A long silence filled the room, broken only by the howling wind and snow.

Bai Ruoxi quietly opened the window, her gentle and melodious voice reaching Wei Mengrou’s ears through a voice transmission. “Did I come at a bad time? Am I interrupting something between you and Mu Lang, Sister Mengrou?”

Her eyes were as gentle as ever, but a cold glint flickered in their depths as she saw the stains on Wei Mengrou’s stockings.

Wei Mengrou didn’t answer, her gaze fixed on Bai Ruoxi, a conflict raging within her.

After a moment, she exhaled softly, as if coming to a decision, and looked at Bai Ruoxi, a faint smile on her face. “No.”

“You came at the perfect time.”

This was the perfect opportunity. Her relationship with Mu Zhi’an had just been confirmed, and she had been agonizing over whether to tell Bai Ruoxi.

Now that she had been caught, she might as well come clean.

If Bai Ruoxi had arrived earlier, witnessing her Dao Companion being ‘bullied’ by his maid, she might have exploded.

If she had arrived later, Wei Mengrou would have already cleaned up the ‘evidence’, and this scene wouldn’t have happened.

Bai Ruoxi’s timing was perfect… It helped Wei Mengrou make up her mind.

Under Bai Ruoxi’s gaze, Wei Mengrou stood up and left the room, glancing at the meditating young man before closing the door behind her.

Snowflakes danced in the wind like butterflies, covering the courtyard in a blanket of white.

Wei Mengrou sat down in the pavilion, brewed a cup of hot tea, and placed it before Bai Ruoxi.

Bai Ruoxi’s hands rested on her lap, her posture elegant and refined, like a sheltered young lady. Her cold and delicate aura was even more captivating in the snowy weather.

“If I remember correctly, you didn’t like Mu Lang before, Sister Mengrou?” Bai Ruoxi asked softly.

“A fickle playboy with nothing but good looks… I couldn’t see any redeeming qualities in him, let alone like him…” Wei Mengrou said calmly.

She paused. “That’s what I wanted to say.”

Wei Mengrou lowered her gaze, watching the steam rising from the teacup. “But somehow… I developed feelings for him,” she murmured.

“Is it because of the Primordial Witch’s influence?” Bai Ruoxi suddenly asked.

Wei Mengrou’s actions in the Martial Realm had hinted at her true identity as the Primordial Witch. Unlike the others, Gong Lianyue possessed some of Bai Ruoxi’s memories, and Bai Ruoxi, as her ‘scabbard’, also had access to some of Gong Lianyue’s memories.

However, these memories surfaced gradually as Bai Ruoxi’s strength increased.

She was no stranger to the name ‘Primordial Witch’.

Wei Mengrou shook her head gently. “It’s not just the Primordial Witch.”

“It’s my own feelings.”

Bai Ruoxi’s eyes flickered. “Even if it’s you, Mengrou, I won’t give him up,” she said softly.

“I’m not planning to fight you for him,” Wei Mengrou said, a rare smile appearing on her face.

“I’m his maid, and that will never change.”

Bai Ruoxi blinked, tilting her head slightly. “Is that why you just… helped him…?”

Wei Mengrou: “…”

As if remembering something embarrassing, she covered her face with her hands.

Then, trying to maintain her composure, she said, “He forcefully suppressed my Heavenly Dao Energy within his Furnace. I had to… release some of his Spiritual Energy to guide it out.”

“If I hadn’t done that, it might have triggered a Heavenly Punishment.”

Bai Ruoxi chuckled. “I know. It’s not your fault, Mengrou. Mu Lang is the one who’s greedy for pleasure.”

She reached out her delicate hand, her fingers wiping away a drop of water from the teacup. “It seems… I’ve been too lenient with him,” she said softly, her eyes gentle.

Wei Mengrou looked at her, noticing a dangerous glint hidden beneath her gentle demeanor.

“By the way, can you keep it a secret that I came to his room?” Bai Ruoxi suddenly asked.

“Why?” Wei Mengrou asked.

“I’ve tested him with the Heart-Binding Lock several times before, and his answers were always sincere. Honestly, I find it a bit strange.”

The faint sound of chains rattling came from within her sleeve, and a black chain emerged from her wrist.

She turned to Wei Mengrou, her eyes gentle. “This time, I want to ask him about this matter using the Heart-Binding Lock.”

“Then I’ll know if he’s telling the truth.”

