When Qian Sisi came to her senses, she immediately rushed forward and roughly pulled Ye Tianjiao away, shouting angrily, “Let go! Is my sister-in-law someone you can touch?!”

“Sis!!”

Ye Tianjiao quickly reached out toward Jiang Zhaoxue. Jiang Zhaoxue hurriedly grabbed Ye Tianjiao’s hand and said urgently, “Sisi, calm down! I remember him! I know him!”

“Who is he?”

Qian Sisi asked sharply. Both Jiang Zhaoxue and Ye Tianjiao froze, exchanging glances. Jiang Zhaoxue immediately said, “This is my lifesaver. He saved me before. Let him go first!”

“Lifesaver?”

Qian Sisi couldn’t believe it. “You forgot about Senior Brother but you remember him?”

“That’s also my business!”

Jiang Zhaoxue was somewhat impatient. She frowned and said seriously, “Qian Sisi, let’s not even mention that your Senior Brother and I are only engaged, not married. Even if we were married, what I do isn’t for you, a junior martial sister, to control. This is an old acquaintance of mine. He came to find me, not you. You’ve misunderstood. Now that you’ve injured him, let’s let this matter pass. But right now he needs to go back and treat his wounds.”

Jiang Zhaoxue’s tone became solemn. Qian Sisi was stunned—she had never heard the person before her speak to her in this way. For a moment she felt flustered and quickly explained, “Miss Jiang, that’s not what I meant…”

“Then take him back.”

Jiang Zhaoxue said earnestly, “If you still want to obstruct us, I’ll consider that Wenjian Manor intends to be my enemy, and don’t blame me for taking action.”

Qian Sisi’s movements froze. Ye Tianjiao took the opportunity to scramble behind Jiang Zhaoxue, hurriedly hiding behind her and looking at Qian Sisi timidly, his eyes full of grievance.

Qian Sisi’s hand rested on her sword as she looked at the two fragile people before her, unable to express her frustration.

After thinking for a long while, she finally said, “Alright, it’s my fault. Miss Jiang, you needn’t be afraid. Take Young Master Ye back first. Since I’m the one who injured him, I’ll definitely take responsibility to the end.”

“That’s right!” Ye Tianjiao immediately said, “I was injured by you, so you have to take responsibility for me!”

“And me too!” Jiang Zhaoxue suddenly remembered—this body of hers had been knocked unconscious by a stone during Qian Sisi’s fight with someone.

Looking at the two injured people before her, Qian Sisi felt somewhat embarrassed. She touched her nose and said, “Alright…”

Ye Tianjiao had been given a broken bone by her, so he could only be carried back by Qian Sisi.

When the two returned, everyone at the manor saw Qian Sisi carrying a man back. A junior martial brother couldn’t help but joke, “Oh, Senior Sister Qian playing the hero saving the beauty?”

“It wasn’t me.” Qian Sisi glanced at Jiang Zhaoxue beside her and reminded them, “It was Miss Jiang.”

This statement instantly froze the atmosphere. Everyone looked at Jiang Zhaoxue in alarm, not daring to make a sound. Jiang Zhaoxue took Ye Tianjiao into the room and immediately called for a physician. After bustling about all night, everyone stood anxiously at the door watching Jiang Zhaoxue all night long.

When they saw Jiang Zhaoxue changing Ye Tianjiao’s medicine, everyone gasped. Second Senior Brother Zhuang Wen really couldn’t stand it anymore. He turned around and said, “Qian Sisi, come here.”

With a pained expression on her face, Qian Sisi followed Zhuang Wen to the courtyard. Zhuang Wen lowered his voice and said, “What’s going on here? Who is this man? Now you’ve knocked someone into losing their memory and brought a man back. Don’t you know what kind of temperament Eldest Senior Brother has? He can secretly strike at people who just look at Miss Jiang once too often. If he sees today’s scene, won’t there be trouble?!”

“How could I control that?!” Qian Sisi looked utterly aggrieved. “How was I supposed to know they knew each other? And looking at them, it doesn’t seem like they just met. Miss Jiang likes Senior Brother, doesn’t she? How could she not remember Senior Brother but only remember this guy?! What’s really going on here?”

This question stumped Zhuang Wen. He took a deep breath and could only say, “We can’t hide this news. Hurry and tell Senior Brother. Don’t let him keep waiting in Zhuxia Town—have him come pick her up. Any later…”

They didn’t dare say what might happen if it got any later.

They only thought about how Shen Chen had been risking his life everywhere these years exorcising demons and catching ghosts to save up betrothal gifts. Both of them fell silent.

