"Fuyi is not that kind of person." Yvonne Foster interrupted calmly, her eyes clear and bright, without a trace of doubt.

He simply hated how his sister trusted that person so much.

The wind lifted his soft bangs, bringing with it a flutter of yellow like a butterfly. Chad Foster reached out and caught it—it was a torn piece of yellow paper, with only a corner of crimson characters visible, making it impossible to tell what the word was.

His expression changed abruptly. This was Henry Carter's talisman paper.

That red was not cinnabar, but fresh blood.

Chapter 9: Substitute Marriage (Nine)

Under what circumstances would a powerful demon catcher use his own blood to draw a talisman?

First, if the situation was urgent; second, to ensure absolute safety.

Although Chad Foster did not like Henry Carter, he had to admit that Henry Carter was an outstanding demon catcher. Before meeting Yvonne Foster, he was capable of working alone, never relying on any teammates. Besides being extremely lucky to possess the Ninefold Demon-Catching Pagoda, his skills were also exceptionally high. Of the demons he handled, nearly all were killed in a single strike.

Chad Foster looked up.

Before him, the west wing hidden behind lush pines and cypresses was gloomy and damp, completely out of place with the spring scenery of the garden.

"I drew a talisman at Yao'er's door. I didn't expect..." Henry Carter had once tried to explain to him, but before he could finish, Chad Foster interrupted him harshly, "You didn't expect what? Are you waiting for my sister to die before you think of it?"

Henry Carter's face turned pale, and he fell silent.

Henry Carter was not an arrogant person; his mind was always meticulous. If he had drawn a talisman with his own blood, it was not hard to explain why he felt safe leaving Yvonne Foster alone in the room without watching over her.

Because almost no great demon could break through a talisman drawn with Henry Carter's blood.

Could a water mirror really be that powerful?

Chad Foster's gaze fell on the jagged edge of the broken talisman paper. His cold fingers brushed over it—a hard, uneven, rough edge, not like it had been shattered by a great demon, but more like it had been torn by someone.

There was no expression on Chad Foster's face; his movements were elegant, yet it was like the moment of cold stillness before a storm.

Olivia Sullivan was in her boudoir trying on new summer clothes.

The light pink top was very thin and felt soft to the touch, with shiny silver threads woven into the fabric, faintly revealing her smooth skin. As the maid adjusted her collar, her fingers brushed over Olivia Sullivan's bare neck, making her laugh uncontrollably.

Olivia lowered her head to tie the sash, but suddenly twisted her back uncomfortably. "Why does it feel a bit prickly?" The maid lifted the clothes to look and was startled. "Oh, your back is all red."

Her fingers skillfully checked the fabric, feeling a few slightly hard lumps inside, and she complained unhappily, "What's going on this year? Even gauze with knots got picked out."

"Miss, take it off. You can't wear this."

Olivia Sullivan turned her head halfway in surprise. "One or two knots, it's not a big deal, is it?"

"Of course it matters." The maid gently helped her take off the top and tossed it aside without any pity, sighing, "If it weren't for the flooding of the Wanjiang River, with half the spinning farmers washed away, the tribute cloth was all rushed out. Otherwise, Miss wouldn't have to make do with knotted gauze."

The Wanjiang River runs across the southern part of Taicang, nourishing this land of fish and rice, and is also the lifeline of shipping. Olivia Sullivan didn't quite understand—such an important lifeline had flooded, and it sounded like it had even destroyed homes, yet she didn't seem to care at all?

"Are you saying... our Taicang County was hit by a disaster?"

"Miss, you don't need to worry, it's nothing." She pouted. "Doesn't the Wanjiang flood the dike every three or four years? Anyway, it never reaches us."

A hint of practiced, yet prematurely mature cunning appeared on that young face. "When has the palace not sent silver to repair the dike? Every time the silver comes down..." She blinked and smiled. "Miss will soon have beautiful new fabrics again."

Olivia Sullivan's heart skipped a beat.

"Don't say any more." Her face darkened.

The maid was startled, panic appearing on her face. "...Miss?"

The Taicang county magistrate took the disaster relief silver—half was used to repair the dike, and the other half quietly disappeared. Even a fourteen-year-old girl knew this so clearly; it must be an open secret throughout the entire magistrate's residence.

The people in the residence smiled as they kept this secret, living their days openly in a time of peace and prosperity.

"Where's Father?"

"In... in the study, talking with people from the palace."

"I'll go find him now."

"Miss..."

Olivia pushed open the door, and outside stood Chad Foster. Soft light fell on his jet-black hair at the temples, his tied-up hair swaying slightly in the wind.

"Miss Sullivan?" he said with a smile, his eyes dark and deep, unfathomable.

"What do you want?" Olivia Sullivan brushed past him and walked out, deliberately keeping some distance from him.

Chad Foster followed her unhurriedly, the qilin totem embroidered in silver thread on his tall boots reflecting the light fiercely, casting the shadow of his broad shoulders and narrow waist onto the bluestone path.

"How do you have the leisure to come looking for me?" No matter how Olivia Sullivan looked at him, he seemed like a harbinger of misfortune. Fear and anxiety made her speculate wildly, and she quickened her pace.