Foresight, a Nightmare’s Scheme, and a Friend’s Aid

Returning to the rented house, Shangguan Xue practiced her blade in the courtyard, speaking as she did.

“It’s rented to someone attending Great Spirit Academy, and the rent is Spiritlight Fluid.”

“Anyone capable of paying with Spiritlight Fluid must have a cultivator by their side. They would likely obtain a Spirit Art.”

“Therefore, the Nightmare’s target is someone who possesses a Spirit Art and is about to enroll.”

Jia Nan, sitting nearby, furrowed her brows.

“What kind of target is that?”

“Do you remember the Nightmare loved by the Child of Fortune?” Shangguan Xue’s brows unconsciously knitted together. “I initially suspected they met at Great Spirit Academy.”

“But?”

“But I didn’t find her at Great Spirit Academy,” Shangguan Xue sighed. “Thinking about it now, she might possess the ability to mimic others’ appearances and Spirit Arts, even to the point where I couldn’t see through her.”

“Hong Gang?” Jia Nan blurted out a name.

This was the strongest Nightmare in the world, having reached the peak of the Creation Realm. They had disappeared after a confrontation with Shi Ledong.

The only person Jia Nan could think of who could deceive Shangguan Xue was him, despite his male form after transformation.

“No,” Shangguan Xue denied. “Later, I met Hong Gang… he called her ‘Young Mistress’.”

Jia Nan was startled, her fox ears nearly appearing. “Someone he’d call ‘Young Mistress’… A descendant of the Ancient Devil?”

The Ancient Devil was the first Nightmare to take human form, having reached a realm beyond the peak of the Creation Realm. It was said that They had once battled the Sunwheel Saint, who was also beyond the peak of the Creation Realm, and both had vanished.

“Possibly. And the Ancient Devil’s legacy could indeed conceal itself from me,” Shangguan Xue nodded.

“That would be troublesome then…” Jia Nan offered a wry smile. “If it can deceive you, it can deceive us all.” They were all of the same cultivation realm, their spiritual senses roughly comparable in strength.

Shangguan Xue, breathless with exhaustion, spoke only after pausing to rest.

“I speculate… the person who rented this house last time was killed. The Nightmare then disguised herself as that person to enroll and feigned cultivating her Spirit Art.”

“It’s just that this time, we’ve rented this room.”

“But she certainly won’t give up,” Jia Nan surmised. “Will she try the same trick again?”

Before Shangguan Xue could speak, Jia Nan shook her own head.

“Sister Dong has ordered the Sun Palace to intensify patrols recently, and the Landlord has gone to report at the Sun Palace sub-temple. They should be keeping a close watch on this vicinity, so it’s highly unlikely.”

“What will she do then?”

Considering this, Jia Nan felt her fox head swell with perplexity.

“If I had known, I wouldn’t have bothered with those three birds. I would’ve pretended they succeeded and let her come to us herself.”

“Stop thinking about it,” Shangguan Xue interrupted, her arm aching from wielding the blade. “What if Hong Gang follows? I can’t handle the aftermath of you two clashing.”

“Tsk.” Jia Nan knew this was true.

Seeing her arm completely unable to lift, Shangguan Xue simply sat down to rest for a moment.

“The enemy is in the shadows, and so are we. However, our advantage lies in our foresight. Proceeding step-by-step is the best approach.”

“The Nightmare clan’s greatest weakness is their complete loss of fortune. Were it not for the Children of Fortune taking refuge with them, they wouldn’t be able to stir up any significant trouble.”

Jia Nan casually picked her up and cradled her in her arms.

After a pause, Shangguan Xue continued.

“Nevertheless, once we reach Great Spirit Academy, I will find a way to expose her.”

“Alright,” Jia Nan nodded in agreement.

“Good, then I’ll continue practicing…” Shangguan Xue’s words suddenly cut off as the space beside her began to tear open.

The ripped space bore no discernible features.

“Hong Gang leaves no traces when he travels through space…”

As if her spine had been replaced by a spring, Jia Nan immediately shot up, flinging Shangguan Xue to the ground while her right hand transformed into a fox claw, striking out.

Bang!

The fox claw collided with a jade-like hand, and the invisible impact was subtly redirected entirely to the other side of the spatial rift.

The feel of that… Jia Nan cried out the moment she landed:

“Ziyan!”

“It’s me…” Ziyan emerged, sounding weak. “What are you two doing?”

“Apologies, we were just discussing Hong Gang,” Shangguan Xue said, still sitting on the ground. “You know he travels through space much like you do.”

“Ziyan, can’t you add a bit of flair?” Jia Nan complained. “Look, Sister Dong’s spatial cuts have fire, Qingmei draws a door, and Xue’er’s blade appears first.”

“Only you tear space open with your bare hands, completely featureless. It’s far too easy to misunderstand.”

“Too lazy to bother…” Ziyan replied with an air of righteous justification.

‘If only I had the strength, I’d surely cough up a mouthful of old blood. Alas, I’m too weak right now.’

After silently grumbling a few words to herself, Shangguan Xue finally asked:

“Is something the matter?”

“Delivering medicine.” Ziyan pulled out the refined medicine from her robes. “I need to tell you how to use it.”

Mentioning her specialty immediately invigorated her.

“Mm-hmm, alright,” Shangguan Xue leaned closer.

Ziyan took out a bottle of bright red powder.

“Bloodflare, for medicinal baths. It invigorates blood circulation, disperses stagnation, relieves fatigue, and strengthens the body.”

She then produced a bottle of honey pills.

“Calming Pills, for enhancing focus and improving cultivation efficiency.”

From the porcelain bottle she then presented, a pale yellow pill with a faint white glow emerged.

“Wait a moment,” Shangguan Xue narrowed her eyes. “It can’t be that, can it?”

“It is that,” Ziyan nodded. “Immortal Essence Pill, capable of greatly boosting innate spiritual energy, and even directly advancing one to the Body Tempering Realm.”

Shangguan Xue knew how precious the ingredients for this pill were and felt genuinely touched.

“Ziyan…”

Clutching the items to herself, Ziyan narrowed her eyes, resembling a snake poised to strike.

“Just try breaking contact with me again.”

“I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare,” Shangguan Xue said, offering a fawning smile. “After taking your medicine, I definitely won’t.”

“Hmph,” Jia Nan uttered a displeased sound.

But Ziyan smiled brightly. “Here, take them.”

“Thank you, you’ve worked hard.”

“It’s nothing,” Ziyan bent down, picked Shangguan Xue up, and slipped a letter into her hand. “Oh, and Qingmei asked me to give you this.”

“An admission recommendation letter?” Shangguan Xue unfolded it and exclaimed, “Thank you so much!”

“Thank Qingmei instead,” Ziyan waved her hand. “I’ll head back now.”

“Won’t you stay for dinner?” Shangguan Xue tugged on her sleeve. “I’m cooking.”

‘You’re cooking? Well, that changes things…’ Ziyan considered for a moment. “…Alright then.”