Qian Sisi took a deep breath and turned her head. “I’ll go send the message.”

Jiang Zhaoxue was unaware of everyone at Wenjian Manor’s thoughts.

By the time she finished treating Ye Tianjiao, it was already the next day.

A cultivator’s recovery speed depended entirely on spiritual power. Although Ye Tianjiao had been beaten into a pig-headed state with broken bones, after a night of treatment from Jiang Zhaoxue and the physician, by the next day Ye Tianjiao was already lively and energetic.

As soon as he woke up in the morning, he wanted to eat. Jiang Zhaoxue went to the kitchen to get him some food, then set up a barrier and inquired about Ye Tianjiao’s situation.

But as soon as she set up this barrier, the entire Wenjian Manor became tense.

Led by Zhuang Wen and Qian Sisi, everyone stood at the door, looking at the barrier with anguished expressions. Qian Sisi couldn’t help but say, “They’ve been inside together all night, right?”

“And now setting up a barrier…” Zhuang Wen’s lips trembled slightly. “Senior Brother never had this kind of treatment…”

But they didn’t dare do anything. They could only block the door in a group, thinking about how they would accept their punishment when Shen Chen returned.

Jiang Zhaoxue was completely unaware of the situation outside. Watching Ye Tianjiao rapidly devour a bowl of noodles and then start eating steamed buns, she couldn’t help but say, “Slow down, don’t choke.”

“I haven’t eaten in days!”

Ye Tianjiao spoke indistinctly. Jiang Zhaoxue propped her chin on her hand, eating a steamed bun herself. “Tell me then, when did you arrive?”

“A month ago.” Ye Tianjiao swallowed the steamed bun. Knowing what Jiang Zhaoxue wanted to ask, he quickly said, “That day I saw Qian Sisi carrying Song Wuya and running away. I followed her into the teleportation array she opened. But once I got inside, everything was spinning. Song Wuya suddenly struggled and grabbed me. Song Wuya and I both fell into a pitch-black place.”

“Quite romantic.”

Jiang Zhaoxue said casually.

Ye Tianjiao said angrily, “Please don’t tease me! You don’t know—that Song Wuya is annoyingly melodramatic. After we fell, he first started going on about how he had received his ancestor’s recognition and had no regrets in this life. I gave him two punches before he came to his senses. Then he told me that where I was staying was inside the Lingxu Fan.”

“Inside the Lingxu Fan?”

Jiang Zhaoxue was somewhat surprised. Ye Tianjiao nodded and said seriously, “Song Wuya said that Qian Sisi seemed very familiar with the Lingxu Fan. The moment she seized Song Wuya, she tried to change its master and activate it. She succeeded in changing the master and the method she used was also correct. But she was affected by your restriction—the Lingxu Fan’s power was insufficient to open space-time and let her return to the past. So the power turned into an illusion and brought everyone inside.”

“At that time, Zichen’s Yuan Luogong tried to open a space to leave,” Jiang Zhaoxue thought aloud, “and it just happened to resonate with the Lingxu Fan, so he came in too?”

“Should be.” Ye Tianjiao pondered. “Song Wuya said that the reason people use the Lingxu Fan to reverse space-time is to fulfill their wishes. When space-time cannot be reversed, it will trap people in an illusion to fulfill the wish of the person who opened the fan. Those who followed the opener into the illusion will have an identity assigned to them according to the rules of the illusory world—one that fits their characteristics and also fits their deepest wish. Then they’ll gradually sink into the illusion along with the opener. The only way to break the illusion is to find the Lingxu Fan in this world and then destroy it.”

“Destroy the Lingxu Fan?!” Jiang Zhaoxue was shocked.

Ye Tianjiao quickly explained, “Not actually destroy it. The Lingxu Fan in the illusion is essentially the array’s core. Only by destroying the Lingxu Fan in the illusion can we break the illusion.”

Listening to this, Jiang Zhaoxue understood and nodded. “Then how do we find the Lingxu Fan? Did Song Wuya say?”

“Song Wuya said that the Lingxu Fan won’t alter its own existence, so its location is consistent with its position in real life.”

In other words, if the current time in the illusion was half a year before they entered, then wherever the Lingxu Fan was six years ago in reality, that’s where it would be in the illusion.

“How did Song Wuya obtain the Lingxu Fan back then?”

She asked thoughtfully. Ye Tianjiao answered seriously, “Furong City.”

“Then we…”

“But he also obtained the Lingxu Fan from someone else’s hands, so this may not be where the Lingxu Fan first appeared.” Ye Tianjiao interrupted Jiang Zhaoxue. “If we want to find the Lingxu Fan, we need to look for other clues. Song Wuya said there were many strange phenomena when the Lingxu Fan appeared. We’ll have to search for it ourselves.”

