The Mountain Lord's Daughter

"Stop collecting all these inexplicable things."

At the Yue Mansion, the sun was high in the sky.

Madam Yue (the second wife) and Master Yue (the second lord) stood beside the Yang Ling Ding (Sun Spirit Cauldron) with grim faces. Yue Huai Le looked fearful as he gazed at the nearby killing formation.

Normally calm and composed, Madam Yue glanced at the sky and couldn't help but speak up: "How long until the Yang Ling Ding activates?"

"Another half an hour until the third day is up." Yue Huai Le's face was pale. "Mother, do you think Yue Zhi Heng won't return? What about older brother? Should we go beg grandfather again? Ask him to destroy the Yang Ling Ding?"

Madam Yue's face darkened: "This is all your fault! Why did you provoke that cursed thing?!"

From inside the Yang Ling Ding, there were occasional muffled groans from Yue Wu Jiu. Even without being fully activated, the temperature inside the immortal-grade artifact cauldron was unbearable for ordinary people. Yue Wu Jiu had endured this for three whole days, suffering daily. His breath had grown weaker by the minute.

Master Yue pressed his ear to the cauldron: "Jiu'er, hold on. Can you hear me, son?"

"Father… it hurts so much."

Master Yue's heart ached: "That heartless and vile Yue Zhi Heng, how could he be so cruel, leaving you no way to survive?"

Madam Yue glanced at her husband. How had she ended up married to such a fool? Didn't he realize who had provoked whom? No matter how cruel Yue Zhi Heng was, if Yue Wu Jiu hadn't instigated him, would he have ended up trapped in the Yang Ling Ding, waiting to die?

The day before, she had already gone to beg the old master. But in the Alchemy Pavilion, that aged and stern voice had said: "If they don't return, Jiu'er is indeed guilty. If I agree to this, when Yue Zhi Heng comes out, he'll be utterly estranged from the Yue family. If he insists on killing, do you think your son will survive? Instead of coming here to beg me, perhaps you should think about how you'll plead for him later."

Madam Yue anxiously asked, "Will he spare Wu Jiu?"

"I've made a promise to him," the voice had replied, "At least he won't take Wu Jiu's life."

Reluctantly, Madam Yue had returned to wait, troubled. She didn't know what kind of deal the old master had struck with Yue Zhi Heng, but for all his unruliness outside, Yue Zhi Heng had never harmed anyone in the family.

Madam Yue was more than familiar with the life Yue Zhi Heng had lived as a child—locked away in the forbidden grounds. She knew exactly what it was like: no clothes when it was cold, no treatment when sick, eating leftovers from the family every day, and even the servants could humiliate and beat them. As the lady of the house, how could she not know these things? However, she had deliberately tried to test the old master and her eldest sister-in-law's stance.

The origin of this child was a mystery. If he were truly the eldest brother and sister-in-law's child, why hadn't she cared for him over the years? Holding onto the ashes of her late husband, she had acted as though she was preparing to live her final days at the ancestral hall.

But if he were not their child, then why would the Yue family have taken him in, much less lock him up in the forbidden grounds?

Madam Yue had a chilling suspicion about her eldest sister-in-law's circumstances.

A few years ago, she had heard that if the child had truly come from that filthy place, there would be a degrading tattoo burned onto the back of their waist. But before she could verify it, the Yue family had fallen under Yue Zhi Heng's control, so she wisely ceased her investigation.

She kept the secret buried deep within her heart.

When her children asked her about this mysterious cousin, the one they had never seen as a child, Madam Yue simply said: "He was weak as a child and sent to the Medical Valley to be raised. He only returned these past few years. Don't cause trouble with him."

Madam Yue had been concerned that Yue Zhi Heng, with his vengeful nature, might turn against her and her children. However, every time she encountered him, he was cold and distant, never causing trouble.

Just when she had managed to maintain an outward semblance of peace, something unexpected happened.

As dusk approached and the Floating Dream Mirage showed no sign of activity, cold sweat started to bead on everyone's foreheads.

