk. ¡°Do you not realize any person that directly affects your health could bring unimaginable consequences? What if that woman is an exception? If anything were to happen to you, how will we accept it!¡± Huo Yirong tried hard to suppress his anger. His dark eyes hid an infinite storm, as he fixed his gaze intensely on the young man seated across the table, his face calm. Master Lai Xuzi once said that, with Huo Yunjiao¡¯s physique, he must stay away from those born on Yin years, months, and days. A character entirely of Yin is the fate of purity, of Yin. A person like this would take Huo Yunjiao¡¯s life. In contrast to Huo Yirong¡¯s tension, Huo Yunjiao remained calm. He pointed to the birthdate on the screen belonging to Qin Ruan: ¡°She was born in winter.¡± His tone was casual, and his voice was clear, pleasant like a jade pearl hitting the ground, totally composed. Huo Yirong squinted his fierce eyes at it, gritted his teeth, and finally didn¡¯t say a word. Qin Ruan¡¯s birthdate was the same as that Qin Family¡¯s second son, Qin Mei. The information on record was her true birthdate. ¡°Young Master, the car is ready.¡± The respectful voice of Huo Chuan echoed from the doorway of the study. Huo Yunjiao got up, rolling down his shirt sleeves that rested on his well-toned forearm, and stepped out of the study. ¡°I¡¯m coming too!¡± Knowing that they were going to meet Qin Ruan, Huo Yirong followed. Chapter 67 - 67 67 Between Heaven and Earth, She Shines Brightly ?67: Chapter 67 Between Heaven and Earth, She Shines Brightly 67: Chapter 67 Between Heaven and Earth, She Shines Brightly Huo Yunjiao left the study, seeming to ignore the words behind her, her elegant, slow steps unfaltering. His silence meant agreement. Huo Yirong followed even more assuredly. ... Outside the gates of Shengshi Academy. Qin Ruan had made quick work of the men brought by Hou Xiangli. From beginning to end, not one of them had so much as touched her clothing. Back from her rebirth equipped with the Nether Divine Power, Qin Ruan naturally had something to rely on. For the sake of the child in her belly, she couldn¡¯t put her life at risk recklessly like she did in West City. ¡°Bam!¡± As the last man fell under Qin Ruan¡¯s feet, the sound of incessant honking echoed in her ears. Qin Ruan looked up to find seven or eight heavily-modified Hummers encircled by the onlookers. In the car window, Ling Xiaoxuan poked out her pale face, her eyes full of worry. Qin Ruan withdrew her foot, her face expressionless as she swept a glance at the groaning figures on the ground, before turning to pick up her backpack. She didn¡¯t immediately leave the encircled crowd but walked towards Hou Xiangli, whose face was anxious and whose pupils had shrunk in fear. Standing in front of Hou Xiangli, Qin Ruan¡¯s alluring eyes projected a chilling coldness. ¡°This is the last time. I won¡¯t hold you accountable for past grievances. But if you dare disturb me again, you will know what ¡®regret for life¡¯ truly means.¡± The icy chill swept over her, making Hou Xiangli feel as if her clothes couldn¡¯t provide enough warmth. The moment their eyes met, her heart trembled. Qin Ruan¡¯s gaze on her was as if she were looking at something dead. A faint smile danced on her lips, not overtly menacing, but enough to send waves of terror through Hou Xiangli¡¯s heart. In front of her stood Qin Ruan, who seemed like a demon straight out of Hell, her black eyes cold and intimidating, exuding an untamed and wild existence. Bathed in the soft orange twilight, Qin Ruan¡¯s fluttering clothes were caught in the gentle breeze. Her every move, in the midst of the world around her, exuded an awe-inspiring serenity and reverence. The previous violent fight only highlighted her extraordinaire, enhancing her captivating charm. At this moment, everyone, whether they knew or didn¡¯t know Qin Ruan, would deeply remember her. Smiling faintly, Qin Ruan slowly stepped out of the crowd and got into the car driven by Ling Xiaoxuan. After she got in, Ling Xiaoxuan ordered the person sitting in the passenger seat, ¡°I saw someone taking pictures earlier. Have someone take care of that.¡± ¡°Understood, Miss.¡± The one sitting in the passenger seat was a middle-aged man who was very respectful towards Ling Xiaoxuan. ¡°Thank you, senior sister.¡± Qin Ruan expressed her gratitude with a smile. Less would always be more. If she could avoid unnecessary trouble, it would be better for her. ¡°No, don¡¯t thank me. It¡¯s too much.¡± Ling Xiaoxuan¡¯s face was pale as she had obviously been shocked. If there was anyone to thank, it should be her thanking Qin Ruan. Nobody knew what dangers they¡¯d face in the upcoming expedition to Qi Mountain. Qin Ruan¡¯s help filled her heart with gratitude. Qin Ruan studied Ling Xiaoxuan¡¯s pale face, her once-dazzling features were now withdrawn. She casually changed the subject, ¡°I noticed there are seven or eight cars. How many people are going?¡± ¡°My family called in every notable Heavenly Master in Capital City. Just in case anything goes wrong, we have twenty bodyguards and over ten Heavenly Masters, without counting assistants and disciples.¡± Ling Xiaoxuan nervously bit her pale lips, her worried gaze stayed on Qin Ruan. ¡°Junior sister, actually, the reason why we¡¯re going all out with this expedition... it¡¯s because my future husband is part of the exploration team.¡± Chapter 68 - 68 68 Meeting Again after a Hundred Years ?68: Chapter 68: Meeting Again after a Hundred Years 68: Chapter 68: Meeting Again after a Hundred Years ¡°Hmm¡ª¡± Qin Ruan responded lightly, showing some understanding on her face. As soon as she got in the car, she observed Ling Xiaoxuan¡¯s complexion. Judging by her Red Phoenix, Tianxi, Tianyao, and the limit of her destiny palace, it¡¯s clear that her Red Phoenix star is moving. However, fate was intruding into the marriage house, gaining fortune and power. There were signs of marriage, but they were obscured by a touch of darkness. Ling Xiaoxuan, seeing no change in Qin Ruan¡¯s countenance, asked in a soft voice, ¡°Aren¡¯t you angry?¡± ¡°Why should I be angry?¡± Qin Ruan chuckled, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for your fiance?, would you guide us to rescue the old teammates?¡± ¡°Yes, I would. We¡¯ve been together for more than two years; how could I stand by while they¡¯re in danger?¡± Ling Xiaoxuan said it as if it were a matter of course. However, the family would not seek the Heavenly Master, they would put all their efforts into searching and rescuing. Qin Ruan laughed: ¡°Then let¡¯s move on. If we delay, the journey will be difficult.¡± Ling Xiaoxuan breathed a sigh of relief, her pale face flushing slightly. She feared Qin Ruan would misunderstand. Qin Ruan agreed to the trip to Qi Mountain not only to look for the life-prolonging Evil Qi but mainly because Ling Xiaoxuan was going. Whether for her so-called fiance? or her teammates, with her current body altered by the Mountain Demon altering her Aura, she should not venture alone into the deep mountains where demons dwell. For those creatures, Ling Xiaoxuan is a tantalizing prey. Seven or eight modified Hummers quickly drove away from the gate of Shengshi Academy. Qin Ruan arranged her backpack and stretched her neck. During the fight just now, she had used the Nether Divine Power. Even without the savage collision of the past, it was still a good exercise. She slightly turned her head, gazing at the scenery outside the window. However, a glance made her face change slightly. Seven or eight Hummers passed by three low-key luxury black cars. In the fleeting moment of their crossing. Qin Ruan saw a man in the back seat of the second car, his face composed. The car window was half open, his refined and noble face godlike, deep, calm eyes like water, in them an eternal indifference. Sitting in the car, his indifferent face revealed his unwavering, decisive temperament, expertly managing the battlefield. Qin Ruan watched as his calm eyes revealed an unusual light upon seeing her. Their gazes met briefly in the void. Seeing Qin Ruan in person, Huo Yunjiao was noticeably more shaken than when he saw her photo. Her tranquil beauty seemed painted. The girl is strikingly beautiful, almost unreal, stirring up ripples of sympathy in people¡¯s hearts. Despite being at an age brimming with youth, Qin Ruan¡¯s eyes, calm and void of emotion, lacked the innocence and naivety of a young girl. All that was left was desolation, numbness, and indifference. She appeared like a solitary wanderer in the desert, having experienced all the helplessness, struggles, and desperation in the world. As the cars crossed, they looked at each other. In that brief moment of eye contact, they were both entranced. It was as if they were lovers who had agreed to meet each other again after parting ways. The two groups of cars quickly passed by, heading in opposite directions. ¡°Stop this car!