Fairy, please have some self-respect. I am not the reincarnation of your deceased husband.

"I wouldn't dare."

Chen Lianshu immediately denied it.

For him, the more people, the better.

After all, having many people around makes it easier to make contact with "the higher-ups".

But that question just now was presumptuous, both in terms of status and cultivation.

To avoid displeasing Senior Sister Mu, he had to smooth things over.

"With my senior sister leading the team personally, there's absolutely no chance of anything going wrong."

Chen Lianshu bowed deeply, his tone sincere:

"Junior brother just felt that... this arrangement was unfair to senior sister, which is why he asked the unnecessary question."

"I hope my senior sister will understand."

"Um."

Upon hearing this, Mu Qianxue gave a faint reply, her coldness dissipating, which was considered an acceptance of the explanation.

Especially when she heard "I'm sorry to have wronged my senior sister," the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.

"In that case, let's go back and prepare."

She rose and put away the roster, her sleeves fluttering as she released a refreshing, cool fragrance.

"Yes."

Chen Lianshu knew the matter was settled, so he said no more, bowed, turned around, and was about to leave.

But he had only taken one step when a voice stopped him from behind:

"slow."

"?"

As soon as he turned around, he caught a small jade bottle.

"What's wrong, Senior Sister Mu?"

"Malaria-removing pill".

Upon opening the bottle, a fragrant aroma of medicine immediately filled the air.

This is no ordinary miasma-removing pill.

These are clearly three high-grade "Cloud Spirit Pills" used to purify spiritual energy and aid in cultivation.

However, the rewards for this mission are ordinary, and such pills will not be distributed.

Clearly, this was a personal gift from Mu Qianxue.

"many…"

Chen Lianshu was about to express his gratitude, but the other party seemed afraid that he would refuse and spoke first:

"Here you go, take it."

"Take this pill, go back and cultivate diligently, and improve your cultivation level as soon as possible."

As she spoke, Mu Qianxue's gaze lingered on her junior brother's face for a moment.

That glance, seemingly unintentional, was actually a careful examination.

Even with her aloof nature, she couldn't help but secretly admire it in her heart:

Her eyebrows were like ink paintings, her eyes like bright stars, her face like jade, and even in simple clothes, she could not hide her refined and elegant air.

Indeed... she was born exceptionally well.

It suits her taste.

She paused, her lips slightly pursed, and finally changed her words:

"Don't... hold us back."

"Thank you very much, Senior Sister."

Chen Lianshu did not stand on ceremony.

Why refuse a free opportunity?

Why not take advantage of a free lunch?

"Junior brother takes his leave."

He said no more, put away the jade bottle, bowed, and left.

Only after his figure had completely disappeared into the distance did Mu Qianxue slowly walk to the window.

"well--"

Looking in the direction her junior brother had left, she sighed softly, deeply regretting her words and actions.

The words "Don't make me worry" were on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn't bring himself to say them, and in the end, he even awkwardly changed his mind.

She had hoped to emulate the gentle and kind demeanor of her master from her memories, and leave a good first impression.

But now it seems that it has backfired...

"My husband..."

She reopened the file and gently stroked the three characters "Chen Lianshu" on the paper with her jade-like fingers.

Mu Qianxue's gaze was gentle and tender, completely unlike the "cold and aloof immortal" image that outsiders perceived her to be.

A month ago, she began to dream repeatedly about meeting Chen Lianshu.

In my dream, they were an enviable couple, overcoming hardships together, walking side by side, and traversing the long years.

Although the other party had mediocre talent and slow cultivation, he accumulated knowledge and skills over time and eventually achieved great things.

But... we couldn't grow old together.

His old injury flared up again, and he shielded her from a fatal blow once more…

Her husband collapsed into her arms.

Although his breath gradually weakened, the tenderness and reluctance in the other person's eyes grew even deeper.

At first, Mu Qianxue didn't pay attention, taking it as just a fluctuation in her mood.

But as time went by, his habits, his smile, his unintentional little gestures when he spoke, and that last look he gave her as he fell into her arms…

These things have not faded away; on the contrary, they have become even clearer.

She then realized that it was not a dream, but the future.

"..."

My gaze returned to the recorded files.

Looking at the words "single", "alone", "no close opposite sex", and "nighttime discipline" that were blacked out.

Mu Qianxue smiled faintly, quite satisfied:

"very good."

"In this life, his surroundings are very clean."

In the future, their relationship will not be smooth sailing.

The most troublesome enemy, besides the demonic saintess, is her master, Pei Wanyun.

Recalling Master's unusual behavior recently.

She often stares intently at a portrait, and whenever she gets close, the other person hurriedly puts it away, looking nervous.

The person in the painting looked exactly like Chen Lianshu.

"..."

Looking out the window, my gaze fell upon the direction of my master's bedroom.

Mu Qianxue never believed that she was the only one who knew the future.

and so…

"I'm sorry, Master."

A strange, immoral feeling welled up inside me.

But instead of making her feel guilty, this aroused an irrepressible pleasure.

"This time... it was my disciple who found him first."

"Those near the water get the moon first, but your unfilial disciple—"

Her voice was soft, but her tone was firm:

"We must get there first."

My thoughts returned to the "belonging" section of the file.

The words "Outer Gate" are written on it.

Mu Qianxue picked up her pen again and added a tiny, light, and barely noticeable character, 【沐】, at the end.

"Heh~"

He withdrew the pen, then revealed a satisfied smile, utterly captivating.

Immediately afterwards, her aura returned to its cool and aloof state, sword light flowed, and she rode her sword towards "Tranquil Heart Peak" where her master was located.

It's time to inform my master that I've accepted the mission and will need to leave the sect for a few days.

……

Outside.

Only after leaving the Foreign Affairs Hall did Chen Lianshu carefully reflect on what had just happened, and the more he thought about it, the more suspicious it seemed.

Mu Qianxue's questions were truly baffling, especially the one about destiny, which seemed to have a deeper meaning no matter how you looked at it.

And that last glance she gave me before we parted seemed to hold some kind of emotion?

It seemed like reluctance, it seemed like scrutiny, and it seemed like something else entirely...?

Holding the pill in his hand, he couldn't help but ponder it a few more times.

This Senior Sister Mu is indeed as rumored: aloof, meticulous, unapproachable, and a perfectionist in everything…

The reason she gave him the elixir was probably just as she said: because she thought his cultivation level was too low and she was afraid he would become a burden.

However, it was not appropriate for fellow disciples to speak openly about this, so they could only offer hints through elixirs.

Of course, it's also possible that she became suspicious of his identity and used this elixir to lower his guard...

My thoughts gradually drifted apart, becoming more and more chaotic the more I tried to organize them.

In the end, Chen Lianshu shook his head, temporarily suppressing his distracting thoughts.

After all, the most important thing right now is to figure out how to contact the higher-ups.

Traveling alone meant that he was always under Mu Qianxue's watchful eye, and he had to escape right under her nose.

"We'll have to play it by ear."

Before leaving, the other person's complex gaze resurfaced in my mind.

He glanced back one last time in the direction of the Foreign Affairs Hall and muttered to himself:

"I hope... I'm just overthinking it."