Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t help but laugh. She looked back at Shen Yuqing who had followed, saying mockingly: “Just met and already pulling rank as a master. If I were Pei Zichen, I wouldn’t call you master even once.”

“But you’re not him.”

Shen Yuqing came to stand behind Jiang Zhaoxue, raising his eyes over the top of her head to look at Pei Zichen, who had been observing him all along, saying calmly: “He was raised by the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion since childhood and is well-versed in propriety and law. How important a woman’s reputation is—you may not understand, but he does.”

Pei Zichen’s body shook at these words. He felt Shen Yuqing’s words were like a heavy hammer, instantly shattering his eight years of beautiful dreams.

Jiang Zhaoxue was his master’s wife.

Whether he acknowledged this or not, it couldn’t be changed.

If not for that accidental fall from the cliff, at the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion, in the True Immortal Realm, even looking at her one more time would be a sin, let alone anything else.

Shen Yuqing’s words were a warning to him. Even if unwilling, he dared not gamble with Jiang Zhaoxue’s reputation for a momentary fit of anger.

He dared not say more. A sour ache mixed with pain stabbed at his heart, spreading through his blood to his entire body. His fingertips trembled with pain connecting to his heart, yet he couldn’t show more on his face.

He couldn’t let Shen Yuqing perceive his feelings, couldn’t let any speculation that would disgrace Jiang Zhaoxue’s reputation come into being.

He could only restrain his emotions with all his might, explaining in a low voice: “Master was not present. For this disciple to travel alone with Master’s Wife would be too conspicuous, so I changed the form of address.”

In the Mortal Realm, a guard accompanying a lady was more understandable than a young disciple bringing along a master’s wife whose master was absent.

After all, a guard represented status and didn’t seem easily provoked.

But a beautiful master’s wife without her master present—that invited far more gossip.

Shen Yuqing had long guessed the reason. Seeing Pei Zichen explain, he acknowledged it with a sound, then not wishing to say more, said: “For the rest of the journey, this master will travel with Jinyue alongside you. Henceforth there’s no need for such pretense. Just call her Master’s Wife.”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen immediately couldn’t control himself from looking at Jiang Zhaoxue. He clenched his fists tightly in his sleeves, testing: “Master will be traveling with us?”

“Mm.”

Jiang Zhaoxue nodded.

With this single “mm,” something exploded instantly in Pei Zichen’s heart.

In that moment he wanted to question her, to ask if she’d lost her mind, to ask if she hadn’t suffered enough in the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion, what was so good about Shen Yuqing that these eight years couldn’t compare?

But thinking about it, he understood—where did she have eight years?

The one who searched bitterly for four years with devotion, praying before her statue in the temple—that was him.

The one who indulged in bliss for four years in the illusion realm, confirming again and again, requesting over and over to hear the word “like”—that was also him.

His eight years were merely a few days that passed through the cracks of her time, a moment she didn’t remember even with eyes open or closed.

Where did she have eight years?

She had never thought of leaving Shen Yuqing.

Then if she didn’t want to leave, did she know he had lied to her?

If she knew, did she hate him?

Would she still be willing to keep him by her side?

Fear and suppressed anger and bitterness spread through his heart, forcing Pei Zichen’s fingertips to tremble with pain, yet he couldn’t speak.

Jiang Zhaoxue glanced at him, her expression inscrutable, but guessing he was unhappy, she thought for a moment and said: “Let’s talk on the way. I promised a child I’d go see him.”

With that, Jiang Zhaoxue stepped forward. Shen Yuqing walked alongside her.

Pei Zichen and Mu Jinyue followed behind the two on left and right. Jiang Zhaoxue took the lead asking: “What’s the situation with Sisi?”

“Before coming, I already gave Miss Qian a Voice Transmission Talisman and told her to wait for us.” Pei Zichen suppressed his emotions, saying quietly: “Although Miss Qian has now forgotten everything, she’s quick-witted and won’t get into trouble.”

