“What is this?”

Seeing the lamp, Mu Jinyue asked in confusion.

Jiang Zhaoxue looked at the lamp, her gaze softening. “This is a gift my father gave me the year I married, called the Yin-Yang Manifestation Instrument Lamp.”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen raised his eyes and saw Shen Yuqing quietly gazing at that lamp.

That lamp seemed to be a beautiful old memory belonging to the two of them. Though it wasn’t lit, it invisibly placed them under the same lamplight, separating them from everyone else.

Jiang Zhaoxue looked at the lamp and continued explaining. “Any formation drawn upon this lamp’s cover, once activated by this lamp, can have its power expanded tenfold, a hundredfold, or more. If I draw the Dragon-Seeking Formation on this lamp and wager my fortune with heaven, borrowing the power of heaven and earth to surpass the formation beneath our feet, it shouldn’t be difficult.”

“That’s wonderful!” Hearing this, Pei Shulan said happily. “Then after we eat, you can use this lamp, and we’ll be able to get out, right?”

“Let’s not rush.”

Jiang Zhaoxue put away the Yin-Yang Manifestation Instrument Lamp, smiling. “Everyone is tired. Let’s rest for the night first and make a decision tomorrow.”

“Let’s eat first.”

Ming ladled out the porridge and handed it to Jiang Zhaoxue.

Jiang Zhaoxue glanced at the porridge, then passed it to the side.

The porridge was passed along until it reached everyone’s hands. After everyone drank their porridge, Jiang Zhaoxue stood up, stretched, and said, “I’m going to sleep first. Are the side chambers cleaned?”

“Three side chambers.” Ming drank a sip of porridge. The moment he spoke, everyone froze. Ming raised his eyes to look at Pei Zichen across from him and said indifferently, “How do we divide them?”

“I’ll sleep in the great hall with you.”

Pei Zichen sensed something and spoke, restraining his agitation.

Shen Yuqing tossed dead wood into the fire, calmly taking over the conversation. “Perfect. Madam Pei is a guest—one room for her, one for Jinyue.”

Pei Zichen paused. Just as he was about to say something more, Pei Shulan beside him laughed. “No need to trouble yourselves.”

She seemed completely oblivious to the undercurrents and quickly said, “Miss Mu and I are used to sleeping together. Immortal Shen and Immortal Jiang can take one room in the main chamber, Miss Mu and I will take the south room, and Young Daoist Pei and Young Master Ming can take the north room. Isn’t that settled?”

“I have no objections.” Ming spoke.

Mu Jinyue also responded, “This disciple is quite used to sleeping with Madam Pei.”

Everyone agreed, leaving only Jiang Zhaoxue and Pei Zichen without a response.

Shen Yuqing looked at Jiang Zhaoxue. Jiang Zhaoxue glanced at Pei Zichen sitting by the fire, watching him grip the stick for stirring the fire, his fingertips pressed white. She hesitated for a moment, then said, “All right, I’ll go sleep first. Shen Yuqing, reinforce the barrier once more. Jinyue—” Jiang Zhaoxue glanced at Mu Jinyue—”come help me tidy up the room in a bit.”

Mu Jinyue was startled by the instruction, then responded affirmatively.

Jiang Zhaoxue stood and went inside. Seeing Jiang Zhaoxue leave, everyone rose and dispersed.

Jiang Zhaoxue went to the main chamber. Mu Jinyue followed in. After she used a cleaning technique to tidy up briefly, she heard Pei Zichen standing at the door, respectfully saying, “Master’s wife, do you need water prepared for tonight?”

“Prepare the water.”

Jiang Zhaoxue sat in a chair, speaking casually.

There was no well here. Preparing water at night required a disciple with water-element spirit roots. Receiving her words, Pei Zichen entered. Mu Jinyue glanced at him, then bowed. “Master’s wife, this disciple will withdraw first.”

Jiang Zhaoxue glanced at her and saw that after bowing, Mu Jinyue didn’t wait for her to speak before running out.

Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t help but want to laugh, silently cursing, “Runs so fast.”

