After descending the mountain, my aloof fiancée became completely devoted to me.

The next morning, the sunlight was bright and filled the entire manor.

When Alu fully woke up and opened her eyes, her usual agility and sharpness returned, and she was clear-headed, without a trace of yesterday's dullness and numbness.

The memories that were imprisoned by the chip last night have all returned, each scene crystal clear.

Ambushed and knocked unconscious, wrapped in a sack, taken to a stronghold in the back mountains, seeing Xiaoyuer with his own eyes, having a chip implanted in his neck... all the humiliation and fear surged into his heart.

She rolled out of bed, rushed out of the room, and immediately saw Lin Ping standing quietly in the courtyard.

The fear and grievances that had been building up all night snapped instantly.

Alu rushed forward, no longer caring about her composure, and hugged Lin Ping tightly, burying her head in his shoulder and bursting into tears.

"Sir... I was so scared last night..."

Her cries were hoarse and filled with grievance, trembling with the pain of surviving a disaster.

Ade, Shen Aoxue, and Ake, who were inside the courtyard, looked over upon hearing the sound, each with a different expression.

Adele looked distressed and worried.

Ake watched silently, a playful smile hidden in her eyes.

Shen Aoxue stood under the corridor, her eyes gentle, seemingly concerned, but her heart was filled with turbulent emotions.

Lin Ping let A Lu hug him, raised his hand and gently patted her back, soothing her in a gentle tone: "It's alright, it's all over now."

After crying for a long time, Alu calmed down a little and suddenly remembered the scene she saw at the stronghold in the back mountain last night. Her heart sank.

She suddenly raised her head, her eyes brimming with tears, and looked earnestly at Lin Ping.

"Sir, I have something very important and strange that I must tell you in private."

Lin Ping's gaze sharpened slightly, and he spoke up: "Everyone, step back and wait in your rooms. No one is to come over without my permission."

Although Adele was full of worries, she still obediently nodded and turned to leave.

Ake shrugged and slowly retreated back to her room.

Only Shen Aoxue stood still, her gaze hesitant, as if she wanted to stay and listen to something.

Lin Ping glanced at her indifferently: "Aoxue, you should go back and rest too."

Shen Aoxue's heart tightened. Not daring to disobey, she could only nod obediently, turn around and leave, a trace of doubt flashing in her eyes before she left.

The courtyard was completely cleared out, leaving only Lin Ping and A Lu.

Aru took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in her heart, and said in a low voice, word by word:

"Sir, when I was captured and taken to the Illuminati stronghold last night, I clearly saw a person."

"That person... looks exactly like Sister Aoxue, down to the last detail!"

"It's not the Aoxue who's at home now, it's another one, the real Aoxue! She's been locked up in the stronghold by Xiaoyuer!"

If anyone else heard these words, they would surely be shocked and astonished.

But Lin Ping's face showed no surprise, only complete calm.

There wasn't even the slightest ripple in his eyes, as if he already knew everything.

He spoke softly, "I know."

Alu froze on the spot, blinking her red, tearful eyes, her face full of disbelief.

"You...you knew all along?"

"Hmm." Lin Ping nodded slightly, his tone calm. "What you see is the real Shen Aoxue. What remained at the manor is an imposter."

Alu's mind was buzzing; all the strange things that had happened overnight suddenly connected.

False accusations, distortion of the truth, refusal to touch the Tianshan snow lotus, strange and abnormal occurrences everywhere...

It turns out that from beginning to end, the one who stayed by their side was an imposter!

"Then... what do we do now? Should we go and save Sister Zhen Aoxue right away?" Alu asked anxiously.

Lin Ping raised his hand and pressed it on her shoulder, his eyes serious.

"Keep this to yourself."

"Don't tell anyone, including Adele, including everyone else."

"Do you understand?"

Although Alu was full of doubts, she couldn't understand why the gentleman was holding back, not exposing the fake man, and not going to save people.

But she trusted Lin Ping unconditionally and nodded vigorously: "I remember, I won't tell anyone."

A cold, unfathomable light flashed in Lin Ping's eyes.

He had long seen through the flaws in the fake Shen Aoxue's soul and the double-pronged scheme of Xiaoyuer.

The reason for not exposing the truth, not rescuing people, and not taking action was to stabilize the overall situation, allowing the two major villains to completely lower their guard and gradually reveal all their cards.

He played the fool to catch the tiger, patiently plotting and scheming, all for the final, decisive victory.