¡± Huo Yunjiao¡¯s deep-set eyes narrowed, and he spoke in a low tone. This voice was slow and low, carrying an indescribable strangeness. Huo Yunjiao didn¡¯t know what happened to him. He felt a throbbing in his temples and an odd sensation of being torn apart inside. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Shengshi academy is right ahead, aren¡¯t we going anymore?¡± Huo Yirong, sitting next to him, asked in confusion. Huo Yunjiao lifted his eyelashes and stared at the convergent hummers speeding away, his gaze murky and obscure. Chapter 69 - 69 69 The Little Girl Will Come Looking for Him ?69: Chapter 69: The Little Girl Will Come Looking for Him 69: Chapter 69: The Little Girl Will Come Looking for Him He had a faint smile playing on the corners of his mouth, and said slowly, ¡°I saw her.¡± ¡°Really? How come I didn¡¯t see her?!¡± Huo Yirong couldn¡¯t sit still anymore, getting up and scanning outside the window. Huo Yunjiao propped his head up with one hand, his refined handsome face bearing a difficult to discern complex expression. Under circumstances where neither of them were prepared, he had briefly encountered and gazed at Qin Ruan. The surprise in her beautiful eyes, the dazzling light which blossomed at the bottom of her eyes, made him realize something. She recognized him, and even seemed to... expect him? Third Master Huo didn¡¯t know how to describe the sudden bright light that shone in Qin Ruan¡¯s eyes when she saw him, amidst her previously calm and numb gaze. It wasn¡¯t plotting and greed, nor was it a unique kind of affection. It was, instead, as if she had found a companion she could trust. Huo Yunjiao found his conjecture to be amusing. Year after standing at the top, his unquestionable authority, although intentionally subdued, still filled people with dread. Not everyone he had come into contact with treated him with calculation and with an intent of gaining something, but they all had a certain purpose in mind. Only his family and no one else had treated him as a redeeming companion. The feeling was strange, but it didn¡¯t repel him. ¡°Third Brother, where¡¯s the person? I can¡¯t see anyone.¡± Huo Yirong protested aloud. ¡°The person has been seen, in the convoy just now, let¡¯s go back too.¡± Huo Yunjiao lowered his hand propping up his head, leaned back on the rear seat, and closed his eyes to rest. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to meet Qin Ruan and say something?¡± ¡°She will come to me.¡± Huo Yunjiao¡¯s voice carried laughter, his tone certain. Qin Ruan was still too young, the emotion in her eyes gave away the thoughts in her heart instantly. He believed, the little girl would come looking for him. ... Qin Ruan, who was in the vehicle up front, couldn¡¯t calm her mind. She had not expected to see Huo Yunjiao under these circumstances. In her previous life, he went abroad to recuperate, and didn¡¯t return until a year later. By the time he came back, she had already died. It had only been half a month since they last parted at the Imperial Court Hotel. Why would she see him now? Did he not go abroad, or did he return early? Why? Qin Ruan opened her Heavenly Eye, but couldn¡¯t detect Huo Yunjiao¡¯s destiny, only able to see a faint purple energy surrounding him. Purple energy, the emperor¡¯s aura, signifies the favored son of the Heavenly Dao. But she knew clearly, Third Master Huo, who was feared by everyone in her previous life, would die before he reached thirty-five. Qin Ruan¡¯s index finger and thumb rubbed together continuously, her mind was in chaos. About Huo Yunjiao¡¯s existence, she had always moved forward according to the trajectory of her previous life. A child cannot be without a father. In her previous life, all of what Third Master Huo did for her was because she was carrying the child of the Huo Family. Doing so much for her, enough to see his deep affection and commitment. Third Master Huo was a man she could trust completely and he would also make a good father. When Qin Ruan decided to have the baby, she clearly understood that she would become entangled with the Huo Family. The Huo family would not allow their offspring to be left outside. Knowing that Third Master Huo had gone abroad and would return after a year. Qin Ruan planned to go to the Huo family after the baby was born, or wait for them to come find her, just like they did in her previous life. In her past life, when Third Master Huo found out that their baby had been harmed and died, the sadness in his calm eyes deeply engraved in Qin Ruan¡¯s spiritual consciousness. She felt guilty for not being able to protect their child, and Third Master Huo felt guilty for not knowing about the existence of their child. Huo Yunjiao¡¯s sorrow and pain in his eyes still made Qin Ruan uncomfortable as if she¡¯d been stabbed with a needle whenever she thought of it. Unfortunately, all her plans had been disrupted. Huo Yunjiao¡¯s unchanged facial expression she had just seen and his obvious recognition of her seemed to indicate something was different from her previous life. Without Qin Ruan knowing, the fluttering wings of a butterfly had changed many predetermined trajectories. Chapter 70 - 70 70 Exploration of Qi Mountain, Mausoleum of Emperor Qin ?70: Chapter 70: Exploration of Qi Mountain, Mausoleum of Emperor Qin 70: Chapter 70: Exploration of Qi Mountain, Mausoleum of Emperor Qin Cloud City, Qi Mountain. In recent years, due to the extensive promotion of Qi Mountain¡¯s millennial attractions, tourists have continuously flocked to the area. Especially during holidays, staff from various departments and medical personnel stand guard around the clock at both entrances of Qi Mountain. There is never a shortage of daredevils attempting to venture into the undeveloped areas of Qi Mountain, eager to explore its depths. Every year, there are incidents of visitors getting injured within these dangerous areas. Ten o¡¯clock at night. Qin Ruan, Ling Xiaoxuan, and others finally arrive at Qi Mountain. Having alerted the staff in advance, the workers at Qi Mountain open the gates for them. At night, the group successfully enters the Qi Mountain scenic area. Due to the perilous and uneven mountain roads, they abandon their Hummer and take the scenic area¡¯s sightseeing tram instead. With them are the parents of Ling Xiaoxuan¡¯s fiance. As their son experienced trouble, the Ling Family had no choice but to notify them. Ling Xiaoxuan leaves a few bodyguards to look after them, taking the remaining bodyguards and over a dozen Heavenly Masters onto the sightseeing tram, heading towards the undeveloped area of Qi Mountain. In the same tram as Ling Xiaoxuan and Qin Ruan were a master and his disciple. The