Long Xu returned to pack her things without saying a word.

Xin Wu followed her around the great hall for several circles, and seeing that she still wouldn’t say anything, finally spoke in irritation: “We’ve spent hundreds of years living together. Don’t I deserve at least a notification when you’re going somewhere?”

Her hands paused as she was packing her bundle. Long Xu looked at him puzzledly, then glanced at the other palace hall where he should have been: “Why did you come over here?”

Xin Wu’s surge of irritation instantly deflated.

For hundreds of years, they had lived together in the Lower Xin Palace, but with him in the eastern hall and her in the western. Long Xu still had no recollection of who he was. Xin Wu had tried to set aside the past and make her like him anew, but…

It was too difficult.

In Long Xu’s eyes, he was a strange Supreme Lord with deep schemes and ulterior motives, always following her, confining her, never letting her out of his sight, yet unable to express what he wanted. At first, she was curious, but later became resistant. No matter what he did, she remained extremely wary.

Retribution, Xin Wu thought. This was retribution for his past actions.

“Immortal Er’er wants me to return to the sea domain and become king,” Long Xu finally spoke, seeing his face turn a frightening shade of pale. “Of the dragon clan, except for me, the rest are all koi in the Heavenly Gate’s pond.”

…

…

Xin Wu looked up, just about to speak when she quickly interrupted: “I don’t need your protection. In the sea, I’m more powerful than you.”

“…”

The great hall was dead silent for a while. Xin Wu lowered his eyes and finally took off the necklace from his neck, returning it to her: “Your dragon scales are incomplete. Going back like this would cause you harm. Take this.”

Long Xu reached out to accept it, detecting the rich essence of her reverse scales in the necklace. She was greatly shocked, then looked up at him with a complicated expression.

No wonder this person had been confining her—he had wanted her dragon scales. Such a large container… how many years must it have taken to pluck them?

“That’s not it,” Xin Wu said, both amused and exasperated by her gaze. “You gave this to me originally.”

“Gave it to you?” Long Xu snorted lightly. “I’m not that foolish. Plucking one’s reverse scales is the most painful thing for a dragon, and this patch of scales is the hardest. Wouldn’t it be better for me to keep them for my cultivation? Why would I give them to you?”

A sudden pain shot through his heart. Xin Wu’s lips turned pale as he lowered his eyelids and said: “You were indeed foolish then.”

Looking him up and down, Long Xu patted his shoulder: “Since the Supreme Lord is willing to return them all to me, I will let bygones be bygones. Don’t do such cruel things in the future.”

Xin Wu: “…”

She picked up her bundle and left, as if afraid he would chase after her, even turning back vigilantly at the doorway to glance once more.

Today the weather was gloomy, with heavy clouds blocking all light. Xin Wu stood alone in the courtyard like a stone statue. Withered leaves swirled past his feet, surrounding him with desolation.

Without memories of Xin Wu, Long Xu was a gallant and spirited young woman. With a single long whip, she could make the entire sea domain submit obediently.

Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Her father king, had deliberately left a trap for her—first using a formation to make her bleed, then releasing sea monsters that were most attracted to dragon blood.

Long Xu couldn’t avoid them and nearly lost her life, fortunately, she had brought that dragon scale necklace. Countless dragon scales flew out, carrying a powerful immortal energy that kept all the monsters at bay.

The scales’ essence was somewhat intense. Surrounded by them, she experienced a moment of daze.

“Here, in the future, if I’m not around, they will protect you in my place.”

“Don’t throw them away, this is my most precious possession.”

“Consider it repaying you for saving my life.”

…

Surrounded by dragon scales, immortal energy surged into her limbs. Long Xu came to her senses, her eyelashes trembling, then she gripped her whip and struck fiercely at the monsters surrounding her.

Logically, she should have left some monsters alive as evidence, but for some inexplicable reason, a fire burned in her heart, and she showed no restraint in her attacks.

After more than three years of bitter fighting, the sea domain surrendered.

The new dragon palace was established at the bottom of the sea. As Long Xu sat on the throne, she heard a shrimp soldier report: “The child of that person from the Nine Heavens has just turned three years old today. Someone has delivered an invitation. Does the King wish to see them?”

Long Xu propped her chin on her hand, watching the bubbles gurgling up through the water, murmuring: “Already three years old.”

For these three years, she had barely rested, wanting to keep herself too busy to think about all those complicated matters. But there would come a day when all battles would end, and some things would have to be faced.

Switching to prop her head with her other hand, she listlessly said: “Let them in.”

A stream of black water swirled in from outside, like an octopus wrapped in a thick layer of ink.

Long Xu frowned, staring at him for a moment before smiling without humor: “The Nine Heavens must hold great face, to be able to command the Lord of the Netherworld to act as a messenger.”

The ink dispersed, and Zhong Su smiled, cupping his hands in greeting: “The Dragon King jests. I, too, am going to attend the feast in the Nine Heavens. Since it was on my way, I thought to come by and travel together with the Dragon King.”

A large portion of the seabed had been allocated to the Netherworld; they were indeed neighbors. Over these years, Zhong Su had often come to see her, but he seemed to only dare to visit, never again mentioning marriage.

On an impulse, Long Xu asked: “Has your crystal palace been repaired?”

Zhong Su smiled, waving his fan: “It was repaired long ago, but unfortunately, no one lives there. It’s quite empty.”

With the conversation at this point, if she were to respond, Zhong Su would have reason to bring up the marriage alliance again. He looked at her expectantly, waiting for her answer.

However, Long Xu didn’t speak again. She only yawned, arranged her clothes, and walked out with him.

Zhong Su sighed, then smiled: “Have you prepared your gift? The Lower Xin Palace also has a joyous occasion, so you might need to prepare more.”

Her steps faltered, but just for a moment, before continuing forward. Long Xu said with complete indifference: “The Nine Heavens certainly has many celebrations. The Lower Xin Palace has been quiet for many years; it should indeed liven up.”

“Yes,” Zhong Su looked at her with a smile. “Before I came down, I saw Supreme Lord Xin Wu. A joyous occasion brings spiritual invigoration—he seems to have shed a burden in recent years, becoming much more cheerful.”

“That’s good,” Long Xu said, sweeping her sleeve and collecting an armful of pearls from large clams at the sea bottom. “No one can remain imprisoned forever without finding release.”

Neither him nor her.

Zhong Su turned his head to look at her: “Then when will you agree to return with me to see the crystal palace?”

Rolling her eyes, Long Xu snorted with laughter: “You should know clearly that Er’er would never allow an alliance between the dragon clan and the Netherworld.”

The newly delineated power structure of the three realms could not possibly allow the Netherworld to gain additional strength.

“If you are willing, she won’t stop you,” Zhong Su said with certainty.

Indeed, Er’er considered her a friend, had risked her life to save and help her. If she truly fell in love with someone, Er’er certainly wouldn’t stop her. But for this very reason, Long Xu would never agree to Zhong Su’s proposal.

Living alone was quite pleasant. Why would she need a man?