Chapter Three: Confrontation with a Foundation Cultivator

The head of the Shen family, Shen Bozhi, swept his icy gaze across the room. “I think the engagement between Wangshu and Qingzhi can be annulled. Our family does not need such a troublesome daughter-in-law.”

Jiang Wanwan and Mu Guannan exchanged glances, delight flickering in their eyes.

The mistress of the Shen family, Meng Nanxing, gently took her husband’s hand and spoke softly, “Bozhi, don’t forget, she is Shutí’s daughter.”

Shen Bozhi frowned, silent, clearly reluctant to continue with the marriage.

Jiang Mingqian forced a smile, bowing and nodding. “Master Shen, this engagement was my late wife’s dying wish. I hope you will consider it for Shutí’s sake. I promise, I’ll go home today and properly discipline Jiang Wangshu.”

“I will do my utmost to raise her into a gentle, well-mannered wife.”

Jiang Wanwan stepped forward and said, “Please rest assured, Uncle Shen. Although my sister is difficult to manage at home, for the sake of Brother Qingzhi’s future, my mother and I will certainly help guide her.”

Meng Nanxing shot Jiang Wanwan a warning glance before clinging to Shen Bozhi’s arm and shaking it gently. “Bozhi, Shutí was my dearest friend.”

Shen Bozhi took a deep breath and said gravely, “This must not happen again.”

The words swirled in Shen Qingzhi’s mind, his lips forming and unforming sentences, but he dared not voice his true thoughts. He hung his head at the side, meek as a quail.

“Hey, hey, hey!” Jiang Wangshu knocked on the fish tank, drawing all eyes her way.

“Is the engagement yours to talk about? You’re really having quite the discussion!”

Little Black bit her finger, grinding his teeth. Talk as you please, but must you knock on his tank? Did she think that just because she’d bound a contract with him, he was powerless?

Jiang Wangshu withdrew her finger, patted her own head as if smacking a melon, and declared, “I do not agree to this engagement. Shen Qingzhi, I will not marry you!”

Jiang Wangshu would eat anything but loss. Rather than spiral inward, she’d rather unleash chaos on others.

Shen Bozhi’s eyes were cold as frost. “Don’t be ungrateful!”

Her smile was even colder, and she didn’t hesitate to show off. “Don’t you know your own son by now? He’s fickle, indecisive, infatuated beyond sense. He lacks responsibility and brains.”

“Not even worth giving away for free.”

With that, she shot Shen Qingzhi a withering glare.

At the time of the engagement, the original Wangshu had never been moved by Shen Qingzhi. He’d been the one to pursue her, drawn to her beauty, attentive and solicitous. The original Wangshu, a sheltered and love-starved girl, naturally fell for him.

But when Jiang Wanwan threw herself at him, acting coy, he immediately abandoned Wangshu for her, indulging in romance without a second thought.

He never broke off with Wangshu properly, instead repeatedly undermining her, saying she was not as gentle and considerate as Jiang Wanwan.

He broke her heart, leaving her lost and despondent.

When the original was kidnapped, she acted with resignation, just to fulfill their so-called earth-shattering love.

Just recalling it all made her furious. How could she possibly look at them kindly?

Shen Bozhi, accustomed to power, spoke with imperious finality. “Enough!”

The pressure of a Foundation Establishment cultivator crashed down on Jiang Wangshu, making her chest tighten. She spat a mouthful of blood.

Meng Nanxing moved to shield her. “Bozhi, withdraw your strength!”

Meng Nanxing approached and tried to persuade her. “Wangshu, this is your mother’s final wish. Will you really defy it?”

“There’s no sense in sacrificing oneself for the departed! My mother loved me—she must have hoped even more for my happiness!” Jiang Wangshu wiped the blood from her lips.

Inside, she fumed, “System, what’s his strength? Use as much energy as it takes; I want to send him flying.”

“Foundation Establishment realm achieved. Please accept, Host!” The pay-to-win system clung to its newly acquired energy, savoring every drop.

Clinging to a golden thigh really was satisfying! Just one day and already four transactions!

She quietly absorbed the seven million credits’ worth of cultivation she’d borrowed from the system. The world blossomed into color before her eyes, chaotic spiritual energy swirling everywhere.

“Host, your body has not been trained. Foundation Establishment strength will severely harm you. To avoid irreversible damage, you have only ten breaths’ worth of time,” the system warned.

Meng Nanxing’s voice turned icy. “Jiang Wangshu, don’t forget, you are a useless waste with no spiritual roots. Marrying Qingzhi is your good fortune!”

She just laughed. “You look down on me, yet you want to force me into this marriage. Unless there’s something about me you want?”

Meng Nanxing, stung by that piercing gaze, took two steps back. What was happening? Was this the look a waste should have?

