Chapter 191 A Chan Finally Reached Out and Pointed…

Chapter 191 A Chan Finally Reaches Out, Tapping…

The hour of *weishi* (1-3 PM) had just arrived. Warm, abundant sunlight bathed the tightly shut door. On the bed, a snow-white arm groped back and forth a few times, finding nothing. Only then did its owner lazily open her eyes.

She was alone in the bed, with just a corner of the thin quilt draped over her. The room was utterly silent.

She reached for the freshly folded clothes by the bedside, stretching her arm slightly, feeling a pervasive, pleasant languor deep in her bones.

As she rose to dress, A Chan ground her teeth at the marks covering her body. What was this? She had been peacefully sleeping at home, only for disaster to strike from the heavens?

What on earth was Bai Xiuming thinking?

After pondering for a long time without discerning what could have provoked him, A Chan simply gave up. She took her time, finally getting herself ready.

Leaving the rear courtyard, she walked directly into the front shop. Chen Hui was attending to a customer buying perfumed powder and turned at the sound of movement.

A Chan greeted the familiar customer, then said to Chen Hui, “Hui Niang, I’m going out for a meal.”

Chen Hui retrieved two small pieces of silver from behind the counter and handed them to her. “Go on.”

A Chan exited the shop and ambled leisurely down the street.

Across the road, a carriage had been parked for a long time. Only when its occupant caught sight of her did it finally move.

A Chan didn’t walk far, stopping at a noodle shop on the corner. Their lamb offal noodles were quite tasty, and she occasionally liked to change her routine.

It was already past the main mealtime, so there were only a few scattered customers in the noodle shop. A Chan found a seat by the window, ordered a bowl of noodles, and a small side dish.

Soon, the owner brought her noodles, and A Chan picked up her chopsticks, lowering her head to eat.

She then heard the shop owner’s enthusiastic greeting; it seemed another customer had entered. But she didn’t bother to look up, too lazy to see.

A moment later, out of the corner of her eye, A Chan glimpsed a figure approaching her table and sitting directly opposite her.

Her chopsticks paused. She looked up, meeting a pair of gentle eyes.

Bai Zhanhuang.

“Miss, may I share your table?” he asked.

A Chan scanned the nearly empty noodle shop, a slight sinking feeling in her heart. This was clearly no chance encounter.

She just didn’t know if he was here for the name Ji Chan, or for her.

“Suit yourself.”

She replied coolly with two words, then continued to eat her noodles, not even sparing him a glance.

Bai Zhanhuang didn’t mind. He simply sat there, watching A Chan.

After a while, the shop owner, looking nervous, brought over a bowl of noodles. He seemed about to ask if there were any other requests, but a single look from Bai Zhanhuang made him shiver and quickly retreat.

Bai Zhanhuang didn’t touch his chopsticks, merely watching A Chan eat. His gaze drifted from her fair hands to her delicate earlobes.

Today, A Chan wore a pair of ruby peach-blossom earrings, exquisitely crafted—unlike the usual work from ordinary jewelry shops.

Bai Zhanhuang recognized the craftsmanship as being of royal origin.

He had given her jewelry before, but she had only accepted it, never wearing any. Back then, he thought her beauty needed no extra adornment, and assuming she disliked them, he never sent more.

Apparently, it wasn’t dislike after all.

A Chan ate most of the noodles in her bowl before setting down her chopsticks. She dabbed her mouth with a handkerchief, took a few copper coins from her purse, left them on the table, and stood up, intending to leave.

Bai Zhanhuang, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. “Miss, we need to talk.”

Only then did A Chan truly look at him. Their eyes met. Though he wore a stranger’s face, she couldn’t shake the feeling that he could see the real her.

“I don’t believe I know you, sir?”

Bai Zhanhuang smiled. “I am Bai Zhanhuang.”

A Chan feigned surprise. “So it is the King of Northern Wilderness. This humble commoner offers her respects.”

Bai Zhanhuang gestured. “Please, sit.”

A Chan returned to her chair. “What does Your Highness wish to discuss with this commoner?”

“Let’s talk about what happened at your estate.”

“But the officials of the Bright Mirror Bureau repeatedly warned this commoner not to speak casually about that day’s events.” A Chan recalled the incident. Bai Xiuming couldn’t silence everyone, so it wasn’t surprising that Bai Zhanhuang had learned of it.

“You are quite obedient, Miss. What if this King insists on hearing it from you?”

“This humble commoner naturally dares not disobey. Where would Your Highness like me to begin?” A Chan complied readily.

“When my mother died, did you witness it yourself?”

A Chan’s expression remained unchanged as she lied smoothly. “No, I did not. At the time, this commoner was locked in a room.”

Bai Zhanhuang suddenly said, “Her death was terrible.”

“My condolences, Your Highness.”

He stared intently at A Chan, but her face showed no trace of extra emotion—no resentment, satisfaction, or panic.

It was A Chan, indeed.

“I heard the kidnappers did not harm you that day.”

“This commoner was fortunate. The officials of the Bright Mirror Bureau arrived in time and saved my life.”

“The Bright Mirror Bureau’s… Bai Xiuming?”

“Yes.”

Bai Zhanhuang noticed the almost imperceptible upward curve at the corner of A Chan’s lips when he spoke Bai Xiuming’s name.

He shifted his gaze away from A Chan’s face.

“Does Your Highness have any other questions? If not, this commoner should be heading home.”

“…Safe travels, Miss.”

A Chan nodded slightly to him, stood up, and walked out without a backward glance.

Her silhouette passed by the window, quickly disappearing from Bai Zhanhuang’s sight.

