In the blink of an eye, four years had passed.
The once - frail baby girl had grown into a delicate and charming little girl.
Zhao Shuning dangled her little feet and watched as people came to their shabby doorway one after another, each carrying a gift in their hands.
"Brother, do you know these people?"
Zhao Huai slowly pushed the swing, carefully looking after his sister on it. He casually glanced and said, "I don't know them. They're probably spiritual pharmacists, around level one."
Zhao Shuning nodded and continued to swing.
Over the past four years, Zhao Shuning had a general understanding of the current situation in the Eastern Ze Wilderness.
Now, she was just a girl from Zhao Village, with no money or influence. If she wanted to avenge herself and return to the Eastern Ze Wilderness, she had to rely on the forces around her and climb up step by step.
Every five years, Qinghui Town would hold a spiritual power test.
Spiritual power, which was equivalent to combat strength, was the foundation for all spiritual pharmacists' cultivation.
The purpose of the spiritual power test was to select talented children and train them well so that they could become the protectors of the town in the future.
"Brother, are they here this time to ask Father to host the spiritual power test competition?"
Zhao Huai nodded.
People kept coming to the Zhao family, hoping that Zhao Zheng would agree to host the spiritual power test, saying that he was once a second - rank spiritual pharmacist.
But such words were no less than a humiliation to Zhao Zheng now.
Zhao Shuning bit into a cucumber in her hand.
The crunch was extremely clear.
"Brother, why don't you participate in the spiritual power test?"
Hearing Zhao Shuning's question, Zhao Huai's hand that was pushing the swing froze for a moment. Then he quickly came back to his senses and said, "Little Ning'er, you know that I'm very weak. I'll never be able to become a spiritual pharmacist in this lifetime."
Zhao Shuning gave a soft "hmm", showing little emotion on her face, but she had other thoughts in her heart.
Who was she? In her previous life, she was the only female emperor in the Eastern Ze Wilderness, second only to the elusive imperial tutor. With just one glance, she could tell whether a person was suitable to be a spiritual pharmacist and how much talent they had.
In everyone's eyes, Zhao Huai was just a half - baked scholar who could die at any time, so weak that he was even inferior to a woman.
But only Zhao Shuning knew that Zhao Huai was extraordinary, because she had once seen with her own eyes that Zhao Huai was raising a flying snake in a secluded cave on Dazhou Mountain.
The flying snake was an ancient monster, ranking among the top thirty monsters. Only spiritual pharmacists above the fifth level were qualified to own such a monster.
She just didn't know why he wanted to hide his real spiritual power and pretend to be a useless person.
However, Zhao Shuning didn't intend to expose him.
In this new life, she had understood many truths.
Why did Ye Ling die? He died because of his arrogance, his ignorance, and his lack of vigilance towards the people around him.
In this life, she would never make such mistakes again.
"Little Ning'er, are you done playing? If so, brother will carry you into the house."
"Okay."
Zhao Shuning stretched out her little hands and then smiled brightly, looking innocent and carefree.
Zhao Huai smiled and gently picked her up, saying softly, "My little Ning'er has gained a lot of weight."
Before long, laughter came from the house.
Zhao Huai was very good to Zhao Shuning. How good was he? If one day they were in danger, Zhao Huai would rather sacrifice his own life to ensure his sister's safety.
As an older brother, he was really doing his duty.
But Zhao Shuning couldn't understand why, since Zhao Huai was so powerful and cared so much about the family, he could just watch his father being humiliated like this?
Obviously, if Zhao Huai participated in the spiritual power test, he would surely become the most shining star in Qinghui Town, even far surpassing Zhao Zheng in his prime.
And Zhao Zheng and Lin Min'er would surely be respected and wouldn't be so down and out.
But Zhao Huai didn't do it.
Why? Zhao Shuning couldn't figure it out.
In the evening, Zhao Zheng came back with a red invitation in his hand.
"Brother Zheng, you..."
"I've accepted the invitation to host the spiritual power test."
Zhao Zheng had a smile on his face, but the three people in the house all knew that his smile was very forced. Zhao Zheng was a proud man. What on earth could make him endure such humiliation and accept the invitation?
You should know that the spiritual power test would be the grandest event in Qinghui Town. At that time, all the villagers around the town would surely go to watch.
Zhao Huai looked worried. "Father, you must be more careful this time."
"Huai'er, take good care of your sister at home. Don't worry about me."
Zhao Shuning said with a smile, "Brother, Father is so powerful. He will surely make a big splash then!"
"Little Ning'er is right."
The atmosphere among the family was a bit delicate.
At night, after Lin Min'er coaxed Zhao Shuning to sleep, she tiptoed out of the room gently.
The moment Lin Min'er gently closed the door, Zhao Shuning's eyes suddenly opened.
In an instant, she was by the lake.
Every time Father had something on his mind, he would come to Qinghu Lake to sit for a while. Sure enough, at this moment, Zhao Zheng was sitting there with a solemn face, staring blankly at the center of the lake. Before long, Lin Min'er slowly appeared in Zhao Shuning's sight.