Volume 1, Chapter 3: The Young Miss Has Lost Her Mind

"You need not use the Jiang family to pressure me." Cheng Xi cut through Cheng Zhouxing’s intentions. "I have only two demands. First, you do not wish to see me, and I loathe the sight of you. Therefore, I want a formal letter of severance; from this day forth, I have no connection to the Cheng family."

As these words fell, not a soul in the room made a sound. A glimmer of secret delight even flickered in the eyes of the Matriarch and Madame Li.

Watching these hypocritical people, Cheng Xi understood their silence: they were only too eager to kick her out.

"Second, I want my mother’s dowry returned. Everything you have spent or squandered over these years must be compensated in full."

The Matriarch’s eyes turned fierce, as if she meant to snap back, but Madame Li caught her arm. A person without talent—even if she got her hands on the wealth, could she truly keep it? Giving it to her now was merely letting it pass through her hands; they could always reclaim it later!

The Matriarch met Madame Li’s gaze; after years as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, they shared a silent understanding.

Cheng Zhouxing remained silent for a moment. "I will have it all converted into silver for you."

Some of the items in Du’s dowry had long since been spent to grease the wheels of his official career; where was he to find exact replacements for her?

"Agreed. Write the letter of severance now."

Cheng Zhouxing gritted his teeth, cast a glance at this daughter, and immediately ordered pen and ink to be brought.

Once the document was drafted, Cheng Xi signed it. Cheng Zhouxing hesitated for a heartbeat before signing his own name. Cheng Xi then turned her gaze to Madame Li and the Matriarch; these two were the most capable of causing trouble. Madame Li helped the Matriarch over, and she, too, picked up the brush to sign her name.

It was prepared in triplicate: one copy for her, one for the Cheng family, and one to be sent to the local authorities.

"I will deliver the copy to the authorities myself," Cheng Xi said, for she did not trust the Cheng family.

Cheng Zhouxing roared in anger, "Do as you please!"

Cheng Xi tucked the letter away. "I shall return in three days for the silver."

"Three days is impossible, the time is too short," Madame Li immediately interjected.

Cheng Xi ignored her entirely, focusing only on Cheng Zhouxing.

Cheng Zhouxing looked away. "Half a month. The household cannot produce that much capital at once."

Though he served as a Regional Inspector, his children, Cheng Yunjian and his sister, possessed the aptitude to be Talisman Masters. The materials required for such a craft were exorbitant and difficult to procure, draining the family coffers.

"Fine. I will come to collect it in half a month." With that, Cheng Xi turned and walked out.

Cheng Zhouxing watched her retreating figure. "Where are you going?"

Cheng Xi did not answer. From here on, they were strangers; why bother asking? She had insisted on the severance because they had never treated the original owner well, and they should not expect her protection in the future.

A good-for-nothing? That was simply not the case!

***

Cheng Xi stepped out of the Cheng manor and was somewhat surprised to see the carriage still waiting in place. She walked up to it and saw the curtain pulled back, revealing Jiang Weiran’s dark and gloomy face. "Get in."

Cheng Xi turned and walked away. The carriage followed her.

"Cheng Xi, come back to the Jiang family with me."

What a lunatic! She had severed his arm, and yet he was trying to take her back to the Jiang family!

Cheng Xi trudged forward, the clip-clop of the carriage wheels following behind, fraying her nerves. Cheng Xi had already suffered a backlash and had been forcefully suppressing it; now, agitated by Jiang Weiran, she could no longer hold back a mouthful of blood, which she coughed up. She leaned against a wall, gasping for air. It was truly difficult to be a good person—she should have just chopped his head off at the time!

Jiang Weiran immediately leapt from the carriage. "What is wrong? Why are you vomiting blood?"

Cheng Xi: "..."

"Big Brother, I just cut off your arm. Isn't it a bit odd for you to be so attentive? We have the enmity of a severed limb between us."

Jiang Weiran gritted his teeth. Could she not stop bringing that up?

