Chapter 374: Tricked Again
The next morning, Sang Zhe surprisingly didn’t wake up early but instead indulged in a deep sleep.
On the other hand, Zhang Xiaoying and Shi Qingyan got up early to wash up together while whispering secrets to each other.
“To be honest, Senior Sister Shi, this is the first time I’ve seen my husband so tired that he sleeps in. The Blood Demon’s bloodline is really that potent?”
“…Ahem. It’s not that exaggerated. I just used a little trick, that’s all.”
Shi Qingyan suddenly leaned in mysteriously to whisper in Xiaoying’s ear, “Did you notice that when I call him ‘Daddy’ in bed, he gets really excited?”
Zhang Xiaoying’s eyes lit up in realization.
Meanwhile, Yan Rouwan, who had just finished washing up and was about to head to work, suddenly spotted a pair of pitiful eyes watching Shi Qingyan from a corner of the flowerbed.
Yan Rouwan: “…Hey, no need to look so miserable.”
“What do you know?”
Si Jingzhu had red eyes, her expression a mix of sadness and fury, “This is the first time my innocent heart has experienced the shock of betrayal! Do you know how huge of a trauma this is?”
“Plus, look at Senior Sister Shi, she’s already one step ahead. Aren’t you feeling anxious?”
“Me?” Yan Rouwan blinked and smiled lightly, “I’m not anxious at all.”
After all.
It’s just a matter of opportunity.
Days like this are pretty okay, aren’t they?
She gently stroked the “Returning Swallow” at her waist.
Si Jingzhu continued to bite her handkerchief, fixated on Shi Qingyan’s back as she racked her brain trying to figure out how to catch up with her.
…
In the kitchen, Yu Xia, who could already move normally, was preparing breakfast for everyone.
Suddenly, another voice chimed in from behind:
“No matter how many times I see it, I still can’t help but feel moved. A once proud Crossing Tribulation Stage expert, and the former Sect Leader of the Water Moon Sect, now peacefully playing maid at the Sang family.”
“Don’t you feel frustrated, Aunt Yu?”
Without turning around, Yu Xia smiled lightly, “Miss Shui Ming is just joking. I am no longer the Sect Leader of the Water Moon Sect; that’s all in the past and not worth mentioning.”
“Now I’m just a small maid of the Sang family.”
Bai Ming pouted and muttered, “What a shame. You’re at the pinnacle of the Crossing Tribulation Stage; why not come work at our trading association? I can offer you a great salary and all the resources you need for cultivation!”
“Thank you for your kindness, but I have already come to terms with this.”
Yu Xia continued chopping vegetables as she spoke, “I used to be obsessed with power, thinking that cultivation was everything, almost straying from the right path.”
“Obsessing and stubbornness led to slow progress and a delay in breakthroughs.”
“But during my time as a maid at the Sang family, I’ve found my heart to be exceptionally serene. Every day consists of cooking, cleaning, and accompanying the ladies in shopping and chatting.”
“This life is much happier than the scheming and deception I faced as a Sect Leader.”
“It’s almost funny. I struggled for years to improve a little in the Crossing Tribulation Stage. But since coming to the Sang family and being beside the Master, my cultivation skyrocketed to the pinnacle of the Crossing Tribulation Stage in just a year, and I can clearly sense the next threshold!”
She couldn’t help but exclaim, “Looking back now, the Master’s pointers were nothing short of a rebirth for me!”
Bai Ming nodded, seemingly understanding.
“Since Miss Shui Ming is here, stay for a meal before you leave.”
Yu Xia smiled and asked, “What would you like to eat? I can still whip something up.”
“Hmm… How about steamed dumplings?”
“Got it.”
Just then, Sang Zhe yawned and walked out of his room. He passing by the kitchen, saw the two chatting and couldn’t help but ask, “You two are up so early?”
“Master.”
Yu Xia immediately answered respectfully, “The hot water is ready, and once you finish washing up, we can eat.”
“Oh.”
Sang Zhe turned to Bai Ming, “And you? Why are you here so early?”
“Of course, I have serious business. Who’d have thought you, lazy bug, would wake up so late?”
Bai Ming waved the tablet in her hand and said softly, “I received a message from the Holy Kingdom.”
“Li Shanyan has been found dead in the diviner’s cottage at the State Master’s residence. Now the Holy Kingdom is holding a state funeral for him, and the empress wants to know if you want to go.”
Sang Zhe paused for a moment.
After a brief silence, he lowered his head and murmured, “I understand. I’ll pack and set out.”
Even without this incident, Sang Zhe’s last task before going to the Demon Clan was to visit the Holy Kingdom.
Because after Li Shanyan’s departure, the Demon Clan was eyeing the Holy Kingdom.
The Demon Clan likely had no idea how many Earthly Relics Li Shanyan possessed. With him dead and Xu Yourong lured into the Demon Cult, the Holy Kingdom was left with only Grand Eunuch Qin, a great master at the pinnacle level.
If there were indeed any Earthly Relics left behind by Li Shanyan, the Demon Clan wouldn’t let them go easily.
After all, the Demon Clan had outsiders like the Shadow Demon; it’s not impossible for them to replicate the assassination attempt on Zhang Xiaoying.
Therefore, before leaving, Sang Zhe needed to clear all of the Demon Clan’s spies to ensure a safe journey.
So, during breakfast, Sang Zhe brought up this matter to everyone.
“Senior Sister Shi, I’ll need you to come with me again.”
“Eh!?” Si Jingzhu’s eyes widened in grievance, “Again with Senior Sister Shi? Can’t you pick me just once?”
“I brought Senior Sister Shi because the Blood Demon is the natural enemy of the Shadow Demon, just like a cat hunting a mouse,” Sang Zhe shot her an unimpressed look, “What, do you think you can catch a Shadow Demon?”
Si Jingzhu immediately shrank back, though her eyes still held a look of grievance.
Shi Qingyan cast a dismissive glance over Si Jingzhu and suddenly added, “It wouldn’t hurt to bring along Si Shimei too.”
Si Jingzhu’s eyes lit up at once.
Good sister! You really haven’t betrayed me!
So you were serious about helping me create opportunities with Sang Zhe!
I even doubted you earlier — how foolish of me! You’re practically my sister from another mother!
“Bring her? Why?” Sang Zhe asked in confusion.
“Aren’t you asking me to catch the Shadow Demon?”
Shi Qingyan said casually, “If we catch one, we can extract some information from it…”
“Having Si Shimei along would make it much easier,” she laughed and turned to Si Jingzhu.
Sang Zhe’s face lit up with understanding as he looked knowingly at Si Jingzhu.
All eyes seemed to focus on Si Jingzhu.
However, Si Jingzhu’s smile gradually froze, replaced by a creeping sense of unease.
…What’s going on?
Why do I feel like I’ve been tricked again?
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