As they just walked out the door, Chu Xinghui suddenly remembered something. He reached out and nudged Xie Liufeng: “Let me see your soul.”

Xie Liufeng held his hand down and obediently opened his sea of consciousness.

Chu Xinghui entered his sea of consciousness.

He circled around Xie Liufeng’s soul, then poked it: “It seems a little faint.”

It wasn’t an illusion. The color of those chains had indeed faded.

It seemed that dual cultivation really worked.

Xie Liufeng felt a little numb from his poking, and tried to stop him: “Just look, don’t poke around, okay?”

Chu Xinghui poked again.

Xie Liufeng: “…”

He gave up and let his soul lie down in the sea of consciousness, allowing Chu Xinghui to poke around freely.

Chu Xinghui poked a few more times, hinting: “I’ve seen the dual cultivation techniques for soul merging.”

Xie Liufeng’s soul sat up again in the sea of consciousness, modestly nodding: “Oh, I’ve seen it too.”

Chu Xinghui kissed his soul and asked: “Want to try?”

The technique for soul merging wasn’t hard to find, but most people couldn’t relax enough to let someone else enter their sea of consciousness and have intimate contact with their soul, so it wasn’t commonly used.

However, they had already been freely entering and leaving each other’s sea of consciousness, so they didn’t have that concern.

Xie Liufeng’s soul felt dizzy after being kissed, but he managed to stay awake for a moment: “…Wait, let me check your condition first.”

He carefully examined Chu Xinghui’s situation.

Although they had been full of energy after dual cultivation yesterday, Xie Liufeng couldn’t help but worry about any possible negative effects on Chu Xinghui: “If you feel something’s off during the process…”

Chu Xinghui thought he was rambling too much, so he directly merged his soul into Xie Liufeng’s.

Xie Liufeng hesitated for a moment but couldn’t resist. He took advantage of the situation.

They had previously merged their souls in a more urgent situation, but it hadn’t been to such a deep extent… It was too intimate, and it felt like they could directly sense each other’s thoughts.

Both their bodies trembled.

Although it was Chu Xinghui who initiated it… his soul power wasn’t as strong as Xie Liufeng’s, so by the end, he was almost completely led by Xie Liufeng.

Once the technique was complete, Chu Xinghui felt a bit drained.

He grabbed Xie Liufeng’s arm and kissed his lips.

Xie Liufeng stopped the technique and quickly pulled him into his arms.

Chu Xinghui had a thin layer of sweat on his forehead. He leaned against Xie Liufeng’s embrace for a moment, then insisted on standing up again to continue studying Xie Liufeng’s soul.

This time, the change was clearly visible.

Then Chu Xinghui compared and came to a rigorous conclusion: “The effect of soul merging seems to be much better than just dual cultivation alone.”

It seemed like they could try this more often in the future.

Moreover, this method could also help with cultivation, making it a win-win situation.

Xie Liufeng truly couldn’t take it anymore. He bent down and kissed his eyes, then carried him back to the bed: “Alright, alright, stop worrying for now. You should rest.”

He shook out the blanket and covered Chu Xinghui’s head.

Chu Xinghui pulled the blanket open, exposed his head, and looked at Xie Liufeng.

Xie Liufeng leaned over and kissed him.

Once Chu Xinghui was settled, Xie Liufeng was about to leave.

Chu Xinghui reached out and tugged on his clothes, asking: “Where are you going?”

Xie Liufeng poked his forehead: “I’m going to make you something to eat.”

Chu Xinghui obediently let go of him.

After they got married, life seemed no different from before, except that some solo cultivation time had been replaced by dual cultivation.

Chu Xinghui continued his diligent cultivation, searching for an opportunity to break through to the Nascent Soul stage.

One day, after returning from the martial arts field, Chu Xinghui encountered Ming Xiao, who was carrying a pile of miscellaneous items.

Ming Xiao’s current situation was quite special, as he hadn’t left the sect in a while. To avoid another disappearance incident like before, Xue Heng had specially given him a tracking artifact to wear around his neck.

But staying inside the sect all the time was quite boring.

So, in order to put the bored disciples to good use, Fang Yan happily made Ming Xiao run errands.

Chu Xinghui greeted his hardworking friend and was about to walk past him.

Ming Xiao saw him and his eyes brightened. He immediately split the pile of items in half and hinted for Chu Xinghui to join him.

Chu Xinghui looked at the sky and figured there was still time, so he casually accepted the load.

