Hearing A’Nan’s words, Jiang Zhaoxue very much wanted her to shut up and stop adding to her nervous emotions.

But she was also powerless. She focused all her attention on watching Pei Zichen, suppressing that hint of guilt, pretending to have her usual cold and puzzled demeanor as she asked: “What are you doing here?”

At her words, Pei Zichen didn’t immediately speak. After thinking for a moment, he stood up, took an outer robe from a screen nearby, walked before Jiang Zhaoxue, and raised his hands to drape the outer robe over her.

Jiang Zhaoxue froze, watching the young man before her lower his eyes to tie the sash for her, saying quietly: “Winter nights are cold. Put this on to talk.”

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t dare respond.

They had done this countless times in the illusion realm. However, only at this moment as Pei Zichen moved did she discover that an illusion was ultimately an illusion—there were still some differences from reality.

Feeling this person standing before her, she felt somewhat flustered for a moment.

She forced herself to pretend composure, yet really couldn’t harden her tone. She could only say coldly: “What words can’t be said outside? Coming here in the middle of the night—do you have no sense of propriety?”

Hearing Jiang Zhaoxue’s words, Pei Zichen’s movements paused. He raised his eyes, studying Jiang Zhaoxue.

Jiang Zhaoxue grew even more nervous. Just as she was about to say a few words to cover her guilt, she heard Pei Zichen ask: “Is it because Master has returned?”

“What kind of nonsense is he asking?”

Hearing this, A’Nan couldn’t help but complain internally: “What does it matter to him whether Shen Yuqing returns or not?”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue also felt Pei Zichen was trying to trap her. She immediately said: “What are you talking about? What do you mean Master has returned?”

Jiang Zhaoxue recalled how she had been before entering the illusion realm, pretending concern: “What’s wrong with you?”

Pei Zichen looked at her without speaking.

This appearance of Jiang Zhaoxue bore no resemblance to her in the illusion realm.

They were too close. Jiang Zhaoxue was somewhat nervous. She pretended to casually slip past Pei Zichen’s side and walked over to pour tea.

Pei Zichen turned his eyes to watch her movements, hearing her say: “What exactly do you want to say coming to my room in the middle of the night?”

“I want to take you away.”

Pei Zichen spoke abruptly. Jiang Zhaoxue’s hand pouring tea trembled in fright, but she immediately suppressed it, saying indifferently: “Reason?”

“Master doesn’t treat you well.” Pei Zichen’s tone seemed somewhat weary. “He’s not worth it. You weren’t happy at the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion. I’ll take you away. In a few years, you’ll know the vastness of heaven and earth, and you’ll forget him.”

“What about the divine artifacts?”

Seeing his mind full of such nonsense, Jiang Zhaoxue got straight to the point: “For such trivial matters, you don’t want the divine artifacts anymore?”

“I’ll obtain them myself.”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen’s expression immediately grew colder as he said seriously: “I don’t need his help to obtain the divine artifacts.”

“But he’ll sabotage you.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue laughed at his naivety.

The divine artifacts would definitely all be Pei Zichen’s, but Shen Yuqing would cause him trouble.

In the book, he was chased by people sent by the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion and nearly died several times. Many of his close friends and family died. He wouldn’t die, but now that she was by his side as cannon fodder, she had to think of her own life.

Thinking of the seriousness of the matter, Jiang Zhaoxue quickly said: “Moreover, whether things are good or not isn’t for you to judge—it’s for me. I don’t want to forget him. Why should I forget?”

“Then how can you just forget me?!”

Pei Zichen couldn’t help but blurt out.

Jiang Zhaoxue froze. She knew what he was referring to, yet still had to pretend ignorance, saying puzzled: “What are you saying? What did I forget?”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen knew he had lost composure. He turned his head away, restraining himself with all his might, saying quietly: “I’m sorry… this disciple… this disciple just can’t understand.”

“Can’t understand what?”

Jiang Zhaoxue sat in the chair, somewhat afraid to look at him.

Pei Zichen was silent for a moment. He thought for a bit, stood up, walked before Jiang Zhaoxue, crouched down halfway, raised his hand that bore the marriage bond, and said quietly: “My Lady, I got married.”

Jiang Zhaoxue’s heart jumped. On her face, she feigned surprise: “Married? When did this happen?”

