Seeing Jian Xingzhi’s expression, Qin Wanwan knew he had received a task he liked. She asked curiously, “What’s your task?”

“A task about treating you well.”

Jian Xingzhi waved his hand. “Alright, you rest now. I’m going back to meditate.”

With that, Jian Xingzhi proactively jumped down from the bed and agilely leaped out the window. Qin Wanwan hadn’t expected him to run off so quickly and was momentarily stunned, only to see him poke half his body back in. “Um, let me confirm one last time—I’m your lover now, right?”

Qin Wanwan hadn’t expected him to ask so directly. She turned her head away awkwardly. “Just go to sleep already.”

“Give me a straight answer. I like you, and you like me too, right?”

Qin Wanwan: “…”

How was she supposed to answer that?

When she didn’t speak, Jian Xingzhi was unusually perceptive. He laughed happily. “If you don’t say anything, I’ll take it as your agreement. From now on you’re my fiancée. I’m leaving!”

“Wait…”

Before Qin Wanwan could finish speaking, he had already run off, even thoughtfully closing the window for her before leaving to show his care and consideration.

“Who…” Qin Wanwan said somewhat reluctantly, “who’s your fiancée?”

She muttered, “We’re not even engaged yet.”

After thinking about it, she fell back onto the bed. A moment later, she couldn’t help but roll around on the bed, using the blanket to cover herself as she laughed.

Jian Xingzhi ran back to his original room and sat on his meditation cushion, happy for a while, when he heard Xie Gutang’s voice from outside. “Senior?”

“Oh, Xie Gutang?” Jian Xingzhi called out. “What is it?”

“Liu Feixu’s primordial spirit just self-destructed. Gutang was worried and wanted to ask if Senior is alright now?”

“Oh, I’m fine,” Jian Xingzhi dismissed him. “No need to worry. I just need to meditate a bit.”

“Yes.”

After confirming Jian Xingzhi was unharmed, Xie Gutang didn’t disturb him further and turned to leave.

After Xie Gutang left, Jian Xingzhi’s mind was still restless. He sat on the meditation cushion thinking about this and that. After waiting for quite a while, 666 finally couldn’t help but speak up. “Master, you should heal your injuries. Stop thinking about it.”

“It’s just a small injury, nothing worth mentioning,” Jian Xingzhi waved his hand. “Let me think about Wanwan a bit more.”

666 looked at the still chaotic spiritual power in his body, speechless.

Jian Xingzhi propped his chin and thought for most of the night. Finally calming down somewhat, urged by 666, he meditated to recuperate. After his bodily injuries healed, he opened his eyes to daylight. When Jian Xingzhi opened the door and went out, it was already noon. Nanfeng saw him emerge and quickly greeted him. “Daojun Jian, you’re up? Family Head Liu is interrogating Liu Feixu’s accomplices in the great hall today. The master and the others have all gone. The master told me to call you at noon if you hadn’t woken, but I didn’t expect you to wake first.”

Hearing this, Jian Xingzhi nodded. “Mm, I’ll head over now.”

With that, Jian Xingzhi led Nanfeng together toward the great hall. Everyone was already seated in the hall. Liu Yuehua sat in the elevated position with Liu Feishuang standing behind her. Luo Xingzhou and Xie Gutang sat on one side, while Cuilu and Qin Wanwan sat on the other. When Jian Xingzhi walked in, everyone looked at him together. He glanced at Qin Wanwan and saw there was no seat beside her, so he could only sit next to Cuilu, separated from Qin Wanwan by Cuilu.

“Daojun Jian has arrived as well,” Liu Yuehua said with a smile when she saw Jian Xingzhi enter. “Yesterday, Daojun withstood the self-destructing primordial spirit strike from Liu Feixu. I wonder if you feel any discomfort? If you don’t mind, we can have a medical cultivator examine you. Whatever medicines are needed, just ask—the Liu clan will do everything possible to provide them.”

“These are all minor matters. There’s no serious problem,” Jian Xingzhi raised his hand in salute. “Family Head Liu need not worry.”

“That’s good then,” Liu Yuehua nodded and explained. “Earlier we already interrogated Liu Feixu’s accomplices. They admitted they all harbor demonic seeds within them. Liu Feixu used the demonic seeds in their bodies as a threat and also promised them great benefits to make them work for him. However, they don’t know much about Liu Feixu. Last night, Daojun seemed to use a soul-searching technique. I wonder what you saw in Liu Feixu’s sea of consciousness?”

“Nothing much, really,” Jian Xingzhi explained calmly. “What he did, everyone mostly already knows. From his sea of consciousness, Liu Feixu should have been possessed by Liu Yiyi a hundred years ago.”

