Good Niece

The wind and sand howled like a frenzied beast, thudding dully against the carved poplar-wood window.

Inside the Chen Merchant Guild.

"Let me out!"

The sound of palms slamming against the window carried a tremor of spiritual energy, only to be repelled by an invisible barrier the moment it touched the frame.

"Damn it!" Chen Muling withdrew her reddened hand, her chest heaving violently beneath her camel-hide vest as the faint cyan spiritual energy gathered at her fingertips dissipated into the air.

"Damn it!"

She could clearly sense the talismans outside the door glowing in response to her fluctuating aura. The sigils, drawn with cinnabar mixed with the blood-red sand unique to Shatuo City, formed an impenetrable net, locking her cultivation firmly within this chamber.

She couldn’t fathom it—just three hours ago, she had been conspiring with her Second Uncle and Fourth Uncle to expose Chen Zhitu’s plot to ambush and kill her. Yet in the blink of an eye, they had joined forces to shove her into this prison.

Those elders who had always spoken to her with honeyed words had bared their fangs like beasts!

"The merchant guild of Shatuo City… has long become Chen Zhitu’s personal property."

Chen Muling collapsed onto the camel-wool blanket covering the bed, her fingers unconsciously picking at the embroidered camel patterns.

When Grandfather was gravely ill, he had clasped Father’s hand and urged him to take care of the guild. Was that one sentence enough for Chen Zhitu to discard even the last shred of familial bonds?

She stared at the windows lining the walls, now sealed tight.

With her imprisoned here, Father would surely receive no news.

She had to escape!

The moment the thought surfaced, she sprang up and began frantically searching the room.

But the chamber had been stripped bare—not a single usable tool remained, let alone a weapon.

Just then, the sound of gravel crunching underfoot echoed from the courtyard. The footsteps were steady and heavy, each step pressing down like a weight on the heart.

Chen Muling whirled around just as the copper lock on the door emitted a soft click. The mechanism turned, and the sigils within flared to life—Chen Muling held her breath, her gaze locked onto the lock.

The instant the door creaked open, she lunged forward without hesitation!

Though her spiritual energy was suppressed, the agility honed from years of traveling with merchant caravans remained. She moved like a desert gazelle—but before she could take two steps, a crushing wave of energy slammed into her. The force, infused with Shatuo City’s signature fire-attribute spiritual energy, struck her chest like a solid earthen wall!

"Ugh—!"

Chen Muling was sent flying back like a kite with its string cut. Her back skidded across the ground, and a metallic tang rose in her throat—a mouthful of blood splattered onto the camel-wool blanket, blooming into a stark crimson stain.

"Ah…" She struggled to rise, but her limbs felt shattered, her meridians in chaos from the impact. Even her hands trembled faintly.

"Hmph. Still quick on your feet." Chen Zhitu strode in, his square-jawed face cast in a sinister glow by the bronze lamp. The embroidered guild insignia on his brocade robe fluttered despite the absence of wind, his late Qi Refining realm cultivation on full display.

"All those years running around with caravans have made you slippery as an eel."

Chen Muling wiped the blood from her lips and glared coldly. "My dear uncle, in such a hurry to act—afraid I’ll expose how you embezzled guild funds, colluded with bandits, and sent retainers to ambush your own niece?"

Chen Zhitu didn’t rise to the provocation. Instead, he stepped closer, the oppressive weight of his spiritual energy making it hard for her to breathe.

Flames flickered to life in his palm, filling the air with the faint scent of sulfur—the telltale sign of fire-attribute spiritual energy. Not only that, he had cultivated a low-tier fire-attribute technique, something only immortals could master!

"Killing you would be as easy as crushing an ant." He looked down at her, his eyes devoid of warmth. "But death would be too merciful for you."

Chen Muling’s heart clenched.

"Tomorrow, the guild elders will hold a trial." Chen Zhitu spoke slowly, toying with the jade pendant at his waist. The guild insignia engraved on it gleamed coldly under the lamplight.

"The charges? Conspiring with outsiders to murder two retainers… and several clansmen."

"You’re insane!" Chen Muling jerked her head up, disbelief and fury blazing in her eyes. "How could I kill them? Those retainers were your lackeys! It was you who—"

"The evidence is irrefutable. Who’s framing whom?" Chen Zhitu cut her off, his lips curling into a cruel smile. "Your caravan guards and those clansmen have already testified. They claim they saw you conspire with outsiders to commit murder—and that you stole guild treasures to offer to your allies."

"Impossible!" At the mention of her guards’ betrayal, Chen Muling stiffened. Those men had followed her across deserts and mountains for years—how could they turn on her now? They were the ones who’d risked their lives for her in dire moments!

Then, realization struck. "You… you didn’t just embezzle guild wealth. You threatened their families, didn’t you?!"

"You’re nothing but a beast!"

"Tsk, don’t get ahead of yourself. There’s more." Chen Zhitu leaned down, his voice dropping to a venomous whisper.

"Forgot to mention—the clan elders accepted my ‘gifts’ last month. Tomorrow’s trial is just a formality, a show for headquarters."

He straightened, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes as he watched the color drain from Chen Muling’s face.

"My dear niece, rest easy. After tomorrow, you’ll remain in Shatuo City forever. And that stubborn father of yours? He’ll join you soon enough."

"I’ve caught the eye of a Kuangsha Sect elder. Soon, I’ll be inducted as a disciple—and that decrepit old man will have no choice but to name me his successor."

Chen Muling’s voice was faint with shock. "You… joining the sect?"

"Heh."

The pieces clicked together in her mind. Chen Zhitu must have offered all the guild’s treasures to that so-called elder in exchange for a chance to become a menial disciple!

"Make yourself comfortable." With that, Chen Zhitu turned and left without a backward glance.

Outside, the gale hurled sand against the windows with even more mournful wails. Chen Muling slumped to the floor, her vacant stare fixed on the closed door.

"What do I do…" the girl murmured.

"I’m powerless…"

She never imagined things would spiral so far out of control. Not a single soul in the Shatuo City branch stood on her side.

"If only that immortal were still here." The thought flickered unbidden to that elusive, bare-bottomed man.

But she quickly scoffed at herself. That immortal had long since departed—why would he return to save her?

Legends said immortals could traverse thousands of miles in a day. By now, he was surely beyond reach.

……

……