Zhou Hao looked at the indentation that had appeared on the coffin. It seemed to match the Spirit-Womb Ring. He should only need to insert the ring's protruding part into it to trigger the formation and leave this place.
"Ah~ That old man really pulled one over on me."
He had clearly promised a way out, yet it had led to an illusion. Still, Zhou Hao could understand Du Tianhong's painstaking intentions.
Zhou Hao sat down on the ground. He did not plan to leave just yet. Although the scene of killing earlier had been an illusion, it had felt one hundred percent real to him.
Even now, he still felt a trace of unease in his mind, so he planned to stay for two days and observe his own mental state.
"Mm~"
Zhou Hao stretched lazily, then lay directly on the ground.
Zhou Yuanbao and Mu Jinyin seemed to sense something as well. They did not disturb him and quietly stood guard nearby.
After a while, Zhou Hao's faint snoring could be heard.
He had fallen asleep. This was the first time he had slept since coming here. It was clear that he was truly somewhat physically and mentally exhausted.
Ice and Snow Divine Realm
Murong was in a garden surrounded by a sea of multicolored flowers. At its center stood a pavilion poised like a golden rooster standing on one leg. This pavilion was known as the Uncontested Pavilion, meaning that amid the sea of myriad flowers, it needed not vie for splendor, yet it was still the most eye-catching sight.
At this moment, Murong was drinking tea in the Uncontested Pavilion, seemingly waiting for someone to arrive.
She raised her head slightly, watching the gently stirring breeze, and smiled. "Come out! I've prepared flower tea for you."
"Whew~"
A breeze swept past, and a dignified, regal beauty appeared within the Uncontested Pavilion. She lifted the flower tea Murong had prepared for her and respectfully said, "Thank you for Your Majesty's reward."
Murong took a light sip of flower tea and asked, "Do you know why I summoned you back this time?"
"This subject does not know." Song Tianling clasped her hands and shook her head.
Murong nodded slightly, then suddenly asked, "How are things progressing between you and Afeng?"
Song Tianling's pretty face reddened slightly at once. She said bashfully, "Your Majesty, why are you asking about that? Haven't you always been unconcerned with such matters?"
The jade teacup in Murong's hand was raised halfway before she set it down again. She sighed softly. "I've recently wanted to fall in love, but I don't have much experience, so I wanted to ask someone experienced like you."
"Huh?" Song Tianling covered her slightly parted mouth and stared at Murong in surprise. "Your Majesty, have you finally awakened to it?"
After all, she had followed Murong for so many years and had never seen her show interest in men. At one point, she had even suspected Murong liked women.
Murong paused for a moment. After thinking it over, she shook her head. "It doesn't count as awakening to it. I simply want to fall in love! That isn't important."
She waved her hand, then seriously asked, "What do you think lovers should be like?"
Song Tianling pondered for a moment before saying, "Afeng and I could be considered acquainted through fighting. We probably can't serve as a reference on our own. How about calling Xiao Ni and the others back too? Their child is almost here."
Murong shook her head. "There's no need to make such a grand fuss. There are still many matters to attend to in the Divine Realm. Calling you back was already the result of much deliberation."
She looked up at Song Tianling and said each word distinctly, "Among everyone, you are the idlest."
"Pfft~"
The flower tea Song Tianling had just swallowed nearly sprayed out. She hurriedly explained, "Your Majesty, it's not that I'm idle. It's just that damned place is so barren even birds don't shit there—there's truly nothing to do!"
Murong calmly said, "Then should I transfer you somewhere else?"
"Don't, don't!" Song Tianling chuckled. "I'll try my best to find things to do from now on."
Murong chuckled softly. "You can't bear to leave Afeng?"
Song Tianling interlaced her fingers and nodded gently. Lowering her head, she murmured, "Of course."
She suddenly raised her head to look at Murong and giggled. "I know Your Majesty deliberately arranged for us to go on vacation. You definitely won't transfer me away, right? If you do transfer me, transfer Afeng with me."
"That depends on your performance this time." Murong took a shallow sip of flower tea and spoke indifferently.
Song Tianling hurriedly nodded. "Alright, alright. I'll definitely perform well."
Murong nodded in satisfaction. "Then let's begin now!"
And so, a two-day lesson on love began...
Time flowed on. Zhou Hao had no idea how long he had slept. From his tightly furrowed brows, it was clear that he seemed to be having some terrifying nightmare.
"What happened to him?" Murong's icy voice rang out.
Both Zhou Yuanbao and Mu Jinyin felt a chill and involuntarily shuddered.
Zhou Yuanbao then told Murong everything that had happened earlier. However, since Zhou Yuanbao had not participated and Zhou Hao had not told it much, it could only offer scattered fragments and did not get to the crucial points.
After hearing it, Murong glanced at the coffin before withdrawing her gaze. She slowly walked over to Zhou Hao and sat beside him. Supporting her right cheek with one hand, she watched Zhou Hao. Seeing his furrowed brows, she could not help recalling Song Tianling's lessons on love.
Song Tianling had said to Murong with a grin, "Actually, lovers need to accompany and care for each other. When one person feels happy, the other can also feel happy from the bottom of their heart. When one person feels dejected, the other can remain by his side and patiently listen to his rambling. When one person feels uneasy, the other can help ease that unease and offer him the shoulder that makes him feel safest..."
Her thoughts returned to the present. Seeing Zhou Hao's tightly knit brows and the sweat at his temples, Murong hesitated for a moment, but still reached out her slender jade-like hand and gently rubbed between Zhou Hao's brows. Once his frown eased, she took out a handkerchief and wiped away the sweat covering his forehead.
At that moment, Zhou Hao slowly woke from his nightmare. The moment he opened his eyes, he saw Murong carefully tending to him. At first, he thought it was an illusion. He rubbed his eyes, then looked again. It was real.
The instant he realized it was real, his heart pounded violently.
The deadliest tactic was the invisible one. When a person was worn thin in mind and spirit, a woman's careful tenderness was a feeling beyond words—especially when that woman was exceptionally, exceptionally beautiful.
"You... you came." Zhou Hao hurriedly sat up and suppressed the unrest in his heart.
His voice was somewhat hoarse, perhaps because he had slept too long.
Murong held the handkerchief in her hand and frowned. "What exactly did you experience?"
"It was nothing." Zhou Hao shook his head as he rubbed his temples.
Murong looked at him seriously and softly said, "We are husband and wife. Whatever happens, we should bear it together."
Zhou Hao froze and stared at Murong in astonishment. Why did he feel that Murong was a little different today? No, she was extremely different.
He asked blankly, "Did you take some medicine?"
Murong's brows twitched as she asked in confusion, "What do you mean, take medicine?"
Zhou Hao thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Nothing."
He was afraid she would beat him up if he said she had taken the wrong medicine.
Murong looked at him suspiciously, then changed the subject. "Tell me! What did you do during the two days I was gone to leave you frightened like that?"
At those words, Zhou Hao scratched his cheek awkwardly. He found it rather embarrassing that Murong had seen him having a nightmare.
But after thinking about it, he decided to tell Murong about it.
Murong was already quite old. As she had said, she had eaten more salt than he had walked roads. Perhaps she could help ease his inner demon.
He took a deep breath and said, "It happened like this..."
Before you continue