Shen Mei's heart was in turmoil. She had never imagined that her daughter's life, her very cultivation, would one day depend on the aid of this foolish son-in-law. "Let us step back and not disturb the Master," Gu Changqing said, ushering them aside. He bowed his head respectfully. "From this point, it is all in the Master's hands." Xiao Wan watched, a bitter surge of jealousy rising in his chest. Even if his father, the Saint Master from Jade Cauldron Holy Land, were present, Gu Changqing would likely not show such profound deference. Besides, what power did this fool, Lin Feng, possibly possess that could heal Ruoxi? Still, it would be for the best if he succeeded. Afterward, Xiao Wan had his own plans to make the Azure Dragon Divine Sect bow to his will. He would marry Ruoxi. He had sworn it to himself before leaving his retreat. This was not only his own desire, but the will of the entire Jade Cauldron Holy Land. Gu Changqing, Shen Mei, and Su Qingxue watched Su Ruoxi with knotted anxiety, oblivious to the schemes turning in Xiao Wan’s mind. Lin Feng gazed down at Su Ruoxi's angelic, beautiful face, a flicker of tenderness softening the depths of his eyes. He raised his right hand and gently touched two fingers to her forehead. A tendril of his soul’s essence slipped past her skin and into her body. At that moment, a terrifying battle raged within Su Ruoxi. The ferocious Power of Intense Sun clashed violently with the Mystic Ice Power, each refusing to yield to the other. Su Ruoxi was a fragile leaf in a gale, trembling on the verge of being shredded by the storm. If Gu Changqing had tried to intervene in such a state, he would not only have failed to save her life but might have hastened her death. But this situation did not faze Lin Feng. In this world, every cultivator had a particular physique. Most were simple: one body, one soul, some stronger, some weaker. But a rare few were different, possessing Paired Soul Constitution or even Three Souls in a single body. Such individuals typically either withered into nothing or rose to become legends. His wife, Su Ruoxi, possessed Paired Soul Constitution, harboring both the Mystic Ice Body and the Fiery Sun Body. Through the ages, Lin Feng had witnessed countless prodigies with Paired Soul Constitution and their myriad symptoms. For him, navigating such a condition was merely routine. To Shen Mei, Gu Changqing, and Xiao Wan, however, Lin Feng was a statue. He stood perfectly still, seemingly having reverted to his former foolishness. If this works, I’ll write my name backward, Xiao Wan sneered to himself. He hadn't believed for a second that Lin Feng could heal Su Ruoxi. Seeing him now, frozen like a simpleton, only solidified his conviction. Xiao Wan glanced at Shen Mei, who stood beside him, her hands clenched in worry. He leaned in and said softly, "Aunt, do not worry. Even if Ruoxi loses all her cultivation, I, Xiao Wan, will still marry her." Hearing his words, Shen Mei forced a strained smile. "That's thoughtful of you, Wan. We can discuss this after Ruoxi is awake." Even now, with Ruoxi's life on the line, all Xiao Wan could think about was marriage. A look of displeasure crossed Gu Changqing's face. Could the man not see that the Master was in the middle of saving a life? Why was he still spouting such nonsense? If not for the fear of disturbing the Master, Gu Changqing would have thrown Xiao Wan out himself. Just then, Lin Feng opened his eyes. He withdrew his hand, his complexion visibly paler than before. The continuous drain on his soul power was exhausting. Lin Feng rose and walked to the side of the room, where he sat down, closed his eyes, and began to recuperate. "Is it done?" Shen Mei and Su Qingxue said in a shared rush of hope, hurrying to the bedside, desperate to see Su Ruoxi's condition. Xiao Wan moved to the bedside as well. I have to see if the damn fool actually managed to do anything, he thought with a private scowl. Gu Changqing, meanwhile, approached Lin Feng. "Thank you for your hard work, Master," he said respectfully. Lin Feng gave a slight nod, saying nothing. Seeing this, Gu Changqing held back the many questions in his heart, daring not to disturb the Master’s rest. His gaze drifted unconsciously toward the bed. There, Su Ruoxi's eyelashes began to tremble, as if she were fighting to open her eyes. The sight sent a jolt through Gu Changqing's heart, and his reverence for Lin Feng deepened. The Master’s abilities were truly divine, to have resolved the conflict of Paired Soul Constitution so effortlessly. "Ruoxi," Shen Mei whispered, her voice thick with joy as she called her daughter’s name. Su Qingxue stared at his sister, his eyes wide, as if afraid she might slip away again. Standing to one side, Xiao Wan watched with stunned disbelief. Had that fool really cured her? He shot a look at Lin Feng, who was meditating nearby, and a sudden sense of crisis tightened its grip on him. Before coming to the Azure Dragon Divine Sect, he had been completely confident in his ability to make the sect yield and deliver Su Ruoxi to him. But now, he wasn't so sure. This man, Lin Feng, was not as simple as he had imagined. His sudden outburst in the great hall, followed by this impossible feat of healing, forced Xiao Wan to recognize that there was something extraordinary about him. Is he really the foolish, incompetent son-in-law of the rumors? Xiao Wan was gripped by doubt. On the bed, Su Ruoxi slowly opened her eyes. They were clear and lucid, yet held a touch of bewilderment. Wasn't I just consumed by madness? It felt like... someone saved me. As her eyes opened, the Frozen Soul Grotto seemed to grow brighter, and a fresh surge of spiritual energy filled the air. "Ruoxi," Shen Mei said, her own eyes reddening with relief. "You're all right. Thank heavens, you're all right." "Mother, Sister," Su Ruoxi said, a faint smile touching her lips as she looked at the two of them. "Sister, you're finally awake!" Su Qingxue cried, tears of joy streaming down his face. "Lin Feng… that guy actually did it. He woke you up." "Lin Feng…" Su Ruoxi repeated, puzzled. Lin Feng woke me? "Ruoxi, you had me worried to death," Xiao Wan interjected, stepping forward with an excited expression. "I'm so glad you've woken up. I don't know what I would have done without you." "Xiao Wan?" Su Ruoxi's brow furrowed, and her gaze turned cold. "What are you doing here?" Seemingly oblivious to her change in mood, Xiao Wan grinned. "To tell you the truth, I came here today to propose." "The last time I was competing for the title of prince, that Lin Feng got in the way. This time, I will marry you! "Mother, what do you say?" With that, Xiao Wan turned his expectant gaze on Shen Mei. The threat Lin Feng posed was too great; he had to act now, swiftly and decisively. Any delay could invite complications. "This…" Shen Mei hadn't expected Xiao Wan to bring this up now. She glanced subconsciously at Lin Feng meditating nearby, then said, "Wan, Ruoxi and Lin Feng have been married for a year." "Mother, look at me, then look at him. Who do you think is a better match for Ruoxi?" Xiao Wan asked, his eyes fixed earnestly on Shen Mei. Shen Mei was suddenly at a loss for words. In her heart, she knew Xiao Wan was the better match. In background, talent, and bearing, he was far superior to Lin Feng. But Lin Feng had just saved her daughter. How could she possibly speak against him now? "You are a good man," Su Ruoxi said softly, her voice gentle yet imbued with an undeniable finality. "But I have a husband, and I am happy. Please, do not come here to disturb us again."

Chapter 4: A Battle Within Her