Holding a lantern, guiding souls across, Lady Hou comes from the underworld.

Yan Zhengchu guarded Xia Ximo's "body" until it was almost dark before Ren Fengjue and Yu Lang returned to the Zhong residence.

After the soul-ferrying lamp was placed for a while, Xia Ximo's soul returned to its place and he slowly woke up.

However, because the soul has been separated from the body for too long and has consumed too much soul power, it is inevitable that one will be weak upon waking up.

Ren Fengjue said he wanted to "know his limits," but his eyes never left Xia Ximo.

But noticing something was off about her, he immediately went up to ask.

"Do...do you need my help?"

In truth, this had happened so many times that he had become quite experienced...

Xia Ximo nodded slightly, then he reached out and picked her up.

Yu Lang and Yan Zhengchu exchanged a glance, then tacitly turned their faces away, pretending not to have seen anything.

Ren Fengjue paused slightly: "I'll escort Miss Xia back to her room first. Let's get some rest early tonight."

With that, he embraced the person in his arms and strode away.

Upon hearing the footsteps fade away, Yu Lang and Yan Zhengchu immediately leaned against the doorframe on either side and peered outside.

She watched their figures disappear at the end of the corridor before slowly turning her gaze away.

"It seems they've made up," Yu Lang said.

"It should be."

……

Not long after Yu Lang fell into a deep sleep that night, he found himself back in that familiar garden.

In his bewilderment, he was surprised to see a woman's figure standing on the shadowy pavilion in the water.

It turned out to be Wen Yu.

Yu Lang was taken aback, but his first reaction was to run away as fast as he could.

However, as soon as he turned around, a suction force sent him directly in front of Wen Yu.

"Why are you running when you see me?"

Wen Yu stood with her hands behind her back, looking at him with a slight frown.

Looking at her face, Yu Lang was still nervous. He asked helplessly, "Miss Wen, you wouldn't... have come into my dream again, would you?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Wen Yu asked him with a smile, then added, "I couldn't help but dream of meeting you because I was thinking of Young Master Yu."

Yu Lang quickly waved his hand: "Let's not. We are from different realms, so please spare me!"

Wen Yu smiled slyly.

"I don't."

"..."

She suddenly reached out and gently tugged at his sleeve, asking, "Do you know how to play chess?"

Although Yu Lang did not understand what he meant, he still answered truthfully: "I know a little, but I'm not an expert."

Wen Yu said, "Then play a game of chess with me."

Before Yu Lang could react, the scene suddenly changed, and she found herself back in that boudoir.

However, compared to the eerie atmosphere of that day, today is noticeably more comfortable.

The chessboard was set up on the embroidered couch, by the window.

Looking out through the carved lattice window, one sees a garden full of spring colors.

Although he knew he was in a dream, Yu Lang still felt uneasy, so he stood by the bed for a while.

Wen Yu leaned against the couch, turned to him, and said, "What are you standing there for? Sit down."

Yu Lang then sat down opposite her as instructed, but his eyes were only fixed on the chessboard…

Seeing her jade-like hands, smooth as cream, pick up a black stone and gently place it on the plate.

He slowly placed the white piece down.

Back and forth, advance and retreat.

The table was gradually filled with chess pieces.

A gentle breeze blows outside the window, carrying the faint scent of flowers and the chirping of birds.

Before he knew it, the game was over, and Wen Yu had actually won.

Yu Lang stared blankly at the chessboard on the table, unable to see for a moment where he had lost.

As I pondered, I felt a pair of burning eyes staring at me from across the room.

He looked up and his eyes met hers.

Wen Yu smiled gently and sincerely, saying, "Young Master Yu, thank you for speaking up for me."

Yu Lang, on the contrary, became reserved and quickly replied, "Miss Wen, there's no need to be so polite..."

Wen Yu then asked, "Young Master Yu said that as long as it's someone you love, you'd still be willing to marry them even if they've been divorced eight times."

"Is that... really true?"

"..."

Yu Lang scratched his head helplessly: "Shouldn't we just not take that seriously? In reality, it's hard to find someone like that..."

"I don't care." Wen Yu smiled. "Anyway, I've got it."

"..."

Let's not remember this kind of thing, shall we?

Just as Yu Lang was about to say something to salvage the situation, there was a knock on the door.

Immediately afterward, the illusion vanished, and he woke up with a start.

It was already daylight outside. Xia knocked on the door several times, but when she didn't hear Yu Lang respond, she pushed the door open and went in.

Only when he saw Yu Lang sit up from the bed did he breathe a sigh of relief and say, "Young Master Yu, it's time for breakfast."

Yu Lang responded, but then lay back down on the bed, feeling a strange sense of loss in his heart...

-

The group stayed at the Zhong residence for two more days.

During this time, after Ren Fengjue assigned the task of "checking the list" to the Shadow Guards, Yan Zhengchu also tracked down Bai Qingshuang's whereabouts.

The compass indicated that if you continued north from Beiding County and crossed another mountain, you would reach Liangzhou City.

Liangzhou City, also known as Beiliang City, was the residence of Jiang Ting, the Marquis of Zhenbei.

Bai Qingshuang's whereabouts vaguely pointed to this place.

Although Ren Fengjue had been an official in the court for several years and was the son of Marquis Renxuan, he had never met this Marquis Zhenbei.

All that is known is that there has always been a saying in the court: "Wenren Xuan, Wuzhen Bei".

It is also said that although there were four founding marquises, only these two can be considered "truly deserving of the title".

Ren Fengjue had heard many stories about the Marquis of Zhenbei and always held this "elder brother" in high esteem.

Now that all the clues pointed to Liangzhou, he knew it was time to pay a visit to the Marquis of Zhenbei.

After making his decision, Ren Fengjue immediately took his leave of Zhong Dingyan.

Without hesitation, Zhong Dingyan prepared enough dry food and warm clothing for them, and also gave them two strong and fine horses.

He personally saw everyone off out of Beiding County, standing at the city gate, but hesitated to speak.

Yan Zhengchu could tell that he must be concerned about the "Zhongyi" matter, so he assured him that he would write to inform him as soon as the matter was settled.

Zhong Dingyan felt somewhat relieved and immediately bowed to everyone.

Because Xia Ximo still had some things to take care of, the carriage waited a little longer at the city gate.

Not long after, snowflakes began to fall from the sky.

People were whispering to each other by the city gate. Yu Lang, with his sharp ears, heard everything clearly, even though he was sitting in a carriage.

They were talking about the falling out between the Wen and Fu families.

Because Wen Yan led a group to cause trouble at the Fu family's residence, Fu Yuan lost face, and the inner quarters were in complete chaos.

A servant of the Fu family spread a rumor that early this morning, the young mistress, Zuihuan, pulled out a dagger from somewhere and chased after the young master of the Fu family all the way.

Unexpectedly, a couple who had only been married for a month had reached the point of life and death.

After saying that, the man immediately spat out, "Serves him right!"

After hearing this, Yu Lang echoed, "He certainly deserved it!"

As he said this, he felt both a sense of pleasure and a touch of melancholy.

Wen Yu never appeared in his dreams again; presumably, he has already been reincarnated.