"Xuanzhi, you smell so good..."

Before Yu Zhao could return to Lingxu Peak to pay his respects to his master Xu Fengqiu and submit the Record of His Birth, he was blocked at the foot of Lingxu Peak by Han Shuangying, who was carrying an oil-paper umbrella.

Yu Zhao immediately greeted her, saying, "Greetings, Senior Sister Han."

Han Shuangying remained as aloof as ever, and said calmly, "Junior Brother Yu, was your journey smooth?"

Yu Zhao replied, "Although it wasn't particularly smooth, it was eventually all taken care of. I originally planned to visit my master and then my senior sister, but I didn't expect her to come in person."

Han Shuangying said, "Oh?"

Yu Zhao took out a jade-carved decree and presented it to her with both hands. "When we passed by Taigong Mountain in Jianan, we saw demonic energy emanating from it, so we followed the signs and broke the formation."

"Upon seeing the words carved by my senior sister in the cave, I first asked someone to help suppress the demonic energy. The demonic essence below had already shattered, and the accumulated demonic energy remained there without dissipating. After we dealt with it again, Fellow Daoist Tan reminded me to take the Fushan Token back and return it to my senior sister."

When Yu Zhao was in the outer sect, Han Shuangying had not yet become an instructor, but sometimes her master would send her to supervise the evening classes. She also helped Yu Zhao answer some questions about cultivation.

Upon hearing Yu Zhao's words, Han Shuangying's expression calmed down considerably, and she slowly said, "Since you have suppressed the demonic energy again, you can have this Fushan Token."

Yu Zhao tried to decline, but Han Shuangying turned and left.

Yu Zhao watched Han Shuangying's departing figure. He knew that Senior Sister Han was an upright person, and he hadn't intentionally hidden this matter, but...

Gui Yi didn't intentionally want to cause trouble in that cave; she was just a bit too playful, which is why she made solving the formation the challenge and had everyone compete to solve it.

Senior Sister Han's formation was so well set up that they had no idea what was inside.

After three days of working together, they finally broke through the formation and entered the cave. Upon seeing the words on the cave wall, they realized what was inside.

“Yu Zhao, your senior sister is too wasteful. If the demonic energy below has been purified, isn’t it a waste to leave only the energy to nourish the mountain? Since she doesn’t want it, I’ll take the demonic energy and we’ll split it. This jade token is mine. If we’re brothers, let’s not make a fuss.”

No sooner had Tan Guiyi finished speaking than Xiao Tiran immediately interjected, "This is the place you found, Senior Sister. Historically, whoever picks up these lost items owns them. This purified demonic essence should also belong to you. I will not compete with you for it."

Fu Yinhuan also said, "They're all yours."

Yu Zhao himself didn't want it, but he wanted to help Tan Guiyi get what she wanted.

The demonic essence was something Senior Sister didn't want, so she could naturally take it. However, Senior Sister Han had specially inscribed the ownership of this jade token on the mountain wall.

Therefore, he said, "The demonic essence is yours, but this Fushan Token was left by Senior Sister Han of my sect. If you take it and people find out about its use later, I really won't be able to explain it to Senior Sister."

Tan Guiyi looked somewhat disappointed, kicked at the pebbles at her feet, and said softly:

"You're such a fickle fellow! You've forgotten about your brothers just because your Senior Sister Han is pretty, haven't you? Yu Zhao, you're so indecisive. Do you think I'd really be greedy for a jade token? I was just testing whether you care about Senior Sister or us. Humph, stingy!"

He wanted to explain, but Fellow Daoist Fu had already taken the Fushan Token.

The demonic energy had indeed been purified, but the demonic energy had not yet dissipated. As soon as the Fushan Token was removed, the remaining demonic energy surged out and rushed towards Guiyi, also alarming the Su clan members who were passing by.

They could only say that the formation had loosened, causing demonic energy to leak out...

Yu Zhao gripped the Fushan Token tightly with all his might, his eyes fixed on the direction Han Shuangying had left, even though she had long since departed this place.

He recalled questions he had encountered in his youth: In the world, should we judge people by their actions or their intentions? Is an unintentional mistake considered a wrong? Can a white lie be considered a sin?

He had no intention of harming his senior sister; in fact, he even brought back the Fushan Token.

The cover-up was just to avoid unnecessary conflict, since even the Demonic Essence Senior Sister didn't want it, so it was fine for anyone to take it.

Looking at the Fushan Token that Senior Sister Han had left him, he thought that things were actually easy to resolve. Right now, with just a few words, he could not only smoothly get over the matter, but also give the Fushan Token to Guiyi.

.

The next morning, Yan Huanyue finished wielding her sword by the Broken Jade Waterfall and entered the Heart Character Studio.

Unsurprisingly, I heard about how Yu Zhao quelled the remnants of the formation left by Senior Sister Han and retrieved the Fushan Token.

She sat cross-legged behind her desk and took out a book to read.

After the Fushan Order, Yu Zhao will stay in the sect until late November, and then go down the mountain again, this time when Fu Yinhuan was injured.

