Ling Aoshuang's Burdened Fate

As evening fell, Tianyuan City was dyed a golden hue. The lanterns at the entrance of the Artisan Pavilion had just been lit, their orange glow spilling across the bluestone road and reflecting the blurred shadows of passersby.

Jiang Chuan arrived ten minutes early. After waiting at the entrance for a while, he spotted Ling Aoshuang turning the corner in the distance.

Her pace was neither hurried nor slow. Her light gray armor glimmered faintly in the twilight, and her long hair was still tied neatly behind her head.

Only when she came closer

did Jiang Chuan finally get a clear look at her.

Her brows and eyes were as cold as frost, her nose high and straight, her lips pale. Her entire face was exquisite, as though carved from cold jade, utterly untouched by the warmth of the mortal world.

What drew the eye most were her legs.

Fair and firm.

Straight and slender.

Pressed tightly together without the slightest gap, they were plump in all the right places, without an ounce of excess flesh.

Only after she approached did Jiang Chuan reluctantly withdraw his gaze.

"You're here."

Ling Aoshuang nodded.

Jiang Chuan turned aside and entered the Artisan Pavilion first. "Let's talk inside."

Ling Aoshuang hesitated for a second before stepping in after him.

The first-floor hall of the Artisan Pavilion was as bustling as ever.

Brightly lit.

Tall clerks dressed in cheongsams were introducing equipment to customers.

Jiang Chuan did not stop on the first floor. He led Ling Aoshuang through the crowd and headed straight upstairs.

The second floor,

the third floor,

the fourth floor.

He still did not stop.

Ling Aoshuang followed silently behind him, but the confusion in her eyes had gradually turned into something far more complicated.

Of course, she understood what it meant to reach the fifth floor of the Artisan Pavilion.

Even Chen Ping did not possess that level of membership, yet Jiang Chuan moved through the place as easily as if he had returned home.

At the staircase between the fourth and fifth floors, Xing'er was already waiting.

When she saw Jiang Chuan, she dipped slightly and greeted him with a smiling, "Mr. Jiang." Then her gaze fell on Ling Aoshuang. She gave her an extra glance but said nothing, merely stepping aside to lead the way.

The VIP room.

Xing'er carried in tea, poured two cups, and withdrew.

Once the room fell quiet, Ling Aoshuang finally could not help asking, "What... is going on?"

"Do you remember the top-tier dismantler I mentioned?"

Jiang Chuan did not tell the truth. Instead, he brought up the identity he had fabricated before. "He's an important figure, the kind with influence everywhere. I've gained a lot of benefits by following him."

Yet Ling Aoshuang cautioned him, "You have no ties to him. Why would he treat you so well? You need to be careful. Every benefit gained without effort comes at a price."

Jiang Chuan smiled. "Why does that sound like you've already fallen into a trap like that before?"

Ling Aoshuang's gaze was complicated, and she remained silent.

Had she really been trapped?

Jiang Chuan lifted his tea and took a sip before choosing his words carefully. "I heard some things about you. Perhaps I can help."

Ling Aoshuang looked up in confusion, her gemstone-blue eyes filled with puzzlement.

"Why?"

she asked.

"Because we're friends. Remember? You said that yourself."

Ling Aoshuang's eyes trembled faintly. She lowered her head, then rose to her feet. "There's no need. I have my own plans for this matter. Thank you for your kindness, but if you asked me out only to discuss this, then let's end things here for today."

"Huh?"

Jiang Chuan sounded somewhat anxious. "The important figure behind me can settle this easily. The Darkmoon Battle Group may be a giant in Tianyuan City, but in his eyes, it's nothing at all!"

If Xu Yinyin had been here, she would surely have sighed that Jiang Chuan was truly hopelessly dense and knew nothing about handling interpersonal relationships.

Anyone with even a little self-respect would not readily accept help from others.

Let alone

someone with Ling Aoshuang's temperament.

The more he said such things, the more resistant Ling Aoshuang became. Sure enough, she prepared to leave without saying a word.

Jiang Chuan said, "Did you never take your own words seriously? Did you never consider me a friend?"

Ling Aoshuang paused.

Her voice was low. "Jiang Chuan, the important figure you know may truly be powerful enough to disregard the Darkmoon Battle Group, but I'm not like you."

"What's different?"

Ling Aoshuang raised her head to look at him, and a faint trace of pleading entered her voice. "I have no background, no one to rely on. I can't afford to owe anyone favors, and I don't want to drag anyone else into the mire because of me."

She turned and walked toward the staircase.

After taking two steps, she stopped.