“In the Spiritual Void Fan’s illusion realm,” Pei Zichen said quietly. “I met someone I liked very much. She perhaps… only liked me a little bit. But we still got married.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue’s eyes moved slightly. She knew what he meant, yet still asked: “So what?”

“I just want to know…”

Pei Zichen raised his eyes, looking at her somewhat painfully: “Zhuangzi dreamed he was a butterfly, gaining the joy of spreading wings lightly. After waking from the dream, even if the butterfly’s wings are gone, the feelings remain—what should be done then?”

“Since it’s a dream,” Jiang Zhaoxue looked at those dark purple eyes, secretly curling her fingers, only asking: “How do you know those feelings are real?”

Pei Zichen froze, then became somewhat agitated: “I know! I know it was real!”

“Then so what?” Jiang Zhaoxue looked at him, continuing: “I don’t know what you encountered in the illusion realm, but I know the Spiritual Void Fan’s illusion realm doesn’t preserve memories. The so-called beloved—you don’t just love that person, what’s more important are the memories you experienced together. Without memories, where does your beloved exist?”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen’s breathing couldn’t help but quicken. He stared intently at Jiang Zhaoxue. Jiang Zhaoxue looked down with pity. She looked at the marriage bond on his hand, saying calmly: “Zichen, the path of cultivation is long and endless. You’ll meet many people, but people have their limits, strings break—don’t be too persistent.”

“Then why are you persistent?!”

Pei Zichen couldn’t help saying: “You’ve been persistent about Master for two hundred years. Why won’t you let go?!”

Jiang Zhaoxue froze, feeling somewhat awkward for a moment. She coughed lightly: “He and I… it’s complicated. You’re still young, no need to meddle. I appreciate your good intentions,” Jiang Zhaoxue raised her eyes, seeming to smile sincerely. “But your master and I have our own fate. You just take care of yourself.”

Pei Zichen couldn’t say anything more. He looked at the person before him, feeling the marriage bond on his finger as if it had gained temperature, burning hotly and painfully.

Seeing him remain silent, Jiang Zhaoxue knew it was about enough.

She looked at him puzzled, asking curiously: “Did you come find me because of things in the illusion realm?”

Pei Zichen didn’t speak. Jiang Zhaoxue smiled, joking: “You didn’t marry Qian Sisi, did you?”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen laughed. Tears seemed to vaguely form in his eyes, yet he laughed along with Jiang Zhaoxue: “Why don’t you guess Ye Tianjiao?”

Jiang Zhaoxue was made somewhat afraid by his laughter, and a kind of pain slowly surfaced from the depths. On her face, she still joked: “That’s indeed also a possibility.”

“It’s not them.”

Pei Zichen shook his head: “Not them.” As he spoke, Pei Zichen smiled, saying seriously: “It’s someone from the illusion realm, a particularly good girl who loved me very much.”

As he spoke, tears flowed down. He looked up at Jiang Zhaoxue’s face, saying hoarsely: “In the illusion realm, I was the Sword-Asking Manor’s most excellent disciple. My master treated me very well. I had many sect brothers and sisters who never abandoned me. At the most dangerous time, I saved them all. I also married someone I liked who also liked me. We were childhood sweethearts, companions since youth, legitimate and upright Dao companions. She liked me, liked me very much. Until the moment before leaving, she kept saying she liked me. I was loved.”

Pei Zichen looked at Jiang Zhaoxue greedily, as if looking at her for the last time: “Master’s Wife, I was loved. I have no regrets.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t speak. She looked at his tears, her heart trembling.

Yet she still bit her teeth, raised her hand to grip his, saying seriously: “What’s past is past. Don’t be sad. Your good days are ahead.”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen said puzzled: “Good days?”

“Mm.”

Jiang Zhaoxue nodded: “You’ll have people who love you. Everything you want, you’ll have.”

“Obtaining the divine artifacts, right?”

Pei Zichen seemed to have long seen through Jiang Zhaoxue’s thoughts. He smiled thinly, pressing: “Combining the five divine artifacts into one, reversing the True Immortal Realm’s fortune, bringing glory to the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion, becoming Master’s best successor?”

“That’s right.” Jiang Zhaoxue felt inexplicably guilty, yet still said: “Which sword cultivator doesn’t want such a life?”

“Such a person…” Pei Zichen thought. “Like Master?”

Jiang Zhaoxue stiffened. Pei Zichen continued: “Will Master’s Wife always watch such a person? Like watching Master?”

“It’s over.”

