As he spoke, he stepped forward to lead the way.

Moonlight slanted into the corridor from the side, spilling onto half the young man’s shoulder. He carried the lantern as he walked between light and shadow, his tall figure standing gracefully like jade, a jade sword traveling through the night.

Jiang Zhaoxue felt the sword intent carrying his spiritual power envelop her entire being, yet she clearly knew that this omnipresent aura was known only to her alone.

Just like this person’s feelings—always moving through the dark night. When losing control, they were so intense they could nearly drown someone, yet remained difficult for others to glimpse.

She stared blankly at the young man ahead, silent and wordless.

Seeing her motionless for so long, A’Nan couldn’t help saying, “Master?”

This call suddenly jolted Jiang Zhaoxue back to awareness, making her realize she had been spacing out.

She hurriedly collected her thoughts, suppressing the strange feelings that had been stirred up, and quickly followed.

Walking ahead, Pei Zichen looked back at Jiang Zhaoxue catching up, his lips carrying a hint of a smile.

Seeing this, Yuan Luogong couldn’t help saying, “Master, you can still smile? The mistress is about to go find Shen Yuqing. If you don’t make things clear, what if she meets with Shen Yuqing and they reconcile again?”

“It’s already clear.”

Pei Zichen spoke softly.

Yuan Luogong was confused. “Ah?”

Pei Zichen raised his eyes to look at the courtyard ahead, sensing the person behind him seemingly annoyed at her earlier loss of composure, and said gently, “My Lady has always been very clear about what she wants to do.”

The two walked one after the other to the guest courtyard. Just as they entered, they heard serving girls standing in two rows, with voices coming from inside.

Pei Zichen stopped in his tracks and exchanged a glance with Jiang Zhaoxue. After thinking for a moment, he stepped back, allowing Jiang Zhaoxue to go forward.

Jiang Zhaoxue composed herself before striding inside. As soon as she entered the courtyard, these serving girls, as if they had been waiting for a long time, all knelt down to pay their respects.

Jiang Zhaoxue went straight to the room where the voices came from. As she approached, she heard an elderly voice inside giving instructions, his tone unhurried and steady: “This young lady’s external injuries are no longer serious, but her body is too weak. Follow the prescription to nourish her qi and blood, and with proper rest for a few days, she’ll be fine.”

“Oh,” hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue naturally continued the conversation. Arriving at the door, she said with a smile, “Sounds like Jinyue has mostly recovered?”

At these words, most of the people in the room looked over.

Standing at the doorway, Jiang Zhaoxue surveyed the room and found there were only four people inside.

Shen Yuqing sat in the head seat of the row of chairs on the left. Mu Jinyue sat beside Shen Yuqing with a pale face. A white-haired elderly man sat next to Mu Jinyue, packing up his medical bag with a medicine boy, clearly having finished his examination.

Startled by Jiang Zhaoxue’s voice, everyone except Shen Yuqing looked up. Seeing it was Jiang Zhaoxue, Mu Jinyue was the first to react, quickly standing up to bow: “Shimu.”

“You’re injured, no need for formalities.” Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue walked forward and helped Mu Jinyue stand, asking with concern, “Are you feeling better now?”

These words made Mu Jinyue stiffen somewhat, feeling uneasy.

Her injuries were caused by Jiang Zhaoxue, and the reason Jiang Zhaoxue acted was because she had tried to assassinate Jiang Zhaoxue. From any angle, Jiang Zhaoxue should not be showing such a kind demeanor at this moment.

But with Jiang Zhaoxue smiling warmly, she could do nothing but reply quietly, “This disciple is fine.”

“Being injured in the Miyuan Illusion Array—though it’s an illusion, it can damage the divine soul, so don’t be careless.” Jiang Zhaoxue patiently instructed, patting the back of Mu Jinyue’s hand gently. “My blade struck too deep. You need to rest more.”

These words left Mu Jinyue completely bewildered, at a loss for how to respond.

The physician beside them looked around, then tactfully stood up. After bowing to Jiang Zhaoxue and Shen Yuqing, he left with the medicine boy.

Once the physician left, only the four of them remained in the room. Seeing Mu Jinyue unable to respond for so long, Jiang Zhaoxue smiled and said, “Why so silent? Still haven’t figured out how to fabricate a reason for trying to kill me?”

