Chapter 57 Chapter 57 If the mind is as empty as the sea, then the desires will be endless.
Perhaps because it was the second day of their marriage, Pei Zichen was a little indulgent, unlike the gentle last night when he spent the entire night coaxing her.
Every time it is “the last time”, and then he adds “tomorrow I will go to the secret realm to find the Lingxu fan”.
She understood this kind of deception very well.
It's normal for young people to be more energetic.
But the result was a miserable one for Jiang Zhaoxue. When she woke up the next morning, she felt like a broken body, lying on the bed, exhausted.
Pei Zichen did as he said. He got up at the appointed time, washed and changed his clothes. Then he returned to the bed, lifted the curtains, and pulled the quilt over her scarred shoulders. He said gently, "You're not feeling well today, so get some rest. I'll go to the secret realm to check. If there's any news about the Lingxu Fan, I'll let you know as soon as possible."
"etc!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue grabbed his sleeve. Pei Zichen looked back in confusion. Jiang Zhaoxue looked up at him and said seriously, "I'll go with you."
"But..." Pei Zichen frowned slightly and said hesitantly, "You..."
"I'm fine. I'm fine."
Jiang Zhaoxue propped herself up and grabbed the clothes she had taken off last night. She said seriously, "Just carry me over there!"
Pei Zichen fell silent after hearing this. After a moment, he suppressed a smile and turned around, saying, "I'll find you some new clothes."
Pei Zichen went to look for clothes, and Jiang Zhaoxue couldn't help but rub her waist.
Seeing this, Anan sighed softly in her mind: "Look at you, why are you trying so hard? Just let him go. You can have a good rest, right?"
"What's the point of resting?"
Jiang Zhaoxue raised her eyes to glance at the bed curtains, glared at the figure outside, and whispered, "Anan, let me teach you something. When it comes to important matters, it's better to kill the wrong person than to let the wrong person go."
As she spoke, she couldn't help but curse: "Who knows if he did it on purpose."
"oh."
Anan understood: "Are you worried about him?"
Jiang Zhaoxue didn't reply. Pei Zichen had already chosen the clothes and came back to put them on her.
After a while, the two set off together. Jiang Zhaoxue was not feeling well, and Wenjian Villa was not far from Emei Ruins, so the two of them rode on a crane. It was slower than Pei Zichen's flying sword, and it took them a whole day to reach Emei Ruins.
After a great battle, Emei Ruins was in ruins, with mountains collapsed, rivers cut off, and rocks everywhere.
The two of them landed on a high place and looked at the ruins under the moonlight. Jiang Zhaoxue frowned and asked directly, "Where is the secret realm?"
The secret realm recognized Pei Zichen as its master, and only he could feel it.
Pei Zichen sensed it for a moment and then got the direction. He comforted her, "Madam, please wait a moment."
As he said that, he let go of Jiang Zhaoxue, took a step forward, stood in front of Jiang Zhaoxue, raised his hand and made a stroke on his palm, blood spilled into the air, and the whole space trembled.
Pei Zichen had a cold expression on his face and quickly formed seals with his hands, causing the air around him to become turbulent. Jiang Zhaoxue, standing behind him, felt that the air was blocked by him in front of him.
A moment later, a blue fairy pattern lit up on his forehead. He raised his hand and turned it, and the spiritual energy in front of him gathered and then turned into a black vortex.
A vortex appeared, and the space stabilized. Pei Zichen turned and reached out to Jiang Zhaoxue, holding her hand and said, "Madam, I will take you in."
"He calls it quite smooth."
Anan couldn't help but speak, but Jiang Zhaoxue ignored him.
He pulled me into the whirlpool.
As soon as Jiang Zhaoxue stepped into the whirlpool, she felt a cold wind blowing towards her. She looked up and saw that there were trees all around her.
Jiang Zhaoxue looked around and realized that the surrounding area was full of towering ancient trees and it was actually a dense forest.
This dense forest is filled with rich spiritual energy, and it is indeed a good place to practice Taoism.
But Jiang Zhaoxue was not interested in this. He just took out the Qiankun Sign and opened a huge soul-hunting formation on the spot.
If the Lingxu fan were here, the spiritual power fluctuations would definitely be huge.
The soul-seeking formation spread all the way across the secret realm. Pei Zichen watched the light spread infinitely and couldn't help but tighten his sword.
The area that the spirit-seeking array can detect is determined according to the ability of the cultivator.
The fact that Jiang Zhaoxue could easily create such a large spirit-hunting formation proved that he was extremely capable.
Too strong.
He couldn't help but turn his eyes to look at her, secretly observing the gap between them.
When would he stand by her side?
When will he be able to keep her?
He looked at Jiang Zhaoxue silently, but Jiang Zhaoxue was completely unaware. She carefully searched every inch of land in the secret realm and slowly frowned.
"How is it possible..."
She murmured softly, then immediately ordered, "Zichen, use your spiritual sense to sense once, is the Lingxu fan here?"
Hearing this, Pei Zichen came back to his senses and responded, "Oh, okay."
He is now the master of the secret realm, and he can easily scan every corner of the secret realm with his spiritual sense.
He closed his eyes and looked around. Jiang Zhaoxue waited quietly. After a long time, she saw Pei Zichen open his eyes and look at her with a frown.
As soon as she saw Pei Zichen's eyes, Jiang Zhaoxue knew the result. Her heart skipped a beat and she blurted out, "No?"
Pei Zichen nodded, his expression obviously heavy.
Jiang Zhaoxue fell silent. After thinking for a moment, he said unwillingly, "Let's look for it again."