master was an older man named Qiao Nanyuan, a rough-looking fellow with staunch features, giving off the impression of being upright. His disciple was a little girl named Qiao Jiu, who looked underage but had actually passed her adult birthday. They knew all this because Qiao Jiu could indeed be quite chatty. As soon as she boarded the tram she struck up a lively conversation with Ling Xiaoxuan and Qin Ruan, chattering incessantly. The master and the disciple were from the Maoshan Sect. Due to the advancement of modern society towards science and civilization, the Maoshan Sect had gradually declined. It was not only the Maoshan Sect, other sects were also in the same predicament. Though they cannot compare to their prosperity from a hundred years ago, they can still make ends meet. The end of science is mathematics, the end of mathematics is symbolism, and the end of symbolism is the study of changes. There are too many unknowns in the world, and it¡¯s certainly not wrong to believe in science. As for those creatures that wander on the fringes of this world, there will always be those who exist to limit them. Qiao Jiu seemed to like Qin Ruan a lot, chattering away to her the whole time. ¡°Sister Ruan, have you heard about the rumor that there¡¯s a trace of the ancient Emperor¡¯s Mausoleum in the undeveloped area of Qi Mountain? Lots of people have secretly come to explore over the years, trying to unearth a valuable scoop.¡± ¡°The Emperor¡¯s Mausoleum?¡± Qin Ruan knitted her eyebrows slightly, looking over at Ling Xiaoxuan sitting beside her. She was the one who had the most authority on this matter. When the senior first came for an adventure, it was for this Emperor¡¯s Mausoleum. Meeting Qin Ruan¡¯s amused gaze, Ling Xiaoxuan appeared somewhat embarrassed: ¡°There is indeed such a rumor online. Many posts insistently point out the existence of the Emperor¡¯s Mausoleum on Qi Mountain. But when I came for an adventure last time, we suffered heavy losses and had to abandon it halfway. As for the truth, I¡¯m not too sure either,¡± The reason why their Paranormal Exploration Team came to Qi Mountain in the first place was to find the Emperor¡¯s Mausoleum. If she was as passionate about this matter as she was previously, she would surely be interested. But now, she has completely lost interest. Qin Ruan turned to Qiao Jiu and smiled, ¡°You seem to know a lot. Did you research before coming here?¡± Qiao Jiu, with her big eyes, laughed and shook her head, ¡°No, I just read about this incident online.¡± Ling Xiaoxuan leaned over and asked her, ¡°So, do you think there¡¯s an Emperor¡¯s Mausoleum in Qi Mountain?¡± Qiao Jiu shook her head calmly, her face full of profound meaning. She pointed at the dim yellow street lamps installed on the road, and the Qi Mountain that was illuminated by the sightseeing tram¡¯s lights. ¡°Qi Mountain is not a Dragon Vein. Since ancient times, the tombs of Emperors were often placed beneath a Dragon Vein. Emperor Qin, the founding emperor, would not have his once-in-a-millennium tomb located beneath Qi Mountain.¡± Chapter 71 - 71 71 Secret Puppet Begins to Stir ?71: Chapter 71: Secret Puppet Begins to Stir 71: Chapter 71: Secret Puppet Begins to Stir Upon hearing this, Ling Xiaoxuan looked disappointed. ¡°So the information online was a hoax. It was probably made up to attract tourists.¡± Qiao Jiu blinked, her large black eyes especially bright in the darkness. She laughed and said: ¡°Even if the Imperial Mausoleum of Qin is not here, there may be other noble tombs. Qi Mountain¡¯s Feng Shui isn¡¯t bad, it¡¯s just not on the Dragon Vein. Ancient nobles used to choose suitable Feng Shui locations for their burials, so Qi Mountain still qualifies. Here, the scenery is beautiful, the soil is rich, the water level is low, suitable for burial. Qi Mountain¡¯s layout of high mountains and flowing water is auspicious, just slightly inferior compared to the Dragon Vein.¡± Listening to her knowledgeable explanation, Ling Xiaoxuan laughed and said: ¡°You¡¯re not from the Maoshan Sect, yet you understand so much about Feng Shui.¡± Qiao Jiu said helplessly: ¡°I just know a little, just enough to make a living. I have to be knowledgeable in many areas.¡± With her chin propped up, Ling Xiaoxuan, sitting between them and Qin Ruan, was very interested in Qiao Jiu¡¯s discussion about the tombs. ¡°The Imperial Mausoleum of Qin has been a mystery for so many years. Honestly, I¡¯m quite curious about where it is.¡± ¡°The location of an Emperor¡¯s tomb is very strict. There are many factors to consider. The simplest explanation involves two types of energy ¨C life and death ¨C reflecting Yin and Yang, and the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. A place with good Feng Shui is a place with life energy. The best location for a tomb is a grave that can capture such energy. This place can bless the descendants and ensure the prosperity of the kingdom...¡± Qiao Jiu¡¯s voice lost its childish tone and gained a sense of maturity. Ling Xiaoxuan was captured by Qiao Jiu¡¯s words and stared at her with admiration on her face. Qin Ruan couldn¡¯t help but lift the corner of her lips, a hint of apathy was faded from her face. She agreed with Qiao Jiu¡¯s words. This little girl might be young, but she¡¯s quite capable. Indeed, there is no imperial mausoleum on Qi Mountain, only the concealed phantoms and spirit monsters lurking in the darkness. Under the cloak of darkness, Qin Ruan, with her cold and charming eyes, glanced around the dense and eerie forest. Her eyes emitted a restrained yet threatening and dangerous light. They had clearly sensed something following them throughout their journey. On the quiet road of Qi Mountain, besides the sound of tour car engines and the chilling wind blowing through the mountains, Qin Ruan could also hear a salivating sound in the dark. A heavy gulp, unintentionally released by a creature eyeing its prey. Prey? It seems there might be a misunderstanding about who is the hunter and who is the prey. Having lived through it once, she, Qin Ruan, is destined to eradicate all malice in this world, reducing any creature of darkness to ashes at the sight of her. ¡°Roar!¡± An unknown beast layered its roar with the rustling sound from the forest, barely audible. The people sitting in the sightseeing car straightened up, their faces grew tense with alertness. Ling Xiaoxuan and Qiao Jiu also stopped their conversation and waited solemnly. The sightseeing car traveled on the bumpy mountain road, jolting fiercely. Qin Ruan suddenly turned her head, a golden light flashed in her eyes. Her gaze was tightly fixed on a certain place in the dense forest behind her. There, an evil Qi lurked, darker than the night itself. The animal¡¯s roar just now seemed like a signal. The puppets hidden in the darkness were raring to attack their prey. A smirk flickered past Qin Ruan¡¯s face as her red lips curled up. A high-end hunter often appears as a prey. Tonight, she would act as bait to lure out and count the number of puppets hidden on Qi Mountain. Everyone¡¯s faces were tense, but thankfully, no danger occurred subsequently, and they gradually relaxed. Ling Xiaoxuan and Qiao Jiu resumed their conversation about the rumors surrounding Qi Mountain and the Millennium Emperor¡¯s Mausoleum. Chapter 72 - 72 72 Hellfire, The Orders of the Ten Yama Halls ?72: Chapter 72: Hellfire, The Orders of the Ten Yama Halls 72: Chapter 72: Hellfire, The Orders of the Ten Yama Halls Eleven o¡¯clock at night. Finally arrived in the undeveloped area of Qi Mountain. From here, Ling Xiaoxuan will lead the way. Entering this steep area, the dangers that are about to be faced are beyond imagination. Cliffs and rugged roads, one could easily fall into the natural pits hidden by vegetation. A moment ago, a bodyguard