Volume 3, Chapter 189 – Somewhat Obtrusive

Outside Beihe Commandery city, at the farm manor.

Lu Zhuxin was leisurely strolling through the fields, while Lin Xiu followed behind her at a measured distance.

Chi Xiyan had Lin Xiu protect Lu Zhuxin. Until Chi Xiyan returned from the commandery city, Lin Xiu couldn’t leave Lu Zhuxin’s side for even a moment.

After Chi Xiyan left, Lu Zhuxin couldn’t stay cooped up in the courtyard, so she called Lin Xiu and decided to wander around the manor.

This place was the manor’s back mountain, also within the formation’s protection, so Lin Xiu agreed to Lu Zhuxin’s request.

The two walked unhurriedly along the path through the fields.

On both sides of the path bloomed unknown yellow wildflowers.

For Lu Zhuxin, who possessed the soul of a modern person, such natural pastoral scenery could be seen only on television.

It was just a pity that right now, she wasn’t in the mood to appreciate this natural scenery.

The martial artist guard behind her kept his gaze fixed on Lu Zhuxin’s back for most of the time.

Of course, this wasn’t because the martial artist had any improper thoughts about Lu Zhuxin.

A loyal subordinate who could earn the Heaven-Mandated Female Lead’s trust couldn’t possibly be someone with a vile temperament.

That gaze contained more vigilance.

Lu Zhuxin didn’t know what exactly about her had aroused this martial artist’s suspicion.

In her view, she shouldn’t have shown any flaws.

Or was it simply because this martial artist had remarkable instincts?

Regardless of the reason, being constantly watched with such a gaze felt quite unpleasant.

Lu Zhuxin suddenly stopped, turned her head slightly, and said to Lin Xiu with a light laugh, “Senior Lin Xiu, why do you keep looking at me like that?”

“Miss told me to protect you,” Lin Xiu said flatly.

“If you’re protecting me, shouldn’t you be more alert to the surroundings?” Lu Zhuxin asked. “Then why does your gaze stay locked on me?”

“Miss Yu,” Lin Xiu unconsciously flexed his fists. “A person’s attention is limited. It’s difficult to notice situations in all directions simultaneously.”

“Concentrating attention on one point is much simpler.”

“Those assassins’ target is you. As long as I keep my attention on you, I can instead deduce from you the most convenient positions for those assassins to attack.”

At this point, Lin Xiu’s words paused. He looked at Lu Zhuxin and said, “However, Miss Yu, I have a question.”

“You’ve been walking in front of me the whole time. How do you know my gaze has been on you?”

Tch…

Who said martial artists were all simple-minded brutes with well-developed limbs? He caught the flaw in Lu Zhuxin’s words so quickly.

Lu Zhuxin let out a sweet laugh. “So, Senior Lin Xiu, how do you think I knew you were watching me?”

Lin Xiu fell silent.

He looked at Lu Zhuxin before him, his eyes narrowing slightly.

From the very beginning, Lin Xiu had felt that the girl before him was completely unlike an ordinary farm girl.

This girl had a particularly strange sense of incongruity about her.

But he could never pinpoint where this feeling came from.

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Until this moment, when Lin Xiu saw the smile on this girl’s face.

Compared to her previous timid appearance, the current her was much more genuine and natural.

If he had to use something simple to define the girl before him, Lin Xiu felt she was very much like a fox.

A cunning fox.

Right now, she had shed her disguise.

Lin Xiu’s gaze gradually became dangerous.

“Miss Yu, just who are you?”

Ordinary people couldn’t possibly have such spiritual awareness.

Yet Lin Xiu couldn’t see any traces of cultivation on the girl before him.

This enormous sense of incongruity made Lin Xiu somewhat doubt his own judgment.

“What am I?” Lu Zhuxin blinked. “Senior Lin Xiu, what could I be? I’m just an ordinary farm girl.”

“Miss Yu, you’re absolutely not some farm girl,” Lin Xiu said. “You may deceive Miss, but you can’t deceive me.”

“A deceiver?” Lu Zhuxin’s face showed a wounded expression.

“Ah! I only intended to play a little joke on Senior Lin Xiu. I didn’t expect Senior Lin Xiu to view me this way.”

“How hurtful.”

Lin Xiu didn’t speak, coldly watching Lu Zhuxin’s exaggerated performance.

“I won’t joke with Senior Lin anymore.” Lu Zhuxin raised her hand, revealing a small mirror in her palm.

