Too Familiar With Each Other

You've finally gotten rid of the thorn in your side—feeling pretty pleased, aren't you?

Grace slowly drew the Scarlet Sky Sword, pointing it at Snow Wan's throat.

She wanted Snow Wan to pay with her life for what she did to her mother!

Right now. Immediately!

But just as the tip of her sword was only three inches away from Snow Wan, Snow Wan suddenly shuddered—and woke up.

Grace frowned. After taking her spirit medicine, Snow Wan shouldn't have woken for at least two hours—so why was she up so soon?

Maybe it was because the room was sealed tight, and she didn't inhale much of the drug?

"Grace Lawrence?" Snow Wan recognized her instantly.

They knew each other far too well.

Her figure, her eyes—even just a hint of her aura was enough.

Grace slowly pulled down her mask. "It's me."

"What are you trying to do?"

"To kill you," Grace replied.

Snow Wan's eyes flickered with shock. "Why?" she asked, genuinely surprised.

"What do you think? You really have the nerve to ask me why?" Grace sneered.

"Grace, I know my brother went too far—he shouldn't have kidnapped Chushi," Snow Wan said. "But I didn't know anything about it! You wouldn't kill me over a servant, would you?"

"Stop pretending!" Grace snapped. "You stole my Spirit Root and implanted it in Wendy Zhu. You poisoned my mother with Winterbane. I know everything!"

Snow Wan's face changed dramatically. "What are you talking about? Who told you such nonsense?"

"Who told me doesn't matter," Grace said, enunciating each word. "What matters is that tonight, I'm going to kill you!"

"Wait! This is all a misunderstanding!" Snow Wan cried, panic-stricken. "Tell me who told you these things! I need to confront them!"

"Stop pretending, Snow Wan! Did you really think your schemes were flawless? That no one would ever find out?" Grace sneered. "But heaven sees everything! You might fool everyone else, but you can't fool the universe!"

"Grace, it really wasn't me! I swear on my life, I swear to the Phoenix God—if I did any of the things you accuse me of, may I die a horrible death! Just tell me—who told you all this, huh?" Snow Wan pleaded.

"It was you," Grace said. "You told me yourself."

Snow Wan's mouth fell open. "Impossible! When did I ever tell you that?"

Grace didn't want to argue anymore. She slowly pressed her sword closer. "Snow Wan, for the sake of your three children—who have half my father's blood and know nothing about what happened back then—I'll spare their lives. You, however, can die in peace!"

With that, the Scarlet Sky Sword surged with Grace's powerful spirit energy and stabbed toward Snow Wan's throat.

But just as the blade touched Snow Wan's skin, a flash of white light erupted.

A powerful, dangerous surge of spirit energy suddenly shot out from the Scarlet Sky Sword.

In that instant, Grace let go of the Scarlet Sky Sword.

Yet some of that energy still hit her, like a strong electric current—sharp and fast—racing through her meridians.

Grace collapsed to the ground, completely limp.

Luckily, she let go quickly—otherwise, her meridians would have been shattered and she would've died!

What was that?

Could it be... some kind of protective talisman?

Was it the spirit energy talisman Fan'er mentioned?

But Snow Wan has been hurt before—how come she's never had anything this powerful on her?

Grace lay there, unmoving, staring fixedly at Snow Wan.

...

Snow Wan's expression gradually changed.

From a look of grievance, it turned into a smile.

She walked over and crouched above Grace, looking down at her. "I was wondering why you've been acting so different lately. Turns out you know so much!"