Just after entering the Ye Residence, before curing the Eldest Young Master, they’d first kicked the Second Young Master onto a sickbed.

If they killed him, they could forget about the Jade Lingzhi and would have to use some extraordinary means…

Just thinking about it made Jiang Zhaoxue raise her hand to her forehead.

To beat a mortal to death and then commit home invasion and robbery—even demonic cultivators from the Jiuyou Realm wouldn’t do something so despicable, would they?!

She still had to heal him.

Heal him quickly, obtain the Jade Lingzhi quickly. The day after tomorrow was another fire poison episode. Before then, she still needed to hurry…

Jiang Zhaoxue pondered in her heart while secretly rummaging through her qiankun pouch. After finding some medicines, she led Pei Zichen to find Ye Tianjiao.

But perhaps the Ye Family had been traumatized by Pei Zichen—when the two reached the entrance, servants blocked their way. Jiang Zhaoxue hurriedly smiled apologetically. “Sorry, my young disciple got a bit agitated earlier. I have some excellent medicine here, and I know a bit about medical arts. Let me go in and see the Second Young Master…”

As she spoke, Jiang Zhaoxue was quite sensible, taking silver from her sleeve and attempting to bribe the servants blocking the way. “Everyone, please make an accommodation…”

“Immortal Master Jiang!” Chen Zhao’s voice rang out timely.

Jiang Zhaoxue quickly tucked the money back into her sleeve, assumed an immortal bearing, looked up, and smiled. “Master Chen.”

“Immortal Master Jiang.” Chen Zhao descended the steps, bowed to Jiang Zhaoxue, glanced at Pei Zichen with lingering fear, then said uneasily, “Well… the Second Young Master’s ribs were broken. He’s currently unconscious. The residence physician has already administered medicine. To see the Immortal Master, we’ll need to wait at least until tomorrow. Please rest in the residence, Immortal Master. If the Second Young Master doesn’t wake tomorrow, I’ll take the Immortal Master to see the Eldest Young Master.”

“Sorry, sorry.” Hearing it was only broken ribs, Jiang Zhaoxue immediately breathed a sigh of relief, then quickly said, “Should I go take a look and apologize to the Second Young Master?”

“For ordinary external injuries, there’s no need to trouble the Immortal Master.” Chen Zhao was quite magnanimous. “The residence also has spirit medicines. Immortal Master, please rest assured.”

“But…”

“Is the Immortal Master concerned about discussing the Jade Lingzhi matter with the Second Young Master?”

Seeing Jiang Zhaoxue persist in not leaving, Chen Zhao inquired directly. Jiang Zhaoxue paused, feeling somewhat embarrassed, but still said, “Indeed so.”

“Regarding this matter, please be at ease.” Chen Zhao reassured Jiang Zhaoxue. “The Second Young Master has already said that tomorrow he’ll take you to see the Eldest Young Master. As long as you confirm you’re confident, half can be given to you first. After the matter is accomplished, the other half will be delivered to the Immortal Master.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue immediately felt relieved.

Half a Jade Lingzhi was enough for Pei Zichen’s spiritual roots to regrow. Once they obtained the other half, they could completely reconstruct Pei Zichen’s meridians and bones.

Having reached this point, seeing that Ye Tianjiao truly didn’t want to see her, she no longer insisted. She bowed. “Then please convey my thanks to the Second Young Master.”

“It’s no matter. The Immortal Master should rest well. Zi’er,” Chen Zhao called to a maid beside him, “prepare the guest rooms and lead the two Immortal Masters to rest.”

The maid came forward upon hearing this and led Jiang Zhaoxue and Pei Zichen. After the two left, Chen Zhao breathed a sigh of relief and hurried back to the room. He saw Ye Tianjiao lying on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, murmuring, “Fairy maiden… fairy maiden…”

Watching this, Chen Zhao felt somewhat irritated and lowered his voice. “Go find Daoist Elder Ye. Have him come over quickly and secretly perform a ritual for the Second Young Master. Tell him…” Chen Zhao seemed to feel embarrassed, closed his eyes, and turned his head away. “The Second Young Master saw a woman of excessive beauty and lost his soul. It needs to be called back.”

These words stunned everyone. They couldn’t help but secretly glance at Ye Tianjiao lying on the bed.

Who would have thought—the Second Young Master looked fierce, domineering, and uninterested in women, yet upon seeing a beautiful woman, he’d lost his soul.

After Chen Zhao’s heartache over the Second Young Master losing his soul, he couldn’t help but feel gratified. He indeed hadn’t misjudged—Jiang Zhaoxue must be a great power. His family’s Second Young Master had merely looked at her face up close and had his soul knocked out.

Jiang Zhaoxue and Pei Zichen knew nothing of all this. They followed the maid back to the guest rooms.

The Ye Family was wealthy and influential. For guests like them, they were given a small courtyard alone.