“Understood.” Jiang Zhaoxue nodded, then remembered something. “So where is Song Wuya? Why are you the only one here?”

“The place where we were at that time was an interlayer of the Lingxu Fan. We couldn’t stay there forever—we had to enter the illusion first, then break through the illusion to leave. So after Song Wuya finished briefing me, we entered the illusion together. People related to the Lingxu Fan won’t have memories after entering the illusion. Only people like us who have absolutely no connection to the Lingxu Fan will have memories from the outside world.”

“Then Zichen should also have memories from the outside world. But right now all our methods of communication have failed. Our most important task now is to find Zichen first.”

Jiang Zhaoxue sensed that she couldn’t even feel Pei Zichen through the Life Attendant Contract or the Spirit-Locking Array. She analyzed worriedly, “If identities after entering match personality traits and inner wishes, then we need to look for people similar to him.”

“Understood. I’ve been gathering information this past month. I know most of the famous cultivators in this Shu region. I’ve now narrowed it down to two targets.”

“Which two?”

Jiang Zhaoxue immediately asked.

Ye Tianjiao drank some water and began to tell her seriously, “The first is called Pei Xueyi. He’s the thirty-second generation chief disciple of the Sword Pavilion, only eighteen years old, ranked second among the younger generation in Shu, and is said to have the demeanor of a gentleman. He’s known as a precious jade that benefits the world and is the perfect disciple that every sect in the entire Shu immortal path desires.”

“Good, good, good!” Jiang Zhaoxue nodded. “He was like this before. If he hadn’t been framed back then, he would still be heaven’s favored child. Now that he’s entered the illusion, it’s perfectly normal for him to dream of becoming such a person.”

Then Jiang Zhaoxue remembered something. “What about the second one? Is there someone even more suitable?”

“The second one is from another sect. This person’s temperament doesn’t match his, and he’s said to have betrayed his master and destroyed his sect, committing every evil. But there’s one thing I think he really envies.”

Ye Tianjiao spoke seriously. Jiang Zhaoxue asked in confusion, “What?”

“He killed his master.”

As Ye Tianjiao spoke, Jiang Zhaoxue froze. Then she heard Ye Tianjiao describe, “But this matter is currently just a rumor in Shu. They say he secretly murdered his master, seized his master’s wife, and now every day he stays home with his master’s wife raising his master’s young daughter. He killed everyone who didn’t submit to him, turning their sect into complete chaos. Then he closed the doors and spent every night in revelry with his master’s wife. It’s said that several times people saw him pressing his master’s wife against the window…”

“Impossible!”

Jiang Zhaoxue immediately denied Ye Tianjiao’s words, saying seriously, “Zichen could never be that kind of person. Never mind that he doesn’t actually want to kill his master—even if he did, he would absolutely never commit such evil acts as seizing his master’s wife and harming his fellow disciples.”

This statement made Ye Tianjiao freeze. Only then did he realize what he had said.

Was the point about killing his master?

No, it was about seizing his master’s wife and nightly revelry.

But he didn’t dare say this again. He turned his head anxiously and said, “Cough, I was being too narrow-minded thinking of him. I just thought that since his master did such excessive things… anyone would want revenge, right?”

“But Zichen would never use such a despicable method to take revenge on Shen Yuqing.”

Jiang Zhaoxue’s tone was certain. Ye Tianjiao quickly nodded and agreed, “Yes, yes, it’s me being petty!”

“Since that’s the case, what we need to do now is very simple.”

Jiang Zhaoxue thought deeply and said seriously, “First break the engagement with Shen Chen, then find this Pei Xueyi. Once we confirm he’s Zichen, we’ll officially start searching for the Lingxu Fan.”

Ye Tianjiao felt guilty and could only say “mm-hmm.”

Jiang Zhaoxue sorted through her thoughts and looked back at him. “Did Song Wuya say anything else?”

“Oh, he mentioned a few other rules.”

Ye Tianjiao carefully recalled, “First, people who enter the illusion won’t remember what happened here after they leave. There’s one exception, but he doesn’t know what it is.”

Jiang Zhaoxue nodded. “What else?”

“Second, if you face outsiders related to the Lingxu Fan—meaning people who entered the Lingxu Fan but lost their memories, like Song Wuya and Qian Sisi—when you sense an irresistible force compelling you to do something, if you forcibly resist, once you succeed in resisting, it will severely injure them. So unless it’s something really excessive, just go along with them. But generally they won’t use this power casually, because when this situation occurs, it proves that person wants to do something very much.”