It took half a month to find it.
Jiang Zhaoxue conducted a carpet search throughout the secret realm until Han Zhouzi sent Pei Zichen messages urging him again and again, and the two finally had to go back.
While riding on the crane back, Jiang Zhaoxue felt a little depressed and thought seriously about the current situation.
If something happens to a treasure, there must be something unusual. Now the biggest abnormality is Yin Zhulong, so she guessed that the Lingxu fan was in the Yin Zhulong secret realm.
But now the Lingxu fan is not there, why? Was she wrong?
But if the Lingxu fan is not here, then where is it?
Jiang Zhaoxue thought about it carefully and started to plan from the beginning.
The time in the illusion at this moment is six years before they entered the illusion in the capital.
Taking the time in the capital as the starting point, four years ago, Song Wuya came to Shuzhong.
Afterwards, Song Wuya obtained the Lingxu fan in Furong City.
When did he obtain the Lingxu Fan? Did the Lingxu Fan appear in Furong City after he came to Shuzhong, or did it appear before he came and was then brought to Furong City?
Is there any connection between the birth of Yin Zhulong and the Lingxu fan?
Jiang Zhaoxue was lost in thought. Pei Zichen noticed that she was deeply troubled and thought for a moment before saying, "Are you still thinking about the Lingxu Fan?"
"Hmm." Jiang Zhaoxue unconsciously turned the jade stick in her hand and thought, "I wonder where it is."
“Is it important?”
Pei Zichen raised his eyes and asked, seemingly knowing nothing about anything.
Jiang Zhaoxue glanced at him and said seriously, "It's very important. It's the key to leaving the secret realm. If we can't find it, all of us will be stuck in the secret realm."
Pei Zichen looked at her silently, as if he hadn't heard her words at all, as if he was still waiting for her explanation. Jiang Zhaoxue knew that Lingxushan wouldn't allow Pei Zichen to understand this, so she didn't care too much. She just sorted out her thoughts and said, "The longer I stay, the more real everything becomes, and the harder it will be to leave. But my family is still waiting for me, I can't stay here."
Pei Zichen listened, his eyes trembling slightly, as if he had been waiting for a long time, and asked in confusion: "Yaoyao, why don't you say anything?"
"I told you, but you can't hear me."
Jiang Zhaoxue sighed. This time, Pei Zichen finally responded and simply asked, "What can't you hear?"
"Do you have any clues?" Jiang Zhaoxue thought for a moment and said nothing more, choosing only words that Pei Zichen could understand. "If the Lingxu Fan isn't in this secret realm, where do you think it is?"
"This..." Pei Zichen hesitated for a moment, undecided.
Jiang Zhaoxue instinctively knew what he knew, and immediately asked, "Are you hiding something from me?"
"Indeed." Pei Zichen said solemnly, "I... do have a guess, but I'm not sure if I should say it."
Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue immediately laughed: "Why, you and I are husband and wife, is there anything we can't say?"
Pei Zichen paused for a moment after hearing this. He smiled and nodded, "Indeed, you are my wife and a disciple of Wenjian Villa. There is nothing wrong with talking to me."
"Hurry up and tell me!" Jiang Zhaoxue became excited.
Pei Zichen said seriously, "The Lingxu Fan is an ancient artifact, and its appearance will definitely be extraordinary. If it is not in the secret realm of Yinzhulong, although I don't know where it is, I know that it may appear soon..."
"You are talking nonsense..."
"Several years ago, Master sensed that a great catastrophe would befall Shu."
Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue paused, and what Ye Tianjiao had said before flashed through his mind.
When the Lingxu fan came into the world, all the immortal ways in Shu were wiped out.
She previously thought that it was caused by the Yin Zhulong, but now it seems that it is not right. The ancestor of Jiange did not even come to Emei Ruins in his true body, but only came in his Dharma form. How could a newly born Yin Zhulong destroy the entire Shu Immortal Path?
As Jiang Zhaoxue pondered, Pei Zichen continued, "Master has been traveling these years, searching for a way to deal with the catastrophe. The birth of Yin Zhulong this time wasn't accidental, but rather a foreshadowing for Master. Finding a successor to Yin Zhulong might offer a glimmer of hope for Shu. Therefore, Master secretly urged Yin Zhulong to be born ahead of time, just to give his disciples the opportunity to inherit his legacy."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue was shocked and couldn't help but ask, "Does anyone else know about this?"
"I don't know." Pei Zichen shook his head and said, "You can't tell anyone else."
Jiang Zhaoxue nodded, understanding that this kind of thing must not be known to others.
Especially now that the one who inherited Yin Zhulong is from Wenjian Villa, if people knew that Yin Zhulong was urged to be born in advance by Han Zhouzi, even if it was to find a glimmer of hope for Shu, others would not understand.
If this were real life, Jiang Zhaoxue would have said something to Han Zhouzi, but this was an illusion, and she didn't bother to argue about right and wrong. She pressed on, "Did your master say when the great calamity in Shu would occur?"
"No."
Pei Zichen shook his head and said, "Master only has a few scattered perceptions of this matter and can't perceive anything too specific. I only know that now that I have received the inheritance, everyone is placing their hopes on me. In a few days, I should be in seclusion in the secret realm to seek a breakthrough."
Pei Zichen said, raising his eyes and looking at Jiang Zhaoxue: "You and I are husband and wife, sharing the same destiny. If you are willing... we can practice together in seclusion."
These words stunned Jiang Zhaoxue.
Going into seclusion together means that she will not look for the Lingxu fan in the future.
