Housekeeper Li shook his head, equally puzzled.
“As the only physician in Su Ling Town, Doctor Wang is usually stationed at the Jiang residence. But ever since he said he would treat Lord Jiang Yuan’s injuries two days ago, he hasn’t been seen.”

Jiang Ran was unsurprised. She merely said to Li Fusheng,
“Later, gather a few trustworthy men. Go quietly to Jiang Yuan’s estate and look for Doctor Wang. Don’t make any noise. Once you find him, bring him straight to the main hall.”

Why secretly search Jiang Yuan’s estate for Doctor Wang?
Li Fusheng was a clever man. Thinking of Jiang Yuan’s background and the physician’s strange disappearance, his eyes widened in shock.
“Lord… you mean… could it be that Jiang Yuan…?”

If Jiang Yuan truly harbored such treacherous thoughts, Li Fusheng couldn’t even bring himself to call him “lord” anymore.

Inwardly, he spat—ungrateful wretch!

“Another thing,” Jiang Ran asked calmly, “when you first summoned Doctor Wang to the Jiang residence, did you tell anyone else?”

Li Fusheng shook his head.
“With the household in such turmoil, I thought the fewer matters made public, the better. Since young mistress Xiaowen fainted without reason, I dared not cause a stir. I told no one.”

Jiang Ran nodded, her plan becoming firmer.
“Good. Then later, Housekeeper Li, you’ll walk ahead and discreetly spread word that I cannot accept Father’s death. That last night, I went alone to seek vengeance against the Ice Demon Wolf, but was gravely wounded in the process. For now, I’m only barely holding on.”

Li Fusheng gave a solemn nod and withdrew quickly, feeling deeply grateful for the trust his new lord placed in him. He resolved to carry out her orders flawlessly.

The Ice Demon Wolf she spoke of was a beast at the first stage of the Spirit Refining Realm—the very one that had killed the original lord, Jiang Fucheng.

Why had Jiang Fucheng, a man at the peak of the ninth stage of Spirit Gathering, chosen to provoke such a beast?
Because of a rare Spirit Sprite: the Ice Spirit Bug. Its essence could strengthen both cultivators and beasts.

With his cultivation and nearly a hundred fellow cultivators, Jiang Fucheng should have at least been able to injure the wolf and retreat safely.

But Jiang Yuan’s squad was suddenly entangled by a Blast Rabbit at the fifth stage of Spirit Gathering.

That skirmish dragged other teams into chaos.

For mere Spirit Gathering cultivators to face a Refining Realm beast was suicide.

Jiang Fucheng had intended only to wound the wolf and retreat.

Yet… fate turned otherwise.

Alone, he was forced to hold the Ice Demon Wolf at bay until Su Ling Town’s second strongest cultivator, Tian Jing, rushed to aid him.

Though saved, Jiang Fucheng’s injuries were mortal. With the last of his strength, he entrusted Su Ling Town to Jiang Ran… and passed away.

Jiang Yuan was without a doubt suspicious.
Coincidence? No. Behind every “coincidence” was intent.

And after her father’s death, this so-called “uncle” had not lifted a finger to help with the funeral. Instead, he vanished, clearly searching for something.

Jiang Ran could already guess what he sought.

In all of Su Ling Town, only three things were worth coveting.

One: the True Sutra of Water Infusion—known only to her.
Two: the land contract, the Jade Map of Su Ling Town.
Three: the two Spirit Sprites.

Before dying, Jiang Fucheng had publicly passed the Jade Map to her in front of Jiang Yuan. So what remained were the Sprites.

“If he learns the two Sprites were passed to me two weeks ago,” Jiang Ran thought grimly, “he’ll do whatever it takes to kill me.”

After all, the only way to seize a Sprite was to kill its master, thereby dissolving the contract.

Jiang Yuan’s cultivation was pitiful, only the ninth stage of Vein Opening. The original Jiang Ran, however, had already reached the third stage of Spirit Gathering. Unless she feigned weakness, that coward would never dare reveal his fangs.

So, to complete the disguise, Jiang Ran covered her lips and cheeks with thick powder, making herself look as if gravely injured. Then, swaying like a fragile willow, she stepped out.

The main hall of the Jiang estate was already filled to the brim with Su Ling Town’s notables.

As instructed, Housekeeper Li let slip that she had been badly injured, then quietly departed to search Jiang Yuan’s estate for Doctor Wang.

“It’s the young lo—no, the Lord herself. She looks gravely wounded. May the heavens protect her. The old lord just passed; Su Ling Town cannot afford to lose its heir!”

Faces brimmed with concern, especially those of the garrison directly under the lord’s banner.

The old lord’s death had been too sudden. But fortunately, the new lord was talented. If they served her faithfully, perhaps Su Ling Town could still rise higher.

Still… she was so young.

Jiang Ran knew the people’s hearts were unsettled. For now, she could only take one step at a time—weed out the treacherous, and slowly build her own loyal retinue.

Her gaze swept toward the four village chiefs.

Su Ling Town governed four villages: Qingshan, Xitian, Aojia, and Fengyu.

Each chief had his own disposition.

Qingshan’s chief, Li Yiniu, was the most honest, muttering even now about crops.
“This year’s wheat isn’t growing well… and the Wheat Sprite hasn’t shown up in ages. If only the lord would let it cast its blessing again… aiya, what a headache.”

Xitian’s Yang Dong was a sycophant, already weaving through the crowd, smiling obsequiously at everyone of note.

Meanwhile, Aojia’s Lin Ling and Fengyu’s Jiang Li hovered near Jiang Yuan, showing their closeness.

Jiang Ran’s eyes lingered on him.

Jiang Yuan’s face was narrow, his eyes small, his cheekbones high and thin, his complexion dark. Every inch of him screamed petty villain.

For fifteen years, she had called him “uncle.”

But in truth, they shared no blood.

He wasn’t even born a Jiang. He had once been nameless, called only “Dog Egg.”

Years ago, when Jiang Fucheng had been a starving youth, it was Dog Egg who tossed him a moldy steamed bun.

To a beggar, even moldy bread was precious. Jiang Fucheng had never forgotten that kindness.

Later, when fortune smiled on him, he recognized Dog Egg, who was beaten half to death on the streets, and saved him.

One life for another—the debt was repaid.

But Jiang Fucheng, ever sentimental, kept Dog Egg by his side. Eventually, he even acknowledged him as a brother. Thus Dog Egg became Jiang Yuan.

Perhaps, Jiang Ran thought with sorrow, back when he was still Dog Egg, he had a kind heart.

But after all these years of comfort and privilege, that heart had long since rotted, consumed by greed.

Lowering her lashes, Jiang Ran hid her emotions. She feared she could not mask the killing intent burning in her eyes.