“Understood.”

“There’s also a third point,” Ye Tianjiao said solemnly. “The most important point is that we cannot let Qian Sisi fulfill her wish.”

Jiang Zhaoxue raised her eyes. Ye Tianjiao said seriously, “Song Wuya said that when the Lingxu Fan appeared in the past, the Shu immortal path was almost completely destroyed. If Qian Sisi belongs to the Shu immortal path, then what she wants is very likely to prevent this calamity. But once her wish is fulfilled, we’ll never be able to leave this illusion. It’s equivalent to Qian Sisi’s wish to the Lingxu Fan being granted, and all of us will become nourishment for the Lingxu Fan as the price she pays to it.”

“What kind of profiteer is this?!”

Jiang Zhaoxue said angrily, “Qian Sisi wanted to go back to the past to change the real world, but it gives her an illusion and still has the nerve to demand payment?”

“It’s a spiritual object.” Ye Tianjiao shrugged. “Anyway, in the Lingxu Fan’s view, it’s probably all the same. An illusion is also a small world.”

“You’re truly enlightened.”

Jiang Zhaoxue’s tone was sarcastic. Ye Tianjiao didn’t catch it. After finishing his meal, he looked over with some sadness and murmured, “So she used to be this happy?”

“Was she unhappy later?” Jiang Zhaoxue asked curiously. “I see her being carefree every day.”

“Her eyes don’t smile.”

Ye Tianjiao recalled and shook his head. “It’s different from now.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue’s movements paused slightly. She glanced at Ye Tianjiao and thought to herself, “He’s done for. He’s fallen into the river of love. He can even tell whether eyes smile or not.”

“A youth in love, indeed.”

“Alright,” Jiang Zhaoxue thought about Qian Sisi’s temperament and knew Ye Tianjiao was doomed. She advised, “You’re not her type. Don’t think too much about it. Hurry up and write me a letter breaking off the engagement. Once we’ve broken off my engagement with Shen Chen, let’s pack up and leave.”

“Oh.”

Ye Tianjiao listened and got up to go to the desk. Then he felt somewhat puzzled. “Why must we break off the engagement? If you keep this fiancée status, we can come back later.”

“If I keep this status, I’ll be caught and forced to marry him immediately! Let’s run quickly.”

Thinking of Qian Sisi and the others’ attitude toward people, Jiang Zhaoxue felt it was like the mortal world version of Lingjian Immortal Pavilion. She just wanted to flee frantically.

Ye Tianjiao listened and nodded. “Alright. Then…” He thought for a moment. “On what grounds? Why break the engagement?”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue looked up at Ye Tianjiao’s beautiful, delicate face, considered for a moment, and said directly, “Say that I’ve fallen for someone else and now like you.”

Hearing this, Ye Tianjiao held his brush with a somewhat bashful expression. “This… isn’t this improper?”

“Just write it quickly. This is the most decisive approach,” Jiang Zhaoxue said as she sat in the rocking chair, fanning herself. “You’re so good-looking, it’s the most convincing. Plus, if I’ve already fallen for someone else, it cuts off any possibility of him trying to win me back. By the way, what identity did you have when you came through?”

Jiang Zhaoxue looked up curiously and saw Ye Tianjiao’s face full of righteous indignation. “I’m an assassin. But wanting to be an assassin was just a passing thought—I would never kill people for money! So as soon as I arrived, I ran away. I have no savings and no way to make a living. Finally, I saw Qian Sisi, and she beat me up!”

The more Ye Tianjiao spoke, the sadder he became. He said mournfully, “It’s too much!”

“Exactly.”

Jiang Zhaoxue directed him, “To get revenge on her, make the breakup letter really harsh. Or should I say I’m pregnant with your child?”

“No!” Ye Tianjiao immediately said, “That’s going too far.”

“Fine, fine.” Jiang Zhaoxue closed her eyes. “Just write it quickly.”

Ye Tianjiao lowered his head to write the breakup letter while Jiang Zhaoxue rested with her eyes closed.

Seeing that they weren’t talking, A’Nan finally spoke up. “Speaking of which, do you really think we don’t need to check out the one who killed his master?”

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t respond to her. A’Nan continued, “Actually… Pei Zichen hasn’t never done this kind of thing before. In the book, didn’t he…”

A’Nan didn’t finish, but Jiang Zhaoxue understood.

In truth, Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t really want to recall this section of content. Even when reading it, she had glossed over it quickly. For her, this content was truly rather embarrassing.