Having listened for a long time, A’Nan couldn’t help speaking: “He doesn’t look right, seems a bit mad.”

Jiang Zhaoxue smiled somewhat awkwardly, turning her head: “Why are you bringing up your master?”

Pei Zichen looked at her with a smile, saying gently: “Because I want to become someone like Master. I also want to be watched by Master’s Wife.”

“Ha…”

Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t tell for a moment whether Pei Zichen was speaking in anger or being serious. She could only say awkwardly: “Then you must work hard.”

“This disciple will work hard.”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen half-knelt before Jiang Zhaoxue, looking up at her, saying seriously: “This disciple will definitely be more excellent than Master, and absolutely won’t disappoint Master’s Wife’s expectations.”

“That’s good.”

Jiang Zhaoxue nodded, awkwardly looking toward the window beside her: “Good that you’ve thought it through. Go back to sleep. Don’t come at night in the future.”

At her words, Pei Zichen froze. After a moment, short laughter spilled from his throat. He raised his head, saying gently: “As soon as Master returns, Master’s Wife is truly different.”

As he spoke, he stood up, saying softly: “Before, Master’s Wife even told me that as long as one’s conscience is clear, there’s no need to observe these proprieties.”

“I…”

“But this disciple understands—that was when I was young.”

Pei Zichen interrupted her, slowly recovering his usual gentle appearance. He bowed his head: “Master’s Wife can rest assured. Tonight, this disciple just emerged from the illusion realm and couldn’t control his emotions, losing composure earlier. Thank you for Master’s Wife’s comfort.” As Pei Zichen spoke, he stood up, raising his hand in salute, saying respectfully: “I hope Master’s Wife will forgive me.”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

Seeing Pei Zichen stabilize, Jiang Zhaoxue’s heart also settled somewhat. She nodded: “You’re still young. Encountering an illusion realm created by the Spiritual Void Fan, naturally it’s difficult to handle.”

Pei Zichen stood to the side, lowering his eyes without speaking. Jiang Zhaoxue relaxed, raising her hand: “Go back.”

“Yes.”

Pei Zichen bowed his head in salute, then after respectfully saying goodbye, passed through the wall to the adjacent room.

Jiang Zhaoxue looked at the wall still trembling, couldn’t help cursing internally.

Truly using the most proper appearance to do the most outrageous things.

How did she not see he was this kind of person when he was young!

She took a deep breath and drank tea to calm herself.

A’Nan looked at the window somewhat sadly, saying quietly: “Tell me… is he very heartbroken?”

“He’ll definitely be heartbroken.”

Once Pei Zichen left, Jiang Zhaoxue seemed as if her soul had been extracted. She clutched the cup in her hands, saying blankly: “How could he not be heartbroken?”

But what good did heartbreak do?

She had to activate the Soul-Locking Formation to obtain the Tianji Lingyu. Today’s situation, she had anticipated long ago. If she abandoned her initial plan because of soft-heartedness and sadness, why start at all?

In a lifetime, there are many sad things.

Even life itself is but a speck in heaven and earth, capable of disappearing completely in half an hour. What does romantic love amount to?

Jiang Zhaoxue laughed lightly and lowered her head to drink tea.

Seeing her expression, A’Nan sighed: “Being so heartless, he definitely thinks you’ve forgotten everything now. In the future, this marriage bond between you two is completely severed.”

“Mm.”

Jiang Zhaoxue responded casually, as if completely unconcerned.

Seeing this, A’Nan flew to the bed. Passing by Jiang Zhaoxue, she couldn’t help using her wing to slap Jiang Zhaoxue’s head.

Being slapped by it, Jiang Zhaoxue immediately became anxious, saying angrily: “You’re rebelling!”

“It wasn’t on purpose!” A’Nan immediately said righteously. “I was just passing by!”

“You think I don’t know you?”

Jiang Zhaoxue grabbed a feather duster from the side and wanted to swat A’Nan.

A’Nan quickly flew away. Jiang Zhaoxue hurriedly chased from the bedside. Just as she passed by the bed, black qi shot out from the bed like tentacles, covering her mouth, blocking her eyes, binding her limbs, tossing her entire person into the air with fierce yet gentle force—not harming her at all yet also irresistibly—then violently dragging her onto the bed, instantly locking her on the bed surface!

The black qi instantly invaded her divine soul, but the moment it entered her consciousness sea, it dissipated.

Jiang Zhaoxue instantly recognized this as the Spiritual Void Fan’s power. If it were anyone else encountering such an attack, they would immediately lose consciousness.