……

Meanwhile, the ruined stronghold of the Illuminati in the back mountains.

Last night, wild boars wreaked havoc in the main hall, leaving the entire stronghold in ruins, most of the magical artifacts destroyed, and countless cultivators killed or injured.

Little Fish's face was extremely gloomy, and the mechanical arm kept making furious clicking sounds.

She kicked away the splinters of wood scattered on the ground and walked into the secret chamber at the deepest part of the main hall.

In the center of the secret room, a transparent crystal shield floats.

Inside the protective barrier, a woman in white sat quietly, her eyes cold and her beauty breathtaking; she was none other than the real Shen Aoxue.

Several days ago, she was secretly kidnapped by Xiaoyuer and has been imprisoned here ever since.

With a wave of his hand, Xiaoyuer channeled a burst of malevolent spiritual energy into the crystal shield, causing it to shimmer and slowly awaken the sleeping Zhen Shen Aoxue.

Zhen Shen Aoxue slowly opened her eyes, her gaze clear and cold as snow, without a trace of fear.

Little Fish looked down at her coldly: "You're awake."

"Tell me all of Lin Ping's trump cards, weaknesses in his cultivation, and his usual methods."

"If you confess obediently, I might let you go."

Shen Aoxue calmly raised her eyes, her tone firm and unwavering.

"You don't need to waste your time."

"I know A-Ping, but I will never tell you a single word."

"Even if I die, I will not help you harm him in the slightest."

Little Fish's face darkened: "You're quite the romantic!"

A sinister glint flashed in her eyes as she raised her hand and conjured a water mirror-like light screen.

The image of the Lin family manor was clearly projected onto the light screen.

In the scene, Alu, who had just been crying, nestled beside Lin Ping, who gently comforted her with a doting expression.

On the other side, the fake Shen Aoxue was docile and obedient, nestled beside Lin Ping, a scene of peaceful and tender happiness.

Xiaoyuer stared intently at Zhen Shen Aoxue, and said with a cold smile:

"Take a look."

The man you cherish and protect has long forgotten you.

"Someone will sit in your place for you; someone will enjoy your kindness for you."

"He's surrounded by beautiful women, enjoying a life of luxury and happiness. Has he ever remembered you, whom I imprisoned and tormented?"

She was certain that such an extreme disparity was enough to shatter the resolve of any devoted woman.

As long as Shen Aoxue harbors resentment and develops a rift in her heart, she can seize the opportunity to manipulate her soul, forcing her to turn against Lin Ping.

The anticipated collapse, despair, and pain did not materialize.

Zhen Shen Aoxue watched the scene on the light screen quietly, her expression unusually calm.

There was no jealousy or resentment in his eyes, only a faint gentleness and certainty.

She spoke softly:

"Aping is extremely shrewd and has a far-reaching vision."

"He never gets close to others without a reason, and he would never actually believe something is true."

"It was all an act he deliberately put on."

"He is patiently waiting, making plans, and waiting for the right moment to turn the tide completely."

"I believe him."

Three simple words instantly shattered all of Xiaoyuer's schemes.

Little Fish's pupils constricted sharply, and his face turned completely ashen!

She went to great lengths to sow discord and break the bond between the two, but in the end, Shen Aoxue not only didn't break down, but instead trusted Lin Ping completely!

He even saw through Lin Ping's deep scheme of pretending to be weak while actually being strong, and feigning decadence!

Zhen Shen Aoxue slowly raised her eyes, her gaze cold as she looked at the enraged Xiaoyuer:

"You schemed against him, tested him, and plotted against him."

"But you couldn't understand him from beginning to end."

The air in the sealed room instantly froze, and the murderous intent surged dramatically.

The little fish's mechanical right arm exploded with red light, and the murderous intent in its eyes completely locked onto the real Shen Aoxue.

Since enticement, provocation, and psychological manipulation are all ineffective.

Then she'll take a different path!

If she can't have it, she'll destroy it completely!

At this moment, Lin Ping'an, having finished comforting Alu, stood alone in the center of the courtyard of the Lin family manor.

His divine sense traversed thousands of miles, accurately capturing the chilling killing intent that suddenly erupted in the secret room.

Knowing that Xiaoyuer was completely enraged and was preparing to kill the real Shen Aoxue.

Lin Ping's lips curled slightly, his eyes flashing with a chilling light.

The fish finally panicked.