The entire Yue family, who had cursed Yue Zhi Heng to die for years, were now hoping for his return.

With only a single incense stick left until the Yang Ling Ding would fully refine, Master Yue could no longer bear it. He began to strike the cauldron, cursing, "This little beast, the Yue family should never have taken him in. We should have left him to die in the barrier."

Outside the Floating Dream Mirage, a cold laugh suddenly rang out: "Second Uncle sure has a big mouth. Did I hear you correctly? Who did you say should die?"

Master Yue shuddered and turned around.

In the fading light of dusk, a person stood, looking at him with a half-smile, his eyes cold. Who else but that cursed one from the Che Tian Mansion?

Master Yue, who had no talent and little backbone, was quick to humble himself. He forced a smile and said, "Ah Heng, I'm so glad you're back safely. Second Uncle was talking about himself and that little brat Wu Jiu. Second Uncle didn't teach him well, and he ended up doing something like this."

Madam Yue turned her head away: "..." She couldn't bear to watch.

Zhan Yunwei had just emerged from the Mirage and overheard Master Yue's words. She had always known that he feared Yue Zhi Heng, but she hadn't realized it was to this extent.

How powerful was Yue Zhi Heng in the Yue family, for this man to be so terrified?

Unable to stop herself, Zhan Yunwei glanced at Yue Zhi Heng, only to meet his gaze. She didn't know when it had happened, but he had stopped looking at Master Yue and was now staring at her.

In the fading light, the man's dark, ink-colored eyes were as cold as ever, with no trace of emotion.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Fate seemed to be mocking them, as though it were playing a joke. They were supposed to be mortal enemies, but he had opened the lotus seal for her, and Zhan Yunwei had foolishly brought that child to witness the first moonlight he had seen in his life since birth.

In truth, Zhan Yunwei had already figured it out when she climbed out of the dark river. The purpose of the Floating Dream Mirage was to kill. The vengeful spirits set up the Mirage based on their subconscious minds, knowing that Zhan Yunwei would not be wary of Sister Duan, so they attached themselves to her.

As for Yue Zhi Heng, who guarded against everyone, and the mute girl who was overly fragile, the Mirage chose to act at his weakest point, using the strongest Wen Xun to strike.

Unexpectedly, with the Dream Fragment Stone in hand, Zhan Yunwei had returned and, by an ironic twist of fate, directly became Wen Xun herself.

Yue Zhi Heng coldly shifted his gaze away.

Zhan Yunwei was also unaccustomed to this. Just a moment ago, Yue Zhi Heng had been a fragile child, so weak that if she had left him, he would have died. Yet in the blink of an eye, he had transformed back into the feared and cunning official.

Madam Yue stepped forward and said, "Lord Yue Zhi Heng, it was all my fault as a mother, I failed to properly educate Wu Jiu. Please show mercy and spare his life, whatever punishment you deem fit. Just let him out of the Yang Ling Ding first."

Yue Zhi Heng turned to Zhan Yunwei and asked, "He harmed you. How do you wish to deal with him?"

Zhan Yunwei looked at the Yang Ling Ding in front of her and instinctively asked, "Is this the cauldron you usually use for refining tools?"

It did indeed look… magnificent, grand, and large. Sword cultivators could hide their life swords within their bodies, and she had heard that some tool cultivators' cauldrons could also be stored that way?

Yue Zhi Heng paused in suspicion, then nodded, "Yes."

Zhan Yunwei couldn't help but think of what her senior sister Duan had once taught her about tool cultivators when she was young. She coughed lightly and said, "When my senior sister said that, she was still young. Later, she no longer thought that way, so don't mind it."

Yue Zhi Heng coldly replied, "What would I mind?"

She thought to herself, You mind that tool cultivators aren't liked by spirit masters.

But Zhan Yunwei quickly realized that Yue Zhi Heng didn't like spirit masters either, so it wasn't something that would bother him.

