Chapter 11: Compromise and Return to the Jiang Family

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Looking at Elder Nan’s slightly purplish hair, it was clear now—he had become a purple jiangshi.
He couldn’t handle this alone, especially with Nan Yuanman held hostage nearby.
Zhang Shimian couldn’t help but curse inwardly. What kind of cursed place was this? Not only had a fierce ghost appeared, now even a purple jiangshi showed up!
His master had said his fate was tied to this place!
He now seriously suspected his master couldn’t stand him and had tricked him into a death trap!
Elder Nan’s body stiffened, and he turned his back to Nan Yuanman, unwilling to look at her.
Nan Yuanman was frantic, ignoring Zhang Shimian’s warnings, tearfully reaching out to unveil her grandfather’s injured arm.
“Grandpa, where are you hurt? Does it hurt?”
Elder Nan blinked and let out a low groan.
When Nan Yuanman got close, Zhang Shimian’s heart leapt to his throat, but he dared not act rashly, afraid Elder Nan might harm her.
Seeing Elder Nan obediently stand still as Nan Yuanman examined his wound, Zhang Shimian’s stern expression softened into bewilderment.
Wait, weren’t purple jiangshi known for their ferocity? Was he really that docile?
And why was Nan Yuanman not surprised at all?
He couldn’t help but ask, “You knew he was a jiangshi all along?”
Nan Yuanman pressed her lips tightly, tears rolling down silently.
How could she not know?
This was her grandfather, the only family she had left.
She had noticed the change as soon as it happened.
Besides, when Elder Nan was alive, he had passed on all his lifelong knowledge to her.
With her innate yin-yang vision and natural spiritual gift, how could she not see his current state?
She just didn’t want to expose the truth.
She was still young and couldn’t live without her grandfather.
Her reaction told Zhang Shimian everything. Disbelief crossed his face: “You knew he was a jiangshi, and yet you still stayed with him? Are you suicidal?!”
“Grandpa’s very gentle; he doesn’t eat people!” Nan Yuanman stood protectively before Elder Nan, looking at Zhang Shimian with urgency. “Really, since becoming a jiangshi, he hasn’t eaten anyone. He won’t hurt anyone. Please don’t capture him.”
“Just because he isn’t dangerous now doesn’t mean he won’t be. Nan Yuanman, you’re still young and don’t understand the saying ‘those of a different kind cannot be trusted.’ You can’t control him forever to keep him from hurting others.” Zhang Shimian’s youthful face grew serious.
“I can!” Nan Yuanman grew anxious, her heart pounding.
Afraid Zhang Shimian would harm her grandfather, she took out a small coffin and opened it, pointing it at Elder Nan, then opened her mouth: “Capture!”
A black light flashed, and Elder Nan vanished in an instant.
Zhang Shimian blinked in shock. “Where did he go?”
Nan Yuanman pressed a talisman onto the small coffin and looked at Zhang Shimian pleadingly. “I captured him inside. See? I can control him forever and keep him from hurting anyone.”
Zhang Shimian was dumbfounded, staring at the tiny coffin in disbelief. “What kind of magical tool is this?”
He knew ghosts and demons could be captured, but how could one imprison a jiangshi outside the cycle of reincarnation?
“I don’t know,” Nan Yuanman said honestly. “Grandpa said I was born with it.”
She vaguely understood this small coffin could capture any demon or ghost, like the gourd of the Supreme Elder Lord in Journey to the West.

