Mu Yunjin sighed softly again. “There will be a time to meet again.”

Chu Qingyuan looked at Mu Yunjin with a pout. “Sixth Sister-in-law, can I stay here for one more day? I can attend the palace banquet with you tomorrow evening.”

“Of course you can.” Mu Yunjin curved her lips in a smile and walked back to the mansion with Chu Qingyuan.

As they walked, she spoke, “I heard that the new Holy Maiden from the Southern Pavilion Kingdom is their princess, and she’s as beautiful as a heavenly fairy. I’m quite curious about her.”

Chu Qingyuan nodded. “I think so too. She’s only a year older than me.”

“I admire her, though. Instead of living a life of luxury, she voluntarily offered to become the Holy Maiden envoy. The Holy Maiden envoy can never experience romantic feelings for her entire life. I think that’s so sad,” Chu Qingyuan added.

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin’s thoughts drifted to Jiang Qingxue. She had heard that Jiang Qingxue had left the Northern Ming Kingdom, and she wondered where she might be now.

“Sixth Sister-in-law, I’m feeling a bit tired. I’m going to take a nap.” After entering the mansion, Chu Qingyuan, who had risen early, began to feel drowsy. After speaking to Mu Yunjin, she headed toward the back garden.

Mu Yunjin watched Chu Qingyuan walk away, then turned to look at Zixiang. “Where did Chu Li go?”

…

…

“His Highness left with Guard Ding this morning. This servant doesn’t know where they went,” Zixiang answered honestly.

Mu Yunjin pursed her lips. “I see.”

“Miss, would you like to eat something now?” Zixiang noticed she hadn’t eaten anything since waking up.

“Have someone bring food to my room,” Mu Yunjin said softly.

Zixiang nodded.

…

Back in her room, Mu Yunjin sat in a chair, flipping through the Xuanling True Scripture that Master An had given her. Now that she had Chu Li’s approval, she no longer needed to read it secretly.

While reading the booklet, she made a few gestures with her hand, but felt she couldn’t grasp the essence of it. She also didn’t dare to use her spiritual energy, fearing she might suffer a cultivation deviation if she made a mistake.

With this thought, Mu Yunjin sighed dejectedly, leaning against the chair with the book covering her face. At this moment, her mind was like a ball of tangled yarn—completely chaotic.

There was also Ghost Valley Cave; she felt uncertain about it. Seven days later, she didn’t know what kind of situation she would face.

Ah, couldn’t she just have some peaceful days!

“Miss, are you in your room?” Zixiang knocked on the door outside.

“Come in.” Mu Yunjin came back to her senses, putting away the Xuanling True Scripture and tucking it into her bosom.

Zixiang pushed open the door, followed by a young maidservant carrying a tray with food on it. After placing the food on the table, the young maidservant left.

Mu Yunjin stood up, walked to the table, picked up the chopsticks, and began to eat unhurriedly.

After a few bites, she caught sight of Zixiang standing beside her. She put down her chopsticks and turned to look at Zixiang. “Zixiang, do you want to get married?”

“Miss, this servant does not wish to,” Zixiang immediately shook her head, feeling a sense of foreboding.

Mu Yunjin smiled slightly. “Why not? You’ve reached marriageable age. Wouldn’t it be good to find someone who loves you, get married, and have children?”

Soon she would be going to Ghost Valley Cave to find the Crocodile Pearl. First, she didn’t know if the journey would be smooth, and second, she didn’t know if the Crocodile Pearl could draw out the Heaven God Token from her body.

If she couldn’t get the Crocodile Pearl or if it couldn’t draw out the Heaven God Token from her body, she would meet a bad end sooner or later.

Before that, she needed to arrange some important matters.

“Miss, this servant has been by your side serving you since childhood. This servant is reluctant to leave you, and even more unwilling to marry and leave the mansion.” Zixiang’s eyes were red.

“You should think more about yourself.” Mu Yunjin didn’t say more and continued eating slowly, her mood not much better at the moment.

Mu Yunjin didn’t eat much before asking Zixiang to clear the dishes.

…

Chu Li returned to the mansion before sunset. When he stepped into Liquan Pavilion, Mu Yunjin was flipping through the Xuanling True Scripture, turning the pages quickly.

“You’re back.” Seeing Chu Li return, Mu Yunjin put down the Xuanling True Scripture and looked at him with a smile.

Chu Li approached her and picked up the Xuanling True Scripture, looking at it for a few moments. “How’s your reading going?”

“I’ve memorized the basic techniques, but I don’t dare to practice rashly, fearing a cultivation deviation if I make a mistake.” Mu Yunjin rolled her eyes and spoke lightly.

“Mm, this prince will watch over you practicing tonight.” Chu Li handed the Xuanling True Scripture back to her.

Mu Yunjin nodded, no longer continuing to read. She looked up at Chu Li. “Where have you been all day?”

“I met with Master Huaiyuan and Daoist Feng Xuan.” When Chu Li spoke, his demeanor was relaxed, his tone equally casual, with no hint of any other meaning.

“Is it about getting the Crocodile Pearl?” Mu Yunjin pretended to be casual as she played with a strand of her hair, but her heart was gradually tightening.

Chu Li glanced at her and curled the corner of his mouth. “Your master has been to Ghost Valley Cave several times. He wants you to bring him a few jugs of good wine to curry favor with him.”

“Uh…” Mu Yunjin blinked, then laughed a little.

“He’s been staying in Butterfly Flower City these days.” Chu Li added, raising his eyebrows with a faint smile.

Mu Yunjin lifted the corners of her lips. “I understand. Tomorrow I’ll prepare some good wine to show my respect to the old man.”

