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Mother Zhang, upon hearing these rumors, shook her head and said, "Beauty brings disaster; Prince Qiyuan merely fell for that evil monk's phrase 'spilt water can be retrieved.'"

These almost whispered words were beyond the comprehension of the young Rong Shu, and she had never taken them to heart.

Even when she grew up and revisited the tales of Prince Qiyuan, she did not believe them.

How could there possibly be such a thing as retrieving spilt water?

But at this very moment, as she gazed at the figure standing in the snowstorm, a thread seemed to connect Prince Qiyuan, the Qing Heng Sect, her previous life as Gu Changjin, and her rebirth in this world.

How could it not be possible?

She herself was a living embodiment of "retrieving spilt water."

She had come back to life with memories of her past, and he was able to dream of their previous lives.

What else didn't she understand?

So, what had he done?

What exactly did Gu Changjin do in his past life that caused her to reincarnate on the day of their wedding?

And what price did he pay to secure her existence in this world?

Rong Shu felt as if she had fallen into an icy cellar, with the biting winds and snow seeping into every limb, chilling her to the bone.

Her complexion was truly pale. Her long, black hair was hastily twisted into a simple bun using a thin wooden branch. When the wisps of hair across her forehead were swept away by the wind, one could glimpse the freshly scabbed wound on her forehead.

"Rong Zhaozhao."

Gu Changjin breathed heavily, his gaze fixed intently upon her as he strode towards her without any hesitation.

Rong Shu, concealed behind the folds of her sleeves, gently clenched her fists and stepped forward towards him.

Yet at that moment, a bamboo fan with three cracks gently blocked Rong Shu's path, halting her advance.

Rong Shu was taken aback, her thoughts immediately turning to the words of Daoist Qing Miao moments before. A glint of wariness flickered in her eyes.

She called out, "Master Taoist?"

Gu Changjin's gaze remained fixed on her, discerning the unease in her eyes.

He turned his head to look at Daoist Qing Miao. Meeting the old Taoist's sharp gaze, for some inexplicable reason, his heart skipped a beat. He felt as if he had seen this old Taoist before.

Despite the sudden surge of suspicion in his heart, he maintained his composure and spoke warmly, "I am Prince Xiao Changjin of Great Yin. I thank you, Daoist, for saving Miss Shen."

Gratitude resonated in the man's deep, hoarse voice.

He then bowed with clasped hands, and as he straightened up, he pulled out four long strips of cloth from his sleeve. "Thank you also, Daoist, for guiding me here."

Without Qing Miao's guidance, marked by the cloth tied to the trees outside Qingyan Temple, it would have been impossible for him to find this place so swiftly.

These were Rong Shu's handkerchiefs.

Embroidered on them were two kittens rolling around in the snow, reflecting her usual playful and casual style. Even torn into four pieces, Gu Changjin could recognize them at first glance.

It was through these four strips of cloth that he managed to navigate through the dense forest.

"Priest Qing Miao saved this maiden solely to lure you here; there's no need for your gratitude," the man said, twirling the handle of his fan and turning it towards Gu Changjin. "Have you ever seen a fourth crack on this palm-leaf fan?"

It was an odd question.

There were clearly only three cracks on the fan – how could there be a fourth?

Gu Changjin answered truthfully, "I haven't."

"You must have seen it!" Priest Qing Miao's two white eyebrows knitted together fiercely, his dark eyes flashing with a hint of madness. "You altered her fate. She was destined for a short life, not making it past next year. You extended her lifespan and brought her back to the turning point of her destiny. In this world, only this old priest has the power to help you change fate and return to the past! You must have seen that fourth crack on the fan!"

Priest Qing Miao's resolute words sent a chill down Gu Changjin's spine. In that fleeting moment, he began to form a suspicion.

Gu Changjin exchanged a glance with Rong Shu, both recognizing a glimmer of realization in each other's eyes.

Seeing Priest Qing Miao growing increasingly agitated, Gu Changjin swiftly moved, appearing by Rong Shu's side in the blink of an eye, attempting to lead her away from the priest.

Rong Shu felt a blur before her eyes, followed by a sudden suction force from behind. The next instant, Qing Miao's bony fingers had tightly clasped around her neck.

"Let her go!" Gu Changjin's composed expression finally revealed a trace of uncontrollable murderous intent. "If you want someone, take me instead!"

Despite the biting cold that could freeze one's bones, Gu Changjin was drenched in sweat. Beads of perspiration trickled down his forehead, sliding along his jawline and dripping to the ground.

"No!" Rong Shu struggled to turn her head and spoke to Daoist Qing Miao, "He knows nothing! Only I remember our past lives. I've seen that fourth crack on this fan before!"

Upon hearing this, Daoist Qing Miao seemed to have grasped some understanding. He looked at Gu Changjin and said, "You haven't recalled your past life yet? You're using the second array formation? Someone actually chose that spell."

After a moment of astonishment, he sighed, "No wonder there's no trace of murderous aura on either of you..."

It was precisely because they both lacked any aura of bloodthirst that he had failed to recognize her when he encountered this little girl in Yangzhou back then.

Lost in thought, the old Daoist began talking to himself as if he were deciphering the mystery of her resurrection.

Seizing the opportunity while he was distracted, Rong Shu plucked the thin wooden branch from her hair and stabbed it fiercely towards Daoist Qing Miao's hand.

However, the Daoist paid no heed to her ambush. With a casual wave of his hand, the wooden branch shattered into dust, drifting away between Rong Shu's fingers.

Looking at the wide-eyed little girl, Daoist Qing Miao swatted his fan forcefully.

A chilly gust of wind hit Rong Shu in the face. Before she could comprehend what was happening, a numbing sensation spread through her body, rendering her immobile.

"Little girl, don't try to deceive me. Only the one who serves as the pivot of the formation can witness the fourth crack on this old man's palm fan," Daoist Qing Miao huffed through his nose. He then turned to Gu Changjin and said, "You are the one who activated the formation, and also its pivot. If you chose the second method, then the formation is not yet complete, which means—"

He pointed his palm fan at Rong Shu, who was held in his grasp, and continued, "Her life remains in peril. To ensure her safety, you must recall everything. You are the one who initiated the formation to defy fate and alter destiny. She wasn't supposed to retain memories from her past life."