Pei Zichen looked at her nervously. Seeing that she didn't agree immediately, he added, "Of course, you... can also do what you want and wait for me to come out of seclusion. Don't worry," Pei Zichen held her hand, his expression serious, "As long as I'm alive, I will never let anything happen to you."
He said it too seriously, as if he really wanted to protect her with his life.
Even though she knew it was an illusion, Jiang Zhaoxue didn't dare to look him in the eye. She turned away and said, "I understand. I'll think about it."
Pei Zichen didn't say anything. He just looked at her silently, trying his best to restrain himself from holding her hand tightly, and said softly: "Well, think about it."
It was already night when the two of them returned to Wenjian Villa.
Pei Zichen was going to report his itinerary to Han Zhouzi, so he asked Jiang Zhaoxue to go back to the house first.
Jiang Zhaoxue saw Pei Zichen off, thought for a moment, then turned around and went to look for Ye Tianjiao.
Perhaps because Jiang Zhaoxue is married now, Ye Tianjiao is much freer than before.
Qian Sisi arranged a separate room for him. When Jiang Zhaoxue went there, Ye Tianjiao was reading seriously under the lamp.
Jiang Zhaoxue climbed in directly through the window and shouted, "Hey!" Ye Tianjiao was frightened and turned around holding the "Love Book" in his hand. When he saw that it was Jiang Zhaoxue, he was stunned.
Their eyes met, and Jiang Zhaoxue's gaze fell on the Love Words Collection, and she couldn't help but blurt out, "Do you have a partner?"
"Don't, don't, don't talk nonsense!"
Ye Tianjiao quickly stuffed the Love Words Collection into his pocket, then calmed down a bit, stood up straight and asked, "What are you doing?"
Ye Tianjiao reacted and said hurriedly: "Have you found the Lingxu fan?"
"Will you find me here?"
Jiang Zhaoxue asked directly. Ye Tianjiao was stunned for a moment, then nodded: "That's right."
Jiang Zhaoxue said this and prepared to close the window.
Ye Tianjiao suddenly remembered the experience of being beaten before, and hurriedly said: "Don't close the window!"
He hesitated for a moment, then turned and said, "Don't bully your friend's wife. Let's talk outside!"
Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue was stunned. She followed Ye Tianjiao out and then realized what he was talking about. She immediately corrected him, "What do you mean by friend's wife? We're all acting. Pei Zichen has lost his memory. Are you mentally ill?"
"Sister, calm down," Ye Tianjiao quickly handed Jiang Zhaoxue tea and said hurriedly, "Tell me, what's going on?"
Jiang Zhaoxue briefly explained the situation to Ye Tianjiao, and then concluded, "In other words, the Lingxu Fan was not revealed until the great calamity in Shu. We have to wait until then. When did Song Wuya get the Lingxu Fan? How did he get it?"
"He... should have been two years ago."
Ye Tianjiao listened carefully and pondered, "I heard that when he was sent to garrison in the southwest, he suffered repeated defeats in the first two years. During the second year's Spring Festival, the imperial court even received news of his death. Not long after, news of his discovery came back, and then we heard that three cities in the southwest were massacred by the barbarians. Furong City, in particular, was the largest city in Shu, with nearly 200,000 people living there. It was completely slaughtered overnight."
"etc."
Jiang Zhaoxue listened, feeling somewhat puzzled. "What did you say? Two hundred thousand civilians, slaughtered overnight?"
After hearing this, Ye Tianjiao also felt that it was not right. In ancient times, massacring a city always took time. How could a city of 200,000 people be killed in one night?
"Maybe a few days?"
Ye Tianjiao wasn't entirely sure, and simply replied, "Those were just rumors in the capital. I only heard them at the time. Anyway, after the Furong City North Massacre, he suddenly seemed to be blessed by God, and began to win battle after battle, without a single defeat. He said he got the Lingxu Fan from Furong City, so I think that was the turning point."
"Then how long is it until Furong City is massacred..."
"Four more years."
Ye Tianjiao spoke, and the two fell silent.
Jiang Zhaoxue remained silent. Ye Tianjiao couldn't help but say, "Well, since we are in an illusion anyway, we don't have any other options. We might as well stay here and wait for four years until the Lingxu Fan comes out. Then we can leave."
Jiang Zhaoxue listened and raised his eyes.
She looked at Ye Tianjiao's somewhat nervous expression and asked directly, "Do you want to stay?"
"How is this possible?!"
Ye Tianjiao jumped up when he heard this and said hurriedly: "My brother is still waiting for me outside, how can I stay in the illusion?"
"You're having a great time here."
Jiang Zhaoxue pointed out Ye Tianjiao's thoughts, and Ye Tianjiao paused.
Jiang Zhaoxue said seriously, "Everything is good here. Qian Sisi is very close to you. You have friends and you are free. You haven't contacted your family yet, but once you do, you will know that your brother is definitely waiting for you at home. Even your deceased relatives may still be alive. You will have everything you want."
Just like her, Jiang Pingsheng, Dong Huaiyu and Jiang Zhaoyue here are almost exactly the same as in reality.
Ye Tianjiao was a little bewildered. Jiang Zhaoxue said calmly, "The longer you stay, the deeper your relationship with them. Ye Tianjiao, are you sure you can still get out?"
"But it's fake."
Ye Tianjiao blurted out.
Jiang Zhaoxue was stunned. Ye Tianjiao said frankly, "If I don't go out, my family will be sad. Why can't I leave? It's Qian Sisi who is the one who is hurt."
