Jade bead earrings are not in good condition; they shouldn't be subjected to unnecessary treatment. ...

Pei Xuanzhi asked, "When will Senior Sister return?"

Yan Huanyue replied, "It's still early. I'll stay at the Broken Jade Waterfall for an hour, and then we'll go to the Changqing Palace to pay our respects. Don't go to the library today. Rest for a day or two and go when you've recovered a bit."

Pei Xuanzhi nodded with a faint smile on his lips and said softly, "Okay."

After Yan Huanyue entered the Heavenly Stele, she looked up from her own position, glancing over many names in the middle, and saw the position where Yu Zhao was located.

Since Yu Zhao returned, his ranking on the Heavenly Stele has climbed two places. In just three months, he has achieved two positions within the top two hundred of the Heavenly Stele Ranking, which is truly remarkable.

It is evident that he did not neglect his cultivation when he came out into the world, and may even have obtained many things that could help him cultivate.

Yan Huanyue was neither anxious nor irritable.

The most common trap people fall into is letting hatred overwhelm their reason, believing that they can destroy everything with just a surge of resentment.

In fact, when there is a huge difference in status, if one acts rashly, one will either die before avenging one's great grudge while the enemy remains unharmed, or one will be crushed by the enormous disparity in strength, losing one's moral compass and becoming despondent and impoverished.

Throughout history, there have been many instances of the strong bullying the weak, and many people who have no choice but to swallow their anger in the face of power.

When many people feel powerless against oppression, they console themselves by looking forward and reminding themselves that life has more to offer than just this one chapter.

Only a few can survive a long period of silence, preserve themselves, accumulate strength, and painstakingly seek revenge.

She looked back and forth at how many people were between her and Yu Zhao.

This constantly reminded her that there was still so much room for improvement, preventing her from getting too caught up in the simple joy of achieving a few rankings.

She thought that after dealing with Fu Yinhuan, she wouldn't necessarily have to use fair and square means to deal with Yu Zhao.

But she would be even more satisfied if she could climb to that position.

An hour later, she walked out of the blue stone tablet.

She smoothed her disheveled hair from the fight, went back to her room to make offerings to the memorial tablet, and then went back to pick up Pei Xuanzhi, and together they went to Changqing Palace to pay their respects.

As they passed through a forest path, they saw Yu Zhao and Xue Jingnian sitting under a wooden pavilion, wiping their swords and listening to the wind.

Seeing them approach, Xue Jingnian stared blankly, while Yu Zhao continued to wipe his gleaming natal sword with undivided attention.

Pei Xuanzhi glanced at Yan Huanyue, who continued walking as if no one else was around, and then at the two people under the wooden pavilion.

He acted as if he was so bound by tradition that he felt a pang of guilt if he didn't greet acquaintances.

Therefore, he naturally smiled and nodded at the two people under the pavilion.

Xue Jingnian gripped the hilt of his sword tightly.

After they passed by, he muttered, "They're so smug, such seductive bewitching creatures. How can one stay with them for long? Who knows if they'll lose their minds..."

Yu Zhao raised his eyes and glanced in the direction they had gone, smiled faintly, and said, "Huan Yue... had no choice. It seems that Junior Brother Pei's health has not recovered very well. I'm afraid his body does not allow it. He only changed his heart contract. How could Huan Yue be bewitched by a sick and weak person?"

Compared to the inevitable sadness of seeing a woman who almost belonged to him marry someone else, witnessing her marry an incompetent man was what gave him a secret sense of satisfaction.

Look, I'm still the best one you can reach.

Xue Jingnian's expression immediately relaxed, and he asked, "Senior Brother Yu, what do you think of Pei Xuanzhi?" Yu Zhao looked at his own cold and handsome face reflected in the sword and said with great sympathy, "Junior Brother Pei... what a pitiful man."

Xue Jingnian lowered his eyes, concealing the disdain in them, and his lips twitched slightly, it was unclear whether he was laughing at Yu Zhao or Pei Xuanzhi.

.

"Senior Brother Yu was there just now, why didn't you pay him any attention? If you care about him, why don't we be honest with each other? If you care about him, then in the future we..."

Sparse sunlight filters through the withered leaves of the forest, bright yet desolate.

Yan Huanyue stopped in her tracks and said calmly, "I care more about your health. Don't you want to live a good life?"

