"Eh?"

Zhenxi was stunned for a moment before turning to look at Li Jian Jiu Jing beside her, her expression blank.

The young Samurai was also looking at her, his expression earnest.

After a brief silence, Zhenxi contemplated and then said, "Cousin, I'm just a country girl, not very intelligent or trendy at all. That's why Mother always told me that if there's something I don't understand, I should just ask or speak directly. It's better to offend someone than to pretend to be capable and end up being looked down upon."

"I actually have many questions I want to ask, but doing that would be too impolite... You wouldn't mind, would you?"

Jiu Jing was silent for a moment before nodding. "Please, go ahead."

After thinking for a long while, Zhenxi asked bluntly, "So, Cousin, are you hoping that I'll betray Miss Amber and side with you?"

"Even if you don't join me, it doesn't matter. All I want is for you to stay away from this quagmire," Jiu Jing replied. "Zhenxi, you don't belong here. It's not that I look down on you; rather, you are not suited to be involved in these sordid affairs."

"Do you know about my situation, Cousin?"

"I've investigated a little and heard some," Jiu Jing replied, pulling a string of Prayer Beads from his sleeve and handing them over. "That's why I've brought this for you."

The aged Coral Prayer Beads glowed faintly, emitting a subtle aura of Source Fluctuation.

It was a treasure from the Tiantai Sect, used by monks to approach their Buddha nature and awaken their Soul. After hundreds of years of blessings, it was no less significant than any Relics. It was a Buddhist treasure that any temple would cherish.

Its use was simple, with no restrictions. One only needed to meditate with it, observe Buddhist precepts, and speak of nothing else. By chanting scriptures one hundred thousand times within three years, one could, through persistent effort, condense their Soul.

Each focused recitation was a way to invest a bit of one's own Source Substance. With sufficient concentration and hard work, three years of absolute focus and this sustained cultivation would be enough for anyone to become a Sublimator.

Regrettably, not everyone could accomplish this.

Nor did everyone possess such determination and perseverance. Even among devout and focused monks, those who could complete this long and arduous spiritual journey were exceedingly few.

However, it still remained a possible solution.

Zhenxi looked at it for a long time but didn't take it. "Cousin, are you trying to bribe me?"

"This isn't a price; it's merely assistance offered by an older brother," Jiu Jing said.

Zhenxi thought for a moment, then asked, "Assistance means I can refuse it, right?"

"Whether you accept or refuse is up to you. This isn't a recruitment bribe; you can accept it without worry."

"...Although I really want it, I think I'll pass."

Zhenxi shook her head. "Sorry."

Jiu Jing nodded. "I understand that my suddenly coming here and saying these things is quite abrupt, so it's fine."

"No, it's not that I have any issue with you; it's my own problem," Zhenxi replied, a little embarrassed. She glanced at the relatives nearby who were looking their way. "Cousin Jing Jiang," she continued, "it's already hard enough for a country girl like me to come here and speak her mind to city folk with her head held high. If I bow my head once, I'm afraid I won't have the courage to raise it again."

"..."

Jiu Jing was taken aback. After a long silence, he bowed his head in apology. "Forgive my rudeness."

"It's okay, Cousin. I know you meant well."

Zhenxi said solemnly, "So, I must respond to you frankly—thank you for your help, but I'm sorry, I won't give up."

"You're very direct, Zhenxi."

Jiu Jing sighed softly. It leaves no room for glib words. Should I call it foolish or troublesome? Perhaps you're more formidable than I thought.

He shook his head in self-mockery. "Failure was within my expectations. However, what I'm about to say next might be construed as a malicious attempt to sow discord, but I still must tell you."

After a short pause, Li Jian Jiu Jing told her, "Please be careful of Amber."

"Are you saying Cousin Amber is using me?" Zhenxi asked doubtfully. "I'm somewhat aware of that."

"If it were merely use, then wasn't I also just trying to use you?"

Jiu Jing shook his head. "I just want to tell you, that woman... she doesn't possess the warmth and compassion you imagine, nor is she someone you can trust.

"Zhenxi, before you, among all the candidates for the head of the Li Jian family, the only competitor I ever truly concerned myself with was her. To be precise, I am afraid of that woman's very existence.

"The Li Jian family has admittedly declined. But if that woman becomes the next head, I fear the Li Jian family will cease to exist.

"I've known for eight years that she is a cold-blooded monster, devoid of any emotion."

"That's... a bit too much, isn't it?" Zhenxi frowned. "Is Cousin Amber really such a terrifying person?"

"Do you know who was the head of the Li Jian family before my adoptive father?" Jiu Jing countered. "It was Amber's biological father."

The Teenage Girl was stunned.

"That's right. Amber is the legitimate Princess of the Li Jian family, and also the true successor with the right to inherit the headship.

