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The morning light poured into Jiang Si's boudoir through the gauze window. Ah Man was tying Jiang Si's belt.

Ah Man suddenly felt strange and said "Huh?" "Girl, when did you get a pattern on your back?"

"What? Is there?"

In the bronze mirror, a crimson flame pattern suddenly appeared on Jiang's snow-white back, shaped like a phoenix with spread wings, with a faint golden glow on the edges.

At this moment, Jiang Si's heart was shocked. This was not an ordinary tattoo, but the holy seal passed down from generation to generation by the Saint Nanwu!
"Ah Man, bring me my shark silk dress." Jiang Si's voice trembled slightly, "I'll wear that one today."

"Yes! Girl."

When Ah Man brought the clothes, he couldn't help but ask again: "Girl, your tattoo is so beautiful. When will..."

"Shut up!" Jiang Si scolded Ah Man harshly, which was rare. Then he softened his tone and said, "Go prepare some refreshments. Master Yu and Master Zhen are coming to visit today."

"Yes! Girl."

After Ah Man retreated, Jiang Si gently stroked his back with his fingertips.

In fact, she vaguely remembered that she had a high fever when she was five years old, and then she spent half a year recuperating at her grandfather's home in Nanwu.

Could this be what happened at that time?
"Miss, Lord Yu and the others have arrived!" Ah Man's voice interrupted Jiang Si's thoughts.

In the front hall, Yu Qi was wearing an indigo official uniform, and the ebony dagger at his waist was particularly eye-catching.

Zhen Heng was chatting with Jiang Ancheng, but his eyes kept glancing towards the door.

"Miss Jiang." Yu Qi bowed and saluted when he saw Jiang Si coming in. "I apologize for disturbing you."

Jiang Sifu bowed but avoided his gaze. "Master Yu is very busy with official duties. How can you find time to visit my humble abode?"

"I heard that Young Master Jiang is an excellent archer, so I came here to ask for his advice." Yu Qi casually said the excuse he had already thought of.

But his eyes fell on the painting spread out on the table in the corner of the hall. It was the scene of the snowy mountain where the Southern Crow God saw it painted by Jiang Si last night.

Jiang Si felt his heart tighten when he noticed Yu Qi's gaze.

In her previous life, she had indeed been to Shenjian Mountain with her grandfather, but she clearly did not have this experience in this life, so why could she draw it in such detail?

"Miss Jiang, this painting is quite interesting?" Yu Qi said as he approached the table casually.

Jiang Si quickly stepped forward and closed the scroll: "It's just a random doodle, not worth mentioning."

Then she turned to her father and said, "Father, I have a sudden headache. I will go back to my room to rest."

"Okay! Then go ahead!"

When she left the table, she clearly saw a hint of inquiry in Yu Qi's eyes.

It was late at night and Jiang Si woke up from his light sleep.

The scroll painting of Shenjian Mountain on the desk disappeared, and half a mud footprint was left on the window frame.

"Sure enough..." She clutched the corner of the quilt.

Yu Qi is here to check on her!
In his previous life, he was a spy for Chananwu and lurked beside her. Could it be that he would also fall into the tragedy of his previous life in this life?

Thinking that he now has to deal with another "devil" Suning, Jiang Si, who has not yet figured out the clues, feels a headache.

I feel that the mysterious "devil" Suning will not give up easily, and my biggest worry is that Suning will get angry out of humiliation.

The next morning, Jiang Zhan came running over excitedly, shouting, "Si'er! Master Yu invited us to his house. He said he got a great painting and wanted us to admire it together!"

Jiang Si sneered: "Brother, go first, I will be there soon."

"Okay! Sister, please hurry up."

Yu Qi's residence is only two streets away from Bo's residence.

Jiang Si deliberately arrived an hour late. When he entered the room, he heard Yu Qi asking, "This Shenjian Mountain has magnificent scenery. Brother Jiang, have you ever been there?"

"Never." Jiang Zhan shook his head, "But the trend of this mountain does look familiar. It looks a lot like the painting my sister often draws."