With Mu Jinyue gone, the remaining tasks fell to Pei Zichen.

Pei Zichen first cleaned the washroom, then took out cushions to make the bed.

He emerged from the washroom too quickly. Jiang Zhaoxue found it strange. She couldn’t help going to the washroom, asking curiously, “You prepared the water so quickly…”

She didn’t finish speaking before freezing. She saw there wasn’t a single drop of water in the bathing tub—it hadn’t even been cleaned.

Jiang Zhaoxue turned to look at him and saw Pei Zichen making her bed. After finishing, he quite openly placed the Yuan Luogong on the inner side of the bed, then raised his eyes to look at Jiang Zhaoxue.

Watching this, Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t help but find it amusing. “Why are you putting the bow on the bed?”

“To leave it for Master’s wife for self-defense.”

Pei Zichen spoke calmly. Jiang Zhaoxue understood his thoughts. She leaned against the screen, gently waving her small fan with a half-smile. “I’m sharing a room with my husband. Why would I need self-defense?”

These words made Pei Zichen raise his eyes. He looked at the woman standing before the screen, behind the gauze curtain. Watching her fan lightly brush away dust, he couldn’t help but walk forward.

Shadows fell upon them both. The gauze curtain descended with his footsteps, leaving only his silhouette within the inner curtain, blocking Jiang Zhaoxue’s path.

“Master’s wife,” Pei Zichen lowered his voice, unable to restrain himself. “If Master ascends this bed tonight, he and I will have an irreconcilable blood feud.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue’s fan-waving slowed. She slowly raised her eyes, looking at the person separated from her by only a paper-thin distance, laughing softly. “What do you mean by that?”

“Master’s wife saved me—a debt of gratitude as heavy as a mountain.” Pei Zichen saw the coldness in Jiang Zhaoxue’s eyes and realized he had misspoken, but he still refused to yield. He only searched for an excuse. “Master has repeatedly treated you poorly. I cannot watch Master’s wife throw herself into the fire like a moth.”

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t speak. She knew clearly that at this moment she should speak up, leave no room for compromise, and not give Pei Zichen half a shred of hope.

But looking at his eyes pressed with pleading, she thought for a moment and still turned her head away. Silently warning herself it was to prevent him from causing trouble, she said impatiently, “I have important business.”

“What business?”

“I need him to help open the Yin-Yang Manifestation Instrument Lamp.”

“How do you open it?”

“This lamp requires the combined spiritual power of yin and yang…”

“Can’t I do it?”

As these words emerged, Jiang Zhaoxue’s fan stopped. She calmly raised her eyes. Pei Zichen’s heart jumped.

He suddenly felt afraid—afraid that Jiang Zhaoxue would say something heartless.

As these words emerged, both fell silent.

Jiang Zhaoxue had her back to him. After a long while, she slowly said, “How could a disciple like you do such a thing?”

These words pierced Pei Zichen. He knew clearly in his heart that Jiang Zhaoxue was right.

If he and Jiang Zhaoxue truly opened this lamp, how would they explain it to everyone?

No matter what he had done in the illusion realm, no matter how much he had done in the dream realm, no matter whether he had that marriage fate thread or not—what was false was false.

Shen Yuqing was her husband. He was her disciple.

Even if he were a stranger, he would be closer to her than he was now.

He remained motionless and silent. Footsteps sounded from outside.

Jiang Zhaoxue knew it was Shen Yuqing returning. She immediately turned cold, lowering her voice. “Leave.”

Pei Zichen pressed his lips together unwillingly. Jiang Zhaoxue stared intently at him. Pei Zichen looked at her eyes filled with tension and anger, feeling his heart about to burst at this moment.

What was he?

He wanted to ask—what exactly was he?

Yet he also knew he had no right to ask. Ask whom? How to ask?

It was his own forceful demand, his own refusal to let go. What right did he have to ask?

He struggled silently, only watching Jiang Zhaoxue’s increasingly warning gaze. Just before Shen Yuqing appeared at the door, he finally closed his eyes and, taking the Yuan Luogong, dispersed like wind.

