Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue raised her eyelids and said impatiently, “You sure are nosy.”

Shen Yuqing’s movements stiffened slightly. Jiang Zhaoxue acted as if she felt nothing was wrong with herself, turning around and walking toward the Li Residence. As she walked, she asked, “What about the people I told you to kill?”

Hearing this, Shen Yuqing slowly withdrew his hand, suppressing the urge to rush to Jiang Zhaoxue’s side. He followed her slowly and said in a low voice, “They escaped.”

This was within Jiang Zhaoxue’s expectations. If Song Wulan could be killed by Shen Yuqing with a single sword strike, it would make her and Pei Zichen look like useless fools.

But she still found a reason to scold him: “You really are completely use…”

“But I caught someone.” Shen Yuqing interrupted her.

Jiang Zhaoxue knew this must be the “clue” that Shen Yuqing and Mu Jinyue obtained in the book. She immediately said, “Where are they?”

“Li Residence.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue said nothing more and immediately led the two back to the Li Residence urgently.

Upon returning to the Li Residence, Jiang Zhaoxue stepped inside and saw Mu Jinyue sitting in the main hall, guarding a black-clothed youth bound by Binding Immortal Rope and layers of formations.

Seeing them return, Mu Jinyue’s eyes immediately brightened. She quickly stood up and said, “Master!”

Then she shifted her gaze to Jiang Zhaoxue, bowing somewhat nervously: “Master’s Wife.”

Finally, she looked at Pei Zichen with some concern: “Senior Martial Brother.”

Seeing Mu Jinyue, Jiang Zhaoxue was somewhat puzzled. If Mu Jinyue was here, what was Shen Yuqing doing at the riverbank alone?

However, she had no time to think about these matters. She acknowledged with a sound and quickly stepped forward to examine the youth.

But Pei Zichen raised his hand to stop her first, saying warily, “Master’s Wife, let me do it.”

Jiang Zhaoxue paused, knowing that Pei Zichen and Shen Yuqing were more skilled at interrogating people.

When Shen Yuqing was the first disciple of Lingjian Immortal Pavilion, he handled punishments. Pei Zichen was his chief disciple. Although he was still young and had Wen Xiao’an above him preventing him from heading the Punishment Hall, having hunted demons and eliminated evil for years, interrogation was something he did frequently.

Professionals should handle professional matters. Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t compete for the task and sat down to the side with Shen Yuqing.

Pei Zichen took out gloves from his cosmos bag, took an anti-poison bead and swallowed it. After surrounding himself with barriers, he approached the youth from behind and raised his hand to lock onto the youth’s vital point.

His every posture perfectly followed the interrogation procedures of Lingjian Immortal Pavilion. Shen Yuqing found nothing to criticize. After ensuring absolute safety, Pei Zichen gripped the back of the youth’s neck and turned the youth’s head around.

The moment the youth turned his head, Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t help but freeze.

This youth looked very young, judging by his physique he should only be sixteen or seventeen years old. But his face was covered in knife scars. Aside from being able to see that his features had beautiful contours and his original appearance should have been extremely good, nothing else could be discerned.

And most importantly…

She couldn’t see his fortune.

Jiang Zhaoxue frowned, realizing this youth was the same as that youth who spoke in ventriloquism at the altar.

Perhaps they were the same person.

“Why did you bring him back?”

Unable to figure it out, Jiang Zhaoxue looked at Shen Yuqing beside her.

Perhaps due to his injuries, Shen Yuqing’s emotions were somewhat low. Hearing Jiang Zhaoxue’s question, he only then raised his head and said flatly, “After you sent the voice transmission, I immediately rushed to the southwest, but it was already too late. There were indeed traces of your thunder strike there, as well as traces of formations left by fate masters, but the people had already left. I could only return to search for other clues. When I returned to the vicinity of the altar, I discovered that the mountain roads outside the barrier were full of mortals.”

“Mortals?” Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t understand. Pei Zichen’s movements paused.

Shen Yuqing nodded and said in a deep voice, “These people were clearly believers of the Blissful Longevity Cult. They all had incomplete souls, caused by Jiuyou Realm cultivation methods. Only this one child had an intact soul. He should be an important figure in this cult, so I brought him back.”

As he spoke, Shen Yuqing seemed to remember something. He looked at Pei Zichen, who was examining the youth, and inquired, “Zichen, where did you come from? Did you see who made a move outside the barrier?”

“This disciple used the Yuan Luogong to rush directly there.”

Pei Zichen answered methodically, examining the youth and saying calmly, “I did not see anyone else outside the barrier.”

“Then how did you know our location?”

Shen Yuqing continued to press. Jiang Zhaoxue’s heart tightened. She wanted to answer for Pei Zichen, but was afraid Shen Yuqing would discover something. She could only suppress her emotions and nervously watch Pei Zichen.

Fortunately, Pei Zichen responded calmly, looking up at Shen Yuqing: “Responding to Master, this disciple followed the Life Servant Contract to get here.”

“Your master’s wife had already severed it when she went out with me…”

Shen Yuqing blurted out, then immediately realized.

Although Jiang Zhaoxue had concealed her Life Servant Contract, she had left a substitution talisman on Mu Jinyue.

When Pei Zichen followed the Life Servant Contract, he wasn’t following Jiang Zhaoxue, but Mu Jinyue.

This explanation made sense.

Shen Yuqing said nothing more. His expression calmed down as he contemplated something.

Pei Zichen turned his eyes to look at the youth in his hands, stating the current situation: “Although this young master has an intact soul, his internal organs are shattered. If we forcibly wake him now, I’m afraid he won’t survive tonight. It’s better to let this disciple nurse him for a day or two. After his injuries improve, we can interrogate him.” Pei Zichen looked up at Jiang Zhaoxue: “Master, Master’s Wife, what do you think?”

“Shattered?”

Hearing this, Mu Jinyue was somewhat surprised and couldn’t help but say, “Just now he clearly…”

“Then tonight you take him down first and treat him well.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue knew that the youth’s internal organs weren’t shattered on their own—it must have been Pei Zichen’s doing.

This was a thousand years ago. The only one who knew Jiuyou Realm cultivation methods was probably Pei Zichen. The Jiuyou Realm cultivator Shen Yuqing mentioned who stole people’s souls was likely him.

This child might have seen Pei Zichen make his move. If they interrogated him forcibly now, who knows what might be revealed.

In the Battle of Cangming Sea, Lingjian Immortal Pavilion was the sect with the heaviest casualties. Shen Yuqing deeply detested Jiuyou Realm. If he realized that Pei Zichen had cultivated Jiuyou Realm methods, even if Pei Zichen was her life servant, his life would be in danger. Even if his life was preserved here, once Shen Yuqing revealed this matter to the True Immortal Realm, unless Pei Zichen went to Jiuyou Realm, he would certainly die.

She couldn’t let Mu Jinyue continue speaking. She turned her eyes to look at Mu Jinyue and smiled, saying, “Let’s ask first, Jinyue, why were you at the Longevity Altar today?”

With these words, everyone’s attention turned to Mu Jinyue.

Pei Zichen’s hand gripping the youth finally relaxed slightly. Jiang Zhaoxue secretly glanced at him, then returned her gaze to Mu Jinyue: “Didn’t I give you a defensive formation? Did you walk out?”

“This disciple doesn’t know.”

Hearing this, Mu Jinyue immediately showed a panicked expression. She quickly moved to kneel before Jiang Zhaoxue and said urgently, “When this disciple woke up, I had already been kidnapped. They tied me up and tortured me. I vaguely heard them saying something about… fortunately they caught this disciple, otherwise they would have to make other plans. The next time I was conscious, I had already seen Master and Master’s Wife.”

Originally just trying to drag Mu Jinyue out to provide cover for Pei Zichen, Jiang Zhaoxue unexpectedly found herself amused by this questioning.

She looked at the person kneeling on the ground and said softly, “You mean someone deliberately kidnapped you?”

“This disciple doesn’t know… but it was indeed like that.”

“I see.” Jiang Zhaoxue nodded, then turned to look at Shen Yuqing and asked, “The barrier was indeed broken?”

“It was broken.”

Shen Yuqing wouldn’t lie. Jiang Zhaoxue nodded, knowing the barrier must have truly been broken.

“Alright then, you must have been frightened tonight.” Jiang Zhaoxue stood up and gently patted her shoulder, saying warmly, “Don’t be afraid. Go sleep first.”

Mu Jinyue acknowledged the instruction.

Jiang Zhaoxue looked up at Pei Zichen, her gaze sweeping over the unconscious youth, and instructed, “Take this child down. You should also go rest.”

Pei Zichen acknowledged and used spiritual power to support the youth as he stood. Together with Mu Jinyue, they bowed to Jiang Zhaoxue and Shen Yuqing before withdrawing.

As he was leaving, he glanced at the two people in the room. After restraining himself for a moment, he finally left with the youth.