…

Mu Zhi’an slowly opened his eyes, a sudden shiver running down his spine as he stopped circulating his Spiritual Energy.

“Why do I have a bad feeling…?” he muttered inwardly.

He glanced at the ominous black light emanating from his hand.

It was the Heavenly Dao Energy he had suppressed within his Furnace.

He had struggled to refine Wei Mengrou’s Heavenly Dao Energy earlier, but now that it was within his Innate Celestial Furnace, it refused to leave…

No matter how much he tried to ‘expel’ it with his Spiritual Energy, it wouldn’t budge.

“If I keep this up, the heavens will sense this Heavenly Dao Energy’s ‘misfortune’ and punish me,” Mu Zhi’an thought, feeling a surge of pressure.

He couldn’t help but admire Wei Mengrou’s resilience.

She had managed to cultivate to this level despite being the Calamity Body, enduring the heavens’ punishment. She was truly extraordinary.

As expected of the Primordial Witch.

I can’t expel this Heavenly Dao Energy, but since Mengrou is its owner, she should have a way… Mu Zhi’an thought, looking around the room. “Mengrou—”

But the room was empty.

A faint fragrance lingered in the air, a mix of Wei Mengrou’s scent and something else.

Suddenly, the door opened, and Wei Mengrou entered.

“Where did you go, Mengrou?” Mu Zhi’an asked, looking at her.

Wei Mengrou looked at him and said, “…I went for a walk.”

I’m sorry… but I can’t help you this time.

Betraying Bai Ruoxi had already made her feel guilty. If she exposed her now, she wouldn’t be able to face her.

Therefore, she could only apologize to her young master.

Mu Zhi’an looked at her meaningfully, sensing that she was hiding something.

However, he didn’t have time to think about it. “How do I expel this Heavenly Dao Energy from my Furnace?” he asked.

Wei Mengrou’s gaze fixed on him. After a moment of thought, she said, “It’s naturally drawn to me. If I use my Spiritual Energy to guide it, perhaps…”

This was why she had asked him to release some of his Spiritual Energy earlier. Only when his Furnace wasn’t full could she infuse her own energy into it.

Mu Zhi’an’s eyes widened slightly. “How can your Spiritual Energy enter my Furnace…?”

His gaze shifted to her alluring lips, a flicker of desire appearing in his eyes.

Seeing her silence, he understood.

He boldly took her hand. “It’s for the Heavenly Dao Energy, Mengrou. There’s no other way,” he said.

…

Meanwhile.

Ye Qian, having prepared the medicinal bath, walked towards Wei Mengrou’s room, murmuring, “Brother Mu should be in this room, right…?”

She had gone to his room earlier, but he wasn’t there. He was either with Lin Ling or with Mengrou, guiding out the Heavenly Dao Energy.

She didn’t want to disturb them, so she concealed her aura, tiptoed to the window, and peeked inside.

Mu Zhi’an was holding Wei Mengrou’s waist, their bodies pressed together intimately.

Wei Mengrou’s eyes were closed, her long eyelashes fluttering slightly, but she didn’t push him away.

Ye Qian blinked, stunned.

Then, as if in disbelief, she closed her eyes, then opened them again, looking back into the room.

The scene hadn’t changed. However, she could clearly sense their intertwined Spiritual Energy.

Sister Mengrou and Brother Mu… Ye Qian’s worldview seemed to shatter as she stared at them, a strange mix of shock and excitement filling her heart.

Suddenly, she noticed Mu Zhi’an’s eyelids twitching slightly, as if he was about to open his eyes.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly left.

However, the image she had just witnessed was etched into her mind.

Mengrou, who always looked at Mu Zhi’an with disdain… was kissing him… This shocking scene was unforgettable.

As she hurried away, she didn’t notice that Mu Zhi’an had already opened his eyes. He looked at her retreating figure with a helpless expression and sighed inwardly.

It seems I’ll have a lot to explain later.

Fortunately, it was Qian’er. If it were Lingxuan, it would be much more difficult to appease her.

“Let’s start meditating. I’ll guide the Heavenly Dao Energy out of your body,” Wei Mengrou’s voice brought him back to reality.

Mu Zhi’an collected his thoughts, closed his eyes, and began to meditate.

…

The night passed uneventfully.

The next day, at noon, a black light emerged from Mu Zhi’an’s body.

