Chapter 52: Threshold

Wang Sandong didn’t sleep a wink all night.

She thought Yuan Di would send Wang Zhongli to her bedside at some point in the middle of the night—just like when she had sent A-Gui.

But morning came, and nothing happened.

Wang Sandong grew even more restless.

Could Yuan Di have not fallen for the trap?

Did she not make a move on Wang Zhongli?

Or had she suffered a setback and been killed by him instead?

Even though Yuan Di was no good, if she died now, it wouldn’t be good for Wang Sandong. She couldn’t help but worry.

Guessing blindly was pointless.

It would be better to just go and check directly.

She lay there a while longer, genuinely worried, then got out of bed without even washing up and headed straight for Yuan Di’s room.

When she reached the door, she was about to knock.

But the moment her hand touched the door, it moved.

The door didn’t seem to be locked from the inside.

Wang Sandong pushed it open with a try.

Could Yuan Di not be in her room?

Thinking this, she entered and walked to the bedside.

The bed curtains were drawn tightly, concealing the inside from view.

Wang Sandong went straight over, reached out, and parted the curtains.

Yuan Di was lying on the bed, fast asleep.

This girl—she didn’t even lock the door when she slept.

Wasn’t she afraid some scoundrel might try something?

It was the height of summer, and the temperature was high.

When sleeping at night, even a thin blanket felt too hot.

Yuan Di had only a small throw covering her from the chest down, barely concealing her body.

Wang Sandong’s gaze landed on that small throw.

Her fingers twitched.

Then she gently lifted it…

Her gaze shifted from the throw to Yuan Di’s eyes.

She seemed to be sleeping soundly.

‘Seemed!’

One of the Five Emperors—even if she were truly asleep, how could she not sense someone approaching?

The moment that thought surfaced, Wang Sandong felt a chill of after-fear.

Thank goodness she hadn’t lifted that throw!

Yuan Di must have already woken up, just waiting for her to reach out with her wicked hand so she could catch her in the act!

With that realization, Wang Sandong hurriedly lowered the curtains and rushed out of the room.

But after just a few quick steps, her emotions were so tense that her breathing became erratic.

She grabbed a pillar in the corridor and panted, trying to regulate her breath.

Out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly noticed something strange.

Not far away, at the doorway of another room, Zheng Xiao was looking her way, her eyes full of sympathy.

She simply nodded at Wang Sandong and said, “Good morning.”

Then she headed straight for the Qin Room.

Wang Sandong opened her mouth, but the word “good” formed only on her lips without any sound.

‘Should I explain?’

‘No, explain what?’

When washing up, Wang Sandong called for Wang Tong to attend to her.

Sitting in front of the dressing table and looking at herself in the mirror, Wang Sandong suddenly realized she had overlooked a possibility:

Yuan Di might have been pretending to sleep to catch her in the act, or she might have been hoping Wang Sandong would do something…

After all, her own appearance—it wasn’t an exaggeration to call her a “Peerless Beauty.”

That Yuan Di might have sky-high cultivation, but when it came to matters of the heart, she might not be so sharp.

Maybe she had already been bent by Wang Sandong and was just pretending to be straight?

Or maybe she was both…

And…

Maybe she should…

Go back in and test the waters?

Unfortunately, it was too late.

Through the open window, Wang Sandong saw that Yuan Di had gotten up.

Yuan Di glanced in her direction, her expression unreadable.

The beautiful image of Yuan Di lying on the bed, “fast asleep,” flashed through Wang Sandong’s mind again.

‘Missed the chance.’

‘Wonder if she’ll still be there tomorrow morning…’

‘Ah, never mind that.’

‘What’s important is—why didn’t Yuan Di make a move on Wang Zhongli?’

Could it be that, just like with Chen Youde, she didn’t plan to act?

‘Sigh, the situation is different.’

Chen Youde might have had murderous intent, but he didn’t seem to be in a hurry to act.

But Second Uncle Wang Zhongli—he had already made his move.

Even if it was just speculation.

Wang Sandong felt conflicted, but she didn’t have the energy to think about it deeply.

She hadn’t slept well last night, and now she was starting to feel drowsy.

Not far away, in the shade, Yuan Di was holding a book, reading intently.

She wasn’t like Wang Sandong, who loved sunbathing.

Whether at Fengyue Tower or Anzhi Courtyard, her favorite thing was always reading.

When reading, harsh light was not suitable.

Zheng Xiao walked over and glanced at the book’s cover.

“The Rise and Fall of Demonic Cultivators? Is it good?”

“Average.”

Yuan Di smiled and said, “A Spiritual Cultivator wrote this history of Demonic Cultivators. There’s a lot of bias in it.”

Zheng Xiao chuckled, noncommittal.

Yuan Di continued, “That book The Era of Demonic Cultivators might be more reliable.”

“Historical texts don’t argue authenticity; they argue righteousness.”

Zheng Xiao’s tone carried a hint of mockery.

“Isn’t that a bit inappropriate?”

Zheng Xiao sighed and said, “Miss Yuan, you are wise and intelligent, but still young. If you had lived through the era when Demonic Cultivators ran rampant, you would understand the importance of righteousness.”

After speaking, she smiled and went back to her own room to rest.

Whatever Zheng Xiao was tinkering with in the Qin Room seemed to have exhausted her.

Yuan Di watched Zheng Xiao’s retreating figure, then looked back at the Qin Room.

The image of words Wang Sandong had said earlier floated into her mind.

‘What was the real reason the Zither Emperor wiped out nearly half of the Zheng Clan?’

‘That little scoundrel Wang Sandong knows the truth but won’t tell me… Hmph.’

Yuan Di cast an unfriendly look at Wang Sandong, who was still sunbathing.

‘Little scoundrel!’

‘Playing tricks on me!’

A murderous intent surged in Yuan Di’s heart.

‘Just wait until you transform—I’ll make you pay!’

‘I’ll make you cry and beg for mercy…’

‘And then I’ll sacrifice you to the Demon Abyss!’

‘Hiss…’

‘Should I rape her first and then kill her?’

‘Such lewd behavior doesn’t suit my style.’

‘More like something the Demon Sovereign would do…’

Suddenly, Wang Sandong raised her arms, let out a grunt, and stretched lazily.

“Ah, I’ve slept enough—”

Yuan Di watched, a look of disdain forming in her eyes.

She thought Wang Sandong’s demeanor and actions seemed very childish.

Then she realized that her own petty thoughts also seemed rather childish.

Probably because of “near ink blackens.”

Spending too much time with a childish person, she had been “infected” too.

Just like an adult might unconsciously use a high-pitched voice when playing with a child.

Wang Sandong stood up, moved her arms and legs, turned around, and saw Yuan Di.

She grinned and waved in greeting, “Hey.”

Yuan Di instinctively raised her hand, then retracted it just in time, even holding back the urge to respond with a “Hey.”

‘Hey my ass!’

Wang Sandong pinched her waist, arched her back, twisted her neck, and walked over.

“What book are you reading?”

She twisted her shoulders as she spoke.

“Ah, I’ve slept a bit too much. My whole body feels stiff.”

Yuan Di let out a snort through her nose.

She wanted to say something to her, but it felt too childish, so she kept quiet.

Wang Sandong yawned, looked around, then lowered her voice and asked:

“You didn’t do anything bad last night, did you?”

“Like what?”

“Like going to my Second Uncle’s house.”

“I did.”

“…”

“I sealed his cultivation and locked him up in the backyard of Fengyue Tower.”

Yuan Di said.

“Kill him or let him go—you decide.”

“Oh.”

“Don’t worry about me.”

Yuan Di added, “He doesn’t know I sealed his cultivation.”

Her eyes remained fixed on the book in her hands, her tone casual.

“If you let him go, the seal will dissolve on its own in a few days.”

Wang Sandong’s expression flickered several times.

Finally, with a look of outrage, she said:

“How could you do this? He’s my own Second Uncle!”

“Then let him go.”

Yuan Di turned a page of her book.

Wang Sandong opened her mouth as if to say something, but the words stuck in her throat.

“Go see Yueniang. Kill him or free him, it’s up to you.”

Yuan Di added calmly.

Wang Sandong frowned, staring into Yuan Di’s eyes.

After a long silence, she called out:

“Wang Tong, prepare the carriage.”

The carriage left the manor and headed toward Fengyue Tower.

From the moment she got in, Wang Sandong couldn’t stop shaking.

Yuan Di’s method exceeded Wang Sandong’s expectations.

She had thought Yuan Di would force her to kill her Second Uncle Wang Zhongli.

“Young Master, we’re here.”

Wang Tong’s voice came from outside.

Wang Sandong froze, startled.

‘Already here so fast?’

‘Didn’t seem like that long a ride.’

She hesitated for a long time before finally getting out of the carriage.

Yueniang came up to greet her, clearly knowing the purpose of Wang Sandong’s visit.

Smiling, she led her directly to the backyard.

As they walked, she chatted:

“Third Young Master is so fickle. You’ve just monopolized Miss Yuan, and you’re still not satisfied…”

“Now the one staying in the backyard is Xing Luo.”

“I think she’s even more beautiful than Wen Yi and the others.”

She was dressed more scantily than Yuan Di, which naturally made for a more pleasing sight.

Unfortunately, Wang Sandong had no mind to appreciate beauty at the moment.

Standing at the doorway, she hesitated about whether to go in.

The threshold was not high, but it seemed incredibly difficult to cross.