Fu Huan opened her mouth, thought for a moment, then looked at Cold Luan with difficulty. “Sister, in this matter, I cannot help you.”

“Why not?” Cold Luan’s expression changed slightly, but a smile still hung at the corners of her lips.

“If Sister likes him, you should pursue him yourself. Besides, besides…” Fu Huan felt helpless inside, not daring to reveal her feelings for Si Qing in front of Cold Luan, nor daring to be too firm in her refusal, lest it affect their friendship.

It was truly troublesome—why did she and Cold Luan happen to fall for the same person?

Cold Luan watched Fu Huan, noting this was the first time she had refused her request. She began to understand the current relationship between Fu Huan and Si Qing.

The first time Fu Huan had helped her arrange a meeting with Si Qing at the lotus pond indicated their relationship wasn’t deep yet, at most in a budding stage, which was why Fu Huan hadn’t refused and delivered her letter.

But this time, their relationship must have reached the point of mutual confession; otherwise, given Fu Huan’s nature, she would never refuse her sister.

It seemed she needed to take action.

“Yes, what you say makes sense. I’ll find Si Qing myself,” Cold Luan smiled, her expression gentle and harmless.

…

…

Hearing this, Fu Huan felt relieved.

“The wind is strong in the garden. Your body has just recovered, you should return to rest early,” Cold Luan said.

“Mm.” Fu Huan nodded.

With that, Cold Luan said nothing more and left with Zhu Ling.

After they departed, Zi Yu approached and supported Fu Huan, frowning slightly. “My lady, I feel something was off about Supreme Deity Cold Luan today.”

That oddness—she couldn’t quite explain what it was, but she vaguely sensed that Cold Luan’s treatment of her mistress seemed different from usual.

“Nanny Yu, don’t overthink it. It must be because I refused Sister’s request, making her feel uncomfortable,” Fu Huan defended Cold Luan. In her heart, besides the Great Emperor Ziwei, Cold Luan was the person who treated her best.

“Yes, perhaps I’m being overly cautious. Let’s return quickly,” Zi Yu said.

With that, the two headed back toward Phoenix Feather Pavilion.

Walking on the path, Fu Huan recalled Cold Luan’s words earlier. “Is Lord Underworld God at Wuji Palace again today?”

“That’s what they say. Does my lady wish to go there?”

“No, it’s better to observe proper etiquette in the Celestial Realm to avoid trouble.”

After returning to her room, Fu Huan walked to the table to pour herself some water. Her fingers had just touched the cup when she withdrew them, her gaze falling on a leaf beside the cup.

Fu Huan picked up the leaf and placed it in her palm. A strange feeling welled up inside her.

A leaf from the Mortal Life Tree.

Si Qing?

Did he bring this leaf?

At this thought, Fu Huan’s eyes filled with joy. She walked to the wardrobe, chose a red cloak, and with a flash, departed from Phoenix Feather Pavilion.

……

Fu Huan was grateful that although she had lost her cultivation, she could still come and go freely. Now wrapped in her cloak, she had already appeared near the Mortal Life Tree.

As she approached, she could feel barriers set up all around.

Walking forward a few steps, Fu Huan immediately spotted a black-clad figure sitting beneath the Mortal Life Tree, and beside him, as always, crouched the ink qilin.

Seeing this, Fu Huan lightened her footsteps, quietly approaching Si Qing, intending to surprise him from behind.

Just as she drew near and before she could raise her hand, a cool voice came—

“Trying to scare me?”

Fu Huan immediately deflated.

“How did you know I was going to scare you?” Fu Huan circled to face Si Qing and sat down beside him, her arm touching his.

“Your aura can no longer be concealed. I can sense it from a hundred meters away,” Si Qing smiled, turning to look at Fu Huan.

Seeing her wrapped in a red cloak, he couldn’t help but reach out to pat her head. “Good, you knew it’s winter in the lower realm and brought a cloak.”

“I’m not stupid,” Fu Huan leaned lazily against the tree trunk, her eyes gleaming with mischief as she looked at Si Qing. “Was that leaf from you?”

“Mm,” Si Qing responded.

Hearing this, Fu Huan reached out to tug at Si Qing’s sleeve. “Why did you leave a leaf for me? Was it to say you wanted to see me?”

“I only left a leaf and said nothing. Yet you interpreted it as me wanting to see you. Doesn’t that better indicate that you’re the one who wanted to see me?” Si Qing teased her, discovering that whenever he saw her, he felt much lighter.

“Daring to do but not to admit—how boring,” Fu Huan released Si Qing’s sleeve, looking away and speaking sullenly.

Seeing her sulking, Si Qing said nothing, but took her wrist to check her pulse.

After a moment, Si Qing released her hand. “Your inner energy has stabilized somewhat.”

“Yes, but I only have rudimentary skills left,” Fu Huan said.

“It’s all right. Don’t think too much about it,” Si Qing comforted her, rubbing her head again.

Fu Huan laughed softly. “I’m not overthinking it. This feels like the most relaxed moment.”

“Silly girl.” Si Qing’s expression softened with a gentle smile.

Fu Huan stared at this smile on Si Qing’s face. This seemed to be the first time she had seen Si Qing smile so tenderly, making her reluctant to look away.

But just as she thought this, Si Qing immediately resumed his usual expressionless face.

The two didn’t stay long beneath the Mortal Life Tree before Fu Huan needed to return to the Celestial Realm. She had sneaked out, after all, and couldn’t stay too long.

“Si Qing, I must go now. Let’s meet again in a few days,” Fu Huan was reluctant to leave.

“Mm, go quickly,” Si Qing looked at her.

