After separating from Shen Yuqing and walking far enough away, Jiang Zhaoxue finally let out a sigh of relief and couldn’t help but sigh, “You’re really quite bold.”

“My apologies.”

But Pei Zichen inexplicably said this sentence. Jiang Zhaoxue found it strange and couldn’t help saying, “Apologize for what?”

“For causing a rift between Master and Master’s Wife.” Pei Zichen seemed somewhat guilty, saying quietly, “If it weren’t for matters concerning this disciple, Master and Master’s Wife wouldn’t have appeared like strangers on the street.”

“What are you thinking?” Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue laughed lightly and glanced back at the two people walking away, her tone cooling somewhat. “In this matter, your responsibility isn’t even as great as Mu Jinyue’s.”

These words stunned Pei Zichen, and he suddenly realized that his master had actually brought his junior martial sister along.

In the past, he rarely paid attention to such things, but once he noticed, he realized it was unusual.

Actually, even before this, there had already been gossip at Lingjian Immortal Pavilion. Mu Jinyue was Shen Yuqing’s only female disciple and lived alone on Luo Xia Feng. Because of this, Jiang Zhaoxue had made a fuss several times. Later, there were rumors that Jiang Zhaoxue had poisoned Mu Jinyue, which led to him going to Wu Yue Forest to retrieve Lingxiao Hua.

In the past, he had only listened, but at this moment, he suddenly felt a subtle mixture of anger and joy.

He looked up at the woman’s back ahead and couldn’t help saying, “Master…”

“Hm?”

Jiang Zhaoxue turned back, instantly nervous: “Is Shen Yuqing coming again?”

“No… no.”

With this interruption, Pei Zichen didn’t know how to continue.

Discussing Shen Yuqing’s wrongs seemed too ungraceful, yet he felt something stuck in his chest. He remained silent.

Jiang Zhaoxue found it strange: “What’s wrong with you?”

“I’m sorry.”

Pei Zichen spoke. Jiang Zhaoxue was even more baffled, then heard Pei Zichen say, “In the past, I shouldn’t have blocked Master’s Wife from seeking Master.”

“Huh?” Jiang Zhaoxue was somewhat bewildered. “You blocked me?”

At these words, Pei Zichen paused, then said with some difficulty, “Yes, this disciple was often by Master’s side.”

So he had seen her many times, done many things.

But before Wu Yue Forest, she didn’t remember him at all.

In the past, he never felt anything about it, but thinking of it now felt somewhat sour.

Thinking further back to when her fire poison flared and the name she called—not knowing who it was then, but now recalling “A’Yuan,” he realized his master’s name was Zeyuan.

A given name was a form of address only used by extremely close family members.

Jiang Zhaoxue and Shen Yuqing’s relationship was far more intimate than everyone knew.

Panic surged up again. He couldn’t help but look toward the direction in Jiang Zhaoxue’s sleeve where the communication jade token was kept, continuing to ask, “So Master’s Wife had a rift with Master because of Junior Martial Sister?”

“Sort of.” Jiang Zhaoxue said casually. “Seeing him take her everywhere he goes is annoying.”

“If Master’s Wife would discuss it properly with Master, perhaps this matter could be resolved.” Pei Zichen’s heart felt empty, not knowing how he managed to say these words.

Fortunately, Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t care much and only said, “Don’t worry about them now. You’re more important.”

At these words, Pei Zichen felt as if he had received some answer. Something flowed from his heart, and his entire aura became gentle.

Jiang Zhaoxue was completely unaware. After saying that sentence, she felt somewhat nervous, afraid Pei Zichen would detect something unusual about her motives. She quickly said, “Oh, what I mean is, your master wants to kill you now. If I go back, you’ll be all alone. Since I started looking after you, I’ll naturally see it through! Your master and your junior martial sister’s matter—don’t worry about it for now.”

And never worry about it in the future either.

Jiang Zhaoxue secretly rolled her eyes.

Listening, Pei Zichen only chuckled softly: “This disciple understands.”

The two spoke their own words, heard their own meanings, and walked all the way to the entrance of the gambling house. Pei Zichen stopped and looked up: “This is it.”

Through Pei Zichen’s eyes, Jiang Zhaoxue looked at the four large characters “Shande Gambling House” above, her face showing delight. Then she turned to look at Pei Zichen, suppressing her inner joy and saying, “Zichen, doesn’t Lingjian Immortal Pavilion forbid gambling?”

“Yes.”

Pei Zichen nodded and said seriously, “Pavilion Rule 143: Gambling is forbidden.”

“What about drinking?”

“Pavilion Rule 147: Except when bestowed by elders, required by etiquette, or necessary, alcohol is forbidden.”

“That’s wonderful!”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue pulled Pei Zichen inside, saying happily, “Zichen, let me tell you, the first step to breaking away from Lingjian Immortal Pavilion is to abandon the past and break through the bottom line. Only then can you have a new life! I know that since falling from the cliff, your mentality hasn’t been very good. You’ve just been forced by me to live until now. But people live because there is happiness to experience. Come, Master’s Wife will take you to experience the first time!”

With that, Jiang Zhaoxue pushed open the door with one hand, saying excitedly, “We’ll gamble all day and have a lively time!”

Just as her words fell, a cold wind blew from inside.

Jiang Zhaoxue found it strange. Weren’t gambling houses supposed to be lively and bustling? How was there not only no sound but also cold wind?

She turned her head in confusion and saw the entire hall was clean and tidy, basically empty.