“Shimu!” Hearing this, Mu Jinyue immediately reacted, hastily kneeling on the ground and saying urgently, “Shimu, in the Miyuan Illusion Array, this disciple was influenced by the formation. This disciple absolutely had no intention of harming you…”

“No, no, no,” Jiang Zhaoxue found a chair beside Shen Yuqing and sat down, shaking her finger as if teaching a junior. “The Miyuan Illusion Array draws out thoughts from your heart. If the thought doesn’t exist, it can’t be drawn out. You need to think carefully about why you wanted to kill me.”

These words made Mu Jinyue’s face turn pale as she cautiously glanced at Shen Yuqing beside her.

Shen Yuqing remained seated in his place throughout, not saying a word.

Jiang Zhaoxue looked around, then while sitting in her chair, leaned slightly toward Shen Yuqing’s direction and tapped the armrest. “Pavilion Master Shen, this is your disciple. Even if I’m not your wife, I’m still the Lady of Penglai. When she attacks me, there should at least be some explanation, don’t you think?”

“When were you not my wife?”

Shen Yuqing spoke hoarsely, but with these words.

He seemed to have been silent for a long time, and speaking suddenly, his voice carried some hoarseness, sounding extremely unnatural.

Pei Zichen from the side raised his eyes. Jiang Zhaoxue’s movements paused slightly. After thinking for a moment, she laughed lightly, sat up straight, and while arranging her clothes, naturally called out to Pei Zichen, “Zichen, your junior sister’s injuries haven’t healed yet. Take your junior sister to find another room to settle in. Your master and I have matters to discuss.”

“Yes.”

Pei Zichen immediately responded. Hearing this, Mu Jinyue became anxious and quickly looked at Shen Yuqing, saying urgently, “Master, you… mmph!”

Before she could finish, her voice suddenly stopped, completely unable to make a sound.

Mu Jinyue turned back in shock to see Pei Zichen lower his eyes and make a “please” gesture, saying flatly, “Junior Sister, let’s go.”

His tone revealed no joy or anger and was very polite, yet Mu Jinyue clearly felt an invisible pressure bearing down. She pressed her lips tight, staring at Pei Zichen as she breathed rapidly.

Pei Zichen’s gaze swept over. “Junior Sister?”

“Go out.”

Shen Yuqing finally spoke. Mu Jinyue looked back at Shen Yuqing and, after thinking for a moment, knew she wouldn’t gain anything by staying here. She simply stood up, bowed, and rushed out of the room.

After she left, Pei Zichen unhurriedly bowed to Jiang Zhaoxue and Shen Yuqing, secretly glanced at Jiang Zhaoxue, who was fanning herself and nodded. Only then did Pei Zichen walk out and close the door.

As soon as the door closed, Pei Zichen’s expression immediately turned cold as he strode toward the courtyard exit.

Just as he walked out of the courtyard gate, Pei Zichen heard the sound of someone struggling with muffled “mmph” sounds nearby. Following the sound, he saw Mu Jinyue being held down on the ground by Ye Tianjiao and Qian Sisi, her expression unwilling as she struggled with all her might.

Seeing Pei Zichen approach, Ye Tianjiao hurriedly said, “She tried to run as soon as she came out, so we pinned her down!”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen looked down to see Mu Jinyue kneeling on the ground. Mu Jinyue looked up resentfully, her eyes full of urgency, seeming to want to say something.

Pei Zichen glanced at her and said calmly, “Let’s go.”

With that, Pei Zichen took the lead forward. Ye Tianjiao and Qian Sisi held Mu Jinyue down, pulled her up, and followed Pei Zichen. Ye Tianjiao gave Pei Zichen directions from behind: “Go straight ahead. Big brother is waiting for us in the main hall.”

Pei Zichen acknowledged and led Mu Jinyue outside. When they reached the main hall, Ye Wenzhi saw them and hurried forward, saying to Pei Zichen, “Young Dao Lord Pei, this way.”

Pei Zichen nodded and followed Ye Wenzhi to the garden on the other side of the main hall. Walking into the artificial mountain, Ye Wenzhi opened a mechanism and led everyone downward.

Seeing this, Mu Jinyue frowned, sensing something was wrong. She stopped struggling and instead vigilantly observed her surroundings.

