Seeing Jiang Zhaoxue and Pei Zichen disappear before his eyes once again, Shen Yuqing rose hastily to pursue.

However, the surroundings had already begun to spin dizzyingly. Space shattered inch by inch. Mu Jinyue hurriedly ran to Shen Yuqing’s side with the Sushi Mirror, pulling him and saying: “Master, we can’t pursue anymore. You used too much power. The Sushi Mirror can no longer sustain us. We must go back!”

“But your master’s wife…”

“Master’s wife will be fine!” Mu Jinyue gripped him tightly as they fell into the temporal rift, urgently reminding: “With Senior Brother there, Master’s wife will be fine!”

Hearing this, Shen Yuqing froze.

In that instant, he realized—actually, he knew. He knew that with Pei Zichen there, she would be fine.

A Sixth Realm fate master, as long as there was anyone beside her who could stall for time, she would be fine.

She didn’t absolutely need him.

But it was precisely because he knew this that he was afraid. He didn’t even understand what he feared, nor did he want to understand.

Only when they fell from the Sushi Mirror back into reality, he immediately said: “Open it again! I’m going back!”

“Yuqing.”

As soon as the words fell, Gujun Daoren’s voice sounded, calmly saying: “The Jiuyou Realm barrier has completely shattered. First go to Cangming Sea to quell the chaos. The matter of the Su Guangji will be discussed later.”

Hearing this, Shen Yuqing’s expression grew stern.

Going back one year equaled one day in the present.

Their return to four years in the past equaled four days.

What happened in these four days? The Jiuyou Realm barrier had actually completely shattered?!

Cangming Sea…

Thinking of the sea surface dyed red with blood two hundred years ago at Cangming Sea, Shen Yuqing had no time to think further. He looked back at the Sushi Mirror.

After hesitating a moment, he still turned around, instructing Mu Jinyue: “Rest first. Wait for me to return.”

Just a few years—it didn’t matter.

He had two hundred years.

He told himself.

He and Jiang Zhaoxue had two hundred years—they couldn’t be separated.

Jiang Zhaoxue fell continuously through darkness, feeling the sound of surging tides all around.

When she woke again and opened her eyes, dim light first filtered in. Then she heard a loud “bang bang” from outside the door. A young girl’s voice said somewhat anxiously: “Miss Jiang, Miss Jiang, are you awake?”

Jiang Zhaoxue was slightly stunned and stretched out her hand in disbelief.

Her eyes were healed?!

“Where is this?” A’Nan opened its mouth somewhat confused. Jiang Zhaoxue looked around.

This was a completely different decorating style from the capital. The capital was solemn, mostly using golden thread nanmu and other solid woods. This room had quite a few bamboo woven items, a suspended mountain-style roof, and bamboo leaves swaying gently outside the window—it seemed to be the style of Shu.

She was in Shu?

Where was Pei Zichen? Where were the others?

Was this an illusion or some other place?

As Jiang Zhaoxue puzzled, she heard the young girl outside say somewhat anxiously: “Miss Jiang, are you alright? If you don’t say something, I’m going to break down the door!”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue looked up. Then she heard a loud “bang” as the door was knocked open by someone’s sword. A fierce-looking young girl raised her head, immediately meeting eyes with the completely bewildered Jiang Zhaoxue on the bed.

Jiang Zhaoxue stared blankly at the young girl. She was clearly much younger, appearing to be only sixteen or seventeen. Her cat-like eyes, even when cold, seemed to carry a hint of laughter.

Jiang Zhaoxue looked at her somewhat puzzled, hesitantly opening her mouth: “Qian Sisi?”

“Miss Jiang?” Qian Sisi asked strangely, looking Jiang Zhaoxue up and down. “What’s wrong with you?”

“I…”

Jiang Zhaoxue’s mind raced, thinking about the scene before she lost consciousness.

Qian Sisi had taken Song Wuya and fled. Ye Tianjiao had jumped down after them. Shen Yuqing had drawn his sword and should have summoned the Sushi Mirror…

So this place was…

“Could this be Qian Sisi’s past?” A’Nan blurted out.

Jiang Zhaoxue contemplated A’Nan’s words.

