Jiang Zhaoxue spoke the truth in jest. A’Nan, perched on her shoulder, sucked in a sharp breath and couldn’t help but transmit his thoughts into her mind with complaint: “Master, your heart is too black.”

“The world is harsh. If I don’t act ruthlessly, how can I make a living?”

Jiang Zhaoxue responded to A’Nan in her mind while jingling the keys. “So, have you decided? Are you coming with me or not?”

Pei Zichen listened but didn’t respond. He only fixed his gaze on the keys in her hand, frowning slightly. “Miss, these keys…”

“I snatched them.”

Jiang Zhaoxue was direct and knew what he was concerned about. She glanced outside. “Don’t worry, the person is just unconscious.”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen’s expression finally relaxed.

Jiang Zhaoxue cursed inwardly at the trouble, observing him as she tried to persuade him. “Don’t think I’m harming you. Think it through carefully. Setting aside Gaowen’s identity, let’s talk about last night. Last night, there were only five people at Luo Xia Feng, and the people from Lan Yue Feng attacked you, right? They stopped you and let Gaowen pick that Lingxiao Hua, and then such a huge incident occurred. Do you think they’ll admit to it? Look at your current state—you haven’t even been interrogated yet and you’re already like this. If you continue staying here, you won’t survive.”

“So Miss thinks I should escape.”

Pei Zichen affirmed this, then smiled. “But if I wanted to run, why would I have come back?”

Jiang Zhaoxue fell silent. She suddenly realized that Pei Zichen actually understood everything very clearly.

Perhaps in Wuyue Forest, he had already thought everything through clearly. He wasn’t influenced by anyone and simply did what he felt should be done.

He felt he should save her, so he saved her.

He felt he should return, so he returned.

She quietly gazed at this young man, listening as he spoke earnestly and calmly. “A gentleman stands in this world upholding righteousness, acting with loyalty and trust, and cherishing his honor and integrity. When tainted by false accusations, one should cleanse them with truth, not flee without fighting. And I also believe that Lingjian Immortal Pavilion will give me justice.”

“Who will give it to you?” Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t help but laugh. She knew all too well what kind of people that bunch were.

Pei Zichen looked at her and spoke without a shred of doubt. “My master.”

Pei Zichen raised his eyes earnestly. “I know Miss has old grievances with my master. Grudges are a matter of position, and I dare not judge right from wrong. But in my heart, my master is as clear as the sun and moon. He is not someone who perverts the law for personal gain. If he knows his disciple has been wrongly accused, he couldn’t possibly ignore it.”

Jiang Zhaoxue scoffed.

Seeing her displeasure, Pei Zichen thought for a moment and simply asked, “Miss doesn’t believe it?”

Jiang Zhaoxue turned her head away without speaking.

She believed he was foolish. No wonder Shen Yuqing stabbed him with a sword and knocked him off the cliff.

After a moment of silence, Pei Zichen said slowly, “Miss, when I was small, I was born in an ordinary village.”

“So?”

“One year, many immortals suddenly came from the sky. They said that a Heaven’s Forsaken had mixed into the village, and to follow the righteous will of heaven’s mandate, all the villagers must obey and hand over all children under ten years old, or else they would kill everyone.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue frowned.

Heaven’s Forsaken were those marked for execution by the Book of Fate.

Since Gujun Daoren appeared with the Book of Fate and founded Lingjian Immortal Pavilion, the Book of Fate had gradually become the faith of all of Zhongzhou—and even the entire True Immortal Realm.

In Zhongzhou, the Heaven’s Forsaken were people who brought calamity to the world, more terrifying and detestable than demons.

Pei Zichen actually had a connection with such people?

Jiang Zhaoxue pondered silently, listening as Pei Zichen continued. “At that time, every household had children under ten years old, so everyone refused to hand them over. The parents hid all of us children together and insisted there were no children. My mother hid me in a haystack and told me not to make a sound, no matter what, and that I must survive.”

Pei Zichen lowered his head, his voice becoming hoarse. “I wasn’t even ten years old then. I was afraid I would cry out, so I could only cover my mouth. I watched those immortals say that since there were no children, they would examine the adults. They examined the villagers one by one, saying each wasn’t the one. After they had examined everyone and none of them was the one, I thought they would leave. But then…” Pei Zichen’s voice paused, then continued hoarsely, “They set a fire.”

“Fire?”

Jiang Zhaoxue frowned.

