“For that, you’d have to ask Wuji Tianzun,” the Ziwei Emperor replied to Fuhuan’s question with profound meaning.
After pausing briefly, he continued slowly, “Actually, many people have long known the truth about what happened back then. Now they’re all just pretending to be ignorant.”
“You’re still young and impetuous. You don’t understand the complexities involved. In a few years, you’ll comprehend these matters.”
After speaking, the Ziwei Emperor stood up and looked at Fuhuan. “Remember what you promised me—to cut off your feelings for Siqing.”
Fuhuan remained silent, glancing at the time. It was still a while before the Hour of Hai.
“I’ve finished eating. I’ll go out for a walk to clear my mind,” Fuhuan stood up, bowed slightly to the Ziwei Emperor, and walked out.
After leaving Ziwei Palace, Fuhuan instinctively walked toward Lotus Lake.
Along the way, Fuhuan’s mind was filled with the Ziwei Emperor’s words. It was hard to imagine how Siqing had endured all these years, and how that woman in the forbidden area had managed as well.
Arriving near Lotus Lake, Fuhuan concealed her presence. After walking a few steps and seeing no one around, she guessed that neither Lengyuan nor Siqing was here. Just as she was about to leave, she heard a woman’s voice from around the corner—
…
…
“Lord Nether God, it’s getting late. Lengyuan will take her leave now.”
“Mm.”
Hearing Lengyuan and Siqing’s voices coming from around the corner, Fuhuan’s eyebrows slightly furrowed. She focused her gaze toward the corner before quickly slipping away.
Siqing had indeed come to the Lotus Pool.
What had they been talking about for so long? He must now know Lengyuan’s feelings for him. Would he fall for a gentle woman like Lengyuan?
A series of questions flooded her mind, making Fuhuan increasingly agitated. No wonder Father Ziwei had taught her since childhood not to develop feelings, as once emotions emerged, they would ruin everything.
Thinking about it now, it all made sense.
…
Halfway along her path, when it was already the Hour of Hai, Fuhuan was still debating whether to keep her appointment with Siqing when his figure appeared before her, blocking her way.
“Since you came to Lotus Pool, why did you leave?” Siqing stopped, looking down at Fuhuan from his superior height.
“You knew I went to Lotus Pool?” Fuhuan pursed her lips, looking up at Siqing.
Siqing’s lips curved into a mocking smile. “I can sense your aura.”
“Fine.” Hearing Siqing’s words, Fuhuan didn’t know what else to say to him.
She opened her mouth, about to ask Siqing where he was taking her, when he spoke again in a cool, detached tone, “Why don’t you ask what your sister and I discussed tonight?”
At his words, Fuhuan was at a loss for words. She lowered her gaze and mumbled, “Why would I ask about that…”
“If you’re not curious, why did you go to Lotus Pool?” Siqing lowered his gaze to look at Fuhuan’s head, and as he finished speaking, he reached out to touch the tassel ornament in her hair.
Fuhuan’s expression gradually fell. She pouted, “I just happened to wander there by accident. Besides, when I heard your voices, didn’t I leave right away?”
“Hmph.” Siqing let out a light snort. “You’re quite the matchmaker, trying to pair me with your sister.”
Fuhuan felt uncomfortable all over from Siqing’s sarcastic remarks, her heart unsettled. She immediately changed the subject, “Didn’t you say you’d take me somewhere at the Hour of Hai? Where are we going?”
“I had originally planned to take you, but I had such a pleasant conversation with your sister that I’m no longer in the mood to take you anywhere.” Siqing raised an eyebrow slightly and then walked ahead on his own.
Fuhuan glared at Siqing’s back and hurried after him. “A pleasant conversation? What did you talk about? Do you like my sister?”
Siqing suddenly stopped and turned to look at Fuhuan. “Since you’re so eager to matchmake, shouldn’t you be delighted if I liked your sister? Why do you sound so forlorn?”
Every word from Siqing stung, leaving Fuhuan unable to express her frustration. She sighed, “Forget it. Didn’t you say you wanted to keep your distance from me? If you’re not taking me anywhere, then I’m going back to sleep.”
With that, Fuhuan turned and walked away.
Siqing felt that they were simply torturing each other like this.
She didn’t know how angry he was when she delivered Lengyuan’s letter, trying to match him with her.
He went to Lotus Pool specifically to see if Fuhuan would come, to determine whether her matchmaking attempts were sincere or feigned. Upon sensing her aura at Lotus Pool, he immediately left Lengyuan to follow her.
But now that he had found her, his rationality was once again suppressing his actions.
“Fuhuan,” Siqing called out to her.
Fuhuan stopped but didn’t turn around. “What else does Lord Nether God require?”
“Give me the spell-breaking technique.” Siqing stepped forward, leaned down, and spoke in a low voice by her ear.
The spell-breaking technique…
At the mention of this, Fuhuan couldn’t help but think of the woman the Ziwei Emperor had spoken of, and all the events from eight hundred years ago.
That woman was truly pitiful.
Siqing was now very close to Fuhuan, their clothes touching. Through his mind-reading ability, Siqing sensed Fuhuan’s thoughts, and his dark eyes sank as his brows tightened.
She knew.
“All right.” Fuhuan immediately agreed to Siqing’s request and turned around. “Give me your hand.”
Siqing looked at Fuhuan with a complex expression and hesitated slightly. “Never mind.”
