Jiang Han felt a level of frustration and grievance he had never experienced before.
Beside him, Jiang Su finished the money transfer and successfully obtained the Silence Talisman he wanted. Recalling Jiang Han's disheveled appearance from a moment ago and the bet between the two, everything suddenly clicked into place.
"Han-ge, so just now you were halfway through your shower when the water cut out, and you called for help but no one heard you, which is why you ran out like..."
Before he could finish, Jiang Han clamped a hand over Jiang Su's mouth.
"Shut up!"
Jiang Xuxu looked at Jiang Han with composed leisure and repeated, "I won the bet."
Jiang Han's face was a mask of sullenness. Although he was unwilling to accept it, he had indeed lost.
Jiang Xuxu didn't waste any more words on him. She stood up and simply said, "For the next week, I don't want to hear the sound of your voice."
She paused, then added for emphasis, "I trust that the fourth young master of the Jiang family has at least that much integrity?"
Even if he didn't have it, it didn't mattershe could make sure he did.
Jiang Han's expression was dark, but he still responded irritably, "Don't worry, I keep my word."
Jiang Xuxu nodded, satisfied, and walked out of Jiang Su's room.
As she left, the two of them could vaguely hear her muttering under her breath, "If I'd known, I would have just said a month."
Jiang Han: "..."
"Pfft." Jiang Su couldn't help but let out a laugh.
Jiang Han glared at him with a murderous look. "Jiang Su, what is wrong with you lately? You keep siding with this outsider!"
Jiang Su stiffened his neck at those words. "What outsider?! She is my cousin, and your biological cousin too! If you say that again, be careful or I'll tell Eldest Uncle on you!"
Jiang Han was so exasperated by Jiang Su's nonsense that he almost laughed. "Only children tattle."
Besides, who was the one who had jumped out to target this "cousin" in the beginning? Had he already forgotten the things he had done himself?
"Han-ge, you saw it for yourself. My sister has real skills. You shouldn't go against her anymore, or if she really gets angry one day, dealing with you would be as easy as lifting a finger."
Jiang Su offered this piece of advice with rare, earnest sincerity.
Jiang Han inexplicably recalled the tricks those Xuanmen practitioners used to summon little ghosts to torment people. His heart skipped a beat with fear, but he refused to show any weakness on the surface.
"She... she wouldn't dare! I'll tell Eldest Uncle on her!"
Jiang Su: "..."
Who was the one who just said only children tattle?
Jiang Han didn't feel like talking to Jiang Su anymore. He turned around and retreated to his own room.
Upstairs, as soon as Jiang Xuxu returned to her room, she saw the Infant Spirit, which now looked like a little ginseng baby, floating around the room and kicking its short legs.
Now that the Infant Spirit was devoid of resentment, it appeared as a white, chubby little ginseng. As it drifted, its two small legs kicked rhythmically, looking quite adorable.
Several times it drifted toward the window, only to be bounced back by the barrier Jiang Xuxu had set up around the room.
Even though its resentment had vanished, the Infant Spirit still instinctively wanted to find its mother.
Little Beauty apparently found this entertaining. It wagged its chubby, round tail and chased after the Infant Spirit, even trying to nip at it when it was bounced back.
Frightened, the Infant Spirit hurriedly drifted higher into the air.
Seeing Jiang Xuxu return, it paddled its little legs and drifted onto her shoulder, huffing and puffing as if it were exhausted.
Though they hadn't spent much time together, it clearly knew that this human would not harm it. Moreover, as long as it perched on her shoulder, that little fox wouldn't dare try to nip at it again.
Looking at the palm sized "little chubby radish" on her shoulder, Jiang Xuxu's gaze softened slightly.
Still, she admonished it, "Don't run around blindly. If you behave, I'll take you to see your mother before I send you into reincarnation."
The little chubby radish seemed to understand her words. It kicked its little arms as if it wanted to give her a hug.