Cobblestone paths, small bridges over flowing water, misty atmosphere—quite elegant and interesting.

Just not lively.

Jiang Zhaoxue looked up in surprise, confirming the two characters for “gambling house,” then quickly looked down at this clearly elegantly decorated house.

After scanning back and forth several times, she asked carefully, “This is… a gambling house?”

“Correct.”

A woman’s voice came from behind the door. Jiang Zhaoxue looked over questioningly and saw a woman in a pink gauze dress bow respectfully to her and Pei Zichen, then say, “Young Master Jiang, Female Sovereign Jiang, the private room has been prepared. Please, this way.”

“It really is one?”

A’Nan was somewhat shocked. Jiang Zhaoxue, having opened her eyes, followed Pei Zichen inside with surprise and suspicion. Walking up to the second floor, she could faintly hear people’s laughter.

Then the woman brought them to a room, pushed open the door and said, “Please, you two.”

“Wow.”

Li Xiuji saw three tables inside, one even specially prepared for a child like him. He rushed in immediately, saying, “There’s candy!”

“Young Master Jiang, if there’s nothing else, this servant will take her leave first.”

The maid greeted Pei Zichen and withdrew.

Pei Zichen led Jiang Zhaoxue into the room. Jiang Zhaoxue looked around the room blankly for quite a while before stammering, “This… is a gambling house?”

“Yes.”

Pei Zichen walked into the room and sat at the gambling table, opening the dice shaker for Jiang Zhaoxue. He turned to look at her gently: “Does the Female Sovereign want to play by herself, or have Xiuji play? Or I can invite a few more maids to come in and play with the Female Sovereign.”

She didn’t want to play.

“No,” Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t help saying, “Who gambles in such an elegant place?!”

“I’ve heard that all the wealthy and noble people of the capital are here.” Pei Zichen said matter-of-factly. “I also asked many people to find this place and book a private room.”

“Doesn’t it have a main hall?”

“No.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue took a deep breath. After thinking, no matter where they gambled, as long as they gambled, it was breaking the precepts.

Starting with gambling, perhaps Pei Zichen’s acceptance of the Jiuyou Realm would increase step by step.

Jiang Zhaoxue marched forward imposingly and sat across from Pei Zichen: “Then let’s do it. I’ll teach you to gamble on big or small.”

“My apologies,” hearing this, Pei Zichen was somewhat embarrassed. “This disciple doesn’t know how, but I’ve arranged for people.”

Jiang Zhaoxue was somewhat surprised, then watched as Pei Zichen clapped his hands. A wall behind them suddenly opened with a “whoosh,” and then a group of women came running out chirping like orioles, sitting beside Jiang Zhaoxue and saying happily, “Female Sovereign, let’s play together!”

“I’ll play the zither for the Female Sovereign.”

Pei Zichen stood up and sat to one side. Jiang Zhaoxue was surrounded by a group of young ladies. Listening to the melodious zither music begin, the entire room suddenly became lively.

Singing and dancing, eating and drinking and playing—Li Xiuji sat to one side, shouting loudly, “Good, good, good, Big Sister, start singing!”

These young ladies were professionals at creating atmosphere. In an instant, they built up the mood.

Seeing this, Pei Zichen stood up, intending to play the zither for Jiang Zhaoxue, but was grabbed by Jiang Zhaoxue.

Pei Zichen looked back questioningly and saw Jiang Zhaoxue’s eyes blazing: “I want to gamble with you. Whoever loses drinks.”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen’s breathing paused slightly. Jiang Zhaoxue said seriously, “Are you unwilling? Am I more important or is Lingjian Immortal Pavilion more important? I’ve done so much for you—you won’t even break the precepts?”

Listening, Pei Zichen hesitated for a long time before finally saying, “The Female Sovereign requests it. I dare not decline.”

With that, he sat down somewhat stiffly. The women beside him instinctively wanted to lean toward Pei Zichen, but with one glance from him, everyone paused. The young master before them clearly had a gentle expression, yet there was an invisible sense of distance.

No one dared approach, so they all stayed behind Jiang Zhaoxue. Thus Jiang Zhaoxue sat across from Pei Zichen with a large group of people, saying imposingly, “I gambled in Penglai for over ten years with quite a reputation. How do you plan to beat me?”

“Female Sovereign, I’m a sword cultivator.”

Pei Zichen reminded her. Jiang Zhaoxue paused, then reacted.

After sword cultivators refined their bodies, all five senses became extremely acute. He could tell how many dots were on the dice just by listening, and cards were even clearer with just a touch.

And as the male lead, Pei Zichen’s intelligence wouldn’t lag behind either. Counting cards was almost effortless for him.

As a Life Master, her greatest advantages were calculation, prediction, and fortune. This was originally extremely suitable for gambling, but if encountering someone with great fortune like Pei Zichen, a Heaven’s Chosen Son, she truly had no advantage in gambling.

But the point was breaking the precepts, not winning or losing. So Jiang Zhaoxue decisively said, “Come on. I don’t believe it.”

Pei Zichen obediently gambled with her. Whatever she said, Pei Zichen accompanied her in gambling.

When she lost, Jiang Zhaoxue drank. Her goal was to get Pei Zichen drunk, but after gambling for most of the day, she herself drank until she had a headache.

The two were evenly matched in gambling skill, but Pei Zichen had good luck.

Losing nine out of ten times—Pei Zichen even advised her to stop drinking, but this advice made her feel even more insulted. She even got competitive.

