When Xiao Hei turned three years old, Er’er suddenly craved grilled meat.

In the Nine Heavens, though they could enjoy exquisite delicacies, most dishes were light and delicate. If she openly asked for such heavily seasoned grilled meat, she would surely be nagged by all the immortals. So she looked at Li Ye with pitiful eyes.

Li Ye immediately decided to hold a birthday banquet for Xiao Hei.

Xiao Hei, who at three years old could already speak fluently, was having a water fight with the Phoenix-Slaying Blade when he heard the news. He raised his head, looking rather puzzled: “I didn’t have a birthday celebration at one year old, nor at two years old. Why specifically have one at three years old?”

Li Ye lovingly patted his head: “Because you want to celebrate your third birthday.”

“I don’t…”

“Yes, you do.”

“…”

“It’s decided then. Your father will have people prepare your favorite grilled meat.” He clapped his hands and gracefully leaped over the puddles in the courtyard, floating toward the kitchen with an immortal breeze.

…

…

Xiao Hei stared blankly at his father’s retreating figure, then turned to look at the Phoenix-Slaying Blade hissing before him as water splashed on it. He asked in confusion: “Am I his biological child?”

The Phoenix-Slaying Blade hesitantly nodded.

Puffing his cheeks, Xiao Hei continued his water fight with the blade using the Kan family’s water-summoning artifact.

The birthday banquet for the descendant of the Nine Heavens’ Lord was naturally grand. Various immortals who came to freeload—no, sincerely congratulate—gathered, filling the plaza outside the Heavenly Gate.

Er’er observed Long Xu while gnawing on grilled meat, noticing that she looked much healthier than when she was at the Lower Xin Palace. She smiled: “You’ve been enjoying the fights in the sea.”

Long Xu presented her gift, gratitude showing in her purple pupils: “You’ve helped me a lot.”

When she returned to subdue the sea realm, the Nine Heavens couldn’t openly assist, so Er’er had secretly sent people to deliver divine weapons to her. Many of these treasures had provided significant aid, some even saving her life.

As she spoke, she took out several of the most valuable artifacts to return them: “These treasures could aid your cultivation. Lending them to me for three years was already generous enough. I can’t just keep them, so I’ve brought them all back to you.”

Er’er swallowed her meat and smiled magnanimously: “They’re just some small trinkets… Wait, what’s this?”

She had given Long Xu the Hundred Paintings Vase to ensure she had enough divine power to sustain battles, but the Water-Stabilizing Pearl, the Wave-Breaking Scroll, and the Sea-Calming Divine Needle beside it were not from her.

Where could she have found these rare artifacts specifically effective against sea domains?

A person flashed through her mind. Er’er blinked, secretly observing Long Xu’s expression. Seeing her equally confused face, she quickly reached out to take back the divine artifacts, then handed her a plate of grilled meat: “Try this first. We especially invited chefs from the mortal realm to make it fragrant, spicy, and rich without being greasy.”

Her reaction was so pronounced that even if Long Xu were a fool, she could guess something. Her eyelashes trembled slightly.

Zhong Su went to pay his respects to Zhong You, who had arrived early, then wanted to invite Long Xu to take her seat. Zhong You stopped him, holding a wine cup: “You’re wasting your efforts.”

Slightly stunned, Zhong Su smiled somewhat defiantly: “How does Father see it as wasted effort? As long as she hasn’t chosen a partner, I still have a chance.”

Zhong You rolled his eyes.

He could see through immortals’ thoughts. Throughout the plaza, he could discern what each immortal was thinking with a single glance. For instance, Supreme Lord Li Ye was wondering why Er’er had been talking with Long Xu for so long—the meat on his plate was getting cold. The Supreme Elder Lord at the other end was thinking that grilled meat was delicious, and perhaps he could use his alchemy furnace to grill some in the future. And then there was Long Xu in front of Er’er.

She had remembered past events, and her heart was full of Xin Wu. She was in as much pain as if she were burning, while unconsciously searching for his shadow among the banquet guests.

Such a woman—how could his son ever win her over?

Shaking his head, Zhong You waved his hand: “You are a king now. I won’t manage your affairs anymore.”

Zhong Su knew his father’s abilities, and his eyes immediately dimmed. He sat down at the empty table beside Zhong You, then pursed his lips.

“Why do women always remember the person who hurt them the deepest?” he murmured.

Zhong You answered while chewing on grilled meat: “Because the opportunity to hurt them was given by themselves willingly.”

“But Xin Wu doesn’t even like her,” Zhong Su frowned.

Glancing at Supreme Lord Xin Wu, who was hurriedly approaching from afar, Zhong You rolled his eyes again: “You didn’t inherit your father’s divine power, so don’t guess at others’ thoughts.”

Xin Wu had recently been campaigning in the south, dealing with eight branches of former subordinates who had rebelled from the Lower Xin Palace. He must have just received news of the Nine Heavens’ banquet.

He could have chosen not to come, after all, he wasn’t close to the three-year-old child, and Li Ye wouldn’t blame him for neglecting etiquette. But this man, though wounded, had come anyway.

Upon entering, Xin Wu could see Long Xu, but he didn’t look up. He went straight to an empty seat nearby, then formed a hand seal to regulate his energy.

Long Xu’s ears twitched slightly, but she didn’t look in his direction either. She sat down beside Er’er and began entertaining Xiao Hei with a night-luminous pearl.

Xiao Hei curiously examined the pearl that glowed in his palm, then looked up at the beautiful aunt who had given it to him: “Your scent is similar to the koi in the Heavenly Gate pond.”

Long Xu froze, then pressed her lips together and looked at Er’er: “Speaking of this, I do have a presumptuous request.”

Er’er paused with meat in her mouth, then shook her head before Long Xu could continue: “Not allowed.”

“I haven’t even said it yet.”

“I know what you want to say,” Er’er said. “The sea realm has just calmed after turmoil. You’ll need at least ten years to win their complete loyalty. If you let your father king return now, you’ll have no peace.”

Long Xu fell silent.

It was difficult for her to come to the Nine Heavens. The recently subdued sea monsters might take advantage of her absence to break free. After this visit, she didn’t know when she would return to the Nine Heavens—perhaps not for many years.

The seabed was lonely. She wanted a familiar person to accompany her, even if it was her father king, who deeply disliked her.

Er’er glanced at her and patted her shoulder: “Don’t worry, it will be fine.”

This was the most perfunctory comfort. Long Xu sighed and silently ate what was on her plate.

The Nine Heavens were bright and warm, while the seabed was damp and dark. Her father king, could enjoy a comfortable life here, so perhaps he didn’t need to return with her.

She felt a gaze from nearby, and Long Xu’s back stiffened, but only for a moment before relaxing again.

Let him look all he wants—nothing would come of it. She would leave after the meal, and all those old matters would be settled once and for all.

Her love for him, so difficult to sever, had been completely worn away through multiple life-and-death situations. Now she should focus more on how to be a good Dragon King, rather than those tedious matters of the heart.

The sea-beast-suppressing cage at the seabed still needed a powerful artifact for its focal point. Long Xu asked Er’er for one, and Er’er said she would have someone deliver it to her soon.

So Long Xu wiped her mouth, bid farewell to Er’er, and descended from the Nine Heavens on a cloud.

Someone was watching her from behind. She knew who it was, but she didn’t look back.