Shen Xiyan, accustomed to being spoiled, couldn’t tolerate someone from such a remote backwater speaking to her like this. Her temper flared instantly.
She flung open the carriage curtain and shouted, “This young lady is the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Anping! Who do you think you are to dare speak to me like this?”
Inside the carriage, Shen Mingshu immediately straightened up upon hearing this.
Pei Jingheng whispered, “Why would someone from the Marquis of Anping’s household come here?”
“They’re probably here for me,” Shen Mingshu replied, her eyes darkening with intuition.
Leng Feng scoffed disdainfully, “I don’t care if you’re the Marquis of Anping or the Marquis of Weiping, did your family build this mountain road? What right do you have to shout like this here?”
Shen Xiyan was so furious she could barely restrain herself from slapping him. She immediately ordered the servants beside the carriage, “Smash his carriage for me!”
“Stop.” A hoarse voice came from inside the carriage. “Stand down and let them pass first.”
Shen Xiyan pouted and withdrew into the carriage, shaking Yin Zhuo’s arm. “Master! Why won’t you let Yan’er teach that brat a lesson?”
Yin Zhuo narrowed his eyes, too lazy to even lift his eyelids. “Less trouble is better than more. We have urgent matters to attend to.”
“Master!” Shen Xiyan pursed her lips, deeply dissatisfied.
“Disciple, don’t forget the purpose of this trip,” Yin Zhuo said calmly, sitting upright as he lightly brushed the horsetail whisk against his arm.
Shen Xiyan had no choice but to let go and sit properly. “Yan’er understands.”
Leng Feng watched as the opposing carriage slowly retreated to make way. He snorted, “Spoiled shrew! At least someone in your carriage has sense! Otherwise, I’d have split your carriage in two with my sword! Giddy up!”
The two carriages passed each other closely on the narrow mountain path, the cold wind whistling through the gaps and lifting both curtains.
Through the raised curtain, Shen Mingshu caught a glimpse of the two people inside the other carriage.
An elderly man with white hair and beard sat upright, his eyes closed as if meditating, while the young girl beside him frowned angrily, her hair adorned with expensive jewels.
It was Yin Zhuo!
The old man’s face was identical to the one in Zhang Dashan’s memories!
Shen Mingshu quickly grabbed the hem of her cloak and tore off a piece of fabric. Gathering mystical energy at her fingertips, she drew a spiritual rune on the cloth and whispered an incantation while holding the strip.
Pei Jingheng, seeing her suddenly perform a spell, didn’t dare interrupt.
Once the incantation was complete, the strip of cloth in Shen Mingshu’s hand began to move, twisting like a small snake.
Leaning out the window, she lifted the curtain and tossed the cloth strip toward the departing carriage.
Unafraid of the cold wind, the strip swiftly attached itself to the back of the other carriage.
Only after Shen Mingshu sat back down did Pei Jingheng ask softly, “What were you doing just now?”
“I suspect those two are here for me. I used an eavesdropping talisman to listen in on their conversation,” Shen Mingshu replied before closing her eyes. “Don’t disturb me for now.”
Pei Jingheng pressed his lips together, swallowing the words on the tip of his tongue, and instead watched her delicate face with its tightly shut eyes.
The mountain wind howled outside, making it difficult for the eavesdropping talisman to clearly pick up the voices inside the carriage.
But as if it had a mind of its own, the talisman crawled along the carriage to the window, clinging to the sill to listen in.
Shen Xiyan sulked in frustration, while Yin Zhuo cracked open an eye to glance at her. Knowing he still needed her cooperation, he softened his tone. “Don’t be angry, disciple. They’re just irrelevant people, no need to waste your energy.”
Shen Xiyan huffed, “But that brat dared to refuse to yield even after hearing my status! It’s infuriating!”
“People from such remote backwaters probably don’t even know what the Anping Marquis Estate represents. Pay them no mind,” Yin Zhuo stroked his beard reassuringly.
Shen Xiyan brightened at this, her tone turning haughty: “Master is right, just some country bumpkins!”
Seeing her smile return, Yin Zhuo’s face softened into a benevolent expression. “My disciple, tonight at midnight you’ll turn fifteen. Once I use Shen Mingshu’s supreme yin constitution to enhance your talents, you’ll shine brilliantly at your coming-of-age ceremony the day after.”
“You’re so good to Yan’er, Master!” Shen Xiyan chirped, clinging to his arm playfully.
Yin Zhuo chuckled, though his eyes concealed unfathomable malice.
Curious, Shen Xiyan asked, “Why did I have to wait until my coming-of-age ceremony, Master? Couldn’t you have enhanced my talents earlier?”
“Your body must be mature enough to withstand the power of the supreme yin constitution. This is for your own good.”
As Yin Zhuo stroked his beard, his gaze flickered toward the lifted carriage curtain. His aged voice continued, “I wonder if Chen Yang has gained the village’s full trust. I must first refine corpse puppets to anchor the formation, otherwise, the supreme yin’s energy will attract countless wandering spirits. That could interfere with you.”
Shen Xiyan clutched his sleeve fearfully. “Master must protect Yan’er! I don’t want those filthy things touching me.”
“Fear not. With the corpse puppets guarding the ritual, everything will proceed smoothly, ” Yin Zhuo suddenly sensed a surge of arcane energy near the window. “What was that?”
He thrust his hand outside and snatched a strip of cloth.
Before he could examine it, the fabric crumbled to ash in his grasp.
His expression darkened instantly. Leaning out the window, he scanned the surroundings.
A cold wind howled past his ears, but the narrow mountain path was swallowed by darkness.
Had there been an arcane practitioner in that carriage earlier?
“Damn it!” Yin Zhuo paled, urgently barking, “Faster! Go faster!”
He could only hope the interloper hadn’t discovered the truth about Huaihua Village.
Meanwhile, Shen Mingshu slowly opened her eyes, stormy waves churning in her phoenix-like gaze.
Using her supreme yin constitution to enhance that “Yan’er’s” talents?
More foul sorcery!
Yin Zhuo’s corpse puppets were also tied to this “Yan’er.”
The eldest daughter of the Anping Marquis Estate, one year her junior.
No wonder Yin Zhuo had told Zhang Dashan he’d resurrect him in sixteen years. He must have been scheming this long before Yan’er was even born.
Shen Mingshu thought of the Hundred Ghost Banner. Could Yin Zhuo have crafted that too?
“May I speak now?” Pei Jingheng’s gentle voice brushed her ear.
She turned abruptly. “Yes.”
Her lips grazed his cool cheek, lingering perilously close to his own.
The air between them froze.
Their eyes locked, breaths mingling.
The scent of snow-laden pines grew heady, her pulse racing wildly.
Never before had Shen Mingshu been this close to a man. Wide-eyed, her thoughts scattered.
Pei Jingheng’s throat bobbed, his lips parting slightly. “You…”
The next instant, a forceful shove sent him slamming against the carriage wall.
The dull thud of wood meeting spine echoed as Pei Jingheng winced, though his lips quirked. “Lady Shen possesses remarkable strength.”
Shen Mingshu’s lashes fluttered slightly as her cheeks burned and the tips of her ears turned crimson, muttering softly, “Who told you to get so close to me…”
Pei Jingheng settled back into his seat, raising an eyebrow at her flushed, delicate face. “I was merely speaking to you. It was you who leaned in closer.”