Pei Zichen laughed bitterly. “I learned later that this was called the Bone-Burning Curse.”

Jiang Zhaoxue’s pupils contracted slightly.

The Bone-Burning Curse was considered extremely malicious in Zhongzhou because it burned not only flesh and bone but also the divine soul. Even cultivators suffered extreme pain when burned by it, let alone mortals.

“Those killed by the Bone-Burning Curse have their divine souls completely destroyed, leaving no flesh or bone behind.” Pei Zichen’s tone was flat. “This fire burned for a long time. I watched as the fire consumed my parents, my older brother… That’s when they discovered me.”

“And then?” Jiang Zhaoxue was drawn in. This was the first time she had heard about Pei Zichen’s past.

In the book, when he appeared, he was already a prodigy of Lingjian Immortal Pavilion. It only said he came from common folk and his parents were dead, never mentioning his past.

Hearing Jiang Zhaoxue’s words, Pei Zichen couldn’t help but smile. “Then I ran. I thought, my family used their lives to exchange for mine, so I couldn’t die. I ran desperately, but they were immortals. Just when I thought I was going to die, my master came.”

Pei Zichen’s eyes lit up with a smile.

“His sword descended from the sky. Countless light swords severely wounded that group of people, and they fled in panic. Before leaving, they didn’t forget to threaten my master, saying they were disciples of the Immortal Pavilion, acting on heaven’s mandate to find the Heaven’s Forsaken. My master said that the Heavenly Dao distinguishes right from wrong, discerns good from evil, and is the path of justice. Cultivators contend with heaven for fortune. If massacring innocents is heaven’s mandate, then even if it means defying heaven itself, one should not uphold such a mandate.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue raised her eyebrows in surprise.

Shen Yuqing was Gujun Daoren’s most outstanding disciple at Lingjian Immortal Pavilion and the most loyal guardian of the Book of Fate. How could he possibly say such words?

Contending with heaven for fortune?

Such words would be more fitting coming from a Fate Master. How could Shen Yuqing possibly say them?

“What happened after?” Jiang Zhaoxue felt something was off. “How did you confirm that the person who saved you was Shen Yuqing?”

“Because my master gave his name.”

Pei Zichen said earnestly, “The other party said they would take revenge on him, so he said his name was Shen Zeyuan, Shangyang Zhenren of Lingjian Immortal Pavilion, and if they wanted revenge, they were welcome to come find him.”

The more Jiang Zhaoxue listened, the more wrong it seemed. When had Shen Yuqing been such a flamboyant personality?

“So you came to Lingjian Immortal Pavilion?”

“Yes.”

Pei Zichen smiled bitterly. “Everyone else in the village survived, but my family was gone. Originally, the uncles and aunts in the village pitied me and wanted to adopt me, but I didn’t want to stay in the village anymore.”

Pei Zichen’s eyes brightened. “I wanted to become someone like my master—someone with enough ability to protect all those in this world who are oppressed by injustice. So I took everything of value from my home and came to Lingjian Immortal Pavilion.”

Then, at such a tender age, he climbed the three thousand heavenly stairs, step by step, until he reached her presence.

Listening to this, Jiang Zhaoxue thought of the child in her dream and finally realized what was wrong.

“Where was your home?”

“In Jiang Zhou.” Pei Zichen’s eyes held nostalgia. “It’s a very beautiful place.”

It matched.

Jiang Zhaoxue suddenly remembered that ten years ago, she had indeed gone to Jiang Zhou with Shen Yuqing.

Zhongzhou’s geography was very similar to ancient China, like an enlarged version. Jiang Zhou was similar to Jiangnan, not too far from Zhongzhou.

Ten years ago, her relationship with Shen Yuqing wasn’t that bad yet. She had moved out Gujun’s old ancestor to force Shen Yuqing to accompany her. Originally, she wanted to celebrate his birthday in Jiang Zhou and complete a dreamlike couples’ trip, and then…

Find an opportunity to consummate their marriage with Shen Yuqing.

At the time, she had noticed that Shen Yuqing couldn’t walk away when he saw babies outside. She assumed Shen Yuqing liked children, and thought that even though it was difficult for cultivators to have offspring, if it would make Shen Yuqing notice her, it wasn’t out of the question. She could accept having a family with Shen Yuqing.

So she took Shen Yuqing to Yanghua City in Jiang Zhou and drank with him all evening.

