Zhou Kai returned to his room to find Lin Zhiwei waiting by the bedside. A faint blush colored her cheeks, but her gaze was clear, composed, and unafraid.

This was no longer the “A’Zhu” wrapped in the false memories of yesterday. This was the true, genuine Lin Zhiwei.

“Husband,” she called softly.

Zhou Kai smiled, walked over, and drew her into a warm embrace.

At first, Lin Zhiwei felt a slight tension. After all, she was now consciously close to him as “Lin Zhiwei,” her true self laid bare. But Zhou Kai’s gentleness and his familiar, grounding scent quickly put her at ease. She was no longer alone and adrift in this strange world.

[Ding! Deep Interaction with Red Haven Member Lin Zhiwei. Divine Sense Communication Points +20!]

[Ding! Deep Interaction with Red Haven Member Lin Zhiwei. Divine Sense Communication Points +20!]

A series of notification tones chimed rhythmically in Zhou Kai’s mind.

Right at that moment, a heavy, rhythmic, and peculiar sound punctured the night sky.

Thud—thud—thud—

“Midnight, the hour of Zi! The cycle of Yin and Yang turns!”

“Lock doors and windows tight! The living stay indoors!”

“No light, no fire! Do not venture out!”

The hoarse voice acted like a cursed command. Zhou Kai felt his vision darken, his consciousness sinking into a deep, irresistible abyss just like the night before.

Lin Zhiwei, however, remained wide awake.

Her almond-shaped eyes widened as she sensed Zhou Kai’s abruptly stilled aura, her heart tightening in panic. But remembering Zhou Kai’s instructions from earlier, she immediately calmed her mind.

Her powerful Divine Sense surged out like a tide, instantly enveloping the entire Su Residence and probing toward the source of the voice.

Her Divine Sense was now at the peak of the first layer of Foundation Establishment, far exceeding the restrictions of this town. The “Su family members”—mere phantoms formed from soul power—were laid completely bare in her perception, holding no secrets.

Soon, her Divine Sense locked onto the source of the knocking sound—the Town Head!

What surprised her even more was what she “saw.”

The Town Head, dressed in a dark robe, stood in the middle of the empty street. In one hand, he clutched a small, ancient bronze mirror no larger than a palm. In the other, he carefully used a short stick wrapped in cloth to gently tap the mirror’s surface.

And the hand holding the bronze mirror? It was awkwardly twisted up, pinching his own nose shut!

That terrifying, hoarse voice was clearly him speaking through his pinched nose!

Thud. Thud.

As he tapped, he glanced around warily, looking like a thief afraid of being caught. His movements were almost comical.

Lin Zhiwei observed closely. That bronze mirror was no ordinary object. With each tap, the mirror’s surface rippled with an almost imperceptible tremor, sending a strange fluctuation spreading out to envelop all of Red Cliff Town.

She could feel it. As this fluctuation swept over her, her Divine Sense was tugged by an invisible force, strands of it slowly being siphoned into the bronze mirror.

However, simultaneously, she felt her remaining Divine Sense becoming purer. It was more condensed, as if washed clean. Impurities were removed, and her control over her mental energy gained a subtle sense of smoothness and harmony.

This feeling was very peculiar. The total volume of her Divine Sense was slowly decreasing, but its quality was rising.

The next morning, Zhou Kai roused from his stupor.

“Husband, you’re awake.” Lin Zhiwei had already risen. Seeing him open his eyes, she quickly handed him a cup of warm water.

“How was last night?” Zhou Kai took the cup and sipped.

Lin Zhiwei recounted everything she had seen in detail. When she got to the part about the Town Head pinching his nose, tapping the mirror, and looking like a guilty thief, she couldn’t help but smile herself. She mimicked the Town Head’s awkward pose, making Zhou Kai burst into laughter.

“This Town Head… he’s really something! I thought it was some ferocious night-wandering deity, but it turns out he’s just putting on a cheap magic show!”

Zhou Kai stroked his chin, his eyes playful.

“That bronze mirror can absorb Divine Sense and also purify it… Heh, the owner of this treasure is quite the nice guy! Using our Divine Sense as an ‘offering’ in exchange for purifying the Consciousness Sea? That isn’t a bad deal at all.”

A sharp glint flashed in Zhou Kai’s eyes.

“So, that means the Soul Poison left by Fu Weilun in my Consciousness Sea will probably be completely cleansed by this bronze mirror in less than ten days! By then, once my Divine Sense recovers, we can leave this damned place. This trap has actually become my healing sanctuary!”

Lin Zhiwei nodded. “I was thinking the same. Although the mirror’s siphoning of Divine Sense power is weak, its purification effect is remarkably pure. It is indeed beneficial for your Soul Poison.”

In high spirits, Zhou Kai changed the subject and looked at Lin Zhiwei. “Zhiwei, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”

“Please go ahead, Husband.”

“I want to marry Qing Shuang as well,” Zhou Kai stated directly.

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhiwei smiled gently and graciously.

“Fairy Shen… no, Sister Qing Shuang. Although she is younger than me, she met you first and has accompanied you in this ‘dream’ for many years. In terms of affection, she naturally comes before me. I entered later, so it is only right that I call her sister. This matter is entirely up to you, Husband. I have no objections.”

Her words were sincere, without the slightest hint of reluctance. She was not a person of strong opinions, and she naturally deferred to Zhou Kai’s decisions.

Moreover, when she was trapped in the “A’Zhu” identity, she had also heard Master Su mention giving Qing Shuang proper status, so she had anticipated this.

“Good.” Seeing her so understanding, Zhou Kai felt even more pleased. “Then, I’ll have to trouble you, in your capacity as the ‘First Wife,’ to speak with Master Su about this and arrange it as soon as possible.”

After all, in the “Script” of Red Cliff Town, taking a concubine also required the main wife’s consent—a mere formality to satisfy the plot.

“Don’t worry, Husband. Leave this matter to me,” Lin Zhiwei agreed.

For the next three days, Zhou Kai eagerly rushed off every morning to spend time with Qing Shuang and build their relationship.

On the first day, he imitated the dashing scholars from operas. He broke off a plum blossom branch from the courtyard and presented it to Qing Shuang with a flourish.

Shen Hanyi’s face turned cold. She said only, “I accept no gifts without merit,” before turning to practice her sword, leaving Zhou Kai staring at a frigid back.

On the second day, Zhou Kai tried reciting a few cloyingly sentimental “love poems.”

Shen Hanyi’s frown deepened with each line until she couldn’t take it anymore. Uttering a sharp “You’re noisy,” she directly returned to her room and slammed the door.

On the third day, seeing that a direct approach wasn’t working, Zhou Kai silently kept her company while she practiced her sword. He served tea, offered water, and inquired after her well-being without being pushy.

Although Shen Hanyi remained aloof and sharp-tongued, Zhou Kai keenly sensed that when she sheathed her sword, the corner of her eye seemed to linger on him for a fleeting moment, and she didn’t immediately chase him away.

Zhou Kai wasn’t discouraged. He simply took it as the Sword Fairy being reserved, requiring a slow and steady approach. This actually gave him more confidence.

At night, he would engage in “Deep Interaction” with Lin Zhiwei to gain Divine Sense points.

[Zhou Kai] [Divine Sense: 820]

Over these three days, through Dual Cultivation with Lin Zhiwei and diligent practice of the [Mirror Lake Clear Heart Method], Zhou Kai’s Divine Sense had steadily grown from the initial 490 points to 820 points.

The wispy black strands of Soul Poison in his Consciousness Sea had also dissipated by nearly half under the bronze mirror’s nightly “purification.”