By the end, she couldn’t even remember why she was here. Holding her head, she asked A’Nan, “Didn’t he say he couldn’t gamble? He’s this fierce from the start? How can I possibly win?”

A’Nan, who also had a bit of a headache from the shared sensation, held her forehead and said, “Drink less alcohol. No, wait.”

A’Nan came to her senses: “We came to disrupt his Dao heart, break through the bottom line, and gradually make him accept Jiuyou Realm cultivation methods!”

With A’Nan’s reminder, Jiang Zhaoxue finally remembered. Since she couldn’t see the person across from her, she could only ask A’Nan, “How does he look? Is breaking the precepts having any effect?”

“No.”

A’Nan said decisively, “He’s very composed.”

“Looks like the stimulation isn’t enough.”

Jiang Zhaoxue propped herself up to stand and decisively called outside, “Someone come!”

Hearing her summons, Pei Zichen was stunned. He saw the door open and a maid bow respectfully: “What are the Female Sovereign’s orders?”

“Do you have,” Jiang Zhaoxue paused, forcing herself to be more sober, “Persian dancers?”

This question stunned everyone. As she spoke, urgent footsteps came from outside.

Seeing no response, Jiang Zhaoxue gestured and twisted to demonstrate: “The kind that wears less clothing.”

“Female Sovereign…”

Pei Zichen’s voice finally had some fluctuation, as if at a loss.

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue knew she was going in the right direction and quickly said, “If not Persian, that’s fine too. The important thing is that they can make people’s hearts waver…”

“My apologies,” hearing this, the female servant came to her senses and hurriedly said, “We don’t have Persian dancers…”

“We do!” Just as her words fell, a bold woman’s voice immediately squeezed in.

Then Jiang Zhaoxue heard the door slam with a loud “bang,” and the woman’s voice rang out again, excited: “You want a Persian dancer, right? I can do it! Quick, play the music!”

At her command, everyone was stunned for a moment, then began playing music.

Persian dance music began. Jiang Zhaoxue heard the rustling of wind nearby. Even though she was blind, she knew that Persian dancing definitely couldn’t produce this kind of wind sound.

She frowned slightly, about to speak, when she felt the Su Guangji in her sleeve grow hot.

It’s a divine weapon!

Jiang Zhaoxue immediately reacted, sat up straight at once, and grabbed Pei Zichen’s hand, instantly seeing clearly the woman before her.

This was a woman in black clothes with red-edged patterns. Although she was trying her best to twist and move, one could still see her rather uncoordinated and stiff limbs—muscles that could punch a cow to death with one strike.

She cooperated with the dance music and tried her best to move seductively. Outside the door were soldiers coming and going in pursuit, shouting loudly, “Search! Search every room!”

Hearing this voice, the black-clothed woman instantly closed her eyes in pain. She simply threw herself toward Pei Zichen, using a not-very-skilled voice to coo, “Young Master!”

Just as her words fell, Pei Zichen’s sword sheath was pressed against her chest.

She looked at Pei Zichen in shock. Pei Zichen coldly blocked her at a sword’s distance, warning, “Miss has excellent martial arts. There’s no need to approach for a closer appreciation.”

The black-clothed woman’s face looked miserable enough to cry. Hearing the sound of a door being broken outside, she turned in alarm and threw herself toward Jiang Zhaoxue!

Seeing this, Pei Zichen immediately struck with his sword. But Jiang Zhaoxue, hearing the wind, raised her hand and pulled the young lady into her arms to protect her.

Pei Zichen forcibly stopped his sword. The door was immediately kicked open. He instantly understood Jiang Zhaoxue’s meaning, grabbed a handful of melon seeds from the table and scattered them out, shouting sternly, “Get out!”

The melon seeds sent the people outside tumbling. The last two seeds closed the door.

The sudden change happened in an instant. The woman in Jiang Zhaoxue’s arms trembled. Jiang Zhaoxue, with quite a headache, raised her hand to pat her back gently, closing her eyes without speaking.

The people outside, after being hit by Pei Zichen, got up and started cursing: “What dog-thing is this? Do you know whose people we are? Did an ugly woman just enter your room? Hand her over and we’ll let this pass!”

“He’s ugly, his whole family…”

Hearing this, the woman was about to get up. Jiang Zhaoxue immediately pressed her head down, saying in a low voice, “Calm down.”

The woman’s movements stopped, as if somewhat aggrieved.

Beside them, Pei Zichen glanced at the woman. While vigilantly watching her, he coldly warned those outside, “If you come here, follow the rules here. If you want the person, wait until we leave.”

Hearing this, the people outside froze.

Everyone hesitated for a moment before a clear male voice rang out, laughing and saying, “Forget it, she’s just an ugly woman. Polluting this prince’s eyes is a sin, but not worthy of death.”

With that, the other party called out, “Come back, let’s go.”

Hearing this, the guards outside finally dispersed.

After the people left, Jiang Zhaoxue kicked the woman down with one foot, saying with a smile, “Everyone, please leave.”

“Then I’ll leave too.”

Hearing this, the black-clothed woman quickly scrambled up. Facing Jiang Zhaoxue and Pei Zichen, she cupped her hands while backing away, saying with a smile, “Thank you, thank you both kind people, thank…”

Just as she was about to step out, at the last moment, the door slammed shut with a “bang.”

The black-clothed woman’s smile froze. Pei Zichen stood up with his sword.

Seeing this, the black-clothed woman immediately knelt down, saying in panic, “Spare my life, my lord! This commoner knows her mistake! Spare my life, my lord!”

