“Upper, Upper God?” Sensing the murderous aura surging toward him, the ghost trembled like a sieve. “Mercy, mercy!”

Clenching his teeth, Li Ye threw him out the window with a dark expression.

It wasn’t her.

How foolish could someone be? Having already seen him, couldn’t she think of a way to get in?

Or perhaps she had no intention of seeing him at all?

The more he thought about it, the more stifled he felt. Li Ye wrapped his outer robe around himself and strode to pull open the hall doors.

“Upper God?” Zhu Yan stood at the entrance and turned back in confusion at the commotion. “Is there something else you need?”

Looking outside, Li Ye saw no one besides Zhu Yan around the West Palace.

He wanted to ask but felt it would seem too eager. Li Ye stood at the doorway with a dark face, lips pressed together in silence.

…

…

Zhu Yan guessed what he wanted to ask but was reluctant to speak. Now that they were here, what was the use of dwelling on such matters? Better to concentrate on cultivation.

Besides, he didn’t know where Immortal Er’er was. After that brief glimpse earlier, she had disappeared.

After an awkward moment, Li Ye retreated into the hall and closed the door.

The vengeful spirit energy inside the West Palace soon began to flow. Zhu Yan made a hand sign to protect himself as he gazed with satisfaction at the growing black vortex before him.

As expected of Li Ye—if he truly focused on cultivation without distractions, he could achieve his goal in just one month.

However, during this month, Zhu Yan would still need to find ways to placate those people in the Ninth Heaven.

Gently tapping his forehead, Zhu Yan retreated to the main entrance of the West Palace and began setting up a barrier.

***

Long Xu stood in a secluded garden, looking up at the tall Misfortune Tree before her, then at the young girl standing beside her.

“Still angry?”

Er’er found it amusing: “Where did you see me getting angry?”

Long Xu looked down silently at the crumpled, mangled leaves scattered at Er’er’s feet.

“Let me ask differently,” she said. “After finally sneaking in, why did you turn and leave?”

Crumpling two more leaves and tossing them away, Er’er murmured with downcast eyes: “He has a bad temper and easily conflicts with others when outside, which can lead to violence. I was worried about trouble breaking out, so I wanted to check on him.”

And then she saw him being intimate with someone else, showing no signs of losing his temper at all.

Why should she stay? She didn’t have fifty thousand years of cultivation like that woman, nor was she as light and easy to embrace.

Well, it wasn’t that she was jealous. She just found herself ridiculous, acting like some kind of savior, as if only she could rescue him. In reality, Li Ye was perfectly fine without her, probably even more comfortable.

“Can you help me leave this place?” Er’er tilted her head and asked. “Zhong You said if we find someone to escort us, my Senior Brother and I can leave.”

Slightly startled, Long Xu showed her hands with a bitter smile.

Beneath her wide sleeves, her wrists were snow-white, but upon closer inspection, two streams of black energy coiled around them, extending downward into the ground, their endpoint invisible.

“What is this?”

“I was banished from the Ninth Heaven and cannot leave this place.” Long Xu sighed, tossing her long hair. “I can’t help you.”

Stroking her wrists sympathetically, Er’er mumbled: “Then I’ll find a way out and take you with me.”

“Easier said than done.” Long Xu pursed her lips. “Do you think Zhong Su is harmless?”

Right, he wanted to marry her. Er’er scratched her head: “Are you willing to marry him?”

“No.” Long Xu laughed coldly. “He thinks I’m truly a princess of the Western Sea treasures.”

Unfortunately, she wasn’t. Even if he married her, Zhong Su wouldn’t get the benefits he desired.

For some reason, Er’er always felt a tragic aura around Long Xu. Despite her beauty and spirited demeanor, she seemed to have given up on herself long ago, with no light in her eyes.

Er’er wanted to comfort her but couldn’t think of what to say, so she just stared at her in a daze.

Growing impatient under Er’er’s gaze, Long Xu bumped her shoulder and snorted: “If you want to leave this place, you still need to find Li Ye.”

“Then I’d rather stay a few more days.” Er’er covered her head with both hands and shook it. “I don’t want to see him right now.”

Why was she acting like a sulking child? Long Xu frowned and was about to mock her when footsteps approached from behind.

“So here you are. You’ve been quite difficult to find.”

The gentle voice swept over them like a breeze, making Er’er’s ears perk up.

She turned to see an elegant young man approaching with attendants, his countenance gentle as a spring breeze. He lightly took Long Xu’s hand and said, “It’s not safe outside. You should come back with me.”

Without hesitation, Long Xu pulled her hand away and brushed her sleeve: “What’s happened?”

Zhong Su sighed: “My royal father acted rashly and offered vengeful spirits to our guest in the West Palace. The Netherworld Palace is in chaos, with many vengeful spirits escaping and harming people. Listen to me and come with me.”

Long Xu froze, instinctively glancing at Er’er beside her.

Er’er kept her head down, appearing outwardly calm, but her hand was secretly clutching Long Xu’s skirt, nearly tearing the fabric.

Looking back, Long Xu asked: “Can I go see?”

“Don’t be absurd.” Zhong Su shook his head gently. “It’s too dangerous.”

“I’ve had a brief acquaintance with that guest,” Long Xu pressed her lips together. “What harm could there be in just looking?”

“I can grant any other request of yours, but not this one.” Zhong Su smiled faintly, his gaze fixed steadily on her.

Inexplicably irritated, Long Xu waved her hand: “Fine, I won’t go. Just send her over instead.”

She pushed Er’er forward.

Zhong Su had noticed the extra person beside them earlier, but only now did he turn his gaze to examine Er’er thoroughly.

“A friend of yours?”

“Yes.”

“Very well.”

Zhong Su raised his hand, and two attendants stepped forward, taking Er’er away, one on each side.

“Eh…” Er’er was caught off guard and instinctively looked back to see Long Xu giving her a reassuring look. Zhong Su stood opposite Long Xu, his eyes still fixed on her, not turning back.

This person is really… Er’er turned her head forward again, looking at the path ahead with a complex expression.

A girl like Long Xu should easily be attracted to gentle people, but Zhong Su, despite having only met him once, seemed too insincere to Er’er. His smile appeared fake, making one feel uneasy.

Would they send her to be sacrificed as a vengeful spirit too?

As it turned out, Zhong Su wasn’t that malicious. The two attendants truly escorted her to the West Palace, even helping her silently cross the outer barrier.

No sooner had Er’er stood firm in the front courtyard than escaping vengeful spirits from inside roared toward her. Startled, she quickly made a fire incantation, causing divine flames to surge forth, instantly burning several bloated vengeful spirits.

The sizzling sound was eerily disturbing.

Shuddering, Er’er covered her head and rushed toward the main hall.