“The answer is this.” Lu Zhuxin smiled and held up the mirror, waving it in front of Lin Xiu. “I saw Senior Lin Xiu through the mirror.”

A mirror?

Lin Xiu furrowed his brows.

Had this girl looked in a mirror just now?

Lin Xiu hadn’t noticed her make any movements of looking in a mirror at all.

Yet she was clearly just a mortal with no cultivation.

The higher a cultivator’s cultivation, the harder it was to break habits formed from years of bitter cultivation.

This girl’s body had absolutely no traces of cultivation whatsoever.

These past few days, Lin Xiu had been guarding this girl’s side constantly.

Through observation, he was very clear about this girl’s living habits.

She ate three meals a day on time, always got drowsy at night, and always bathed before sleeping.

Lin Xiu hadn’t discovered any abnormalities in this.

The only odd thing was that compared to a normal farm girl, this young lady was far too fond of cleanliness.

Or was she even better than ordinary cultivators at concealing herself?

Lin Xiu hadn’t reached an answer when a voice interrupted his thoughts.

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“Zhizhi, what are you doing here?”

Chi Xiyan lowered her escape light and landed beside the two. She furrowed her brows.

“Didn’t I say that it’s dangerous for you outside? Try not to leave the manor.”

Before Chi Xiyan, Lu Zhuxin returned to her former obedient appearance.

“Sister Chi, I felt stifled staying in the manor, so I begged Senior Lin Xiu to bring me out for some fresh air.”

“I’m sorry.” Lu Zhuxin lowered her head.

Lin Xiu watched Lu Zhuxin’s performance from the side without speaking.

“We’ll overlook it this time. Don’t do this again,” Chi Xiyan said.

“Yes, Sister Chi.” Lu Zhuxin was exceptionally well-behaved.

Lin Xiu still wore a cold expression, saying nothing.

Chi Xiyan paused before saying, “Zhizhi, our father has returned.”

Lu Zhuxin froze slightly. “Our father?”

“Mm.” Chi Xiyan’s face showed a smile. “Go pack your things. You’ll come back to the Chi family with me shortly.”

“After returning to the Chi family and recognizing kinship by blood, you’ll be the Chi family’s second young lady.”

“The Chi family’s… second young lady?” Lu Zhuxin’s face showed surprise.

“Yes, you’re the Chi family’s second young lady,” Chi Xiyan said with a smile. “From now on, we’ll be true sisters.”

Lu Zhuxin pursed her lips, then called out sweetly, “Elder Sister!”

…Elder Sister?

The farm girl’s call of “Elder Sister” made Chi Xiyan pause slightly.

Within the Chi family, she was accustomed to others calling her “Elder Sister.”

But the farm girl’s sweet call of “Elder Sister” gave rise to some unusual feelings in her heart.

She laughed lightly. “Yes, Zhizhi, my adorable younger sister.”

…

Chi Xiyan and Lin Xiu together escorted Lu Zhuxin back into the manor.

Lu Zhuxin went into her room alone to pack her things.

Chi Xiyan looked at the martial artist Lin Xiu beside her.

“Lin Xiu, is there something you want to tell me?”

Chi Xiyan had long noticed that the martial artist Lin Xiu had been looking like he wanted to speak but stopped himself.

He clearly had something he wanted to tell Chi Xiyan.

“Miss,” Lin Xiu’s face was serious. “Miss Yu… she may be problematic.”

“Zhizhi? What’s wrong with her now?” Chi Xiyan asked.

Lin Xiu thought of the earlier scene. That girl, who looked pure and adorable, had a smile like a fox.

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“Miss Yu Lizhi is hiding another face unknown to others.”

“Another face?” Chi Xiyan thought of the anger and hatred she had once seen in that farm girl’s eyes.

Because of her mother’s death, a girl who was once extremely innocent had learned to hate.

It was just that after her mother’s burial, that trace of hatred had been concealed.

That farm girl who lost her mother had become obedient and soft again.

However, this was merely superficial.

The grief of losing her mother, the hatred toward the mastermind—how could such things be so easily erased?

She sighed lightly. “I understand. That girl has hidden her emotions and concealed her true face.”

“However, I think this is a good thing. If she were truly just an idiot, she would instead become my burden.”

Lin Xiu frowned. “That’s not it, Miss. That young lady, she’s dangerous!”

“She’s dangerous?” Chi Xiyan realized Lin Xiu might be trying to express something different from what she was thinking.