"..."

Jiang Si pushed the door open and walked in. The three of them fell silent at the same time.

Hanging in the hall was the painting she had lost!

"Miss Jiang, you've arrived just in time." Yu Qi said calmly, "How do you like this painting?"

"It's a fake." However, Jiang Si interrupted him, "The brushwork is clumsy, the mountains are crooked, and even the inscriptions are fake."

Then she turned to her brother Jiang Zhan and urged him, "Brother, grandma just sent someone to look for us. It's time to go back."

Jiang Zhan had a puzzled look on his face: "Grandmother? Isn't she going to..."

"Brother!" Jiang Si grabbed his sleeve and lowered her voice, "Sister Jiang Qian is at grandma's and wants to see you."

When Jiang Zhan heard Jiang Qian's name, his face suddenly changed and he hurriedly said goodbye to Yu Qi.

Yu Qi looked at the brother and sister's departing backs thoughtfully, his fingertips gently stroking the ridge of the painting.

There was a very hidden flame mark there, exactly the same as the totem under Jiang Si's collar.

……

In Songhe Hall, Jiang Qian was massaging the old lady's shoulders.

Seeing Jiang Si coming in, her smile froze: "Fourth sister is here."

Jiang Si saluted with a cold face.

In her previous life, it was this cousin who pretended to be close to her, but was the first to kick her when she was down, and even helped the Xiao family to embezzle the eldest wife's property.

"Jiang Si, I heard you want to cancel the engagement with the Ji family?" The old lady said sullenly, "Now that the Ji family is in trouble, people say you have a hard life and are unlucky in marriage! Do you know how this will affect your future marriage?"

Jiang Qian hurriedly tried to smooth things over: "Grandma, please don't be angry. Fourth sister is also..."

"Hmph! My cousin, don't worry about my marriage." Jiang Si sneered, "But I heard that my brother-in-law recently took two more concubines?"

Jiang Qian's face turned pale and a bruise appeared on her wrist.

The old lady didn't notice and was still scolding Jiang for being ignorant.

It was not until they were about to leave that Jiang Qian grabbed Jiang Si's sleeve in the corridor and said, "Fourth sister...would you mind coming to the Marquis' Mansion to stay for a while in a few days?"

As the rain fell, Jiang Si could clearly see the pinch marks on her neck.

"Cousin, did he hit you?" Jiang Si's voice tightened.

Jiang Qian hurriedly pulled up her collar: "No... I fell by myself."

“…” Jiang Si naturally didn’t believe this nonsense.

Then Jiang Qian suddenly choked up and said, "But he did... did mention that he wanted to see you. I've already declined many times, but he got impatient?"

She grabbed Jiang Si's hand and said, "Don't come! Don't come! He...he has many portraits of women hidden in his study, and they all...all look like you..."

The rain was getting heavier. After Jiang Qian's sedan went away, Jiang Si still stood there.

In her previous life, she only thought that Jiang Qian was trying to curry favor with the powerful, but she didn't know that she was also a miserable person.

It is really hateful and shameless to help your husband hunt for beauties.

"Young lady!" Ah Man came running over holding an umbrella. "The eldest lady sent someone to deliver something!"

Jiang Yi's gift was a set of fine Hu brushes, with the letter written in elegant handwriting: "I'm very relieved to hear that you've called off the engagement. The Ji family isn't a good match, so don't let the rumors torment you. I hope you're well, sister. Don't worry."

Jiang Si's eyes felt hot.

In the previous life, the eldest sister returned home after her engagement was broken off, and was looked down upon. She eventually died of depression in a side courtyard.

In this life, she will never let tragedy happen again!
……

In the rain, a ragged woman staggered along, asking everyone she met: "Have you seen my daughter? She's fourteen years old, with a red mole between her eyebrows..."

Jiang Si stopped and asked: "Auntie, when did your daughter go missing?"