Bai Zhanhuang gazed at the bustling street, thinking, *It doesn’t matter. They’ve only known each other for a year. A Chan is merely indulging a passing fancy.*

The news that Bai Zhanhuang had visited A Chan in Changping Lane reached Bai Xiuming’s ears within half an hour.

At that moment, Feng Yang was reporting to Bai Xiuming that he had already visited the Lin family and obtained information about Taoist Priest Lu from them, but the priest himself had disappeared without a trace.

Bai Xiuming found this unsurprising. The only one who would target the Lin family was Bai Zhanhuang. That man was careful enough not to leave any easy leverage.

His goal was simply to expose A Chan’s true identity to him.

“Still refusing to give up, are they?” Bai Xiuming murmured to himself.

“What?” Feng Yang asked, puzzled.

Bai Xiuming ignored him and asked, “How did that Taoist priest bewitch the Lin family?”

Feng Yang replied, “The Lin family said their young child and Master Lin had nightmares, both related to Miss Ji. The Taoist priest then incited them, making them believe Miss Ji’s identity was unusual.”

“And they believed it just because someone said so?”

“The Lin family encountered a demonic calamity on their way back to the capital, and the Taoist priest happened to save their entire family. Thus, they placed great trust in him.” Feng Yang paused, then added, “This subordinate believes that calamity was likely just a ploy to gain their trust.”

Bai Xiuming neither confirmed nor denied it, simply instructing, “Screen the Lin family thoroughly to ensure there’s nothing unclean, then assign two men to keep watch.”

“Understood.”

Feng Yang left to carry out his orders. Shortly after, a Bright Mirror Bureau guard arrived to report.

“Sir, this subordinate observed the King of Northern Wilderness appearing in Changping Lane. When Miss Ji went out for a meal, the King of Northern Wilderness shared a table with her, and they spoke a few words.”

This Bright Mirror Bureau guard, skilled in stealth, had been assigned by Bai Xiuming to tail Bai Zhanhuang.

“Noted. Continue surveillance.” Bai Xiuming’s voice revealed nothing, showing no emotion even upon learning of Bai Zhanhuang’s meeting with A Chan.

He remained at the yamen, handling official duties until late into the night. Only after all the documents on his desk had been approved did he put down his brush and leave the Bright Mirror Bureau.

Meanwhile, A Chan had just finished bathing.

Today, unlike her usual routine of reading a few pages of fiction before bed, she sat at her dressing table, pondering her encounter with Bai Zhanhuang earlier that day.

Bai Zhanhuang’s behavior had done nothing to alleviate A Chan’s vigilance. This man was not like the Consort of the Northern Wilderness King; if he were so easily fooled, the King of Northern Wilderness’s sons would not have disappeared one after another.

When he was in the Northern Wilderness, he had always presented himself as a man of the people, and his decrees were often beneficial to the populace.

But inwardly, he was very cold. While he wouldn’t necessarily harm commoners, he wasn’t truly as gentle as he appeared.

His attitude toward her today was… off.

Even if they were in the capital, even if he might know something about her relationship with Bai Xiuming, he wouldn’t treat someone who had personally witnessed his mother’s death with such kindness.

Moreover, the questions he asked her were largely meaningless. If he truly wanted details, there should be more comprehensive records in the yamen. Even if the yamen didn’t cooperate, it wouldn’t be difficult for him to access them.

Unless his purpose wasn’t about the Consort at all; he was after her.

Had Bai Zhanhuang discovered her identity?

A Chan couldn’t be certain, but her heart was already filled with caution.

Bai Zhanhuang was not an easy opponent. Unlike the Consort of the Northern Wilderness King, he was cautious in everything, typically accompanied by two Fourth Realm guards even on ordinary outings.

His mind was deep, and his methods were endless. At least for now, A Chan hadn’t come up with a way to deal with him, unless Bai Xiuming lost his mind and was willing to kill Bai Zhanhuang for her.

This, of course, was impossible. A Chan was merely fantasizing.

She had originally thought she was hidden in the shadows, with ample time to devise a strategy. But if her identity were discovered, her time would be limited.

Against absolute power, schemes were useless. She needed to gain immense strength, at least enough to protect herself.

The moment this thought stirred, the inner core hidden within her seemed to sense A Chan’s thoughts, silently floating before her.

In the dimly lit room, the golden core seemed to illuminate the entire space.

A Chan gazed at this inner core. It had been some time since her return from the wilderness, and even longer since she had obtained the core and made her decision. Yet, she still hadn’t used it.

Why?

Because demonic transformation was dangerous. The transition from human to demon was fraught with uncertainty, and successful cases were few and far between. She always had to protect herself first, taking it slowly. Because she still had Hui Niang and friends in the capital; she couldn’t just abandon them, she had to arrange everything.

Because…

She had found too many reasons for herself, but none of them were the main ones.

She couldn’t deceive herself. What truly made her hesitate was Bai Xiuming.

Once she successfully demonized using the inner core, her cultivation would at least return to its former level.

Within the Great Xia territory, how could a great demon be allowed to roam freely? As soon as she made that choice, she would have to leave this place.

After a long silence, A Chan finally reached out her hand and tapped the inner core.

With a thought, a wisp of demonic energy leaked from the core, wrapped around her hand, and slowly seeped into her body through her fingertips.

It was only a very faint wisp of demonic power, yet A Chan’s body strongly rejected it.

Not only because of the racial difference, making it impossible to contain demonic power, but also because of her own uncertainty.

A Chan’s full attention was fixed on the inner core, unaware that the door behind her had silently opened.