Chapter 35 Part 2

It made her a little happy.

Lu Ning replied, “I said I saw Madam Shen’s so-called ‘illness.’ That’s why I believe she’s been controlled by them.”

Jiang Ruan’s grip tightened.

But Lu Ning mistook it for anxiety and squeezed back reassuringly.

Feeling the warmth and pressure from her hand, Jiang Ruan bit her lower lip.

She couldn’t let Lu Ning take this risk alone.

Lu Ning had stepped up to help her, but Jiang Ruan couldn’t just stand idly by and hide behind her. That would make her far too inadequate.

Besides…

Jiang Ruan let out a soft breath.

She was the one who had chosen to step into this world.

She was the one who had chosen to help.

She had to take responsibility for her own decisions.

Jiang Ruan lifted her gaze to meet the Sect Leader’s. “I saw it.”

Both the Sect Leader and Lu Ning turned to her.

Lu Ning hesitated. “Jiang Ruan.”

Jiang Ruan forced herself to relax. “What Lu Ning just described is what I witnessed and told her about. Sect Leader, Madam Shen’s condition is far too strange. It’s impossible to believe it’s just a simple illness—and that’s exactly why I wanted to help Shen Dai and Shen Qing.”

The Sect Leader narrowed his eyes.

Jiang Ruan continued, “I have a special method that lets me observe the inside of Madam Shen’s room without anyone else noticing, which is how I avoided detection. I can even sketch the patterns on her body to prove I’m telling the truth.”

Silence descended over the hall.

The System snapped out of its daze. Though it kept its distance from Lu Ning, not daring to get too close, it hurriedly called out to Jiang Ruan. “Host! Calm down!”

Jiang Ruan’s eyes flicked toward it briefly, serene now that her tension had passed.

She had thought it through. She was perfectly calm. Now it all depended on whether the System would help her.

The System was baffled. “Why, though? Is helping Shen Dai and Shen Qing really that crucial?”

Jiang Ruan lowered her gaze.

It wasn’t just about aiding Shen Dai and Shen Qing. More than that, Jiang Ruan wanted to do something…

Something within her power.

The closer that vortex seemed to coil around her feet, the stronger the impulse grew.

It wasn’t fear at all—it was yearning.

Jiang Ruan couldn’t help wondering if she had some kind of savior complex. Surely not.

Maybe it was simply because she had decided to truly “enter” this world.

Because she was treating it as real, she could no longer view events with the detached indifference of a novel reader.

Because she now possessed a sliver of “superior” ability, she wanted to use it to help those close to her.

Of course, Jiang Ruan wasn’t trying to play the saint. It just so happened that everyone involved was connected to her, so she wanted to lend a hand.

The Sect Leader fell into thought at her words.

“Draw it out first. Let me take a look.”

Jiang Ruan nodded.

She walked over to the table and glanced up at the System.

At a time like this, the System naturally wouldn’t let her lose face.

It pondered for a moment, then projected the pattern’s shape onto the surface of its spherical body. Reluctantly, it said, “Just copy this. It’s correct.”

While the others’ attention was on the paper, Jiang Ruan flashed the System a smile.

But the System merely huffed, clearly displeased.

Jiang Ruan lowered her gaze and drew with focus, only to be interrupted by the Sect Leader’s voice when she was more than halfway done.

She turned her head.

The Sect Leader stared. “This is…”

Lu Ning also looked down.

“What is this?”

The Sect Leader’s expression grew grave. “These markings… they resemble the handiwork of a devil cultivator.”

Jiang Ruan froze, her brush pausing. “You can tell just from this?”

The Sect Leader replied, “The forbidden techniques of the Mirror Moon Sect should have records of them. I’ve read through them before, so the impression stuck.”

Jiang Ruan pursed her lips. “In that case, does this mean Madam Shen fell victim to a devil cultivator’s scheme?”

The Sect Leader was silent for a moment. “It’s too soon to say. It looks like I’ll have to visit the Shen Family in person to check the situation.”

If it was true, then the Shen Family’s circumstances took on a deeper, more ominous meaning.

