Zhongshan Dijun’s condition worsened day by day. Xuan Yi also remained continuously asleep without waking. Baize Dijun had long ago sent letters to Qiongsang City, yet there had been no reply at all. Probably this heartless and cold Qingyang Dijun truly planned to thoroughly torment the Zhuyin Clan to the end.

Tai Yao said contemplatively: “Actually, in my view, he probably doesn’t care about being utterly disgraced either.”

Shao Yi’s reputation had never been good to begin with. Although the divine realm’s atmosphere was unrestrained and uninhibited, being a romantic Shenjun was never a good title. If he cared, he would have restrained himself long ago. Added to his unscrupulous means to achieve his goals, and being the previous previous generation’s Qingyang Dijun who underwent nirvana and rebirth, he had a premonition that not only would Shao Yi not decline in the future, he would probably live even more indulgently and pleasantly than now.

Gu Ting was so angry he didn’t want to mention him anymore and simply changed the topic: “Since Xuan Yi has already been brought into the Celestial Palace, Senior Sister Zhi Xi should also be released from the Celestial Prison, right?”

Tai Yao instead frowned: “She should have come out three days ago, but she refuses to leave.”

He had later made another trip to the Celestial Prison and told Zhi Xi the entire sequence of events from beginning to end. As she listened, she only silently shed tears, but after hearing it all, she no longer cried. Instead, her face showed a layer of calm expression.

“Xuan Yi hasn’t woken yet, right?” She sat properly on the cold ground of the Celestial Prison, her head lowered deeply, like a criminal atoning for sins. “When she wakes, that’s when I’ll leave this place.”

Being so, even Tai Yao could only sigh deeply.

Among this generation of disciples from Mingxing Hall, there had been a total of four female disciples. Three of them had all been made infatuated and confused by Shao Yi. Gu Ting once again didn’t know what expression to use to face this. Looking at it this way, it was actually that little devil Xuan Yi whose judgment was most vicious—only entangling herself with Fucang to death and back.

He could only change the topic once more, hoping this time it wouldn’t involve Shao Yi again: “What’s the matter with Xuan Yi’s long sleep without waking? Has Teacher said anything?”

From when she was brought into the Celestial Palace until now, it had been almost ten days. Ordinary divine power depletion absolutely wouldn’t cause such a long sleep. This situation didn’t seem very good.

“Teacher only speculated that Xuan Yi’s situation is after all somewhat different from Gonggong Dajun of years past. It’s not that turbid qi was produced from within herself, but rather caused by absorbing from the Sea of Departed Regrets. So she can’t be counted as demon clan, but also can’t be counted as divine clan. Now sleeping without waking is perhaps because last time in a fit of anger, she thoroughly exhausted her strength. It’s said that inside her body now is completely empty—she can feel neither divine power nor turbid qi.”

Gu Ting listened in confusion. What was “thoroughly exhausted”? What was “completely empty”? However he heard it, it didn’t sound like good words. He couldn’t help but draw a breath: “She won’t sleep without waking, will she?”

Yan Xia rapped his head from behind: “Crow’s mouth! Junior Sister absolutely won’t!”

Gu Ting regretted his slip of the tongue and immediately smiled: “Indeed she won’t. Even for Senior Sister Zhi Xi’s sake, she can’t be allowed to sleep without waking.”

Moreover, there was still Fucang. Honestly speaking, looking back now, only when Fucang was with Xuan Yi did his expression and gaze have a special kind of vivacity. The Fucang he had known at the very beginning was cold and silent.

Before, he hadn’t hoped at all for Fucang and Xuan Yi to be together well. Now he very much hoped they could be together for a long, long time.

*

After practicing swordwork all morning by the green glazed bridge, Fucang wiped his sweat and returned to Yanhe Palace, only to see Baize Dijun, who always only talked about being busy, had come early again. He was sitting idly in a chair drinking tea and flipping through books. He now suspected that this teacher’s previous claims of being busy were all excuses.

On the couch opposite, Xiaolong Jun seemed to have just woken up, sitting straight. He wasn’t wearing an upper garment, exposing his solid and slender upper body. Although the penetrating wound on his left shoulder wasn’t large, the entire shoulder was suffused with a layer of beautiful blood-red color—precisely the mortal resentment attached to the Houyi Arrows. It would probably take several decades to completely dissolve it cleanly.

