Chapter 23 023 Stunned and unwilling to accept it

If we're talking about caution, Shen Zhiwei was indeed cautious, and he kept his plans to advance his cultivation level very secret.

However, since the assignment went smoothly today and all the conditions for advancement were met, Shen Zhiwei decided to seize the day and chose an auspicious one.

This will boost morale.

Upon receiving the news, Nan Yulou rushed off.

He rode his sword, his expression slightly somber, his face somewhat pale, and his heart seemed slightly dazed.

When she was first banished to the mortal realm, Nan Yulou refused to give up and struggled at the foot of Mount Sumeru.

He still had some insight. Some people took advantage of him because he was a young master from the upper realm, and tried to pass off inferior spiritual medicines as superior ones to deceive Nan Yulou. They really thought Nan Yulou was a fool.

Nan Yulou planned to expose him, suppress him, and gain the upper hand in terms of momentum before condescendingly buying the goods at a low price.

Who would have thought that the people of the lower realm were so fierce? After being exposed by Nan Yulou, this rogue who sold fake medicine in the lower realm not only showed no shame or panic, but instead insulted Nan Yulou: "You call yourself a young master from the upper realm, yet you haggle over such a small profit, it's laughable. What are you pretending for? You're so poor and stingy."

Nan Yulou was in the right, but these few words made her blush.

A taut string snapped just like that. He turned red in the face, turned away, and ran far away.

Although his mother was just a maid, he lived a life of luxury.

At that time, he even considered destroying his elixir and committing suicide.

However, Nan Yulou cherished herself after all, and couldn't really take it seriously and die.

No matter what, he must return to the Upper Realm!

From beginning to end, he never took Shi Miaoxue seriously. He couldn't possibly live a muddled life in the first level of heaven with a Dan cultivator like Shi Miaoxue.

He couldn't possibly accept his fate like Shen Zhiwei.

Shen Zhiwei once had a stroke of luck, managing to become the mistress of a powerful cultivator from the upper realm and even bear him a child, but that didn't hold her back. It's fortunate she possesses such beauty that she can't sway the minds of those single-minded cultivators.

Shen Zhiwei is hateful, but also truly pitiful!

Sometimes, Nan Yulou would feel a subtle sympathy and resonance with Shen Zhiwei. Both of them had been abandoned by the upper realm and were left to struggle for survival at the foot of Mount Sumeru.

Shen Zhiwei has already been abandoned, yet she deliberately exaggerates that she has a man behind her. It's truly laughable and pathetic.

However, Nan Yulou was not as depraved as Shen Zhiwei. After being abandoned, Shen Zhiwei secretly slept with Yin Wujiu. This could be kept secret from others, but not from Nan Yulou.

Having grown up in the Tianchi Sect, Nan Yulou was extremely familiar with these kinds of dealings.

That man definitely wouldn't want Shen Zhiwei anymore.

Although Nan Yulou did not know who the man was, she thought that Shen Zhiwei, who was so shrewd and had such a beautiful appearance, would definitely not give herself to an ordinary person.

However, Shen Zhiwei failed to hold on to her love and had an affair with Yin Wujiu, thus giving up on that relationship.

Perhaps the first layer of heaven was too cold and bitter, so Shen Zhiwei needed some comfort. Therefore, she felt that her high and mighty lover would never come back, so she might as well seek some down-to-earth stability.

At least Yin Wujiu loved her terribly, was devoted to Shen Zhiwei, and took very meticulous care of her in daily life.

At that time, Nan Yulou felt a subtle sense of superiority.

Shen Zhiwei has given up on ascending to the upper realm, but Nan Yulou has not.

Shen Zhiwei was a womanizer in private, but Nan Yulou did not have sex with Shi Miaoxue.

Miaoxue is actually quite innocent and cute.

She was so pure, simple, and unpretentious; her happiness was also simple.

Nan Yulou was also pleased, and when she looked at Shi Miaoxue with a sense of melancholy, she felt a little happier, but there was no physical intimacy between them.

He was afraid that Shi Miaoxue would become entangled with him, and if something really happened, it would be difficult to extricate himself later.

Moreover, he was afraid of falling into this gentle trap and developing a desire to live a life of complacency, which would erode his ambition.

