Watching the Heavenly Secret Spirit Jade completely fuse with Pei Zichen’s heart, fury arose from within Jiang Zhaoxue.

She grabbed Pei Zichen by the collar. The surrounding spiritual energy suddenly fluctuated violently, as if someone had torn open a rift in the nearby space. A’Nan crouched on Jiang Zhaoxue’s shoulder, alertly raising his head and urgently saying: “Goddess, Shen Yuqing is here!”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue cursed bitterly under her breath. She quickly cleared traces of herself from the scene, then dragged Pei Zichen into the dense forest nearby. After placing concealment talismans and sealing Pei Zichen’s meridians, she instructed A’Nan: “You lead them away. We’ll meet up at the foot of the mountain.”

Concealment talismans only made them invisible. If Shen Yuqing brought many people and they searched carefully, they would still be found.

She had to find a way to lead these Lingjian Immortal Pavilion disciples away first to ensure safety.

A’Nan responded with acknowledgment and flew to the opposite side from Jiang Zhaoxue. At that moment, the sky was suddenly split open, and dozens of brilliant lights descended like shooting stars, landing in the wilderness near Jiang Zhaoxue. After surveying the area, A’Nan quickly fluttered his wings, and a woman’s cold shout rang out: “Chase!”

Jiang Zhaoxue recognized this as the voice of Shen Yuqing’s junior sister, Wen Xiao’an, and couldn’t help cursing silently.

Not coming when needed earlier, but now chasing her with such enthusiasm.

At Wen Xiao’an’s command, all the disciples chased after A’Nan. Jiang Zhaoxue was about to leave with Pei Zichen when she sensed two more auras descending from the sky, followed by a young girl’s voice urgently calling out: “It’s Senior Brother! Senior Brother’s aura is here!”

Hearing this voice, Jiang Zhaoxue gritted her teeth and could only retreat back, not daring to move.

In her previous life, males seemed to automatically fade from her awareness, but she was particularly sensitive to women—especially women around Shen Yuqing. Therefore, upon hearing that voice, she immediately recognized it as Mu Jinyue.

Since Mu Jinyue had arrived, then…

“The barrier here is damaged. Zichen’s aura ends at this spot.”

Shen Yuqing’s voice sounded. Jiang Zhaoxue decisively accepted her fate.

With Shen Yuqing here, any movement she made might be detected by him.

So she could only make a cut on Pei Zichen’s neck with one hand gripping a dagger around his waist, pressing the dagger against his waist. Her other hand covered his mouth to prevent him from suddenly crying out. Then she lowered her head and took small sips of blood flowing from the wound on his neck, vigilantly listening to the movements behind her.

The Soul Bond Contract would sense her presence. Although Shen Yuqing hadn’t specifically searched for her yet, at such close distance, she didn’t dare gamble.

The Heavenly Secret Spirit Jade was the nemesis of the Soul Bond Contract. Since she hadn’t obtained the Heavenly Secret Spirit Jade, she could only use Pei Zichen’s blood to conceal the Soul Bond Contract.

But with this action, she felt the person in her arms struggle. Jiang Zhaoxue knew Pei Zichen was about to awaken. Sensing his state, the instant Pei Zichen opened his eyes, she tightly embraced him and immediately transmitted her voice: “If you dare move, I’ll kill you!”

Accompanying her voice was the pain of a blade cutting across skin. Pei Zichen instantly became alert, then his entire body stiffened in place.

Behind him was a woman wearing soft gauze clothing. One of her hands covered his mouth while the other gripped a dagger circling around his body, pressing against his waist, as she took small sips from his neck.

His entire body was trapped in her embrace. He felt like she was a soft snake coiling and wrapping around him.

He had maintained propriety and cultivated in purity since childhood, never being this close to a woman. In an instant, the dagger and pain all became unimportant. He used almost all his strength to maintain some rationality, striving to control himself from having too intense a reaction. He listened to his master speaking not far away: “The barrier has been completely repaired. There should have been more than just Zichen present. An expert was stationed here, and a True Immortal Realm cultivator at that. Zichen’s life should be safe.”

