Zijin Pavilion in the Zi family.
This was originally the residence of the patriarch's direct lineage. However, after Zi Guochang disappeared, it was occupied by the second branch. Even Zi Lingling, the patriarch's only daughter, was driven to the most dilapidated Luoyu Pavilion.
In Zijin Pavilion, Zi Wenchang was about to go to bed when he heard Wang Shi say angrily, "That little slut Zi Lingling hasn't been seen for four days. I wonder where she's died!"
Zi Wenchang was greatly alarmed. "What did you say? Ling'er hasn't been home for four days?"
Wang Shi removed a golden hairpin from her head and said sarcastically, "Yes, I wonder which wild man she's been seduced by!"
Zi Wenchang frowned. "Ling'er is your niece, after all. You don't care that she's been missing for four days, but why are you speaking so harshly?"
Wang Shi slammed the comb in her hand onto the table. "Zi Wenchang, don't forget how you got the position of acting patriarch. Now you find my words harsh?"
Mentioning this topic, Zi Wenchang immediately lost his temper.
If Wang Shi hadn't used the Zi family's power to force the elders to submit, how could he have become the acting patriarch?
Seeing Wang Shi getting angry, Zi Wenchang had to force a smile. "My dear wife! How could your husband possibly find your words harsh? However, as you said, I am still the acting patriarch. Unless we find the Patriarch's Seal, I will forever be illegitimate."
Wang Shi saw that he had softened, and her anger immediately vanished. She frowned. "But where did your elder brother take the Patriarch's Seal? Where else can we find it?"
Zi Wenchang took her hand and sat on the bed, smiling. "My dear wife, you don't know this, but elder brother has always been prudent in his actions. How could he have run off with the Patriarch's Seal, which is related to the Zi family's fate?"
Wang Shi pushed away Zi Wenchang's hand, which was trying to caress her, and said in surprise, "You mean the Patriarch's Seal wasn't taken by your elder brother? Then where would he have hidden it?"
Zi Wenchang wasn't annoyed. He again reached into Wang Shi's clothes and said with ill intent, "Elder brother has always doted on my niece. What do you think?"
Wang Shi no longer cared about Zi Wenchang's hand. She sat up straight and suddenly realized. "Are you saying that your elder brother might have left the Patriarch's Seal to that little slut Zi Lingling?"
Zi Wenchang's hand cupped Wang Shi's prominent breasts and he said with a smile, "Therefore, your husband asked you to 'care more' about Ling'er!"
Wang Shi's body tensed, and she almost cried out.
She shyly pushed Zi Wenchang's strong chest. "You! Why didn't you make it clear sooner? You made me think you still had designs on that woman Yue Wuwei!"
Zi Wenchang's body stiffened for a moment, then quickly returned to normal.
He used his hand to straighten Wang Shi's head, forcing her to meet his gaze. His eyes were filled with lust. "My dear wife, you worry too much. With a delicate and charming wife like you, how could your husband have eyes for anyone else?"
With that, he was about to unbutton Wang Shi's clothes.
Wang Shi shyly poked his forehead. "I dare you!"
As soon as she finished speaking, the lamp in the room went out.
In the darkness, Zi Wenchang's eager voice rang out again. "My dear wife, your husband will now prove to you that his heart belongs only to you!"
...
Zixin Pavilion in the Zi family.
Zi Jinling sat at the table, looking somewhat surprised. "You mean that good-for-nothing hasn't been in Luoyu Pavilion these past few days?"
Tan Xiang stood below with lowered eyes, a hint of malice flashing in her eyes. "Yes, Miss! The person at the entrance said that four days ago, the third young lady left with Xue Ying and hasn't returned yet."
"Oh!"
Zi Jinling tapped her fingers on the table rhythmically. "Where could that good-for-nothing have gone? Could she have died outside?"
Tan Xiang shook her head. "I heard a rumor. I don't know if it's true or not."
Zi Jinling frowned. "What rumor? Does it have anything to do with that good-for-nothing?"
Tan Xiang nodded. "People outside are saying that the Zi family's good-for-nothing third young lady not only saved Shen Liuxing, the young master of Fengyun Chamber of Commerce, but also agreed with the Fairy Qingcheng to a deathmatch at Jiujue Peak on Duanhun Cliff in three months."
"Really?"
Zi Jinling was so shocked by the news that she stood up.
"It should be true. I heard that not only that, but the Fairy Qingcheng also signed a life-and-death contract with the third young lady!"
Then, Tan Xiang recounted the events she had heard from the street to Zi Jinling verbatim.
"Life-and-death contract? Hahaha... This good-for-nothing is really looking for death! Fairy Qingcheng is the saintess of the Liuyun Sect, a strong cultivator in the late Spirit Gathering realm. Is this good-for-nothing tired of living?"
Zi Jinling felt her understanding of the world had been overturned by the audacity of a good-for-nothing.
"Who isn't? The third young lady is truly something. Isn't it better to live well? Why did she have to court death?"
Although these words sounded sympathetic, Tan Xiang's eyes were filled with schadenfreude.
Zi Jinling thought for a moment. "You said, could this good-for-nothing have regretted signing the life-and-death contract and found a place to hide? Otherwise, why would she have disappeared after that?"
Tan Xiang was taken aback. "Listening to you say that, it does seem possible. However, she can hide for the first day, but not for the fifteenth! Once a life-and-death contract is signed, even if one doesn't fulfill it, they will be wiped out by the rules of heaven!"
Zi Jinling slowly sat down, her fingers tapping the table again. "You're right, but where could that good-for-nothing have gone?"
Suddenly, she stood up. "Tan Xiang, have someone keep a close eye on Luoyu Pavilion. If that good-for-nothing returns, report it to me immediately."
"Yes, Miss!"
Tan Xiang answered and then withdrew.
Zi Lingling adjusted the lampwick and muttered to herself, "Zi Lingling, even though you're seeking death, the matter of those thirty lashes must be settled before that!"
...
Zi Lingling returned to the Zi mansion, and the sky had already darkened.
She took a comfortable hot bath, then briefly recounted her experiences of the past few days to Xue Ying. Under Xue Ying's adoring gaze, she fell onto the bed.
For the past few days, she had been either refining medicine or breaking through. Both her body and soul power had been in a state of tension. Therefore, after lying on the bed for not long, Zi Lingling fell into a deep sleep.
Xue Ying looked at the sleeping Zi Lingling with concern, pulled the quilt up for her, blew out the candle, left the room, and gently closed the door.
In the sky, the stars were bright, and the moonlight was clear. A silver beam of light shone through the window onto Zi Lingling.