Pei Xuanzhi paused, stopping beside her, and turned his head to look at the small jade beads swaying by her ear.

A cool breeze combs through the leaves, and the shards of sunlight reflected off the leaves shimmering softly in the forest.

Last night, it did just that, brushing against his lips like fluffy catkins, making him so itchy that he wanted to put it in his mouth, chew it up, and swallow it.

His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he couldn't help but look away.

Yan Huanyue thought that many people would find it difficult to remain calm in the face of life and death.

But what's rare is that he's not someone who has no bottom line in order to achieve his goals. He never bothered her in her past life, and in this life, he still cherishes her "old feelings" with her former fiancé.

Yan Huanyue said, "I don't like Senior Brother Yu. Even without you, I would have broken off the engagement. Today's events have nothing to do with this. It's purely because we don't get along. You don't need to think like that anymore."

He was a man who knew when to stop, so he didn't make any more pointless tests and simply obediently said, "Okay."

Yan Huanyue turned her head to look at him. The sunlight filtering through the leaves shimmered slightly on his pale, translucent face. His long, lowered eyelashes were gilded with gold, like delicate butterfly wings.

Even with his illness, he was an extremely handsome young man, and once he recovered, he would be dazzlingly beautiful.

She smiled and said, "Junior Brother Pei, wait until you recover and meet a girl you like before you talk to me about divorce. I will definitely not try to stop you."

Pei Xuanzhi frowned slightly, revealing an emotion he had shown in recent days other than acknowledging her: "How can a married person still have feelings for someone else?"

He's so serious, it would be a shame not to tease him a little.

Yan Huanyue sighed with feigned profundity and maturity, "You are so young, how could you possibly understand the meaning of the word 'love', which has captivated so many people and made them risk their lives for it?"

Pei Xuanzhi smiled gently, his eyes crinkling like spring water, bright and cheerful.

With a look of self-assured clarity, as if cleansed by useful knowledge, he complimented, "Senior sister knows so many principles."

He's perfect material to be a lackey. Perhaps he's been recuperating at the Lu family since childhood and hasn't seen many people.

Yan Huanyue felt it was pointless to bully the ignorant, so she sighed, shook her head, and walked forward.

“If you are in love with someone else but do not tell me, and secretly build a tomb and dig a pit for me, intending to harm me, I will pierce your collarbone, hang you from the roof beam, and when I am in a good mood, I will pour a basin of boiling water on you and then use an iron comb to comb your flesh and blood.”

Pei Xuanzhi found her method of punishment somewhat interesting. He pulled his cloak around his neck and slowly followed behind her, asking, "Are you unhappy?"

"If I'm unhappy, I'll break your bones one by one, cover your mouth, and make sure you can't scream."

Pei Xuanzhi's breath hitched slightly, and he couldn't help but suggest, "Then you have to hide me well, otherwise it will be hard for you to clear your name if someone finds out. Even though I offended you first, others will only see that you were abusing me."

Yan Huanyue also smiled and said, "Don't worry, I will hide him well."

.

They arrived at Changqing Palace shortly afterward.

After a brief, ordinary conversation, Pei Hanzhou examined Pei Xuanzhi's pulse and breath for a long time before finally saying:

"The power of the Heart-to-Heart Connection is somewhat weak and will not fully heal you in a short time. Let the Heart-to-Heart Connection circulate for two more days to fully understand its structure and nature, and then go into seclusion for a period of time to recuperate."

Pei Xuanzhi sat to the side and nodded silently.

As they left Changqing Palace, Ning Wuyang had just returned from receiving his mission at Wenshi Hall. Upon seeing the two of them, he immediately smiled and said, "Xuanzhi, you seem to be in good spirits. How are you feeling?"

Pei Xuanzhi replied, "It's much better than before. My father said he still needs to go into seclusion for two days."

Ning Wuyang's expression stiffened, and he subconsciously glanced at Yan Huanyue, "Huh? You're already in seclusion right after getting married?"

Pei Xuanzhi seemed not to have noticed anything different, and said in a very ordinary tone, "To use the power of the Heart Contract to nourish the bloodline and spiritual veins, seclusion is also a necessary measure."

Ning Wuyang's eyes widened. "Heart Contract? Ah...you really only changed it...Yes, I'm not in good health, I can't do anything reckless, I need to go into seclusion and take good care of my health, that's the most important thing."