“That’s wonderful.” Mu Jinyue breathed a sigh of relief. “As long as Senior Brother is safe.”

These words entered Pei Zichen’s ears, but he couldn’t quite process their meaning. However, Jiang Zhaoxue was on edge, her eyes fixed intently on him.

Having opened two formations in succession, her spiritual power was long since depleted, so she had no choice but to use the most primitive method to forcibly restrain Pei Zichen.

But Pei Zichen woke too early. This proved that after obtaining the Heavenly Secret Spirit Jade, his recovery was extremely fast.

A destiny master facing a sword cultivator would have little chance of victory even with several major realm differences, let alone at such close distance. She didn’t know how much Pei Zichen had recovered and had no confidence in forcibly suppressing him.

But if she couldn’t forcibly control him, once Pei Zichen heard that Shen Yuqing and Mu Jinyue had come to rescue him, he would immediately go out and call for help, and she wouldn’t be able to keep him.

So she stared fixedly at the youth in her arms, nervously waiting for his decision. However, before Pei Zichen could act, she heard Shen Yuqing continue: “But you shouldn’t be too happy too soon. Just now I received another message from Xiao’an, saying that after Gaowen and the other disciples escaped from the barrier, they accused Pei Zichen of being seduced by demonic cultivators and opening the Jiuyou Realm barrier. How to deal with him specifically will need to be determined later.”

“Impossible!”

Upon hearing this, Mu Jinyue immediately became agitated: “Senior Brother would never do such a thing.”

“Let’s go find him first.” Shen Yuqing seemed unwilling to discuss this topic, only saying, “I’m telling you this so you can prepare yourself. Jinyue, the immortal path is long. If you wish to go far, you cannot place too much of your heart on one person.”

“What about Master then?” Mu Jinyue immediately spoke up, unable to help saying, “Didn’t Master also form a contract and marry Master’s Wife?”

“She and I are different.”

“How are you different?” Mu Jinyue didn’t quite understand. “Didn’t Master form the contract because of affection?”

Shen Yuqing fell silent. Listening to this, Jiang Zhaoxue felt rather impatient.

Discussing such irrelevant matters in a place like this—would they ever finish?

Fortunately, Shen Yuqing clearly didn’t want to elaborate either. After a moment of silence, he turned and said: “Let’s find him first. I need to return before the hour of Chou.”

Hearing the mention of the hour of Chou, Jiang Zhaoxue froze.

This was the time when her fire poison would erupt.

Why was he returning at the hour of Chou?

Just as she was distracted, Shen Yuqing suddenly stopped in his tracks, keenly looking in Jiang Zhaoxue’s direction.

His pressure aura instantly arrived. Jiang Zhaoxue immediately became alert. A moment later, Shen Yuqing directly drew his sword, a sword light rushing forward fiercely as he shouted sternly: “Who’s there?!”

The sword energy came menacingly. Jiang Zhaoxue decisively rolled over and pulled Pei Zichen in front of her. The sword light crashed down, but the moment it touched Pei Zichen, it dissipated without a trace.

However, the impact it brought was still enormous. Striking the two of them, they were instantly sent flying several zhang.

Jiang Zhaoxue held Pei Zichen tightly as they crashed to the ground together. Pei Zichen collided into her body, and she immediately coughed up blood.

Pei Zichen instinctively wanted to retreat, but Jiang Zhaoxue grabbed him tightly, the dagger once again pressing against his neck as she transmitted a low shout: “Don’t move!”

Pei Zichen’s movements froze. He could only use half an arm to support himself, enveloping her entire body beneath him as they faced each other.

She still wore her face veil, but her exposed eyes were exceptionally beautiful. Those eyes carried some blue in them, matching the color of the tiger’s eyes from earlier—clear, bright, and resolute, clearly belonging to someone with an extremely stable dao heart.

