She had thought only weak immortals like herself would be looked down upon. Unexpectedly, someone as powerful as Li Ye had experienced days even more miserable than hers in the past. At least she had senior brothers and sisters protecting her, while throughout his journey, he seemed to have always been alone.

If he had truly been born violent and harmful to all living beings, Er’er might have understood. But the great lord she saw was hard on the outside yet soft within, kind and compassionate. Although he had already accepted the erosion of killing energy, and his divine flames were already surrounded by a dark aura, he remained at the boundary between god and demon, without falling.

Yet these people kept pushing him, pushing him down into the netherworld while saying this was his inherent nature.

Er’er’s small face wrinkled in strong disagreement.

Outside, the sky was approaching dusk. Li Ye had finally transferred Qian Tian’s soul fragment from the glass vial into his own Phoekill Blade.

The Phoekill Blade seemed displeased, its body humming incessantly until its master gave it a glare, when it immediately straightened up with a clank and obediently carried Qian Tian’s soul.

Withdrawing his power, Li Ye let out a breath and raised his hand to massage his brow. Unintentionally, he noticed something had cut a small line on his index finger.

He had many wounds on his body and had never paid attention to such minor injuries. His thumb pressed on it, and the wound healed, leaving only a faint sense of pain that was not troublesome.

As the barrier around him began to dissipate, he quickly tensed his face, restoring his calm, impassive appearance, and prepared to see what fine words she would come up with this time.

…

…

However, as the barrier fell, the aroma of food wafted in from outside.

“All done?” she asked from a distance.

The stove that he had previously destroyed had been rebuilt outside the Upper Bing Palace. She had picked beans from somewhere and stir-fried them with chili and shredded meat, soon scooping it all into a dish.

“Perfect timing, it’s dinnertime now.” Putting down the spatula, she placed the dish on the table, then took two bowls, filled them with fragrant, soft rice, and quickly set one before him. Shaking her hand, she pinched her earlobe.

“So hot.”

Li Ye was somewhat dazed. His misty eyes, tinged by the steam rising from the rice, finally showed some warmth.

“Supreme Gods don’t need three meals a day,” he said hoarsely.

“I know that.” Picking up her chopsticks and aligning them on the table, Er’er grabbed some meat, wrapped it in rice, and stuffed it into her mouth. With puffed cheeks, she said, “That’s why immortals in the Nine Heavens don’t know months and years, and can’t taste the joy of eternal life.”

What joy could there be in eternal life? He sneered, yet couldn’t resist picking up his chopsticks and taking a piece of green pepper.

He moved too quickly. Er’er opened her mouth to warn him, but wasn’t fast enough. She could only watch as he ate the chili pepper, his handsome face gradually turning green, then blue.

“…”

Nervously passing him a cup of tea, Er’er said softly, “You should eat the meat. Why eat that? That’s just for flavor.”

Gritting his teeth and swallowing, Li Ye took a sip of tea, his expression returning to composure. “It’s edible too.”

Your expression just now didn’t say so!

Er’er wanted to laugh. She pressed her lips together, picked up some meat with her chopsticks and placed it in his bowl, then lowered her head to eat her rice.

Her eating manners were good. Though not wolfing down the food, she enjoyed it, making others feel quite appetized watching her. Li Ye knew he didn’t need to eat the five grains, but with this person sitting before him, he unconsciously finished everything in his bowl.

After the meal, Er’er conjured up a pair of exquisite gloves for him.

Li Ye’s eyelids immediately twitched. “What are you doing?”

“When two people live together, you can’t let me do all the chores. That would make you so lazy… I mean, that would give you so little sense of participation.” Helping him put on the gloves hand by hand, Er’er seemingly spoke with earnest advice. “I cooked the food, you wash the dishes. This way, it feels more human.”

Li Ye remained silent, allowing her to push him to the stove outside the door, his eyes full of confusion. “This will make it feel more human?”

Er’er nodded without hesitation.

She would never directly say she hated washing dishes. Whenever she caused trouble at the Taihe Immortal Sect, her senior brother would punish her by making her wash dishes. It was practically her nightmare.

So, better to push it to the great lord.

Li Ye frowned, his eyes filled with hesitation, but after only a moment of stiffness, he was about to form hand seals.

“Dishes washed with immortal arts have no soul,” the little thing behind him said softly.

“…” Just a few bowls, what soul did they need!

Eyes slightly narrowed, for a moment he wanted to turn and leave, but seeing her eager expression from the corner of his eye, he couldn’t bear to.

Fine, it’s just washing dishes.