From what she could see, any divine artifact combined with either the Sushi Mirror or the Su Guangji could distort time and space. The Lingxu Fan was with Song Wuya. If Qian Sisi had activated the Lingxu Fan while escaping, it wouldn’t be strange for them to have returned to Qian Sisi’s past.

But the problem was, she had sealed the Lingxu Fan in advance at the celestial prison, not allowing anyone except herself to formally activate it. Under these circumstances, the Lingxu Fan couldn’t possibly generate enough power to reverse time and space, so this definitely wasn’t the past.

If not the past, then this could only be Qian Sisi’s memory or her illusion.

She must have possessed some secret method to activate the Lingxu Fan. When leaving, she tried to activate it but failed, yet obtained part of the Lingxu Fan’s power, pulling her into her own memory or illusion.

But what about Pei Zichen? What about Ye Tianjiao and Song Wuya who left together with Qian Sisi?

Jiang Zhaoxue had too many questions, unsure how to begin. Qian Sisi observed her and carefully approached: “Miss Jiang… did you… hit your head?”

Jiang Zhaoxue paused, immediately understanding that this identity should have hit her head before waking.

She immediately looked at Qian Sisi with confusion, probing: “What got hit?”

Qian Sisi drew in a sharp breath and quickly asked: “Do you still remember who you are?”

“Don’t remember.”

“Do you still remember who I am?”

“Besides the name Qian Sisi, don’t remember.”

“Then…” Qian Sisi grew more nervous. “Do you still remember Senior Brother?”

“Who?” Jiang Zhaoxue was genuinely confused this time. “Who is your Senior Brother?”

Hearing this, Qian Sisi’s whole face showed a horrified expression: “It’s over! I’ve caused a huge disaster! Miss Jiang, stay right here and don’t move.”

Speaking thus, Qian Sisi raised her hand to set up a barrier. Jiang Zhaoxue looked at the barrier, stunned. She saw Qian Sisi turn and run outside. Jiang Zhaoxue stared at the barrier, pondered for a moment, raised her eyes toward the main gate, crossed her arms before her chest, and laughed angrily: “She knows magic?”

“Actually it’s not too bad,” A’Nan comforted her. “At least her name is real.”

“Ha.”

Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t be bothered to scold more. She got up and went to the mirror, looking at her reflection and finding no difference from her own face.

She checked the birthmark on the inside of her arm, confirming this was indeed her own body.

So was she a soul or body?

As Jiang Zhaoxue contemplated, after a while, she heard Qian Sisi’s voice from outside: “Quick, she’s inside.”

Speaking thus, she saw Qian Sisi burst in with a large group of people.

These people all wore similar attire to Qian Sisi—white fitted clothing, blue woven hemp rope belts, each holding long swords. They were clearly a group of sword cultivators, all looking nervously at Jiang Zhaoxue.

Jiang Zhaoxue rose from the mirror, warily sizing up this group of sword cultivators.

Seeing her expression, Qian Sisi immediately said: “See? I told you her brain got damaged! Miss Jiang is such a gentle person—how could she look at me with those eyes?”

“Looking at you with those eyes is normal,” one disciple reminded. “That rock that knocked her out—you threw it.”

Qian Sisi’s movements froze, then she immediately said: “Then what do we do? Now she doesn’t remember anything. Senior Brother entrusted her to us. When he comes back and sees her like this, we’ll all be dead!”

Hearing this, everyone felt somewhat guilty.

Then one person said: “Well, Senior Brother has such a good temper, he probably won’t…”

“You don’t understand him!”

As the words fell, everyone spoke in unison. Jiang Zhaoxue looked around at them, thinking about this Senior Brother they spoke of—just what kind of divine being was he? She also observed the crowd to see if there were any familiar faces.

After observing the circle, seeing that Pei Zichen, Ye Tianjiao, and Song Wuya weren’t among them, she finally said: “Can one of you step forward and explain the situation to me?”

At this question, everyone looked at each other. After a moment, they all looked at Qian Sisi in unison.

Qian Sisi cleared her throat and could only take Jiang Zhaoxue to the great hall. Over a dozen disciples surrounded them, serving fine tea, fruits, vegetables, and melon seeds, and began listening to Qian Sisi explain the situation to her.

After listening briefly, Jiang Zhaoxue had a general understanding.