Jiang Zhaoxue’s heart loosened, hearing Shen Yuqing arrive at the door.

The moment he entered, his footsteps paused. He looked up alertly, detecting only Mu Jinyue’s aura.

He always felt something was wrong, yet couldn’t be certain. He could only watch Jiang Zhaoxue emerge from behind the gauze curtain with forced composure, asking coldly, “Who was here just now?”

“Your precious disciple.”

Jiang Zhaoxue spoke sarcastically, casually sitting down in a chair.

Shen Yuqing paused.

He didn’t wish to argue with her. Raising his hand with a wave, he closed the door.

Only the two of them remained in the room. Shen Yuqing sat in a chair. He seemed to be enduring something. Jiang Zhaoxue raised her eyes to look at him and said directly, “What do you want to ask?”

“Nothing.”

Shen Yuqing made every effort to restrain his emotions, only saying, “Are you truly going to use the Yin-Yang Manifestation Instrument Lamp?”

“That’s right.”

“This lamp consumes enormous spiritual power.” Shen Yuqing tried to dissuade her. “It’s just a maze formation. Look at it for a few more days, find the formation’s eye, and we can leave. Why waste spiritual power like this?”

“Because we don’t have time.”

Jiang Zhaoxue spoke. Shen Yuqing frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I received information saying that in five days there will be a change, and we can obtain the God-Slaying Sword.”

“Who told you this information? That demonic cultivator?” Shen Yuqing immediately pursued the question.

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t answer, only saying, “Who told me isn’t important. What’s important is—why five days from now?”

This question stumped Shen Yuqing. Jiang Zhaoxue contemplated. “Setting it for five days from now means something must be changing. I can’t determine what’s changing, so—”

“You want to move first.”

“Exactly.”

Jiang Zhaoxue inclined her head. “Only by acting unexpectedly can we catch them unprepared.”

“But activating the Yin-Yang Manifestation Instrument Lamp requires consuming enormous spiritual power.” Shen Yuqing still felt it was improper, frowning. “If you and I exhaust our spiritual power for this lamp, perhaps that would be the real trap…”

“That’s why I don’t truly intend to open the Yin-Yang Manifestation Instrument Lamp.”

Jiang Zhaoxue spoke nonchalantly. Shen Yuqing was startled and watched as Jiang Zhaoxue adjusted the lamp wick, saying carelessly, “I only want to lure the snake from its hole.”

Shen Yuqing was stunned, somewhat unable to process this.

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t explain further. She only stood up, stepped before him, bent down slightly, staring into his eyes. “Do you trust me?”

Shen Yuqing looked at the person before him, remaining silent.

Jiang Zhaoxue smiled, shook her sleeves, and proactively reached out. Through her garment, she grasped Shen Yuqing’s wrist, smiling. “If you trust me, no need to ask more. Just follow me.”

As she spoke, she pulled him to stand and led him to sit together on the bed, summoning the Yin-Yang Manifestation Instrument Lamp.

The lamp floated between them. Only then did Shen Yuqing regain some clarity, raising his eyes.

“Did my father tell you how to use this lamp?” Jiang Zhaoxue asked curiously.

“Your father wasn’t pleased with me back then.” Shen Yuqing’s expression dimmed somewhat as he said softly, “He never told me.”

“Then I’ll teach you.” Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t mind and began explaining in detail. “This lamp is divided into yin and yang dragons. Your spiritual energy passes through the two dragons into my body, circulates through my meridians for one full cycle, and the yin-yang mixed spiritual power enters the yin dragon. Then I pass through these two dragons to circulate through your meridians for one cycle, and the spiritual energy enters the yang dragon. This lamp can store two days’ worth of spiritual power. Tonight, we’ll store half the spiritual power first.”

“All right.”

Shen Yuqing responded. Jiang Zhaoxue sat cross-legged properly, pressing her thumb and middle finger together, turning her palms upward on her knees. Then, remembering something, she looked at Shen Yuqing. “What did you really want to ask me tonight?”

