Qing Miao Palace.

    The Palatial leader Xiao Yinru, dressed in a white gown, arrived at Zhu Nanzhi's secluded retreat. As the ethereal and cold woman landed, the surrounding flowers, grasses, and trees bent in obeisance.

    "Mistress."

    Hanwu, who was feeding fish in the water with feed, hurried to stand up and walk over to make a bow. Her expression was a bit tangled: "The Holy Maiden has not yet left her seclusion."

    "No matter." Xiao Yiruo shook her head lightly. She had already informed Nanzi of the departure today, knowing that Nanzi would not waste any time.

    Because the pig that bowed to his own "cabbage" is in Wan Dao School.

    Even though a full month has passed, the mere thought of that woman's apprentice sleeping with her own diligent foster child makes Xiao Yiruo's expression cloud over.

    Especially as Nanzhi is still tightly controlled by Lu Jian'an - Xiao Yiruo can't forget the words Nanzhi said when she returned to the sect: "Master, you still like me."

    Especially the appearance of protection, let Xiao Yiruo several times to generate the helplessness of white-cultivated feeling.

    However, what brought Xiao Yiruo some comfort was that the "cabbage" she raised from scratch did not blindly follow Lu Jin'an, but also knew to return and remained honest to herself as her teacher.

    'No, she knows that returning is the right thing to do, so how can it bring comfort?'

    Xiao Yiruo raised her hand and rubbed her temples. Her smile was tinged with a bit of helplessness. This was the first time she had been so speechless in front of Nanzhi.

    And...

    She glanced at the docile Hanwu standing there, and her eyes showed even more helplessness. From Hanwu's mouth, she prying out many details, so she was even more speechless about the 'cabbage' who jumped up voluntarily to let the 'pig' browse.

    Xiao Yiruo admitted that the woman Pei Wanwu's apprentice was a handsome man, but why would Nanzhi fall for him at first sight... no, it's more like lusting after him.

    Where would there be someone who forces another person to get married upon first meeting?

    And that Lu Jin'an, who is clearly stronger than Nanzhi, why doesn't he resist?

    Just lock eyes with each other and then 'click' into harmony?

    This isn't sheer madness?

    "Ah~"

    Xiao Yiruo sighed wistfully, looking towards the palace hall where Nanzhi is secluded.

    As for Xiao Li's flawless body being killed by Nanzhi, she didn't think it was a big deal.

    After all, Lin Mao is related to the upper realm, and Xiao Li is on his side. If she were there, she would also ruthlessly eliminate this nuisance without hesitation.

    Because even if brought back, Xiao Li would never be a member of Qing Miao Palace. She would serve the upper realm sooner or later.

    'Lu Jin'an seems to consider Nanzhi quite well. He knew that Nanzhi went for Xiao Li, so he gave Xiao Li a chance to choose.'

    Thinking of this, Xiao Yiruo's expression softened a bit. She hopes that Nanzhi will not be so eager to attach herself to Lu Jin'an's cold backside.

    "My apprentice is so beautiful, and if Lu Jin'an truly harbors ill intentions towards her, I will definitely confront him in front of that woman..."

    Muttering to herself, Xiao Yiruo hurriedly looked ahead as she heard the sound of a door opening. She saw Nanzhi stepping out gracefully.

    She bowed her slender waist and took small steps, revealing her fair wrists through the light silk. Her sapphire eyes flashed with clear waves, and her long hair, half undone and half tied, was lightly inserted with a jade zircon pendent. With a classical beauty, her fair cheeks were even more jade-like under the light makeup.

    Dressed in a light blue jacket with a mandarin collar, paired with a soft smoke-silk belt, it perfectly outlined her delicate and graceful figure. The light long robe she wore on top concealed some of her figure, but the ice-white jade pendant displayed on her waistside added several splashes of brightness.

    Xiao Yiruo's eyes brightened immediately, her 'cabbage' is indeed so watery and attractive.

    'This is natural beauty, and it's definitely not because of that Lu Jin'an boy.'