In the book, Pei Zichen had indeed done this kind of thing—”seizing his master’s wife to take revenge on his master.”

At the thought of this, Jiang Zhaoxue raised her hand to cover her forehead and let out a heavy sigh.

In the book, when Pei Zichen had just advanced to the True Immortal Stage, things hadn’t gone smoothly for him either.

Once, when Shen Yuqing occupied a city in the Jiuyou Realm, Pei Zichen captured Mu Jinyue and simultaneously used a great array to trap one hundred thousand Immortal Alliance disciples, confronting Shen Yuqing.

The two sides were locked in a stalemate. Finally, to humiliate Shen Yuqing, Pei Zichen made a demand—that Shen Yuqing send his wife, which was her, to the Jiuyou Realm as a hostage.

Though it was called being a hostage, since she was Shen Yuqing’s wife and also the number one beauty of the True Immortal Stage, even if nothing was done, everyone could speculate about what might happen.

But with a hundred thousand lives hanging over her head, Shen Yuqing could only kneel by her bedside in the end, begging her to go.

Then he pleaded with her to find a way to work with him from the inside and outside to assassinate Pei Zichen.

So in the book, Jiang Zhaoxue went to the Jiuyou Realm’s Demon Palace and became Pei Zichen’s concubine for a period of time.

For Shen Yuqing’s sake, she deliberately tried to please and get close to him. Surprisingly, Pei Zichen gradually softened and let her live in the Jiuyou Realm’s Demon Palace like a lady. Finally, for the sake of the True Immortal Stage, she drew out a map of the Demon Palace’s formations. At the same time, she discovered Pei Zichen’s weakness—that on the fifteenth of every month, he would have a day of decline. Then, working together with Shen Yuqing, she launched a surprise attack on the fifteenth, successfully causing the Jiuyou Realm to suffer a crushing defeat.

Shen Yuqing took advantage of the chaos to bring her back. Originally they thought Pei Zichen had died, but Mu Jinyue had a moment of soft-heartedness and let Pei Zichen escape. Because of this, Pei Zichen’s feelings for Mu Jinyue deepened. Afterward, when he returned to the Jiuyou Realm, not only did he not die, but he grew even stronger. He thoroughly bore a grudge against the entire True Immortal Stage and began his crazy revenge.

Until he finally killed her.

Although she had sworn to Ye Tianjiao that Pei Zichen wasn’t the kind of person who would take revenge on someone by humiliating their wife.

But in reality…

He really had done it in the book.

This could even be considered the first true beauty-related gratification point in this male-oriented novel. It was just that this gratification point was too humiliating for Jiang Zhaoxue, and afterward she didn’t even want to think about it again.

Anyway, it was just yellow trash the author wrote to stimulate readers, completely unrelated to the plot.

“But that was the book after all. Do you see Pei Zichen as someone who would do such a thing?”

The moment Jiang Zhaoxue thought about that content, she quickly forced herself not to dwell on it.

“But…” A’Nan hesitated to remind her, “Actually, right now there’s not much difference from the book’s plot.”

Jiang Zhaoxue listened in silence.

A’Nan sighed. “I know you don’t want to admit it, but look—he jumped off the cliff, he cultivated the Jiuyou Realm techniques, he obtained the divine weapons. It seems there’s not much difference from the book. You still can’t separate him from his book counterpart too much.”

“I understand.” Jiang Zhaoxue knew A’Nan was also right. She pressed her lips together and said, “If Pei Xueyi isn’t Pei Zichen, I’ll go find that person.”

As the person and bird discussed this, Ye Tianjiao finished writing the engagement-breaking letter.

Jiang Zhaoxue took it and reviewed it, then suddenly remembered something. “Speaking of which, Pei Xueyi is second in Shu?”

“Right.”

“Then who’s first?” Jiang Zhaoxue was somewhat curious.

Ye Tianjiao immediately said, “It’s your fiancé, Shen Chen.”

Jiang Zhaoxue’s movements paused slightly. Then she snorted coldly, took the engagement-breaking letter, stood up, and instructed, “Pack your luggage. I’ll go negotiate first. After you’ve packed, come out and say that you saved me before and I’ve kept it in my heart. From now on, don’t call me ‘sis’—call me Xue’er.”

With that, Jiang Zhaoxue pushed open the door. As soon as she stepped out, she saw all the disciples of Wenjian Manor standing tensely at the entrance.

