Chapter Seventeen: Li Huanyi

Moonlight spilled into the room, illuminating a humble, bowed figure. Dressed in a simple, tidy pale blue jacket, her eyes lined with wrinkles, it was clearly Madam Liu. Now, she was no longer timid or reserved as she had been during the day; her calm, rippleless gaze was like a mirror. “Master, Mu Guannan has begun to act. Should we send someone to protect the young miss?”

Jiang Mingqian stared unwaveringly at the pendant, his tone leisurely and indifferent. “No need. Useless ones have no right to be my daughter.”

“Shuti, I’m quite curious to see what tricks you still have up your sleeve.” His eyes narrowed, revealing a chilling ruthlessness.

The secret realm of the Immortal World would ultimately belong to the Jiang family.

…

Jiang Wangshu remained at the Jiang estate for a full week.

After private healers confirmed her spiritual roots and talent, Jiang Mingqian shifted from his former apathy and ordered Mu Guannan to keep a close eye on Jiang Wanwan.

As long as she trained daily in the spirit-gathering array he arranged, Jiang Mingqian maintained the perfect façade of a doting father. Money was given freely, magical treasures could be bought at will.

Most would have indulged in such wanton luxury, but Jiang Wangshu, though outwardly cheerful, was secretly preparing herself for disaster.

She bought the Complete Compendium of Wood Techniques.

She acquired the Full Collection of Beginner Arrays.

She practiced the Treasure-Seeking Technique.

Yet, she still hadn’t found the pendant from her memories.

Just as Jiang Wangshu was about to give up, ready to take the money and run, the system reappeared.

“System reboot successful! Honored host, your loyal servant is back in action!”

Jiang Wangshu was delighted. “Little Gold, you’re finally here. I missed you so much.”

The pay-to-win system blushed at such warm welcome from its major sponsor. “The system missed you as well, host.”

“Host, I’ve unlocked a new feature. You can now view certain data about anyone. Would you like to enable it?”

Jiang Wangshu nodded, checking the information while sketching the pendant from memory.

A page popped up.

Host: Jiang Wangshu.

Wealth Luck: MAX

Fortune Luck: … (too low to detect)

Habit: One hundred percent money scavenger.

Jiang Wangshu accepted this quite well. After all, none of those who crossed her path were good people.

She glanced at the little black creature beside her.

A page instantly appeared next to Little Black.

Target: Merman

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Wealth Luck: …

Fortune Luck: 80 (out of 100) (Lucky Star)

Habit: Devours spiritual power.

This thing was really useless!

Jiang Wangshu complained inwardly, but smiled at the system. “Little Gold! Hurry and help me find this item, will you?”

The pay-to-win system scanned her drawing into its database. “This search will incur a fee based on the scope. Does host agree to automatic deduction?”

Jiang Wangshu waved her hand. “Go ahead.” It wasn’t her money anyway; she felt no pain spending it.

Ten seconds later.

“After inspection, there is no target in this villa.”

Jiang Wangshu immediately sat up straight, frowning.

Where else could it have gone?

Could Jiang Wanwan and Mu Guannan have stolen it?

She rose to leave, then paused, looking at the leisurely sleeping little black fish.

She dipped her finger into the water, lifted his tail, and tossed him onto the bed.

In an instant, a furious, naked man appeared on the bed, his muscles sharply defined, his fierce and handsome face even more striking with golden eyes burning in anger.

His soft, sensual lips moved as he struggled to speak a single word, “…damn…”

The next moment, black clothes covered him, and Jiang Wangshu’s cold voice sounded, “Go and fetch Jiang Wanwan for me.”

“Why…why should I?” The merman, used to ruling the seas, was not accustomed to being exploited.

He stiffened his neck, ready to fight Jiang Wangshu.

“Still haven’t learned your lesson.” Jiang Wangshu’s consciousness tugged at the core of their contract, pulling gently.

Little Black’s body instantly went limp, though his muscles tensed, veins bulging, golden eyes misting with suppressed frustration. He bit his lip, fighting back the urge to groan.

Jiang Wangshu looked at him triumphantly. “Will you go or not!” This was her tried-and-true method for controlling him.

It didn’t hurt her, made him obey, but left her feeling a little hot and restless.

Little Black closed his eyes, hiding his shimmering gaze, and nodded slowly, his seaweed-like hair brushing across his solid chest.

Jiang Wangshu quickly smoothed the contract in her mind. “Hurry up!”

Regaining control, Little Black dressed, slammed the door shut with a bang, and was gone.

Jiang Wangshu rushed into the bathroom, splashed her face with cold water, and stuffed tissues up her nose.

“This little black fish is just too handsome…”

But the work still had to be done; after all, she was lazy.

The pay-to-win system watched all this, dumbfounded.

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To forcibly trigger a merman’s mating period and then abruptly cool it—such torment was truly worthy of its host.

Then it was horrified to discover that the servant contract seal had somehow become a hybrid, combining the servant and soul-linked contracts!

With the soul-linked contract, host and merman shared one heart and fate, living and dying together.

Images of the host rampaging through the database flashed through the system’s mind.

If the host ever found out, its very core would be forfeit.

The system clamped its mouth shut. Unless absolutely necessary, this secret must never be revealed.

It did not want to be dismantled—oh, the misery.

Less than half an hour later, a servant knocked on her door.

“Miss Shu, someone’s here to see you.”

Jiang Wangshu descended the stairs, puzzled. Who could possibly want to see her?

A streak of silver, upright and proper, caught her eye. Beneath emerald eyes hung heavy dark circles, yet her spirit was undimmed.

“Chief!” Jiang Wangshu exclaimed in surprise.

Li Huan smiled gently at her. “If you don’t mind, you may call me Sister.”

Jiang Wangshu followed suit. “If Sister is here, it must be important. Shall we talk here, or somewhere else?”

“Here is fine.” Li Huan set up a soundproof barrier.

“I know everything you’ve done. I’ve issued a gag order below—this matter won’t spread for now.”

Seeing Jiang Wangshu’s confusion, Li Huan continued, “The Jiang family has held the array inheritance for over three hundred years. They will spare no effort to recruit and suppress talented array masters. You may hide for a while, but not forever. They will find you sooner or later.”

“Before they do, you must be prepared.”

Li Huan looked at Jiang Wangshu earnestly. “Also, avoid using massacre-type arrays like you did that day. Without sufficient cultivation, they can affect your mind.”

Jiang Wangshu was puzzled. “Why warn me?”

They weren’t related, and Li Huan certainly wasn’t acting out of boredom.

Li Huan smiled faintly, unable to resist reaching out, stopping halfway to gently pat Jiang Wangshu’s shoulder, her gaze tinged with melancholy. “You must grow stronger—your enemies won’t wait for you.”

“One year to Foundation Establishment, three to Gold Core. Only then will you have a chance to survive.”

With that, she departed without waiting for Jiang Wangshu’s reply, disappearing on the spot.

Jiang Wangshu was left bewildered.

Bang!

A figure crashed heavily to the floor.

Jiang Wanwan struggled to her feet, eyes blazing with fury. “Jiang Wangshu, how dare you send someone to catch me? What exactly are you trying to do!”