The Real Heiress Just Wants to Be a Lazy Fish - Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Discharge

To keep her inquiries about her maternal grandmother from seeming suspicious to Jiang Zitan, Tao Yitong made a habit of casually mentioning the relatives who constantly showed up to assert their presence during her recovery in the hospital. After gathering more detailed information about these relatives from Jiang Zitan, she used them as a lead to draw out information about her mysterious grandmother.

Their grandmother had been quite a formidable figure in her youth. She started from scratch and built an empire; her life story could practically be written as a legendary chronicle. Unfortunately, after her death, most of those assets became the first stepping stone for the Jiang family’s rise.

The relatives sang in harmony, repeating the same stale arguments, convinced of their own logic and nodding in mutual approval. Watching them, Tao Yitong felt a strong urge to send them all off to act in a traditional opera.

“You’re right.” Jiang Zitan set down her teacup, her expression indifferent. “Gratitude should be repaid. I will never forget anyone who has shown me kindness.”

A spark of hope lit up in the Second Aunt’s eyes, and the others looked at her expectantly.

“However, this gratitude doesn’t seem to have much to do with Second Uncle. I recall that when Tongtong was first brought back, it was Second Uncle who wanted most to kick me out of the company. No, to be precise, he wished for my death.”

“That how is that possible? Zitan, don’t listen to nonsense. Your Second Uncle couldn’t possibly have such thoughts; someone must be trying to drive a wedge between us!” Second Aunt’s gaze fell on Tao Yitong. As the ultimate winner of this family struggle, any dirty water used to suppress other competitors could be splashed onto her.

Jiang Zitan’s calm expression shifted into a look of displeasure the moment she saw Second Aunt’s predatory gaze land on Tao Yitong. “I wouldn’t say such things without evidence. It’s precisely out of gratitude for the Jiang family raising me that I didn’t settle scores with him before. But his attempt to murder Grandfather is too grave a matter. Forgive me, but I am powerless to help. Please leave.”

Jiang Zitan noticed several messages flashing on her phone. Her female cousin had heard about the family’s stupidity and was now desperately explaining herself. Realizing her family was beyond saving, she decided it was better to state her position clearly and cut ties rather than sink with them.

“No! You have to help! They said only you can handle this, only you…” In her desperation, Second Aunt let a detail slip. Realizing her mistake, she quickly covered her mouth, her every movement reeking of a guilty conscience.

Jiang Zitan had been about to reply to her cousin, but she set her phone down, her expression turning stern. “Who are ‘they’?”

Only Jiang Zitan could handle it? They were making a bold claim, but in some ways, it was true that asking her was more effective than asking anyone else. However, ordinary people shouldn’t know this fact.

In the chaos, Second Aunt planned to cry and create a scene to brush it off. Tao Yitong was very concerned about what she meant by “they.” Just as she stepped toward Second Aunt to interrogate her, the aunt’s young son, thinking she meant harm, charged forward like a bull.

Tao Yitong wasn’t afraid of the collision, but her injuries hadn’t fully healed yet. Seeing this, Jiang Zitan’s pupils constricted. Her physical reaction was faster than her thought; she kicked the boy before he could hit Tao Yitong.

Jiang Zitan used considerable force. The young son was sent sprawling to the floor, wailing in pain.

Flashback: The Trap

Tao Yitong had crouched in wait until the early hours of the morning, yet there was no movement at the trap. But she didn’t give up; as a hunter, patience was her most vital asset.

Finally, she sensed the “tripwire” woven from a wisp of a beast soul be triggered. A figure leaped out from the Tao family’s small courtyard. In her semi-beast state, Tao Yitong was incredibly fast, landing in her Master’s courtyard in less than a minute.

However, the expected scene didn’t manifest. Lying in the trap was one of those monsters she had seen the night before. It emitted a foul, rotting stench, lying motionless like a scapegoat intentionally thrown in.

Did that fellow see through the trap and flee?

No this is a diversion!

