The whole family of villains listens to my heart, the Regent Prince treats me dearly.

The clouds dispersed, the rain stopped, and the sea became clear.

Despite the fine weather, Jun Ce felt utterly dejected, both physically and mentally, and like a child who had made a mistake, he hugged Zhai Rongyu and kept apologizing.

"Rong'er, you must be upset with me, right?"

"Today is our wedding day. You must be angry that I didn't let you get a good night's sleep, which is why you're ignoring me now, right?"

"It's all my fault...it's all my fault..."

He sat silently on the reef, tears streaming down his face, yet his body stubbornly enveloped the girl, motionless. Towering waves crashed against his heart, again and again, like a slow, agonizing torture.

Jun Ce, however, stared at the sea with red eyes and a somber expression.

"Rong'er, if you want to sleep, I'll stay with you..."

Yan Feng rushed anxiously to their side.

"Let me see Ayu!"

Jun Ce's eyes were vacant, as if he couldn't hear anything.

Yan Feng was anxious, so he turned the girl's shoulders around and examined her closely. Suddenly, he reached out and touched her brow. "Golden seal...this is the golden seal left by Master."

"Ah, there's still hope for her!"

"What did you say?"

Upon hearing this, Jun Ce looked up, suddenly grabbed his arm, and his lifeless eyes regained their vitality.

Yan Feng pressed his hand on his shoulder, "Ayu is an immaculate spirit. The radiant silk dress she is wearing is a celestial treasure that can preserve her last breath."

“Master is incredibly insightful; he must have known she was destined for this calamity, which is why he sealed her with the golden seal.”

"Master will definitely find a way to save her!"

Jun Ce picked her up.

"I'll take her to Wuwang Mountain!"

*

Wuwang Mountain.

Pale clouds and accumulated snow gently whisper their innermost feelings.

The golden seal gleamed as Jun Ce, carrying Zhai Rongyu, landed in the vast snow-covered landscape, with Yan Feng close behind.

In front of the wooden house, a blind old Taoist priest sat warming himself by the fire.

"Coming?"

Yan Feng immediately stepped forward, "Master! Please save A Yu!"

The blind old Taoist priest seemed to have just returned. He took off his straw hat, shook it, and fine snow fell from it. "Born into this calamity, there is no escaping it. I was never a guest of this mortal world, so how should I decide whether to stay or leave?"

“Ah and my little disciple are facing this calamity with their own bodies. The Great Dao is naturally formed. Whether to save them or not is not up to me.”

Upon hearing this, Jun Ce's heart sank. He slowly tightened his arms around Zhai Rongyu.

To face the calamity with one's own body...

Yan Feng anxiously pressed, "Master, what do you mean by that?"

"Is it possible that even you are powerless to help?"

The blind old Taoist didn't answer, but glanced at Jun Ce indifferently, turned around and went into the house, saying, "Come with me."

Jun Ce followed him into the room, placed the person on the couch, and looked at the sleeping girl with red eyes.

"What can we do to save her?"

The blind old Taoist priest glanced at him and sighed.

“Ayu was originally an immaculate spirit. Although this body is hers now, it is only a tiny wisp of her countless mortal worlds. To save her, we must gather all her remnants of divine consciousness, emotions, and desires, and reshape her complete body before there can be any rebirth.”

Jun Ce suddenly stood up, grasping at the last glimmer of hope, "How can we unite them?"

The blind old Taoist priest stared at him.

“At the deepest part of the Crimson Abyss, there is a treasure called the Soul Gathering Mirror. If you can find it for A-Yu, you can travel through time and space to search for souls and gather spirits.”

"I'll go find it!" Jun Ce said, turning to leave.

Yan Feng grabbed him.

"Have you thought this through? Jumping into the Crimson Abyss is a matter of life and death! Besides, the Soul Gathering Mirror is stored in the deepest part, you..."

“If Rong’er is gone, there’s no point in me living.” Jun Ce waved his hand to interrupt him.

