The Unseen Hand and a Vicious Woman’s Plot

Upon waking, Yuan Zhigong had, of course, already departed. Lan Jun stood by the bedside, accompanied by Zhuyu, who appeared utterly lost. Indeed, Zhuyu truly seemed to have lost her very soul.

He asked Lan Jun, “Besides the Immortal Monarch, who else visited today?”

Lan Jun replied respectfully, “Liu Jiaren, Han Jiaren, Wang Jiaren, Chang Jiaren, Qin Jiaren…” She rattled off a string of names before adding, “However, upon learning the Immortal Monarch was present, they were all turned away at the entrance and subsequently left.”

He Suosi slapped the quilt. “Yuan Zhigong ruined my plans!” He lamented, “I should have made some progress today. Lying in bed is truly tedious.”

His eyes darted about. “Did they leave any gifts?” he inquired.

“They all left something, and they’ve all been put away,” Lan Jun responded.

“Bring me Chang Hui’s gift,” He Suosi instructed.

Chang Hui’s gifts consisted of some precious medicinal herbs and a selection of spiritual fruit pastries. He Suosi meticulously examined each item, finding them all quite ordinary, devoid of any hidden tricks. Naturally, his opponent would not be so overtly obvious in her intentions.

Just then, Lan Jun added, “However, the outer sect disciples reported that someone from the Pei Manor arrived today. Seeing that it was already late, they decided to stay in the outer sect guest quarters for the night.”

He Suosi was taken aback. “W-w-what? Aren’t those Pei Nishang’s relatives?”

“It shouldn’t be,” Lan Jun clarified. “It seems to be a steward or someone of that sort. You are in charge of the Reincarnation Pavilion’s business, Mistress, so it’s likely someone delivering account books.”

He Suosi initially breathed a sigh of relief, but then a thought struck him. “Is the Reincarnation Pavilion very close to the Guangyu Immortal Sect?” he asked.

“It’s not far normally,” Lan Jun explained, “but it requires inspection at the courier station, so it takes about three days to travel.”

He Suosi raised an eyebrow. “Then they wouldn’t know I’m ill, would they? What if I’m too sick to get out of bed tomorrow?”

This line of thought clearly exceeded Lan Jun’s capacity for scheming. She froze, her mouth agape, a bewildered expression on her face.

This expression greatly amused He Suosi. He curved his eyes into a smile. “We shall see, then. Tomorrow, I fear I won’t be able to see anyone at all.”

Although it was merely a guest room, every piece of furniture—from the tables to the chairs—was of exquisite quality. The floor was smooth and level, etched with a spiritual array that gathered ambient spiritual energy, invigorating any cultivator who stepped inside.

The bedding and quilts were made of the finest silk, and high-quality incense burned in the censer, leaving every corner immaculately fresh.

“Truly worthy of the Guangyu Immortal Sect,” a woman, appearing to be in her late forties or early fifties, murmured. She ran her hand over the polished willow wood tabletop, a look of envy crossing her face.

She had long passed the prime of her youth, yet she had not cultivated sufficient temperament. She appeared humble and suppressed—someone who would instantly be lost in a crowd.

“Pei Yizhi, don’t embarrass me!” The one shouting at the woman was a girl barely seventeen or eighteen. With bright eyes, pearly teeth, delicate skin, and a face like a flower, her glossy hair was enchanting to behold.

This girl, Pei Shansu, was the most outstanding talent of the Pei family’s current generation. She looked at the older woman with impatience. “I truly don’t understand why they made you come with me.”

She disdained the woman, not only because her constant fussing along the way brought her shame, but also because this woman had only achieved Foundation Establishment at the age of seventy, with no further progress possible in her lifetime. She was the most ridiculed failure of their generation.

Indeed, despite the significant difference in their appearances, their actual ages were not far apart. It was merely the disparity in their cultivation levels and speed of progress that created such a visual gap.

This trip to report a year’s progress to Pei Nishang was originally meant for Pei Shansu and her senior brother. However, two days ago, halfway through their journey, her senior brother mysteriously fell ill, and Pei Yizhi had replaced him.

Despite being scolded in such a manner, the older woman showed no resentment. Instead, she wore a timid expression, repeatedly muttering, “I’m sorry.”

Pei Shansu found her meek and submissive demeanor—which made it seem as if she were constantly being bullied—utterly irritating. Annoyed, she pulled the blanket over her head, preparing to sleep.

Her mission this time, besides delivering her report, was to convey that the Third Young Lady Pei also wished to enter the Immortal Sect. Knowing that the Third Young Lady harbored feelings for Guangyu Immortal Monarch, she realized this news would be difficult to deliver, which only deepened her turmoil.

She utterly failed to comprehend what the Third Branch was thinking. The Pei family was not so small that it couldn’t provide cultivation resources, so why send another person here to cause trouble for Pei Nishang?

Lost in her thoughts, she failed to notice that Pei Yizhi, who had been timidly looking down, had now raised her head. Her gaze was icy as she stared at the girl in bed, as if looking at a dead person.

‘Once this is done… once this is done…’

She narrowed her drooping, wrinkled eyes, lifted the censer, and discreetly added some powder into it. A richer fragrance diffused through the room, yet upon casual inspection, it seemed no different from before.

