Pei Zichen couldn’t hear Jiang Zhaoxue’s final words very clearly.

He only felt the temperature of the person on his back continuously rising, already reaching a scalding degree.

Knowing something was seriously wrong, he quickly carried Jiang Zhaoxue down the mountain. By the time they reached the foot of the mountain, Jiang Zhaoxue had already lost consciousness.

It was very difficult to find a physician who could treat cultivators in a mortal city. Pei Zichen didn’t hold much hope for this. Jiang Zhaoxue was clearly very familiar with her poison and should be carrying appropriate medicine with her.

He directly carried her to find an inn, opened a superior room. The attendant woke up in the middle of the night to open the door. Seeing them, a lone man and woman, he couldn’t help but show an ambiguous smile. Glancing at Jiang Zhaoxue on Pei Zichen’s back, he teased: “Daoist Master, such good fortune…”

Before he finished speaking, Pei Zichen’s sharp sword was already drawn, pressing against the attendant’s neck as he calmly said: “The young lady’s reputation is important. Watch your words.”

The attendant was startled, instantly sobering up. He hurriedly said: “This humble one spoke wrongly. Daoist Master, please.”

Pei Zichen didn’t make things difficult for him. Following the attendant quickly upstairs, he put Jiang Zhaoxue down.

Jiang Zhaoxue’s entire body was already soaked with sweat, yet only her face veil remained unstained by dust and water. Even the blood that had fallen on the veil earlier had disappeared, restored to its original white gauze appearance, lying softly over her features.

This veil was clearly some kind of disguise treasure. Perhaps even her body shape and exposed eyes were all illusions.

Thinking of this, Pei Zichen subconsciously looked toward her face, but the moment his gaze touched the woman’s lightly trembling eyelashes, he suddenly awoke and quickly regained his composure.

He took a handkerchief, suppressing his somewhat chaotic state of mind, placing it in his palm. Through the handkerchief, he retrieved the qiankun pouch from Jiang Zhaoxue’s sleeve.

After obtaining the qiankun pouch, Pei Zichen realized that qiankun pouches required spiritual power to open, and his spiritual power had been sealed by Jiang Zhaoxue, making it impossible to use.

He thought for a moment, then hurried to wake Jiang Zhaoxue: “Miss? Miss, please wake up. Could you first release this one’s restriction…”

“A’Yuan…”

Jiang Zhaoxue called out incoherently. She felt like she had been burned by fire until only withered bones remained. Vaguely hearing someone calling her, that voice’s source seemed like a block of ice. She couldn’t help reaching out, habitually trying to grasp the other person. Unable to care about right or wrong, she only begged: “A’Yuan… give me spiritual power… give me…”

Pei Zichen was grabbed by Jiang Zhaoxue’s sleeve, finding himself in a dilemma. The person before him clearly had no hope of awakening, but from her words, he could deduce that in the past when treating this condition, she perhaps used other people’s spiritual power.

Although he wasn’t skilled in medical arts, he still had some basic knowledge of various injuries and poisons. The injury before him was extremely similar to toxins left by certain fire-attribute spirit beasts, often suppressed with spiritual power of a countering attribute. He had seen one such patient…

That Master’s Wife living at Cloud Floating Mountain.

Although that lady rarely went out and these disciples almost never saw her, because Shen Yuqing went to Cloud Floating Mountain once every month, they roughly knew the reason. However, these disciples were too young to know exactly why this Master’s Wife had been poisoned.

He had heard that because his master had water spiritual roots, using his spiritual power to suppress toxins from these fire spirit beasts had a restraining effect.

And he possessed ice-attribute heavenly spiritual roots. His spiritual power, like water spiritual roots, was the natural enemy of such toxins. Compared to water spiritual roots, it even had pain-relieving effects.

However, the person before him couldn’t wake up to release the meridian seal for him. Now he could only rely on himself to break the talisman.

The talisman this young lady used on him was a high-grade Spirit-Locking Talisman that would disperse and enter four key acupoints in the meridians to set up locks. If he used the caster’s fresh blood as a catalyst to forcibly break through, it wasn’t impossible, but it would definitely cause meridian damage. Ordinary cultivators would never gamble with their own future.

However, after hesitating for a moment and looking back at Jiang Zhaoxue, Pei Zichen still said: “Pardon the offense.”

Then he lifted Jiang Zhaoxue’s wrist, used his sword to lightly cut a wound, then lowered his head to place his mouth over the wound.

This bit of pain couldn’t register with Jiang Zhaoxue—she had no reaction. But Pei Zichen felt this blood was exceptionally scalding. After hastily taking a mouthful of blood, he fled-like retreated, quickly moving to the window at the farthest point. Feigning composure, he sat down cross-legged and began to meditate.

Jiang Zhaoxue’s blood was swallowed down by him. Her blood contained her spiritual power, which automatically sought toward the talismans she had set.

