On their way back, the two coincidentally ran into Yang Yiqian.

She was chatting with several female disciples, who were saying flattering things to her, and Yang Yiqian looked very proud.

Qi Zhiheng glanced at it briefly before preparing to leave.

When Yang Yiqian saw Yang Yitian, she gave him a disdainful look.

Yang Yitian looked at her with pity. He wondered what she would think if she knew that her fiancé had cheated on her.

Qi Zhiheng and Yang Yitian were busy with the matter of the spiritual herbs, and sometimes they needed to go to other cities to buy and exchange them, so they were not in the imperial city much during this period.

During this period, Ji Qiuhan and Yang Yiqian's wedding took place as scheduled.

Although the wedding wasn't grand, it was conducted according to custom and was done in a respectable manner.

The Qi family knew about Yang Yiqian's marriage and discussed it privately, but they didn't pay much attention to it. The Qi family and the Yang family didn't have a deep relationship to begin with. If the Yang family hadn't forced the Qi family to marry him, the two families wouldn't have had much interaction. Now that Qi Zhiheng has entered the Yuansheng Academy, the Yang family can't reach the capital, and the Qi family can't cause any real harm to the Yang family.

However, the Qi family is still confident that they can control the Yang family in the future.

But let's leave that aside for now.

Qi Zhenhao and Qin Nianzhu's relationship gradually warmed up and eventually reached the point where they were discussing marriage.

That day, Qin Nianzhu brought up the matter of marriage with Qi Zhenhao: "After we get married, how about we stay in Chongxi City for a while? My parents only have me as their daughter, and I hope to spend more time with them in the future."

Qi Zhenhao refused without even thinking: "That's definitely not allowed. There's no reason for a married man or woman to live at the wife's parents' house."

Qin Nianzhu said somewhat aggrievedly, "How can this not be reasonable? Doesn't your sister also live with her husband in the Qi family? Don't you love me? You can't even do this little thing? Besides, we only stay there occasionally for a while, it's not like we're never coming back."

"That won't do." Qi Zhenhao shook his head. The Qin family had some influence, but they couldn't guarantee their safety.

Qin Nianzhu stroked his arm, her voice aggrieved, "Then tell me, why can't we? I'm not an unreasonable woman. Give me a reason, and if I think it's reasonable, I won't bother you anymore."

Qin Nianzhu's voice reached Qi Zhenhao's ears. Her aggrieved tone tugged at his heartstrings, and he instinctively said, "It's not that I don't want to go back to Chongxi City with you, it's just that leaving the capital is too dangerous, and the Qi family..."

Qi Zhenhao's mind went completely blank for a moment.

Seeing that he didn't speak, Qin Nianzhu grabbed his arm tightly and asked, "What happened to the Qi family?"

Qi Zhenhao came to his senses and looked at Qin Nianzhu with lingering fear. He seemed to have wanted to talk about the Qi family's affairs: "The Qi family's foundation is unstable, and we will encounter danger in other cities."

Qin Nianzhu, however, was not buying it: "How could that be? You're not some big shot. Although our Qin family isn't the best in terms of family background, we can still protect you and me without any problem. Now that Yan Yu's problem has been resolved recently, we basically have no worries."

"This..." Qi Zhenhao didn't know how to explain for a moment.

Qin Nianzhu said, "Alright, it's decided then. I'll stay in Chongxi City for a while and then go back to the capital for a few days. Okay, please agree."

Qi Zhenhao felt a pang of pain in his heart. Looking at Qin Nianzhu's pleading expression, he was somewhat reluctant but subconsciously said, "Okay!"

Qin Nianzhu was finally satisfied.

Qi Zhenhao, realizing what he had agreed to, was in a dilemma. How should he explain this to his family?

Qi Zhiheng and Yang Yitian were away for more than a month. When they returned to the capital, Yang Yiqian and Ji Qiuhan had already been married for several days.

Qi Zhiheng did not return to Yuansheng Academy immediately, but instead went back to the Qi family.

Qin Nianzhu hasn't gone back yet, and the atmosphere at home is a bit off.

Qi Zhiheng and Yang Yitian looked at each other in bewilderment. Qi Zhiheng then went directly to his father.

"Father, what's going on at home?" Qi Zhiheng asked bluntly.

Qi Zhenhe rubbed his temples, feeling a bit of a headache: "Your uncle wants to marry Miss Qin Nianzhu."

"Huh? Didn't we already know this?" Qi Zhiheng asked in confusion. If Qi Zhenhao didn't want to marry Qin Nianzhu, he wouldn't have brought her back.

Qi Zhenhe sat down and slowly said, "The problem is that Qin Nianzhu wants to settle down in Chongxi City, and she wants your uncle to go with her."

Qi Zhiheng frowned: "Our family's situation makes it impossible for us to settle elsewhere for the time being. It would be too dangerous. The Imperial City still has the deterrent effect of the Yuansheng Academy, but it would be very dangerous to go to other cities."

At this point, Qi Zhenhao had an even bigger headache: "I've told your uncle everything I can, but he doesn't know how to explain to Qin Nianzhu why he can't go to other cities."

"Grandma agreed?" Qi Zhiheng asked.

Qi Zhenhe said, "Your grandma is furious with your uncle. Go and see her."

Qi Zhiheng nodded and went to Yang Yao's place with Yang Yitian.

