Now, ever since the fall from the Sea of Parting Regret, nearly two years had passed in the divine realm. The effects of the heavenly disaster had gradually subsided, and the gods had returned to their old life of drinking tea and listening to gossip.

It was said that Lord Zhuxuan Dijun had gone to great lengths this time, selecting a spot with good feng shui beside the Three Lives Stone to rebuild the Zhuxuan Yuyang Palace, then grandly hosting guests with a feast that lasted five days.

It was said that Qing Di’s only son, Lord Fucang, had descended to the mortal realm to resolve his karmic ties, but very few knew of this matter. Those who knew the specific details were all on good terms with the Huaxu Clan and no one was willing to speak of it. Thus, as the rumor circulated, it was ultimately dismissed as hearsay and left at that.

It was also said that Chi Di’s young princess, who had similarly descended to resolve her karmic ties, had returned to the upper realm. Because she had resolved her emotional tribulation early and her fate line had disappeared, her mortal body had died of sudden illness quite early, allowing her to return with complete ease to continue being a celestial deity.

Princess Yan Xia could truly be said to have turned disaster into fortune. Upon her return, her spiritual essence had greatly increased, and having experienced worldly affairs, she was much more composed than before. Chi Di was so delighted that he considered having her return to continue her studies at the Hall of Clarity. When he learned that Shao Yi of the Qingyang Clan had already withdrawn from the academy, Chi Di wrote a letter to Lord Baize Dijun that very night, earnestly requesting that Yan Xia be allowed to resume her studies.

Lord Baize Dijun silently agreed.

Before Yan Xia had even returned, the disciples at the Hall of Clarity had already begun getting excited. One must know that their teacher had originally accepted few female disciples. With Fu Luo and Yan Xia gone, only Zhi Xi and Xuan Yi remained. Zhi Xi had always been preachy and serious, causing the divine lords to avoid her at all costs. As for Xuan Yi, there was even less to say—even Tian Di probably couldn’t control her, and she had been on leave for over a year. The disciples were very depressed, the disciples were very helpless.

Fortunately, Yan Xia was coming back. She was practically the savior of the Hall of Clarity—innocent, lively, and always smiling. Now they could add another virtue to the list: “devoted in love.” With her around, even if their teacher recited texts for another hundred thousand years, it wouldn’t be such a big deal.

On this day, after class ended, the disciples once again heatedly discussed matters regarding Yan Xia’s return in the Hall of Harmonious Virtue. Now that she had resolved her karmic ties and Shao Yi had also withdrawn from the academy, each disciple felt they had a chance. Only Gu Ting suddenly grew sentimental. “One was Yan Xia, the other Fucang. If Yan Xia had fallen for Fucang instead, things wouldn’t have gotten so complicated today. Why did it have to end with everyone descending to the mortal realm?”

Tai Yao laughed. “What kind of random matchmaking is that? I’m afraid Junior Sister Yan Xia and Junior Brother Fucang’s temperaments are so different they wouldn’t even be able to hold a conversation.”

Gu Ting suddenly grew somewhat angry. “That would still be much better than that demon Xuan Yi!”

Because of Fucang’s damaged spiritual essence, he had accumulated a whole bellyful of anger toward Xuan Yi again. Sure enough, the Zhuyin Clan were all no good—every one of them liked trampling on others.

Tai Yao had always refrained from speaking ill of others behind their backs. He immediately changed the subject with a smile. “When Junior Sister Yan Xia returns this time, she probably won’t dwell on past matters anymore.”

Gu Ting said bitterly, “Every single one of them—I don’t know what they’re thinking, but they all insist on liking those terrible people!”

Aren’t you the one who can’t forget Fu Luo either… Tai Yao simply stopped talking to him. Seeing Zhi Xi staring blankly to the side, he said, “What’s been wrong with Zhi Xi these past few days? You keep spacing out.”

Zhi Xi hurriedly smiled. “Nothing. I was just thinking… *cough*, I was thinking Yan Xia probably won’t… remember Junior Brother Shao Yi anymore.”

The so-called resolution of karmic ties meant using past attachments to sever connections with the former life, restoring clarity and purity to the heart. Yan Xia shouldn’t still be thinking of Shao Yi, right? Yet she didn’t dare speak with certainty. This really didn’t match her formerly decisive nature—whenever anything involved Shao Yi, she became completely flustered. What if Yan Xia was still thinking of Shao Yi? Then, then what would she do?

Tai Yao responded casually, “Anyway, Junior Brother Shao Yi has withdrawn from the academy. Even if she’s still thinking of him, there’s nothing she can do. It’s better if that connection is severed.”

Yes, Shao Yi had withdrawn from the academy over a year ago and there had been no news of him since. No one knew who he had taken as his new teacher. Previously, she had attended classes with him for over a thousand years without feeling anything special, but now, after being suddenly separated for just over a year, she found the longing unbearable—truly impossible to forget.