Shen Yuqing had a poor tolerance for alcohol. Deep into the night, with spring warmth and flowers blooming, she lay down next to Shen Yuqing in a prepared chamber, wearing thin gauze.

Shen Yuqing opened his eyes to look at her, half-drunk and half-awake. She smiled at him and said gently, “Zeyuan, do you want a child?”

Shen Yuqing’s gaze was hazy as he looked at her in confusion. Jiang Zhaoxue felt he was moved and tentatively took the initiative to approach. She looked up at him, somewhat nervously. “Let’s have a child together.”

Hearing this, Shen Yuqing seemed to suddenly sober up. He pushed her away in some panic and, without even taking his sword, grabbed his clothes and rushed outside urgently. “Put your clothes on properly!”

After saying this, he hurriedly slammed the door and left, fleeing as if in a panic.

She sat on the bed as humiliation and anger flooded over her in that moment.

She gripped the bedsheet tightly. In the end, she still couldn’t restrain herself. She grabbed his sword, threw on her clothes, and chased after him, shouting loudly, “What’s wrong with you? Two hundred years! We’ve been married for two hundred years! You were the one who agreed to marry me, you were the one who agreed to be my life attendant, and now you’re being coy…”

“Was it I who forced you to form the Soul-Binding Contract?!”

Shen Yuqing suddenly stopped in his tracks and turned around coldly. Jiang Zhaoxue froze. Shen Yuqing stared at her, demanding, “Was it I who wanted you to save me? Was it I who wanted you to like me? Was it I who wanted you to marry me? Was it I who wanted your devotion and your condescension?”

“Don’t you want them?” Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t believe it.

If he didn’t want them, why would he treat her kindly at unguarded moments?

If he didn’t want them, why would he have agreed to marry her back then?

Why would he accompany her to Jiang Zhou? Why would he give her hope every time she was about to give up? Why would he almost reach out the moment he opened his eyes and saw her?

Like a moon shining upon her, illuminating her alone, yet still telling her that all beings received the same light.

“I don’t want them.”

Yet she still heard him speak. Jiang Zhaoxue unconsciously tightened her grip on his sword, hearing him say word by word, earnestly and with disgust, “Your affection, your kindness, your pity—I want none of them. In my life, I, Shen Zeyuan, dedicate my fate to the Heavenly Dao. I don’t like anyone, and I don’t want anyone’s affection!”

With that, he turned and left.

Jiang Zhaoxue was speechless.

She stood in the rain. Though it was a spring night in Jiangnan, she felt cold enough to tremble.

She watched him walk away, not knowing where he was going, nor where she herself should go.

She held his sword and wandered the road in confusion.

When she came to her senses, all around her were cries and wails.

She saw Lingjian Immortal Pavilion disciples wantonly massacring in a village, even using the Bone-Burning Curse on mortals.

Such great evil, encountered at her worst moment. After listening for a while and understanding that this group was here to capture a so-called Heaven’s Forsaken, she found it even more laughable.

Never mind that she had transmigrated from the twenty-first century and really couldn’t accept the brainwashing of the Book of Fate.

Even if she had been born and raised here, as a Fate Master, she only had “respect” for the Heavenly Dao, not “faith.” As both sides of a gambling table, she never believed that what the Book of Fate said was necessarily right.

To massacre innocents for a few words in the Book of Fate—she couldn’t accept it.

But after all, they were Lingjian Immortal Pavilion disciples, and she feared they would cause trouble. Since Shen Yuqing’s sword happened to be at her side, she set up an array using Shen Yuqing’s sword, disguised herself as Shen Yuqing, and ended the matter.

Later, Shen Yuqing had a huge fight with her over this incident.

He thought she had deliberately caused trouble to anger him, but in the end, he still took the blame for her and acknowledged responsibility for this matter.

She hadn’t expected that Pei Zichen was actually the one affected by this incident, and at not even ten years old, had traveled a thousand miles, climbing all the way to Lingjian Immortal Pavilion to become a disciple.

“After arriving at Lingjian Immortal Pavilion, were you disappointed?”

Having understood the cause and effect, Jiang Zhaoxue was somewhat curious.

Pei Zichen smiled and shook his head. “No.”

Speaking, he raised his head and looked through the ventilation window of the cell at the bright moon outside. “Although my master is cold in his dealings with people, he upholds justice, eliminates the strong and helps the weak. Among fellow disciples, though there are occasional conflicts, most are united in spirit and affection.”

