Chapter 14: Beauty Lies in the Bone, Not the Skin

Spring Cicada trembled as she spoke; the pain was unbearable, her head pounding as if it might split in two.

“Are you in great pain?” Lu Lanxi asked with a delicate, charming smile.

“Just kill me! Stop tormenting me,” Spring Cicada pleaded.

Kill her? Of course, it was necessary—there was no escape. But she had to die with purpose.

What Spring Cicada did not realize was that she had been poisoned with a deadly toxin; the more she struggled, the faster the poison spread. The more terrified she became, the swifter its onset.

Blood began to trickle from her nose, her eyes, her ears, and the corners of her mouth.

“You better kill me, or I’ll haunt you even in death.”

“Heh, humans are far scarier than ghosts,” Lu Lanxi replied.

“You vile woman, you won’t die a good death…”

“Die? Very well, as you wish!” Lu Lanxi smiled, exquisitely beautiful, her crimson lips and scarlet gown blazing like fire beneath the moonlight, resembling a ghostly specter.

Night deepened.

The Shangshu Mansion was enveloped in silence.

Lu Lanxi shed her brilliant red bridal gown and donned her night attire.

As she hoisted Spring Cicada and leapt onto the courtyard wall, her pupils suddenly contracted, a surge of danger washing over her.

Not far away, two men clad in black, both masked, leaned against a tree.

They didn’t seem like ordinary people, nor typical wanderers.

One of them exuded an innate noble aura.

Lu Lanxi narrowed her eyes. Who had the Lu family offended now? Was it a force unknown to her previous life?

How long had they been here? Their profound inner strength had gone undetected by her. Had they just witnessed something they shouldn’t have?

Before she could withdraw her gaze, she locked eyes with the silver-masked man on the tree.

Uncertain if they were friend or foe, Lu Lanxi dared not make a rash move.

“If the enemy doesn’t act, neither will I.”

On the tree, Xie Jing'an and Chuan Mo felt their hearts sink.

Chuan Mo was surprised; this woman had seen what she shouldn’t have, and he wondered if she would live to see the sun rise again.

“Master, it looks like she’s carrying someone on her back,” Chuan Mo said sharply, pointing at Lu Lanxi.

“I’m not blind.”

“Uh, should we make a move?”

“Observe and wait,” Xie Jing'an said with an intriguingly sinister smile, then casually waved to Lu Lanxi and closed his eyes, as if nothing had happened.

Seeing that the two on the tree took no action, Lu Lanxi inhaled deeply and instantly understood—they were neither friends nor enemies, merely parties with separate agendas. After all, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

She shook Spring Cicada on her shoulder, flashed a grim smile worse than crying, and vanished without a trace.

“Master, just letting her go like that? What if she reveals our whereabouts—”

Chuan Mo was puzzled. His master was usually meticulous and cautious.

“Don’t you think she and the Lu family are mortal enemies?” Xie Jing'an smiled darkly. “She’s not carrying a living person but someone on the brink of death. Although we arrived late and didn’t see her kill, the murderous aura she exuded was formidable, and the faint scent of blood on her was quite pungent.”

Chuan Mo shivered. “You mean she’s useful? Could she be brought into our game?”

“If she has the ability, she can become a piece on the board. If not, as long as she doesn’t oppose us, let her wreak havoc on the Lu family.”

“But from what I see, she’s not simple. That smile of hers—beautiful, but eerie, like a ghostly demon.”

Chuan Mo recalled Lu Lanxi's captivating smile and swallowed nervously; he had truly been frightened.

“Beauty lies in the bones, not the skin,” Xie Jing'an said, lifting his gaze to the fading figure, a faint smile curling his lips. [Little mute, you’ve finally begun your counterattack.]

Chuan Mo was speechless.

“Master, why does the Third Miss Lu seem so different from the rumors of a weakling?” Chuan Mo pouted. He had secretly investigated Lu Lanxi for half a year, and this was not the same woman.

“Heh, rumors are not to be trusted; they’re merely deceptive illusions,” Xie Jing'an replied.

“Do you think she recognized us?”

“You’re wrapped up like a rice dumpling; even your mother might not recognize you,” Xie Jing'an teased.

Chuan Mo scratched his head foolishly, admitting his eyes were visible and hard to hide.

Still, the Third Miss Lu was truly extraordinary, having changed drastically.

At the Baoyue Pavilion.

Lu Wanhe and Lu Wanning had been chatting with Li Xianyue in the Begonia Garden for a long time before returning to their pavilion.

“Do you think she hasn’t come back yet?” Lu Wanhe questioned as they walked.

“Miss, I waited at the Glazed Chamber for a long time but didn’t see the Third Miss,” Yueya answered calmly, showing no sign of worry.

“That shameless woman, meeting some wild man late at night, no doubt,” Lu Wanhe grumbled.

Yueya followed behind, holding a lantern, a faint smile playing on her lips.

The autumn wind was bleak, and a cold gust made Lu Wanhe sneeze.

“Ah…”

Suddenly, Yueya cried out in fright.

“What’s the fuss?” Lu Wanhe snapped.

“Miss, it seemed like a figure floated past your room just now,” Yueya said.

“What figure? You must be seeing things,” Lu Wanhe glared fiercely at her.

“Enough. Go fetch a basin of hot water,” Lu Wanhe ordered.

She approached her room’s door, instructing Yueya to get the water, then pushed it open and walked toward the bed.

Suddenly, a figure drifted past her.

Startled, Lu Wanhe demanded, “Who’s there? Come out quickly, or I’ll make you regret it.”

No response.

The door creaked open.

“Who’s there?” she asked, heart pounding, sweat beading on her forehead.

“Miss, it’s Yueya. The hot water is here. Why are you sweating so much?” Yueya said.

Lu Wanhe wiped her face and asked, “Did you see anyone just now?”

“No, Miss. Perhaps you’re just tired and seeing things…” Yueya replied as she set the hot water on the table.

Suddenly, a faint, dying voice whispered in Lu Wanhe’s ear.

“Miss, she’s back…”

Lu Wanhe heard the weak voice from under the covers; her hand trembled slightly. “Who? Who’s under the covers? Hiding in my bed—is that a death wish? Go look for yourself!”

Yueya tiptoed to the bed, her pearl-like eyes shimmering as she forcefully pulled back the covers.

“Ah—” Yueya screamed, then quickly hid by the door.

Lu Wanhe stared closely and saw Spring Cicada—disheveled, blood trickling from her seven orifices. She struggled to speak, trembling as she pointed behind Lu Wanhe: “She came looking for you…”

Her words trailed off as she lost her breath, limp as a lifeless fish.

“Who? Who came looking for me? Speak clearly…” Lu Wanhe’s face went pale, and she stumbled back to the table, clutching it with both hands, breathing heavily.

Yueya’s hands trembled as she panicked, “Wuwu, Miss, could it be Qiao’er has come back for revenge?”