Had a devil cultivator reemerged in the world and infiltrated their ranks? Or had someone unwittingly—or perhaps deliberately—begun practicing devil cultivation methods?

Hearing the Sect Leader say this, Jiang Ruan let out a breath, feeling a touch of relief.

“In that case, thank you, Sect Leader.”

The Sect Leader inclined his head. “No time like the present. I’ll set out at once.”

Jiang Ruan moved to follow.

The Sect Leader glanced at her. “That special method of yours that evades others’ sight…”

Jiang Ruan stiffened, a bit nervous. “Sect Leader, could we… not talk about that?”

The Sect Leader chuckled lightly. “Naturally. Since it’s your secret technique, I won’t press you further.”

Only then did Jiang Ruan relax a little.

The Sect Leader added, “Just be aware that if word of this gets out, it might not bode well for you.”

Jiang Ruan understood his meaning.

The Sect Leader continued, “When we go to the Shen Family, just say you saw it using a secret treasure from the Mirror Moon Sect.”

Jiang Ruan’s eyes brightened, and she nodded eagerly.

The three set off immediately.

Before long, they descended at the Shen Family estate.

With the Sect Leader leading the way, gaining entry was far smoother than their previous visit.

Upon hearing that the Sect Leader of the Mirror Moon Sect had arrived, the Shen Family Head came out to greet them personally.

Jiang Ruan kept her eyes downcast and stayed silent behind the Sect Leader, listening as he exchanged pleasantries with the Shen Family Head.

Then, the Sect Leader got to the point.

He smiled faintly. “Speaking of which, the other day when my two disciples accompanied Shen Dai and Shen Qing here to the Shen Family, they were unintentionally rude. I hope you can overlook it, Family Head.”

Courtesy before confrontation.

The Shen Family Head looked mildly surprised. “Oh? What did they do?”

The Sect Leader explained, “Before they left, I’d given them a secret treasure from the Mirror Moon Sect—one that can evade others’ sight and spiritual senses to peer into a room without being detected. Perhaps out of concern for Madam Shen’s condition, they used it without permission to take a look.”

The Shen Family Head’s expression shifted subtly.

As he spoke, the Sect Leader’s Soul Transformation Realm cultivation and aura unfurled faintly. At the same time, he unobtrusively shielded Jiang Ruan and Lu Ning, sparing them discomfort from the pressure of a Soul Transformation cultivator.

“That glance revealed something troubling… How could Madam Shen have devil patterns raging across her body?”

The Shen Family Head narrowed his eyes, struggling to maintain his composure. “What devil patterns? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

The Sect Leader said, “The Mirror Moon Sect’s records of forbidden techniques include information on devil cultivators, among them the runes used to turn people into devil puppets. I’ve studied them, and I noticed something: devil patterns may vary widely, but those serving the same purpose share similar structures. A close examination makes them easy to identify.”

“Tell me, Family Head… isn’t this all quite the coincidence?”

The air grew heavy with silence.

The Shen Family Head’s face slowly changed. Yet, to Jiang Ruan’s surprise, it wasn’t the venomous rage of a plot exposed, but genuine shock.

“I truly had no knowledge of this!”

Jiang Ruan furrowed her brow.

Suddenly, his expression shifted again. His eyes flickered as countless thoughts raced through his mind in an instant. Then, from between clenched lips, he murmured, “In that case… it’s her.”

His words were cryptic, yet they revealed something crucial.

Abruptly, the Shen Family Head called out, “Men!”

The Sect Leader made no move to stop him.

People arrived soon enough.

“Go send someone to invite Madam Liu—no—”

The Shen Family Head stood up.

Though his face still bore a pallor from the lingering shock of the Sect Leader’s revelation, a flash of realization—and resolve—had dawned on him in that instant of clarity.

“I’ll go myself.”

The Shen Family Head turned to the Sect Leader. “There’s a reason for this. Please ask Wuji Daojun to wait just a moment… I hope you can trust me.”

The Sect Leader stared at him for a moment before nodding.

Jiang Ruan watched the Shen Family Head stride out and couldn’t help rising to her feet. “Sect Leader, are we not continuing? Are we just letting him go?”

