He had just been reborn when he was imprisoned by his nemesis, the Empress?

"And once you die in this world, time in the entire world will accelerate."

Xu Yi frowned, looking completely bewildered.

"What does this mean?"

Su Qingluan spoke slowly and deliberately.

"What I mean is, you think you're just experiencing a consciousness shift, that you're just dreaming, but in reality..."

"What enters here is our true form; what lies in the outside world is the fake one."

"As for the last two sentences, they are literally what they mean."

She looked at Xu Yi's instantly frozen expression and continued...

"Based on my understanding of your intelligence..."

"All this time, you must have thought that this dream world was actually sending your consciousness back to some past life, right?"

Xu Yi instinctively retorted, his voice trembling slightly.

"It's fake...that can't be."

"I can feel the touch that wakes me up every morning very clearly."

"If the real world is a fake body, why can I perceive it so vividly?"

Su Qingluan was silent for two seconds, then gently stroked his hair with her fingertips.

"I am also thinking about this matter."

"But it doesn't matter, I will get new hints as long as I complete the task."

"These things will become clearer over time."

As she spoke, she suddenly leaned closer, her breath lightly brushing against Xu Yi's cheek, her tone carrying a hint of pleading.

"I've told you so many secrets, and I've made so many concessions regarding your relationship with Shen Yunshu. Shouldn't you reward me?"

Xu Yi was taken aback and subconsciously asked

"What do you want?"

Seeing his flustered and helpless appearance, Su Qingluan's smile deepened. She gently pulled him closer to her, her voice slightly lingering.

"I don't want anything, just one request: these days, you must not hide from me anymore, but rather spend more time near me."

Looking into Su Qingluan's earnest yet expectant eyes, Xu Yi finally gave a soft "Mmm".

......

The two chatted for a while longer, as the sunlight outside the window began to slant.

Half an hour later, the palace door was gently pushed open.

Shen Yunshu walked in slowly and immediately saw Xu Yi sitting side by side with Yu Nianqing.

The two looked down at the projection stone on the table, which projected a scene of smoke-filled war. The two were very close, and the atmosphere was strangely peaceful.

Most importantly, Yu Nianqing has regained her original appearance.

Shen Yunshu had to admit that she was indeed very beautiful, which made her feel even worse.

At that moment, Shen Yunshu felt a strange pang of sadness.

She suppressed the inexplicable displeasure in her heart, slowly walked forward, reached out her hand, and gently took Xu Yi's wrist.

Shen Yunshu's tone remained gentle, yet carried a subtle hint of stubbornness:

"Yi'er, it's time to go with your master to refine the characters."

Yu Nianqing raised her eyes, secretly transmitting her voice, her tone tinged with a hint of mockery.

"Pfft, Yun Shu, do you have to keep such a close eye on your little apprentice? He's just watching the projection stone with me for a while."

Shen Yunshu's cheeks flushed slightly. Forcing herself to remain calm, she looked back and explained telepathically.

"Children...shouldn't watch such dangerous and violent things, it will affect their character."

Looking at her feigned seriousness but actually nervous demeanor, Yu Nianqing found it amusing and stopped teasing her, smiling faintly.

"Tsk tsk, I can't argue with you. You can take her with you then."

Shen Yunshu took Xu Yi's hand and turned to walk into the house, her fingers tightening slightly, as if afraid he would be taken away.

Behind them, Yu Nianqing's languid voice slowly rang out, carrying a hint of alluring laughter, reaching their ears.

"Yi'er, aren't you going to say goodbye to Aunt Yu?"

Xu Yi, being led by Shen Yunshu, paused, gritting his teeth as he spoke slowly and deliberately.

"Aunt Yu, bye-bye."

......

Five days passed in the blink of an eye.

Shen Yunshu, Shen Qingyao, and Yu Nianqing were all soaking in the pool.

These past few days, Yu Nianqing has been sticking to Xu Yi's side all the time, and the two often walk together, chatting and laughing.

She saw it all and was very sad.

After a moment of silence, Shen Yunshu finally spoke, his tone calm.

When do you plan to return to Medicine Immortal Valley?

Yu Nianqing leaned against the poolside, her figure graceful, her curves faintly visible in the steam. Upon hearing this, she immediately put on a wronged expression.

"Is Shushu trying to kick us out? Waaah..."

Shen Qingyao, who was standing to the side, got goosebumps from listening and couldn't help but open her eyes and roll them hard.

"...The voice is so cheesy."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a force suddenly came from underwater.

Shen Qingyao was kicked hard by Yu Nianqing, choked on her hot breath, and immediately fell silent.

Shen Yunshu lowered her eyes, her tone remaining calm.

"I'm not trying to kick you out, I'm just worried about your affairs at Medicine Fairy Valley."

Seeing this, Yu Nianqing stopped teasing her and sighed softly.

"Fine, fine. Since you don't want me to stay, I won't force you."

"It just so happens that I... have other important matters to attend to, so I will depart tomorrow."

She looked up at Shen Yunshu, her smile deep.

"Remember to bring your little apprentice to Medicine Immortal Valley to visit me sometime in the future."

Shen Yunshu responded indifferently

"Okay, I'll definitely do it next time."

Yu Nianqing suddenly changed the subject, her smile playful.

"By the way, your little apprentice really likes me~"

"Actually, I already told him this morning that I was about to leave."

Shen Yunshu's fingers tightened slightly, and her voice deepened.

"Was it during the time I was handling sect affairs today? Yi'er... he tried to persuade you to stay?"

"It's not really about trying to keep me here, after all, I'm just a fake aunt."

Shen Yunshu had just breathed a sigh of relief when her next words exploded in his ears like a thunderclap.

"But he kissed me, his aunt, twice."

Shen Yunshu: ......

The hot spring water around her seemed to freeze instantly, her beautiful face gradually lost its color, her fingertips clenched tightly, and her fingers trembled slightly beneath the water.

Shen Qingyao sensed something was wrong and knew something was amiss. Without saying a word, she used magic to wrap herself in clothes and instantly disappeared into the hot spring.

Yu Nianqing, however, was adding fuel to the fire, her tone deliberately gentle.

"I told him, 'Auntie is leaving soon, could you give her a farewell gift?'"

"Guess what he said? He just tilted his head back, looked at me with an innocent and adorable expression, and said, 'Then can I kiss Auntie twice?'"

"You know Yun Shu, with his adorable looks, what woman could resist him? I had no choice but to accept it, even though it hurt."

Shen Yunshu suddenly looked up, her usually calm and indifferent eyes now surging with anger.

"You...shut up!"

"From this day forward, you are no longer welcome within the Sword Sect!"

Yu Nianqing still smiled faintly, feigning grievance.

"Shushu~ We've known each other for over two thousand years, how can we fall out over a child's unintentional kiss?"

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!!!"

Shen Yunshu completely lost control, his eyes filled with anger and panic.

"You get out of here right now!!!"