Fellow Daoist! That scoundrel has written a new book again.

The two were reunited after a long separation.

Having not seen old friends for many years, one should be happy to reminisce.

However, when they faced each other from afar, a moment of palpitation struck her, and almost instinctively, Zhu Wuyao whispered—

"Endless Forms".

Thoughts surged like boiling water and hot oil, and countless changes seemed to be about to unfold before them.

But just as it was about to unfold, it crashed into chaos, the path ahead shrouded in gray mist, like a mystery whose truth was difficult to ascertain.

When the two collide, they are evenly matched.

Zhu Wuyao's expression changed several times, and as if he had thought of something, he said in disbelief:

"You... stole Shen Xun's purple aura...?"

"Zhaixinglou intends to split his destiny and opportunities to pave the way for you and me, and for the greater good. They sacrifice one pawn to save many others. I will take advantage of this to achieve the Nascent Soul stage. Is there anything wrong with that?"

What's wrong?

Zhu Wuyao's fingertips trembled slightly, as if she were standing in a cold pool.

The blood in my body froze inch by inch, then shattered inch by inch, until I felt the stinging pain of the ice shards, and then I woke up as if from a dream.

She took a deep breath.

Calm down.

Zhu Wuyao asked with some difficulty, "What is all of this for?"

"The causes and effects are intertwined, and chaos abounds. I wish to enter the world, to bring everything back on track, to eradicate deep-seated problems and restore peace and prosperity."

Zhu Wuyao's expression turned slightly somber.

If a person hates the world and wants to slaughter all living beings, then he is an openly evil person, someone who can be attacked and punished.

But if someone has no resentment or hatred, and claims to want to save the world, eliminate hatred, and restore peace to the world, then that person's stance... becomes difficult to fathom.

If both are bad people, the latter is often more troublesome.

Zhu Wuyao was unaware of what had happened.

They also couldn't fathom Shen Anzhi's intentions.

"Senior Brother Shen came to see me, could it be that he also wanted to correct my mistakes?"

Shen Anzhi stepped across the courtyard gate and walked forward. He saw Zhu Wuyao with his hands at his sides, as if the Wufeng Sword would appear at any moment. He simply smiled and said:

Do you remember... the scene when we first met?

"You stand before me, just as vigilant, your heart pounding, ready to fight to the death at any moment, yet you maintain a respectful demeanor on your face."

“I’ve been thinking about this scene a lot lately.”

Of course I remember Zhu Wuyao.

At that time, she was a newcomer. No matter how approachable Shen Anzhi seemed, Zhu Wuyao knew clearly in her heart that this person could take her life at any time.

"Perhaps, some people are the beginning of their future."

Zhu Wuyao calmly uttered these words, and then she heard Shen Anzhi's footsteps approaching. She continued to ask:

"Years ago, I cast a divination for the urban management officers in this area, and it foreshadowed the chaos to come. Could it be related to you?"

Shen Anzhi stopped three steps away.

He was still dressed in scholar's simple clothes, light in color, and although well-dressed, there were subtle wrinkles in the fabric, signs of multiple washes.

Zhu Wuyao frowned slightly, smelling the bloody scent suppressed by the soapberry.

She had killed many people, so of course she could smell the scent of blood left behind after it had been swept away by the autumn wind.

Not just in clothing.

They can also hide in the gaps between fingers, in the hair, and in the texture of the skin.

Shen Anzhi avoided answering, shaking his head and saying, "Junior Sister Zhu, you know very little about the Heavenly Dao."

Hearing such pretentious words, Zhu Wuyao scoffed coldly. Just as he was about to say something, a thought suddenly struck him. He suppressed his rising anger and said coldly:

"sit."

Shen Anzhi nodded readily in agreement.

He sat down at the stone table in the courtyard, waved his hand to set out the tea set, and picked up the calligraphy that Zhu Wuyao had just written—

"Knowing one's fate brings no fear."

A short while later, Su Xiao's voice came from outside the door:

“Miss Wu! I just remembered today that I still owe you one coin for divination, so I’ve come to return it.”

Su Xiao walked into the courtyard and saw the visitors at Miss Wu's house.

Slightly surprised, he then stepped forward to greet her and said:

"I was unaware that Miss Wu had a guest today. I apologize for my intrusion. May I ask how this gentleman is addressed?"

Shen Anzhi put down the calligraphy in his hand and stood up to return the greeting:

“I am Miss Wu’s brother, we share the same surname Wu, and I have just found my sister’s whereabouts.”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Wuyao frowned slightly, somewhat puzzled. Could it be that she had misjudged Shen Anzhi's intentions?

Shen Anzhi's gaze fell on the one-coin, paused, and then he suddenly asked:

"One penny for divination?"

"Ah...this..."

Su Xiao stumbled slightly. It seemed that Miss Wu's brother was unaware that she was casting a divination.

His gaze silently shifted to Miss Wu, but he suddenly realized that she was blind and could not give him any eye signals. Just as his mind was racing, he saw Miss Wu get up and walk to Young Master Wu's side.

Zhu Wuyao said, "Miss Su, my brother and I have been separated for a long time and have finally reunited. I cannot entertain you today."

Su Xiao sensed that the atmosphere was somewhat subtle.

Little did they know the intricacies involved.

It is assumed that Miss Wu, heartbroken after going blind, left home to wander the world alone, and was just found by her brother, perhaps in a fit of pique.

He understood quite well and laughed:

"In that case, I will prepare a banquet when I am on leave and invite you both to have a chat."

Having said that, not wanting to remain in the way any longer, he turned to leave, but was stopped by Miss Wu:

"Wait, that one coin."

Su Xiao turned around again and handed the hidden coin back to Miss Wu, somewhat puzzled.

Only after everyone had left did Shen Anzhi speak:

“Miss Su has come from afar, yet she was driven away without even a carriage or a cup of hot tea. Is this how one treats a guest?”

Zhu Wuyao put the copper coins into his money bag.

Upon hearing these words, he raised his sleeve and swept the teacup off the table.

The teacup shattered on the stone pavement with a crisp sound, and the already unfurled tea leaves slowly lost their moisture, the air seemingly filled with the aroma of tea.

Shen Anzhi's expression remained unchanged.

He never gets upset about such things.

With his divine sense sweeping across the courtyard, Shen Anzhi accurately located the banner. He reached out his hand, and just as the banner was about to fall into his palm, it was shattered by a powerful spiritual force.

"A legendary fortune teller, one coin per divination..."

The shattered banners, in the mist, returned to their original state, like a reflection left behind before they were destroyed.

He slowly read out the words for the banner, then repeated them:

"One divination costs one coin..."

It seems they've savored or pondered something interesting.

Shen Anzhi slowly closed his eyes, and all the past events resurfaced before his eyes, including the portion of purple energy that Shen Xun had possessed.

He seemed to see again the copper coin that had fallen into the beggar's hand when he was walking down the street with Zhu Wuyao.

He repeated:

"From today onwards... it will pass through the hands of different people."

"If my fate is inextricably linked to this copper coin... then not knowing whether it is heads or tails will be my good fortune."

Zhu Wuyao felt an even greater chill throughout his body.

In that instant, the sense of crisis that Shen Anzhi brought her could no longer be ignored. The killing intent that had been suppressed in her heart for many years began to sprout again, and her fingers slowly clenched.

A soft laugh reached his ears; Shen Anzhi's voice was neither hurried nor slow.

“Miss Zhu, so the thing you pledged your life to… was that copper coin.”

“Clang—”

With a flash of cold light, the bladeless sword was drawn and placed against Shen Anzhi's neck.

"Brother Shen, what brings you here?"