These words made Jiang Zhaoxue laugh in anger.
There were too many things she wanted to curse about—for a moment she didn’t even know where to begin.
She took a moment to calm herself before suppressing her anger and looking up at him: “You forced me here just to ask me this?”
“Shouldn’t I?”
Shen Yuqing couldn’t help but raise his voice: “The two of you were secretly associating at the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion. Even when you were poisoned with Spirit Annihilation, you rushed to Wuyue Forest to save him. He cured your fire toxin and you concealed it for him. To save him, you interfered with the Punishment Hall’s affairs using your status as the Pavilion Master’s wife. You even disregarded the reputation of both the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion and Penglai, put your own life at risk, and leaped off the cliff for him without regard for life or death, pursued by Master. After seeing me, you escaped again and again, and in the end—”
Shen Yuqing’s tone paused slightly, as if desperately restraining himself: “You wounded me for him.”
Thinking of that arrow, Shen Yuqing felt a piercing pain. The wound from that arrow had not yet healed, aching faintly at his shoulder. He stared intently at Jiang Zhaoxue: “And now you’ve even formed a Fate Attendant contract with him… I am your Dao companion, bound by the Marriage Bond Contract and announced to the Book of Fate, witnessed by heaven, earth, and all spirits. He is my disciple. Don’t you owe me an explanation?!”
“Why should I give one?”
Jiang Zhaoxue looked up coldly, speaking decisively: “Haven’t I already broken the Dao companion contract? What kind of Dao companion are you to me?”
“Broken the contract?” Hearing this, Shen Yuqing laughed coldly. “What did you use to break it? The Synchronized Heart Contract is on me. You and I can never be separated in this lifetime. When I die you die, when I’m hurt you’re hurt. What did you use to break it with me…”
“Then kill me!”
Jiang Zhaoxue immediately raised her voice, shouting: “Let me see how you repay kindness with enmity! Teach me a lesson so everyone knows what happens to fools who unilaterally give Synchronized Heart Contracts!”
At these words, Shen Yuqing fell silent.
His fingers gripping the whisk turned slightly pale, his eyes staring at Jiang Zhaoxue like a caged beast bound by iron chains.
After a long while, he suddenly said: “Do you regret it?”
“I—”
“I’m not here to argue with you!” The moment Jiang Zhaoxue began to speak, Shen Yuqing immediately interrupted her, saying somewhat awkwardly: “I have serious business.”
Jiang Zhaoxue paused at his words, also knowing there was no point in quarreling with him. After thinking for a moment, she held her cup and turned to sit in a chair, saying coldly: “Heal your wound before speaking.”
Hearing this, Shen Yuqing somehow felt a touch of bitterness.
He sat quietly to the side and raised his hand to heal himself. Jiang Zhaoxue pretended not to see, closing her eyes and turning her head to rest.
As she closed her eyes, Shen Yuqing finally raised his eyes to look, studying the slender figure of the woman before him.
The person before him had already spent eight years in this illusion realm.
He didn’t know what had happened to her in these eight years, but he could clearly feel that compared to the past, she seemed even more gracefully beautiful and captivating.
Like a flower nourished into full bloom, flourishing at its finest hour.
He wasn’t clear exactly what had changed, yet he obviously felt that her every movement, every smile and frown—even when she simply sat in quiet stillness—had somehow gained a touch of alluring charm that tugged at one’s heartstrings.
He didn’t know if it was because they hadn’t seen each other for too long, or if his four years of searching for her had made him too fixated on her, creating this illusion.
His heart trembled slightly. Not daring to look further, he simply lowered his eyes and stared at the ground in silence.
Jiang Zhaoxue felt the pain in her heart gradually dissipate, knowing he was mostly healed. She herself calmed down as well. Seeing him remain silent, she opened her eyes and turned to look at him.
Shen Yuqing had clearly calmed down, his face once again devoid of emotion, the same as in the past at the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion—his expression cold and inscrutable, impossible to read.
Jiang Zhaoxue took tea from the side, speaking calmly and peacefully: “Speak then. What happened with the Jiuyou Realm?”
At her words, knowing this was serious business, Shen Yuqing didn’t beat around the bush and said directly: “The Jiuyou Realm’s barrier has broken.”