“What’s your mistake?”

Jiang Zhaoxue spoke, stumping the other party with her question.

Honestly speaking, up to this point, except for Jiang Zhaoxue, everyone else was unclear about what was happening.

Li Xiuji looked left, looked right, and chose to keep his head down cracking melon seeds.

The black-clothed woman knelt on the ground stammering. After a long while, Jiang Zhaoxue sneered and raised her hand: “Get up. I’m not trying to make things difficult for you. I’m just curious,” Jiang Zhaoxue thought for a moment and glanced outside, “that person just now was a prince, right? Which prince? Why was he chasing you?”

Hearing this, the black-clothed woman’s face showed indignation. Her stomach growled, and she said through gritted teeth, “It’s a long story!”

“There’s noodles on the table.” Jiang Zhaoxue gestured with her chin toward the table beside them.

The woman immediately stood up: “I’ll talk while eating.”

The woman walked to the table. Pei Zichen helped Jiang Zhaoxue over, and together with Li Xiuji, the three gathered around.

The three surrounded the table as the woman began eating noodles in large gulps, saying while eating, “My name is Qian Sisi. I’m the top assassin of the Righteous Charity Hall.”

“Big Sister, have some tea.”

Seeing her eating so voraciously, Li Xiuji, afraid she’d choke to death, quickly poured her tea.

Qian Sisi burped and took a sip of tea, nodding, “Thank you, little brother.”

“And then?”

Jiang Zhaoxue urged her to continue. Qian Sisi quickly took another bite of noodles and continued, “I never fail at killing. When my blade comes out, blood must be seen. Ten taels per head…”

“Stop bragging, get to the point.” Jiang Zhaoxue tapped the table.

“Right.” Seeing that Jiang Zhaoxue wasn’t easy to fool, Qian Sisi ate her noodles and said, “Half a year ago, because I wasn’t at the sect, our Righteous Charity Hall was wiped out by the current Third Prince Song Wuya and his men.”

“You should count yourself lucky to have escaped that disaster, right?” Li Xiuji couldn’t help but correct her.

Qian Sisi glared at him and only said, “With my abilities, if I had been there, I never would have let Song Wuya destroy our Righteous Charity Hall, much less let him take away our hall’s treasure—the Lingxu Fan!”

Hearing “Lingxu Fan,” Jiang Zhaoxue understood. She coughed lightly, her tone becoming much gentler: “So you came to assassinate him?”

“Correct.”

Qian Sisi grabbed a second bowl of noodles from the side: “Although I didn’t make much money at Righteous Charity Hall, it was still my employer. With it being destroyed like this, I have to do something for it. So I decided to come to the capital to assassinate Song Wuya and avenge Righteous Charity Hall! If I can escape successfully, I’ll become famous in one battle and become Great Xia’s top assassin. Then I’ll charge one hundred taels per person!”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue understood.

This was a poor, foolish assassin whose martial arts weren’t very good either.

She nodded, her tone full of praise: “Mm, your plan is excellent. So the Lingxu Fan is with Song Wuya?”

“Exactly!”

Qian Sisi grabbed an apple from the side. Biting the apple, she took out a small notebook and spread it on the table. Then she set down the apple and said seriously, “This is all the information I’ve collected on Song Wuya.”

Jiang Zhaoxue pulled Pei Zichen over to look through his eyes, seeing a page full of ink stains, not knowing what was written.

Forget it, she’s illiterate.

Jiang Zhaoxue let go of Pei Zichen, too lazy to look anymore, and listened as Qian Sisi continued, “He’s greedy, lustful, and loves to gamble. What he loves most are beautiful women. So I spent three months undercover sweeping floors at Shande Gambling House. Then today, I got news that he was coming to the gambling house. So I dressed up elegantly, knocked out a dancer and infiltrated, wanting to use my beauty to seduce him, and then—”

Qian Sisi paused, her tone rather heavy.

Li Xiuji was completely captivated by her story and asked, “And then?”

“He…” Qian Sisi spoke, angrily clenching her fist, her tone taking on a sob, “He… he said I was ugly… The moment I entered the room, he had people throw me out. He even said I was so ugly I frightened him and made him choke on a date, and wanted to beat me…”

“This…” Hearing this, Pei Zichen couldn’t help saying, “That is indeed quite excessive.”

Qian Sisi seemed to have indeed suffered great harm. She held her head and cried, “How can this be? I went undercover for three months… Is my effort worthless in the face of beauty?”

“Ahem.”

Jiang Zhaoxue also felt it was somewhat excessive. She coughed lightly and consoled her, “This isn’t your problem, it’s his problem.”

“Right,” Qian Sisi looked up at Jiang Zhaoxue. “I don’t think I’m…”

Her words stopped before Jiang Zhaoxue’s face. Even though covered by a veil, just from the eyes alone, Qian Sisi knew this was a top-tier beauty.

She didn’t speak. Jiang Zhaoxue was somewhat confused: “Hm?”

Qian Sisi thought for a moment and turned to look at Pei Zichen, crying, “I don’t think I’m…”

Pei Zichen looked at her with his disguised face, but one could still see the bone structure. Qian Sisi stopped speaking. Pei Zichen was confused: “Hm?”

Qian Sisi thought again and looked at Li Xiuji.

Li Xiuji asked preemptively, “Hm?”

Hearing this “hm,” Qian Sisi immediately buried her head on the table and cried out, “I really am ugly.”