The dagger pressed against his neck. Blood dripped onto her lips, staining the white veil. Pei Zichen’s breathing became somewhat scattered. He restrained himself with great effort, not moving.

He understood the woman’s meaning.

The concealment talismans were still on both of them. They still had a chance of not being discovered by his master.

This woman clearly had an old grudge with his master and was extremely familiar with Lingjian Immortal Pavilion.

Just now, that sword technique his master used was a secret method specifically used by Lingjian Immortal Pavilion for probing. If it was a disciple of the same sect, it wouldn’t cause any harm. This woman probably knew this, which was why she pulled him to block the sword.

The sword technique didn’t strike anyone, and the concealment talismans hid Pei Zichen and Jiang Zhaoxue’s auras. The entire dense forest seemed empty except for Shen Yuqing and Mu Jinyue.

Shen Yuqing looked at the dense forest, his brow slightly furrowed.

He didn’t know what was happening. He suddenly had an illusion, as if…

Jiang Zhaoxue was here.

But thinking about it again, it was impossible. The Soul Bond Contract was the closest connection between them. If Jiang Zhaoxue were before him, the Soul Bond Contract couldn’t possibly have no reaction.

Moreover, if Jiang Zhaoxue were here…

She couldn’t possibly not appear.

Thinking of Jiang Zhaoxue’s usual temperament, she would probably have already made a scene by now. How could she tolerate him being alone with another woman?

Shen Yuqing felt somewhat irritated yet somewhat helpless, but he let go of that bit of suspicion in his heart, his expression becoming much calmer.

Mu Jinyue observed his emotional changes, asking curiously: “Master?”

Hearing this, Shen Yuqing moved his gaze away from Jiang Zhaoxue’s direction and said indifferently: “It’s nothing. Let’s go.”

With that, he turned and left.

Mu Jinyue looked back in Jiang Zhaoxue’s direction, unable to make anything of it. She simply raised her hand to brush over the damaged part of the barrier, then followed Shen Yuqing, asking curiously: “Master, this repaired barrier feels no different from an ordinary wall. Will it also grow flowers like ordinary city walls?”

“It will.” As they spoke, the two walked in the opposite direction from where Jiang Zhaoxue was, gradually moving farther away. Jiang Zhaoxue listened to Shen Yuqing’s rarely patient tone, carrying a few traces of heaviness as he said, “It reflects the human heart, blooming the flowers of greed that you most desire.”

The two walked farther and farther away. When their auras completely disappeared, Jiang Zhaoxue suddenly kicked out, sending Pei Zichen flying back forcefully as she shouted angrily: “Get away!”

Pei Zichen was kicked to the ground and saw this temperamental woman clutching her chest, coughing as she stood up.

Pei Zichen struggled to his feet, observing her and probing: “Senior, are you alright?”

“Mind your own business?!”

Jiang Zhaoxue glared at him, wiping the blood from her lips. A familiar pain vaguely began to arise in her body. She was all too familiar with this pain—it was the fire poison that occurred once a month.

Shen Yuqing’s sword strike seemed to have triggered the fire poison to erupt early. She had to get down the mountain quickly.

But now that Shen Yuqing had come to Wuyue Forest, any fluctuation of spiritual power would not escape his detection. She couldn’t use spiritual power and would need considerable effort to walk down the mountain.

Moreover, she still had to suppress Pei Zichen, not letting him realize any opportunity to escape…

With all these matters piling up together, Jiang Zhaoxue’s heart grew irritable. She took out elixir pills and swallowed two, forcibly suppressing the spread of the fire poison before shouting sternly: “Let’s go!”

Pei Zichen didn’t say much. He simply glanced at Jiang Zhaoxue before rising and following behind her.

Jiang Zhaoxue pulled Pei Zichen along as she walked quickly down the mountain, inquiring of A’Nan as she went: “A’Nan, what’s the situation?”