Below the artificial mountain was a long staircase. Everyone descended the stairs deep into the structure and saw a large door covered in talismans. After Ye Wenzhi pushed it open, behind the door were layers upon layers of concealment formations. The spiritual power circulating through these formations was extremely strong. Pei Zichen was somewhat puzzled: “Minister Ye, what is this place?”

“This is Tianji Academy’s grand formation,” Ye Wenzhi turned to look at Pei Zichen and explained carefully. “To secure Miss Mu, the most important thing is preventing Immortal Shen from coming to take her. Immortal Shen’s cultivation is profound—only this kind of grand formation has a chance of deceiving him.”

“Minister Ye is very thorough.”

Pei Zichen nodded. Thinking of Mu Jinyue’s Jiuyou Realm techniques, he added, “However, this junior sister of mine has some unorthodox escape methods. Please allow me to set up another formation for her, just in case.”

“That would be even better.” Ye Wenzhi smiled and glanced at Mu Jinyue beside him. After understanding the implication in Pei Zichen’s words, he stepped back, yielded the doorway, and made a “please” gesture: “Then Young Dao Lord Pei, please enter and set up the formation. We’ll wait outside.”

“Thank you.”

Pei Zichen bowed, then looked at Mu Jinyue and said flatly, “Go in.”

With that, he gestured with his hand and Mu Jinyue was lifted into the air and thrown heavily into the room!

Mu Jinyue crashed heavily to the ground but immediately stood up as if nothing had happened, only to see the door close and Pei Zichen standing not far away, his sword formation fully deployed, surrounding Mu Jinyue.

Seeing no one else around, Mu Jinyue simply used her Jiuyou Realm technique to break through Pei Zichen’s silencing spell. Suppressing her breathing, she asked warily, “Senior Brother, what do you want to do?”

Pei Zichen remained silent, only channeling spiritual power into the rune in his hand. Mu Jinyue looked at the magical light in Pei Zichen’s hand and frowned. “The Mandarin Duck Rope? You want to use me against Shen Yuqing? Senior Brother, is Shimu confused and you’re confused too?! If Shimu saves people, she’ll be changing history. She’ll bear the karma herself—she might die, do you know that?!”

“I trust Shimu,” Pei Zichen’s tone was calm. “When it comes to the Way of heavenly mandate and karma, she understands it better than anyone.”

“Then what about the Divine Slaying Sword?!” Mu Jinyue watched as Pei Zichen placed the formation on the ground, spreading it beneath her feet. Her tone grew increasingly urgent. “If you help these people, you won’t obtain the Divine Slaying Sword. Without the Divine Slaying Sword, how will you return? Are you planning to stay here for twelve hundred years?!”

Pei Zichen said nothing, only closed his eyes and channeled spiritual power into Jiang Zhaoxue’s formation.

Mu Jinyue instantly saw through his thoughts and immediately said, “Do you think staying here requires no price? The Retrospection Mirror can’t support you staying in the past forever. Once the Retrospection Mirror’s power runs out, if you can’t return, you’ll be swept into the temporal void, drifting there forever, never able to come back!”

These words made Pei Zichen’s movements pause. Mu Jinyue hurried forward, looking at him through the barrier with expectation, persuading him, “Senior Brother, don’t be foolish with Shimu. The Book of Fate has already written that these mortals must die. There’s no point in saving those already dead. Go back now and put Shimu to sleep.”

Listening, Pei Zichen raised his eyes to see Mu Jinyue’s eyes tinged with purple, her tone slow and measured, as if seductively commanding him while painting a beautiful future: “Come with us, obtain the Divine Slaying Sword, and you’ll become the strongest person in the True Immortal Realm. Then, Jiang Zhaoxue will be yours…”

Before she could finish, Pei Zichen drew his sword and slashed upward, striking directly at Mu Jinyue’s hair!

Mu Jinyue recoiled in shock, flipping backward to land at a distance. She looked up at Pei Zichen raising his sword outside the barrier, her face turning cold. “Is Senior Brother truly going to disregard everything for Shimu now?”

Pei Zichen didn’t speak. He watched as Mu Jinyue pressed her hand to the ground, black energy traveling along the surface and quickly rising to form a barrier around them.

Pei Zichen looked around, seeing that Mu Jinyue was isolating this place from the outside world. His hand resting on his sword, he observed Mu Jinyue, his tone calm: “You’re so determined to obtain the Divine Slaying Sword—what exactly do you want to do?”