“That’s good.”

Jiang Zhaoxue nodded. She had wanted to praise him a few words, but seeing Shen Yuqing beside her and not wanting to invite trouble, she said nothing more. She only dealt with it in a businesslike and concise manner, explaining the current situation in the True Immortal Realm once through, then telling him about her alliance with Shen Yuqing.

“Your master and I had some misunderstandings in the past, but now everything has been clarified and we’ve reconciled. When your master wanted to kill you before, it was mainly because the Book of Fate pointed to you. Now that your fate has changed, your master has no need to kill you and hopes you can return to the pavilion. Therefore, he plans to help you obtain the divine artifacts together with me. In the future, when you become the master of the divine artifacts and combine the five into one to reverse the True Immortal Realm’s fortune, it won’t disappoint mine and your master’s cultivation of you.”

The street was empty, with only a few children setting off firecrackers at doorways. New Year couplets were pasted on doors, red lanterns hung at every household. Though the street was deserted, it was quite festive.

Jiang Zhaoxue chattered on as they walked toward the east city gate.

Pei Zichen remained silent throughout. When Jiang Zhaoxue finished speaking, Pei Zichen’s face still showed some bewilderment, as if he completely didn’t understand what she was saying.

Seeing Jiang Zhaoxue finish, Shen Yuqing glanced at the two of them and finally spoke: “Where is this child you’re looking for?”

“East city gate.”

Hearing Shen Yuqing speak of business, Jiang Zhaoxue responded: “Earlier at Life and Death Manor, I released a batch of people. This child was one of them. He can’t speak and grabbed onto me refusing to let go. To free myself, I gave him a Safety Talisman and a Voice Transmission Talisman, telling him to wait for me outside the east gate.”

“But…” Hearing Jiang Zhaoxue’s words, Mu Jinyue was somewhat confused. “He can’t speak. Master’s Wife, how could he use the Voice Transmission Talisman you gave him?”

This question instantly stumped Jiang Zhaoxue. She hesitated for a moment, somewhat uncertainly: “He… should be able to write, right?”

“How old is the child?” Shen Yuqing pressed.

Jiang Zhaoxue recalled that child’s thin, small figure, not daring to be certain: “Ten years old?”

He looked too thin and weak—it was really hard to say his exact age.

Hearing ten years old, Shen Yuqing nodded: “Then he should be able to write.”

“Not necessarily.” Pei Zichen finally spoke from the side. Everyone looked over to see Pei Zichen say quietly: “Children from ordinary families might never read books in their entire lives.”

Just like when he was young—if he hadn’t come to the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion, he might be proficient in the five grains, but would never be literate in his lifetime.

It was just that whether Jiang Zhaoxue, Shen Yuqing, or even Mu Jinyue, they were all born into immortal sects. Not to mention wealth and glory, but at least literacy was basic, so that their first thought had never considered this child’s background.

But thinking about it, if he were from a wealthy family, he wouldn’t have ended up here. Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t help but worry, then heard Pei Zichen say indifferently: “But Master’s Wife gave him a Safety Talisman. If the Safety Talisman is triggered, Master’s Wife will sense it. If the Safety Talisman hasn’t been triggered, Master’s Wife needn’t worry.”

“Indeed…”

Jiang Zhaoxue was about to respond when she suddenly felt spiritual power fluctuate outside the east gate. Her expression changed sharply. Not caring about startling ordinary people, she unconsciously called out: “Zichen!”

Shen Yuqing unconsciously stepped forward wanting to touch Jiang Zhaoxue, but Pei Zichen was already prepared. He grabbed Jiang Zhaoxue’s outstretched hand and rushed outside with her.

Shen Yuqing’s movements froze slightly. Mu Jinyue had already risen on her sword, looking at Shen Yuqing in surprise: “Master?”

Shen Yuqing paused for a moment, pursing his lips unwillingly, then pointed with his fingers and urgently pursued Jiang Zhaoxue and Pei Zichen on his sword.