“I shook them off, but I don’t know where I am.” A’Nan seemed somewhat bewildered. “I think I got lost, but I can see Wuyue Town at the foot of the mountain.”

“Then I’ll send you a message when I reach Wuyue Town. We’ll meet in the town.”

“Sounds good.”

After finishing with A’Nan, Pei Zichen observed Jiang Zhaoxue and tentatively spoke: “Senior.”

As soon as he spoke, Jiang Zhaoxue felt irritated and snapped: “Senior, senior—am I that old?!”

Pei Zichen was silent for a moment, then changed his form of address: “Miss.”

“Shut up!”

Jiang Zhaoxue shouted sternly: “I don’t like hearing you talk. Be quiet!”

Pei Zichen’s words paused, somewhat uncertain how to speak.

Jiang Zhaoxue gained a moment of peace and finally had the capacity to start thinking about the current situation.

The Heavenly Secret Spirit Jade had entered Pei Zichen’s body. Just now Pei Zichen was in an almost certain-death state, yet now he was alive and well—the Heavenly Secret Spirit Jade had probably already expended considerable power.

Now there were only two ways to extract the Heavenly Secret Spirit Jade.

Either directly kill him and cut open his heart to take the jade. This method was simple and quick. The only flaw was that the Heavenly Secret Spirit Jade’s power would be too depleted and would need nurturing, making her release from the Soul Bond Contract far off in the distant future.

But the advantage was that by killing Pei Zichen, she would eliminate the risk of being strangled to death as in the book. She would have sufficient time to nurture the spirit jade. It was the most stable and simplest method.

Or… she could set up a Spirit-Locking Array within Pei Zichen’s body.

The Spirit-Locking Array was an ancient formation. The person upon whom the Spirit-Locking Array was set would no longer be human but rather a vessel, and the array caster would be their master. Those with the Spirit-Locking Array set upon them would be no different from ordinary people normally, but when the Spirit-Locking Array was activated, all their spiritual power and even their life would be used to repair magical artifacts, and all artifacts contracted with them would belong to the array caster.

If she used this method, not only could she obtain a perfect Heavenly Secret Spirit Jade, but she could also obtain all of Pei Zichen’s future divine artifacts. Pei Zichen’s entire life would truly become a wedding dress for her.

Such an array harmed the harmony of heaven, so not only was setting up the array difficult, but it also required the other party’s acknowledgment—requiring them to voluntarily hand over their life to her.

However, people later discovered many loopholes—

The Spirit-Locking Array was essentially a contract, so the Heavenly Dao didn’t care whether the person being set upon was willing or deceived. As long as they verbally agreed to give their life to the array caster, even if it was said in jest, the Heavenly Dao would confirm it, and the Spirit-Locking Array could be formed and hidden within the other party’s body.

If successful, the Spirit-Locking Array was the most perfect solution.

But the problem was that Pei Zichen was the Heavenly Dao’s chosen son. She wasn’t certain what would actually happen. The longer he lived, the greater the variables. Moreover, she had to ensure he grew enough to repair the Heavenly Secret Spirit Jade. What if something went wrong midway? Wouldn’t she be fetching water with a bamboo basket again?

Furthermore, she never wanted to form any binding contract with anyone again. One Shen Yuqing was already enough.

But without forming the Spirit-Locking Array, she could only kill him.

Kill him…

Jiang Zhaoxue looked back at him. The youth had at some point already straightened his clothing. Properly dressed with his jade pendant hanging at his side, holding his sword as he walked behind her, he seemed as if he were following to protect her.

When she looked over, he clearly had something to say but wasn’t anxious, only quietly waiting for her to speak and lift her “shut up” prohibition.

Such a gentle and considerate person was completely different from the youth in the book who decisively snapped her neck.

Yet he was destined to kill her.

Up to now, although her appearance had interfered with many things, nothing major had ever changed.

The Heavenly Secret Spirit Jade still entered Pei Zichen’s body.

