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

"?!"

Upon seeing this, Mu Qianxue froze on the spot.

For a fleeting moment, she almost thought she was still drunk and asleep.

But the intimate scene of "hand in hand" felt so real, and the feelings that welled up in my heart were also very clear.

And feeling that excruciating pain—

She understood that this was not a dream, but reality.

"Qianxue is here."

Pei Wanyun looked up at the sound and saw her disciple still standing at the door. Her gentle smile remained, and she greeted her softly:

"What are you doing standing there?"

"Aren't you coming over here?"

However, she did not immediately withdraw her hand.

Instead, he calmly finished explaining the last key point before naturally withdrawing his hand, straightening his sleeves, and maintaining a normal expression.

It was as if that intimate moment just now was nothing more than the most ordinary instruction from a teacher.

"You still look a bit tired, haven't you had enough rest?"

"..."

But Mu Qianxue did not respond.

My throat felt like it was blocked by something, and I was momentarily speechless.

She subconsciously glanced at Pei Wanyun's husband, but her master subtly turned slightly to the side, blocking most of her view.

The posture seemed natural, but it actually carried a subtle sense of protection, or rather... a silent declaration.

Before Mu Qianxue could ask her "junior brother" why he was there, the other party spoke first.

"It's perfect that you've arrived. Let me introduce you."

Pei Wanyun remained smiling and spoke gently, but her eyes were carefully scrutinizing every expression on her disciple's face.

Clearly, she still didn't fully believe the other person had no memory and was still testing them.

"This is Chen Lianshu, my newly accepted disciple, who will be your junior brother from now on."

"He previously cultivated in the outer sect, so you should have met him."

"Senior sister."

Chen Lianshu then stood up, bowed to Mu Qianxue, and formally addressed her as "Senior Sister," thus acknowledging her status.

"…Um."

Mu Qianxue exerted great effort to restrain herself before reluctantly agreeing.

However, despite her calm and composed demeanor, her hands hidden in her sleeves were already trembling slightly.

This is enough to show the turmoil in his heart.

She used to love how much her husband called her that, but now she hates it so much.

She wished her husband would call her "Senior Sister Mu" right now, instead of just "Senior Sister".

After all, using such a form of address implies that the other person can no longer be kept secret...

"I originally intended to take you with me to pick up Lian Shu at noon, but I didn't know where you had gone, so I had to go ahead with Xue Yan."

"How was it? Did you like this surprise?"

surprise?

Mu Qianxue felt a sharp pain in her heart, and finally understood why her master had been acting strangely lately.

So... these days, Master has frequently left the peak, not to handle important matters, nor to search for her husband's whereabouts, but because she has already found him.

Therefore... my husband's recent progress in cultivation and swordsmanship was not due to the guidance of the outer sect elders, but rather to the personal instruction of our master.

Therefore… Master had already noticed her activities outside…

And considering the current situation.

That intimate, hands-on instruction just now was probably a test, a deliberate act to show her.

After all, her master had already become suspicious of her a week ago, so it was not surprising that he was testing her again.

"When did my junior brother pass the assessment?"

Mu Qianxue forced herself to steady her voice, avoiding her master's question, and instead asked a question.

She behaved as usual.

She remained the same aloof fairy who cared nothing for anything except cultivation.

Therefore, he didn't care at all whether he had an extra junior brother.

But as her gaze swept over her master, her peripheral vision still unconsciously drifted toward her husband.

Since the die is cast, and since Master has already found her husband…

So her only advantage is to take advantage of the "information gap" that her master doesn't know she also has memories to create opportunities.

Therefore, we absolutely cannot afford to reveal any weaknesses now.

"That was a week ago."

"As soon as the identity token was made, I brought your junior brother here."

"Then... what kind of assessment did you pass, Junior Brother?"

Mu Qianxue pressed for an answer.

Although she knew that her master had not set up any specific assessment, she was currently a senior sister who was "completely unaware" and "strictly abiding by the rules," so it was reasonable for her to ask such a question.

"When I was patrolling the outer sect, I saw that Lian Shu was calm and composed and had excellent comprehension, so I made an exception and directly accepted him into the sect."

Pei Wanyun answered calmly, her smile gentle:

"You should also know that a teacher's acceptance of disciples is not based on formalities, but on the karmic connection."

"Um."

Mu Qianxue casually agreed, pretending not to care.

"By the way, what brings you here so late?"

"Your disciple has come specifically to apologize to Master."

She made a great effort to avoid looking at her husband, bowed her head, and spoke in a steady tone:

"I left the peak without permission yesterday, which caused me to miss my studies. Please punish me, Master."

"Oh? Just for this?"

Pei Wanyun, however, did not take it to heart and gently comforted her:

"Although the workload is heavy, I am not forbidding you from taking a break."

"Just remember to let your teacher know where you go next time."

"Yes... I was not thoughtful enough."

"That's enough—"

She let out a long sigh.

"This is a one-time exception. You can manage your own coursework pace; there's no need to be too demanding."

"After all, I haven't set a time limit, so just take your time."

As she spoke, Pei Wanyun glanced at Chen Lianshu beside her, seemingly casually, and then said softly:

"Alright, if there's nothing else, you may leave now."

"As your teacher, I will continue to instruct your junior brother."

"After all, he is new to the inner sect and still needs guidance in many matters."

"…good."

Mu Qianxue remained silent for a moment before finally agreeing.

"This disciple will take his leave now."

"Okay, go ahead, go back and get some rest."

Mu Qianxue bowed again, then turned and left.

Her pure white dress carried a faint fragrance, and her back was straight, as if she didn't care at all.

However, her steps were slightly hurried, but she concealed it so well that no one could tell.

"..."

Upon seeing this, Chen Lianshu, who had been silent all along, felt a slight sinking feeling in his heart.

The expression of the red ice crystal on his senior sister's head was precisely the "displeasure" emotion he had recently discovered, as well as another unknown emotion.

Moreover, this was the first time he had ever seen such a strong outward expression of emotion.

And just as he was pondering this in secret—

"Disciple, from this day forward, you are officially a disciple of Jade Spirit Peak."

Pei Wanyun's voice rang out again, still gentle and elegant.

But what followed was like a thunderclap, causing Mu Qianxue, who had already reached the door, to abruptly stop.

"I have already tidied up the side hall of Yunxin Palace. You may move in now."

"?"

Mu Qianxue's body froze instantly.

The emotions she had been suppressing surged up again, especially when she heard the words "temporarily reside in the side hall of Yunxin," which almost overwhelmed her reason.

No.

Almost immediately, the thought of rejection arose from the bottom of my heart.

Absolutely not!

After all, she was only pretending not to know, not that she really didn't know what her master's thoughts were beneath that gentle exterior...!

If we allow my husband to move into Yunxin Palace...

Wouldn't that be like a lamb being led to the slaughter?!