At the end of February, with the lingering cold of spring, the atmosphere in Chi Shui’s returning convoy was even colder than the weather.

Shanhai City was a large city and one of those with explicit prohibitions against air travel. To enter or leave, besides walking, one could only rely on horse-drawn carriages.

Chi Shui’s carriages were engraved with magical formations. Racing along, generating wind, with howling wind sounds, the interior remained very stable without feeling the slightest bump.

Yin Ling’s carriage led at the front, leaving the others far behind in the dust.

The carriage behind seated only two people – Lu Chengze and Song Heng, who had just escaped with their life.

“Alright, don’t think so much about it.” Lu Chengze patted Song Heng’s shoulder, pushing healing medicine toward him. “The most important thing for you now is to recover your health.”

Song Heng’s complexion was extremely pale, his entire person appearing frail and weary. When he forced a smile, it looked entirely like a show of stubborn strength: “Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.”

“Still claiming to know what you’re doing.” Lu Chengze looked at his wounds that had split open countless times and said: “Let me remind you – you’re not the invincible Heavenly Emperor now. This body can’t withstand your torment.”

“I know what to do.” Song Heng said, “This isn’t the first time I’ve experienced this.”

Precisely because it wasn’t the first time, both memory and reason told him that what he should do now was swallow the healing medicine, close his eyes, and properly sort out the chaotic meridians in his body. This way, when they returned to Chi Shui and Lu Chengze helped reconnect them, it would be much more convenient and quick.

But whenever he closed his eyes, what flashed before them was the scene of Xue Yu naming that youth to be spared.

He couldn’t calm his mind.

He couldn’t understand. Truly couldn’t understand.

“Here.” Seeing him in this state, Lu Chengze couldn’t help but shake his head. He took out a handbook from his sleeve and pushed it in front of him: “Take a look.”

Considering that there wasn’t a patch of intact skin on his hands, Lu Chengze thoughtfully turned the pages for him, his slender index finger falling on a small portrait on one page: “The one Xue Yu saved this time is a demon ghost. All the information is here – see for yourself.”

“Do you remember, besides you, which two survived last time? Was this Su You among them?” Lu Chengze asked.

“It’s been too long.” Song Heng frowned and shook his head: “I only remember someone called Shen Jingshi – the one Lu Qin saved this time.”

If the person involved couldn’t remember, Lu Chengze certainly couldn’t either.

“It’s not just you – I don’t understand either.” Lu Chengze clicked his tongue, genuine puzzlement appearing in his phoenix eyes that flowed with light: “Even if she had to choose, who couldn’t she choose? Why specifically choose someone who destroyed an entire sect, and a demon ghost at that?”

“Looking at it from all angles, if this demon ghost has anything worth mentioning, it’s only that face.”

After flipping through Su You’s section, Song Heng silently turned to his page. Just as he was about to continue reading, hearing Song Heng’s words, he held his breath silently. When his gaze fell on the paper again, he couldn’t take in a single sentence or word.

“I never asked you before.” Lu Chengze followed his gaze downward and spoke: “Look at the horrifying things others did to get on the Judgment Platform. You’re something else – you even got entangled with palace people.”

“What god-forsaken thing did that prince do to make someone of your character have to kill?”

Although Sacred Lands held special status and called themselves ancient immortals, this world was ultimately human-centered. The imperial palace was where human power was most concentrated, possessing accumulated foundations of thousands of years. Sacred Lands and the imperial family had always maintained mutual respect, keeping to their territories.

Cultivators killing people wasn’t uncommon. The number of people who died daily in this world was countless – a single human life was hardly enough to alarm the Sacred Lands or get him pressed onto the Judgment Platform.

But Song Heng had killed a prince of imperial blood.

When this happened, the Son of Heaven was enraged and ordered a nationwide manhunt. If not for the Fusang Tree’s divine consciousness selecting him, he would probably have been cut into pieces by now, his bones scattered.

This only made it harder for Lu Chengze to explain to his clan.