Shen Bozhi moved to shield his wife. “If you aren’t taught a lesson, you’ll never learn humility!” A wave of spiritual power surged at Jiang Wangshu.

Jiang Mingqian hurriedly retreated five meters with Mu Guannan and Jiang Wanwan, coldly scoffing, “She brought this on herself.”

Mu Guannan squeezed Jiang Wanwan’s wrist, her eyes triumphant.

Shen Qingzhi shouted, “Father, no!”

Such spiritual force could destroy half of Jiang Wangshu’s vitality.

Jiang Wangshu shoved Little Black behind her, raised her hand, and unleashed vibrant green wood spiritual power, brimming with life, to clash against Shen Bozhi’s icy blue energy.

The two forces collided in midair, triggering a violent shockwave.

Streetlights snapped, trees flew, and the nearby police station was forced to raise a defensive barrier.

“Are you attacking the police?” the police chief roared.

Shen Bozhi had no strength to reply, stunned that Jiang Wangshu wielded such pure, vast spiritual power—he could not resist it.

Eight, seven, six…

Jiang Wangshu poured out her energy without restraint. In the end, green light overwhelmed blue, sending Shen Bozhi flying ten meters, his clothes in tatters, face scraped, and blood spurting from his lips.

“Mention this engagement again and don’t blame me for being merciless!”

As the light faded, Jiang Wangshu’s figure vanished.

Meng Nanxing rushed to Shen Bozhi’s side, gently helping him up. “Bozhi, are you all right?”

Her teary, gentle eyes warmed Shen Bozhi’s heart. He shook his head. “I’m fine!” But when he looked toward where Jiang Wangshu had stood, a shadow flickered in his eyes.

Jiang! Wang! Shu!

Shen Qingzhi’s jaw dropped. Was he still dreaming? His useless fiancée had just beaten his father to the point of coughing blood!

Jiang Wanwan shook her head in disbelief. “Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Wasn’t Jiang Wangshu supposed to have no spiritual roots?” She couldn’t help but look to her mother.

Mu Guannan shook her head, equally baffled. By all rights, Jiang Wangshu’s spiritual roots had been swapped with Wanwan’s long ago; she should have been unable to cultivate.

She must contact their master immediately and report the situation to find out what had gone wrong.

Jiang Mingqian pinched his own thigh. “Ouch! Not a dream!”

He burst out laughing. “I knew it! How could Shutí’s daughter possibly be a waste?”

“I must hurry home—Wangshu must be waiting for me!”

The three of them fled quickly.

Shen Bozhi’s group, slower by a step, was stopped by the police, who handed them a bill. “Please pay for the damages.”

Jiang Mingqian tossed over a check with a cold flick. “Keep the change!”

The chief glanced at it, then quickly blocked their way.

“What now?” Shen Bozhi asked irritably.

The chief smiled politely. “Mr. Shen, it’s not enough.”

“Impossible!” Meng Nanxing snatched the bill and, seeing the sum, fell silent.

Shen Bozhi glanced at it and stood frozen.

Shen Qingzhi stiffly looked to his left. The delicate, spiritual-energy-purifying Lingxi Tree, essential for cultivation yet fragile, had been snapped in half and lay battered on the ground.

Meanwhile…

Jiang Wangshu, pushing the fish tank, sprinted eight hundred meters. When the ten breaths were up, her entire body ached, not a finger could move. She lay sprawled across the empty pedestrian crossing.

Little Black tore at the Immortal-Binding Rope wrapped around him, furiously lashing his tail and sending great splashes onto Jiang Wangshu’s face.

She recalled the rope with a thought and spoke to the system in her mind. “It hurts! Anything to relieve this pain?”

The system replied, “Host, there’s no avoiding the pain of spiritual overload. Even if I block it, you won’t have the strength to get up.”

With a thud, Little Black tumbled out of the tank, his paw-like hand reaching for her, muttering words she couldn’t understand.

A flash of black light, and Little Black transformed into a naked man with legs. His upturned eyes were fierce, golden irises swirling with murderous intent.

Sharp claws flashed coldly as they aimed for her face, but the contract’s binding instantly froze him in place.

Jiang Wangshu laughed. “Did you think I freed you out of kindness? My little laborer, carry me home!”

She struggled to lift her hand and patted his cheek.

Little Black was furious, the contract constantly compelling him to obey.

Unable to resist, he threw her over his shoulder and strode away.

“Hey, hey, hey, be gentle!”

“No, no, not that way! You’ll be arrested for streaking!”

“Wrong way, wrong way—!”

At dawn, the alarm blared. Jiang Wangshu shot upright in bed, then fell back, unable to bear the aches all over her body.

“No, no, today is the college entrance exam! I can’t be late!”

She struggled upright, calling out again and again, “Little Black! Little Black, Little Black…”