In less than a moment, the group rushed to outside the east gate. Before landing, Jiang Zhaoxue immediately sensed the lingering aura of vengeful evil by the moat.

Jiang Zhaoxue said urgently: “Chase!”

At her words, Pei Zichen immediately flew on his sword with Jiang Zhaoxue along the river. A black shadow frantically fled through the water.

Pei Zichen raised his hand and formed seals. The river surface froze forward along the way. Just as the ice was about to touch it, the black qi rose like a swimming dragon. When it dove to the grassland beside them, it took human form and ran frantically.

This was a woman wearing bright red clothes with a red umbrella on her back. The moment she saw the human form, Jiang Zhaoxue cried out in surprise: “Xinluo Yi?!”

The moment the sound fell, a sword light exploded from Jiang Zhaoxue’s side, its momentum earth-shattering, rushing toward Xinluo Yi!

This sword intent was too strong. Pei Zichen couldn’t help but widen his eyes. Just as the sword light was about to catch up to Xinluo Yi and kill her on the spot, a magical light descended from the sky, instantly forming a light wall that collided with Shen Yuqing’s sword light with a “boom”!

Xinluo Yi took the opportunity to leap forward and disappeared into the forest.

Seeing this, Shen Yuqing was furious and wanted to pursue, but Mu Jinyue suddenly began panting weakly, crying urgently: “Master!”

Hearing this call, everyone immediately turned back to see Mu Jinyue clutching her chest, her face deathly pale as she retreated.

Shen Yuqing’s expression changed instantly. Without hesitation, he stepped forward to support Mu Jinyue and immediately sent spiritual power into her.

This action he performed too naturally and skillfully. Jiang Zhaoxue raised an eyebrow, standing to the side with crossed arms. Pei Zichen sensed something wrong and frowned.

Mu Jinyue was placed on the ground by Shen Yuqing. She gasped heavily, her entire face showing a grayish-white color close to death.

Shen Yuqing channeled spiritual power into her. His spiritual power seemed to have some special effect on her. Mu Jinyue’s complexion quickly slowly recovered.

Jiang Zhaoxue observed Mu Jinyue’s appearance, watching as she slowly recovered. Only then did Shen Yuqing relax somewhat.

Jiang Zhaoxue said with concern: “Feeling better?”

Hearing this, Shen Yuqing’s movements stiffened. Mu Jinyue tremblingly raised her eyes, saying hoarsely: “Master’s Wife…”

“Why did this suddenly happen?” Jiang Zhaoxue asked curiously.

Mu Jinyue looked troubled: “I’m sorry, Master’s Wife. My body is too weak…”

“Is it a problem with the Spirit Annihilation?”

Jiang Zhaoxue spoke directly. Mu Jinyue looked troubled, glancing at Shen Yuqing, not knowing how to answer for a moment.

Shen Yuqing lowered his head and acknowledged: “Mm.”

Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t help but laugh: “This Spirit Annihilation is really powerful—causing endless trouble.”

Mu Jinyue didn’t quite dare to speak. Shen Yuqing clearly didn’t want to discuss this topic. He raised his eyes to look at Jiang Zhaoxue: “Go look for that child you’re seeking.”

At his words, Jiang Zhaoxue remembered that child and said no more. The group looked around in a circle, following Xinluo Yi’s aura back along the river. As they walked, Jiang Zhaoxue thought aloud: “This Xinluo Yi was originally on Consort Zhao. Consort Zhao had harmed many palace maids. She should be a vengeful evil summoned by Consort Zhao and Song Wulan piling up human lives. During the ancestral ceremony at the altar, I killed Song Wulan…”

At this point, Pei Zichen on the left rear keenly looked over.

Her face showed nothing. She pretended to think, skipping over the content from the Spiritual Void Illusion Realm, and continued: “And just now that magical light that blocked Shen Yuqing…”

Before she finished speaking, Shen Yuqing on the right also looked over.