With a beautiful wife in his arms and several children around him, perhaps he would think that the first level of heaven is not so bad.

The land of gentle pleasures is the graveyard of heroes.

Nan Yulou was still unwilling to accept her fate.

Later, the Bixia Sect survived the infighting of the Jiuyi Immortal Sect, which also attracted the attention of the Tianchi Sect.

His father finally thought of him, sent an envoy to contact Nan Yulou, and even provided some resources.

The Tianchi Sect has always operated this way. My father's intention was quite clear: he wanted him to absorb the Bixia Sect, grow strong, and become a branch of the Tianchi Sect.

From that time on, Shen Zhiwei became his enemy.

He also wants to find a new lover.

Nan Yulou found Jiang Cui.

It wasn't Jiang Cui, it would be someone else, but it couldn't possibly be with Shi Miaoxue.

But now the Bixia Sect is about to advance to a higher realm!

Nan Yulou couldn't help but grit her teeth.

Shen Zhiwei is stunningly beautiful, but her aptitude doesn't match her looks. Of course, it's not that Shen Zhiwei is untalented; her talent is above average, placing her among the excellent ones. She's likely to successfully temper her body, and with a bit of luck, she might even glimpse the Jade Liquid Realm.

Reaching the Jade Liquid Realm is something that many cultivators can only dream of.

As for reaching the realm of a half-immortal, that is a realm that only the most talented among the most talented can attain.

At that time, Yun Qingye, a medical cultivator from the upper realm, once traveled here. The old man was coaxed by Shen Zhiwei and was willing to give her some pointers: "Your aptitude is barely passable. If you want to go further, you will probably have to suffer a bit. For example, you can use the Qi of Dan Fire to cleanse your meridians. Although it is a bit bitter, it can help you enter the Jade Liquid Realm faster."

Shen Zhi smiled and said, "You want to suffer? Who wants to suffer?"

Shen Zhiwei has a pretty face, but she seems a little intimidated when she speaks.

Nan Yulou also heard this and secretly curled the corners of her lips, giving a disdainful smile.

How could he not know Shen Zhiwei? Shen Zhiwei is clever, knows how to exploit loopholes, has one trick after another, and also has a beautiful face.

A person who is too good at taking shortcuts is unlikely to be willing to put in the effort to endure hardship and toil.

He knew Shen Zhiwei's character all too well.

But later, Shen Zhiwei often went to the alchemy room, and she went there frequently.

Nan Yulou disliked the mess in the alchemy room and didn't go there often. Although he didn't go, he was Shi Miaoxue's lover, and Shi Miaoxue always mentioned him in front of him.

The diligence and dedication of Chen Zhiwei were completely different from what Shi Miaoxue thought.

He occasionally went to the alchemy room to look for Shi Miaoxue, and saw Shen Zhiwei along the way.

Shen Zhiwei already possessed some cultivation and was immune to both heat and cold, but the scorching heat of the elixir still caused her to break out in a sweat.

Through the silver mermaid-like gauze dress, the ferocious claw marks left by the strange beast on Shen Zhiwei's back were faintly visible.

What was supposed to be a vibrant and sensual scene left Nan Yulou drenched in a cold sweat, a subtle, indescribable fear creeping over her.

It's one thing for someone to be smart, but to actually be so focused and dedicated makes Sect Leader Shen seem rather formidable!

Then Nan Yulou snorted coldly in his heart, showing disdain.

Shen Zhiwei is nothing special.

Being abandoned by the great cultivators of the upper realm must be something to be resentful about, right? But what's the point of all this pointless fuss?

Choice is more important than effort.

At that moment, Nan Yulou left the alchemy room and put a pill into her lips.

The pills sent by the Tianchi Sect were used to nourish his body and improve his cultivation level.

The father gave up a single pill, which helped Nan Yulou enter the Jade Liquid Realm.

If Shen Zhiwei had the ability to coax men, she wouldn't be going through all this trouble. That man is truly heartless; even after Shen Zhiwei has given birth, he still can't coax her into giving her a pill to advance her cultivation level.

But now Shen Zhiwei is at the level of a half-immortal—

When did she ascend to the realm of a half-immortal?