Jiang Zhaoxue froze, then quickly reacted, asking in surprise: “How did it break?”
Back in Wuyue Forest, she had personally repaired the Jiuyou Realm’s barrier. How could it have broken?
“I don’t know,” Shen Yuqing said somewhat wearily. He looked at the ground, speaking quietly: “On the very day you fell from the cliff, the Jiuyou Realm’s barrier was damaged and large numbers of demonic cultivators poured in. One day in the True Immortal Realm equals one year here. Eight years ago, when the Time-Seeking Mirror forcibly brought me back, their army was pressing upon the Cangming Sea. I had no choice but to go to the Cangming Sea to fight for eight days.”
Listening, Jiang Zhaoxue asked with shock and uncertainty: “And then?”
“All the Fate Masters in the Central Continent Immortal Alliance divined simultaneously, and the Book of Fate prophesied that Central Continent’s fortune is depleted and will inevitably suffer great calamity. There are currently only three ways to prevent Central Continent’s fortune from withering. First, is the appearance of a Heaven-Ordained Match. A Heaven-Ordained Match means two people of great fortune forming a yin-yang mutual contract, the union of heaven and earth. When the match is made, fortune flourishes and can save Central Continent from fire and water. But Heaven-Ordained Matches are rare in ten thousand years—this is impossible in the short term.”
“The second method.”
Jiang Zhaoxue spoke decisively.
Shen Yuqing raised his eyes to her: “The appearance of a Ninth Realm Fate Master.”
At these words, Jiang Zhaoxue remained silent.
A Ninth Realm Fate Master would only be possible if she obtained the Tianji Lingyu from Pei Zichen’s body along with the other divine artifacts.
Shen Yuqing also knew it was impossible. He turned to look to the side, saying worriedly: “But that’s also impossible now. Even in ancient times when spiritual energy was abundant, only three Ninth Realm Fate Masters ever appeared in total. Currently in Central Continent, only five people have the chance to attempt breaking through to the Ninth Realm. The highest realm is Xuanyue of the Xuantian Sect. She’s already an Eighth Realm Fate Master, but supposedly… her spiritual power is depleted and her days are numbered. In the short term, it’s impossible for a Ninth Realm Fate Master to appear.”
“So what’s the third method?”
Jiang Zhaoxue tapped the armrest lightly. Since Shen Yuqing had negated the first two plans yet called her here, he must have decided on the third plan.
“Obtain the divine artifacts left by Haocang Shenjun.”
Shen Yuqing spoke. Jiang Zhaoxue’s movements stopped. She raised her eyes to look at Shen Yuqing, only to see him looking at her seriously: “The Tianji Lingyu, Time-Seeking Mirror, Yuan Luogong, Spiritual Void Fan, and God-Slaying Sword—these five divine artifacts combined into one possess tremendous power, omnipotent, capable of breaking through fate and reversing heaven and earth’s fortune.”
“So…” Jiang Zhaoxue understood, looking at him warily. “You came to take the divine artifacts?”
“Yes.”
“But the Yuan Luogong is already in Pei Zichen’s hands.” Jiang Zhaoxue stared at Shen Yuqing. “How do you plan to take it?”
Shen Yuqing didn’t speak. Jiang Zhaoxue smiled, joking: “You’re not planning to kill him and take the treasure, are you?”
“What exactly is his identity?”
Shen Yuqing spoke abruptly. Jiang Zhaoxue paused, watching as Shen Yuqing flipped his hand and the Time-Seeking Mirror appeared in his palm.
Blue spiritual power flowed out, enveloping the entire room. Jiang Zhaoxue frowned slightly, only to hear Shen Yuqing say calmly: “Haocang Shenjun’s divine artifacts have the ability to block the Book of Fate’s scrutiny. Tell me,” he spoke seriously, “what’s special about Pei Zichen? Why do you save him again and again?”
Listening, Jiang Zhaoxue’s gaze fell on the Time-Seeking Mirror.
Shen Yuqing’s willingness to actively block the Book of Fate was a gesture of goodwill.
She was silent for a moment before joking: “You don’t suspect me of being fickle and unfaithful?”
