Seeing this, Pei Zichen wasn’t surprised.

He glanced at the mirror fragment. The shard was dull and lightless. He frowned: “Why did it break? Where are the other fragments?”

“This…”

Jiang Zhaoxue thought for a moment and said hesitantly: “Maybe when you go back to the past, the Su Guangji just breaks? But this isn’t important either.” Jiang Zhaoxue became serious, responding earnestly: “The urgent matter is to repair your meridians and golden core. I can’t keep carrying you forever, right?”

“Shifu’s wife is correct.”

Pei Zichen’s fingers curled slightly, obviously somewhat stiff.

A’Nan couldn’t help but sigh: “Aiya, why be so direct? Can’t you see how much he minds?”

Jiang Zhaoxue said nothing, only sizing him up: “Do you have other questions?”

“Does Shifu’s wife have any other medicines?” Pei Zichen spoke with some difficulty. “Golden cores are difficult to form, but repairing mortal meridians shouldn’t be difficult. I can’t always let Shifu’s wife carry me.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue recalled.

When she came, she had collected a pile of talismans from Jiang Zhaoyue, and the luggage she had prepared when escaping last time hadn’t been put back—it was all in her qiankun ring.

But—

“The qiankun ring can’t be opened without spiritual power.” Jiang Zhaoxue frowned tightly. “I do have something in my qiankun pouch that can save you, but I need to open it.”

“Shifu’s wife can’t use spiritual power?”

This wasn’t unexpected for Pei Zichen. He inquired carefully: “Can’t use it, or don’t have it?”

“Can’t use it.” Jiang Zhaoxue sat down cross-legged, pondering deeply: “Since I came back, my spiritual power has just been lying dead in my body, completely unwilling to move. If I had spiritual power, I could open the qiankun pouch and our days would be much better. But unfortunately, you don’t have a golden core, and I can’t use mine. What can we do?”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen didn’t speak, only silently contemplating.

Seeing this, Jiang Zhaoxue was somewhat curious: “Why aren’t you speaking? Do you have a solution?”

“I think… if there’s spiritual power remaining on other objects, perhaps that could be used too.”

Pei Zichen spoke. Jiang Zhaoxue was stunned: “What?”

With that, Pei Zichen took out the jade token Jiang Zhaoxue had given him from his sleeve and handed it to her: “On this jade token, there’s still residual spiritual power from both Shifu’s wife and myself. Although not much, it should be enough to open the qiankun ring.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue stared blankly at the jade token, then finally reacted, exclaiming: “Genius, you’re truly a genius!”

She usually used these scattered bits of spiritual power everywhere and had completely never thought that such storage-type implements would also retain residual spiritual power.

She rushed forward, snatched the jade token, and quickly pressed it to the qiankun ring.

Sensing the spiritual power at her fingertips, she hastily recited the ring-opening incantation, then felt the qiankun ring open to her consciousness.

Greatly delighted, Jiang Zhaoxue quickly took out what she needed first, then pulled out a box and handed it to Pei Zichen: “This spider is called the Life-Continuing Spider. It can reconnect human meridians. I brought it from Penglai years ago, and it’s finally come in handy!”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen lowered his eyes to look at the box. He had never even heard of this kind of venomous insect—it was obviously extremely precious. He looked somewhat hesitant: “Might it be too valuable…”

“It’s fine, it’s not like it can only be used once.”

Knowing Pei Zichen’s concerns, Jiang Zhaoxue quickly said: “After it enters your body, it will travel through your meridians. When it encounters places it cannot pass through, it will spin silk to repair them. The repaired meridians won’t be very solid, but they’re usable for a mortal, and you won’t need me to carry you anymore.”

“So amazing? Are there any harmful effects?”

Pei Zichen frowned.

Things always had balance. Something that could repair meridians like this must be precious, and the price, as compensation, would typically be rarity and single use only.

But this Life-Continuing Spider could be used repeatedly. What was the price?

“The harm is that it’s expensive and not easy to raise.”

Jiang Zhaoxue said earnestly: “So if you use it, you must promise me one thing.”

“What thing?”

“Become my Fate Attendant.” Jiang Zhaoxue said seriously: “Before we return, you must protect me.”

These words stunned Pei Zichen. Fate Attendants were usually contracts made between dao companions.