“What I want to do is what you want to do, Senior Brother.” Mu Jinyue stared at Pei Zichen as black energy rose behind her, transforming into a massive ghostly shadow like a crouching hyena, baring its teeth and snarling at Pei Zichen.

Demonic energy pervaded the surroundings as a long whip appeared in her hand. She said coldly, “Since Senior Brother is confused at this moment, don’t blame Jinyue for committing insubordination for the sake of our great cause!”

The moment her words fell, the black shadow charged toward Pei Zichen. Pei Zichen’s expression turned cold. The Nine Revolution Immortal Life Bell in his sleeve rang once, and one sword became many, shooting swiftly toward the black shadow!

While Pei Zichen and Mu Jinyue fought fiercely, in the guest room on the other side, it was exceptionally quiet.

As soon as Pei Zichen left, the room suddenly became empty, leaving only Jiang Zhaoxue and Shen Yuqing.

Jiang Zhaoxue shifted her gaze over to see Shen Yuqing sitting quietly in his chair.

He still wore the same clothes from when they parted—white robes stained with blood and mud. His hair crown hadn’t even been tidied, with stray hair scattered by his face as he looked down at the ground.

Jiang Zhaoxue looked him up and down. Seeing his disheveled appearance, she couldn’t help but laugh. “You haven’t even changed clothes since returning? You treasure her so much, yet you’re willing to let your little disciple leave your sight alone?”

“What do you want to discuss with me?”

Shen Yuqing ignored her sarcasm and spoke coldly.

Hearing his serious tone, Jiang Zhaoxue stopped joking. Sensing the direction Pei Zichen had gone, she started with the immediate matter, saying casually, “Let’s start with Mu Jinyue. How do you plan to deal with her?”

“After returning to Lingjian Immortal Pavilion, she’ll be dealt with according to the pavilion rules.”

Shen Yuqing spoke impartially.

Jiang Zhaoxue nodded and didn’t dwell on this topic.

She had plenty of time to ask about Mu Jinyue’s matter separately. She wouldn’t get anything from Shen Yuqing anyway. So she picked up a teacup from the side and considered what to discuss next.

She couldn’t bring up what she wanted to discuss too early. At least she had to wait for news from Pei Zichen’s side—wait until she had the assurance to confront Shen Yuqing. Then she could make things clear. If they could reach an agreement, fine. If not, they’d fight.

For now, she mainly needed to stall him.

Having clarified her approach, she calmly took a sip of tea, glanced at the bloodstains on his body, and started with pleasantries, asking with concern, “Are your injuries alright?”

At these words, pain shot through Shen Yuqing’s finger bones.

The pain from having his finger bones crushed by her in the illusion seemed to still linger on his body, but he didn’t want to show it. He turned away and said, “I’m fine.”

“Mm, that’s good then.”

Jiang Zhaoxue nodded. Sensing Pei Zichen’s location and calculating the time needed for him to set up the Mandarin Duck Lock formation, Jiang Zhaoxue continued making small talk: “Earlier in the Miyuan Illusion Realm, were you the one guiding me?”

“Yes.”

Mentioning the Miyuan Illusion Realm, Shen Yuqing seemed to be suppressing something, trying to remain as calm as possible: “After coming out, I saw the talisman you left to break the formation. Knowing you needed help, after regulating my breathing, I opened the water mirror to guide you out.”

This was about what Jiang Zhaoxue had guessed. Calculating the timing of when he opened the water mirror, he shouldn’t have seen Pei Zichen’s demonic transformation. Jiang Zhaoxue was somewhat relieved.

She nodded and, after thinking for a moment, remembering everything she experienced in the illusion, she thought about it before saying softly, “Is there anything you want to ask?”

Shen Yuqing didn’t speak immediately. Jiang Zhaoxue waited patiently for a moment before hearing him ask in a low voice, “What happened with the Miyuan Illusion Realm?”

“Oh, that.”

Hearing him ask this, Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t hide anything. She flicked her sleeve, found a comfortable position to lean against, and explained carefully: “This is an illusion formation set up by Song Wulan. The accident we had in the temporal rift was his doing. From the moment we landed, we entered this illusion formation.”

“When did you discover it?”

“If we’re talking about when things felt strange, it should have been that night at the temple.” Jiang Zhaoxue knew he had many questions and recalled carefully.