After only Jiang Zhaoxue and Shen Yuqing remained in the room, Shen Yuqing still sat in his chair, head lowered without speaking.

Seeing he had no intention of pursuing what happened earlier, and having nothing to say to him, Jiang Zhaoxue stood up and said, “You’re still injured. I won’t disturb you. We’ll wait until that child wakes up tomorrow. I’ll go rest first.”

With that, Jiang Zhaoxue turned to leave. After only two steps, Shen Yuqing suddenly said hoarsely, “Why don’t you ask me why I appeared at the riverbank tonight?”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue was stunned. She found it strange: “If you want to go, you go. Why would I ask?”

Shen Yuqing didn’t speak. He curled his fingers. After a long while, he couldn’t help but ask, “Do you like him?”

This “him” needed no explanation—both parties understood perfectly.

Jiang Zhaoxue’s heartstrings tightened sharply, but her face still showed nothing as she turned back: “Who?”

“Pei Zichen.” Shen Yuqing named him directly.

Jiang Zhaoxue feigned casualness: “You mean him? Yes, he’s quite a good person.”

“I thought so…” Shen Yuqing murmured, as if understanding, “If he couldn’t pass your scrutiny, how could you form a Life Servant Contract with him? You must like him somewhat… just like before.”

As Shen Yuqing spoke, he seemed to remember something.

Jiang Zhaoxue was somewhat confused: “Before?”

“You were like this in your twenties,” Shen Yuqing said, his eyes somewhat dazed as he recalled softly, “You liked many people. You liked Chu Lingxiao from Heavenly Sword Sect’s sword technique, you liked Mo Yufan from Fallen Immortal Pavilion’s clothes, you liked Su Xuechen’s elegant bearing… Every person you liked was so excellent, and those people still had to call you Female Sovereign. I thought countless times that I shouldn’t reach above my station, that we were ill-matched, but you were always waiting for me, so I could only move forward.”

Thinking of his youthful journey, Shen Yuqing’s words grew difficult: “Chu Lingxiao was the champion of the Sword Trial Conference, so I had to win. I fought desperately to win. Mo Yufan was the only son of a ten-thousand-year immortal sect, one piece of his clothing cost three thousand spirit stones, but my annual stipend was only two hundred. So I took on high-reward bounties every month. It took me a year to save up for one set of clothes to see you. I couldn’t learn Su Xuechen’s elegant bearing, so I learned immortal sect rules, learned to be taciturn… My birth wasn’t as good as theirs, my starting point wasn’t as high as theirs, but I always won.”

Shen Yuqing looked up at her. Not knowing whether he was comforting himself or informing her, he said with certainty, “Every time you were in danger, I always arrived before them. I thought as long as I worked hard enough, as long as I ran fast enough, I would always make it in time. I would always win. I was never late. Every time, it was the same.”

“Why are you saying all this?”

Unwilling to talk more, Jiang Zhaoxue turned directly: “Rest first.”

“I can protect you!”

Shen Yuqing suddenly raised his voice.

Jiang Zhaoxue looked back in confusion and saw Shen Yuqing desperately restraining himself. He looked up at her intently and said earnestly, “If Pei Zichen hadn’t come, I could have protected you today. I wasn’t late!”

When Pei Zichen arrived, he had already broken through the restriction.

Thinking of the moment when she was forcibly pulled away from him by Pei Zichen.

Thinking of how he searched the entire city all night, and finally, with nowhere else to go, he went to that place where he felt Jiang Zhaoxue and Pei Zichen absolutely should not be. From afar, he saw the two of them.

He rushed urgently, but the crowd was too dense. With all his jade ornaments and jewels too heavy, he stumbled and staggered all the way, yet was still one step too late.

He watched helplessly as the Magpie Bridge glowed, and the two of them looked up together.

People said that when the Magpie Bridge appears and lovers meet, those who see this bridge are destined for three lifetimes, never to part until white-haired.

But was it their turn?

What were their statuses—one was his wife, one was his disciple. Why were they there?

Her injuries had completely healed. She had changed into clothes the same color as Pei Zichen’s. Even her hair had been combed neatly—definitely not her own handiwork.

Yet he didn’t dare ask a single question.

What could he ask?

Wasn’t it right for Pei Zichen to save her? Wasn’t it right to treat her injuries? Wasn’t it right to let her change into clean clothes, to tidy her appearance?

