The immortal pill is reborn and possesses the body of the charming female shopkeeper.

Chapter 84 Gift of Jade

A maidservant emerged from outside the courtyard wall, bowing and inviting Luo Sifan and the others with an ambiguous expression.

Shu Hongyi shook her head and followed with a cold face. Lu Juefei hesitated for a few moments, but still followed Shu Hongyi inside reluctantly.

After passing through the garden path, Shi Zhen was already waiting in the flower hall, seemingly oblivious to Lu Juefei. He only greeted and exchanged pleasantries with Luo Sifan and Shu Hongyi, asking each other about their origins.

At this time, the young lady was indeed from the Shi family of Longzhou. She was captured by Xu Yuanxiang along with this spiritual plant cave, more than eight hundred years ago. Now, Shi Zhen is the nineteenth generation successor of the sect.

Shi Zhen was very interested in the outside world, while Luo Sifan knew little about it. After a few words, it was Shu Hongyi who chatted with her the most enthusiastically.

In her conversation, Shi Zhen could hardly contain her longing for the outside world, and she greatly appreciated Shu Hongyi's willingness to answer her questions. She became increasingly enthusiastic, and soon they were as close as sisters.

Luo Sifan patiently waited until her enthusiasm waned slightly, sipping the spiritual tea in his hand until it became weak, before finally finding an opportunity to ask her if she had seen Ji Yuan, Uncle Qiao, and Lin Qianxiu.

After Shi Zhen ascertained the appearances of the three people, he instructed a maid to go out and inquire, while the group continued chatting in the flower hall.

During the conversation, Luo Sifan couldn't help but ask about Xu Yuanxiang's current situation. Shi Zhen's expression changed slightly, and he brushed it off with a few words, clearly quite wary of the topic. Lu Juefei also kept a low profile and did not interrupt to discuss the matter.

Since Shi Zhen was unwilling to say more about Xu Yuanxiang's matter, Luo Sifan, concerned about the white-clad woman's actions, asked Shi Zhen a question.

Shi Zhen froze, the teacup almost touching his lips, staring at Luo Sifan and Shu Hongyi with disbelief.

"Young Master Lin! Sister Shu! Did you two meet her after entering this place? And she even offered you each a cup of wine?"

Luo Sifan and Shu Hongyi, not understanding what was going on, nodded slightly.

Shi Zhen pressed for details, and Luo Sifan, unable to hide it any longer, shamelessly revealed that the alcohol had helped to enhance the atmosphere.

Only then did Shu Hongyi realize Luo Sifan's suffering that day. Recalling the unbearable things, her pretty face flushed red, and she glared at Luo Sifan fiercely, as if she hated him for not telling her sooner, or for speaking such blunt truths in front of Shi Zhen.

Shi Zhen looked on with a thoughtful expression, his gaze towards Luo Sifan becoming quite intriguing.

"Miss Shi, do you know this lady quite well?"

Luo Sifan was overjoyed, thinking he could glean something from Shi Zhen.

"No, no, no! Young Master Lin, you're overthinking it. I just found the person and the story too interesting, and that's all I was saying!"

Shi Zhen snapped out of his daze, took a sip of tea, and shook his head repeatedly.

Luo Sifan, a sword cultivator from a red-clothed family, was perceptive and would never believe Shu Hongyi's lies about her inner turmoil and forced composure. Knowing that exposing her would do no good, he kept quiet and stopped asking questions.

Before long, the maid came to report.

The Shi family's guard at the checkpoint reported that these three people had indeed come four days ago. Moreover, Ji Yuan was not alone; one of his companions was a low-level cultivator from the Xixin Temple, whose mental state was somewhat abnormal than usual.

It seems that after Ji Yuan escaped, he used the Soul Control Technique to control the low-level cultivators in the Xixin Temple, which allowed him to roam freely in the pagoda.

Having benefited greatly from his conversation with Shi Zhen, Luo Sifan felt it was well worth the price of admission. Concerned about the ordeal Lin Qianxiu and the others had endured, he immediately stood up to take his leave and headed to the upper levels of the pagoda.

"Young Master Lin really misses that Miss Qianxiu!"

Shi Zhen sighed for no apparent reason.

"How could I not miss my child's mother?"

Shu Hongyi also stood up and added a sarcastic remark.

After learning about the awkward situation of the two of them spending five days and five nights alone in the desert, Shi Zhen became even more perceptive and observant.

