The next morning, Xue Yu met Xu Yunqing in the side hall.

He wore passionate red brocade robes embroidered with auspicious cloud patterns, making his skin appear extremely pale. Unlike the ivory-colored cool whiteness, his skin had a naturally warm undertone. When nervous or shy, his full cheeks would bloom with a layer of rosy red like sunset clouds.

The beauty of youth was hidden in such subtle expressions.

“I have met Your Highness Xue Yu.” Xu Yunqing bowed with flowing sleeves, his spine bending down, his form drawn long and graceful, his voice carrying unconscious nervousness.

“Rise.” Xue Yu piled the scrolls beside her onto the desk, merely glancing at him once before standing: “Come out, let’s compete.”

This was Xu Yunqing’s first time in such close contact with Xue Yu. She didn’t have the anxiety and anger she’d shown on the combat stage when leaving with that new demon monarch. She appeared both powerful and indifferent, clearly a Sacred Land young lord conducting business officially.

Those emotional ripples seemed to bubble up only when she encountered that person.

Perhaps it was the nature of youth – the more excellent and challenging something was, the more one wanted to forcibly claim it, to possess it entirely.

Xu Yunqing lowered his head and agreed, following Xue Yu to the spacious courtyard outside.

Because this was Xue Yu’s long-term residence, inside and outside the hall were extremely clean and bright, swept spotless. Even the placement of vases was carefully considered, pursuing a profound Zen meaning. Only this courtyard with its open view was crisscrossed with various threads – some completely extended, others torn halfway before sagging down, looking chaotic.

This was a Spirit Array Master’s daily life.

Xue Yu dispersed the nearest formation, rolled up the silk threads, and tossed them aside, looking at Xu Yunqing and speaking directly: “His Majesty told me about your situation. The All-Beings Formation sequels are in your possession. They complement the All-Beings Formation diagram – only by combining both can it be perfected. Is this correct?”

“Replying to Your Highness, this is indeed so.” After receiving his answer last night, Xu Yunqing had spent the entire night on the third floor of Chenyu Pavilion drafting responses while looking toward the Sun and Moon Wheel. Now his words flowed smoothly, displaying unhurried modesty: “The All-Beings Formation diagram is divided into upper and lower volumes. A single volume can form an array without affecting usage, but cannot unleash maximum power.”

“Mm.” Xue Yu ordered Chao Nian to retreat to one side, then said: “Let me see how far your comprehension has reached. If acceptable, we’ll proceed as you suggest. If not, I’ll find another method.”

This request was within Xu Yunqing’s expectations.

She couldn’t possibly agree to let him access the All-Beings Formation diagram based on a few words from an outsider.

Passing the test and gaining her recognition was the first step.

Without the ability, everything was meaningless.

“Good.” Xu Yunqing bent down to squat, casually picking up a tree branch from the ground. He didn’t assume a posture of wanting to amaze Xue Yu in battle. Instead, he rolled up his sleeves and, holding that branch, began sketching on the ground, scattered with a shallow layer of sand.

What the Lord of Ye said was all true. Xu Yunqing had studied this since childhood. His talent wasn’t poor – he could draw inferences from one example. While he dared not claim complete understanding of the All-Beings Formation, he had truly learned some of its essence.

And what Xue Yu wanted was precisely this essence.

After a while, he withdrew his hand, slowly standing up, smiling at Xue Yu to reveal several snow-white teeth: “Yunqing has made a fool of himself.”

“Please inspect, Your Highness.”

Xue Yu’s gaze followed several points extending outward, then returned, her brow furrowed as she looked at Xu Yunqing: “For the next half month, I will set aside all affairs to focus on perfecting the All-Beings Formation. During this period, I need your full cooperation. You cannot wander freely within Yedu. Chao Nian will explain my rules to you. If you can accept this, give me your answer tonight.”

Xu Yunqing unconsciously exhaled in relief. He smiled with curved eyes, saying softly: “I will follow Your Highness’s arrangements entirely.”

Xue Yu waved her hand, having Chao Nian lead him away.

