When Jiang Zhaoxue heard Pei Zichen ask if she was alright, she had no energy left at all.

She didn’t have Pei Zichen’s stamina. Being able to hold on until now was only because she was clinging to life with a single breath of spiritual energy. Now that everything was over, she didn’t want to say another word. She simply lay on the bed with her eyes closed, not making a sound.

Seeing this, Pei Zichen lowered his head and kissed her. After using flowing water to simply clean her up, he got up and went alone to the bathing chamber.

Once seated in the bathtub, Pei Zichen slowly calmed down and contemplated the cause and effect of everything.

After he and Jiang Zhaoxue killed Song Wulan, he had originally wanted to quickly escape with Jiang Zhaoxue, far away from Shen Yuqing.

Shen Yuqing didn’t plan to kill him and still wanted to reconcile with Jiang Zhaoxue to search for the divine artifact together. He had concealed this information, which was why he could keep Jiang Zhaoxue by his side. He couldn’t give Jiang Zhaoxue any opportunity to contact Shen Yuqing and verify the information. So even at the risk of being killed on the spot by Shen Yuqing, he had to escape with Jiang Zhaoxue.

But unexpectedly, someone appeared to block Shen Yuqing, giving him the chance to activate the Yuan Luogong.

Logically, the Yuan Luogong should have shifted them to another space to wait for Qian Sisi. Who could have imagined that when he opened his eyes, he would appear in an illusory realm, having become Shen Chen.

Although he had over twenty years of memories from within the illusory realm, these should all be fabrications by the Lingxu Fan. He probably didn’t enter the illusory realm much earlier than Jiang Zhaoxue.

Before regaining consciousness, when Jiang Zhaoxue entered his consciousness sea to communicate with Yuan Luo, that content had been separately isolated.

The moment he awakened, the wall in his consciousness sea where Yuan Luo resided completely shattered, and what Jiang Zhaoxue had discussed and agreed upon with Yuan Luo when she entered his consciousness sea returned to his mind as part of his memories.

From their words, it could be deduced that Jiang Zhaoxue was searching for the Lingxu Fan. Since both the Lingxu Fan and Yuan Luogong came from Haocang Shenjun, the Yuan Luogong could sense the Lingxu Fan, making him as the master the person most likely to find the Lingxu Fan.

It was just that he was trapped in the illusory realm, unable to use the Yuan Luogong. To wake him up, the method was to fulfill his wish.

That’s why Jiang Zhaoxue did all those things.

“Yuan Luo.”

He spoke gently.

Yuan Luogong, who had been hiding in the shadows, trembling with fear, knew this was bad when he heard the call. He swallowed and said, “How about… you just consider me dead?”

“Do you know why the Female Lord wanted to find the Lingxu Fan?”

Pei Zichen lifted his hand from the water, examining the red thread on his hand.

Hearing it was serious business, Yuan Luo breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly explained, “Because she wants to get out.”

“Get out?”

“This is an illusory realm constructed by the Lingxu Fan. If you want to get out, the simplest method is to find the Lingxu Fan within this illusory realm. It’s the formation eye of this illusory realm. Destroy it, and naturally it will open.”

“I see,” Pei Zichen listened, his tone calm. “To get out, the Female Lord made great sacrifices. When she did all this, didn’t she think about how to face me after getting out?”

“She definitely thought about it,” Yuan Luogong got the words and answered honestly, “but unless one becomes the master of the Lingxu Fan, otherwise they won’t remember what happened after getting out. But that thing looks down on everyone—who could become its master?”

“I see.”

Pei Zichen’s tone became lighter as he understood Jiang Zhaoxue’s plan.

She dared to be so unbridled because she knew she wouldn’t remember anything after getting out.

So she dared to say anything, dared to do anything.

Including getting married.

Actually, if not for an accident, they shouldn’t have been able to form the contract.

The marriage document for forming a contract must have the correct names written on it. If what was written was Shen Chen and Jiang Xue, they fundamentally couldn’t form a Dao companion contract.

But the coincidence was that the Yin Zhulong, before dying, had called out Jiang Zhaoxue’s name.

And he, in this illusory realm, had never abandoned his own name. When his master brought him up from the mountain base, he took his mother’s surname and was called Pei Zichen.

When writing the marriage document, perhaps sensing something in his heart, he burned two copies to the heavens.

