Fellow Daoist! That scoundrel has written a new book again.

She paused slightly.

They then continued walking forward.

Zhu Wuyao didn't want to continue thinking about the truth behind the original owner's death, even though that suspicion lingered in her mind, constantly reminding her—

The original owner of this body died because of her arrival.

Walking aimlessly forward, Zhu Wuyao seemed to have lost his way.

Until they stood in front of the Zhu family's gate.

With a creak, the old wooden door opened a crack, and Zhu Wuyao walked into the courtyard, where she saw a woman waving to her.

Logically speaking, Zhu Wuji's mother should have been present at this Zhu family gathering.

However, Zhu Wuyao persuaded him to stay at home.

She cooked dumplings for her child, with thin wrappers and generous fillings of meat. She estimated the time her child would return before putting them in the pot. Now, the plump white dumplings were rolling around on the steaming water, as if they were about to leap onto the stove and into the bowl.

I hope that Wuyao can see the depletion of a woman's vital energy and blood.

The withered, dying trees are revitalized by the return of the children.

I eagerly await the child eating while it's still hot.

Zhu Wuyao was troubled and confused, and the speculations that welled up in his mind could not be suppressed no matter what.

For the original owner of this body, the Zhu family had no blood feud, no grudges for killing her parents, only the matter of seizing the family property and driving her out of the family.

The feud had a beginning; Zhu Wuji, who had taken her things, was already a dead man by the sword.

But I wish you well if you are not invited.

She was not satisfied with this ending.

Seeing the gloom on Zhu Wuji's face, the woman knew she was in a bad mood, and gradually her own excitement subsided. She silently served a bowl of dumplings and gently placed it in front of her.

It seemed as if they were looking forward to the dinner they had been busy preparing for so long, hoping to finally get a taste.

Zhu Wuyao glanced at the food placed in front of him.

No matter how murderous she was, or how volatile her anger was, she wouldn't take her anger out on the weak.

Anger rises from the heart, and wildfire has nowhere to burn.

Her anger was like a fire without a source; it was burning, but she didn't know what to ignite.

Pick up the chopsticks placed on the chopstick rest—yes, the chopstick rest.

The woman did not forget that Zhu Wuji was a meticulous person who, even when the family was struggling financially, still maintained the demeanor of a young master.

I had no invitation and no interest in tasting it; I just wanted to eat a few bites to get by.

Okay, let's get back to the room and quickly find some other chores to do.

But the dumplings were too delicious.

The warm meal, to some extent, soothed her inner anxiety.

Before I knew it, the whole bowl was gone.

She put down her chopsticks and looked up to see the woman in front of her with tears streaming down her face.

The woman's voice trembled, her inner sorrow seeming as if her heart was being torn apart:

"My child...where is my child...?"

"You are not my Ji'er."

He met the woman's sorrowful eyes.

Zhu Wuyao finally snapped out of her daze. She briefly examined the memories left in Qianxiang, then slowly raised her hand, resting her elbow on the table and touching her forehead.

After a long while, he let out a sneer.

It was as if he were mocking himself, as if he were mocking the woman before him—

If it were truly Zhu Wuji, how could he possibly eat this bowl of dumplings?

He would patiently wave his hand and go back inside.

If someone forces you to sit at the table and hands you chopsticks, you might just flip the table and smash the bowls.

His displeasure was written all over his face. How could he possibly have the patience to sit here and force himself to eat a few bites just to make sure his "mother's" good intentions weren't disappointed?

A wise child is better than his mother.

Perhaps it was because Zhu Wuji didn't put on a cold face when they first met that the woman already had some suspicions.

This steaming bowl of dumplings was just a test.

She sensed Zhu Wuyao's pity, and thus knew that this was not her child.

"Who are you... my child, where is he...?"

There was silence for a long time.

Zhu Wuyao coldly raised her eyes, seemingly unmoved by the accusations and sobs around her. She asked:

"Why do you insist on revealing the truth? Have you ever thought that I concealed my identity because I didn't want others to expose me?"

"What do you want me to do?"

"Do you want me to kill him to silence him?"

She was even angry at the woman's stupidity.

Why must we expose it?

Why can't we just turn a blind eye?

She really considered just giving up.

Zhu Wuji had already died at her hands. As karma would have it, before she could even make a move, the Zhu family had been emptied of their coffers by the "future" they had chosen.

With Zhu Wuji's death, all the investment vanished like smoke, a complete waste of effort.

The Zhu family was not destroyed by Zhu Wuyao.

Instead, it was ruined by the "future" they themselves had chosen.

Such an absurd drama, such a self-destructive way of doing things, such karmic retribution—Zhu Wuyao thought, maybe we should just let it go.

She was even thinking of leaving the Zhu family tomorrow and finding a place to stay for a few days.

But this bowl of dumplings somehow managed to keep Zhu Wuyao here.

She could not ignore the crisis of her identity being exposed.

The woman was devastated. She lunged forward, seemingly wanting to take her child's life.

Zhu Wuyao instinctively raised a protective shield, keeping the person outside her, but did not put up any further resistance. The sound of the beating disturbed her.

Suddenly, she felt her wrist loosen, and her gaze fell on the straw rope that had spontaneously combusted without fire—

"After using spiritual power, return to Qingyun Sect within half a day."

This straw rope seemed to be the last straw that broke the camel's back, easily pushing Zhu Wuyao into the danger of exposing her identity.

She doesn't have much time left to make a decision.

"Where is my child...! My unborn...you are not my child!"

Zhu Wuyao placed his hands on the table, covering his forehead and eyes, as if trying to calm himself down.

If this woman is not killed, her identity will inevitably be exposed when she returns to Qingyun Sect.

Should we leave now?

If she leaves now, her identity will be discovered, and the matter of killing Qingyun Sect disciples cannot be overlooked, even for the sake of the sect's reputation. Moreover, with Qian Changhu eyeing her, she could use this incident to add another crime to her list, making her an enemy of Qingyun Sect.

Most importantly—she will be unable to explore the secret realm where the Spirit Pen was born.

Many things you want to know will remain completely unanswered.

If we don't kill her... we'll render her speechless...

No, in my memory, she could still write. If she wanted to protect her identity in this way, besides making her mute, she would have to break both her hands.

A mother should not be underestimated.

Even though she cannot speak or write, there are ways to uncover her identity.

Moreover, how can an elderly woman who has lost both hands make a living and survive?

Among the cultivators in the cultivation world, none stronger than her could push her into such a helpless situation.

But ordinary people who are too weak to even kill a chicken can do it.

No matter how you look at it, killing her is the only way to solve the problem once and for all and leave no future trouble.

kill her.

Zhu Wuyao turned his head slightly, his gaze falling on the woman through his fingers.

She saw the woman's eyes, burning with anger and sorrow, seemingly screaming the same three words—

"Kill her."

To avenge his child.

Supported by such a belief, the withered body seemed to burst forth with strength again, as if burning with all its might to support the woman's beating movements.

The woman pulled a dagger from her waist.

It stabbed fiercely at the protective shield.

The dagger she had prepared beforehand revealed her pre-planned murderous intent, her resolute and ruthless determination, and her desire to use the power of a mortal to seek revenge against a cultivator.