Please take me as your disciple.

"Sister? Senior Mo, what happened?"

"Senior Mo, why are you drenched in cold sweat?"

"Senior Mo? Who is that person? Why are you staring at her like that?"

...

Amid the calls from those around her, Mo Lanyi finally regained her senses. By the time she did, Ji Wushuang and Zhuyan had already entered Jinfulou, not sparing her a single glance, as though they didn't even recognize her.

With great effort, Mo Lanyi managed to force a smile and said to the others, "I suddenly remembered something I need to take care of. You go ahead and eat, I'll join you in a bit."

After leaving those words, Mo Lanyi turned and walked away without looking back.

As she walked, she silently shouted in her heart: [Grandfather Immortal, was that person Zhuyan just now?!]

The old ghost immortal responded with silence: [I'm not certain. It looked like him, but everything felt completely different...]

[Could it be that they're twins?]

[Uncertain. You should ask the Mo family.]

Mo Lanyi crushed the communication talisman and sent a message to Mo Chen. He rushed to investigate, only to find that the protective barrier had vanished. There was nothing left inside—not even a blade of grass.

In other words, Zhuyan had left!

Furious, Mo Lanyi cursed through the talisman: "Is everyone in the Mo family useless? They couldn't even keep track of a single defective child!"

Mo Chen, enduring the scolding from his daughter, felt dissatisfied, but given that the Mo family's rise was due to her, he held his tongue, replying cautiously: "What should we do now? Should we bring Zhuyan back?"

"Bring him back! Of course, we must bring him back!" Mo Lanyi said. "You come here, and bring that useless one along."

Mo Lanyi had considered that if she directly demanded Ji Wushuang return Zhuyan, she would not be granted her request.

Thus, she decided to play the "family card."

When Zhuyan had been in the Mo family, he had not interacted with anyone else due to his unique and dangerous nature. A careless move, and those tending to him would be consumed by his power, turning into "pools of decay".

Of course, what if those people, aware of his special ability, sought to exploit his "power"?

Hence, she had her direct sister care for him.

Over the years, Zhuyan had been closest to her direct sister. She was certain that if her sister went to fetch him, Zhuyan would come back.

If Zhuyan refused to return...

Then her sister would be of no use either!

...

Jinfulou's Guest Pavilion.

While feeding young Zhuyan, Ji Wushuang curiously extended her divine sense.

Mo Lanyi had clearly seen young Zhuyan earlier, so why hadn't she rushed to demand him back? It seemed that her impulsive nature had mellowed, and now, having reached the peak of Qi Refining, it was undeniable that Mo Lanyi was truly talented.

Ji Wushuang sighed. "With her kind of talent, if her heart was pure and not led astray, her future accomplishments might not be insignificant."

Young Zhuyan tilted his head. "She?"

Ji Wushuang nodded. "Yes, Mo Lanyi."

Young Zhuyan looked confused. "Who?"

Ji Wushuang: "..."

Seeing the innocence in young Zhuyan's eyes, it was clear he had not remembered Mo Lanyi's name. Unable to resist, Ji Wushuang laughed. "You spent so many years with her, and still didn't remember her name?"

"Are you talking about that liar?"

"Yes."

Young Zhuyan replied indifferently, "A liar is a liar. Her talent isn't hers."

Ji Wushuang froze. "What do you mean?"

Young Zhuyan pointed at his own chest. "Her spirit root... she dug it out... from someone else..."

Though his words were fragmented, Ji Wushuang quickly pieced together the meaning.

"Are you saying Mo Lanyi's spirit root was taken from someone else?"

"Yes."

Ji Wushuang thought of her current "body"—because her spirit bone had been stolen, she could never cultivate. Her teachers had sighed over her situation, even after her death, they still worried for her.

No wonder she felt uneasy when she first saw Mo Lanyi...

It turned out she was a thief!

In Ji Wushuang's view, stealing a spirit root was just as despicable as stealing a spirit bone—more detestable even than stealing one's fortune.

Damn it, is the Heavenly Dao blind?

It chose such a person as the chosen one!

Heavenly Dao's purple aura: [....]

Curse away, curse away. If I respond, I lose.

Ji Wushuang suddenly thought of something and gently grasped young Zhuyan's hand, furrowing her brows. "So, you often let her draw your blood to strengthen her spirit root? Is that why you're so weak?"

Seeing his hand being held by Ji Wushuang, young Zhuyan blinked innocently.

