Chen Youde was dead.
Wang Fa arrived in time, but could only watch helplessly as Chen Youde’s body was blown to pieces by the artifact forging furnace.
There was nothing he could do.
It seemed an accident had occurred during artifact forging, causing the furnace to explode, which then sparked a massive fire.
Once the specialized forging fuel caught flame, it was extremely difficult to extinguish.
Even Wang Fa and Zheng Xiao, two of the Nine Surnamed Kings, had no good solution.
They could only instruct the Wang family members to quickly clear the surrounding area and prevent the fire from spreading.
Gazing at the blazing inferno, Zheng Xiao asked Wang Fa in confusion, “Anyone capable of using a furnace to forge artifacts is no ordinary hand. Your family’s steward has a rather impressive background.”
Wang Fa sighed.
“Ghost Axe and Divine Craft—of course he’s not ordinary.”
Zheng Xiao’s expression shifted slightly. She quickly asked, “Ghost Axe or Divine Craft?”
“Ghost Axe.”
Zheng Xiao furrowed her brows, suspicion stirring in her heart.
A steward’s status was that of half a master, but in truth, still a servant.
Why would the renowned Ghost Axe serve as a steward in the Wang family?
There had to be a reason.
Though Zheng Xiao was a daughter-in-law of the Wang family, she couldn’t press the matter.
She had no choice but to suppress her curiosity.
Soon, the Lifetaking Swordsman and a host of other experts also arrived.
A sudden fire in the Wang mansion would naturally attract the attention of the Old Capital’s top fighters.
For a time, the Wang estate buzzed with activity.
The crowd gathered around the flames, as if attending a gathering.
Many asked about the cause, but Wang Fa only gave vague answers, saying it was “an accident.”
In truth, he couldn’t be certain whether it was truly an accident during artifact forging.
After all, Ghost Axe was a master—such a mistake shouldn’t have happened.
But even a master can stumble; even experts aren’t infallible.
Throughout the entire Wang Mansion, only two people were absolutely certain about the nature of this accident.
Inside Anzhi Courtyard.
Yuan Di’s eyelids drooped as she stared at Wang Sandong with a hostile gaze.
She found herself growing more and more disgusted with this little beast.
That little wretch actually had the nerve to be evasive in front of her!
If it weren’t for her continued usefulness, she would make sure the girl wished for death but couldn’t die!
She was also angry at herself for lacking self-control.
Nearly two hundred years old, and yet her curiosity was growing stronger, like a child obsessed with questions.
Wang Sandong knew Chen Youde was dead, so she could guess the reason for the explosion.
That wasn’t surprising.
Yuan Di simply hated the girl’s smug act—people with strong curiosity always hated those who played coy.
And also…
Why did the Zither Emperor annihilate half the Zheng clan?
This question, like a cat scratching at her heart, had tormented Yuan Di for many days.
She glanced at Wang Sandong’s half-dead, drowsy look, frowned, opened her mouth several times as if to speak, then stopped.
Several times she started to leave, then hesitated.
“Something on your mind?”
Wang Sandong asked with her eyes closed.
“No.”
Yuan Di answered stiffly, then finally gritted her teeth and walked away.
The corners of Wang Sandong’s mouth turned up slightly.
She calmed her mind and slowly began to “relish” Chen Youde’s memories.
One of the two most renowned artifact forging masters in the world—Ghost Axe’s knowledge reserve was naturally beyond compare.
He was even three parts superior to the demon follower A-Gui.
The vast ocean of knowledge made Wang Sandong inwardly marvel again and again.
She marveled at the wonders of forging artifacts and treasures, at the ingenuity of material combinations, and at the well-deserved reputation of “Ghost Axe Forges the Dark.”
Using the human body to forge artifacts…
Aside from Ghost Axe, no one else would even dare to think of it.
This body of hers, which had no Spiritual Root yet was immune to Demonic Qi, was indeed perfectly suited for artifact forging.
If she succeeded, she might become a peerless divine weapon, perhaps even not much inferior to the Human Sovereign War Drum.
What a pity.
What a pity that such a peerless divine weapon would never see the light of day again.
What a pity that “he” was dead, and could no longer put theory into practice.
Wait!
Was it possible…
To forge oneself?
The moment this absurd thought surfaced, Wang Sandong was stunned, then shook her head with a bitter smile.
Forging yourself—what’s the difference between that and seeking death?
Suddenly, Wang Sandong felt a discomfort in her lower abdomen.
Her first suspicion was that she had eaten something bad, but she quickly realized it wasn’t that.
After checking her own pulse, she realized her menstruation was about to start.
Annoying.
Why was it coming again?
Hadn’t it just passed not long ago?
It seemed her cycle was irregular.
Damn it.
This time was different from before.
Zheng Xiao and Yuan Di were both in the courtyard now.
After using a sanitary belt, it wasn’t convenient to wash and hang it to dry.
Still, she had bought a lot in advance, so she could use them and throw them away for now.
But night would be long, and she would be found out sooner or later.
Sigh.
She never should have “married” Zheng Xiao in the first place, and never should have “bought” Yuan Di.
Zheng Xiao was fine—she spent all day either in the qin room or playing chess with Grandfather.
But that Yuan Di never went out.
She was either reading or circulating her qi and meditating—it always felt like she was spying on Wang Sandong.
Wang Sandong went back to her room first and secretly put on a sanitary belt.
Luckily, she suffered from severe cold sensitivity; otherwise, in this summer heat, she really would be suffocated.
Couldn’t the Liu family develop a breathable, cool summer-specific sanitary belt?
Unfortunately, this wasn’t a cultivation world.