“Though I’m angry, I’m not unable to distinguish right from wrong. Pei Zichen is my disciple,” Shen Yuqing’s tone was firm. “Though I never personally taught him, I understand his character. Such actions that violate human ethics and heavenly principles—you wouldn’t do them, and he even less so.”
Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue laughed lightly, though her heart felt somewhat guilty.
But thinking it was all just things in the illusion realm, she immediately became righteous again, sitting up straight and speaking half-truthfully: “There really is nothing between him and me. I saved him because before the Jiuyou Realm’s barrier broke, I stepped into the Seventh Realm.”
Hearing this, Shen Yuqing froze. Seeing his surprised expression, Jiang Zhaoxue said with a smile: “When a Fate Master enters the Seventh Realm, they can begin to glimpse the truth of heaven and earth’s laws. I divined that he’s a person of great fortune whose life shouldn’t end. If I help him, I can share his fortune, so I rushed to Wuyue Forest.”
“He can block the Synchronized Heart Contract?” Shen Yuqing quickly reacted, his eyes growing colder. “At that time I sensed you were there.”
But he hadn’t sensed her.
“That’s right,” Knowing he had already guessed, Jiang Zhaoxue spoke openly and generously: “I was even listening to you and Mu Jinyue talking about me.”
Shen Yuqing’s eyes trembled. Thinking of what he had said, his fingers curled slightly: “So when the fire toxin flared up, you refused to seek my help.”
“Wasn’t I afraid you’d dig out my spiritual root?” Jiang Zhaoxue said with a smile. “I tried every means just to escape the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion to save my life. How would I dare alert the Pavilion Master?”
At her words, Shen Yuqing’s heart clenched. He continued asking: “So you interfered with the Punishment Hall to protect him and jumped off the cliff with him, also because you felt his life shouldn’t end?”
“I’m the demonic cultivator you sensed in Wuyue Forest,” Jiang Zhaoxue said seriously about this matter. “I repaired the Jiuyou Realm’s barrier. I know exactly what happened. Wen Xiao’an framed his disciple to cover for his own clan. If I didn’t know, that would be one thing, but since I do know, how could I sit by and watch?”
“So you saved him and concealed it from me because of your sense of heavenly justice and righteousness, because you wanted to share Pei Zichen’s fortune.”
“You could say that.”
Jiang Zhaoxue nodded. Knowing what he wanted to ask, and without waiting for him to speak, she continued: “After coming down from the cliff, I couldn’t choose the path that followed. When I came to this small world, my spiritual power was restricted, and later I lost my sight. I had to rely on Pei Zichen’s protection. One month after arriving here, I was sent away by the Su Guangji for using spiritual power. Before parting, I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to find Pei Zichen, so I formed a Fate Attendant contract with him.”
Jiang Zhaoxue thought through everything he might want to ask and continued: “After that was avoiding you…”
She paused, remembering the lie Pei Zichen had told.
Although Pei Zichen’s lie had concealed the news that Shen Yuqing wouldn’t kill him, the Yuan Luogong had told her, which was exactly what she wanted. Right now she absolutely couldn’t let Shen Yuqing realize it was Pei Zichen who lied, so she covered: “Later when you had Pei Zichen send word that you wouldn’t kill him, I knew the Yuan Luogong was on him. I feared you wouldn’t leave a divine artifact with a traitorous disciple, so I fled with him. As for wounding you—”
Jiang Zhaoxue raised her eyes: “That little wound shouldn’t be a big deal, right?”
Jiang Zhaoxue thought for a moment and softened: “If you’re really unhappy, think about how I’ve helped you in the past. You owe me quite a bit,” Speaking of the past, Jiang Zhaoxue’s expression grew somewhat distant. “Pick any favor, and it should offset this.”
Shen Yuqing didn’t speak. He simply watched her eyes quietly throughout.
Jiang Zhaoxue felt uncomfortable under his gaze and turned her head away, not wanting to look at him: “Anyway, that’s how things are. I know that whether it’s forming a Fate Attendant contract with Pei Zichen or publicly jumping off the cliff with him, both damaged the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion’s reputation. But these matters were all done by me—I’ll take full responsibility. At that time he was only a seventeen-year-old child. There’s absolutely no reason to hold him accountable.”