A Fate Master’s Fate Attendant—after forming the contract, the Fate Master’s life became the Fate Attendant’s life. If the Fate Master died, the Fate Attendant would perish.

Similarly, if the Fate Attendant died, the Fate Master would also suffer severe injury.

The contract generally ended with one party’s death. Both sides would share fortune from then on and could freely enter each other’s consciousness and touch divine souls. It was an extremely intimate contract like the dao companion contract, which was why it only existed between dao companions.

Pei Zichen frowned and couldn’t help but say: “Shifu’s wife… didn’t form a contract with Shifu…”

“How could I possibly form a contract with him?” Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t help but say: “He has so many enemies. If we truly formed a contract, anyone wanting to kill him in the future would just target me, wouldn’t they? Whether to protect him or protect myself, this contract couldn’t be formed. So between him and me…”

Jiang Zhaoxue shrugged: “At the contract ceremony, we made a verbal contract. Everyone knows. If he had truly formed a Fate Attendant contract, he couldn’t possibly be Lingjian Immortal Pavilion’s pavilion master.”

So if she formed a contract with him now, it would cut off his path to becoming any great sect’s heir in the future.

Of course, he had no path left in this life anyway.

He and Shen Yuqing might have had brief similarities in their youth, but ultimately they were different.

From youth, Shen Yuqing had been a candidate for Lingjian Immortal Pavilion’s pavilion master, while from the moment he fell from the cliff, he was Lingjian Immortal Pavilion’s eternal traitor.

“Will you do it or not?”

Jiang Zhaoxue looked at him: “Do you want me to carry you, or form a contract with me?”

“Shifu’s wife,” Pei Zichen thought for a moment and only said: “I will protect Shifu’s wife and see you safely back. Back then, Shifu made a verbal promise and Shifu’s wife could trust him. This disciple presumes,” Pei Zichen raised his eyes, speaking calmly, “for Shifu’s sake, please trust this disciple once.”

These words were equivalent to refusal. Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue pondered without speaking.

A’Nan sighed: “Looks like he’s still wary of you.”

The Spirit-Locking Array turned Pei Zichen from a person into a tool for nourishing the divine artifact, but if this tool resisted, Jiang Zhaoxue would be helpless.

If they formed a Fate Attendant contract, she would have absolute control over Pei Zichen.

However, now Pei Zichen was unwilling…

“It’s not wariness.” Jiang Zhaoxue could tell. “He’s afraid that if he dies, I’ll suffer backlash.”

Understanding Pei Zichen’s thinking, she felt guilty about scolding him. Jiang Zhaoxue turned her head and snorted lightly, only saying: “Men are all liars. Why would I trust you?”

With that, she still raised her hand: “Extend your hand.”

Pei Zichen’s expression didn’t change. Understanding Jiang Zhaoxue had agreed, he handed his hand to her. Jiang Zhaoxue gripped his hand and made a cut.

After blood welled up, Jiang Zhaoxue opened the box. A small red spider crawled out and burrowed directly into the wound.

Entering the bloodstream, Pei Zichen instantly trembled. Jiang Zhaoxue pressed down on his arm, saying calmly: “It hurts a bit.”

Just “a bit”?

The Life-Continuing Spider burrowed into his meridians, carving its way forward like excavating a mountain tunnel, advancing aggressively through his meridians.

Pei Zichen was covered in cold sweat from the pain. Jiang Zhaoxue stood up and turned around: “I’ll wait outside the entrance. I won’t hear your pain.”

“Huh?” A’Nan was shocked. “You’re not going to care for him?”

“You think he wants me to care?”

Jiang Zhaoxue retorted and walked outside the cave.

Pei Zichen struggled to control his body’s trembling. After hearing Jiang Zhaoxue walk away, he finally couldn’t restrain himself. His entire body crashed heavily to the ground. He felt like a rotting maggot rolling on the ground.

Fortunately, Jiang Zhaoxue wasn’t there. No one was there.

Jiang Zhaoxue walked far away. She hadn’t cultivated her body and couldn’t hear the sounds inside clearly, only vaguely hearing some collision sounds and occasional cries of pain.

She stood in the snow, looking at dead branches. After thinking for a moment, she took out a jade flute from her qiankun pouch.

