She is Jianxiu

The two men came and went like the wind, leaving Suo San Niang completely baffled. However, she was always cautious in her actions, and since Si Queyi was the master of the coachman Liu An, she could not completely ignore what happened today. Otherwise, she would have no way to explain herself if Suo Tu Hong asked about it later.

"Si Queyi is somewhat better off. She's an eighth-rank scholar, and from a collateral branch of the family. Even if she died outside, it would be difficult for the Si Que clan to make a fuss about her. What's strange, though, is the person beside her..."

Suo San Niang prided herself on her deep cunning, and as soon as she heard Zhao Chun's words, she spontaneously began to fabricate stories about him.

Because in private, Si Queyi never dared to treat Zhao Chun as a study companion, and her words and actions could not hide her respect for Zhao Chun, this attitude, when seen by Suo Sanniang, naturally made her elevate Zhao Chun's background, and she really thought that she was from Lijing, rather than Si Queyi's cousin.

However, the number of aristocratic families in Lijing is also quite considerable. There are many prominent families with second-rank scholars in charge, and even large surnames with a history of more than a thousand years are common in Lijing.

Take the Suotu family as an example. Their ancestor started his career in western Sichuan and rose to the position of Grand Master of Ceremonies through meritorious service of the second rank. He had overcome numerous obstacles and stirred up countless storms along the way. Even so, the descendants of the Suotu family failed to inherit his legacy and establish themselves in the capital. After the death of their ancestor, no one from the clan ever reached the second rank again. Their former prosperity was as fleeting as a flash in the pan, and they returned to Mianzhou City, where they remained behind closed doors as the head of this aristocratic family.

What Suo San Niang was worried about was the person beside Si Que Yi. If he came from a prominent family in Lijing, then the owner of this treasure was probably an elder in her family.

"This matter is of great importance, and we should have reminded him earlier to avoid trouble that might affect me, a mere servant."

She dared not delay, and after taking a few steps out of Qianqiu Hall, she quickly called for a carriage and horses to be brought over. She hurried towards Suotu Hong's villa, feeling extremely anxious. She couldn't help but curse him inwardly for being pretentious, insisting on building his villa on a mountain outside the city, claiming it was a quiet place where one could watch the clouds drift by and cultivate one's temperament. However, getting there was not an easy task.

Suo Sanniang huddled in the carriage, feeling increasingly uneasy. The more she thought about it, the more she felt something was wrong. She thought to herself that if the other party was truly the owner of the treasure and had such a powerful family background, he shouldn't have turned and left earlier. Instead, he should have boldly questioned her and forced the Suo Tu family to hand over the treasure.

Thinking this, Suo Sanniang immediately shuddered, realizing that she had fallen for the other party's trick.

"Hmph, trying to play tricks and trick me into revealing the whereabouts of the treasure? You're asking for death!"

Suo Sanniang chuckled. She was about to tell the coachman to take another route, but then another thought came to her. She thought to herself that Suo Tuhong didn't know the origin of the treasure. If she could lead him there, she could find out the true purpose of the treasure, which would be a great achievement.

As if a worry had been resolved, Suo Sanniang's brows relaxed, and she felt refreshed. She unconsciously lifted the front curtain and looked outside.

In an instant, his heart turned cold, his back stiffened, and a chill ran down his spine, leaving him frozen in place.

Outside the carriage, the coachman was nowhere to be seen. Now, sitting cross-legged and silent, was a tall and well-proportioned figure. Who else could it be but the woman who had accompanied Si Queyi?
I had no idea when this person appeared here!
Suo Sanniang inwardly screamed, but her expression grew increasingly silent and terrified. Being able to serve under Suo Tuhong meant she was considered a person of importance among the servants. Not only had she been inspired by literature and entered the ranks of scholars, but she also frequently enjoyed the resources bestowed upon her by her master. In just over a decade, she had risen to the seventh rank, her status even surpassing some members of the collateral branches of the clan. This was something Suo Sanniang had always been proud of.

But now, this person can come and go freely right under her nose, so his scholarly achievements must surely surpass her own.

“My esteemed guest,” Suo San Niang gritted her teeth and forced herself to speak, “since you’ve come so early, why didn’t you remind me to get in the carriage and have a chat with you?”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chun did not turn around, but laughed and replied, "You jest, young lady. You have important matters to attend to right now. If I were to alert you, wouldn't that ruin your plans?"

After saying this, he turned around, waved his sleeve to stop the carriage, and nodded slightly to Suo Sanniang, saying, "I don't want to say anything more to you today, but I just want you to know that the coachman Liu'an once obtained a magic treasure from me. This time I have come to your door to retrieve it."

Upon hearing this, Suo San Niang knew that she could no longer hide the truth from the other party. However, she was still unwilling to give up immediately and tried to use Suo Tu Hong's name to see if she could intimidate the other party.

Unexpectedly, the woman in front of her had little patience. As soon as she finished speaking, she raised a large hand and grabbed her shoulder. Then she leaped up, and a hazy scene flashed before Suo San Niang's eyes. Whether it was the bronze horses and iron carriages or the surrounding mountains and dense forests, everything became tiny in an instant and continued to fall downwards.

