"Is something the matter, Husband?" Meng Qiewei asked.

"It’s nothing important... but can I cultivate here?" Jiang Man asked in a low voice.

Meng Qiewei seemed a little surprised. "Cultivate? Here?"

’I’d rather go outside, but I’m afraid you’ll hold a grudge against me,’ Jiang Man thought.

Jiang Man was about to nod, but on second thought, the Cultivation Methods of the major Immortal Sects were probably different.

’If she figures something out while I’m cultivating, I’ll be walking right into a trap.’

"I advise you to reconsider, Husband. The moment you start cultivating, that ox outside will charge in," Meng Qiewei reminded him kindly. "You may not know much about me, but my Cultivation is quite high. As soon as you begin cultivating, I’ll be able to trace the source.

"Even though I am just a wisp of power made manifest, I can still deduce it if I observe for long enough."

Jiang Man was stunned. She was actually being kind.

"Actually, Husband, you can be a bit bolder. There’s no need to be so reserved," Meng Qiewei said with a smile. ’I’m just a wisp of power. That Evil God outside is indeed quite capable.

"It’s prevented me from doing anything more.

"So no matter how you talk to me, I can’t do anything else.

"At most, your cold words might make me feel upset for a few days after I return.

"Of course, while I can’t do anything here, the Evil God you’re raising will have to endure my attacks once I’m back.

"But even so, no harm will come to you, Husband.

"We’ve already been wed. A day as husband and wife means a hundred days of kindness."

Jiang Man thought it over. Her meaning was clear.

’I can speak my mind without being so reserved. Plus, Old Yellow Ox might die, but I won’t.’

’But what if she actually likes being a widow?’

’Someone with such a high Cultivation must be quite old.’

’For someone like her to remain unmarried... is it because she isn’t beautiful enough, or her figure isn’t good enough, so no one wants her?’

’Neither.’

’So it’s not unreasonable to think she might enjoy being a widow.’

"What are you thinking about, Husband?" Meng Qiewei asked.

"Fairy, you’re so powerful. Why do people still gossip about you?" Jiang Man asked curiously.

Meng Qiewei looked at Jiang Man and said softly, "If the Evil God you’re raising were to secretly mock you, what would you do?"

Jiang Man froze, a flash of understanding hitting him.

’The ones gossiping aren’t ordinary people.’

’They’re the kind of people who can be indulged.’

For a moment, Jiang Man didn’t know what else to say.

Meng Qiewei then said, "The matter of the missing person from the Magpie Bridge has been discovered."

Jiang Man was baffled. ’What does she mean?’

"Because you brought me back, one person was missing when the Magpie Bridge closed," Meng Qiewei explained, looking at Jiang Man. "So, someone will soon trace the incident back through the Magpie Bridge. I’m afraid you’re about to be caught, Husband."

Jiang Man was stunned. ’They’re actually going to investigate?’

He couldn’t tell if Meng Qiewei was telling the truth or not. He had to ask the Old Yellow Ox.

After that, Meng Qiewei fell silent.

Jiang Man didn’t know what to say either.

He wanted to take out a book to read but was worried she would discover something.

He spent the entire night torn.

’Cultivating, reading, Talisman Making.’

He felt like he was wasting too much time by not doing anything.

But in the end, he did nothing.

Instead, he just sat with Meng Qiewei under the moonlight.

He would occasionally glance at her.

But every time, she seemed to notice and would meet his gaze.

Then he would be forced to look away again.

Under the moonlight, Meng Qiewei seemed to glow.

There was only a sense of coolness, not a biting chill.

Not until the sky began to lighten did Meng Qiewei finally speak. "It seems you’ve been lost in thought all night, Husband."

"I was thinking about Cultivation," Jiang Man answered honestly.

"Why? Because of the Unparalleled Celestial Pride Fate Chart? Do you still have time, Husband?" Meng Qiewei asked.

Jiang Man asked curiously, "Fairy, you don’t know the various conditions of the Fate Chart?"

"I do, but a Fate Chart changes with the times. The timing isn’t fixed," Meng Qiewei said softly. "Sometimes, a Fate Chart will direct someone to a certain place, but if that place is no longer safe, the next owner of the Fate Chart won’t be sent there."

Jiang Man was slightly surprised. In other words, the next condition of the Fate Chart might be similar to the previous ones.

Or it could be completely different.

Meng Qiewei stood up, gently patting her unwrinkled Immortal Skirt. She looked at Jiang Man and said, "I have to go back now."

"Take care, Fairy," Jiang Man said respectfully, standing up as well.

Meng Qiewei looked at Jiang Man and said, "You’re too stiff and polite when you speak to me, Husband."

Jiang Man said nothing.

’This is the best way to stay alive.’

