Jingyue looked at her phone and shook her head. "Looks like I interrupted them. Her phone’s even turned off. Were they really that desperate?"

Jingyue was her usual self now. She glanced at her master, who was lying in the bed beside her. "The Saintess is so much better. She didn’t do anything reckless. All she needs is a little rest, and then we can just switch her to a different mode. Right, Master?

’Oh, right. I forgot you almost broke yourself playing with both modes.

It’s not convenient for you to talk right now.’

Yue Xi: "..."

’When I get back, I’m going to kill that little brat.’

Jingyue then looked out the window, muttering to herself, "But... this just doesn’t make any sense. How are the two of them not giving each other the cold shoulder? Aren’t they fighting?

They were on the verge of divorce, but the moment they got back, they were all over each other like nothing ever happened."

Suddenly, Jingyue’s eyes lit up. "Could it be that Jiang Zuo found out his wife’s secret? And he’s deliberately not calling her out on it?

But does a guy like Jiang Zuo really possess that kind of profound wisdom?"

Jingyue shook her head. "Nah, impossible."

******

「The next morning.」

Jiang Zuo was lying in bed. Su Qi was sprawled on top of him, fast asleep.

He kept reminding himself to stay calm. ’I can’t let this sort of thing cloud my judgment.’

’But...’

’The world has really changed. I’m back, and that’s that. Everything is starting anew, and for the better, at that.’

Just then, Su Qi stirred awake. She squinted at Jiang Zuo and said happily, "You need to build your strength back up."

Jiang Zuo: "..."

Su Qi then got up, humming a little tune as she got dressed. "What do you want to eat? I’ll go make you some breakfast."

Jiang Zuo didn’t say anything. He just watched Su Qi. From the moment she finished dressing to when she left the room to brush her teeth and wash her face, not a single unfortunate thing happened.

Jiang Zuo had been observing this since the previous night.

Then, Jiang Zuo took out the coin and began to spin it over and over. A smile touched his lips.

’Perhaps that old Daoist’s Dual Cultivation Skill really does work. But the Dual Cultivation itself is just a formality. The one truly interfering with the misfortune is me.

After all, I’m an incredibly lucky person. From stumbling into the Immortal Spirit Cave Mansion to entering the Ancient Battlefield, from obtaining the Enlightenment Fruit to the Enlightenment Stone—what have I ever lacked?

When did I ever run short of fortuitous encounters on my path to the Dao Peak?

Luck like this defies all logic. With me around, what’s a mere Misfortune Coin?

Dual Cultivation is just nonsense. Even just holding hands would be enough to slowly ward off Su Qi’s misfortune.

If I’m home every day, perhaps simply being in the house would be enough to render the Misfortune Coin useless against Su Qi.

Of course, the effects of this so-called Dual Cultivation should last for a very long time, protecting Su Qi from the Misfortune Coin’s influence.’

Just then, Su Qi came back and asked again, "What do you want to eat?"

After telling her "whatever," Jiang Zuo lay back down.

He felt completely drained.

’Looks like all those late nights I spent on Cultivation have taken a toll on my kidneys.’

******

「Perception No. 1 Chat Group」

Xiao Xiaomo: "Seems like we can’t find Boss Po Xiao."

Liuyue Xue posted an agreement emoji: "Chu Qing was @ing him all night yesterday, but Fellow Daoist Po Xiao didn’t respond at all."

Liu Yiyi posted a sympathy emoji: "What’s wrong with Chu Qing again? Is Chu Qing still alive?"

Liuyue Xue: "He won’t die. You all know about Chu Qing’s special constitution. He’s just severely traumatized. He’s with me right now; Demon Cultivator Mo Yan is helping to calm him down."

Fairy Mo Yan posted a table-flipping emoji: "I’m a Demon Cultivator! And you’re making me play therapist? Do I, a Demon Cultivator, have no dignity?"

