As soon as the words were spoken, Huang Yan and the others let out a surprised exclamation. Then he walked over to Xu Heyu and gave him a light punch on the back. “Well done, you rascal! Moving so quickly—as soon as your body recovered, you’re ready to bring Yaoyao into your home!”

Xu Heyu chuckled softly and glanced at Qu Xinyao beside him. “The timing seemed right, so we decided to get it done. I’ve been waiting for a long time.”

“Congratulations,” Chu Li said with a faint smile, looking at them.

Mu Yunjin’s face also broke into a smile. In her heart, she felt deeply moved. Xu Heyu and Qu Xinyao had been through so much together. Thankfully, heaven had eyes, and now these lovers could finally be united.

…

“Cheers!”

In Fengyu Pavilion, everyone raised their glasses in celebration.

“You’re getting married in five days. Have you arranged all the wedding matters? If you need anything, just say the word!” Huang Yan patted his chest, making a promise.

“Don’t worry, if we can dispatch you, we’ll work you hard!” Qu Xinyao smiled gently. Perhaps because she was about to become a wife, much of her former sharpness had diminished.

…

…

Mu Yunjin sat to the side, substituting tea for wine, watching everyone eat, drink, and frolic together. She felt it had been a long time since they had enjoyed such a relaxed and pleasant moment.

If only it could continue like this forever.

“This is my first time at the legendary Fengyu Pavilion. Standing by that small stream earlier, my mind was blank for half a day. I had no idea how to enter,” Qu Xinyao said, looking around.

Mu Yunjin curled her lips. “When I first came, I was also confused for quite a while.”

“Indeed. After all, no one would just walk straight into a stream,” Qu Xinyao thought of that stream, and her smile deepened.

Then she continued, “But this place is truly wonderful—like spring all year round. Outside, we’ve just finished the Spring Festival, and it’s cold. It will still be a while before spring truly arrives.”

“If Sister Xinyao likes it here, you could move in,” Mu Yunjin said with a smile, looking at Qu Xinyao.

“Lady Wang, do you want Heyu to become a lonely widower right after getting married?” Huang Yan teased.

Mu Yunjin pursed her lips and propped her chin on her hand. “Mayor Xu can come too, but then there would be fewer rooms, and you’d have to leave…”

Huang Yan fell silent.

Everyone laughed.

Xu Heyu and Qu Xinyao stayed at Fengyu Pavilion for one night and left early the next morning to return to Heyue City to prepare for their wedding. Huang Yan and Ding Xian were also dragged along halfway to help.

Before leaving, Huang Yan felt that men couldn’t be relied upon, so he insisted on taking Hua Ying and Qiqi with him to Heyue City.

Early in the morning, when Mu Yunjin awoke, she found it unusually quiet.

While having breakfast with Chu Li, Fisherman’s Wife came walking over slowly with her cane.

“Good morning, Grandma,” Mu Yunjin greeted her upon seeing her.

Fisherman’s Wife smiled and nodded, looking at Mu Yunjin and then at Chu Li, mumbling, “How wonderful, together again…”

Hearing these words filled with deeper meaning, both Chu Li and Mu Yunjin instinctively glanced at Fisherman’s Wife. Mu Yunjin, in particular, recalling the previous times when Fisherman’s Wife had spoken such meaningful words, wanted to ask something. But guessing that Fisherman’s Wife wouldn’t tell her anyway, she pressed her lips together and remained silent.

“You’re going to Shuiyun Temple tomorrow, right?” The Fisherman’s Wife asked, looking at them.

Mu Yunjin made a sound of agreement and looked at her.

“Help me hang this on that thousand-year-old tree,” Fisherman’s Wife took out a red silk ribbon and handed it to Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin reached out to take it, looking at the red ribbon with a smile. “Grandma, you know about that ancient tree too?”

“Of course I know. I heard that the tree’s leaves had withered, and I was sorry about it for a long time. Now it’s better, and I can entrust some wishes to it again,” the Fisherman’s Wife said.

Mu Yunjin carefully put away the Fisherman’s Wife’s red ribbon. “Don’t worry, Grandma. I’ll bring it there for you.”

“Very well, I won’t disturb you then. I’ll take my leave,” the Fisherman’s Wife said before slowly getting up and leaving.

After she left, Mu Yunjin turned to look at Chu Li and saw him staring in the direction Fisherman’s Wife had gone, seemingly lost in thought.

“Chu Li, what’s wrong?” Mu Yunjin asked.

Hearing her voice, Chu Li turned to look at Mu Yunjin, then shook his head. “Nothing.”

“It’s just that this elder seems somewhat familiar,” Chu Li said.

Mu Yunjin pressed her lips together, folded her arms, and thought for a moment. “When I first came here, Grandma called me Fuhuan, saying it was the name of the Phoenix Lady, and that she had finally waited for my return.”

“Called you what?!” Chu Li’s eyes flashed, his reaction intense as he frowned and looked at Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin was slightly startled and added, “Called me Fuhuan…”

Fuhuan…

Fuhuan…

Chu Li silently repeated this name twice. Although it was the first time he had heard it, he found it incredibly familiar, and his heart began to ache subtly.

Mu Yunjin, observing Chu Li’s reaction and the subtle expressions on his face, bit her lip and tentatively asked a question—

“Chu Li, do you know someone named Si Qing?”

As soon as she spoke, Chu Li’s eyelid twitched, and he instinctively asked, “Qing Gege?”