Gu Ting’s earlier remark about people liking terrible things pricked her like needles, causing waves of pain. She suddenly felt she could understand Junior Brother Fucang’s despair. Sometimes you clearly knew the other person was thoroughly rotten, but you had no way to control your feelings—that was what was truly fatal.

Zhi Xi couldn’t help but sigh deeply. She rose and walked outside. “Senior Brother Tai Yao, Junior Brother Gu Ting, I’ll take my leave.”

Gu Ting said curiously, “Is Senior Sister going to the training grounds again to hone her skills?”

This past year, Zhi Xi had been running to the training grounds at the Hall of Ten Thousand Gods like someone possessed, practicing until the middle of the night every day. Could this also be a protest against their teacher not teaching martial techniques?

Zhi Xi nodded and walked straight out of the Hall of Harmonious Virtue.

She wouldn’t go to the Ministry of Justice anymore—she would become a war general too. That way, when she reached fifty thousand years old, she could see Shao Yi again. What good would it do to see him? She didn’t know, but she still wanted to do it. Perhaps only when she was so exhausted at the training grounds that she couldn’t even stand would she feel that these long, empty years had become fulfilling.

Tai Yao watched her retreating figure and said curiously, “Could it be because Junior Sister Xuan Yi isn’t here? Senior Sister Zhi Xi seems to have something weighing heavily on her mind lately.”

At the mention of Xuan Yi, Gu Ting grew angry again. “It’s best if she doesn’t come! Let her go off and cause trouble wherever she wants!”

*

Xuan Yi, who was causing trouble everywhere according to Gu Ting, couldn’t help but sneeze. She rubbed her nose and squinted at the imperial palace below.

Fourteen months—she had come down again as agreed. By now, Fucang should be seventeen years old and old enough to remember and understand things, right? She had no concept of mortal ages. She hoped she hadn’t left him with any psychological trauma last time. If he still scrambled away crying and shouting at the sight of her, there was nothing she could do about it.

Xuan Yi transformed into a fierce wind and wandered through the imperial palace. After circling once, she found no overflowing spiritual energy. The spirit officials were nowhere to be seen, and the former Seventh Prince’s bedchamber was actually locked, the hall filled with accumulated dust.

What was going on?

Puzzled, she leaped into the sea of clouds and surveyed the royal city. She noticed that pure energy was even more abundant toward the east, almost like a coiling dragon rising into the clouds. She immediately rushed over. As soon as she drew near, waves of incense fragrance came with the wind. Landing and looking around, she found it was a temple to Qing Di with extremely prosperous offerings.

Pure energy emanated from an old peach tree in the garden. Xuan Yi drifted over and looked up at it.

…Why did this scene feel somewhat familiar? Had she come here during her previous two descents to the mortal realm?

While she was struggling to remember, the chief spirit official’s voice suddenly came from behind. “The Princess has arrived?”

Xuan Yi turned around and indeed saw that the patrol spirit officials were all there. She said curiously, “Why aren’t you at the imperial palace anymore?”

The chief spirit official smiled. “It’s a long story. As the Princess knows, Lord Fucang is now a mortal, yet he was born with the ability to see gods and spirits. Being young, he didn’t know to conceal this, and gradually the matter spread. Five years ago, an evil-exorcising national preceptor advised that Lord Fucang’s fate was strangely inauspicious, and that if he remained in the palace, his life would not be long. So Lord Fucang was sent to live in seclusion at this Qing Di Temple. Coincidentally, this is indeed a temple to Qing Di, and the peach tree in the temple is a true earth immortal who has already achieved immortal form and suppresses this area of land. These years, no demon clans have come to disturb or entice him.”

Xuan Yi listened in complete confusion and was too lazy to ask for details. She merely said, “Where is Lord Fucang?”

“Please follow me, Princess, and be careful—Lord Fucang’s five senses are now extremely keen.”

Circling around those small buildings, there was a clean courtyard in the back with pure energy flowing everywhere. Inside a moon-shaped window, candlelight flickered, and a human figure cast on the window swayed back and forth with it.

“This is the place.” The chief spirit official spoke almost in a whisper. “Princess, be careful.”

Be careful of what? Xuan Yi was bewildered by all these ever-changing circumstances in the mortal realm. She transformed into a clear breeze and drifted in through the moon window.

Dim candlelight, half-worn cushions—a young man in a dark green robe was leaning against the window reading by candlelight, his long hair gathered before his chest. The Lord Fucang of the upper realm—elegant and refined as wind circling through snow—was unmistakably right here.

Xuan Yi’s throat felt as if something fluffy was blocking it again. She lowered her head and clenched her sleeves, then released them. Just as she was about to release her divine power and manifest her divine form, the young man across from her suddenly put down his book, and his dark eyes immediately caught her.