Ming Xiao looked at him enviously and jealously said: “Why didn’t Sect Leader ask you to run errands too?”

Chu Xinghui answered: “Because I’m still on my wedding leave.”

The Beiyue Sword Sect was quite humane. For the first three months after disciples married, they were generally not assigned any sect tasks.

Although only a few disciples ever used this benefit.

Ming Xiao: “…”

It was so annoying. He knew that Chu Xinghui had a partner now.

Ming Xiao, who had finally bumped into a familiar person he could chat with, talked to Chu Xinghui for a while. Then he suddenly remembered something that might be related to Chu Xinghui: “By the way, let me remind you of something.”

Chu Xinghui raised his head: “What?”

Ming Xiao said: “Qin Xueyi from the Lingxiang Sect has arrived.”

Chu Xinghui recalled the person from his memory: “Wasn’t she in a coma?”

Ming Xiao responded seriously: “Just because she was in a coma doesn’t mean she’s dead. People can’t stay unconscious forever.”

Chu Xinghui was a little confused: “Didn’t everyone from the Lingxiang Sect leave recently?”

Xie Liufeng had mentioned this to him before. Mu Chengjin and Xie Huai had been judged as colluding with evil cultivators. Mu Chengjin had his cultivation abolished according to the Lingxiang Sect’s rules and was taken back to be imprisoned.

A few days ago, the announcement for the change of sect leader at the Lingxiang Sect had been issued.

Xie Huai was still locked up in Beiyue Sword Sect.

Yue Yao had privately met with Fang Yan and said that Xie Huai might still know something useful, so Fang Yan had used some methods to keep him around.

Anyway, Xie Huai was just a discarded disciple who had colluded with evil cultivators. The Lingxiang Sect was happy to get rid of him, so they gladly left him behind.

Ming Xiao reminded Chu Xinghui: “It’s not the people from the Lingxiang Sect. We still have someone locked up in our prison—her son.”

Chu Xinghui recalled that Mu Zeqing was still in prison.

He nodded, indicating that he understood.

Overall, it was news, but it probably had nothing to do with him.

After all, they wouldn’t meet face-to-face.

So, the two continued their work and delivered the items to Fang Yan.

Afterward, when they were about to leave, Chu Xinghui suddenly heard a deliberately affectionate call: “Xinghui!”

Chu Xinghui vaguely felt that the voice sounded familiar.

He turned around and saw a familiar beautiful woman.

It was Qin Xueyi.

Maybe it was because she had been through so much recently or because of her long coma, but she didn’t look well, and she had a sickly look about her.

When he saw her, he instinctively frowned.

Qin Xueyi walked up to Chu Xinghui, her smile gentle but with a hint of bitterness. She spoke in a familiar tone: “I heard you got married? Such a big thing, why didn’t you tell your mother about it?”

Her sudden self-reference made Chu Xinghui feel goosebumps all over, and he instinctively took a step back, frightened.

Qin Xueyi looked at him, racking her brain to think of a common topic, but couldn’t find one. She continued to talk about his marriage, trying to get closer to him: “You didn’t even bring your partner home before the wedding. Your father and I have experience in these matters. We could have helped you.”

Chu Xinghui: “…”

Ming Xiao, standing aside, couldn’t help but sneer: “Didn’t you already visit them? You even helped clean up the house.”

He thoughtfully added: “You know, the time when Qin Yuwen died.”

Mentioning that, Qin Xueyi’s expression changed, and she scolded: “Who do you think you are? I’m talking to my son. It’s none of your business to interrupt!”

She felt deeply wronged.

Before, when her husband and children were still around, no one would dare to humiliate her like this!

Chu Xinghui’s face darkened.

Ming Xiao was even angrier and was about to say a few more words.

Chu Xinghui stretched out his hand to stop him, then looked at Qin Xueyi and coldly said: “This is Beiyue Sword Sect. What does it have to do with Madam Qin if a disciple speaks here?”

Qin Xueyi’s face turned pale and red in turn. It seemed like she wanted to act as though she were a mother scolding her child, but for some reason, she held herself back. She only said: “Fine, I didn’t come here to argue with you about this.”

She quickly changed her demeanor, her beautiful eyes filled with tears, and she gazed at Chu Xinghui with emotion: “Xinghui, you’ve been wandering outside for so long, you must be longing for home, right? Before I came, I spoke with your father and discussed bringing you back into the family register. Today, you should leave Beiyue Sword Sect and come back to Lingxiang Sect with me.”