Ye Tianjiao said with worry in his eyes: "This is just a dream of hers. The great calamity in Shu has already happened. After she leaves, she will really have nothing. If we can leave right now, it would be fine. But there is no way now. Why should I force it? The longer she can be happy, the better. Anyway, I already have a lot, and I also want to know what happened in Shu back then. I... I will practice for a few more years." Ye Tianjiao's expression became a little serious, and his fingers curled unconsciously. "Can you help her?"
After hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue understood Ye Tianjiao's thoughts.
Ye Tianjiao thought for a moment, then turned to look at Jiang Zhaoxue: "Actually, it's not just Sisi, Pei Zichen is the same."
Jiang Zhaoxue looked up when she heard this, and saw Ye Tianjiao pondering, "He...he has nothing outside, so why not let him have a few days of good life? It's only four years anyway, and you and I—we have a lot of concerns outside. People like us won't be swallowed by illusions." Ye Tianjiao looked at Jiang Zhaoxue and said seriously, "Let's spend these four years together and give Pei Zichen and I time to grow up, isn't that okay?"
Jiang Zhaoxue said this without saying anything.
Ye Tianjiao asked tentatively: "Sister?"
"Let's have a divination."
Jiang Zhaoxue came to her senses after hearing his question, took out the Qiankun Lottery Scraps, raised her hand and turned it, and the scraps tube spun. Jiang Zhaoxue said calmly: "If there is no other way out, then do as you say. As long as there is a way out, we must get out as soon as possible."
"Sister, you are so cruel."
Ye Tianjiao couldn't help but complain.
Jiang Zhaoxue looked at the lottery box in silence.
As the fortune stick spun rapidly, Pei Zichen stood in Han Zhouzi's room, listening to Han Zhouzi say, "The Lingxu Fan is hidden in the Yinzhulong Secret Realm, but it requires extremely strong power to awaken it. Although we don't know where this power will come from, the day the Lingxu Fan is born will be the day of great disaster in Shu. It is for this reason that we have gone to such great lengths to seize the Lingxu Fan. Now that you have inherited the secret realm, you must protect it well and never let the Lingxu Fan be easily released."
"Disciple understands."
Pei Zichen spoke calmly.
Han Zhouzi thought for a moment, then raised his eyes and asked, "Can you feel its presence this time?"
"It's very weak." Pei Zichen said calmly, "Disciple has already followed the method taught by Master to conceal all the aura of the Lingxu Fan to ensure that it will not be exposed."
"That's good."
Han Zhouzi nodded, and after a moment's pause, he looked at Pei Zichen who was standing upright beside him, and said with a smile: "Alright, you're newlyweds, let's not talk about this anymore. Spend the next few days with your Xiaoxue. After a while, you can go into seclusion in the secret realm to practice. If she is willing, you and your wife can practice together. Practicing together is much faster than practicing alone."
"Disciple knows," Pei Zichen said respectfully, "but it also depends on her feelings."
"She's willing to separate from you just after you got married?" Han Zhouzi joked.
"She..." Pei Zichen didn't know how to explain for a moment, and only said, "She is different."
"What's the difference? You've been sleeping until noon every day these past two days."
Pei Zichen's face paled a little when Han Zhouzi said this. Seeing his expression, Han Zhouzi didn't dare to say anything more. Then he remembered something and took out a bottle from his sleeve and handed it to Pei Zichen: "I almost forgot, this is the medicine you asked for."
When Pei Zichen saw the bottle, he realized what it was. He blushed slightly and quickly raised his hand to take it: "Thank you, Master."
"Last time you took it on a daily basis, but this time I've improved it. One pill will last three months. I'm going on a journey again in a couple of days, so you can use it first. If it's not enough, you can write to me. If you ever come to your senses and want a child, you can stop taking the medicine."
"Yeah." Pei Zichen lowered his eyes and responded, seeming a little restrained.
Han Zhouzi laughed, looked at the sky, and began to drive people away: "Okay, she must be waiting for you, go back."
Pei Zichen bowed and waited for someone to speak. After leaving the house, he stood at the door for a while before returning to the house.
When he returned to the room, Jiang Zhaoxue was not there. He took a quick look at the furnishings in the room and realized that Jiang Zhaoxue had never come back.
He sat down casually, looking down at the red line on his ring finger in the darkness, calculating the time in his mind.
There is the Lingxu Fan in the Yinzhulong Secret Realm. Getting the Yinzhulong Secret Realm and becoming the master of the Lingxu Fan was Shuzhong's original plan.
So he originally wanted to go alone today, which was why he went through so much trouble last night, but Jiang Zhaoxue didn't trust him at all and followed him.
Fortunately, now is not the time for Lingxu Fan to appear, and she can't find it even if she comes, which buys him some time.
But how much time does he have left?
Six years.
Pei Zichen understood it as soon as he thought about it.
Six years later, Song Wuya returned to the capital and already possessed the Lingxu Fan, which also meant that the Lingxu Fan would appear in the world within these six years.
He couldn't be sure of the specific year, but he was sure that it would be no more than six years.
As long as Song Wuya appears, it means that this illusion is about to end.
Unless he keeps her forever.
Pei Zichen looked at the red thread on his hand and rubbed it gently.
He knew clearly that this red thread was given by the illusion.
Once out, this red line will disappear, and Jiang Zhaoxue will not play this kind of couple tricks with him.
They have too much inequality.
Time is unequal, life is unequal.
He waited for her for four years and looked for her for four years, but for Jiang Zhaoxue, they had been together for less than half a year.
She was the only one in his world, but she had family, friends, and even...