As she spoke, she changed direction and leaned against the armrest, saying casually: “You know his temperament. After learning he’s a Heaven-Abandoned One, though wrongfully accused, he never hated you, much less the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion. When he saw you, he ran away at my instruction. He’s still a disciple of the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion. The divine artifact on him is equivalent to being at the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion. Plus, he’s my Fate Attendant. If you really kill him for the treasure, I cannot agree. Today you want the divine artifact—rather than killing him, you should consider cultivating him properly. If you’re at ease with it, why not leave this matter to me? You just return to the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion and wait. I’ll take him to find the divine artifacts. After we find them, I’ll return them intact and send him back to the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion.”
Of course, whether what’s sent back is a genius with divine artifacts or a废人 whose spiritual power has been scraped clean, she couldn’t say.
As Jiang Zhaoxue spoke, she waited for Shen Yuqing’s response.
She knew these words weren’t enough to make Shen Yuqing give up the divine artifacts, but at least they could improve Shen Yuqing’s impression of Pei Zichen and make him consider carefully.
A Seventh Realm Fate Master plus Pei Zichen at the Nascent Soul stage—if Shen Yuqing wanted to forcibly take the divine artifacts, he’d have to pay with half his life.
She waved her fan, observing Shen Yuqing’s expression and pondering his thoughts.
But the person before her showed no emotion on his face. Since becoming Pavilion Master of the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion, his joy and anger had become increasingly inscrutable, making it difficult to guess his true thoughts.
Sure enough, after waiting a moment, he said out of the blue: “Recall the contract-breaking curse.”
An expected incomprehensible statement, an unexpectedly strange request. Jiang Zhaoxue leaned forward slightly, asking: “What do you mean?”
“I didn’t break the Dao companion contract,” Shen Yuqing lowered his eyes, speaking quietly. “If you recall the contract-breaking curse now, you and I are still husband and wife. He’s my disciple and your Fate Attendant. As the elder, I can help him find the divine artifacts—there’s nothing wrong with that.”
“You mean—” Jiang Zhaoxue organized her thoughts. “As long as I recall the curse to break the Dao companion contract and continue being your wife, you’ll help Pei Zichen find the divine artifacts?”
“Yes.”
Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue turned her fan, thinking carefully before understanding Shen Yuqing’s meaning: “You’re afraid I’ll take him away?”
Hearing this, Shen Yuqing looked coldly at Jiang Zhaoxue.
Jiang Zhaoxue contemplated: “He’s my Fate Attendant. You’re afraid that after he obtains the divine artifacts, I’ll force him to go to Penglai. So you want to use the status of husband and wife to keep me at the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion, in order to control him?”
“After returning, I’ll seek Master and petition the Book of Fate,” Shen Yuqing said coldly. “To find a way to break the Fate Attendant contract. Then you’ll break the Fate Attendant contract with him and be clear of each other. From then on, you’ll have nothing to do with each other.”
Jiang Zhaoxue’s movements paused. She couldn’t understand at all and blurted out: “What’s in it for you?”
Shen Yuqing didn’t speak, only quietly watching her eyes.
Jiang Zhaoxue thought for a moment, testing: “For your sense of responsibility? The face of the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion?”
“Why not for you?”
The moment Shen Yuqing spoke, Jiang Zhaoxue froze.
He turned his eyes away, looking somewhat dejectedly at the flickering candlelight beside him, saying hoarsely: “Whether you forced it back then or others coerced it, you gave me the Synchronized Heart Contract, so I owe you a life. I’m your husband, and I should protect you for a lifetime. For you, I can’t possibly kill Pei Zichen. Killing him would severely injure you, so my only path is to help him.”
“The prerequisite being that I’m your wife?”
Jiang Zhaoxue understood his logic. Shen Yuqing didn’t respond.
Jiang Zhaoxue thought for a moment, only saying: “Actually… if you’re doing this out of a sense of responsibility and gratitude, it would be better to break the Dao companion contract, give me more spirit stones and secret manuals, and let me leave. I might live better that way.”