Nan Yulou's heart pounded. He hoped that Li Yao was lying, just like many times before. Shen Zhiwei and her henchmen were the best at making a big show of things to scare people.

They can spout lies and falsehoods one after another.

However, the first level of the Heavenly Ascension Realm requires a sect leader who is at the Half-Immortal Realm.

Moreover, the weather has changed today, and the spiritual energy of the entire Bixia Sect is surging and restless. All sorts of strange phenomena have proven that what Li Yao said was true and that everything was indeed true!

As a result of all this, and with the flow of spiritual energy, Nan Yulou's face had lost all color.

He had arrived at the heart of the matter and had also seen Shen Zhiwei's movements.

A myriad of spiritual energies surged forth, and Shen Zhiwei stood at the very center, sword in hand.

Shen Zhiwei held a sword in her hand, the magic sword as red as blood, and her beauty was unparalleled.

All of this made Nan Yulou's breath catch in her throat!

The Aperture Tree had already reacted; a wisp of spiritual energy swept from the void, traversing the four realms, and locked onto the Aperture Tree of the Bixia Sect.

It was a wisp of light from the Mother Tree!

The Bixia Sect is truly about to advance to a higher realm!

So Shen Zhiwei was truly at the level of a demigod?

Nan Yulou's hair was a little messy, and the jade crown on his head was slightly crooked. He was usually a person who paid great attention to his appearance, but now he couldn't help but sweat profusely, staring blankly, as if he couldn't breathe.

In a daze, Nan Yulou couldn't quite describe his feelings. Recalling the past, he felt a mix of bitterness, resentment, unwillingness, and embarrassment—and so on.

In short, he felt an indescribable sourness!

And then there's this indescribable sense of resentment!

He felt lost and dejected, as if his heart had been gripped by something.

But then he recalled the words he had spoken in defense of Shen Zhiwei earlier that day.

"Does a female cultivator with some beauty necessarily have to submit to someone? Does a cultivator from a lower realm who manages a sect well necessarily have a powerful backer?"

"You all don't believe that someone can single-handedly manage the crumbling Bixia Sect to such a scale and raise a daughter who can study at Tianyuan Prefecture? With just his own two hands and one heart, he can establish his own sect and start a business without relying on anyone else!"

Nan Yulou suddenly reached out and covered her forehead.

His forehead was burning hot.

His lips trembled slightly, and finally he managed a mocking smile.

Those words spoken insincerely turned out to be a self-fulfilling prophecy.

This made Nan Yulou look quite ridiculous.

Ling Yuyan and Zhe Shuang had also arrived, their faces filled with shock and anger, their hearts filled with mixed feelings.

The two were both relieved that they hadn't gone too far today, but at the same time they were quite unwilling and wondered if they should try to trip them up.

In short, it was embarrassing, shameful, and incredibly frustrating.

The disciples of the Bixia Sect, seeing the unusual commotion, also rushed over.

At that moment, a clear, crisp sound rang in everyone's ears, like the sound of something shattering.

Shen Zhiwei held a crimson magic sword in her hand. The sword was originally a purple-grade earth-rank weapon, quite impressive at first glance. However, accompanied by a series of soft cracking sounds, a layer of dust fell from the magic sword.

Just as people can be deceitful, so too can swords.

As the saying goes, things resemble their owners; even Master Shen's sword was concealed, its head hidden and its tail revealed.

The original earth-rank purple-grade magic sword was now filled with spiritual light, revealing a radiance and luster that only heaven-rank magic weapons possess!

Its sword gleams with light, has a superior color and excellent texture, and exudes a pure phoenix blood red color. It is indescribably high-class and comfortable to look at.

The original characters on the sword were revealed, with the character "弑" (shì, meaning "to kill") written in ancient seal script.

This sword actually unleashed a chilling killing intent.

However, Shen Zhiwei handled it with ease; with a gentle urge, sword energy filled the sky.

As those sword energies swirled, they began to condense into a Dharma image!

Even Lin Lanyou let out a soft "ee".

It should be noted that not all realms of half-immortals are the same.

Those who have just entered the realm of half-immortals may be able to influence changes in the weather and atmosphere of their realm at the beginning, but they may not necessarily be able to form a Dharma image.

Now, Shen Zhiwei's sword energy condensed and transformed into a huge, blood-red statue of a fairy.