After entering the room, Jiang Zhaoxue breathed a sigh of relief, sat down, poured herself a cup of tea, and said with relief, “Fortunately, Second Young Master Ye has a good constitution—only two broken ribs. Otherwise, I really wouldn’t have known what to do. Now it’s good. We’ll first get half the Jade Lingzhi. Once I cure Eldest Young Master Ye, your spiritual roots can regrow! Then I’ll teach you to reconstruct your meridians. In the future, you’ll definitely be even stronger than before!”

Pei Zichen listened, standing in place, saying nothing.

Seeing him silent, Jiang Zhaoxue looked up in confusion. “What are you doing? Why aren’t you speaking?”

“Master’s wife…” Pei Zichen hesitated to speak. Jiang Zhaoxue blinked, then saw Pei Zichen press his lips tight. After a long while, he finally said, “Must you reconstruct my golden core?”

Jiang Zhaoxue froze, then saw Pei Zichen raise his eyes and say seriously, “I don’t have a golden core, but I still have my sword. Master’s wife still has talismans. As long as we find a way to leave, why must we reconstruct my golden core?”

“You…” Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t react for a moment. “You don’t want to reconstruct your golden core?”

“I want Master’s wife to return safely.” Pei Zichen spoke calmly.

Jiang Zhaoxue savored this, sensing the strangeness in these words.

He didn’t want to reconstruct his golden core. He only wanted her to return.

Her fingers lightly tapped the table. After thinking for a moment, she only said, “But the day after tomorrow, my fire poison will flare up soon. We can’t possibly return in such a short time. If you have no spiritual power, what will I do?”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen froze. Jiang Zhaoxue reminded him, “Don’t think I’m busy working for you. I’m doing this for myself. Tomorrow, get the Jade Lingzhi quickly and guide qi into your body within one day. Otherwise—” Jiang Zhaoxue smiled mockingly, “You can just watch your master’s wife die in pain.”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen understood and hurriedly said, “This disciple is foolish.”

“Go rest.” Jiang Zhaoxue lowered her head to drink tea.

Pei Zichen responded and left. After he departed, A’Nan’s voice rang out. “His condition is very bad.”

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t speak. A’Nan analyzed, “Listen, he doesn’t want to restore his golden core. He only thinks about sending you back. What about himself? He has no plans at all. Does he still want to live? With his state of mind, even if you reconstruct his spiritual roots and form his core, when heavenly tribulation descends, it’ll strike him dead.”

“It’s my problem.”

Jiang Zhaoxue thought seriously. A’Nan was stunned. “You can even reflect on this? Are you too good at self-reflection?!”

“My charm isn’t enough.” Jiang Zhaoxue recalled these past days. “Being with me for nearly a month, he still doesn’t feel happy?! Are my recent jokes not funny?”

This line of thinking left A’Nan unable to keep up. She couldn’t help but also begin recalling what exactly Jiang Zhaoxue had been doing recently.

On the mountain, she directed Pei Zichen to carry her, hunt, cook, do laundry…

Down the mountain, she directed Pei Zichen to clean, cook, buy groceries, do laundry…

“No,” A’Nan couldn’t help but say, “how can cooking, buying groceries, and doing laundry every day bring any happiness? Normal people, no matter how happy, would become depressed living this kind of life, right?!”

“But I’m here.” Jiang Zhaoxue said strangely. “Isn’t he happy being with me? He doesn’t even have time to think about sad things.”

“He doesn’t have time to think about happy things either!”

As these words emerged, Jiang Zhaoxue froze, then felt somewhat guilty, saying vaguely, “Isn’t it enough that I infect him with my happiness every day…”

“What do you think?”

A’Nan threw the question back to her. Jiang Zhaoxue thought about it and sighed. “Then I don’t know how to coax him either.”

“Think about it.” A’Nan sighed. “We can’t drain the pond to catch the fish. You still need to nurture him until he can at least nourish the Tianji Lingyu back. This will be a long time. The way he is now, even if you use yourself to forcibly drag him and keep him by your side, he’ll reach Golden Core at most.”

Cultivation emphasized state of mind. To transcend mortal reincarnation, one must have a dao heart that transcends mortals. The so-called dao heart was one’s persistent path. In his current half-dead state, what dao heart could he have?

Jiang Zhaoxue knew A’Nan spoke reasonably. She pondered without speaking.

A’Nan thought for a moment, somewhat curious. “But seriously, have you thought about how to return?”

“I have a conjecture.”

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t hide anything from A’Nan, thinking as she spoke. “Actually, before on the snowy mountain, when I held the Su Guangji, I felt spiritual power surging.”

“What do you mean?” A’Nan asked in confusion. “Spiritual power? You can use spiritual power?”

“I can when I hold it. Moreover, I even felt the Xunshi Mirror searching for it. As long as I respond, I can find Shen Yuqing.” Jiang Zhaoxue recalled that feeling, analyzing, “So I speculate that if I want to return, I only need to use spiritual power and contact Shen Yuqing. When the Xunshi Mirror opens normally, returning won’t be difficult. Furthermore, I feel there’s a power churning within this Su Guangji fragment. Perhaps when I use spiritual power, it will open again. Then space-time will change again, only I’m not certain where it will change to, and whether this fragment’s power can take both me and Pei Zichen away at the same time.”

