"Sister Bai, congratulations!" Ao Song saw Bai Ruozhu and rushed over like a cheerful little bird, making Bai Ruozhu smile. Wasn't this girl angry with her before?

"How come you arrived in Beiyu City so quickly?" she asked.

Ao Song wrinkled her nose, "Since we have no leads anyway, I thought I'd come find you for a meal, and besides..."

She deliberately stretched her voice, "The more I think about it, the more your adoptive father seems suspicious."

Bai Ruozhu smiled without responding. Gao Zhou indeed seemed a bit rash about this matter. Thinking carefully, Ao Song realized it was just Gao Zhou alone who was unwelcoming. Moreover, considering Gao Zhou had once deciphered the Thousand Blood Curse, it really made one suspicious.

"Aren't you here to celebrate? Come on, let's go have some food." Bai Ruozhu pulled her inside, noticing that only Ming Yue, not all her maid servants, followed.

In the Flower Hall, Ao Song turned to Ming Yue and said, "We were so busy talking that I forgot the gift. Quickly give the gift to Sister Bai."

Ao Song handed over a gift box, which Min Xiang next to Bai Ruozhu helped to receive. At these Three-cleansing Ceremony, gifts are usually for the child, and tradition dictates they be unboxed and displayed.

As soon as Min Xiang opened it, she exclaimed in awe, "Lady Ao Song has gifted a pair of Longevity Locks set with gold and jade!"

Bai Ruozhu glanced at them; the Longevity Locks were exquisitely made, with fine-quality tricolor jade set in gold. In modern terms, it would be called Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity Jade, very refined in design, clearly not a typical product of Danliang Country.

"This is too precious. I appreciate your kind gesture, but I can't accept it, or else my mother will be angry with me later." Bai Ruozhu hurriedly took the gift from Min Xiang's hands to return it to Ao Song.

Ao Song's almond-shaped eyes widened, making them seem even bigger, "This is just a trinket from home; how is it precious? I don't lack these. If you don't accept it, you're really not considering me a friend. Besides, it's for your little brother, not you, and he never said he doesn't want it."

Heh, that baby couldn't say no even if he wanted to.

Ming Yue also chimed in, "Madam Bai, just accept it. If we offer something too simple, our miss would be embarrassed, and if Master and Mistress find out later, they'd scold her for shaming the family."

Bai Ruozhu smiled wryly, thinking Ao Song's family must be truly wealthy. Remember when she scattered those gold leaves? Many from the Barbarian Clan picked them up, and she wasn't the least bit pained, almost as if gold meant nothing.

Anyway, Bai Ruozhu knew she could never do such a thing; their backgrounds were just too different.

Seeing Ao Song genuinely angry, Bai Ruozhu had no choice but to have Min Xiang carefully put the gift away, thinking about how to repay Ao Song for this favor.

"It's just a bunch of men, so boring," Ao Song pouted.

"I have some friends here too; let me introduce you." Bai Ruozhu held Ao Song's hand, leading her around from the side of the hall. Unexpectedly, a woman by Elder Su's side suddenly turned her head and jumped up when she saw Ao Song.

"Why is it you?" The woman glared at Ao Song as if they were enemies.

"Wow, Sister Bai, why did your family invite such an old hag as a guest? Aren't you afraid she'll scare people to death?" Ao Song replied indignantly.

The woman dashed forward, "What did you say?"

"Isn't your hearing just fine? If you're not deaf, there's no need for me to repeat it. If you were deaf, you wouldn't hear it even if I did." Ao Song replied, incitingly.

Bai Ruozhu didn't know how the conflict between the two started, so she hurried forward, saying, "There must be some misunderstanding between you two; it's my brother's Three-cleansing Ceremony today. Could everyone please give me face and step back a bit?"

"Fine, for the sake of Bai Ruozhu, I won't argue with you here; if you dare, come out with me!" the woman challenged.

Bai Ruozhu covered her face, thinking this Jiuli woman seemed more composed than the middle-aged man before, but now she wasn't composed at all.

"Fine, let's go. Who's afraid of whom?" Ao Song crossed her arms, raised her chin, and walked out with purpose.

The woman led Ao Song out of the hearing into a spacious area in the Bai Family's backyard, ignoring Elder Su's calls from behind.

Bai Yihong quickly came out to ease the situation, letting everyone continue the banquet while Bai Ruozhu helplessly chased after them. Jiao Ling, aware of the woman's prowess, also followed out of concern.

When Bai Ruozhu arrived, the two had already started fighting. Only then did she truly witness Ao Song's skill—deep inner strength, extraordinary martial arts, combined with magic techniques. No wonder her parents allowed a young girl like her to travel so far.

The woman's inner strength slightly surpassed Ao Song's, coupled with mechanical techniques, making them evenly matched.

"What's going on between those two?" Jiao Ling asked urgently.

Bai Ruozhu shook her head, "I met Ao Song in the Barbarian Clan, only knowing she's someone from a Hidden Family in the Western Regions, without knowing she has a grudge with the Jiuli Clan."

"A Hidden Family in the Western Regions?" Jiao Ling frowned, pausing before saying, "I heard that Zu Mei's former husband was lured away by a woman from a Hidden Family in the Western Regions. I wonder if it's related to this girl."

Bai Ruozhu was stunned. Could it be the woman's former husband had a change of heart, ran off to a Hidden Family in the Western Regions, and had Ao Song, thus causing the woman to resent her deeply?

While she was speculating, Ao Song aggravated the woman further.

"I said, old hag, you really can't distinguish right from wrong. When did I offend you? Why do you act like a mad dog every time you see me, clinging on and not letting go?"

"You little b*tch, you're just like your mother; not a single good word comes from your mouth. Today I must teach you a lesson!" Zu Mei snapped angrily.

Not pleased, Ao Song retorted, "I don't care who you are, but you cannot insult my mother. We'll see who teaches whom a lesson today!"

With that, she chanted and cast a Curse Technique, immobilizing Zu Mei in place, while one of Zu Mei's Mechanical Beasts attacked. Ao Song dodged gracefully, and in an instant, a dagger appeared in her hand, aimed straight for Zu Mei's heart.

"Stop!" Jiao Ling shouted urgently, but Ao Song seemed not to hear, continuing her assault on Zu Mei.

A flash of white light swept past, and Ao Song let out a muffled groan, her body flung away.

"Bold Demon Woman, how dare you harm a member of the Jiuli Clan!" Elder Su's voice followed, causing Bai Ruozhu to gasp in shock. Thinking the two were evenly matched, she was startled by how close it came to being fatal, grateful for Elder Su's timely arrival.

Elder Su approached with a mix of heavy and light steps. Only then did Bai Ruozhu notice one of his feet was shoeless, and the shoe lay near Ao Song. Apparently, he had thrown his shoe at Ao Song just now.

Bai Ruozhu couldn't help but think of Gao Zhou's habit of throwing things, except Elder Su was rougher; at least Gao Zhou hadn't thrown shoes.

---

Dengdeng: Ladies, could you spare some monthly tickets, so I can buy candy for my younger brothers?

Bai Laoyao: I'm your uncle! Begging for monthly tickets to buy candy for our nephew!

Ruozhu: (Hands on hips) Cut down on the candy, all of you. Want to grow big black teeth? (Looking at everyone) Ladies, how about some monthly tickets to buy toothpaste for the kids?

Bai Laoyao: I'm your brother! Not a kid!

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