“Everyone’s emotions were off that night. This is generally caused by something interfering with the mind. You should have noticed at the time too, right?”

“Yes.” Shen Yuqing confirmed her guess.

Jiang Zhaoxue nodded and continued, “At the time, although I hadn’t figured out exactly what formation it was, I guessed Song Wulan’s purpose. He wanted the Divine Slaying Sword but didn’t have the ability to deal with all of us at once, so he set up a special place to make everyone turn against each other. Since that was clear, we only needed to do two things. First, don’t attack our own people. So I specifically instructed Pei Zichen not to attack you, and as for you, I trusted you had your own sense of propriety.”

“And the second?”

“Second,” Jiang Zhaoxue smiled, “was to wait.”

“Wait for what?”

“Wait for him to come capture Mu Jinyue.”

As Jiang Zhaoxue spoke, she stood up. The candlelight in the room was dim. She walked to a candle that had long been extinguished, took a fire starter from a bronze figure nearby, blew it alight, then lit the candle, saying slowly, “Since he wanted the Divine Slaying Sword, he would definitely capture Mu Jinyue alive, who carries Pure Yin blood. So I first prepared a formation on the Yin-Yang Manifestation Lamp that would let my words become law, then prepared a substitution talisman on Mu Jinyue. The moment he made his move to take Mu Jinyue away, I swapped myself with Mu Jinyue. He brought me out of the Miyuan Illusion Array, and I immediately gambled my fortune to capture him.”

Jiang Zhaoxue walked around the room, lighting one by one the unlit lamps around them, speaking methodically, “After capturing Song Wulan, I finally understood his origins. Song Wulan has a Void Body and astonishing talent in the Way of Fate Masters. Back when I killed him, he sacrificed his body to an evil entity and followed Pei Zichen and me into the Lingxu Illusion Realm. In the Lingxu Illusion Realm, he saw how Song Wuya obtained the Lingxu Fan and was inspired. After coming out, he discovered Mu Jinyue’s Pure Yin Body identity and thus decided to seize the Divine Slaying Sword. Afterward, I slew one of his clones, refined his clone into a golden core, making the Miyuan Illusion Realm mistake me for him. I controlled the Miyuan Illusion Array and went in to save you all.”

“So,” Shen Yuqing looked at the ground, his voice hoarse, “in the Miyuan Illusion Realm, the person who attacked my divine soul…”

“Was me.”

Jiang Zhaoxue admitted it in one breath, suppressing her nervousness as she put down the fire starter.

In the Miyuan Illusion Realm, before Pei Zichen fell into demonic cultivation, he still had some rationality and first used the Lingxu Fan to attack Shen Yuqing’s divine soul, which is why Shen Yuqing hadn’t noticed his abnormality.

She couldn’t let Shen Yuqing discover Pei Zichen’s technique. She had to take responsibility for this.

She admitted it too readily. Shen Yuqing’s breathing became chaotic for a moment. He struggled to suppress his emotions and calmly pressed further, “Then when did you start to realize that Jinyue was Pure Yin blood?”

This question made Jiang Zhaoxue hesitate for a moment, but she still turned her back to Shen Yuqing and told the truth: “From the moment I learned from Qian Sisi’s master that Pure Yin blood was necessary for the Divine Slaying Sword.”

“Because I was always bringing her along, you felt I must have ulterior motives?”

“I didn’t think that way.” Jiang Zhaoxue turned back and walked to her seat, looking up at him flatly. “You and she were inseparable before too. I’m used to it.”

“Then why would you guess she was Pure Yin blood?” Shen Yuqing’s voice seemed to be forcefully suppressing something, yet he still couldn’t help raising his voice slightly. “If you thought my companionship with her was normal, why would you guess her identity?”

Jiang Zhaoxue thought for a moment and said carefully, “You know I’m a Fate Master. I can foresee some things.”

These words stunned Shen Yuqing. He stared blankly at the ground as he heard her explain, “Very early on, I knew you would bring her back, and that she would encounter setbacks along the way, constantly falling into danger. So when I heard that the Divine Slaying Sword required Pure Yin blood, I made the connection. Then on Qixi night, when I discovered Song Wulan was targeting her, I was fairly certain of her identity. If she wasn’t Pure Yin blood, why would Song Wulan target her? Why would she fall into danger again and again?”

