The next morning.
Early in the morning, Liam Willow left Grandpa Tong’s house with a bundle, saying he was going out for a stroll. He even borrowed a hefty sum of silver from Butterfly Rogue, which made Butterfly Rogue laugh and tease him for acting like such a fussy woman!
But Ivy Shen knew Liam definitely wasn’t just going shopping. So, what was he up to? To find out, she quietly followed after him.
Liam Willow carefully wandered the streets with his bundle, stopping to ask people questions as he went. After a while, he arrived at the city’s largest bookshop and slipped inside.
Ivy glanced up at the big sign—‘Tianxia Bookhouse’—her brows furrowing slightly. What’s Liam doing here, buying books?
“Is the shopkeeper in?” Liam hugged his bundle tightly and called out as he entered.
“Hey there, are you here to buy books?” A slightly chubby man bustled out, smiling as he greeted him.
“Shopkeeper, I’m not here to buy books. But could you help me copy this?” Liam said, pulling a notebook from his bundle and handing it over.
The chubby shopkeeper frowned. “Sir, we sell books here. You’re not hoping we’ll sell something you wrote, are you? We don’t need delicate scholars writing books for us—our customers want martial arts manuals and the like. Can you write those?”
“Shopkeeper, I’m not selling a book. I just want you to find someone to copy this into five hundred copies. Here’s the payment.” With that, Liam dug out several large silver ingots from his pouch.
Seeing this, the chubby shopkeeper’s eyes instantly sparkled with excitement. He picked up the silver, bit it to check if it was real, and when he was sure, nodded eagerly, “Sure, sure, let me see what you wrote.” He opened the notebook, glanced at it, and the next second, his face lit up with surprise: “So you’re this year’s top scholar, Liam Willow!”
“Uh, how’d you know?”
“Look, isn’t this your stamp? I’ve seen this mark before. Wow, can’t believe you’ve become a pure-heart saint! Is this for enlightening the masses?” The shopkeeper peered at him curiously.
“I just want people to see how messed up the world really is.”
“Young Master Willow, did you know? My nephew goes to your academy in Ruiland City! He wrote home saying you’re the best teacher ever, way better than any of his old ones—everyone loves you. That’s how I recognized your stamp. Your writing is awesome, way more interesting than those boring old scholars. You know what, I’m not even gonna take your silver today. You gave up your official post just to teach commoners? That’s seriously admirable!” The shopkeeper was practically bouncing with excitement.
“No way, you have to take it! You’re running a business, right? Just please finish it quickly, that’s all I ask.” Liam insisted.
“Alright then, since it’s the top scholar asking, come pick it up in two days!” The shopkeeper thumped his chest heroically.
“Thank you, thank you!” Liam kept bowing in gratitude, then hurried out after a quick farewell.
As soon as he left, Ivy Shen stepped inside.
“Young master, here to buy books?” The chubby shopkeeper blinked at Ivy, then quickly asked.
“Hey, shopkeeper, that last young master looked super familiar, huh?” Ivy propped her chin up, pretending to think hard.
The shopkeeper perked up, “You’ve met him? He’s this year’s top scholar!”
“Oh, right, right! No wonder he looked so familiar. So he’s the top scholar, huh? Wait, didn’t they say he resigned from his post? What’s he doing here?” Ivy couldn’t help but mentally roast Song Zhijue for his ‘official story’—he probably thought Liam Willow died in Poison Peach Valley, so he announced to the world that the scholar resigned to nurse his sick mom, all ‘kindly’ letting him go. Bet he hoped everyone would just forget about Liam Willow!
“Yeah! Never thought I’d see the top scholar in my lifetime,” the shopkeeper chuckled. For a bookshop owner, a scholar’s like a rare treasure.
“So, what’s he doing here?”
“Oh, he asked me to find someone to copy this for him.” With that, he handed the notebook to Ivy.
Ivy picked up the notebook and flipped through it—her heart skipped a beat. So this is what he’s been working on?!
