When Meng Ruji returned to the small wooden hut carrying a large bundle of noodles, night had already fallen dimly.

Mist had risen in the forest. Walking through it, her shoes and hem were soaked by the moisture, making her feel cold all over. Meng Ruji had been busy all day and was already very tired. Now she felt the discomfort of hunger and cold even more acutely.

But as she walked through the forest, amid the rustling of the wind, she suddenly saw a cluster of warm firelight and caught the smoky scent of burning firewood. All distant memories related to “home” were suddenly outlined.

At this moment, outside the hut with its flickering firelight, Meng Ruji could see from afar a figure standing there with arms crossed, leaning against the wall. Though she couldn’t make out his expression from a distance, the moment she saw him, that figure also began to move.

He walked toward her against the firelight.

Meng Ruji didn’t stop walking either. When the two stood together in the forest, the dry warmth from Mu Sui’s body, heated by the fire, transferred to Meng Ruji as well.

The physical comfort made Meng Ruji breathe an almost imperceptible sigh of relief, and Mu Sui naturally took over the heavy bundle from her shoulders.

Everything felt so familiar, as if they were an old married couple living in the forest.

Mu Sui glanced at the bundle in his hands, his nose also catching the scent of raw noodles.

“Today was very late…”

Mu Sui spoke, his voice seeming to hide a hint of aggrieved, “Why are you just coming back now?” But after saying just this sentence, Mu Sui tightly pressed his lips together.

“I was delayed buying some things.”

Meng Ruji answered softly, then lightly pressed her hand against her clothes. The marriage certificate, paper, and brush were tucked in her bosom.

The two walked side by side toward the small wooden hut. The firelight outside danced, and Meng Ruji seemed to already feel the warmth brought by the flames.

Meng Ruji looked ahead and spoke: “Mu Sui.”

“Mm.”

“Did you have someone you liked before?” Meng Ruji asked very naturally.

Mu Sui’s gaze paused slightly. He was considering what kind of “before” Meng Ruji meant by this “before.” Was this question just a surface question, or was she probing for something?

Mu Sui’s thoughts shifted, becoming cautious. In an instant, he reached his answer – he should reply “no.”

Then…

“I like you.”

Mu Sui heard himself say this…

It was too late to close his mouth; the words had already fallen to the ground.

Mu Sui controlled his expression, showing no abnormality, but his hand gripping the bundle had already turned white from the force.

For Meng Ruji, although Mu Sui’s answer was somewhat sudden, it was also within expectations.

After so many days, hadn’t Mu Sui’s words and actions revealed these four words everywhere?

He liked her and was brave enough to admit it.

Meng Ruji had a bit of a headache but was also somewhat relieved. Her mood was indescribably complex.

“Then how about…” Walking to the campfire in front of the broken wooden hut, Meng Ruji stopped. “We get married.”

Mu Sui’s steps also stopped following Meng Ruji. He was silent for a moment, then looked at Meng Ruji again. But he saw that Meng Ruji had already swiftly taken out paper and brush from her bosom and handed them to Mu Sui.

“Look, it’s this paper.”

A red piece of paper with “Marriage Certificate” written prominently on it, with clauses one through five listed below, each speaking of true and sincere feelings.

Meng Ruji held the paper in one hand and offered the brush with the other, her voice clear and rational: “Just write your name on it, and we’ll be married.”

Married…

This woman…

She did know something.

She was testing him.

Mu Sui looked at Meng Ruji in front of him. He saw firelight reflected in her pupils like dots of lacquer, a pair of black eyes, clear and bright. But Mu Sui already felt that her abacus beads were crackling against his face.

Within a few breaths, Mu Sui calmly concealed his emotions. He stared at Meng Ruji, not knowing how much she knew, but still decided to maintain his “fool” appearance first and not expose himself.

So Mu Sui tilted his head slightly, his expression showing some bewilderment and confusion: “Sister.” He asked, “What is getting married?”

After speaking, Mu Sui first mentally vomited once…

“Hmm…” Meng Ruji was choked by this question. Looking at Mu Sui’s sincere gaze, she was also silent for a moment, then answered, “Getting married means two people staying together forever.”

Mu Sui’s right hand almost unconsciously twitched, wanting to reach up for the brush. Then he immediately switched the bundle to his right hand, using the bundle’s weight to firmly press down his hand.

He still looked bewildered as he asked: “Can’t we stay together forever without getting married?”

