Perhaps Jiang Xuxu's expression as she gazed at the mark was too peculiar, for Chu Beihe's eyes sharpened with a piercing intensity, locking onto her.
"What is this mark?"
"This..." Jiang Xuxu steadied her mind and allowed her expression to return to normal. Meeting Chu Beihe's gaze, she explained without a hint of guilt, "This is a Protective Seal, intended to keep one safe."
Jiang Xuxu spoke with a straight face, having no intention of telling him about the business regarding a fiancé.
Chu Beihe simply watched her, his dark eyes flickering with a fractured light that waxed and waned.
"Oh?"
His response was low, the end of the syllable rising slightly. It was as deep and resonant as a cello, yet seemed to carry a profound hidden meaning.
Afraid he might press further, Jiang Xuxu quickly changed the subject and asked how he had met the other person.
Chu Beihe merely said, "When I met her, she claimed to be a guest lecturer at the Haishi Taoist Academy."
Seeing Jiang Xuxu's eyes flicker as she prepared to ask something else, he didn't wait for her to speak and continued, "As for why we associated with one another, that involves my private affairs and cannot be disclosed."
Jiang Xuxu pursed her lips, feeling as though her words had been cut off.
Still, it wasn't as if she had gained nothing.
Haishi Taoist Academy...
She repeated the name silently in her heart.
She felt a bit puzzled. Her Master had never mentioned being a lecturer at a Taoist Academy...
But regardless, it was a lead.
Thinking it over, today's harvest was quite significant. She had found the Lightning Struck Peach Wood left by her Master, discovered a clue about her Master's whereabouts, and... gained a fiancé.
Jiang Xuxu couldn't help but steal another glance at Chu Beihe.
The man before her was still surrounded by a golden light. His handsome features seemed to carry a sacred halo under that glow; his face was truly what people online would call a "divine visage."
Yet, beneath that holy light, his eyes and brows betrayed an indifferent coldness, giving him an air of unapproachability.
However, since her Master had entrusted such important Lightning Struck Peach Wood to Chu Beihe and placed a peach wood seal upon him, it meant that Chu Beihe himself was definitely not simple.
She even had a premonition that as long as she stayed near this man, she would eventually see her Master again.
As for the fiancé matter, Jiang Xuxu decided to keep quiet for the time being. Everything could wait until she actually found her Master.
Jiang Xuxu thanked Chu Beihe, then picked up Zongzi and the piece of Lightning Struck Peach Wood before departing from the Chu villa.
Chu Beihe stood on the second floor, watching her walk away. A trace of coolness lingered in his dark eyes.
Lifting his hand, he looked at the mark in his palm again. Recalling Jiang Xuxu's explanation, his face remained inscrutable, save for the slight, mocking curve of his lips.
"A Protective Seal?"
Heh. She was clearly lying.
Unaware that her lie had already been seen through by the great boss Chu, Jiang Xuxu carried Zongzi in one hand and gripped the Lightning Struck Peach Wood in the other as she ran back to the Jiang villa.
Inside the Jiang residence, everyone had long since been startled by the sound of the explosion. They had rushed to Jiang Xuxu's room only to find it empty. Just as they were beginning to worry, they saw Jiang Xuxu hurrying back from outside, still wearing her indoor slippers.
"Xuxu, where did you go? We heard a huge noise coming from your room just now, and everyone was worried sick. Why did you run out?"
The Second Aunt, Yao Lin, stepped forward with an expression of anxiety and concern. Her eyes scanned Jiang Xuxu from head to toe before landing on the object in her hand. Her expression turned puzzled. "And you picked up a tree branch?"
Jiang Xuxu wasn't offended by her calling it a branch. To a layperson, this thing looked no different from ordinary wood.
She offered a casual explanation, "I was conducting an Air Cannon experiment in my room just now, and it accidentally failed."
The Third Aunt, Xue Ningyu, happened to be home today and couldn't help but step forward in concern. "Why were you doing experiments in your room? That's far too dangerous. You aren't hurt, are you?"