“Better?” A rare hint of mockery appeared between Shen Yuqing’s brows as he laughed coldly: “Is drifting and wandering unable even to wear a decent cloud brocade better? Unable to afford Kunlun white jade better? Or constantly in danger while blind and injured better?! If you leave me…”
“I won’t hurt anymore when suppressing the fire toxin.”
Jiang Zhaoxue interrupted him.
Shen Yuqing’s movements froze slightly. He heard Jiang Zhaoxue speak calmly and gently: “I don’t need to carry over a hundred talismans on me at all times out of fear and anxiety. I don’t have to hear anyone’s cold mockery and sarcasm. I don’t have to toss and turn sleeplessly because Mu Jinyue can live on Luo Xia Peak while I can only enter after being announced. Nor do I have to hear people say that I’m an untamable demonic cultivator unworthy of your Lingjian Immortal Pavilion. I ride immortal cranes, drink fine wine, take a young disciple to travel the world slaying evil, and everyone calls me Immortal Master with gratitude. I may not wear cloud brocade or have Kunlun white jade, but Shen Zeyuan,” Jiang Zhaoxue smiled, placing her hand on her chest, “these years away from you, I’ve been very happy. So if you’re doing this for my good, you might as well just let me…”
“Can’t I do these things?”
Shen Yuqing spoke abruptly, as if unwilling to accept this.
Jiang Zhaoxue looked puzzled, only to hear him ask hoarsely: “Didn’t Shen Zeyuan ever do them?”
“Then why didn’t you do them in those two hundred years?” Jiang Zhaoxue blurted out, saying coldly: “If you couldn’t do it, one could say it’s just your nature. But when you can do it yet choose not to—that means I’m not in your heart. Since that’s the case, why insist on keeping me?”
“How can a marriage between two sects be treated as child’s play?”
Shen Yuqing spoke without hesitation, raising his eyes to stare at Jiang Zhaoxue: “You were the one who wanted to marry back then. How can you come and go as you please?!”
Jiang Zhaoxue listened, quietly watching him. Shen Yuqing seemed to feel embarrassed and turned his head away: “Moreover, since you want to protect Pei Zichen’s life, you should know I can’t possibly hand over divine artifacts to another sect’s Fate Master’s Fate Attendant. Now you and I have only two paths. Either I kill Pei Zichen and drag you back. Or you stay, and we work together with Pei Zichen to obtain the divine artifacts. You just think I don’t do well enough…”
Shen Yuqing paused. He seemed to struggle for a long time before saying with difficulty: “I can change.”
Listening, Jiang Zhaoxue roughly understood Shen Yuqing’s reasoning.
If she and he weren’t husband and wife, Shen Yuqing wouldn’t feel comfortable with the divine artifact in Pei Zichen’s hands.
Even if they were husband and wife, the divine artifact being with Pei Zichen was only the result of Shen Yuqing weighing pros and cons to avoid mutual destruction.
Moreover, Shen Yuqing was proud and arrogant. She had initiated the separation—if she didn’t let him try, he probably wouldn’t willingly let go.
“It’s over.”
Seeing Jiang Zhaoxue’s analysis, A’Nan immediately said: “You can’t shake off this stubborn fool.”
“How could that be?”
Jiang Zhaoxue thought silently for a moment, then simply said: “Then let’s make a bet.”
Her tone was too calm. Shen Yuqing knew she had a plan. He looked up coldly, only to see Jiang Zhaoxue’s gaze sweep to the longsword placed on the table beside him.
The sword tassel hung to the side—it was the safety knot she had woven for him years ago. But on the safety knot, at some unknown time, a white jade round clasp had been added.
Such delicate work must have been done by a woman.
Jiang Zhaoxue tapped the table lightly, considering: “Didn’t you say you can change? Then I’ll give you a period of time… until we find the divine artifacts and return to the True Immortal Realm. During this time, I can pretend I didn’t break the contract. You help Pei Zichen obtain the divine artifacts, but you must guarantee—”
Jiang Zhaoxue lifted her eyelids, speaking with particular solemnity: “During this time, between me and Mu Jinyue, I will always have priority.”
Hearing this, Shen Yuqing understood her meaning: “You think I can’t do it?”
