"Zhang Que..."
"My surna is Jiang, call Jiang Que." The young girl corrected him.
Jiang Shouzhong smiled, going along with her: "Jiang Que, if you’re unhappy in the Blood Spirit Cave, return to . Once I find Er Liang, you all..."
"It’s too late."
"What?"
Jiang Shouzhong looked at the young girl in confusion.
The breeze gently brushed by, slightly lifting her strands of hair...
Jiang Que’s bright eyes seed to shimr with a layer of moon-lit mist, yet her face still carried a smile: "From the mont you left the Capital, you missed the chance to keep . It’s already too late."
Jiang Shouzhong fell silent.
What she said wasn’t wrong.
If he had chosen to forcibly keep her back in the Capital, she wouldn’t have left.
Unfortunately, it was only while escorting her that he ca to realize this.
"Sigh, I thought all my hard cultivation would let surpass you. Turns out, you’ve grown even stronger."
Jiang Que sighed, "Like this, there’s no way I can forcefully steal you away. God really treats unfairly. Jiang Mo, does this an I won’t get to be your wife?"
"You’re still young..."
"Young? Want to take off my clothes and show you? Not young at all, okay."
Jiang Que defiantly straightened her collar.
Jiang Shouzhong rubbed his forehead in exasperation.
He really couldn’t reason with this girl.
"So, are you here to fight for the Moon in Water Bridge’s fortune?" Jiang Que shifted topics, curiously asking, "How about I help you? If anyone tries to compete with you, I’ll kill them."
Jiang Shouzhong shook his head: "I’m not interested in fortune or opportunity. I originally planned to head to the Capital to find soone, but ran into Duo Ying and the others, so I helped them with a small task."
"Find soone in the Capital?"
Jiang Que said sourly, "You an that fiancée of yours who looks down on you?"
Jiang Shouzhong tousled the young girl’s hair, smiling: "Why are you getting jealous at such a young age? She’s the wife I exchanged vows with. But sothing’s happened in the Capital, so I’m not sure where to head."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Que instantly lit up:
"Then help seize the fortune! I want to know what’s inside that Immortal cactus."
Jiang Shouzhong hesitated briefly before noticing her tugging at his clothes, her eyes filled with pleading like those of a pitiful little kitten. He finally nodded: "Alright."
"It’s settled, then!"
Jiang Que’s lovely face lit up with an enchanting smile.
Watching the girl’s swift change in expression, Jiang Shouzhong shook his head helplessly. This girl was truly a little fairy.
"Hiss—"
Suddenly, Jiang Que clutched her abdon, crouching down with a pained expression.
Jiang Shouzhong froze and asked with concern: "What’s wrong?"
Jiang Que clenched her fists tightly, her knuckles turning white from force. She gritted her teeth and said: "Earlier... I encountered a bald old witch. That witch was so strong that I... I wasn’t her match and got severely punished."
Bald old witch?
Jiang Shouzhong furrowed his brows, his heart filled with doubt.
Seeing how uncomfortable she was, he knelt down on one knee, supporting her shoulders: "Let carry you back to the room."
But before he could finish speaking, Jiang Que suddenly leaned in.
"Smooch."
Soon, a soft, wet, cool feeling spread across the man’s cheek.
Before Jiang Shouzhong could react, Jiang Que had already nimbly stood up, looking at the bewildered man with a mischievous expression. Her eyes sparkled with playful fun, flowing like a lively stream:
"It’s true that the old witch punished severely, but she wasn’t entirely hateful. She helped cleanse the poisoned blood that had accumulated in my body..."
With hands behind her back, Jiang Que intertwined her jade-like fingers as she spoke. Her steps lightly retreated backward.
Those clever and bright eyes remained fixed on the man, yet she seamlessly avoided the obstacles behind her, as though she had eyes on the back of her head.
"Jiang Mo, you know, the Blood Spirit Cave is awful. Everyone inside is vile, the mansions are eerie, and the demons are terrifying. I hate being there...
So every night, I think of you before I sleep. Thinking about you, I dream of you. In my dreams, you’re always protecting . And then, I’m not afraid of anything."
Under the moonlight, the young girl’s smile remained radiant.
However, upon closer inspection, her lovely face seed faintly cloaked in sorrow.
Jiang Que retreated to the edge of a cliff.
She extended her arms, her petite figure swaying gently with the wind, like a delicate flower trembling in the night breeze, breathtaking in her beauty.