"Three days ago! She was selling tofu in the back alley of Changxing Marquis's Mansion. In the blink of an eye..." The woman suddenly grabbed Jiang Si and said, "Miss, your eyebrows and eyes look so much like my daughter Xiu'er! Please help me find her..."

Changxing Marquis Mansion? Jiang Si's heart skipped a beat. Isn't that Jiang Qian's husband's home?
"Don't worry, Auntie, I..."

Before she finished her words, a white shadow flashed by, and the woman suddenly fainted on the ground with her eyes rolled back.

"Jiang Si, it's not a good habit to meddle in other people's business." Suning appeared from the rain and fog holding an oil-paper umbrella.

"Huh! Why are you here again?"

"Do you need my help? After signing the contract, not only can I find a girl, but even making the entire Changxing Marquisate disappear...it wouldn't be a big deal."

Jiang Si protected the woman behind him: "Suning, what did you do to her?"

"Don't worry! Just let her sleep for a while. She'll be able to ease her sadness when she wakes up." Su Ning chuckled. "What do you think? My contract..."

He unfolded the parchment like a magician and said, "Sign it, and you will have the power to change everything."

The raindrops hit the parchment and turned into blood beads that rolled down.

Jiang Si stared at the strangely appearing words and asked, "If I sign, will I still be myself?"

Suning's eyes flashed red: "Of course! But your soul will belong to me forever, for eternity."

Jiang Si sneered, "In other words, I will become your puppet?"

"That's a harsh word." Suning shook his head. "It's a partner! I can give you supreme power, endless life, and untold wealth and glory."

"And then? Watching my loved ones die one by one?" Jiang Si recalled the warmth in her eldest sister's letter, the pleading look in Jiang Qian's eyes, and the smiling faces of her father and brother. "What's the difference between this kind of eternal life and hell?"

Su Ning's smile gradually turned cold: "Do you think rebirth is free?"

He suddenly grabbed Jiang Si's neck and said, "If I can bring you back to life, I can also let you die again! Along with everyone you care about!"

Although Jiang Si felt that he had difficulty breathing, he stared at the "devil" stubbornly: "Then you... kill me now..."

She struggled to find the hairpin and stabbed Su Ning's wrist fiercely, "Otherwise... one day... I will kill you..."

The moment the hairpin pierced, Su Ning suddenly let go and looked in astonishment at what flowed out of his wrist was not blood, but wisps of black mist.

"Interesting." However, Su Ning licked the wound excitedly and said, "Jiang Si, you are the first woman who can hurt me."

His figure gradually dissipated in the swirling black mist. "We will meet again, Little Saint Nanwu..."

The rain stopped. Jiang Si knelt on the ground and found that a few bloody words had appeared on his palm. Written in blood, they read: The game has just begun.

……

Jiang Zhan was humming a little tune while wandering around the street, tossing the candied fruit he had just bought in his hands.

Turning the corner, he suddenly stopped.

In front, three young men in brocade clothes were surrounding and pushing an old man selling candy figures. The one leading them was his mortal enemy, Zhou Xian, the son of Changxing Marquis.

Zhou Xian kicked the candy figurine and cursed, "Old man, do you know whose territory this is? How dare you delay paying the protection fee?"

Jiang Zhan narrowed his eyes.

In his previous life, it was this guy who secretly poisoned him during a competition in the training ground, causing his legs to be crippled.

He straightened his clothes and walked over with a swagger: "Hey! Isn't this Prince Zhou? What's the point of bullying a flat-headed boss?"

Zhou Xian turned around, his face twitching. "Jiang Zhan? Didn't your father teach you to mind your own business?"

Jiang Zhan grinned, "My father only taught me to look at the owner when beating a dog! But a stray dog like you without an owner..."

Then he deliberately dragged out his tone and said sarcastically, "Killing him would be considered as eliminating harm to the people."

Zhou Xian was furious: "Jiang Zhan, you are looking for death!"

As he spoke, he was about to pounce.

"Wait!" Jiang Zhan took two steps back. "There are too many people here, and it would be disgraceful to fight. How about...meet at the abandoned kiln in the west of the city at 3:30 in the evening? There are only four of us. Whoever asks for help is a grandson!"