Seeing Jiang Zhaoxue emerge, Qian Sisi immediately forced out a smile and stepped forward. “Miss Jiang? You’ve come out? Senior Brother just sent a message. Look, this is his letter, and also a gift for you…”

Qian Sisi took out a box that was obviously a jewelry case and handed it over, saying hurriedly, “Take a look. He’s always very thoughtful when picking gifts!”

“That’s not necessary.”

Jiang Zhaoxue spoke gently but firmly. Qian Sisi froze, then saw Jiang Zhaoxue’s face showing an apologetic expression. “I’m sorry. I just talked with Tianjiao, and I remembered what happened between Tianjiao and me.”

“You…” Qian Sisi looked shocked and uneasy as she glanced at Ye Tianjiao, who was packing things in the room. She couldn’t help but say urgently, “Miss Jiang, what do you mean? What’s your relationship with this young master?”

As she spoke, Qian Sisi directly opened her communication with Shen Chen, urgently saying in secret, “Senior Brother! Sister-in-law is going to run away! Come back quickly!”

“Shen Chen” was leading Wenjian Manor’s elite forces pursuing a group of man-eating demon beasts when he suddenly heard Qian Sisi’s voice. His sword edge veered, only wounding the demon beast. As the beast went into a frenzy and slapped a palm toward Shen Chen, he quickly concentrated and swung his sword, fiercely severing the demon beast’s head. Then he heard Jiang Zhaoxue’s voice by his ear, tinged with shyness: “Young Master Ye saved me back then. I’ve always kept it in my heart. It’s just that in the past, I always thought we would never meet again. I didn’t expect that we could be reunited now. This too is a fate determined by heaven.”

“But before, you always said you liked Eldest Senior Brother…”

“I don’t know the reason.”

Jiang Zhaoxue spoke gently with apology. “But I suppose that perhaps because this was arranged by matchmakers, I wanted to honor it, so I convinced myself to say those things? But now, seeing Young Master Ye again, my heart immediately fluttered. I think the body doesn’t lie—all these years, I should have always loved him.”

“Senior Brother!”

Seeing Shen Chen injured, the people beside him hurried over. Shen Chen gripped his sword, panting and feeling as if he were in an illusion. He remained silent and still, listening to Jiang Zhaoxue say sincerely, “I’m very sorry for delaying Daoist Shen all these years. But our engagement was also by parental decree. Presumably Daoist Shen only acted under orders regarding me. Since that’s the case, I might as well be the villain. This is my engagement-breaking letter.”

Jiang Zhaoxue placed the engagement-breaking letter in Qian Sisi’s hand and said gently, “Please trouble you to pass this to Daoist Shen.”

“No, wait…”

Qian Sisi came to her senses. “You don’t even remember him. How can you say you don’t like him?!”

“But I know I like Tianjiao.” Jiang Zhaoxue said matter-of-factly, “Could a person possibly like two people at the same time?”

“What’s so good about him to like?!” Qian Sisi said angrily. She was about to curse when she saw Ye Tianjiao walk out of the room carrying a bundle.

Following Jiang Zhaoxue’s instructions, Ye Tianjiao coughed lightly and said somewhat unnaturally, “Um… Xue’er.” Jiang Zhaoxue turned around to see Ye Tianjiao looking down at the floor, as if trying to bore a hole through it, saying with forced composure, “Are you ready? Shall we go?”

His voice wasn’t loud when he asked, but everyone could hear it.

Everyone looked at him in shock. Even though he was looking down, everyone could clearly see this was an extremely gorgeous and beautiful face. Qian Sisi stared blankly at Ye Tianjiao, then came to her senses and couldn’t help but say, “You like this kind of pretty boy?!”

“Show some respect when you speak!” Ye Tianjiao immediately said, “Who are you calling a pretty boy? Xue’er!”

Ye Tianjiao grabbed Jiang Zhaoxue’s hand with considerable spirit and said, “Let’s go!”

With that, Jiang Zhaoxue followed him to leave.

Everyone was at a loss, wanting to stop them but not daring to. Just as they were hesitating, Qian Sisi heard Shen Chen’s transmission in her ear: “Stop them and wait for me to return.”

Hearing this, Qian Sisi immediately said, “Stop them!”

“What do you mean?”

Upon hearing this, Ye Tianjiao instantly had talismans in hand. He swept a cold glance around them. “You won’t let us leave?”

“Um, Miss Jiang,” Zhuang Wen stepped forward and tried to persuade her. “You don’t remember anything right now. We can’t feel at ease letting you leave. At the very least, we need to wait for Senior Brother to return and escort you to the Jiang Family. Otherwise, if something happens to you, Wenjian Manor won’t be able to answer to the Jiang Family.”