It's dazzling and mesmerizing to behold!

Lin Lanyou was also stunned.

At this moment, Shen Zhiwei's usual vulgarity vanished, and her brows and eyes became so serene that she possessed a dignified and solemn air, much like the magnificent and enormous crimson fairy statue behind her.

Shen Zhiwei must have reached the realm of a half-immortal for some time now.

Both Zhe Shuang and Ling Yuyan, the two envoys from the Tianchi Sect, had lost all interest in anything.

This Sect Leader Shen is so cunning and adept at concealing his true intentions!

The two men's faces were tinged with ochre, as if they had been slapped twice.

Shen Zhiwei, wow, you're deliberately hiding it like this.

Upon closer examination, it suddenly dawned on me that this was indeed the case.

Shen Zhiwei actually wanted to assign them as well—

In this way, once the Bixia Sect advances to a higher realm, the Tianchi Sect will be unable to interfere, and will certainly not be able to gain a share of the spoils through its connection with Nanyulou.

Unaware of the reason, the two remained quite confident in front of Shen Zhiwei.

They didn't notice at all!

Zhe Shuang was extremely proud and arrogant. Overwhelmed by anger, a metallic taste rose in his throat. Not wanting to show weakness in front of others, he swallowed the mouthful of blood.

He recalled how, just moments before, he and Ling Yuyan had been analyzing and scheming together. They spoke with such conviction, as if the destruction of the Bixia Sect was imminent.

The thought of these shameful things made Zhe Shuang feel as if her internal organs were burning.

Ling Yuyan wasn't as arrogant as Zhe Shuang, but she was still unhappy. She thought about how she had miscalculated before, and now that this task had really fallen through, she couldn't help but feel depressed.

A thought had been suppressed by Ling Yuyan, but unexpectedly it resurfaced. When that thought resurfaced, it sent a chill down Ling Yuyan's spine, making her feel that this small sect at the foot of Bixia Mountain was indeed somewhat sinister.

Nan Yulou, having recovered, stood to the side without saying a word.

At this moment, Shen Xiaochun also arrived, led by Yin Wujiu. Shen Xiaochun was beautiful and spirited, with her big, bright eyes sparkling.

Yin Wujiu's skin was as white as snow, which made the red flower in his temple even more vibrant. A gentle smile appeared on his lips as he introduced, "Xiao Chan, this is the entire sect's advancement. It's not something you can see so easily."

"Look at your mother, she's so beautiful now."

Looking at her like this, Nan Yulou suddenly felt a strange mix of emotions.

But Shen Zhiwei is indeed very beautiful, and at this moment she is radiant and full of energy.

A breath of light peeked in from beyond the heavens from the Yuanmu Tree, as if the Bixia Sect's Qiaoxin Tree had received some nourishment, and it began to sprout new shoots with a creaking sound.

At the same time, the Heart-Opening Tree also released a burst of divine energy, which unfolded neatly one by one, striking a disciple of the Bixia Sect.

Regardless of distance, even Bixia Sect disciples who were still on missions were affected by the divine breath.

If the conditions are met, the Bixia Sect will use its full strength to sign a contract with the Yuanmu Tree to help the entire sect advance its cultivation level.

Even Shen Xiaochun was touched by a tiny wisp of divine energy from the Heart-Bend Tree and couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Of course, Nan Yulou was not so fortunate. The Bixia Sect had already split up, and he had nothing to do with such a spectacle anymore. Li Yao informed him that Nan Yulou should just take a look.

Nan Yulou guessed that the Bixia Sect disciples who followed him during the assignment wouldn't be too happy. They were all secular cultivators, and the two Tianchi Sect envoys had previously considered the Bixia Sect disciples' intentions.

At that time, Zhe Shuang and Ling Yuyan were certain that if the Jiuyi Immortal Sect sold its pills, the Bixia Sect would surely perish. As long as the news spread, the disciples of the Bixia Sect would definitely have some objections.

People always romanticize the paths they haven't chosen. The Bixia Sect has just split into two factions, and the remaining disciples are certainly hoping for a future by following Shen Zhiwei. Who would have thought that they would suddenly receive this news? Wouldn't they start to wonder if they had chosen to follow Nan Yulou the other day?