“What about your master’s wife?” Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t help but ask. Worried Pei Zichen might notice, she added, “I heard she’s the number one beauty. She must have a beautiful heart to match her beautiful appearance, right?”

Pei Zichen paused and replied vaguely, “Master’s wife only has eyes for Master. She has little contact with us disciples. Moreover, as an elder, it’s not proper to comment on her.”

Not proper to comment.

Oh ho, that meant there was plenty that could be commented on if one let loose.

She knew this little brat didn’t like her.

Jiang Zhaoxue pursed her lips without arguing with him. After thinking for a moment, she continued asking, “Did you find your enemies later?”

“I found them.” Pei Zichen’s tone was calm. “They were all Lingjian Immortal Pavilion disciples.”

“And then?” Jiang Zhaoxue was curious. “Did you forgive them?”

Looking at Pei Zichen’s kind and gentle saint-like appearance, he should have enlightened them, let go, and then started anew, perhaps even adding a happy ending of mutual understanding.

However, Pei Zichen shook his head and said calmly, “I investigated each of them one by one, collected the murder cases they had committed, and submitted them to the Punishment Hall. I personally supervised the trials. This matter was obstructed, but after I reported it to my master and he reviewed the case files, he permitted me to personally execute them.”

Listening to this, Jiang Zhaoxue suddenly felt that her understanding of Pei Zichen might not be so thorough after all.

“Cause and effect have their order; gratitude and grudges must be repaid.” Pei Zichen’s tone was gentle with a trace of regret. “It’s just that I truly no longer have a family.”

From the moment he packed his belongings and left Jiang Zhou to come to Lingjian Immortal Pavilion, he no longer had a family.

Jiang Zhaoxue instinctively knew he was about to say something. She turned to look at him.

She saw him speak earnestly with apology. “Having nowhere else to go, Lingjian Immortal Pavilion is my home. Bearing the grace of my master’s rescue, my life has long belonged to the Pavilion. I cannot leave with Miss because of a small misunderstanding. I hope Miss will understand.”

He spoke candidly and earnestly. Jiang Zhaoxue remained silently still.

Cause and effect have their order; gratitude and grudges must be repaid.

This was indeed the philosophy she had always upheld as a Fate Master.

But sometimes cause and effect were difficult to understand. For example, him—

His future was destined to be filled with bloodshed, yet now he was without a speck of dust.

What should be his cause and effect?

Jiang Zhaoxue quietly gazed at him. After Pei Zichen finished speaking and saw she didn’t respond, he asked curiously, “What is Miss thinking about?”

“I’m thinking—” Jiang Zhaoxue lowered her eyes, looking at the ripples in the water prison, casually fabricating a lie. “After saying so much, you just don’t want to repay me.”

“Miss,” Pei Zichen laughed, “the human heart is never satisfied, like a snake trying to swallow an elephant. Last night, you and I helped each other. Even if there was offense, demanding my life—isn’t that going too far?”

“But what if you can’t survive?”

Jiang Zhaoxue spoke abruptly. Pei Zichen keenly sensed something.

Jiang Zhaoxue raised her eyes. “Even if your innocence and honor are destined to be lost, you’ll still stay?”

“Yes.” Pei Zichen responded, “I know Miss is a Fate Master who glimpses the mandate of heaven. But I cannot, before anything has happened, decide that the people I know are evil, choosing to believe heaven over believing in people.”

These words stirred something in Jiang Zhaoxue’s heart.

She looked at the young man before her, whose gaze was clear and gentle, rubbing her fingertips as she said slowly, “Then what do you think is more frightening—death, or reaching the pinnacle only to lose everything and become a mortal?”

“A mortal?” Hearing this, Pei Zichen smiled. “I am already a mortal.”

He had come from the mortal world, traveling over mountains and rivers. He was originally just an ordinary mortal.

“Mayflies are born in the morning and die at dusk. Cicadas have seven years of spring and autumn. That humans can observe heaven and earth for several decades is already a great blessing. If one can reach the pinnacle and then lose everything, such a magnificent life compared to death—how could there even be a choice?”

Pei Zichen’s tone was gentle and composed as he raised his head to look at the bright moon outside the window. “Being able to live—I already find that very good.”

“You’re truly greedy for life and afraid of death.”

Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t help but jab at him a couple of times.

Pei Zichen turned to look at her with a light laugh. “Isn’t Miss the same?”