The mortal realm’s situation had indeed reached such a point. The Fusang Tree repeatedly reminded and hinted, but no one could say for certain whether it wanted all parties to blockade and prevent Mei’s reappearance, or have them prepare to resist this calamity that might be destined to occur and impossible to avoid.

Then, two preparations were needed.

If such things truly happened, they couldn’t just wait for death in place.

Yedu had the Sun and Moon Wheel, other Sacred Lands each had their own protection, even the Imperial Capital had the imperial seal and sacred artifacts for protection. When disaster struck, the first to suffer wouldn’t be them, but the defenseless living beings in the mortal realm.

The All-Beings Formation was prepared for them.

For the next half month, Xue Yu and Xu Yunqing worked day and night in the side hall studying the All-Beings Formation, adjusting, overlapping, and connecting the sequels with the formation diagram countless times, then failing and starting over.

This could be said to be a task that squeezed life’s limits.

On the tenth day, Xu Yunqing couldn’t bear it anymore.

Looking at the great formation before him, he felt dizzy and dazzled, his forehead and nose tip covered with cold sweat, hanging densely like someone pulled from water. Standing and looking at the sky, he felt the entire world trembling and falling.

Xue Yu glanced at him, then lowered her head to continue contemplating: “Go stand aside for a while. There aren’t many parts requiring your effort left. In the coming days, you can comprehend formations in the courtyard yourself.”

Over these ten days, despite his ulterior motives, Xu Yunqing truly admired Xue Yu.

The connection between formations was the most difficult part and the most energy-consuming process, and she was doing all of this.

He had run to one side to vomit countless times, while Xue Yu, even at her most uncomfortable moments, only paused briefly to recover before continuing again, as if never knowing fatigue.

If Xu Yunqing weren’t a Spirit Array Master himself, seeing this situation, he might think sketching this formation was easy, something that could be done effortlessly.

The only thing proving that Xue Yu also found completing this step quite strenuous was that in just ten days, she had visibly lost weight. The bracelet on her wrist could no longer stay on and was calmly removed and tossed into her cosmetic box.

Because the formation required absolute quiet and harmony, except for Xue Yu and Xu Yunqing, everyone else was ordered to stay outside the courtyard, only able to look from afar. No one was permitted to enter and disturb them.

Xu Yunqing truly couldn’t hold on anymore. He felt his body had reached its limit – if he didn’t relax soon, he would faint in this formation.

He silently walked out of the courtyard and immediately saw Chao Nian, who had stubbornly waited outside for over ten days, coming every day. Seeing him, Chao Nian’s eyes brightened slightly as he stepped forward: “How is it? Has Your Highness come out?”

Xu Yunqing shook his head, smiling weakly: “Still needs some time. Please trouble Young Master Chao Nian to take me to the Medical Bureau. Your Highness Xue Yu has consumed much energy and needs internal nourishment, but cannot spare time now. I have several prescriptions for restoring Spirit Array Masters’ energy. Once the medicine is prepared, I’ll bring it to Your Highness.”

“I’ve had the kitchen constantly preparing.” In caring for Xue Yu, Chao Nian was never careless: “Regarding prescriptions, Young Master Xu need not worry. Someone has already organized them for Your Highness – I have them all.”

The “someone” he mentioned, Xu Yunqing could guess who it was upon hearing.

Su You had once served in the Palace Guard Department, reaching the rank of Young Master. Truly speaking, both Chao Nian and Chao Hua had worked under him – he was both their colleague and superior.

They would favor that side – the answer was obvious even with eyes closed.

Xu Yunqing looked back at the formation closing behind him, saying in a low voice: “Spirit Array Masters are rare in this world. Prescriptions sought by outsiders may not be useful. Your Highness has internal depletion. Dragging this on further will harm her health.”

Chao Nian stood in place thinking briefly, then reluctantly compromised: “Fine. My sister understands this somewhat. You write it out, I’ll have her review it before making the medicine powder. Then trouble Young Master to deliver it to the young lady.”

Xu Yunqing nodded politely: “As it should be.”

Who knew this matter would open a breach? Because only Xu Yunqing could enter the formation, he found ways to bring various things in and take things out daily.

In just two days, all of Yedu knew of such a person.