The Sect Leader’s gaze flickered faintly. “I’m afraid things have taken a turn.”

Jiang Ruan pursed her lips. “Do you mean the Shen Family Head didn’t know about the Devil Pattern on Madam Shen either?”

The Sect Leader replied, “He was likely deceived by someone, just as we thought.”

Jiang Ruan still hesitated to believe it. “But claiming the Shen Family Head was deceived… how could anyone buy that?”

The Sect Leader said calmly, “Just stay your worries for now.”

Jiang Ruan remained uneasy. “Are we simply going to sit here and wait? What if he destroys the evidence?”

The Sect Leader shook his head slowly. “He won’t.”

Jiang Ruan had no idea why the Sect Leader was so certain, but the thought of letting the Shen Family Head leave filled her with dread over what he might do.

Seeing her fidget, the Sect Leader let out a soft chuckle. “Since you’re so restless, why don’t we follow along and see for ourselves?”

Jiang Ruan nodded at once.

No one stopped them on the way.

As they walked, Jiang Ruan asked the Sect Leader, “What do you think prompted the Shen Family Head to rush out like that?”

The Sect Leader pondered. “He must have realized something.”

Lu Ning chimed in, “You mean the mastermind gave him something to control Madam Shen but never told him it was a Devil Cultivator’s tool.”

The Sect Leader nodded. “Records on Devil Cultivators are scarce at best, and this is a particularly taboo secret art among their techniques. It’s only natural the Shen Family Head wouldn’t know.”

Jiang Ruan frowned in confusion. “Wouldn’t it carry a Devil Cultivator’s aura or something?”

The Sect Leader explained, “Not if it’s a true secret art.”

Jiang Ruan puffed out her cheeks.

It was probably her bias against the Shen Family Head—she simply couldn’t see him as innocent. His earlier display even smacked of blame-shifting.

But regardless, Madam Shen was safe now.

In the midst of their talk, the three ran into Shen Dai and Shen Qing.

The sisters’ faces lit up at the sight of them.

“Sect Leader! Shishu!”

Jiang Ruan smiled back. “Everything alright with you at the Shen Family?”

Shen Dai replied, “Shishu, no need to worry. What trouble could we find in our own home?”

Jiang Ruan glanced at Shen Qing and caught the faint strain in the girl’s expression.

“Were you bullied at home?”

Shen Dai squeezed Shen Qing’s hand. “It’s fine. Right—now that the Sect Leader’s here…”

Jiang Ruan gave her a quick rundown of events.

Shen Dai’s face filled with shock. “What? A Devil Pattern?!”

She paled. “Then Mother’s condition…”

Seeing the realization hit her, Jiang Ruan nodded gravely.

Shen Dai clenched her jaw.

Shen Qing burst out suddenly, “It has to be Madam Liu! She’s the only one who could pull something like that!”

Jiang Ruan couldn’t resist asking, “Why suspect Madam Liu over the Shen Family Head?”

Shen Qing faltered.

Her face stiffened, as if confronting the truth was too much, and she looked away from Jiang Ruan.

Shen Dai managed a helpless, bitter smile. “It’s probably because… deep down, we still cling to some hope about him. We want to believe his words—that he was deceived, that he never knew it was a Devil Cultivator’s tool.”

A pang of sympathy stirred in Jiang Ruan’s heart, but she pressed on. “Whether he knew it was from a Devil Cultivator or not—even if he truly didn’t—it was no good thing, and he had to know that much, right? He knew, he allowed it, he even kept you from staying long at home or keeping Madam Shen company. All of that proves the Shen Family Head knew full well it was something harmful.”

“He led it. He permitted it. In a way, he’s also…” responsible for harming Madam Shen.

In the end, Jiang Ruan trailed off without finishing.

Shen Dai lowered her gaze, sorrow etching her features.

“…I know. I already know it all…”

Just then, Jiang Ruan and the others sensed a surge of Devil Cultivator aura.

Her eyes widened as she turned with the Sect Leader and the rest toward the source.

Shen Dai cried out, “That’s Madam Liu’s residence!”