She decided to skip the topic and think about how to handle Yue Wu Jiu.

If she were to easily let him go, she'd probably die of anger and would rise from her grave. But Zhan Yunwei didn't want Yue Wu Jiu's life either.

On one hand, Yue Wu Jiu couldn't have created such a powerful formation to harm her, so it was likely he had been used as a pawn. On the other hand, Zhan Yunwei remembered Yue Wu Jiu's eventual fate.

On the day the barrier of Du'e City shattered, he had died protecting the commoners along the border, never retreating even a single step. Later, Yue's family hadn't even brought back his complete body.

Madam Yue had cried herself into despair and had been melancholic ever since.

Indeed, Yue Wu Jiu was impulsive and not very bright, but he was one of the few young heroes who was willing to sacrifice himself for the people.

After thinking it over, Zhan Yunwei hummed, "Let Yue Wu Jiu go to the neighboring county to clean the latrines."

Yue Huai Le's eyes widened in disbelief. She had grown up in luxury, hearing nothing but the best of everything. It was the first time she had ever heard of such a form of redemption.

For someone like her older brother, who changed clothes three times a day, this punishment was far worse than being whipped hundreds of times. It would be a quicker end.

She nervously glanced at her cousin, hoping that he wouldn't agree to such a "cruel" solution.

Yue Zhi Heng turned to the officials of Che Tian Mansion and said, "Keep an eye on Yue's second son. If he tries to sneak back, break both his legs."

Yue Huai Le's heart sank. She looked with sympathy at her brother, who had been released, now barely hanging onto life.

"As for the accomplice, Miss Yue, starting tomorrow, she will patrol the night shifts in Fen He County with the spirit cultivators. When her brother is forgiven, then her punishment will end. If the second son tries to run away before then..." Yue Zhi Heng said with a faint smile, "Then Miss Yue will take his place."

Yue Huai Le looked at Yue Zhi Heng in horror.

So, while she was patrolling, she'd have to pray that her brother behaves well in the neighboring county? She had to hope he wouldn't try to escape?

Master Yue's smile was ugly, and he had just begun to plead when Yue Zhi Heng raised an eyebrow and looked over at him. "What, Second Uncle, do you think you're so free? Do you want a job under my command?"

"…" You damned bastard, why does your life seem so tough? Why didn't you die in the killing formation!?

After all the commotion, the sky had completely darkened.

Zhan Yunwei was exhausted and just wanted to lie down and sleep well. For the past three days in the formation, she had either been escaping for her life or vomiting blood and suffering injuries. She was more tired than if she hadn't slept for three months.

It seemed Yue Zhi Heng felt the same way.

"Miss Zhan, would you prefer to bathe or use the purification talisman?" he asked.

If this had been a few days ago, Zhan Yunwei would have firmly chosen the purification talisman. But thinking of the dark river inside the Floating Dream Mirage, her body felt uncomfortable. Today, even if they killed her, she still wanted to bathe.

Zhan Yunwei pursed her lips, then looked at him and said, "I want to bathe. You can leave."

Yue Zhi Heng glanced at her. "Fine."

Zhan Yunwei didn't expect him to agree so readily. She looked at him suspiciously. Could it be that Yue Zhi Heng, a man with such a heart of stone, had a change of heart in the Floating Dream Mirage and decided to preserve some of the goodness he had as a child?

After agreeing, Yue Zhi Heng indeed left. Before long, the water for her bath was prepared.

As she undressed, something fell out. Zhan Yunwei looked down and realized it was something Mrs. Zhao, the seductive woman, had given her earlier.

She had been in the Floating Dream Mirage for so long that she had nearly forgotten about it.

She decided to look at it properly after her bath. After so many days, soaking in the hot water, she almost didn't want to leave.

Fearing Yue Zhi Heng might get impatient, she reluctantly put on her clothes and opened the box on the desk.

The box was made of fine golden nanmu wood. Upon opening it, there was another small jade box inside, about the size of half a fist, carved with a delicate silver snake, and the back had a small "Spring" character etched into it.