Jiang Zhaoxue smiled, saying with certainty: “You can’t.”
Forget his personality—it was impossible for him to give up Mu Jinyue. Even if he could, the plot wouldn’t allow it.
In the book, she only saw what she could see. Many details of their three-person storyline she didn’t know clearly, but she did know that at some point, Shen Yuqing and Mu Jinyue had gone together to find Pei Zichen. Supposedly Pei Zichen and Mu Jinyue developed feelings during this time. To help Pei Zichen obtain divine artifacts, Mu Jinyue encountered danger multiple times. Based on the number of times she sensed Shen Yuqing getting stabbed while at the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion and rumors she heard later, she could infer that Mu Jinyue would encounter danger at least five times or more.
Shen Yuqing couldn’t possibly watch Mu Jinyue die. Forget that it was Mu Jinyue—even if it were an ordinary person, it would be impossible.
Given Shen Yuqing’s personality, right now he believed he could change and was forcefully trying to break the contract. He wouldn’t agree. Only by letting him know he fundamentally couldn’t change anything would there be a possibility of him truly letting go.
So she proposed a bet he couldn’t possibly win—one that, when lost, would also prove his incompetence in this marriage.
Only with such a bet would Shen Yuqing agree, and she had the confidence to definitely win. She could also borrow his power to obtain some other things.
Hearing her words, Shen Yuqing didn’t speak. After thinking for a moment, he understood her requirements and asked: “When you say ‘pretend you didn’t break the contract,’ do you mean you’re still my wife and we interact as we did in the past?”
At these words, Jiang Zhaoxue’s movements paused slightly. Pei Zichen’s face flashed through her mind in an instant.
A’Nan immediately cried out in alarm: “That won’t work! Pei Zichen will go mad!!”
Seeing her hesitate, Shen Yuqing immediately said: “If you remain as you are now, what difference is there between betting or not betting?”
“Then I’ll do as you say.”
After brief consideration, Jiang Zhaoxue nodded in agreement.
After all, it wasn’t a big deal. She shouldn’t be overly cautious for Pei Zichen’s sake.
“Then your so-called ‘always having priority’—what about a matter of life and death, where you can live and she must be saved to live, a righteous act?” Shen Yuqing continued negotiating.
“I can give you three chances.”
Jiang Zhaoxue knew he would definitely fight for opportunities.
If he couldn’t even manage life-and-death situations, Shen Yuqing couldn’t guarantee he could do it even for a stranger.
He wouldn’t agree to such an inevitably losing bet.
So she gave him buffer room, raising her fingers, her voice growing colder: “I don’t care about the reason—whether it’s righteousness or life and death. If you choose her three times, then get as far away from me as possible. The divine artifact matter will have nothing more to do with you. You’ll also actively break the Dao companion contract, hand over Pei Zichen’s soul lamp to me, return everything Penglai sent to the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion in full, additionally gift me two spirit veins, open Sword Mountain, and allow Penglai disciples to enter the mountain to select one hundred famous swords. How about it?”
Pei Zichen was a disciple of the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion. All disciples who entered the pavilion would have a soul lamp lit—it contained a strand of Pei Zichen’s divine soul. It could be used to observe a disciple’s safety, but when necessary, it was also a threat.
Spirit veins were the foundation of all sects. The Lingjian Immortal Pavilion had only dozens of spirit veins in total. When Jiang Zhaoyue had once demanded ten spirit veins if Jiang Zhaoxue died, that would have completely severed the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion’s inheritance.
Now demanding two spirit veins meant taking away one-fifth of the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion’s wealth.
As for the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion’s Sword Mountain, it was a secret place reserved only for disciples to cultivate.
Famous swords passed down through generations—one hundred swords was not something even Shen Yuqing as Pavilion Master could casually agree to alone.
Shen Yuqing thought for a moment and agreed: “Alright.”
Seeing him agree, Jiang Zhaoxue was quite pleased. She generously stood and walked before him. Looking at the person sitting before her, she raised her hand: “Then let’s strike palms to seal the oath.”
Striking palms to seal an oath meant the vow would be bound by the Heavenly Dao. If not fulfilled, there would be corresponding backlash.