But exactly how he treated her injuries, how he changed her clothes, how he styled her hair, why they didn’t return directly to the residence but went to the riverbank instead—all of this was like needles stabbing his heart. But he himself was guilty first and didn’t dare ask.

He knew clearly that he couldn’t continue to be indulgent. He couldn’t remain silent anymore.

Nothing had started yet.

He knew her temperament. If she truly had something with Pei Zichen, if she truly accepted him, she couldn’t possibly continue this sham marriage wager with him.

He wasn’t late. He had to do something to keep her.

But he had been indulged by her for too long.

Indulged to the point where he didn’t even know how to show favor.

He was like a young beast whose claws and fangs she had pulled out with her love, suddenly thrown back into a fierce forest full of wild beasts.

He desperately wanted to hold onto her but didn’t know how to show favor. Only after struggling for a long time did he stand up, walk before Jiang Zhaoxue, and say with difficulty, “A’Xue, I know I’ve done many things poorly in the past, but A’Xue… I am, I’ve always wanted to be with you.”

Jiang Zhaoxue looked up at him, frowning slightly.

Shen Yuqing felt every word was extremely difficult to say. He tried hard to explain: “Mu Jinyue… I brought her up the mountain for other reasons. You’ll know in the future. Between you and me, there are too many barriers, too many misunderstandings. But I… I’ve never thought of separating.”

As he spoke, seeming to remember something, he tried hard to say, “I can explain many things. You said… you said in the past, when I suppressed the fire poison for you, you felt pain. That was because… because at that time, you would always send spiritual power back with your feelings. I was afraid I myself would…”

Shen Yuqing couldn’t continue. After hesitating for a moment, as if making up his mind, he suddenly reached out to pull her hand and explain, “Try it once…”

Before he finished speaking, Jiang Zhaoxue, as if already knowing what he was about to do, suddenly withdrew her hand and dodged away.

With this action, both froze for an instant. Shen Yuqing looked at her incredulously.

She knew?

Who had done this to her? Who let her know what it meant when spiritual power carrying emotions entered the body? He, as her husband, had never told her. How did she know?

Shen Yuqing was shocked and suspicious, examining her without speaking.

Jiang Zhaoxue also realized her reaction was too intense. Fortunately, everything was just speculation. She quickly showed a reproachful expression and said first, “Why did you suddenly reach out? You scared me.”

Shen Yuqing didn’t speak. He desperately restrained himself, only like a wild beast, focusing on her as if he wanted to completely dissect her and see everything clearly.

Jiang Zhaoxue felt panicked under his gaze, but her face showed no guilt. She asked in return, “What are you looking at me for?”

“Nothing.”

Shen Yuqing seemed to have figured something out. His emotions slowly settled, only his fingertips trembling slightly as he said in a low voice, “It’s late today. Go rest first.”

With that, Shen Yuqing turned and left.

Reaching the door, Shen Yuqing stopped. He hesitated for a moment, then still said, “Jinyue has been at the residence all night. I went to the riverbank to find you. Don’t misunderstand.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue was stunned. After realizing he was explaining, she didn’t really care and only said, “This matter isn’t important to me, but there’s one thing you need to be clear about.”

Hearing this, Shen Yuqing turned back and saw Jiang Zhaoxue raise her palm.

On her palm remained only two blood marks. Shen Yuqing’s eyes trembled slightly as he heard Jiang Zhaoxue remind him with suppressed laughter, “The first time.”

Shen Yuqing didn’t speak. Looking at the smile on the person before him, he actually had the illusion that she was celebrating.

He stared at her, anger rising in his heart though his face showed nothing. He only said, “There won’t be a second time.”

Finished speaking, he decisively turned and left with large strides.

After he left, Jiang Zhaoxue breathed a sigh of relief. She found the nearest chair and collapsed into it, raising her hand to support her forehead, saying somewhat wearily, “What kind of mess is all this…”

Just as she finished speaking, she suddenly realized something and jumped up urgently, saying, “Not good!”

Where would Shen Yuqing get such a good temper? He had clearly noticed something was wrong just now, yet without a word, he turned and left.

This wasn’t the matter being settled at all!

This was him switching targets to find trouble!!

She urgently chased after him, but Shen Yuqing was far ahead of her. He strode directly to Pei Zichen’s room, raised his hand and struck. Barriers and sword formations deployed simultaneously—eighteen light swords broke through the door!

Pei Zichen had been drinking water. Just as he sensed someone approaching, a sword formation carrying Integration Stage pressure had already rushed into the room, pressing down on him!