Although she sealed the Jiuyou Realm barrier and Gaowen’s disciples didn’t die, Gaowen still accused Pei Zichen of colluding with demonic cultivators and framed him.

Although she disrupted the plot of Shen Yuqing and Mu Jinyue “discovering their feelings,” she wasn’t certain whether Shen Yuqing would “harm others out of jealousy” when Pei Zichen’s framing occurred several years early. But at least up to this point, even though the timing was different, all events were still developing according to the book.

Then if Pei Zichen didn’t die, he would most likely become the one to end her life, just as the book said.

Thinking of that Heavenly Secret Spirit Jade that somehow had to take a roundabout way to crash into Pei Zichen’s body, thinking of Gaowen who ran out to frame Pei Zichen, and the pain of him snapping her neck in that moment, Jiang Zhaoxue stopped in her tracks, quietly gazing at him.

As the two stood in silence, Jiang Zhaoxue slowly came to a decision. She began calculating the strength of the person before her and the timing.

At this moment, the fire poison in her body was forcibly suppressed by medicine, but she didn’t have much time. If she used any spiritual power, it would immediately backlash.

She needed to keep Pei Zichen stable and have him follow her away.

As long as they left and survived tonight, she was confident she could kill this Core Formation stage young disciple.

She stared at Pei Zichen. Pei Zichen seemed to keenly sense something and looked up at Jiang Zhaoxue.

Jiang Zhaoxue’s mind rapidly organized the information she had just heard, pondering the words to deceive Pei Zichen, and said with a smile: “You heard what your master said just now, right?”

“Sen…” Pei Zichen started to speak, then remembered something and said somewhat unnaturally: “Has Miss given me permission to speak?”

“Yes, you can.”

Jiang Zhaoxue turned around, leading him down the mountain, feigning ease as she said: “Just now I was merely a bit irritable. Please don’t take offense. You and I have been through life and death together, we have some bond. There’s no need to be so formal.”

As she spoke, Jiang Zhaoxue looked back at him once more, pressing again: “When your master was speaking, you were awake, weren’t you?”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen seemed to recall something. His ears grew slightly hot as he feigned composure and said: “I heard it.”

“So what do you think?” Jiang Zhaoxue seemed to chat casually, concernedly saying, “Do you still want to go back? Think carefully. Gaowen is Shen Yuqing’s junior sister Wen Xiao’an’s uncle. Wen Xiao’an grew up with Shen Yuqing. She’s the only peer Shen Yuqing has left, the vice pavilion master of Lingjian Immortal Pavilion—their bond is extraordinary. Now that Gaowen has accused you of opening the Jiuyou Realm barrier, whether it was you or not, you must bear this crime. Going back is only a dead end. You’re not that foolish, are you?”

As Jiang Zhaoxue spoke, she felt the medicine’s effect was barely suppressing the fire poison.

But until she could ascertain Pei Zichen’s situation, she couldn’t show the slightest weakness.

She endured the fire poison, feigning ease as she said: “You’re following me now. Are you planning to come with me?”

“Is Miss a destiny master?”

Pei Zichen inexplicably asked this question. Jiang Zhaoxue instantly became alert.

“Why ask this?” Jiang Zhaoxue joked, “You’re not trying to probe my strength, thinking that because I’m a destiny master, you can take advantage when I’m vulnerable, are you?”

“Does Miss have a grudge against Master?”

Pei Zichen continued probing. Jiang Zhaoxue’s heart grew uneasy.

From that brief contact earlier, he had actually discerned her connection to Shen Yuqing. She suppressed the fire poison, facing away from Pei Zichen, her tone light as she said: “Why would you think that? It’s just some sect origins, needing to avoid Lingjian Immortal Pavilion for a bit.”

