Taihe knew about Meng Wan’s message to the Nine Heavens requesting people to descend to the Netherworld to eliminate demons, and had tacitly approved it. Thus, when Meng Wan left, Taihe had already anticipated the day Li Ye would visit again.

He had only been wishfully thinking that perhaps fate had changed, that Li Ye might have been eternally laid to rest in the Netherworld, which would have brought peace to the world.

Unfortunately, a High God was still a High God.

Hearing the approaching footsteps, Taihe’s white beard trembled slightly. His eyes fixed steadily on the entrance, his hand seals clasped even tighter, waiting for that person to appear, and then—

“Put me down, I’m not legless,” someone complained in a sweet voice.

A sweep of red robes passed the entrance, loose black hair lifted by the wind. Li Ye looked down through his scattered hair strands, muttering with slight disdain: “You can barely keep your eyes open.”

“Still, put me down first. I can just hold your hand and walk!” Rubbing her tired eyelids, Er’er was quite displeased. “If my master and senior brothers see this, they’ll make fun of me.”

“Make fun of you?” Li Ye was unconcerned. “Is being carried by me embarrassing?”

“Pretty much. I’m not a little child… Hey, stop swaying.” Grabbing his collar to steady herself, Er’er angrily blew at his black hair hanging over her face. “My Immortal Master is very strict. If he sees you behaving like this, you’ll get the whip!”

…

…

As soon as she finished speaking, a collective gasp came from ahead.

Er’er was startled and quickly struggled to get down. When she looked up, her face immediately turned bright red.

All her senior brothers, sisters, and apprentices from inside the gate were standing there, expressions both terrified and curious. At the far end of the steps, Taihe Xianshi held a loose hand seal, his eyes vacant and expression quite dazed.

Straightening her clothes, Er’er felt helpless. Looking left and right, she finally summoned her courage and pinched Li Ye hard.

What kind of situation was this!

Li Ye let out a muffled groan, grasping her mischievous hand in his palm, then looked up coldly at Taihe.

Where did he learn the Death Array of the Killing God?

Taihe was in a state of extreme shock and nearly lost his balance when suddenly met with that gaze. He steadied himself with a sweep of his sleeve, withdrew the hand seal, and struggled to maintain his dignity as an elder immortal, though his mouth corner still twitched uncontrollably.

“Er’er,” he called out.

Her face hot enough to fry an egg, Er’er let go of Li Ye and ran like a wisp of smoke back to her master. Looking up, she squeezed out a flattering smile: “Has your old body recovered well?”

With a breath stuck in his throat, unable to rise or fall, Taihe frowned. He wanted to scold her for her improper behavior, but just as his mouth opened, Li Ye took a step forward.

Tap.

The sound of brocade boots striking the ground should have been very faint, but somehow this sound resonated across the square, clearly reaching the ears of every disciple.

Taihe Xianshi paused, slowly swallowing his words.

The little one in front of him was still looking up eagerly at him. After a long silence, he still sighed: “These old bones, they’ll heal with some rest.”

Shrugging her shoulders somewhat uncomfortably, Er’er muttered softly: “What’s going on? You’ve never been this agreeable before.”

All direct disciples of the Taihe Immortal Gate knew that in daily life, the Immortal Master loved to praise Senior Brother Meng Wan and scold Junior Sister Er’er. The treatment of these two was worlds apart. Er’er caused too much trouble, so that whenever the master saw her, his most common opening was—kneel!

Not hearing these familiar words today, Er’er felt something was very wrong.

Things grew even stranger when the Immortal Master examined her meridians. His beard trembled again, and then he suddenly raised his hand to his forehead, saying in a shaky voice: “Go rest over there for a while.”

Three question marks slowly appeared above Er’er’s head.

“Master,” she frowned, “I’ve made so many mistakes, but none have ever upset you this much.”

Hesitating to speak, Taihe shook his head: “This old man is not angry.”

With speech so gentle, how could he not be angry? Er’er looked at him with suspicion all over her face, examining him from left eye to right, even squinting a little.

This demeanor was truly disrespectful. Even though Taihe was mindful of the High God approaching step by step behind her, he couldn’t help but reach out and knock her on the forehead: “Cultivate your character!”

“Ow.”

Letting out a cheerful cry of pain, Er’er covered her forehead and smiled. This felt right; she had almost thought she was going to be kicked out of the Taihe Immortal Gate.

Someone quickly walked up from behind, carrying a trace of murderous intent. Er’er sensed it and inconspicuously stepped sideways, blocking in front of Taihe Xianshi.

Li Ye slowed his steps but still stood on the stairs. His misty eyes looked up, meeting Taihe’s gaze directly.

“…High God graces our Immortal Gate; forgive us for not welcoming you from afar.” Avoiding his gaze, Taihe cupped his hands in respect.

Er’er had wanted to block him, but her height was simply not enough. Even with her standing in the middle, the two immortals could communicate without any obstacle.

“Hadn’t you already prepared a formation to welcome guests?” Li Ye smiled ambiguously. “I’m honored by the Immortal Master’s high regard.”

“Forgive the jest, but with the High God coming from afar, this old man truly dared not be negligent.”

“Then why withdraw your hand?”

Pinching his beard, Taihe smiled lightly: “This old man also wants to ask the High God, why does this visit lack the hostility of the previous one?”

Previously, Li Ye had wanted to destroy the entire Immortal Gate. Forced by circumstances, he had only temporarily spared them. Now, with new grudges added to old ones, he could still stand here with such serenity.

Because of Er’er? Taihe looked down doubtfully at the short figure in front of him, feeling that Li Ye couldn’t possibly be so bewitched. So he leveled his gaze forward again, waiting for an answer.

However, Li Ye didn’t seriously answer this question, only lazily saying: “Come to stay for a few days.”

Taihe’s expression became complex: “Our humble sect is simple, with no palace prepared…”

“He can stay at my place,” Er’er raised her hand. “My cultivation is decent now; it’s not difficult for me to transform a bigger bed for him.”

“…” Although he had sensed something amiss when examining her meridians, hearing these words directly from Er’er’s mouth still shocked Taihe.

“You,” he gripped his duster tightly, “do you know your words are insolent?”

Letting a High God stay in her little grass hut, with not a hint of respect in her speech—how could this be acceptable?

Er’er was stunned, wanting to say that if this counted as insolence, then she had been insolent many times. But seeing her master’s labored breathing, as if he could hardly catch his breath, she compromised and turned to Li Ye: “May the High God forgive me.”

It would have been better if she hadn’t turned around. When she did, Li Ye saw the small red swelling on her forehead where she had been hit, and his eyes immediately narrowed.

“Not sleepy anymore?” he asked.

Rubbing her eyelids, Er’er yawned: “I’m fine. I just need to explain things clearly to the Immortal Master first.”

After speaking, she turned again to look at Taihe: “Our return this time won’t harm anyone in the sect, and I also ask Master to understand and not let anyone harm him.”

The latter half of her sentence was like a lotus suddenly blooming from water—soft and refreshing to the heart. Li Ye’s face, which had been gloomy all along, suddenly cleared up.