In the night, a flock of startled birds took to the sky—right from the direction of the Tao house!

A sneaky figure leaped into the Tao courtyard. She walked without a sound, successfully reaching Jiang Zitan’s door and preparing to push it open.

Suddenly! A seemingly soft hand reached out from the darkness and firmly clamped onto her wrist!

The thief was startled. She had clearly seen the other person in the house leave; why was there another one here?

You thought it was a diversion? But this tiger wouldn’t leave her treasure for a single step.

The “Tao Yitong” in her Master’s courtyard transformed into a snowy-white Fox Soul. This fox soul possessed the ability to disguise itself. Another White Tiger beast soul leaped out from the night, skillfully picking up the monster in its mouth to deliver it to the Special Affairs Bureau.

“Got you.” Tao Yitong’s voice was exceptionally cold, sounding more like a monster than the person who had snuck into the room.

“Tsk…” Realizing things had become tricky, the thief who had snuck into the Tao house decisively chose to retreat.

Tao Yitong’s hand suddenly felt empty; the solid “person” turned into a wisp of smoke. No to be precise, it wasn’t smoke, but a collective mass of complex human emotions. She fed on emotions and used them as a weapon.

It contained the joys and sorrows of many people. Suddenly coming into contact with this, Tao Yitong’s consciousness flickered into a daze. This momentary gap gave the opponent a chance to escape.

In the next second, the thief who fled the Tao house appeared in the distant mountain woods. A group of people was livestreaming there, occasionally shouting and jumping; she used their emotions to hide herself.

After hiding, she looked toward the Tao house with lingering fear. Due to her unique ability, she seemed to see a raging ferocious beast in the boundless night the incarnation of someone’s emotions.

“Crazy. An Zhiyue, you’re truly a lunatic. I thought you’d settle down as you got older, but you raised such a thing before you died. That’s a legendary Ferocious Beast. You’re truly insane…” The thief touched her right wrist. In that moment, she almost thought she’d be devoured. Was that the legendary Taotie?

Only that thing eats everything without regard, even able to absorb her… I just took a bit of your marinated eggs; so stingy.

Then again, it was Taotie the most protective “food guardian” in the world. She was lucky her arm hadn’t been bitten off.

What a pity. Just a little more, and I could have obtained the emotions from that human.

She had been locked up for decades and hadn’t tasted such delicious emotions. That sweetness mixed with a hint of tart seasoning, and because that human’s feelings were pure and without impurity… she had rarely tasted such pure emotion even before she was locked up.

Back at the Tao House

Although there was a small electric fan in the room, it hadn’t been used for a long time and was covered in a thick layer of dust. If she turned it on without cleaning it, the room would be filled with flying dust. So, it was better to use a hand fan.

Jiang Zitan felt as if she were being treated like a rare protected animal. The feeling was actually quite nice. Although she had always had the best of everything growing up, whenever she fell ill, no one had ever stayed by her side with such constant concern not even Grandfather, and her parents were rarely seen.

From a very young age, the words “strong” and “independent” were practically carved into her bones. Thus, this kind of care was rare for her.

“Want some water? Seventh Aunt sent some candy; have one. I wonder if your blood sugar is low.” Tao Yitong peeled a candy and put it in Jiang Zitan’s mouth.

“Don’t busy yourself; I’m really fine.” Jiang Zitan pulled Tao Yitong down to sit beside her.

Tao Yitong fanned her while wiping the sweat from her forehead. Until this moment, Tao Yitong suddenly noticed details she had overlooked in her haste.

First, Jiang Zitan seemed to be tainted with a scent that didn’t belong to her—a very faint, gentle fragrance. It wasn’t as “aggressive” as the smell of instant noodles, so she had ignored it until now.

Second, Jiang Zitan’s footsteps when she returned were hurried, unlike her normal walking speed. She returned faster than expected; Tao Yitong had almost failed to finish setting the trap.

Tao Yitong suspected she had encountered something on her way back, and that thing had evaded both Ah Fu and her own eyes.