She couldn't afford to be impatient and disrupt their training journey together. She needed to wait until Fu Yinhuan was injured before dealing with the people and events that followed without much effort...

Mu Huage leaned closer and whispered, "Senior Sister Yan, I met Junior Brother Pei yesterday. He even gave me some pointers on formations. Although he is not in good health, he speaks with great composure and patience, which made me feel like I was basking in a spring breeze. I think he will treat you very well, Senior Sister."

After saying these comforting words, he took the book and returned to his desk.

Yan Huanyue remembered that Pei Xuanzhi had mentioned meeting Mu Huage yesterday, but when she thought of Pei Xuanzhi's warm attitude towards Yu Zhao, which was not in line with their current level of familiarity, she felt a little sigh.

Yu Zhao, this fairy of Yunjing, is so dazzling in front of outsiders that Junior Brother Pei is probably starting to admire him as well.

Tsk...

She put aside the plans she had already rehearsed countless times in her mind and her doubts about Yu Zhao's charm, and focused on the book in her hands.

She had already memorized this collection of techniques, but repetition is the best way to memorize, so she would take it out every month and go through the parts she had slightly forgotten.

As time passed and seasons changed, by the time I had memorized this collection of techniques twice more, it was already the season when osmanthus flowers were in full bloom.

Until the afternoon before her wedding, when she walked out of Tianbei, her ranking had climbed four places compared to the end of June.

It gets harder to climb the higher you go.

She walked through the silent night, pondering whether she should use the "Gathering Evil and Slaying Demons Formation" drawn by Junior Brother Pei again to deepen her practical proficiency in the formation.

As she passed by the library, she saw Yu Zhao standing alone on the jade steps, looking at her. She didn't know if he was going into the library or had just come out of it.

She glanced at it and strolled leisurely past the library.

Yu Zhao originally wanted to see her, but he was worried about what others would say about him, so he waited for Yan Huanyue to come to him.

But to his surprise, Yan Huanyue really had no intention of revealing her feelings to him privately.

He was already standing in the place she always passed on her way back from the Broken Jade Waterfall every night, waiting for her. She actually managed to resist coming to him and confessing her feelings.

Or perhaps, she was using this resolute attitude to make him completely believe that she truly wanted to sever ties with him and marry that half-demon.

Ha, she's still as naive and ignorant as ever. How could he possibly believe that she did this willingly?

.

The next day happened to be the first day of the ten-day holiday. Before dawn, Yan Huanyue was awakened by a knock on the door. Han Shuangying brought the hairdresser, whom she had invited from the foot of the mountain, to her room.

From bathing and changing clothes to finally applying lip rouge, there were etiquette rules to follow for each step. By the time everything was done, it was already noon.

The sect leader had arranged everything in the courtyard a few days ago, and the small banquet has already begun.

Many of her senior and junior sisters came to her room to help her with her makeup, and her former fellow disciples also joined Gu Yuxiao in the courtyard for a banquet and chat while waiting.

As dusk approached, people from the other peaks arrived, and the courtyard erupted in excitement.

They were all from the same school and knew each other best. They laughed and joked together, exchanging auspicious words and teasing each other. Everyone was much more relaxed than when they were studying in seclusion or going out into the world.

When they're in the thick of it, even a slight mispronunciation or a minor blunder can trigger bursts of loud and joyful laughter.

It is jokingly said that placing it on a joyous occasion is more powerful than placing it on an ordinary day.

Yan Huanyue, dressed in a robe embroidered with the sun, moon, mountains, and rivers, toasted each of her fellow disciples in the courtyard.

She wasn't a heavy drinker, and her fellow disciples didn't like to pressure or force people to drink. So, each time she offered a toast, she would express her gratitude, take a small sip, and then be let off the hook by her fellow disciples.

As dusk approached, the disciples of Changqing Palace arrived on their swords in the distance, following a five-element canopy carriage adorned with imperial talismans.

Pei Xuanzhi knelt on one knee under the canopy, her golden hair tie swaying in the moonlight, and she wore the same color court robes as Pei Xuanzhi.

He was pale from illness and usually looked tired and listless, but today, his clothes accentuated his ethereal and otherworldly aura.

As the imperial carriage slowly landed, the disciples in the courtyard lined up in two rows, forming the Kangning Xianghe Fu Jue (a type of incantation) with their hands, and led her across the cleared path.

Pei Xuan dismounted and stood by the gate, bowing deeply to her. She returned the bow, stepped out of the courtyard, and together they boarded the palanquin, where she knelt and sat down.

The celebratory chants echoed, and the imperial carriage gradually rose with the wind.

As they reached mid-air, countless flying swords, sabers, arrows, and other magical weapons, each imbued with different colors of spiritual energy, clashed and celebrated in the moonlight above the imperial carriage. In the peaceful night breeze, they displayed dazzling colors of weaponry, and the clanging sounds resounded through the heavens.