"Jiang Mo, can’t you dream of Que’er just once?"
The young girl slowly leaned backward.
Jiang Shouzhong rushed toward the cliff but found no trace of her below.
He spun around sharply to see the young girl appearing like a phantom in the woods. She waved playfully at him, her smile tinged with teasing mischief: "See you tomorrow."
With that, the girl vanished.
Jiang Shouzhong stood stunned for a mont before letting out a chuckle.
"That girl."
——
Returning to the courtyard, Jiang Shouzhong saw Duo Ying anxiously waiting by the door.
Upon seeing him, Duo Ying hurried forward: "Jiang, Senior Brother said..."
"Now you believe , right?"
Jiang Shouzhong cut her off with a smile.
Recalling Jiang Shouzhong’s earlier hints and warnings, Duo Ying nodded firmly:
"You were right. Fifth Senior Uncle betrayed us, killed Second Uncle, and even attacked Master and Senior Brother. But... but I don’t understand why she would do this."
Jiang Shouzhong curled his lips: "What’s there to be confused about? Think with half a brain—it’s nothing but a lodramatic story filled with petty grudges.
For instance, your Fifth Senior Uncle once eloped with her lover, but her lover fell fatally ill. She returned to the sect seeking dicine but was refused, thus breeding resentnt."
Duo Ying gazed at Jiang Shouzhong as if he were an anomaly.
She couldn’t shake the impression that this Jiang fellow was as omniscient as an Immortal.
"Has your Fifth Senior Uncle been back?"
Jiang Shouzhong asked.
Duo Ying shook her head: "Ever since she left, she hasn’t returned. But earlier, I thought I saw a figure flash by. I couldn’t see clearly, so I’m not sure if it was her."
Jiang Shouzhong glanced at his brightly lit room, then speculated aloud: "She probably ca by. However, seeing your Senior Brother awake, she likely realized she’d been exposed and fled. As for why she didn’t kill you all, she likely suspected I was in the neighboring room and dared not act recklessly."
"Then what should we do now? I don’t even know how Master is."
Duo Ying was distraught.
Jiang Shouzhong consoled: "Don’t worry, your Master should be fine. Tomorrow, when the Moon in Water Bridge’s barrier opens, just accompany as planned for the chance. If Zhao Yuanhua shows up, I’ll help you deal with her."
"Thank you, Jiang."
Duo Ying was full of gratitude.
...
Returning to his room, Jiang Shouzhong found Xiao Lingqiu lying sideways on the bed, her back toward him.
Compared to soone like Jiang Que, a girl still growing into her beauty, Xiao Lingqiu—a nearly ripe enchantress—had a far greater allure and maturity, especially her voluptuous curves, far beyond the ordinary maiden’s.
Jiang Shouzhong removed his shoes, intending to pull the woman into his embrace.
He was t with a shove.
Hmm, she was jealous.
Knowing he was at fault, Jiang Shouzhong tentatively asked: "Should I sleep on the floor tonight?"
But before he finished, Xiao Lingqiu suddenly turned her elegant fra, grabbing his collar, her exquisite phoenix eyes brimming with grievance and resentnt: "I want to go back to Yanrong. Co with !"
"But..."
"Ran Mansion is gone. I’ll have the Empress Dowager deploy all the Ghost Guards to find Ran Qingchen—better than you wandering around cluelessly."
Xiao Lingqiu stared straight into his eyes as she stated.
The suggestion undeniably intrigued Jiang Shouzhong.
Disorder ran rampant across Dazhou, crippling his capacity to utilize Liushan Division or Jiang Yi’s Silver Moon Tower intelligence networks to track down Ran Qingchen. The only unaffected option was Yanrong.
Yet, he refused: "I plan to search on my own. Also, if possible, could you write to the Empress Dowager or Miaomiao, asking for their help in the search too?"
Xiao Lingqiu scoffed coldly: "Wanting both the food on your plate and the food in the pot, huh? Since you’re so greedy, have it all, right?"
The man felt embarrassed and exhausted.
Won—whether younger or older—would always spark tension when together.
Fortunately, the only beauty he’d encountered at Water Moon Manor was Jiang Que.
If another one crossed his path, it’d really spell disaster.
Yes, he resolved to leave quickly after securing Que’er’s fortune tomorrow, lest fate deliver more trouble.
Jiang Shouzhong made up his mind.
He had a strong premonition—this place wasn’t safe for long.
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