A black, spherical orb, radiating an ominous aura, appeared in the air.

The Black Heavenly Dao Energy!

Mu Zhi’an stared at the orb, its dark glow unlike any other Heavenly Dao Energy he had seen.

This new Heavenly Dao Energy symbolized misfortune.

Refining it would trigger a Heavenly Punishment.

But why? It was also Heavenly Dao Energy. Why would only this one be punished by the heavens?

“Are you going to refine it, Mengrou?” Mu Zhi’an asked, turning to look at Wei Mengrou, who was wiping her lips.

Then, noticing her cold glare, he chuckled. “What’s wrong…? You seem unhappy.”

Wei Mengrou said coldly, “I said your Furnace needed my Spiritual Energy to guide out the Heavenly Dao Energy, but I didn’t say you could do whatever you want…”

He should have been focusing on guiding the Heavenly Dao Energy, but he had been ‘teasing’ her since their kiss last night… It had even affected her Dao Heart and the circulation of her Spiritual Energy.

“You didn’t tell me. How was I supposed to know?” Mu Zhi’an said innocently.

Wei Mengrou scoffed. “Do you dare swear you didn’t know?”

She knew her young master’s character well. Who would grope someone while they were trying to guide out Heavenly Dao Energy?

“That’s because you’re too tempting, Mengrou,” Mu Zhi’an said, not denying it.

High EQ: You’re too tempting.

Low EQ: You’re beautiful and delicious. I want your body.

Ignoring her disdainful glare, Mu Zhi’an coughed lightly and changed the subject. “By the way, just in case, it’s best to set up another formation in the courtyard.”

In the Martial Realm, Wei Mengrou had triggered a Heavenly Punishment and exposed her Calamity Body just by refining the Heavenly Dao Energy.

Although he had reset time, her Calamity Body had still been exposed because she was on the verge of a breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Realm.

And that was before she had even refined the Heavenly Dao Energy. Who knew what would happen after she refined it?

“It’s a shame I can’t teach you the Southern Wilderness’s secret technique, Mengrou. Perhaps it could temporarily conceal your aura and prevent the heavens from detecting you,” Mu Zhi’an said.

Wei Mengrou shook his head. “The bronze fragment I’m wearing is similar to the Southern Wilderness’s secret technique. Even if I learned it, it wouldn’t be of much use. Besides, I can also conceal Heavenly Secrets with my half-step Nascent Soul cultivation.”

“Are you comforting me?” Mu Zhi’an asked.

Wei Mengrou glanced at him. “You’re not someone who’s easily injured. I’m just stating a fact.”

Mu Zhi’an remained silent.

It seemed he needed to contact the Southern Wilderness again and find out the origin of their secret technique.

A bronze fragment from the Eastern Realm, containing a technique identical to the Southern Wilderness’s secret technique… It was intriguing.

“You can leave now. I’m going to refine the Heavenly Dao Energy,” Wei Mengrou said.

“Call me if you need anything,” Mu Zhi’an said, nodding.

He stood up and walked towards the door.

Just as he was about to leave, he seemed to remember something and turned around. “By the way, Mengrou, do you still mean what you said last night?”

He was referring to her confession.

Wei Mengrou’s body stiffened slightly. “Didn’t you hear me already?” she asked, her voice slightly strained.

“I want to hear you say it again,” Mu Zhi’an said.

Wei Mengrou ignored him and closed her eyes.

Mu Zhi’an sighed inwardly, not wanting to pressure her. He turned around and was about to leave.

Suddenly, a cold voice came from behind him.

“Of course, I meant it.”

He instinctively turned around. Wei Mengrou opened her eyes, a faint smile on her face.

“I told you, even though you’re weak and a two-timing worm, I still like you.”

Mu Zhi’an smiled. “That’s good to know. If you changed your mind, I wouldn’t be able to get married.”

Wei Mengrou: “…”

Does he really see himself as the ‘female lead’?

Mu Zhi’an quickly regained his composure. “I might have to leave the Garden of Heavenly Harmony for a while, but I’ll be back before you finish refining the Heavenly Dao Energy,” he said.

“Where are you going?” Wei Mengrou asked, her eyes filled with suspicion.

His leaving at this time was concerning.

“To find someone,” Mu Zhi’an replied with a smile.

“I think she might know something about the Calamity Body.”

“After all, she helped us in the Martial Realm.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay