Tang Xin’s deterrence was extremely effective.
Even without mentioning her several [Ultimate Moves], just her ability to intimidate with an expressionless face was enough to make ordinary people wary.
The Yan family head did not continue to bully Shui Qiu, but also did not make any promises, clearly an old hand at this.
However, the Xuanling Sect master didn’t have such a good temper either, only giving the other party one day.
Within one day, they had to come up with a solution, otherwise the conflict would escalate, which would be bad for both sides.
After the harsh words were said, they didn’t avoid anything and directly settled down in the Yan residence, making it clear that they were ready for any sneak attacks.
Tang Xin followed Shui Qiu to the place where she had previously lived within the clan.
As expected, there was a dilapidated courtyard, a crumbling cottage, and the ancient tree that was essential in the protagonist’s yard.
“When my mother was still alive, we lived in the east courtyard,” Shui Qiu touched the ancient tree and spoke in a low voice as if reminiscing, “After my mother passed away, the east courtyard was given to the newly accepted Madam Xu, and I moved here, keeping the ancient tree company every day…”
“Then,” Tang Xin crossed her arms and thought for a moment, “do you have any personal servants or something like that? You know, the kind that seem very ordinary on the surface, but are actually the reincarnation of a divine maiden, a demon realm princess, or a reborn demon fairy?”
Isn’t there often such a plot in stories? The servant (especially a young female servant) is bullied, the protagonist feels powerless, and after a fortuitous encounter, they come back to take revenge on those who bullied her…
“Before my mother passed away, she left me with a few people who were still loyal to the sect, but after I was able to live independently, I let them leave the Yan family,” Shui Qiu shook her head, “There was no need to make them suffer with me.”
A kind-hearted girl…
The gentler she was before her transformation, the colder she became after.
“I’m sorry, senior sister, I got carried away,” Shui Qiu saw that she had fallen into thought and blushed with embarrassment, “I’ll go clean up the house a bit, let’s rest here for tonight.”
Tang Xin nodded, and after Shui Qiu entered the house, she started to stroll around the yard.
Eventually, her gaze settled on the ancient tree.
[Do you want to spend 10 points to conduct a thorough scan?]
Although she couldn’t recall all the details of her “previous life,” based on the fundamental information she had, there was one point that needed special attention.
That was the cultivation technique practiced by Shui Qiu.
Shui Qiu was able to become the “Fairy of Autumn Water” not only because of her innate talent as a pure water physique, but also because the role of her cultivation technique could not be overlooked.
As everyone knows, the techniques provided by sects are often only transitional, and the truly powerful techniques are those that one stumbles upon unexpectedly.
Based on her experience from reading so many novels and playing so many games, this ancient tree was highly suspicious.
Anyway, it only cost ten points; if it was a waste, she could just go back and take it out on a few disciples.
【Scanning in progress…】
After tidying up the house, Shui Qiu came out and saw Tang Xin walking around the ancient tree non-stop, and asked curiously.
“Sister, what are you looking for?”
“Did your mother ever say anything special to you?” Tang Xin asked, “Like ‘There are no three hundred taels of silver buried here’ or ‘Come visit this tree when you miss me’ or something like that?”
“Um…” The young girl thought seriously, “If you put it that way, she did tell me ‘My child, you are the most special,’ I don’t know if that counts as something special.”
【Scan complete, suspicious item detected.】
There really was something hidden!
Without a word, Tang Xin found a shovel and began to dig next to the ancient tree.
After digging three feet deep, a well-sealed wooden box appeared before her eyes.
She gestured to the girl to come forward and open it.
A scroll, a jade pendant, a letter… the standard set of items for an unexpected adventure.
“Sister…”
Holding these items, Shui Qiu barely glanced at the envelope signed “Shui Qingxin” before tears began to swirl in her eyes.
It must have been left by her mother.
“Go ahead and look,” Tang Xin said, “I won’t disturb you.”
“Thank you!”
The girl bowed deeply and ran back into the room.
【Current Favorability: 99.99999……】
Flipping off the system.jpg
But then again, in the original storyline, the chief sister of the Xuanling Sect wouldn’t have returned to her family with Shui Qiu. So how did she come into possession of the relic? She doesn’t have a scanning function, does she?
Could it be the classic “stroke of genius”?
But none of that matters anymore…
…
After a long while.
Shui Qiu came out of the house and bowed to Tang Xin again.
“I don’t know how to thank senior sister…”
“It’s okay, it’s a small matter,” Tang Xin waved her hand and asked, “Did you find out anything?”
“Yes, it’s related to my origins,” the girl with blue eyes said, “Actually… I’m not from the Yan family, nor do I have any Yan family bloodline.”
Why am I not surprised at all? A family all about “fire” giving birth to a pure water physique would be utterly ridiculous…
Shui Qiu didn’t elaborate further but took out a scroll and handed it to Tang Xin.
“They even left me a set of techniques.”
【《Ancestral Water Scripture (Incomplete)》, unknown grade technique, compatibility check in progress… Compatibility is zero.】
No, this technique is too righteous; I probably won’t be able to learn it in my lifetime…
“Take it back and let Elder Xuan Miao analyze it,” she said, “I think this item is extraordinary.”
“Understood, senior sister,” Shui Qiu paused, her cheeks blushing slightly, “The bed has been made, do you want to rest… um, there’s only one bed in this room, but if we squeeze a bit, it should be no problem for two people to lie down.”
“That won’t do, it will make it uncomfortable for both of us to sleep,” Tang Xin refused without a second thought, “Let’s sleep separately… I’ll take the bed, and you sleep on the floor.”
“……I understand, Senior Sister wants to test my will. I will definitely complete it!”
The next day, in the grand hall of the Yan family.
“Given a day’s time, is that enough?”
Tang Xin continued to maintain her persona, speaking coldly to the patriarch of the Yan family.
However, after learning that Shui Qiu doesn’t share a single drop of his bloodline, she couldn’t help but feel that the man’s head was getting greener by the moment… Of course, this also explained why Shui Qiu’s mother would lower herself to marry into this family.
“The cultivation technique,” the middle-aged man said solemnly, “is not impossible to give to her, but…”
“But what?”
She raised an eyebrow.
“But, according to the family rules, to obtain the complete ‘Flame Mantra’, one must pass a test.”
He added.
“Is that so?”
Tang Xin looked towards Shui Qiu, who slowly nodded her head.
“What kind of test?”
“To stand out in the Spirit Beast Hunting Battle,” the Yan family patriarch said, “all direct disciples of the family will participate. The winner will be able to choose a cultivation technique from the family’s scripture vault to practice, which naturally includes the ‘Flame Mantra’.”
Hmph, I knew it wouldn’t be that easy!
Anyone with eyes could see that Shui Qiu was about to break with the Yan family; how could they possibly let her take the cultivation technique away so easily?
【Option Generation in Progress……】