“You’re saying she might harbor ulterior motives toward me?”

“Yes, Miss,” Lin Xiu said. “Her appearance at your side may have other intentions.”

Chi Xiyan pondered for a moment.

Could Yu Lizhi’s appearance truly have ulterior motives?

Chi Xiyan felt this possibility was low.

If she truly had ulterior motives, where would she get the courage to sign that Dao contract with Chi Xiyan?

A Seventh-Order Dao contract was so powerful that even Seventh Realm experts couldn’t break free from its constraints.

Only Eighth Realm or higher experts could ignore the Dao contract’s binding effects.

If Yu Lizhi truly were an Eighth Realm expert, the contract seal would be burst by that ocean-like spiritual consciousness the moment it entered her consciousness sea.

“Lin Xiu,” Chi Xiyan asked. “Do you think she could be a cultivator?”

Lin Xiu thought for a while. “If it were before, I would think she truly was just a mortal, because I couldn’t see any traces of a cultivator on her at all.”

“But now, I’m not certain.”

“Perhaps her acting and disguise are even better than I imagined.”

But Chi Xiyan asked instead, “Lin Xiu, do you think there are many Eighth Realm cultivators in this world?”

“Eighth Realm cultivators?” Lin Xiu’s face showed confusion, not understanding why Chi Xiyan would ask such a question.

However, he still answered truthfully. “That’s not a realm ordinary cultivators can reach. Such experts only appear in some super major powers.”

“Even among the Seven Sword Sects’ sect masters, not all of them can cultivate to the Eighth Realm.”

“So Eighth Realm experts in this world are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns,” Chi Xiyan said.

As long as Yu Lizhi wasn’t an Eighth Realm expert, she couldn’t possibly break free from the Dao contract’s constraints.

“Zhizhi isn’t that kind of person,” Chi Xiyan said. “Lin Xiu, I know what you’re worried about.”

“If she truly has ulterior motives, her goal would only be the Chi family’s wealth.”

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Lin Xiu fell silent. When he heard Yu Lizhi could become the Chi family’s second young lady, this was the thought that flashed through his mind.

The Chi family’s wealth was enough to move any person or power.

Chi Xiyan lowered her eyes slightly. “If you’re truly worried about this, then there’s completely no need.”

“If the Chi family wants to acknowledge Zhizhi, blood recognition is an indispensable step.”

“Identity can be faked, temperament can be disguised, but bloodline alone cannot be changed.”

“Whether or not she’s Chi family bloodline will be known with one test at the recognition ceremony.”

Lin Xiu fell silent.

Although he suspected Yu Lizhi’s identity, he also agreed with Chi Xiyan’s reasoning.

A person’s identity and origins could be faked, but bloodline alone couldn’t be changed.

…

“That martial artist is somewhat obtrusive.”

Lu Zhuxin muttered as she walked into the room.

Then she saw the red fox hiding in the bedding.

Seeing Lu Zhuxin enter, the red fox finally poked its head out from the covers.

“Your Majesty, there’s some intelligence that needs reporting.”

“Mm, I already know,” Lu Zhuxin said. “It’s normal procedure for the Chi family to do blood recognition.”

Lu Zhuxin had long prepared a countermeasure for this point.

“When can the item I asked Sect Master Huang to obtain be delivered?”

The red fox shook its head. “It’s already on the way. Should be soon. I’ll go urge them again in a bit.”

“As long as it arrives before the recognition ceremony,” Lu Zhuxin said. “Right now, we need to worry about something else.”

“Sin Moon Tower.”

Hearing this, the red fox couldn’t help but lower its head. “I’m sorry, Your Majesty. It’s Mei’er’s failure that allowed Sin Moon Tower’s people to discover our trail.”

“It’s Mei’er’s fault.”

Lu Zhuxin said, “Don’t blame yourself, Mei’er. I told you, this matter was beyond our control.”

The red fox’s small head drooped even lower, and its fluffy ears also hung down dejectedly.

She pitifully curled up into a ball on the bed.

Lu Zhuxin felt both amused and exasperated watching this.

It seemed the failed tracking attempt last time had dealt this red fox quite a blow.

How pitiful.

“It’s fine. Right now, you have a chance to make up for your mistake, Mei’er,” Lu Zhuxin said.

Hearing this, the red fox immediately raised its head. “Your Majesty, what chance?”

“Same as last time,” Lu Zhuxin said with a light laugh. “There’s a task for you.”