After speaking, in a moment of clarity, Chu Li seemed to recall the young girl’s voice that had echoed in his ears, those sweet and joyful calls of “Qing Gege”…

Mu Yunjin’s eyes brightened when she heard the words “Qing Gege.” “You know this person?”

Chu Li nodded, about to say that he had experienced such hallucinations in his ears before, when Mu Yunjin excitedly began to speak. “This Si Qing is said to be the Underworld God of the earthly realm, but I’ve searched through many records of celestial gods and found no introduction to the Underworld God.”

“Underworld God?” Chu Li’s pupils contracted, his tone carrying slight surprise.

“Yes, the Underworld God,” Mu Yunjin nodded in confirmation.

Chu Li frowned, his gaze shrouded in mist, making his emotions indiscernible.

Mu Yunjin also fell silent due to Chu Li’s silence.

At that moment, a strange atmosphere suddenly permeated the air around them…

In the end, no one continued this topic.

…

The next day, at Shuiyun Temple.

After Master Huaiyuan had been released from the Ministry of Justice, Shuiyun Temple had returned to its former busy state. The common people, who had previously been too frightened to come and burn incense, had now returned in droves to pray for blessings.

Mu Yunjin and Chu Li arrived before noon, accompanied by Daoist Feng Xuan.

As soon as the three arrived at Shuiyun Temple, they headed toward Master Huaiyuan’s meditation chamber. On the way, they encountered an uninvited guest.

“Why are you only coming now? This Crown Prince has been waiting for you for a long time!” Yun Lianqing emerged from a corner.

Mu Yunjin rolled her eyes. “Why did you come here?”

“Weren’t you meeting at Shuiyun Temple? Since this Crown Prince is your ally, I naturally should come,” Yun Lianqing smiled mischievously.

Mu Yunjin was completely exasperated with this person.

After entering the meditation chamber, they found that National Master An had already arrived and was playing chess with Master Huaiyuan. Upon seeing Chu Li and Mu Yunjin arrive, he immediately put down his chess piece and stood up.

“It’s been quite some time since we last met. You seem to be doing well—your face has become rounder,” National Master An said with a smile, looking at Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin was startled and immediately covered her face with her hands. Her smiling face instantly fell.

Just say she’s gotten fat directly…

“Alright, let’s talk about important matters,” National Master An gestured for everyone to sit down.

After everyone was seated, National Master An spoke first. “That girl Qin Muyue is now trapped in Southern Court Country. You know about this, right?”

Everyone nodded.

“A few days ago, I deliberately released this information, but there was no reaction from Chu Qing’s side. It seems he has already abandoned Qin Muyue.”

After saying this, National Master An continued, “Later, I made some effort to inquire about Chu Qing’s movements. And what I found out was quite shocking…”

National Master An dragged out the last syllable.

Mu Yunjin’s heart was suspended. “What’s so shocking?”

“They’ve set their sights on Murong Rusu,” National Master An said.

“What? What do they want to do to Murong Rusu?” Daoist Feng Xuan became agitated and quickly spoke up.

National Master An sighed and looked at Daoist Feng Xuan. “Do you remember that Murong Rusu and Feng Cang once had a daughter?”

Daoist Feng Xuan nodded.

“It’s said that the girl didn’t die, and that she is none other than that witch, Shen Wanning,” National Master An dropped his bombshell.

Now it was Mu Yunjin and the others who were shocked.

Mu Yunjin bit her lip, finding it impossible to connect Shen Wanning with Murong Rusu…

“Now, the Black-Robed One has already taken Shen Wanning to Pingfeng Cliff. If Shen Wanning truly is Murong Rusu’s daughter, do you think Murong Rusu will emerge from seclusion?” National Master An asked leisurely.

After a pause, he added, “And how will Chu Li face his master?”

“And that Qiuye, who was originally severely wounded and wouldn’t have lived long, now, with Murong Rusu’s help, apart from his severed arm that cannot be restored, the rest of his injuries from the ice needles will be healed without leaving any sequelae!” National Master An said.

National Master An’s words made Mu Yunjin’s heart heavy.

She had witnessed Elder Murong’s abilities firsthand. Even after falling from Pingfeng Cliff, Mu Yunjin had been saved by Elder Murong. Saving someone like Qiuye would certainly be no challenge for her.

Although finding one’s daughter was a good thing, why did it have to be Shen Wanning?

“No! I must go to Pingfeng Cliff to see!” Daoist Feng Xuan couldn’t sit still.

National Master An grabbed his sleeve. “Wait a moment, don’t be impulsive. I haven’t finished speaking.”

Hearing this, Daoist Feng Xuan paused, then eventually calmed down and sat back down.

“What about Qin Muyue? How do you plan to deal with her? When I fought her that day, I discovered she had cultivated the martial arts of both Qiuye and the Black-Robed One. Although the techniques couldn’t merge within her, the power she released was not to be underestimated. I exchanged dozens of moves with her before subduing her!”

“If this woman is released again, there could be great calamity!”

After speaking, National Master An turned his gaze toward Chu Li.

Sensing National Master An’s gaze, Chu Li’s eyes darkened, and he spoke without a trace of warmth. “Then just kill her.”

“Hahaha, I wonder how that mad woman would react if she heard those words!” National Master An laughed out loud.

…

After chatting idly for a few sentences, they returned to the main topic.

“Now there’s a problem: Murong Rusu is very likely to oppose us for the sake of her daughter. That old woman’s martial prowess is not low, and she is proficient in both witchcraft and poisoncraft. We need to think of a solution…”