Shen Chen, Jiang Xue.

Pei Zichen, Jiang Zhaoxue.

As for why Jiang Zhaoxue, despite having been married to Shen Yuqing, could still form a contract…

Pei Zichen frowned slightly, guessing it might be because this was originally an illusory realm. This red thread was an illusion, and once they got out, perhaps everything would become void.

Everything would become void.

He quietly gazed at the red thread on his hand, carefully caressing it.

While stroking it, he inquired about the Lingxu Fan’s whereabouts from Yuan Luo’s space.

“So only I can find the Lingxu Fan?”

“Not exactly, you’re just the simplest method.” Yuan Luogong briefly explained the other methods. “The Lingxu Fan will currently be in the location from this point in time in reality. They can also find it through other methods.”

“What if they can never find it?”

“If they can never find it, that would be troublesome,” Yuan Luo said with some trepidation, then quickly added, “This illusory realm was opened by Qian Sisi. If they can never get out, once Qian Sisi’s wish comes true, everyone will forget the past and remain here forever.”

“Understood.”

Pei Zichen pondered. Seeing his calm expression, Yuan Luo felt somewhat relieved and hurriedly urged, “Since you’re awake, your wish must have come true. Don’t delay. If you channel spiritual power into my body, I vaguely sense that little thing is nearby. Let’s find it, destroy the formation eye, and get out.”

“Mm.”

Pei Zichen responded. With a wave of his hand in the air, the Yuan Luogong appeared in his hand.

Gripping the Yuan Luogong, he suddenly said, “Yuan Luo, do you know what Qian Sisi’s wish is?”

“How would I know?” Yuan Luogong was somewhat bewildered. “Qian Sisi made her wish to the Lingxu Fan, not to me. You’d have to ask the Lingxu Fan about that.”

“I understand.”

Pei Zichen spoke calmly, slowly channeling spiritual power into the bow. Yuan Luo was just preparing to sense the Lingxu Fan when he suddenly felt spiritual power attacking from all directions, binding him tightly!

Pei Zichen extracted his memories from last night, then sent Yuan Luo back to his original prison. He quickly rebuilt the shattered wall from last night, restoring it to a thin layer.

Once everything was done, Pei Zichen turned his head toward the screen, as if he could see the figure on the bed through it.

He gazed at her, thinking for a long while, then rose from the water.

To visit his wife.

Jiang Zhaoxue slept until noon the next day. When she woke, the surrounding light was blocked by the bed curtains, making it impossible to distinguish day from night. She couldn’t be bothered to care either. Feeling refreshed throughout her body, she slowly climbed up and stretched lazily. Then she heard footsteps approaching from outside. The young man lifted the curtain and stood by the bedside, looking down at her with a smile. “Awake?”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue’s movements froze. Seeing her expression, Pei Zichen knew she was embarrassed. He handed her a cup of tea, as if nothing had happened, and said softly, “Have some tea to moisten your throat.”

Listening, Jiang Zhaoxue hurriedly took the tea stiffly and drank a mouthful before returning it to Pei Zichen.

Pei Zichen took the teacup. Looking at the marks exposed from Jiang Zhaoxue’s clothing, his movements paused for a moment. Still, he couldn’t resist. He bent down slightly with restraint and kissed her, his voice hoarse as he said, “I’ll go find some clothes. Rest for a bit, and we’ll go serve tea together later?”

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t dare say much more. Sitting on the bed, she quickly nodded.

Pei Zichen kissed her lips again before straightening up and lowering the bed curtain, seemingly going to the wardrobe to find clothes.

As soon as he left, Jiang Zhaoxue finally breathed a sigh of relief. She hurriedly called out urgently, “A’Nan! A’Nan!”

“Hey, good morning~”

A’Nan’s voice sounded in her mind. Jiang Zhaoxue said anxiously, “It’s over, I slept with Pei Zichen last night!”

“Did he do you or did you do him?”

A’Nan was somewhat puzzled. Jiang Zhaoxue thought about the battle situation from last night for a moment, then hurriedly said, “That’s not important. What’s important is that we did it. Do you think he’s awake now?”

“Uh…” A’Nan hesitated, listening to Pei Zichen looking for clothes outside, and said uncertainly, “Looking at it, doesn’t seem like he’s awake.”

