Fu Huan felt that this year had been extremely unlucky for her.

The cause of Qinglan’s death was inexplicably brought up, and now she was inexplicably banished to Immortal Mountain Manor under house arrest. Whom had she offended?

Fu Huan arrived at Immortal Mountain Manor with a gloomy face. When leaving Qingyang Palace earlier, she didn’t even have a chance to speak with Si Qing before being led away by an old man with a white beard.

Now, she stood with the white-bearded old man at the entrance of Immortal Mountain Manor.

Looking at this misty, heavenly manor, Fu Huan spoke softly, “This place looks quite impressive.”

“Shh, this is a celestial spirit land. Don’t speak so dismissively,” the white-bearded old man signaled Fu Huan to lower her voice.

Seeing this, Fu Huan shrugged indifferently and followed the white-bearded old man inside.

“Well, I’m just responsible for bringing you in. Your confinement isn’t confinement. This Immortal Mountain Manor is very large. If you’re bored, just walk around inside as you please.” After leading Fu Huan through the entrance, the white-bearded old man stopped.

Fu Huan sat down on a stone step. Since losing her cultivation, her strength was much weaker than before. She answered lazily, “I understand.”

…

…

“Alright then, stay here and reflect on your actions. Oh, there’s a hot pool behind the mountain. Be careful and don’t get too close, or you might be devoured by the fierce waters!” the white-bearded old man warned.

“I know, I know!” Fu Huan was very irritated.

Seeing this, the white-bearded old man smiled and vanished.

After the white-bearded old man left, Fu Huan looked toward the back mountain, then stood up and patted her clothes. “Hmph, forbidding me to go only makes me want to go more!”

She wanted to see just how fierce these waters were.

Walking toward the back mountain for a while, Fu Huan indeed saw a large steaming pool. The surface of the water kept rolling, with large amounts of steam rising. In no time, Fu Huan was drenched in sweat from the heat.

“Looks like the old man wasn’t lying to me,” Fu Huan muttered.

At this moment, a figure in clear green water appeared from the side.

Cold Luan looked at Fu Huan with a smile, stepping toward her. “When the Celestial Emperor was speaking earlier, I dared not interrupt. Later, I became worried and came to see you.”

Fu Huan turned to look at Cold Luan, slightly startled to see her wearing a clear water green brocade dress, then smiled at Cold Luan.

“Huan’er, don’t listen to what that strange old man said. The hot pool is not as fierce as he claimed. He only said that because he doesn’t want you to cross through the hot pool,” Cold Luan said.

After speaking, Cold Luan’s eyes flashed, and she covered her mouth, changing the subject, “Stay here for a few days first. In a few days, Sister will plead with the Celestial Emperor for you.”

“What did you mean just now about not letting me cross the hot pool?” Fu Huan caught Cold Luan’s words.

“Nothing, don’t mind it.”

After saying this, Fu Huan stepped forward and hooked her arm with Cold Luan’s, speaking softly, “Sister Cold Luan, what is it exactly? Tell me quickly!”

She had always been the most curious person.

“At the end of the hot pool, there’s a passage that leads to the Underworld Realm.”

“That old man deliberately doesn’t want you to go because he’s afraid you’ll sneak off to the Underworld Realm, making it difficult for him to answer to the Celestial Emperor.”

Cold Luan whispered in Fu Huan’s ear, adding at the end, “Sister is telling you this, but you must not run off, understand?”

Fu Huan nodded.

“Alright, I can’t stay here too long. I’ll come see you again in a few days. Behave yourself here alone!” With that, Cold Luan vanished in a flash.

Fu Huan stood alone by the hot pool, looking at the water and thinking about Cold Luan’s words, feeling secretly excited.

The end of the hot pool led to the Underworld Realm…

Could she sneak over to find Si Qing?

Even the heavens seemed to be helping her now. Although she had lost her cultivation, her lightness skill remained. Flying across this hot pool shouldn’t be difficult.

With that thought, Fu Huan’s toes pushed off, and without hesitation, she flew toward the hot pool.

At this moment, Cold Luan’s figure appeared again, watching Fu Huan’s back with a sinister face. She smiled coldly, raising a stream of true energy from her fingertip and directing it toward the surface of the hot pool.

Fu Huan, don’t blame me, because only with your death will Si Qing be mine!