Without looking back, she stood there as the lights stretched her silhouette into a lonely shadow.

"That day at the Artisan Pavilion," her voice drifted over, so soft it was almost inaudible, "everything I said was true. So... don't make me owe you even more."

"..."

Jiang Chuan felt as if his heart had been viciously clenched.

He silently walked out and watched Ling Aoshuang's figure vanish into the twilight.

Suddenly.

A rich fragrance wafted over from beside him.

Yuan Ziyi appeared. Following Jiang Chuan's gaze, she looked into the distance as well, her tone somewhat surprised. "You know her?"

"She's a friend."

Yuan Ziyi glanced at his serious expression and slowly said, "Your friend isn't in a very good situation right now, Mr. Jiang. Do you know that?"

"Hm?"

Jiang Chuan turned to look at her.

Yuan Ziyi sighed. "A young girl without power or influence would be fine if she were merely pretty, but she also possesses an S-rank talent that inspires envy and jealousy. It's only natural that certain people would scheme against her."

Jiang Chuan's expression remained blank.

"Go on."

Yuan Ziyi said, "This is only something I heard, so I can't guarantee it's true. Her father was set up and fell into enormous debt. Then someone approached her and promised to help clear it."

"But the condition was that she had to sign a thirty-year service contract. During that time, she would not be allowed to leave Tianyuan City even once."

"Thirty years?!"

Jiang Chuan repeated it, unable to believe what he had heard.

"Yes. It's practically a contract of sale."

Yuan Ziyi said, "To put it bluntly, they're making her sell her entire youth to the Darkmoon Battle Group. By the time thirty years have passed, she'll be nearly fifty. No matter how exceptional her talent is, she'll have missed the golden period for growth. The Darkmoon Battle Group is using one sum of money to buy out the most valuable thirty years of an S-rank talent. No matter how they calculate it, they won't lose out."

Jiang Chuan looked once more toward the figure that had long since disappeared. Only then did he understand how heavy a burden the girl carried.

"You think that's all?"

Yuan Ziyi looked at him, a chill flashing through her eyes. "That's only the demand on the surface. The Darkmoon Battle Group approached her because they actually wanted her herself."

"What do you mean?"

Yuan Ziyi looked around and lowered her voice. "I learned some confidential information. Chen Duhu of the Darkmoon Battle Group—that old man's lifespan is almost at its end."

Jiang Chuan did not understand. "What does that have to do with Ling Aoshuang?"

Yuan Ziyi said, "You know Chen Duhu's son, Chen Ping, right? An A-rank talent. In the eyes of ordinary people, he's a genius, but in Chen Duhu's eyes, it isn't enough. Far from enough."

"An heir with A-rank talent can't possibly support the future of the Darkmoon Battle Group."

"What Chen Duhu wants is a bloodline with S-rank talent."

"One capable of inheriting his family business."

"Of continuing its glory."

Jiang Chuan's pupils contracted slightly. He vaguely guessed what Yuan Ziyi was about to say, but that guess was too absurd—so absurd that he did not even want to confirm it.

"Ling Aoshuang has already become his target."

Yuan Ziyi sighed, disgust seeping into her voice. "That disgusting old man wants to use her S-rank talent to purify his descendants' bloodline, so he can obtain an offspring with S-rank talent to inherit his family business."

Crack!

Jiang Chuan clenched his fists until they cracked. His face darkened as though water could drip from it. He stared at Yuan Ziyi, his voice icy. "You aren't saying this because you want to use me as a blade to eliminate a competitor for the Yuan Family, are you?"

"I wouldn't dare!"

Sensing the cold killing intent radiating from Jiang Chuan, Yuan Ziyi hurriedly composed herself and explained seriously, "What I heard may all be rumors, but they're very close to the truth!"

"They signed Ling Aoshuang not to cultivate her at all. Otherwise, why would they give the academy admission slot to Chen Ping?"

"Why make her remain in Tianyuan City and waste thirty years of her life instead?"

"Phew..."

Jiang Chuan slowly let out a long breath.

He had to admit that even though he knew Yuan Ziyi was trying to use him to kill with a borrowed blade, her words had truly sickened him.

As her friend,

he could never watch Ling Aoshuang end up like that.

Jiang Chuan asked calmly, "Do you know where Chen Duhu usually lives?"

The chill in his words made Yuan Ziyi's delicate body tremble faintly. She quickly replied, "That old man's lifespan is nearly exhausted, so he rarely shows himself unless it's an important occasion where he has no choice but to appear."

An important occasion?

Jiang Chuan thought, would the martial arts tournament count as an important occasion?