That evening, Jiang Qihe arranged a quiet courtyard surrounded by green bamboo for the Alchemist Association group to rest, and personally brought fine wine and delicious delicacies to entertain them warmly.
Gentle and neither servile nor overbearing, he chatted pleasantly with President Song and the others. They made an exception and happily drank together for half the night.
The liquor Jiang Qihe brought was a spiritual wine he had treasured for a long time. Shi Yu joined in and drank a little as well. The spiritual wine had an amber color, radiating a rich fragrance. It tasted sweet and mellow, causing her to drink several cups without realizing it.
It was Master Ji who noticed her flushed cheeks and slightly unsteady posture. Realizing Shi Yu couldn't handle her liquor, he quickly waved his hand and instructed Qingzhou to help her back to her room to rest.
Qingzhou nodded in acknowledgment, carefully supported Shi Yu, and led her back to the room.
Inside the room.
Taking out a spirit stone lamp, Qingzhou helped Shi Yu onto the bed and covered her with a light blanket.
Though the spiritual wine had tasted sweet and delicious, its after-effects were potent. As the alcohol kicked in, the spiritual energy inside her body surged, leaving Shi Yu with a throbbing headache and an uncomfortable feeling.
She lay with her eyes closed, her brow faintly furrowed.
Qingzhou sat by the bedside, looking at her for a moment before leaning down, drawing close to her breath.
Below Shi Yu's eyes, her life scales slowly materialized. At the same time, a faint white mist swirled out from the life scales and flowed into Qingzhou's breath.
All the excess alcohol fumes were completely absorbed by him.
Qingzhou let out a soft breath. Seeing Shi Yu's expression calm down and her furrowed brow gradually relax, he pursed his lips, the corners of his mouth curving slightly upward.
However, he seemed even less able to handle alcohol than Shi Yu. In an instant, his eyes grew misty and dazed. Weakly slumping beside Shi Yu's bed, he closed his eyelashes and quickly fell asleep.
...
The next day, by the time Shi Yu groggily opened her eyes from a deep sleep with a slightly heavy head, daylight was already pouring in.
She sat up, the light blanket sliding down to her waist. Looking down, she saw Qingzhou slumping beside her bed, sound asleep.
“What time is it...” she murmured softly. Lifting the blanket, her gaze froze.
Beneath the hem of Qingzhou's robe, partially concealed by the fabric, a small section of silver peeked out, swaying gently.
What was that? She couldn't help reaching out to poke it.
The lazily swaying silver froze, quickly pulling back under the robe. Qingzhou jolted awake and raised his head, staring at her with wide eyes filled with confusion and helplessness.
Shi Yu's fuzzy thoughts gradually cleared up. Rubbing her fingers, which still retained a cool touch, she wore a rather strange expression. “Don't tell me... that was a snake tail?”
Aside from his silver hair and silver eyes, Qingzhou retained mostly human features. How had a snake tail popped out...
She cleared her throat softly. “Why did you fall asleep slumping right here? You couldn't have slept well. Lie down for a bit longer, I'm going to find Manager Jiang.”
Qingzhou remained silent, obediently nodding his head.
Shi Yu gave him a few more glances before getting up and walking out.
...
Inside the main hall on the second floor of Tongyi Pavilion.
Jiang Qihe stared at the two people unceremoniously sitting in the main seats, his fingers digging quietly into his palms.
Sitting on the left was a middle-aged man in a dark black robe. His facial features bore a slight resemblance to Jiang Qihe's, but his demeanor was entirely different, radiating a cold, sinister vibe. He was Jiang Qingyuan, born of the direct lineage of the Jiang Clan.
Sitting on the right was a slightly stooped elderly woman. With grizzled hair and withered skin, her cultivation had reached the Foundation Establishment Realm. She was the Jiang Clan's Third Elder, Jiang Chanyi.
Holding a teacup, Jiang Qingyuan glanced sideways at Jiang Qihe. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he spoke with a sneer, “It seems I underestimated you.”
Knowing he was referring to yesterday's failed ambush, Jiang Qihe pulled a cold smile and stated directly, “I apologize for disappointing you, Brother.”
Jiang Qingyuan sneered, lowering his head to blow on the tea leaves. After a long moment, he said pointedly, “Jiang Qihe, having good luck once doesn't mean you'll be lucky every time. Do you truly insist on opposing me?”
Jiang Qihe looked at him coldly.
Third Elder Jiang Chanyi spoke up unhurriedly, “If Qingyuan takes over this business, he won't mistreat you. Why make things so tense?”
Jiang Qingyuan chimed in, “Indeed. I'll keep you around to handle the accounting for me. That won't waste your talents, will it?”
He put on an air of consideration, but his eyes were filled with mockery.
Jiang Qihe gripped the rim of his teacup, blue veins bulging on the back of his hand.
Right at that moment, before the person even arrived, a crisp and pleasant female laugh came from outside the door: “Manager Jiang.”
Inside the hall, all three people involuntarily looked toward the direction of the voice.
A young girl walked in with slow, measured steps. Her ink-black hair cascaded down to her waist, swaying gently with the wind and giving her an elegant, refined aura. It was Shi Yu.
Jiang Qihe quickly stood up to greet her.
The other two peered at her, sizing her up continuously.
Shi Yu maintained a low profile in the main city, so neither of them had the chance to see her before, let alone know her identity. Seeing Jiang Qihe go over to greet her, they merely assumed she was a friend he had met locally, instantly showing disdain.