    This thought suddenly popped into Xiao Yiruo's mind, and she quickly dismissed it. But... she had to admit that compared to when Nanzhi first left Qing Miao Palace a year and a half ago, Nanzhi is undoubtedly more enchanting now.

    "Master." Stopping her steps, Zhu Nanzhi made a bow towards Xiao Yiruo. Her expression was calm and natural, transcending worldly matters. She looked like a bright red peony blooming in the snow mountain, delicate and captivating.

    Looking at Nanzhi's cold appearance, Xiao Yiruo couldn't help but frown slightly.

    This is not right.

    That's not right. According to logic, Nanzhi should be overjoyed and talking nonstop about "Lu Jin'an" as she prepares to set off for Wan Dao School today. But why does she look like this?

    When she was recently bestowed the title of Holy Maiden, she was also mumbling "Master" with little interest. How could her excitement disappear in just a few days?

    Is it a problem with her cultivation?

    Xiao Yiruo was somewhat helpless at her current state of mind. She was unwilling to see Nanzhi always turning towards Lu Jin'an, but now she couldn't help but worry about Nanzhi not wanting Lu Jin'an.

    So she grabbed Nanzhi's fair wrist and gave it a brief examination, hmmm?

    Xiao Yiruo's eyes flashed with surprise, does this count as cultivation?

    And her cultivation base was extremely solid, with no flaws at all.

    Xiao Yiruo knew that the "Taishang Wangqing Xian Jue" relied entirely on the word 'comprehension', the more perfect the 'forgetting of emotions', the faster one's progress would be.

    Although she knew that Nanzhi had the 'Wu Kuo Xian Tui', she didn't expect Nanzhi to break through two small cultivation bases and reach the level of 'Huo Dao' in such a short time.

    Could Nanzhi's comprehension of the words 'forgetting of emotions' be so deep?

    Just because she likes Lu Jin'an?

    Xiao Yiruo pursed her red lips, and after confirming once more that Nanzhi had not fallen into the path of indifference, she finally released her wrist.

    She still didn't understand.

    Since Nanzhi's understanding of the 'Forgetting of Emotions' cultivation is so profound, why is she still so cold and detached now?

    What's wrong?

    Zhu Nanzhi's eyes were calm as she looked at Xiao Yiruo: "Master?"

    Xiao Yiruo smiled faintly: "You and Hanwu go ahead first, I forgot to take something."

    "Hmm." Zhu Nanzhi nodded slightly, and she and Hanwu left the Xuan Ming Palace ahead of her.

    After seeing Zhu Nanzhi and Hanwu leave, Xiao Yiruo did not depart; instead, she turned and walked towards the Jingxin Hall where Nanzhi was secluded.

    She wants to see what problems Nanzhi is facing through clues within the Jingxin Hall.

    As she pushed the door open and halted her steps, Xiao Yiruo's expression began to change gradually, and her face was full of disbelief.

    Inside the Jingxin Hall, there were rows of portrait paintings on the walls depicting various poses: the husband practicing cultivation, the husband daydreaming, the back of the husband...

    And so on, countless such portraits are hung on all the walls!

    On one side of the table, there were neatly arranged carved wood and jade sculptures of Lu Jin'an, one after another, filling every inch of space!

    On the far end of the bed, there was a full-body pillow lying quietly, and on the silk covering it, instead of embroidered flowers, trees, and landscapes, there was only a smiling portrait of Lu Jin'an.

    Jingling, jingling~

    A light breeze entered from within the room, setting off the wind chimes on the roof. Below each wind bell, there were still fan-shaped paper sheets with meticulously drawn portraits of Lu Jin'an.

    Xiao Yiruo lifted her foot and stepped back outside the threshold, closed the door, and closed her eyes.

    All the various 'Lu Jin'an' that she had seen in an instant made her, the leader of Qing Miao Palace, feel an inexplicable shiver and a heart-pounding terror.

    For the first time, Xiao Yiruo felt a sense of unfamiliarity towards Zhu Nanzhi, whom she had raised from a child.

    "Nan, Nan Zhi?"

    ······

    Author: Thank you for the 10,000 coin tip from Yirijian Sanjue.