On the third day, after receiving one direct and one tactful inquiry from Jiu Feng and Sui Jinyu, Chao Nian immediately sensed something was wrong. That evening, he stood guard outside the courtyard like a wooden figure, completely motionless, quite prepared to cut off rumors at their source.

“There’s no such thing, Miss Jiu Feng, Your Highness Jiu Feng, you’re making things difficult for me.” Chao Nian held a spiritual talisman, speaking urgently: “Your Highness can’t read talismans – she’s in the formation. Yedu is like an iron barrel with Chao Hua controlling everything tightly. I’m still blocking the door here. Such baseless matters can’t spread so quickly. Don’t know how, but the rumors get more outrageous as they spread.”

Jiu Feng laughed once, caught Chao Nian for a few more teasing remarks, then said slowly: “A reminder from the demon capital – our little tyrant has received the news. His mental state hasn’t been good lately. Anyway, handle the situation carefully and be smart about it.”

“Hey, hey.” Chao Nian gripped the dimming talisman, jumping anxiously: “What does ‘mental state not good’ mean?”

Demon capital, Sui family.

The demon capital’s weather had been poor lately. The street where the five great families gathered had been hit by five or six days of torrential rain, with demon winds blowing one after another, making people irritable.

Sui Jinyu was the most irritated among them.

They had been paying attention to Yedu’s news, and this time the rumors spread quickly and widely, with vivid details and even several blurry distant images transmitted. How realistic it all seemed.

“What does this mean?” Sui Jinyu heavily pressed down the spiritual talisman in his hand, looking at Sui Yu, who leaned by the window, frowning in thought: “What does Yedu mean by this?”

“You ask me, who do I ask?” Sui Yu lifted his eyelids: “The Lord of Ye’s attitude is already clear. He won’t take money or owe the Sui family favors. How Xue Yu and Nineteen develop – he won’t say good or oppose it, letting them decide. But he won’t wrong Xue Yu in this regard. Never mind one man, even ten or a hundred – in his eyes, it’s just a matter of Xue Yu’s word.”

The Lord of Ye was himself a romantic sort. In his view, if his daughter was busy with this and that, finding a few gentle, understanding young masters for companionship – what was wrong with that?

As long as she was happy, anything was fine.

“I am…” Sui Jinyu gritted his teeth, cursed, then said: “What about Nineteen then?”

He simply couldn’t leave Xue Yu.

Such words couldn’t even be mentioned in front of him.

“What I can’t figure out now is Xue Yu’s thinking.” Sui Yu looked at the rain curtain outside the window, frowning: “Has she decided on only Nineteen? If not, that would be truly difficult.”

Separation was impossible, so they could only accept everything.

“Xue Yu did save Nineteen, true, but honestly speaking, what Nineteen has done for her has also reached extremes.” Sui Jinyu rubbed his face, taking a deep breath: “On one hand, managing mortal affairs, on the other hand, to restore that face Xue Yu liked, look what he’s become now.”

“What’s the use of saying this?” Sui Yu slowly crushed the sunflower seed kernel in his hand: “The news can’t be hidden. Nineteen should have heard the rumors, too. I’ll go talk with him.”

When Sui Yu pushed the door open, those blurry spiritual talisman images were spread on Su You’s desk. His long hair hung loose and disheveled, drooping down to cover his face. The demonic power on his body waxed and waned irregularly, like a spiritual pearl on the verge of shattering, glowing without pattern.

“Saw them all?” Facing him, Sui Yu’s tone was much better than when speaking with Sui Jinyu: “This matter has spread quite widely. Did you ask Xue Yu about it?”

Su You was silent for a long time, like a handful of water sinking into the night. He pressed down on the spiritual talisman on the desk: “Can’t contact her.”

Sui Yu fell silent.

He reached out, lifting the hair strands hanging by Su You’s cheek, looking at his scarred skin texture while feeling his chaotic aura and the high fever on his forehead: “You absorbed too much ancestral power to begin with, suffered severe injuries at the Three Lands Grand Assembly, immediately used the Blood Burning Curse, yet still acted strong in front of Xue Yu without saying anything. Coming back unable to hold on, you didn’t rest properly and rushed to change back to your original face following Shen Jingshi’s method.”

