Let Me Return You to Him

There's a very good chance she was the one who poisoned them!

She poisoned her mother, then dug out her Spirit Root!

She's truly vicious!

And she's got real skill, too!

Maybe there's someone backing her, someone who taught her how to extract Spirit Roots—and even gave her Winterbane...

......

"Young Miss, are these things... are they harmful to the body?" Aunt Crystal felt a strange, intimidating aura coming from Chloe and asked nervously.

Chloe pondered for a moment, then said, "I can't really tell either. But I know a super skilled Spiritual Alchemist. I'll take these to him and let him have a look. Give me everything—and the list, too!"

"Alright." Aunt Crystal handed everything over. "Young Miss, when did you meet a Spiritual Alchemist?"

"At Moonwater Abbey," Chloe replied.

Aunt Crystal nodded.

......

Chloe waited in the Mingyu Pavilion until dusk before her father finally arrived.

As soon as she saw him, Chloe got all excited, dashed out, and called, "Dad! Dad! You're finally back! Why are you so late?"

He must've already met with Evan Xiao, right?

What did Evan Xiao say to him?

Did he... mention her?

Minister Zhuo glanced at her, his expression a little odd.

Then he just grunted and went inside.

Sitting across from Lena, Minister Zhuo said, "Last night, it wasn't just our house—the spiritual energy in all of Danyang City was incredibly thin. His Majesty was worried something might've happened to the Spirit Tree, so he had me, Evan Xiao, and Shen Yue go check it out with him."

The Spirit Tree is the source of all mystic energy, the very foundation of a kingdom.

The spiritual energy in the air all comes from the Spirit Tree.

"The spiritual energy in all of Danyang City is thin?" Lena frowned. "Is something wrong with the Spirit Tree?"

"Nope." Minister Zhuo shook his head. "The Spirit Tree is perfectly fine."

"Then what happened?"

"My guess? Some mysterious powerhouse came to Danyang City. When they cultivated, they sucked up all the spiritual energy, so the rest of us felt it was super thin."

"Who could be that powerful?" Lena asked.

Minister Zhuo shook his head. "No clue."

......

Chloe, listening on the side, was totally confused.

Was the spiritual energy really thin last night?

Why did Chloe feel the spiritual energy was especially strong last night?

She even broke through to Third-rank Spirit Practitioner in just one night!

Could it be... that mysterious powerhouse Dad mentioned... was her? Hehe.

Was it possible she sucked up all the spiritual energy while cultivating?

Chloe blinked her big, adorable eyes and asked, "Was the spiritual energy really thin last night?"

Lena nodded. "It was especially thin. I actually felt pretty good and wanted to practice, but I couldn't do it at all."

Chloe: "Oh... maybe... a mysterious powerhouse really did show up..."

Minister Zhuo shot her a sideways glance and said, "Chloe, come with me to the study. I have something to ask you."

"Okay!" Chloe scampered after her dad.

Once they reached the study, Chloe couldn't wait and blurted out, "Dad, did you talk to him?"

"I did," Minister Zhuo replied.

"What did he say?" Chloe's eyes went wide with curiosity.

"He told me you were sent here by him, just to deliver the Jade Ring."

"Ah..." Chloe's eyes flickered.

"He also said you're the girl he likes, and he wants me to give you back to him."

Chloe: "..."

"Can you tell me what that's all about?" Minister Zhuo asked, his gaze sharp.

"Uh... I... I really have no idea what's going on!" Chloe lowered her head, feeling guilty.