But now things have turned around, and the tables have turned. I reckon the disciples who followed Nan Yulou are starting to have doubts when it's time to assign them.

They probably thought that it would have been better if they had chosen to follow Shen Zhiwei when they were assigned to their posts.

The Heart Tree grows vigorously, soaring into the clouds, its branches and leaves intertwining and coalescing, penetrating the air.

Using trees as a guide, the two worlds are connected.

After this connection is established, the Primordial Mother Tree will provide the Bixia Sect with the necessary spatial resources in the second layer of heaven, and nurture a brand new Heart Tree.

In this way, all the disciples of the Bixia Sect can move to the second level of heaven.

The towering trees reached into the sky, creating a rare and spectacular sight. The disciples of the Bixia Sect were all very excited, and the entire Kumu Mountain and even the First Heaven were all awestruck and awed by it!

This is a rare occurrence in the first heaven of Mount Sumeru.

The so-called ascension realm, in the first level of heaven, is something that one may have heard of but not yet experienced.

The resources in the first layer of heaven are scarce, making it extremely difficult to nurture a cultivator at the half-immortal level. According to historical records, a genius cultivator named Jin Daozi appeared several hundred years ago. After ascending to the half-immortal level, he also helped his sect ascend. However, those are all ancient tales, mere rumors from the foot of Mount Sumeru, and they have been embellished.

But unlike now, it's real and tangible.

Wherever Nan Yulou's gaze fell, he saw that all the Bixia Sect disciples who had been struck by the divine breath had tears in their eyes and were extremely excited. He also knew that Shen Zhiwei's move was to win over the hearts of the people.

Shen Zhiwei was skilled at acting and winning people over, which led many disciples to follow her when they were assigned to different factions. After this experience, these Bixia Sect disciples were even more devoted to Shen Zhiwei.

In Tianyuan Prefecture, the junior cultivators returned home after their holidays.

Although it's said that every seven days is a day for cultivating swordsmanship, Jiang Yingxue's return home was definitely not for fun. Her parents dragged her to the Thousand Swords Cave to comprehend sword intent for two days.

It wasn't just Jiang Yingxue who needed to go home to nourish herself; in fact, all the junior cultivators in Tianyuan Prefecture were in the same boat.

These junior cultivators all come from good backgrounds and have good talent. But despite their good backgrounds and high talent, none of them slack off; they all work even harder than before.

Jiang Yingxue returned to Tianyuan Mansion, but did not see Shen Xiaochan.

She was a little anxious; two junior cultivators were missing from class—Mo Lin and Shen Xiaochun hadn't come. The guiding immortal master had also mentioned it briefly: Mo Lin was mentally unstable and had gone home to recuperate, while Shen Xiaochun had taken leave.

Mo Lin's decision to drop out of school was expected. The Mo family had given him banned drugs to make him show his talent. Mo Lin was still a child, and his head was completely bald, so he wore a wig.

Such methods certainly violate the rules of Tianyuan Prefecture, and being expelled from school and forced to recuperate is inevitable; he will definitely lose his qualification to study at Tianyuan Prefecture.

Jiang Yingxue's heart pounded as she thought of the cat's paws peeking out of Shen Xiaochun's bag. She was a little worried about Shen Xiaochun; Tianyuan Prefecture had strict rules and rarely allowed people to take leave.

But Shen Xiaochun took leave and did not come.

However, Master Qiao was a man of few words. After briefly explaining why the two minor cultivators had not appeared, he did not mention it again.

Xie Jue was quite well-informed. After Master Qiao finished his class, Xie Jue went over to talk to Rong Tang.

"Xiao Tang, I heard that Shen Xiao Chan has some problems with her admission qualifications, and she might not be able to come to Tianyuan Prefecture anymore."

I heard that the Bixia Sect is going to split into factions, and maybe there won't even be a Bixia Sect anymore.

Xie Jue had heard many such stories since childhood, so he didn't think much of them and considered them to be very ordinary things.

Rong Tang frowned, a hint of impatience showing on her small face.

Who told Xie Jue to say these things?

She had already warned Xie Jue, but he just kept going on and on.

She made it sound like she cared a lot, that she was quite wary of something.