I almost blurted it out, but I swallowed it back down.

Standing up readily, without any intention of stopping the two, Shi Zhen smiled and said to Luo Sifan:

"Young Master Lin, I wonder if we will have the chance to meet again. I happen to have something that should be of great help to you. I am too small to give you anything, so I will give you this."

He took out a jade pendant from his bosom, stroked it a few times, and resolutely handed it to Luo Sifan.

Luo Sifan was in a dilemma, feeling he hadn't earned the reward, when Shi Zhen chuckled softly:

"With this item, Young Master Lin will not be troubled here, and the people in the Pagoda Secret Realm will help him. If you want to find Miss Qianxiu smoothly, this item is indispensable."

Shi Zhen's words had a hidden meaning. Luo Sifan steeled her heart, reached out and took the jade pendant, knowing that this item wouldn't be given away for free. She honestly replied to Shi Zhen:

"I will remember Miss Shi's kindness. I will do my best to serve you, even at the cost of my life!"

In short, Shi Zhen beamed with joy.

"What do you mean by dead or alive, Young Master Lin? You are too kind. I have no other desires than to establish a good relationship with you."

Luo Sifan and Shu Hongyi would be utterly foolish to believe her nonsense.

Shi Zhen enthusiastically took the jade pendant and tied it to Luo Sifan's waist in a conspicuous place.

Shu Hongyi joined in the fun and took a look. It was a small jade relief of a lady, and the carving technique and the lady's appearance and spirit felt familiar to her.

"It's actually a carved artifact left behind by Xu Yuanxiang!"

Shu Hongyi clicked her tongue and sighed softly. She almost contemplated the object on the spot, but then remembered that its owner was Luo Sifan, and she threw it away with disdain.

Lu Juefei seemed to know the origin of this item, his eyes gleaming as he stood behind him without saying a word.

The passageway leads to the old well beneath the ancient tree.

An elderly man in gray robes sat cross-legged under a tree by the well, eyes closed, seemingly oblivious to everything around him.

He only opened his eyes in surprise after hearing Shi Zhen's voice, and hurriedly stood up to bow.

An old man carefully observed Luo Sifan and his companions, his gaze lingering on a familiar jade pendant at Luo Sifan's waist, now belonging to a different owner.

"Young Miss! What?!"

The old man spoke in a rough, loud voice that was frightening.

Shi Zhen gave him a few sharp looks, telling him to mind his own business:

"Mr. Jiang, I'm here to escort these distinguished guests across the border. You don't need to stand on ceremony, please go about your business!"

Upon hearing this, Old Jiang sat down sullenly, glancing at Luo Sifan with a hint of suspicion in his eyes.

Luo Sifan shamelessly pretended not to see him, bid farewell to Shi Zhen, and jumped down.

The well water rippled gently, the starlight twinkled, and Shu Hongyi and Lu Juefei jumped down one after the other.

Shi Zhen stood by with a smile, and only after the three had disappeared from sight did he turn around thoughtfully and leave, completely ignoring Old Jiang's frustrated mood as he seemed to want to say something but held back.

After taking only three or four steps, Old Jiang suddenly saw Shi Zhen freeze in place.

Suddenly, a woman in white appeared before Shi Zhen, blocking his path with an unpredictable and mysterious aura.

The smile that had not yet faded from Shi Zhen's face instantly froze into a bitter smile:

"My lord, I have missed you dearly for so long."

With their arms linked at waist level, Shi Zhen bowed deeply, not daring to raise his head for a long time. His heart was in turmoil, and he dared not make any guesses.

The beautiful woman in white stared at him silently for a long time, and Shi Zhen felt flustered, his heart gradually reaching its peak.

"Shi Zhen, how dare you! You even give away my jade pendant to someone else so casually?"

The woman in white finally spoke calmly, showing no emotion.

"My lord! I have overstepped my bounds! Upon hearing of your actions, I was overjoyed and presumptuously assumed that you had designs on this person. I then took it upon myself to give him the jade token. Please punish me, my lord!"

Shi Zhen steeled his resolve and, as if reciting his heartfelt words fluently, submitted a memorial to the emperor. Raising his eyebrows, he naturally wore an expression of loyalty and remorse.

The woman in white had clear, bright eyes. She looked directly at Shi Zhen's hard work as if he were nothing. After admiring him for a few moments, a faint smile appeared on her lips that chilled Shi Zhen to the bone.