After rebirth, she became the favorite of the powerful minister.

Over the years, Yuan Ge had heard countless different versions of the story about "Nan Yin staying on the mountain as a live-in son-in-law," so much so that even if Xu Chengjin himself stood in front of her and solemnly declared that he would stay on the mountain as a live-in son-in-law, Yuan Ge would only laugh it off as a joke.

I won't take it seriously at all.

She smiled and shook her head. "If you dislike him so much, why give him the Life-Severing Flower?"

The old man held his teacup, looked in the direction of the voice, and said softly, "That is your keepsake. You risked your life for it. Even though I resent it so much that I wish I could destroy all the life-severing flowers in the world! But it is your keepsake... How could your teacher bear to part with it..." After saying that, he sighed helplessly.

Yuan Ge was taken aback: His belongings...?

The warm sunshine of early spring falls on her, just the right amount of brightness and warmth, and the gentle breeze carries a faint fragrance of flowers—she is still alive, yet she has also died.

Even during the time he was away from Zhixuan Mountain, Yuan Ge was still considered dead to his teachers.

The words "relics" struck her heart like a hammer blow, making her face turn pale with pain. For the first time, she truly realized what her death meant to them. She was no longer a living person; her traces in this world would become fewer and fewer, until even a bitter, resentful flower of broken life had to be carefully preserved, until one day, most people would forget her, and only these traces would prove that Yuan Ge had ever existed.

"I..." She opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything.

The old man smiled gently, his eyes lowered. He could almost picture the little girl's expression—guilty, flustered, and pitiful. He smiled, raised his palm downwards, and the fluffy head nestled close, just as obedient as when she was a child. He stroked it soothingly before saying, "That's yours. Of course, I don't want to give it to anyone. But these things are hard to preserve. A year, two years… no matter how carefully I take care of it, it will only turn to dust."

Most importantly, at that time I thought my days were numbered, so naturally I had to hand it over.

Song Wenyuan was practically the only candidate.

But there's no need to say those things now.

He smiled with lowered eyes, looking somewhat sly. "The Life-Severing Flower is difficult to preserve. I thought it would be a good thing if he used it. The Life-Severing Flower is yours, and if I give it to him now, in a sense, it is still yours... If one day you are gone, the Life-Severing Flower will be your keepsake, and so will he."

Yuan Ge's heart skipped a beat, and he looked up. "Teacher..." The old man in front of him still had the same features, but now there was a hint of sinister charm.

The head in his palm moved slightly, its soft, smooth hair like the finest silk. He patted Yuan Ge's head and said with a smile, "From now on, if he betrays you, even if we are separated by mountains and rivers, or even by death, I will kill him."

The old man before her had a kind and gentle face, and the hand that touched her hair was extremely tender. This was Feng Qingtan, whom Yuan Ge knew. Except when he was furious, he truly looked like a wise old doctor, a living bodhisattva, who could save the world and help all living beings. But at this moment, as he spoke "I will kill him," each word was gentle and calm, yet resounding and powerful, revealing a hint of evil.

Looking at Feng Qingtan like this, Yuan Ge seemed to see through the old body in front of him the eternally young and vigorous Feng Qingtan who had never been worn down by reality, the Feng Qingtan who could snatch people from the King of Hell with her medical skills and send people to the underworld with her poison skills.

I really want to meet my teachers from that time.

Thinking this, Yuan Ge tilted his head and rubbed it against the other person's palm, then replied with a smile, "Alright. If one day he really betrays me, I will definitely ask you to uphold justice."

Feng Qingtan was instantly appeased, and even began to happily plot how to make Song Wenyuan suffer unbearable pain, showing no trace of her previous coldness.

In a room not far away, Lord Song sneezed several times in a row. He looked at the bright sun outside the window with some suspicion, frowned for a moment, and then looked away. He stuffed the letter he had just written into an envelope and handed it to Yan Huo beside him. "Take the land route, the fastest horse, travel day and night, and be sure to deliver it to Physician Dong of the Imperial Hospital as soon as possible."

Imperial Physician Dong is currently the head of the Imperial Medical Academy. His relationship with Song Wenyuan can only be described as a gentlemanly friendship. However, he is an upright and honest person, so it would be most appropriate to ask him about the Snow Toad.

"Yes." Yan Huo presented the document with both hands. "Does Master still feel cold? Should I go and close the window?"

"No need. Wen Peiji's men will be returning in a few days, and they probably won't be able to take care of the young mistress. Send someone to check if there's anything they can do to help. They've sent life-saving medicine from afar, so we mustn't neglect them."

"Yes."

……

The next day, at dusk, before dawn, the chill of early spring permeated every breath.

Xu Chengjin carried a small bundle and went out before nightfall.

He had always enjoyed lively gatherings, grand occasions, and lavish parties. In the past, he would have insisted on a farewell banquet and left amidst the clamor of people trying to persuade him to stay. But this time, he avoided everyone, taking only a few changes of clothes and a stack of silver notes. There were no farewells, no send-offs, and not even any attendants.

I never expected that as soon as I stepped out, I would encounter a girl who was leaning against the wall with a whip in her hand, clearly having been waiting for a long time.

The girl's spirited eyebrows and eyes were covered with a damp mist, making her look more pitiful and soft than ever before—but only a little bit.

"Why are you here?"

Zhuang Mengdie brandished the whip in her hand and grinned, "I'll wait for you, and go down the mountain with you."

Xu Chengjin felt that the two of them were not really "on the same path" and refused without thinking, "If you're going down the mountain, then go down the mountain. Why are you coming with me?"

After saying that, she added, "I have something to do down the mountain, and it's inconvenient to take you with me." Although she still lacked patience, her tone had softened considerably.

"I know. Don't worry, I won't cause you any trouble." Miss Zhuang turned and left without hesitation. After a few steps, she noticed that Xu Chengjin was still standing there blankly, so she urged, "Hurry up! Stop being so indecisive."

Xu Chengjin stood still, his brows furrowing even more. "I say, Miss Zhuang, why don't you just enjoy your travels in the martial world? What are you doing following me?"

Zhuang Mengdie patted her waist, grinned, and said frankly without batting an eye, "I'm out of money."

Xu Chengjin was stunned. He couldn't come up with this reason even after racking his brains—did it mean he would have to rely on himself for everything from now on? He followed after him irritably, "Where's your money?"

“We used to receive New Year’s money, but maybe we forgot this year… But with Grandfather in his condition, I can’t very well ask my elders for money again. I just happened to hear you were going out, so we’ll go together, then we won’t be short of money.” Miss Zhuang was remarkably shameless.

Xu Chengjin clenched his back teeth... If this dragged on any longer, it would delay his descent from the mountain. It would be better to leave first and find an opportunity to get rid of her in a few days. After all, this girl can't be guarded 24 hours a day, can she?

"Let's go!"