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The lane leading to the Jiang Manor was filled with carriages, each more elaborate and expensive than the last.

A block away, under a large tree, there was another carriage.

However, its horse was terribly thin, and the carriage itself was in deplorable condition.

Three people were cramped inside the narrow compartment.

Jian Huan lowered the carriage curtain and looked disapprovingly at Baili Dao: "Didn\'t I tell you to rent a presentable carriage? And this is what you got us?"

Baili Dao, shrinking his muscular frame with its eight-pack abs while holding his sword, showed a hint of grievance on his bronze face: "But... Brother Shen told me to rent the cheapest one..."

Hearing this, Jian Huan shot a glare his way, exclaiming in exasperation: "Shen Jizhi!"

Shen Jizhi, who was counting copper coins in his hand, shuddered at her voice.

Not from fear, but because the carriage was so cramped that half his body was pressed against Jian Huan.

He carefully put away the coins, being precise: "The registration alone cost a thousand spirit stones the other day."

They needed to economize elsewhere.

Jian Huan massaged her temples, grinding her teeth.

Master Chu hadn\'t taken the thirty thousand spirit stones, leaving them with Shen Jizhi.

So naturally, any expenses related to the Chu family matters would come from Shen Jizhi\'s funds.

In other words, he was currently in charge of the money.

And whoever controls the money makes the rules.

Baili Dao looked left and right, unconsciously shrinking further, and asked cautiously: "So, should I still drive the carriage over there?"

"No need," Jian Huan tried to remain calm, "We\'ll get off and walk."

Among a group of swans, an ugly duckling would surely catch the attention of the Jiang family.

Jian Huan didn\'t want to draw their attention before finding any clues.

A better carriage would have been safer, though walking also carried some risk.

Before jumping off the carriage, Jian Huan said: "Shen Jizhi, you value money more than life itself."

Shen Jizhi remained silent.

He understood the logic, but when it came time to spend money, his hands had a mind of their own.

He lowered his gaze and quietly followed her off the carriage.

Baili Dao watched as the two walked away, one after the other.

He wouldn\'t enter the Jiang Manor, having been assigned to stand by outside.

According to Jian Huan\'s instructions, if she and Shen Jizhi didn\'t send word within three days, he was to leave the city immediately and go to the Jade Clarity Sect to ask Elder Yu to collect their bodies and, incidentally, seek revenge.

Although Jian Huan had informed Elder Yu of their whereabouts through the Xuantian Mirror, there had been no response.

Moreover, Jian Huan had forced Baili Dao to swear that if she died, he would burn paper money for her during every festival, lots and lots of it.

Fortunately, there were many people at the Jiang Manor today, with numerous carriages blocked outside. Many couples, not wanting to wait, simply got off their carriages and walked the rest of the way.

Jian Huan and Shen Jizhi blended in with the crowd, drawing no attention.

Only upon entering did they realize the Jiang Manor was a hidden paradise.

The banquet was set in the back garden, which Jian Huan roughly estimated to be the size of a football field.

Fresh, vibrant roses, a lake full of lotus flowers, and trees hung with lanterns transformed the back garden into a heavenly realm.

The late summer breeze brought evening coolness.

Couples walked together, gradually separating as they approached the theater stage.

Women\'s dining area was to the left of the stage, men\'s to the right.

Jian Huan, still somewhat angry, silently followed the women ahead.

After a few steps, noticing the absence of familiar footsteps behind her, she paused and instinctively looked back.

Shen Jizhi stood between the left and right sections, with men and women constantly passing behind him. Their silhouettes hurried past, blurring like tree shadows along the carriage path.

Sensing Jian Huan\'s gaze, Shen Jizhi also seemed surprised.

He understood why Jian Huan was angry, but he hadn\'t particularly cared.

Yet just now, Shen Jizhi had felt an unusual sense of guilt.

Walking among the other women, he realized how delicate her figure was, as if a gust of wind could blow her away.

This emotion was so foreign that Shen Jizhi had never experienced it before.

He unconsciously stopped, momentarily lost in thought.

Until Jian Huan turned her head.

Their eyes met unexpectedly, catching both off guard.

Hearts skipped a beat simultaneously.