“So you don’t dare use spiritual power now because you’re afraid of being separated from him, leaving him lost in the space-time turbulence?”

“Not only that.” Jiang Zhaoxue lightly tapped the table. “Look, in the book, Pei Zichen held the Su Guangji and he opened it. Now I’m holding the Su Guangji and also opened it. Logically speaking, the Su Guangji must work together with the Xunshi Mirror to open. Why can either one of us casually open it and return to the past? Is it this careless?”

“So why?” A’Nan was also confused by Jiang Zhaoxue.

Jiang Zhaoxue pondered, speculating, “No matter why, one thing is certain—the Su Guangji didn’t open by accident. It brought us back with a purpose. There must be something in this space-time that needs us to explore. Look, in the book, Pei Zichen didn’t have me, but he had a vendetta. To survive, he had to move forward. Now he has no vendetta, but his Jade Lingzhi was dug up. Is this coincidence?”

“This is more like guidance—” A’Nan speculated, then understood. “So you think you were guided to come to the Ye Family.”

“Correct.”

Jiang Zhaoxue took a sip of water and said seriously, “As for what exactly we came to do, perhaps we’ll understand tomorrow when we see that Eldest Young Master Ye.”

“Mm… makes sense.” A’Nan nodded, then said, “So what about Pei Zichen?”

“Huh?” Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t understand. “What does this have to do with Pei Zichen?”

“With his half-dead appearance, there’s no point in us acting unilaterally, right?”

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t speak. After thinking for a moment, she sighed. “Then… let’s find him some meaning.”

Jiang Zhaoxue pondered all night. When she woke the next day, Chen Zhao was already waiting early at the door, leading Jiang Zhaoxue and Pei Zichen together to Ye Wenzhi’s courtyard.

Walking along the way, Chen Zhao roughly explained the condition to Jiang Zhaoxue.

“Three years ago, the Eldest Young Master ranked first in the examinations and prepared to leave Taizhou City to enter the capital as an official. But on the day of departure, he began sleeping constantly, never waking. I originally wanted to take him back to the capital for medical treatment, but unexpectedly, whenever we left Taizhou City, the Eldest Young Master would vomit blood incessantly.”

Chen Zhao’s expression was heavy as he said slowly, “I once received kindness from the Ye Family ancestor and became the Ye clan’s retainer, serving the two young masters as they grew up. When I heard the Eldest Young Master had fallen ill, I rushed over. The Immortal Master should be able to see—resentful energy runs rampant here. When I arrived, there were already signs of this, but it wasn’t severe. At first, I thought the Eldest Young Master had committed evil deeds and the victims’ resentful energy was rebounding. But later I felt something was wrong. Even if the young master did evil, in just half a month, it’s impossible to have such resentful energy clinging to him.”

“Indeed.” Jiang Zhaoxue nodded, raising her head to look at the blood-red aura filling the courtyard. This was definitely not resentful energy formed in a single day.

Chen Zhao sighed. “I was powerless and could only use spiritual power to extend the Eldest Young Master’s life. Just then, the Tianji Academy came to Taizhou City to investigate the matter of women dying unjustly at night. I asked people from the Tianji Academy to examine him, but people from the Tianji Academy didn’t believe the Eldest Young Master was innocent. So after confirming the deaths of women in the city were unrelated to the young master, they left first. Since then, the Eldest Young Master’s condition has worsened day by day. The family has sought cultivators and physicians, tried every method, all to no avail. We could only rely entirely on spiritual power to sustain his life. I was originally about to step into Nascent Soul…”

Chen Zhao spoke and smiled bitterly, lowering his eyes to look at his own hands, his voice carrying some hoarseness. “I’ve nearly regressed to Qi Refining.”

“Master Chen has worked hard.” Jiang Zhaoxue bowed to show respect.

Chen Zhao realized what he was saying and hurriedly withdrew his hand, smiling. “Look at me, speaking such dejected words to guests. Come, Immortal Master, please enter.”

With that, the three stepped into Ye Wenzhi’s courtyard. Upon entering, Jiang Zhaoxue saw Ye Tianjiao already standing at the door waiting.

Hearing footsteps, Ye Tianjiao instinctively turned back. The instant he saw Jiang Zhaoxue, his eyes contracted sharply, then he hurriedly turned back, pretending to be composed.

Pei Zichen glanced at Ye Tianjiao and looked away.

Jiang Zhaoxue pretended not to know Ye Tianjiao’s thoughts, smiled, and stepped forward. “Second Young Master Ye.”

“Mm.”

Ye Tianjiao’s gaze fixed on the flower bed behind Jiang Zhaoxue, pretending to nod seriously. “You’re here.”

With that, he turned stiffly. “Come in.”

Jiang Zhaoxue obediently followed Ye Tianjiao into the room. Upon entering, the smell of blood and medicine rushed toward her. Jiang Zhaoxue turned past the screen and saw a young man lying on the bed.

This young man’s features bore some resemblance to Ye Tianjiao’s, but his temperament was completely different—clearly much gentler.

