Chapter 24: Ailment of the Heart Part 2

Without even glancing at Sang Xi: “A’Yin, even gathering her soul would be hard for me. Piecing together some consciousness might be possible, but it’s troublesome and damaging to me too. Would you bear seeing me hurt?”

?

Yu Ruoyin froze. Observing Jiang Huaining’s face closely, she was horrified to see no worsening pallor.

Remembering she couldn’t lie, panic surged.

She was telling the truth—so helping Sang Xi really would injure her.

No, this won’t do!

Yu Ruoyin wanted to refuse, but Jiang Huaining, out of Sang Xi’s sight, squeezed her palm hard.

Yu Ruoyin fell silent for a moment, struggling internally before slowly opening her mouth: “I… I understand, Auntie Ning. Please help her anyway.”

“Ahhh! You little heartless girl, how could you…” Lu Qingzhen rushed forward, ignoring Xing Ruoyan entirely as she shook Yu Ruoyin’s shoulders vigorously. “How could you not care about Boss Jiang at all? If something happens to Boss Jiang, will you take responsibility? Boss Jiang, how about we return her? Don’t take this little heartless one anymore, we…”

“I’ll take responsibility.”

Jiang Huaining cut off all of Lu Qingzhen’s words, slowly extending her hand toward Sang Xi. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure your whole family reunites. It will be brief, but you’ll definitely see each other. As for the price you’ll pay, your soul and your daughter’s soul dissipating early will do.”

The scroll floated out from her embrace again, unfurling in mid-air to reveal the three eight-mouthed beasts inside—red, white, and black. The red eight-mouthed beast jumped down once more. It bit Sang Xi’s index finger, but unlike with He Meijie, it didn’t sever it. Instead, it bit open the finger, drew in a drop of bright red blood, and returned to the painting, closing its eyes.

This price was quite lenient.

Because Sang Xi and Tong Sangqian’s souls were going to dissipate after today anyway.

Lu Qingzhen lost it again, screaming in shock: “Isn’t it just one? Why the whole family? Boss Jiang, what are you thinking?”

Jiang Huaining calmly retracted the scroll, smiling as she looked at Yu Ruoyin. “This is A’yin’s first deal, so of course it has to be done perfectly.”

“Little heartless one, what did you feed Boss Jiang?”

Lu Qingzhen’s anger was completely blocked by Jiang Huaining. Yu Ruoyin wasn’t hurt by Lu Qingzhen, but she still felt pain—not because Lu Qingzhen misunderstood her or scolded her, but because she ached for Jiang Huaining’s body and was even more confused about why Jiang Huaining insisted on doing this.

Was Sang Xi’s gratitude that important?

She pitied Sang Xi, but she also felt sorry for Jiang Huaining.

Sang Xi picked up the knife, wanting to approach the still-breathing Zhuang Suping again, but Jiang Huaining stopped her. “Wait. If the enemy dies completely, He Meijie’s soul will dissipate early, and she won’t get to see her mother.”

“Thank you.” Sang Xi thanked Jiang Huaining, then mustered her strength to grasp Yu Ruoyin’s hand. “Thank you.”

She clearly respected Yu Ruoyin more, her gratitude even deeper.

If she knew this was all arranged by Jiang Huaining, she might not think so.

Yu Ruoyin thought to herself but lacked the courage to speak the truth aloud.

She would wait.

Wait until Jiang Huaining was willing to tell her.

She would stay silent.

Because Jiang Huaining wouldn’t harm her.

The Red Jade Fruit suddenly lit up, bursting with dazzling light. Yu Ruoyin vaguely saw two violently trembling figures. She reached out to cover the Red Jade Fruit, but Jiang Huaining pointed at it first. “A’yin, they seem to want to come out.”

Yu Ruoyin paused, her hand shifting from pressing to stroking.