from the Ling Family nearly fell into a large funnel-shaped pit naturally formed on the ground. A stone was tossed in, but there was no echo for a long time, showing how shockingly deep it was. In order to prevent Ling Xiaoxuan from any mishap, Qin Ruan walked hand in hand with her at the front. Puppets following closely behind them were becoming increasingly conspicuous. The wind blew gently, bringing a foul smell into the nostrils. They were getting closer. Qin Ruan knew the evil spirits lurking in the dark were waiting for just the right moment to ensnare everyone in one fell swoop. She released a thin layer of the Nether Divine Power around her body. Given her current location, it was clearly not a good time to subdue them. The Nether Divine Power, a power grant by the Underworld King, causes all evil spirits to retreat three steps. Originally, Qin Ruan was afraid that she might scare them off and miss the chance to absorb the Evil Qi needed for her survival. Unexpectedly, sensing the Nether Divine Power, the hidden puppets became even more eager, greedily fixing their eyes on her. With a steady stride, Qin Ruan moved forward, a hint of mockery flashing in her lowered eyes. Heavy is the burden of possessor of the jade, a phrase she deeply identified with. The power she now possessed could protect her, but also bring danger to her doorstep. Qin Ruan had almost forgotten, she was also now a highly sought-after prize. If the evil puppets were to swallow her, the power she possessed could be transferred to the host and could even create extraordinary destinies. The temptation was enormous, hard not to be moved by. Although the evil spirits feared the Nether Divine Power, the power she exerted was too faint, which made them regard her as a prey ready for the slaughter. Having endured for more than a hundred years and finally crawled out of Hell to undergo a transformation, she wouldn¡¯t let herself be taken down so easily, becoming fodder for the evil spirits. Nether Divine Power, Hellfire, Authority of the Ten Halls of Yama, all converged within her. All evil spirits in the world would have to bow and kneel before her. ¡°We¡¯re here, it¡¯s the abandoned temple up ahead.¡± After nearly two hours of walking, under the guidance of Ling Xiaoxuan, they finally reached their destination. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, and looking in the direction she pointed, saw the faintly glowing abandoned temple in the distance. Qin Ruan looked up to see the broken and dilapidated temple glowing faintly in front of her, a change passing across her face. The abandoned temple hidden in the dense forest was now shrouded in a thick black fog, the Evil Qi reaching the sky, and the resentment was tremendous. Most of the other Heavenly Masters, looking at the temple, were oblivious to this, their faces even showing signs of relief at having reached their destination. Like Qin Ruan, one person stared at the temple with furrowed brows, looking rather grim. That person was Qiao Jiu¡¯s master, Qiao Nanyuan. ¡°Finally, we¡¯re here, my legs are about to break,¡± Qiao Jiu moved to Qin Ruan and Ling Xiaoxuan¡¯s side. ¡°Let¡¯s go over, the temple¡¯s space is big and we can rest.¡± Ling Xiaoxuan was oblivious, excited about the light shining inside the temple. If the light was on in there, that meant their former teammates were still inside. If they could bring them out, their treat to Qi Mountain would be a complete success. If Qin Ruan knew about her thoughts, she¡¯d say two words, naive. Qi Mountain was rampant with evil spirits. Many puppets carried a tremendous Evil Qi and were not to be underestimated. The fact that they had arrived unscathed was nothing more than the hunters toying with their prey. If they wanted a successful departure, they would need to put in considerable effort. The group headed towards the abandoned temple, ready to rest their weary feet inside. After several hours on the mountain path, even they could get tired. Chapter 73 - 73 73 Ling Xiaoxuan being Cuckolded ?73: Chapter 73: Ling Xiaoxuan being Cuckolded 73: Chapter 73: Ling Xiaoxuan being Cuckolded As soon as everyone approached the temple, a tense voice came from inside, asking nervously. ¡°Who¡¯s out there?!¡± The voice, underscored by an apparent pretense of confidence, resonated with a sense of panic and tremor that anyone could sense. Upon recognizing the familiar voice, Ling Xiaoxuan¡¯s face lit up with joy and she hurried towards the temple entrance. ¡°Du Changheng, it¡¯s me. I¡¯ve brought people to rescue you!¡± The Ling family¡¯s bodyguard swiftly stepped in to stop her from advancing into danger. Before anyone could react, the old temple door was opened from the inside. A haggard and visibly sleep-deprived young man appeared, his countenance as pale as a sheet. Several more men and women, each looking visibly terrified, stood behind him. As he caught sight of Ling Xiaoxuan, Du Changheng¡¯s face deepened with a strange excitement, reaching out to embrace her. Just as he was about to touch her, Qin Ruan took hold of Ling Xiaoxuan by her collar and pulled her back. Du Changheng glared at Qin Ruan, his gaze dark and resentful, as if she had stolen his treasure. Befuddled, Ling Xiaoxuan was taken aback at how effortlessly Qin Ruan was able to lift her. Especially considering she was almost over a hundred pounds. Qin Ruan shielded her in the back and said to the man, ¡°Let¡¯s talk inside.¡± A heavy gloss filled Du Changheng¡¯s eyes as he grudgingly cleared the way. Inside the dilapidated temple were a few clay Buddha statues and seven people including Du Changheng. A girl, upon seeing Ling Xiaoxuan, completely lost control and began to cry. ¡°Xiaoxuan, you¡¯re finally here. Xiaomei is dead, she¡¯s gone!¡± ¡°I¡¯m scared. I want to go home. But no matter which way we go, we end up here again. I¡¯m really scared, I want to go home...¡± The girl gripped onto Ling Xiaoxuan, sobbing uncontrollably. She was gasping for breath while screaming about how frightened she was and her longing to be home. This time, Qin Ruan did not keep the girl from getting close to Ling Xiaoxuan. Her slender figure stood upright in the temple, taking in the sight of the sizable area. ¡°Sister Ruan, did you find anything out?¡± Qiao Jiu approached Qin Ruan, softly posing the question. Qin Ruan lightly shook her head, remaining silent, her gaze falling on Qiao Jiu¡¯s master inadvertently. Qiao Nanyuan was also intently observing the desolate temple, and his staunch features grew increasingly solemn. It seemed like he had discovered something as well. Qin Ruan¡¯s stern gaze fell on the young man standing behind Ling Xiaoxuan. Du Changheng, this was the person her schoolmate was engaged to. ¡°Miss Ling mentioned you couldn¡¯t leave Qi Mountain. We had some difficulty with the path up the mountain, but still managed to make it. Could you let us know what exactly happened that left you trapped here?¡± One of the Heavenly Masters spoke up, his inquiry straightforward and direct. A man from the paranormal exploration team stepped forward, explaining their ordeal in detail. They had arrived on Qi Mountain a week ago with the Imperial Mausoleum as their destination, taking thorough precautions to avoid a similar fate as their initial unsuccessful exploration. However, they had not anticipated encountering a haunting, which resulted in a loss of life. Their tale began three days ago, when they found a tomb entrance behind the temple and decided to explore it. Du Changheng and two other male team members entered the tomb. There were secret stone gate mechanisms underground, which they, lacking knowledge of geomancy, could not solve and hence were unable to proceed. Believing they had found the Imperial Mausoleum, their excitement peaked. They decided to bide their time. However, that very night, disaster struck. When reciting this part of their story, the team member subtly glanced at Ling Xiaoxuan, who was comforting the weeping girl in her arms. He continued, ¡°That night, Du Changheng was with Xiaomei. We heard a scream and rushed out, only to find her already dead. Xiaomei¡¯s body was dreadful to behold. Her body seemed as though it had been precisely cut using a sophisticated tool, each piece uniformly sized, and the ground littered with blood and flesh.