Otherwise, she could make something like a “storage underwear” similar to a storage ring, and no amount of menstrual blood would be a problem.
But…
Crafting this kind of magical artifact in this world didn’t seem impossible.
Ghost Axe had once researched such a thing, but a more important matter had come up, forcing him to abandon it halfway.
At the very least, forging a small gadget that could hold half a bucket of water seemed theoretically feasible.
Mealtime.
Wang Sandong ate while occasionally glancing at Zheng Xiao.
Zheng Xiao smiled and asked, “Why are you staring at me?”
Wang Sandong chuckled.
“Is your period about to start?”
Zheng Xiao was taken aback, her face flushing slightly.
“Why are you asking about that?”
Wang Sandong felt a secret joy.
So the common saying that women who live together for a long time might synchronize their cycles—it really could happen.
“A dignified Nine Surnamed King, and you still get shy about something like this?”
Wang Sandong teased.
Zheng Xiao smiled wryly.
“Strong strength doesn’t mean thick skin. Seeing through worldly affairs doesn’t mean being shameless.”
“True.”
Wang Sandong laughed heartily.
“I was just thinking—in this summer heat, wearing a sanitary belt must be really hot, right?”
Zheng Xiao’s face reddened even more. She frowned.
“Just eat your meal. You’re young—what are you daydreaming about all day?”
Wang Sandong lowered her head, took a bite of rice, then continued, “What if we forged a magical artifact that looks very small but can hold a lot of water? Wouldn’t that be more convenient than a sanitary belt?”
Zheng Xiao originally didn’t want to entertain Wang Sandong, but seeing the earnest, adorable look in her eyes, she softened.
“That kind of spatial artifact only exists in theory. It’s not realistic.”
“I think it’s very realistic.”
Zheng Xiao was about to mock her when she suddenly noticed Wang Sandong’s serious expression—she wasn’t joking.
Wang Sandong stared into Zheng Xiao’s eyes and lowered her voice.
“You’re my wife. Though we don’t have a real marriage, I trust your character. So I plan to tell you a secret.”
The smile on Zheng Xiao’s face faded slightly, then spread again.
“What secret?”
“A few days ago, I secretly sneaked into Chen Youde’s residence, intending to drug him. By chance, I discovered a book called Ghost Axe Art. It turned out to be a compilation of forging insights.”
Zheng Xiao raised an eyebrow, thought for a moment, and said, “So you changed your mind and didn’t make me fulfill my promise to kill him?”
“Right.”
Wang Sandong sighed.
“If it were just some ordinary old man, killing him would be no big deal. But Ghost Axe… killing him would have been a waste. Ah, still, he died in the end.”
She composed herself and continued in a low voice, “Back to business. Ghost Axe Art records the theory of forging spatial artifacts. I can tell you.”
Zheng Xiao stared at Wang Sandong, not answering immediately, her expression grave.
“How could you get your hands on such a remarkable book so easily?”
“Good luck.”
Zheng Xiao smiled bitterly.
Good luck?
Such a flimsy excuse was…
Alright, digging deeper wasn’t appropriate either.
But there was one question she had to ask.
“Innocent people suffer for the treasure they possess.
Telling me this secret…
Isn’t it dangerous?”
“Dangerous?”
Wang Sandong laughed, raised her bowl, and took a sip of soup.
She let out a very satisfied sigh, then looked at Zheng Xiao and said, “I trust your character.”
Zheng Xiao smiled without speaking.
She also trusted her own character.
And besides, she suddenly realized that at some point, she had stopped seeing Wang Sandong as a naive child.
“How is my brother-in-law’s health?”
Wang Sandong abruptly changed the subject.
“It’s been so many days, and he hasn’t come to see his sister’s husband. Could it be he’s reluctant to spend money on a gift? Hmph, would I, as his brother-in-law, let him suffer a loss?”
Zheng Xiao stared at Wang Sandong’s “old and seasoned” yet adorable expression, snorted softly, and almost couldn’t hold back a laugh.
She cleared her throat and smiled.
“He’s wanted to come see you for a long time, but he’s been busy. And you’re his brother-in-law—why hold a grudge against him? If it’s really an issue, you can go visit him instead.”
“The medicine I used before might not cure the root cause,” Wang Sandong said.
“Even if it heals him, it might affect his future cultivation.”
Zheng Xiao’s expression tightened.
“Is there another way?”
Wang Sandong continued, “Those who carry firewood for the masses should not freeze to death in the wind and snow.”
Upon hearing this, Zheng Xiao took a deep breath, rose, and bowed.
“Tomorrow, then.”
“Good.”
“Full and content. Wang Tong, call Yuan Yuan over. Play a little tune.”
Wang Sandong smiled faintly, lazily sinking into the soft chair.
She looked at Zheng Xiao across the table, her tone sincere.
Life with money and leisure was utterly comfortable.
If only her body were better, her combat strength stronger, and she didn’t have to exhaust her mind to recruit allies…
That would be even better.
After killing Chen Youde and gaining nearly a hundred years’ worth of memories, Wang Sandong had realized a truth:
Those who harbor righteousness in their hearts—using them is the safest.
Driving good people with greater righteousness is better than driving petty people with greater profit.
Zheng Xiao was a good person.
And Wang Sandong…
Listening to Yuan Di play her little tune, Wang Sandong silently thought:
Perhaps I’m a petty person.
She wanted to be a good person too, or at least not a petty one.
But…
Good people don’t live long.
Take Chen Youde, for example.
Those who wanted to kill her were mostly good people, some even harboring great righteousness, like Zheng Xiao.
Wang Sandong realized another truth:
Want to be a good person?
You have to be stronger than the bad ones.