“It’s not that bad, and besides, you’re an assassin—this doesn’t matter.” Jiang Zhaoxue comforted her. “You just need to use tools, play to your strengths and avoid weaknesses. Do you have any plans for what comes next?”

“Having missed today’s opportunity, I can only plan for the next time.”

Hearing this, Qian Sisi perked up again, flipping open that notebook full of circles and crosses that was completely illegible, saying seriously, “I only have one last chance left.”

“What opportunity?”

“Five days from now, the capital’s Ghost Market will open—the Taotie Feast. He’ll attend.”

Qian Sisi’s eyes were full of killing intent: “I’m going to attend the Taotie Feast and kill him!”

“Great idea!” Jiang Zhaoxue nodded, then asked, “What’s the Taotie Feast?”

“Great Xia’s annual illegal market.” Pei Zichen spoke, his tone cold. “Every year it’s held in a different location. The venue and process are secretive, participants are screened through multiple layers, and the auctioned goods are all prohibited… people or objects. The process is filthy beyond measure. Tianji Academy has been pursuing them for years. Miss Qian, you know this year’s location?”

“You’re from Tianji Academy?!” Qian Sisi grew nervous.

Jiang Zhaoxue quickly patted her, consoling her, “It’s fine, he’s my mole in Tianji Academy.”

Qian Sisi was stunned, then remembered: “Miss, what do you do?”

“Me?” Jiang Zhaoxue smiled, lies flowing easily from her lips. “I’m a thief, specializing in stealing rare treasures from across the land.”

“Female Sovereign?!” Pei Zichen exclaimed in surprise. Under the table, Jiang Zhaoxue patted his leg.

Pei Zichen instantly froze. Seeing him quiet, Jiang Zhaoxue continued, “You said that Lingxu Fan interests me greatly. If I help you kill Song Wuya, can you give me that Lingxu Fan?”

“Sure!”

Qian Sisi immediately agreed, then asked somewhat confused, “How do you plan to help me?”

“Doesn’t Song Wuya like beautiful people?” Jiang Zhaoxue spoke. Qian Sisi blinked, then watched as Jiang Zhaoxue removed the veil from her face.

A stunningly beautiful and cold countenance impacted her directly. Qian Sisi gasped, then immediately grabbed Jiang Zhaoxue’s hand, saying seriously, “From today on, you are my sister who shares joys and sorrows, life and death.”

“Agreed.”

Jiang Zhaoxue raised her hand and patted Qian Sisi’s hand back, saying gently, “As long as you give me the Lingxu Fan, I’ll do whatever you want.”

“Then…” Qian Sisi probed, “Can we go to the Taotie Feast?”

“No.” Pei Zichen immediately spoke, saying urgently, “Female Sovereign, the Taotie Feast has a mixed crowd—people from both righteous and evil paths, and it’s unregulated. It’s extremely dangerous…”

“That’s exactly why it’s good for killing!” Qian Sisi said matter-of-factly.

Jiang Zhaoxue nodded: “Right, you can only fish in troubled waters. But Miss Qian, if even Tianji Academy can’t find the Taotie Feast, can you?”

“I can’t find it, but people like us have a method. If we have premium goods, we can place the goods list under the big tree at the City God Temple entrance. If the Taotie Feast is interested in our goods, they’ll contact us proactively. My identity is very clean—no connection at all with places like Tianji Academy. As long as I have premium goods, I can go.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue somewhat understood: “So the goods you want are—”

“You.”

Qian Sisi stared at Jiang Zhaoxue, saying seriously, “Is that okay?”

“Female Sovereign, let’s leave.”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen had clearly reached his limit. He said coldly, “We can obtain it through other means.”

“Don’t be like that.”

Qian Sisi said hurriedly, “The prince’s mansion has tight security. I’ve checked—getting in is harder than ascending to heaven. There’s no better opportunity than this! Just dress up nicely and, like I just did, twist a bit on stage…”

“Absurd!”

Pei Zichen shouted sternly: “You need not say more. My Female Sovereign will not go to such a place with you.”

“This is exactly why your Tianji Academy will never find the Taotie Feast!” Qian Sisi spoke decisively, then turned to look at Jiang Zhaoxue. “Miss, come with me. The Taotie Feast has plenty of treasures. I’ll protect you then—I’ll kill people, you steal things. Steal as much as you want. We’ll split it 70-30. I only need 30 percent as protection fee.”

“Amateur skills spouting nonsense.”

Pei Zichen was clearly truly angry, starting to lose his temper despite usually not criticizing others.

Seeing this, Jiang Zhaoxue secretly passed a communication jade token to Qian Sisi under her hand, saying gently, “Miss Qian’s proposal is excellent, but besides this method, do we have other ways to get close to the prince?”

“Not very likely.”

Qian Sisi considered and said, “I’ve been following Song Wuya for half a year. After all, he’s a prince with many capable people and extraordinary individuals around him. Oh, I heard recently he’s planning to invite Shen Yuqing, Tianji Academy’s rising star of recent years, to stay at his mansion. With a master like Shen Yuqing there, we’ll be discovered as soon as we enter.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue was certain.

The Lingxu Fan must be with Song Wuya. Otherwise, Shen Yuqing wouldn’t agree to stay at a private residence.

If Shen Yuqing moved in, they truly didn’t have much time.

“You said… the Taotie Feast is when?”

“Five days from now.”

