The next day, Chu Li entered the palace early to request an imperial decree for Chu Qingyuan’s marriage to Qin Munan.

Mu Yunjin had originally wanted to sleep longer, but little Chu Mu had been babbling incessantly since early morning, wearing away what little drowsiness she had left.

After getting dressed, Mu Yunjin carried little Chu Mu out of the room and walked around the courtyard.

Shortly after, Mamma Shen came in carrying breakfast.

“Princess Consort, please have breakfast first. You can comfort the young master later,” Mamma Shen said as she placed the breakfast on the table.

Mu Yunjin nodded.

“Here, let me hold the young master for a while.” Seeing that Mu Yunjin couldn’t eat conveniently while holding the child, Mamma Shen extended her hands.

Mu Yunjin handed little Chu Mu to Mamma Shen, then sat down to eat breakfast.

“Oh my, our young master is growing so well, plump and fair. He’s already as big as a full-term baby,” Mamma Shen said, holding little Chu Mu and playing with him cheerfully.

…

…

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin’s lips curved into a smile.

At that moment, Qiqi came running in. As soon as she saw Mu Yunjin, her face showed anxiety, “Master, news just came from the Pavilion. Black Robe is performing rituals by the stream again!”

Mu Yunjin’s hand holding the chopsticks paused.

“What should we do? If this continues, Grandma Fish’s illness will surely worsen, and the Pavilion disciples won’t be able to sleep peacefully,” Qiqi said anxiously, pacing back and forth.

Mu Yunjin narrowed her eyes and clenched her fist, “I’ll go to the Phoenix Pavilion with you.”

Qiqi nodded.

“Is Huang Yan in the mansion?” Mu Yunjin asked before leaving.

“I just saw him wandering in the front hall,” Qiqi answered.

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin took little Chu Mu from Mamma Shen’s arms and walked out of Liquan Pavilion.

After a few steps, she indeed saw Huang Yan in the garden pavilion.

Mu Yunjin walked over and, without a word, placed little Chu Mu in Huang Yan’s arms, “Look after little Chu Mu for me. Qiqi and I need to go out for a while.”

“Where are you going?” Huang Yan was puzzled.

“Just take good care of little Chu Mu. When Chu Li returns, give him to Chu Li.”

With these words, Qiqi activated the formless space and took Mu Yunjin away.

After they left, Huang Yan was momentarily stunned before he realized, muttering, “This looks serious. Has something happened at the Phoenix Pavilion?”

…

In no time, Mu Yunjin and Qiqi arrived at Zhangzhou City.

When they stopped near the stream, they found no one by the water’s edge. There was no sign of Black Robe.

On the empty ground by the water were some burnt paper scraps.

“Let’s go back to the Pavilion first,” Mu Yunjin said to Qiqi, seeing no one around, and then flew toward the stream.

Qiqi followed behind Mu Yunjin.

After entering the main gate of the Phoenix Pavilion, they saw many disciples lying on the lawn, each moaning weakly, appearing extremely pained.

“Brother Lei Yan, Brother Lei Yan, what happened to all of you?” Qiqi rushed to Lei Yan’s side, asking with concern.

“We wanted to rush out and teach that Black Robe a lesson, but today’s spell was too vicious. We couldn’t move and could only endure. Now the true energy inside my body is jumping up and down…” Lei Yan said.

The spirit beasts nearby all agreed with Lei Yan’s words.

“Where did Black Robe get such power to extend his arm into our Phoenix Pavilion?” Qiqi couldn’t understand.

Mu Yunjin stood listening and quickly concluded.

Ordinary people indeed couldn’t disturb the Phoenix Pavilion in the slightest.

But there was one person who was equally familiar with the Pavilion’s layout and lifeline…

Leng Yuan.

It seemed that in this life, she would have to deal with this person again.

After walking around, Mu Yunjin reached the small wooden cabin halfway up the mountain, intending to see Huaying. Passing by Grandma Fish’s cabin on the way, she paused and knocked on Grandma Fish’s door first.

“Huan’er, come in.” An aged voice came from inside.

Mu Yunjin pushed open the door and entered.

In just a few months since they last met, Grandma Fish looked much older, her face showing signs of illness.

“Grandma.” Seeing this, Mu Yunjin was deeply worried.

Grandma Fish looked at Mu Yunjin, smiled slightly, and took her hand. “Has Huan’er been well recently?”

Mu Yunjin smiled gently and nodded, “All is well.”

“Then this old woman can rest easy,” Grandma Fish sighed lightly.

“You and Si Qing have both regained the memories of your past lives. You have finally found happiness after suffering. Seeing this, this old woman can depart in peace…”

Hearing these words, Mu Yunjin frowned and unconsciously tightened her grip on Grandma Fish’s hand, “Grandma…”

“This old woman’s life is coming to an end, and I will soon enter nirvana,” Grandma Fish said calmly, as if speaking of a trivial matter.

Mu Yunjin’s heart trembled as she listened.

Before regaining Fu Huan’s memories, her impression of Grandma Fish was just that of an elder in the Phoenix Pavilion.

But now, it was different.

Although death comes to all, hearing this news made Mu Yunjin inexplicably sad.

“Did you keep the pearl in the sachet safe?” Grandma Fish asked.

Mu Yunjin nodded, took out the sachet, removed the pearl inside, and placed it in her palm.

“Remember to keep it safe. Perhaps someday it will help you in a critical moment,” Grandma Fish coughed lightly, holding Mu Yunjin’s palm and closing it.

