The "ant" wasn’t in a rush and hid to the side waiting; as dawn approached, the golden light around Shanhu dimmed slightly. The "ant’s" eyes suddenly turned redder, and it swiftly dashed forward, crawling into Shanhu’s nostril.

In her sleep, Shanhu rolled over but quickly fell back asleep, completely unaware of what had happened to her.

Everything was normal the next morning, except Shanhu woke up late and did not join everyone for breakfast.

Bai Ruozhu thought that pregnant women do tend to feel fatigued and sleep longer, so she didn’t think much of it.

After breakfast, Qiu Zhi quietly approached Bai Ruozhu and said, "Master, could you help Shanhu have an abortion?"

"Is this her decision?" Bai Ruozhu raised her eyebrows and asked.

Qiu Zhi quickly shook his head, "She says she can’t keep it, but she hasn’t decided, saying she needs more time to think about it. But I feel she’s too distressed, so I want to make the decision for her."

He spoke decisively, yet his eyes revealed pain and reluctance.

Bai Ruozhu sighed softly, "You’d better have a good talk with her. Don’t feel like you’re making the decision for her. Don’t let her end up resenting you."

She vaguely felt that Shanhu was also reluctant; if the child was aborted just like that, wouldn’t both of them suffer?

"But our identities can’t..." Qiu Zhi trailed off.

Bai Ruozhu glared at him, "You still don’t get it. Shanhu doesn’t need to return to the sect anytime soon, so she can have the child. If you can’t raise it, you dare not raise the child?"

Qiu Zhi bit his lip, "I dare; at worst, I’ll go back and explain the truth to my master and let the child grow up at Dragon Tiger Gate."

After Qiu Zhi left, Bai Ruozhu pondered, suspecting that she might be encouraging Qiu Zhi to break the rules, nudging him to violate the sect rules with Shanhu, distancing them further from the sect?

Not sure if the Daoist Qiu from Dragon Tiger Gate would come after her furiously if he found out.

Jiang Yichun noticed her thoughts and smiled, "They’ve been wanting to break the rules for a long time. Just needed someone to give them a nudge, and you’re helping them."

"Right, I’m a successful matchmaker, aren’t I?" Bai Ruozhu said with a mischievous grin.

"Sure, if you have time, you can even become a matchmaker," Jiang Yichun teased.

Both Bai Ruozhu and Jiang Yichun talked for a while before parting to deal with their respective matters.

Bai went to see Master Puru, then quietly went to Canghe’s place to check on Luan Xin. Luan Xin’s father wouldn’t let her see him, so she had to sneak over the wall.

Luan Xin told her, "You’re climbing the wall again; it’s not good if someone spots you."

"I’d walk in the front door if I could come, besides who would see?" Bai Ruozhu raised an eyebrow, "How have you been lately? I brought you some more food supplies."

Luan Xin didn’t want to eat the food sent by his father, so he set up a kitchen in his yard and cooked for himself. Bai Ruozhu would periodically bring over a large batch of supplies.

Fortunately, the weather is cool now, and the supplies are well preserved.

"There’s still some left, thank you." Luan Xin said.

Bai Ruozhu sighed with concern, "We’re about to leave Fusang; what will you do after we leave? Why not come with us? I promise no one will stop you from eating and chanting Buddhist prayers."

"No need; this is a test from Buddha, and no matter how difficult, I should overcome it myself," Luan Xin said.

"We’re going to the island east of Fusang; it may be Merfolk Island or perhaps your hometown, the painting that has Fusang East, even further east. When your golden body touches it, it glows—don’t you want to see it?" Bai Ruozhu asked.

Luan Xin’s eyes showed longing, but he shook his head, "No need, those matters from past lives have nothing to do with me anymore. If I can’t let go, I’ll never transcend."

"What if we need your help?" Bai Ruozhu asked again.

This time, Luan Xin didn’t say anything. After a while, he said, "I’m just a child now; what can I do to help you?"

"On this journey, there could be demons and ghosts; having a high monk to help would make things safer, wouldn’t it?" Bai Ruozhu said.

Luan Xin remained silent for quite a while. When Bai Ruozhu got impatient waiting, he finally said, "I’ll consider it; let me know when you leave."

"Alright." Bai Ruozhu knew his temperament; pressuring him would be counterproductive, so she let him be.

She then headed to Fangzi’s home, prescribed a new formula for Fangzi’s mother, and Fangzi held her hand, asking about Yaxi’s situation.

"She’s recuperating at the posthouse; she can return to her home in a few days," Bai Ruozhu replied with a smile.

Fangzi immediately said, "Then let me go with you to the posthouse to see her; I didn’t thank her properly last time."

"We’re all friends; thanking her would seem too formal. Also, it’s better not to go to the posthouse recently; safety first," Bai Ruozhu declined.

Knowing Bai Ruozhu was concerned about her safety, Fangzi didn’t insist.

After leaving Fangzi’s home and returning to the posthouse, Bai Ruozhu suddenly found the atmosphere in the posthouse to be very strange.

"What’s going on?" Bai Ruozhu didn’t see Jiang Yichun; noticing the unusual quietness, she whispered a question.

Tang Feng pulled her aside and whispered, "Shanhu’s master has come here. Apparently, the badges from their sect can locate the position of their owners."

Bai Ruozhu was shocked, "Is her master taking her away? How much do they know?"

"It seems they don’t know yet, but her master is especially fierce, like the Exterminator. Your father-in-law exchanged moves with her but didn’t gain much advantage. Plus, for the sake of Shanhu and Qiu Zhi, it’s not appropriate to take action against that Exterminator," Tang Feng’s voice lowered further.

Bai Ruozhu’s mind flashed back to watching the TV version of "The Heavenly Sword and Dragon Slaying Saber" and the Exterminator from the past life, shrinking her neck involuntarily.

At that moment, a stern voice came from Shanhu’s room, "Speak, how did you lose half of your cultivation base?"

Shanhu sobbed, "Master, it’s because I’m incompetent. I fell into a villain’s trap."

Then Shanhu briefly recounted her experiences at the Fushan’s place, but she didn’t mention that the person who took half her cultivation was Qiu Zhi, putting the blame entirely on Fushan.

At the door, Qiu Zhi was pacing back and forth, clearly intending to "confess" in the room. Bai Ruozhu rushed over and pulled him aside.

"Shanhu didn’t mention you. Don’t reveal yourself if you want to stay with her. Just stay quiet," Bai Ruozhu warned him in a low voice.

"But I can’t let her face this alone," Qiu Zhi anxiously argued.

Bai Ruozhu gave him a stern look, "The situation is different now; their sect doesn’t allow marriage. If you show up now, it’ll only add fuel to the fire, and perhaps force her master to take her away and punish her severely."

Qiu Zhi quickly nodded, "I understand; I won’t say anything reckless. Master, please help Shanhu; don’t let her master take her away."