The Red Jade Fruit’s glow intensified, and the Twin Ghost Sisters drilled out from inside. The moment they landed, they charged at Zhuang Suping. Heavy malice enveloped him completely, thick black mist gathering around them as they pressed toward Zhuang Suping with unstoppable momentum.

They looked like they wanted to bite through Zhuang Suping’s neck.

Before they could get close, Jiang Huaining waved her hand, dispersing the gathered black mist. The Twin Ghost Sisters were sent flying.

Undeterred, they climbed up again and charged at Zhuang Suping resolutely.

“Wait.” Yu Ruoyin was truly afraid they’d kill Zhuang Suping right now—after all, they still didn’t know if He Meijie had killed He Fengxi. If everyone died, He Meijie wouldn’t make it to Tong Weixue in time. Suppressing her fear, she blocked the two female ghosts. “What are you going to do?”

Yu Ruoyin had no power, but after she spoke, Jiang Huaining naturally blocked the Twin Ghost Sisters.

In that instant, Jiang Huaining seemed like a dutiful enforcer who only listened to her.

In reality, it was the opposite.

She wasn’t sad, just puzzled.

She didn’t understand Jiang Huaining, not in any way.

She wanted to ask but didn’t dare, fearing Jiang Huaining would scold her or warn her not to ask again.

Emotionally, she was too fragile—fragile enough that a single cold glance from Jiang Huaining could wound her deeply, leaving fine scars.

With Jiang Huaining’s suppression, the Twin Ghost Sisters were forced to sober up. The twin sister glared with bloodshot eyes, pointing at the still-gasping Zhuang Suping. “He… he killed my sister and scattered her!”

Yu Ruoyin froze, then pointed at the twin sister. “Your sister is right here, isn’t she?”

Now it was the twin sister’s turn to be stunned.

She stared at her sister’s face, slowly losing focus. “Yeah… sister’s right here.”

Yu Ruoyin wanted to ask more about them but suddenly saw He Meijie’s corpse dragging He Fengxi back. Thinking of the priorities, she recalled the distraught sisters into the Red Jade Fruit. The two Jade Puppets wouldn’t harm anyone anymore, making the rest much easier.

Xia Yu would open the barrier, then everyone would return to their territories.

The two enemies left Zhuang Suping behind. Twelve years ago, Sang Xi had personally killed He Fengxi once; this time, she personally scattered his soul and corpse. Xia Yu got the Corpse Pill as wished, of course not without Xing Ruoyan’s nagging. But Lu Qingzhen, usually hostile to Xia Yu, surprisingly sided with her this time, blocking Xing Ruoyan and even using her status to pressure her, infuriating Xing Ruoyan until she left faster than the injured Taoists.

After Xing Ruoyan left, Jiang Huaining invited the reluctant Zhuang Ciyue, who was dragging her feet. “Want to come back to the Four Spirits Shop with us? I have better healing medicine there.”

Zhuang Ciyue looked at Jiang Huaining in surprise. She hadn’t left because she had more to say to Yu Ruoyin, but now Jiang Huaining was inviting them to the Four Spirits Shop.

You couldn’t just enter the Four Spirits Shop casually.

“Is that okay?”

Jiang Huaining nodded. “You’re A’yin’s friend, so you can count as my friend too. Your grandaunt naturally counts as… a friend.”

Yu Ruoyin thought she had almost called her “grandaunt” at first but stopped due to the age gap.

What to do.

She seemed a little cute.

Yu Ruoyin almost laughed but felt it was inexplicable.

Jiang Huaining noticed her trembling lips and gave her a strange look. “What are you laughing at?”

“Nothing.”

Jiang Huaining stared at her, as if the words “you’re lying” were written on her face.

Yu Ruoyin wanted to laugh even more, and she did. “What to do? It seems I can lie.”

Jiang Huaining took her hand, unbothered by the blood from Sang Xi all over her. “What is A’yin planning to deceive me with?”

Yu Ruoyin was led forward by her, staring at her profile in a daze. “Haven’t thought of it yet.”