"Okay! I'll beat the shit out of you then."

Watching Zhou Xian and the others leave cursing, Jiang Zhan chuckled.

Of course, he would not be so foolish as to go to some abandoned kiln. At this moment, he had rented a small boat in the south of the city and was leisurely drifting on Jinghu Lake.

Jiang Zhanyang lay on the bow, gazing at the sunset glow in the sky. "Tsk! Only a fool would go head-to-head with you and live his life all over again. Of course, I want to settle scores and enjoy a good life."

However, Jiang Zhan's words stopped abruptly.

Because a crimson figure flashed across the bridge. It was a woman with a high ponytail and a dagger on her waist. She was leaning over and talking to a peasant woman selling lotus roots under the bridge.

The setting sun gave her a golden edge, and even the arc of her hair was just right.

Jiang Zhan unconsciously propped himself up, and the boat swayed with the movement.

The woman seemed to realize something and turned to look.

Even across half the lake, Jiang Zhan could still clearly see the cinnabar mole between her eyebrows, like a red plum blossom falling on the snow.

"Girl!" Jiang Zhan waved his hand as if possessed by some mysterious force. "Want to buy lotus roots? I have some freshly picked ones here!"

As he spoke, he lifted up the oar, which was actually a dried lotus leaf bag he had taken from the restaurant.

However, the woman frowned, and her expression suddenly changed: "My purse!"

She grabbed the child who was running past her and said, "You little thief! Give me back my money!"

The child nimbly broke free, pointed in the direction of Jiang Zhan, and then dived into the crowd.

The woman's sharp gaze immediately locked onto Jiang Zhan.

"No, I..." Before Jiang Zhan could react, the woman suddenly jumped from the three-meter-high bridge to the bow of the boat!
The boat shook violently and almost capsized.

"Are you in the same group?" The woman drew her dagger and pointed the cold light at Jiang Zhan's throat. "Hand over the money!"

Only then did Jiang Zhan see her attire clearly: a crimson suit, deerskin boots, and an empty embroidered coin purse hanging from her waist besides the dagger.

However, the lustful Jiang Zhan suddenly found it amusing: "Miss, you misunderstood! Even if I, Jiang Zhan, am a worthless person, I would never steal a girl's purse."

"Stop talking nonsense!" The woman thrust the tip of her sword forward. "That kid has already pointed you out!"

Jiang Zhan's eyes rolled, and a plan came to mind: "How about this, young lady, put away your sword first, and I will take you to find that little thief? He must be going to..."

He pretended to think, but in fact he was secretly observing the woman's expression, "She ran towards Zuixianlou!"

The woman sheathed her sword hesitantly, and at that moment, Jiang Zhan slammed the side of the boat!

The boat tilted violently and the woman lost her balance and fell backwards.

Jiang Zhan was feeling proud, but then he saw her twist her waist, somersault in the air and land steadily at the stern of the boat.

"Hmph! You're looking for death!" The woman shouted angrily and kicked Jiang Zhan into the water!

The cold lake water instantly flooded over my head.

Jiang Zhan struggled desperately, but then remembered that he couldn't swim at all.

Before he lost consciousness, he vaguely heard a "splash" sound as he entered the water. Then he felt his waist tighten and was dragged to the surface of the water. Then he felt himself lying on the ground.

"elder brother!"

The ginger-like voice seemed to come from far away.

Jiang Zhan wanted to respond, but found his eyelids were heavy as a thousand pounds.

"Someone, come! Quickly carry my brother to the infirmary."

"..." Jiang Zhan could feel himself being carried onto a stretcher, heard his sister Jiang Si's anxious inquiries, and could even make out the woman named Lu Chuchu's tearful explanation: "I really didn't know he couldn't swim... I'm just so angry..."

Strangely, Jiang Zhan found that he couldn't even move his fingertips, as if his soul was imprisoned in this body.