Pei Zichen forced himself not to let his thoughts wander, guiding his own spiritual power to follow Jiang Zhaoxue’s spiritual power all the way, then gathered not far from the lock. With Jiang Zhaoxue’s spiritual power acting as cover in front, Jiang Zhaoxue’s talisman didn’t detect the spiritual power gathering. By the time it surged turbulently to the forefront, the talisman was too late to take effect and was instantly broken through by Pei Zichen’s spiritual power.

The talisman was linked to the meridians. Forcibly exploding it like this instantly created cracks in the meridians.

Pei Zichen’s brow furrowed slightly from the pain, but he paid it no mind, quickly rushing toward the second lock’s location.

In less than a quarter hour, Pei Zichen completely broke through the talismans and coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Forcibly breaking the restriction like this caused extreme damage. His entire body’s meridians were in pain.

However, he only gasped for a moment before immediately getting up, supporting himself on the table and chairs, staggering to the bedside.

When spiritual power flowed through damaged meridians, it brought needle-like pain. Pei Zichen endured the pain and opened the qiankun pouch. The qiankun pouch contained many magical treasures and talismans, clearly indicating the woman’s extraordinary status, but he didn’t speculate much. He only found where the medicines were stored, took out the antidote pills he recognized, and quickly extracted them to feed to Jiang Zhaoxue.

After the pill was fed to her, Jiang Zhaoxue was still in extreme pain, her complexion becoming increasingly pale, her breathing exceptionally weak.

Pei Zichen hesitated for a moment. Seeing the situation worsening, he finally gathered his courage and said again: “Pardon the offense.”

Speaking thus, he placed a white cloth on Jiang Zhaoxue’s wrist, rested his fingers on her wrist through the cloth, and tentatively sent a strand of spiritual power through.

This spiritual power entering Jiang Zhaoxue’s body, the coolness instantly soothed the scorching heat throughout Jiang Zhaoxue’s body. She trembled all over, murmuring: “A’Yuan…”

Pei Zichen observed her condition. Seeing her expression improve, he knew he hadn’t guessed wrong and boldly sent more spiritual power in.

Through the white cloth, the effect of spiritual power transmission was somewhat worse, but he would rather suffer more himself and send more through than commit impropriety.

The fire poison on Jiang Zhaoxue’s body had clearly accumulated over many years. Spiritual power pouring in was like water drops into a basin. Pei Zichen used spiritual power to carefully flow through every inch of her meridians. Jiang Zhaoxue also gradually calmed down under the gentle comfort.

She vaguely thought it was Shen Yuqing who had come.

But she also felt it didn’t seem like Shen Yuqing.

Shen Yuqing had never been this gentle. Every time he came to see her, he was always very busy, so each time he would hastily transmit some spiritual power to her, then have her digest it herself.

But after all, it wasn’t her own spiritual power. When she guided it to merge with her meridians, some unexpected conflicts would always occur, causing her great pain.

But this time, the spiritual power was extremely cold yet extraordinarily gentle. It flowed like a stream through her meridians, making her almost want to fall into slumber.

In a daze, she opened her eyes and saw the person sitting by the bed.

This person seemed afraid of impropriety and had lowered a thin gauze curtain. Only a properly seated young man’s silhouette was reflected by moonlight on the curtain.

Slender jade-like fingers reached through the gauze curtain to rest on her wrist. Though separated by white cloth, she could still feel the reassuringly cool temperature of his fingertips.

She quietly watched the silhouette on the gauze curtain, feeling the gentle and continuous infusion of spiritual power, calling out in a trance: “Pei Zichen?”

“Miss, I am here.”

The youth’s consistently gentle voice sounded outside the curtain. Jiang Zhaoxue wanted to make herself more alert. She clearly knew Pei Zichen had broken through the restriction and was very dangerous, but she couldn’t do anything about it.

She struggled, her fingers slightly curling as she said with difficulty: “You… go back… they… won’t let you go…”

“I know.”

The other party answered without any hesitation.

Jiang Zhaoxue felt somewhat reassured and continued pursuing her command: “You… come with me…”

Pei Zichen pondered for a moment and said gently: “I will guard Miss’s safety.”

She actually couldn’t distinguish what he was saying. She only knew that he said he would guard her safety.

When would her safety come?

When the Soul Bond Contract was completely released, when she could truly control her own destiny, when he could no longer cause chaos, when Shen Yuqing’s decisions would no longer be forcibly borne by her.

She subconsciously felt he had agreed to her, and her heart sank down heavily.

Pei Zichen sensed her breathing stabilize and slowed the inflow of spiritual power, but always maintained a steady transmission of spiritual power to make her more comfortable.

The sky gradually brightened, transitioning from deep blue to lighter shades. Pei Zichen exhausted his last bit of spiritual power and finally tremblingly withdrew his hand.

He sensed a familiar aura in the distance rapidly approaching. He supported himself to stand, walked to the desk, cut open his wrist, and left a cup of spiritual blood in a teacup.

After thinking for a moment, he finally picked up the brush and left a letter.

When the letter was written, he heard urgent footsteps from below, accompanied by A’Nan’s calls: “Master! Master, where are you?!”

Pei Zichen looked up, knowing the woman before him was now safe.