When Yang Yao saw Qi Zhiheng, a slight smile appeared on her previously annoyed face: "Zhiheng and Yi Tian are back?"

Yang Yao recently entered the Foundation Establishment stage of cultivation, and she looks much younger.

"Grandma, you look much younger lately," Qi Zhiheng praised. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you were my older sister."

Cultivators generally look young. Yang Yao originally looked like an ordinary person in their thirties, which wasn't considered old. After her breakthrough, she changed a little, but not by much.

Yang Yao covered her mouth and laughed, "Alright, stop with the sweet talk. Things have been going well lately, haven't they?"

Qi Zhiheng nodded and said, "There are some difficulties, but there are always ways to solve them. It won't be resolved in the short term, but cultivators must avoid being anxious and impatient in order to achieve enlightenment."

Qi Zhiheng's words were also meant for Yang Yao, as cultivators should not be too entangled in worldly affairs.

Qi Zhiheng continued, "Everyone has their own path to walk. Grandma, Uncle is no longer a child."

Yang Yao sighed and said, "I know this saying all too well, but your uncle seems to be possessed. You're knowledgeable, so could you take a look and see if he's been bewitched by some kind of witchcraft?"

Qi Zhiheng was taken aback. He realized that his grandmother's idea was not impossible, so he said, "I'll go talk to my uncle in a bit."

Yang Yao nodded quickly and said, "Okay, go and take a look. I just feel like your uncle is possessed. Under normal circumstances, why would he knowingly run to another city when he knows it's dangerous to go back?"

Qi Zhiheng had told his family beforehand to try not to linger in other cities.

This could be considered a premonition; Qi Zhiheng always felt that someone was plotting against him in the dark.

After leaving Yang Yao's residence, Qi Zhiheng went to find Qi Zhenhao.

Qi Zhenhao was practicing swordsmanship. As a spiritual cultivator whose primary element was metal, Qi Zhiheng found it understandable that Qi Zhenhao liked to practice swordsmanship.

"Uncle, are you practicing your sword?" Qi Zhiheng stood aside and watched Qi Zhenhao finish practicing the set of movements.

This sword manual was also given to him by Qi Zhiheng.

"Zhiheng, you're back?" Qi Zhenhao greeted Qi Zhiheng with a smile.

Qi Zhiheng nodded and got straight to the point: "I heard you're planning to stay in Chongxi City for an extended period?"

Qi Zhenhao looked somewhat embarrassed: "You...you knew about this?"

"Uncle, what are you thinking?" Qi Zhiheng looked at him and said, "Are you really going to risk living in Chongxi City with Miss Qin?"

"I...I don't want to go either, but I've already promised her," Qi Zhenhao said hesitantly.

Qi Zhiheng said, "You knew this was a bad idea, so why did you agree to it?"

Qi Zhenhao was speechless for a moment, then thought about it carefully and said, "I don't know either. I just agreed on a whim."

Qi Zhiheng tentatively asked, "What did you feel at the time?"

Qi Zhenhao frowned slightly and said, "I just felt a little... a little reluctant to refuse her request because of her appearance. So I agreed."

"And afterwards? Didn't you notice anything amiss?" Qi Zhiheng pressed.

Qi Zhenhao slightly opened his mouth: "I..."

"Zhen Hao, have you finished practicing your sword?" It was Qin Nianzhu's voice that came from inside.

Qi Zhiheng stopped talking when he saw Qin Nianzhu walking towards him from a distance.

Qin Nianzhu wipes Qi Zhenhao's sweat with a handkerchief, and the two have a perfect understanding, perfectly portraying two lovers who cannot tolerate the interference of others.

Qi Zhiheng greeted her, "Miss Qin."

"Young Master Heng, you're back. Did you have something to discuss with Zhen Hao?" Qin Nianzhu greeted him with a smile.

Qi Zhiheng shook his head and said, "I just wanted to have a casual chat with my uncle; it's nothing serious."

Qin Nianzhu smiled and said, "Is that so?"

"Then I'll take my leave." Qi Zhiheng turned and left. There was no doubt that something had happened to Qi Zhenhao, but seeing that Qi Zhenhao was obviously not right, he did not dare to make any rash moves.

At this point, if they were to make a move against Qin Nianzhu, it's uncertain whether Qi Zhenhao would intervene or if his health would be compromised.

Keeping Qi Zhenhao around will put everyone at ease.

As for Qi Zhenhao's problem, he still needed to investigate. Making a move now might alert Qin Nianzhu and lead to Qin Nianzhu taking action against Qi Zhenhao. After some deliberation, he decided to go back and find a solution to Qi Zhenhao's problem first.

Qi Zhiheng returned to his room in the Qi family home. He guessed that the situation might be related to Gu worms. He didn't know much about this aspect, so he dug out some information about Gu worms.

First, this Gu worm can also allow a person to maintain their thinking ability under normal circumstances. Second, Qi Zhenhao's affection for Qin Nianzhu is clearly suspicious, suggesting that this is a Gu worm similar to a love Gu.

Qi Zhiheng searched through the space for solutions, hoping to find a way to resolve the issue tonight.

He did indeed find a solution very quickly, and began to refine pills using medicinal herbs.

However, what Qi Zhiheng didn't know was that although his actions were swift, Qin Nianzhu's reaction speed was also very fast.