He turned to look at Zhai Rongyu, his gaze deep and unfathomable. "She loves liveliness, and she must find it unbearable to be alone. If I don't come back, I will not let her suffer alone on the road to the underworld."

The blind old Taoist stroked his beard. "But what if she wakes up, but can never come back?"

Jun Ce was stunned.

"What do you mean?"

Yan Feng paused for a moment, then answered for his master: "Ayu is an immaculate spirit. Now that her divine consciousness has dissipated, she must have returned to the Sea of ​​Chaos to sleep."

"Even if you find the Soul Gathering Mirror and help her awaken, she may still lose her worldly memories and never remember you again."

He turned around and looked at Jun Ce's pale face, his words piercing to the heart.

"At that time, in this vast world, she can choose to live anywhere. Even if she never comes back here and never loves you again, you will still lose her."

"In that case, do you still want to save her?"

Jun Ce lowered his head, half of his face hidden in shadow. "As long as she's alive, what does it matter whether she loves me or not?"

It's fine anywhere.

Even if it is, I will never come to his side again.

As long as she's alive, that's enough.

Jun Ce resolutely turned around and left Wuwang Mountain.

Yan Feng and the blind old Taoist exchanged a glance.

Ah and her, you didn't choose the wrong person.

……

The Sea of ​​Chaos.

Zhai Rongyu, having slept for an unknown period of time, finally awoke slowly.

She rubbed her eyes, gazed at the vast and boundless void, and recognized a figure not far ahead.

"Master?"

The blind old Taoist priest turned around and asked, "Ah Yu, my little disciple, how was your experience in this mortal world?"

Zhai Rong blinked her almond-shaped eyes, which were shimmering with tears, somewhat puzzled. "The mortal world? Why is there a mortal world?"

"Haven't I always been with the Xuantian Sect?"

The blind old Taoist priest stared at her for a long time without replying.

Zhai Rong walked barefoot to him, her bare feet touching the water, creating ripples.

In the reflection of the vast water, she found herself dressed in white, with her black hair hanging down, the only adornment being a hairpin in her hair.

She squatted down with some curiosity, tilted her head and stared at the water, then reached out and pulled out the hairpin.

"When did Master buy me jewelry?"

She repeatedly examined the hairpin in her hand, a bittersweet feeling welling up in her heart for some reason. She pressed her hand to her chest, her delicate brows furrowing.

This feeling... is a little strange.

The blind old Taoist priest walked up to her and asked, "Little disciple A-Yu, do you remember now?"

Seeing the clear confusion still in Zhai Rongyu's eyes, the blind old Taoist shook his head, "If you can't remember, then forget it."

"All things arise from causes and conditions; the mind is the master of all things."

"The Xuantian Sect will not restrain you anymore. The world is vast ahead. Think it over before you set off, A-Yu."

He disappeared as he spoke.

Zhai Rongyu stared into the void, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.

What should I remember?

I feel like I've... forgotten something very important...

She unconsciously clenched the hairpin, accidentally pricking her palm.

As blood dripped down, the hairpin glowed with a faint light.

With a tremor of consciousness, Zhai Rongyu suddenly saw an unfamiliar scene from a third-person perspective.

In the wooden house on Wuwang Mountain, lay a woman who looked remarkably like her.

She was unconscious, and a man was squatting in front of her. In the scene, his back was to Zhai Rongyu, and his broad back was covered with wounds. His black clothes were soaked in blood, as if he had suffered a very serious injury.

He gently placed the hairpin in the woman's hair.

Zhai Rongyu heard him say to her, "As the Dragon King, I respectfully beseech the gods of heaven and earth to protect my beloved, to help her overcome all difficulties and hardships, to let her roam freely in the world, and to ensure her life is filled with light and peace year after year."

Zhai Rong stared blankly at the hairpin in her hand.

This is his heart-protecting scale.

-----

The author says:

This book is almost finished! Soon, the sweet daily life of pursuing her husband will begin, and I'll catch up on everything you've been waiting for! (We'll consummate our marriage, I know.)

Also, my darlings, feel free to leave me a message if you want to see any side stories~ I'll write them for you all when the series is finished~