Have a husband.
Thinking of this, Pei Zichen felt a sharp pain in his chest.
But he also realized more and more clearly that for Jiang Zhaoxue, they had been together for such a short time, and he was such an ordinary disciple. If she had not been forced into the illusion, how could she have even looked at him?
The purpose of getting married is to make him wake up and look for the Lingxu fan.
Last night I tried to coax him into inheriting the secret realm and finding the Lingxu fan.
Now that he was going to retreat into seclusion in a secret place, she probably wouldn't go with him. She would be very reluctant to commit herself to him.
He had to find a reason.
Pei Zichen was thinking carefully when he heard footsteps outside.
Pei Zichen felt a chill in his heart, his mind racing. He didn't have much time, he had to be with Jiang Zhaoxue all the time.
He lowered his eyes to think, while Jiang Zhaoxue walked in from outside quite easily.
She was turning a jade stick in her hand. When she and Ye Tianjiao drew it out just now, she had an idea in her mind. She walked into the house while playing with the stick and saw Pei Zichen sitting in the house.
She was startled, then reacted and couldn't help asking, "When did you come back? Why didn't you say a word?"
"oh."
Pei Zichen reacted and said hurriedly: "I just came back and haven't had time to light the lamp yet."
Pei Zichen stood up and lit the candles. He turned his back to Jiang Zhaoxue and asked, "Did Madam go to find Brother Ye?"
"You can guess that?" Jiang Zhaoxue laughed, "Your mind is like a hornet's nest."
"Madam doesn't have many friends. She wants to meet him right after returning. He must be an important person."
Pei Zichen's tone was indifferent, and Jiang Zhaoxue laughed: "Your ability to slander others is getting better and better. I just want to discuss something with him."
"What is it?"
Pei Zichen poured tea for Jiang Zhaoxue. Jiang Zhaoxue twirled the jade stick and came close to Pei Zichen: "You're so good at guessing. Guess again?"
Pei Zichen paused for a moment, feeling a little uneasy, and said, "We should discuss where to find the Lingxu Fan while I'm in seclusion, right?"
Jiang Zhaoxue smiled but said nothing.
Pei Zichen held the teapot, pretending to be calm as he spoke his prepared words: "But Master said today that I need to advance quickly, so..."
"So I'll be with you in seclusion."
Pei Zichen was stunned when these words came out.
After a moment, he realized what Jiang Zhaoxue was talking about. He turned around in disbelief and stared blankly at the smiling person in front of him: "Why, you never thought that I would go into seclusion with you?"
"I……"
Pei Zichen pinched the handle of the teacup and said nervously, "I thought you didn't want to."
"What are you unwilling to do?" Jiang Zhaoxue was curious.
Pei Zichen didn't know how to start.
He only whispered a reminder: "When we enter the secret realm, there will be only two of us. We will not only train in the forest, but also practice internal skills together."
Jiang Zhaoxue paused at this, feeling somewhat embarrassed. She coughed lightly and turned away, "Why did you say that? I'm stupid again. It's been like this for the past two days," Jiang Zhaoxue said vaguely, "I think it's great that you're improving so quickly."
Hearing this, Pei Zichen remained silent.
A pair of eyes seemed to suppress the raging waves, just staring at her quietly.
Jiang Zhaoxue felt a little uneasy under this gaze, and pretended to be calm and said, "What are you looking at?"
"Yaoyao," Pei Zichen said hoarsely, "Tell me, if I try harder, will you like me?"
Jiang Zhaoxue's heartbeat quickened when asked this question, and she joked, "What do you like?"
"Anything."
Pei Zichen put down the teacup in his hand and took a step forward.
His breath enveloped her, and some of her hair was blown unnoticeably on Jiang Zhaoxue's face by the night wind.
Although I can’t see it, it makes me feel itchy.
Jiang Zhaoxue was reluctant to retreat and looked up at him. He raised his hand, took hers, and slowly placed it on his chest. She couldn't tell if he was asking her to touch his heart or his body. She only heard him say seriously, "As long as you like me, anything is fine."
No matter what she likes, as long as she likes him and misses him, even if it's just a little bit, he has the courage to move forward.
He couldn't let her stay in the illusion forever.
Then he could only hope for a maximum of six years before the Lingxu fan came into the world.
If she could like him...even if she just cared about him a little.
He was willing to go with her.
He stared at her nervously. Jiang Zhaoxue was speechless for a moment. After a long time, she hurriedly reacted, felt the touch under his hand, turned her head and said, "You are so young, but you have a lot of tricks."
She restrained herself from hastily withdrawing her hand, pretending to be calm as she turned around and said, "It's just a lucky draw. Don't take yourself too seriously."
As he spoke, Jiang Zhaoxue walked to the bathroom, put the jade stick aside, changed his clothes, and raised his finger to reveal the jade stick.
Above the head, it is clearly written: Good luck.
"Tsk." Anan took one look and couldn't help but say, "Isn't it the best? And they said it didn't have any weight. I think it was because some people added weight, and it became the best. Is that why someone decided to go into seclusion?"
"What's wrong with seclusion?" Jiang Zhaoxue looked at the sign and said calmly, "He really needs time to digest the power he has gained. The time is too tight. It has not even been a month since he received the Nine Nether Realm technique. He needs time."
Jiang Zhaoxue said, then added: "Anyway, it's already done. I can share his luck in dual cultivation, and he can improve his cultivation. It's a happy event that everyone is happy about. It won't matter if we do it a few more times."
"Okay, okay, okay, as long as you're open-minded." Anan said indifferently, "You can even give birth to the baby here."