Almost at once, they both turned away, walking in opposite directions, steps hurried, growing further apart.

As if that glance had never happened, for the moment was so brief, like the faint scent of lotus flowers dispersing in the wind.

Leaving no trace, no evidence of its existence.

After several rounds of drinks, the initially shy guests began to open up.

Sister Bing Lian, sitting to Jian Huan\'s left, was from the Jiang family. Each table had such a friendly sister figure, and she asked softly: "Miss Qian, you\'re so young, why have you come to this couples\' banquet?"

All the dishes on the table were spiritual food, which explained why they had to test with spirit stones during registration.

All the couples who made it here were cultivators, though none of high level.

This was normal - those of high cultivation focused solely on the Dao and wouldn\'t marry. They would attend cultivation conferences or secret realm trials rather than couples\' banquets.

Those who came were couples with little talent and low cultivation levels.

Though spiritual food was right before her, Jian Huan didn\'t touch her chopsticks.

Her sadness seemed genuine as she replied: "Sister Bing Lian, I\'ll be honest with you. These are things I can\'t usually tell those around me, as it\'s quite embarrassing."

Bing Lian assumed a listening posture.

Jian Huan raised her hand, pretending to wipe her eyes with her wide sleeve, half-covering her face: "My marriage to my husband was arranged by our parents - I hadn\'t even seen him before our wedding. But on our wedding night, I discovered that he... he..."

Jian Huan gently bit her lip and lowered her head: "...I\'m still a maiden..."

Bing Lian gasped: "This..."

But she didn\'t seem too surprised, as it was obvious that Jian Huan was still at the first level of Qi Refinement.

Jian Huan continued to perfect her character\'s background: "We\'ve tried everything, even consulted with masters from the Harmony Union Sect. But nothing helped..."

Bing Lian sighed: "If even the Harmony Union Sect has no solution, it is indeed difficult."

"Yes..." Jian Huan clutched her chest sorrowfully: "My husband is quite handsome, like a jade tree in the wind, and everyone envies me on the surface. But only I know what it\'s like in private..."

Sister Li quickly patted Jian Huan\'s shoulder gently, consoling her: "Don\'t worry, I\'ll ask the Madam later. She might have a solution. There were other couples with your problem before, and eventually, Madam found someone to concoct medicine that cured them."

"Really?" Jian Huan looked up, breaking into a smile through her tears, "That would be wonderful!"

However, her smile vanished a moment later, and she seemed hesitant, "Sister Bing Lian, actually, besides this matter, I have another request for coming here."

Bing Lian spoke softly: "Please, feel free to tell me."

Jian Huan covered her lower abdomen, appearing shy: "During these three days in Yujiang City, I heard that the Jiang family has a very effective recipe... for helping female cultivators conceive."

Hearing this, Bing Lian smiled gently, as this was indeed the Jiang family\'s foundation.

Aliali: 675047168ee49abd4e8ae644

Many people traveled thousands of miles and spent fortunes just for this.

Jian Huan lowered her head, a glimmer appearing in her eyes: "It\'s difficult for female cultivators to conceive, and even if they manage to become pregnant, the child might not have spiritual roots. My husband\'s family is well-off and has connections with the Gong family. However, my husband has the poorest five-element spiritual root, which is why my in-laws arranged for him to marry me so early. To be honest, though my family is poor, my dual spiritual root caught my mother-in-law\'s attention."

She seemed somewhat embarrassed: "My mother-in-law really hopes I can give their Ji family a grandson with dual spiritual roots, to bring honor to the family. So..."

Jian Huan\'s large, moist eyes looked at Bing Lian, speaking volumes without words.

All this was actually gossip she had heard earlier from Gong Feihong, including real names, just not the real people.

Half-truths were most convincing.

Bing Lian understood Jian Huan\'s meaning: "I understand, I will relay this to our Madam exactly as you\'ve said. You and your husband can stay in the manor tonight, and we\'ll give you both an answer tomorrow morning."

Jian Huan smiled gratefully.

The actors on stage were still singing their traditional opera, and when she looked up, she inadvertently glanced toward the men\'s section.

She wondered how Shen Jizhi was doing on his side, whether he was following the script she had given him, or if he was improvising.