Black and gold silk drapes cascaded down from the rafters, covering half the great hall. Brilliant luminous crystals refracted deep blue light that shone upon golden wine cups. The fine wine inside had just been heated, and wisps of steam spiraled upward, dispersing around the eyes and brows of the person holding the cup.

Zhong Qin reached out, wiping away the mist at the corner of her eyebrow, and continued smiling: “Living people aren’t as nimble as ghosts, but they’re warmer. Would the Upper God like to try?”

As she spoke, her pale hand extended before his eyes.

Li Ye sat quietly, as if he hadn’t heard her speak. He took a sip of the clear wine, found it unpleasant, and casually placed it back on the table.

Zhong You watched the scene with amusement. Seeing his sister embarrassed, he threw back his head and laughed: “I told you earlier that his memory is poor, but you wouldn’t believe me.”

“How could that be?” Withdrawing her hand sheepishly, Zhong Qin pouted with a wounded expression. “Fifty thousand years ago, this servant even stayed a night in the Upper Bing Palace.”

Li Ye started, his misty eyes finally rising to give her a serious look.

Though her manners were improper, she had a dignified face. He quickly searched through his memories but found nothing useful. Frowning, he looked toward Zhong You in confusion.

Zhong You merely smiled without speaking, but Zhong Qin continued: “You truly don’t remember? You were the one who brought me in, saying the night winds in the Ninth Heaven were cold, and you insisted on lighting a stove for me.”

…

…

“…” Hearing this, Li Ye understood.

Pure fabrication.

He would never bring a female immortal into the Upper Bing Palace, let alone light a stove for one.

He had spent too much time with the little one and had forgotten to be wary of these people’s lies.

Withdrawing his gaze, Li Ye continued drinking, no longer looking at her.

Zhong Qin, with smiling eyes, became even more enthusiastic: “Back then, the Upper God wasn’t as powerful as now, and could only promise me that once your cultivation was complete, you would take me back. This servant has waited fifty thousand years—how cruel your heart is.”

“Nevertheless, it’s not too late. This servant has devoted herself to cultivation for over fifty thousand years. If I were to return to the Ninth Heaven with the Upper God now, I would be a worthy match.”

A ghost server passing by her side inexplicably trembled, causing the steaming dish of soup to tip directly toward her.

Zhong Qin reacted extremely quickly, her physical form turning to smoke, which then coiled around Li Ye’s neck. She sighed dramatically: “That frightened this servant to death.”

His expression cooling, Li Ye reached out to destroy her soul completely, but just as he moved, Zhong Qin tugged at his robe.

“Look who’s there,” Zhong Qin whispered using soul-speech.

His hand froze, and Li Ye looked up to see a ghost staring at him in shock. Though a black veil covered her face, those eyes were unmistakably familiar.

His thoughts stirred, and Li Ye quickly withdrew his gaze, unconsciously sitting up straighter.

“How clumsy,” Zhong You scolded from above.

The ghost suddenly came to her senses, stiffly kneeling to bow. Another ghost came over and pulled her away, and they quickly blended into the surrounding spectral attendants.

Zhong You waved his hand to clean up the spilled soup. Glancing at Li Ye beside him, he didn’t pursue the matter further, simply pouring another cup of wine for him.

Zhong Qin materialized in his arms and whispered with interest: “Why does she carry your scent, Upper God?”

“That’s none of your concern.”

“Is she a lover who displeased you, and has followed you here?”

A fierce glint appeared in his eyes as Li Ye flung her aside, his peripheral vision glancing in a certain direction.

Er’er hadn’t left. She stood with Long Xu beside a stone pillar near the partition, both with lowered heads, whispering something. Surrounded by ghosts, the two didn’t stand out, and only someone like Zhong Qin, who cultivated the five senses, would detect Er’er’s connection to him.

She looked in his direction.

Quickly averting his gaze, Li Ye coughed lightly and asked Zhong Qin, sweeping his sleeve: “Did the fall hurt?”

Having turned back into mist upon touching the ground, she returned to her seat and resumed human form. Zhong Qin clutched her wrist pitifully: “Of course it hurt.”

Li Ye fell silent, his expression somewhat weary.

Watching him, Zhong Qin pursed her lips and said: “The West Palace has been prepared. If you’re tired, this servant can send two attendants to serve your rest.”

Zhong You smiled: “How thoughtful you are.”

“I’m the only woman in the entire Netherworld Palace. How could I not be thoughtful?” Zhong Qin rose, her long black silk dress trailing on the ground. She stretched lazily and said casually, “Everyone move.”

Several waiting attendants came forward to receive orders, leading the way for Li Ye, who stood and walked out without a sideways glance.

But an Upper God is an Upper God—even without turning his head, he saw the two ghosts standing by the stone pillar being summoned by attendants to follow behind him.

Wasn’t she content accompanying her Senior Brother? Now she had time to seek him out?

Laughing coldly to himself, Li Ye pressed his lips together, straightened his back, and strode toward the West Palace.

As previously agreed, Zhong You had already sent him numerous vengeful spirits, filling the entire West Palace with black energy. He could have begun absorbing and cultivating immediately.

However, Li Ye wasn’t in the mood now. Entering the door, he turned around to see a ghost timidly following him in, head bowed low, not daring to approach.

With a cold smile, Li Ye said: “Pour me some water.”

The ghost started, hurriedly went to get a teapot, and placed a cup of tea beside him.

“It’s cold. I want it hot.”

“…” The ghost hurriedly took the teacup out, and soon returned with a cup of hot tea, placing it beside him again.

But Li Ye didn’t drink it. He yawned lazily and said: “I want to bathe.”

As he said this, he stared at the ghost’s bowed head, expecting her to raise it angrily and talk back. But the figure before him merely paused before turning to leave again.

The West Palace was well-prepared, and soon a bathtub and hot water were brought in. The ghost provided him with fine cloth and hung fresh, elegant robes on the screen.

Li Ye watched coldly as he silently walked behind the screen to change and enter the water.

As the ghost outside tried to slip away, he called out in a low voice: “Stay.”

Footsteps halted as the ghost turned around in confusion.

“Come here.”

“…”

After a long silence, the ghost reluctantly walked to the edge of the bathtub, head lowered and silent.

Li Ye asked with a smile: “Was lunch delicious?”

Whether delicious or not, she had certainly enjoyed it, even flirting with someone.

Indeed, the two of them standing together looked quite fitting—both young, naive, fearless, and innocent.

In contrast, he, a million-year-old immortal, seemed like an elder.

The figure before him didn’t answer, and Li Ye’s smile gradually cooled: “What’s this? You don’t even want to speak with me anymore?”

Shaking their head, then nodding, the ghost looked left and right, clearly at a loss. Finally, speaking with resolve: “This lowly one truly doesn’t know what to say.”

“…”

It wasn’t her voice.

The smile vanished from his face as Li Ye rose from the bath, wrapped himself in a robe, and extended his five fingers.

The ghost was lifted to his face, revealing a countenance pale and unfamiliar.