Zhi Xi stood behind the dense branches and leaves, quietly watching the war generals’ palace of the Yibingyin Division.

The clear light was faint. The war generals of the Yibingyin Division who went out on patrol came and went, peaceful as always, and just as always, she hadn’t seen Shao Yi. Seeing that it was getting late, she didn’t know whether what she felt in her heart was disappointment or something else.

He had kissed her—not teasingly or flirtatiously, but gently and soothingly. She couldn’t forget that kiss. On one hand, she sternly stopped herself from coming to find him again, yet on the other hand, she couldn’t help but sink into indulgence.

That day when Dajuns Shangmao and Hushen had suddenly wreaked havoc, summoning talismans had been sent to all war divisions, and she had naturally gone too. When she went, she hadn’t thought about anything, her heart filled only with the desire to exterminate the demon clan. But then she had seen the Zhuyin Clan’s snowstorm. That was the extremely conspicuous technique unique to the Zhuyin Clan—it was impossible not to notice it.

Then she had seen Shao Yi and Xuan Yi.

The two of them had only exchanged a few words, and it didn’t look at all like the kind of intimacy she had imagined. In that instant, Zhi Xi suddenly felt that perhaps everything before had been her own misunderstanding.

Of course Shao Yi wouldn’t like Xuan Yi. Yes, how could he like her? His treatment of her was clearly no different from those other flirtatious women. His rivalry with Fucang might also have been just to win a point of pride. Shao Yi had always liked to indulge in romantic pleasures, yet his treatment of her was completely different—he had even kissed her so tenderly. Was that a hint?

Zhi Xi constantly searched for reasonable excuses for him and for herself. She also knew this was extremely foolish, but she had already sunk into that Sea of Lihating, unable to escape. It kept pulling her down, making her more soul-consumed and bone-corroded—don’t torment her like this.

She had learned of the Yibingyin Division where Shao Yi was currently stationed. Every day after completing her tasks of exterminating the demon clan, she would unconsciously come to the vicinity of this war generals’ palace to take a look, as if only by doing this could she sleep peacefully.

But today she still hadn’t been able to see him. Zhi Xi sighed quietly to herself and had just turned to leave when she suddenly heard the whistling of wind. A dark black figure landed before the palace. She felt even her breathing stop. She unconsciously stepped forward to follow, but after two steps, she hurriedly stopped—she had said she would never entangle herself, and she had to keep her word.

Shao Yi seemed to be holding someone in his arms. His wide sleeves wrapped that slender body completely, both hands carefully embracing it, cherishing it with care as if holding a fragile piece of porcelain.

Who was that?

Zhi Xi couldn’t help but step forward again, slowly walking over. She showed her waist badge to the palace guards and followed at a distance behind Shao Yi.

Rounding the vine-shadowed corridor, Shao Yi’s footsteps stopped before a courtyard lush with plants and trees. He didn’t enter, but instead turned his head. His long, dark phoenix eyes immediately caught Zhi Xi’s figure. This time he neither smiled nor sighed, but looked at her with an extremely bleak and cold gaze.

Zhi Xi was made to retreat two steps by his look, her voice trembling: “I… I didn’t… I just… wanted to take a look…”

He gave no response, turned and walked into the courtyard, gently closing the door. After entering the house, however, he didn’t stop, but walked straight toward the back courtyard. His toe lightly touched the ground, and immediately the voice of a war general divine official came from the darkness: “Phoenix Lord, the passage between the upper and lower realms at this ancient site has been cleared.”

Shao Yi nodded slightly: “Request leave for me. After I leave, restore the passage to its original state.”

He tightened his embrace around the body in his arms that remained unconscious after exhausting its divine power. Whether he, the one left alone behind, could fulfill his obsession and long-cherished wish all depended on her.

Zhi Xi stood dazedly for a very long time in the vine-shadowed corridor. The war generals coming and going all looked at her curiously, and those who were romantic and elegant, seeing that though she wore no makeup, her appearance was bright and beautiful, couldn’t help but approach her with flirtations.