Anyone associated with Jiang Qihe couldn't amount to much—at best, just low-status rogue cultivators or collateral descendants of noble families.
Jiang Qingyuan sneered, “Little girl, don't interfere with our conversation. If you know what's good for you, get lost.”
Jiang Chanyi also spoke displeasedly, “Lacking all decorum. You don't even bow upon seeing your elders.”
Shi Yu looked at the two of them, twirling a strand of her hair around her finger. She nonchalantly asked Jiang Qihe, “Manager Jiang, are these two your insane brother and the unreasonable clan elder?”
Jiang Qihe froze. Seeing Shi Yu speak so brashly, he worried the two might harm her, his heart suddenly leaping into his throat.
Hearing this, a sharp look glinted in Jiang Chanyi's eyes as her oppressive aura bore down on Shi Yu. “What audacity!”
The pressure of the wind blew back the hair on Shi Yu's forehead, revealing a pair of pitch-black eyes.
Just as the cold pressure enveloped her, accompanied by a cold snort, a far more powerful aura wrapped around Shi Yu, instantly dispersing Jiang Chanyi's pressure.
Jiang Chanyi was greatly shocked. Looking up, she saw a cultivator striding into the hall.
Wearing a green robe, the temples of his hair were slightly graying, yet his vitality was rich and his aura full. He naturally exuded an imposing air born from holding a high position for a long time.
The visitor was none other than President Song.
Jiang Chanyi didn't know Shi Yu, but she had seen President Song from afar once before. She couldn't help losing her voice in shock: “P-President Song?”
Jiang Qingyuan, who had been slumping casually in his seat, widened his eyes in disbelief and hurriedly scrambled to his feet.
Neither retained a single shred of their previous arrogance, hastily bowing down in greeting.
P-President? Jiang Qihe's mind froze before he slowly realized Senior Song's identity. He finally understood why Senior Song had been so indifferent and unconcerned yesterday when hearing about Jiang Qingyuan and Jiang Chanyi.
Comparing their statuses, they were truly not on the same level at all.
President Song strode to Shi Yu's side and barked angrily at the two, “What audacity! How dare you attempt to harm the lifespring of our Alchemist Association!”
Jiang Chanyi and Jiang Qingyuan both looked dazed, turning together to stare at Shi Yu.
The Alchemist Association's... lifespring??
Cold sweat poured down their faces, their ears buzzing with shock at Shi Yu's identity.
Wait, what was going on? When had Jiang Qihe gotten acquainted with such an influential figure?
Jiang Chanyi swallowed hard and hurriedly explained, “President, I did not know this young lady was from the Alchemist Association. Just now, I merely used my aura to intimidate her slightly—I had no intention of harming her...”
“Our girl is delicate and fragile; she can't take being frightened,” President Song sneered. “It seems to me you clearly intend to make an enemy of our Alchemist Association, don't you?”
Seeing President Song slap such a massive accusation on her, Jiang Chanyi almost fainted.
If President Song's words made it back to the clan, it was uncertain whether her position as an elder could even be saved. Cold sweat drenched Jiang Chanyi's back. Forcing an apologetic smile, she turned to Shi Yu and apologized in a gentle tone. As a dignified Foundation Establishment Realm Master, her posture was now remarkably low.
“Young lady, this old woman was out of line. I am truly, deeply sorry.”
Shi Yu lowered her eyes to look at her, then glanced at Jiang Qingyuan beside her.
Jiang Qingyuan trembled and followed suit in apologizing, “I spoke rudely earlier. I hope you won't hold it against me, young lady.”
Shi Yu pursed her lips, the corners of her mouth curving slightly, yet she said, “Manager Jiang and I are close friends. Yesterday, Manager Jiang faced a life-or-death peril. If not for us passing through by chance...”
Pausing her speech, she paced forward. The tap-tap of her footsteps caused Jiang Qingyuan's heart to sink lower and lower.
“Does the Jiang Clan not have rules forbidding kin from killing kin?” Pausing her steps, she asked Jiang Chanyi with feigned confusion.
Jiang Chanyi could only bite the bullet and say, “Of course, of course we do.”
“Oh.” Shi Yu nodded and fell silent, looking at the two indifferently.
Jiang Chanyi understood her meaning, now fully aware of what needed to be done.
“Since such a major offense occurred within the clan, it will naturally be handled impartially. This old woman was foolish and only learned of this matter just now.” Jiang Chanyi tried her best to detach herself, forcing continuous apologetic smiles. “Rest assured, young lady, we will definitely give you a proper accounting.”
Jiang Qingyuan's vision turned black. He knew his background in the direct lineage was no longer enough. After this ordeal, he would likely become an abandoned piece of the clan, offered up as an apology to the Alchemist Association.
Jiang Chanyi was equally filled with regret for taking Jiang Qingyuan's side. Now, no matter what, Jiang Qingyuan could not be saved, and her position as elder was likely far from secure as well.
On the other hand, with Jiang Qihe being on good terms with the Alchemist Association, no one in the clan would dare to look down on him ever again. Jiang Chanyi deeply regretted wading into these muddy waters.
Looking at the duo's pale and crestfallen expressions, Shi Yu shifted her gaze away, her heart largely unbothered.
Seeing the crisis resolved and the situation turn around so dramatically, Jiang Qihe felt a swell of mixed emotions.
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