Then, Meng Qiewei walked toward the door.

Halfway there, she seemed to think of something. Without fully stopping, she tilted her head slightly, her hair swaying gently on her shoulders as she walked. Her gaze swept over Jiang Man, lingering for just a moment, her eyes filled with a tenderness as soft as moonlight. Then, her lips parted. "Goodbye, Husband."

As her voice faded, she turned to face forward again.

She left behind a faint, lingering trace of reluctance and tenderness.

CREAK!

She opened the door.

And at that same moment, her body dissolved into motes of light and vanished completely.

Jiang Man clutched his chest and couldn’t help but call out, "Old Huang."

Just then, the Old Yellow Ox walked in.

Jiang Man continued, "She’s so beautiful. For a second there, I was completely stunned. Other than being a bit old, I can’t find a single flaw in her."

"So you’re going to treat me like your savior now?" the Old Yellow Ox asked.

Jiang Man nodded. "Don’t worry, Old Huang. From now on, I’ll take care of you in your old age and see you off when you die."

Old Huang gave Jiang Man a cold look. "No need to see me off. It’s not yet certain who will die first."

Jiang Man snapped out of it and looked at Old Huang. "Old Huang, do you think her attitude was real or fake? I can’t tell. I really can’t tell."

The Old Yellow Ox didn’t answer the question. It simply walked out on its own and began to eat grass.

Jiang Man followed it out and recounted his conversation from last night.

There was really only one crucial point.

Someone was going to investigate by tracing things back through the Magpie Bridge.

After listening, the Old Yellow Ox pondered for a moment. "One person missing... normally, that shouldn’t be discovered, let alone become a big deal. They don’t all descend together, and their locations are different.

"Even if it were known, who knows how many years have passed.

"Unless there was an unexpected turn of events.

"I’m afraid your wife might be the problem."

Jiang Man was surprised. "What kind of problem?"

"She’s so powerful that, theoretically, she shouldn’t have been able to cross over. So, there’s a chance your wife entered the Magpie Bridge without permission," the Old Yellow Ox said, continuing to munch on grass. "You’re finished. This time, you might really get caught. I wiped our tracks clean.

"But that won’t hold up if the Immortal Sect gets serious.

"Once they get serious, it’s only a matter of time before they find out the truth."

Jiang Man fell silent. He opened his mouth but, for a moment, didn’t know what to say.

"But they won’t find anything in the short term. You still have time," the Old Yellow Ox said.

Jiang Man was silent for a moment, then shook his head.

He decided to put it out of his mind for now.

After all, no one could give him a definite answer.

Perhaps the situation wasn’t as bad as the Old Yellow Ox thought.

For now, he had to continue improving his Cultivation.

He had to prepare for the Secret Realm selection.

Everything concerning Meng Qiewei felt too distant.

He had wasted a whole night; he needed to work even harder.

As soon as he arrived at the small courtyard, he saw that Wei Beichuan was already there. He was wearing a Spirit-Calming Treasure, munching on various Spiritual Objects, and even had Talismans stuck to his body.

Even with all that, he couldn’t hide the dark circles under his eyes.

He was terrifyingly strong at this moment.

When Cao Cheng and An Rong saw him, they felt like they were being stared down by a Demon Beast.

"You and your big mouth! Are you happy now?" An Rong cursed at Cao Cheng.

"Your own brain isn’t working, and you’re blaming me? I kindly reminded you so many times that you could cut back where needed, but you just wouldn’t listen," Cao Cheng retorted irritably. "Hurry up and cut back so you can improve faster. Put some pressure on him."

Just sitting there, Wei Beichuan exuded a powerful, oppressive aura.

It was the first time they realized a genius could be so intimidating.

The moment Jiang Man sat down, that entire aura vanished.

At that moment, in the entire Ninth Courtyard, there was only one genius.

Such was the radiance of being number one; everyone else would live in his shadow.

Yan Yiqiu walked in from outside. Looking at the crowd of dark-circled eyes below, she couldn’t help but sigh with emotion.

’When did my courtyard turn into this?’

"This year’s annual assessment will be ranked together with the Seventh and Eighth Courtyards. Afterward, there will be a competitive assessment against the Seven Peaks to determine the final rankings," Yan Yiqiu said to the students below. "You all have a chance, especially Zhuo Bufan, Zhao Yaoyao, and Lin Qingshan. Work hard during this time.

"As long as you participate in the Seven Peaks assessment, you’ll be able to compete for Magic Skills and Cultivation Skills."

The others listened quietly.

They figured she didn’t mention Jiang Man because there was simply no need to.

They were all looking forward to seeing Jiang Man’s ranking in the annual grand competition.

He was sure to shock everyone.

————

It’s the last day for the monthly ticket lottery.

It ends at midnight tonight.