Jiang Xuxu ignored it. She walked to her desk and began to carefully study the piece of Thousand-Year Lightning-Struck Wood her master had given her.
The wood was charred black, its surface covered in a network of grooves and patterns carved by lightning and celestial fire.
Jiang Xuxu had once asked her master why this wood shouldn't be made into a Dharma Tool right away.
Her master had said, "This piece of lightning-struck wood was originally found for you, but I cannot give it to you yet. Wait until you have broken free from the shackles of the Guan family's destiny. Only then can you fashion this item into the Dharma Tool you desire."
The Guan family had raised her for eighteen years, using her destiny to block disasters for Guan Ruirui. The threads of fate were deeply entangled and not easily unraveled.
Therefore, she had to sever her connection with the Guan family step by step.
Taking the brunt of the car accident in place of Guan Ruirui was repaying the favor of her upbringing.
Paying back eighteen years of child support to the Guan family was clearing the debt.
Publicly announcing the end of her relationship with them was severing the emotional bond.
Now that the favor and the debt were settled, she had finally obtained the lightning-struck wood her master had prepared for her.
Jiang Xuxu thought for a moment, then took out a Cinnabar Brush and drew the desired shape on the branch.
Creating a Dharma Tool was no simple task. The runes of the tool had to follow the natural flow of the lightning patterns. Carving the runes, polishing, and consecrating the item required a significant investment of spiritual power. It could not be completed overnight.
Jiang Xuxu glanced at her somewhat bare desk.
She decided that she would eventually move all her equipment over from her rental house. The Jiang family villa had no shortage of rooms, and her current room was actually a suite.
Originally, a bed had been placed in the outer room for a nanny to look after a child. Although the nanny had moved out, the space was mostly used to store toys.
Jiang Xuxu hadn't planned on a long stay initially, but since she was back and had decided to live here, she needed to furnish the place properly.
However, there was no rush for that.
After organizing her things, Jiang Xuxu placed an order for some items on Lingshi Net. Then, she went to bed with Little Beauty and the little chubby radish.
The next morning, she headed downstairs.
Even though it was still the holidays, the Jiang family did not have the habit of letting children sleep in.
As soon as Jiang Xuxu descended, she saw Jiang Han sitting next to Lu Xuexi, talking to her. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Jiang Xuxu and suddenly seemed to remember something, snapping his mouth shut.
Jiang Cheng, who was beside them, was puzzled. He followed Jiang Han's gaze to the stairs. Seeing Jiang Xuxu, he didn't show any obvious disgust, merely nodding coldly before looking away.
Lu Xuexi, however, walked toward her with a smile.
"Xuxu, I heard it was you who led the people to the teaching building to save me. I haven't had a chance to say thank you yet. Since you're home today, how about I cook lunch as a way to show my gratitude? What would you like to eat?"
Jiang Xuxu's brow twitched slightly. She glanced at Lu Xuexi and the "Left and Right Guardians" by her side. Her gaze was indifferent as she said, "No need."
Lu Xuexi's expression dimmed upon hearing this, but she persisted, "Don't be so polite with me. I've studied cooking; while I'm not exactly a master chef, it's quite edible. Just tell me what you'd like..."
"I said, no need," Jiang Xuxu interrupted, her expression remaining cool.
Lu Xuexi's voice turned slightly strained. Before she could speak again, both Jiang Cheng and Jiang Han frowned in unison.
Jiang Cheng was particularly dissatisfied. "Jiang Xuxu, Xuexi specially offered to cook for you to show her thanks. What kind of attitude is this?"
Jiang Han opened his mouth to add his own criticism, but he suddenly met Jiang Xuxu's dark, almond-shaped eyes as they swept over him.
His heart gave a sudden thud. The words at the tip of his tongue were forced back down, and his lips remained tightly sealed.
🚨 Note: Consider supporting this story on Patreon.com/kleinmoretti to access 100+ advance chapters and 2 new chapters daily! (Full story bundles also available without a subscription).