Her name was Jiang Xue. She was the eldest daughter of the Jiang family, a Shu immortal sect, and also a fate master.

This was six years before she met Qian Sisi, when Qian Sisi was eighteen and she met her at twenty-four.

This was Shu, and they were from a small Shu sect called Wenjian Manor.

Their sect master was an old man who loved drinking and constantly wandered outside, whereabouts unknown. So starting five years ago, the sect had been managed by the seventeen-year-old eldest senior brother, Shen Chen.

When Shen Chen took over Wenjian Manor, it was so dilapidated even the plaque was about to fall off. So Shen Chen had no choice but to start making money, spending his entire youth on making money, raising children, repairing buildings, and making the sect flourish.

Finally bringing Wenjian Manor onto the right track, he could finally consider his personal marriage.

“You and my Senior Brother—that’s a childhood betrothal arranged long ago.” Qian Sisi solemnly told Jiang Zhaoxue. “Back then, the Jiang clan and Wenjian Manor were roughly equal. Later, Wenjian Manor declined day by day while the Jiang clan prospered increasingly, but this didn’t change your relationship. Although Senior Brother and you haven’t met much, you’ve frequently corresponded under the elders’ support. In recent years, Senior Brother’s most difficult years, you persistently encouraged him and even sold your jewelry to support him. Only then could Senior Brother persevere. So Senior Brother’s feelings for you—they’re deeply devoted as husband and wife, feelings stronger than gold.”

“Did he return the jewelry I sold?”

Jiang Zhaoxue was only curious about this.

Qian Sisi immediately said: “Of course he returned it! No matter how poor Senior Brother was, he wouldn’t use your jewelry. He returned it immediately, but he remembered the sentiment. All these years Senior Brother has worked hard just to be worthy of you!”

“Oh,” Jiang Zhaoxue nodded. “Then why am I here alone?”

“This…”

Everyone looked at each other. Qian Sisi spoke honestly: “We don’t know either. Everyone guesses you came to pressure him into marriage.”

“I’m pressuring marriage?” Jiang Zhaoxue was somewhat surprised. “Aren’t your Senior Brother and I deeply devoted?”

“Deeply devoted, but… the Jiang residence is a large, wealthy family,” Qian Sisi spoke rather euphemistically. “Two years ago, after Senior Brother came of age, he visited the Jiang family head. Upon returning, he began working hard to save money, thus postponing the wedding date… When you heard… that very night you followed Senior Brother and ran out behind the family head’s back. These past years, Senior Brother has sent you back, you’ve run out again, seeking death and life every time. Finally, the Jiang family head stopped managing you, so Senior Brother could only take good care of you.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue understood—wasn’t this just like when she was twenty chasing Shen Yuqing?

She sneered coldly and only said: “There’s something wrong with her. Since your Senior Brother is only postponing the marriage and will eventually come marry me, why must I come over?”

“Perhaps… you have a more lively personality?” Qian Sisi considered. “Senior Brother is rather rigid. Before marriage, he only dared correspond with you, and even the letters had to be reviewed by elders. It’s just we don’t have many elders here, and the Jiang family head is lenient and generally doesn’t read them. But discussing feelings—only writing things elders can read—you probably found it boring and wanted to see Senior Brother?”

“Then I really am sick.”

Jiang Zhaoxue blurted out, feeling this story revealed the intense foolish air of her youth. She couldn’t help asking: “You’re not deceiving me, are you?”

One fool was enough—there had to be several?

Hearing this, everyone became somewhat alarmed. Qian Sisi quickly stood up to comfort her: “Miss Jiang, please don’t think wildly! You love our Senior Brother desperately, and Senior Brother likes you very much too! You just lost your memory when I accidentally hit you yesterday when you arrived. We haven’t deceived you—your feelings absolutely have no problems!”

“Fine, fine.”

Jiang Zhaoxue was too lazy to say more to Qian Sisi. She only looked around and asked: “Then where is your Senior Brother now?”

“Senior Brother went to subdue demons.” Qian Sisi explained. “Recently, a great demon suddenly appeared in the Dragon Water Pool here, harming the people. Senior Brother also postponed the wedding date because of this.”