“This is my brother.”

Ye Tianjiao turned his head away, suppressing his slightly reddened eyes. “Look at him.”

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t speak. She examined the young man on the bed. Beside her, Chen Zhao said, “I’ve tried everything, but the Eldest Young Master remains like this. Over these years, we’ve also invited many fortune-tellers to read the Eldest Young Master’s fate, but they all said the Eldest Young Master wouldn’t live past twenty-four, and they had no ability to change his fate.”

“And this year, he’s exactly twenty-four.”

Jiang Zhaoxue spoke calmly. Chen Zhao froze. He hadn’t told Jiang Zhaoxue the age, but thinking of Jiang Zhaoxue’s abilities, he wasn’t surprised. He nodded. “Correct. The other day I heard about the Li family child’s matter. I held onto hope, wanting Miss to see whether my young master’s fate truly is, as they said, reaching its end.”

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t speak. She looked at the young man before her, clearly wrapped in a layer of Buddhist light, her expression stern.

She thought for a moment and inquired, “How many fate masters have you had examine his fate?”

The term ‘fate master’ was somewhat unfamiliar to Chen Zhao, but he quickly realized Jiang Zhaoxue meant fortune-tellers. He thought about it. “No fewer than thirty people, from Mahayana cultivators of the Tianji Academy to legendary three-eyed prodigy Golden Cores—I’ve invited them all.”

“They all said he wouldn’t live past twenty-four?”

“Yes.”

Jiang Zhaoxue fell silent. Pei Zichen sensed something wrong and said softly, “Master’s wife?”

“Give me his birth date and time.”

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t dare make assertions. She asked Chen Zhao for the birth information. Chen Zhao paused. Birth information was too important. He couldn’t help but look at Ye Tianjiao. Ye Tianjiao understood his meaning, turned his head away, and said stiffly, “Give it to her.”

Hearing this, Chen Zhao reported the birth information to Jiang Zhaoxue. Taking the information, Jiang Zhaoxue calculated with her fingers and frowned. Then she returned to the desk and began recalculating using a different method.

Seeing her calculate repeatedly, Chen Zhao couldn’t help but feel surprised. Ye Tianjiao also became curious. After waiting a long time, Jiang Zhaoxue tried all possible methods. Looking at the same results on the paper, she frowned and looked up.

Seeing her expression, Ye Tianjiao’s heart jumped erratically. He couldn’t help but say, “You… what’s with that expression? Even if my brother can’t be saved, you don’t need to look like this, do you? I’m prepared.”

As Ye Tianjiao spoke, he was clearly somewhat afraid but still tried hard to say, “Tell me the result. I can bear it. Twenty-four is twenty-four, I…”

“It’s one hundred and four.”

Jiang Zhaoxue spoke. Ye Tianjiao froze. Chen Zhao showed surprise and couldn’t help but say, “What did you say?”

“His fate shouldn’t end at twenty-four.” Jiang Zhaoxue thought carefully and said solemnly, “He is a good person for seven lifetimes with seven lifetimes of merit. In this life, he has the fate of great wealth and nobility as a prime minister. He’ll rank first at age twenty-one, enter the cabinet at thirty, serve three dynasties, retire at eighty, and pass peacefully at one hundred and four. He’ll have a loving marriage and descendants filling his halls.”

Hearing this, both Chen Zhao and Ye Tianjiao stood frozen. Then Ye Tianjiao began stammering, “But… but…”

“But they all said his fate ends at twenty-four.”

Jiang Zhaoxue also felt this was unusual. She recalled Li Niannian, and even… Pei Zichen.

With Li Niannian, she’d assumed those fortune-tellers were deceiving them, that Ye Wenzhen’s skills were inadequate. But what about Ye Wenzhi?

At least thirty people had read his fate, including even Mahayana cultivators. No matter what, it was impossible for all thirty to be deceiving them or to have misjudged. Moreover, this was a good person of seven lifetimes—even without calculation, one could see his fate at a glance. How could so many get it wrong?

Jiang Zhaoxue’s heart filled with doubt, but she couldn’t figure out why.

Why was her result different from those people’s?

Was she wrong, or were those people wrong?

Her heart suddenly felt somewhat panicked. She actually began to doubt her own results.

However, after brief shock, Ye Tianjiao quickly reacted and said happily, “Does that mean they calculated wrong?! My brother can live to one hundred and four, he won’t die at twenty-four?”

No one present dared speak, including Chen Zhao.

He was all too clear—with thirty people calculating the same result, the possibility of error was too small. Even though he believed Jiang Zhaoxue had some ability, he didn’t dare believe she could be more capable than the Tianji Academy’s Mahayana National Teacher.

He’d originally just wanted Jiang Zhaoxue to change the fate, but Jiang Zhaoxue said…

The fate wasn’t like this?

Jiang Zhaoxue and Chen Zhao looked at each other. Pei Zichen also understood something was wrong and frowned. Only Ye Tianjiao alone was still rejoicing. “My brother can be saved! My brother can be saved! Hey!”