“I can go with you.” Jiang Zhaoxue spoke. Pei Zichen urgently wanted to speak, but Jiang Zhaoxue raised her hand to stop him, saying seriously, “But I have one requirement.”

“What?” Qian Sisi was confused.

Jiang Zhaoxue smiled: “The Taotie Feast is a place where all sorts mix. I’m just a woman with no strength to truss a chicken—you must protect me well.”

“Rest assured,” Qian Sisi immediately said, “I’m a first-rate assassin.”

“To prove your ability, go do something for me.”

“Say it.”

“Go stab that female disciple Mu Jinyue that Shen Yuqing always brings around.”

“No prob… what?!!”

The words “no problem” almost escaped before Qian Sisi realized who she was being asked to stab. She exclaimed in shock, “Shen Yuqing’s female disciple Mu Jinyue?”

Qian Sisi thought about it and matched it to a corresponding person. Having followed Song Wuya for so long, she had a rough count of the people around him. She immediately said, “Why don’t you just tell me to go die?”

“Tonight you’ll return to Tianji Academy with me and find a way to locate Mu Jinyue yourself. This is a teleportation talisman.” Jiang Zhaoxue slapped a teleportation talisman on the table, instructing, “Cut her once—don’t stab her to death. After cutting, immediately use the teleportation talisman to leave. Understand?”

Listening, Qian Sisi took the talisman in hand, turned it over to look, and couldn’t help saying, “Will this work?”

“If it doesn’t work… before Shen Yuqing kills you, just say Jiang Zhaoxue sent you.”

“Who’s Jiang Zhaoxue?” Qian Sisi was confused.

Jiang Zhaoxue smiled slightly: “His wife.”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen glanced at Jiang Zhaoxue.

Qian Sisi instantly understood: “I get it. Do Mu Jinyue and Shen Yuqing have an affair? So the wife is instructing me to kill the mistress—perfectly justified. Shen Yuqing won’t dare make a move?”

Jiang Zhaoxue was stumped by Qian Sisi’s question. After hesitating a moment, to embolden Qian Sisi, she said seriously, “Correct. Rest assured, if you give this name, he won’t kill you.”

“I’m relieved then.”

Qian Sisi nodded, then covered her stomach, saying seriously, “Miss Jiang, I need to use the restroom first. Wait for me—I’ll be back very soon to go with you to Tianji Academy to stab Mu Jinyue.”

“Fine.” Jiang Zhaoxue nodded. “Go ahead.”

Hearing this, Qian Sisi quickly jumped up and ran out.

After she left, Pei Zichen could no longer hold back and said hurriedly, “Master’s Wife, if you just want to enter the prince’s mansion, I can think of another way…”

“And then confront Shen Yuqing directly?”

Jiang Zhaoxue spoke. Pei Zichen paused.

Jiang Zhaoxue tapped the table lightly, saying slowly, “A direct confrontation with Shen Yuqing won’t have good results. Normally, Shen Yuqing will arrive quickly too. Only at a place like the Taotie Feast—Shen Yuqing, like you, won’t go to such places. Even if something happens and he rushes over, it will take considerable effort. For us, it’s actually the safest.”

“But…”

“Don’t be so rigid.”

Jiang Zhaoxue turned to look at him with a light laugh. “Going to such a place to see the world is harmless. I said, you’re my life servant. We in Penglai don’t have so many rules. Even if one day you cultivate Jiuyou Realm methods—”

Jiang Zhaoxue spoke meaningfully, probing, “In our Penglai, it wouldn’t count as a great transgression.”

“But this is a grave transgression.”

Pei Zichen immediately responded. Jiang Zhaoxue raised an eyebrow.

Pei Zichen realized he’d gone off topic. He took a deep breath and turned to say, “Master’s Wife, you cannot go to such a place. If you must go, let me go instead.”

“You?” Jiang Zhaoxue laughed. “With your upright and righteous aura, at such a place, you’d probably be stopped at the door. I don’t even know if bringing you along will let me enter.”

“Bringing me is also not acceptable.”

As Pei Zichen spoke, he thought for a moment, took out the Yuan Luogong and placed it beside Jiang Zhaoxue, saying softly, “Master’s Wife, let Yuanluo guard you. I’ll go settle the bill first.”

With that, he walked out the door. Jiang Zhaoxue sensed Yuanluo’s presence and said leisurely, “How was today? Is his heart in chaos? Does he want to cultivate Jiuyou Realm methods?”

“No.” Yuanluo’s tone was cold. “I just asked him ten times. He refused every time.”

“I see.”

Jiang Zhaoxue’s tone held some regret.

“But I think the Taotie Feast is an opportunity,” Yuanluo thought aloud. “Just now, I felt like for a brief instant, he wanted me.”

“Oh?”

Jiang Zhaoxue raised an eyebrow, then said, “I understand.”

One person and one bow waited in the room for a while. Pei Zichen returned quickly.

Then he sat beside Jiang Zhaoxue, saying softly, “Master’s Wife, do you still want to play?”

“No, go call Qian Sisi. Why hasn’t she returned yet?”

“She ran away.”

Pei Zichen spoke somewhat unnaturally.

Jiang Zhaoxue looked up in surprise: “Ran away?”

“Yes, the owner just asked me about her and told me she ran off as soon as she left.”

Jiang Zhaoxue was stunned, then murmured, “It seems… she doesn’t want to cooperate with me.”

“Let’s think of another way.”

Pei Zichen lowered his eyes and reached out to help Jiang Zhaoxue: “Master’s Wife, let me take you back.”

