My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion

The Jinya Pavilion, modeled after Jiangnan architecture, was exquisitely refined. A small pavilion with bright windows stood amid flowing water winding around artificial rock formations. Surrounding it were lush, verdant dwarf bamboo patches, beneath which a tall building could barely be glimpsed. The cobblestone path under Du Juan's feet was meticulously arranged, with no weeds lining either side.

There was blood on the path.

"Are you saying that the Prince of Annan killed two people and escaped under the protection of his guards?"

Du Juan stared thoughtfully at the dark red bloodstains on the ground and asked.

A spy respectfully clasped his fists and reported, "Returning to the Master, it seems the Prince of Annan has already achieved Fourth Rank cultivation. Even though we struck first, we couldn't kill him on the spot."

Du Juan didn't criticize but instead said, "Possessing Fourth Rank capabilities—it's already fortunate that you survived to deliver the news. Record the merits of our fallen comrades after this."

The spy nodded firmly.

The deputy stepped forward slightly, examined the bloodstains, and then asked:

"What should we… do next?"

"Don't worry. The Prince of Annan cannot escape this Jinya Pavilion; it's only a matter of pinpointing where he'll hide for now."

Du Juan spoke with unhurried calm, like a seasoned hunter lurking in the forest.

"By this time, the Two Factories and one guard unit should have arrived. Afterward, the Pavilion Master will also personally come."

The deputy's face reflected surprise, his disbelief evident:

"The Pavilion Master is coming? But isn't she supposed to protect the Princess?"

"No one dares to touch the Princess. Besides, in this case, given it's the Prince of Annan we're dealing with, the Pavilion Master coming personally to eliminate him ensures stability."

"Then we should…"

"First, confirm the Prince of Annan's location. If feasible, taking him down before the Pavilion Master arrives will earn us significant merit."

Du Juan spoke while pinching her fingers together, seemingly calculating time.

The deputy naturally understood this would indeed be a great achievement, but as to how to actually eliminate the Prince of Annan, he was clueless. Meanwhile, Du Juan appeared utterly confident.

Du Juan turned to him and asked, "Do you have questions?"

"This subordinate senses the Master appears completely confident," the deputy asked directly, "Does the Master have any leverage?"

Du Juan didn't rush to answer. Instead, she gazed out at the bamboo-lined path.

The path was initially quiet and secluded, but footsteps gradually echoed from behind. Soon, a figure clad in dark official attire appeared abruptly in the distance. He walked from far away, pulling along a woman in red.

The woman in red looked dazed, her cheeks pale. Her legs gave out, causing her to collapse and kneel on the ground. Yet, the man mercilessly yanked her upright without hesitation.

Her knees scraped and bled. Even those spies of Xique Pavilion, who were used to seeing beautiful women, were taken aback by the complete absence of mercy displayed by the man.

"Who goes there?" the deputy called aloud.

"Former West Factory Thousand Households, now Zige Bureau Minister, Chen Yi, here to assist Xique Pavilion."

The deputy was momentarily stunned upon hearing this, directing his gaze toward Du Juan.

So, this was the leverage their Master had mentioned.

Chen Yi dragged the woman in red and sauntered over to Du Juan. He clasped his hands in greeting. Du Juan responded indifferently by stating her name before shifting her focus to the woman in red.

Du Juan asked plainly, "Who is she?"

Chen Yi tugged a bit harder, like pulling a stubborn ox, and said, "If I'm not mistaken, she's the Princess of Annan and the Demon Sect Saintess. Her name is Zhu E. I've interrogated her before."

The woman in red trembled, overlapping her fingers in disbelief, as if refusing to accept that Chen Yi had betrayed her so openly.

Du Juan fixated on her raised hands.

Chen Yi continued, "With the Princess of Annan, we should be able to track down the Prince of Annan."

Du Juan narrowed her eyes at Chen Yi, as if seeking to uncover something from him.

Chen Yi, however, appeared exceptionally composed.

Du Juan pointed to Zhu E and said, "Hand her over to me."

Without hesitation, Chen Yi passed Zhu E into Du Juan's custody.

Zhu E's eyes quivered as she glanced back at Chen Yi, then turned her gaze to Du Juan.

Chen Yi offered her a reassuring smile, as if to convey she needn't worry.

And then—

Du Juan placed her hand onto Zhu E's crown.

Crash!

Chen Yi's eyes widened, his pupils contracting sharply.

With a sudden forceful grip, Du Juan's fingers twisted, splintering Zhu E's head instantly like a watermelon, the flesh sagging as if held together by fraying strands. Her now-headless corpse slowly slumped to the ground.

The alluring Saintess of the Demon Sect died just like that, at Du Juan's hands.

.........…

Two sticks of incense earlier.

"Don't snatch it! Don't snatch it!"

In the hallway, the crowd jostled and shoved one another, clamorous shouts echoing incessantly. Those famed courtesans who typically commanded attention now fled in panic, their expressions pale as they scrambled for escape routes. The scene resembled stray sparks scattering, escalating chaos. Men indulging in revelry joined the frantic escape, many unsure of what had transpired, simply running in blind panic—how else could one describe "chaos"?

"They're saying rebels and traitors! Rebels and traitors are here!"

"Really? Are they the Prince of Annan's men?!"

"Not sure—just run! Don't overthink it!"

...…

It's often said that if one commits no shameful deeds, one doesn't fear ghosts knocking at their door. But places like the Jinya Pavilion, deeply intertwined with the Jianghu world, were rife with countless shady affairs. Otherwise, none of these celebrated courtesans would be fleeing frantically, fearing they'd be implicated and exterminated alongside the rebels.

This, of course, was Xique Pavilion's intention.

The greater the chaos within Jinya Pavilion, the likelier the palace could kill two birds with one stone.

Not only could they surround and slay the Prince of Annan here, but they could also seize the whole Wuyong Building, making it another puppet under Xique Pavilion's control.

Xique Pavilion's spy Ma Que knew this all too well. Thus, she had shouted deliberately earlier, steering the commotion within Jinya Pavilion.