What Zhou Zhilán wanted was the most crucial piece in her hand.
Xie Zhaolin rubbed the storage pouch, feeling the token that had fallen from the evil cultivator that day.
What could it be traded for?
A chance to enter the inner sect? A cover for her identity? Or later… an extra hidden pawn inside the Hehuan Sect?
Her knuckles tightened slightly, the edge of the bone token cutting into her palm, a tiny trickle of blood seeping out. If Zhou Zhilán actually brought it into the sect, how much would Xu Changming believe? And if she handed it to the elders…
The wind outside suddenly rose, sweeping away the last drops clinging to the eaves.
Xie Zhaolin tucked the bone token back into the pouch, the residual black aura on her fingertips slowly dissipating. "Not yet the time."
She turned and went into the inner chamber, pulling out the prepared medicinal herbs from her storage ring. One bottle of Jade Marrow Pill, three hundred-year-old Snow Lingzhi, and a small box of Yin-attributed spiritual herbs taken from the black-robed cultivator's storage pouch.
This would be enough to repair her meridians.
The next morning, the Zhou household was in upheaval.
News of Second Young Master "fleeing in fear of his crimes" spread through the estate, and even more shocking, just after Wu (noon), Zhou family disciples found his body at Duanhun Cliff—completely unrecognizable, with only the bloodstained jade token at his waist to prove his identity.
On the same day, Zhou Moxuan personally handed over seventy percent of the family's spiritual vein resources to Xu Changming, along with an exquisitely crafted storage pouch.
Xu Changming lightly probed the pouch with his fingertips and nodded in satisfaction, casting a meaningful glance at Zhou Zhilán standing nearby. "Miss Zhilán, you really are exceptionally clever."
In the days that followed, Tinghe Pavilion remained quietly closed.
Xie Zhaolin publicly claimed she was in seclusion to recover, but in reality, she nurtured her meridians with the medicinal herbs, gradually repairing the damage caused by the baleful qi. Occasionally, footsteps could be heard outside—the Zhou family disciples delivering spiritual food and fresh water—but no one dared disturb her.
Xu Changming stayed in Qingyang City, still searching for the evil cultivator, occasionally visiting Zhou Zhilán with pills and books. The Zhou family watched it all unfold, and no one dared interfere.
When Zhou Xuanshan emerged from seclusion, though furious over his son's death, he was ultimately dissuaded by Zhou Moxuan and a few elders from making a scene.
Everything seemed to have settled.
A month later.
Inside Tinghe Pavilion, Xie Zhaolin slowly opened her eyes.
The meridian damage had fully healed, her cultivation stabilized at the peak of Qi Refinement. Though she hadn't broken through to Foundation Establishment, the resilience of her meridians had surpassed their previous state.
"Senior."
A cool voice came from the garden gate.
Zhou Zhilán stood at the stone steps, holding a pale jade box engraved with the emblem of the Zhou family alchemy workshop.
"I heard you emerged from seclusion today. Father asked me to deliver some pills."
Xie Zhaolin took the jade box, her divine sense scanning it. Three superior Qi-nourishing pills—already quite precious given Zhou Zhilán's limited resources.
"Looks like your father's gained a foothold in the alchemy workshop."
Zhou Zhilán's lips curved slightly. "Thanks to you, Senior."
She followed Xie Zhaolin into the inner chamber. Her fingertips lightly tapped the tea table, silently activating a soundproof barrier.
"The Zhou family hasn't been peaceful lately." She poured a cup of tea, her voice barely above a whisper. "After the Patriarch emerged from seclusion, he used the excuse of helping Xu Changming clear out evil cultivators to replace most of the people Seventh Uncle had placed in the Spiritual Vein Division."
The tea swirled in the cup, reflecting her faintly cold brows.
"Seventh Uncle's counterattack came faster." Zhou Zhilán tapped the table, "Three days ago, the Patriarch's most trusted aide suddenly died—" she smiled slightly, "the death looked just like Second Brother's."
