Li Zimo stepped through the hazy moonlight, slowly walking into the slums in the northeast corner of Linyuan City, and returned to his humble yet warm little courtyard.
He gently pushed open the courtyard gate, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over the faint candlelight filtering through the room's window, and a trace of doubt inevitably arose in his heart.
How could there be someone at home? Could it be a thief?
Or perhaps Lin Xiumei, the warm-hearted and pretty widow next door, had come to help look after the place?
Just as he was filled with doubts and preparing to investigate, the room's door creaked open, and a figure slowly walked out.
Under the moonlight, the young woman's figure appeared exceptionally vibrant, her large eyes seeming almost able to speak, clear and bright.
Their gazes met, and both froze for a moment, clearly not recognizing each other.
Li Zimo quickly searched his predecessors' remaining memories in his mind, trying to find this young woman's figure in his head.
Yet no matter how he recalled, he could not find a shred of a clue about her.
For a moment, he was somewhat at a loss, not knowing whether to speak up and ask or remain silent.
And this vibrant young woman was none other than Hua Jinxuan, the top courtesan of Tianxiang Pavilion, who had been rescued from prison by a diversionary plot meticulously orchestrated by the Evil Shadow Sect.
After being rescued from the prison, she had quickly changed her clothes, and after putting on a disguise, she had blended into the bustling crowd with her companions, each scattering in different directions to evade the pursuit of the Divine Martial Guard.
Hua Jinxuan had originally only intended to hide temporarily in this seemingly abandoned little courtyard.
As time passed and night fell, however, no one had returned, so she had summoned the courage to enter the house.
The interior of the house was in complete disarray, as if it had not been inhabited for a long time.
Seeing this, Hua Jinxuan had spontaneously tidied it up, intending to spend the night in this temporary refuge.
Yet she never imagined that someone would suddenly return at this moment.
The two of them stood there quietly, staring at each other with wide eyes, the air filled with a subtle awkwardness and tension.
Hua Jinxuan was likewise filled with doubt and unease; she did not know who this suddenly appearing Rank 1 Martial Disciple was, nor why he had appeared here.
At this delicate moment, Hua Jinxuan's sharp gaze caught an anomaly in the darkness not far behind Li Zimo.
A woman wearing the uniform of the Divine Martial Guard, with extraordinary cultivation, was lurking in the night. Her aura was restrained to the utmost, but she had evidently misjudged both of them as low-level Martial Disciples.
As a Martial Artist, Hua Jinxuan naturally easily discovered this uninvited guest, and a shock rippled through her heart, though her expression remained completely calm.
She quickly calculated a countermeasure in her mind while a gentle smile bloomed on her face, greeting Li Zimo, who was looking at her in confusion.
Softly and gently, she called out, "Husband, you're back."
This form of address was both a test of Li Zimo and a cover for the panic in her heart.
Hearing this "husband," Li Zimo couldn't help but freeze in his heart.
Could this be a ready-made wife left behind by his predecessor?
He tried hard to search his memories for anything relevant, but his mind was a complete blank without the slightest impression.
Could a fiancée from a betrothal really have come looking for him?
His mind raced with countless thoughts, but on the surface, he maintained a gentle expression and replied,
"Mm, I'm back."
As he spoke, he naturally walked toward Hua Jinxuan, as if the two of them truly were a loving couple.
The moment he approached her, he reached out his arms and gently wrapped them around her slender, soft waist, pulling her softly into his embrace.
Taken aback by his sudden embrace, Hua Jinxuan trembled slightly, but immediately steadied her composure.
Though somewhat unaccustomed to this sudden intimacy, given the current situation, she had no choice but to let him hold her.
While embracing her, Hua Jinxuan whispered to Li Zimo via Sound Transmission:
"If you don't want to bring a fatal disaster upon yourself, obediently cooperate with me. There is a female Divine Martial Guard following you in secret. You must honestly cooperate with me in acting as a married couple, or I will surely take your life."
Hearing this, Li Zimo's heart tightened fiercely, but on the surface, he remained calm, merely blinking his eyes twice quickly to show his agreement.
Then, with a warm smile on his face, he held Hua Jinxuan and walked into the room, saying as they went,
"Wife, let's go inside."