He instinctively drew his sword, but the moment he saw who it was, he urgently held back. Then Shen Yuqing grabbed him by the throat and violently slammed him into the wall!

With a tremendous “boom,” Pei Zichen heavily crashed into the wall’s barrier. Eighteen light swords pointed at him from all directions. His hand rested on the sword hilt behind him as he looked at Shen Yuqing, who was clearly angry, and calmly spoke, “Master arrives late at night. I wonder what instruction you have?”

“In the future, if you ever dare use the Life Servant Contract to take her from my side again,” Shen Yuqing gripped his throat, his killing intent and pressure completely unleashed, forcing all of Pei Zichen’s weapons to hum and ring. His fingers applied slight pressure as he leaned forward and threatened in a lowered voice, “I will kill you.”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen’s fingers gripping the sword hilt applied slight pressure. His heart had long accumulated resentment. Hearing this, he raised his eyes and coldly asked in return, “Kill me? On what grounds does Master kill me? If you kill me out of jealousy, wouldn’t that violate righteousness?”

“Righteousness?” Shen Yuqing laughed, suppressing his voice as he said, “Pei Zichen, didn’t your master teach you? Those who steal another’s wife shall be killed. If you dare use the Life Servant Contract again, I will consider you harboring improper designs on your master’s wife. What’s wrong with killing you?!”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen’s heart tightened.

He knew Shen Yuqing wasn’t wrong.

Those who steal another’s wife shall be killed. Shen Yuqing was her legitimate husband. If he coveted Shen Yuqing’s wife, it would be natural and right for Shen Yuqing to kill him.

Moreover…

He was also his master.

Both emotionally and logically, if he dared covet Jiang Zhaoxue, being torn to pieces wouldn’t be excessive.

But…

Was he worthy?

Pei Zichen thought of Jiang Zhaoxue’s injuries today, thought of Jiang Zhaoxue whom he had released in the space-time rift, thought of standing outside Jiang Zhaoxue’s door and window at Lingjian Immortal Pavilion, of the tears Jiang Zhaoxue had shed.

He had followed Jiang Zhaoxue from Jiang Zhou at age ten, receiving her first sugar pill, watching her, guarding her, looking up to her all the way, and finally…

Possessing her.

Those who steal another’s wife shall be killed—but who wasn’t her husband?

At the thought, Pei Zichen momentarily couldn’t restrain himself and only said, “Master, you must be able to kill this disciple.”

With that, Pei Zichen’s short sword swiftly emerged, directly slashing at Shen Yuqing’s throat!

Shen Yuqing’s pupils contracted violently. Forced back by Pei Zichen for a moment, Pei Zichen gripped his short sword and leaped down, smashing straight toward Shen Yuqing!

He didn’t use spiritual power. Shen Yuqing also saw his intent and immediately drew his short sword from his waist, entangling Pei Zichen’s short sword and saying coldly, “It seems I have never instructed you before.”

“Then please instruct this disciple, Master.”

With that, Shen Yuqing spun around and struck with his wide sleeve. The two began fighting mercilessly in the room.

When Jiang Zhaoxue arrived and saw the situation inside, she couldn’t help but gasp.

“They’re fighting.”

A’Nan was somewhat anxious: “Should we try to mediate?”

“It’s fine.” Jiang Zhaoxue observed their fighting styles. Although Shen Yuqing had set up a barrier preventing spiritual power and sound from escaping, based on her understanding of the two, Jiang Zhaoxue could see these two hadn’t truly torn their relationship apart.

She observed and said, “They won’t die.”

A’Nan fell silent. After a moment, he couldn’t help but say, “Must someone die…”

“If we don’t let them vent their anger, I’m the one who’ll suffer!”

Jiang Zhaoxue observed the situation and said magnanimously, “As long as nothing major happens, it’s fine.”

Shen Yuqing and Pei Zichen indeed had no real intention of killing each other. Using the pretext of instruction, they abandoned spiritual power and competed purely on mastery of techniques.

Both used short swords from Lingjian Immortal Pavilion, no longer than half an arm, most suitable for combat in confined spaces.

They both used Lingjian Immortal Pavilion techniques. Shen Yuqing had two hundred years of accumulated experience. Though Pei Zichen was young, he fought daily in the space opened by Yuan Luogong. His combat time far exceeded his age.

The two went back and forth, fighting to a stalemate.

But Shen Yuqing was older after all. Finding an opportunity, he entangled the short sword and pressed down hard, pinning Pei Zichen firmly on the table, saying coldly, “You’re too young. Give yourself another two hundred years, and you might be able to compete with me. For now, don’t seek death.”

