CHAPTER 214: 193: WAS ZHIZHI A PERSON OF THE MIAO CLAN WHEN SHE WAS ALIVE?

"Wife, does Yuan Li have epilepsy?" The man took a carton of juice from the refrigerator, poured it into a glass, and walked over to the table unhurriedly.

Early in the morning, after receiving news of trouble in the Yu Family, Shi Wei wasn’t surprised. The contents of those documents had already been shown to him by the young girl.

He just wasn’t certain whether Yuan Li’s sudden condition was a coincidence or man-made.

"No." The young girl didn’t even lift her head as she ate the sandwich on her plate, her cheeks puffed out like a little hamster.

Shi Wei raised his eyebrows, gently lifting the young girl’s chin and carefully wiping the corner of her lips. "How did you do it?"

"I used Little Black."

Her clear yet soft voice melted the man’s heart, causing his tone to soften considerably. "Who is Little Black?"

Yu Zhi paused for a moment, unsure of how to explain, and simply took out a small black porcelain bottle. "This."

The porcelain bottle felt cool to the touch. In the summer, it would be refreshing, but it was already late autumn now.

Shi Wei scrutinized Little Black for a long time, unable to discern anything special about it—it seemed like an ordinary porcelain bottle.

Just as he was about to open the lid—

"Be careful. If you touch it, you’ll end up just like Yuan Li."

Shi Wei’s hand froze for a moment but ultimately opened the bottle to take a look. He shook the powder inside lightly and asked, "What does this medicine do?"

"It’s not medicine."

The young girl’s serious demeanor made Shi Wei chuckle, but her next words caused his expression to change repeatedly.

"Little Black is a powder I made by grinding poisonous insects. It’s not medicine—it’s poison," said Yu Zhi earnestly, a hint of pride flickered in her almond-shaped eyes.

"Poisonous insect? What does it do?"

"Once sprinkled on the body, it invades the internal organs. When it takes effect, it feels like thousands of snakes and insects biting all over you."

"..." Shi Wei suddenly felt the item in his hand was somewhat burning. He quickly sealed the bottle and placed it on the table. "When it takes effect, will the person die?"

Yu Zhi shook her head. "No, but they’d wish they were dead."

She had only used a tiny amount on Yuan Li—just enough to cause discomfort without being lethal. However, over time, the body would certainly weaken significantly.

Shi Wei remained silent for a few moments, then wrapped his arms around the young girl’s slender waist, burying himself in the crook of her neck. "Zhizhi, were you... were you previously from the Miao Clan?"

Suddenly recalling something, he swallowed the words "in a previous life" that were about to spill out.

The young girl had already suffered enough. There was no need to bring up matters related to death.

Yu Zhi was not on the same wavelength as him. Smiling faintly, she curved her lips into a radiant smile. "Do you think only the Miao Clan deals with poisonous insects?"

"Then you—"

"I self-taught. I used to read books on the subject and found it interesting, so I tried experimenting for a while."

"Hmm." Shi Wei responded casually, his mind spinning endlessly with thoughts, while his hands—still embracing her waist—tightened further.

The two of them silently embraced each other for a long while. Shi Wei suddenly raised his eyes and met hers. "Wife, let’s visit a temple today."

"??" Yu Zhi’s long lashes trembled slightly, confusion flickering in her gaze. "Didn’t we plan to hang out with Jin Yunzhi and the others?"

"Let them join us."

Utterly puzzled, Yu Zhi nodded lightly under Shi Wei’s solemn and unyielding stare.

Anyway, it was still an outing—going to a temple wasn’t a big deal.

**

Outside the city, nestled in serene woods, there stood Lingyin Temple—a majestic and ancient structure bustling with fervent worshippers.

This temple was said to have been built in the fifth year of Tang Dynasty’s Wude era as a private family temple of aristocrats. After numerous renovations through the generations, it now encompassed five courtyards and six main halls.

Following the passing of the eminent monk Chu Ji, the Ancestor Hall was built on a crimson cliff behind the temple, enshrining the Meat Body Bodhisattva.

Due to its reputation for granting prayers, Lingyin Temple attracted streams of devotees year after year.

Within the temple, Shi Wei held the young girl’s hand, leading her down a stone path under ancient ginkgo trees, while Xu Fan and Jin Yunzhi followed behind them.

Perhaps due to the solemn atmosphere, none of them spoke from the moment they entered, silently moving from one hall to another to offer their prayers.

The halls in Lingyin Temple were constructed upwards in steps. Those visiting had to climb steep stairways to reach the highest level.

"Brother Wei, let’s take a break," Jin Yunzhi panted lightly, sitting under a ginkgo tree and wiping the sweat from his forehead.

"Your face..." Yu Zhi pressed her lips together, trying hard not to burst out laughing.

Apparently, after burning incense, Jin Yunzhi hadn’t found a suitable place to wash his hands. His palms were covered in ash and, earlier, he had wiped his face, turning it into a mess like a dusty kitten.

It looked as though he had rolled around in a patch of dirt, giving him a somewhat disheveled appearance.

"What’s wrong with my face?" Jin Yunzhi tilted his head, completely oblivious, and wiped it again.

This time, it got even dirtier.

Seeing his innocent and puzzled eyes fixed on her, Yu Zhi couldn’t hold back anymore and leaned against Shi Wei’s shoulder, laughing so hard her body shook.

Shi Wei’s lips curved into a faint smile as well. He exchanged a glance with Xu Fan, then sat down while holding Yu Zhi’s waist.

"What are you all laughing at?" Jin Yunzhi pouted, his face drooping in frustration, puffing up unhappily.

The more he did this, the more everyone wanted to laugh.

Xu Fan suppressed his rising smile, pulled out a tissue dampened with bottled water, and gently wiped Jin Yunzhi’s face. "You’re hopeless; you smeared it all over."

When Jin Yunzhi saw the tissue turning black, he finally understood why they were laughing. He let out a heavy huff. "You’re the hopeless one."

These people were too bad—they saw him turn into a mess but didn’t bother to tell him, just laughed amongst themselves.

Next time they ended up in such an awkward situation, he definitely wouldn’t warn them—he was this vengeful!

"Fine, fine, I’m the hopeless one." Xu Fan’s gentle tone carried a hint of indulgent fondness, afraid of provoking the little kitten further and obediently agreeing.

"That’s more like it." Jin Yunzhi puffed up his cheeks slightly, deciding to let things slide for now.

After resting for a bit, the group continued their climb to the top.

The scenery along the way was quite beautiful. Clouds blanketed the mountaintop, creating a magnificent visual experience akin to being transported to an otherworldly paradise.

Birds chirped melodiously amidst the forest, harmonizing with the rhythmic crunch of twigs underfoot—a natural symphony.

The Guanyin Hall occupied the peak of Lingyin Temple. Before stepping inside, Yu Zhi softly asked, "Shi Wei, what do people usually pray for here?"

"Usually for love and marriage."

"I see." Yu Zhi’s gaze swept over the couples holding hands or walking arm-in-arm, her understanding reflected in a subtle nod.