“Possessed?” Liu Yuehua frowned. Jian Xingzhi nodded. “Back when Liu Yiyi let the Evil God escape, she was planted with a demonic seed. After returning to the Liu family, she was severely punished, but Bai Wei felt the Liu clan’s punishment wasn’t enough and came to make trouble, fighting with the Liu clan and ultimately killing Liu Yiyi. But after Liu Yiyi died, her divine soul didn’t dissipate. She knew Bai Wei would pursue and kill her reincarnations all along, so she simply possessed Liu Feixu, who was only at Golden Core stage at that time, and from then on lay dormant within the Liu family.”

“Then why did she harm my daughter?”

Liu Yuehua bit her teeth. Jian Xingzhi explained, “Originally, Liu Yiyi thought that after Bai Wei killed one of her reincarnations, she might leave the Liu clan. She deliberately set up three women to make Bai Wei think they were her reincarnations. But Bai Wei killed one life after another and never stopped. Liu Yiyi’s divine soul carried Bai Wei’s curse and she didn’t dare show herself at all. Until Liu Feishuang was born, Liu Yiyi discovered that Liu Feishuang had a special constitution and was the perfect vessel for the curse. She found a way to transfer the curse onto Liu Feishuang. After making Bai Wei mistake Liu Feishuang for her reincarnation, she could finally appear openly before everyone.”

“Indeed,” Liu Yuehua recalled. “Liu Feixu did only come out of seclusion and return home to actively help me manage household affairs after Feishuang was born.”

“After the Linglong Jade emerged, Liu Yiyi hoped to ascend using the Linglong Jade. She first went to Ghost City to seize the Linglong Jade but failed. After returning, she discovered Bai Wei had the Linglong Jade, so she deliberately deceived you, telling you that you could summon the Linglong Jade through the Water Spirit Pearl. She had you urge Liu Feishuang to marry Luo Xingzhou for this purpose, using the wedding to draw out Bai Wei, have everyone kill Bai Wei, and obtain the Linglong Jade, while she could play the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. What she didn’t expect was—”

Jian Xingzhi lowered his voice. Liu Yuehua had already become completely immersed in his description and asked earnestly, “Was what?”

Jian Xingzhi had been waiting for her to ask. After Liu Yuehua finished asking, his face completely serious, he emphasized each word: “I’m too strong.”

Hearing this, Qin Wanwan sprayed out a mouthful of tea. Liu Yuehua looked at Jian Xingzhi with a complex expression.

What he said was the truth. In her entire life, she had never seen someone who could be hit at close range by a Divine Transformation cultivator’s self-destruction and still be so lively afterward. But somehow, when Jian Xingzhi praised himself so earnestly, she couldn’t muster even half a bit of reverence.

She even felt rebelliously disinclined to respond.

“Um,” Qin Wanwan quickly changed the subject to prevent too much embarrassment. “Tomorrow Daoist Friend Luo and Miss Liu are getting married, right? Is there anywhere we can help?”

Bringing up this topic, Liu Yuehua immediately smiled and turned to discuss the wedding with Luo Xingzhou.

Speaking of tomorrow’s wedding, the atmosphere in the hall immediately became harmonious. Everyone chatted back and forth, while Jian Xingzhi found it somewhat difficult to get a word in.

He had never been accustomed to managing such mundane matters, but seeing Qin Wanwan chatting happily, he patiently sat in the hall, occasionally turning his head to glance at Qin Wanwan past Cuilu.

Qin Wanwan was exchanging pleasantries with Liu Yuehua about attending the wedding and didn’t notice Jian Xingzhi’s gaze. However, Cuilu, who was sitting there in a daze, quickly noticed that Jian Xingzhi… seemed to be looking at her?

Cuilu felt a bit panicked and quickly lowered her head to drink tea. She drank several cups. After Qin Wanwan and Liu Yuehua agreed to stay for Luo Xingzhou’s wedding before leaving, she finally spoke. “Family Head Liu still needs to prepare for the wedding, so we won’t disturb you further and will take our leave first.”

“Please rest well, everyone,” Liu Yuehua smiled. “I won’t stand on ceremony then.”

Qin Wanwan stood up to bid farewell to Liu Yuehua. Everyone rose together. Just before leaving, Liu Yuehua suddenly spoke. “Xingzhou.”

Luo Xingzhou turned back to see Liu Yuehua think for a moment before saying, “Regarding the Liu clan’s matter this time, please inform your father. Now that both the Desolate City and Flower City have discovered demonic seeds one after another, ask your father’s opinion—if necessary…”

Liu Yuehua’s expression turned cold. “The demon hunting operation may need to happen again.”

Hearing this, Luo Xingzhou’s expression became serious. “Xingzhou understands.”

When these words came out, everyone present showed varying expressions. Jian Xingzhi and Qin Wanwan exchanged a glance, then heard Liu Yuehua look at Cuilu and say, “I heard that the acting City Lord of Ghost City is now Lord Cuilu. I suggest Lord Cuilu go back and think carefully about my proposal.”