“The top scholar’s basically become a pure-heart saint in everyone’s eyes. His academy in Ruiland City is getting more popular by the day, and tons of people are following his every move. They treat him like a god—he’s the first scholar to really connect with the common folk!” The shopkeeper gushed with admiration.
Hearing this, Ivy froze. Liam Willow had said he’d help her, but she never imagined he’d open an academy and win over so many hearts. That story he asked the shopkeeper to copy? It was all about Song Zhijue—how he chased his own sister for power. The tale was gripping, and the last line promised: ‘The truth will be revealed, so please be patient.’
“Hey, young master, aren’t you buying any books?” The shopkeeper called after Ivy as she slowly walked out, but she pretended not to hear.
Walking down the street, Ivy kept turning Liam Willow’s actions over in her mind. It didn’t take long for her to figure it out—he’d done all this for her, hadn’t he? She never expected that in such a short time, he’d become everyone’s pure-heart saint. People’s admiration for him was only growing, and now he’d written this moving story. When the truth finally comes out, he’ll have tons of supporters.
That’s just how people are—once you help them, they treat you like a living Buddha. Liam Willow was winning hearts so everyone would trust him, which was honestly the biggest help for her. Seriously, what’s more important than public support?!
In that moment, Ivy’s guilt got even heavier. These idiots always gave so much, and yet she couldn’t give them any real peace.
She pressed her hand to her chest—the unease was getting worse. She had to make arrangements, because with Song Zhijue offering a mountain of gold as a prize, you just knew there was a plot brewing. She could take risks herself, but she couldn’t let her innocent friends get dragged in. She knew Lucian had no family left and saw her as his only kin, so sending him away was impossible.
But the others were different—they still had friends and people who cared about them. If something happened to her, they’d be able to live on just fine!
Taking a deep breath, Ivy knew she had to make this call. The tournament was only two days away—time was running out!
Dinner time.
“Miss, eat a little more! The tournament’s in two days. I’ll make sure you get extra tonics!” Grandpa Tong fussed over her.
“Okay, Grandpa.”
“You all eat first, I’ll go check on the tonic soup.” With that, Grandpa Tong left the table.
“Wifey, here’s your favorite chicken drumstick.” Liam Willow tried to put a drumstick in her bowl, but Ivy suddenly pulled her bowl away—making Liam’s chicken drop to the floor with a loud ‘thud.’
Everyone froze, their chopsticks halfway to their mouths.
“Ivy…” Lucian called out softly, worried. Something felt off.
“Wifey…” Liam Willow stared at Ivy like a kid who’d messed up.
Ivy’s face flushed with panic. “Sorry, I’m not feeling well. I’ll go rest in my room.” She got up and left first.
The four men exchanged glances. Lucian quickly got up and followed after her.
“Ivy, the tonic soup’s ready!” Grandpa Tong walked in with a bowl, smiling. “Huh, why’d she finish eating so fast?”
“Let’s go check on her,” Caleb said to the other two.
The other two nodded and followed, leaving Grandpa Tong sitting there confused, glancing around the silent table.
Inside the room.
“You’re really going to do this?” Lucian frowned. Was this really the best way?
“Yeah. I have to.” Ivy didn’t mention her growing dread—she just said she didn’t want to drag them down, so this was the only way.
Lucian nodded. As long as she let him stay by her side, nothing else mattered.
“Ivy, do you really find them annoying?” Lucian raised his voice, knowing the other three were listening outside.
“Yeah, super annoying,” Ivy snapped. The three eavesdroppers outside the door froze in shock.
“But you were so nice to them before! Caleb may not have slept with you, but he’s still your husband. And Liam Willow actually has!”
Ivy snorted, “So what if we slept together? I was amnesiac before, but now that I’m clear-headed, I see things for what they are. Men and women hooking up is totally normal. I had needs, he was there, so I used him—easy as that!” Her words dripped with disdain.
Her words made Liam Willow’s face go pale as ice. Caleb and Butterfly Rogue looked at him, worried.