Fortunately, My Neck Is Still Intact

It took about two hours to travel from the Yingshan Sect to the Sisha Realm. Yet, within that short span of time, Mo Zhu had already cultivated to the fifth stage of the "Qinglian Heart Mantra," with only the last two stages remaining.

Just as the Jiezi Vessel descended upon the Sisha Realm, Mo Zhu opened his eyes.

The spiritual energy circulating within his Dantian gradually stabilized. The copy of the "Qinglian Heart Mantra" was still in Yu Zhiling's hand. She was lying flat on the wooden floor of the vessel with her eyes closed, breathing evenly.

Mo Zhu focused his senses, only to discover... she was asleep.

At that moment, an absurd thought flashed through Mo Zhu's mind: Could Yu Zhiling have been soul-snatched by someone else?

Otherwise, why would she act so strangely? She clearly knew there was bad blood between them, yet she dared to let her guard down before him time and time again. Was she truly certain he would not strike?

Mo Zhu's fingers resting on his knees curled slightly, his lips pressing into a thin line, but he did not wake her.

Yu Zhiling did not seem to mind lying on the hard wooden floor, her sleeping posture devoid of any elegant image. The dappled sunlight filtered down onto her face, casting a rosy hue on her cheeks, while her long, curled eyelashes cast small fan-like shadows beneath her eyes.

Mo Zhu quietly watched her. For a fleeting moment, he felt as if he were seeing the green-robed fairy of yesteryears, as though the past ten years had been nothing but a long dream.

Yu Zhiling mumbled something in her sleep, but he could not hear it clearly.

He was somewhat curious, wanting to know what she was dreaming about to sleep so soundly, even when lying on the cold, hard floor of the vessel.

Mo Zhu leaned down slightly to shorten the distance, listening to her sleep-talking.

"Seventy percent sweetness... add ice..."

Mo Zhu: "..."

She seemed to be arguing with someone again. Suddenly, she smacked her hand against the floor of the vessel, her voice drowsy but noticeably louder: "Why can't I have cold drinks! I like cold drinks!"

Mo Zhu: "..."

Right at that moment, Yu Zhiling opened her eyes, awakened by the pain. Her palm had smacked against the hard, cold wooden floor, stinging sharply.

She blinked repeatedly, and Mo Zhu blinked along with her. He probably had not expected her to wake up so quickly.

As their gazes met, Mo Zhu immediately retreated, sitting up straight again. He frowned and said, "Master, this disciple had no intention of offending you. We have arrived at the Sisha Realm."

Yu Zhiling's first reaction was to reach out... and touch her neck.

Is my neck still there?

Is it still intact?

To sleep soundly right in front of the male lead and still wake up in one piece without being decapitated or torn apart was truly a miracle!

Yu Zhiling scrambled up with lightning speed, springing to her feet in an instant and immediately widening the distance between herself and Mo Zhu, who was still sitting in his original spot.

"We're here? Then let us go quickly! Let's resolve this early so we can return early!"

Saying this, she turned and dashed straight off the Jiezi Vessel, her steps hurried as if a fierce beast were chasing her from behind.

Mo Zhu stood up, bending down to pick up the copy of the "Qinglian Heart Mantra" that Yu Zhiling had left behind.

Because she had flipped through it too quickly earlier, this time he slowly examined it in detail, only to find many lines of small handwriting added between the pages. The ink was very fresh, obviously written not long ago.

She said she had read this book; could she truly want to teach him cultivation?

Mo Zhu's gaze darkened slightly as he carefully tucked the mental mantra into his robes.

***

Yu Zhiling patted her chest. Only after leaving the Jiezi Vessel did her heartbeat gradually stabilize.

She knew how much Mo Zhu hated this Master—hated her to the point that after killing the villainous Master, he lost all sense of direction, let himself go, and fell into the Demon Abyss.

To change that ending, she had to weaken the hatred in his heart so he could find his own path, rather than chasing after vengeance his entire life.

From now until the ending of the original work, there were still ten years. Ten years... how was she supposed to redeem herself?

Yu Zhiling held her face, screaming in silence. To hand her such a brutal beginning was truly, truly, truly too cruel!

"What is it? Afraid to face anyone?"

An unfamiliar male voice rang out from ahead, the tone carrying clear mockery.