If he were to use the spell-breaking technique again, it might impact Fuhuan once more. He needed to find a way to have the Heavenly Emperor personally break the spell.
In the end, their conversation came to an inconclusive end.
…
Before falling asleep, Fuhuan felt that the entire evening had been bizarrely inexplicable.
…
The next day, the second daily meeting in the Celestial Realm.
Today’s meeting was very different from yesterday’s. The Heavenly Emperor led a group to the most secluded place in the Celestial Realm—the Jade Ancient Forest.
Legend had it that fierce beasts combining spiritual and demonic powers roamed this Jade Ancient Forest. These beasts were temperamental and extremely ferocious, causing the Jade Ancient Forest to be designated as a forbidden area of the Celestial Realm.
“In recent years, the Celestial Realm has produced many talented young people. The gate of the Jade Ancient Forest hasn’t been opened for a long time,” the Heavenly Emperor gazed at the gate of the Jade Ancient Forest and spoke leisurely.
After speaking, he slowly turned around, his gaze passing over Siqing, Fuhuan, and three young immortal officials.
“All of us old-timers ventured through the Jade Ancient Forest in our day. Now it’s time for you young people,” the Heavenly Emperor said with a light chuckle.
Hearing this, several elder deities also revealed smiles.
“As per the old rules, at the end of the Jade Ancient Forest stands a red maple tree. After entering, retrieving one of its red maple leaves constitutes a successful trial.”
“Those who return empty-handed will have to drink the reincarnation potion and be reborn into the cycle of life.”
The Heavenly Emperor’s words made Fuhuan’s heart pound. Reincarnation? Was it necessary to go to such extremes? She was born from the Phoenix Star, so perhaps she couldn’t reincarnate anymore.
“Well, you may enter now.”
“Wait…”
Just as the Heavenly Emperor finished speaking, two figures ran in from the crowd outside.
Lengyuan and Youlan.
After approaching, Lengyuan bowed to the Heavenly Emperor. “Greetings, Heavenly Emperor.”
“Why have you come?” The Heavenly Emperor looked at her.
“Please forgive Lengyuan’s boldness, but Lengyuan also wishes to enter the Jade Ancient Forest for the trial,” Lengyuan spoke.
“Youlan also wants to enter the Jade Ancient Forest for the trial,” Youlan added.
Regarding their proposal, the Heavenly Emperor immediately showed an expression of praise. “Good, very good. This is the kind of talent our Celestial Realm should have!”
“Thank you, Heavenly Emperor.” Seeing the Heavenly Emperor’s agreement, Lengyuan quickly expressed her gratitude.
Fuhuan, standing to the side, saw that Youlan had also come and slightly furrowed her brows.
…
After confirming the participants for the Jade Ancient Forest trial, the Heavenly Emperor personally unsealed the forest gate and opened it.
After the group entered through the forest gate, the door slowly closed behind them.
Upon entering the forest, Fuhuan discovered that all the trees were black. Looking out, there was a vast expanse of darkness, like a black vortex, seemingly bottomless. Although the sky here appeared as daylight, it did nothing to reduce the eeriness of the place.
“Our goal is to get the red maple leaf. Why don’t we move together?” one immortal official suggested.
“That’s no fun. Since we’re here for a trial, why not split into pairs? How about it?” Youlan rejected the immortal official’s suggestion.
Then, counting the number of people, she added, “There are seven of us here. I’m afraid one person will have to be alone.”
Hearing Youlan’s loaded words, Fuhuan silently rolled her eyes and gave her a contemptuous look. “Then this Supreme Deity will be alone.”
With that, her figure flashed and disappeared from the forest entrance.
Seeing Fuhuan leave on her own, Youlan silently curved her lips into a smile and turned to give Lengyuan a meaningful look.
Lengyuan walked to Siqing’s side and was about to speak when suddenly his figure also flashed and disappeared.
“This…” Lengyuan frowned, momentarily stunned.
“Supreme Deity Lengyuan, why are you standing there? Go after him!” Youlan grabbed Lengyuan’s arm and chased after Siqing.
Behind them, the three young immortal officials trembled in fear.
After Siqing and the others left, Fuhuan revealed herself in place. Her phoenix eyes showed signs of contemplation. Since when did Lengyuan have a connection with Youlan?
It seemed Youlan also knew about Lengyuan’s feelings for Siqing…
As Fuhuan was thinking, the three young immortal officials, upon seeing her, immediately ran over. “Supreme Deity Fuhuan, please take us with you. We are all disciples of the Qinghua Emperor. We don’t know why the Heavenly Emperor summoned us here today. With our immortal techniques, we absolutely cannot traverse this Jade Ancient Forest.”
Hearing that they were all Qinghua Emperor’s people, Fuhuan raised her eyebrows. “Then you can follow me first.”
“Thank you, Supreme Deity Fuhuan.” The faces of the three young immortal officials immediately brightened.
After speaking, Fuhuan headed into the forest.
“Supreme Deity Fuhuan, Lord Nether God, and the others left through this path. Why are we taking the side path?” one immortal official looked at the two paths and couldn’t help but ask.
“Following them isn’t interesting. Since we’re here for a trial, let’s give it our best shot,” Fuhuan said as she walked.
Hearing this, the young immortal officials nodded repeatedly, not daring to contradict Fuhuan’s words, fearing she would get angry and leave them all behind.
“Be careful of the ground.” After entering the forest, Fuhuan stepped on the withered branches on the ground and warned those behind her.
“Ah—”