“Then she can just send a message to the Jiang Family head, right?” Ye Tianjiao immediately said, “You’re just making excuses!”

“Miss Jiang,” Zhuang Wen stared at Jiang Zhaoxue and said seriously, “I know Miss Jiang is not the type to make things difficult for us junior disciples.”

Jiang Zhaoxue said nothing. Holding hands with Ye Tianjiao, she looked around. Here was a group of sword cultivators. For two fragile mage-types like them to force their way through really didn’t offer much chance of success.

Jiang Zhaoxue stared at them. After thinking it over, she nodded. “If it’s truly as you say, I can understand. Then I’ll wait for Shen Chen to return. However…”

Jiang Zhaoxue looked back at the room. “I cannot be separated from Tianjiao.”

Hearing this, everyone wanted to strangle Ye Tianjiao, but no one dared offend Jiang Zhaoxue. They could only force out a smile and say, “Alright.”

“I want to be alone with Tianjiao.”

Jiang Zhaoxue continued making demands.

Qian Sisi and the others gritted their teeth. “Fine.”

“Then…” Jiang Zhaoxue looked back at Ye Tianjiao. “Is this okay?”

“Uh… yes!” Ye Tianjiao worked hard to adapt to his role. “Whatever Xue’er says, goes!”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue showed a happy smile and reached out to take Ye Tianjiao’s arm. “Let’s go inside.”

With that, she dragged the completely stiff Ye Tianjiao into the room.

Everyone watched this scene with worried hearts. Once the door closed, Qian Sisi came to her senses and said hurriedly, “Senior Brother, please come back quickly!”

Just as she finished speaking, Qian Sisi heard the howling of wind from the other side.

Shen Chen’s voice was steady: “I’m on my way back. Don’t let her leave.”

As Shen Chen rushed back with all his might, Jiang Zhaoxue and Ye Tianjiao closed the door. Jiang Zhaoxue immediately set up a barrier, and Ye Tianjiao said urgently, “Leave together?”

“Yes.”

They couldn’t leave by going straight through, but as long as they had time, Jiang Zhaoxue could still draw divination lots without problem.

Jiang Zhaoxue quickly drew a formation array, then grabbed Ye Tianjiao’s hand. “The Heavenly Way is ever-changing, gamble fortune with heaven, supreme great fortune, a thousand li in an instant—go!”

The moment the divination slip flew out, spiritual power震动.

Qian Sisi instantly sensed something was wrong and shouted, “Oh no!”

But it was already too late. She split open the door with one sword strike, just in time to see Jiang Zhaoxue pulling Ye Tianjiao as they disappeared.

When the room was completely empty, Qian Sisi almost had a breakdown. She said agitatedly, “They ran away! What do we do?!”

Everyone was at a loss. At this moment, urgent footsteps came from outside. Everyone turned to look and saw Shen Chen in white robes with a silver crown, his face pale, appearing at the entrance.

He still had blood on him that hadn’t been cleaned up. The jade pendant hanging from his body was rarely askew. He stared blankly at the room, his eyes showing some restraint and disbelief.

The people beside him were all somewhat at a loss, murmuring, “Senior Brother…”

Hearing this, Shen Chen’s gaze fell on the letter in Qian Sisi’s hand beside him.

He hesitated, then reached out to take this engagement-breaking letter. After opening it, he saw an unfamiliar man’s handwriting, telling of how Jiang Zhaoxue had fallen for a benefactor at first sight and had now finally confirmed her feelings, apologizing for delaying him all these years.

Finally, it wished him: may the mountains be high and waters long, until we meet again.

He gripped the paper, pressing his lips together without speaking.

Seeing this, Qian Sisi quickly said, “Miss Jiang’s head was knocked by me. Her mind isn’t right now! You can’t take this seriously! You know how much Miss Jiang liked you before, right? How could she change overnight?”

“Yes, yes.” Zhuang Wen and the others quickly spoke up to persuade him.

Shen Chen looked at the paper. His hands trembled slightly. After enduring for a long while, he finally put away the engagement-breaking letter and said hoarsely, “This time, the offspring of these demon snakes are still scattered outside. Miss Jiang is a fate master. We must find her first to ensure her safety.”

With that, Shen Chen turned to leave. He raised his hand and scattered paper figurine talismans, saying coldly, “Go find her!”

The shadow paper immortals darted into the forest, pursuing Jiang Zhaoxue’s aura.

At this time, Jiang Zhaoxue was walking through the forest with Ye Tianjiao. Ye Tianjiao said happily, “I told you their sect’s brains aren’t working right. Locking up two spell cultivators together and still expecting to keep us? Dream on!”