As she spoke, she reached out to grab Chu Xinghui’s hand.

Chu Xinghui had no idea what kind of logic she used to say this so confidently. He quickly moved away, not wanting to touch her even a little.

Qin Xueyi looked at him with a sorrowful expression and insisted: “Xinghui, you must return with me. There is no one left to hold up the family. If you don’t go back, your father’s position as sect leader might be lost. The people in Lingxiang Sect are all opportunists. Without your father’s position, your brother’s condition might never be cured. Do you want to watch your own family fall apart?”

Ming Xiao interrupted: “Isn’t it too late now?”

The notice for the sect leader’s change has already been sent out. Can they just retract it?

Qin Xueyi glared at him, then turned back to look at Chu Xinghui, her tone holding a hint of threat: “Think carefully. Your partner is the Sword Master. Without a father who is a sect leader, how will you have the confidence to stand by his side in the future?”

Chu Xinghui: “…”

He hadn’t even considered that angle of the threat.

He glanced at the time and decided it was time to head home. He pointed in the direction: “The Beiyue Sword Sect prison is over there. Your son is also in there.”

Stop randomly claiming sons.

Qin Xueyi looked at him in utter disappointment: “You’re really not like me, nor like your father.”

Their family had always been full of love and loyalty. Even Yuwen, who was raised under their roof, respected his elders and loved his younger siblings. Yet, they ended up with such a cold-hearted freak like him.

Chu Xinghui: “…”

What even is this?

If he were really like them, he’d probably never be able to hold his head up in this life.

Qin Xueyi still wanted to say something.

But Chu Xinghui was already tired of listening to her and didn’t want to hear whatever else she planned to do. He simply bypassed her with Ming Xiao and started walking home.

Before he left, Xie Liufeng had promised to make him a new dish he’d been perfecting recently. If he didn’t hurry back, he would miss it while it was still hot.

They had walked for a while when Ming Xiao suddenly stopped, sniffing the air.

Chu Xinghui looked at his friend, who had suddenly turned into a dog, a bit confused.

Ming Xiao frowned and asked Chu Xinghui: “Do you smell something strange?”

Chu Xinghui shook his head.

Before he could ask what the smell was, Ming Xiao swayed slightly and dazedly muttered: “I think… I’m feeling a bit dizzy…”

Then, he collapsed to the ground, completely unconscious.

Chu Xinghui suddenly felt a slight dizziness in his head as well.

But the feeling wasn’t very strong, not enough to make him pass out.

His heart skipped a beat, and he immediately activated the positioning artifact on Ming Xiao’s neck.

In his peripheral vision, he saw a figure gradually approaching.

The person’s cultivation was at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage, which made it difficult to face them head-on.

Though they were in the sect, this area was somewhat isolated. Before reinforcements could arrive, the enemy might have already achieved their goal.

Chu Xinghui calmly thought for a moment, then took out a few communication talismans, lying down to feign unconsciousness.

The sky had already darkened.

But Chu Xinghui still hadn’t returned home.

Xie Liufeng stared at the empty doorway, feeling a little melancholic inside.

Before they got married, Chu Xinghui would come to his room every day. Now that they were married, he seemed to be staying out more.

Ha, this is what men are like.

He waited a little longer and decided to reheat the meal he’d made.

However, instead of waiting for Chu Xinghui, he was met with the sudden appearance of Xue Heng.

Xue Heng entered and immediately asked: “Have you seen Ming Xiao?”

Xie Liufeng was a bit confused: “Huh?”

How did Xue Heng find him here to ask about his disciple?

Xue Heng furrowed his brows and asked again: “Where is Chu Xinghui?”

Xie Liufeng answered: “He went to the martial arts field. He hasn’t returned yet.”

He suddenly realized something and looked at Xue Heng.

Xue Heng nodded: “The positioning artifact on Ming Xiao was triggered. He’s no longer in the sect. I checked, and it was Chu Xinghui’s spiritual power that triggered it.”

Xie Liufeng didn’t speak. He immediately sent a message to Chu Xinghui.

There was no response from the other side, but a faint, rapid reply came through.

“He’s still conscious,” Xie Liufeng said, slightly relieved: “It seems like they’ve encountered something. Xinghui must be trying not to make a sound, to avoid alerting the enemy.”

He looked at Xue Heng and gestured for him to lead the way: “Let’s go. We need to find them.”

 

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