She turned away in disgust, walking step by step toward the outside of the war generals’ palace, her head heavy and feet light, the heart in her chest suddenly becoming especially heavy, as if it had sunk to the bottom of her feet.

Why did Shao Yi look at her with such a terrible expression? As if looking at an ant whose features were indistinct and unclear.

It shouldn’t be like this. His feelings toward her should at least be somewhat special.

At this moment, Zhi Xi actually had the self-abusive thought of hoping she could have her spirit damaged like Yan Xia and Fucang, because if that were the case, would he come to the lower realm to resolve her karmic ties?

But her heart seemed to be much more solid than she had imagined—there was no sign of spiritual damage at all.

Just now she had seen clearly—the body Shao Yi held tightly in his arms should be Xuan Yi. The soft boots visible beneath the sleeves had several jet-black gemstones embedded in them in a very stylish and distinctive way, arranged in the pattern of the Big Dipper. Only that beauty-loving little princess would take the trouble to dress up even her war general’s outfit.

What was Shao Yi doing now? Chatting and laughing with Xuan Yi? Flirting ambiguously? Or… making love?

He gave her hope again and again, and again and again shattered all her illusions. Was she being too greedy? Or was she too naive? What was wrong with being naive? What was wrong with her?

She could give him a complete heart and the cleanest body. She was Baize Dijun’s prized disciple, a capable war general from a divine realm war general family. She was well-educated and reasonable, fair and upright, relying on her own diligence and effort to reach where she was today, earnestly pursuing the shenjun she liked. What did Xuan Yi have? Did she run wild relying on her illustrious family background? Did she act recklessly relying on her pure and alluring appearance?

Once she had doted on Xuan Yi, feeling this little princess was extremely adorable. But now she had completely shattered all the self-respect and pride she had worked so hard to build along the way. She simply sneered at her—in what way was she better than herself?

She had actually lost to this reckless and willful princess twice, been trampled hard under her feet, unable to rise again.

Zhi Xi felt that the last thread of clarity and rationality she was holding onto was about to snap like a strand of hair. She suddenly turned around and walked quickly toward Shao Yi’s courtyard.

She was going to ask Xuan Yi face to face—what exactly were her feelings toward Fucang, and what were her feelings toward Shao Yi? She couldn’t stand to watch this kind of thing. Was there no fairness left in this world?

Zhi Xi forcefully pushed open the door. She deliberately wanted to make the loudest noise to startle them, to let Shao Yi know she wasn’t the kind of cheap and frivolous goddess who would eat up his ambiguous affection and then walk away, and to let Xuan Yi know just how much harm she had caused her.

But the room was empty. She went from the outer chamber to the inner chamber, circling around several times, but never saw any trace of Shao Yi. She had clearly seen him carrying Xuan Yi inside just moments ago.

Zhi Xi pushed open the door to the back courtyard, only to see several Qingyang Clan war general divine officials standing in the back courtyard, wearing dark black divine official robes with golden black birds embroidered all over the hems. She couldn’t help but freeze, momentarily confused.

Seeing her trespass into the back courtyard without permission, the divine officials all frowned slightly. But the Phoenix Lord had always been dissolute—this goddess was probably one of the many flirtatious women around him. They immediately lowered their heads and bowed silently in salute.

Zhi Xi stood dazed for a long while, murmuring: “Where is Shao Yi?”

The war general divine official said coolly: “The Phoenix Lord is unwell and has requested leave to return to Qiongsang City. Once he has recovered, he can return to the lower realm. The goddess need not worry.”

Having spoken, all the divine officials bowed in farewell one by one and disappeared into the darkness.

The Qingyang Clan could become unwell? He had taken Xuan Yi back to Qiongsang City, hadn’t he? Taken her back to meet his father and mother? Had they reached that stage already?

Zhi Xi still stood dazedly in place. Where should she go? Should she chase after them to Qiongsang City? Goddess Zhi Xi, where is your self-respect and pride?

Her eyes stared blankly at the poignantly gorgeous red of the sunset glow at the edge of the sky. She really was a fool—above heaven and below earth, the biggest fool of all.