“But…” Listening, Jiang Zhaoxue frowned. “If he’s still not awake, what exactly does he want?”

“Why don’t you wait until tonight to ask Yuan Luo?”

A’Nan suggested tentatively. Jiang Zhaoxue paused, thought for a moment, then nodded. “You’re right, I’ll go ask Yuan Luo tonight.”

“Besides, this matter isn’t that important.”

A’Nan consoled her. “Moreover, the secret realm of Emei Xu is already in hand. If this route doesn’t work, just have him hurry up and inherit the Emei Xu secret realm. The Lingxu Fan is probably in that secret realm. Whether he’s awake or not doesn’t matter anymore.”

“Then why did you advise me like that last night?” Jiang Zhaoxue, hearing her think so openly, couldn’t help but say, “If you’d said this earlier, last night I…”

“Last night you what? You could have run away halfway?” A’Nan rolled her eyes at her. “Why did I advise you like that? Ask yourself.”

This made Jiang Zhaoxue freeze, momentarily not daring to speak.

Seeing her unease, A’Nan sighed and consoled her. “Don’t overthink it. Just consider it repaying a debt. Think about it—if transmitting spiritual power and emotions is a dual cultivation method, then four years ago… doesn’t that count as harassing him?”

Listening, Jiang Zhaoxue immediately felt guilty.

A’Nan carefully pondered, then suddenly said, “Come to think of it, every time Shen Yuqing transmitted spiritual power to you, he was always so rushed. Could it be because of this?”

This made Jiang Zhaoxue pause. She suddenly realized.

Back then, when Shen Yuqing first transmitted spiritual power to heal her fire poison, she had done this.

Only Shen Yuqing never told her that this counted as a dual cultivation method.

He just immediately pulled his hand away in that first moment, then angrily and anxiously rebuked her, “What are you doing?!”

At that time, she didn’t understand what he was afraid of. She only felt somewhat wronged as she told him, “I’m sharing my happiness with you.”

“Already injured, yet you don’t reflect properly,” Shen Yuqing got the words and held her hand again, scolding in a low voice. “You’re a Dharma cultivator—is that a place you can rush into? Now you’ve been poisoned with fire toxin, and you’re still happy?”

“Because I saw you,” Jiang Zhaoxue said openly. “Being able to see you every month from now on, of course I’m happy.”

This made Shen Yuqing pause. He turned his eyes, seeming somewhat flustered, only saying, “Don’t do this again in the future.”

“What’s the problem?” Jiang Zhaoxue was puzzled. “I’m happy, and I want you to be happy too.”

“I said you’re not allowed, so you’re not allowed.” Shen Yuqing coldly raised his eyes, staring at her in warning. “In the future, don’t do such things again, and especially don’t do such things to others.”

This kind of warning was completely useless to Jiang Zhaoxue. She even rebelliously continued to do it.

From then on, every time Shen Yuqing transmitted spiritual power, he was extremely hurried. She had always thought it was because he was impatient with her disobedience. Only now did she suddenly realize that perhaps it wasn’t impatience, but rather… maintaining propriety?

“Why didn’t he say so earlier, making me hurt for so long.”

Thinking about it, Jiang Zhaoxue felt somewhat irritated. Too lazy to think more, she decisively lifted the bed curtain and got up from the bed.

Pei Zichen had already prepared clothes. Seeing her come out, he skillfully took the garments and began dressing her.

When she was blind, he had also served her this way. Jiang Zhaoxue saw that his movements were no different from the past, and that little bit of hope in her heart surfaced again. “Zichen?”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen’s heart tightened, but his expression remained unchanged. He only looked up with a smile. “Does my lady like this name of mine?”

Getting the words, Jiang Zhaoxue suspiciously scrutinized him.

Pei Zichen’s expression didn’t change. He let her stare, and after tying the inner robe for her, he took the belt and wrapped it around behind her, as if embracing her, and fastened it.

This was something the past Pei Zichen wouldn’t have dared to do.

Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t be certain for a moment. She could only probe, “Shicang, you seem very familiar with women’s clothing?”

“I often dream,” Pei Zichen spoke half-truthfully, looking down at the knot in his hands as he fastened the belt for her. Then, leading her to wash up, he prepared things for her while saying, “In the dreams, I seem to often be taking care of you. We walk together in a snowy mountain. You don’t know how to do anything, and I…”

As Pei Zichen spoke, a thin layer of red appeared on his face. But thinking of his identity, he calmed down again. He wrung out a towel for her and said softly, “I’ve even washed your undergarments.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue also felt somewhat embarrassed.