Ji Wushuang's disdain for Mo Lanyi grew even deeper.

"That damn dog!"

Young Zhuyan clenched his fist in agreement. "Yes, dog!"

Ji Wushuang choked, quickly covering his mouth. She laughed awkwardly, "Haha, don't use foul language, little one."

Zhuyan's fluttering lashes blinked, his eyes clear and obedient. "Then Wushuang shouldn't say it either."

Ji Wushuang: "..." I'm not a little child!

But when she met his soft, clear gaze, Ji Wushuang nodded, deciding to set a good example.

But young Zhuyan hadn't told Ji Wushuang that it was his own initiative to give blood to Mo Lanyi, simply because he had thought Mo Lanyi was "her."

Before meeting Ji Wushuang, Zhuyan hadn't seen through Mo Lanyi's lies. He thought that stealing a spirit root and fortune were justified because without them, Mo Lanyi could not cultivate.

After meeting Ji Wushuang, he realized that Mo Lanyi was not "her"... and thus everything Mo Lanyi had done was wrong, making her a complete villain.

In young Zhuyan's world, there had never been concepts of good or evil.

His "good" and "right" had always been about "her."

If "she" was good, everything was good.

If "she" was bad, everything must be destroyed.

The two finished their meal and, not forgetting to bring something back for the cat and chicken, were preparing to pay when they learned the Jin family had waived the entire bill.

Now that Ji Wushuang was a little wealthy, she naturally wouldn't be stingy with this small amount of spiritual stones.

But since the Jin family was headed by Jin Fuxi's direct line, she didn't refuse their kindness. She spoke to the shopkeeper, "If your master wants to meet me, he may come."

The shopkeeper respectfully agreed and quickly went to relay the message to Third Master Jin.

But no matter how he tried to understand, he couldn't fathom what kind of ability this young girl had to make Third Master so wary of her, treating her to good food and drink, sending her off with takeaways, and even asking nothing in return unless she herself mentioned "a summons."

Unbelievable, isn't it?!

Third Master Jin Shouxi was overjoyed when he heard Ji Wushuang would meet him. He hurried as fast as he could, and before entering the main guest pavilion, he even asked the shopkeeper if his attire was appropriate.

Shopkeeper: "..."

Anyone would think he was going to meet an ancestor!

"I am Jin Shouxi, greeting Lady Ji."

The man before her resembled Jin Fuxi in some ways, but he was fairer and more delicate due to his pampered lifestyle. Despite his cultivation in the Golden Core stage, he exuded an air of a typical wealthy family patriarch.

Ji Wushuang smiled. "It seems Third Uncle Jin and Steward Jin are indeed brothers."

The name suited him, clearly indicating he was Jin Fuxi's brother, with their names being a joyful coincidence.

When Jin Shouxi heard Ji Wushuang call him "Third Uncle," he couldn't help but beam with joy. "Indeed, indeed, we are family!"

Ji Wushuang grinned. "I see Third Uncle's business is booming, but, speaking of business, why don't you take these spiritual stones?"

Jin Shouxi scratched his head, smiling obsequiously. "No, no, these spiritual dishes, please, take them with you..."

"No reward without merit."

Seeing Ji Wushuang's calm and clear gaze, Jin Shouxi had no choice but to confess honestly.

"Actually, I... ahem... I've never had a talent for talisman-making, I'm completely clueless.

But last time, by accident, I took some special talismans from my brother... At first, I thought they were just regular pieces of paper, so I secretly infused some spiritual energy into them, and surprisingly, it cleared my blockage... No, wait, it opened my seven orifices...

Suddenly, making talismans became easy for me!

I can now make level one and two talismans, and even level three! So... ahem... I secretly started making talismans for profit... earned quite a bit.

Later, my brother found out, scolded me, and told me it was all thanks to your help, and I should express my gratitude... And so, as soon as I heard you were here, I rushed over!"

After hearing Jin Shouxi's words, it was Ji Wushuang who was surprised.

A person who had no talent for talisman-making...

And yet, within a blink, could create level-three talismans?!

Could it be that... this fair-skinned, chubby middle-aged man was actually a genius in talisman-making?!

Seeing Ji Wushuang look at him in astonishment, Jin Shouxi couldn't hold back anymore. He lifted the corner of his robe and knelt, saying, "Lady Ji! Please, accept me as your disciple! I will definitely work hard to learn talisman-making!!"

Ji Wushuang: "......"