Chapter 112: Jiang Tower

In the steamy bathroom filled with mist, Han Xuan lay in the water, her eyes tightly closed in vulnerability.

Every full moon night, the magic she had cast would rebound on her threefold, covering her body in dense, intricate patterns—eerie and profoundly painful.

It was like a curse that clung to her bones, tormenting her relentlessly; from childhood to now, she had endured the agony countless times.

This was Han Xuan’s most vulnerable moment, when she couldn’t move a muscle and was defenseless against anyone.

… …

Meanwhile, in the security booth at the neighborhood entrance, someone was on duty around the clock as usual, ensuring no strangers slipped into the complex.

Seeing the unfamiliar license plate, the security guard stopped the car and asked the driver to show their access card. “Hello.”

He watched as the window rolled down, revealing a woman in the driver’s seat and another in the passenger seat. However, the access card belonged to an owner whose registered vehicle wasn’t this one.

The woman driving explained, “My friend got drunk, so I’m dropping her off.”

She leaned slightly to the side, gesturing for the guard to look at the passenger seat. The person there was swaying unsteadily, clearly having drunk a lot. Even from about two meters away, he could smell the rich aroma of alcohol.

“Oh, alright.”

The guard nodded. Seeing the woman’s kind face, he didn’t suspect anything and let her through.

The car drove along the neighborhood roads, entered the underground parking garage, and finally came to a steady stop.

“Susu.” Rebecca pulled out the car keys and patted her somewhat nervously, tentatively calling out, “Wake up?”

But there was still no response from the other; she was sleeping deeply.

The tension in Rebecca’s heart eased a bit. No wonder—that wine had a high alcohol content to begin with, not to mention she’d specially added some “ingredients” beforehand…

Chu Susu had no defenses up against her, so naturally she’d passed out quickly after drinking.

Rebecca took several deep breaths, her body trembling involuntarily—whether from excitement or fear, she wasn’t sure.

She recalled her daughter’s peaceful sleeping face, and that angelic white hair, pure yet often drawing strange looks from outsiders. Her nose suddenly stung.

Finally, this day had come. As long as they got through today, Zhilan’s illness would…

Before getting out of the car, Rebecca whispered a very soft “sorry” to Chu Susu beside her.

She had no choice. Even if this hurt someone else, any mother who loved her child would do the same.

After years of tormenting Zhilan, a chance to cure her illness had finally appeared—who would let it slip away?

Clutching the keys and access card she’d swiped from Chu Susu’s bag, Rebecca tiptoed to the building where she lived and smoothly took the elevator up.

First floor… second floor…

As the elevator rose slowly, Rebecca mentally rehearsed what she needed to do next over and over.

Having spent so many years in the workplace, she was always calm and decisive—even now was no exception.

From what she knew, tonight that witch would be extremely vulnerable and utterly unable to resist.

Rebecca had prepared several containers with her. All she needed to do was cut the witch’s skin and…

Ding!

The elevator arrived.

… …

Han Xuan still had her eyes tightly shut, immersed in some dream of unknown plot.

The hot water relaxed her entire body, and the fragrant bathroom air freshener wafting into her nose also eased her pain to some extent.

However, underwater, Han Xuan’s body was still slightly curled up, her fingers uncontrollably digging into her own skin.

Except for the bedroom, no other lights were on, and outside the window was pitch black. Amidst it all, danger seemed to be creeping closer.

Yet her expression remained serene, as if utterly unaware.

… …

The motion-sensor lights in the hallway didn’t turn on. Rebecca made no sound with her footsteps, moving forward on tiptoe like a cat, quickly finding the right door.

With the key and access card, getting in was no problem.

Even so, Rebecca cautiously pushed the door open just a crack first, observing from the doorway for a moment before slipping inside silently.

The spacious apartment was dark, with only the bathroom door closed in the distance, a faint small light visible from within.

Rebecca approached step by step.

Many memories flashed through her mind—various scenes interweaving: the little everyday moments with Chu Susu at the company, the shock upon learning that “Han Xuan’s blood could save her daughter”…

Finally settling on Feng Zhilan’s sad, helpless expression after being mocked by other children.

Rebecca stood at the bathroom door and paused for three seconds. Then, with a blank expression and no hesitation whatsoever, she pushed it open.

The moment she’d learned about this, she had no path of retreat left.

“Sorry.” Rebecca mouthed the words again silently, not even sure who they were for.

She gripped the small knife in her pocket tightly, stared at the unresponsive woman in the bathtub, and suddenly lunged at her!

… …

The night in the Imperial Capital remained tranquil and silent, with a slight chill seeping through the window cracks into the room, only to be quickly melted away by the ample heating.

Han Xuan lay peacefully in the bathtub, utterly oblivious to it all—even revealing a sweet smile.

With such a massive crisis approaching, even on a full moon night, she shouldn’t have looked so relaxed.

Unless… this crisis had nothing to do with her at all.

… …

…Huh?

The small knife in Rebecca’s hand didn’t pierce into anyone’s skin as expected. Instead, it was steadily caught by something.

Looking closely, the blade had sunk into a soft sofa cushion. Caught off guard, she was flung aside.

The woman in the bathtub rose at an unimaginable speed, using her prepared defensive item to block Rebecca’s attack, then swung something heavy down onto her shoulder.

“Urgh—ah!”

The force sent Rebecca sprawling to the ground.

Only then did she realize something was wrong.

There was no water in the bathtub at all, and the woman before her wasn’t Han Xuan—it was a face she’d never seen.

That unfamiliar woman was extraordinarily agile; Rebecca had no chance to resist and was subdued in three moves and two shakes. Soon, she felt her hands being cuffed with something.

“Who are you?” she demanded coldly, her heart chilling.

But the other didn’t answer, merely keeping her knee pressed on Rebecca’s back to pin her down.

Footsteps echoed from the hallway outside. About half a minute later, the sound of the door opening and someone entering followed.

All the lights in the apartment blazed on in the next second!

The newcomer was the “drunk” Chu Susu.

She walked in unhurriedly, her face showing no extra expression.

Though the flush on her cheeks hadn’t faded, her eyes were perfectly clear— not a trace of drunkenness left.

Chu Susu lowered her head slightly, looking at the two at the bathroom door and the knife tossed aside. A faint, almost imperceptible disappointment crossed her face as she let out a tiny sigh.

She slowly crouched down and said softly, “Let’s have a chat. And also…”

Chu Susu turned her gaze to the icy-faced Chu Qingyang and winked:

“Thanks for the hard work, sis.”