Pei Zichen continued, “Later you even went blind and couldn’t do many things. But you couldn’t do them originally anyway, so I always had to help.”

“I see.”

Listening, Jiang Zhaoxue understood that he was treating reality as a dream. After thinking for a moment, she felt something was wrong and hurriedly asked, “Then… then in the dream, what was my relationship with you?”

If she were his master’s wife, he shouldn’t be this calm.

This question indeed stumped Pei Zichen. He frowned and pondered. “I should be… your guard?”

Then Pei Zichen seemed to find it somewhat funny. “I seem to call you Female Lord.”

“I see…”

Jiang Zhaoxue pondered, feeling that Pei Zichen probably hadn’t awakened.

Since he wasn’t awake, she simply changed routes and immediately said, “Shicang, when are you going to inherit the secret realm?”

“We just got married,” Pei Zichen, hearing her urgency, lowered his lashes to hide the expression in his eyes, and said with a smile, “Are you already rushing me to leave?”

“I’m afraid of accidents…”

“The secret realm is already connected to me. There won’t be any accidents.” Pei Zichen slowly arranged her hair, speaking softly. “These days, matters unrelated to my wife, I don’t want to bother with.”

“I don’t have anything…”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue immediately turned around, wanting to urge Pei Zichen.

But the instant she turned, her hand happened to unconsciously brush against something. Jiang Zhaoxue froze instantly. Pei Zichen calmly looked down.

Today he was dressed solemnly, in a white robe with blue borders, with an outer robe embroidered with cranes. The fabric was layered upon layered, making it impossible to see any trace beneath the clothing.

His temperament was gentle, pure and upright, his expression composed. If Jiang Zhaoxue hadn’t touched it, she fundamentally wouldn’t be able to tell what this person was currently suppressing.

Jiang Zhaoxue stared at him blankly, seeming somewhat shocked.

Seeing this, Pei Zichen’s face showed neither joy nor anger. He only lowered his head to kiss her, raised his hand to erase the marks on her neck, and said gently, “I have something.”

With that, he straightened up, reached out to hold her hand, pulling her along. “Let’s go serve tea.”

Jiang Zhaoxue was pulled up by him. After recovering for a moment, she finally reacted.

A young man.

Truly a young man!

Thinking that Pei Zichen was still a standing warrior at this moment, Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t help but steal glances at him, always wanting to see what difference there was between him in this state and usual.

She secretly glanced at him—looking once at that handsome face, pure as an immortal, composed and harmonious, then glancing down.

Looking at his face again, then glancing down again.

After stealing glances like this all the way, just as they were about to reach the great hall, Pei Zichen finally couldn’t take it anymore. He squeezed her hand and leaned close to her ear to remind her, “If you keep looking, we might as well go back to the room.”

Getting the words, Jiang Zhaoxue shivered and immediately withdrew her gaze, straightening her back.

She was full. She wasn’t going back to the room.

The two of them entered the great hall together and immediately saw both families’ parents present.

The two entered the hall together. First, they served tea to Jiang Pingsheng and Dong Huaiyu, then served tea to Pei Zichen’s master.

After both sets of elders gave them some magical artifacts, everyone ate together. Afterward, Jiang Zhaoxue was called away by Dong Huaiyu, who carefully asked about last night’s situation. Only after confirming that Jiang Zhaoxue hadn’t been wronged did Dong Huaiyu feel relieved.

Then Jiang Zhaoxue went with Pei Zichen to see the disciples of Wenjian Manor. After distributing wedding candies and making merry for a while, Jiang Zhaoxue was led by Jiang Zhaoyue to meet the Jiang family members.

Just the interpersonal interactions lasted until evening. By nighttime, Jiang Zhaoxue took advantage of Pei Zichen going to bathe and hurriedly ran to the courtyard, set up a barrier, and transmitted a message to Ye Tianjiao. “Tianjiao.”

“Sister!” As soon as Ye Tianjiao heard her transmission, he immediately asked, “Is Pei Zichen awake?”

“No,” Jiang Zhaoxue said with a worried face.