Soothing flute music came from outside the cave. Although without magical power, relying on the melody alone, it also eased Pei Zichen’s suffering.

What didn’t require a price?

One price of the Life-Continuing Spider was this pain that ordinary people could hardly endure.

Jiang Zhaoxue silently played the flute outside for a long time, feeling it gradually quiet inside.

Calculating the time, she walked back into the cave and saw Pei Zichen’s entire body as if fished from water, collapsed on the ground, the surrounding cliff walls covered with blood from where he had crashed.

Jiang Zhaoxue glanced around and smiled: “Yo, you even knew to control your strength and didn’t smash yourself to death.” With that, she walked to Pei Zichen’s side, efficiently flipped him over, opened the wound from last night, and dripped blood onto his wound.

Pei Zichen was exhausted to the point of complete fatigue, his entire being numbed by pain.

He felt Jiang Zhaoxue touching him. He wearily opened his eyes, speaking hoarsely: “Shifu’s wife…”

“How do you feel? Can you move?”

Jiang Zhaoxue looked down at the constantly moving bumps under the skin of his exposed arm, inquiring casually.

Pei Zichen closed his eyes and swallowed, confirming: “Yes.”

Wherever the Life-Continuing Spider passed, sensation would return to that area. As more and more places where he could struggle appeared, he knew it was almost done.

Although painful, it was still better than being a burden to others.

Jiang Zhaoxue watched as the Life-Continuing Spider emerged from his wound and, following the blood, entered her own body.

Jiang Zhaoxue withdrew her hand, hiding the wound in her sleeve, then closed the box.

Hearing the box snap shut, Pei Zichen assumed the Life-Continuing Spider had been put away.

Jiang Zhaoxue stood up and kicked him, saying indifferently: “Get up. Let’s go.”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen supported himself to stand, saying slowly: “Shifu’s wife, please wait a moment.”

“Don’t stall for time…”

“Use this.”

He took out from the corner a chair made from branches and vines. Although somewhat crude, the structure looked extremely sturdy. Behind the chair was woven vines, obviously for carrying someone.

Jiang Zhaoxue finally realized what this was and couldn’t help but say: “You didn’t sleep last night?”

Then she reacted: “You knew you’d get better?”

“I guessed that Shifu’s wife couldn’t open the qiankun pouch due to lack of spiritual power, and also guessed Shifu’s wife might have other medicines available, so I prepared early.”

With that, Pei Zichen spread the dry grass cushion he had made last night on the chair and said respectfully: “Shifu’s wife, please.”

This chair was the most broken one Jiang Zhaoxue had sat in this lifetime, but compared to recent days, it was already very good treatment. She sat elegantly in the chair. Pei Zichen crouched halfway and carried her on his back.

The newly repaired meridians still hurt somewhat, but carrying Jiang Zhaoxue and standing up, he felt it was much better than the powerless feeling of being unable to do anything.

He carried Jiang Zhaoxue out of the cave. Outside, the cold wind came fiercely, but fortunately he had added a roof to the chair. Jiang Zhaoxue leaned against it and didn’t feel too much. She took out a soft blanket from her qiankun pouch to cover herself, placed a warming jade on the blanket, then took out wound medicine and began elegantly applying it to her frostbite.

“I’m saying…” A’Nan couldn’t bear it anymore. “In this wilderness with no one watching, is this really necessary?”

“Elegance is everywhere.”

Jiang Zhaoxue applied medicine to her slender, beautiful fingers, quite happily saying: “After finally catching my breath, let me pretend for a while.”

“Can you care about him a little?” A’Nan reminded. “I feel he’s very wrong.”

“Of course he’s wrong.” Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t take it too seriously. “Who would be fine after knowing their whole family died because of them, and then watching the dog they raised for seven years and the junior martial brother who accompanied them for seven years get killed? Even if rationally he knows he should live, he’s in pain. When people are tormented by pain day and night, many can’t even care for the living and only want to end it all, let alone when those who hoped he would live and cared about him are all dead? Right now he’s just holding on by a thread. My estimate is…”

Jiang Zhaoxue thought about last night’s situation: “As soon as he gets me to safety, he can slit his throat. So I can’t let him feel too reassured.” Thinking this, Jiang Zhaoxue became happy again and switched to fragrant balm to apply to her skin. “Right now he’s living on the breath of taking care of me.”