“Nineteen, people can’t be so careless with themselves.”

More than that, with new and old injuries flaring up, Su You still forced himself to handle mortal affairs, research classics, establish academies, and contact great demons in the mortal realm.

Even an iron body couldn’t withstand such torment.

The Lique clan’s restoration technique was brutal and domineering, equivalent to scraping away all frostbitten flesh on the entire face once, then using special methods to apply medicinal paste once. After three times, it could return to normal.

He had already endured three times. Now was the most hideous time with the worst physical condition. In at most two more days, he could completely recover.

Su You grabbed a nearby bronze mirror to look at his face, then slowly put it down, his knuckles pressed white with urgency.

Indeed, both wretched and hideous, his complexion was ghostly pale.

But he couldn’t wait any longer.

After a long while, he said, “Have Chen Longzhi activate the teleportation array. I’m going to Yedu.”

“How can you go?” He hadn’t listened to a word of what was just said. Sui Yu’s tone became heavier: “Nineteen, you know what condition your body is in. Can’t you wait two more days?”

Su You said nothing more. He looked at Sui Yu, the gold in his pupils so intense it seemed about to melt and flow out, like a ghostly spirit full of killing intent and extreme danger.

The unquestionable imperial pressure fell heavily on Sui Yu’s shoulders. The latter paused, then raised his hands in difficult surrender: “Don’t torment what little demonic power you have left. I’ll call Jiu Feng to accompany you.”

Jiu Feng had already gone to bed with Feng Shangyu, but hearing of such exciting events, her eyes rolled and she immediately got up, following them onto Chen Longzhi’s teleportation array.

Su You had a token personally given by Xue Yu, allowing unobstructed passage in Yedu. The three entered silently until they saw Chao Nian standing guard outside the side hall with a wooden face, then stopped.

Looking at that face covered completely by a mask, Chao Nian was also stunned.

Finished.

Xu Yunqing had just carried something inside. Through the formation layer, everything inside appeared blurry – two figures close together, looking extremely intimate.

Moreover, he could see that Su You’s current condition was indeed very wrong.

Chao Nian’s scalp went numb. Just from that distant eye contact, goosebumps immediately erupted on his arms.

He hurriedly stepped forward, speaking repeatedly: “Young Master, Your Highness has ordered that no one may enter the side hall. Please stop, Young Master.”

This was truly the kind of explanation given to outsiders.

Su You stared directly at him. Chao Nian felt like a marionette being lifted and shaken in the air, then staggered to Jiu Feng’s side, who mercifully reached out to steady him: “Oh my, our little Chao Nian, watch where you’re going properly. Don’t bump into me – my waist hurts.”

Chao Nian clenched his fists through gritted teeth, ran forward, pattering, and raised his voice repeatedly: “Young Master, Your Highness, and Young Master Xu are researching the All-Beings Formation. It’s been over ten days.”

“Chao Nian.” Su You paused in his steps, a point of madly suppressed emotion in his eyes, his voice so light it was bone-chilling: “Do you still remember? I once served in the Palace Guard Department, too.”

The implication being he had stayed by Xue Yu’s side for over twenty years.

Between him and Xue Yu was far greater intimacy than with Chao Nian.

Chao Nian was speechless. He grimaced, not knowing which step went wrong or how the situation reached this point.

Yedu’s sky was still bright, so everything within the great formation could be seen clearly.

Xue Yu’s figure was easily recognizable. She lowered her head, crouching on the ground, making gestures, with Xu Yunqing right beside her.

The two were close together, appearing from the side as if embracing.

Su You couldn’t clearly describe his feelings at that moment. Wearing wide robes, he raised his hand, reaching toward the formation in mid-air, only to be struck back by the spirit barrier with a sharp crack.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye.

Su You slowly lowered his eyes, looking at his palm with a chunk of flesh sliced off, blood spurting out. He seemed oblivious, but the breach in his heart widened until the dike burst with rushing waters.

Spirit arrays changed according to the Spirit Array Master’s will.

This action had only one meaning – she was guarding against him.

Why?

Because of… Xu Yunqing?

