Xiang Mantang furrowed his brows slightly as he listened to their conversation.
To be honest, he was really somewhat uneasy about Zhu Yeqing following Mei Yinxue, because after all these years, they held grudges against each other. Even though they had agreed to let bygones be bygones today, he couldn't be sure if Zhu Yeqing had truly let go of that resentment, or if she was merely feigning compliance.
Jian Ruyan understood Xiang Mantang's concern, so she spoke up, "Is that so? I just felt that the straightforward killing method isn't quite efficient. Zhu Yeqing, teaching one is teaching, and teaching two is also teaching, why not teach me as well?"
Her tone was cool, and she spoke rather bluntly, showing no hint of asking for a favor.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Yeqing knew Jian Ruyan's thought—she wanted to keep an eye on her, to prevent Mei Yinxue from being alone with her and falling victim to her potentially lethal hand.
If it were someone else being doubted over and over again, they would surely be extremely annoyed.
Damn it, I'm offering to teach out of the goodness of my heart, yet I'm met with suspicion? To hell with teaching then!
However, Zhu Yeqing was no ordinary person; as a qualified assassin, her patience was far greater than that of the average person.
Moreover, their suspicions were indeed reasonable, because among the four sisters, Huang Qiuhua and Gu Youlan, even after many years had passed, still hadn't given up on targeting Mei Yinxue.
She had chosen to let go, in just one day, so it was indeed a bit difficult to dispel Xiang Mantang's suspicions.
She could only rely on time to gradually influence them.
As for Zhu Yeqing, would she simply stop teaching Mei Yinxue out of anger due to the suspicions of Xiang Mantang and Jian Ruyan?
That was completely unnecessary. After all, how could their sisterly relationship be affected by the doubts and suspicions of outsiders?
"Alright, if you want to learn, I'll teach you too."
Zhu Yeqing wasn't angry and nodded in agreement to Jian Ruyan's request.
Mei Yinxue felt a bit unhappy when she heard Jian Ruyan's words, but the other party was concerned for her safety, so how could she blame her?
Seeing that they had made their decision, Xiang Mantang didn't say much more. He just gave Zhu Yeqing a deep look and then led them out of the land and onto a private plane to return to the Capital City.
Having arrived back in the Capital City, it was already late. Exhausted from a whole day, Xiang Mantang told them to rest first, suggesting that they could learn the killing technique the next day.
Since making a breakthrough to the God Realm, Xiang Mantang had seen significant improvements in both physical strength and spirit, so he didn't feel tired.
Seeing that there was nothing pressing at hand and temporarily unable to find the Withered Tree Quest for Spring's sought-after Fountain of Youth and Fountain of Immortality, and with Shen Cangsheng, who had made Mu Jinyu suffer, already executed, Xiang Mantang went to the sanatorium to visit Mu Jinyu.
Standing in front of the Ice Coffin, through the transparent lid, Xiang Mantang looked at Mu Jinyu, whose complexion was healthy and rosy, as if in a deep sleep. He was silent for a long time before he let out a soft sigh, pulled up a chair, and sat down in front of the coffin. He began to share with Mu Jinyu that he had killed Shen Cangsheng and that he was searching for the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures that could revive his senior brother...
As he talked, he went on to their childhood stories, and once he started, it lasted the whole night.
The next day, it was clear skies.
Xiang Mantang muttered to himself, "Alright, let's stop here for today. Senior brother, I'll come to visit you another day. I hope that the next time I come, I'll be able to bring something powerful enough to awaken you."
Having said that, Xiang Mantang stood up, set the chair aside, and took one last deep look at Mu Jinyu before striding out of the sanatorium.
Shortly after he left, the jade pendant on Mu Jinyu's neck flashed a faint light, and then Mu Jinyu's right little finger trembled slightly.
After that, there was no more movement.
Unaware of the movement inside the Ice Coffin, Xiang Mantang left the sanatorium, got into the car, and headed straight for the Su Family Courtyard.
Arriving at the Su Family Courtyard, he was familiar enough to enter without any need for the servants to announce him. He went straight inside, heading towards their dining hall.
It was now just after seven in the morning.
Su Zijin had already prepared breakfast, but since Mu Jinyu would no longer eat the breakfast she made, she simply lay her head on the table, staring blankly at the steaming meal as it gradually cooled down.