“Then…”

Pei Zichen’s tone carried some hesitation, but after a moment’s pause, he finally asked: “The pill Miss took earlier—was it a Toxin-Obliterating Pill?”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue’s spirit tightened. The few remaining explosive talismans silently slid down from her hand. The fire poison intensified in her meridians. She strove to suppress the abnormality as she walked ahead, saying with a smile: “Why does young friend ask about this?”

“The Toxin-Obliterating Pill is a detoxification medicine that only seventh-realm alchemists can refine. It’s not something ordinary people can possess. If it were ordinary poison, after taking one Toxin-Obliterating Pill, one should already be fine.” Pei Zichen observed her, frowning slightly as he analyzed seriously, “But Miss took two pills, yet your steps are now increasingly unsteady, showing no signs of improvement.”

Jiang Zhaoxue said nothing.

Every sentence of his analysis was correct, which generated severe anxiety in her.

She unconsciously quickened her pace more and more. Pei Zichen remained exceptionally composed, continuing his analysis: “Miss has profound cultivation. The magical treasures on your person are extraordinary. You’re an old acquaintance of my master, so you must not be an ordinary person. Now seriously injured, you should settle down early. If you don’t mind…”

Before he finished speaking, Jiang Zhaoxue stumbled, her entire body falling forward uncontrollably. Just as she was about to crash to the ground, a hand suddenly grasped her wrist.

Jiang Zhaoxue’s pupils contracted sharply. The dagger in her sleeve instantly shot up, tracing a crescent moon arc from bottom to top viciously slashing across, accompanied by a stern shout: “Get away!”

This slash forced the person back. Jiang Zhaoxue then retreated backward, creating distance between them.

The two stood in the forest facing each other. Pei Zichen looked at her with some surprise. Jiang Zhaoxue breathed rapidly, staring fixedly at him, coldly saying: “Even if I’m unwell, killing you is more than enough. Don’t seek death.”

Pei Zichen didn’t speak immediately. He looked at Jiang Zhaoxue with concern. After contemplating for a moment, he sighed. Under Jiang Zhaoxue’s watchful gaze, he raised his hand to straighten his jade crown, smoothed the wrinkles in his clothing, adjusted the jade pendant at his waist, then walked before Jiang Zhaoxue. He turned around, knelt on one knee, and half-crouched down, exposing his entire back to Jiang Zhaoxue. He seemed somewhat reserved as he said: “Let me carry Miss down the mountain.”

This action stunned Jiang Zhaoxue. For a moment, she couldn’t quite figure out Pei Zichen’s intention.

She was a complete stranger to him. Just now she had provoked him for so long, yet he didn’t respond, clearly not believing her words. He also saw that she and Shen Yuqing were enemies and saw that something was wrong with her body. In this situation, instead of taking the opportunity to capture her and bring her back to Lingjian Immortal Pavilion for questioning, or running away, he wanted to carry her down the mountain?

“You…”

Jiang Zhaoxue spoke with suspicion and uncertainty. She had only uttered the word “you” when sounds suddenly came from the distance.

Jiang Zhaoxue instinctively turned her head. In that instant, Pei Zichen suddenly reached out, pulled her onto his back, and stood up saying: “Miss, hold tight. Pardon the offense.”

The moment his voice fell, he had already run out with her on his back. Then Jiang Zhaoxue heard the voices of Lingjian Immortal Pavilion disciples: “Are there people over there?”

These words shocked Jiang Zhaoxue, forcing her to remain silent. Pei Zichen had clearly detected them early. He glanced in the direction of the voices, took out a thunderbolt pellet from his robes, and threw it far into the distance.

His arm strength was astonishing. The thunderbolt pellet was thrown extremely far. After landing and exploding, it quickly attracted the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion disciples.

He took the opportunity to run in the opposite direction. Jiang Zhaoxue lay on his body as the fire poison finally completely surged up. All her extraordinary meridians began to burn with pain.

Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t help but grip Pei Zichen’s clothing tightly, gritting her teeth without speaking.

