The immortal servant didn’t dare respond, only desperately using his eyes to signal Xuan Yi, his mouth pouting so much it could practically hang an oil jar.
Xuan Yi answered readily: “It was me.”
The unfamiliar divine lord turned his head to look at her. He was quite tall, wearing a deep purple long robe embroidered all over with golden dark birds, appearing exceptionally magnificent, even flamboyant. Yet when worn on him, it was particularly suitable and especially attractive, without the slightest fault to pick.
Xuan Yi stared for a long while at the fire-red jewel hanging from his forehead. The jewel’s color was rich and vivid, extremely eye-catching. Under the reflection of this brilliant jewel, his appearance not only wasn’t diminished but became even more intensely handsome. Apart from Qing Yan, this was the first time she had seen a divine lord who could be called “handsome.”
“Why?”
His tone carried a perfectly appropriate gentleness and affability, his jet-black eyes seeming naturally to hold three parts smile, making people involuntarily want to draw close.
Xuan Yi took a sip of the Nine-Nine Returning Origin Tea and said unhurriedly: “Because this will be where I live from now on.”
As soon as he saw the tea and pastries on the ice table, he immediately moved closer.
“Nine-Nine Returning Origin Tea and Agate White Jade Pastries.” His voice carried a kind of serious accusation, finding fault with her for being so good at enjoying herself.
Xuan Yi flicked her finger, and a crystal-clear ice chair materialized opposite. She politely invited: “Would you like to try some?”
He indeed sat down without ceremony, picking up the ice tea cup with elegant posture.
“Nine-Nine Returning Origin Tea is bitter when drunk alone, and Agate White Jade Pastries are too sweet when eaten alone, but these two together taste the best. You truly understand enjoyment.”
He praised effusively.
Xuan Yi looked at him with smiling eyes, and he looked at her with smiling eyes. The two ate while smiling—this scene looked strange no matter how one viewed it.
The immortal servant on the side finally couldn’t help but say softly: “Princess, this is Divine Lord Shaoyi of the Nine Heavens Phoenix Qingyang Clan, your twelfth senior martial brother. Divine Lord Shaoyi, this is the new disciple just taken in by the Imperial Lord, Dragon God of Zhongshan from the Zhuyin Clan…”
“Princess Xuan Yi of the Zhuyin Clan, nine thousand seven hundred years old this year.” Divine Lord Shaoyi interrupted with a smile. “I know.”
Xuan Yi said with surprise: “Senior Martial Brother Shaoyi even knows my age.”
Shaoyi smiled even more warmly: “Of course, the Little Loach Princess is quite famous.”
What’s this about Little Loach Princess! The immortal servant panicked—how could Divine Lord Shaoyi joke with the Princess like this! She was the princess of that terrifying Zhuyin Clan!
Who would have expected that the Princess showed no anger at all, instead looking at Divine Lord Shaoyi with full interest: “So I’m that famous? By the way, why is Senior Martial Brother Shaoyi here?”
Divine Lord Shaoyi elegantly covered an emerging yawn with his sleeve, his voice carrying a few traces of languor: “Tongjing Hall is the quietest, and also close to the bell tower. After ringing the bell at dawn, I often come here for a nap.”
Oh, so that’s how it is. Xuan Yi nodded understandingly and refilled a cup of tea for him: “Senior Martial Brother Shaoyi, please.”
The immortal servant helplessly watched them chat and laugh harmoniously. In the future, whoever said the Qingyang Clan and Zhuyin Clan had poor relations, he would quarrel with them!
As if finally noticing that the guide immortal servant was still standing beside them, Xuan Yi asked curiously: “Why is the immortal servant still here? I’m fine now, go attend to your duties.”
The immortal servant looked desperately at the surrounding ice and snow, struggling to open his mouth: “This… Tongjing Hall… Princess…”
With her having transformed Tongjing Hall into this state, how was he supposed to explain to Imperial Lord Baize?!
Xuan Yi kindly reminded him: “This place isn’t called Tongjing Hall anymore. From now on, call it Ice and Snow Hall. Go on, if the master blames anyone, the responsibility is all mine. Don’t stand here anymore.”
The immortal servant could only silently shed a line of tears, sobbing as he left.
Shaoyi caught sight of the flower in the small pocket on his chest and couldn’t help but laugh: “That flower is quite distinctive. I haven’t seen it in Mingxing Hall. Where was it picked from?”