“So,” hearing this, he slowly raised his head to look at Jiang Zhaoxue, his voice hoarse with uncontrollable hatred and fear, trembling as he spoke, “from the very beginning, you knew I definitely couldn’t save you?”

This time Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t speak, but Shen Yuqing already understood.

She knew.

On Qixi, she knew, which was why she so calmly and composedly found the talisman from his embrace. She knew from the start that he was carrying it.

At the broken bridge, she knew. It wasn’t that he couldn’t hold onto her—he could have saved both people. It was Jiang Zhaoxue who actively reached for Pei Zichen.

She was too far from him. He couldn’t reach her. If he insisted on choosing her, he would have to sacrifice Mu Jinyue’s life.

She had been using Mu Jinyue’s life to force his hand.

When they made their wager, he thought this was her giving him a chance to turn things around, thought it was like in the past—after throwing tantrums, she wanted a way back.

But in reality, from the very beginning when she made this wager, it was only to break free from him.

She had long wanted to leave.

She hadn’t for a moment longed to turn back.

Realizing this, Shen Yuqing closed his eyes.

He was both furious and pained, his breathing involuntarily becoming erratic. He gripped the armrest tightly and turned his head to the side, afraid Jiang Zhaoxue would see his pathetic state.

Angry words were on his lips, yet this time he didn’t dare speak them. He felt something lodged in his throat, hurting so much his eyes stung, yet he couldn’t utter a single word.

What could he say really?

And what could he say?

He clearly knew their marriage hung by a thread, in grave peril.

She was so willful, stopping at nothing. If he said one more word, it might be the last straw—two hundred years would come crashing down, the grand edifice toppling, spilled water impossible to gather.

He couldn’t speak, yet felt unwilling. Blood and qi surged in his chest. He forced himself to pretend nothing was wrong. After a long while, he finally said, “If that’s the case, why bet with me at all?”

“If I hadn’t bet,” Jiang Zhaoxue looked up at him, “would you have been willing?”

“Willing to what?”

“Willing to dissolve the contract with me.” Jiang Zhaoxue answered lightly, as if completely unaware of the weight of the words “dissolve the contract.”

Shen Yuqing desperately suppressed his breathing, feeling every word squeeze out from between his teeth, carrying a panic he himself didn’t recognize, his voice hoarse: “Stop being so willful.”

“After all this, you still think I’m being willful?” Jiang Zhaoxue frowned in confusion. “Are you blind or deceiving yourself? Now the red marks on your hand are down to just one…”

“So what?!” Shen Yuqing seemed to have been struck at his sore spot and shouted urgently, “I still have one more chance. Next time I’ll definitely choose you. When we return, we’ll still be husband and wife!”

“We won’t be husband and wife anymore.” Jiang Zhaoxue decisively cut him off, reminding him with some weariness, “You can’t win, and the reason you can’t win is because you have Mu Jinyue in your heart. You should see your own feelings clearly by now. Since you have her, go find her. Don’t drag me along to maintain that little thought of yours.”

“I don’t have…”

“Then just consider it my bad fate.” Jiang Zhaoxue impatiently interrupted him, somewhat irritated. “She and I clash in our fates. When we’re together, something happens to her, you have to save her. Between her and me, you’ll always choose her. Why torture me like this? Let’s part on good terms. I don’t want to be entangled with you anymore!”

After these words, Shen Yuqing froze.

He looked at Jiang Zhaoxue. There wasn’t a trace of attachment on her face, only weariness.

She seemed to be waiting for something, glancing at the window from time to time. He was standing right in front of her, yet she wouldn’t spare him even one more look.

She couldn’t see him anymore.

In that instant, all those emotions he had forcibly suppressed, ignored, and refused to face surged up, like a thread that had been holding something down suddenly snapping. All the scenes he saw in the Wangchuan River came roaring up like strangling steel wires, cutting and shredding him until blood and flesh poured down. He suddenly realized—he couldn’t hide it anymore.

No matter how much he avoided it, how much he concealed it, how much he pretended nothing was wrong, what had happened had happened. She wanted to leave.

“Why?” He couldn’t help clenching his fist. The moment Jiang Zhaoxue looked puzzled, that name that had been suppressed beneath his rationality burst out: “For Pei Zichen?”

