His complaint was so heartfelt and sincere that even the Wujiang Fairy momentarily felt a trace of guilt, murmuring softly, “It was my oversight…”

Shao Yi leisurely sat down cross-legged, his fingertips lightly tapping on the cold floor tiles. “I’ll help the Fairy plant some flowers and grass. It’ll be pleasant to look at.”

He swept his long sleeves, and in an instant, lush greenery covered the ground. Countless soft blades of grass struggled to break through the black tiles, and in just a short while, they grew up to their calves.

Before the Wujiang Fairy could express her admiration, she saw him form a circle with his index finger and thumb, placing them at his lips and gently breathing out a breath of warm wind that swept through the River God’s residence. Those blades of grass seemed to be encouraged, swaying their bodies as gorgeous flower buds emerged from their tips. In the blink of an eye, spring blossoms flourished abundantly, creating a tapestry of splendor across the ground.

“So beautiful…” the Wujiang Fairy murmured, turning to look at him with an expression of complete disbelief. “Truly worthy of being Shao Yi Shenjun, who captivates the hearts and dreams of countless beauties.”

Shao Yi smiled faintly and flicked his fingers. The next moment, countless flower buds bloomed simultaneously, and the cold River God’s residence suddenly became intensely hot—the stamen of each flower was actually a cluster of brilliant Phoenix Nirvana Fire.

The Wujiang Fairy’s expression changed subtly, but he stretched lazily, casually propping his chin and half-reclining among the flowers, brazenly commanding her, “Where is the fine wine? I wish to drink together with the Fairy until we’re both intoxicated.”

The Wujiang Fairy narrowed her beautiful eyes and said softly, “Please wait a moment, Shao Yi Shenjun. It will come shortly.”

She moved her lotus feet, gently stepping on a cluster of Phoenix Nirvana Fire. That flame extinguished silently. With each step she took, she stamped out another flame, neither fast nor slow, gracefully walking into the nearby River God’s Hall.

Shao Yi sighed and looked toward Fucang with furrowed brows. “She’s this formidable? I can’t beat her—what should I do?”

Fucang sat down cross-legged, placing Xuan Yi on his lap, his tone indifferent. “Senior Brother Shao Yi has gotten what he wished for. Why this worried expression?”

He really couldn’t be bothered to reproach this romantic senior brother for seeking trouble. Seeing how confident he’d been, Fucang had thought he had some extraordinary means, but clearly he’d been overthinking it.

Shao Yi sighed deeply. “I merely entered the sect earlier. In terms of age, I’m not even as old as you. Don’t call me senior brother anymore. I know you’re proficient in the way of the sword with excellent skills. Think of some way for us to escape.”

If they could escape, they would have run long ago. Fucang slowly shook his head. He didn’t know what method this Wujiang Fairy had used, but no matter how far they ran, she could always follow at a steady distance, neither too close nor too far.

Shao Yi stared at Xuan Yi in his arms. “Wake up the little loach quickly. She has the most cunning ideas.”

Fucang simply covered her head with his outer robe and reminded him, “She’s injured.”

“She should be awake by now.” Shao Yi watched as the Wujiang Fairy carried a wine table out from the River God’s Hall, and couldn’t help but sigh again. “Beautiful as she is, she fills me with terror.”

The Wujiang Fairy gracefully stepped through the flames, approaching them. She bowed and set down the wine table, then slowly smiled. “Shao Yi Shenjun secretly speaks ill of me behind my back—that’s not very nice.”

With that, she turned over four inverted crystal cups and filled all four to the brim. Under the scorching heat of the Phoenix Nirvana Fire, the wine’s aroma dispersed extremely quickly—rich and mellow. It was actually Wushang Changrong, a famous strong liquor of the divine realm.

Shao Yi picked up the crystal cup with two fingers, gazing at the clear, emerald-green liquid within, murmuring, “The Fairy is far too formidable, making me afraid to act rashly.”

The Wujiang Fairy covered her mouth and giggled. “Men throughout the world, whether human, god, demon, or spirit, all seem to dislike women who are too formidable. Shao Yi Shenjun’s words—I’ve heard them so often my ears are itching.”

“Oh? Have other divine lords from the upper realm also drunk and conversed with the Fairy like this?”

The Wujiang Fairy covered half her face with her sleeve and drank the wine in her cup in one gulp before saying, “Shao Yi Shenjun is the second one willing to joke with me like this.”