Cuilu nodded earnestly. “Family Head Liu’s meaning—I will consider it carefully.”

“Feishuang,” seeing that her meaning had been conveyed, Liu Yuehua raised her hand for Liu Feishuang to help her stand. “Have someone see our guests out. I’ll go rest first.”

Liu Feishuang responded and had someone escort everyone out. Jian Xingzhi and Qin Wanwan walked out together. Jian Xingzhi was just about to speak when Cuilu grabbed Qin Wanwan and said excitedly, “Come with me for a moment.”

Jian Xingzhi’s words stuck in his throat. Qin Wanwan turned to give Jian Xingzhi a look, telling him to wait a bit before coming.

Then she was dragged away by Cuilu, who pulled her to a secluded spot and said excitedly, “Wanwan, I need to tell you something.”

“Mm?” Qin Wanwan was curious, then heard Cuilu say with complete seriousness, “I think Jian Xingzhi is acting strange.”

“Huh?” Qin Wanwan was a bit confused. Cuilu looked around, then covered Qin Wanwan’s ear and said quietly, “He kept secretly looking at me today.”

Qin Wanwan’s heart skipped a beat, but she quickly calmed down. “That… that can’t be possible, right?”

“Really.” Cuilu was completely serious. “His gaze kept following me as I moved around. Tell me, what does he mean by this?”

Hearing Cuilu’s words, Qin Wanwan thought about their positions just now. She suddenly realized exactly who Jian Xingzhi had been looking at. She coughed lightly. “Don’t overthink it. He wouldn’t be thinking anything.”

“Could it be,” Cuilu raised her hand to touch the hairpin on her head, “he noticed I’m wearing a new hairpin?”

“Probably,” Qin Wanwan glanced at the ruby-studded hairpin on Cuilu’s head. “It’s quite pretty. It should be the ruby that attracted him. He doesn’t mean anything by it—don’t overthink it.”

With that, Qin Wanwan patted her shoulder. “If there’s nothing else, I’m going.”

“Ruby?”

Cuilu remained in place, murmuring, “So I’m not the only one who likes rubies. Mm, good taste!”

Qin Wanwan shook off Cuilu and walked into the garden by herself. Before long, she felt someone following behind her. Qin Wanwan caught the familiar cold fragrance at her nose, clasped her hands behind her back, walked ahead with a smile on her face, and asked knowingly, “What do you want?”

“Can’t I find you if there’s nothing?”

Jian Xingzhi looked at her with displeasure, inexplicably somewhat aggrieved. “Just last night you said I was your lover, and today you didn’t even save me a seat!”

“I didn’t expect you’d come over,” Qin Wanwan strolled with him along the path at a leisurely pace. “My new task is to go to the Formless Sect’s Immortal Alliance Conference, but right now there’s no news at all about this conference. Today when I heard Liu Yuehua mention wanting to restart the demon hunting operation, I’m guessing the Immortal Alliance Conference is related to this matter.”

“Mm.”

Jian Xingzhi listened to Qin Wanwan’s words and responded coolly.

“The injuries on your body should rest for a few more days, so I was thinking—we’ll stay here to attend Luo Xingzhou’s wedding, wait for news about the Immortal Alliance Conference to come out, and then we’ll set off. What do you think?”

“My injuries are fine,” Jian Xingzhi thought about it. “Your parents’ matter should still be resolved as soon as possible. Let’s set out for the Formless Sect first. I’ll recuperate on the road, and when we reach the Formless Sect we can stop there and gather information about the Immortal Alliance Conference.”

“There’s no need to be in such a hurry…”

Qin Wanwan pondered. “I’m afraid if you’re jostled around on the road, it’ll leave lingering ailments…”

“Even if there are lingering ailments, they won’t be mine,” Jian Xingzhi said indifferently. “My body in the immortal realm is perfectly fine!”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Jian Xingzhi suddenly felt somewhat guilty, feeling this made him seem very irresponsible. He coughed lightly, trying to salvage his image. “Mainly I’m afraid of delaying your parents.”

“It’s just a few days—it won’t matter.” Qin Wanwan insisted, shaking her head. Jian Xingzhi thought about it, then suddenly realized, “Are you worried about me?”

Qin Wanwan choked. Jian Xingzhi immediately became happy. He coughed lightly, crossed his arms, rather proudly. “Since you’re so worried about me, then we’ll wait until after attending Luo Xingzhou’s wedding tomorrow before leaving.”

“Tonight,” Jian Xingzhi turned his head, somewhat awkwardly, “I’d like to invite you to eat wontons. Do you have time?”

“I don’t want to eat wontons.”

Qin Wanwan flatly refused. Jian Xingzhi froze, surprised as he turned back, then heard Qin Wanwan speak. “Tangyuan.”

With that, she turned and headed toward the guest rooms, waving her hand. “See you tonight.”