“It has nothing to do with him.” Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t want to drag Pei Zichen into this and turned her head. “It’s all my decision.”

“Your decision?” Shen Yuqing laughed lowly, as if he didn’t believe it.

Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t be bothered to respond. She saw him seem to laugh for a moment before his voice slowly sank. After a long silence, as if he had made some decision, he stood up and slowly walked forward.

Hearing his movement, Jiang Zhaoxue raised her eyes to see him walk before her, lean down to press both hands on either side of the armrest, and look down at her, as if using a glacier to suppress rolling magma, his voice cold: “I’m giving you one last chance to explain. You tell me—”

He looked at the calm eyes of the person before him. In his mind, the scene of her unhesitatingly wrapping Pei Zichen with white silk when they fell into the river replayed over and over, intertwining with the scene from their youth of her swimming toward him with all her might in the underwater glow. His eyes reddened as he spoke hoarsely, “Did he seduce you?”

Jiang Zhaoxue heard the killing intent in his tone. He seemed to be waiting for just this sentence.

Waiting for her explanation, her excuse, for her to push all the blame onto Pei Zichen.

She understood his meaning. Looking up into his eyes, she answered firmly, “It has nothing to do with him.”

Shen Yuqing didn’t speak.

He looked at the woman before him who showed no sign of retreat, looked at her clear, bright eyes. Every time she confronted someone in her youth, it was like this—not a shred of hesitation, leaving no path of retreat.

She had once stood in front of him many times.

When those young nobles from immortal families made fun of him in their youth, when her father and brothers disapproved of their marriage—countless times in life, she had stood in front of him without hesitation again and again.

Yet at this moment, he was facing these eyes head-on for the first time.

This should have been his.

His heart spasmed with pain, blood and qi surging. Nodding, he said, “Nothing to do with him? Good… very good…”

“Master, something’s wrong with him!”

A’Nan cried out in alarm. Just as the words fell, Shen Yuqing suddenly struck. Jiang Zhaoxue’s pupils contracted sharply in shock. Almost simultaneously as he moved, she threw a talisman forward while trying to summon Pei Zichen.

But Shen Yuqing seemed to have anticipated this. The instant her thought arose, Shen Yuqing swept his wide sleeve, shattering the talisman. His spiritual power instantly formed a barrier blocking her message. Over a dozen light swords shot toward Jiang Zhaoxue. She hastily retreated as Pei Zichen’s sword intent simultaneously leaped out from around her body. Shen Yuqing broke through the sword formation with one hand and grasped her jaw. Between the “clang” of the two sword intents clashing, he yanked Jiang Zhaoxue forward, forcing her to stop before him.

“You still dare say it has nothing to do with him?!”

Shen Yuqing roared furiously. Jiang Zhaoxue froze. She stared blankly at Shen Yuqing, seeing him seem to completely abandon restraint, his chest heaving violently. Looking down at her, his voice full of killing intent: “I sensed his sword intent from the moment you entered. You carry his sword intent on your body. You brought him between you and me. You still dare say it has nothing to do with him?! If not for him, would you be saying these things to me now? Would you look at me like this?! If you truly believed you must lose our wager, then why not bet until the end? What are you so anxious about?”

“Shen Yuqing,” Jiang Zhaoxue’s skin reddened where he gripped her, breathing lightly. While sensing Pei Zichen’s condition, she negotiated with Shen Yuqing, “Calm down. I’m just a Fate Master—I can’t run. Let go.”

“Let go? Let go for what?” Shen Yuqing laughed mockingly, his voice carrying a bloody edge. “Let you and him go? Let you sever ties with me and share his bed? What do you take me, Shen Yuqing, for?”

“Stop going crazy!”

“Speak!” Shen Yuqing unconsciously used force in his hand, leaning forward, his voice agitated. “Make it clear—what’s so good about him? What did you see in him? He’s my disciple, inferior to me in cultivation and status. Besides that face, he has nothing. How did he bewitch you? Pleasures of the bedchamber, delights of clouds and rain? If you want—”

Shen Yuqing clearly thought of something, emotions surging in his eyes as he spoke softly with challenge: “I can give you that too.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue instantly flew into a rage, kicking out and shouting sharply, “Get away!”

