The fairy forced me to marry into her family, so I retorted by throwing myself into the Pool of Fate

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, more than two months have passed since the great battle on the deserted island.

Strangely enough, although the battle that day wasn't earth-shattering, it still resulted in casualties. Logically, some word should have spread by now.

But both the Mu family and Xiong Pihai's group of cultivators seemed to have agreed to keep their mouths shut.

Xikou Market remained open as usual, merchant ships continued to come and go as before, and the Black Sea remained completely undisturbed.

As for Xiong Pihai and his group, they completely disappeared without a trace, as if they had never existed in this sea area after that night.

That morning, just as Li Ping finished his cultivation in the courtyard, a cultivator rushed over to report that Mu Junyi, who had been unconscious for a long time, had woken up.

Upon hearing this, Li Ping immediately hurried to the courtyard where Mu Junyi was recuperating. When he arrived at the gate, he bumped into Mu Fangxu. The two exchanged a glance, nodded, and went inside together.

A faint scent of medicine wafted through the room. The window was half-open, and Mu Junyi leaned against the bed with two soft pillows behind him.

His complexion was much better than when he was first rescued; there was some color in his cheeks. When he saw the two of them come in, he grinned, but his lips were still a little chapped, and he looked somewhat strained.

Li Ping sat down beside the bed, looked him over, and asked, "How are you feeling?"

Mu Junyi raised his hand, touched the back of his head, and then laughed, "It's nothing, I just feel like I slept for a long time."

Upon hearing this, both Li Ping and Mu Fangxu were taken aback, and then shook their heads and smiled in unison.

Mu Fangxu pulled up a chair and sat down, somewhat helplessly: "You still like to be so stubborn."

"When we devised the plan to lure the snake out of its hole, we needed someone to impersonate Ruan Ling'er as bait. Before I could even speak, you jumped out and said, 'I'll do it, I'll do it,' and I couldn't stop you."

Mu Junyi chuckled: "Senior brother, what are you saying? In that situation, if I didn't step up, who would?"

He counted on his fingers in a serious tone: "That time, the senior brothers in the late stage of Qi Refining had to deal with the situation. Brother Li was the instigator of the whole thing. If he showed up, Xiong Pihai and his gang might not have taken the bait, so it wouldn't have worked. The only one who could go, Mu Chengyuan, was too weak in cultivation."

"After counting and counting, isn't it just me left?"

Li Ping and the other man knew perfectly well that Mu Junyi was being dismissive, but they didn't point it out and let the matter drop.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Mu Junyi asked about the aftermath of the battle that day, and Mu Fangxu recounted the most important parts.

Then, he composed himself and got down to business.

"You must know about the Cold Lotus Root and the Pure Heart Lotus." Mu Fangxu looked at Mu Junyi and said solemnly, "Don't worry, we've made progress on the matter. It will be delivered in two months at most. At that time, the blood evil energy in your body will be completely removed, and your life will be truly saved."

Mu Junyi was silent for a moment, then suddenly waved his hand and said with a grin, "Senior brother, there's no need for that. I'm fine, aren't I? I can eat and sleep well, and I'll be able to get out of bed in a few days."

Upon hearing this, Li Ping frowned and deliberately put on a stern face: "What? You're not planning to establish your foundation?"

Mu Junyi paused for a moment, then chuckled self-deprecatingly: "Brother Li, I know my own talent best. I was never destined to reach the Foundation Establishment stage; you can't force it."

Upon hearing this, Mu Fangxu's face darkened: "Mu Junyi, why are you so stubborn?"

He stood up and said in a way that left no room for argument, "Once the Cold Lotus Root and the Heart-Clearing Lotus are brought back, you must take them obediently. Not a single one can be left behind. The blood evil energy in your body must be completely eliminated."

Mu Junyi was intimidated by his imposing manner, shrank back, and dared not joke around anymore. He nodded obediently, "Okay, okay, Senior Brother Fang Xu, I'll listen to you, I'll listen to everything you say."

Seeing his obedient appearance, Li Ping and Mu Fangxu exchanged a glance and then felt relieved.

The atmosphere relaxed again, and the three of them started chatting.

Just as they were getting into the conversation, footsteps suddenly came from outside the door.

A female cultivator pushed open the door and entered. She bowed to the three of them, her gaze falling on Li Ping. She said respectfully, "Fellow Daoist Li, Elder Zhihe has sent word that the soul tablet has been refined and requests your presence."

Upon hearing this, Li Ping nodded, stood up, and bid farewell to Mu Fangxu and Mu Junyi.

"Go ahead, go ahead." Mu Junyi waved his hand, then added, "Brother Li, you have to treat me to a drink once I'm healed."

Li Ping smiled, agreed, and followed the female cultivator out the door.

The two crossed the street and arrived at a secluded courtyard on the island.

The courtyard was small, surrounded by a bamboo fence, with several clumps of unknown medicinal herbs growing in the corner, their leaves still covered with morning dew.

The female cultivator stopped outside the courtyard gate and gestured for Li Ping to go in alone.

Li Ping pushed open the door and entered. The room was dimly lit, with only an oil lamp lit.