Jiang Zhaoxue listened impatiently—she had heard such words countless times when she and Shen Yuqing were together.

She always used to be understanding, but later gradually realized—why did it have to be Shen Yuqing?

Lingjian Immortal Pavilion had so many people—had they all died? Why did everything require Shen Yuqing to go? So she understood—it wasn’t that it had to be Shen Yuqing, but that Shen Yuqing himself wanted to go.

Just like this Shen Chen now—everyone else was here slacking off. Why was he the only one who went?

If you truly love someone, how could you really not meet for years?

It was simply that this Shen Chen didn’t care enough.

Perhaps he even loved another.

But this was actually good. According to their account, this Shen Chen and Jiang Xue were about to marry. She couldn’t possibly marry a stranger here. If Shen Chen’s heart wasn’t in this, it would be more convenient for her to sever ties.

Jiang Zhaoxue sneered coldly, making everyone’s hearts tighten with her laugh.

As everyone fell silent, Qian Sisi’s voice transmission jade tablet suddenly lit up. Seeing it, she said happily: “Senior Brother says the great demon has been eliminated! Now he’s searching for small demons that escaped and scattered into the city! He wants us to meet him tomorrow at Zhuxia Town ahead.”

“Good, good,” hearing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said, “Zhuxia Town has famous physicians. Let’s quickly take Miss Jiang to see one.”

Speaking thus, everyone stared at Qian Sisi, instructing: “Sisi, you caused this trouble, you solve it yourself. Follow Miss Jiang well and don’t cause any more trouble!”

“I know.”

Qian Sisi was helpless.

Jiang Zhaoxue glanced at her. Qian Sisi immediately smiled apologetically: “Miss Jiang?”

Seeing her smiling face, Jiang Zhaoxue immediately recalled Qian Sisi’s previous lies and couldn’t help letting out a heavy “hmph” through her nose.

Jiang Zhaoxue’s hostility was obvious, but since Qian Sisi had knocked the person out, she could only glumly stand guard.

While guarding, she had to keep persuading her, trying to make her fall in love with Shen Chen again through descriptions.

But the Shen Chen she described was all too familiar to Jiang Zhaoxue.

Proper conduct, self-disciplined and observant of propriety.

A prodigy born from a declining sect, raising a group of junior brothers and sisters, Shu’s immortal prodigy, the pride of all Wenjian Manor.

Every word described one name—Shen Yuqing.

And his surname was actually Shen!

So with every additional word Qian Sisi said, Jiang Zhaoxue’s disgust for this person she’d never met increased.

By evening, Qian Sisi had made herself a floor bed beside her, saying hoarsely: “Really, Miss Jiang, trust me. Senior Brother is truly a good person. He’s just not good at talking. When you see him, you’ll definitely like him.”

“Enough,” Jiang Zhaoxue closed her eyes. “Sleep first.”

“You…”

“Oh,” Jiang Zhaoxue suddenly remembered something and turned to look at Qian Sisi. “Do you know many people?”

“Fairly well,” hearing Jiang Zhaoxue proactively ask, Qian Sisi immediately said, “Miss Jiang, you still remember people?”

“I remember a few names.”

Jiang Zhaoxue pretended to think: “Mm… do you know Song Wuya?”

“I know him.”

Qian Sisi answered decisively. Jiang Zhaoxue’s eyes immediately brightened. Just as she was about to inquire, she heard Qian Sisi say: “Isn’t that the Third Prince of Great Xia? True dragon fate—everyone says he’ll definitely be emperor in the future.”

Hearing this description, Jiang Zhaoxue gave up, understanding they didn’t know each other at all.

She continued without any hope: “What about Pei Zichen?”

“Don’t know him.”

“Then…” Jiang Zhaoxue sighed. “Have you heard of Ye Tianjiao?”

“No…”

Qian Sisi instinctively opened her mouth to deny, but suddenly remembered something and said warily: “How do you know this name?”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue knew there was hope and quickly asked: “You know him?”

“A crazy talisman cultivator.” Qian Sisi recalled, seeming somewhat annoyed. “Met him on the road a few days ago. He’s been pestering me ever since—been beaten several times.”

“Where is he?!”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue immediately confirmed—this was definitely Ye Tianjiao.