Xiao Xiaomo: "Thank you for your hard work, Fairy. The reason Chu Qing attacked him again is that they can’t use the Thunder Mark Hammer. Speaking of which, does no one know how to use the Thunder Mark Hammer? It’s just a normal Magical Treasure, isn’t it?"

Chi Xue Child posted a head-shaking emoji: "It’s no use. I found the method, but it looks like a lock was added to it, which is why Chu Qing can’t use it."

Xiao Xiaomo sighed: "Mo Yan helped post a commission for it, too, but still no one can figure it out."

Blade Master Hai Bian immediately added: "I’ve found a Blacksmith friend who will be here in two days, but I still recommend we find Fellow Daoist Po Xiao."

Fairy Mo Yan: "I agree. Even though Boss Po Xiao is a little arrogant, a little annoying, and makes you want to kill him a little, he’s undeniably skilled."

Xiao Xiaomo posted a series of sighs: "We just can’t find him. Who knows what adventure Boss Po Xiao has run off on this time."

It was true. They all knew Po Xiao had a habit of disappearing.

He was the first one into the Immortal Spirit Cave Mansion, and the first one into the Blood Demon Base Camp.

And initially, there was no way to communicate in either of those places, which made it impossible for them to contact him.

Very few people knew his phone number, and those who did had already tried calling, but his phone was off.

But right now, Jiang Zuo wasn’t off on some adventure. He was standing on his balcony, watching Sweet Potato.

Sweet Potato was flapping its wings, exercising. It would occasionally do a side bend, lunge forward, or lean backward.

Jiang Zuo asked, "What are you doing? Practicing 360-degree front and back flips and 180-degree aerials?"

Sweet Potato nodded. "SQUAWK."

Jiang Zuo asked curiously, "Why are you learning that? So you can go back to breaking vases? And then you won’t have to worry when Su Qi makes you do all sorts of flips as punishment?"

Sweet Potato tilted its head and let out an incomprehensible squawk.

’Well, I have no idea what it’s saying either,’ Jiang Zuo thought. ’But if it wants to court death, so be it.’

Jiang Zuo glanced at Su Qi in the kitchen again. He saw that her bad luck was truly gone, which confirmed it: she was the one who had been afflicted by the Misfortune Coin.

Just then, Su Qi called out, "Come and chop the vegetables!"

"Okay," Jiang Zuo answered and went in.

In reality, they hadn’t talked about anything else while at home. There was no way the current Jiang Zuo would argue or give Su Qi the cold shoulder.

Not unless she did something to force his hand—like being on the verge of discovering that he was the one who had cursed her with the Misfortune Coin.

If giving her the cold shoulder could defuse that situation, he wouldn’t mind doing it.

When he entered the kitchen, Su Qi handed Jiang Zuo a hairband.

Jiang Zuo: "???"

"Tie my hair for me."

"Can’t you do it yourself?"

"It doesn’t look as good when I do it. Besides, can’t you be a little more romantic? What’s wrong with tying your own wife’s hair?"

"..."

Jiang Zuo then took the hairband and said, "Remember, from now on, no matter where you go or what you’re doing, you can’t take this hairband off."

"Not even when I’m washing my hair?"

"Now you’re just being difficult."

"What about when I sleep with you? Like last night... Oh, right, I can’t take it off, or I’ll end up lying on my hair. Okay, fine, I’ll wear it every day from now on."

Jiang Zuo looked into Su Qi’s eyes. "I’m serious."

Su Qi nodded emphatically. "Yes, sir! From now on, this hairband will be your wife’s personal Protective Talisman. How’s that?"

’It always was your Protective Talisman,’ Jiang Zuo thought, but he didn’t say it out loud.

It would only lead to a lot of unnecessary questions.

Still, he tied Su Qi’s hair for her, then went back to chopping his vegetables.

Just then, Su Qi looked at Jiang Zuo and said, "My sister just called. I, uh, I might need to go back to my hometown in a couple of days.

You know, that ritual we have every two years? This year’s is coming up."

Jiang Zuo continued chopping vegetables, his expression calm. "I know. It takes a month each time, if I remember correctly?"