The little bat huddled innocently in the shadows of the corner. It truly knew nothing and saw nothing.

Tao Yitong suppressed the emotions in her eyes and asked seemingly casually, “The weather is so hot; Sister didn’t need to walk so fast…”

At this, Jiang Zitan’s expression toward her held a hint of meaningful depth. Tao Yitong almost thought she’d been seen through, but just as she was wondering if she should continue prodding, Jiang Zitan gave the answer she wanted.

“On the way back, I saw a shadow flash through the woods nearby. it looked quite large. I thought it was some wild beast, so I hurried back.”

A large wild beast?

Tao Yitong quickly asked how big it looked. Jiang Zitan indicated it was the size of an adult human. Not just the size, even the build was like an adult’s.

Tao Yitong’s first reaction was that Jiang Zitan had encountered the monster that came sniffing around last night, but on second thought, that wasn’t right. That monster only smelled of rotting decay, not fragrant at all. It shouldn’t be what Jiang Zitan met.

“Come to think of it, the landlady of the shop also encountered some strange things yesterday.” Jiang Zitan provided another piece of intel Tao Yitong was interested in.

“What strange things?” Tao Yitong’s expression turned even more serious. The events in her hometown village might be more severe than she imagined. What had happened here during the time she was away?

In the Mountains

“It’s all your fault. You died and left such a huge trouble behind. Heh, well, you’re dead and can’t do anything anyway. I’ll dig up your grave and scatter your ashes!” The thief saw several avian shadows pass overhead likely the other’s reconnaissance scouts. She immediately hid deeper, evading their search.

“She runs fast…” The feedback from the beast souls was that she couldn’t be found. Tao Yitong didn’t dare leave Jiang Zitan’s side, so she could only let the souls continue the search.

There must be a reason this strange Deviant Demon suddenly came to this underdeveloped, sparsely populated land. Tao Yitong felt she wouldn’t leave easily. Were the mindless monsters wandering nearby also her handiwork?

The diversionary tactic also proved her target was indeed Jiang Zitan. Tao Yitong quietly pushed the door open to peek; Jiang Zitan seemed to be sleeping peacefully, unaffected.

Tao Yitong breathed a sigh of relief. She gently closed the door and pulled out her Master’s lounge chair to place by the door. She would snooze here for a bit today. Her beast souls were also helping to monitor all movement in the village. If any accident occurred, she could rush to support immediately, ensuring the safety of the nearby ordinary people.

Back to the Present

The sudden development stunned everyone present. A group surrounded the young man who had been kicked to the floor. Jiang Zitan hurriedly led Tao Yitong out of the crowd to check her over.

“It’s okay, Sister, don’t worry. He didn’t hit me.” Even if he had, she had a hundred ways to make that boy suffer the consequences.

“But…” Under Jiang Zitan’s worried gaze, the corners of Tao Yitong’s mouth turned up uncontrollably. “Sister, that kick just now was really cool.”

While those fellows were in a scramble, Tao Yitong chose an angle they couldn’t see clearly and kissed her sister. How exciting!

Additionally, Jiang Zitan would give her pocket money under various pretexts. When Tao Yitong had nothing to do, she could count the zeros in her balance, which was quite pleasing to the mind and body.

In the evenings after Jiang Zitan returned, they would eat dinner together. Sometimes, if Jiang Zitan returned early, they would research recipes and learn to cook together.

Come to think of it, wasn’t this the retirement life she dreamed of!

Tao Yitong lay on the lounge chair, basking in the sun while listening to the parrots chirping nearby. she suddenly had the illusion that she could already enjoy her sunset years in peace.

Unfortunately, every golden dream must end. One afternoon, An Yu contacted her to say that the bait, Zhao Zhengzhi, had been released. The Bureau wanted to use him to lure out the “handler,” so they told Tao Yitong to be extra careful.

And that very night, the bait, Zhao Zhengzhi, arrived with a group of relatives to find Jiang Zitan.

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