He turned to look at Jiang Zhaoxue, asking strangely, “Since he originally has the good fate of seven lifetimes of virtue, why is he like this now?”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue raised her eyes to look at the surrounding resentful energy.

According to common sense, around a good person of seven lifetimes, resentful energy would dissipate. It was impossible for so much resentful energy to surround him.

But if he weren’t a good person of seven lifetimes, this resentful energy would have long since devoured this person. How could he still be alive?

Currently, there was no other way. She thought for a moment and could only say, “Right now, the only method is for me to first dispel the resentful energy from the Eldest Young Master.”

“You can do this?” Chen Zhao was somewhat surprised. To dispel such resentful energy required at least Nascent Soul stage or above—not something ordinary people could accomplish.

Jiang Zhaoxue nodded, thinking as she spoke. “I can try.”

With the fate of a good person for seven lifetimes, Heaven’s Way would certainly assist. With just a bit of spiritual power, plus the talismans her brother gave her, she still had confidence in dispelling such resentful energy.

“But right now, we don’t know exactly why the Eldest Young Master is bedridden. I can’t guarantee that after dispelling the resentful energy, there definitely won’t be problems.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Hearing this, Ye Tianjiao said happily, “As long as we can save my brother, trying is fine.”

“Good.” Jiang Zhaoxue contemplated, raised her eyes to look at Ye Tianjiao. “Then I need Second Young Master Ye to help with something.”

“What?”

“You’ve guided qi into your body.” Jiang Zhaoxue swept her gaze over Ye Tianjiao’s entire body, inquiring directly. “You’ve studied the Dao, haven’t you?”

Hearing this, Ye Tianjiao’s entire body stiffened.

Jiang Zhaoxue sensed his resistance to learning the Dao but was too lazy to ask more questions. She only asked, “Can you use spiritual power?”

“I can…”

Ye Tianjiao’s tone trembled. Seeing this, Chen Zhao couldn’t help but want to say something, but Jiang Zhaoxue said, “Give me half the Jade Lingzhi today. Tomorrow night I’ll set up an array to expel the resentful energy, but I need to use Second Young Master Ye’s spiritual power. Please teach him well tonight, Master Chen.”

Hearing this, Chen Zhao hurriedly said, “Use mine…”

“Are your meridians as broad as his?” Jiang Zhaoxue spoke directly, pointing at Ye Tianjiao with her brush. “He has Heaven-tier Gold spiritual roots. His spiritual root strength and meridian width surpass ordinary people. The array I’m setting requires an enormous amount of spiritual power. I need to borrow his body to accumulate spiritual power. Master Chen, please don’t overestimate yourself.”

Hearing this, Chen Zhao felt somewhat embarrassed. Seeing they still had concerns, Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t help but say, “Why exactly did he not continue studying? Such excellent talent.”

“This…”

“Don’t say it!” Ye Tianjiao immediately interrupted Chen Zhao, who didn’t dare speak.

Jiang Zhaoxue thought for a moment and directly stood up. “Tonight I need to go into seclusion. Send over the Jade Lingzhi in a bit. When you deliver it, I’ll personally teach the Second Young Master to gather qi.”

Hearing this, Chen Zhao’s eyes lit up. Ye Tianjiao showed an expression of panic.

Jiang Zhaoxue paid him no attention and took Pei Zichen back.

By the time they reached the room, the Jade Lingzhi had already been delivered. Jiang Zhaoxue opened the box and found half a Jade Lingzhi inside. After verifying there were no problems, she turned and held the Jade Lingzhi, asking Pei Zichen, “How do you plan to eat it? Raw or should I cook it for you?”

“This disciple can use it directly.”

Pei Zichen extended both hands and received the Jade Lingzhi.

Watching his respectful movements, Jiang Zhaoxue suddenly felt somewhat nostalgic for the time before he knew her identity. She couldn’t help but say, “Why have you become so timid and hesitant since learning I’m your master’s wife?”

These words made Pei Zichen’s movements stiffen. Jiang Zhaoxue thought about it and couldn’t help but say, “No wonder I couldn’t remember your name before. Like this, you really have no presence at all.”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen’s eyelashes trembled lightly. Just as he was about to respond, Jiang Zhaoxue saw his expression wasn’t good and hurriedly said, “But I like this kind of person.”

Pei Zichen froze in place again, his original words stuck in his throat, at a loss.

Jiang Zhaoxue doubled down, adding, “It would be even better if you could be a bit more lively. After all, you’re still young—you don’t need to suppress your nature so much. In the past, no one indulged you, but now it’s different. You’ve already left the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion. Master’s wife dotes on you! Look at that Second Young Master Ye, the fool—no matter how unruly or excessive you are, can you be more excessive than him? Don’t be so well-behaved—”

As Jiang Zhaoxue spoke, she placed her hand on her chest with a completely serious expression. “Master’s wife will feel heartache.”

Listening, Pei Zichen finally showed some hint of a smile in his eyes.