Hearing her words, Shen Yuqing turned his eyes to look at her palm.
Her hand was pale and smooth, completely different from a sword cultivator’s hand. The marriage bond on her ring finger appeared particularly vivid against her skin tone. But they both knew this marriage bond’s power was far weaker than before.
Not only that—Shen Yuqing always felt something was off.
He stared at that marriage bond. Although she had already used magic to hide Pei Zichen’s marriage bond, Jiang Zhaoxue still felt somewhat guilty under his gaze. She urged: “What, don’t you dare?”
“There’s nothing I don’t dare.”
Shen Yuqing withdrew his gaze, suppressing his wild thoughts, and raised his hand to press it against her palm.
The marriage bond was left male, right female. When they pressed together, the two marriage bonds just touched.
The Dao companion contract she had already broken retained only Shen Yuqing’s spiritual power, but the moment the marriage bonds touched, the Dao companion contract still manifested, rotating above their fingertips.
“This is settled,” Shen Yuqing suppressed the slight flutter that touching her brought, gazing at her and speaking seriously. “From this moment, whether you’ve broken the contract or not, you are my wife. You and I will interact as in the past. If I can ensure you’re more important than Mu Jinyue, upon returning to the True Immortal Realm, you’ll recall the contract-breaking curse and form a Dao companion contract with me, keeping the vow of growing old together, lifetime after lifetime, staying together and never parting. Moreover, this agreement is a private matter between us two and cannot be mentioned to a third person.”
“Strike palms to seal the oath,” Jiang Zhaoxue said calmly. “During this period, you’ll help Pei Zichen obtain the divine artifacts. If you abandon me for Mu Jinyue more than three times, you’ll break the Dao companion contract yourself and leave, returning all property I brought from Penglai together, additionally gifting me two spirit veins, opening Sword Mountain, and allowing Penglai disciples to enter the mountain to select one hundred famous swords.”
“The oath is made, no regrets in life or death.” Jiang Zhaoxue spoke first.
Shen Yuqing knew what she wanted, saying calmly: “If I violate this oath, may heaven and earth destroy me.”
Hearing Shen Yuqing say these words “may heaven and earth destroy me,” Jiang Zhaoxue’s heart finally relaxed somewhat, knowing this bet was truly sealed.
With the restraint of backlash, this was the real way to deal with Shen Yuqing.
After the two settled it, Jiang Zhaoxue said no more. She withdrew her palm, remembering the child she had promised to see today and Qian Sisi. Not saying anything further, she only said: “As for specific matters, we’ll explain in detail to the disciples tomorrow. Today I promised someone I’d go find them. I’ll go find them first.”
“Find whom?”
“A small child.” Jiang Zhaoxue thought of the mute child from the prison, always feeling somewhat uneasy. She turned and walked out, explaining to Shen Yuqing: “Someone I met earlier at Life and Death Manor.”
As she spoke, her shadow on the window screen drew closer and closer. Seeing this, Pei Zichen knew they had finished talking and hurried forward.
Pei Zichen had been waiting outside for a long time. Unable to hear their conversation and not daring to violate Jiang Zhaoxue’s wishes by forcing his way in, he could only deduce the situation inside from their shadows.
At first they sat separated on opposite sides, but finally they stood together with palms joined. He knew something was wrong.
His heart raced, yet he still held onto a thread of hope. The moment Jiang Zhaoxue opened the door, he immediately greeted her, saying urgently: “My Lady…”
“Master’s Wife.”
Pei Zichen’s words had barely left his mouth when Shen Yuqing’s voice came from inside the room.
Pei Zichen’s movements paused. He slowly raised his eyes and immediately saw clearly the man in the room whose hand bore a marriage bond.
He wore white robes stained with blood, a longsword on his back, holding a whisk—exactly the appearance that in his youth, he had looked up to and secretly studied countless times.
The two men faced each other across the open door—one inside, one outside; one in light, one in shadow.
Shen Yuqing turned his head sideways in the bright candlelight, looking at this disciple at the doorway who clearly already had an adult’s appearance. He finally spoke aloud the words he had held back for so long: “You should call her Master’s Wife.”