“Exactly.” Jiang Zhaoxue looked around. She always felt something strange about this forest, but she couldn’t say what it was. She could only frown and say, “Ye Tianjiao, don’t you feel… something odd?”

“Odd? What’s odd?”

Ye Tianjiao looked around. As soon as he asked, he sensed something.

There seemed to be rustling sounds all around. Ye Tianjiao instantly froze. When the two fell silent, they immediately felt the rustling sounds growing more and more numerous, getting closer and closer, rapidly rushing toward them.

“It’s snakes!” A’Nan immediately said, “Soul-Devouring Snakes!”

This type of snake lived by swallowing souls. Their attack power wasn’t strong, but there were many of them. Very, very many.

Jiang Zhaoxue gasped and immediately said, “Let’s split up. You hurry and leave on a talisman!”

“What about you?” Ye Tianjiao said anxiously.

Jiang Zhaoxue immediately said, “I’ll be fine. Let’s each save ourselves.”

“Then I’m off.” Ye Tianjiao didn’t hesitate at all. As if he had been waiting for Jiang Zhaoxue to say exactly this, he instantly mounted his talisman paper and soared into the air!

Just as Ye Tianjiao flew up, the snakes on the ground suddenly gathered together like a tornado, forming into a giant snake and crazily chasing after Ye Tianjiao.

Hiding behind a tree to observe, Jiang Zhaoxue heard Ye Tianjiao scream out, “Help!!!”

The shout was too pitiful. Jiang Zhaoxue made a “tsk” sound and quickly turned to run.

Seeing this, A’Nan couldn’t help but say, “Soul-Devouring Snakes are blind. They find people by sensing spiritual power. The greater the spiritual power fluctuation, the more they’re attracted. Having Ye Tianjiao leave on a talisman—isn’t that making him a target?”

“Better a dead fellow Daoist than a dead poor Daoist,” Jiang Zhaoxue took out the Qiankun Lots. Immediately some snakes began gathering. Not wanting to attract too many snakes chasing her, she ran quickly while drawing formations as she ran, saying urgently, “He didn’t hesitate when abandoning me either!!”

“Don’t talk back!” A’Nan saw tens of thousands of snakes gathering and was so frightened her eyes widened. She said urgently, “These snakes are so numerous my skin is crawling—hurry and make them die!”

“I’m trying—!!”

Jiang Zhaoxue ran incredibly fast. As she ran, she shook the divination lots, calling out loudly, “The Heavenly Way is ever-changing, gamble fortune with heaven, supreme great fortune, four directions vanquish evil—”

The moment her voice fell, a wild wind mixed with icy snow and sword intent instantly swept from behind her. Wherever the sword intent passed, ice rapidly sealed everything. This familiar sword intent made Jiang Zhaoxue turn back in surprise. In that very instant, a scent of pine and cypress mixed with white plum blossom fragrance brushed past her nose. The young man pulled her back forcefully into his arms and struck his sword heavily upon the giant snake that was explosively charging straight toward her!

The word “go” left her tongue. Flames mixed with sword intent instantly exploded on the ice surface. All the Soul-Devouring Snakes first turned into ice particles, then burned in the roaring flames.

Jiang Zhaoxue looked at the young man’s profile in the firelight. He wore white robes with silver patterns on a gray base with wide sleeves, a silver crown on his head. His features were stern and handsome, with sharp, chiseled angles.

He had grown much taller than her, far from the seventeen-year-old she remembered. When he stood before her, she couldn’t even see what was ahead.

Jiang Zhaoxue stared blankly at the person before her. For some reason, there was a hidden, long-absent, flustered heartbeat, one beat after another, faintly rising to the surface.

It wasn’t until Qian Sisi’s voice rang out that she was suddenly awakened: “Senior Brother!”

Jiang Zhaoxue was slightly startled, looking at Pei Zichen before her in disbelief. She saw him raise his hand to sheathe his sword, turn his head to glance at her, as if restraining something, and say softly, “Is Miss Jiang unharmed?”

“Oh, I’m fine, I’m fine.”

Jiang Zhaoxue suppressed the shock in her heart and quickly waved her hand.

Pei Zichen seemed to have been injured. His complexion was somewhat pale. He didn’t say much more, only resting his hand on his sword. He nodded and said, “It’s good that you’re alright.”

Jiang Zhaoxue nodded woodenly, beginning to overthrow all her previous thoughts and reorganize the situation.

Pei Zichen was Shen Chen?

Pei Zichen was actually Shen Chen?!

Of all the things he could dream of, he dreamed of being Shen Yuqing?!