After entering the room, the two of them gently closed the door.
Only then did Li Zimo notice that the previously chaotic room had now become neat and orderly.
He recalled when he had first transmigrated into this world, his heart filled with confusion and agitation. Being busy with cultivation and planning for the future, he had never had the time to deal with the messy environment left behind by his predecessor's decadence after his grandfather's passing.
Never had he expected that the young woman before him would tidy the place up so well without his knowledge.
Looking at the meticulous and capable young woman before him, Li Zimo couldn't help but feel a growing fondness for her.
Yet right at this moment, Hua Jinxuan noticed the tender emotion leaking from Li Zimo's eyes. Startled, she hurriedly used Sound Transmission once again to remind him:
"Don't forget, we're a fake couple, so don't get any wild ideas!"
Hearing this, Li Zimo quickly reined in his stray thoughts and nodded solemnly.
Hua Jinxuan transmitted her voice:
"My name is Ye Feier, so from now on you will call me Feier, understand?"
Hearing this, Li Zimo nodded slightly, indicating that he had committed it to memory.
Then, he walked to Hua Jinxuan's side, took her delicate hand, and slowly traced the three characters for "Li Zimo" on her palm.
Feeling the sensation on her palm, Hua Jinxuan's heart stirred slightly, and she asked via Sound Transmission:
"Your name is Li Zimo, is that right?"
Li Zimo nodded once more, a trace of sincerity in his gaze.
Seeing this, a gentle smile curved the corners of Hua Jinxuan's lips, and she walked alone to the edge of the bed, sitting down gracefully.
Li Zimo walked over to the table and found a seat as well.
The room instantly lapsed into a profound stillness, broken only by the sound of their breathing and the occasional night wind brushing against the window.
After a moment, Li Zimo felt somewhat curious. Wanting to know whether the hidden Divine Martial Guard had already left, but lacking the ability to use Sound Transmission, he could only blink helplessly at Hua Jinxuan.
Catching his small gesture, Hua Jinxuan understood instantly and shook her head slightly, signaling that the Divine Martial Guard was still monitoring them in secret.
Seeing this, though anxious in his heart, Li Zimo had no choice but to patiently maintain his upright posture.
With a faint smile, Hua Jinxuan tossed a Jade Slip to Li Zimo and said via Sound Transmission:
"This is the technique for Sound Transmission. See if you can learn it."
He caught the Jade Slip, rapidly scanned its contents, and then closed his eyes to concentrate. In barely a moment, he had already mastered the skill of Sound Transmission.
Opening his eyes, a smile curved the corners of his lips, and he spoke to Hua Jinxuan using Sound Transmission as well:
"Feier, why are you here?"
Hearing Li Zimo master Sound Transmission so rapidly, Hua Jinxuan couldn't help but be startled.
Back then, she had spent quite a bit of time learning it herself.
Thus, she transmitted: "How did you learn it so fast?"
Li Zimo responded via Sound Transmission with some confusion:
"Uh, isn't this very simple?"
Hua Jinxuan cast a cute, sideways glance at him and said nothing more.
Realizing he might have spoken out of turn, Li Zimo hurriedly apologized via Sound Transmission:
"Feier, don't be mad. I was just speaking the truth. You still haven't told me why you're here."
Hearing this, the small wave of irritation in Hua Jinxuan's heart subsided slightly. Through Sound Transmission, she slowly recounted her ordeal:
"I was originally the top courtesan of Tianxiang Pavilion. Because I got entangled in a dispute, I was thrown into the prison of the Divine Martial Guard. Fortunately, someone helped me, allowing me to escape. Seeing that this place was relatively secluded, I wanted to hide here temporarily, but I never expected you to return."
Hearing this, Li Zimo came to a sudden realization in his heart while also feeling sympathy for Hua Jinxuan's plight.
He comforted her via Sound Transmission: "Feier, don't worry. Since you've come here, I will do everything in my power to protect you."
Hearing this, a warm current surged through Hua Jinxuan's heart.
She nodded gently and replied via Sound Transmission:
"Thank you, Li Zimo."
Li Zimo nodded.
The two of them lapsed into silence once more.