Just as he finished speaking, Pei Zichen pressed down on Shen Yuqing’s short sword with one hand. Shen Yuqing unhesitatingly thrust forward. But Pei Zichen disregarded everything, using one hand to press down on Shen Yuqing’s sword-wielding hand, using his body to collide with his sword to restrain it. His other hand gripped his sword and pressed it against Shen Yuqing’s throat, violently slamming him into the wall!

The dagger instantly cut halfway through Shen Yuqing’s throat. Shen Yuqing’s sword also pierced into Pei Zichen’s sword-supporting arm.

But these external injuries were inflicted without spiritual power and would heal in moments for them.

The two stared at each other intently. Pei Zichen said hoarsely, “If you were good to her, no one could take her away. You know yourself how Master’s Wife treats you! But if today’s events happen again, Master,” Pei Zichen panted lightly, “I may be young, but I can die together with Master.”

Shen Yuqing said nothing more. He quietly looked at this youth, clearly knowing this was unlike any opponent he had faced before.

He couldn’t even determine whether the feelings before him were love or something else.

Seeing Shen Yuqing calm down, Pei Zichen covered his wound and stepped back.

Both were covered in wounds. Pei Zichen leaned against the table behind him and said softly, “Master, please leave. Don’t let Master’s Wife worry.”

Hearing this, Shen Yuqing raised his hand to press on his throat wound, lowered his eyes, and said in a low voice, “Tonight was my loss of composure, but remember my words well. You are a disciple I value. If nothing unexpected happens, Lingjian Immortal Pavilion will be yours in the future. Do not make mistakes or disappoint your master’s and your master’s wife’s expectations.”

“This disciple understands and will harbor no resentment.” Pei Zichen knew what Shen Yuqing meant and said flatly, “You didn’t pursue this disciple’s responsibility for taking Master’s Wife away. This disciple is already very grateful.”

“I am not one who cannot distinguish right from wrong. Her intentions—I will not blame you for them.”

“Then why did Master come tonight?”

Pei Zichen looked up wearily. Shen Yuqing didn’t speak.

In the silence, after a long while, Shen Yuqing said in a low voice, “If not for you, I wouldn’t have been late.”

Pei Zichen didn’t quite understand. He looked up in confusion. Shen Yuqing realized what he had said, closed his eyes without speaking. After calming himself for a moment, he stood up, seeming to return to his appearance at Lingjian Immortal Pavilion—lofty as a deity—and said flatly, “Rest.”

Shen Yuqing opened the barrier and quietly departed.

After he left, Pei Zichen immediately sensed someone in the grass.

Jiuyou Realm cultivation methods had keener perception than True Immortal Realm. Pei Zichen’s heart tensed. The moment he turned his eyes and saw the exposed dress hem, he paused again.

After hesitating for a moment, Pei Zichen still walked forward.

Jiang Zhaoxue hid in the grass. Seeing Pei Zichen approaching, she cursed inwardly.

She knew Pei Zichen was harder to fool than Shen Yuqing. Seeing her nervousness, A’Nan couldn’t help but say, “Just stand up.”

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t speak. She didn’t want to stand up at this moment. She felt it would be too embarrassing to be discovered crouching like this.

But as Pei Zichen drew closer, she had even less courage to stand up. Watching Pei Zichen walk right up to her, with a “poof,” she vanished from the spot.

Shocked, Pei Zichen immediately stepped forward. Parting the grass, he saw a small white tiger lying in the undergrowth. Seeing him approach, the white tiger glanced at him sideways, as if not recognizing him at all, lying in the grass while looking up at the moon.

A’Nan fell silent for a moment, then couldn’t help but say, “Why bother…”

“What if he doesn’t recognize me?”

Jiang Zhaoxue deceived herself, though she felt it unlikely. After all, a blue-eyed white tiger like her was quite rare.

She pondered how to make a dignified exit, then suddenly felt Pei Zichen scoop her up with both hands.

Greatly alarmed, Jiang Zhaoxue found herself lifted before him, meeting his eyes directly.

Jiang Zhaoxue nervously watched him. Pei Zichen studied her expression. After a moment, he actually lowered his head and kissed her forehead, saying gently, “I’ll be fine. I won’t put you in a difficult position.”

Jiang Zhaoxue’s heart shook violently. Then with one kick, she struck his chest hard, using the momentum to leap away and run off with several bounds.

