—Check-in—
[May all who enter be blessed by the Heavenly Dao—good fortune upon you]
Main Text
Candlelight flickered within the dim ancestral hall.
He Xiang, a maidservant, walked in from outside carrying a bowl of porridge.
“Miss, you’ve been kneeling all day. If the Madam knew from below, she’d be heartbroken.”
Shen Manyi knelt on the cushion in silence, making no move to take the bowl.
Today marked the third anniversary of her mother’s death.
Of the entire Shen household, no one else remembered—only her.
Even her father, Shen Hong, the patriarch of the Cangwu Shen family,
was at this very moment somewhere enjoying himself with Liu Ruyue, the mistress he’d just brought back.
As she was lost in thought, deliberately hushed voices drifted in from beyond the ancestral hall’s main doors.
“That child Yi’er is just too stubborn.”
“This concubine knows she’s hurting, but the betrothal with the Azure Cloud Sect is of utmost importance. The Phoenix Bloodline is so precious—how can this be treated as a joke?”
Shen Manyi’s long, thick lashes trembled almost imperceptibly.
That voice belonged to Liu Ruyue.
This betrothal had been bought with her mother’s life.
The other party was a direct descendant of the Azure Cloud Sect’s Grand Elder, said to possess the rare Phoenix Bloodline.
Shen Hong’s voice rang out, laced with impatience.
“Do you think I don’t know that? But you’ve seen it too—Yi’er’s temper is too wild. Marrying her off won’t do!”
“But if Qing’er could marry in his place, that would be different.”
“Qing’er is gentle, sensible, and gifted. As long as the marriage goes through, our Shen family’s standing in the Azure Cloud Sect will be secure!”
Shen Yuqing—Liu Ruyue’s own daughter!
That bastard child!
Those two had certainly cooked up a fine scheme.
Liu Ruyue let out a soft laugh, quickly stifling it into a feigned helpless sigh.
“But the token is in Yi’er’s hands—it’s the keepsake Sister left her. She probably won’t give it up!”
“A few days ago, this concubine and Qing’er were merely curious and wanted to borrow it for a look, but Yi’er wouldn’t allow it. She won’t let anyone touch it.”
“Hmph, she won’t have a choice!” Shen Hong sneered, revealing his plan.
“I’ve already contacted that old ancestor of the Harmony Union Sect up north.”
“He’s looking for a Furnace Cauldron with decent aptitude. Yi’er has a Wood-type Spiritual Root—exactly what he needs.”
“He’s promised us three Spirit Stone Veins.”
“Once the veins are in hand, the family’s strength can rise another notch.”
“The Patriarch is wise.”
Liu Ruyue’s voice was brimming with barely contained glee.
“This way, Qing’er gets a fine marriage, and Yi’er makes her final contribution to the family. Everyone’s happy.”
These words sent a chill through Shen Manyi’s entire body.
All color drained from her face, and her lips were bitten bloody, her mouth filled with a cloying metallic taste.
So it turned out that beyond despair… there could be even deeper despair.
He Xiang trembled all over as she listened. Only after confirming that no sound came from beyond the main doors did she speak urgently.
“Miss, did you hear that? The Patriarch has no regard for blood ties at all.
Let’s run—otherwise, you’ll really be sent to that old fiend as a Furnace Cauldron.”
Shen Manyi slowly raised her head. Her almond-shaped eyes still held traces of moisture, but the light in them was gone, replaced by nothing but dead stillness.
“Run? The world is vast, but where could we possibly go?”
Her dear father had already contacted that old fiend.
Rather than flee and be dragged back in the end, she might as well… gamble once.
If I can’t have peace, then none of you will either!
Back in her room, Shen Manyi gathered up her valuables and pressed them all into He Xiang’s hands.
“Miss, are we leaving now?”
Shen Manyi looked down at the young girl who had grown up by her side since childhood.
“You go.”
“Take these things, crawl out through the dog hole in the back courtyard, and go to a town in the mortal world. Change your name, find a good family, and marry well.”
He Xiang dropped to her knees with a thud, her voice choked with tears.
“This servant won’t leave. This servant will follow Miss and serve you for all my lives.”
“If you stay here, you’ll only drag me down to die with you. Take the money and get out now. Don’t ever come back to Cangwu City.”
Shen Manyi hardened her heart and pushed her out.
After locking the doors and windows, she pulled a white jade token from her innermost garment.
This was the keepsake her mother had left her. It felt warm to the touch, engraved with ancient patterns she couldn’t decipher.
A single tear of unwillingness and resentment finally rolled from the corner of her eye, splashing onto the jade token.
She had once believed tears were the most useless thing in the world.
But the moment that tear, mingled with the blood at the corner of her mouth, seeped into the jade token—
The token radiated a soft white light and drew her entire body inside.
When she opened her eyes again, she found herself in a place shrouded in swirling mist.
Beneath her feet was smooth white jade flooring.
Not far away, a Spirit Spring bubbled forth, thick with rich Spiritual Qi.
Beside the spring grew a celestial tree she couldn’t name.
And beneath that tree, a palm-sized white cat was lazily yawning.
It lifted its eyelids, its golden eyes filled with disdain.
“Tsk, this Divine Beast slept for a thousand years, and all I get is a sniveling little girl like you?”
“And so weak… clearly you’ve been bullied to death!”
Shen Manyi was stunned. Staring at the white cat, she asked dazedly, “Where is this?”
The white cat rose gracefully and shook its snow-white fur.
“Welcome to this Divine Beast’s space!”
It padded over to Shen Manyi’s feet, circled around her once, and gave a delicate sniff.
“Hm, your bloodline… is rather intriguing.”
Shen Manyi crouched down and tentatively extended a hand.
The white cat didn’t shy away. Instead, it pressed its fluffy head against her fingertips, its tone still insufferably haughty.
“Enough, stop crying! You awakened this Divine Beast with your Essence Blood.”
“From this day forth, this Divine Beast shall be your Contract Beast.”
“Remember this Divine Beast’s name—Tangyuan.”
“Tangyuan?”
“What? Got a problem?” The white cat bared its tiny fangs.
“I am the ancient Divine Beast White Tiger. Letting you call me Tangyuan is doing you a favor!”
Shen Manyi looked at it in that state, and a faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
She surveyed the space, her gaze landing on the Spirit Spring brimming with Spiritual Qi, and a bold idea took root in her heart.
Shen Hong, Liu Ruyue, Shen Yuqing.
You wanted resources, wanted to use me as a stepping stone to elevate the Shen family, didn’t you?
Then I’ll strip you of everything.
She turned to look at Tangyuan, and in her once-dead eyes, light finally returned.
“Tangyuan, can this space hold things?”
Tangyuan flicked its tail, a glint of admiration surfacing in its golden pupils.
“It can hold far more than things,”
its voice carried a hint of temptation.
“As long as your Spiritual Power is sufficient, you could empty the entire Shen family into it.”
“Good.”
Shen Manyi rose slowly, clenching her fists.
Since you showed no mercy, don’t blame me for showing none in return.
(End)