Aunt Ji

The dramatic change in attitude before and after was simply because Shen Xiuhan's strength was no longer what it used to be.

Shen Xiuhan remained humble, cupping his fists as he said, “The manager praises me too highly. It was merely my duty.”

“Hahaha, ordinary people couldn't possibly accomplish such a duty!”

Seeing that his attitude remained unchanged, Ji Zhong became even warmer. With a smile, he guided him through the main gates and into the Ji Mansion.

“You have made a great contribution this time, and the family will certainly not be stingy with your reward. The Family Head has been waiting in the main hall for quite some time.”

The two of them passed through two corridors over the water. Below the corridors, the pond water was deep green, with half-furled withered lotuses. In the twilight, a brocade carp would occasionally flick its tail, sending ripples outward.

Along the way, the servants lowered their hands and stepped aside when they saw Ji Zhong. When they clearly saw Shen Xiuhan beside him, their gazes carried a bit more curiosity and scrutiny.

The two of them walked all the way into the two-entry courtyard.

The side hall.

It was brightly lit. Within a gold-gilded beast-shaped burner, expensive soothing sandalwood incense was burning.

Below sat a red sandalwood table.

On the table sat a vermilion-lacquered wooden tray, with an incense burner placed beside it.

And resting in the tray was shockingly a severed head, its teeth clenched and expression hideous.

Five deep, bone-deep bloody gashes slashed diagonally from the left forehead to the right cheek.

The flesh was torn open, and the eyes remained wide in death.

It was indeed Qu Bushi's head!

In the center of the hall, a beautiful woman stood tall. A fox-fur coat draped over her shoulders, and a red-gold phoenix hairpin set with pearls was inserted diagonally into her elegant updo. The pearl tassels dangled by her ears, accentuating her jade-like, creamy skin.

The beautiful woman appeared to be in her early thirties, with mature features and a bright, elegant countenance.

She was none other than the Head of the Ji family, Ji Shuying!

A fire striker flared.

Ji Shuying stepped forward a few paces, lit three sticks of sandalwood incense, and inserted them into the incense burner.

Right on cue, an announcement came from outside:

“Family Head, Patrol Envoy Shen has arrived.”

“Come in.”

Shen Xiuhan stepped into the side hall. Sweeping his gaze, he saw a beautiful woman whose appearance was not in the least inferior to his master's.

The difference was that his master usually wore loose, wide-sleeved robes, completely bundling up her figure.

Meanwhile, the woman before him, even while wearing a satin robe, still had undulating curves that practically leaped out.

Her high, full chest stretched the fabric tight, and beneath her skirt, the contours of two well-proportioned, slender, jade-like legs were faintly outlined.

Elegance and seductiveness merged within her, creating a fatal attraction.

Hearing the footsteps, Ji Shuying slowly turned around.

Her beautiful eyes lifted slightly, unhurriedly sizing Shen Xiuhan up, a smile playing on the corners of her lips.

“Is this the Patrol Envoy Shen who turned the tide?”

“This junior is Shen Xiuhan. Greetings, Family Head Ji.”

Shen Xiuhan lowered his head, suppressing the trace of surprise in his heart as he cupped his fists in salute.

The Head of the Ji family, one of the Five Great Families of Changyun County, was actually a beautiful woman!

However, catching a glimpse of the thin layer of calluses on her knuckles when he lowered his eyes, he was no longer surprised.

To support a family's legacy in Changyun County, where powerful clans stood like trees in a forest, how could she possibly be an ordinary person?

“No need for such politeness. Though... tell me, should I call you Patrol Envoy, Young Master, Xiuhan... or perhaps, Xiao Liu?”

Shen Xiuhan's body shook slightly as he looked up in bewilderment.

Meeting his gaze was Ji Shuying's slightly teasing smile, which hid a bit of mischief and a bit of intimacy.

Seeing the youth's completely blank and puzzled face, Ji Shuying seemed to find it highly amusing. She raised her hand to mask a light chuckle, her eyes curving like crescent moons.

“Has your master never told you about our relationship?”

“...Never.”

“Ah, that is just like her personality.”

Ji Shuying shook her head slightly, not appearing surprised at all, and smiled.

“I have known your master for over four years. She... was actually here with me last night.”

“...Ah?”

Shen Xiuhan's mouth opened slightly, temporarily at a loss for how to react.

In an instant, several small details that he had previously failed to understand and had not looked into because they were not very important flooded his mind.

When he was chosen by the Ji family at the placement meet and reported it to Mei Shuangfeng, why did his master know the techniques in the Ji family's Library Pavilion like the back of her hand?

