Before her whip could land, that overwhelming pain struck again, causing her grip on the whip to weaken.

At that moment, Black Robe thrust out a palm strike directly at Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin bit her lip, enduring her physical discomfort, and dodged the palm strike, her eyes growing colder.

The night wind blew, stirring her hair. The red plum blossom mark on her forehead suddenly emitted a red glow. Mu Yunjin’s beautiful, cold face took on a bewitching, ghostly air.

“Princess Ning Wanning meant no offense today. This move was simply to make a deal with Princess Ning. Shen Wanning suddenly blocked Black Robe’s attack, curled her lips, and looked at Mu Yunjin.

As she spoke, Mu Yunjin felt the pain in her body disappear.

Mu Yunjin laughed coldly, looking at Shen Wanning. “No offense?”

“Forgive Wanning for using such methods, but Wanning sincerely wants to make a deal with Princess Ning.” Shen Wanning stepped forward.

“What kind of deal?” Mu Yunjin asked with forced patience, eyeing Shen Wanning.

Shen Wanning smiled softly. “I want to borrow Princess Ning’s Divine Decree for a while. Though my methods are unsavory, if they achieve my purpose, it’s worth it.”

“So you’re after the Divine Decree.” Mu Yunjin rubbed her chin, pondering.

Chu Qing’s rebellion and flight at this critical juncture, directly confronting the Western Ming Emperor, indeed required the help of those undead soldiers.

But she had been too careless to be afflicted by such dark magic.

These black marks all over her body were truly unsightly, and more importantly, she was supposed to meet Chu Li tomorrow…

Shen Wanning had chosen her timing well.

With these thoughts, Mu Yunjin lowered her eyes, her mind racing, and rolled up her sleeve to reveal the black marks on her arm.

“These are just surface manifestations for now. The longer they remain, the more they’ll become one with your skin. By then, even if the dark magic is removed, these black marks will remain on your body,” Shen Wanning explained with a smile.

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin’s face fell, though her peripheral vision continued to observe Shen Wanning’s expression.

Sure enough, the smile on Shen Wanning’s face deepened.

“Princess Ning, the Divine Decree is of no use to you, but these black marks might accompany you for a lifetime,” Shen Wanning spoke again.

Mu Yunjin’s face showed conflict as she took out the small golden Divine Decree from her sleeve and held it in her palm.

Nearby, both Black Robe and Shen Wanning’s eyes lit up when they saw the golden-glowing Divine Decree.

Mu Yunjin held the Divine Decree, her face full of hesitation and doubt.

Black Robe and Shen Wanning exchanged a glance, their eyes full of triumphant delight.

At this moment, Mu Yunjin’s angry voice rang out as she glared at Shen Wanning. “You’re vicious, making my skin like this. Help me remove the dark magic first, or you won’t get the Divine Decree!”

“Give me the Divine Decree first. What if I remove it and you run away?” Shen Wanning extended her hand.

“What if I give it to you and you don’t help me remove it?” Mu Yunjin stood her ground.

Finally, Mu Yunjin added frankly, “Rest assured, if I promise, I won’t go back on my word!”

“Fine, I’ll trust you this once! If you dare trick me, I can cast dark magic on you again next time.” Shen Wanning took out a porcelain bottle and threw it at Mu Yunjin.

“Take one,” Shen Wanning said.

Mu Yunjin caught the bottle, took out the pill inside, and swallowed it.

Afterward, the subtle pain in her body gradually disappeared. Mu Yunjin raised her hand, and only after seeing the black marks gradually fade did her heart finally relax.

“Hand it over,” Shen Wanning pointed at the Divine Decree.

Mu Yunjin looked at the Divine Decree in her palm, curled her lips, and tossed it to Shen Wanning.

Shen Wanning caught it steadily, her eyes flashing with joy, and looked at Black Robe, who had remained silent.

“By the way…” Mu Yunjin spoke up, looking at Shen Wanning. “The antidote you gave me better not be a trick, or I can take back the Divine Decree at any time. Don’t believe me? Try it.”

Shen Wanning was taken aback.

Before she could speak, Mu Yunjin had already flown away.

Shen Wanning stood there, looking at the Divine Decree in her hand, feeling as if she were dreaming.

Was it all too easy?

Not far away, Mu Yunjin hid in a tree, watching Shen Wanning and Black Robe enter the City Lord’s mansion. A mocking smile curled her lips.

These people were truly naive…

She was now the master of the Divine Decree. Without her command and control, no one could activate the undead soldiers within the Divine Decree.

Shen Wanning now holding the Divine Decree was equivalent to holding a copper coin—completely useless.

It seemed they had been pushed to desperation these past two days to come up with such an unreliable plan.

Hmph, we’ll see who has the last laugh.

When Mu Yunjin returned to Phoenix Feather Pavilion, it was already past midnight.

Approaching the courtyard gate, she was surprised to see Granny Yu waiting for her at the entrance.

“Granny,” Mu Yunjin approached Granny Yu.

Granny Yu turned her head, looked at Mu Yunjin, and smiled slightly. “Just now there was an unusual celestial phenomenon indicating the Phoenix Woman has appeared in the world, so I came to check on you.”

“Fuhuan, do you remember?”

Granny Yu’s gaze fixed intensely on Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin was slightly taken aback. Remember?

Remember what?