Xie Zhaolin's eyes flickered.
"Xu Changming used the opportunity to investigate thoroughly, pointing the finger at evil cultivators," Zhou Zhilán continued, her voice tinged with amusement. "It turned out Ninth Elder was embezzling spirit stones, Fourth Elder selling medicinal herbs illegally…" She let out a soft laugh. "Even Seventh Uncle's precious son got caught up in it."
"Trying to kill with a borrowed knife, but ended up burning oneself," Xie Zhaolin said calmly.
Zhou Zhilán covered her lips and chuckled. "These past few days, Seventh Uncle's been scrambling in chaos."
"Xu Changming's appetite's not small." Xie Zhaolin raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Seventy percent of the spiritual veins still not enough?"
Zhou Zhilán lowered her gaze, a faint smile on her lips. "The Hehuan Sect is currently forging a batch of special magical tools that require a large amount of cold-attributed veins." She dipped her fingertips in tea and traced winding patterns on the table. "Of the three cold veins near Qingyang City, the Zhou family controls two."
The tea marks dried, and Xie Zhaolin studied them, suddenly smiling. "So that's why Xu Changming's so focused on the Patriarch's aide's death."
"Exactly." Zhou Zhilán sighed lightly. "Seventh Uncle's trapped. He needs the Hehuan Sect's support to suppress the Patriarch but fears Xu Changming might swallow the whole Zhou family."
Xie Zhaolin raised an eyebrow. "And?"
"Three days ago, Xu Changming went to the Spiritual Vein Division and took thirty percent of the cold jade marrow."
The tea swirled in the cup, reflecting Xie Zhaolin's thoughtful expression. She'd just emerged from seclusion, and the news was fresh.
"Zhou Moxuan anxious?"
"He smashed his beloved Ziyun Inkstone yesterday." Zhou Zhilán's fingers absentmindedly traced the cup's rim. "It was left to him by the former Patriarch."
Xie Zhaolin smirked slightly. Zhou Zhilán hadn't stopped fanning the flames in Zhou Moxuan's ear.
"And the Patriarch?"
"He's currently at the elders' meeting, arguing fiercely with Seventh Uncle." Zhou Zhilán lightly traced the table. "Yesterday, over the right to extract the cold vein, they nearly came to blows."
Xie Zhaolin's eyes gleamed with understanding. The internal struggle in the Zhou family had reached its peak.
"Xu Changming's stance?"
"He…" Zhou Zhilán lowered her voice, "told me privately yesterday, the Hehuan Sect only recognizes the person holding the seal."
No wonder Zhou Moxuan was so anxious—once Xu Changming withdrew his support, all these years of planning would collapse.
"You told him?"
"Only half." Zhou Zhilán looked up, a flash of cold intent in her eyes. "I told him that Steward Xu wasn't happy with his recent actions."
The teacup paused at her lips, and Xie Zhaolin laughed. A masterful half-truth—Zhou Moxuan would surely think Xu Changming intended to switch support, and panic.
"So…"
Zhou Zhilán slowly pulled a secret letter from her sleeve. "Seventh Uncle needs a strong medicine."
She spread it flat. The cinnabar lines glimmered faintly, showing the layout of the Zhou family inner courtyard, a few red dots marked around the Patriarch's residence, with guard rotation times noted beside them.
"The Zhou family…" She tapped the Patriarch's residence lightly, "needs only one voice."
Xie Zhaolin's eyes scanned the times marked on the talisman. "Chou (1–3am) the day after tomorrow?"
"Seventh Uncle's already arranged for two inner courtyard guards," Zhou Zhilán folded the layout. "A poison pill, offered by one of his confidants, will be disguised as the Patriarch overexerting in cultivation."
"What else?" Xie Zhaolin asked, looking up.
Zhou Zhilán met her gaze. "A medicinal catalyst. Needed to cover up the traces of the poison."