Mu Yunjin closed her fist, her heart filled with countless emotions.

While talking with Grandma Fish, a piercing noise suddenly reached her ears, drilling into her head.

“Black Robe has come again,” Grandma Fish frowned deeply, her face turning even paler.

“I’ll go check,” Mu Yunjin stood up and walked outside.

As soon as she stepped out, the piercing sound became even clearer. Looking down the mountain, she saw the Phoenix Pavilion disciples covering their ears and scattering in all directions.

Qiqi also ran out from Huaying’s room nearby and approached Mu Yunjin, “Master, what should we do?”

Without a word, Mu Yunjin flew toward the exit.

After passing through the main gate, she indeed saw Black Robe standing by the small stream, holding a wooden sword and chanting some incantation.

Mu Yunjin narrowed her eyes, flicked her wrist, and sent a palm strike toward Black Robe.

“Splash…”

Water splashed in all directions.

Black Robe’s incantation stopped.

Mu Yunjin also emerged from the small stream, standing directly in front of Black Robe.

Black Robe looked at Mu Yunjin before him, his eyes full of mockery, “Mu Yunjin, you finally deign to show yourself.”

“When was I ever unwilling to show myself?” Mu Yunjin countered.

With less than five days until the beginning of the seventh month, these people had become impatient.

Qiqi had also followed and stood beside Mu Yunjin, glaring at Black Robe, “Despicable and shameless!”

“Heh…” Black Robe sneered disdainfully.

“I’ve been performing rituals outside the Phoenix Pavilion for several days. All your disciples must be suffering now, wishing they were dead rather than alive?”

“I want to see who in the Phoenix Pavilion will have the strength to help you when the first day of the seventh month arrives!”

“Mu Yunjin, call me despicable if you will, call me cunning if you will, but this time, whatever method we use, we will eliminate you, this thorn in our side!”

Black Robe glared coldly at Mu Yunjin, his tone icy.

Seeing Black Robe reveal his intentions, Mu Yunjin smiled. She hadn’t expected Black Robe to have such a plan.

These people must truly be desperate to come up with such a tactic.

Just then, another figure appeared.

“Brother Lan,” Shen Wanning approached Black Robe and whispered a string of words in his ear.

Hearing this, Black Robe was delighted.

Then, narrowing his eyes, he looked at Mu Yunjin, “Mu Yunjin, even old lady Murong can’t help you this time.”

“You’re all old, weak, sick, and disabled. Wait for death!”

With that, Black Robe didn’t linger and left with Shen Wanning.

After Black Robe left, Mu Yunjin and Qiqi looked at each other in bewilderment. Finally, Mu Yunjin spoke first, “Old, weak, sick, and disabled—who was he referring to?”

“It seems only he fits that description!” Qiqi shrugged.

Mu Yunjin pursed her lips, “It seems the water in the hot pool has scalded his brain.”

…

The two stood by the stream for a while when a roaring sound approached.

Looking to the side, they saw Chu Li and the Ink Qilin.

Seeing Mu Yunjin, Chu Li walked over with a furrowed brow, “What happened?”

Mu Yunjin glanced at Chu Li and briefly explained about Black Robe’s rituals.

After listening, Chu Li frowned slightly and uttered two words, “Too idle.”

Hearing these two words, Mu Yunjin couldn’t help but twitch the corner of her mouth, then said, “But my Phoenix Pavilion disciples have all been severely injured and are feeling unwell.”

“Let’s take a look,” Chu Li said, taking Mu Yunjin’s hand, preparing to enter the Phoenix Pavilion.

After just a few steps, Huang Yan’s voice came, “Your Highness, Princess Consort, wait for me!”

As Huang Yan approached, he took a few breaths, “Your Highness, you ran so fast. I couldn’t catch up no matter how hard I tried.”

Chu Li glanced lightly at Huang Yan, ignoring him, and entered the Phoenix Pavilion.

…

Inside the Phoenix Pavilion, after the earlier disturbance, almost all the disciples had returned to their rooms to rest. No one was moving outside.

“Where’s Huaying?” As soon as they entered, Huang Yan began searching for Huaying.

“In her room,” Qiqi pointed in the direction of Huaying’s room.

Seeing this, Huang Yan was about to run over, but after a couple of steps, he turned back with a sheepish smile, “Look at me being silly. Why should I care about her?”

“A stubborn duck with a hard mouth,” Qiqi muttered.

After speaking, Qiqi deliberately walked toward Huaying’s room first. Standing at the door, she knocked, “Huaying, are you alright?”

There was no response from inside.

Qiqi frowned slightly. Hearing no response, she didn’t knock a second time but pushed the door open directly.

Seeing the scene inside startled them all.

Huaying lay on the bed, her lips purple, her body trembling uncontrollably. Her legs had now transformed into a snake’s tail, swaying weakly.

“Heavens, what’s happened to you?” Qiqi was extremely shocked.

Though Huaying was a snake spirit, her legs wouldn’t easily transform into a snake’s tail when moving on land.

“Quick, get me the Clear Heart Pills from my cabinet,” Huaying frowned deeply, shakily pointing toward the cabinet.

Beside her, Huang Yan quickly went to rummage through Huaying’s cabinet, finding several bottles and jars.

“Which one is it?” Huang Yan asked urgently.

“Green, green one,” Huaying said.

Hearing this, Huang Yan searched and found a green bottle. He poured out a few pills and fed them to Huaying’s lips…