Luminous crystals continued to arrive, and the palace was taking shape at a visible pace.

Long Xu sat on a nearby observation platform, watching with a face full of mockery. She reached past Zhong Su’s outstretched hand, picked up a dried fish from the table, and put it between her teeth.

“I prefer the prison,” she said.

Zhong Su withdrew his teacup, smiling with refined elegance: “The prison in the Netherworld has too much death energy; it would damage your scales.”

“Are you truly foolish or just pretending?” Long Xu rolled her eyes. “That’s exactly their intention in throwing me down here.”

Smoothing his sleeves, Zhong Su smiled gently: “You can see through their intentions, but not mine?”

Finishing the fish body, Long Xu spat out the head and leaned closer to him with her hand supporting her chin, wearing a cold smile: “I’m not interested in ghosts.”

His light gray eyes gazed deeply at her as Zhong Su chuckled softly: “Who told you I’m a ghost?”

What else was in the Netherworld besides ghosts? Long Xu snorted and turned away: “It doesn’t matter what you are. Building this palace is a waste of effort. I won’t marry you.”

…

…

Zhong Su listened politely without rushing to respond, only picking up another dried fish and offering it to her lips.

Long Xu suddenly felt annoyed.

She didn’t know what was wrong with this person. Since she had been cast down into the Netherworld, he had been constantly pursuing her. No matter how she refused, he never took it seriously, remaining gentle and attentive, even more proper than the immortals in the Ninth Heaven.

It was creepy.

She pushed his hand away, stood up, and walked out with a sullen face.

Zhong Su wasn’t upset and merely said from behind: “Don’t go too far, your body is still weak.”

What did that have to do with him? Stamping her foot in frustration, Long Xu, with her fiery temper, crashed into the procession of crystal carriers ahead, moving against the flow of souls, occasionally being bumped by crystals, then fiercely bumping back.

The souls transporting the crystals had floating, unstable consciousness, so no one scolded her. Long Xu crashed through them with impressive momentum, quite effectively venting her anger.

“Ouch.”

When she knocked aside a crystal, a voice suddenly came from behind it.

Long Xu paused in surprise.

The crystal wobbled and stabilized. The person carrying it looked up at her with a frown, clearly displeased: “Why aren’t you watching where you’re going?”

Fair skin, slightly reddened nose tip, and exceptionally clear eyes—this appearance was extremely familiar.

Folding her arms, Long Xu snorted with laughter: “So you’ve been banished down here too?”

Er’er’s nose was smarting from the collision, and she was rubbing it when she heard the familiar voice and looked up sharply: “It’s you?”

Meng Wan followed, examining her up and down before speaking softly: “Dragon.”

“Senior Brother, I know she’s a dragon. I know her,” Er’er glanced at her, then at the procession that had already gone far ahead, and hurriedly said, “We’ll talk later. I have something to do right now.”

Looking at the crystal on her back with a complicated expression, Long Xu said: “What could you possibly have to do?”

“It’s too long to explain right now.” Waving vaguely, Er’er adjusted the weight on her back and pulled Meng Wan to catch up with the long queue.

Long Xu tilted her head curiously as she watched, then stepped forward to follow them.

“Want to go to the Netherworld Palace?”

“How did you know?” Er’er scratched her head somewhat embarrassedly. “I just want to take a look.”

Meng Wan wanted to stop her, but it was too late. His little junior sister spoke so quickly that she had effortlessly revealed everything.

Frowning and shaking his head, he looked warily at Long Xu.

The immortal energy around this person was impure, and her appearance was seductive. She didn’t seem like a good person.

Sensing the unfriendly gaze, Long Xu glanced sideways and rolled her beautiful eyes: “I’ll take you there.”

“Really?” Er’er brightened.

“Yes, but I can only take you alone.” Long Xu turned with a sweep of her sleeve. “Just follow me.”

With a cheer, Er’er put down the crystal and quickly said to Meng Wan: “Senior Brother, you go back first. I’ll return soon.”

“Junior Sister.” Meng Wan grabbed her. “You trust people too easily. What if she harms you?”

“She won’t.” Er’er waved dismissively. “She’s a good person.”

Walking ahead, Long Xu paused and couldn’t help rolling her eyes again.

After not seeing each other for some time, this little girl was still so naive. She wasn’t human, let alone a good person. She was only guiding her because it was rare to meet an acquaintance here.

Just as she was thinking this, her arm was suddenly grabbed.

“Let’s go, let’s go,” Er’er said excitedly. “I never imagined you could enter the Netherworld Palace.”

Shifting her arm uncomfortably, Long Xu pressed her lips together: “The Netherworld King’s third son lives in the palace. He allows me to come and go freely.”

Er’er paused slightly, then realized: “So that palace is being built for you?”

Pursing her lips, Long Xu mumbled: “I don’t care for it.”

Er’er scratched her head: “This seems better than how Xin Wu treated you.”

After Long Xu had been thrown down from the Ninth Heaven, Er’er never heard her name mentioned by Xin Wu again. Sometimes she even wondered if Xin Wu had completely forgotten about her.

Her face darkening, Long Xu pressed her lips together and said nothing more. Er’er sensed her mood shift and tactfully changed the subject: “Have you met Upper God Li Ye?”

“That man,” Long Xu said glumly, “is intimidating wherever he goes. How could I have seen him? I know he’s here, but I haven’t met him. He’s probably in the main hall of the Netherworld Palace, being served the finest food and wine.”

Such good treatment! Er’er puffed her cheeks and sighed.

“What’s wrong?” Long Xu glanced at her. “Have you fallen out of favor?”

Her ears reddening slightly, Er’er hurriedly waved her hands: “What do you mean, ‘fallen out of favor’? He and I were never…”

An image of Li Ye’s face from when she woke up suddenly flashed through her mind, causing her words to catch in her throat. She blinked in confusion, at a loss for words.

Long Xu looked at her with eyes full of sympathy.

“I’ve been through this. Let me advise you not to take these Upper Gods’ affection seriously,” she said. “If you treat them like the sky, the sky will fall.”

“…” Er’er wanted to argue that despite his strange temper, Li Ye was reliable most of the time, not as cold-blooded and heartless as Xin Wu.

But seeing Long Xu’s ashen face, she didn’t dare argue further. She obediently followed her across the barrier of the Netherworld Palace toward the main hall.

Long Xu hadn’t guessed wrong—the main hall was indeed filled with music and dancing. Many ghosts wearing alluring veils moved in and out, serving wine and dishes, their gestures graceful.

Er’er had intended to see Li Ye directly, but for some reason, she suddenly became anxious. She made a hand sign and transformed herself into a ghost’s appearance, then tugged at Long Xu’s sleeve.

“What are you doing?” Long Xu asked irritably. “Bringing you here is already a favor. Do you want me to join in your foolishness too?”

Watery eyes blinked at her as Er’er clasped her hands together, looking pitifully pleading.

Long Xu snorted disdainfully, but still pulled out a veil and put it on herself.

She had nothing better to do anyway, so she might as well repay a favor.

After getting ready, Long Xu led her, expertly blending into the crowd of food servers.

As soon as they entered, a crisp laugh greeted them: “The Netherworld isn’t all ghosts, you know. There are living people here too.”