“No need.”

Jiang Zhaoxue brushed away his hand, stood up and said, “I know the way.”

With that, Jiang Zhaoxue called out, “Xiuji.”

Hearing this, Li Xiuji quickly came forward. Jiang Zhaoxue extended her hand: “Give me your hand.”

Hearing this, Li Xiuji gave his hand to Jiang Zhaoxue, then looked back at Pei Zichen in alarm.

Pei Zichen stood in place, knowing this was Jiang Zhaoxue’s rejection. He didn’t dare speak. After hesitating briefly, he silently followed Jiang Zhaoxue.

The two walked out of the gambling house one after the other. Pei Zichen called for a carriage and led Jiang Zhaoxue aboard.

Jiang Zhaoxue was silent the entire way. Pei Zichen, feeling he had made a mistake, also didn’t dare speak.

Li Xiuji looked left and right, carefully moving closer to Jiang Zhaoxue’s side, saying in a low voice, “Big Sister, did Brother do something wrong?”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen looked up and heard Jiang Zhaoxue say coldly, “He knows in his heart.”

“He really did something wrong?”

Li Xiuji was surprised. Looking at Pei Zichen, he thought for a moment and shook Jiang Zhaoxue’s hand: “Then can you forgive him?”

“Say one more word and you can get out with him.”

Jiang Zhaoxue spoke coldly. Li Xiuji immediately shut his mouth.

The three returned in silence. Jiang Zhaoxue went straight to her room and slammed the door shut with a “bang.”

Li Xiuji was startled and turned to look at Pei Zichen: “Brother, what exactly did you do?”

“Go to sleep.”

Pei Zichen said no more, only pulling Li Xiuji back to their room.

Hearing Pei Zichen return to his room, Jiang Zhaoxue sat on the bed, so angry she pounded the bed fiercely over a dozen times.

Seeing this, A’Nan couldn’t help saying, “Master, not only is your brain useful, your fist technique is quite impressive too!”

“Shut up!”

Jiang Zhaoxue spoke angrily. A’Nan was confused: “What exactly are you angry about?”

“He lied to me.” Jiang Zhaoxue spoke resentfully. “He actually dared to lie to me!”

“Who? Pei Zichen?” A’Nan was confused. “What did he lie to you about?”

“Qian Sisi was definitely dealt with by him.” Jiang Zhaoxue said calmly. “He actually dared to lie to me.”

“Uh…” A’Nan thought about it. “You’ve lied to him plenty. Tit for tat.”

“I’m not talking to you.”

Jiang Zhaoxue spoke angrily, taking out the communication jade token and starting to call Qian Sisi: “Qian Sisi? Are you there? Qian Sisi? Still alive?”

“She couldn’t have been killed, could she?”

Jiang Zhaoxue murmured.

A’Nan didn’t believe it at all: “Stop overthinking. Pei Zichen isn’t that kind of person.”

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t speak, only continuing to ask, “Sisi? Qian Sisi? Say something. Do you not know how to use the communication jade token?”

“My heavens.”

Qian Sisi’s voice suddenly emerged, startling Jiang Zhaoxue. Then she heard Qian Sisi say incredulously, “This thing can make noise? Are you a living person?”

“I’m Jiang Xue.” Jiang Zhaoxue spoke. Qian Sisi came to her senses.

Then she immediately cursed: “You have the nerve to contact me? What is that thing beside you? I came out of the latrine and got chopped with a hand strike. When I woke up I was in an alley, and I’m still aching all over! Pay compensation!”

“Alright, alright, as long as you’re alive.” Jiang Zhaoxue roughly understood the situation and instructed, “Hurry and go stab Mu Jinyue, otherwise Shen Yuqing will have time to go to the prince’s mansion. After you finish stabbing, we’ll contact each other and go to the Taotie Feast together.”

“Go to the Taotie Feast with me? Can you make that decision?” Qian Sisi patted her bottom and stood up, walking through the alley cursing, “With someone following you around like a father, you think you can just go?”

“I’ll send you my portrait, you take it to register.”

As Jiang Zhaoxue spoke, she transmitted her portrait.

Qian Sisi was shocked and said hurriedly, “Impressive, sister. Consider this a down payment.”

Jiang Zhaoxue sent another gold ingot: “We’ll go to the Taotie Feast together. After it succeeds, you get three parts, I get seven.”

With the gold in hand, Qian Sisi’s tone immediately became serious: “If you don’t abandon me, Sisi will follow you through life and death!”

“Hurry and stab Mu Jinyue. Before dawn, I want to hear news of her entering the medical hall.”

“What if Shen Yuqing is sleeping with her?”

At these words, Jiang Zhaoxue closed her eyes.

She endured for a moment, but still couldn’t hold back. Through gritted teeth she said, “Tell me the location. I’ll personally summon heavenly lightning to strike these pair of dogs dead!”

“Right away.”

Qian Sisi said decisively, “I’ll go now. Guaranteed satisfaction.”

With that, Qian Sisi cut off the transmission.

A’Nan was confused: “You really believe she can stab Mu Jinyue?”

“She’s a Mortal Realm master. Her sword intent is stronger than Mu Jinyue’s.” Jiang Zhaoxue said calmly. “As long as Shen Yuqing isn’t sleeping in Mu Jinyue’s room, tonight will definitely succeed.”

Hearing this, A’Nan understood why Jiang Zhaoxue dared to go to the Taotie Feast with Qian Sisi.

