Translator: CinderTL
"Alright," Xu Sanyan replied, rising to straighten his robes. His gaze swept across the room, inadvertently passing over the portrait on the wall.
The once vibrant portrait seemed to have dimmed slightly, even the grotesque figures no longer appeared as terrifying.
This portrait is definitely connected to the formation!
Xu Sanyan retrieved the soul fragment from his storage pouch and examined it closely.
This was undoubtedly a condensed fragment of Zuoqiu Zhen's soul—he recognized it instantly. Otherwise, he wouldn't have agreed to cooperate with her.
Yet Zuoqiu Zhen had sacrificed this fragment to betray him, suggesting it wasn't as crucial to her as he'd thought.
"Brother Lin, Mother is still waiting," Wang Zixuan murmured softly, adjusting her appearance beside him.
"Mm, let's go."
The pair followed the long corridor to the reception hall, where Third Madam sat calmly sipping tea, her expression unchanging.
Third Madam set down her teacup, dabbing her lips with a handkerchief. "Yesterday, a thief broke in, attempting to steal the clan's treasure. Are you aware of this?"
Xu Sanyan's expression remained neutral. "Was the thief apprehended?"
Third Madam took a deep breath and shook her head. "No. There may be an internal traitor. The clan head will question you both later. Just tell the truth."
"Yes."
"Hmm, follow me then."
Xu Sanyan followed Third Madam deeper into the estate, discreetly tugging at Wang Zixuan's collar to conceal the red mark on her neck.
Along the way, people greeted Third Madam respectfully, a clear indication of her high status within the Wang Family.
"Greetings, Third Madam."
"Third Madam."
Crossing through an arched gate, they entered a garden where a crowd had already gathered, mostly consisting of guest elders and retainers employed by the Wang Family.
Xu Sanyan's eyes narrowed. He spotted Zuoqiu Zhen in the crowd!
This woman didn't run?
Zuoqiu Zhen noticed him too. Their gazes met, and she smiled faintly, as if she hadn't caused such a commotion the previous night.
Her gaze shifted to the secret realm fruit, tightly wrapped in a large banner behind Xu Sanyan, as if warning him to keep his mouth shut.
Hmph...
Xu Sanyan sneered inwardly. You bitch, just wait until I get my chance!
They now held mutual leverage over each other, and an open confrontation would benefit neither of them at this point.
"Wait here," Third Madam instructed, before entering the residence alone.
"Yes, Mother," Wang Zixuan replied.
At that moment, a voice entered Xu Sanyan's ear—Zuoqiu Zhen's telepathic message:
"The previous terms still stand. I'll give you the second half of the formation later tonight."
Xu Sanyan ignored her, not even glancing in her direction.
Zuoqiu Zhen smiled faintly, unperturbed. After all, she had tricked him, so it was only natural for Xu Sanyan to harbor resentment.
At that moment, the great elder pushed open the room's door and stepped out. His gaze swept across the courtyard before he casually pointed at two people. "You two, come inside."
Xu Sanyan knew the investigation was about to begin.
The questioning proceeded swiftly. Before long, the pair emerged from the room, and the great elder gestured for two more to enter.
By noon, everyone present had been questioned. Xu Sanyan's "vigorous night of combat" with Wang Zixuan the previous night—the sounds of their "battle" had been loud enough for many to hear—provided him with a solid alibi.
How Zuoqiu Zhen had managed to deceive them remained a mystery.
As the crowd dispersed, the courtyard fell silent once more.
Inside the room sat several influential members of the Wang Family: the clan head, the great elder, and the four Madams.
The Wang Clan Head's eyes narrowed in thought as he murmured, "Has Lin Fan's background been thoroughly investigated?"
The great elder shook his head. "The Vast Origin Sect is too distant. The envoys sent there haven't returned yet."
"Hmm..." The Wang Clan Head nodded slightly.
Suddenly, the Third Madam spoke up. "I sense something is off about him."
"Oh?" The Wang Clan Head turned to her. "What do you mean?"
"I can't explain it, but I'm certain there's something wrong with him."
The great elder shook his head silently. Though he didn't speak, it was clear he disagreed with the Third Madam's assessment.
This boy spends all day cultivating at home, never making a move. What could possibly be the problem?
Except perhaps his... fondness for women.
The great elder recalled Wang Ying and Wang Yu's words. The two had invited "Lin Fan" to visit a minor clan affiliated with the Wang Family, and he hadn't refused. This suggested he was indeed fond of women.
Of course, such a fondness wasn't necessarily a problem. What man didn't appreciate feminine beauty? Even those who didn't fancy women likely had a taste for men.
Even at his advanced age, the great elder still kept several concubines and male courtesans.
The great elder's impression of "Lin Fan" remained positive, considering the young man had saved his life.
The Wang Clan Head nodded slowly. "Hmm... let's keep a closer eye on him. This boy possesses extraordinary talent. If we could bring him into the Wang Family, he might become a great asset in the future."
"Agreed," the great elder replied, sharing the same sentiment.
The Wang Family's next generation lacked promising talents. Marrying him into the family would be a viable solution.
The Third Madam fell silent, her mind replaying her daughter's hoarse, piercing cries from the previous night. A strange unease settled in her heart.
What decent person would carry on like that all night?
Though her daughter might have thoroughly enjoyed it.
The First Madam spoke up. "It's almost time to replenish the pool milk. Why not have him handle it? Suspended Bitter Mountain has been restless lately. It would be a good opportunity for him to assert our authority."
The Wang Clan Head considered this for a moment before nodding in agreement. "Very well."
Late at night, Xu Sanyan sat quietly in his room, awaiting his guest.
As midnight approached, a cool breeze swept past the window, and suddenly another figure materialized within the room.
"You've come," Xu Sanyan said, his expression unchanged.
"I've come," Zuoqiu Zhen replied, her eyes scanning the room.
Bang!
Xu Sanyan slammed his hand on the table and rose abruptly, his calm demeanor transforming into a furious glare as if he were wearing a mask. "How dare you show your face here!"
Zuoqiu Zhen offered no elaborate defense. With a flick of her wrist, she tossed him a storage pouch.
Xu Sanyan caught it, opened it, and his face immediately shifted from surprise to a wide grin. "Sit down, please sit down."
Zuoqiu Zhen rolled her eyes but remained standing. "I admit I handled this poorly. Consider the extra contents as compensation."
Xu Sanyan waved dismissively. "Hey, no need for formalities. Besides, I didn't suffer any real losses. Let's just forget about it."
After all, it was Lin Fan who had disappeared, not him.
"I'm leaving," Zuoqiu Zhen said.
"Where are you going?"
"My business here is finished. I'm leaving this place."
"Hmm..." Xu Sanyan raised an eyebrow. "Why are you telling me this?"
Zuoqiu Zhen looked at Xu Sanyan, who was feigning ignorance, and reluctantly extended her hand. "Can I have my things back?"
"Oh~ Look at my forgetful brain! I'd completely forgotten if you hadn't reminded me," Xu Sanyan said with feigned surprise. He retrieved a golden sphere the size of an infant's fist from his storage pouch and handed it to her.
Zuoqiu Zhen frowned deeply, staring at the soul essence that had shrunk by more than half. She sighed softly, feeling cheated, but knew she couldn't get it back. She had no choice but to swallow her anger.
"Farewell."
"Safe travels."
As Zuoqiu Zhen disappeared, Xu Sanyan pulled another golden sphere from his storage pouch.
He had split the soul essence in two, keeping the larger half for himself.
(End of the Chapter)
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