The Blue-Spire Chickens in the Ji family's beast park were never sold to outsiders, and their alchemy methods were also closely guarded secrets.

Yet when he hunted a Blue-Spire Chicken, why was his master able to refine the Jasper Blood Pill, and explain the recipe, medicinal properties, and method of consumption so clearly?

Piece by piece, everything had an answer now.

It turned out his master and the Head of the Ji family knew each other, and their relationship was... very close.

“Xiao Liu, if you are willing, you can just call me... Aunt Ji.”

As Ji Shuying spoke, she looked at Shen Xiuhan with a hint of expectation in her beautiful eyes.

After a brief hesitation, Shen Xiuhan followed her lead and called out:

“Aunt Ji.”

“Good, good boy...”

The smile on Ji Shuying's lips spread. Unsure of what she had thought of, she looked exceptionally pleased.

Fortunately, she quickly reined in her smile.

Her gaze fell back onto the severed head in the wooden tray, and her tone turned more serious.

“We have plenty of time to catch up in the future. Let's return to business.”

Ji Shuying turned around, paced back to a red sandalwood armchair, sat down, and said solemnly:

“The trip to Nanxiang Prefecture was fraught with danger. You kept Xue'er and Yao'er safe, and you even slew Qu Bushi, a bandit who plagued the region and whose hands were stained with the blood of my Ji family's children. My Ji family will naturally not treat you poorly.”

Having said that, she parted her red lips and called out, “Ji Zhong.”

“This old servant is here.”

Waiting by the side of the door with a bowed back, Ji Zhong moved upon hearing her voice. He carried a tray covered in red silk to Shen Xiuhan's side and lifted the cloth.

Under the glow of the candlelight, six official banknotes were neatly stacked inside the wooden tray, each with a face value of ten taels.

A grand total of sixty taels of silver!

This massive sum was enough to purchase a two-entry courtyard in the Inner City of Changyun County.

Beside the banknotes stood a small and exquisite mutton-fat white jade porcelain bottle.

The bottle was stoppered with red silk. Although it was not yet uncorked, a pure medicinal fragrance faintly seeped out. With just a light sniff, the blood qi within one's body would ripple slightly.

“Fifty taels of these banknotes are your reward for slaying Qu Bushi.”

Ji Shuying lightly raised her slender finger, tapping the stack of banknotes, then pointed at the white porcelain bottle.

“The bottle contains six Jasper Blood Pills. Five of them are also a reward for this mission. As for the remaining one, along with the ten taels of banknotes, they will fully settle your monthly salary and pill allowance.”

Six Jasper Blood Pills!

Shen Xiuhan's heart skipped a beat.

On the black market, the Ji family's Jasper Blood Pills were always one of the most sought-after medicines.

Because they were refined from Tier Two Precious Beasts, their medicinal power was exceptionally pure, yielding miraculous effects for both Mingjin and Anjin martial artists.

Even the lowest-grade finished pills were often hyped up to six or seven taels of silver each.

The Ji family's generosity this time truly showed their immense wealth and deep foundation.

“Take them. Do not decline. You risked your life to earn this.”

“Thank you for the generous gift, Aunt Ji.”

Shen Xiuhan did not act coy. He bowed with cupped fists and accepted the banknotes and the porcelain bottle.

In these chaotic times, resources were the ladder to reaching the heavens in the martial dao.

The Jasper Blood Pills on his person were nearly depleted after he broke through to the Bone Tempering Rank.

This batch of pills came at the perfect time to replenish his supply, allowing him to push toward the Great Accomplishment of the Bone Tempering Rank sooner.

Seeing him act so decisively, without pride or impatience, Ji Shuying's appreciation for him deepened even further.

She picked up her teacup, took a light sip, and said warmly:

“Xiao Liu, you have spent quite a bit of time on the road these past few days. Rest for a few days before heading back to the island. By the way, Ji Ning will naturally calculate and make up for your monthly medicinal cuisine and meat rations. He won't shortchange you in the slightest.”

“...Xiuhan understands.”

Shen Xiuhan replied in a low voice. However, he did not turn to leave, remaining where he stood.

A hint of confusion flashed in Ji Shuying's eyes. Setting down her teacup, she asked:

“Is there something else?”

“Well, there is one matter, but it is mostly speculation and not certain.”

Seeing Shen Xiuhan hesitate slightly, Ji Shuying's expression grew solemn:

“Feel free to speak.”

“Yes, Aunt Ji...”

Shen Xiuhan took a deep breath.

He recounted the information Wang Neng had revealed before his death, along with his suspicion that the insider might be Team A's Patrol Envoy, Lu Ya, explaining everything to Ji Shuying in detail.