She poured herself a glass of water, drank it slowly, then circulated her internal energy to make her face even paler before staggering out to prepare for battle.

Quietly pulling out the door bolt, Ye Xiruo quickly took a few steps back, a cold glint flashing in her dark eyes.

Sure enough, a figure quickly rolled in from outside and landed right in front of Ye Xiruo.

"Ma'am, I'm a junior, you don't need to bow so respectfully to me." Ye Xiruo covered her mouth, looking weak and about to faint.

The figure on the ground quickly scrambled to its feet, its heavily made-up face revealing a sharp and sarcastic expression, and a cold glint flashed in its hooked eyes.

"You brat, are you trying to kill me?" He said, his right hand reaching for Ye Xiruo's face. Ye Xiruo naturally wouldn't let him hit her. She took a step back, letting the hand land on her thin shoulder, and then fell backward.

"Zhang Chunlan, are you even human? Xiao Liu isn't even better yet! How dare you hit her!" Aunt Wang, carrying a bamboo basket, ran off as fast as she could.

She rushed up to Ye Xiruo, pointed at Zhang Chunlan, and cursed, "You heartless bastard, what are you trying to do! I'm not dead yet! Xiaoliu is like my own daughter. Anyone who crosses her, I'll kill them!" Aunt Wang stood with one hand on her hip and the other pointing at Zhang Chunlan, showing no mercy. As Aunt Wang's shouts grew louder, more and more people gathered outside, pointing and whispering amongst themselves.

Looking at the figure blocking her way, Ye Xiruo's eyes glistened with tears. For so many years, no one had been so genuinely kind to her. "Aunt Wang, thank you so much!"

"Xiao Liu, are you alright?" Aunt Wang turned around, helped Ye Xiruo up, and looked her up and down.

Ye Xiru blinked, then leaned weakly on Aunt Wang's shoulder: "It's nothing, it's just that when this aunt slapped me just now, my chest felt tight and I felt a little nauseous."

A hint of panic flashed across Zhang Chunlan's ordinary yet beautiful face, but she quickly suppressed it.

"Hmph, Wang Yufeng, everyone knows what you're up to. Don't think you're the only smart one."

Aunt Wang laughed angrily: "Then tell me, what am I planning?"

"He's just after my niece's big brick house and three acres of good paddy fields. He's been running over to her place every day; who knows what kind of scheme he's up to?"

"So this is what you really wanted!" Aunt Wang deliberately raised her voice. "I was wondering why! Xiao Liu was lying in bed, her life hanging in the balance, and you, her dear aunt, didn't come to see her. Xiao Liu barely survived, and you didn't come to take care of her for even a day or cook her a meal? Today, the first thing you did was injure Xiao Liu. Are you determined to kill her?"

“Yu Feng seems to have a point. This Chunlan is really outrageous.”

"Xiao Liu is still sick. Look how pale her little face is. It's such a pity."

"Judging from Chunlan's determined look, Xiaoliu's future days may not be easy."

"That jinx who brings misfortune to her parents, Chunlan must have lost her mind to go and provoke her." This was the most gossipy woman in the village.

"Our Xiaoliu hasn't said anything yet! Who do you think you are?" Zhang Chunlan said angrily.

Ye Xiruo glared fiercely at Zhang Chunlan. The woman's gaze was like a cold, venomous tongue, sticky and greasy, as if she were about to devour Ye Xiruo at any moment.

Zhang Chunlan felt a wave of dizziness. What had gotten into her today? She almost fainted for no reason.

As she watched the growing crowd outside the door, a smug glint flashed in her eyes. "Wang Yufeng, no matter how capable you are, I refuse to believe I can't deal with you today."

She stepped forward, wanting to take Ye Xiruo's hand, but Ye Xiruo dodged it. Just looking at that hypocritical and pretentious face made her want to vomit. She had seen plenty of people like this in her past life, but this one was relatively low-level.

Before Zhang Chunlan could speak, Ye Xiruo spoke up crisply: "Auntie, I was seriously ill and have forgotten many things. I hope you won't mind."

Amnesia, is it real or fake? Zhang Chunlan looked at Ye Xiruo with suspicion.

"What do you want to do?" Aunt Wang shielded Ye Xiruo behind her.

"That's right, wasn't Xiao Liu rejected at her engagement? I have a nephew who is very handsome. His father is the manager of Luoxia Valley. If Xiao Liu marries him, she will definitely have no worries about food and clothing."

"Auntie, I, Xiaoliu, am very grateful for your kindness, but my father has just passed away. I swear to observe three years of mourning for my father before I get married. Father! Your daughter is unfilial and cannot properly take care of you." Ye Xiruo cried her heart out when she thought of her parents who died because of her in her previous life.

"He's a pitiful child too."

"With such filial piety, he is clearly a good child."

"But Xiaoliu's marriage is going to be even more difficult now."

"I heard that young master Zhang has already lost three wives."

"What is Zhang Chunlan up to? She's truly the most vicious woman, not even sparing her own niece."

Sure enough, Zhang Chunlan looked at Ye Xiruo with disgust: "You brat, Young Master Zhang doesn't mind that you're such a jinx, and he doesn't care that you were jilted. Where else can you find such a good thing? I believe that if your dead father were still alive, he would agree too."

"Respect for the dead is paramount, please watch your words." Ye Xiruo glanced coldly at Zhang Chunlan. This woman clearly had ill intentions and had repeatedly challenged her bottom line, which was truly unforgivable.

A powerful mental pressure relentlessly suppressed Zhang Chunlan, causing beads of sweat to slide down her forehead, smudge her heavy makeup, and make her face appear even more distorted.

That brat is strange; it seems she won't amount to anything today. I'd better go back and make some proper plans. I refuse to believe that these houses and land won't fall into my hands, as long as I marry that brat off.

"Zhang Chunlan, do you have no humanity? What's wrong with Xiao Liu observing mourning for her own father? You heartless wretch, you don't even spare the dead, aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning?" Aunt Wang immediately pressed her advantage.

"Xiao Liu, you should really think it over. After all, your aunt is doing this for your own good." Zhang Chunlan spoke with deep affection, but the people around her felt a chill.

"Xiao Liu isn't feeling well, so I won't see her off any further." Ye Xiruo unconsciously tightened her grip on Aunt Wang's hand. She now knew exactly what this woman was up to. How would she deal with her next time?

Should she really expose her secret of cultivating immortality? Ye Xiruo subconsciously shook her head. This world is full of too many dangers. This is her greatest trump card, and she must not expose it prematurely.