Volume 3, Chapter 169 – My Name Is Lizhi

Twenty taels of silver was enough for an ordinary family’s expenses for a year.

And one low-grade spirit stone was worth about one hundred silver taels.

The clothes this girl wore used the most ordinary cloth, not only washed until faded but with visible patches and mending everywhere. At first glance, she was a young girl from an impoverished family.

Chi Xiyan roughly understood why this girl would do something so irrational.

For an impoverished family, three hundred silver equivalent to three spirit stones was an enormous sum, enough to drive a sixteen-year-old girl mad.

Even though these mere three spirit stones weren’t even enough to cover the cost of Chi Xiyan practicing one furnace of pills.

Moreover, that Daoist priest the girl had just mentioned sounded extremely suspicious to Chi Xiyan.

Chi Xiyan was also an alchemist. She had extremely high talent in both the path of alchemy and the path of sword cultivation.

It was just that as the Chi family’s eldest young lady, normally studying the Chi family’s business knowledge and methods, she had no way to concentrate all her energy on either path.

But even so, she had still become the famous Fairy Xiyan of Beihe Commandery, exceptional in both alchemy and sword.

Regarding pills, she also had no small amount of authority to speak.

Three spirit stones was an enormous sum for ordinary people, but for an alchemist, it was utterly insignificant.

In Chi Xiyan’s view, what kind of good pill could be refined with materials worth three spirit stones?

Moreover, according to what the black-haired girl said, that so-called Daoist priest had emphasized that this pill could only be refined by him.

“…” Chi Xiyan supported her forehead.

Thinking of this, she felt she could already reach a definite conclusion.

“Little girl, have you considered… that Daoist priest might be a fraud?”

“Wu?” The black-haired girl suddenly raised her head. She looked at Chi Xiyan, her pair of dark large eyes first showing confusion, then slowly changing to shock.

“Kind older sister, you’re saying that Daoist priest is a fraud? How could that be?!”

“Tsk…” Chi Xiyan lightly clicked her tongue.

If she hadn’t seen it today, she never would have imagined there could be such foolish, innocent people in this world.

“How ridiculous… Aunt would actually think you could become a stumbling block on my future path…”

Chi Xiyan muttered to herself, laughing inwardly.

“…Wu?” The black-haired girl tilted her head slightly. “Kind older sister, did you just say something?”

“That fraud… that Daoist priest refining medicine for you, did he say how much longer your mother’s illness can hold on?”

The black-haired girl pressed her lips together and said, “That Daoist priest said my mother’s condition can hold on for another three months.”

Hearing this, Chi Xiyan’s eyes showed a trace of doubt. “Three months to gather three hundred silver? That fraud… what exactly is he thinking? Why would he think you could gather three hundred silver within three months?”

Chi Xiyan pondered.

Just standing beside this girl, she could faintly smell that pleasant, fresh fragrance.

This scent, like its owner, was like grass and earth mixed together, giving people a feeling of vigorous vitality and fresh fragrance.

Like fresh bamboo, also like shoots after rain.

This scent made Chi Xiyan feel very comfortable.

Suddenly, Chi Xiyan thought of something. She said, “That fraud, could he be targeting you specifically?”

Three hundred silver. Such an enormous debt was enough to drive a young girl to a dead end.

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If that fraud had been targeting the girl before her from the very beginning, then everything would make sense.

Chi Xiyan looked the black-haired girl before her up and down.

Shabby clothes, yellowed hair, thin body, and her face showed an unhealthy paleness.

Even in such an unsightly state, it was difficult to erase the sweet, delicate beauty of this face.

This girl’s foundation was too good.

Chi Xiyan was certain that if the girl before her hadn’t been raised in an impoverished family, but had been pampered in the Chi family from childhood, her appearance and temperament wouldn’t be much inferior to Chi Xiyan’s own.

Qin Qingfen said this girl didn’t look like the deceased first wife.

Chi Xiyan had never seen that first wife, so she couldn’t compare.

But someone who could always remain in Old Master Chi’s heart should probably also have such a devastatingly beautiful appearance.

“The priest is targeting me?” The black-haired girl suddenly stared with frightened eyes. “He wants to…”

She seemed to remember something terrible.

Her hands suddenly hugged her chest, her face deathly pale.

Her body seemed to tremble slightly, and fine cold sweat seeped from her forehead.

Chi Xiyan noticed this girl’s abnormality and frowned. “What’s wrong with you? Are you uncomfortable?”

Chi Xiyan raised her hand, wanting to lightly touch the girl’s forehead.

The black-haired girl raised her head, a trace of helplessness and fear flashing through her eyes.

She retreated half a step, avoiding Chi Xiyan’s touch.

“I… I’m fine…” the black-haired girl said.

Chi Xiyan stared intently at the black-haired girl before her.

A physician didn’t necessarily have to be an alchemist, but an alchemist definitely studied various medical principles.

Chi Xiyan was like this.

And at this moment, Chi Xiyan could feel that this girl’s reaction just now was very much like a stress response after suffering some kind of trauma.