Spring?

Aside from this, there was no other clue.

Inside the box was a transparent fragrance balm. Zhan Yunwei, puzzled, dipped her finger into it and sniffed it. There was a strange scent, something like musk, but not quite.

Compared to magical tools, this seemed more like a medicinal balm.

Before she had time to figure out how to use it, Yue Zhi Heng's voice came from outside the door: "Miss Zhan, are you done?"

Zhan Yunwei quickly put it away. "Mm."

Yue Zhi Heng walked in from outside, having already bathed elsewhere in the mansion while she was in the process of bathing.

The moment Yue Zhi Heng stepped inside, he immediately smelled a strange fragrance.

At first, he thought it was the perfume Zhan Yunwei had used, but since he hadn't paid much attention to the marriage and knew that Zhan Yunwei had been unwilling, he hadn't expected her to prepare something like this in her room.

Zhan Yunwei didn't seem to use perfume either. The fragrance on her body, as well as the scent of the bath products she used, were not like this.

This smell was somewhat familiar…

Yue Zhi Heng narrowed his eyes and extended his hand. "Miss Zhan, would you like to take it out yourself, or shall I search for it?"

Zhan Yunwei didn't expect him to be so sharp, and her heart tightened.

How could she admit it? She could only pretend to be clueless. "What are you talking about, Lord Yue?"

"Take out what you're hiding on you."

Zhan Yunwei had no idea how he had noticed something was off. She hadn't even realized what it was. So, she had no choice but to say, "It's just a girl's perfume. Are you interested in seeing it?"

He remained expressionless, his tone cold and sharp. "I already warned you, Miss Zhan, not to play tricks."

As his words fell, a binding talisman had already landed on her forehead.

Zhan Yunwei was furious, but unable to move, and the spirit-binding bracelet was still on her wrist, preventing her from using her spiritual power.

Yue Zhi Heng spoke in a low, cold voice: "Apologies."

He raised his hand, and a small ghost-faced crane flew into her arms, holding a jade box in its beak, then flew back into his hand.

Yue Zhi Heng stared at the silver snake on the box. It was indeed familiar.

He opened the box, and the rich fragrance quickly filled the room. He glanced at Zhan Yunwei, and the sharpness he had earlier vanished, his expression turning odd.

"Who gave this to you?"

Zhan Yunwei was so nervous she could hardly bear it, and she couldn't possibly betray her companion. "There were too many people, I forgot."

Seeing she still wouldn't speak the truth, Yue Zhi Heng raised an eyebrow. "Perfume? Do you even know what this is? You just casually took it?"

"Miss Zhan, have you heard of 'Nightly Spring'?"

Zhan Yunwei, of course, had never heard of it, but the name… sounded incredibly inappropriate.

"It's exactly what you think it is," Yue Zhi Heng sneered. "In the three thousand realms of the spirit domain, the red dust of the world, all bow their heads and indulge in 'Nightly Spring.' Do you need me to explain where it's used?"

"...No," Zhan Yunwei muttered under her breath. She almost wished a hole would open in the ground to swallow her whole.

It turned out this was something women used to care for that area, and for men, it had a very strong addictive and aphrodisiac effect.

Now, Zhan Yunwei felt that her fingers, which had touched the balm, still felt warm, even though she had washed them.

Yue Zhi Heng put the item away, then tore off the talisman, giving her a glance. "You should stop collecting such strange things."

Otherwise... He furrowed his brows.

What could Zhan Yunwei say? She could only firmly decide to cut ties with Mrs. Zhao from now on. What was all this about? She didn't need it.

Though embarrassed, at least Yue Zhi Heng hadn't suspected the Immortal Sect.

The best way to forget about the previous topic was to quickly change the subject.

Having learned from her previous experience, Zhan Yunwei took a few steps toward the bed, sat down to protect her own little territory, and subtly gestured to him. "Yue Zhi Heng, do you still remember the vow you made in the Floating Dream Mirage?"