Hearing this, Shen Yuqing looked at the person opposite whose expression was clear and calm. His gaze fell on that lamp. As if finally gaining courage, he said softly, “Today, did you deliberately let that demonic cultivator go?”

Jiang Zhaoxue knew he must want to ask this, and answered frankly, “That’s right.”

“Why?”

“He saved me.”

Jiang Zhaoxue said calmly, “Over these eight years, he has saved me many times.”

Hearing “eight years,” Shen Yuqing’s heart constricted.

Though it was only eight years, he always felt it was far longer than their two hundred years.

“Shen Yuqing?” Seeing him silent, Jiang Zhaoxue asked in confusion.

“It’s nothing.”

Shen Yuqing came back to himself. His gaze fell on the lamp used to bless their marriage. He only said, “It’s all in the past. Let’s begin.”

Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t discern the meaning in his words. Seeing he had nothing more to ask, she simply closed her eyes. “All right, then you channel your spiritual power first.”

Receiving her words, Shen Yuqing collected his emotions, closed his eyes, and slowly channeled his spiritual power through the twin dragons, probing into her body.

Many years ago, he had detoxified her monthly. Even after eight years, he was incomparably familiar with her meridians.

Actually, wood-element spirit roots harmonized well with water element. He greatly enjoyed spiritual communion with her. As his spiritual power slowly probed forward, the restlessness in his heart these past days gradually smoothed over.

It was as if these eight years had passed.

Everything could pass.

He closed his eyes, feeling his spiritual power move forward from the Yin-Yang Manifestation Instrument Lamp. The moment his spiritual power entered her body, the overwhelming aura of ice-element spiritual power rushed toward him. He instantly froze.

Jiang Zhaoxue sensed his pause and asked in confusion, “What’s wrong?”

Shen Yuqing couldn’t speak. He made every effort to restrain the killing intent about to explode, tightly forming hand seals, suppressing the trembling in his hands.

After holding back for a long time, he finally spoke. “Jiang Zhaoxue.”

“Mm?”

“When we return—” He suppressed the unwillingness and slight tremor in his voice, saying with difficulty—”let’s establish the contract.”

The moment his words fell, he controlled his spiritual power and suddenly surged forward with particular dominance.

Jiang Zhaoxue had no time to think further and hastily followed his spiritual power inward.

His spiritual power was pure and magnificent, devastating like dried weeds and rotten wood, fully nourishing her meridians throughout. With a gentle and smooth exterior wrapping a surging and turbulent core, it instantly crushed the spiritual essence Pei Zichen had left in Jiang Zhaoxue’s meridians.

When Shen Yuqing’s spiritual power entered Jiang Zhaoxue’s meridians, Pei Zichen lay on his bed, quietly gazing at the bed canopy.

He clearly felt the traces he had left in Jiang Zhaoxue’s body being crushed bit by bit by Shen Yuqing, knowing it was Shen Yuqing’s spiritual power entering Jiang Zhaoxue’s meridians.

Actually, he could cut off his perception of his own spiritual power, but he stubbornly refused.

He wanted to clearly feel his spiritual essence being crushed by Shen Yuqing, like flesh and blood ground under millstones—painful and bloody—yet he wouldn’t yield half a step.

He kept thinking about what they were doing.

Were they opening the Yin-Yang Manifestation Instrument Lamp?

Were their spiritual powers merging?

There were many ways for yin-yang spiritual powers to merge. Which one had they chosen?

He couldn’t stop his mind from thinking wildly. He kept recalling things he had done—he had kissed her, embraced her. When she was moved, she would cry out. Was Shen Yuqing like this too?

In the past, he never thought about it, never dared to think. Yet at this moment, he couldn’t restrain himself at all. Everything he had done seemed to have a different face, and each action was like a knife, using doubt and suspicion to slowly torture him.

But none of this mattered. The final image would transform into what he saw today when he desperately rushed to the battlefield.

Jiang Zhaoxue stood on high ground, surrounded by swirling green light, eyes closed as she cast spells.

