The battlefield in twilight was illuminated clearly by the sunset glow, revealing countless busy figures within, while more people arrived from the distance.

A perfectly good city had become ruins strewn with broken walls and debris.

This war came quickly and ended briefly, yet the death toll was exceptionally high. Severed limbs and broken arms were scattered in pools of blood, the green liquid from the Mei bodies persistently emitting a foul stench. Most of those cleaning the battlefield were humans, who appeared extraordinarily silent.

Those who formerly would have rushed to kill any demon they saw now also stopped for the innocent dead demons, occasionally slowly bending down to close their wide-open eyes with their hands.

War was the most effective way to awaken people, but at the same time, the price paid was always the greatest.

Xue Yu held Su You’s hand with very light force. Like stepping on the last string and breaking it, her body finally received some instruction that it could relax for a moment. The deep fatigue and pain buried in her heart surged up like boiling water, and unprecedented weakness surfaced.

Su You immediately turned back to look at her, his fingertips slowly touching the two streaks of bloody tears trailing from the corners of her eyes, like a brush dipped in ink, staining his fingertips completely red.

His eye creases lifted upward, and due to his persistent high fever, his cheeks spread with a natural crimson color that was stunningly beautiful. Yet his expression showed a restless agitation mixed between ferocity and tenderness.

“It’s fine.” Both of them sat collapsed, their skirts and robes overlapping, spreading out layers of intricate patterns. Xue Yu grasped his fingertips and asked softly: “Do you want to come home with me?”

Su You’s dark pupils paused slightly, like flowing water that suddenly stopped surging. Not knowing what “home” meant, after his confusion, he traced Xue Yu’s facial contours with his gaze and enunciated clearly: “Yes.”

Seeing this, Sui Jinyu opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end only said: “You two should return to Yedu first. People from the Sacred Lands and various noble families have all rushed over. Leave the rest to them—everyone should heal first.”

Xue Yu tossed a Tiger Dragon Pearl to Chao Hua—it contained images she had recorded while using soul-searching techniques on several city lords who controlled Dragon’s Breath. Pieced together, it recorded everything the former Human Emperor Qiu Tong had done. She instructed in a low voice: “Interrogate the Kunlun elders, search their souls, and seize their memories. Combine the memory fragments with everything Qiu Tong, Song Heng, and other human noble families did, then spread it throughout the three realms.”

Chao Hua received the Tiger Dragon Pearl and responded: “Yes.”

“Imprison all those who participated in this incident and surround the implicated noble families.” Xue Yu’s spiritual light surrounded her and Su You. Before the spiritual light dissipated, she said: “Confine Song Heng in Yedu.”

Chao Hua and Chou Li both nodded.

From the battlefield to the nearby teleportation array, then stepping through Yedu’s Sun and Moon Wheel, Xue Yu paid attention to no one and had no mood to pay attention to anyone along the way. Only after returning to her palace did the female attendants silently bow, opening and closing the doors.

The two collapsed into the soft bedding.

The world completely returned to quiet.

“Yu Yu.” Su You encircled her waist, his chin resting against the side of her neck, feeling the pulsing beat beneath her skin. As if containing endless curiosity, he asked in a held breath: “Is this place home?”

“Yes.” Xue Yu had never been this tired before. She could barely keep her eyes open even with effort, revealing only a slit. She withdrew slightly from his embrace, just enough to capture the hint of nervousness and expectation in his dark pupils.

She stared at him steadily for a while, her heart growing softer and softer. Her fingertip brushed his thick eyelashes as she said quietly: “After we marry, it will be.”

Marry, after.

Su You was stunned for a moment, his soft lips touching each other, his dark eyes quietly settling on Xue Yu.

Her breathing gradually became even—she had already fallen asleep.

When Xue Yu awakened, her body had completely absorbed the medicine she had taken earlier. The unbearable, severe pain had eased by half, and the chaotic meridians in her body seemed to have been soothed repeatedly, lying dormant and calmed.

The sky had completely darkened. At this season, autumn winds were rising in Yedu, tapping the windows with fine, scattered sounds.

She instinctively turned her head and found the person beside her was gone, replaced by a miniature Heavenly Wolf.

When it slept, it curled its tail, its two wings spread like a butterfly. One wing tip was obediently held in Xue Yu’s hand, and warm demonic power continuously flowed from it into Xue Yu’s body.

Her meridians had been smoothed through in this manner.

Xue Yu slowly released her grip, silently sitting up and lifting the tiny but weighty Heavenly Wolf into the warm bedding.

It slowly opened its eyes, and seeing Xue Yu, lazily hooked Xue Yu’s little finger with its tail, its round eyes opening and closing intermittently.

“Keep sleeping.” Xue Yu patted it and said, “I’m going to the Sovereign Hall.”

Perhaps it truly remembered nothing, but somehow knew this was “home.” The miniature Heavenly Wolf felt very secure. When Xue Yu said this, it truly relaxed its grip, changed direction and position to burrow into the bedding, revealing two golden, gleaming wings.