Shao Yi merely twirled the crystal cup lightly with his fingertips without drinking, smiling as if making casual conversation. “I’m all ears for the details.”

She seemed to have touched upon some matter of the heart, saying wistfully, “I haven’t spoken with anyone like this for many years. This young Shenjun is quite good at pleasing people. Let me ask you—how is my appearance? How is my cultivation? Compared to the goddesses of the upper realm, how do I measure up?”

Shao Yi examined her seriously and praised, “The Fairy possesses exceptional grace and radiant beauty. Goddesses more beautiful than you have inferior cultivation; those with stronger cultivation are not as beautiful.”

The Wujiang Fairy smiled slightly. “Yet you divine lords will ultimately fall for a goddess whose appearance is inferior to mine and whose cultivation is also inferior to mine.”

Shao Yi said in astonishment, “Which divine lord has such poor judgment? Don’t be angry, Fairy. I’ll help you vent this grievance later.”

The Wujiang Fairy’s eyes flowed with emotion as she said in a delicate voice, “That heartless wretch has long been torn to shreds and consumed by me. One day I ate part of him, the next day I ate part of her, making them watch each other. That scene was quite interesting indeed.”

Shao Yi was even more astonished. “I don’t know what they did to you, Fairy, that would make someone as noble as you use such cruel methods?”

The Wujiang Fairy giggled aloud, her face flushing red, and gently pushed him. “Your mouth is so sweet. Fine, I know you’re stalling for time, hoping for rescue from the upper realm. But unless a Dijun like your master descends to the lower realm, what do I have to fear from those celestial soldiers and generals? I’ll tell you—one day I saved a divine lord from the upper realm. He was very grateful and stayed with me in the lower realm, constantly saying he wanted to repay my kindness. But this understanding and considerate divine lord changed his heart upon seeing a goddess. He wanted to marry her and return to the divine realm. In my fury, I captured them both and devoured them. The taste of the divine race was indeed excellent, much better than mortals. From then on, I only loved eating divine beings and no longer wanted to eat humans.”

Fucang, seeing her recount these cruel past events with such smiling ease, couldn’t help but furrow his brow.

Carefully recalling her words, she seemed to have had an encounter with Baize Dijun, and her attitude toward the prayer beads was extremely obsessive… The prayer beads?

Fucang suddenly had a flash of insight. He was confident that during their escape, they hadn’t left behind the slightest trace, yet this Wujiang Fairy had persistently haunted them like a ghost. Could it be that she had done something to the prayer beads?

He lowered his head to search Xuan Yi’s embrace, wanting to find the prayer beads and examine them carefully, but his wrist was suddenly grabbed firmly by Xuan Yi. Her face twisted out from the layers of outer robes, glaring at him extremely unfriendly.

“Don’t touch me.” She moved her lips, silently warning him.

Fucang only felt that long-absent surge of anger begin to lodge in his chest again. He looked at her expressionlessly, his voice indifferent. “You’re awake.”

He didn’t know when she’d awakened, but it seemed she had planned to continue pretending to sleep.

Xuan Yi was about to warn him not to make a sound when the Phoenix Nirvana Fire caused the aroma of the Wushang Changrong wine to spread everywhere. She suddenly inhaled a breath and immediately sneezed dozens of times, forced to sit up in frustration.

Earlier, when the Wujiang Fairy’s demonic power had surged and dragged them into the River God’s residence, she had already awakened. Seeing the unfavorable situation, she had originally planned to pretend to sleep to the end, but how hateful that this fish demon would actually prepare Wushang Changrong wine. Really!

The Wujiang Fairy glanced at her mockingly. “Since the little princess is awake, why hold your breath and pretend to sleep? I’ve already poured the wine for you. Please give me some face and drink it.”

Xuan Yi coldly hummed in acknowledgment, turned over, and climbed down from Fucang’s lap. Only after moving several feet away did she straighten her clothes and hair, elegantly sitting upright among the flaming flower clusters before speaking. “Thank you for the Fairy’s warm hospitality, but I’ve never been able to drink alcohol. However, I am quite curious about that goddess whose appearance and cultivation were both inferior to yours. Since there’s nothing else to do and we’re already dishes on your table, Fairy, why not resolve the doubts in my heart? I’m all ears.”