Xiaolong Jun’s expression seemed to have never truly cleared. Between his brows, a gloomy air continuously pervaded. His gaze was fixed on his little sister and father, not saying a word.

Baize Dijun had to add fuel to the fire: “Looking at them can’t make them better. Better to rest well.”

Qing Yan didn’t even acknowledge him.

But Baize Dijun secretly sighed. Strange—could he have miscalculated again? From Zhi Xi’s words, he deduced that Shao Yi clearly harbored some vague and indistinct different feelings toward Xuan Yi. Since he had been ruthless once, sending Xuan Yi onto the path of perishing, could it be he would be ruthless again this time? This previous previous generation’s Qingyang Dijun was truly despicable, vicious, and had a heart like iron and stone.

Fucang sat at the bedside and touched Xuan Yi’s hair. She still hadn’t woken, but had changed positions to lie on her side. Her palm was obediently placed at her chest, like white jade. He grasped one finger and carefully caressed it.

But he heard Qing Yan say in a low voice: “I heard A’Yi slew Qingyuan Dadi and Gouchen Dadi. Is it true?”

Fucang silently nodded. He hadn’t been able to stop her in time, otherwise she probably wouldn’t have fallen into this sleep without waking.

Qing Yan closed his eyes. This little sister of his always hid everything in her heart. Often, only after she had done something could they understand those feelings she never spoke aloud.

“After the Tian Di concludes this matter, take A’Yi away.” Qing Yan’s voice was cold. “Don’t let her stay in Zhongshan. That place is not good.”

Fucang paused for a while and said: “That place is her home.”

Just a broken home. Little sister was only thirty-three thousand years old this year. Ordinary goddesses at this age were still acting spoiled and being doted on at their parents’ knees. Yet she had run off alone to the Sea of Departed Regrets for her father and brother, tormenting herself into this state. After witnessing Mother’s perishing, she was witnessing Father’s perishing once more. Zhongshan really wasn’t a good place. Let her be carefree and happy in the green mountains and clear waters of Qing Di Palace.

“Father’s perishing is imminent. A’Yi’s marriage matters—I make the decision. I entrust her to you.”

Having said this, Qing Yan said no more, turned over to lie back on the couch, and closed his eyes once more.

This kind of sorrowful marriage arrangement was definitely not what the dragon princess wanted, nor what he wanted. He hoped she would marry into Qing Di Palace with a face full of happy smiles, not faintly containing tearful light. Only, after everything she had encountered, she would probably find it difficult to ever smile carefree and happy again.

Fucang’s palm gently pressed against her ice-cold, soft cheek. His fingertips touched her thick eyelashes one by one. For now, it was better not to wake yet. Continue sleeping. Otherwise, seeing Zhongshan Dijun’s perishing, she would be sad again.

Rapid footsteps came from the green glazed bridge. A divine official hurriedly entered Yanhe Palace and bowed in salutation: “Baize Dijun, a guest has arrived.”

Oh? He came? Baize Dijun immediately put down the book in his hands and jumped down from the wooden chair: “Bring him in.”

Before long, they saw a Shenjun in luxurious black robes walking gracefully over the green glazed bridge. With his steps, the fire-red jewel on his forehead also swayed slightly. The long hair that had been loosely worn behind him in the past today was instead bound with a golden thread into a braid draped over his shoulder, with an exquisite agate phoenix hanging below.

The footsteps gradually approached. Shao Yi’s voice suddenly rang out: “Teacher, long time no see.”

Baize Dijun looked at the calm and profound expression on his face. This face was both familiar and strange. He had been called “Teacher” for over a thousand years by this Dijun whose seniority and age were both greater than his own. Now that his identity was exposed, he still called him Teacher.

He didn’t really like his style, and even disliked it a bit. But his meticulous planning, his despicable yet cold and ruthless means of advancement—under the noses of the various deities, he had done such an earth-shaking yet soundless great deed. It was truly not simple.

Baize Dijun couldn’t help but speak: “What does nirvana and rebirth feel like?”

Shao Yi was slightly startled, then couldn’t help but smile: “Isn’t discussing this now a bit inappropriate?”

Mm, it was indeed somewhat inappropriate. Baize Dijun pointed toward the hall’s interior and said again: “Then let’s do some appropriate things.”