Chu Li made a sound of acknowledgment. “This prince will go take a bath first.”

…

At night, Mu Yunjin followed Chu Li to the secret passage beneath the hot spring pool. The secret passage was now filled with candles, illuminating what was originally a pitch-black tunnel.

“No one will disturb us here. This is the best place to practice.” Chu Li stood to the side, turning the Xuanling True Scripture to the first page.

Mu Yunjin nodded, looking around and scratching her head. “What if I use too much force and cause this place to collapse…”

“My beloved consort, you’re overthinking.”

“…”

Mu Yunjin pouted. Under Chu Li’s watchful gaze, she began to gather her spiritual energy, following the techniques on the first page of the Xuanling True Scripture, and started practicing with her eyes closed.

Perhaps because she knew Chu Li was watching her, Mu Yunjin felt completely at ease and practiced the Xuanling True Scripture with all her might.

The first technique of the Xuanling True Scripture taught how to refine and upgrade one’s energy. Mu Yunjin sat cross-legged on the ground, her eyes closed, continuously activating the incantation and condensing her spiritual energy.

Throughout the night, Mu Yunjin could feel her internal energy rising by several levels.

…

After daybreak, Mu Yunjin was exhausted. Before returning to her room to rest, she first took a bath in the hot spring pool.

During the bath, as before, she leaned against the wall of the hot spring pool and fell asleep with her head tilted.

Chu Li had been keeping an eye on the hot spring pool, knowing that she hadn’t slept all night and was very likely to fall asleep in the pool again. After waiting for a while, he came out and, seeing that she had indeed fallen asleep, sighed softly.

Walking to the edge of the hot spring pool, he bent down to lift her out. As he touched her body, his peripheral vision caught a bright red area on her back, and his pupils suddenly contracted.

His fingertips gently traced the phoenix pattern newly revealed on her back. Chu Li frowned, his eyes showing deep contemplation.

The phoenix pattern on her back, which appeared and disappeared intermittently, had never been as vibrantly red as it was now.

Chu Li’s eyes flashed as he narrowed them, then lifted her out of the hot spring pool.

…

Mu Yunjin lay for a long time, feeling a burning sensation on her back again. In her dream, everything was flashing red, and balls of flames kept rushing toward her, surrounding her.

“Huff…”

Mu Yunjin finally couldn’t bear it anymore and woke up from her dream!

Sitting up on the bed, she found that her body was covered in sweat, especially her forehead, where beads of sweat rolled down.

Mu Yunjin took a few deep breaths, then got off the bed, walked to the table, and poured herself a cup of water, which she drank in one gulp.

Feeling unsatisfied after one cup, she drank two more.

After several cups of water, Mu Yunjin walked back to the edge of the bed, took out her silk handkerchief, and wiped the sweat from her forehead, looking completely like someone who had just escaped a terrifying experience.

It was truly life-threatening; she felt as if she had nearly died in her dream.

After calming herself, Mu Yunjin no longer felt sleepy. She looked at the time on the water clock—it was already the hour of Shen (3-5 PM). She remembered that they were supposed to attend a banquet at the palace tonight.

Walking to the door and opening it, a piercing cold wind rushed in, yet at this moment, she didn’t feel cold at all.

“Miss, you’re awake.” Zixiang had been waiting near Liquan Pavilion. Seeing the door open, she immediately walked over.

“Where did Chu Li go?” Mu Yunjin remembered that, like her, he hadn’t slept all night. Where had he gone now?

Hearing this, Zixiang pursed her lips and smiled. “Miss, why is it that every day when you open your eyes, the first thing you ask is where His Highness has gone?”

“I’m used to it.” Mu Yunjin smiled sheepishly. With Zixiang’s comment, she realized that recently she had indeed been constantly inquiring about Chu Li’s whereabouts.

“His Highness just left his room not long ago. He’s now in the study room over there. Lord Qu and Lord Xu are also here today.” Zixiang pointed in the direction of the study room.

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin raised her eyebrows. “Help me with my toilette first.”

“Yes, Miss.”

…

After changing her clothes, Mu Yunjin sat at the dressing table while Zixiang helped her style her hair. Doing her hair was a complex and time-consuming task. After sitting for a while, Mu Yunjin’s thoughts drifted to the Xuanling True Scripture.

Last night, she had already mastered the method of energy condensation and had significantly increased her internal power. After returning from the palace tonight, she could practice the second technique.

Mu Yunjin was so lost in thought that she didn’t even notice when Chu Li entered the room.

“Miss, which of these two sets of accessories would you like to use?” Zixiang selected two sets of accessories and presented them to Mu Yunjin.

Hearing the voice, Mu Yunjin came back to her senses. Looking up, her gaze immediately locked onto Chu Li behind her. “When did you appear? I didn’t even hear you…”

“I’ve been here for a while.” Chu Li glanced at her, then took one set of accessories from Zixiang’s hand and began to put them in Mu Yunjin’s hair.

Mu Yunjin didn’t trust Chu Li’s eyebrow-drawing skills, but letting him put on accessories and hairpins was acceptable.

After completing her toilette, Mu Yunjin deliberately cast a flirtatious glance at Chu Li and coquettishly asked, “Your Highness, what do you think of my appearance today? Will I be outshone by the foremost beauty of the Southern Pavilion Kingdom?”

“We can bring a few more sets of attire when we go out later. If you feel you can’t compare with her, you can change.” Chu Li teased along with her, his eyes containing a faint smile.

Mu Yunjin glared at him and angrily punched him. “Hmph, then I won’t go!”