But…

She was also a master of the Spiritual Void Fan.

Divine artifacts cannot attack their own masters, but the Spiritual Void Fan probably found this difficult to perceive.

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t know what they wanted to do. She could only cooperate with Pei Zichen, pretending to be unconscious.

She lay quietly on the bed, unable to see anything. Her limbs were bound to the bed surface by tentacle-like black qi. Her mouth and eyes were covered. She vaguely seemed to hear the sound of bed curtains falling, then felt the Jiuyou Realm cultivation technique filling the entire room, forming a barrier, as if bringing her to another space.

This was the Yuan Luogong’s ability—creating its own space.

Unable to see made all her other senses abnormally sensitive. Jiang Zhaoxue could clearly distinguish everything Pei Zichen was doing.

After all affairs were arranged, she finally heard the room door open. Then familiar footsteps came, from far to near. When they reached the bedside, she heard the sound of curtains being rolled up, after which the other party stopped moving.

The other party seemed to freeze. Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t dare make a sound. Only after a moment did she feel cold fingers gently fall on her cheek.

The black qi covering her mouth dissipated. Fingertips slid from her face all the way to her lips, gently grinding over her lips.

“Do you know,” Pei Zichen’s voice sounded, emotionless. His fingers slid down from her lips as if by chance. He leaned down slightly, saying hoarsely: “When you’re nervous, you look for water to drink everywhere.”

Jiang Zhaoxue: “…”

You can even notice this kind of detail—buddy, go work at the magistrate’s office to benefit the people!

She wanted to curse him out in her heart, but on her face she could only pretend to be unconscious.

Pei Zichen’s fingertip stopped on the artery at her neck, pressing lightly above. Jiang Zhaoxue immediately controlled her heartbeat.

Pei Zichen seemed unaware, only feeling her pulse as he said slowly: “I don’t believe you forgot. If you forgot, why would you look at me?”

I was wrong.

I was really wrong.

Jiang Zhaoxue wanted to cry, wanted to slap herself from several hours ago.

Pei Zichen seemed to sense her emotions, or perhaps it was coincidence—at that moment, he laughed softly.

Then she heard him ask quietly: “Do you remember what you promised me when you coaxed me down from Sword-Asking Manor?”

What? Promised what?

Jiang Zhaoxue’s entire mind was in chaos. He was too close, his breath surrounding her. He saw her lips part slightly and studied her carefully.

He didn’t know if she was awake.

She didn’t know if he knew she was awake.

She only heard what seemed to be fireworks exploding outside the window. Then he gently grasped her chin, forcing her to raise her head toward him, tenderly kissing her lips that he had already ground crimson.

He raised his hand, intertwining tenderly with her ten fingers. Brilliant fireworks bloomed instantly before her eyes. Her breathing quickened sharply as she heard Pei Zichen’s hoarse voice offering blessings:

“Happy New Year, Yaoyao.”

When fireworks bloomed everywhere illuminating the sky, in a dim cave, Xinluo Yi soaked in a blood pool, panting lowly.

Her body was covered in wounds. Song Wulan sat on a rock, opening and closing his folding fan, mockingly laughing: “I told you early on, that child isn’t someone you can eat just because you want to. These people of great fortune—their fortune can only be seized by others if they destroy their own karma. Now you’ve caused trouble, haven’t you? A Mahayana stage Immortal Lord’s sword—is it something you can receive?”

Hearing this, Xinluo Yi instantly roared like a wild beast, seemingly rebuking Song Wulan.

Song Wulan lifted his eyelids: “No brain, quite the temper. Last time the Yuan Luogong was given away. Now the Spiritual Void Fan also wasn’t obtained… You need to get stronger, Luoyi.”

Song Wulan tapped his cheek lightly, saying slowly: “My power is limited. I can only rely on you. Need to fatten you up a bit. Though Song Wuya was stupid, he did give me some inspiration… Back then he gave you two hundred thousand people and you could destroy Shu’s immortal dao. Tell me… what if I sacrifice a million people to you?”

Hearing this, Xinluo Yi immediately became excited, expressing her joy with “hiss hiss hiss” sounds.

Song Wulan seemed to also feel he’d thought of a good idea, tapping the rock: “Anyway, this country’s true dragon fortune has been destroyed, with no divine protection—easily obtainable. Create a human hell. Wonderful, truly wonderful!”