He breathed a sigh of relief, put down the bamboo brush, suppressed the pain in his meridians, and forced himself to stand. Taking a conical hat from the qiankun pouch, he prepared to leave.

Before leaving, he subconsciously turned back and saw the morning sunlight penetrating through the thin gauze bed curtain, outlining the silhouette of the woman on the bed.

He suddenly very much wanted to see this young lady’s face, or perhaps learn her name.

In this vast sea of humanity, perhaps they could… meet again?

But upon thinking, he felt it absurd. Human connections each have their beginning and end. One must not be impolite, should not force things.

He lowered his eyes, raised his hand to put on the conical hat, opened the door, and turned to leave.

Just as he reached the corner, he saw a young girl rushing up urgently.

This girl could clearly sense Jiang Zhaoxue’s location and was frantically rushing upward. Pei Zichen slightly lowered his head and brushed past her, listening to her urgently calling out room by room: “Master? Master? Master!!”

A’Nan exclaimed excitedly: “I finally found you!”

Hearing this call, Pei Zichen finally set his mind at ease. He let out a soft breath, endured the pain in his meridians, and turned to go outside.

Having settled this young lady, he should return as well.

He quickly walked out of the inn and returned along the mountain path.

He knew this woman must have an old grudge with Shen Yuqing and didn’t want to reveal her whereabouts, so he erased all traces of descending the mountain. When he returned to the mountain, he came to where the barrier had initially been damaged before sending a message to Mu Jinyue.

Although Shen Yuqing was their nominal master, in truth, these disciples were almost all taken in by the sect on his behalf. Shen Yuqing neither taught nor contacted them. Except for Mu Jinyue, not a single person had Shen Yuqing’s transmission method.

This time, he could only confirm that Mu Jinyue had arrived and was with their master. Contacting Mu Jinyue would most likely also allow contact with their master and Lingjian Immortal Pavilion.

After transmitting to Mu Jinyue, he sat cross-legged on the spot, meditating and waiting for others to come.

After waiting only a short while, he heard disturbances in the forest. Pei Zichen opened his eyes. In the distance, a group of people came majestically riding swords.

The leading youth wore a jade crown and snow-white robes with a stern expression. Pei Zichen recognized Shen Yuqing’s arrival at a glance. He immediately stood and knelt on the ground. After everyone landed and withdrew their swords, he followed proper etiquette and respectfully said: “Greetings, Master.”

Shen Yuqing had few words. Seeing this, Mu Jinyue’s face paled as she wanted to run over urgently: “Senior Brother!”

“Junior Sister!”

Gaowen grabbed Mu Jinyue, making exaggerated expressions as he lowered his voice to remind her: “He’s a traitor who colluded with demonic cultivators. Don’t go over.”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen frowned slightly. He looked up at everyone and saw that the disciples who had previously escaped were all there, their eyes suppressing fear as they looked at him.

Pei Zichen thought silently without speaking. Then he saw Shen Yuqing staring at him. After observing for a long time, Shen Yuqing only asked: “Do you have anything to ask?”

“Master,” Pei Zichen immediately looked up upon hearing this, “do you know if Jinglan has returned?”

Hearing this name, Gaowen and the others visibly tensed up. Pei Zichen’s heart sank, then he heard Shen Yuqing answer: “No. We’re searching.”

Saying this, he seemed to have made some judgment. He raised his hand and waved: “Send him back to the spirit boat.”

“Master!” Hearing this, Gaowen hurriedly said, “Aren’t you going to ask him…”

“I already asked.”

Shen Yuqing seemed to have already anticipated what Gaowen wanted to say. He turned his gaze over and coldly interrupted him.

Gaowen’s movements froze. The other disciples present who had escaped together with Gaowen subconsciously lowered their heads.

Shen Yuqing swept his gaze over them, looked up at the barrier, and stepped forward.

The other disciples who had rushed to the scene from Lingjian Immortal Pavilion with Shen Yuqing stepped forward as instructed, helping Pei Zichen up and walking toward the flying boat in the forest.

The instant the two passed by each other, a slightly familiar fragrance entered Shen Yuqing’s nostrils. Pei Zichen was completely unaware. Shen Yuqing’s pupils contracted sharply. He suddenly turned back and coldly said: “Stop.”

Pei Zichen heard something wrong in Shen Yuqing’s tone. He stopped in his tracks and looked back in confusion: “Master?”

“Who have you met?”

Shen Yuqing inquired, carrying a rare emotionally charged severity.

Pei Zichen was stunned. His fingertips beneath his sleeves unconsciously curled slightly.

Throughout his life, he had conducted himself properly, never telling lies. Only this once—

“This disciple has been in Wuyue Forest the entire time,” Pei Zichen’s heart beat somewhat fast, yet he still feigned composure and said, “Apart from demonic cultivators, demons, and demonic beasts, I have not met anyone else.”

Shen Yuqing didn’t speak. He stared at Pei Zichen.

After a long time, he turned forward, not leaving half a shred of courtesy, directly ordering: “Lock the shoulder blades, seal the meridians, detain immediately, and send him to the Punishment审Hall for Xiao’an to personally interrogate!”