Running all the way back to her room, she finally transformed into human form, rubbing her forehead while scolding “outrageous,” while walking inside.

Seeing this, A’Nan couldn’t help but say, “Stop scolding. Isn’t his outrageousness your indulgence? Would you have gotten that kiss if you hadn’t gone? Weren’t you worried about him?”

“I wasn’t just worried about him. I was also worried about Shen Yuqing!”

Jiang Zhaoxue refused to accept this, rubbing her head as she walked into the bathroom, saying angrily, “I’m going to wash myself clean!”

“You have many places to wash then.”

A’Nan crouched on the table and spoke. Jiang Zhaoxue grabbed a cloth and threw it over.

A’Nan nimbly flew up and dodged skillfully. Jiang Zhaoxue undressed while muttering curses under her breath, “Every single day, not one of them gives me peace.”

“This is a problem with your team composition,” A’Nan jumped to the edge of the bath and analyzed with her, “Shen Yuqing and Pei Zichen—if you traveled alone with either one, it would be like adding wings to a tiger. But putting the two together is like multiplying negatives—they cancel each other out. My master, one person can’t eat at two tables.”

“You think I want to?”

Jiang Zhaoxue glared at it. A’Nan also knew the current situation—one was locked by the Shared Heart Contract, the other hung by the Spirit Locking Formation. The three of them were strung together, stickier than candied hawthorn.

“So what do we do now?”

A’Nan said helplessly, “Shen Yuqing has probably already sensed there’s something between you and Pei Zichen. Pei Zichen also knows you remember the illusion realm. Tomorrow… can everyone still travel together?”

“Well…” Jiang Zhaoxue struggled, “Maybe they don’t all know? Shen Yuqing is just guessing. There’s not a single stroke of the character written yet. He’s in the wrong, so he doesn’t dare say anything. As for Pei Zichen… I didn’t admit anything. What if Pei Zichen is just testing me? After testing and testing, he finally discovers I really don’t remember, and he’ll give up, won’t he?”

“Hehe.”

A’Nan stood by the water’s edge and laughed mockingly, “Then what were you two doing today?”

“Treating injuries.”

Jiang Zhaoxue said righteously, “Apart from sucking out the poisoned blood and using spiritual power to suppress the fire poison for me, what else did he do?”

A’Nan was momentarily speechless. Apart from kissing that wound somewhat ambiguously and letting his spiritual power run wild for a bit, Pei Zichen truly was “well-behaved.”

“At most he just used spiritual power for ‘spiritual intercourse,’ transmitting his emotions a bit,” Seeing A’Nan’s contemptuous gaze, Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t deny it too excessively and admitted some truth, then continued, “But he’s young and doesn’t know what he’s doing. As his master’s wife, isn’t it normal that I didn’t point it out? What evidence is there to prove I remember I had something with him?”

Indeed there wasn’t.

A’Nan thought about it and realized there truly was no hard evidence.

Seeing this, Jiang Zhaoxue felt increasingly confident: “Moreover, if we really calculate it, everyone knows why I said and did those things in the illusion realm. He deceived me first. Using what happened in the illusion realm to settle accounts—isn’t that going too far? If he dares come at me again,” Jiang Zhaoxue’s tone carried severity, “don’t blame me for being ruthless and letting him experience an elder’s methods!”

“Amazing!” A’Nan applauded with her wings. “You’re truly amazing!”

Hearing A’Nan’s sarcasm, Jiang Zhaoxue sighed and her expression dulled: “If I’m not amazing, what can I do? Setting aside that he’s so young, I also have no feelings for him. Even if I did, once we get the Divine Severing Sword and I take all his cultivation to nourish the Tianji Lingyu, he’ll hate me then. Why bother?”

“You…” A’Nan looked at her, “Have you considered being frank with Pei Zichen?”

“Frank about what?”

Jiang Zhaoxue glanced at her, asking though she knew the answer.

A’Nan analyzed seriously with her: “Actually, if you tell him about your difficulties, he may not be unwilling to give you all his cultivation. Look at him now—he’d practically give you his life…”

“That’s because he thinks I’m saving him.”

Jiang Zhaoxue interrupted A’Nan, reminding her, “You think he’s so deeply devoted to me? His feelings of attachment arose from being saved by me in desperate straits, which then grew into admiration. If he knew that from the very beginning I was deceiving him, would he still have these feelings for me? If he doesn’t, and he’s unwilling, what then?”

A’Nan was stumped by her question.