¡± Chapter 74 - 74 74 Her Things are Sullied by Others ?74: Chapter 74 Her Things are Sullied by Others 74: Chapter 74 Her Things are Sullied by Others As if recalling the excessively bloody scene from then, the young man¡¯s body began to tremble uncontrollably. His lips quivered as he said, ¡°It was horrifying. The whole situation was so bizarre, it made my skin crawl.¡± ¡°Xiaomei was naked when she died.¡± A male member of the expedition team stepped forward. Upon hearing this, Du Changheng, who was not too far away, felt his cheek muscles twitch and shot him a glare. ¡°What about later, did you guys see anything?¡±, Qiao Jiu stepped forward to inquire, his eyes intently fixed on the two teammates who had stepped out. A precision-cutting instrument? How would there be such a thing in a deep, old forest? It was either a premeditated act, or the work of an evil specter. The faces of the members of the expedition team showed despair. The first young man who stepped forward spoke, ¡°Xiaomei died and we were so scared that we wanted to leave this place, but no matter how far we went, as soon as night fell, we always found ourselves back at this deserted temple.¡± ¡°When Xiaomei died, she was with Changheng. Did you notice anything off about her?¡± This question came from Ling Xiaoxuan; her gaze was on Du Changheng. Though she was comforting a female teammate in her arms, she was still paying attention to the matter at hand. At her words, Du Changheng¡¯s already pale face turned even paler. His lips quivering in alarm, he stammered, ¡°No, she was as usual, there was nothing wrong!¡± His sharp tone only made him appear more guilty. Ling Xiaoxuan gave a comforting smile, ¡°I was just asking, look how nervous you are. Where is Xiaomei¡¯s body?¡± ¡°It disappeared.¡± The reply came from the female teammate in her arms. The teammate stared blankly at Du Changheng. Suddenly, a malicious smile spread across her face. ¡°Xiaoxuan, do you know? Du Changheng is a complete scum! He was always hanging around Xiaomei, but that night he was messing around with Xiaomei behind the temple, and that¡¯s how the accident happened!¡± As soon as this remark slipped out, all eyes were on Ling Xiaoxuan and Du Changheng. The bodyguard from the Ling Family stared at Du Changheng, wishing he could pin him to the ground and give him a good beating. Ling Xiaoxuan furrowed her brow, her complicated gaze falling on Du Changheng whose head was hanging low, it was hard to tell whether his expression was one of guilt or regret. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something. Ultimately, she closed her mouth slowly, her face expressing an unresolved conflict. When a male teammate mentioned earlier that Xiaomei was with Du Changheng when the accident happened and was naked at the time of death, she already had an inkling something was off. Being directly stated by someone, even if she was mentally prepared, she still felt a slight emotional disturbance. The feeling wasn¡¯t heart-wrenching, just very unpleasant, a distinctly discomforting sensation. It felt like something that belonged to her had been tarnished by someone else. Qin Ruan had been keeping an eye on Ling Xiaoxuan, noticing that she didn¡¯t seem too affected made her breathe a sigh of relief. She walked over to the female teammate, her lips curved into a questioning smile, ¡°You said Xiaomei¡¯s body disappeared?¡± ¡°Yes, we were terrified after she died and were going to leave immediately. Her body was cut into so many pieces that we didn¡¯t even think about taking her with us. But that night, we ended up back at the deserted temple. When we went over to look at Xiaomei¡¯s body again, it had vanished without a trace. Not only that, even the bloodstains on the ground had been meticulously cleaned up.¡± The Heavenly Masters, who had some understanding of the general situation, began discussing among themselves. ¡°Evil creatures often lurk in the mountains, and Qi Mountain is treacherous with sparse human activity. It¡¯s possible that a nefarious spirit discovered human presence and cruelly slaughtered them.¡± ¡°To cut a victim into perfect pieces, it doesn¡¯t quite seem like the work of a malevolent spirit, it¡¯s too elaborate.¡± An evil spirit or a monster is usually crude and wild, just like a beast, filled with rage and savagery. Chapter 75 - 75 75 When He Acts, He Shockingly Surprises ?75: Chapter 75: When He Acts, He Shockingly Surprises 75: Chapter 75: When He Acts, He Shockingly Surprises ¡°I¡¯ve been on the path for so many years and while I haven¡¯t seen much, I¡¯ve never heard of an evil spirit slicing someone into pieces. Their methods are usually brutal and straightforward; they don¡¯t leave signs like this. Could this be a case of revenge killing?¡± Someone voiced their thoughts aloud, staring doubtfully at the expedition team made up of seven people. With that, silence fell upon the abandoned temple. It was clear that seeds of doubt had been sown. Perhaps, this wasn¡¯t the work of an evil spirit, but something premeditated. ¡°Bang!¡± At that moment, the tightly closed temple doors made a loud noise. Everyone turned to look, and saw the door shaking from the impact, as a wild wind whipped up within the temple. The members of the supernatural expedition team screamed, startled. The Heavenly Masters brought out their respective skills; some pulled out peach wood swords, others chanted spells, and a few began drawing talismans. Qin Ruan alone stood unfazed in the crowd, her slim figure and impassive face a beacon of calm. She faced the temple door, her palm-sized, delicate face falling cold. From outside the door came the scratchy sounds, echoing in everyone¡¯s ears. These sounds seemed to come from all directions, eerie and unnerving. ¡°They¡¯re here, they¡¯re here again!¡± A female member of the team beside Xiaoxuan started to roll her eyes back, about to faint in terror. ¡°Big sister, pinch her Renzhong!¡± Fainting at a time like this would definitely not be a good thing. The occurrences outside the door were clearly the work of an evil spirit. Nothing would delight them more than wrecking havoc when the human will is weakened; there is no one better at enchanting the human heart than them. ¡°Got it!¡± Responding promptly, Xiaoxuan pinched the acupoint known as the ¡°Renzhong¡± on the female team member with great force. ¡°Bang! Bang, bang!!¡± Something was beating against the door from outside the temple, creating loud, cacophonous noises. The dilapidated doors seemed on the verge of collapsing. The temple¡¯s interior lighting projected countless slender shadows from outside onto the door. They were hitting the door, trying to reach into the temple through the gaps in the doors. ¡°What is that thing?!¡± someone exclaimed in horror. Qin Ruan squinted her eyes, raised her hand and formed a spell; a faint blue flame, invisible to the naked eye, shot straight towards the temple doors. ¡°Ahhh!!!¡± Outside, a tormented, feminine scream pierced the air. It was sharp, ear-piercing, tormenting everyone¡¯s ears. The crowd shuddered, discomforted by the sound. In the corner, Qiao Nanyuan covertly glanced at Qin Ruan. He wasn¡¯t sure what Qin Ruan had done, he only noticed the small action she took just now. The other Heavenly Masters noticed as well; they had all been ignoring Qin Ruan¡¯s presence the whole journey. They had assumed that Qin Ruan was Xiaoxuan¡¯s classmate. They didn¡¯t expect her to possess such astonishing abilities when she decided to take action. The Heavenly Masters stared at Qin Ruan, feeling a sense of crisis in their hearts. ¡°It¡¯s definitely an evil spirit! And it¡¯s a female one!