Chapter 116: 0116 Will she be a match for the Nobility?_1
"Don’t ask anymore. Just like you won’t tell me about the grudge between you and that woman, I also have my own secrets that I can’t reveal."
Wen Jiang stated it plainly, "You don’t need to think the worst of me. I’m on the same side as the Yunxia Empire now, which is why I’m willing to return to the Jimo Family. I have my own things to do. The only thing I ask of you, for now, is not to worry too much. One day, you will know the truth."
Hua Zhuo remained silent.
Wen Jiang glanced at her leg. "Your leg was injured by a Card Spirit. Ordinary cards can’t restore it?"
Spirit Card Masters shouldn’t have disabilities. Spiritual power can heal the vast majority of diseases, so her leg injury is abnormal. If it weren’t for the karmic bond created by Hua Zhuo saving her, Wen Jiang usually wouldn’t be so kind.
Hua Zhuo nodded, her expression complex. "Yes."
"Wait until I reach S Rank, and then there might be hope for your leg."
She would be able to create a card that could heal a Spirit Card Master of such a level.
Hua Zhuo was somewhat surprised. No Spirit Card Master had ever dared to assure her that there was still hope for her leg.
Wen Jiang bent down and touched Hua Zhuo’s knee with one finger. Hua Zhuo seemed unaccustomed to the touch and stiffened, but Wen Jiang was actually letting Zero Egg collect data.
Zero Egg spoke with a complicated tone, "Yes, there’s the scent of a System item within. As for what item it is, I don’t know. My level isn’t high enough."
Wen Jiang had been suspecting that Hua Zhuo’s intense hatred for that woman was related to her leg injury, an injury that should have been curable under normal circumstances. And it turned out to be the case. Detecting the scent of a System item meant the injury was indeed caused by the System.
Wen Jiang casually asked, "So, do you have an item that can heal her?"
Zero Egg replied, "Yes, I have one, but it’s sealed. Don’t even think about it. The basic requirement to unseal such an item across ranks is 1,000,000 Points, because my System level is too low..."
This statement left Zero Egg unusually embarrassed and ashamed.
Wen Jiang: "..."
1,000,000 Points, huh? Never mind then. Even forging her own path wouldn’t be as challenging as earning that many Points.
She straightened up, not feeling that her earlier promise was an empty boast, and naturally changed the subject. "As of today, I’ll be living with the Jimo Family. Also, I need to ask you for a favor. I have a roommate who will be living with me. Could you please have someone bring her over?"
Hua Zhuo agreed.
Zero Egg quipped, "I thought you were the type whose convictions wouldn’t be shaken by poverty. I didn’t expect you to forget your old nest so quickly now that you have a new home."
Wen Jiang replied, "This place is spacious and convenient."
This way, her next advancement wouldn’t cause such a huge commotion in the city. Of course, Zero Egg couldn’t understand the subtext of that remark for now. It thought Wen Jiang meant it was convenient for making cards.
「 」
Wen Jiang being summoned by Hua Zhuo and not returning had worried Tang Qian somewhat. Later, Tang Qian called to inquire.
Wen Jiang usually didn’t bother inventing excuses for trivial matters. So, when Tang Qian asked what Hua Zhuo wanted with her, she replied naturally, "I am the missing daughter of General Jimo Xiao. She found me so I could inherit the Jimo Family."
Although she herself had initiated the matter of returning to the Jimo Family, her statement was logically sound.
Tang Qian: "..."
After a moment, she burst out laughing, then lowered her voice and said earnestly, "Wen Jiang, don’t make such jokes. General Jimo Xiao passed away not long ago. If others hear you say this, you could be accused of insulting the reputation of the Nobility."
And absurdly enough, such a ridiculous law actually existed.
Wen Jiang remained calm. "I’m not joking. I am currently at the Jimo Family residence. I underwent a genetic test this afternoon, and the Empire has been notified. The Jimo Family’s medal will be delivered to me tomorrow, and I can bring it to the Association."
Tang Qian: "..."
Tang Qian felt that in her over thirty years of life, she had never encountered anything so preposterous. It was so outrageous that she didn’t know how to respond to Wen Jiang’s message. Even after hanging up, she screamed in her empty room.
"Impossible! This is utter nonsense! How could this be possible?!!!"
Huh? What?!
Just a few months ago, she was a student expelled from Noble University. Now she’s suddenly the heir to the Jimo Family, on top of being an A-Level player for the Mount Flower Association’s first team?
Heavens, is this some kind of cosmic joke?
No matter how shocked Tang Qian was, the news that the Jimo Family had an heir spread rapidly across the entire Empire overnight. This was because the Empire had a special Nobility honor website where a star would dim each time an important member of the Nobility perished. Previously, all the stars for the Jimo Family had dimmed.
But just tonight, a new star on the Jimo Family’s official website lit up again.
That meant the Jimo Family’s heir had appeared.
This news immediately caused an uproar across the country.
Everyone knew that the Jimo Family had lost an heir years ago, but not many recalled this detail immediately. Now, upon learning the news, everyone was stunned.
The Song Family was the quickest to receive the news. The next morning, while the family was having breakfast, Song Ji casually announced, "The Jimo Family’s heir is someone we know."
This statement piqued Madam Song’s curiosity, and she couldn’t help but ask, "Someone we know? Was she raised by another family all these years?"
The heir of the Jimo Family could only be that girl who went missing years ago. Since the Song Family knew her, they must have met her before, which would mean she was raised by another family. But she hadn’t heard of any prominent family taking in an adopted child.
With an elegant demeanor and a faint smile on his lips, Song Ji glanced meaningfully at Song Yingchen, who was still oblivious to the situation, and said, "It’s Wen Jiang."
"..."
Song Yingchen wasn’t as visibly astounded as Madam Song. His eyes merely darkened, and the hand holding his chopsticks paused. Madam Song, on the other hand, was so taken aback her mouth nearly fell open in shock.
She certainly knew who Wen Jiang was. Regardless of how insignificant she considered the girl, or how poor her own memory might be, she vividly remembered Song Yingchen repeatedly acting against her (Madam Song’s) interests for Wen Jiang’s sake.
Song Zhi gave her father a meaningful glance.
’An old acquaintance,’ she thought. Credit to Father for managing to say that with a straight face.
"How could it be possible?" Madam Song’s voice was sharp. "How could it be her? Has the Jimo Family been deceived?"
She was so agitated that when Song Ji frowned slightly, the atmosphere around them grew inexplicably colder. Madam Song turned pale and looked at Song Ji in a panic. "I didn’t mean it, I... I’m sorry."
All she could do was apologize.
Song Ji said nothing. Seemingly having lost his appetite due to Madam Song’s outburst, he rose and left without another word.
Madam Song immediately felt distraught and also hastily left the dining table.
Song Zhi appeared indifferent. Her brother, Song Yingchen, had been sitting frozen like a wooden statue, utterly unresponsive since hearing the news.
Song Zhi gracefully wiped the corners of her mouth with a napkin and said, seemingly casually, "I heard the Qiao Family had an agreement with Lady Jimo’s brother. They were going to help him oust Lady Hua from the Mount Flower Association’s board of directors, thereby achieving their goal of infiltrating the Mount Flower Association. Now that the Jimo Family has an heir, the Qiao Family’s plan has fallen through."
So, would they let it go just like that? A noble family on the brink of collapse—a large, juicy piece of meat that was almost in their grasp. Could an A-Level Spirit Card Master heir, with nothing else to her name, stand against those predatory nobles?
Song Yingchen’s hand suddenly tightened.