“You… you wicked-hearted girl, not only heartless but also trying to deceive Boss Jiang—deceive her for money or her body? You… you…”

She was so furious she could devour Yu Ruoyin.

Before Yu Ruoyin could speak, Zhuang Ciyue supported her grandaunt with one hand and grabbed her with the other. “Hey, you Yin Official, how does their wife-wife flirtation become wicked-hearted with you? I think you’re jealous. I won’t allow you to slander our little Yu classmate like this.”

Jiang Huaining glanced deeply at Sang Xi, who was being carried by Lu Qingzhen. After they got a bit farther away, she said to Yu Ruoyin, “After this is over, I’ll explain to A’zhen. I won’t let her keep misunderstanding.”

“Auntie Ning, I don’t quite understand you.”

Yu Ruoyin’s response stunned Jiang Huaining. She opened her mouth but didn’t know what to say. “A’yin…”

“Auntie Ning, you don’t quite understand me either. For example, with this matter, I don’t care what Sister Qingzhen thinks of me or that she scolded me. I’ve heard far worse before. Honestly, Sister Qingzhen is a well-mannered Yin Messenger; she doesn’t curse much or say anything too vicious. Besides, she’s angry because she cares about you. As your wife, I feel happy, not upset enough to need an explanation.” Yu Ruoyin interrupted Jiang Huaining, speaking an unusually long passage for her. “Of course, our mutual lack of understanding isn’t your fault or mine—we haven’t known each other long. But I can feel you care about me a lot. To help you understand me, I… you can’t lie, so I won’t lie to you either. If you want to understand your wife, please don’t make all the decisions yourself. Ask me first when something comes up. It might be a bit troublesome for you.”

Jiang Huaining finally sensed Yu Ruoyin’s emotions, realizing she cared far more about her than Lu Qingzhen.

She seemed to be sulking—not too obviously, but perceptible.

“A’yin…” Jiang Huaining gripped Yu Ruoyin’s hand tighter. “Not troublesome at all. You’re not troublesome at all. Just… call me without the title? Auntie is fine.”

Yu Ruoyin shook her head seriously. “No, because I’m a bit angry right now.”

Jiang Huaining hadn’t expected that answer and didn’t know how to respond. Yu Ruoyin took the words back. “Auntie Ning, helping them will injure you, right? Will it be serious?”

“Not seri—”

“If you don’t want to say, you don’t have to.”

The words caught in her throat, and Jiang Huaining changed tack. “Yes, somewhat serious. I might need several days to recover. I’ll ask A’zhen to look after you. You should prefer spending time with her over Xia Yu.”

Yu Ruoyin gripped Jiang Huaining’s wrist. “Then why agree at all?”

“A’yin doesn’t want to help them?”

“No…”

Yu Ruoyin’s emotions were complex. She had to admit she pitied Sang Xi, but…

She sighed, clutching Jiang Huaining tightly. “I want to help them, but I don’t want you hurt. Your spiritual energy is only half left now. Recovering would be harder than before, right? I… I’m scared…”

Yu Ruoyin’s breathing tightened as her other hand gripped too. “Will… will you die?”

“No.” Jiang Huaining answered too quickly, and Yu Ruoyin was skeptical.

Jiang Huaining felt helpless, gently embracing her with a softer tone. “A’yin, my lifespan is very, very long—longer than you might imagine. I won’t die. No matter how severe the injury, with enough rest, I’ll heal. Except for…”

“Except what?”

“Heart ailments, except heart ailments.” Jiang Huaining said solemnly. “If A’yin keeps using titles, I’ll definitely get sick.”

Yu Ruoyin was slightly surprised, not expecting such words from Jiang Huaining.

It sounded slick, but her serious expression didn’t seem like deliberate teasing.

Her ear tips still flushed; she couldn’t help rubbing them, stumbling over her response. “I… I got it, pretty wife.”