¡± Now that it was clear what they were dealing with, the Heavenly Masters began preparations to dispose of it. The Ling family had offered a high reward, a seven-figure numeral starting with a five, on par with their yearly earnings. Who wouldn¡¯t want a piece of that pie? Qin Ruan acted to handle the evil spirit outside, ignoring the inquisitive gazes around her as she strode towards Xiaoxuan. Regardless of the terrified female team member who was seeking comfort in Xiaoxuan¡¯s arms, Qin Ruan took Xiaoxuan¡¯s hand and headed towards a corner of the temple. ¡°Junior sister, what¡¯s wrong?¡± The solemn look on Qin Ruan¡¯s face had Xiaoxuan¡¯s heart in knots. ¡°I need to tell you this, your fiance? is involved in this. He brought this trouble upon himself; I¡¯m not in a position to intervene.¡± If it was just an ordinary evil spirit causing harm, she would naturally intervene. However, this involved centuries-old grudges. The evil spirit had come for revenge; she wasn¡¯t in a position to interfere. Not that she couldn¡¯t, just that she chose not to. Her attitude spoke volumes. Chapter 76 - 76 76 Qin Ruan Does Your Uncle Have a Grudge Against You ?76: Chapter 76 Qin Ruan: Does Your Uncle Have a Grudge Against You? 76: Chapter 76 Qin Ruan: Does Your Uncle Have a Grudge Against You? Ling Xiaoxuan knitted her brows tightly, her gaze drifting past Qin Ruan to Du Changheng, who was standing at the other end of the room. His shocked expression as he stared at the temple door struck fear into anyone who saw him. His eyes were darting around, showing clear signs of guilt. Ling Xiaoxuan pulled her gaze away and spoke in as calm a tone she could, ¡°I have no personal feelings for Du Changheng. However, he is the fiance? chosen by my uncle. If something happens to him, I would also be held responsible. After all, I was one of the reasons we joined the exploration team for the supernatural. I want to take him off Qi Mountain.¡± She made no direct statement that she had to take Du Changheng away. Qin Ruan furrowed her brows, an expression of cold disdain on her face. The source of danger outside the gate was clear. From the start to finish, its target has been only Du Changheng. Qin Ruan could snatch him away, but she just didn¡¯t want to do that. ¡°Let¡¯s wait and see.¡± With a nonchalant tone, Qin Ruan turned and walked towards the temple gate. If the problem could be solved today, they would be able to return to the Four Nine City as soon as dawn arrived. ¡°My friend, hold on.¡± Qin Ruan was stopped by someone ¨C Qiao Nanyuan. Her demeanor was detached. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°The puppet outside the gate has cultivated for hundreds of years at the very least,¡± Qiao Nanyuan spoke somberly. ¡°If you open the door now and let it in, everyone in the room might be able to resist it temporarily, but not eliminate it completely. Moreover, there are many ordinary people here incapable of defending themselves.¡± ¡°What does that have to do with me?¡± Qin Ruan¡¯s lips curved into an elegant arc, her dark eyes sparkling with a cold and indifferent light. Ignoring Qiao Nanyuan, she walked towards the temple door once more. Standing in front of the now-calmed temple gate, she picked up a light-colored handkerchief hung on the door unknowingly. Qiao Nanyuan who initially thought of her letting the puppet in closed his slightly agape mouth. He had misunderstood her. Clutching the handkerchief in her hand, Qin Ruan walked towards Du Changheng. ¡°Lord Du, are you familiar with this handkerchief?¡± With Qin Ruan approaching him, Du Changheng kept retreating, his face filled with fear, his pupils suddenly contracting. ¡°Stay away! You... don¡¯t come near me!¡± Qin Ruan handed the handkerchief towards him. ¡°Lord Du, you haven¡¯t answered my question.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, I don¡¯t recognize it, get away from me!¡± His eyes wide open, Du Changheng stared at Qin Ruan as if he wanted to rip her apart. Despite having just met, he seemed to bear her an immense animosity. Qin Ruan didn¡¯t take his hostile attitude to heart. A little grace for a man on his deathbed wouldn¡¯t hurt. She lightly responded with an ¡°oh¡±, and let go of the handkerchief, which fell to the ground. The clean piece of fabric fluttered before landing on the dust-covered ground. Ling Xiaoxuan walked over to Qin Ruan, gave Du Changheng a glare, and without a word, led Qin Ruan towards the group of bodyguards and the Heavenly Master. In her view, Du Changheng was being ungrateful. Qin Ruan sat down on the canvas set on the clean spot cleared by Ling¡¯s bodyguard. She glanced at Ling Xiaoxuan who seemed to want to say something. ¡°Sis, how did your family come up with the idea to pair you with this man?¡± This Du Changheng had a narrow forehead, his eyes bulged out, his eyebrows messy, his face thin with overly prominent cheekbones, and his pupils were surrounded by white, indicating he was no good man just by his face. Ling Xiaoxuan bitterly laughed. ¡°After my uncle¡¯s careful selection, he finally found the unfavored Du Family to get engaged with.¡± ¡°Does your uncle bear you grudges?¡± Qin Ruan raised her eyebrows slightly, a glint of amusement flashed in her eyes. ¡°Absolutely not!¡± Ling Xiaoxuan denied it immediately: ¡°Without this engagement with Du Family, Ling Family would continue to use me for marriage alliances. Though I was born in an aristocratic family, I cannot escape being used by the family as a pawn for benefits.¡± Qin Ruan blinked, looking surprised. She hadn¡¯t expected Ling Xiaoxuan, as a daughter of an aristocratic family, to also be like a fish on the cutting board. If so, Ling Xiaoxuan¡¯s uncle choosing the lowly Du Family for the marriage alliance was clearly for her own good. Chapter 77 - 77 77 This Glance Made Her Break Into a Cold Sweat ?77: Chapter 77: This Glance Made Her Break Into a Cold Sweat 77: Chapter 77: This Glance Made Her Break Into a Cold Sweat Ling Xiaoxuan propped her chin, her eyes glowing as she mentioned her uncle: ¡°If it weren¡¯t for my uncle, I fear I wouldn¡¯t be this free now. I would have been kept at home, taught by renowned tutors on how to be an eligible aristocratic wife; capable, cultured, able to host in the hall, handle worldly affairs tactfully, and cook in the kitchen.¡± ¡°...¡± Qin Ruan raised an eyebrow at this. She didn¡¯t know whether to sympathize with her senior or feel relieved that she had dodged a bullet. In this life and previous ones, the two had known each other for less than a year. Knowing Ling Xiaoxuan¡¯s personality, she was definitely not one to conform to the gentle and elegant style of a distinguished mistress. She was like a proud peacock, willful and self-indulgent, born to live in pleasure, pampered for an entire lifetime. Once, she was particularly envious of Ling Xiaoxuan. Now, Qin Ruan felt a subtle change in her emotions. It seemed that people were not always as they appeared to the outside world. While the two were whispering to each other, Qiao Nanyuan and the Heavenly Master, on the other hand, were discussing how to resolve the evil spirit outside. Dealing with a puppet with centuries of cultivation was a bit of a strain for them. If everyone worked together wholeheartedly, it¡¯s not impossible to kill it. But with the many ordinary people in the room who couldn¡¯t defend themselves, they feared casualties could occur if a real fight broke out. ¡°Master, should we ask Sister Ruan for help?