310 Don’t Dream of Scheming
Zhao Zhitong didn’t believe a word of it.
Having been friends for years, she knew Liu Baixue very well. Liu Baixue appeared delicate, but was in fact keen and austere.
She was very strong-willed.
Her mother had passed away when she was very young. Her father, obsessed with martial arts, focused solely on techniques and cultivation insights, largely neglecting his children.
Her brother, as the sole heir to Lingjian Villa, still received so of their father’s attention. But she, being a girl, was even more overlooked in daily life.
As she herself put it, her father wouldn’t even notice if she didn’t co ho for days. This naturally led to her harboring a deep-seated resentnt towards him.
According to the rules of Lingjian Villa, won were forbidden from practicing martial arts.
However, her inherently strong-willed nature, combined with a longing for her father’s attention due to his neglect, drove her to secretly learn martial arts from a young age. She wanted to prove she was no less capable than any man. At the age of eight, she began secretly studying her family’s cultivation thods and indeed displayed exceptional martial talent.
However, being too young and lacking proper guidance, she strayed onto a dangerous path in her secret studies. She contracted a strange illness, and her hair turned white overnight.
Later, hundred-year-old polygonum multiflorum was used to nurse her back to health.
However, her body was permanently afflicted. Whenever she utilized her internal energy, the illness would flare up, and she would beco frenzied and bloodthirsty.
The physician at the ti diagnosed that as long as she didn’t frequently use her internal energy, thereby triggering frequent relapses, she could live a few more years.
However, for Liu Baixue, who was desperate to prove herself, being told not to use her internal energy was like having her wings clipped.
Thus, with each relapse and subsequent suppression of her illness, her body grew progressively weaker.
Seeing Liu Baixue’s evident resistance, Zhao Zhitong knew she must have used her internal energy again. Her expression imdiately turned stern. "Xue, why are you so stubborn?"
Saying this, she firmly took Liu Baixue’s wrist. As she checked her pulse, Zhao Zhitong’s expression instantly grew several shades more serious.
Liu Baixue’s current physical condition couldn’t even be described as ’terrible’; it was far worse than that.
Zhao Zhitong had, in fact, been researching how to treat Liu Baixue’s peculiar illness, hoping to cure her, but the affliction was exceedingly bizarre.
Liu Baixue withdrew her hand and instead clasped Zhao Zhitong’s. "Tongtong," she said, "you know the situation at Lingjian Villa is complicated right now. Ostensibly, my father is presiding over affairs, but in reality, my Uncle has already usurped his authority from within, and Father isn’t even aware.
And my brother, he’s so naive and easily fooled. Now that he’s about to succeed as Villa Master, he’s bound to be controlled and manipulated by Uncle, becoming his puppet to be exploited.
I have reasons I cannot ignore. But don’t worry, I’ve already found a dicine that can cure my illness."
Zhao Zhitong couldn’t help but sigh.
She knew Liu Baixue’s brother. To use a modern phrase, he was a classic ’sheltered innocent.’
Liu Baixue, however, was different. Possessing high intelligence and shrewd thods, she, despite being just the Young Lady, already commanded significant prestige within Lingjian Villa.
Yet, despite such outstanding capabilities, she was unfortunately afflicted with a frail constitution.
Recalling the dicine Liu Baixue ntioned, Zhao Zhitong asked, "Really? What kind of dicine is it?"
Liu Baixue replied, "Blood Jade Marrow."
Zhao Zhitong was puzzled. Why had she never heard of it?
Liu Baixue smiled. "It’s quite normal that you haven’t. This is sothing that circulates in all corners of the country; legend says it can cure a hundred ailnts."
Zhao Zhitong felt a flicker of doubt but didn’t voice it, afraid of shattering Liu Baixue’s hope. She rely said, "Rest assured, I will definitely save you!"
Liu Baixue couldn’t help but smile. "I know."
Her life may have been short and unfortunate, but eting Zhao Zhitong was her greatest fortune.
When they t in the garden all those years ago, Zhao Zhitong had burst into her life like a little sun, ensuring her heart always retained a final trace of gentleness, allowing her to feel the warmth of this world.
Finally, Liu Baixue reiterated, "Don’t tell anyone else about my illness."
Zhao Zhitong nodded. "But you can’t neglect your own well-being."
"Mm, I know."
They talked for a while longer before Liu Baixue urged Zhao Zhitong to rest.
She closed the door to the room and went to the main hall. After greeting the mbers of the Sun and Zhao families, she prepared to bid farewell.
The hall was still quite crowded. Everyone was engrossed in conversation, and no one noticed Ding Xiang quietly slip out after seeing a particular person pass by the entrance.
This, however, was seen by Liu Baixue.
After a mont’s thought, she decided to follow.
Following Ding Xiang, she arrived at a dilapidated temple outside the city.
Ding Xiang glanced around. Seeing no one, she stepped into the dilapidated temple. Imdiately, a cloaked figure appeared before her.
"Take this."
The cloaked person took a letter from their robes and handed it to Ding Xiang.
After reading the letter, Ding Xiang asked, "Where is my brother? Why doesn’t he co to see ?"
The cloaked person’s voice, seemingly processed, was deep and harsh. "You don’t need to know too much about other matters. You only need to know that he is undertaking sothing significant. Cooperate with him as much as you can, and ask no further questions."
Their eting was brief, involving only a few sentences. Ding Xiang burned the letter she had read. Only after the cloaked person departed did she erge from the dilapidated temple.
She was imdiately confronted by Liu Baixue upon exiting.
Ding Xiang was visibly flustered to find Liu Baixue there.
Liu Baixue wasted no words, stating coldly, "I won’t ask who you were eting, nor do I care what you’re plotting. Those things are none of my concern.
However, I’m warning you: don’t even think about scheming or harboring ill intentions to harm Zhao Zhitong or anyone from the Sun and Zhao families. Otherwise, I will be the first to kill you!"
At that mont, Liu Baixue’s aura was intensely sharp, her eyes radiating a bloodthirsty killing intent, proving she was utterly serious.
Ding Xiang was quite certain that if she showed even a hint of ill intent, the other woman would instantly snap her neck.
Ding Xiang was genuinely afraid of Liu Baixue. This Young Lady of Lingjian Villa possessed eyes that seed to penetrate all pretense, which was utterly terrifying.
Nevertheless, she forced herself to appear calm, saying, "Rest assured. Tongtong is my savior, and the Sun Family has shown great kindness. My enemies are not them. I will not be ungrateful."
Liu Baixue stated without expression, "I hope that’s the case."
After saying that, she turned around and left.
Long after Liu Baixue had departed, Ding Xiang finally wiped the sweat from her brow and let out a breath of relief.
That woman is too terrifying.
One must not make an enemy of her, even if she cannot be an ally...
At this thought, a flicker of determination appeared in Ding Xiang’s eyes. She took out a jade pendant from her robes – one she had obtained by praying for Qiao Muchen.
She thought of how that man’s eyes had never held her image. He claid not to like carrying sachets or scented pouches, yet he treasured the one Zhao Zhitong had given him and always kept it on his person.
Simply put, it wasn’t about the gift, but the giver. He just didn’t like *her*, so nothing she gave would ever be cherished.
Ding Xiang’s hand tightened around the jade pendant. Then, with a resolute heart, she fiercely smashed it against a rock.
With a crisp CRACK, the jade pendant shattered. And with it, the last trace of tenderness in her eyes vanished completely.
Her brother was right. With her family’s vengeance yet unfulfilled, how could she even speak of personal feelings!
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