When Mu Yunjin emerged from the dark chamber, her entire body felt cold and unbearably heavy.

Leaning against the outer wall for a moment, Mu Yunjin stared blankly, her thoughts sinking into an endless abyss. She was so lost in thought that she didn’t even notice someone approaching her.

“Silly girl, why are you standing here stupidly in the wind?” Daoist Feng Xuan had been waiting in the Zen courtyard for a long time without seeing Mu Yunjin, and now, coming out to look for her, he found her standing dazed in the wind.

Hearing Daoist Feng Xuan’s voice, Mu Yunjin was startled for a moment before coming to her senses. She smiled faintly, “Master.”

“What happened?” Daoist Feng Xuan glanced suspiciously toward the dark chamber.

“Nothing,” Mu Yunjin shook her head.

Upon hearing this, Daoist Feng Xuan laughed lightly, “Your troubles are written all over your face, yet you say there’s nothing.”

Mu Yunjin pouted, “Is it that obvious?”

…

…

“What do you think?” Daoist Feng Xuan raised an eyebrow.

Mu Yunjin smiled faintly as they walked together. “Master, in today’s Canghua Continent, several old monarchs are about to abdicate. Before the new emperors ascend their thrones, there will inevitably be bloodshed. I’m worried about the days to come.”

“Royal infighting is something that can never be resolved. That’s why all these years, I’ve preferred wandering the jianghu, drifting from place to place. Even if sometimes I go hungry without a meal, I would rather not be like Qiuye, establishing a sect connected to the royal family.” Daoist Feng Xuan sighed.

Mu Yunjin pressed her lips together, lowering her eyes with a slight smile. “Now I see why I also want to live like Master does.”

“You say this because you’ve encountered trouble with the royal family?” Daoist Feng Xuan asked.

“I was just speaking casually, Master, don’t take it seriously. By the way, are you planning to teach me your unique skills?” Mu Yunjin changed the subject.

Daoist Feng Xuan nodded, “I’ve calculated that since becoming your master, I’ve only held the title without teaching you any real skills. Now the time is about right.”

“So your conscience finally surfaced!” Mu Yunjin’s lips curved upward, her eyes smiling into crescents.

“Hmph,” Daoist Feng Xuan snorted lightly, leading Mu Yunjin into the Zen courtyard.

Inside the courtyard, a game of chess on the board was only half-finished.

Mu Yunjin sat cross-legged to the side, staring at the chessboard for a while. After realizing she still couldn’t understand it, she silently shifted her gaze away.

“This is for you,” Daoist Feng Xuan said, taking out a booklet from his sleeve.

Mu Yunjin reached out to receive it and flipped through it. It contained martial arts techniques similar to the Xuanling True Scripture.

“I’ll give you half an hour to familiarize yourself with these techniques. Afterward, I’ll teach them to you one by one,” Daoist Feng Xuan said, his tone and expression unusually serious.

Mu Yunjin nodded and began to read through the pages.

While she was reading, Daoist Feng Xuan and Master Huaiyuan continued their unfinished chess game.

Before she had gone through even half of the booklet, Mu Yunjin had already yawned countless times. She had been worn out all day without proper rest, and now, looking at page after page of martial arts techniques, drowsiness was overwhelming her.

“Master, can I learn this tomorrow? I’m so tired!” Mu Yunjin finally couldn’t help but look toward Daoist Feng Xuan.

“No,” Daoist Feng Xuan refused outright. “Rarely, Chu Li isn’t in Xi Yuan country, we can only use these few days to learn.”

Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow. “Why do we need to avoid him for this?”

“To prevent him from fretting about you suffering, which would lead to a nauseating display of affection,” Daoist Feng Xuan sneered.

“He’s lost his memory and doesn’t remember me. How could he show me affection?” Mu Yunjin propped up her head, pouting.

Daoist Feng Xuan paused briefly, then sighed, “Rong Wanyue, that sinful woman!”

At the mention of Consort Rong, Mu Yunjin’s heart sank further. She had been deliberately numbing herself to forget about Chu Li’s background, but now it came to mind again.

Thinking about it, she rubbed her temples, her head aching terribly.

After resting a while longer, Daoist Feng Xuan began to instruct Mu Yunjin in his unique martial arts. “How is your practice of the Xuanling True Scripture coming along?”

“Just scratching the surface,” Mu Yunjin answered.

“You wretched girl, why do you always waste good things!” Daoist Feng Xuan exclaimed angrily.

Mu Yunjin snorted lightly, “I rarely need to use these skills in daily life. What little I’ve learned is enough to defend myself. Even Qin Muyue can’t defeat me!”

“…” Daoist Feng Xuan felt like he was about to spit blood from anger.

…

The next day, on the way back to Fengyu Pavilion.

Mu Yunjin used her lightness skill, moving as lightly as a swallow, several times faster than when she had come.

Although she had only learned a fraction of Daoist Feng Xuan’s martial arts, she could already see some results.

At this moment, Mu Yunjin could only be thankful that Fish Granny had sealed her belly with spiritual energy; otherwise, she would have been restricted from doing many things.

Just as she was about to reach the small stream, Mu Yunjin saw two figures in the distance.

Black-robed Feng Lan and Shen Wanning.

Mu Yunjin immediately stopped at a tree, concealing herself with branches and leaves, watching the direction they were heading.

It was toward the wasteland mountain at the westernmost edge.

Mu Yunjin immediately frowned, the image of Qin Munan’s madness and frenzy seeming to flash before her eyes again.

The lovesickness poison—since it was created by the black-robed man, perhaps only he had the antidote?

Mu Yunjin sighed, and as the two walked away, she flew toward the small stream.

When she returned to Fengyu Pavilion, Mu Yunjin first opened a crack in the door, looked around, and not seeing Huang Yan, she immediately slipped inside.