Ye Tianjiao was silent for a moment, then asked carefully, “That… Sister, let me ask you something honestly.”

“Mm?”

“Did you two share a bed?”

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t respond, but Ye Tianjiao already knew the answer.

He hesitated for a moment, thought about it, and said, “He… when does he plan to inherit Emei Xu?”

“He’s not going,” Jiang Zhaoxue, hearing this, felt somewhat troubled. “He says he’s not going out recently.”

“Why?” Ye Tianjiao asked instinctively, then immediately thought of something and coughed lightly. “Normal, all normal.”

“What should I do?”

Jiang Zhaoxue held her forehead. “Should I go to the secret realm to look?”

“You can’t get in right now, can you?”

Ye Tianjiao thought about it and pondered. “How about this—tonight, find an opportunity to go into his consciousness sea and check the situation. If he really doesn’t remember…”

Ye Tianjiao paused, then said, “Find a time when he’s happy and tell him the truth, get him to cooperate?”

Listening, Jiang Zhaoxue thought it was a good method and nodded. “Understood.”

After thinking for a moment, Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t figure it out. “What do you think his wish actually is?”

“How would I know?” Ye Tianjiao was also somewhat bewildered, muttering quietly, “Logically he should have woken up.”

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t catch his muttering in time. From the room came Pei Zichen’s soft call, “Yaoyao?”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue hurriedly cut off the transmission. “Not talking anymore. I’m afraid he’ll hit you. I’m leaving first.”

When Jiang Zhaoxue cut off the transmission, Pei Zichen had just walked out.

He was only wearing a single robe, his chest slightly open, his hair hanging wet on both sides. Seeing Jiang Zhaoxue sitting on the ground, his gaze paused slightly, then he sighed somewhat helplessly. “Don’t sit on the ground in the future. The ground is cold.”

“Oh…”

“If you really like it,” he said, adding another sentence, “I’ll find some warm jade and rebuild a platform.”

“That… that’s not necessary.”

Warm jade was precious. Using it to build a platform was really somewhat excessive.

Hearing her stutter, Pei Zichen couldn’t help but laugh. He got up to pull her along. “Go wash up.”

Jiang Zhaoxue let him pull her into the room. Pei Zichen had prepared bath towels, clothes, and a water basin for her. After confirming she needed no help, he withdrew.

Jiang Zhaoxue bathed by herself. When she came out, she saw him sitting at the desk looking at something.

Jiang Zhaoxue was somewhat curious. Drying her hair, she walked over and asked strangely, “What are you looking at?”

“Prayer records from people in various places.”

As Pei Zichen spoke, he finished reading the last line and explained to Jiang Zhaoxue, “Every town in Shu has a prayer box. When the people have difficulties, they write them as prayer records and place them in the box. Our task is to determine which are caused by demon evil. If demons are causing trouble, it’s our duty.”

“Didn’t you say that matters unrelated to me, you didn’t want to bother with?” Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue raised an eyebrow, squatted down, and teased him. “Lying to me?”

Getting the words, Pei Zichen raised his eyes. His gaze was clear, pure and sincere as he said, “Matters that would require leaving you, I don’t want to bother with.”

“Then…” Jiang Zhaoxue probed, “What if we go together?”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen knowingly asked, “Go together for what?”

“To inherit Yin Zhulong’s secret realm,” Jiang Zhaoxue immediately said. “I’ll accompany you.”

Pei Zichen smiled without speaking. Jiang Zhaoxue was puzzled. “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

Pei Zichen thought about it, closed the prayer record, and stood up. “Let’s go to sleep.”

“Eh?”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue hurriedly chased after him and said urgently, “Say something. Why don’t you want to inherit Yin Zhulong’s secret realm?”

Pei Zichen didn’t speak. He only had Jiang Zhaoxue get into the inner side of the bed, raised his hand to extinguish the lamp, then lowered the bed curtain.

Jiang Zhaoxue was immersed in serious matters and didn’t pay attention to the fact that the two of them had already gotten onto the bed. She let Pei Zichen cover her with the quilt and was about to speak when Pei Zichen lowered his head and kissed her.

Jiang Zhaoxue’s movements froze. Pei Zichen’s kiss was brief. He raised his head with a smile and said gently, “Sleep.”

After Pei Zichen lay down, Jiang Zhaoxue finally reacted—she seemed to have gotten onto the bed.

