Qin Yiru nodded. "Exactly! As I said earlier, the 'Butterfly Dreams of Zhuangzi' technique is essentially trading emotions and desires for a life. But the Gu ritual wasn’t completed—it lacked the final two breaths. So, her six desires remain, but her seven emotions are gone. The girl is now no different from an ordinary person, except she’s lost all human emotions. In short, she’s become a heartless person!"
Human emotions arise from the heart.
Without these emotions, it’s as if she has no heart at all!
The group’s mood grew heavy. Chu Huaishan couldn’t help but ask, "Old Divine Physician, is there a cure?"
Everyone looked at Qin Yiru with hopeful eyes, but he could only spread his hands and let out a bitter laugh. "I may be able to snatch lives from the King of Hell, but I know nothing of the Western Border’s Gu arts! Besides, the creator of 'Butterfly Dreams of Zhuangzi' has long passed. It’s unlikely anyone in the world can undo it now."
Yan Zheng’s eyes darkened. Yun Lang asked, "How will she be different from before?"
Qin Yiru gave him a look as if he were an idiot. "Didn’t you just witness it? A heartless person lacks the emotions we take for granted. She won’t care about anyone, won’t hold back for anyone—she’ll act solely on her own whims. Hah, if she were just an ordinary person, it wouldn’t matter. But this girl is cunning and brilliant. Those who’ve wronged her should beware!"
The group suddenly understood.
No wonder she had immediately sought Hongxiu’s life upon waking—Hongxiu had once choked her.
No wonder she had ruthlessly targeted Lady Jiang the Younger—the woman had mistreated her before.
Yun Lang froze for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Excellent, excellent! So Miao… ahem, the little blind girl has decided to stop holding back? Settling scores left and right—now that’s the straightforward spirit of us… ahem, us martial folk!"
Chu Huaishan gave Lady Jiang the Younger a complicated look and murmured, "As long as Yan’er is safe, that’s all that matters…"
As for her stepmother, if she couldn’t earn forgiveness, she’d have to be sent back to the Jiang Family in Yangzhou…
Only Yan Zheng felt uneasy.
If she was only targeting those who’d wronged her, why had she shown no mercy toward her own father earlier?
But there was no time to dwell on it. Glancing at the unconscious woman in his arms, he carried her into the carriage and said, "Thank you for your help today, Old Divine Physician. A generous gift will be delivered tomorrow. Farewell."
Yun Lang rolled his eyes and snorted. Qin Yiru grinned. "No trouble at all!"
This Yan boy was just like the Chu girl—he knew exactly what the old man liked. Tomorrow would surely bring rare medicinal herbs!
Meanwhile, Chu Huaishan also bid farewell and left with Lady Jiang the Younger.
It had been a long night, but at least it ended well.
Qin Yiru stretched and prepared to rest, only to notice Yun Lang still standing there with a sour expression. "Lang boy, are you still fuming over that Yan kid?"
Yun Lang, caught in his thoughts, narrowed his peach-blossom eyes and gritted his teeth. "Just thinking about how Yan the Third snatched Miao Miao away—and I didn’t even get to see her off at her wedding—makes me want to hang that brat up and beat him senseless!"
"Heh, can you even win against him?"
"Who says I can’t?" Yun Lang flicked open his golden fan, cold glints flashing in his eyes. Qin Yiru quickly pulled him back. "Alright, alright, let’s say you can. But you haven’t even revealed your identity to her yet. How can you play the protective elder brother?"
Yun Lang stiffened and fell silent.
Qin Yiru patted his shoulder. "Come on, I know what’s eating at you. You’re afraid your Yun family ties will bring her trouble—especially since your father was the former dynasty’s regent…"
"I have no father." Yun Lang’s expression turned icy at the mention. "Old man, don’t bring him up again. After all these years, I consider him dead."
Qin Yiru sighed inwardly, recalling the past.
"Pavilion Master, what about Hongxiu?" Shopkeeper Du cautiously approached.
Yun Lang glanced at the half-dead brothel madam on the ground, a trace of ruthlessness in his gaze. "Hongxiu, you acted without orders tonight. I’ll spare you this once, since you accidentally saved Miao Miao’s life. But if there’s a next time—you and Old Du can visit the Punishment Hall."
The Punishment Hall was the most terrifying place in the Hundred Knowledge Pavilion—few who entered left alive.
Shopkeeper Du shuddered, but Hongxiu stubbornly persisted. "Pavilion Master, His Highness’s Frostblade Sword has resurfaced! If we interrogate her about its origins, we can trace the traitor who betrayed the prince! I beg you, prioritize the greater cause—avenge His Highness and the Great Sheng Dynasty!"
Yun Lang scoffed. Shopkeeper Du hastily interjected, "Hongxiu, enough!"
"Pavilion Master! Emperor Yunning and Prince Jin are already dead. The only remaining lineage of the former imperial family is the regent’s bloodline. You must—mmph!!" Before she could finish, someone gagged and dragged her away.
Shopkeeper Du tried to plead, but Yun Lang’s face darkened. "Relax. She followed my mother from the Western Border all those years ago. For that alone, I won’t kill her. But make it clear—my decisions aren’t hers to question!"
"Yes!"
——
Yan Residence, Bridal Chamber.
Chu Ruoyan awoke at dusk, golden light filtering through the window lattice.
She blinked in confusion before recognizing the figure entering. "Awake? Here, eat something."
The man sat by the bed, holding a bowl of medicinal porridge.
Truthfully, she’d barely eaten since the wedding yesterday.
After today’s ordeal, she was starving.
Yet Chu Ruoyan suppressed her hunger, eyeing him warily. "You’re the one who knocked me out?"
Yan Zheng nodded calmly.
She gaped. "But you’re in love with me. Why would you do that?"
Yan Zheng paused. "Precisely because I love you that I couldn’t let you regret it." He scooped a spoonful of porridge and offered it. "Eat?"
The aroma of bird’s nest blended with herbs teased her nose—made exactly to her usual tastes.
After a brief hesitation, she accepted. Spoon after spoon, the bowl was soon empty.
"Good. Rest well. I’ll return later." Yan Zheng stood to leave.
But before he could turn, slender arms coiled around his waist.
Mischievous fingers tugged at his belt, loosening it with ease.
"Husband, it’s still early. Don’t you want to… have some fun?"
Yan Zheng’s breath hitched. When he turned, the familiar eyes gleamed with calculation.
She was scheming something!
He took a deep breath. "You’ve just recovered. Rest first."
With that, he strode out, leaving Chu Ruoyan baffled.
As Yulu entered to attend to her, the blurted question came: "Is he… incapable?"
What man would refuse his wife’s invitation?
Yulu choked on air, but before she could respond, Nanny Zhou hurried in with a frown. "Young Mistress, the Cao Family sent someone—they’re asking if you’ve seen the eldest madam…"