Jiang Zhaoxue paused, instantly feeling somewhat irritable.

Men on both left and right, difficult on both sides.

She took a deep breath, changed her form of address, and continued: “The magical light that blocked your master was clearly Song Wulan’s handiwork. This master and servant pair are probably severely injured and want to hunt for food, letting Xinluo Yi quickly recover. That child…”

As Jiang Zhaoxue spoke, she saw a landslide. She hurried forward to investigate.

This landslide was outside the east gate by the moat. The top had collapsed, with one area of trampled mud and broken thorns, roughly indicating someone had slid down.

The grass and trees on both sides had been pulled at intervals. The landslide traces also went all the way down without signs of rolling, more like someone had been dragged down.

In the mud hung a torn talisman paper—it was precisely Jiang Zhaoxue’s Voice Transmission Talisman.

This Voice Transmission Talisman had been torn by grass and wood. One could vaguely see a crooked character “木” written on it.

“He was literate.”

Jiang Zhaoxue murmured aloud.

He was literate. He could have sent her a message earlier, but perhaps being too sensible, he feared disturbing her, so he just waited outside the city gate, waiting all along.

Waiting until this vengeful evil appeared and dragged him from the human world straight to hell.

Vengeful evils were already severely injured. To absorb power, they targeted him. For a child like this, in just moments, he could be devoured without a trace.

Looking at the fragments of the Voice Transmission Talisman on the ground, Jiang Zhaoxue’s heart tightened. She couldn’t help but say: “If only we’d been a moment earlier.”

But who could have thought, who could have known?

Not even half an hour before and after…

Half an hour, and this child was gone.

Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t speak for a moment, standing dazed in place.

Pei Zichen saw this from the side. He took Jiang Zhaoxue’s Voice Transmission Talisman paper from nearby, looked at it, then said softly: “You could have chosen not to save him.”

Jiang Zhaoxue froze, turning back in surprise to look at Pei Zichen.

She saw Pei Zichen say calmly: “Saving him was your righteousness. Not saving him was also your right. You’ve done your best. His life and death are heaven-ordained. You needn’t feel guilty.”

“Remember what your master told you.” Shen Yuqing’s voice also sounded.

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue turned her eyes to look.

She quietly looked at Shen Yuqing. After a long time, she scoffed and only said: “How nice that sounds coming from you.”

Shen Yuqing was somewhat surprised. Jiang Zhaoxue ignored them and turned to leave.

Pei Zichen followed Jiang Zhaoxue as she turned. Before leaving, seeing Shen Yuqing looking somewhat bewildered, he hesitated a moment before saying: “If Master’s Wife firmly remembered a Fate Master’s precepts, how could she have come to the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion?”

How could she have saved him?

Shen Yuqing was momentarily speechless. Pei Zichen turned around and caught up with Jiang Zhaoxue.

The three walked back to the inn all the way.

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t speak the entire way.

Actually, after all these years, she looked upon life and death lightly. But thinking of that child’s eyes begging her as he grabbed her hand, she felt stifled in her heart.

She walked quietly along the road.

She didn’t speak, so everyone else didn’t open their mouths either.

Pei Zichen constantly restrained his desire to look at her, to talk with her, remaining silent all the way.

When they reached the inn, Jiang Zhaoxue looked at the four rooms, waved her hand and said: “I’m tired. Everyone sleep.”

Shen Yuqing looked up about to speak, but seeing Jiang Zhaoxue enter her room without looking back, he hesitated for a moment but ultimately didn’t speak. He only instructed Mu Jinyue: “Meditate well tonight. Don’t cause more trouble.”

Hearing this, Mu Jinyue’s face reddened slightly. She said quietly: “It’s this disciple’s fault.”

Shen Yuqing thought for a moment, only saying: “It’s not your fault.”

