Sun Kailin hesitated for a moment before her eyes brightened. She nodded, her gaze turning serious as she looked at Jian Dan. "When should we make the transaction?"
"This afternoon."
"Good. You're decisive, Miss Jian. I'll contact my father and lawyer right away. Do you need anything on your end?"
"I like the atmosphere here, so I'll stay and pass the time. Come back when you're ready—I can't be bothered to change locations."
"Understood. I've already booked this private room for the whole day. Just call the waiter if you need anything. I'll take my leave now."
With that, she hurried out of the room, unable to hide the excitement on her face.
Jian Dan picked up the phone and contacted her lawyer, Xu Zhen. The law firm's branch in the capital immediately dispatched someone to meet her and draft the share transfer agreement. She also instructed Zhou Bing to oversee the entire process.
With nothing else to do, she sat by the window, admiring the cityscape while tapping her fingers rhythmically on the table. Then, with a flick of her wrist, she took out the vanity case her mother had left behind.
She hadn't examined it closely since retrieving it. Aside from sensing spiritual energy fluctuations from a few pieces of jewelry, she hadn't paid much attention to the rest. Now, upon closer inspection, she noticed faint traces of an array formation on the case itself—so faint that it was on the verge of breaking.
Jian Dan channeled spiritual energy into her fingers and reached out, giving the case a sharp tug. With a pop, the case revealed its true form—a delicate, intricately carved box made entirely of jade. The bottom bore the Jian family's emblem, exuding an ancient and refined aura.
The emblem was a five-element gear, symbolizing the Wheel of Fate. On the lid was an engraving of a magnolia flower, elegant and pristine.
At the bottom of the case was a hidden compartment. With a light press, a small drawer slid out, containing a stack of letters. Jian Dan eagerly unfolded them—they were written in her mother, Jian Rou's, handwriting.
"My dear Jian Dan, if you're reading this, it means you've reclaimed the Jian family's belongings through your own efforts and stepped onto the path of cultivation. Congratulations."
"All things in this world follow the cycle of cause and effect. Our Jian family has sacrificed too much in our pursuit of returning to the Great Dao. I had hoped to end it with my generation, ensuring only your peace and happiness in this lifetime. But fate plays cruel tricks—you've found this letter after all."
From her mother's letter, Jian Dan filled in the gaps of what Sun Kailin hadn't uncovered, piecing together the full story.
The Jian family had gained a foothold in the capital because an ancestor had achieved ascension, shattering the void and leaving this realm. Though the event was ancient, fragments of the tale remained, making the Jian family an object of fascination for the capital's elite.
The family had also benefited from their ancestor's legacy. Jian Rou had been fated to die before sixteen, but an Elixir of Longevity had extended her life.
Moreover, the previous family head had divined that his great-granddaughter was destined to reconnect with the immortal path. Following the prophecy, they identified Zhao Mufeng—a man whose birth chart matched Jian Rou's—as her fated partner. Forced to abandon her first love, Jian Rou married Zhao Mufeng.
In truth, she was well aware of Zhao Mufeng's actions after their marriage. She endured it all for the sake of conceiving the child prophesied to have an immortal fate. The moment she became pregnant, she left the Zhao family.
She even arranged for someone to provoke Qian Yi, ensuring the woman would expose Zhao Mufeng's infidelity. Everything afterward unfolded as she had planned.
But she hadn't anticipated Zhao Mufeng's sheer ruthlessness—he threatened her parents to extort the secret of immortality from her. Left with no choice, she surrendered all the family's ancient artifacts and antiques, keeping only money for herself. She vowed never to reclaim them, reserving only the vanity case to pass the truth to her daughter.
Knowing Zhao Mufeng, she was certain he would preserve the case, obsessively searching for its secrets. And she was right.
Afterward, Jian Rou raised her daughter alone, never setting foot in the capital again. By the time her parents passed away, she had already severed ties. However, the ten-year deadline promised by the Gu family had arrived—which was why Zhao Mufeng had been able to track Jian Dan down and arrange for her return.
This was the reason Jian Dan had received no help when she first arrived in the capital in her past life. Her mother had bought her time—though at what cost, Jian Dan didn't know. A cold glint flashed in her eyes.
Tucking the letters away, she rested her chin on her hand, deep in thought. It seemed her unique constitution was partly inherited from her mother and partly from her father's lineage. This was also why she had tolerated Zhao Mufeng for so long.
Cultivation was about refining the false to reveal the true—not severing all emotions and cutting off family ties. Some karmic debts were not so easily resolved.
After a lavish Western-style lunch, Sun Kailin returned with her father, Sun Qingguo, to the top-floor private room.
Sun Qingguo was slightly portly, dressed in a black short-sleeved shirt, black casual pants, and a pair of boss-style shoes. His short black hair and cheerful, Buddha-like smile gave him a kindly appearance.
"Xiao Jian, hello! I'm Sun Kailin's father. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Uncle Sun, hello. The pleasure is mine. Since all the paperwork is ready, let's not waste time. Once we sign, you can rest easy."
"Good! You're decisive, Xiao Jian!"
The share transfer agreement was signed in a friendly atmosphere. Once it took effect, Zhou Bing confirmed the funds had been transferred and reported back to Jian Dan.
She nodded, then turned to Sun Kailin, who immediately understood and handed her a new file.
"Here's the test report you requested."
"Thank you, Uncle Sun and Sister Sun. I have just one small request—when Zhao Mufeng contacts you about the shares, notify me first. Wait half a day before telling him you've bought my shares."
Sun Kailin shook her hand. "Pleasure doing business with you!"
"Likewise."