Remembering last night and today, Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t dare speak for a moment. She hurriedly covered herself with the quilt and fell silent, wanting to see if she could avoid it tonight.

She was anxious for a while, but Pei Zichen truly fell asleep peacefully.

Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t help but be somewhat surprised. Logically… a young man shouldn’t be like this, right?

But with Pei Zichen asleep, it was convenient for her. She hurriedly and tentatively leaned over, closed her eyes, and extended her divine consciousness into Pei Zichen’s consciousness sea.

The consciousness sea was still the same as when she last saw it, without the slightest change.

Yuan Luo was still sleeping in the cage. Jiang Zhaoxue rushed forward urgently. “Yuan Luo? Yuan Luo?”

Yuan Luo was groggily awakened by Jiang Zhaoxue’s calling. Seeing Jiang Zhaoxue, he was somewhat dazed. “Female Master?”

“What’s Pei Zichen’s situation?” Jiang Zhaoxue immediately asked. “Did he wake up last night?”

“Huh?”

Yuan Luo was somewhat confused. He turned to look at the wall beside him and asked Jiang Zhaoxue in return, “Do you think he’s awake?”

This question stumped Jiang Zhaoxue, and she knew the answer.

When she withdrew from Pei Zichen’s consciousness sea, Jiang Zhaoxue’s heart felt heavy.

She had probably misunderstood. Pei Zichen’s wish was not her.

Otherwise, having reached this point, he should have awakened no matter what.

Now that he hadn’t awakened, the only route out was the secret realm of Emei Xu.

Thinking that the path was becoming narrower and narrower, Jiang Zhaoxue felt somewhat uneasy. After tossing and turning for a long while, she finally woke Pei Zichen.

“Pei Zichen.” She pushed Pei Zichen and said seriously, “Wake up. I have something very important to tell you.”

Getting the words, Pei Zichen slowly opened his eyes.

Jiang Zhaoxue lay in the quilt, looking at him seriously. “Tomorrow you go inherit the secret realm.”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen’s expression didn’t move. He only asked, “What do you want?”

“I want the Lingxu Fan.” Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t hide it and said seriously, “There’s a divine artifact called Lingxu Fan in the secret realm. I want that thing.”

Pei Zichen remained silent. Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t know if he could understand, so she quickly said, “This is an illusory realm. We need to get the Lingxu Fan to leave. We can’t stay here too long. The longer we stay, the harder it becomes to distinguish truth from falsehood.”

“You want the Lingxu Fan?”

Pei Zichen seemed to completely not understand this sentence. He was responding to the previous sentence about her wanting the Lingxu Fan.

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue knew that the illusory realm’s protective mechanism had been triggered. Pei Zichen couldn’t understand this kind of statement about the illusory realm.

She was too lazy to delve deeper and only nodded. “Right, I want the Lingxu Fan.”

“I see…”

As Pei Zichen spoke, his expression faded somewhat. He only looked at Jiang Zhaoxue with some sadness. “So Yaoyao being with me was only for this thing?”

This made Jiang Zhaoxue pause. She couldn’t be certain for a moment whether, if she said yes, Pei Zichen would become angry from embarrassment and completely hide the Lingxu Fan away.

She hesitated for a moment, only saying, “No, it’s just… I really need it.”

“What if I don’t have it?” Pei Zichen gazed at her and continued to press. “Without the Lingxu Fan, would you still want me?”

“Where is there any matter of wanting or not wanting…” Jiang Zhaoxue spoke vaguely. “These two things aren’t related.”

Pei Zichen didn’t speak. Jiang Zhaoxue felt somewhat uneasy and hurriedly said, “Whether there’s a Lingxu Fan or not, I’ll accompany you. It’s just that this really is an illusory realm. Actually, our relationship can be reconsidered…”

“I’ll help you find the Lingxu Fan.”

Pei Zichen spoke abruptly, clearly not understanding Jiang Zhaoxue’s words.

Jiang Zhaoxue raised her eyes, and heard Pei Zichen continue, “Tomorrow I’ll set out for Emei Xu. If I can bring the Lingxu Fan back, I’ll bring it back. If not, then I’ll continue searching.”

“Good.” Jiang Zhaoxue nodded, then immediately said, “I’ll search with you.”