Finished speaking, he pushed open the door and entered the room to Jiang Zhaoxue’s left.

Seeing Shen Yuqing go left, not waiting for Mu Jinyue to move, Pei Zichen immediately stepped into the room on the right.

Seeing the three had chosen their rooms, Mu Jinyue stood in place. After thinking a moment, she smiled and made a “tsk” sound, then turned and went to the last remaining room beside Shen Yuqing.

The moment Jiang Zhaoxue entered her room, she was so tired she wanted to lie down on the spot.

Fortunately, her reason remained. She entered the bathing chamber and soaked in hot water, giving herself a bath.

She calculated the events of this day. Waking from the illusion realm, exchanging fates for Song Wuya and Qian Sisi, then rushing all the way to Shu for Qian Sisi, causing havoc at Life and Death Manor to retrieve the Soul-Nurturing Pearl, incidentally saving that nameless child, then being captured by Shen Yuqing, putting aside disputes with Shen Yuqing to make a bet, chasing and trying to kill Xinluo Yi, finally discovering the news of that child’s death…

Thinking of that child, Jiang Zhaoxue fell silent.

She thought for a moment, then recited a passage from the Death Crossing Sutra for him.

After finishing, she sighed, pretending to be relaxed: “I actually did so many things in one day.”

Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t help but admire herself: “How am I so excellent?”

“If you don’t push yourself, you don’t know how much strength you have!”

A’Nan spoke, following along with Jiang Zhaoxue’s words to praise.

Jiang Zhaoxue laughed. Seeing her mood improve, A’Nan remembered something: “But, tell me, why would Xinluo Yi and the others be in Shu?”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue was also somewhat puzzled.

When she and Pei Zichen and the others woke up, they were near the capital. Essentially, they had entered the illusion realm created by the Spiritual Void Fan, so when they finally came out, they should also be at the actual location of the Spiritual Void Fan.

And Song Wulan and Xinluo Yi had clearly entered the Spiritual Void Illusion Realm, so when they came out, they should have been in the capital suburbs.

She had opened several formations in succession to rush to Shu for the Soul-Nurturing Pearl. What were Song Wulan and Xinluo Yi after?

Moreover, what a coincidence—why did they choose precisely that child?

“And there’s Mu Jinyue…” Jiang Zhaoxue recalled today’s anomaly, murmuring: “She ate the Lingxiao Hua. The Spirit Annihilation poison couldn’t possibly still be in this state today. What exactly is wrong with her? Why does Shen Yuqing need to carry her around?”

Jiang Zhaoxue pondered silently in her heart.

A’Nan sensed she was preoccupied and sighed: “You’re already bathing, so don’t think about all these random things. Let’s talk about something lighter.”

“What’s lighter?”

“Speaking of which,” A’Nan probed, “do you plan to keep hiding the illusion realm matter?”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue’s movements paused. She then opened her mouth in surprise: “You call this light?!”

“Oh come on, let’s just chat.”

A’Nan was somewhat embarrassed: “You can avoid the first day but not the fifteenth. You need to think clearly. Are you really going to keep pretending you lost your memory like this?”

“What else?” Just thinking about this gave Jiang Zhaoxue a headache.

Pei Zichen had clearly already noticed something. Today he was obviously holding back from asking her because Shen Yuqing was present, but sooner or later he would come demanding answers.

But—

“How could I possibly let him know? I decided from the start to do things while not knowing!”

Thinking of what happened in the illusion realm, Jiang Zhaoxue painfully covered her face.

She couldn’t help but lament: “If he knows I remember, how can we interact? Oh, I married him and slept with him for four years, then how can I continue? I can’t possibly really be with him, right?”

“Why not?”

“I can’t afford to lose that face.” Jiang Zhaoxue raised her hand to her forehead, finally realizing: “He’s only twenty-five years old…”

She was almost ten cycles older than him.

Why had she been so bewitched in the illusion realm to mess around with him like that?