“Wen Xiao’an and Gaowen died too early.” Understanding, A’Nan couldn’t help but sigh. “Otherwise you could discuss going back for revenge with him and encourage him.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue also felt some regret.

Why was that sword so accurate?

It actually killed them right in front of Pei Zichen. With all his enemies dead, what did he have left to think about?

“How did he survive back then?”

Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t help but speak.

If it was this current mentality, after falling from the cliff in the book, even if he didn’t die, he would have ended things himself. Where would there be the strong survival instinct in the book that couldn’t be killed despite so many attempts?

A’Nan reacted quickly, immediately reminding: “Back then he had Shen Yuqing as an enemy.”

Oh right.

Jiang Zhaoxue understood. In the book, Shen Yuqing didn’t mention the Book of Fate’s orders or discuss Pei Zichen’s destiny, but knowingly wronged him and still killed him for Mu Jinyue’s sake.

He held hatred in his heart, and also had Mu Jinyue.

Thinking of Mu Jinyue, Jiang Zhaoxue immediately became gossipy and quickly said: “Pei Zichen?”

“This disciple is here.”

Hearing his name, Pei Zichen responded. His breathing was steady. This body, even without spiritual power, had been trained through daily stance practice, sword swinging, stone lifting… solidly built—a body that could grip a three-hundred-jin heavy sword even without spiritual power.

Even with meridians only barely repaired, carrying Jiang Zhaoxue wasn’t difficult.

Hearing that this matter was extremely simple for him, Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t help but pout enviously. But thinking of the effort required, she immediately dismissed the thought and focused: “Say, do you have someone you like?”

“This disciple is devoted to cultivation and has never considered such matters.”

Pei Zichen gave a standard Lingjian Immortal Pavilion disciple answer. Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t believe it and continued pressing: “What about your junior martial sister Mu Jinyue? What do you think of her?”

“Shifu’s wife, one shouldn’t speak of others behind their backs.”

Pei Zichen didn’t answer. Jiang Zhaoxue looked up at the trees, muttering: “It’s not like I’m saying bad things about her. I’m talking about you. Do you think she’s pretty?”

Pei Zichen remained silent.

Jiang Zhaoxue urged: “Say it. Tell the truth. I won’t tell anyone. Do you think she’s good-looking? Do you get that heart-pounding feeling?”

“Never.”

“Eh?” This answer surprised Jiang Zhaoxue somewhat.

Although the plot had progressed to now and he hadn’t experienced being saved by Mu Jinyue’s plea, he had still spent some time with her. With matters of the heart, shouldn’t there be some signs from the beginning?

She didn’t quite believe it and quickly pressed: “You’re lying to me, right?”

“I don’t lie.”

“Then have you ever had this feeling with anyone else? Like seeing someone and thinking, wow, this person is so beautiful, and suddenly your muscles tense, your heart races, you even stutter when speaking, and need to collect yourself to maintain composure. Have you?”

Pei Zichen didn’t speak. Jiang Zhaoxue suspected in her heart: “Are you too embarrassed? Actually toward Mu Jinyue…”

“Shifu’s wife.”

“What?”

“I felt this way when I saw Shifu’s wife.”

“Wh…” Jiang Zhaoxue was about to ask what he was talking about when she suddenly paused.

She instantly realized what Pei Zichen was answering. She heard Pei Zichen speak candidly and calmly: “If Shifu’s wife asks whether I’ve ever seen someone like this, then when I first met Shifu’s wife in Wuyue Forest, it was indeed like this.”

Jiang Zhaoxue’s words instantly stuck. A’Nan let out a “Wow” and the entire bird writhed in Jiang Zhaoxue’s consciousness.

Jiang Zhaoxue cursed silently: “Don’t make a fuss.”

She forcibly suppressed her embarrassment and recovered, realizing Pei Zichen was talking about his state after first meeting her in Wuyue Forest. Reacting, she nodded: “That’s also normal.”

With that, Jiang Zhaoxue suddenly felt a long-lost confidence, remembering her reputation in the True Immortal Realm back then. She took out a handkerchief, dipped it in snow water from the branches, took out a mirror, and wiped the dust from her face, boasting to Pei Zichen: “When I was fifteen, I was named the number one beauty of the True Immortal Realm. Back then, young men your age couldn’t walk when they saw me. Some even said they’d never marry after seeing me once. When I got married, they made a fuss about suicide, wanting to compete with Shen Yu…”

Mentioning Shen Yuqing put Jiang Zhaoxue in a bad mood. She snorted darkly, bypassed him, and maintained her mood: “If I hadn’t lived in seclusion these years with few public appearances, the position of number one beauty would still be mine.”

“Shifu’s wife is correct.”

Pei Zichen responded.

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue felt satisfied. Although she hadn’t asked about Mu Jinyue’s position in Pei Zichen’s heart, receiving affirmation about her own face still made her very happy.

It had been so many years since anyone praised her looks.

She happily applied fragrant balm to herself. Passing plum blossoms, she picked several branches and inserted them in this broken chair, decorating nicely.

Encountering white plum blossoms in full bloom, she picked one branch and tapped Pei Zichen.

Pei Zichen turned back to look, then saw Jiang Zhaoxue leaning sideways, holding out a plum branch, smiling: “Here, for you.”

Pei Zichen’s gaze fell on the plum blossom. He raised his hand to receive the white plum, nodding: “Thank you, Shifu’s wife.”

With that, he removed the plum blossom and inserted it at his waist like a sword.

The two wandered around the mountain for nearly ten days. Each day, Pei Zichen handled everything—carrying her during the day to find their way and hunt, and at night finding suitable caves to stay in, letting Jiang Zhaoxue stay inside while he used snow water to heat warm water for her simple bathing. After she changed clothes and left them at the cave entrance, Pei Zichen would take them together to a nearby stream to wash, also washing his own clothes.

After Jiang Zhaoxue fell asleep, he would enter the cave. He only had one set of clothes, so he would wear wet clothes to first set up Jiang Zhaoxue’s clothes on branches, shielding her behind the clothes before taking off his own and hanging them by the fire to dry.

Even so, he actually felt nervous every time.

Especially washing Jiang Zhaoxue’s clothes…

Every time he touched her garments with her fragrance on them, even when she wasn’t beside him, he felt nervous and embarrassed.

However, he couldn’t let Jiang Zhaoxue wash clothes. He could only steel himself and pretend these were men’s clothes.

But finally, on the seventh day, Jiang Zhaoxue got up and said vaguely: “I’ll wash them myself today.”

Hearing her say she’d wash them herself, Pei Zichen remembered the frostbite on her hands when he woke up and immediately said: “Serving is this disciple’s proper duty. How dare I let Shifu’s wife do it herself?”

“It’s not…” Jiang Zhaoxue said vaguely. “Having you always wash them is embarrassing.”

“This disciple doesn’t feel tired. Please don’t worry, Shifu’s wife.”

“It’s… it’s not about worry.” Jiang Zhaoxue said softly. “It’s just not very convenient.”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen understood in an instant. After hesitating for a moment, he said softly: “Then please follow this disciple, Shifu’s wife.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue followed Pei Zichen to the river.

The river surface had already frozen into ice. Pei Zichen used a stone to chisel out a hole, stood with his back to Jiang Zhaoxue, and said softly: “Please wash, Shifu’s wife.”

Jiang Zhaoxue looked at the ice water, tentatively put her undergarments in and gave them a vigorous shake, then pulled them out, wrung them dry, wrapped them in her outer coat, and quickly said: “Let’s go, let’s go. I’m freezing to death.”

Pei Zichen followed Jiang Zhaoxue back. Jiang Zhaoxue ran all the way back to the cave, quickly hung the clothes behind her coat, and returned to the fire to start applying fragrant balm.

Pei Zichen’s gaze swept over her fingers reddened by the cold water. After hesitating for a moment, he said softly: “From now on, let me wash Shifu’s wife’s clothes.”

Jiang Zhaoxue stiffened. Pei Zichen lowered his eyes: “They’re all clothes. To this disciple, there’s no difference. Shifu’s wife fell into hardship because of this disciple. If I let Shifu’s wife suffer the cold water again, this disciple cannot feel at ease.”

Jiang Zhaoxue fell silent. Even Pei Zichen had thought it through—what was there for her to insist on?

Jiang Zhaoxue immediately pulled out all the undergarments she had hidden these days. She had also changed through all the clothes in her qiankun pouch until she couldn’t change anymore before being forced onto the path of washing her own clothes.

She hadn’t washed clothes in two hundred years—no, she had never washed them before. In the twenty-first century, she had a washing machine!

Jiang Zhaoxue packed clothes in the back without making a sound. Pei Zichen instantly felt somewhat embarrassed and quickly said: “This disciple was presumptuous…”

Before he finished speaking, a small bundle of clothes was thrown out from inside. Jiang Zhaoxue walked out, saying openly: “I only brought these few pieces of clothing. Don’t ruin them for me.”

Pei Zichen froze, then immediately said: “Yes.”

With that, Pei Zichen took the bundled garments, feeling like they were hot potatoes, and ran out as if fleeing.

Jiang Zhaoxue sat by the fire, unable to help but sigh.

“Young people, full of vigor.”

Pei Zichen washed these clothes for a long time. Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t wait for him and went to sleep herself.

Pei Zichen stayed outside the cave until his heartbeat completely calmed before walking back. Jiang Zhaoxue had long since fallen asleep. He forcibly suppressed his emotions, hung up the clothes properly, then turned back to sit guard at the entrance.

The cave had warning traps set up. As soon as anything intruded, they would sound immediately, allowing Pei Zichen to rest slightly.

These days, he was very tired every day—exhausted to the extreme, so he wouldn’t think too much.

Once he stopped, he would remember many past events. Deceased people from the past would wander back and forth before his eyes. The familiar pain would drown him, the suffocating pain making all his internal organs twist together, as if living in an interrogation room, enduring torture daily.

Fortunately, he was too tired.

When the body was exhausted to the limit, he thought of nothing. Closing his eyes brought peaceful sleep. The only thing he could think about was that since they ate rabbit today, they couldn’t eat it again tomorrow. Jiang Zhaoxue’s taste was picky—the same thing couldn’t be repeated.

Staying in the mountains like this for over half a month, the two had walked through nearly every corner of the mountain. Jiang Zhaoxue recorded everywhere they went, drawing a map. Looking at the only place on the map they hadn’t visited, Jiang Zhaoxue said somewhat nervously: “If there’s no jade ganoderma here either…”

“Then you were probably deceived.”

Pei Zichen responded. Jiang Zhaoxue choked. Pei Zichen couldn’t help but inquire once more: “Shifu’s wife, exactly who told you there was jade ganoderma here?”

“Uh…” As soon as asked, Jiang Zhaoxue became nervous. She lied: “Don’t ask about that. Let’s hurry!”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen was fairly certain in his heart that Jiang Zhaoxue had been deceived.

He said nothing more, only silently carried Jiang Zhaoxue forward.

By afternoon, when they reached near their destination, the snowstorm began to diminish.

“The snow seems lighter.” Jiang Zhaoxue was somewhat happy. “I feel hopeful!”

“Hurry up!” A’Nan collapsed in her mind. “I don’t want to stay on this snowy mountain anymore. So boring!!”

Living in Jiang Zhaoxue’s consciousness, its five senses were all connected to hers. Whatever Jiang Zhaoxue ate, it ate. With a lively temperament, it was almost driven mad by this boring life.

“Almost there, almost there.” Jiang Zhaoxue soothed it. “No matter what the situation, we’re definitely going down the mountain tomorrow!”

Hearing this, A’Nan finally quieted somewhat.

Pei Zichen carried her upward, vigilantly observing the surroundings.

Jiang Zhaoxue pondered and described to Pei Zichen: “That place should have an empty house, right near it…”

Before she finished, voices suddenly came from around them. Jiang Zhaoxue instantly shut her mouth, leaped down from the chair, and hid in the shadows with Pei Zichen simultaneously.

The two listened vigilantly to their surroundings, then saw a bustling crowd in the distance. A soft sedan was slowly carried down from above. The mountain path on both sides was filled with people. A middle-aged man walked beside the sedan, chattering on about something.

These people wore luxurious garments, but clearly different from Jiang Zhaoxue and Pei Zichen’s current attire. Jiang Zhaoxue examined these clothes, watching the sedan slowly descend the mountain. From afar she heard the middle-aged man say: “Young Master, coming down the mountain today is cause for celebration. Young Master Wang has set up wine at the south of the city and invites you over.”

“Not going.”