Cheng Xi looked at the stubborn Jiang Weiran, wondering what sin she had committed in a past life. Feeling her strength failing, she couldn't be bothered to waste more breath on him and headed straight for the small shop her mother had left her.

The shop was tiny—a storefront on the first floor, living quarters on the second, and a small courtyard in the back. It had sat vacant for years, completely empty. She went straight to the second floor; the original owner had stayed here briefly in the past, and some furniture remained, though it was covered in a thick layer of dust from long neglect.

Cheng Xi and Jiang Weiran—one crippled and the other exhausted—stood in the empty, dust-choked room. Jiang Weiran wore an expression of sheer disbelief.

"You left the Cheng house just to live in a place like this? Is this even fit for humans?"

She had the life of a young noblewoman, yet insisted on suffering. Had her brain been caught in a door?

Cheng Xi’s legs felt like lead. She found a stool and sat down, careful not to let Jiang Weiran realize she was currently a paper tiger. Rolling her eyes, she said, "Young Master Jiang, you see it for yourself. This place is utterly wretched; I really cannot host you. You should go. Our grievances are settled. Rest assured, your other arm is safe."

Jiang Weiran ground his teeth. "Can you not mention the arm?"

"No."

"Fine. You win." Jiang Weiran slammed the door and left.

Cheng Xi tsked. Had she known, she wouldn't have used such high-quality medicine on him; he clearly had enough strength to slam doors now. She should have let him bleed out half his life and sent him back to the Jiang family half-dead.

Cheng Xi collapsed onto the table. When she arrived in this body, her soul was already damaged, and then she had to deal with Jiang Weiran calling off the engagement, followed by the chaos at the Cheng house, which triggered a backlash. The original body was far too weak. It possessed no natural talent, yet had been pushed beyond its limits by the original owner. Now, even moving a finger felt like an ordeal.

She curled into a ball and began to silently recite incantations, slowly stabilizing her energy.

***

Suddenly, her ears twitched. From the street outside came the sound of a gong: "The Celestial Bureau is conducting an investigation! All bystanders, clear the area!"

It had nothing to do with her. She closed her eyes again.

A flurry of chaotic cries and weeping drifted up from the street, making it impossible to rest. Suddenly, she heard the front door of the shop being kicked open. Before she could process what was happening, a pair of black leather boots appeared in her line of sight.

Before Cheng Xi could move, a flash of steel rested against her throat. The sharp blade grazed her skin, and blood began to seep out.

"Who are you?" Cheng Xi was bewildered. How had she ended up with a blade to her throat in the blink of an eye? She was a law-abiding citizen.

"Name!"

The blade pressed down, and Cheng Xi felt a sharp sting.

Damn it! This was the second time she had capsized in this life.

"Cheng Xi." Her face was expressionless. When one is under the eaves, one must lower one's head.

"Why are you here?"

"Officer, this is my home. Naturally, I am here," Cheng Xi retorted mockingly.

"Your home?"

The room was covered in dust, clearly long-abandoned. If she claimed it was her home, no one would believe it.

"Do you need me to fetch the deed for you to see?" Cheng Xi asked with a look of pure innocence.

"Another glib remark, and I’ll have your tongue pulled out. Answer properly."

Cheng Xi was incensed. "I am going to report you for trespassing! This is my house!" With that, she reached into her sleeve, pulled out the deed, and flung it toward them.

The deed fluttered through the air and was caught by a slender, pale hand. With the blade still at her throat, Cheng Xi could not see the man's face, but the callouses on his fingertips and palms emitted a familiar aura.

A peer?

Cheng Xi went quiet. What terrible luck she had.

A low, mocking chuckle sounded above her head. The blade at her throat was suddenly pulled away. In that split second, Cheng Xi seized the chance, grabbed the blade with a backhanded motion, kicked the person behind her in the knee, and swung the edge of the blade to rest against the neck of the man who held her deed.

The tides had turned. Even a paper tiger is still a tiger!

"Director!" The guards cried out in alarm, surrounding Cheng Xi in an instant.