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She hadn’t yet explored its full capabilities.
With Elder Nan gone, Zhang Shimian’s tense nerves relaxed a little. He paced back and forth, hands on hips, looking at the pitiful Nan Yuanman. “No, I have to report this.”
“I need to consult my master first. Even if you can control him, he’s still too dangerous.”
“You can’t stay in the village any longer. Come with me back to Sanqing Temple.”
Nan Yuanman pursed her lips, her small head drooping. “Okay.”
Zhang Shimian paced anxiously a few more times before pulling out his phone and dialing a certain unruly master.
The phone rang twice before a powerful voice answered: “You brat, calling at midnight better mean it’s important.”
“It is, very important!” Zhang Shimian said grimly. “I found a purple jiangshi in Batang Village.”
Master Xuan Qingzi of Sanqing Temple was instantly alert. “Are you human or ghost?”
Xuan Qingzi knew well what this disciple was capable of; if it were truly a purple jiangshi, he wouldn’t be alive.
A vein popped on Zhang Shimian’s forehead. “Why would a master curse his disciple to death? I’m human! But this purple jiangshi’s situation is complicated…”
Under Nan Yuanman’s anxious gaze, he quickly explained how he found the purple jiangshi.
Xuan Qingzi pondered. “So this purple jiangshi still has self-awareness…”
“By the way, you mean the purple jiangshi is Elder Nan who raised Nan Yuanman?”
“Yes.”
“Then let her return to the Jiang family first. I’ll come down the mountain tomorrow to see her. That’s decided!”
With that, Xuan Qingzi hung up abruptly.
Listening to the beeping on the other end, Zhang Shimian was baffled.
Why did his master hate the Jiang family so much that he’d let Nan Yuanman bring such a dangerous weapon back there?
But judging by his master’s words, he didn’t seem surprised.
Had he already divined something?
Zhang Shimian looked thoughtfully at Nan Yuanman. “What do you think?”
Hearing Xuan Qingzi’s decision, Nan Yuanman was relieved but also anxious. She clutched the small coffin tightly and said urgently, “I’ll go back to Jiang’s with my uncle tomorrow.”
“But you must promise not to let anyone take my grandpa away!”
Zhang Shimian opened his mouth, wanting to say it was impossible—not with how dangerous a purple jiangshi was—but seeing Nan Yuanman’s red, tearful eyes, her frightened yet bravely pitiful appearance, his heart softened.
“I can’t promise that. We’ll wait until my master meets you and then decide.”
He rubbed his aching temple. “I’ll take you back to rest now. You’re too young to stay up late.”
Nan Yuanman knew it would take great effort to keep her grandfather by her side, so she didn’t argue and obediently followed Zhang Shimian back to rest.
Not knowing Elder Nan had already become a jiangshi, Zhang Shimian had assumed Nan Yuanman had company. Now knowing the truth, he dared not leave her alone.
No matter how mature she seemed, she was only five years old—a child.
After some thought, Zhang Shimian stayed with Nan Yuanman that night.
Many were sleepless that night.

The next day.

Jiang Lixuan, who had finally fallen asleep, was woken by a phone call. A worried female voice came through: “Xinxin is back in the hospital. Xiao Xuan, have you found Bai Wenyin and her child yet?”
Jiang Lixuan’s drowsiness vanished instantly. “What happened to Xinxin?”
“I don’t know, she fainted suddenly at school today,” the voice carried a hint of complaint. “She’s insisting on seeing you and her new sister. Can you bring them back today?”
“I will.” Jiang Lixuan dropped everything when it came to Jiang Xinxin, quickly dressing. “Tell her her uncle will bring the new sister home today.”
“Okay, bye.”
After hanging up, Jiang Lixuan hurried to the Nan residence to find Nan Yuanman.

Meanwhile, in S City, at the First People's Hospital.

In an elegantly decorated VIP room lay a pale-faced little girl, about four years old, exquisitely cute.
Her eyes were tightly shut, her brow furrowed, and she slept restlessly.
Sitting beside the bed was a woman dressed in a moonlit blue qipao, her long hair pinned up with sandalwood hairpins, her delicate features framed by slightly reddened eyes, lending her a fragile appearance.
She held the girl’s hand tightly and kissed it tenderly.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed outside, the voice arriving first: “Oh, my poor little Xinxin, Grandma’s here to see you.”
The closed door was pushed open by a stately woman with fine lines at her eyes, dressed in a white suit with a pearl necklace, who hurried inside.
Behind her followed a handsome young man in black formal wear.
Seeing Jiang Xinxin asleep, the young man lowered his voice urgently: “Mom, Xinxin is asleep. Please be quiet.”
“I’m already quiet!” Mrs. Jiang, Ge Peiyao, softened her voice and checked on Jiang Xinxin before tenderly embracing the pale-faced Jiang Yueyao.
“Don’t worry, Yao Yao, your older brother said he’ll bring them back this afternoon.”
Jiang Yueyao smiled with hope.
Then she bit her lip nervously, hesitating: “Mom, maybe we should just forget it.”
“If Wenyin finds out we’re taking the child back for Xinxin’s sake, she’ll be heartbroken and it’s unfair to her…”
“There’s nothing unfair about it.” Jiang Hengzhi, the second son of the Jiang family, couldn’t hide his contempt when thinking of Bai Wenyin. “She owes you and Xinxin.”
To the Jiang family, Bai Wenyin was their shame.
If not for the family and Xinxin, they wouldn’t have taken Bai Wenyin and her daughter back at all.
Jiang Hengzhi coldly hoped Bai Wenyin and her daughter would be sensible, or else… he wouldn’t hesitate to use some means.
“Enough, don’t overthink it.” Ge Peiyao gently hugged Jiang Yueyao. “Mom is here; I’ll handle it.”
“Mm.” Jiang Yueyao leaned into her, a shadow flickering in her lowered eyes.

—

Elsewhere, Jiang Lixuan stormed into the Nan residence.
Having packed his belongings early, holding a worn little bundle, he sat facing Nan Yuanman in the courtyard, both staring at each other.
Hearing footsteps, Nan Yuanman stood and opened the courtyard gate. Without waiting for Jiang Lixuan to speak, she said, “I’m going back with you.”
Jiang Lixuan was speechless.