What exactly was her wish when she entered the illusion realm? How did it become so absurd?

Thinking about it, Jiang Zhaoxue leaned against the pool edge and sighed.

A’Nan sensed her state of mind and said carefully: “Actually… twenty-five years old… isn’t that the most prime age for a man?”

Jiang Zhaoxue paused. She was silent for a moment before finally saying: “If it weren’t Pei Zichen it would be fine, but this is Pei Zichen…”

Jiang Zhaoxue recalled the moment in her dream when her neck was choked, then thought of the Soul-Locking Formation in his body.

In the past, whenever she thought of this moment in the dream, she would feel afraid.

Yet somehow, this time when thinking about it, in the first moment, she thought of Pei Zichen drawing his bow and shattering the Spiritual Void Fan.

“Four years ago, I never thought of keeping you here forever.”

He actually never thought of it.

In the water, Jiang Zhaoxue suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of security.

She unconsciously embraced herself, realizing her somewhat wavering state of mind, and said softly again: “Moreover, actually what he wanted in the illusion realm wasn’t me either, but someone who would love him wholeheartedly, a warm home. I couldn’t possibly love him wholeheartedly. Now that Mu Jinyue has come, just watch—the gears of fate are beginning to turn—”

Jiang Zhaoxue sighed: “The world belongs to the young now.”

“That’s true too…”

Thinking of Mu Jinyue, A’Nan also felt somewhat unconfident, then said: “Then about you and Shen Yuqing…”

“Even more impossible to tell him.” Jiang Zhaoxue immediately said: “The more information he knows, the more he can guess. That the Tianji Lingyu can break the Synchronized Heart Contract isn’t a secret in Penglai. If he’s determined to inquire, he’ll know sooner or later. Once he knows, with his brain, he’ll quickly realize I want the Tianji Lingyu. If he then thinks of a way to break the Soul-Locking Formation, wouldn’t all my efforts be wasted? I can’t afford that gamble.”

As Jiang Zhaoxue spoke, somehow, her heart felt painfully stuck.

She simply grabbed a brush from the side and began vigorously scrubbing herself, scrubbing while saying indignantly: “Hide it, hide everything! I can’t let Shen Yuqing know I’m cultivating Pei Zichen for the Synchronized Heart Contract, otherwise if he refuses to let his blood bag go, it’s over. Even more so with Pei Zichen—if he wants to run, I really can’t predict what fortunes a protagonist with such fortune might encounter. I will definitely become a Ninth Realm Fate Master!”

Jiang Zhaoxue encouraged herself, cheering herself on: “My father’s serious illness must be related to the True Immortal Realm’s declining fortune. What Heaven-Ordained Match, what divine artifacts reversing fate—relying on them is worse than relying on myself. The True Immortal Realm is still waiting for me to save it. What am I doing here talking about romantic feelings? Make them all stay far away from me!”

“That’s right!” A’Nan was also stirred to passionate fervor by Jiang Zhaoxue’s words: “Nothing is as strong as us becoming a Ninth Realm Fate Master! Master, this crow’s ascension to heaven depends on you!”

Person and crow encouraged themselves in the water.

Before long, Jiang Zhaoxue felt herself soaking with passionate enthusiasm.

She took clothes from the screen, changed, then with A’Nan perched on her shoulder, happily emerged from the bathing chamber.

The moment she came out, she saw a young man sitting in the room.

The room had not yet been lit, pitch dark. The young man was only an outline sitting in the night, like pine like bamboo, elegant and proper.

A cup of cold tea sat by his hand, as if he’d been waiting a long time. Hearing Jiang Zhaoxue’s voice, he turned his eyes.

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t dare speak, frozen in place. Pei Zichen also didn’t make a sound, only watching her quietly in the darkness with eyes slightly weary.

Jiang Zhaoxue looked at the person before her, too nervous to speak.

A’Nan’s heart also went “thump,” unable to help saying: “It’s over—he’s come demanding answers!”