Jiang Zhaoxue soaked in the pool, saying calmly, “Once he’s unwilling, with his brain and fortune, discovering the Spirit Locking Formation’s existence and breaking it—he’s completely capable of doing that. What would you have me do then? Don’t think that just because he seems good now, he can give up everything. When Qian Sisi was deceived, she certainly thought Song Wuya could give her his life. What was the result? For the sake of cultivation, cultivators turn against spouses and become enemies with their own children. I’ve seen plenty in these two hundred years. You want me to gamble on Pei Zichen’s conscience?”

Thinking about it, Jiang Zhaoxue said with certainty, “I won’t gamble. I’d rather he hate me than gamble on whether he loves me.”

With that, Jiang Zhaoxue poured a ladle of water over her head and said flatly, “Right now, the most urgent matter is getting the Divine Severing Sword. Once I get the Divine Severing Sword and obtain the Tianji Lingyu, and break the Shared Heart Contract with Shen Yuqing…” Jiang Zhaoxue looked down at the red marks on her hand, now reduced to only two: “I’ll be clear with both of them.”

“True enough.” A’Nan sighed, “You’re so ruthless, you’re bound to separate sooner or later. Sigh, speaking of which,” A’Nan suddenly remembered, “Shen Yuqing caught that child—what was that about? Is this how they learned the clues in the book?”

“Whether that’s how they learned the clues in the book, I’m not clear. But I know one thing.”

As she spoke, Jiang Zhaoxue looked up into the distance. In the distance, Xuecang Mountain’s snow never melted. She seemed able to see Song Wulan sitting on a throne in a cave full of magma, supporting her forehead and lightly tapping the armrest.

Her expression cooled somewhat as she said calmly, “Song Wulan is at Xuecang Mountain.”

“How do you know?!”

A’Nan spoke in shock. Jiang Zhaoxue smiled but didn’t speak.

She thought of the thunder strike she delivered at the end today. No one noticed that in that moment, she had actually opened two formations.

The visible formation was the Thunder Punishment for Evil; the hidden formation was a tracking spell.

What she crushed were two fortune sticks.

A’Nan thought about Jiang Zhaoxue’s actions and immediately understood. But fearing being spied upon, she didn’t dare speak aloud, only saying, “He… why has he been following us? Is he a pervert?”

“Two possibilities.”

Jiang Zhaoxue smiled, “Either he loves me too much.”

“That’s impossible.” A’Nan immediately waved her wings. “Don’t overthink it.”

“Then it’s because we have something he absolutely needs.”

Thinking of Mu Jinyue kneeling on the ground trembling earlier, Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t help but smile. She rose from the pool and said leisurely, “Just watch. Right now, he’s probably weaving a net to hunt. I’ll wait for the rabbit by the tree stump. Let’s see who’s more skilled—him or me.”

“How does he plan to weave his net?” Hearing Jiang Zhaoxue’s tone, A’Nan knew she was confident and quickly pressed for details.

This question stumped Jiang Zhaoxue. She thought for a moment and only said, “Wait until tomorrow, when we interrogate that child, then we’ll know.”

Jiang Zhaoxue and A’Nan discussed as they returned to bed.

On the other side, after being kicked in the chest by Jiang Zhaoxue, Pei Zichen watched Jiang Zhaoxue escape, then turned back to his room and raised his hand, using an incantation to repair the door Shen Yuqing had smashed.

Just as the door was repaired, he heard a voice from inside the room: “Do you want to kill him?”

Pei Zichen’s movements paused as he raised his eyes.

He saw that the disfigured youth in the room had somehow awakened.

He was chained with iron shackles, sitting on the ground.

He seemed very familiar with such scenes, showing no panic whatsoever. He sat in the darkness, staring at Pei Zichen. His eyes seemed to see through people’s hearts as he used ventriloquism to speak, tempting him: “I know you like your master’s wife. Have you ever thought about it—if you killed your master, everything that’s his would become yours.”

Pei Zichen didn’t speak. He quietly studied the youth before him.

The youth seemed to think Pei Zichen was swayed by him and said in a low voice, “I can help you.”

These words finally moved Pei Zichen somewhat. He inquired curiously, “How would you help?”

“I know where you’re going,” The youth seemed intimately familiar with their movements and continued, “I’m very familiar with the route. I can tell you about the traps in advance, then cooperate with you to kill him without anyone knowing. You just need to teach me one thing.”

“What?”

“Your cultivation method.” The youth stared at him, his calm eyes unable to restrain his plea. “I saw how you kill people. Your cultivation method is different from everyone else’s. I want to learn it.”