Just now, she had revealed very obvious panic and helplessness, anxiety and palpitations.

Something very terrible must have happened to this girl.

“Are you really alright?” Chi Xiyan asked with furrowed brow.

“I’m fine, really fine.” The black-haired girl pulled at the corners of her mouth, her eyes red, revealing a smile uglier than crying. “Kind older sister… if that Daoist priest really is a fraud, then who can still save my mother…”

Chi Xiyan looked at her and was silent for a while.

This girl had avoided her question.

However, this was also a normal reaction.

After a person suffers strong trauma, they also develop an avoidance consciousness toward similar matters and things, trying as much as possible not to recall people or events related to that matter.

So at this moment, Chi Xiyan also understood she shouldn’t continue pursuing the question.

After all, whatever happened to this wild girl had nothing to do with Chi Xiyan herself.

Chi Xiyan pondered for a moment and said, “I think rather than considering your mother’s matter, you should first think about how to resolve the problems on yourself.”

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“Even if Five Immortals House isn’t causing you trouble now, the fact that you owe Five Immortals House money is indisputable. I can help you once, but I can’t possibly help you every time. If this matter isn’t resolved, there will still be endless troubles waiting for you in the future.”

Hearing this, the black-haired girl’s face turned several shades paler.

“Are you really unwilling to think of any solution at all?” Chi Xiyan asked.

“It’s not that… kind older sister, I don’t want to be like this either… but I really have no way.” The black-haired girl choked up. “Moreover, compared to myself, I care more about my mother… If I can save my mother, even if it means I have to…”

“Wu…”

The black-haired girl lowered her head slightly, biting her lower lip. “Even if I have to encounter even more terrible things… I can… endure it.”

Chi Xiyan looked at her, her eyes revealing some contemplation.

She always felt this girl’s state was somewhat strange.

What exactly had happened to her?

Chi Xiyan furrowed her brow.

However, Chi Xiyan still suppressed her curiosity.

She didn’t have the habit of touching others’ painful wounds.

The reason she appeared here today, following this girl to a place like Five Immortals House, was only because she didn’t want to watch the Chi family’s bloodline step into a pit of fire before her eyes.

According to Chi Xiyan’s previous thinking, as long as this girl left this black shop Five Immortals House, then the rest would have nothing to do with Chi Xiyan.

However, now things were a bit different.

Chi Xiyan was someone hard to anger.

Yet this girl’s state inexplicably made her blood boil.

So after she had said so much earlier, this girl really hadn’t listened to any of it at all?

Self-abandoning, self-deprecating, was this really the Chi family’s bloodline?!

Chi Xiyan was truly angry.

“You really don’t understand my words at all.” She furrowed her brow, her tone becoming slightly heavier.

“Wu…” The black-haired girl noticed Chi Xiyan’s tone change. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to make you angry… kind passing older sister.”

“…You.” Chi Xiyan’s brow furrowed even deeper.

This girl! It didn’t matter if she didn’t apologize. Once she apologized, it made Chi Xiyan even angrier.

Watching this girl’s weak, pitiful, dull, and unbearable appearance, Chi Xiyan felt anger rising from nowhere.

This girl was simply impervious to reason, or rather, mud that couldn’t be made into a wall.

Chi Xiyan was certain that if no one helped her, even if Chi Xiyan redeemed her today, tomorrow she would be sold to another brothel again.

A girl raised by ignorant poor people from childhood was rotten from the root.

She really didn’t know how this girl had safely lived until now.

Chi Xiyan raised her hand to rub her forehead.

Honestly, watching this girl’s unbearable appearance, she really wanted to just throw her here and ignore her.

But this girl might be the Chi family’s legitimate daughter, her cousin.

Even if she couldn’t be one hundred percent certain of this identity, Chi Xiyan shouldn’t stand by and do nothing.

Chi Xiyan slightly calmed the anger in her heart and said, “I already told you, the way you are now, the only person you’ve wronged is yourself. You have no need to apologize to me.”

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“Wu…” The black-haired girl lowered her head and didn’t dare continue speaking.

“Forget it…” Chi Xiyan sighed helplessly. “This also isn’t the place to continue talking. First come with me.”

The black-haired girl raised her head, looking at Chi Xiyan with surprise. “Kind older sister… didn’t you say you wouldn’t help me?”

“I truly don’t want to help you.” Chi Xiyan said coldly. “The way you are, I get angry just looking at you.”

“Wu…” The black-haired girl whimpered and lowered her head like an ostrich again.

“Stop pretending.” Chi Xiyan said, “If you can’t even understand these words, then you might as well pack your things early and find a good spot in Five Immortals House’s pleasure boats.”

“Don’t make me say more useless words. Follow me yourself.”

Finished speaking, Chi Xiyan turned and walked toward the outside.

After walking several steps, she discovered that the fresh, secluded fragrance from before was slowly withdrawing from her side.

Inside the gambling house, various strange odors were rushing to attack her nostrils.

She furrowed her brow, raising her hand to lightly cover her nose with her sleeve, quickly walking outside.