¡± Qiao Jiu tugged at Qiao Nanyuan¡¯s sleeve and asked quietly. Qiao Nanyuan¡¯s gaze flickered at Qin Ruan, who was currently laughing and conversing with Miss Ling. He shook his head gently at his apprentice. Qin Ruan¡¯s attitude was too cold, her indifferent eyes exuding ice-cold firmness, rejecting everyone. He could sense that she was a tough nut to crack, her strength might even surpass his. However, he couldn¡¯t ensure that she would step in. Being in their line of work, everyone has their own rules, and he didn¡¯t want to provoke Qin Ruan. He had a feeling, if he offended her, the consequences would not be something he would like to face. Qiao Nanyuan, who had walked on the fringe of the forbidden areas for many years, relied not only on his own powers but also on his keen intuition. Qin Ruan gave him a too dangerous vibe. The Heavenly Masters and the others decided to stay put and wait for developments. Deep into the night. The roar of wild beasts echoed up Qi Mountain, the chirping of birds in the dense forest was eerily piercing. ¡°Creaking, creaking¡ª¡ª¡± Minor movements came from outside the temple door, like someone stepping on dry wood, the sound was sharply noticeable. Qin Ruan leaned against Ling Xiaoxuan, her cold eyes scanning everyone in the room. Most of the Heavenly Masters were solemn, the Ling Family bodyguards were stationed at each corner of the room, their state was lethargic, their eyes dull, clearly unconscious. Ling Xiaoxuan and other members of the adventure team fell into an uneasy sleep. Qin Ruan hid the danger lurking in her eyes, cast her cold gaze towards the temple door, her eyes ablaze. A nearly invisible smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. It¡¯s here. ¡°Qin Ruan, you haven¡¯t slept yet?¡± Ling Xiaoxuan was awakened by Qin Ruan¡¯s slight movement, she rubbed her eyes, her sleepy voice tinged with doubt. The noise outside the temple suddenly ceased. The gazes of everyone awake in the room were drawn towards Ling Xiaoxuan and Qin Ruan. Under the scrutiny of so many people, Ling Xiaoxuan¡¯s sleepiness immediately dissipated. She clutched Qin Ruan¡¯s clothes, ¡°What¡¯s...¡± going on? Before she could finish her sentence, Qin Ruan covered her mouth. The creaking noise started again, coming from the direction of the decrepit temple door. Ling Xiaoxuan, with her mouth covered, couldn¡¯t utter a word; she stared at Qin Ruan with a helpless and confused gaze. The latter lifted her chin at her, signalling towards the direction of the temple door. A rustling sound came from the direction of the door, Ling Xiaoxuan instinctively looked over. At that glance, she broke out in a cold sweat. Chapter 78 - 78 78 Body Bound, Unable to Act ?78: Chapter 78: Body Bound, Unable to Act 78: Chapter 78: Body Bound, Unable to Act Inside the illuminated room. Not only Ling Xiaoxuan, but everyone in the room clearly saw a pair of bloody red eyes peering in from the temple gate. The blood-red eyeballs emitted an eerie and gloomy presence, their hatred drove everyone into fright. Obviously, those were not human eyes. Ling Xiaoxuan didn¡¯t have the endurance of Qin Ruan or the sober Heavenly Masters surrounding her. Tears welled up in her frightened eyes, her mouth couldn¡¯t stop trembling beneath Qin Ruan¡¯s hand, and her body shook uncontrollably. The blood-red eyes outside the temple gate radiated malicious intent, scrutinizing every awakened person in the room. Finally, the gaze settled on Du Changheng, who was leaning against the room corner¡¯s wall, lightly dozing off. Screech... Something brushed against the door, creating an old and piercing sound that was especially clear in the dark night. A piece of dead wood stretched in from outside the door. The dead wood seemed to act like a conscious being, hooking onto the latch on the door, moving bit by bit. Seeing this, Ling Xiaoxuan grabbed Qin Ruan¡¯s clothes tightly, her fingers digging into Qin¡¯s flesh through the fabric. Qin Ruan could feel the pain. The corner of her mouth twitched as she saw Ling Xiaoxuan¡¯s tensed face, densely covered in beads of sweat. Clearly, she was greatly terrified. After a gentle sigh, in the end, Qin Ruan didn¡¯t remove the hand of her senior sister, who was holding her arm tightly. ¡°Bang¡ª¡± The latch was pushed open by the evil presence outside the door. This time, no one stopped it. Qiao Nanyuan and the surrounding Heavenly Masters appeared troubled, their eyes riveted on the door. Their expressions were extremely warped and after the latch was dislodged, their faces expressed utter despair. Seeing all this, Qin Ruan found it interesting. Soon, she discovered the reason for their reactions. They were bound by some power and could not act freely. No wonder they were trapped and waiting for their doom when the evil entity entered. Qin Ruan¡¯s eyes sparkled with amusement as she looked at Qiao Nanyuan and his apprentice, Qiao Jiu, her face smiling brightly. This stark contrast surprised Qiao Nanyuan, causing a small frown to form on his face. Qiao Jiu saw the laughter in her eyes. Anxiety made beads of sweat fall from her face. She couldn¡¯t speak, only able to plead with her eyes on Qin Ruan. ¡°Screech¡ª¡± The temple door was opened, the creaking sound echoed. Qin Ruan smiled reassuringly at Qiao Jiu. She shifted her gaze, looking towards the temple door. A woman, her skin resembling the rough texture of tree bark and evidencing the struggles of life ... walked in. If you can call it walking. The woman¡¯s upper body was like an average person, apart from her tree bark-like rough skin exposed to the world. Her lower body was formed of countless dead woods of different sizes. Dense and writhing, moving consciously as she walked. Someone with trypophobia would undoubtedly faint at the sight. With the entry of the tree-like woman into the room, the eerie and tormented creaking sound was made as countless deadwoods rubbed the floor. It turns out that this was the cause of the previous noise outside the door. Ignoring everyone¡¯s gazes, the woman with the terrifying red eyes kept staring at Du Changheng, who was utterly oblivious in the corner, still in light sleep. Ling Xiaoxuan¡¯s eyes widened when she saw the creature moving towards Du Changheng. She released Qin Ruan¡¯s hand, wanting to do something. Qin Ruan forcefully restrained Ling Xiaoxuan, gently whispering in her ear, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, she can¡¯t hurt Du Changheng.¡± If she really could have hurt him, he would not exist after the excruciatingly long wait by the ghost hunting team. Ling Xiaoxuan tilted her head, blinking at Qin Ruan. There seemed to be a plea for assurance in her fearful eyes. Qin Ruan gave a gentle smile, mouthed silently: Trust me. Regarding her, Ling Xiaoxuan was indeed trusting. ¡°Bang!¡± Something unexpected happened to Du Changheng¡¯s side. Chapter 79 - 79 79 Hellfire, the Bane of All Creatures ?79: Chapter 79 Hellfire, the Bane of All Creatures 79: Chapter 79 Hellfire, the Bane of All Creatures The withered wooden woman fell awkwardly onto the ground. Her blood-red, eerie eyes were filled with anger and hatred, staring intently at Du Changheng. Quickly, she got up from the ground and charged at Du Changheng madly, with a reckless abandon, as if willing to go down with him. The sound of her dry wooden legs, which resembled branches, scraping against the ground was sharp and piercing, chilling and terrifying. Just as the woman was about to reach Du Changheng, a faint golden light shot out from him. The wooden woman was pushed back again, sprawling on the ground. Tears of blood fell from her crimson eyes. The woman stared at Du Changheng, seemingly wanting to drink his blood and devour his flesh, letting out a sharp, squealing noise from her mouth. The sound shook anyone who heard it. Just how deep was the hatred that made her despise a person to such an extent? Qin Ruan watched Du Changheng indifferently, she clearly saw that the golden light that had pushed the wooden woman back had shot out from within his bosom. Such a huge commotion finally woke up Du Changheng. He alone was awake. The other six members of the paranormal exploration team were still deep in slumber, while the Ling Family bodyguards remained blank-eyed, with no sign of awareness. Upon seeing the wooden woman, Du Changheng scrambled to his feet, rolling and crawling. He shrank into a corner, his eyes full of terror, as he shouted curses: ¡°Ah, a ghost! Get away! Get away!!