"Eight years ago, everyone who saw her would bow their heads; some even knelt by her side and respectfully addressed her as 'Little Princess.' No, looking back now, it seems she... wasn't normal even earlier than that."

Li Jian Jiu Jing lowered his gaze and said softly, "From a very young age, she was different from us."

She always appeared serene and peaceful, never showing anger or laughter, like a doll. Jiu Jing, like the other children back then, used to follow behind the noble Your Highness, yearning to become her friend.

Even though she never paid them any mind.

She was noble and distant. Like a Phantom.

This beautiful illusion persisted until eight years prior.

The Li Jian family made a fatal mistake. The General, enraged, unleashed his tyrannical Power upon the lands of Yingzhou without restraint. It was like dark clouds pressing down, making everyone live in constant fear.

The family elders argued incessantly, debating whose responsibility it was for the ruin brought about by this disrespect. Meanwhile, the head of the family remained silent, unable to make a decision.

Forsaken by allies and kin, all they could do was watch with wide eyes as their doom approached.

"Commit seppuku, Father."

Jiu Jing, immersed in memories, murmured softly, "At that time, that's what she said."

In front of everyone, she uttered those unbelievably callous words.

Amber, merely eleven years old, knelt before her closest blood relative in the world, bowed her head, and pleaded from the depths of her heart.

"Please commit seppuku, Father," she said. "The Li Jian family has reached a moment of life and death. As its head, there is no other way to wash away this shame."

In the frozen silence, no one spoke. The family head's face gradually paled as he looked at his kneeling, pleading daughter, unable to utter a word.

"Please don't be afraid, Father."

With her head lowered, she said softly, "I will be the one to assist you."

That was the last thing Jiu Jing heard from the corridor. He was so stunned and terrified that he didn't even notice the teacup he was holding tip over and spill onto the floor.

Just as she had said, there was no other way.

Only this could offer even a sliver of a chance to redeem the mistake.

It is said that the girl, not yet of coming-of-age, personally acted as her father's kaishakunin. Gripping the blade without any hesitation, she swiftly and decisively ended her father's suffering, fulfilling the pact between father and daughter.

Then, she personally presented her father's head to the General.

The final outcome was that the Li Jian family was granted a chance to survive, however precariously.

The price was an unprecedented humiliation. They became traitors among the Court Officials, fawning and bowing to outsiders, despised and looked down upon by all.

But that was how the matter ended.

The head of the Li Jian family died of a sudden illness. Then, another head took over to pick up the pieces of their shattered legacy.

And Amber... she was forgotten by everyone.

"As the sole child of the family head, she should have been well cared for... but an event like that, no one could simply pretend it never happened, could they?"

"Every time anyone saw her, they would only be reminded of that face, stained with her own father's blood, making it impossible for them to be at ease. They could only treat her coldly, marginalize her, and let her fend for herself. Actually, when she requested to be exiled, everyone breathed a sigh of relief."

"Unfortunately, everyone underestimated her."

Jiu Jing sighed softly. "She went to Dongxia, and then she returned... acting as if nothing had ever happened, she reappeared before everyone. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"She seemed to have become more understanding, but in reality, who knows what she's truly thinking?

"Zhenxi, for her, there are no allies to speak of, nor any family. If you hope her assistance stems from goodwill, you might be too naive. You need to consider your own situation carefully."

Zhenxi was still standing there, stunned, her eyes wide with disbelief.

It seemed she was still in shock and hadn't processed it all.

"Doesn't that mean Cousin Amber... killed her own father?" she murmured blankly. "That's just too cruel."

"Who could say it isn't?" Jiu Jing shook his head. "It's normal to be afraid."

"No, I mean, having to personally kill one's own father like that."

Zhenxi looked up and said earnestly, "I think Cousin Amber must be sadder than anyone else, don't you think? After all, in this world, would anyone truly resent their own father?"

Jiu Jing fell silent.

Gazing into those eyes, utterly devoid of any shadow, he found himself unable to say more.

He chuckled self-deprecatingly and averted his gaze. "There are incompetent fathers in this world, Zhenxi, and people who don't deserve respect... But I suppose, no matter what more I say, you won't change your mind, will you?"

Zhenxi nodded.

"Because I've already made a promise," she replied. "My mother always taught me that a promise is more important than life... Besides, even if something were to happen, I believe Miss Huaizhi definitely wouldn't abandon me!"

As she looked towards the figure in the arena, the Teenage Girl's eyes filled with reassurance and trust.

It was as if, with Miss Huaizhi by her side, she had nothing to fear.

Jiu Jing remained silent, his expression complicated.

To cling to a passing boat by chance and drift along with the current, challenging the unknown Dark Ocean... should this be called naive, or reckless?

He didn't know, and there was no need to say anything more.

"Then, let us face each other as opponents and settle this, Zhenxi."

With this farewell, the young Samurai gave his adversary one last look, then rose and departed.