An old man sat cross-legged on a futon. His two white beards were neatly trimmed, and he wore a plain white robe that had been washed until it was almost white. His back was straight, and he was resting with his eyes closed. He had the air of a hermit monk from a folk tale.

This is Mu Zhihe, one of the three Foundation Establishment elders of the Mu family.

This was the first time Li Ping had seen him. He was about to bow in greeting when Mu Zhihe opened his eyes first.

Those eyes seemed somewhat cloudy at first glance, but the moment they fell upon Li Ping, they suddenly brightened.

Mu Zhihe looked him up and down and nodded slightly: "Your magical power is profound, and your foundation is not bad."

Li Ping showed no outward expression, but simply cupped his hands and said, "Thanks to the elder's guidance."

These were just polite words. He had never even met Mu Zhihe, so how could he offer any guidance?

It was just going along with the conversation to give the elders face.

To everyone's surprise, Mu Zhihe ignored him completely. The old man closed his eyes again, his breathing became calm, as if he had entered a meditative state once more.

Li Ping paused for a moment, and seeing that the other party really had no intention of speaking again, he sighed inwardly.

She's really easygoing.

His gaze swept over the small table next to the futon, on which were two jade tablets, pure silver-white, with a faint glow of spiritual light flowing through them; these were the refined soul tablets.

Li Ping reached out and picked up the two soul tablets, bowed to Mu Zhihe again, and turned to leave the house.

Outside the courtyard gate, the sunlight was dazzling.

Li Ping narrowed his eyes, and without delay, headed straight for Su Mei and Ruan Ling'er's residence.

For the past two months, the two sisters have been housed in a secluded courtyard on the west side of the island, where two monks have been on duty.

The courtyard gate opened, and Su Mei and Ruan Ling'er were sitting at the stone table in the courtyard.

Upon seeing him enter, the two of them stood up simultaneously.

Without wasting words, Li Ping walked to the stone table and placed the two soul tablets on it: "These are the soul tablets."

Su Mei's gaze fell on the two silver jade pendants, her pupils contracted slightly, and Ruan Ling'er subconsciously took a half step back.

Li Ping looked at the two of them and said calmly, "I have planted a soul tablet. From now on, your life and death are in my hands. If you do not commit any acts of rebellion within thirty years, I will remove it."

Su Mei paused for a moment, then nodded.

She didn't say anything more, nor did she plead or beg for mercy. From the moment she agreed to this, she was already prepared.

Li Ping said no more, picked up a soul tablet, made a hand seal with his fingertips, and activated the restriction within it.

A flash of light appeared on the soul tablet, and a thin, pale thread extended from it, swaying gently in the air like a living thing.

Li Ping raised his hand and touched the strand of silk to Su Mei's brow.

The moment the silk thread touched the skin, it darted inside and disappeared.

Su Mei's body stiffened abruptly, her face paled for a moment, and then she returned to normal.

She raised her hand and touched her brow. There were no marks left, but the feeling of being entangled in her soul sent chills down her spine.

Next up is Ruan Ling'er.

After doing all this, Li Ping put the soul tablet away again, his expression unchanged.

He took out a pre-written letter and handed it to Su Mei: "Take this letter to Pingyue Island. There will be people on the island to make arrangements. Stay there for a while."

After saying that, he turned and left the courtyard.

The footsteps faded into the distance, and the courtyard returned to silence.

Su Mei looked down at the envelope in her hand. Ruan Ling'er tugged at her sleeve and whispered, "Sister, are we really leaving?"

Su Mei snapped out of her reverie, tucked the letter into her sleeve, and said softly, "Let's go."

The two had little luggage to pack. Their clothes and belongings for the past two months had been provided by the Mu family. Their personal items had been confiscated the day they were arrested.

As they walked out of the courtyard gate, the monk on duty glanced at them but did not stop them.

They walked in silence along the cobblestone path to the dock, just in time to catch a ferry about to set sail.

The ferry was small, with seven or eight people scattered on the deck. There were cultivators and ordinary people, most of whom were merchants returning to their respective islands after purchasing goods from the Xikou Market.

Su Mei paid the spirit stones and led Ruan Ling'er to a seat at the stern of the boat.

The ship shuddered slightly, the mooring lines on the dock were untied, and it slowly sailed away from the shore.

The outline of Xikou Market gradually blurred in the field of vision, with houses of varying heights, restaurants and teahouses built along the sea, the Mu family mansion on the mountainside in the distance, and a constant flow of people coming and going on the dock.

As Su Mei surveyed everything, she couldn't help but recall the past.

From arriving in this market with the Giant Whale Gang, to infiltrating as the manager of the Fragrant Pavilion, to leaving as a prisoner, a full ten years have passed.

She thought she would stay here for the rest of her life, but she never expected that she would have to leave one day.

The docks receded into the distance, and the outline of the market town grew smaller and smaller.

As Su Mei gazed into the distance, for some reason, she suddenly felt a sense of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders. She couldn't help but murmur, "Perhaps, following Li Ping is a good choice."

Ruan Ling'er turned her head, blinked, and looked at her with some confusion.

Su Mei didn't explain, she just smiled, put her arm around Ruan Ling'er's shoulder, and let her lean on her.

The sea shimmered as the ferry cut through the waves toward Pingyue Island.