A lazy, impatient young voice came from the sedan.

The middle-aged man quickly smiled ingratiatingly: “Then Young Master Zhao? He says he bought a new fighting cock…”

“Fighting cocks, fighting dogs, fighting crickets—will he die if he doesn’t fight? My Mighty General is currently gaining weight. We’ll go after he’s fattened up.”

“Then Young Master Liu…”

“Not going, not going, not going to any of them!”

The sedan passed near Jiang Zhaoxue. The wind blew, lifting the curtain and revealing a brilliant young face.

This youth wore goose-yellow brocade, a golden crown on his head. His features were extraordinarily vivid and beautiful, looking about fifteen or sixteen years old, his temperament arrogant and flamboyant—clearly a wealthy young master.

Jiang Zhaoxue and Pei Zichen held their breath, hiding in the shadows. As the youth spoke and passed by, he suddenly threw a piece of gold from his hand!

The gold shot straight through a tree trunk. Pei Zichen pulled Jiang Zhaoxue behind him, drew the already withered plum branch from his waist and swept it urgently to strike the rapidly approaching gold block. The gold piece flew back under the force, instantly piercing through the sedan curtain, passing by the youth’s face, and falling to the ground.

The youth looked back in surprise. Everyone immediately stopped, guards drawing their swords: “Who’s there!”

“My shifu’s wife and I got lost in the snowy mountains and accidentally entered this place,” Pei Zichen’s voice rang out neither servile nor overbearing, speaking calmly. “We hope the young master will forgive us.”

No one spoke. The youth glanced at the two people partially visible behind the tree—one was clearly a woman, her garment fabric luxurious, evidently from a wealthy family.

He pondered, turned to look at the gold on the ground, calculated the relative strength of both sides, thought for a moment, then smiled: “Judging by the voice, seems like a good person. Fine.”

The youth lowered the curtain, saying coldly: “Down the mountain.”

Hearing the youth’s order, everyone withdrew. Pei Zichen maintained his stance of blocking Jiang Zhaoxue, vigilantly watching those people.

After everyone left, Jiang Zhaoxue immediately got up. Pei Zichen quickly followed: “Shifu’s wife…”

Before he finished, he saw Jiang Zhaoxue go pick up the gold from the ground.

Pei Zichen was stunned, then watched as Jiang Zhaoxue tossed the gold in her hand, looking at the family banner with the character “Ye” going down the mountain. She said with some regret: “So good-looking, why so stingy?”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen followed Jiang Zhaoxue’s gaze.

Jiang Zhaoxue lowered her eyes to examine the gold in her hand. Small as it was, it was better than nothing.

When traveling outside, one must be frugal.

She put away the gold, turned back toward the mountain, and called to Pei Zichen: “Come on, it must be nearby.”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen came back to his senses and followed Jiang Zhaoxue up the mountain.

This place was clearly a different season from the snowy mountain. Jiang Zhaoxue was quite happy. Jade ganoderma liked warmth when growing. She had always found it strange that jade ganoderma would grow on a snowy mountain, but if it was here, it would be very natural.

She ran up the mountain and indeed saw an empty house. She became happy and turned to Pei Zichen: “See, I told you there’s an empty house here. Behind the back wall in the corner—”

Jiang Zhaoxue searched along, reciting the content she had recalled countless times: “The broken hole behind the corner—”

She found the broken hole and crouched down, saying happily: “Jade ganoderma…”

Before she finished, Jiang Zhaoxue’s voice stopped. Pei Zichen stepped forward and asked puzzled: “Shifu’s wife?”

With that, he lowered his gaze and saw Jiang Zhaoxue crouching on the ground, staring blankly at the jade ganoderma’s root.

If jade ganoderma’s roots were left, it would grow again every hundred years, so no one would dig it up directly. After all, after harvesting, it could be preserved with magic.

The root still had mucus on it—it had clearly just been cut by someone.

Seeing this scene, Pei Zichen made the connection and frowned, reminding: “Shifu’s wife, it should have been taken by that person just now.”

“Obviously!” Jiang Zhaoxue instantly stood up, furious: “Stingy and nasty—stealing my jade ganoderma too?! What kind of person is this?” Jiang Zhaoxue rolled up her sleeves and chased down the mountain. “I’m not finished with him!”