This sudden disaster in Xiao City had been closely monitored by the Sacred Land sovereigns through flowing light mirrors. Each Sacred Land had its secrets—Yedu imprisoning countless demons and spirits, Tai Hua suppressing countless dark energies, Xihe guarding two great worldly sacred artifacts. This meant that the more urgent the situation became, the less the sovereigns could escape their duties.

The development of the human realm’s situation had responsibility not only from the human race and demon capital, but equally from the Sacred Lands.

Beneath the blood and bones, amid countless screams of agony, the Sacred Land sovereigns watched in collective silence.

When Xue Yu arrived at the Sovereign Hall, the Yedu Sovereign was earnestly spreading white paper and preparing ink. Seeing Xue Yu arrive, he rolled up his sleeves, set down his brush, and carefully examined her twice to ensure she had no major injuries before relaxing, saying: “The Battle of Xiao City—you worked hard. How is your body feeling now?”

“I used healing medicine, so I’m mostly recovered.”

“Come and look.” The Yedu Sovereign beckoned her over, pointing to the neat black characters filling an entire sheet of paper, indicating for her to see.

Xue Yu looked at the first three large characters, her pupils contracting slightly, but she said nothing. She just read word by word from beginning to end. After finishing, she looked up at the Yedu Sovereign: “Imperial Edict of Self-Condemnation.”

“The Sacred Lands exist to maintain peace, stability, and justice, but for a thousand years, we have been biased, favoring the human race and treating demon lives as worthless grass. As a Sacred Land sovereign, this is my first dereliction of duty. Decades ago, due to my emotions, I allowed Xue Rong to take the sovereign’s blank seal, which was then used by Qiu Tong as a key to activate the human sacred artifact, triggering the subsequent catastrophe. This is my second dereliction of duty.”

“In this Battle of Xiao City, three to four-tenths of the demon race in the human realm died—a devastating loss. All along, most of them only wanted to live, yet they faced discrimination everywhere and were driven to extinction. This is a blood feud that won’t be easily overlooked. To maintain and rebuild relations among the three realms, we need to give the world and them an explanation.”

“Not just me, but also Chi Shui, Xihe, and other places will publicly announce the cases wrongly judged over these years, returning their long-overdue justice and showing our attitude to the world.” When saying these words, the Yedu Sovereign showed no other expression on his face, only smiling gently.

“This edict of self-condemnation should indeed be written.” Xue Yu made a rather fair comment.

The Yedu Sovereign raised his hand and pressed the sovereign’s great seal onto the paper, then summoned an attending servant, saying: “Give this to Fu Mo and have him handle it.”

“Father has another decree.” The Yedu Sovereign took out another sovereign edict from a small box on the desk and handed it to Xue Yu, nodding at her: “Open it and see.”

Xue Yu opened it and, unsurprised, spoke quite calmly: “Abdication Edict.”

“After this battle, your prestige will completely surpass Father’s. Three months from now, when the world’s dust settles and everything is on track, Father will pass the position of Yedu Sovereign to you.” Saying this, the Yedu Sovereign contentedly patted Xue Yu’s shoulder: “Heaven-grade Spirit Array Master—Father never knew your abilities had reached such a level.”

“Three months.” Xue Yu didn’t decline, only questioned the timing: “Won’t that be too rushed?”

“Preparing now—tailoring court robes, distributing invitations, arranging various details—should be just right.” The Yedu Sovereign was slightly stunned, then smiled: “The Crown Princess ceremony only took a little over a month. This sovereign succession will be much more complicated, so we’re allowing a bit more time.”

“Not enough.” Xue Yu placed the edict in her hand back on the desk, her words showing no fluctuation: “We also need to simultaneously prepare the sovereign’s wedding. Only giving three months, the Ministry of Rites could write ten protest memorials a day.”

The Yedu Sovereign’s contentment and emotion were immediately dispelled by the matter of “daughter getting married.”

He had seen the complete images and knew what Su You had done in Xiao City. In fact, not just him, now everyone who had received the news knew that the demon race’s new sovereign and Yedu’s Crown Princess were a couple.

They depended on each other in life and death, their love stronger than gold.

Under his own daughter’s gaze, the Yedu Sovereign couldn’t bring himself to say words of disagreement or opposition.

Su You was indeed excellent—he had status, strength, appearance, and the ability to help Xue Yu solve problems. He could even offer his life. Looking left and right, the Yedu Sovereign truly couldn’t find anything wrong.

But perhaps due to a father’s psychological quirk, he just felt that no man under heaven was worthy of Xue Yu.

The Yedu Sovereign’s eyelid twitched slightly. After a long silence, he spoke: “After experiencing such an event, your marriage would indeed face no more obstacles, and outsiders couldn’t gossip about it. But A Yu, Father must tell you—a lifetime is very long. Many things can be gotten through somehow, but choosing a dao companion requires the utmost caution. Have you truly thought this through?”

When Xue Yu came out, she held two edicts in her hand. Returning to her hall, Su You had already awakened.

He had resumed human form and was sitting at the desk, flipping through stacks of white paper. The lamplight was gentle, turning every line of his profile into soft, hazy brushstrokes, with attendants standing guard on either side.

