"Miss, you're back?"

"Did you forget something?"

Xiao Tao thought she hadn't left yet, or that she had forgotten something and was coming back to get it.

She simply couldn't believe that Su Yujiao could have completed the task so quickly, in such a short time.

"Oh, I forgot to take my things."

"Miss, when are you leaving? I'll prepare some extra provisions for you. We left in a hurry yesterday and didn't have time to prepare properly."

"No need, I won't go. I've asked someone else to take care of it. It's almost Chinese New Year, I'd rather stay home and spend more time with the children."

Xiao Tao immediately beamed with joy: "Good, it's best if Miss doesn't go, so that I won't have to worry."

"Miss, please rest first. I'll go and make you something to eat."

"Um."

After resting at home for half a day and recovering her energy, Su Yujiao went to Zhenqing Temple again.

"Master Xuanqing, how is your recovery going?"

"It's alright."

Su Yujiao immediately took out a talisman and handed it to Daoist Xuanqing: "Daoist, do you think this amount of wish power is enough?"

"That's enough."

"I will perform the ritual to wake up young friend Jin."

Su Yujiao stopped her, saying with some concern, "Taoist Master, why don't you rest for a few more days and wait until you've fully recovered before performing the ritual?"

She was afraid that Master Xuanqing's performance would be affected by his illness, leading to another failure.

Master Xuanqing understood the implication in her words and smiled, "It's alright, my body won't recover in just a day or two."

"After this ritual, I will be going into seclusion for a period of time."

Su Yujiao looked guilty. Bringing the dead back to life is against the natural order, and Master Xuanqing's attempt to forcibly defy fate must have been extremely harmful to his body.

"Master, do you need any rare and precious materials when you cultivate?"

"If you need it, I will do my best to find it for you and help you restore your skills."

Master Xuanqing laughed heartily: "Heavenly treasures?"

"That's a novel idea. Where did you hear that rare and precious materials can help with cultivation?"

Su Yujiao gave an awkward smile; perhaps she had read too many cultivation novels in her previous life.

"I don't understand, that's nonsense."

"I know some medical skills, and I think the principles of healing and cultivation are the same."

"For example, many diseases can be overcome without medication, but taking medication will help you recover faster and prevent the condition from worsening."

"So I think that when cultivating, using some precious items can make the process twice as effective?"

"This is just my personal musing, I hope you won't laugh at me, Daoist Master."

Master Xuanqing smiled and said, "Your idea is quite ingenious. Perhaps I am just too old-fashioned."

"However, at present, I have not found any rare and precious materials that can help improve my cultivation."

"Young friend Su, you are very kind."

"It's getting late, let's begin."

"Um."

Su Yujiao carried out Jin Mudan's corpse and quietly retreated to the door so as not to disturb Master Xuanqing.

Time passed slowly, and after an unknown amount of time, Master Xuanqing finally stopped chanting the incantation, his face even paler than before.

However, this time he didn't vomit blood, so it should be a little better than last time.

Su Yujiao stepped forward and helped Master Xuanqing up, asking with concern, "Master, are you alright?"

"No problem!"

Looking at the motionless golden peony, Su Yujiao couldn't help but feel disappointed. Had she failed again?

"Taoist Master, what about Peony?"

"Go and take a look."

Su Yujiao immediately stepped forward to check on Jin Mudan's condition. As soon as she touched Jin Mudan's wrist, she was pleasantly surprised to find that Jin Mudan's body was warm and no longer cold.

Almost instantly, tears blurred her vision. She tried to calm herself down, took a deep breath, and then her fingers trembled as she touched Jin Mudan's pulse.

One, two, three... Although the pulse was very weak, it was beating rhythmically!

"Peony...Peony, is she really alive?"

Su Yujiao was extremely excited, her eyes widening in disbelief.

"Master, thank you so much, thank you so much." Su Yujiao bowed deeply in gratitude.

"Young friend Su, you're too kind."

"Young friend Jin has performed countless merits and was not destined to die."

"I am going into seclusion now, so I will not keep my young friend Su company any longer."

Su Yujiao said sincerely, "Daoist Master, I am deeply grateful. If there is anything I can do to help you in the future, I, Su Yujiao, will do my best and will never refuse."

Master Xuanqing smiled, said nothing, and left.

Su Yujiao sat by the bed until dawn, but finally couldn't stay awake any longer and drifted off to sleep.

She had only been asleep for a short while when Jin Mudan slowly awoke from her coma. She looked at the room's furnishings, feeling both unfamiliar and confused.

Where is this place?

Is this the afterlife?

Why is it so similar to the human world?

As soon as she turned around, she saw a familiar figure leaning against the headboard. Was that Jiaojiao?

Jin Mudan's eyes widened suddenly. How could Jiaojiao be here?

Am I dreaming?

Do ghosts dream?

Or did Jiaojiao die too?

"Jiaojiao... Jiaojiao, wake up." Jin Mudan's voice was hoarse and extremely anxious.

Su Yujiao groggily opened her eyes and found Jin Mudan staring at her with wide eyes. She was surprised and instantly woke up.

"Peony, you're awake! You're finally awake!" She excitedly hugged him and couldn't help but cry.

Jin Mudan was a little confused, but she still instinctively hugged her back.

"Jiaojiao, is it really you?"

"Where is this? How did you get here?"

"Jiaojiao, aren't I already dead?"

What she really wanted to ask was whether you were dead too, but she didn't want to say it out loud because it was considered unlucky.

Su Yujiao hugged her tightly and shook her head: "This is Zhenqing Temple. It was Daoist Xuanqing who saved you."

"You didn't die, you came back to life."

"What? How is this possible?"

Jin Mudan's back stiffened. How could she possibly come back to life? She clearly watched her own body being buried.

"Jiaojiao, have I... have I possessed someone else's body again?"

"Is there a mirror? I'd like to take a look."

Su Yujiao took a mirror out of her sleeve and handed it to her. Jin Mudan looked at her face and stared in shock.

This is her own face; she is not possessing anyone else's body.

Jin Mudan's eyes widened in excitement, and she couldn't wait to ask, "Jiaojiao, what exactly happened?"

Am I dreaming?

Is this true?

After Su Yujiao explained the whole story, Jin Mudan was finally convinced that she had truly come back to life.

She hugged Su Yujiao and cried for a long time.

"Okay, stop crying. You just woke up and you're still very weak."

"I just took your pulse. You'll need to rest for a long time to fully recover."

"After all, you've been lying down for too long, and your muscles have atrophied a bit."

"I'm a little worried now, will your legs still be able to walk?"

Jin Mudan didn't feel anything unusual about her legs: "How about I try walking around?"