Yun Ya explained in great detail: “The powers of yang soul and yin spirit must progress together. If either overwhelms the other, it will be a disaster for you. The balance between them is extremely delicate, and novices in the mystic arts find it difficult to control. You shouldn’t normally practice this, but your path to acquiring these powers was rather unique. In the future, if you have the opportunity, you should acquire magical tools or internal elixirs of the fire-yang attribute.”

Simply put, with their spiritual energy connected, Feng Miaojun had no choice in the matter.

She committed every word to heart, then looked at Yun Ya with unspoken questions.

“Go ahead, speak,” he said. When in a good mood, he could be quite amiable.

“Why did you spare Princess Hanyu?” she asked directly.

He raised one long eyebrow: “I thought you would be pleased.”

“I am pleased,” she openly admitted her feelings. Princess Hanyu’s escape from his hands somewhat alleviated her guilt. To be honest, if Yun Ya had ordered her to kill Princess Hanyu, she couldn’t have done it. “But that’s not the reason.”

“Anan is truly impervious to persuasion.” Yun Ya sighed deeply, reaching up to touch his face. “It seems this face isn’t handsome enough.” Not enough to bewitch her completely.

“Living in a room with orchids, one eventually stops noticing their fragrance.” No matter how beautiful the exterior, after looking at it long enough, one develops… resistance. The vessel must house an interesting soul.

So, the person before her was a devil who could lure people to hell. She had to remain cautious and vigilant, guarding her true heart.

“Master, the reason,” she reminded him again.

The corner of his mouth lifted in a faint smile: “Princess Hanyu has become useless—how could she be worthy of my effort to kill her?” When a person’s death holds no value, why should he bother?

“Useless?” she asked skeptically. “Princess Hanyu is marrying Miao Fengxian, strengthening the alliance between Yao and Jin through marriage.”

He gave a light “hmph”: “If she died, would the two countries not remain allies?”

“Well, they would,” she conceded. The princess’s marriage to Yao Kingdom served to “strengthen” the alliance, but the alliance itself already existed. This was also why Princess Hanyu always thought of breaking the engagement—for this independent-minded princess, the significance of her marriage was merely decorative, bringing no comfort to her life.

“So, what meaning would there be in killing her?”

Feng Miaojun fell silent.

What he said made sense. Given the great State Preceptor Yun’s personality, he truly wouldn’t want to expend the slightest effort on irrelevant matters.

But could it be that simple? The way he so easily handed Princess Hanyu back to Mo Tizhun—Feng Miaojun didn’t believe it was because he feared trouble or exposure of his identity.

This man must have other schemes hidden in his gourd. Thinking of his unusual return to the small grove earlier, Feng Miaojun felt there must be some connection between the two events.

Her distrust was written on her face as Yun Ya stroked his chin, waiting for her to continue questioning.

However, Feng Miaojun didn’t intend to press him about his motives—he wouldn’t tell her anyway. “By the way, regarding research on the curse of shared spiritual energy, have you made any progress?”

“Hmm—” This sound was drawn out, followed by her eager anticipation: “No.” Didn’t she want to know what Fu Lingchuan and Mo Tizhun had discussed after?

Feng Miaojun’s shoulders slumped: “Oh.”

“Is Anan so unwilling to share spiritual energy with me?” He blinked, looking wounded.

“How could that be?” She laughed dryly. “I just don’t want to use up your spiritual energy.” It wasn’t about sharing spiritual energy at all—it was about their lives being bound together with no solution to the problem!

So unless she revealed everything, even Yun Ya couldn’t find an answer?

Feeling somewhat dejected, she changed the subject: “It’s almost dawn. Let me change your bandages; we’ll be entering the capital soon.”

Yun Ya’s wounds had almost completely healed. The once-terrible burns had transformed into smooth, even skin without leaving a trace. As for the wound that had pierced his lung, the flesh was nearly healed, though Feng Miaojun wasn’t sure if the internal organs had recovered as well. Given Yun Ya’s constitution, his recovery would be many times faster than an ordinary person’s.

Looking at his physique now was a visual pleasure. Behind his robes were beautiful contours without a hint of excess flesh. She could only marvel at her good fortune (or was it simply her attraction?).

The final medicine she applied was Jade Luster Powder, which promoted tissue growth and reduced inflammation. When applied to his wound, it turned into an oil-like substance, making his skin glow like fine white jade.

Smooth, warm, and exceptionally pleasant to touch.

Of course, her heart remained as still as water.

The tent was too quiet. Feng Miaojun always felt Yun Ya’s downcast gaze was fixed on her, making her face grow warm. She cleared her throat lightly: “How long does Master plan to stay in the Yao capital?”

“We’ll leave after the wedding ceremony.” He asked her in return, “Do you wish to stay longer in Yao Kingdom?”

“I’ll follow Master’s lead,” she replied. Feng Miaojun wanted to stay in Yao territory longer. Her adoptive mother Madam Xu and the Feng family business were both in Yao Kingdom, and she particularly wanted to visit them. However, this wish likely wouldn’t be fulfilled anytime soon. Both were her vulnerabilities, which she couldn’t expose under Yun Ya’s watchful eye. “After leaving Yao Kingdom, where will we go?”

“Naturally, we’ll return to Wei Kingdom,” he laughed softly. “We’ve both been away for too long.” As the State Preceptor of Wei, he had willfully wandered off for several months. The Wei King must be anxiously pacing by now. As for Feng Miaojun, she had left Juping Village in Wei Kingdom nearly four years ago.

Due to her identity issue with Princess Changle, Feng Miaojun was entirely unwilling to return to the Wei Kingdom, especially under his surveillance (or coercion). But did she have the right to say “no”?

“Yes.”

Yun Ya looked at her and slowly said: “I often wonder why the Ao Fish, hating me to the core, would place a curse of shared spiritual energy on me?”

Feng Miaojun’s heart skipped half a beat, though outwardly she remained calm: “Has Master had any insights?”

“Though the Ao Fish was foolish, it should have shown some cleverness in death, unless—” he reached out, gently lifting her chin, his gaze full of inquiry, “unless it could be certain that you would bring me great trouble.”

First surprise flashed in her eyes, followed by absolute fear: “Master, I could never harm you. I can swear to heaven!” Yun Ya’s logic was certainly sound because the Ao Fish had intended to kill her first and then his archenemy Yun Ya!

“Very well,” he smiled playfully. “Let’s hear your oath.”

Yun Ya’s moods were unpredictable. Just after giving generous rewards, Feng Miaojun wasn’t sure if he might snap her neck the next second. For the safety of both their lives, she unhesitatingly raised her index and middle fingers toward the sky: “I, Feng Miaojun, swear to heaven that I will never plot against Master Yun Ya’s life. If I break this oath, may heaven strike me with lightning…”

“Alright, alright, I was just joking,” he interrupted her oath. “Can such oaths be taken seriously?”

Feng Miaojun: “…” Not serious? If it wasn’t serious, why did you wait until I’d almost finished the oath before speaking up?

But Yun Ya yawned: “Let’s rest. It’s nearly dawn.”