"Dada..."
Upon hearing the sound of someone entering, Su Zijin instinctively looked up towards the door. At first, when she saw it was Xiang Mantang, the hope and surprise that had sparked in her eyes dimmed once again.
Then, regaining her composure, she smiled and greeted him, "It's Little Xiang, you're free to visit today? Mom just made breakfast, have you eaten? If not, come and eat with me."
"Hmm, thank you, godmother."
A warm current mixed with guilt rose in Xiang Mantang's heart, making him feel very uncomfortable.
He took a seat, picked up a piece of oyster pancake and began to eat it slowly and carefully. Even though it had cooled down a bit, he still found it very delicious.
Watching Xiang Mantang eat, Su Zijin smiled and began to feel a bit of an appetite herself, so she also ate a little.
Soon, Xiang Mantang had finished the entire table of breakfast. He pulled out a tissue and wiped the grease from the corners of his mouth.
Su Zijin cheerfully said, "Little Xiang, if you have time in the future, come to godmother's place more often. Otherwise, sitting alone in this empty dining hall, I hardly have any appetite."
"Mm, I will, godmother," replied Xiang Mantang as he threw the tissue into the wastebasket. Then he said to Su Zijin, "Shen Cangsheng has been killed by me and Sister-in-law Mei..."
"Hmm..."
Listening to Xiang Mantang, Su Zijin didn't take it seriously at first but then she realized, "Hmm?!"
She looked towards Xiang Mantang with a mind as if a bomb had exploded in it—there was satisfaction, relief, confusion, ease...
"Shen Cangsheng is dead?"
After asking, Su Zijin impatiently added, "Why didn't you call me?!"
Initially, Su Zijin did feel a bit guilty towards Shen Cangsheng, after all, she had been engaged to him, and without formally canceling the engagement, she had married Mu Jinyu's father and given birth to Mu Jinyu.
However, as she left Mu Jinyu and his father, returning to the Capital City that year, she was forcibly confined there, not daring to contact Mu Jinyu and his father for fear of attracting Shen Cangsheng's vengeance. By the time the engagement was dissolved, and she returned to Rong City, she found Father Yu had passed away, and her son was missing. She almost went mad.
Of course, she was aware that this could not all be blamed on Shen Cangsheng, so at that time, she didn't go mad and ask the Old Dragon King to kill Shen Cangsheng!
Still, in her heart, she ultimately harbored resentment toward the Old Dragon King for thrusting upon her that absurd marriage, as well as toward Shen Cangsheng.
And when she found Mu Jinyu again, the subsequent series of actions taken by Shen Cangsheng, ultimately leading to Mu Jinyu's death, filled her with hatred for Shen Cangsheng!
She truly wished she could have killed Shen Cangsheng with her own hands.
Therefore, when she heard from Xiang Mantang that Shen Cangsheng was dead, she was extremely excited!
Xiang Mantang lowered his head, not daring to make eye contact with Su Zijin, and explained softly, "Because Shen Cangsheng was hiding in the Kunlun Ruins, and the Kunlun Ruins were too dangerous. Godmother and the other two sisters-in-law are just ordinary people; I was worried that an accident might happen. If we didn't have enough people to protect everyone, I only took Sister-in-law Mei with me."
Hearing Xiang Mantang's explanation, Su Zijin let out a long sigh of relief. Then she sat back down, breathing slightly heavily, "How did he die?"
Xiang Mantang's expression remained calm as he recounted to Yinxue the scene of how he and Mei Yinxue had executed Shen Cangsheng through the slow and excruciating punishment of Ling Chi.
His vivid storytelling made Su Zijin feel as if she were right there, witnessing the painful screams and agony of Shen Cangsheng.
If the victim of their execution had been anyone else, listening to Xiang Mantang's depiction would surely have made Su Zijin feel uncomfortable, even nauseated, but because it was Shen Cangsheng, she genuinely felt too much satisfaction.
If not for Shen Cangsheng, Mu Jinyu would not have been separated from her all those years ago. If not for Shen Cangsheng, her son—whom she had finally found after great difficulty—would not have reunited with her for merely a dozen days before falling into a deep slumber.
And moreover, it was still uncertain whether there was any chance of him waking up!