Seeing he could still be coaxed into smiling, Jiang Zhaoxue immediately felt more at ease. She handed him the Jade Lingzhi and patted his shoulder. “Hurry and eat it. Quickly guide qi into your body. Whether Master’s wife has a good time tonight depends on you!”

As soon as these words emerged, A’Nan’s “Wow~” rang out in her mind.

Jiang Zhaoxue immediately realized the impropriety and was about to explain when she saw Pei Zichen say seriously, “This disciple will definitely do his utmost.”

Jiang Zhaoxue: “…”

It felt even more improper now.

She coughed lightly. Not wanting to say more, she turned. “All right then, I’m leaving. Call me when you succeed.”

With that, she walked out the door and closed it.

After leaving, Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t help but scold A’Nan. “What are you ‘wow’-ing about?”

Hearing this, A’Nan wagged her tail arrogantly. “Wow~”

“You’re not allowed to tease Pei Zichen anymore!” Jiang Zhaoxue said seriously. “Show some public morality!”

“You’ve got it wrong.” A’Nan snorted. “I’m teasing you!”

“Keep being arrogant and I’ll enter the consciousness sea and pluck all your feathers!”

“But seriously,” A’Nan became serious. “Can he guide qi into his body in one day? Aren’t you trusting him a bit too much?”

“He’s the male lead! And he was already excellent before. Is it hard for a college entrance exam repeater to take an elementary school test now?” Jiang Zhaoxue spread her hands. “Get it straight—he’s always been an honor student!”

“Fine, fine, fine. Honor student.” A’Nan conceded, then said, “The honor student doesn’t need managing. Look at this underachiever in front of you.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue looked up and saw Ye Tianjiao standing not far away, fidgeting and uneasy.

Jiang Zhaoxue swept a glance over him and knew his purpose. “Here to learn qi guidance?”

Hearing this, Ye Tianjiao said somewhat fearfully, “Ah.”

“Come here.”

Jiang Zhaoxue called him to the courtyard. Glancing at Pei Zichen’s room and thinking for a moment, she went forward and stuck on a silencing talisman.

Pei Zichen was guiding qi into his body. She didn’t dare leave but was afraid of disturbing him, so she could only waste one talisman.

Feeling heartache over the talisman, she returned to the courtyard, looked around, swept the dust from the steps, sat down composedly, then patted the spot beside her and beckoned Ye Tianjiao. “Sit down.”

Hearing this, Ye Tianjiao sat down somewhat nervously, keeping his head lowered, not daring to look at her.

Jiang Zhaoxue pondered, then turned to look him up and down, somewhat puzzled. “Are you very afraid?”

Almost the instant Jiang Zhaoxue spoke, Ye Tianjiao shifted to the side. This appearance was completely different from his arrogant demeanor from two days ago. Jiang Zhaoxue raised her eyebrows. “Are you afraid of me, or afraid of cultivating the Dao?”

Ye Tianjiao didn’t answer, only lowering his head. “Hurry up and teach! So much nonsense.”

“Even if I teach you, I need to understand your situation.” Jiang Zhaoxue was quite impatient and frowned. “With such good talent, logically speaking, before Foundation Establishment everything should be as easy as drinking water. Yet at this age you still haven’t established your foundation. Do you have some hidden ailment?”

“No… no.” Ye Tianjiao stammered. “Just teach me.”

“Do you still want to save your brother or not?” Jiang Zhaoxue said seriously. “Speak clearly. What exactly are you afraid of?”

“I…” Hearing Ye Wenzhi mentioned, Ye Tianjiao finally relented. He looked left and right, seeming to gather his courage, and finally said, “I… I’m afraid of ghosts.”

These words stunned Jiang Zhaoxue. Having opened his mouth, Ye Tianjiao no longer wanted to preserve his dignity. Like beans spilling from a bamboo tube, he rattled off, “My family is wealthy and powerful. Why should I cultivate the Dao? Those ghosts and monsters—they look grotesque and frightening. When I was little, old Daoists wanted to take me as a disciple. I was only five years old then. They taught me to guide qi into my body. I’d just channeled spiritual power into my body when I saw a woman hanging upside down from a crossbeam with her tongue sticking out.”

Thinking of that image, Ye Tianjiao instantly closed his eyes nervously. “What the hell would I study that for?!”

“How pitiful.” A’Nan couldn’t help but say. “His first cultivation experience was so traumatic—no wonder he doesn’t want to study it.”

“Indeed.” Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t help but say. “If I were him, with good food and drink for a lifetime, why study the Dao?”

Both person and bird were very understanding.

“But the current situation is special.” Jiang Zhaoxue nodded, not refuting him, only saying, “For your brother’s sake, endure it.”

“That’s all I can do.”

Ye Tianjiao turned away in agony.

Jiang Zhaoxue took a pastry from her sleeve and spoke mercilessly. “Come on, first close your eyes, feel heaven and earth, listen to the sound of wind, birds, rustling leaves. Heaven and earth merge with you, qi drawn to your fingertips…”

Jiang Zhaoxue’s words weren’t as profound as other Daoists’—all plain language. Ye Tianjiao found it very easy to understand. Following her guidance, unconsciously, he felt his entire body fill with spiritual power.