"The pulse is stable, but there's no sign of waking up..." The old doctor's voice was filled with confusion. "It's like... he's lost his soul."

Jiang Si took the purse that Lu Chuchu handed to him and found on Jiang Zhan. In addition to the silver, there was also a note inside: The devil's game begins now.

"Miss Lu," Jiang Si suddenly looked at Lu Chuchu and asked in a trembling voice, "Have you ever seen a man in white?"

"White clothes?" Lu Chuchu pondered, "It seems like there really is a person in white clothes on the bridge who has been watching us...ah!"

She suddenly remembered something, "When the kid stole my purse, I saw someone stuff something into his hand out of the corner of my eye..."

Jiang seemed to be seeing black.

It was Suning! He actually attacked his own brother!

[Jiang Si.] Su Ning's lazy and playful voice suddenly rang in my mind.

"..."

[The reason why demons are demons is that they are free.]

Although the voice was smiling, it made people feel creepy.

【Your refusal is bringing disaster to your loved ones.】

Ginger-like nails dug deep into the palm of his hand.

No one else in the clinic seemed to hear the sound, and Lu Chuchu was still twisting the corner of her clothes in self-blame.

[Suning, what do you want?] Jiang Si questioned in his heart.

【Surrender! Or be destroyed.】

"..."

At this moment, Su Ning's voice was as sweet and alluring as honey. [As long as you sign the devil's contract, I will immediately make your brother jump around. Otherwise...]

With a light laugh, [In three days his soul will completely dissipate.]

Lying on the sickbed, Jiang Zhan's breathing suddenly became weak.

Jiang Si rushed to the bed and found blood oozing from the corner of his brother's mouth.

"Brother!" She turned to Ah Man and shouted, "Go and ask Father! Then go to the south of the city and ask Master Zhang for help!"

Lu Chuchu guiltily handed over a jade pendant: "This is the heart-protecting jade my master gave me. Let Master Jiang wear it first..."

As soon as the jade pendant touched Jiang Zhan's chest, he suddenly twitched violently!
Jiang Si hurriedly took off the jade pendant, and Jiang Zhan regained his composure.

[Don't waste your energy.] Suning sneered.

[No magical weapon in this world is effective against me. You only have two and a half hours left to consider.]

“…” Jiang Si bit his lips tightly.

The scene of her brother dying to block the knife for her in her previous life was still vivid in her mind. Was she going to watch him leave again in this life?
"Fourth Miss!" Ah Man rushed over. "Master has gone to the Taoist temple outside the city and won't be back for a while! Zhang Tianshi also said...that this is the work of evil spirits, and his Taoist skills are not enough..."

Lu Chuchu suddenly drew her sword: "No! I'm going to find that man in white!"

Jiang Si felt heartbroken as he watched his brother's face gradually turn pale.

She gently held Jiang Zhan's cold hand and asked in her heart: [Where is the contract? ]

A parchment scroll appeared out of thin air in her sleeve.

Jiang Si unfolded it and saw dense blood-red words wriggling like insects, and the last blank line was waiting for her fingerprint.

[Press it and your brother will wake up.] Su Ning's voice was full of temptation.

"Think about it, with my power, you can not only save him, but also protect everyone you care about?"

Ginger's fingertips hovered above the contract.

She thought of the blood letter her father had written in his previous life, the withered wrists of her eldest sister lying on her deathbed, and the strangle marks on her second sister Jiang Qian's neck...

"Girl?" Lu Chuchu called her worriedly, "What's wrong with you? You look so bad?"

Jiang Si suddenly came back to his senses.

No, she couldn't sign! In his previous life, Yu Qi had said that those who made deals with evil spirits would be doomed.

If she loses herself, who will protect her family?
[I refuse.] She firmly responded to the "devil's" temptation in her heart.

[Even if it costs my life, I will find another way to save my brother! ]

After a moment of silence, Su Ning's laughter exploded in his mind: [Interesting! Then let's make a bet. Let's see who finds the solution first, or your brother Jiang Zhan dies first?]

"..."

...(End of chapter)