Shen Yuqing’s hundred thousand light swords protected her, not letting those Life-Devouring Beasts come near her by even half a step.

That was a sword formation he couldn’t deploy.

A hundred thousand light swords made the few dozen sword intentions he left for her seem so laughable, like a drop in the bucket.

And Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t notice anything unusual. They were intimate and seamless, their coordination perfect.

She could completely trust his sword formation and cast spells with her eyes closed, while Shen Yuqing would transfer his spirit swords to her at the most perfect moment without her needing to speak.

That was a harmony that required countless rehearsals—that was two hundred years.

“You should call her Master’s wife.”

“How could a disciple like you do such a thing?”

A disciple—he was just a disciple.

They had bowed to heaven and earth, had a Marriage Fate Contract, done countless intimate things—but it was all false.

Flowers in a mirror, moon in water. Castles in the air.

He had nothing. He had nothing at all.

His wedding had no relatives or friends to witness it, no blessing from the Yin-Yang Manifestation Instrument Lamp. Everything he had was stolen and seized. What did he have?

He stared blankly at the bed canopy, tightly gripping the orchid jade pendant she had given him.

He only had this.

Thinking of when she fastened the jade pendant for him, the moment she lowered her head and the pearl ornament fell into his sight—Pei Zichen clearly realized—

The jade pendant hanging at his waist was the only reality he had desperately fought and seized.

But reality was too painful. So painful that he had to close his eyes and sink all the way down.

Meanwhile, Ming sat in the great hall. He watched the rising flames, raised his hand, tossed in a pill, and said softly, “Master, you may proceed.”

The moment the pill entered the fire, smoke instantly rose and permeated the entire temple.

Jiang Zhaoxue slept in a daze. After her spiritual power circulated, she entered meditation in her sea of consciousness to rest.

In her haze, she felt a cold snake first kiss her leg, then wind its way up. The moment it touched her cheek, Jiang Zhaoxue’s eyes flew open in shock. She saw a young man supporting himself with one hand, suspended above her, watching her.

The room was dim, with only moonlight falling on the ground. He wore only an inner robe, his hair falling finely on her cheek, disrupting even her breathing.

This person was excessively handsome, with distinct features and painted brows. His entire being seemed carved from cold jade, cut from white paper. When not smiling, he resembled the vast white snow of Kunlun—a natural immortal.

The immortal raised his hand. The back of his hand moved like a snake, lightly brushing across her face, as if tempting her with his inquiry. “Did you miss me?”

She didn’t dare answer. She only felt that outside the thin gauze bed curtain, a figure vaguely sat.

She knew who that was.

Seeing her nervous expression, the young man laughed softly.

He seemed to clearly know her thoughts. Leaning forward slightly, he methodically drew out her sash, pressed both her hands above her head, his eyes carrying not a trace of amusement as he slowly said, “Why don’t you dare answer? Who are you afraid of knowing? Master?”

Hearing these words, Jiang Zhaoxue finally realized something was wrong. She instinctively wanted to struggle, but the other person pressed down her hands, skillfully covered her mouth, and following his rhythm, slowly yet dominantly ground against her.

Feeling her resistance, he couldn’t restrain himself. Pain showed in his eyes, his tone cool. “What are you afraid of? Afraid he’ll know? Afraid he’ll separate from you? But this is a dream… Mm…”

His waist sank down. Unable to restrain a nasal sound, Jiang Zhaoxue’s body suddenly tensed. Her voice was suppressed beneath the palm of the person above.

A tingling sensation rose from her spine. Jiang Zhaoxue stared intently at the other person. The other person also seemed unable to endure, closing his eyes for a long while before finally suppressing his breath. Supporting himself on one side, his rhythm was even—each stroke heavy and deep—as he said hoarsely, “He already has so much.”

“His immortal path is smooth. He has good teachers and helpful friends. You were young husband and wife. When you married, he had relatives and friends to see you off, witnessed by the immortal way. Your father gave you a wedding gift. You love and respect him. He already has two hundred years. I have nothing. I don’t even have family or friends. I have nothing. I only have you… yet everyone else can have you… except me. Look at me… Yaoyao…”

“Pei Zichen…”

Jiang Zhaoxue felt him losing control, her consciousness also becoming scattered involuntarily.