After watching Chi Xiyan’s back leave the gambling house, the black-haired girl slowly straightened her body.

She curved her lips into a smile.

Approaching Chi Xiyan went as smoothly as Lu Zhuxin had anticipated.

Chi Xiyan, the Chi family’s fake daughter, pursued wealth and fame, rational yet profit-focused.

At first glance, this character setting seemed very much like a female antagonist in traditional inner-court struggle novels.

But in the world Lu Zhuxin had created, she was also one of the Heaven-Mandated Female Leads.

As Song Shiyuan’s cousin, she actually had traits similar to Song Shiyuan.

Though she was a merchant, even using traveling charitable medical practice as a means to earn reputation, she herself had her own pursuits and bottom lines.

Her confidence, her rationality, the pride in her bones. She never wanted to submit or attach herself to anyone.

And as a merchant, she could rationally utilize any resources and assistance around her.

Therefore, what Chi Xiyan hated most were those ignorant, weak, incompetent women who only cried.

In her understanding, living in this world, status, wealth, reputation, all of these things had to be fought for through one’s own efforts. They wouldn’t fall from the sky while you sat in place.

Lu Zhuxin’s performance just now had stepped on almost all of Chi Xiyan’s landmines.

And this was precisely Lu Zhuxin’s goal.

“Little Xiyan, tears aren’t necessarily a display of weakness and incompetence.”

“Tears can also be a tool that can be utilized.”

“Infants who haven’t yet learned speech use crying to attract their parents’ attention.”

“Just like… just now.”

If Lu Zhuxin had really listened to Chi Xiyan’s words and made herself appear more mature and independent, then after leaving Five Immortals House, Chi Xiyan probably wouldn’t care about her anymore.

Of course, what played an important role in this was also the Chi family’s bloodline.

Blood kinship was an important bond.

Lu Zhuxin restrained the smile on her face, stepping forward to catch up with Chi Xiyan.

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At this time, from the corner of her eye, she suddenly caught sight of the middle-aged man who had made her sign the contract earlier.

That middle-aged man was sitting behind the counter, looking at Lu Zhuxin with a sinister gaze.

Noticing Lu Zhuxin’s gaze directed at him, he chuckled and said, “Little miss, that wealthy young lady from earlier seems to have quite a background. If you can latch onto her coattails, whether it’s helping you repay your debt or wanting to do other things, it would all be easy.”

Though he was smiling, there wasn’t much mirth in his eyes.

He had heard that some powerful, influential family children had special hobbies.

That wealthy young lady earlier could come to this kind of place for such a poor girl and specifically stand up for her. It was hard to say that wealthy young lady didn’t have other thoughts in her heart.

“Little miss, but I must remind you, such wealthy family coattails aren’t so easy to latch onto.”

Lu Zhuxin couldn’t be bothered with him. She quickly walked outside.

But through spiritual consciousness, she transmitted softly, “Huang Huying, even if you don’t want to pay attention to this low-class gambling house, you shouldn’t let certain vermin ruin Five Immortals House’s rules.”

“Moreover…” Lu Zhuxin paused again. “Sometimes, news transmitted from places like this can even be more useful than from the upper levels.”

“This subordinate accepts Your Majesty’s instruction!” Huang Huying’s transmitted voice carried a trace of panic.

When Lu Zhuxin came outside, she saw Chi Xiyan standing at the entrance waiting for her.

“You took your time.” Chi Xiyan lightly covered herself with an embroidered silk handkerchief.

From afar, Lu Zhuxin could smell the spiritual flower fragrance on that handkerchief.

Just how disgusted was Chi Xiyan with the environment in that place earlier?

“I’m sorry, kind older sister.” Lu Zhuxin slightly lowered her head, responding in a soft voice. “I made you angry again.”

A trace of impatience flashed through Chi Xiyan’s eyes.

This younger sister really knew how to make her angry.

Just as Chi Xiyan wanted to say something more, the girl before her face changed slightly again.

“S-sorry… I shouldn’t have apologized! Kind older sister.”

Chi Xiyan completely lost her temper. She used the handkerchief to cover her forehead.

“Forget it… getting angry at you is the stupidest thing I’ve done today.”

“Moreover, you can also change that strange way of addressing me.”

“My surname is Chi. As for my name…” Chi Xiyan hesitated. She didn’t know whether she should tell this girl her identity.

“Eh! Forget it, you’ll know sooner or later anyway.”

Chi Xiyan put away the handkerchief. She said.

“I am Chi Xiyan, Chi Xiyan of the Chi family of Beihe Commandery.”

“Chi Xiyan, Sister Chi…” The black-haired girl silently repeated this name.

Chi Xiyan discovered that the black-haired girl’s facial expression before her didn’t change much.

It seemed this girl didn’t understand what this name represented in Beihe Commandery.

Thinking of this, Chi Xiyan laughed self-deprecatingly. “Address me however you want.”

“Sister Chi.” The black-haired girl said softly and gently, “My name is Lizhi…”

“Yu Lizhi.”