Jiang Xuxu shook her head. After a pause, she added, "I'll be more careful next time."
Xue Ningyu gave her a small smile, but Jiang Han spoke up nearby with clear dissatisfaction.
"Doing experiments at home? Don't you know how dangerous that is? What if you blew something up? You aren't the only one living in this house."
Ever since the last incident, Jiang Han had restrained himself quite a bit. However, it was rare to catch Jiang Xuxu in a mistake, and since Jiang Yucheng and Jiang Huai weren't home, he naturally wouldn't be polite.
Jiang Xuxu turned her head at his words, but before she could speak, Jiang Su jumped out first.
"Isn't everything fine? My sister knows what she's doing with small things like this. How could she possibly blow you up?"
Jiang Su's protection was so blatant that Jiang Han's face darkened several shades with anger.
Since that incident, this brat had turned into a completely different person, following Jiang Xuxu around all day. He hadn't even gone to pick up Xuexi when she was discharged from the hospital, and yesterday, he had been cold and indifferent when Xuexi tried to talk to him. Jiang Han wondered if he had been brainwashed by someone.
Recalling Xuexi's devastated expression at that time, Jiang Han's face grew even gloomier.
"You say it's fine just because nothing happened? Can you guarantee her safety?" He turned his gaze directly toward Jiang Xuxu. "Since you've returned to the Jiang family, you can't just act on your own whims without considering others."
His words stopped just short of calling her selfish and uncultured.
Jiang Su was about to argue back, but Jiang Xuxu raised a hand, using the charred branch to block him.
She looked calmly at Jiang Han. "You're right. With so many people living in this house, I shouldn't just tell someone to shut up because I find them too noisy."
Her tone was peaceful, lacking any hint of aggression, yet it made Jiang Han's face turn black with rage.
"Who are you calling noisy?!"
Jiang Su wasn't afraid of adding fuel to the fire, cheerfully adding an assist from the side. "Hey, whoever answered is the one being talked about."
Jiang Han's expression became even more unsightly, and he took a step forward as if he were about to get physical.
Yao Lin saw this and hurried to stop them. "Alright, we're all family. Why speak so harshly? Jiang Han, you too, stop talking."
Xue Ningyu also pulled her own boy back. "And you, stop provoking him."
With two elders standing there, Jiang Han couldn't actually do anything. He huffed coldly and turned to leave, but Jiang Xuxu called out to him.
"If I can prove that I won't affect anyone in this villa, do you dare to make a bet with me?"
Jiang Han paused in his tracks and turned to look at Jiang Xuxu with a face full of disdain. "How will you prove it?"
Jiang Xuxu replied, "As long as you dare to accept, I have a way to prove it."
Jiang Han laughed coldly. "Fine. What do you want to bet?"
Jiang Xuxu's clear eyes swept over Jiang Han as she gave a faint smile. "If I win, I don't want to hear your voice for the next week."
"Pfft." Jiang Su couldn't help but burst into laughter, while Jiang Han's face turned even darker.
He felt that Jiang Xuxu was still finding a roundabout way to call him noisy and tell him to shut up!
"Fine, I'll bet with you! But I'm the one who decides whether there's an 'effect' or not! If you lose, you aren't allowed to do anything in this house that I forbid you from doing."
Jiang Han thought that saying this would scare Jiang Xuxu. After all, if he was the one who determined what counted as an effect, he was essentially the referee. Even though the villa had good soundproofing, it wasn't as if one could close a door and have zero noise. As long as she made a sound, he would find a way to catch her.
Jiang Xuxu didn't even bother to look up. "Deal."
Jiang Han asked again, "Then how do you plan to prove it?"
Jiang Xuxu finally looked him in the eye, her voice light as she simply said, "You'll find out tonight."
Without another word, she picked up Zongzi and the peach wood and headed upstairs.
Jiang Han watched her receding back. For some reason, when she mentioned "tonight," a creepy sensation crawled up his spine.
What could possibly happen tonight?
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