Yuan Zhao watched helplessly as the braised pork and broth disappeared into the distance, staring intently at Qiao Zhen with eyes full of deep hatred.
Before leaving, Qiao Zhen glanced back at Yuan Zhao and saw him looking at her with an expression that said, "My mom won't let me play with idiots."
She deliberately took advantage of Yuan Zhao's expression, picked up a piece of braised pork and slurped it into her mouth, then gave him a smug look before swaying her hips and leaving.
Qiao Zhenke hadn't forgotten Yuan Zhao's sinister gaze or the burning pain on her wrist caused by the danger detection bracelet. All of this proved that Yuan Zhao was not as harmless as he appeared.
But what happens to Yuan Zhao has absolutely nothing to do with Qiao Zhen; she is destined to become Yuan Zhao's die-hard fan and number one admirer.
I'm crazy for him, I'm insane for him, I'd bang my head against a wall for him!
In the dead of night, Qiao Zhen, dressed in black, lay on Yuan Zhao's roof. She moved a few bricks aside and looked down at Yuan Zhao, who was shivering from the cold. Her mind was already racing.
Going to save him from his dire straits now = saving him = fulfilling his wish and taking another step closer = atonement = returning to heaven without having to face bloodshed = living.
So Qiao Zhen, eager to get her hands on him, kidnapped Yuan Zhao while he was sleeping and took him to another house. Qiao Zhen's dowry included several land deeds, two of which were in this city. Since Old Man Yuan didn't dare to covet the dowry that the martial arts alliance leader had given to his youngest daughter, Qiao Zhen still held ownership of the land deeds.
Qiao Zhen truly didn't believe that the missing flesh on Yuan Zhao's leg had no connection to the rise of the Yuan family. Therefore, she even wrote a letter to the leader of the martial arts alliance, requesting that he send some trustworthy people to take care of the house and Yuan Zhao within it.
So, the martial arts alliance leader, Xiao Chengren, didn't find this strange at all; after all, those who achieve great things don't concern themselves with trifles. Thus, rumors began to circulate in the alliance leader's mansion: their third young lady had stolen… stolen her brother-in-law!
Qiao Zhen knew nothing about these rumors. In any case, they dared not spread the news, because the Xiao family had a special kind of poison, and no one wanted to risk their life.
Speaking of Xiao Chengren, he was a unique character in the martial arts world. He always had a smiling face, and he was loyal in times of need. However, in special circumstances, he could use a kind smile to do heinous things. Opinions about him in the martial arts world were mixed.
Qiao Zhen visited Yuan Zhao every three days as usual, and she felt very gratified whenever she saw that Yuan Zhao's face had gained some weight.
"Zhao... is there anything you want to do?" Qiao Zhen cupped her face in her hands, looking at Yuan Zhao expectantly. Since the information didn't include the mission target's wishes, Qiao Zhen could only try her luck.
Yuan Zhao sucked on her greasy fingers. "They said I was stupid. My father wanted to make me not stupid, but there was a certain medicine that was too hard to find, so my father locked me in the courtyard."
Qiao Zhen's eyes lit up. "What kind of medicine is it?"
"Amber Ice Lotus".
Qiao Zhen scratched her head with her finger. "What is that?"
Yuan Zhao picked up another piece of pork belly and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing it noisily. "It's a thousand-year-old snow lotus that was raised on an ice mountain with a tigress's poop."
Qiao Zhen pointed to the piece of pork belly in Yuan Zhao's hand, which looked like a lump of poop. As expected, Yuan Zhao bent over and vomited.
"Hahahahahahaha." Qiao Zhen let out a series of pig-like laughs, then suddenly realized what she was doing under Yuan Zhao's resentful gaze. She stopped laughing, touched her nose, and quietly left.
Yuan Zhao felt that no matter what Qiao Zhen did, he wouldn't find the Amber Ice Lotus because of the Yang Jade Flesh on his leg, so he ate and drank as he pleased, living a carefree life without any pressure.
After Qiao Zhen returned, she instructed Cai Die to handle the Amber Ice Lotus matter. She herself also scavenged the original owner's dowry, private savings, and the money the original owner's mother had given her to suppress the original owner, barely managing to scrape together two thousand taels of gold.
Coincidentally, Cai Die learned that Hu Gui Lou was going to auction off the Amber Ice Lotus. Because Cai Die was the most favored maid of the martial arts alliance leader's youngest daughter, the people subtly revealed this information.
That day, Qiao Zhen wore a heavy veil. Although the veil was made of sheer gauze, it didn't allow her facial features to be easily seen like in TV dramas; instead, it was somewhat hazy and indistinct. She entered the private room right at the start of the show, so no one paid any attention to her.
Just as Qiao Zhen was cracking sunflower seeds and munching on dried fruit peels, almost falling asleep from exhaustion, the person in charge of the event finally announced with great enthusiasm: "The last item, the Amber Ice Lotus—a thousand-year-old ice lotus watered by the excrement of a tigress, personally appraised by Elder Ding, priced at five hundred taels of gold!"
"Five hundred and fifty taels of gold!"
"Six hundred taels of gold!"
"Eight hundred taels of gold!"
Qiao Zhen pinched her throat and pretended to be hoarse as she said, "Eighteen hundred taels of gold."
The hall erupted in an uproar, which was exactly the effect Qiao Zhen wanted. The greater the leap, the more people would be scared off, but she also needed to keep a backup plan for herself.
“One thousand eight hundred and fifty taels of gold.”
"One thousand nine hundred taels of gold."
Qiao Zhen spoke again: "Two thousand taels of gold."
However, things did not stop as Qiao Zhen had expected. Instead, under the encouragement of the person in charge, the price of the Amber Ice Lotus was driven up to an astronomical level—eight thousand taels of gold.
Finally, the Amber Ice Lotus was bought by the Demonic Sect Leader for eight thousand taels of gold. Qiao Zhen immediately took advantage of the Demonic Sect Leader being alone, hesitated for a moment, and then stepped forward.
Several titles flashed through her mind: Mr., Big Brother, Leader of the Demonic Cult... No, no, no, all of them are too unfamiliar. Let's just call him Leader. Although it's ambiguous, it's very affectionate. He's my dear friend!
"Master, the Ice Lotus withers when it falls; why not do us a favor?"
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