In an entanglement between two people, if only one desperately seeks closure, then whether this closure is found hardly matters. Even if the Tongue Spirit Bird stood on his shoulder today, saying he had always cared for her, when Xin Wu opened his eyes, nothing would change. He still wouldn’t honestly accept her, and she still couldn’t smooth away years of resentment in her heart.

So it was better to give up.

With self-mockery, Long Xu shook her head, stepped out of the barrier, and focused on guarding the formation for Xin Wu.

Celestial energy entwined around the barrier, being consumed extremely slowly by the person inside. Days and nights passed, and two days went by in the blink of an eye. Long Xu checked the time, rose to withdraw her spiritual power, and prepared to leave.

However, with Xin Wu’s serious injuries, without her guarding the formation, the barrier appeared extremely fragile, like a thin layer of crystal glass. Even a slightly powerful spirit beast could break in and devour his primordial spirit.

Coldly observing the barrier, Long Xu said softly: “Even if I stay, I might not be able to guard until you’re fully healed.”

Though she said this, her steps had halted. Looking up with half-closed eyes at the endlessly rolling clouds in the sky, she simply stood there, no longer walking away.

***

Li Ye brought Er’er back to the Taihe Immortal Gate. As soon as they landed, they ran into Meng Wan, who came out to greet them.

…

…

“Er’er.” Seeing her, Meng Wan hurried forward, about to reach out when a pair of fire-red sleeves blocked his way.

His pupils contracted, and Meng Wan instinctively pressed his hand against the sword at his waist.

When he was delivering messages to those in the Nine Heavens, he had considered: if Zhen Huan Gong could bring people down to eliminate him, then all would be peaceful. But if not… if not, he might implicate the entire Immortal Gate.

Li Ye was still standing here, which meant he had overestimated the gods of the Nine Heavens.

With a slightly pale face, Meng Wan looked up, facing him honestly: “One must take responsibility for one’s actions. If the High God wishes to vent his anger, my life is yours to take.”

Er’er was wondering why the boss had extended his arm to block her, but upon hearing these words, she understood.

Her heart tightened as she secretly observed Li Ye’s expression from the corner of her eye. Seeing no sign of intense anger, she hurriedly grabbed his sleeve: “The wind is strong out here. Shall we go inside to talk?”

Li Ye remained silent, his face cold and clear, with a hint of killing intent in his eyes. Yet her senior brother was equally stubborn, firmly blocking the main gate despite her several meaningful glances—a hard bone to chew.

Relying on the fact that the boss had been pleasant throughout their journey, Er’er summoned her courage and hugged his raised arm, smiling at Meng Wan: “Don’t be tense, Senior Brother. He’s not here to settle scores with you.”

Meng Wan didn’t believe it: “With the Three Realms in chaos, if not to settle scores, could the High God be coming to our Immortal Gate for a vacation?”

“Yes, yes,” Er’er laughed dryly. “This season, the corn grown on our back mountain is especially sweet. The High God has been through much hardship lately and has come to rest and eat some corn…”

“Junior Sister,” Meng Wan interrupted, “you don’t need to sacrifice yourself to protect the Immortal Gate. Each path in heaven and earth has its destiny.”

Who’s sacrificing herself? Er’er held her forehead. Her senior brother was usually reasonable, so why did he become so stubborn and impervious when meeting the boss?

With a long sigh, she pouted: “My wounds have just healed, and I’ve traveled a long way. I want to eat corn and pork rib soup.”

His eyes showing a trace of emotion, Meng Wan finally turned to look at her: “You’re injured?”

“Mm.” Nodding heavily, Er’er said with a pained expression: “If I don’t go in and rest soon, I won’t be able to stand.”

As she spoke, she hung her full weight on Li Ye’s arm.

Li Ye was indeed irritated. He found Meng Wan annoying, and though he had no intention of confronting him in front of Er’er, he was still uncomfortable. If not for the person suddenly leaning on him, he might have already made a move.

“Let’s go.” Supporting her weight, Li Ye passed by Meng Wan without even a glance, striding directly into the Immortal Gate.

Meng Wan wanted to block them again—it would be best to resolve life and death matters outside and not implicate the Master and junior brothers—but Li Ye moved too quickly. He couldn’t react in time, and when he turned around, the two were already on the last stone step of the mountain gate.

“High God,” Er’er carefully looked at him and said, “If you’re busy, why not just send me here? Now that we’ve reached the Immortal Gate, I’ll be fine.”

Li Ye casually made an “mm” sound, raising his eyes to look at the lush bamboo forest beside them: “I don’t mind, but Long Ding is not a magnanimous person. If your Immortal Gate can handle him, then I’ll leave now.”

After speaking, he made a gesture of lifting his foot to leave.

“Ah—” Er’er hurriedly embraced his arm with both hands, her eyebrows furrowed into a knot. “Will Long Ding find his way here?”

Li Ye nodded.

Alone, Long Ding couldn’t face him in battle, so he’d fled. But when he returned with the gathered Dragon Clan, who knows what scene would unfold?

Her face turning green, Er’er stomped her foot in frustration: “Then why come back at all? We should have gone straight to the Upper Bing Palace.”

Glancing at her sideways, Li Ye snorted with a laugh: “Can we still return to the Upper Bing Palace?”

“…”

That seemed true. With Zhen Huan Gong gone to the Netherworld, the Nine Heavens must be prepared, just waiting for them to walk into the trap. The Netherworld below was in chaos and might not withstand the Dragon Clan’s attack.

“So,” her face fell, “you deliberately brought me here?”

His heart skipped a beat, and Li Ye shook his head without thinking: “No, I only realized this after we landed.”

As if. Er’er released his hand and pressed her lips together tightly.

How far-sighted the boss was! He must have planned each step. In all of heaven and earth, only her Immortal Gate could provide refuge and had a defensive barrier, which is why he came.

Feeling the lightness in his hand, Li Ye grew more irritated: “You don’t believe me?”

“It’s not that.” Waving her hand without conviction, Er’er turned away. “I’m going to find the Immortal Masters and have them prepare.”

After taking half a step, she felt a tightness around her waist.

Li Ye reached out and pulled her back against his chest, saying coldly: “No need for their preparations. With me here, no one can touch even half a brick of your Immortal Gate.”

Unsure whether to believe him, Er’er sighed: “You’ve just lost your cultivation powers.”

Even if he wanted to protect them, could he do so without letting a drop of water through?

His finger joints swelling with anger, Li Ye rubbed his temples in frustration.

What to do when your person doubts your cultivation ability? Wait at the Immortal Gate, urgent.

Half of his power that he had given her wasn’t so much lost as deliberately shared. This way, he could more easily absorb the resentment that would follow. He was the most gifted High God; no one understood cultivation better than him. But these details couldn’t be explained to her in full.

Rubbing her hair, Li Ye released her and instead took her hand as they continued walking into the Immortal Gate.

Er’er followed him with heavy steps.

The last time he came here, his killing intent had overwhelmed the place, leaving the cultivators in disarray. So this time, merely sensing his immortal energy, all the apprentices of the Taihe Immortal Gate gathered in the square, gripping their not-yet-matured immortal weapons, as if facing a great enemy.

Taihe Xianshi also emerged, looking at the dark clouds that refused to disperse on the horizon, his expression grave as he formed hand seals toward the direction of the mountain gate.