Qiqi was sitting drinking tea while waiting for Mu Yunjin to return. When she caught a glimpse of Mu Yunjin, her eyes brightened.

She walked over and said softly, “Master, where did you go? Why were you gone for so long?”

“Just inside Water Cloud Temple. Where’s Huang Yan?” Mu Yunjin asked.

“Flower Ying and I were worried that Huang Yan would discover you had gone out, so I had Flower Ying occupy him with alchemy. Right now, that boy is too busy helping Flower Ying with alchemy to even remember you.” Qiqi covered her mouth and laughed.

Mu Yunjin curled her lips into a smile. “You’re so clever.”

“Of course!”

As Mu Yunjin talked with Qiqi, she walked toward her residence. “By the way, when I was coming back just now, I saw the black-robed man and Shen Wanning going to that wasteland mountain again.”

“Ah… whenever they go there, nothing good happens to Young Marshal Qin. Master, I think Young Marshal Qin is so pitiful. Should we try to save him?” Qiqi frowned.

“I want to save him too, but the black-robed man and Shen Wanning are both experts in witchcraft. The poison they create must incorporate witchcraft, and even Flower Ying might not be able to cure it.” After speaking, Mu Yunjin sighed again.

“Sigh, Young Marshal Qin is truly pitiful.”

As she spoke, Qiqi had just stepped onto the stone steps when she suddenly exclaimed, slapping her forehead, “Master, I’ve thought of a solution, but I don’t know if it will work!”

“What solution?” Mu Yunjin looked at Qiqi.

“The black-robed man likes that Shen Wanning, right? Let’s have Flower Ying secretly poison that woman. Then, when the black-robed man helps Young Marshal Qin with his antidote, we’ll also have Flower Ying offer the cure. What do you think?”

Mu Yunjin raised her eyebrows. “And what if the black-robed man is unwilling? Do we poison Shen Wanning to death? That woman doesn’t seem to have any grudge against us.”

“Just because there’s no grudge now doesn’t mean there won’t be in the future. Who knows, maybe the eagle flock that attacked us before was raised by this woman,” Qiqi said nonchalantly.

“You seem to make sense.” Mu Yunjin couldn’t help but be convinced by Qiqi’s logic.

Seeing that Mu Yunjin affirmed her words, Qiqi immediately smiled so happily that her eyes curved. “Then let’s go find Flower Ying now and ask if she has any extraordinary secret poison!”

“Not now. I’m so tired, I need to get some sleep.” Mu Yunjin had already entered her courtyard, and as soon as she saw her wooden bed, she felt so drowsy that she could barely keep her eyes open.

“Then, Master, you go rest first. I’ll go play with Brother Lei Yan for a while. Since Huang Yan rarely gets alone time with Flower Ying, I’ll give him a bit more time.” After speaking, Qiqi skipped out of the residence.

Looking at this happy spirit, Mu Yunjin couldn’t help but smile.

After a simple bath, Mu Yunjin collapsed onto the bed. She didn’t even have time to think about anything before falling into a deep sleep.

She slept from morning until nightfall.

…

When Mu Yunjin woke up, darkness surrounded her.

She lit a candle and looked at the time—it was already evening, the hour of Xu.

Now, as Mu Yunjin lay alone in her room with everything quiet around her, the thoughts she had deliberately tried to forget resurfaced one by one.

Under the current circumstances, Chu Li had the right to know.

It seemed that after Chu Li returned to Xi Yuan, she would have to tell him about this matter. She would also need to carefully consider Yun Lianqing’s proposal.

Otherwise, she could hardly imagine what would happen if the truth came out.

“Knock knock.” Someone knocked on the door, interrupting Mu Yunjin’s thoughts.

“Who is it?” Mu Yunjin asked.

“Master, it’s me. I saw the candlelight in your room, so I came to knock. Are you awake? Do you want something to eat?” Qiqi’s voice sounded from outside the door.

Mu Yunjin sat up in bed. “Mmm, wait a moment, I’ll be right out.”

Mu Yunjin got out of bed, changed her clothes, and washed up before opening the door.

“Master, everyone is downstairs eating right now. Huang Yan and Flower Ying are there too. It’s the perfect time to ask Flower Ying about the poison.” Qiqi linked arms with Mu Yunjin as they walked out together.

Mu Yunjin hesitated. “Huang Yan can’t know about Qin Munan’s situation.”

Otherwise, how would she explain if Chu Li suspected something between her and Qin Munan…

“Then I’ll have Brother Lei Yan distract him, and we can talk secretly.” Qiqi chuckled.

“Good!” Mu Yunjin nodded in agreement.

At the foot of the mountain, the disciples of Fengyu Pavilion were holding a bonfire party. A large fire was burning on the grassland, with people gathered in a circle, creating a lively atmosphere.

After Mu Yunjin arrived, she didn’t disturb them but found an empty spot to sit down. Qiqi ran to the bonfire and whispered something to Flower Ying.

Flower Ying immediately got up and came over.

The three women huddled in a corner and began a secret conversation.

“You want to poison Shen Wanning? Why?” Flower Ying asked.

“Because we want to coerce the black-robed man into doing something for us,” Qiqi answered.

Hearing this, Flower Ying’s usually cold face showed some interest. “Aren’t you afraid they’ll put a curse on you? You should know that practitioners of witchcraft excel at using venomous insects and poisons. Also, that Shen Wanning knows evil magic. If we poison her, what if she curses us?”

“…” Mu Yunjin was speechless.

“…” Qiqi fell silent. Indeed, she had been too naive.

“What are you all discussing? I heard talk of curses and evil magic from far away. Has someone been possessed?” Huang Yan’s voice sounded behind the three women.