¡± The woman stared at him with her blood-red eyes. Suddenly, her red eyes flickered. A light-colored handkerchief, deserted on the ground, caught her eye. The woman¡¯s hand, as rough as the bark of a withered tree, slowly stretched out. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, her hand began to change. The hand, along with the arm, turned white and delicate, the skin so perfect that it was breathtaking, as soft as a girl¡¯s. The woman picked up the light-colored handkerchief from the ground, and as she held it tightly, her grip tightened. Blood seeped from her hand, soaking the light-colored handkerchief in an instant. Du Changheng was stimulated by this sight. His eyes flickered, and a longing for life appeared on his face. Suddenly, Du Changheng looked towards Ling Xiaoxuan. The next moment, he bolted towards her. Qin Ruan¡¯s brows furrowed. Seeing Du Changheng fixating on Ling Xiaoxuan, the wooden woman stood up in an instant and rushed towards him. Qin Ruan pulled Ling Xiaoxuan behind her. Facing the man and the wicked creature who rushed over, she flexed her fingertips, and a dark blue flame appeared in her palm out of thin air. ¡°If you dare come a step closer, I will turn you into dust!¡± Her voice was cold and calm, as if she was saying something as mundane as ever. Hellfire, the bane of all creatures in the world. The wooden woman stopped, her red eyes trembling. Her face twisted hideously in fear. Although the other Heavenly Masters had never seen Hellfire, they could feel the power of the dark blue flame spreading in Qin Ruan¡¯s palm. Like a weak creature facing its natural enemy, they felt a fear that surged from their hearts. Seeing the wooden woman stop, Du Changheng¡¯s face showed a glimmer of joy. Like someone grasping at the last straw, he ran desperately. Ignoring warnings, Qin Ruan was infuriated. She stood up and swung her foot. With one kick, she knocked Du Changheng sprawling on the ground. He lay on the ground motionless for a long time. Qin Ruan¡¯s kick was strong, getting up would obviously take time. Seeing this, the wooden woman moved closer to Du Changheng once again. As expected, she was once again repelled by the golden light from his body. ¡°Ahhhhh!!!¡± The woman was furious and on the verge of breaking down, circling Du Changheng without ceasing. Ling Xiaoxuan, who was sitting paralyzed behind Qin Ruan, had lost all color in her beautiful face, her eyes vacant, she seemed to have lost her senses. Suddenly, a strong smell of blood surged into the room, accompanied by an overwhelming resentment. Chapter 80 - 80 80 Qiao Nanyuan, Qiao Jiu and Disciple Take Action ?80: Chapter 80: Qiao Nanyuan, Qiao Jiu and Disciple Take Action 80: Chapter 80: Qiao Nanyuan, Qiao Jiu and Disciple Take Action Born of resentment and used for sustenance, that was exactly what Qin Ruan needed to sustain her own life. Qin Ruan¡¯s eyes glittered faintly. She traced the scent of blood towards the direction of the temple gate. At the entrance, there were large areas soaked in blood, with decayed flesh emitting a strong, unpleasant odor. The decayed flesh appeared meticulous in size and completeness, as if it had been measured with precision instruments. They were slowly moving, crawling a bit into the temple. The sight was bloody, nauseating. Just one glance turned Qin Ruan¡¯s face pale. She immediately felt a wave of nausea, with her empty stomach cringing violently. As the nausea rushed up her throat, Qin Ruan involuntarily bent over and retched. At the sound of her intolerable retching, Ling Xiaoxuan snapped back into consciousness, shaking off her stunned state. Ignoring the gnarled old woman whose eyes were fixed on her, she rose to support Qin Ruan, ¡°Junior Sister, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Qin Ruan grasped her arm to steady herself, daring not look towards the temple gate again. She had vomited quite a bit of gastric acid, her fingertips trembling, the overwhelming nausea engulfing her. If she didn¡¯t look, it wouldn¡¯t come in. Qin Ruan tried to control her mind from recalling what she had just seen. She took a deep breath, looked up at Qiao Nanyuan and his apprentice, Qiao Jiu. Her slender fingers trembled slightly, and a faint golden light emerged from her hand. The golden light shot onto the master and his apprentice, distinctly palpable. Qin Ruan¡¯s exquisite and seductive face turned pale, showing a degree of weakness in a short time. She unpleasantly said to Qiao Nanyuan, ¡°I can¡¯t bear to look at that thing, you handle it.¡± This displeasure was not directed at Qiao Nanyuan, which he understood quite clearly. Once his body recovered to its optimal state, Qiao Nanyuan nodded slightly at her. He held the money sword in his hand and roused his still mobile apprentice next to him, ¡°Prepare the talisman paper.¡± Qiao Jiu produced a stack of bright yellow talisman papers from his bosom. ¡°Master, everything is ready!¡± Master and apprentice exchanged a glance, quickly heading towards the temple gate. The decaying flesh which was slowly crawling at the entrance had now entered the temple. The room was filled with a stench, Qin Ruan lightly covered her mouth and nose, suppressing the nausea welling up within her. Seeing the demonic puppet entering the room, Qiao Nanyuan¡¯s face changed drastically. The money sword in his hand spun rapidly, and he shouted loudly, ¡°Qiao Jiu!¡± ¡°Here it comes!¡± Four bright yellow talisman papers flew out from Qiao Jiu¡¯s hand, all at once. The talisman papers consciously rooted themselves around the nauseating pile of decaying flesh. As the talismans firmly took root, the forward movement of the decaying flesh abruptly stopped. Just then, Qiao Nanyuan made his move. ¡°Radiant sun and moon, cosmic glow protects me. Demons and devils from all directions, turn to dust this instant. Seven stars return, dragon spring strikes enemies, heed my command!¡± With these forceful words coming from his mouth, the unstoppable money sword plunged into the mass of flesh and blood. ¡°Ahhhhh¡ª¡ª¡± A woman¡¯s sharp, painful scream echoed from within the decaying flesh. ¡°Exorcise the evil!¡± Qiao Nanyuan¡¯s face was resolute, pinching a hand-seal, showing all signs of cleansing this filth. Sensing his evident intent to kill, Qin Ruan called out to stop him, ¡°Don¡¯t kill her just yet!¡± Qiao Nanyuan halted his actions, turning his determined gaze back with a look of confusion. Qin Ruan, struggling with the turmoil in her stomach, fixed her cold gaze on the nauseating pile of decaying flesh under control. ¡°Return to your original form, and I¡¯ll spare your life for now.¡± The decaying flesh soaked in blood twitched slightly, ¡°I don¡¯t have enough cultivation to transform back, please spare me.¡± A woman¡¯s voice came from the mass of flesh and blood. This scene, compared to the terrifying scenes in horror movies, was even more shocking. The fear Ling Xiaoxuan felt almost sent her straight into shock. In her fear, there was a peculiar look on her face, she seemed to find the voice eerily familiar. As Ling Xiaoxuan furrowed her brows in contemplation, her face suddenly changed dramatically.