Fu Huan nodded, said nothing more, and vanished.

Si Qing remained sitting alone beneath the Mortal Life Tree for a long time afterward.

……

In the days that followed, Si Qing would sit beneath the Mortal Life Tree every day. Sometimes he stayed an entire day, sometimes he had the ink qilin guard the spot, fearing to miss any opportunity to see Fu Huan.

Meanwhile, Fu Huan often hoped for chances to slip away to the Mortal Life Tree to see Si Qing. However, recently, because she had lost all her cultivation, Great Emperor Ziwei had been seeking her out frequently, constantly finding new cultivation methods for her to try to recover her powers.

Only occasionally, when she had free time, would she sneak out to find Si Qing. She discovered that no matter when she went to the Mortal Life Tree, Si Qing was always there.

As they met more often, the feelings between them grew increasingly clear.

“Si Qing, how is it that every time I come here, you’re always here? Do we have some mental connection, or have you never left this place?” On this day, Fu Huan arrived beneath the Mortal Life Tree, nestled in Si Qing’s embrace, speaking lazily.

Si Qing held her and replied mockingly, “Never left? With so many affairs in the Underworld Realm, should I leave them for you to handle?”

“True, with so many matters in the Underworld Realm, how could you have time to get away?” Fu Huan pouted, still unable to understand why Si Qing always happened to be there.

Si Qing sensed her thoughts, smiled faintly, and ignored them.

In truth, this time he had already been waiting here for over ten days. Now that he had finally seen her, he felt satisfied.

The Celestial Emperor harbored wariness toward him, so he couldn’t go to the Celestial Realm to find her. He could only wait here day after day. Si Qing smiled self-mockingly—he never imagined that one day he would pour his heart out so completely for a woman.

“Si Qing, I…”

Fu Huan, leaning against Si Qing, suddenly looked up wanting to speak, only to see Si Qing leaning against the tree trunk, eyes closed in light sleep.

Fu Huan pressed her lips together, swallowing what she wanted to say, gazing at Si Qing’s features without moving.

These past few days, she had formed a bold idea.

She wanted to clarify her relationship with Si Qing before Father Ziwei, asking him to help speak with the Celestial Emperor about their relationship. Perhaps then, they wouldn’t need to struggle so much.

But she had reservations.

She worried that after learning of this, Great Emperor Ziwei would watch her even more closely, and she would lose even the opportunity to sneak out.

It was truly frustrating.

……

Cui Ling Palace.

“What brings the Third Princess here today?” Cold Luan sat in a chair, looking up at Third Princess Bing Lian, who walked through the door.

Bing Lian’s expression wasn’t good as she sat down. “Stealing a moment from my busy schedule to visit you.”

“Oh? What has the Third Princess been busy with lately?” Cold Luan asked casually; she couldn’t be bothered to pay much attention to this Third Princess.

“Father has given me many tasks recently. I’ve been busy all day, sometimes without even time to drink water.” After speaking, Bing Lian heavily placed her cup on the table beside her.

She then added, “One task comes from Miao Yan Palace. Father intends to send me to Miao Yan Palace to train under Great Emperor Qinghua, supposedly replacing Fu Huan’s position.”

“Great Emperor Qinghua is highly respected. Being his disciple is indeed a good training opportunity. The Third Princess needn’t be so angry,” Cold Luan said.

“I understand all that logic. It’s just that this duty was originally Fu Huan’s, and now it’s been given to me, which makes me somewhat unhappy.”

“Besides, I see that Fu Huan, without her cultivation, is living quite comfortably. I’ve already seen her return to the Celestial Realm from the lower realm twice. Who knows where she’s been playing?”

Hearing this, Cold Luan narrowed her eyes, looking toward Bing Lian. “Return from the lower realm?”

“Yes, and each time she was alone. She’s truly grown too wild, not knowing to restrain herself even after losing her cultivation,” Bing Lian sneered, her face full of disdain.

Cold Luan bit her lip, unconsciously clenching her fist, deep thought surging in her eyes.

Phoenix Feather Pavilion had moved to the Celestial Realm. What was she doing in the lower realm?

Could it be…

Cold Luan’s heart sank further.

After pondering for a moment, Cold Luan turned to look at her celestial attendant Zhu Ling and sent her a silent message: “Go prepare some sweet soup for the Third Princess, and put some Soul-Losing Powder in it.”

Zhu Ling froze, a flash of terror passing through her eyes, but when she looked up and saw Cold Luan watching her, she quickly bowed. “This servant will prepare some refreshments for the Supreme Deity and the Princess.”

“Mm, go ahead,” Cold Luan smiled, waving at Zhu Ling.

Soon, Zhu Ling brought two bowls of lotus seed soup, giving one to Cold Luan and one to Bing Lian, then nodded to Cold Luan.

Cold Luan understood, picked up her lotus seed soup, and took a leisurely sip.

Throughout the meal, her gaze remained fixed on Bing Lian. When she saw Bing Lian drink more than half the bowl, a hint of bloodthirstiness surged in her eyes.

“Crash…”

Halfway through eating, the bowl in Bing Lian’s hand fell. Feeling dizzy, she clutched her head, mumbling softly.

Cold Luan dismissed everyone from the room, walked to Bing Lian’s side, and a blue light flowed from her fingertips to Bing Lian’s forehead. Then Cold Luan spoke slowly—

“It’s said that in Yuggu Forest, Supreme Deity Fu Huan personally burned Immortal Lord Qinglan to death. Because she fled in haste, she accidentally left behind a red tassel hairpin.”

With these words, Cold Luan placed that tassel hairpin into Bing Lian’s hand.