At dawn the next day, Pei Shansu, suddenly afflicted by a “strange illness,” rested in the guest room. Thus, only Pei Yizhi remained to meet Pei Nishang.

“What? Too sick to get out of bed?”

Upon hearing the maid’s words, Pei Yizhi’s face registered surprise. She had just used that exact excuse with the outer sect disciples this morning, telling them to keep the room door tightly shut to allow Pei Shansu to rest.

Now, in the blink of an eye, she was facing the same explanation herself. Hadn’t they said the medicine Pei Nishang consumed wouldn’t make her appear gravely ill?

Though she harbored this question, she knew little about so-called sacred medicines and assumed chronic poisons could have unexpected side effects. Thus, she wasn’t overly concerned, only worried that Pei Nishang might die from this illness before she could even meet her.

“I only heard she was ill yesterday. How could it be so serious today?” She feigned a worried expression, growing more anxious. “I must see our Young Lady! Please, let me see our Young Lady!”

She looked as if she was about to kneel. Pitiful and humble, her sallow face contorted into a chrysanthemum. Yet, the object of her pleas remained expressionless and businesslike. “The Mistress cannot see anyone.”

Having survived so long at the bottom of the complex Pei Manor, Pei Yizhi had never encountered someone so unyielding. Although a cultivator’s appearance and age could be deceiving, in Pei Yizhi’s estimation, this clear-eyed, bland-faced, emotionless young maid should not have been an old hand.

Yet, no matter whether she pleaded or threatened, the maid—Lan Jun—simply repeated one phrase:

“The Mistress cannot see anyone.”

Pei Yizhi hadn’t drugged Pei Shansu in her room just to waste a day. Finally, she knelt, grasping Lan Jun’s skirt and attempting to embrace her legs, tears and snot flowing freely. “Oh, young lady—please—just…”

Before she could utter another word, her hands suddenly found nothing. She stumbled forward, her face hitting the ground directly, striking her nose. Tears and snot immediately gushed forth, but the figure in front of her had vanished.

Lan Jun stood about a foot away from her, her gaze colder than before, even seeming to emit a faint green glow.

“Next time, I won’t be the one stepping back.”

The words were spoken with the same calm indifference as before, yet they sent an inexplicable shiver down Pei Yizhi’s spine.

Her hands trembled uncontrollably. Ignoring the pain in her face, she desperately wanted to turn and flee immediately. But then she thought of her younger brother at home and the promises she had received. Her ambition for the future finally triumphed over her fear.

She stopped her physical pleas, instead repeatedly kowtowing at the doorway, wailing loudly, “Please let me see the Young Lady! Just let me see her once! Even if she married into the Guangyu Immortal Sect, are we, her Pei family, not even allowed a single visit? If… if it’s truly impossible, then at least let me see… see the Young Lady… Wuwuwu…”

They stood at the entrance to the passage leading from the outer to the inner residence. Though there weren’t many people, some were constantly coming and going, all pointing and whispering at the scene.

Lan Jun, however, seemed utterly oblivious to this. She watched the woman silently, without blinking, until a familiar, slightly mocking voice reached her ears via spiritual transmission. “Heh, such a person. Lan Jun, you may return now.”

Lan Jun politely nodded to the woman, then turned and left.

“…”

She just left? Pei Yizhi stared, dumbfounded.

She wanted to speak loudly, but the maid had already vanished from sight, as if she had never appeared at all. Pei Yizhi gazed at the empty doorway, feeling like a comical puppet performing a play without an audience.

He Suosi was carving a wooden figurine, his eyes fixed on the scene reflected in the water mirror, which shimmered on the oleander outside his window. His lips parted, uttering two words.

“Vicious woman.”

Little Black preened his right wing, tidying his feathers. Hearing He Suosi’s words, he chirped, “But the one lying poisoned in the room is a beauty, taken down by this old woman!”

He Suosi glanced at Little Black. “Peeking at others and calling them an old woman… Xiao Hei, how rude of you.”

Little Black bristled. ‘Who was it that first said “vicious woman”?!”

However, before he could retort, a set of footsteps sounded. Little Black was immediately scooped up and placed into a spirit beast pouch. He Suosi turned to see Lan Jun striding quickly into the room.

“Mistress, I’ve returned.” Perhaps she had rushed back too quickly, for her cheeks were flushed, and fine beads of sweat dotted her nose, making her appear even more radiant, like a peach blossom.

‘Ah, Lan Jun is truly adorable.’

Having witnessed her ruthless performance at the doorway, He Suosi found this contrast endearing. He cheerfully waved Lan Jun closer.

“Lan Jun, are you thirsty? Would you like some water?”

Lan Jun shook her head in response, standing quite primly to the side.

He Suosi felt a touch of regret. He thought the girl was good in every way, except that she was sometimes too reserved and didn’t like to talk or act spoiled. Spoiled girls were always more endearing. He thought of his junior sister from his past life, deciding that while Lan Jun was good, his junior sister was even cuter.

Just then, his heart stirred, and a disturbance came from Zhuyu’s direction.