Yan Cha was startled, looking at him strangely: “It has nothing to do with him. What’s wrong with not wanting to trouble him?”

Realizing his tone was problematic, Zhen Huan Gong pressed his lips together and turned his head away without saying anything.

Er’er opened the door, finding the situation quite curious: “Zhen Huan Gong is willing?”

“Mm,” he responded reluctantly.

“Huh?” Er’er scratched her head. “Then why did Qian Tian tell me a few days ago that you didn’t like my senior sister and weren’t willing to form an immortal union?”

Yan Cha was stunned, hesitantly glancing at Zhen Huan Gong and releasing her hold on his sleeve.

Feeling the lightness on his arm, Zhen Huan Gong glanced at her and said irritably: “I changed my mind.”

Originally, he didn’t want to form an immortal union, probably because he thought she would take part in his cultivation. Yan Cha thought about it and understood. Zhen Huan Gong was straightforward by nature, with no room in his eyes for romance. Upon hearing about an immortal union, he only thought about losing cultivation, but he enjoyed her cooking, which was why he had specifically come to make a deal with her.

With this understanding, she no longer had any reservations and smiled at Er’er: “Then it’s settled. I’ll go with him to Old Man Moon Island. Please inform my father for me, Junior Sister.”

…

…

“In such a hurry?” Er’er raised an eyebrow. “No banquet?”

Yan Cha waved her hand: “It’s just forming an immortal union. There’s no need for a banquet.”

Her attitude was so casual, as if she wasn’t going to form a contract with him but was merely taking someone to browse a market.

Er’er saw this but didn’t say anything, merely nodding slightly, then said to Zhen Huan Gong: “Then I’ll have to trouble Huan Gong in the future. If my senior sister suffers any grievances, I will certainly visit your immortal sect.”

“The Immortal need not worry.”

He was just bringing home a cook; how could she suffer any grievances?

Zhen Huan Gong followed Yan Cha to Old Man Moon Island with an unconcerned attitude.

After being destroyed by Li Ye, Old Man Moon Island had been rebuilt with additions like the Marriage Bridge, the Binding Grotto, and various other miscellaneous features. Most immortals who came here had a spring-like glow on their faces, willing to go through each of these rituals.

But Zhen Huan Gong had no patience. He glanced at Yan Cha, fearing she might have other ideas, but the young lady beside him was very calm, leading him directly to the Binding Pool. They each drank a mouthful of water from the Binding Pool, and the immortal union contract was completed.

“Please trouble the High God to prepare a room for me in the Upper Jia Palace,” Yan Cha said after leaving Old Man Moon Island. “My father will likely come to see it, so please put some thought into it.”

After binding, a red string would appear on each person’s wrist, allowing them to sense each other’s emotions and to teleport to the other’s side in times of danger.

Zhen Huan Gong stared at the red string on his wrist, finding that the young lady before him didn’t seem to have any happy emotions—just calmness, without placing any importance on the act of forming an immortal union.

Strangely, he felt somewhat at a loss.

“You,” he began, “are you unhappy because of the conditions I proposed earlier?”

“Hmm?” Yan Cha turned back, shaking her head gently. “The High God overthinks. The High God’s requirements are all reasonable. This humble immortal would not be unhappy.”

She must be sulking with him, Zhen Huan Gong thought with a frown. She had feelings for him before, but now that they had formed an immortal union, she was as calm as still water. How could someone be like this?

The two parted ways at the Ten Directions Cloud Sea. Zhen Huan Gong returned to prepare the room, while Yan Cha went back to explain the details to Storage Element.

Storage Element had initially set its sights on Zhen Huan Gong. In the Nine Heavens, only he had a straightforward character, daring to confront even Li Ye, so he could protect Yan Cha. Therefore, when Yan Cha returned with the red string, Storage Element was overjoyed, having people prepare what he needed for seclusion while taking Yan Cha to select her dowry.

Immortals didn’t have dowries, but Storage Element loved his daughter and prepared a collection of treasures according to mortal customs, all packed in large boxes.

Yan Cha looked at them and smiled gently: “These should stay in my maiden chambers, no need to bring them over. Many are your precious treasures, and it would be a shame to lose them.”

Storage Element was confused: “In your mortal customs, shouldn’t the dowry follow the maiden?”

“Not everyone needs to follow this custom,” Yan Cha helped him sit down and poured him tea. “Zhen Huan Gong is a good person. He won’t shortchange me.”

Nodding in realization, Storage Element then looked at the bundles set aside: “Then the luggage…”

“There’s no need to bring anything; he has everything there,” Yan Cha said. “If you’re worried, you can visit the Upper Jia Palace before entering seclusion.”

Storage Element felt very gratified. For his daughter to say this, she must have found someone who truly cherished her. There was nothing to worry about; she just needed to go herself.

But when this news reached Er’er, she pouted.

“Senior Sister hasn’t fallen in love,” she muttered. “She’s just trying to accommodate Storage Element High God.”

Li Ye was holding her, trimming her nails, and replied indifferently: “If they’re willing to live together, it’s none of your business.”

“I know, so I wasn’t planning to interfere,” shifting slightly, Er’er looked up at him. “But what if he bullies my senior sister?”

With hazy eyes focused intently on the rough edges of her nails, Li Ye didn’t look up: “Who bullies whom remains to be seen.”

Recalling Yan Cha’s determined gaze when she had stood before him, blocking his hand during his furious god-slaying moment, Li Ye shook his head and sneered.

The gentler a person appeared, the fiercer their nature could be.

***

Zhen Huan Gong ordered people in the Upper Jia Palace to prepare the side hall next to the main hall as a room for Yan Cha.

Qian Tian watched with amusement: “You’re truly inconsiderate. With so many immortal residences behind, giving her any one would be grand and proper. Why make her stay in a side hall?”

“Because I want to,” Zhen Huan Gong said irritably. “It’s close by, convenient for delivering food. Is that any of your business?”

Laughing while waving his fan, Qian Tian said: “I can’t control you. I’m just waiting to see how long you can maintain this pretense.”

“Who’s pretending?” Zhen Huan Gong stroked his divine beast’s head and snorted lightly. “Kong Sang, transform into a beauty.”

Kong Sang obediently transformed into a young maiden, affectionately nestling into his arms.

Holding her, Zhen Huan Gong suddenly felt more confident: “See? This is my beloved. Don’t create issues where there are none.”

Qian Tian laughed, just about to speak when he caught sight of a shadow from the corner of his eye.

He was startled, closed his fan, and nodded toward the person in front of him.

“What are you doing?” Zhen Huan Gong held Kong Sang tighter. “You’re even controlling who I embrace? Did you receive some benefit from Storage Element?”

Qian Tian wiped his face and looked past him with a smile: “Immortal Yan Cha, why have you come?”

Zhen Huan Gong was startled and turned quickly.

Yan Cha had changed into a light purple dress, her hair styled formally, walking toward them from a distance. She curtsied: “My father said he wanted to come see. This humble immortal was afraid there might be something improper, so I came to inform you first.”

As she spoke, her gaze fell on the beauty in Zhen Huan Gong’s arms, hesitating to speak further.

His heart sinking, Zhen Huan Gong immediately transformed Kong Sang back to its original form: “This, this is a divine beast.”

Yan Cha laughed: “The High God need not panic. My father won’t arrive for a while. This young lady can leave first; there’s no need to transform into a divine beast.”

“No, it is a divine beast…”

“It’s alright,” Yan Cha interrupted him. “This humble immortal is not an unreasonable person.”

Zhen Huan Gong: “…”