Chapter 4

From then on, Madam Liu took control of the household. She indulged her biological daughter, Jiang Roulian, allowing her to bully the original Jiang Lingxi every day and deliberately cutting back on her food and clothing. As for her heartless father, Jiang Zhendong, he cared only about his business and Madam Liu. He had never paid any attention to his own daughter, Jiang Lingxi, allowing the mother and daughter to torment and suppress her however they pleased. Now, simply to seize the county magistrate's prestigious marriage arrangement for Jiang Roulian, Madam Liu had gone so far as to attempt murder, using a potent poison to destroy the original Jiang Lingxi's innocence. Her methods were vile, vicious, and utterly despicable. After completely sorting through all the grievances and hatred, the last trace of softness in Jiang Lingxi's eyes froze completely, leaving behind nothing but bone-chilling coldness. From this day forward, she was Jiang Lingxi. Her heartless father, her venomous stepmother, her wicked stepsister—all the humiliation, poisoning, and schemes they had inflicted upon her, she would return a hundredfold. Blood would be repaid with blood! At that moment, the overpowering aphrodisiac inside her body was running rampant, scorching through her veins and causing her consciousness to become increasingly hazy. Jiang Lingxi turned her head hazily, her gaze falling upon the man beside her. The candlelight flickered, casting fragmented shadows across the room. The man's black hair was slightly disheveled, his features cold, sharp, and exquisitely handsome. Even with his face pale from the severe poison, he still possessed an imposing, noble aura of a battle-hardened ruler who seemed capable of looking down upon the entire world. His presence was intimidating. Jiang Lingxi smiled calmly to herself. Such an extraordinary face, such a perfect physique, such an unmatched bearing—it was a rare opportunity that might not come again in a thousand years. In any case, both of them were suffering from incurable poisons, and each was the other's only antidote. Using him to detoxify herself was a deal she could hardly lose. As the effects of the poison completely spiraled out of control and her rationality crumbled, Jiang Lingxi stopped restraining herself. Tonight, she would completely consume this aloof Prince of War, who was unable to move and had been utterly immobilized by the cold poison. Prince of War Xiao Linyuan had been afflicted with an extremely potent cold poison. All his meridians had been frozen stiff, leaving his limbs completely immobile. Even though his consciousness remained clear, he could only passively endure what was happening, unable to resist in the slightest. After an intense night of entanglement, the warmth and coldness within their bodies intertwined, becoming each other's salvation. The extreme coldness of his poison completely soothed the burning poison within her, while her pure Yin blood energy dissolved the icy, vicious effects of the cold poison that had plagued him for years. The two poisons were completely neutralized. They had saved each other's lives and repaid their debts to one another. By the latter half of the night, all traces of the poison had dissipated. Exhausted from having been detoxified, Xiao Linyuan sank into a deep sleep. Jiang Lingxi was completely awake now. Her mind was clear, her meridians felt smooth and unobstructed, and all the hidden injuries throughout her body had been completely healed. She calmly rose from the bed, dressed herself, and moved with effortless composure. Having extensive knowledge of every kind of poison in the world, she knew that although most of Xiao Linyuan's long-standing cold poison had been removed, traces of it still remained in his body. Sooner or later, the remaining poison would flare up again. With a thought, a lustrous white pill appeared between her fingertips. It was a supreme cold-detoxifying pill, a rare medicine treasured within her space. Jiang Lingxi gently placed the pill beside the jade pillow at the head of the bed, her gaze cool and indifferent. They had been strangers who happened to cross paths, endured one night of poison together, and saved each other's lives. Their debts to one another were now settled. This medicine will cure the remaining poison in your body. From now on, we owe each other nothing. With those words, she turned around, quietly opened the door, and left without a sound. The moment she stepped out of the guest room, the hidden guard An Ying, who had been lurking nearby, immediately followed her in secret, intending to thoroughly investigate her origins, identity, and whereabouts. Inside the guest room, the instant Jiang Lingxi disappeared, Xiao Linyuan suddenly opened his eyes. The cold poison that had tormented him for years was gone, leaving his body feeling more relaxed and clear than ever before. Yet the space beside him was slightly cool and completely empty. The woman from last night had vanished without a trace. His dark eyes were as deep as an abyss. A fierce killing aura suddenly spread through the room as he shouted coldly, "An Ying! "Investigate the entire city! "Search every inch of the city and uncover this woman's identity and whereabouts!" From the shadows, An Ying accepted the order and swiftly rushed after her. In a narrow alley outside the inn, Jiang Lingxi walked calmly. Relying on her modern, highly advanced counter-surveillance techniques, she easily maneuvered around her pursuers, changing directions repeatedly. Within moments, she had completely shaken off all the hidden guards behind her and erased every trace of her movements. After confirming that no one was following her, she focused her mind and entered her space. The moment she stepped inside, Jiang Lingxi was stunned by what she saw. What had originally been nothing more than a storage space had now undergone a complete and extraordinary transformation. Stretching as far as the eye could see was fertile black soil overflowing with spiritual energy.