As Jiang Zhaoxue taught Ye Tianjiao how to circulate spiritual power, Pei Zichen was similarly guiding qi in his room.

After taking the Jade Lingzhi, he clearly felt his shattered spiritual roots seemed to be regrowing.

At first, just a tiny bit. He understood this was the effect of the Jade Lingzhi. With even a small amount of spiritual roots, he could gather spiritual power and use that spiritual power to assist the growth of his spiritual roots.

Cycling repeatedly, he could obtain more and more spiritual power.

However, the meridians reconnected by the Spirit Continuation Spider were ultimately inferior to the originals, and the spiritual roots were truly too small. Compared to his past complete Heaven-tier Ice spiritual roots, the spiritual power he drew in was almost equivalent to nothing. It hurt when spiritual power circulated, and it also hurt when spiritual roots grew.

But thinking of Jiang Zhaoxue’s fire poison tomorrow, he couldn’t stop.

Jiang Zhaoxue needed a lot of spiritual power. His current spiritual roots couldn’t supply it at all.

He could only force himself to make the spiritual roots grow as much as possible and, while circulating, expand his meridians layer by layer.

In the pain, he found it difficult to continue again and again, yet remained exceptionally clear-headed.

This pain seemed to conflict with that emptiness that nearly devoured him. Especially when he realized he could do something for Jiang Zhaoxue, he felt a strange sense of fulfillment filling him.

In that moment, the pain almost became a kind of comfort, seeking a kind of peace within suffering.

But pain was still pain, and this gave rise to several parts despair.

Struggling back and forth, he didn’t know how much time passed. Finally exhausted, he felt his spiritual roots had formed somewhat.

He breathed lightly, opened his eyes, and felt the surroundings completely silent.

He didn’t know what this stemmed from. Was it his hallucination?

Or… death?

He didn’t know. He only felt the room was abnormally quiet. No sound of water, no bird sounds. Where was Master’s wife? Master’s wife was gone too.

In an instant, he suddenly fell into extreme panic. This world was empty, as if only he remained.

He hurriedly got off the bed. Due to sitting long and exhausting himself, he even felt dizzy. He immediately steadied himself, then rushed to open the door. The moment he opened it, the sounds of heaven and earth poured in. Then he heard Ye Tianjiao’s scream: “No! Ahhh!”

At the same time, he was desperately hugging Jiang Zhaoxue’s arm, eyes closed, frantically shaking his head. “I won’t look, I don’t dare! Fairy sister, I don’t dare look!”

“Don’t be afraid.” Jiang Zhaoxue patiently patted his hand, comforting him like a child. “Open your eyes. Fairy sister is beside you. Little prince, look quickly—it’s just a hanging ghost. What are you afraid of?”

“I don’t want to!!”

Ye Tianjiao was almost crying.

Jiang Zhaoxue suppressed the urge to beat him up. Just as she was about to comfort him, she heard a bewildered inquiry from behind. “Master’s wife?”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue immediately turned around, only then realizing Pei Zichen had come out.

She slapped Ye Tianjiao away with one palm and quickly stood up, examining Pei Zichen up and down. “How is it? How did it go?”

Pei Zichen didn’t speak. He only stared blankly at Ye Tianjiao on the ground, hugging his head with his eyes closed.

Jiang Zhaoxue followed his line of sight and looked over. Seeing Pei Zichen’s entire face deathly pale, as if he’d shatter at a touch, she thought for a moment, then looked at the spiritual power on Pei Zichen’s body, slowly realizing.

Pei Zichen had been heaven’s favored in the past—born with Heaven spiritual roots, his cultivation smooth sailing. How could he understand the suffering of damaged spiritual roots?

Today he’d only just guided qi into his body, while Ye Tianjiao, though screaming in fear with his eyes closed all day…

Had already established his foundation.

Jiang Zhaoxue knew Pei Zichen was upset. She coughed lightly and said to Ye Tianjiao, who was screaming on the ground, “Second Young Master Ye, hurry and leave. Go back and find Chen Zhao to sleep with you.”

“No, fairy sister, don’t let go of me…”

Ye Tianjiao frantically groped around like a blind person trying to find Jiang Zhaoxue. “Send me away. I don’t dare walk.”

With that, he actually did feel his way to Jiang Zhaoxue’s feet. Jiang Zhaoxue quickly kicked him several times. After kicking him over, she said mercilessly, “Crawl out and call Chen Zhao.”

Finishing, she carefully pulled Pei Zichen closer. “Zichen? Let’s go inside. Master’s wife will examine you?”

Pei Zichen didn’t speak. He seemed to have completely lost his senses, not even stopping Jiang Zhaoxue’s transgressive action of pulling him.

He didn’t know what was wrong with him. He just felt his heart was empty.

From outside came Ye Tianjiao’s wailing voice: “Chen Zhao! Chen Zhao, save me! Help!”

He couldn’t hear it. He only stared blankly at Jiang Zhaoxue.

He didn’t know what he was thinking. It seemed… actually meaningless.