Qian Sisi looked at her suspiciously: “Why do you care so much about him? Didn’t you lose your memory?”

“I remember this name,” Jiang Zhaoxue said excitedly. “I must have a relationship with him. Tell me—where is he?”

Hearing this, Qian Sisi was somewhat uncertain and mumbled: “Well… this morning he came over, and after I beat him up… I threw him down the mountain…”

“Which mountain?”

Jiang Zhaoxue pressed. Qian Sisi raised her hand and pointed outside: “Just that small hill behind the mountain…”

Before she finished, Jiang Zhaoxue jumped down from the bed, putting on her shoes while running, urgently urging: “Quick! Take me there!”

“Hey, hey!”

Hearing this, Qian Sisi quickly chased after Jiang Zhaoxue.

She snatched a lantern from a junior brother’s hands on the road. Watching Jiang Zhaoxue rush anxiously, she couldn’t help saying: “Why are you so anxious? When I beat him, I definitely knew what I was doing. Besides… you’re this anxious—do you really only remember a name?”

“Stop talking nonsense,” Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t help saying. “You beat someone and you’re still in the right?”

“I’m a young lady,” hearing this, Qian Sisi immediately said. “He came up pouncing and hugging, grabbing me and not letting go. I feel I didn’t beat him hard enough!”

Hearing Qian Sisi’s description, Jiang Zhaoxue became more certain of Ye Tianjiao’s identity—only he could do such things.

She didn’t want to argue with Qian Sisi and turned back to pull her, coaxing: “Good junior sister, you say I woke up not remembering anything, only remembering you and him. Now hearing his news, I’m naturally excited. Just do me a favor and let me see him once to understand the situation, alright?”

Hearing Jiang Zhaoxue soften her voice, calling her “good junior sister” and saying “do me a favor,” then considering that Jiang Zhaoxue had forgotten Shen Chen but only remembered her, looking at Jiang Zhaoxue’s beautiful face, Qian Sisi couldn’t help feeling somewhat elated. Suppressing that little bit of happiness, she put on airs: “Fine. Follow me.”

“Hurry!”

Jiang Zhaoxue urged. Qian Sisi led her to the back mountain, searching all the way down from where she’d kicked him, finally finding the still unconscious Ye Tianjiao beside a tree trunk.

Seeing Ye Tianjiao unconscious on the ground, Jiang Zhaoxue quickly rushed over, turning him over, brushing aside his hair to see that face covered in injuries.

Jiang Zhaoxue drew in a sharp breath and couldn’t help turning to scold Qian Sisi: “How could you strike so hard?”

“He wouldn’t leave,” Qian Sisi said matter-of-factly. “So I could only hit harder.”

“Then…” Jiang Zhaoxue looked around. “Kicking him down like this—weren’t you afraid he’d be eaten by wild beasts? He… he doesn’t deserve death, does he?”

“He has so many talismans on him. Any ordinary creature with ill intent toward him would be immediately killed. He won’t have problems.”

Qian Sisi explained.

Jiang Zhaoxue finally felt relieved. She turned back to infuse Ye Tianjiao with spiritual power, patting his face: “Ye Tianjiao? Tianjiao? Ye Er?”

Qian Sisi leaned to the side without speaking. After waiting a moment, Ye Tianjiao groggily opened his eyes. Jiang Zhaoxue’s face burst into his view. He stared blankly at Jiang Zhaoxue, as if thinking he was dreaming, murmuring: “Fairy sister…”

“Yo,” Qian Sisi rolled her eyes from the side. “As expected, a lecher. Where’s half the demeanor of my Senior Brother? Calling her a fairy…”

“It’s me!”

Jiang Zhaoxue responded. Qian Sisi was stunned. A moment later, she saw Ye Tianjiao’s eyes light up, then with a “wah” he burst into loud sobs, fiercely throwing himself into Jiang Zhaoxue’s embrace, wailing: “Sister!! I finally waited for you!!”

Qian Sisi stared blankly at this scene, sensing something was wrong. When Jiang Zhaoxue raised her hand to gently pat Ye Tianjiao’s back, comforting him with “it’s okay, it’s okay, I’m here,” Qian Sisi’s alarms instantly went off.

It’s over!

She realized in an instant—Senior Brother was finished!