Her nails almost dug into his flesh. She felt she was about to be driven mad by him too, but she knew something was wrong. This was obviously wrong—wrong even in a dream.

“Pei Zichen.” She became somewhat afraid, calling urgently in her sea of consciousness. “Calm yourself!”

“I’m sorry…”

But Pei Zichen seemed completely unable to hear, forcing Jiang Zhaoxue’s entire body to tremble. Pei Zichen trembled with her, closing his eyes.

Even as he lost control, his face remained calm. He only tilted his head back slightly, like a crane raising its neck, breathing intensely through his nose, gripping her wrist tighter and tighter, hoarsely saying, “I won’t leave… This is your sea of consciousness… If you’re unwilling, make me leave… But if you’re willing…”

His movements didn’t stop. He slowly opened his jewel-like eyes, panting from above, looking at her with trepidation.

His eyes seemed to carry a spell that bewitched the heart, dragging her to sink down with him. He watched her for a long time, then leaned forward slightly, pressing close to her.

Jiang Zhaoxue’s breathing grew heavier, watching as an utterly unrestrained invasive aura revealed itself from his purple-black eyes. He stared into her eyes, feeling her response. After a long time, he tilted his head, seeming somewhat incredulous, calmly yet certainly saying, “You’re willing.”

In that instant, Jiang Zhaoxue’s heart felt struck heavily. Her pupils contracted sharply as she urgently tried to retreat, but he seized her in his embrace first!

Her breathing became chaotic. Pulled by him to sink into the depths, Shen Yuqing sensed her disordered breath and slowly opened his eyes.

Before him was the woman’s furrowed brows and slightly flushed face.

She was obviously dreaming. He found it difficult to judge what she was dreaming about. The only thing he knew was that the moment he opened his eyes and saw her, he seemed to have fallen into a lake saturated with desire.

He stared blankly at Jiang Zhaoxue, like a flower blooming magnificently in the night. Desire surged upward. His Adam’s apple moved slightly, and a thought abruptly flashed through his mind.

This was his wife.

Two hundred years—it had already been two hundred years. They were about to reach the end. If he continued to persist, she might truly leave.

They would snatch her away, take her away.

This was his wife.

His aura should be in her meridians. He should be the one kissing her. Why… why couldn’t he touch her?

He wanted her. He could.

Unable to restrain himself, he leaned forward. In an instant, as if forgetting everything, he closed his eyes and gently moved toward her.

In the dream, the sea of desire surged—a new dream not yet awakened.

Outside the dream, spring’s colors were enchanting—a young man’s old memories.

Wrong, wrong!

Between the surging sea of desire, Jiang Zhaoxue felt that outside the bed curtain, Shen Yuqing was gradually approaching.

She knew clearly—it was impossible. Pei Zichen couldn’t possibly do such a thing.

Shen Yuqing wouldn’t do such a thing either.

“Get out.”

Jiang Zhaoxue made every effort to maintain three parts of clarity, coldly calling out in her sea of consciousness.

Pei Zichen closed his eyes and ignored her. Jiang Zhaoxue felt Shen Yuqing drawing closer and closer. Her entire being seemed like a taut bowstring, her heart racing. At this critical moment, she shouted sternly, “Pei Shicang!”

This name was like Buddhist chanting poured into his ears. In the room, Pei Zichen’s eyes flew open instantly. At the same time, he drew his sword and swept it across the neck of the pouncing demon beast, splattering fresh blood everywhere.

On the other side, Jiang Zhaoxue simultaneously opened her eyes, directly meeting Shen Yuqing as he pressed close to her face.

Shen Yuqing froze in shock, instantly regaining clarity, his expression becoming alert.

Rustling sounds came from the surroundings, mixed with the exclamations of Pei Shulan and others and the clash of swords.

Jiang Zhaoxue listened carefully, her eyes showing delight. “They’ve come!”