Outside the Mu marriage-cave at night, the bridal palanquin arrives beneath moonlit cliffs, lotus lamps, and treaty banners.

Ruoshuang enters the cave and sees its beauty and confinement at once.

Mu Yan appears inside the marriage chamber and greets Ruoshuang with unexpected courtesy.

Ruoshuang compares the courteous groom before her with Yuelan's memory of him as a killer.

Mu Yan pours tea and makes clear he will not treat the wedding night as conquest.

Mu Yan apologizes for the war and for the deaths that led to this wedding.

Mu Yan explains the Twin-Cultivation requirement and the visible treaty seal that will judge their progress.

They prepare for the first Twin-Cultivation attempt, changing posture from wedding ceremony to cultivation practice.

The first cultivation cycle begins with gentleness instead of force.

Ruoshuang cannot follow the qi path and has to ask for help before the flow destabilizes.

Ruoshuang reaches inward for Yuelan's help, but Yuelan refuses to aid Mu Yan.

The first cycle collapses, and the treaty seal gives a warning that proves failure has consequences.

Mu Yan questions Ruoshuang's training, and she gives the safest answer she can.

Ruoshuang lies awake after the failed first night, unable to get Yuelan to speak.

On the second day, they try again slowly, but Ruoshuang's perception still fails.

The second day's attempt fails again, and Mu Yan can no longer hide his concern.

A routine offering reminds Ruoshuang that the cave is watched and that failure will not stay private.

Ruoshuang practices alone on the third day and realizes effort is not enough without perception.

On the third night, Mu Yan explains that he cannot hide instability forever.

Ruoshuang begs Yuelan one last time, and Yuelan finally answers with cold arithmetic.

Yuelan agrees to lend perception, not power, and Ruoshuang finally sees the qi path clearly.

After the successful cycle, Mu Yan is relieved but unsettled, and Yuelan warns Ruoshuang that survival is not forgiveness.