His nerves, stretched to their limit, snapped, crushed by the final straw.

Su You stared at the bloody pit on the ground for a long while. The golden yellow in his eyes rapidly faded as an unprecedented deep, dense black lit up his pupils. He tilted his head slightly, and when looking at that pair of figures in the distance again, he had little rationality left.

Break the formation, grab her over, and lock her in Heavenly Wolf’s cage. What care for the world’s people, what stability of mountains and rivers – from now on, none of it would concern them.

He would guard her. No one could see, no one could look.

Any side consort, any attending consort – she couldn’t even think about it.

Unless he died.

Su You’s aura instantly climbed to its peak. Sui Jinyu and Jiu Feng both became serious, exchanging glances and preparing to work together to knock him unconscious and take him back when his emotions completely lost control. But almost when they thought he would strike—

Su You heavily pulled off the mask from his face, his ice-cold fingertips slowly grinding over the hideous scars that hadn’t yet healed, as if using this to remind himself of something.

Sui Jinyu couldn’t bear to watch. He moved to Su You’s side: “Nineteen, let’s go back. Come back with big brother.”

Su You heavily lowered his eyelashes, thoughts weighing heavily in his mind as he desperately told himself:

Xue Yu wasn’t that kind of person. She wouldn’t easily be with someone else.

She said she liked him, so it was true.

But it was useless.

He was too insecure.

Xue Yu had never said any words of commitment – no mention of marriage, no talk of the future, much less saying she wanted only him.

From beginning to end.

Not half a sentence.

Transferring affections, seeking new love – these words that had circled his mind for days and been forcibly suppressed now madly rebounded.

He had no way not to fear these things.

“Let’s go.” Su You stroked his face, and when his aura became chaotic to the extreme, he suddenly turned back, his voice as agitated as boiling water. He heavily bit his final syllables as if comforting himself: “Still… two more… days.”

In the overwhelming turbulence of killing intent, he desperately grasped at the last bit of nothingness.

The only thing he remembered was that his current appearance was weak, wretched, like a ghost.

Xue Yu would not like it.

Inside the formation, Xue Yu looked at the All-Beings Formation that finally showed its embryonic form and successful fusion, slowly smiled, and rose by supporting herself against a nearby tree trunk. Xu Yunqing happened to be bringing over a bowl.

Over these days, Xu Yunqing had been attentive and caring, seizing every opportunity. As the All-Beings Formation’s fusion accelerated, his intentions became increasingly obvious.

So obvious that even Xue Yu noticed.

She beckoned to put the All-Beings Formation into her sleeve, avoided the medicinal soup Xu Yunqing offered, frowned, and sat in a nearby pavilion, then gestured to Xu Yunqing: “You sit.”

Xu Yunqing sat across from her, looking quite nervous.

Xue Yu disliked beating around the bush. She asked: “Do you want to stay in Yedu?”

Xu Yunqing immediately straightened his spine. He looked very nervous, saying in a low voice: “If I could constantly accompany Your Highness, it would be Yunqing’s blessing.”

“Why?” Xue Yu lifted her eyes, stating matter-of-factly: “You don’t like me.”

Xu Yunqing suddenly raised his eyes, never expecting such a conversation. For a moment, he was completely at a loss.

“I do indeed admire Your Highness.” Xu Yunqing quickly composed himself, saying earnestly: “Your Highness walks at the forefront of the Spirit Array Master lineage. I have both reverence and love.”

“Your Highness’s relationship with the demon clan’s new monarch spread throughout the Three Lands Grand Assembly. I, too, have heard of it.” He looked at Xue Yu: “The Xu family offers tens of thousands of years of foundation without competing for the Imperial Consort position.”

Such understanding and discretion, given the Xu family’s status, was indeed repeatedly stepping back.

Xue Yu turned a deaf ear. She slowly stood up, looking at that deliberately groomed face: “I cannot hurt Su You.”

Xu Yunqing opened his mouth to speak.

She looked at the deepening sky, completing her words: “I have him in my heart. I truly have no way to like someone else.”

“One is enough.”

“If the Xu family truly wishes to pledge allegiance, find His Majesty and follow proper procedures. No need to waste time here with me.”