As the autumn wind blew by, Pei Xuanzhi pulled his cloak tighter, coughed twice, and said in a low voice, "Yes."

.

At night, Yan Huanyue finished her meditation and went to sleep. Because she had not inhaled any alluring fragrance, she was more alert than the night before.

She hadn't been asleep for long when she heard a rustling sound. She suddenly opened her eyes and secretly touched the bedding beside her, but it was empty.

She asked, "Xuanzhi?"

"Yes, it's me."

"What's wrong?"

Pei Xuanzhi, standing behind the screen, said, "I'm a little hungry. Let's get up and find some snacks."

Yan Huanyue cast a spell to light a candle on a nearby table, its dim light flickering gently.

She blinked to adjust to the candlelight and asked, "Why don't we light candles?"

"I'm afraid the candlelight will wake you."

The footsteps drew closer, and a figure gradually pressed down on the bed. Yan Huanyue sat up, still wrapped in the blankets.

Pei Xuanzhi stood with his back to the light, holding a plate of snacks, and walked to her bedside, asking, "Would you like some?"

Seeing that he wasn't wearing an outer garment, Yan Huanyue said, "I'm not eating. Put on a coat and eat less snacks tonight."

Pei Xuanzhi didn't move. His gaze fell on her still slightly sleepy eyes, and he said softly:

“Sister… I can’t help coughing at night, and I’m afraid it will wake you up. I’m planning to sleep in the side room, where there are blankets.”

Yan Huanyue felt that it was just right; when she sat in meditation on the inside of the bed before going to sleep, he was lying in front of her.

She lay flat on the ground, covered by a thin blanket, looking as if she were performing a ritual for him.

She was also worried that he would see her when she was in a state of mental turmoil.

Before dusk, she carried him outside the courtyard to eat the Shouyuan Pill. But before he fell asleep, he lay in bed hugging his blanket, blinked his eyes, and asked weakly, "Senior Sister, what were you eating just now?"

Tsk...

At that time, she only felt like a woman who, when her family was so poor that they had no money to eat, would secretly eat steamed buns in private, regardless of whether her sick and weak husband lived or died.

Never mind, once he goes into seclusion, she'll move back to her own little courtyard.

Yan Huanyue said, "Then put on two more clothes and go to the side room."

.

Pei Xuanzhi coughed twice, closed the door to the room, and casually put down the plate of untouched pastries with a blank expression.

The golden mist behind them, no longer suppressed, quickly emerged and soon filled the entire room like vines, wrapping around the tables, chairs, and beams.

Anyone who tried to sneak out through the cracks in the window when he wasn't looking was smashed by his talismans into a dazzling little firework.

He collapsed onto the cold bed, watching the strands of golden mist that crawled all over the room in the darkness struggle, twist, and tear, trying to escape, yet he suppressed them in this small room.

He spread his five fingers, and in his palm was a jade bead earring.

In a moment, the earring was swept away by a wisp of golden mist, and the golden mist in the room immediately began to fight and tear at it.

He turned his face away, refusing to look at how greedy and shallow those things were.

It's nothing but a seductive aura, foolish, ignorant, selfish, and insatiable, crawling out to please and tempt regardless of the occasion, just for a tiny, insignificant touch.

He is different from them, not at all...

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Author's Note: Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 2023-11-12 22:57:42 and 2023-11-14 01:51:41!

Thank you to the little angel who threw the grenade: Xiaomanyi (1);

Thank you to the little angel who threw the landmine: Yiya, one durian candy;

Thank you to the little angels who irrigated the nutrient solution: 66859136 22 bottles; Did the author add roots today? 11 bottles; Three Pockets, Mu, Every Big Shot Daily 10,000 words, Yi Ya One Durian Candy 10 bottles; Chan Feng 6 bottles; Seven Days Without Eating, Wu Xue, Kabecey, Zhu Yu 5 bottles; Yuan Ji, Radon, Ye Bei Ge's Little Sheep, Jiangpan 3 bottles; Wuhu, A Little Cutie, Overbearing Shu Fen Loves Me 2 bottles; Xin, Fish Ah Fish Ah Fu Fu Fu, Zhou Man's Sword Bone, Never Retreat from the Beginning, Gargamel (, 42293163, Peach Wants to Sleep Early, Little Rabbit Zai Zhi's Wish Come True, Jiu Jiu, Sleep Until the Clouds Rise 1 bottle;

Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!