"It's up to the mother to decide whether a demon cultivator's child stays or goes," Jiang Zhaoxue said calmly, "How could I keep him? I'll be sorry for him in the future. He wants to dream, and I'll dream with him, but that's all. After we get out—"
Jiang Zhaoxue was silent for a moment, looking at the inscription on the jade slip: "The road to Shu is arduous and the mountains are difficult to climb. We will meet again in another world in four years. If you ask where this journey will end, Lingxu will accomplish his mission and we will have nothing to do with each other." He said calmly: "It has nothing to do with each other."
Having said that, Jiang Zhaoxue put away the fortune slip and didn't think about it anymore.
After deciding to go into seclusion, Pei Zichen began to prepare. Jiang Zhaoxue didn't have to worry about anything. After a few days, she followed Pei Zichen to Emei Ruins.
The location of Yin Zhulong's secret realm cannot be changed, and it is up to Pei Zichen to decide whether to open it.
Pei Zichen prepared everything he needed and took Jiang Zhaoxue to say goodbye to his elders.
Jiang Zhaoxue didn't want to have too many emotional connections with the people in the secret realm, and was extremely cold even to his own family.
After saying goodbye, Pei Zichen took her into the secret realm and finally said, "Yaoyao didn't seem happy to see her father-in-law, mother-in-law, and uncle today?"
"Not really."
Jiang Zhaoxue smiled and said, "It's just that in this world, to me, you are the only one who is real."
Pei Zichen listened and raised his eyes.
Jiang Zhaoxue looked at him with a smile and said seriously, "Don't let me down, Pei Zichen."
"No."
Pei Zichen listened and said seriously: "Whatever Madam wants, I will do it."
"Okay, I won't say anymore."
Jiang Zhaoxue turned back to look at the secret realm, flipping the magic circle in his hand: "No one has ever taught us how to practice in the secret realm before, right?"
Pei Zichen was stunned by what he said and tried to refute with words that matched the identity of "Chen Chen". Jiang Zhaoxue was too lazy to listen to him and just said, "Come, I'll take you on a tour. This secret realm is yours, and you have absolute control over it. First, you must determine the distribution and level of the spiritual beasts and medicinal plants..."
Jiang Zhaoxue spoke seriously, like an elder taking a younger person on a trip.
Pei Zichen listened quietly. After a moment, he nodded and said, "Yaoyao knows a lot."
The secret realm left by Yin Zhulong was not complicated for Jiang Zhaoxue, but fortunately there were many monsters in the secret realm.
Jiang Zhaoxue knew that Pei Zichen might have forgotten many things, but he still remembered the Nine Netherworld Realm skills, and even remembered not to use them in front of her. She knew that what Pei Zichen needed most at the moment was to use enough practice to internalize the power of the Yuanluo Bow.
So during the day she would find a place to wait for Pei Zichen, letting him go out alone to find those monsters to gain experience, while she herself would meditate and practice.
When Pei Zichen came back in the evening, they discussed the dual cultivation of spiritual power.
Pei Zichen has a huge contrast between his inner and outer appearance. As long as he doesn't do anything, he is a gentleman. Even in a deserted secret mountain area, he abides by the rules.
But as soon as he got on the bed, Jiang Zhaoxue felt that it was natural for him to be the Demon Lord in the book.
There's something wrong deep down.
This person is even more lustful than the demon cultivators. Every time he comes after me like a snake, it never ends.
Fortunately, he always took great care of her and comforted her with his spiritual power. In addition, Jiang Zhaoxue herself had strong spiritual power, so every time it was over, she only felt tired, but not uncomfortable.
In less than a year, Pei Zichen broke through to the Nascent Soul stage.
Although Jiang Zhaoxue had also accumulated spiritual power, she was three realms higher than him after all. In the fusion stage, the accumulation of spiritual power was no longer that important. For them, fortune tellers, the accumulation of luck was more important.
And now under the suppression of the Retrospective Mirror, it doesn't matter what she gains.
However, seeing Pei Zichen growing rapidly, she was in a good mood.
On the day of the baby's birth, I specially cooked a meal for him and me to celebrate at home.
Pei Zichen built a small house in the secret realm for the two of them to live in. The yard and kitchen were fully equipped. Jiang Zhaoxue and he brewed a lot of wine and buried it under a tree.
That day, Jiang Zhaoxue cooked for the first time. To be exact, it was Pei Zichen who cooked and she supervised the whole process.
All in all, she stood in the kitchen and cooked a meal with Pei Zichen.
Then the two of them drank some wine happily, and when they lay on the couch at night, Pei Zichen tried to touch her with his Nascent Soul.
Jiang Zhaoxue was dazed and couldn't help asking, "Why do you like this so much?"
Pei Zichen raised his eyes upon hearing this, smiled and said, "If the heart is not satisfied, then the desire will not be satisfied."
Jiang Zhaoxue had been drinking and felt a little dizzy. He didn't understand what was going on and just asked, "What do you mean?"
"What I mean is..." Pei Zichen looked at her seriously, his hand gently sliding across her shoulder.
She shuddered as soon as he touched her. Pei Zichen looked at her reaction with satisfaction. In a trance, she listened to Pei Zichen say, "I want you to remember me, get used to me. Whenever we touch each other, we'll immediately remember everything we've given each other."
As he spoke, he bent down and kissed her: "Only when it's a habit will it be forgotten, and only when it's engraved in your bones will it be never abandoned."
Jiang Zhaoxue didn't quite understand what was going on, she only vaguely heard Pei Zichen ask, "Yaoyao, do you like me a little bit?"