She hadn’t lost her memory…

“I just encountered some trouble outside, but it’s fine now,” Mu Yunjin smiled.

Disappointment flashed briefly in Granny Yu’s eyes as she nodded faintly. “It’s late. This old woman won’t disturb you any longer. Little Master, rest early.”

Mu Yunjin nodded.

Watching Granny Yu’s slow figure leaning on her cane, Mu Yunjin’s thoughts fell into confusion.

Meanwhile, in a dark cave on a desolate mountain.

“Things have reached this point. There’s no turning back. We must seize the Western Yuan Kingdom in one stroke!” Chu Qing’s face was dark, his eyes full of malice.

“I never thought we would fall into Chu Ye’s hands. We underestimated him.” Qin Muyue’s face was equally cold.

Qiuye stood to the side and sighed. “You were too careless and underestimated your enemy.”

“Yue’er, how many elite troops did your grandfather secretly train before he died?” Qiuye changed the subject, looking at Qin Muyue.

“About three hundred thousand,” Qin Muyue answered, then took out a military tally from her bosom.

Qiuye nodded. “Prince Chen also secretly has three hundred thousand troops. Combined, your forces equal half of what the old Emperor had. Plus, now that Chu Li’s identity has been exposed and the Western Ming Emperor has issued an arrest warrant for him, he absolutely won’t appear to help the Western Ming Emperor.”

“The remaining people are nothing to fear. The Western Yuan Kingdom is as good as ours!” Qiuye could hardly contain his excitement.

At this moment, a clear, beautiful voice sounded from the cave entrance—

“Elder Qiuye speaks truly. Just now, Wanning obtained the Divine Decree from Mu Yunjin.”

The Divine Decree…

These three words made everyone in the cave light up.

Shen Wanning and Black Robe slowly entered the cave. The Divine Decree in Shen Wanning’s hand emitted a golden light, making it impossible to look away.

“How did you get it from Mu Yunjin?” After calming herself, Qin Muyue raised the question.

She had suffered so many losses at Mu Yunjin’s hands without gaining a single advantage. How could Mu Yunjin willingly give up something as important as the Divine Decree?

“There is indeed something strange about this matter,” Black Robe answered for Shen Wanning, his face tense.

“Although Mu Yunjin succumbed to Wanning’s dark magic and was forced to hand over the Divine Decree, her readiness doesn’t match her usual behavior. Moreover, this is the real Divine Decree,” Black Robe said.

Chu Qing frowned, examining the Divine Decree. “Since it’s the real Divine Decree, let’s not worry about Mu Yunjin.”

“Now… we have more important matters to attend to,” Chu Qing said coldly.

Mu Yunjin didn’t sleep well all night, constantly checking with a mirror to see if there were any black marks or dots on her body.

Only when it was almost dawn, after confirming that the dark magic on her body had been removed, did she finally fall into a peaceful sleep.

After sleeping for a while, she vaguely sensed a faint fragrance beside her, and felt something soft brush against her cheek, making it tickle. She instinctively reached up to scratch it.

A moment later, she felt her blanket being lifted, and then she was drawn into a warm embrace.

Mu Yunjin was very sleepy. After snuggling into the embrace, she fell into a deep sleep.

When she woke up, it was already the afternoon of New Year’s Eve.

When Mu Yunjin opened her eyes groggily and saw that handsome, exquisite profile, she was startled at first, but then her eyes filled with joy.

When had Chu Li arrived?

She hadn’t been aware of it at all.

Chu Li, feeling the person in his arms suddenly tremble, opened his eyes slightly. “Awake?”

“Mm.” Mu Yunjin nodded obediently, nestling in Chu Li’s arms. “When did you arrive?”

“Around the fourth watch,” Chu Li answered, his voice carrying a hint of hoarseness and fatigue.

Mu Yunjin pressed her lips together, hugging Chu Li. “I’m still a bit sleepy. Let’s continue sleeping.”

Chu Li responded softly, holding her with his chin resting on her head, and fell into a light sleep.

Mu Yunjin, listening to the breathing sound above her head, curved her lips into a bewitching smile.

How wonderful that he hadn’t broken his promise this time.

On New Year’s Eve, Phoenix Feather Pavilion was especially lively.

Chu Li had brought Huang Yan, Ding Xian, Song Chun, Qing Meng, and others to Phoenix Feather Pavilion. Some of Mu Yunjin’s subordinates had already met Huang Yan and the others before. Soon, the group became well-acquainted, sitting together, eating, drinking, and chatting happily.

“Master, eat this,” Qiqi tore off a roasted chicken leg and handed it to Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin took it, blew on it gently, and first offered it to Chu Li. “Try it first…”

Seeing this, several people nearby smiled.

Chu Li felt a bit embarrassed with so many people watching and wanted to refuse Mu Yunjin, but when he met her smiling starry eyes, he lowered his head and took a bite of the chicken.

“You eat it.” After taking a bite, Chu Li gently patted Mu Yunjin on the back of her head.

Mu Yunjin nodded.

“Fortunately, Prince Ning didn’t break his promise this time, otherwise our master would have been unable to eat or drink properly again…” Qiqi smiled, winking at Mu Yunjin, teasing her.

Mu Yunjin’s face inexplicably reddened as she glanced at Qiqi. “Not at all, don’t make things up…”