After dropping Zhao Qianru off at home, Jiang Tian didn’t follow her upstairs. Instead, he hailed a taxi and returned to the luxurious Time Mansion.
The study was still lit, and Zhao Xueqing was working late into the night.
Xueqing had majored in finance and had the potential to take over the entire Zhao Pharmaceutical Group. In fact, Zhao Hucheng had once considered this possibility. After all, if Xueqing were in charge, the Jiang family’s Medicine King Group would undoubtedly support their daughter-in-law wholeheartedly, right?
However, after realizing the decline of the Jiang family, Zhao Hucheng abandoned this idea. The Jiang family had too many powerful enemies, and there was a risk of losing everything if they got involved. So, he handed over the company to his wife, Wei Fang.
Wei Fang, fearing that Xueqing might showcase her management skills and take control of Zhao Pharmaceutical, deliberately assigned her to the position of R&D Director. But the pharmaceutical industry was a completely different field, and Xueqing had to spend countless nights studying to catch up.
At that moment, Xueqing was sitting at her desk, staring at a thick stack of documents, her brows furrowed in frustration over a particular formula.
The formula, called “Muscle Recovery Ointment,” had been purchased at a high price from a barefoot doctor who claimed it had miraculous effects on wounds, sores, and ulcers. However, clinical trials revealed that while the ointment had some therapeutic effects, it also caused significant side effects, such as headaches and dizziness. As a result, the production approval from the drug administration had been stalled.
“Is that Jiang Tian coming back…?”
Suddenly, she heard the sound of the door opening. Her body stiffened, and her face turned pale.
On their wedding night, a drunken Jiang Tian had beaten her mercilessly. From that moment, Xueqing realized her marriage was a complete tragedy.
Since then, she had insisted on sleeping in separate rooms. Although Jiang Tian had often tried to take advantage of her, Xueqing had always resisted fiercely, and he had never succeeded.
Xueqing wanted to go out and ask him about his evening—whether he had been bullied or had drunk too much. But after a moment of hesitation, she stayed put, afraid that Jiang Tian might try to touch her.
Outside, she heard cautious footsteps, followed by the sound of the bathroom door opening and water running. A few moments later, there was a soft thud as the door to the guest room closed.
The sound wasn’t loud, but to Xueqing, it felt like a thunderclap, causing her to tremble slightly.
“When will this widow-like marriage end? Should I really listen to my parents and divorce him?”
After a long while, Xueqing finally calmed down, but a deep sense of sorrow washed over her. Her eyes reddened.
As a young girl, she had often dreamed of a prince charming who would propose to her with a rose and a diamond ring, promising to love and cherish her forever.
But reality had shattered that dream. Instead of a prince, she was stuck with a madman who only knew how to hurt her. She felt utterly cursed.
“If he had been normal when we first got married, leaving him wouldn’t have been a problem. But now that he’s mentally unstable, how could I abandon him without guilt? How could I face his parents?”
“The truth is, I didn’t take good care of him. His current state is partly my fault.”
Unable to focus on the documents in front of her, Xueqing’s vision blurred as tears welled up in her eyes. Crystal droplets fell onto the desk like morning dew.
—
Jiang Tian spent the entire night cultivating.
The Nine-Twisted Polygonum, the human-shaped fleeceflower root, and the poria cocos—all contained pure and rich spiritual energy, far surpassing the malevolent spirit that had clung to Old Master Tang.
When he opened his eyes in the morning, the spiritual energy from the semi-spiritual herbs had been fully absorbed and transformed into his own true essence.
“Breaking through to the second level of Body Tempering and unlocking the Heavenly Eye technique! The cultivation method created by the Crocodile Ancestor is truly extraordinary!”
Jiang Tian let out a satisfied sigh. A beam of white light shot from his eyes, extending over a meter long.
In that moment, the black casing of the television in front of him disappeared, revealing the circuit boards and components inside.
His gaze continued to penetrate further.
The entire television vanished from his sight as his vision pierced through the wall, entering the bathroom in the adjacent room.
What he saw made his heart skip a beat.
Under the shower’s spray stood a figure as graceful as a flower reflected in water.
Her curves were exquisite, her skin as white as snow. The fullness of her chest and the slimness of her waist created a striking visual contrast.
Though they lived together, Xueqing had always been cautious, and Jiang Tian had only caught glimpses of her beauty before. But this was the first time he had seen her so clearly, and it sent his heart racing.
His wife was truly stunning!
It was a pity that in his past life, he had never cherished her, allowing her to fade away like a fallen petal.
A look of regret and sorrow flashed in Jiang Tian’s eyes as the white light in his pupils faded, and he withdrew his gaze.
—
After washing up, Jiang Tian went to the living room.
Xueqing, now dressed, emerged from the master bedroom. She glanced at him and asked softly, “Did anything happen yesterday when you met Cheng Fatty?”
“No, everything’s fine! I followed your advice—drank less and ate more!” Jiang Tian replied with a smile, which to Xueqing seemed a bit silly, almost like he was trying to please her.
“Take a rest. I’ll make breakfast.”
Xueqing thought to herself, He cooked yesterday morning and didn’t bother me last night. I’ll make breakfast as a reward.
As the aroma of cooking wafted from the kitchen, Jiang Tian sat on the sofa, feeling a wave of tenderness wash over him.
For ten thousand years, what he had longed for and missed the most was this very scene—a peaceful and warm domestic life.
He felt an unprecedented sense of fulfillment as he watched Xueqing’s figure moving about in the kitchen, wearing an apron. For a moment, he was entranced.
When he snapped out of it, Jiang Tian noticed a stack of documents on the sofa.
The Tenth Experimental Plan for Muscle Recovery Ointment!
The title on the cover caught his eye.
“This must be what Xueqing’s been working on… She’s been worried about it lately.”
Jiang Tian quickly skimmed through the document and couldn’t help but shake his head with a wry smile.
The formula was flawed. Two of the ingredients had conflicting properties, which would undoubtedly harm the patient’s meridians and acupoints, causing headaches and dizziness.
Jiang Tian’s master, who had ascended to immortality from Earth, had been a master of pharmacology, and Jiang Tian had surpassed him in the art of alchemy and medicine.
He immediately came up with a revised formula, swiftly altering three of the herbs and adjusting their proportions.
The new formula not only enhanced the effectiveness but also eliminated any side effects. Moreover, it reduced the production cost.
“What are you doing? How many times have I told you not to touch my documents? You never listen!”
Xueqing, who had just finished cooking and was bringing the dishes to the dining table, saw what he was doing and couldn’t help but exclaim.
“Oh, nothing. I was just looking,” Jiang Tian said, startled. He quickly put the documents aside and stood up, offering to help carry the dishes with an ingratiating smile.
“From now on, you’re not allowed to touch these documents, or I’ll kick you out! I’ll throw you onto the streets and let you freeze or starve!”
Xueqing waved her small fist, trying to look fierce.
However, having just graduated from university less than a year ago, her baby-faced features and slight chubbiness made her attempts at intimidation more amusing than scary.
“Yes, yes, my beloved wife. I know I was wrong. Please forgive me this once! I won’t do it again!”
Jiang Tian raised his hands in surrender, pleading pitifully.
In the outer realms, Jiang Tian had been invincible, crushing powerful foes like ants and advancing triumphantly without ever admitting defeat.
But now, surrendering to his beloved wife, Jiang Tian felt nothing but contentment and even happiness.
For ten thousand years, all I wanted was to see your smile, your little acts of mischief, your adorable stubbornness.