“I’ve already thought of an explanation. You just need to cooperate when the time comes.” Lu Chengze said, “When you followed Xue Yu back then, you visited Chi Shui more than once. Though my environment can’t compare to Xihe or Bei Huang, it’s still much better than Yedu. The spiritual energy is abundant, and with your foundation, re-cultivation won’t be difficult.”

Song Heng gazed far outside for a moment, then said gently after a long while: “Chengze, thank you.”

“Between you and me, what thanks are needed?”

“But Song Heng, let me speak frankly – don’t take offense.” Lu Chengze hesitated for a long time, carefully choosing his words before continuing: “I mentioned this years ago – you and Xue Yu might truly be incompatible.”

“Indeed, her status is noble enough to match anyone. Even when you became Heavenly Emperor, she remained the most suitable candidate for Heavenly Empress. But Yedu’s direct line came down to just her, one girl, shouldering everything from childhood alone. Just think about how many demon ghosts are under her control, and you’ll know – to sit in that position, whether in methods or character, one must be extremely strong-willed.”

“This destined Xue Yu to never depend on others. She’s fully capable of standing alone.”

“As for you, you seem good-tempered and kind-hearted, but you’re stubborn, unable to bend once you’ve set your mind on something.”

After speaking, Lu Chengze sighed deeply and continued: “In relationships between men and women, most are complementary. If I’m strong-willed, you’re gentle; if you’re soft-hearted, I’m decisive. When both are in high positions and prefer keeping things to themselves, liking to solve problems alone, how can it last?”

“Take that Tea Immortal incident and the Yedu sealing – anyone with eyes could see it wasn’t what it appeared. I ask you, you don’t say. Xue Yu asks you, but you don’t say either. What can be done about that?”

“Others who want to speak for you can’t even find arguments.”

Song Heng closed his eyes wearily and said hoarsely, “Someday, she’ll understand me.”

“Chengze, only those who’ve experienced that kind of despair know…” He stopped mid-sentence, seeming tired.

Lu Chengze, who had been listening intently, pressed: “Know what?”

Song Heng turned the handbook back to the page recording that demon ghost and remained silent for a long time.

Only those who had experienced despair knew what Xue Yu’s words “I want him” meant in terms of hope and warmth for them.

Lu Chengze was right. When he became lord of the Heavenly Palace, disagreements had already appeared between him and Xue Yu, leading to frequent disputes.

Neither would yield, so they grew further and further apart.

The little Tea Immortal who appeared later, and the Yedu sealing, were just the final spark that led to complete rupture. The problems had been buried long before.

But even with things having reached this point, he had never thought of separating from Xue Yu. For someone who had possessed that kind of warmth, letting go again was harder than ascending to heaven.

Song Heng closed his eyes, and when he spoke again, he had returned to his composed and gentle manner. He glanced at Su You’s portrait and said, “Xue Yu isn’t the type to be moved by beauty. She must have her considerations for doing this.”

“Once we reach Chi Shui, I’ll begin closed-door cultivation.”

“In the thousand years ahead, we still have many things to do.”

Night quietly crept across the sky. The vendors hawking on both sides of the street closed up one by one, beginning to pack and head home, while in the West Tower, as night deepened, more and more people gathered.

The West Tower’s lanterns lit up one by one. Girls carrying zithers and lutes gracefully walked onto the stage. As one song ended, another began, with waves of cheers from below.

Amidst the boundless liveliness, Xue Yu was reconnecting Su You’s severed meridians.

Chao Nian and Qing Luo stood on both sides, with various medicine bottles and powders arranged on the round table in the room.

“On this trip, those following me are all young demons with little worldly experience. They don’t understand this, so I can only help reconnect them myself.” Xue Yu removed her cloak, and Qing Luo immediately stepped forward to receive it. Under the lamplight, she pointed to the fur carpet spread on the ground and said concisely: “Sit.”

When Su You kept his eyes lowered and silent, he looked very obedient and compliant. No one would imagine that beneath such a docile exterior hid sharp claws ready to strike at any moment.

When Xue Yu told him to sit, he obediently went over.