Pei Zichen carried her, still bearing his injuries, yet ran very fast. He seemed to know what she was thinking and didn’t use half a bit of spiritual power. He even listened in all directions, deliberately avoiding the searches of nearby Lingjian Immortal Pavilion disciples.

After running all the way out of the forest, Jiang Zhaoxue finally erupted, breathing heavily as she spoke: “What do you mean? Are you coming with me?”

“I’m sending Miss down the mountain.”

Pei Zichen spoke firmly.

Hearing these words, Jiang Zhaoxue frowned. She couldn’t understand, so she asked: “Why? You want to escape, is that it? You want to come with me?”

“I’m sending Miss down the mountain.”

Pei Zichen spoke once more but didn’t directly answer her.

“I’m asking you a question!”

Jiang Zhaoxue grabbed his collar tightly, leaning close to him.

Perhaps due to her injury, this time the fire poison came extremely fiercely. Cold sweat dripped from her forehead, falling into his clothing and sliding down along his neck.

Pei Zichen’s expression shifted slightly. He didn’t dare turn back.

Jiang Zhaoxue breathed softly, using what little rationality remained. She swallowed and tried to persuade him: “You saved me. I’m grateful to you. If you come with me, I definitely won’t treat you unfairly. They’re not here to find you.”

She spoke with difficulty, analyzing for Pei Zichen to hear: “Opening the Jiuyou Realm barrier is no small matter. Lingjian Immortal Pavilion will definitely investigate this. The reason you opened the Jiuyou Realm barrier is because Gaowen was deceived by an illusion and violated sect rules by taking something down from the wall. At that time, only the people from Luo Xia Feng opposed this. If the truth is told, everyone from Lan Yue Feng will be punished. But everyone from Luo Xia Feng except you and Gu Jinglan died. Everyone will testify for Gaowen. You won’t be able to explain clearly!”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen’s hands tightened, as if restraining some emotion.

Jiang Zhaoxue took this as him being swayed by her words. Feeling the first wave of fire poison coming like a tide, her whole body convulsed as she gripped Pei Zichen’s clothing tightly.

Pei Zichen glanced at her, frowning, only quickening his pace as he asked urgently: “Miss, do you have any medicine you can use?”

Medicine?

What medicine?

If there were medicine, would she suffer from this fire poison month after month?!

Jiang Zhaoxue gritted her teeth, not responding to Pei Zichen. She feared she might lose consciousness at any moment. She had to ensure Pei Zichen followed her away before losing consciousness.

Only if Pei Zichen left Lingjian Immortal Pavilion would she have an opportunity to act and obtain the Heavenly Secret Spirit Jade.

She quickly analyzed for him, beginning to paint grand promises wildly: “I am from a famous great sect. Your natural talent is exceptional, and you have the merit of saving me. I will devote an entire sect’s resources to cultivating you. If you are wrongly buried in obscurity at Lingjian Immortal Pavilion, wouldn’t that be a pity? Come with me—” Jiang Zhaoxue grabbed his shoulder, gritting her teeth as she shouted sternly: “I can protect you!”

Pei Zichen didn’t respond. Jiang Zhaoxue said urgently: “Did you hear? You agree to follow me and listen to me. I’ll protect your life!”

Pei Zichen remained silent. Jiang Zhaoxue began to tremble, confirming again and again: “Speak! Say something!”

Hearing Jiang Zhaoxue’s emotional agitation, Pei Zichen also knew she was uneasy. He finally turned to look at her, saying seriously: “Miss, rest assured. I will accompany you down the mountain.”

With these words, somehow, even though she knew he would become a scoundrel who betrayed master and sect in the future, her heart settled down.

Her consciousness began to blur. Leaning on Pei Zichen’s shoulder, she reassured him, saying softly: “Pei Zichen, rest assured. I won’t treat you unfairly…”

“Listen to me…” Jiang Zhaoxue spoke, her voice becoming increasingly slurred, even beginning to speak incoherently, “I… I can… spare your life…”