For those in power, the greatest taboo is revealing one’s preferences to others, unless there is an ulterior motive and no fear of being manipulated. Otherwise, it’s no different from a dragon exposing its reverse scale.

Zhong Su was most skilled in political scheming. He understood this principle deeply, so even if he truly liked Long Xu, he had never revealed his true feelings.

Therefore, upon hearing Li Ye’s words, his first thought was to wonder what could be exploited about Immortal Er’er. If he were to use Long Xu to get close to her, would it backfire?

While he pondered this, Li Ye had already walked far away, his red robe tinged with black, his elegance unchanged, leaving Zhong Su frowning in place, full of concerns.

The light from the surrounding crystals seemed colder, illuminating the severely injured Netherworld King and the weeping Zhong Qin—not a pleasant scene by any measure.

However, because a barrier had been set from the beginning, outside the Netherworld Palace, everything remained as before. Spirits walked the streets, and occasionally, if lucky, one might encounter a Netherworld Messenger scattering spirit money along the way.

***

Copper coin-shaped spirit money scattered and flew about, caught by ghosts who devoured them. One piece, however, was blown far away by the wind, floating unsteadily until it finally landed on a strand of dark hair.

Long Xu reached out, casually taking the spirit money and examining it in her hand. “You won’t allow me to see her when I want to, and now that I don’t want to go, I simply won’t.”

…

…

Zhong Su raised his hand, draping a thin cape over her shoulders, his movements refined and elegant: “I’m not forcing you to go. Why are you getting upset?”

Again with that fake tone. Long Xu narrowed her eyes in displeasure. She would rather hear Xin Wu’s sarcasm than face an impeccable facade and listen to his calculating schemes.

The atmosphere in the Netherworld was unsettling, suggesting signs of an impending war with the Nine Heavens. For Zhong Su to send her to see Er’er at such a time could only mean ill intentions.

But Zhong Su had mentioned that Er’er was injured, and despite her wariness, Long Xu wanted to check on her.

Yet she didn’t want to give Zhong Su the satisfaction.

Perhaps guessing her thoughts, Zhong Su sighed and shook his head: “I care for you to such an extent, why must you always be so suspicious of me?”

Long Xu let out a cold laugh.

“Your Highness.” A shadow guard caught up from behind and called out. Zhong Su turned an ear, listened to what he had to say, and then sighed.

Long Xu raised an eyebrow in confusion.

“Go ahead and wander as you please. Father King’s injuries are severe; I must go back to check on him.” He turned to look at her, his pupils filled with helplessness. “I’m sorry.”

Zhong You’s injuries were indeed extremely serious this time, and Long Xu knew it. His apology was truly unnecessary, making her seem like she was preventing him from fulfilling his filial duty.

Shaking her head, Long Xu turned and left, her long black hair flying up, both fierce and alluring.

Zhong Su quietly watched her walk a distance before turning back, relaxing his expression, and strolling back with the shadow guard.

The street was not far from the small mountain and water pavilion. Long Xu gazed at the gazebo and walls outside the pavilion from a distance. After contemplating for a long while, she finally picked up her skirt and stepped inside.

Er’er was in the middle of regulating her breath. Sensing someone’s presence, she opened her eyes, and the momentary wariness in them startled Long Xu.

“You…” she said in disbelief, “what happened to you?”

Suddenly retracting the fierce aura surrounding her, Er’er slumped her shoulders and said to her: “I was injured.”

“With Li Ye around, how did you get injured?” Long Xu was curious. She moved closer and sat down, the layers of black gauze on her body surging toward Er’er.

Er’er grabbed her sleeve to play with, pouting: “He’s the one who injured me.”

Long Xu was stunned. After her mind turned for a while, she said: “Accidentally?”

“…”

Dejected, Er’er drooped her head and said listlessly: “Even you think he treats me well, and that any injury could only be accidental.”

Long Xu tilted her head amusingly: “Everyone from the Nine Heavens to the Netherworld knows how well he treats you. Even though I don’t like to be close to him, the truth is the truth.”

Pouting, Er’er looked at her pitifully: “You’re not helping me either.”

Hearing this, Long Xu understood: “Did he bully you?”

Nodding heavily, Er’er searched her own body, trying to find an injury to show her.

However, before Li Ye left, he had already cleaned her up completely. Searching through her cuffs and collar, there wasn’t even a red mark, let alone a wound.

Putting down her sleeve somewhat awkwardly, she muttered: “Anyway, he bullied me.”

Slightly startled, Long Xu looked at her, her eyes showing a trace of envy.

These were words that only someone deeply in love could say, coquettish and vivid, like a bird hopping on a spring branch, without a hint of despair.

If it were her, she would only look at Xin Wu and ask when he would return, and would never act with such girlish charm.

As his face appeared in her mind, Long Xu felt a pain in her chest and frowned uncomfortably.

“By the way, what’s the situation over there?” Calming down, Er’er asked her. “I heard people say Zhong You is seriously injured and in critical condition?”

Shifting her gaze, Long Xu composed herself and snorted with a laugh: “He’s faking it.”

“What?”

“People from the Nine Heavens came down to the Netherworld to wage war, so the Heaven’s Diviner must have designs on the Netherworld. Zhong You doesn’t want to fight, so he’s trying to use Li Ye as a shield.”

Her heart skipped a beat, and Er’er raised her eyebrows.

The fate remained unchanged; in the end, Zhong Su was still destined to follow Li Ye.

“But your Supreme God didn’t let him gain any advantage.” Long Xu snorted with laughter. “Not only did he take the Gate of Life and Death, but he also forced the Netherworld King to promise an endless supply of death resentment.”

Death resentment? Eyes widening, Er’er suddenly grabbed her hand: “Li Ye took death resentment?”

“Of course.” Long Xu looked at her in confusion. “He came down to the Netherworld precisely to obtain death resentment for cultivation. With such a good opportunity, naturally, he would ask for more.”

But… Er’er’s eyes rounded.

She had already taken half of his cultivation power, so why could he still cultivate?

Seeing her shocked expression, and thinking about the overwhelmingly strong light on her body, Long Xu narrowed her eyes: “That friend you mentioned before… it wasn’t yourself, was it?”

Unable to speak, Er’er reached up to hold her head.

Pupils trembling, Long Xu gasped: “He actually— with you!”

Covering her mouth, Er’er gritted her teeth: “It was an accident.”

Unable to recover for quite some time, Long Xu stiffly removed her hand and said in a daze: “You’ve had great fortune. Half of his cultivation power… he was willing to part with it? This is terrible. With only half his power, he may not be able to protect the Netherworld.”

“But how could he be willing to give it?” The shock was too great, and Long Xu grabbed Er’er and shouted, “Right now, you could go to the Heavenly Gate and spit at Heaven’s Diviner! What are you still upset about?”

Er’er: “…”

“If I told you I was forced, would you believe me?” she said, devoid of hope.

Long Xu was stunned for a moment, but then nodded after a thought: “I believe it. Putting aside cultivation power, if he wanted to consummate with you, no matter how unwilling you were, you would have obediently complied, and might even feel like you owed him afterward.”