It's common for minor students to take breaks from their studies at Tianyuan Prefecture. What does that have to do with her? She's used to it. Why should she care about everyone?

Mother is right. She is of Rong family blood and has great talent. She has no need to be jealous of anyone.

Rong Tang pursed her lips and remained silent, and Xie Jue could tell that she was unhappy.

Xie Jue was also somewhat hurt. He was only like this because he cared about Xiao Tang, and he wouldn't allow anyone to make Xiao Tang unhappy.

Now that Rong Tang had this expression, Xie Jue was naturally a little aggrieved and angry. He said sullenly, "I was just concerned about you."

Rong Tang turned her face away, not wanting to talk to Xie Jue.

She couldn't be bothered to pay any attention to Xie Jue, fearing that if she tried to strike up a conversation, he would ramble on and on.

The thought of being betrothed to Xie Jue since childhood made Rong Tang even more unhappy.

As a proud daughter of a noble family from a celestial sect, she was pampered from a young age and naturally experienced a lot, making her quite precocious.

She understands many things.

At Rong Tang's age, she was still confused and curious about love, and couldn't really understand it, but she knew very clearly that she didn't like Xie Jue!

Although they grew up together, it was only because the Rong and Xie families were allies; their personalities weren't particularly compatible.

Therefore, Rong Tang was extremely annoyed by this marriage.

Xie Jue leaned closer, speaking mysteriously: "If you want to know the inside story, just ask me."

Xie Jue had already calmed himself down, thinking that which girl wasn't gossipy, and Rong Tang might want to know more.

Rong Tang was extremely annoyed. She suddenly turned her head and said, "A-Jue, you should learn from Sect Leader Xie. You are just like him. If you could also learn some of his manners and demeanor, that would be even better."

Sect Leader Xie is Xie Qingyu.

Xie Jue was taken aback, then said, "I'm definitely not as good as my uncle, and I won't be as good as him even when I grow up."

Xie Jue was a gloomy person at this age, but among his elders, there was one whom he admired and respected.

Xie Jue greatly admired Xie Qingyu.

Rong Tang brought it up, and Xie Jue was even a little flattered. How could he compare to his uncle?

But Xie Jue quickly realized what was going on.

Rong Tang was making a sarcastic remark.

Many people admire Xie Qingyu, even praising her as "the perfect Xie," but many also dislike her. Things that are too perfect seem fake, and those who dislike Xie Qingyu find her hypocritical.

Rong Tang felt that two "Xie" characters couldn't be written in one stroke, but if Xie Jue could learn to put on an act, things wouldn't be so troublesome.

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Author's note: The new book will be released tomorrow, and as usual, I'll be including two pre-orders. If you like them, please add them to your favorites. I might revise it repeatedly, but I will definitely write it.

Pre-order item 1: "Living Next to a Yandere"

Wei Huan transitioned from the Hehuan Sect to become a sword cultivator.

As a sword cultivator, the reason she was disheartened was because she discovered that the sect leader Zuo Huaixue, whom she had always admired, was an absolute scoundrel.

Zuo Huaixue presents himself as a pure and holy father, yet he always tempts his followers to clear away obstacles and eliminate dissidents for him.

She submitted her resignation and found a quiet place to recuperate.

A woman named Wei came to the small mountain village. She was beautiful with red lips and white teeth, and although she wore simple clothes, her beauty could not be hidden.

Lady Wei was literate and worked as a female tutor in the village, teaching children to read and write, and was quite respected.

With her internal injuries difficult to heal, Wei Huan couldn't help but recall the knowledge she gained from the Hehuan Sect before her transfer.

The young man living next door to Wei Huan was also a cultivator living in seclusion in the village. He was fair-skinned, beautiful, and tall and handsome.

Wei Huan learned by chance that he was of pure Yin nature, making him extremely suitable for dual cultivation with her to heal her injuries and prolong her life.

Wei Huan then had a thought and wanted to do something about it.

Who would have thought that the other party was a dark and obsessive person, who, after being seduced by Wei Huan, knelt down in front of Wei Huan's skirt in a frenzy.

The script is very unconventional. According to the usual formula, villains who encounter true love are usually redeemed, but this guy tears off his mask and starts acting crazy.