As she spoke, a talisman slid from her hand. Shen Yuqing was also furious, pressing down on her wrist. Then he heard something roaring toward him from behind. He turned back and caught the iron shackles flying from a nearby candlestick. In that instant, Pei Zichen’s spiritual power struck suddenly, shattering Shen Yuqing’s barrier with a “boom,” accompanied by Pei Zichen’s calm voice: “My Lady, it’s done.”

The moment the words fell, a red light flew from Jiang Zhaoxue’s palm, rushing toward Shen Yuqing. Sensing something wrong, Shen Yuqing retreated rapidly for three zhang. However, the red light was faster than him. The instant before he landed, it wrapped around his entire body!

Mu Jinyue’s aura surged from the red light. Shen Yuqing immediately knew what this was and looked up in shock. Spiritual chains seized the opportunity to come from all sides, locking onto his limbs and yanking him violently into the distance!

Jiang Zhaoxue simultaneously pulled back to draw a formation. The Qiankun Divination Sticks shook once, and spiritual power surged from all directions. Shen Yuqing looked up urgently and called out to Jiang Zhaoxue: “Stop!”

However, Jiang Zhaoxue paid no heed and shouted urgently, “The Heavenly Dao is impermanent—gambling fate with Heaven! Supreme Great Fortune, Dragon-Locking Formation, open!”

The supreme fortune stick flew out and tumbled. A barrier rose urgently from all sides. The spiritual chains instantly transformed into four white divine dragons that wrapped fiercely around Shen Yuqing’s limbs with swift momentum. With one pull and tug, they immediately dragged him to kneel on the ground!

On the other side, Mu Jinyue was sent flying with a “boom” by Pei Zichen, crashing into the wall. Her internal organs felt as if they had all shattered. Gasping for air in great gulps, she stared at the paper figure wrapped with hair strands in Pei Zichen’s hand, sensing Shen Yuqing’s aura on it. She swallowed the blood in her mouth and said with difficulty, “You’re using me to bind Master. Don’t you think that’s dishonorable?”

“Not important.”

Pei Zichen methodically put away the figurine and began setting up a formation.

Seeing his actions, Mu Jinyue’s pupils contracted slightly, knowing something had happened to Shen Yuqing.

Otherwise, Pei Zichen would never be here patiently setting up formations.

Realizing this, Mu Jinyue forced a difficult smile: “Senior Brother has already injured me to this extent. Is it still necessary to be so cautious?”

“You’re very troublesome.” Pei Zichen patiently drew the formation, saying calmly, “If not for My Lady’s prohibition, you should die.”

“Senior Brother is certainly devoted to Shimu,” Mu Jinyue’s eyes turned cold as she mocked, “But you should know this devotion will get Shimu killed. Will you still persist?”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen’s movements paused as he looked up keenly: “What do you mean?”

“Go ask Master.” Mu Jinyue’s tone became amused as she supported herself against the wall to sit on the ground. Looking up at Pei Zichen, she said, “In any case, remember Junior Sister’s advice—if you want Shimu to live, you must obtain the Divine Slaying Sword.”

Pei Zichen didn’t respond, only carefully observed her expression. Seeing this, Mu Jinyue smiled: “Why is Senior Brother still looking at me? Hurry back and ask. If you’re late and something happens to Master, then no one will be able to save Shimu.”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen’s expression turned sharp. Without hesitation, he turned and headed out. After sealing the door, he said to Ye Tianjiao and Qian Sisi at the entrance: “Guard her well.”

With that, his figure disappeared into the darkness.

Mu Jinyue sat in the secret chamber’s formation, sensing Pei Zichen’s aura disappear. After waiting a long while, she sat cross-legged and drew a strange formation on the ground.

In just a moment, the formation rippled outward, transforming into a pool of water that reflected the face of a young man so handsome he was almost bewitching.

“My, my,” the young man tilted his head in the water, seeming puzzled as he looked at the woman sitting cross-legged on the ground with surprise. “Little miss, how did you come to use the transmission formation I gave to Xinluoyi?”

“Your Highness,” Mu Jinyue curved her lips in a smile, “would you be interested in making a deal with me?”

“A deal?” Song Wulan found this somewhat amusing. “What kind of deal could you make with me?”

“I’ll help you summon the Divine Slaying Sword, and you’ll help me with two things. Come rescue me now, and also—”

Mu Jinyue seemed to have made up her mind about something, her eyes full of cold intent: “Kill Jiang Zhaoxue.”