Jiang Zhaoxue gave a vague answer. He always asked this kind of question, and she was used to it. She casually said, "I like it."
"Yaoyao, will we be together forever?"
"Yes." Jiang Zhaoxue just wanted to sleep and said casually, "We can be together every day, okay?"
For the next four years, she practiced and brewed wine every day, and the two of them rarely went out to contact the outside world. Only during the Chinese New Year every year, she and Pei Zichen would leave the secret realm and find Ye Tianjiao and Qian Sisi alone, and the four of them would have a New Year's Eve dinner together.
The first year he went out, Pei Zichen prepared the New Year's Eve dinner by himself.
When he went there the following year, Pei Zichen began to teach Ye Tianjiao how to cook.
When they went there for the third year, Qian Sisi started to join them, and she and Ye Tianjiao almost blew up the kitchen.
On the eve of the fourth year's New Year, Han Zhouzi announced his retirement and passed the position of head to Pei Zichen.
Pei Zichen had no choice but to come out early and start the ceremony of succession to the head of the sect.
The succession ceremony was held at Wenjian Villa for more than half a month, and almost the entire Shu Immortal Path was entertained.
Jiang Zhaoxue started receiving guests five days in advance. This was her duty as the headmaster's wife. However, this task was complicated and Jiang Zhaoxue didn't like to do it, so Pei Zichen just brought her out for a quick appearance every day and then let her go back to rest.
Every time they just wandered around, Jiang Zhaoxue suggested not to go at all, and let Qian Sisi do everything.
Pei Zichen chuckled at what he heard, held her in his arms, and watched the process of the succession ceremony. He said slowly: "If you go, you will show your status, and then others will respect you in the future. If you don't go, they won't think that I care about you, but that I don't value you, and I'm afraid of complications in the future."
"I don't care." Jiang Zhaoxue leaned against him lazily, "Just give birth."
Back in the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion, she hardly cared about anything. It was always Wen Xiaoan who followed Shen Yuqing and did everything.
"Anyway, I don't know the etiquette, so I can't do it well."
She remembered what Shen Yuqing had said to her: "This makes people laugh at Wenjian Villa."
“You don’t have to be good.”
When Pei Zichen heard this, he knew why Jiang Zhaoxue said this. He suddenly remembered the days in Lingjian Immortal Pavilion when the disciples looked down on her because she never took care of things.
On the bright side, Shen Yuqing was worried that she would be too tired.
But more people would just think that Shen Yuqing looked down on her.
Thinking of this, Pei Zichen's expression turned a little colder. He lowered his head and kissed her, saying, "You just need to let them know that you are the wife of the headmaster of Wenjian Villa. Whether Wenjian Villa is a joke or not will be determined by my sword, not by your actions."
Having said that, Jiang Zhaoxue didn't say much.
Anyway, I just go for a stroll every day, and Pei Zichen takes care of the rest.
On the day of the succession ceremony, all the immortals gathered. Jiang Zhaoxue sat in her seat, watching Pei Zichen, who was wearing a white robe with intricate silver patterns, a jade crown on his head, and a long sword at his waist, walking solemnly towards the altar.
She looked up at him from afar, waiting for him to take the seal of the headmaster from Han Zhouzi. When he turned around, the first person he looked at was Jiang Zhaoxue.
Jiang Zhaoxue caught his gaze and immediately smiled and applauded him.
Pei Zichen looked at her smile, his eyes moved slightly, but through the crowd, he couldn't tell whether it was true or false.
He just felt that all this seemed to be his life.
My parents are still alive.
Master is kind.
Be good friends with fellow students.
Young genius.
The most important thing is that Jiang Zhaoxue is by his side. Her eyes are full of him, watching him walk up step by step.
He looked at her smile and felt dazed for a moment, as if everything in the past was just a nightmare.
It should be a nightmare.
He looked at Jiang Zhaoxue from afar, smiled humbly and restrainedly, and nodded slightly at her.
“Tsk.”
Jiang Zhaoxue took a look, thinking about his private appearance, and couldn't help but say, "Look at how well-dressed he is."
"Don't you like it this way?"
Anan spoke.
Jiang Zhaoxue pursed her lips but did not argue.
When the ceremony was over, Jiang Zhaoxue stood up and was about to leave when she heard a voice calling out, "Mrs. Jiang!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue glanced sideways and found that it was an exceptionally handsome young man.
Jiang Zhaoxue was stunned for a moment, then reacted and asked in surprise, "Pei Xueyi?"
Pei Xueyi was obviously very happy to see that Jiang Zhaoxue still remembered her.
He smiled and stepped forward, saying, "Madam Jiang, I have something important to discuss with you. Please come and talk to me."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone around looked over.
Jiang Zhaoxue knew that agreeing at this moment would be bad for Pei Zichen's reputation.
Although she didn't care about these things, she didn't want to cause trouble for Pei Zichen when she thought about this being Pei Zichen's succession ceremony, so she smiled and said, "Then please wait for a moment, Fellow Daoist Pei, at Liushui Pavilion. I will take my husband with me."
Pei Xueyi was stunned when she heard this, but then she realized that Jiang Zhaoxue was trying to protect her reputation, so she hurriedly said, "Then I will be waiting for Madam Jiang and Sect Leader Shen at Liushui Pavilion."
Jiang Zhaoxue nodded, and asked someone to take Pei Xueyi to Liushui Pavilion, then turned and left.
She went straight to the inner courtyard, bypassing the crowd and heading towards Liushui Pavilion.