“Does Senior Martial Brother Shaoyi like it?” Xuan Yi set down her tea cup and gently grasped a handful of white snow. “I’ll make one for you too then. What kind of flower does Senior Martial Brother like?”
Shaoyi was about to speak when suddenly a light, cheerful woman’s voice came from behind: “Shaoyi?”
Xuan Yi turned her head and saw a goddess in yellow robes flutter down lightly as a butterfly onto the ice-covered ground. She had a round face and round eyes, with a very sweet appearance. While curiously looking around in all directions, she walked over. Her drifting gaze first fell on Xuan Yi, then quickly moved away.
Shaoyi greeted her languidly while saying: “Little Loach, this is Eleventh Senior Martial Sister, the youngest daughter of the Red Emperor, Princess Yan Xia of the Lieshan Clan. Little Evening Glow, this is Princess Xuan Yi of the Zhuyin Clan, the new junior martial sister who arrived today.”
Little Loach, Little Evening Glow… It seemed this divine lord loved giving goddesses ambiguous nicknames.
Xuan Yi bowed in salute: “Senior Martial Sister Yan Xia, greetings.”
Princess Yan Xia reproachfully gave Shaoyi a light pat: “How can you call Junior Martial Sister that? She’s so beautiful, how is she like a loach?”
After speaking, she stepped forward and affectionately linked arms with Xuan Yi, smiling slightly, two charming dimples appearing in her cheeks: “Senior Martial Sister Zhi Xi and Senior Martial Sister Fu Luo are both rarely seen beauties, and now we have a junior martial sister who’s this beautiful too. Seeing such beauties every day, I’m truly becoming more and more ashamed of myself.”
Xuan Yi smiled modestly: “Senior Martial Sister Yan Xia is too kind.”
She lightly shaped the white snow in her hand into an elegant peony, smilingly presenting it with both hands to Princess Yan Xia. Looking into her somewhat surprised eyes, she said gently: “The peony is elegant and graceful, perfectly matching Senior Martial Sister’s appearance. I hope Senior Martial Sister won’t disdain it.”
These words made Princess Yan Xia’s eyes reveal pleasure. She smiled as she fastened the snow peony to her chest: “Thank you, Junior Martial Sister. You’re truly ingenious and skillful!”
She turned to look at Shaoyi again, speaking quickly and crisply: “I heard a new disciple arrived today. Senior Martial Sister Fu Luo and the others are all at Junior Martial Brother Fucang’s courtyard—it’s quite lively. I thought you’d be awake by now, so I came to Tongjing Hall to call you to go together. Who knew this place had become like this? It gave me quite a fright.”
Shaoyi opened his mouth languidly: “I don’t love excitement. You go.”
Princess Yan Xia was somewhat anxious: “Senior Martial Sister Fu Luo asked me to come call you. Won’t you go even so?”
Shaoyi’s jet-black eyes looked at her with teasing and ambiguous playfulness: “If she wants to call me, let her come herself. If she doesn’t come, why should I go? I’d rather stay here and drink tea with Junior Martial Sister.”
Princess Yan Xia’s face suddenly flushed slightly: “Then if I’m calling you, will you go or not?”
Shaoyi chuckled and made a gesture of scraping his finger across her round face: “You want me to accompany you but use Fu Luo as an excuse, you little girl.”
Princess Yan Xia pouted and rolled her eyes at him coquettishly: “That’s not true! Obviously… Fine! Let’s go quickly!”
Without allowing any discussion, she grabbed his sleeve and pulled him. Shaoyi laughed helplessly: “Take it easy, you’re going to tear the clothes. Why don’t you ask if Junior Martial Sister wants to go?”
Princess Yan Xia froze for a moment, somewhat embarrassed. She had only focused on Shaoyi and forgotten about the newly arrived junior martial sister. She quickly smiled: “That’s right, does Junior Martial Sister want to go? All the senior martial brothers are there, it’s very lively. Earlier, Senior Martial Sister Zhi Xi and Senior Martial Brother Gu Ting even mentioned Junior Martial Sister, telling me if I saw you to call you to come along!”
Xuan Yi smiled and shook her head: “Thank you for the invitation, Senior Martial Sister, but I still have matters to attend to, so I won’t go.”