Wandao 016
At dusk, the Wan family residence in the southwest corner of Niupu Village lay quietly shrouded in twilight as usual. Moss had long crept over the tiles beneath the eaves, and when the wind stirred, it made a faint rustling sound, as if whispering some ancient secret. The afterglow of the setting sun filtered through thin mist, casting a faint golden light over the stone-paved courtyard, where two blurred figures appeared—Zeng Lihui and Yazhen.
Inside the main hall, the light was dim and incense curled lazily upward from a censer placed on a low table of fragrant rosewood. The room was simply decorated; on the wall hung a sword painting left by Wan Lizhao in his youth. Yet despite the calm, the air was thick with tension.
"Mother, Wan Xiaochuan's cultivation is progressing rapidly. Even the clan elders have been secretly watching him… If we let him continue unchecked, we will lose all opportunity," Yazhen said with a low voice full of resentment, a fleeting sinister gleam flashing across her brow.
Zeng Lihui frowned slightly, fingers lightly caressing a crystal jade hairpin in her hand. It was a magical device she had obtained from a sect elder in her youth—though not high grade, it could transmit orders through speech. She slowly said, "I know. Wan Lizhao is watching him too. But we must not act rashly; if Father suspects our intentions toward Xiaochuan, it will only expose us."
"But that old man…" Yazhen clenched her sleeve tightly until her fingertips whitened, grinding her teeth, "He knows Xiaochuan is a bastard, yet he gives him spirit stones, spiritual herbs, and secret techniques, even the 'Five Elements Regulating Formula' at the Qi Refining Initial Stage, which he never let me touch!"
Hearing this, Zeng Lihui smiled faintly and rose, walking gracefully toward the window to gaze at the jade stone path in the distant courtyard. Every movement seemed carefully measured, her embroidered golden belt swaying gently, jade pendants chiming softly.
"Don't rush. The sect's trial is coming soon. If he participates, we can use the opportunity to act. The headship of the Wan family should never fall to a rootless brat like him."
"What do you plan?" Yazhen stared at her mother, her eyes glowing with dark intent.
Zeng Lihui slowly turned, a cold gleam flashing in her eyes. "Tomorrow night, I will instruct Wan Lizhao to set a trap, letting Xiaochuan fall into the 'Cold Bone Pool' trial area. At the bottom of that pool are soul-devouring cold leeches. Even if he survives, his spirit will be damaged, making cultivation difficult."
After speaking, she took out a jade talisman from her sleeve, fingertips moving slightly. Fine runes appeared on its surface: "This is the 'Cold Leech Summoning Curse.' Just stick it inside Xiaochuan's clothing, and when he enters the pool, those beasts will be drawn to him."
Listening, Yazhen smiled coldly, then stepped closer to her mother, feigning intimacy as she hugged her arm. Yet in the motion, her fingers subtly scratched a thin cut on Zeng Lihui's hand before pretending to dust it off with a handkerchief.
"Mother, don't blame me for speaking out, but don't forget—though Wan Xiaochuan is talented, that handsome face of his has made many female disciples swoon. If he truly marries into some sect… then all our plans will be for nothing." Her voice was sweet yet laced with obvious threat and probing.
Zeng Lihui's slight frown at the moment of the scratch was barely noticeable before she smiled even more warmly. "Rest assured, I have my arrangements. The Wan family belongs to you and me—we won't let outsiders interfere."
They exchanged a gaze, and the atmosphere instantly stiffened.
Outside, a breeze swept past the window lattice, stirring the incense smoke and knocking fallen spiritual herb leaves from the nearby altar table, silently slipping into the crevices—as if witnessing the tangled web of mother-daughter intrigue.
As night deepened, within the Wan mansion, dark clouds gathered, silently foretelling a great upheaval was about to unfold.