“If we get married, we can stay together longer.”

Mu Sui placed his left hand on his right wrist, gripping it: “Are we together now? Doesn’t that count as being married?”

“No, we need to establish this contract for it to count. With this contract, we’ll mutually bind each other.” Meng Ruji coaxed him. “I can’t leave you, and you can’t leave me.”

Mu Sui’s right hand began to tremble. He could barely hold it down anymore.

It had been many years since Mu Sui had cursed, but he now had a choice expletive he wanted to blurt out.

At the last moment when he almost couldn’t control his hand, Mu Sui suddenly stepped back, distancing himself from Meng Ruji: “I won’t get married.”

This was outside Meng Ruji’s expectations.

After Mu Sui finished speaking, seeing Meng Ruji’s shocked expression mixed with inquiry, he thought quickly and began improvising on the spot:

“If you being with me requires binding through a paper contract, then I’d rather not marry you. I want you to be with me naturally, without constraints!”

After speaking, Mu Sui had complex feelings. He wanted to both sigh in relief and pinch his philtrum.

So exhausting…

And Meng Ruji was also stunned by Mu Sui’s righteous speech.

Meng Ruji touched her nose, feeling a despicable sense of deceiving a child unconsciously growing in her heart.

But she still decided to continue deceiving: “Then… I do want to be with you, very naturally.”

“Then why sign a marriage certificate?”

“Just adding some security…”

“Your feelings are the best security.”

“Hmm…”

“Meng Ruji.” Mu Sui decided to directly address it. “Why do you suddenly want to write a marriage certificate with me?”

“I…” Meng Ruji’s throat became dry and scratchy. She looked at Mu Sui, held back for a long time, and finally squeezed out three words: “…Like you?”

Knowing she was lying and deceiving him, Mu Sui’s hand still just rose like that.

Mu Sui watched his hand reach toward the brush in Meng Ruji’s hand, but he still used his last bit of willpower to control it! Making it turn and reach toward Meng Ruji’s arm instead, then grabbed her arm and pulled her in front of him. Finally, with both arms encircling, he held Meng Ruji tightly in his embrace.

Their close heartbeats were like jumping firelight – rapid and irregular.

Mu Sui pressed Meng Ruji against his chest. The tighter he held her, the more ferocious his expression became…

The method for the Inner Core…

He had to extract it quickly.

He really couldn’t stand himself like this anymore.

He must find something! Something that would force Meng Ruji to teach him how to use the Inner Core!

And Meng Ruji, held in Mu Sui’s arms, also began pondering after a brief daze:

Going in circles like this wasn’t a solution. The marriage certificate had to be signed quickly!

She needed to find something that would force Mu Sui to sign the marriage certificate with her!

Just then, in the night sky, there was suddenly a “swoosh” sound as a feathered arrow broke through the air.

Meng Ruji’s expression sharpened. Mu Sui reacted even faster, already pulling Meng Ruji to slightly shift their bodies, casually avoiding the arrow’s path.

In the forest, seven or eight men in gray robes appeared. They all carried swords identical to those Meng Ruji had seen at the market during the day, all inscribed with the two characters “Linlan.”

Seeing them, Mu Sui raised his eyes, and his expression unconsciously took on a hint of contempt.

Meng Ruji raised an eyebrow slightly, somewhat surprised. How had these people from that rotten mountain discovered her lies so quickly and found their way into the forest?

She hadn’t had time to coordinate with Mu Sui yet…

However, the other party seemed unwilling to give them a chance to talk. Several people arranged themselves in formation, one person taking out a silver bead and beginning to draw magical formations toward Meng Ruji and Mu Sui. It was clear they were going to spend money to attack them!

Going for the kill!

“I just told a lie, isn’t this excessive?” Meng Ruji murmured, then suddenly had a thought – in danger, intimate physical contact, pledging oneself! Sign the marriage certificate!

Wasn’t this opportunity exactly what she needed?

Meng Ruji’s eyes lit up.

At the same time, Mu Sui looked at these seven or eight people, his gaze also deepening slightly – in crisis, dangerous circumstances, teaching everything without reservation, obtaining the technique!

Wasn’t this exactly what he had been waiting for?

The voices in Meng Ruji and Mu Sui’s hearts were now genuinely sincere and identically loud: Perfect timing!

Meng Ruji: Marriage marriage marriage!

Mu Sui: Inner Core Inner Core Inner Core!