Jiang Zhaoxue said nothing. She thought for a moment, then said seriously, “Then if I clear your name, will you be willing to leave with me?”

Pei Zichen smiled without answering, and Jiang Zhaoxue understood his meaning.

“What if Shen Yuqing agrees?” Jiang Zhaoxue continued probing. “Or what about a sect assignment?”

Pei Zichen was startled. After thinking for a moment, he said hesitantly, “If it’s a sect order, as a disciple, I can naturally only obey.”

“Understood!”

Jiang Zhaoxue nodded and decisively stood up, turning to leave. “I’ll go ask Shen Yuqing for you.”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen was stunned. Watching Jiang Zhaoxue walk two steps, she suddenly seemed to remember something. “Oh, is there anything you need me to help with?”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen hesitated for a moment before saying tentatively, “Thank you, Miss. I do have one impertinent request. My junior disciple Jinglan still has no news, and I’m worried.” Pei Zichen frowned, becoming serious as he pondered. “Since Miss can freely enter and leave this place, you must be no ordinary person. My life is not precious, but my junior disciple…”

“Got it, I’ll help you find him.”

Jiang Zhaoxue understood his meaning and interrupted him. “Anything else?”

“Also…” Pei Zichen hesitated, somewhat awkward and vague. “I… I keep a mortal dog in the disciples’ quarters. Now that both Jinglan and I are absent, and it’s just a mortal dog, I’m afraid it will go hungry…”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue slowly realized what he was asking and widened her eyes. “You want me to help you feed a dog?!”

“I apologize…” Pei Zichen became flustered and hurriedly said, “But this mortal dog came up the mountain with me. Our bond is extraordinary. I beg Miss to…”

“Got it, got it.” Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t listen anymore and waved her hand to interrupt, impatiently. “What kind of dog?”

“Black and white.” Seeing her agree, Pei Zichen immediately smiled. “It’s the only mortal dog in the Pavilion. Its name is Pangpang. If you call it, it will respond. It’s not picky—it eats any cooked meat. If you could also bring it a whole fresh cabbage, that would be even better.”

“Meat and vegetables balanced—quite the eater. Dogs are as troublesome as people.”

Jiang Zhaoxue cursed under her breath. Pei Zichen didn’t hear clearly. “Miss?”

“It’s nothing. Anything else?”

“Miss’s great kindness cannot be repaid. When I am cleared of false charges in the future…”

“All nonsense. I’m leaving.”

Jiang Zhaoxue turned directly to leave. Seeing her go, Pei Zichen unconsciously clenched his fists. Watching her gradually walk away, he finally couldn’t help but call out loudly, “Miss!”

Jiang Zhaoxue turned to look. She saw Pei Zichen hesitating, his face tinged with a faint blush. He looked at her seriously, seeming somewhat nervous. “I still don’t know Miss’s esteemed name…”

Hearing him ask for her name, Jiang Zhaoxue paused.

“This…”

Jiang Zhaoxue thought for a moment. A jade token slid from her hand, patterns rapidly appearing on it. Jiang Zhaoxue’s Spirit-Locking Array was quickly engraved on the jade token. She returned to the water prison’s edge.

She crouched down and commanded him, “Give me your hand.”

Pei Zichen’s eyes showed doubt, but he still obeyed Jiang Zhaoxue’s words and extended his hand toward her with the chains.

The chains clinked. As soon as his hand reached out, Jiang Zhaoxue grasped it firmly.

Pei Zichen was greatly startled and wanted to withdraw, but Jiang Zhaoxue held him tightly, commanding, “Hold it!”

Only then did Pei Zichen realize she was holding a jade token in her hand. The jade token’s surface was uneven with array patterns, but Jiang Zhaoxue had cast an illusion spell, so he couldn’t sense the specific patterns.

His heart raced, all his senses gathering on the hand she held. He only felt that the hand pulling his was delicate and soft—a touch completely unlike that of his fellow male disciples.

He forced himself to remain calm, looking into Jiang Zhaoxue’s eyes. Afraid of showing timidity, he said seriously, “What does Miss mean?”

“Take this jade token.” Jiang Zhaoxue smiled. “When you reach a dead end in the future and are willing to give your life to me, drip blood on the jade token and call for me in your heart.”

With that, Jiang Zhaoxue released him and stood up.

Her shadow fell upon him. Her eyes seemed to have already seen through his future, carrying a trace of pity as she solemnly promised, “When that time comes, I’ll tell you my name.”