Pei Zichen responded with a sound. After thinking for a moment, he turned to face away from Jiang Zhaoxue and said softly, “Sleep.”

Seeing his reaction, Jiang Zhaoxue always felt something was wrong, but didn’t know what to say.

Pei Zichen faced away from her. After a moment, he spoke slowly. “Yaoyao, actually… I not only dreamed of you.”

Jiang Zhaoxue looked up at his back, not understanding why Pei Zichen was saying this.

Pei Zichen didn’t know either. He only spoke slowly. “I dreamed that my parents and brother died for me, dreamed that my good friend died before my eyes while I was powerless, dreamed that my fellow disciples pointed ten thousand swords at me, dreamed that my master drew his sword against me. In the dreams I had no friends, no family, no lover. Even if Yaoyao was in the dream, she didn’t belong to me.”

These words made Jiang Zhaoxue’s heart tremble. For a moment she didn’t know how to comfort him.

She only heard Pei Zichen’s tone gradually become gentle, carrying several parts gratitude. “But fortunately, those were all dreams. Now my life is very complete. I have family who loves me, a master who cares for me, fellow disciples who share life and death with me, friends who go through thick and thin with me. Yaoyao, actually… I really want this completeness.”

Whether real or false, it didn’t matter.

As long as it was complete.

He quietly looked at the night, his heart slowly calming down.

Jiang Zhaoxue lay on the bed, listening to his words, looking at the bed curtain, not saying a word.

“After a long while, Jiang Zhaoxue took a deep breath, turned over, and embraced him from behind.

Pei Zichen was startled, somewhat puzzled. ‘Yaoyao?’

‘Thinking nonsense all day long,’ Jiang Zhaoxue’s hand explored into his clothing. Pei Zichen’s breathing became chaotic. Jiang Zhaoxue half-propped herself up, leaning against him, her hair cascading down, smiling as she said, ‘It’s not like I’m making you work for nothing.’

‘Yaoyao…’

Pei Zichen slightly arched his body, unable to resist saying, ‘Don’t tease.’

‘What am I teasing?’

Jiang Zhaoxue flipped him over to lie flat, like a cat crawling on top of him, looking at his changes with a smile, raising her hand to brush against his beautiful eyes and brows. ‘Every day saying such nice things, what wanting me, loving me—other people’s wives want a star, their husbands can’t wait to go steal one, but I want a broken fan and you keep pushing back and forth. Is this how a husband should be?’

Hearing this, Pei Zichen’s lashes trembled slightly. His eyes fixed on her, heat rising with an irrepressible invasive impulse, yet he forcibly suppressed it, gazing at her gently. ‘If Yaoyao wants it, I’ll naturally give it.’

‘Then that settles it.’

Jiang Zhaoxue turned to sit on him, leaning down, saying in a low voice, ‘Bring the Lingxu Fan, and there’s a reward.’

Pei Zichen’s breathing stilled. He stared at the person above, really unable to restrain himself. He couldn’t help but raise his hand to touch her thigh, asking hoarsely, ‘Tired or not?’

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t speak. She only manifested her silver-white tiger tail, letting it glide over his body, smiling as she asked, ‘Am I not beautiful enough?’

Getting the words, Pei Zichen chuckled softly, raising his hand to rest on her spine, sliding up along her spine, praising sincerely, ‘Beautiful, but I’m afraid you’re too tired. I want you to rest.’

‘Then do you want to continue resting?’ Jiang Zhaoxue’s tiger tail lightly swept across his arm as she asked with a smile.

Pei Zichen’s Adam’s apple moved. His hand climbed to her nape, doing his utmost to speak gently, ‘Let me?’

Having said that, without waiting for her to speak, he gripped her nape and pulled. The two switched positions.

Jiang Zhaoxue cried out in surprise. Pei Zichen kissed down.

In the midst of pleasure, Jiang Zhaoxue embraced him, somewhat unconscious. ‘Pei Zichen… be happy.’

Getting the words, Pei Zichen’s dark purple eyes trembled slightly. He only lowered his head, letting sweat drip onto her porcelain-white mounds, opening his mouth with a tremor, ‘The Female Lord shows me mercy—I’m already overjoyed. But I beg my wife—’

He knew she couldn’t listen at this moment, yet still couldn’t help but plead.

‘Even if it’s out of pity for me, please make it long and lasting, alright?'”