No one made a sound, making the hall seem extraordinarily quiet.

Until Xue Yu pushed aside the pearl curtain and entered.

Su You pulled out a chair and stood, walking toward her. Xue Yu instinctively extended her hand to him, then checked his breathing. Sensing it was gradually improving, she placed the edicts in her hand on the desk and pulled over a chair to sit.

Su You sat beside her in his previous chair, very close to her. When his eyelashes lowered, his voice was captivating: “Yu Yu.”

After opening the Heaven-Imprisoning Cage once, he had even changed how he addressed her.

Xue Yu dispersed the cold air she had brought from outside, her shoulders relaxing. She played with Su You’s fingers, her voice dropping somewhat low: “I just discussed some matters with Father.”

“What?” When she spoke, he turned his head to look at her seriously, his eyes deep and dark, showing an innocent gentleness.

“Our wedding ceremony.”

Su You immediately straightened his spine. He was tall, still tall even sitting, upright like green pines and emerald bamboo. Even without many previous memories, he knew what “wedding ceremony” meant.

His rich, vivid brows gradually relaxed as he smiled with curved eyes, his lips covered with a layer of water-like luster: “What did Yu Yu’s father say?”

“He didn’t say whether he agreed or not.” Xue Yu moved closer to him, her eyelashes trembling slightly: “He asked what I was thinking.”

Su You waited for her to finish speaking.

Xue Yu drew closer and closer until their noses touched. When she looked up, she could see his individually distinct, slender eyelashes. Only then did she slowly touch his lips: “Being with you, no matter when, I’ve never thought of separation.”

Su You lifted his chin, cooperating with her movement. Because of this sentence, he almost completely bloomed and delivered himself into her hands.

A light taste.

Xue Yu withdrew, organizing the mountain of memorials, secret letters, and documents piled on the desk, placing the stack of untouched white paper in the center: “Go lie on the bed for a while longer. I still need some time here.”

The Su You without memories was more fond of clinging to her side than before—it was an instinct carved into his heart. Without the constraints of propriety, his actions were more inclined toward his true nature.

Because of the words “wedding” and confession, Su You’s mind was spinning in circles. He looked at the distance between the desk and himself, and after a while, transformed with a “whoosh” into a small but majestic divine beast, curling up beside Xue Yu’s hand with his paws resting on her wrist, his tail tip occasionally sweeping the desk surface.

His wings were properly tucked against his sides.

Xue Yu indulged all his little movements. When the desk surface became messy from that tail’s sweeping, she would set down her brush and poke him with her fingertip. At such times, he would always squint his eyes and move closer.

Very good at acting spoiled.

Half an hour later, Qing Luo entered from outside the hall. She bowed with eyes straight ahead: “Your Highness, regarding the Xu family matter, we’ve found the truth.”

Xue Yu stopped her actions and looked up: “Speak.”

After over twenty years of experience, Qing Luo was no longer the little cat demon Xue Yu had rescued years ago, who would bristle nervously at every word.

Now she had sufficient capability, was meticulous in handling affairs, and had finally reached the Palace Guards, able to walk before Xue Yu and handle matters for her. Therefore, she was especially serious about everything.

“It was indeed the Xu family’s instruction, with the Chen family spreading the rumors, deliberately transmitted to the Jiu Feng family and Sui family in the demon capital. Those images came from a bribed servant in Yedu, who has now been detained.”

“There’s another matter. Upon investigation, years ago in Feiyun Peak, when Young Master You seized the Multitude Formation diagram for Your Highness, the Xu family had instructed subordinate families to move against the young master.”

“Please instruct, Your Highness, how the Xu family should be dealt with?”

Xue Yu looked at the small Heavenly Wolf who had pricked up his ears to listen, seeing his confused expression showing he hadn’t recovered his memories. She paused, her voice quite cold: “Suppress it for now.”

Qing Luo nodded and then withdrew.

In the dim lamplight, Xue Yu looked at the Heavenly Wolf, who had changed from lying down to half-crouching, tapping its gleaming body with her brush tip: “I’m asking you, how should this matter be handled?”

The Heavenly Wolf tilted its head, looking confused.

Xue Yu met its round eyes, explaining plainly and briefly: “Xu Yunqing wants to replace you and remain in Yedu.”

The Heavenly Wolf understood this sentence completely.

This divine beast fully spread its golden, molten-like soft feathers, revealing cruel claws on all four limbs. Its pupils narrowed into a straight line, burning with a sovereign’s rage.

It wanted to get angry, even prepared for battle, but didn’t know what kind of person Xu Yunqing was, what he looked like, and wasn’t familiar with the outside. Before its eyes were only this desk and the person sitting behind it.

After a while, it suddenly slapped the desk with its paw, creating a “clang” that shook the desk. Half the white papers flew up, creating what looked like a snowfall of white rain.

Xue Yu hadn’t expected this result. She was silent for a moment, caught a paper floating before her eyes, and placed it back on the desk, then looked at the indignant Heavenly Wolf, who was almost accusingly staring at her. A hint of slight amusement slowly entered her pupils: “So you’re this fierce.”