A Mortal Realm martial arts master—although without spiritual power, when sword intent was sufficient, it was also a form of cultivation.

With Qian Sisi’s protection, Jiang Zhaoxue would have enough time to set up formations. It was quite secure.

Jiang Zhaoxue sat thinking for a while, let out a breath, pulled up the blanket, closed her eyes and said, “Sleep.”

Though she said sleep, she couldn’t fall asleep. She only tossed and turned on the bed, her mind constantly thinking of the scene where she was strangled to death.

In the dream, she had actually seen Pei Zichen clearly, but upon waking she couldn’t quite remember.

It wasn’t until she saw Pei Zichen again that she suddenly recalled what the adult Pei Zichen looked like.

The pain of being strangled in the dream was clearly imprinted in her mind. She tossed and turned on the bed, her mind constantly replaying Yuanluo’s words: “Just now, I felt like for a brief instant, he wanted me.”

These words alternated repeatedly in her mind with that Jiuyou Realm Lord Pei Zichen from the dream. She tossed about half the night, finally unable to bear it. She suddenly stood up, passed through the wall, and headed straight for Pei Zichen’s bed.

The moment she bent down by Pei Zichen’s bed, Pei Zichen suddenly drew his sword. Jiang Zhaoxue looked up coldly. Seeing who had come, Pei Zichen gasped, urgently stopping his sword, but it still pressed against Jiang Zhaoxue’s neck, severing a strand of her hair.

“What are you doing?”

Jiang Zhaoxue spoke. Pei Zichen’s heart was in chaos. He hurriedly set up a barrier for Li Xiuji and lowered his sword, getting up: “Master’s Wife…”

Before he finished speaking, Jiang Zhaoxue grabbed his throat.

Her hand was very soft, without any calluses from lifting heavy objects. Her fingertips, smooth and warm like jade, grasped his vital point. Pei Zichen couldn’t help but tighten his grip on the sword hilt.

“I’m warning you,” Jiang Zhaoxue leaned close to him, speaking coldly, “Between you and me, only I deceive you—you don’t deceive me. Only I may wrong you—you may not wrong me. Understand?”

She was too close, her fragrance winding around him. Pei Zichen’s muscles tensed, his heartbeat racing.

He knew what she was talking about but didn’t yield an inch: “Regarding the Female Sovereign’s safety, this disciple acts according to his heart.”

“What kind of heart is your heart?”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue smiled. Her fingertips traced from his abdomen, as if disemboweling him, finally lightly tapping his heart. Like a female demon tempting him, she leaned forward and spoke softly, “Is it a gentleman’s heart, or a hypocrite’s heart?”

“What does the Female Sovereign wish?” Pei Zichen calmly asked in return. Jiang Zhaoxue was stunned.

“A strong person despised by all,” Pei Zichen gazed at her, as if also seeking an answer, “or mediocrity that upholds righteousness—what does the Female Sovereign wish?”

Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t speak. She blinked.

Pei Zichen pressed: “Female Sovereign?”

“I don’t know.”

Jiang Zhaoxue spoke honestly. Unable to see the person before her, she could only use her fingers to trace his eyes.

“I want you strong, but I fear you strong. Pei Zichen—” She unconsciously felt his eyes, brow bones, nose bridge, thin lips…

He was becoming more and more like the one in the dream. She quietly sensed, completely failing to notice Pei Zichen’s increasingly heavy breathing.

After she confirmed that his bone structure was almost identical to that person in the dream, she looked up at him.

Pei Zichen watched as her unfocused eyes reflected his face. Her fair skin looked like a demon’s enchantment under the moonlight, carrying a hint of pleading as she asked, “If one day you kill me, could you be gentle?”

Pei Zichen instantly clenched the bedsheet, saying hoarsely, “Impossible.”

Jiang Zhaoxue laughed softly.

She closed her eyes. A breeze blew, and her entire person seemed to scatter like wind, disappearing before Pei Zichen.

The wind still carried Jiang Zhaoxue’s lingering fragrance. Pei Zichen sat quietly in place, momentarily unable to distinguish whether it was dream or reality.

After the lingering fragrance dissipated, he took a deep breath and could only resignedly get up to go to the washroom again, closing his eyes in self-loathing.

Jiang Zhaoxue returned to bed, somewhat dazed.

A’Nan sighed: “I finally know why you lost your temper tonight. You think… Pei Zichen wants to cultivate Jiuyou Realm methods, and you’re afraid. In your heart, the current him and the person who killed you in the dream are still different. But if he becomes more and more similar, it’s very likely the future will turn him into that person.”

“Shut up.” Jiang Zhaoxue murmured.

A’Nan thought for a moment and jumped to the headboard: “Master, don’t be afraid. You’ll definitely win. A’Nan will stay with you!”

“I’m not afraid.”

Jiang Zhaoxue spoke softly, saying calmly, “If he becomes that person, he deserves to die. If he doesn’t become that person, I have nothing to fear.”

“Right!” A’Nan spoke, then said, “But seriously, Pei Zichen is really good-looking.”

Jiang Zhaoxue paused. A’Nan raised her wings to cover her face, wagging her tail: “Just now when you grabbed his throat, he lifted his neck right up. So beautiful! My heart was racing. Good thing you’re blind, otherwise you wouldn’t be able to speak seriously.”

“You…”

Jiang Zhaoxue was choked by her words. After holding it in for a long time, she finally said, “In the future when going out, don’t mention our relationship. If you absolutely must say something, just say you’re Shen Yuqing’s life beast, okay?”