She knew in her heart that Pei Xueyi did not look for Pei Zichen, but came to her instead, because she did not want Pei Zichen to know about this.
Now it is the fourth year and the Chinese New Year is just around the corner.
It was during the New Year of that year that news of Song Wuya's death was reported. Afterwards, three cities in the southwest were massacred one after another. After Furong City was completely slaughtered in one night, Song Wuya obtained the Lingxu fan in Furong City. From then on, he was invincible and returned to the capital two years later.
Now that the news of Song Wuya's death is about to come, Pei Xueyi, who has not appeared for a long time, suddenly appears, and he must have a mission.
Jiang Zhaoxue was excited and hurried to Liushui Pavilion. When she reached the door, she pushed it open and said happily, "Pei Xueyi..."
As soon as he finished speaking, he sat Pei Zichen in the room.
He had changed out of his usual clothes and was wearing a deep blue long gown with wide sleeves. He wore a jade lotus crown on his head and sat upright in front of his desk with a calm and composed expression.
Pei Xueyi sat across from him, looking a little embarrassed. When she saw Jiang Zhaoxue come in, she hurriedly said, as if she had seen a savior, "Mrs. Jiang!"
"Oh," Jiang Zhaoxue reacted and hurried into the house, smiling as she walked, "Shi Cang, why are you here?"
"Didn't you say you would come with me?"
Pei Zichen raised his eyes. There was always a smile in his eyes, and his temperament was gentle. He did not look aggressive at all.
But for some reason, it always makes people feel difficult to get close to.
Jiang Zhaoxue sat down next to Pei Zichen and said with a smile, "It's just polite talk. Are you really coming?"
"That's fine," Pei Zichen nodded. "I'll just sit here. You guys can talk, don't bother with me."
Jiang Zhaoxue did indeed intend to do so, but he paid no attention to it. He simply looked up at Pei Xueyi across from him and said, "Fellow Daoist Pei and I are old friends. It's been many years since we last met, and you've become even more handsome."
Pei Zichen listened, lowered his eyes and drank tea without saying a word.
Pei Xueyi smiled at what he said and relaxed. "Indeed, I have never personally thanked Madam Jiang of Emeixu for saving my life. I am truly ashamed. I should have come here myself, but Madam Jiang was in such a hurry to get married, I didn't dare to disturb you after the wedding. I hope Madam Jiang will forgive me."
"That's fine."
Jiang Zhaoxue quickly waved her hand, and Pei Xueyi continued, "Back in Emei Ruins, if it weren't for Madam Jiang, I wouldn't be alive..."
The two of them talked back and forth, talking about the incident of killing Yin Zhulong. Although Pei Xueyi's body was occupied by Yin Zhulong at that time, his soul was not completely unconscious, and he had many old stories to talk about.
Pei Zichen sat aside and listened, as if the topic had nothing to do with him.
He casually twisted a strand of Jiang Zhaoxue's hair and gently tied it to the paper figure in his sleeve while the two were talking.
Jiang Zhaoxue and Pei Xueyi were talking excitedly when they suddenly stopped talking.
Pei Xueyi looked up in confusion and saw Jiang Zhaoxue silent. Pei Zichen also looked over and met her gaze.
Jiang Zhaoxue didn't say anything, her eyes fell on Pei Zichen's hand covered by his sleeve.
A corner of the small paper figure was revealed from the wide sleeves, and one could see Pei Zichen's fingers hidden in his sleeves moving slowly under the table. Others couldn't see clearly, but Jiang Zhaoxue could clearly tell the weight, speed and speed of each of his fingers.
Over the years, he had learned a lot of magic from her in the name of curiosity. She knew in her heart that he was doing all this to pave the way for him to properly use the Nine Netherworld Realm skills, but she didn't say it on the surface.
She was the one who taught the magic of taking any related items from a person and connecting the paper figurine with the real person, but she never thought it would be used in this kind of place.
Pei Zichen actually didn't go too far. He just gently stroked her spine. His movements were gentle and not annoying.
But the hand seemed to be sliding under her clothes, and the strange feeling was too obvious. She was too familiar with him over the years, and he would react with just the slightest provocation. She didn't dare to speak rashly, and both of them stared at her, waiting quietly.
Jiang Zhaoxue paused for a moment, and after making sure that no one would notice anything, she glared at him.
Pei Zichen's expression was as calm as before, as if he had no idea what was going on.
Jiang Zhaoxue took a deep breath, knowing that he was deliberately causing trouble and fearing that he might cause something even worse, so he turned to Pei Xueyi and said, "I just suddenly remembered something. Fellow Daoist Pei, we don't have much time today, so why don't you just tell me what brought you here today?"
"Oh," Pei Xueyi's expression turned serious after hearing what he said. "I came here today to ask you two for a favor. I have asked Master Shen several times for this matter some time ago, but Master Shen never responded. So I came here in person this time, hoping to save the country in a roundabout way, but I didn't expect..."
Pei Xueyi glanced at Pei Zichen and gave a wry smile. "Since Sect Leader Shen is here, let's get straight to the point. I'd like to ask Sect Leader Shen for special permission to send Third Prince Song Wuya to the Yinzhulong Secret Realm for healing."
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The author has something to say: Send out red envelopes to make things more lively.
【Small Theater】
Han Zhouzi: "I heard that demon cultivators are very clingy." Pei Zichen hugged Jiang Zhaoxue tightly.
Jiang Zhaoxue pushed and pushed: "Han Zhouzi, are you blind?! Who is more clingy?! Just tell me who is more clingy?!"
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