Chu Qinghuang collected the valuables from every corner of the Chu Estate, unable to help a sigh of admiration. True to its reputation as a noble family with centuries of heritage, the Chu Family possessed an immensely wealthy foundation; these treasures alone would be more than enough for her to live a life of comfort and abundance without ever having to worry about food or clothing.
Having packed everything away and eager to leave the Chu Estate as soon as possible, she walked out into the courtyard where she had just regained consciousness. Looking at the countless corpses scattered across the ground, Chu Qinghuang bit her somewhat pale lips. Since she had taken the vast fortunes of the Chu Family and received its inheritance, she could now be considered a member of the Chu clan. She decided to find a place to bury these people properly—at the very least, it would be something she could do for the family.
Chu Qinghuang stored the bodies from the ground into her spatial ring and, upon leaving, set a raging fire. Driven by the morning breeze, the fierce flames blazed rapidly, waking more than half the residents in the Main City of Aoyun State. The various noble families hurriedly dispatched people to investigate the situation, and some family heads who had been on friendly terms with the Chu Family even came in person to inspect the scene.
After the inferno died down, the Chu Estate was reduced to a pile of ruins. Numerous family heads stood sighing at the gates, all lamenting the ill fortune and tragic calamity that had befallen the Chu family.
"Such a fine family as the Chu family—how could they suffer such a devastating annihilation? Ah, who on earth is so utterly devoid of conscience to deal such a ruthless blow to a family known for its righteousness?"
"The Chu family was benevolent and honorable; they must have stood in someone's way. Otherwise, how could they have met with such an extermination?"
Just as Prince Duan and Chu Nanxi arrived at the gates of the Chu Estate, they happened to overhear these discussions. Hearing such remarks, Chu Nanxi's previously cheerful expression instantly darkened.
Casting a few sullen glances at the speakers, Chu Nanxi noticed Prince Duan turning back to look at her with concern. "What is the matter?" he asked gently. "Why do your spirits look so low?"
Hastily wiping away her gloomy expression, Chu Nanxi forced an awkward smile. "It's nothing. It just feels such a pity to see the Chu family suffer this calamity. In another two months, Younger Sister Chu would have turned eighteen, and we could have begun preparing for her marriage to Your Highness. But now... Oh, why is Younger Sister Chu's fate so cruel?"
As she spoke, Chu Nanxi even made a show of using her handkerchief to dab at her reddened eyes. Standing quietly in the crowd and disguised in men's clothing, Chu Qinghuang looked at Chu Nanxi's hypocritical performance and let out a disdainful scoff.
Prince Duan let out a soft sigh. "No one could have foreseen such a tragedy. I had intended to take Qinghuang into the estate after our marriage; even though she could not cultivate, it would have been enough to grant her a lifetime of peace and security. I never expected her to meet with this catastrophe. Ah... Once the embers cool down, I will send people to search for the remains of the Chu family and see that they receive a proper, honorable burial."
Hearing this, Chu Nanxi's hand paused mid-wipe. The prince actually intended to marry that cultivation-crippled good-for-nothing? Thank goodness she was dead! Otherwise, would she herself have had to live subordinate to that trash in the future? "Your Highness is truly benevolent," she said, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "The Chu family will also send some people to help out when the time comes, just in case anything is needed."
Prince Duan smiled faintly at her. "You are a hard worker."
Watching Prince Duan and Chu Nanxi exchanging affectionate glances and cozy smiles from within the crowd, Chu Qinghuang curled her lip in disgust. A home-wrecking third party who dared to commit murder and silence witnesses just for a man! It seemed this Prince Duan was extremely important to Chu Nanxi—no, to be precise, the position of Princess Duan was what mattered most, coupled with the fact that the prince was handsome and rumored to possess formidable martial prowess, making him an ideal husband indeed.
Judging by his remark that he would have supported Chu Qinghuang for a lifetime even if she could not cultivate, at least this man was not utterly cold-blooded and ruthless; he still had a shred of conscience. However... since Chu Nanxi cared so deeply about Prince Duan, she would simply have to find a way to snatch him away.
Leaving the gates of the Chu Estate behind, Chu Qinghuang walked into the first inn she came across. "Waiter, bring me a bowl of rice and two dishes—one meat, one vegetable."
"Right away, patron! Please have a seat and wait a moment."
After the span of a quarter of an hour, the waiter returned carrying a tray with the rice and dishes. "Here are your rice and dishes, patron. Please enjoy your meal."
"Thank you. Do you have any rooms available here?"
"Are you looking to stay the night, patron?"
Chu Qinghuang nodded. The waiter bowed and replied, "Please wait a moment, patron. I will go ask the manager."
Before long, the waiter came back. "Patron, we have one superior room left, along with several standard guest rooms. Which one would you prefer?"
"I'll take the superior room."
"Very well. May I have your name, patron? We need to register the names of our guests."
"Yun Li."
"Understood."
After the waiter stepped away, Chu Qinghuang leisurely finished her meal. Shortly after, the waiter delivered the room tag and key before withdrawing. Once she finished eating, Chu Qinghuang returned to her room, locked the door securely from the inside, closed the windows, and thoroughly inspected the room to ensure everything was in order. Then, sitting down on the edge of the bed, she lowered her gaze to look at the Holy Spirit Fallen Ring on her finger, wondering how to enter its spatial realm. The moment she raised her head, she found herself already inside the space.
Chu Qinghuang looked around at the environment within the realm. Beneath her feet was an expansive, lush meadow. Ahead of her stood a bamboo house, and some twenty or thirty paces away from it lay a spring, which fed into a small lake where the crystal-clear water flowed steadily from the source.
Looking into the distance, a vast, dense forest loomed vaguely on the horizon. Chu Qinghuang wandered around the area, but aside from the bamboo house, the lake, and the spring, there was nothing else. Crouching beside the lake, she curiously gazed at the crystal-clear water. Remembering what Xiaoyuan had said about the spring water being capable of Cleansing the Marrow, she removed her outer garments and slowly stepped into the water, figuring that even if it couldn't cleanse her marrow, it would at least make for a refreshing bath.
No sooner had she stepped in and sunk slightly deeper than a wave of pain began to ripple through her body. The pain steadily intensified, and foul impurities continuously oozed out from her pores. Watching the pitch-black grime emerging from her arms, Chu Qinghuang couldn't help turning her face away and dry-heaving a couple of times, nearly throwing up the meal she had just eaten.
After about an hour, Chu Qinghuang felt the pain finally subside. She stood up, walked over to a cleaner patch of lake water, and washed away the black filth from her body. Once thoroughly cleansed, she stepped ashore and changed into a fresh set of clothes.
At that moment, Xiaoyuan emerged from the Tianyuan Cauldron and flew over to Chu Qinghuang's side. Taking one look at the patch of blackened water in the lake, it pinched its nose. "Ew... gross."
Chu Qinghuang shot Xiaoyuan a sideways glare. "You dare show disgust toward your own master? Believe it or not, I'll toss you right out."
Xiaoyuan let out a cheeky laugh, alighted on Chu Qinghuang's shoulder, and said, "Master, haven't you noticed that after the Cleansing the Marrow, your injuries are healed, and your skin is even fairer and more translucent?"
Chu Qinghuang raised her hand to inspect it. Her injuries were indeed healed, though she hadn't noticed any change in her skin color.
"That is because all the toxins in Master's body have been purged."
Surprised, Chu Qinghuang turned to look at Xiaoyuan. "Toxins? You mean there were toxins in my body? Could that be the reason why I couldn't cultivate?"