Before long, Suo San Niang realized that it wasn't these things falling down, but that she herself was soaring upwards, breaking through layers of clouds and mist, and arriving at the sky above, a place she could never normally reach.

She trembled all over and couldn't help but scream.

This person's cultivation is definitely above that of a fifth-rank scholar, which is why he can fly through the clouds and ride the wind.

She had also witnessed Sotu Hong soaring through the air, and knew that such supernatural power required at least a fifth-rank scholar of broad knowledge, possessing profound learning and a steadfast mind, before daring to set foot in the heavens and roam this land inhabited by demons and monsters. Even Sotu Hong himself sometimes dared not linger in the sky for too long, lest he attract evil spirits and bring about his own demise.

Thinking of this, Suo Sanniang was even more terrified, her face turning deathly pale and her limbs going limp. She was afraid that Zhao Chun would change her mind and casually throw her off from this thousand-foot-high cloud. She also thought to herself that although she had the cultivation of a seventh-rank cultivator, she was still just a mortal. How could she not be turned into a pile of minced meat if she fell from such a height?

Zhao Chun grabbed Suo San Niang with one hand and swept away the clouds with the other, revealing the mountains and rivers clearly before his eyes, like a sand table that could be manipulated at will.

Then he said, "Third Sister Suo, you are a servant of the Suo Tu family. You must have rushed out of the city today to consult your master and make a decision on this matter. In that case, I need you to point out the way so that I can personally visit your master."

After saying that, he glanced at Suo San Niang with a smile, his eyes revealing a coldness, and said, "Don't expect to fool me. If I make a move, it will be easy for me to kill all of your Suo Tu clan."

Suo Sanniang nodded almost in a daze, then pointed to the ground without thinking, her teeth chattering as she said, "Quanyou Mountain, the outer residence that Suo Tuhong has acquired is on the mountain..."

As if afraid Zhao Chun wouldn't believe him, he added, "It's all true. There's a clear spring on the mountain. Suotu Hong bought the mountain because of this spring. He often takes three or five friends up the mountain for sightseeing, but in reality, it's to sell stolen goods. Most of the treasures he forcibly seized are exchanged for money."

Zhao Chun looked in the direction she pointed and indeed saw a mountain garden built against the mountain. However, scholars who love elegance and seek a quiet place to set up their outer residences are countless. In just a few valleys nearby, there are many mansions and villas. Suo San Niang's willingness to give directions saved her a lot of trouble in finding people.

Once the location was determined, Zhao Chun leaped into the air, grabbed the person in her hand, and landed in Suo Tu Hong's outer residence. She strode to the front of a small building with its door tightly closed.

Suo San Niang was surprised by Zhao Chun's accurate navigation, and her tone became somewhat ingratiating as she said, "Master, this is where Suo Tu Hong usually studies the scriptures."

Zhao Chun remained noncommittal, only withdrawing her hand from her shoulder. Realizing that there was indeed someone in the small building, she flicked her finger, shattering the downstairs door with a bang!

This action also alerted the person inside the building. He shouted loudly, asking who was there, and then leaped up from the building, his face showing a mixture of shock and anger.

Zhao Chun looked up and saw that Suo Tu Hong's cheeks were sunken and his body was very thin, showing signs of depletion of qi and blood and great loss of essence. She knew that his true age was not as simple as his appearance suggested. He was likely nearing the end of his life and had been kept alive until now by some rare and precious treasure.

But none of this concerned Zhao Chun.

Her eyes swept over him, and her brows furrowed slightly. She noticed that although Suotuhong had the aura of the Heaven and Earth Furnace, the furnace itself was not in his possession.

Sotu Hong was initially furious, but when he went outside and saw who it was, it was as if cold water had been poured over him, and he immediately calmed down.

He said, "Young friend, what brings you here to trespass on my private residence?"

Knowing full well what Zhao Chun was asking, Suo Tu Hong looked away, his gaze like a poisoned blade, slashing Suo San Niang's face.

Hmph, it turns out there was an internal traitor, which is why outsiders found this place.

Sotu Hong frowned, pondering repeatedly how to deal with the person in front of him. Killing him would be the easiest option, but he worried that the other party might have someone behind them, and killing one would only lead to another, ultimately causing a lot of trouble.

Then I wanted to ask again, "Young friend, you—"

Suo Tu Hong's voice stopped abruptly, but Suo San Niang's shouts rang out. Zhao Chun reached out and grabbed Suo Tu Hong's hair bun tightly to pick up the head, whose facial features were still moving. She raised an eyebrow and said, "Indeed, the scholars of Qianming Realm specialize in the Dao of the Primordial Soul. Even if their heads are cut off, they can still keep their lives alive."

She stared thoughtfully at Suotuhong, as if her earlier actions were merely to confirm her suspicions. Now that she understood, her tone turned cold as she said, "Now, tell me the whereabouts of the Heaven and Earth Furnace." (End of Chapter)