The imperial carriage headed towards the brightly lit Ancestral Hall. As autumn was gradually approaching, the night breeze was slightly cool, and Pei Xuanzhi soon covered his lips and began to suppress a cough.

She made a hand seal to create a barrier to block the wind, then turned her head and asked, "How have you been lately?"

Pei Xuanzhi covered his mouth with his sleeve and coughed for a while, his voice hoarse as he said, "It's alright, I just caught a chill and couldn't help coughing for a moment."

When his wide sleeves billowed in the wind, she noticed the two layers of brocade sleeves peeking out from beneath them, completely unaware that he was wearing two outer robes underneath.

The autumn chill was more pronounced on him than on ordinary people.

Inside the Ancestral Hall sat all the elders of the Tianyan Sect.

Pei Hanzhou asked his senior brother Yin Shu to preside over the wedding ceremony. Yin Shu was already standing in front of the old offering table in the ancestral hall with his sleeves down.

Yan Huanyue and Pei Xuanzhi climbed the long steps from the bottom.

Upon arriving at the main hall, one first performs the disciple's rites. After entering the hall and completing all the necessary bows, one then performs the husband-wife rites, presenting the marriage certificate along with the life-and-death contract to the ancestral master for divine approval.

Then he paid his respects to Pei Hanzhou again.

Pei Hanzhou was deeply moved as he watched the two bow, but his expression remained solemn.

Many years ago, when he went to Mingdezong alone to climb Junzi Peak, he never imagined that his cultivation would be temporarily damaged as a result of the trip, and that he would have a son.

He rarely made a point of reminiscing about Xuanlang's mother.

In the past sixteen years, he had hardly thought about her anymore, but on the night he learned that Xuanlang was still alive, he still dreamed of her.

She sat cross-legged on the ancient altar burning with eight clusters of demonic fire, like a beautiful yet decadent red spider lily, occasionally laughing loudly, as bright and flamboyant as ever.

“Pei Hanzhou, it was because my cultivation was not high enough that I was unable to fully refine your primordial yang, which is why I became pregnant. But as you can see, I have already refined the child in my womb. I don’t want him, and I’m afraid you don’t want him to be born either.”

That was a nightmare I dare not recall...

After bowing three times, he came to his senses and gave Yan Huanyue a box of spirit stones that he had prepared beforehand. He also reminded them to go to Qiaoran Valley to offer sacrifices according to the established rules.

The imperial carriage floated through the air above the quiet valley, and countless pieces of paper money drifted away in the wind.

After the two finished their ritual worship, they went to Changqing Hall to offer wine to the spiritual cultivators and fellow disciples who came to congratulate them. Due to Pei Xuan's health condition, they did not stay long.

Pei Hanzhou and the elders entertained the guests, while Yan Huanyue and Pei Xuanzhi rode together in a royal carriage back to the courtyard where Pei Xuanzhi lived alone.

After tonight's back and forth, Pei Xuanzhi was clearly exhausted.

Yan Huanyue helped him down from the carriage and placed him on the long sword. He slumped over the scabbard, coughing incessantly.

Once inside the room, Yan Huanyue helped him down to sit on the edge of the bed. Seeing that his eyes were red, she reached out and touched his forehead, saying, "You're a little hot."

Pei Xuanzhi clenched his fists, blinked his increasingly blurry eyes, and endured the growing pain in his body, whispering, "Senior Sister... Heart Contract..."

He was somewhat annoyed that the disturbance caused by the spreading fragrance came at such an inopportune time.

Upon hearing this, Yan Huanyue took off her shoes, climbed onto the bed, and knelt on the wedding quilt. She helped him in and instructed him, "Close your eyes."

Pei Xuanzhi closed his eyes, only to feel that several layers of his clothes had been pulled open a little.

A chill ran through his chest, and he immediately gripped the clothes around his waist tightly, enduring the waves of pain surging beneath his skin to prevent her from seeing anything more.

"Senior sister..."

"Don't rush me, I'm not very good at obtaining the Heart Contract yet."

"Oh...I've read the book, I know how, I..."

"Dream on, stay put."

"Okay... then hurry up, I'm cold..."

Soon, a warm breath flowed into his heart, completely different from the cold and arid spiritual energy that had been accumulating in his body for years.

The aura lingered in his heart, spreading endlessly in all directions, warming his blood and spirit with powerful vitality.

The pain in his body was also relieved, and he felt an unprecedented sense of pleasure and comfort.

Suddenly, a faint, warm breath landed on my neck.

He froze, listening to the person who had suddenly pressed their breath against his neck whisper, "Xuanzhi, you smell so good..."

-----------------------

Author's Note: Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 00:36:31 on November 11, 2023 and 02:31:31 on November 12, 2023!

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

Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: 60007422 10 bottles; One Step Loses Ten Billion 9 bottles; Wei Zhen, Jolin's Wife 5 bottles; Never Return to Original Intention 3 bottles; Bu Jie, This Words, Jiu Jiu, Moonlight, Zhou Man's Sword Bone 1 bottle;

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