The young man's usual refined and upright demeanor vanished, replaced by a broken, villainous look with burning eyes: "I was already tired of killing and had no interest in harming the world anymore, but now that I've met Lady Wei, I suddenly have the urge to wreak havoc on the world again."

Pre-order 2: "The Hypocritical, Evil Male Ghost Next Door: Lady Lin"

Lin's youngest daughter was only nineteen years old. She had suffered a family tragedy when she was young and was frail and sickly. She eventually returned to the capital and stayed with relatives.

Although life is not the same as before, Lin Tang is a person who loves life.

As for food, plums soaked in well water are sweet and refreshing, wontons have fresh fillings and smooth wrappers, poria and rose cakes are sweet, and mutton pancakes are fragrant, salty, and spicy. Add a pot, slice fish, and boil it in water – the key is freshness.

In my spare time, I can also read a few trendy folk tales that are currently being serialized in the streets and alleys. This kind of life is quite enjoyable.

My uncle is dull and my aunt is shrewish; they definitely can't just eat and drink for free.

Lin Tang was frail and had exhausted her savings after a serious illness, so she was considering doing some light work.

To make a living, she set up a calligraphy and painting stall in front of the government office, writing letters, drawing portraits, and even writing legal documents for others.

One day, a handsome young man named Shen moved into her neighborhood. He was outstanding in appearance and had a very good temperament.

Lin Tang was unaware that Shen You had been sent to look after her at the request of her former fiancé, Xuan Ying.

As the two grew closer, Shen You showed her meticulous care. He inquired about her well-being, accompanied her on investigations, and took careful and thoughtful care of her when she was ill.

Even when Lin Tang was menstruating, he would thoughtfully hand her a hot water bottle to warm her stomach.

Lin Tang blushed with embarrassment, and secretly began to have feelings for Shen You.

She was perceptive and felt that Shen You also had feelings for her, so she was confident that they could pursue each other.

However, after spending more time with him, she realized that Shen You was not what he seemed. His personality was not as gentle, kind, witty, and cheerful as he appeared. In private, he was ruthless and cunning, and was just good at pretending.

Lin Tang also gave up, though she was quite reluctant to part with him, she secretly kept her distance and distanced herself from him.

Even so, Lin Tang was quite melancholy.

Shen You also sensed something was amiss, and his jealousy was intense. When he confessed his feelings, he spoke softly as if afraid of startling her: "Xiao Tang, you also have feelings for me, don't you?"

His words were soft, but his dark, enigmatic eyes held a burning intensity, like a venomous snake raised in a damp, dark ditch.

It seemed as if Lin Tang couldn't tolerate a single negative comment.

Lin Tang was also angered and resentful: "No!"

Shen You froze, clearly at a loss, and stammered, "No, it's not?"

Xuan Ying harbored a secret love for a girl from a scholarly family who, due to the downfall of the main branch of the clan, was reduced to a life of hardship. At that time, Xuan Ying was powerless to save her, experiencing for the first time the rage of impotence. Later, he schemed and fought for power, finally managing to return to the capital.

He just wanted to see that girl one more time.

The handkerchief embroidered with the character "棠" was pressed against Xuan Ying's chest, bringing a touch of warmth to his cold heart.

When they met again, the once pampered daughter of a wealthy family was now mingling with the common people.

Xuan Ying felt as if he had been slapped hard across the face. He woke up as if from a dream, fled in panic, and could not bear to see him again.

Xuan Ying dared not imagine how an orphan girl had survived all these years without the protection of a family.

Initially, Xuan Ying asked Shen You to take care of Lin Tang.

Shen You is ruthless and cunning at heart, but he appears kind and gentle and dislikes conflict.

But Xuan Ying was also certain that although Shen You was a true demon, he would still give her some face.

After that, Xuan Ying began to regret it.

Fortunately, it seems that everything is still in time.

But just as he was about to make amends, he witnessed a scene that tore him apart.

A few peach blossoms bloom on the wall. Shen You gently embraces Lin Tang and carefully kisses the girl's cheek.

Xiao Tang blushed deeply, but held Shen You's hand tightly, her palms clenched and sweaty. She let Shen You tentatively kiss her cheek.

It blooms brightly in dark and damp places.

Hypocritical, gloomy male ghost X Gentle, intelligent, and sickly girl