Young Master Gu hesitated slightly before reaching for the box, a flicker of fear in his movements. Finally, he took it.
"Don't worry," Wu Kai reassured him. "Your grandfather inspected it—it's safe. Wear it, but keep your distance from that girl if you see her again."
Gu Zhongqiu opened the box and lifted the jade token. Cool to the touch at first, it quickly warmed in his palm. The white jade was flawless, carved with a half-bloomed marigold on one side and intricate defensive runes on the other—patterns he couldn't decipher but recognized as extraordinary.
After admiring it, he fastened it around his neck. Immediately, the weight on his chest lightened.
"Thank you, Uncle Wu. I'll recover soon."
"Rest well. I'll accompany you out when you're ready." With that, Wu Kai left the Gu estate.
Meanwhile, Jian Dan returned to her rented apartment. She powered on her phone and sent a single text to Zhao Zihan:
"Zhao Ziyu is your match. But she's not Zhao Mufeng's daughter."
Then she shut off her phone and immersed herself in cultivation. The following year passed in seclusion. Within her spatial realm, Jian Dan mastered every elemental spell to perfection:
Golden Arrow Technique; Entangling Vine Technique; Water Orb Technique; Flame Burst Technique; Earthen Shield Technique
She could switch between elements instantaneously, her spells now effortless and seamless. To sharpen her divine sense, she even practiced elemental mimicry—crafting illusions so lifelike they blurred the line between artifice and reality.
Her divine sense had already surged to the peak of Foundation Establishment. By the time she formally broke through, it would rival the Golden Core stage—giving her a formidable edge.
One day, as she emerged from meditation, an intuition tugged at her. The moment she left her spatial realm, her phone rang.
"Answer the call~"
She picked up. "Hello?"
"Jian Dan, it's Sun Kailin."
"Miss Sun. It's been a while."
"Only because you vanished! Ready to hear the latest Zhao family drama?"
"Enlighten me."
"Tsk, no excitement? Fine." Sun Kailin cleared her throat theatrically. "Your dear sister Zhao Ziyu went street racing—wrapped her car around a pole. She survived, but she's paralyzed from the neck down for life. Meanwhile, Zhao Zihan got his kidney transplant and is recovering nicely."
She paused. "Oh, and your father's desperate for your remaining 10% shares. The Sun family now holds equal stake in Zhao Corp."
"I see."
"Will you go back?"
"Of course. Family should stick together in times of crisis... and Father must miss me terribly."
"Good luck with that."
"Likewise."
Hanging up, Jian Dan wasn't surprised. Karma had arrived right on schedule.
This time, she didn't go alone. With Zhou Bing as her bodyguard, she arrived at Capital Central Hospital's VIP ward at noon.
The exclusive recovery floor catered to the elite, security stringent. Dressed in a black culotte jumpsuit and heeled sandals, Jian Dan stood taller than ever—her 170cm frame a testament to body tempering. Her hair was half-up, the golden butterfly hairpin adding an air of regal poise.
After clearance, she stopped outside Room 1307 and knocked.
"Come in! Why so late—" The voice cut off as Zhou Bing opened the door. and Jian Dan followed him into the ward.
The entire ward is a luxurious suite, with a living room and kitchen outside and a bedroom inside. It has a separate bathroom and is equipped with all the necessary medical equipment. The thick curtains are drawn, making the entire bedroom a little dark.
But Jian Dan still clearly saw Zhao Ziyu lying on the bed. she looked listless, her cheeks were a little sunken, her brows were furrowed, and her face was a little gray. When she heard the sound, she just rolled his eyes and looked towards the door. Her eyes, which had originally had some spirit, quickly lost their luster when she saw that it was Jian Dan, and he became silent.
On the sofa, Qian Yi shot up, venom in her glare. "You!?" It was estimated that if she hadn't seen the tall and burly Zhou Bing behind her, she would have pounced on her the next moment.
Jian Dan smiled sweetly.
"Seeing you miserable puts my heart at ease."