Ye Tianjiao could establish his foundation in one day, while he… he seemed unable to do anything.

Seeing him continuously lost in thought, Jiang Zhaoxue was frightened and hurriedly said, “Zichen? What’s wrong?”

Hearing Jiang Zhaoxue call him, Pei Zichen suddenly reacted.

He hastily collected himself and quickly stood up, saying respectfully, “This disciple was momentarily distracted. Please forgive me, Master’s wife.”

“Oh.” Jiang Zhaoxue observed him and quickly nodded. “I forgive you. I forgive you.”

With that, she pressed her lips together and pondered. “Are you… are you sad?”

“I trouble Master’s wife with concern. This disciple is fine.” As Pei Zichen spoke, he turned away and hurriedly said, “It’s already past midnight. Master’s wife’s fire poison approaches. This disciple should first help Master’s wife transmit spiritual power and prepare to suppress the fire poison.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue watched him arrange meditation cushions, not knowing how to comfort him for a moment.

After Pei Zichen finished arranging the cushions, he seemed to have also sorted out his emotions. He turned to invite Jiang Zhaoxue to sit, then sat properly across from her and said seriously, “Master’s wife, this disciple is slow-witted. Today I could only barely impact Qi Refining fifth layer. My spiritual power is probably insufficient to suppress Master’s wife’s spiritual power. So this disciple deliberately expanded my meridians and spiritual roots. Later, I’d like to try drawing the spiritual power from Master’s wife’s meridians into my body, converting it to water-element spiritual energy through my spiritual roots, then returning it to Master’s wife’s body. Would this be acceptable?”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue felt somewhat awkward.

He was still young and had studied in large classes, so probably hadn’t learned about dual cultivation yet.

Spiritual power transmission between cultivators was already considered intimate, which was why in the past she’d only sought Shen Yuqing for her fire poison. Having spiritual power circulate through both their bodies like this was even more intimate. If their souls were to merge as well, well then.

“This is truly soul mates in a physical sense!” A’Nan couldn’t help but express her feelings.

Actually, Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t particularly care. Though she’d been here two hundred years, Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t quite recognize the meaning represented by these rules. She was just afraid Pei Zichen would be embarrassed when he remembered in the future.

He was such a rule-abiding person—if he remembered…

“He wouldn’t commit suicide, would he?”

Jiang Zhaoxue wondered.

A’Nan hurriedly said, “Impossible. How could he possibly commit suicide over this? He’ll just apologize to you every day, begging you to kill him.”

“But I won’t kill him.”

“Then isn’t that settled?”

Logic closed loop. Jiang Zhaoxue had no more burden and said decisively, “Acceptable.”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen relaxed and lowered his head. “Please extend your hands, Master’s wife.”

Jiang Zhaoxue followed his words, spreading her hands downward and placing them before him.

After Pei Zichen said in a low voice “Pardon the offense,” he held her hands in his.

He was still a youth—his palms weren’t particularly large, yet were enough to completely hold hers. Ten fingers, slender, with distinct knuckles. Calluses lightly rubbed against Jiang Zhaoxue’s skin, bringing somewhat unusual prickling sensations.

Jiang Zhaoxue glanced at his hands and couldn’t help but say, “Quite nice-looking.”

Pei Zichen focused with closed eyes. Jiang Zhaoxue then felt him begin attempting to draw her spiritual power over.

When spiritual power began flowing, her body finally had a familiar sense of lightness surge up. Jiang Zhaoxue suddenly remembered, “By the way, dao companions can share feelings and emotions when exchanging spiritual power. Can’t I share my emotions and feelings with him?”

Hearing this question, A’Nan pondered for a while. “Seems possible. Though you and he aren’t dao companions, the Soul-Locking Array actually made your souls contract. Now if you imbue your emotions onto your spiritual power and circulate it over… it should work!”

Thinking this through, Jiang Zhaoxue was immediately overjoyed.

He’s unhappy?

No problem—she’s happy!

How to cultivate Pei Zichen’s optimistic mindset, cheerful personality, and make him full of vitality toward the world?

In that moment, Jiang Zhaoxue had a solution in mind.

She closed her eyes. The instant spiritual power flowed over, she tried mobilizing her soul, recalling all her happy and joyful moments, infusing these emotions into her spiritual power, letting them flow along with the spiritual power.

Those happy, joyful feelings flowed into Pei Zichen’s body. The instant they entered, Pei Zichen suddenly stiffened.

He passively sensed that gentle joy drilling into his body. Spiritual power circulated through his entire body. That warm, comfortable feeling extended throughout all of him. His soul seemed to be gently caressed and embraced by hands…

Strange desires surged. He unconsciously tensed his muscles but didn’t dare speak, only trying his utmost to stabilize any aura that might be exposed, not letting Jiang Zhaoxue notice.

But Jiang Zhaoxue had been observing him all along. How could she not discover?

Seeing Pei Zichen change, Jiang Zhaoxue was instantly overjoyed.

“It worked!” she said happily. “Look, he must have sensed my emotions. He’s so happy he doesn’t know what to do with himself!”