Dissolving the seal in his hand, he picked up the dishes and threw them all into the water.

Nodding with satisfaction, Er’er said, “You wash first. I’ll go out for a bit.”

Having expelled Zhen Huan Gong like that, he still didn’t know Li Ye had saved Qian Tian. If it caused bigger trouble, that wouldn’t be good. Someone had to report the news.

“How long will you be gone?” he asked.

Er’er showed a few fingers. “Just the time it takes three incense sticks to burn.”

He nodded, signifying his permission, and lowered his head to continue washing dishes in silence.

The sound of cloud-riding came from behind. Li Ye looked at the porcelain plates in the sink with a calm gaze. Before long, the corners of his mouth curled upward slightly.

This fool hadn’t even realized she had cloud-riding skills, rushing off in such a hurry, not steady at all.

But if she did notice, she would run circles around him even more unsteadily.

Thinking of her comical appearance, Li Ye found the dirty dishes in his hands looking more pleasing.

He didn’t know how to wash dishes, only how to rinse them repeatedly with water, but he rinsed them very seriously.

The evening moon rose, casting a radiant light upon him.

This was the scene Gen Qi and the others saw when they arrived at the Upper Bing Palace.

Li Ye’s tall figure stood straight, facing a small sink, carefully and gently cleaning the dirt off the dishes. His black gloves made him look somewhat cold, but his movements were extremely gentle. When he placed the porcelain plates back on the counter, there wasn’t even a sound.

The several Supreme Gods watched with complex expressions, thinking Li Ye was practicing some top-tier immortal technique. But upon closer inspection, they saw a clean, white plate already on the counter, and Li Ye holding a second plate, about to form hand seals to summon water to continue washing.

He had sensed the presence of outsiders, but he didn’t look up, as if all these Supreme Gods combined were not as important as the ordinary bowl in his hand.

Gen Qi felt somewhat displeased.

He strode forward, raised his hand to point to the sky, and cast a death barrier around the Upper Bing Palace to block all sounds.

“Li Ye,” Dui Ren followed, stepping forward and saying in a deep voice, “You opened the gate to the netherworld, injured Qian Tian’s soul, and don’t plan to give us an explanation?”

The person by the sink didn’t move. After washing the second plate, he very carefully placed it on the counter and picked up the third bowl.

Dui Ren frowned and waved his hand, casting a stream of immortal power.

Clang—

The two clean, white plates stacked together were swept to the ground, shattering with a crash.

Li Ye’s motion of forming hand seals to summon water abruptly halted.

The gentle aura around him gradually disappeared. He slowly turned, his misty eyes carrying a bottomless, deathly energy, staring fixedly at the person who had acted.

Dui Ren was the newly appointed leader of the Dui Immortal Sect, young and aggressive, eager to make a name for himself. He had relied on the fact that many people had come today, intending to diminish Li Ye’s prestige. Unexpectedly, under his gaze, Dui Ren’s hands and feet grew cold, and the remaining words in his throat were immediately stuck, unable to be uttered.

He retreated half a step in confusion, stepping right on the shattered porcelain pieces on the ground.

Crack.

Startled, Dui Ren quickly dodged and looked nervously toward Gen Qi.

Just two plates, not worth it, right? The one who did wrong was he.

Gen Qi’s expression was solemn, the gourd at his waist emitting a green light, already in a combat stance.

As if matching the atmosphere, the moon entered the clouds, and the entire world darkened.

Er’er had just found Zhen Huan Gong and hadn’t had time to speak when a cold wind made her shiver.

“What’s happening?” she muttered softly. “There was a moon just now.”

Zhen Huan Gong was healing his wounds. Seeing her standing before him, talking to herself, he couldn’t help but frown. “What did you come to say?”

“Oh, right.” Turning her head, Er’er said, “Qian Tian’s soul is fine now. As long as it’s nourished with spiritual energy, he should recover even faster than my senior brother.”

???

Almost losing his balance, Zhen Huan Gong steadied himself on his meditation mat, looking at her in shock. “You saved him?”

“How could that be possible?” Er’er waved her hand. “He saved him with the Phoekill Blade. A Supreme God’s soul like Qian Tian’s, how could a little immortal like me draw it out? Even if I could draw it out, I couldn’t use the Phoekill Blade to receive it.”

“…” His face alternating between red and white, Zhen Huan Gong got up unsteadily, grabbing her and saying, “Hurry back!”

Er’er was startled by his sudden agitation, asking in confusion, “Go back for what?”

“Ah, just go!” Without time to explain further, Zhen Huan Gong pulled her and rushed out the door.