After taking the Jade Clarity Pill, Chao Nian had him wash and change into proper clothes. When he emerged, that face was even more striking, more soul-stirring than the top courtesans downstairs who were adored by thousands. Now sitting properly, his soft hair falling to his ears, his fingers long and distinct, fingertips sinking neither deeply nor shallowly into the fur carpet, he appeared exceptionally pure and harmless.

Qing Luo stood beside Liang Yan. Seeing this, she quietly lowered her voice for the second time to ask: “Sister Liang Yan, this person our young lady saved – he’s not a fox demon?”

Even more beautiful than that fox who had achieved spirit form on the mountain above Xiao Yu Village.

The cat demon thought she was keeping her voice low and muffled, but everyone around heard clearly. The others showed no reaction, pretending not to hear. Only Liang Yan smiled and shook her head, good-naturedly replying: “Stop asking. If you disturb the young lady’s work, you’ll be punished.”

The timid cat demon’s ears shot up immediately, and she sealed her mouth tightly shut.

Xue Yu sat down behind Su You.

In an instant, this seemingly well-behaved demon ghost’s thorns emerged fiercely again, his spine and waist tensing extremely tightly.

Xue Yu said coldly, “If you want to cultivate in the future, focus your mind.”

Su You lightly clenched his fist, his eyes full of gloomy shadows like haze.

His fate had been troubled, born suspicious by nature. He fundamentally couldn’t trust anyone even halfway, but in this situation, he had no choice but to trust her. This feeling was extremely uncomfortable.

Sensing Su You gradually relaxing his body, Xue Yu interlaced her ten long fingers, then suddenly pulled them apart at a certain moment. Countless crystalline white snow threads poured out from her fingertips in layers, sensing their master’s intent, they competed to surge into the thin body before them.

“It will hurt a bit.” Xue Yu showed no emotion, saying flatly: “Endure it.”

What Su You feared least was pain.

The Sacred Lands struck without mercy. Su You’s internal meridians had been scattered chaotically, making them very difficult to restore to their original state. Even though Xue Yu was a Spirit Array Master, most skilled at working from minute details, repairing them one by one was still a delicate task that tested patience.

The pain of bone and muscle reconstruction was something Xue Yu had never experienced, but in her previous life, even someone of Song Heng’s temperament couldn’t help but groan several times during this process.

But Su You didn’t.

Throughout the entire process, he gritted his teeth tightly without making a sound.

This demon ghost truly possessed willpower far exceeding ordinary people, as stated in the handbook.

At the final critical moment, Xue Yu suddenly increased her force. Countless silver threads gently covered Su You’s shoulders, hanging on his hair like silk, as well as over every wound’s surface.

In the unbearable severe pain, Su You could sense the wounds he had received in the Sacred Lands’ torture chamber opening bit by bit, then being gently pulled together by those snow threads to heal, then opening again, then healing again, like some kind of tug of war, finally recovering to their original state at a slow pace.

Shortly after the external wounds healed, his meridians, severed for many days, finally transmitted a tingling, itchy sensation.

At this moment, Xue Yu temporarily withdrew her hands, turning to look at Chao Nian: “Bring the medicine.”

Taking medicine was the final and most crucial step in reconnecting meridians, determining whether future cultivation would be smooth.

“Coming, coming.” Chao Nian handed over the medicine he had prepared long ago: “I just made a round to the medicine pavilion in the city and bought this.”

“Three Spring Pills?” Xue Yu recognized them with just one glance. She turned to look at the demon ghost who had gritted his teeth and endured throughout without making a sound, frowning: “Don’t use this. Do we still have any Seven-Colored Pills that we brought?”

“Ah.” Chao Nian was stunned for a moment, then suddenly reacted, frantically searching his storage ring: “Yes, there are still two left.”

Then he produced a perfectly round Seven-Colored Pill, carefully placing it in Xue Yu’s palm, watching as she crushed it with her energy and pressed it into Su You’s body with one palm strike.

The demons in the room seemed to be struck by some kind of shock, all falling silent.

Under the snow threads covering his body, Su You very slowly lowered his eyes.

He wasn’t a demon who understood nothing.

So he knew clearly.

That Sacred Land princess with “ulterior motives” had given him the finest medicine.