When Fu Huan was flying over the center of the hot pool, suddenly a vortex formed in the middle of the water. Transparent water vines entangled her body, making her unable to move.

As she felt the water vines pulling her down, a black figure appeared in mid-air, surrounded by flowing black energy. He broke the water vines, held Fu Huan’s body, with a face full of worry and anger.

“Fool, do you have a death wish?”

Fu Huan stared blankly at the newcomer, pouting with grievance, “Why are you scolding me? I just wanted to cross the hot pool to find you in the Underworld Realm…”

“Who told you that crossing the hot pool leads to the Underworld Realm?” Si Qing was so angered by her that he didn’t know what to say. If he hadn’t happened to come here to see her, she would have died in this hot pool today.

Hearing this, Fu Huan froze in Si Qing’s embrace.

……

After Si Qing brought Fu Huan back to shore, she sat on the ground, hugging her knees, silent.

Before her eyes, Cold Luan’s every expression before leaving kept flashing in her mind. Each scene made her heart pound, causing her body to tremble slightly.

Si Qing was wiping the sweat from Fu Huan’s face. Sensing her thoughts, his fingers stiffened, and then he pulled Fu Huan into his embrace.

Fu Huan leaned against Si Qing’s chest, her eyes gradually blurring.

She never imagined that one day her dear sister would try to take her life for the sake of a man.

That was her most trusted sister!

Fu Huan suddenly felt that human hearts were truly terrifying.

“Was it Cold Luan who told you that the end of the hot pool leads to the Underworld Realm?” Si Qing asked.

Fu Huan nodded without speaking.

“Hmm, then it’s not surprising,” Si Qing said coldly.

Fu Huan looked up at Si Qing with tear-filled eyes.

“Today’s tassel hairpin—why do you think it ended up in the Celestial Emperor’s hands?” Si Qing looked at Fu Huan. It was time for her to see Cold Luan’s true face.

Tassel hairpin…

Thinking of this, Fu Huan thought of Bing Lian.

In the hall today, she felt that Bing Lian was exceptionally eloquent, unlike her usual self. She had thought Bing Lian had become smarter, not realizing someone was guiding her.

Indeed, only a few of them went to Yuggu Forest. Who would have picked up her hairpin…

Fu Huan’s heart grew colder and colder.

“The day you were punished by the Celestial Emperor to kneel at the gate of the Celestial Realm, your sister, upon seeing this, immediately went to the Third Princess’s mansion…”

After saying this, Si Qing didn’t continue.

He had already secretly warned Cold Luan before. For the sake of their sisterly affection, he had refrained from speaking ill of Cold Luan in front of Fu Huan.

Unexpectedly, that woman’s thoughts had reached such a terrifying stage.

Hearing these things, Fu Huan instinctively touched the place where her shoulder had been injured previously. There was still a scar there now.

Without the Third Princess’s interference, it would have been just a small wound, not enough to leave a scar.

Cold Luan…

After all our time as sisters, only today do I truly see through you!

“Si Qing, you should return to the Underworld Realm first. This is, after all, the Celestial Emperor’s place. If others see you, it will add unnecessary trouble,” Fu Huan turned to look at Si Qing, setting aside the matter of Cold Luan for now.

Seeing her dejected state, how could Si Qing be at ease leaving? He could only conceal his presence to accompany her.

Fu Huan sighed, her eyes empty, saying nothing.

……

Five days passed at Immortal Mountain Manor. During these five days, Si Qing stayed by Fu Huan’s side constantly, always concealing his presence to avoid bringing trouble to Fu Huan.

With Si Qing’s companionship, Fu Huan temporarily set aside the matter of Cold Luan.

On this day, the ink qilin brought news that urgent matters required Si Qing to return to the Underworld Realm immediately.

Although Si Qing was extremely reluctant, he was still pushed by Fu Huan to leave Immortal Mountain Manor.

Left alone at Immortal Mountain Manor, the events of that day floated back into Fu Huan’s mind.

If Si Qing hadn’t appeared in time that day, she might now be nothing but white bones at the bottom of the hot pool.

With this thought, Fu Huan turned around, preparing to go back to the cottage to rest.

After a few steps, Cold Luan’s figure appeared, blocking Fu Huan’s path.

Seeing Cold Luan, Fu Huan instinctively clenched her fists, her face dark as she stared at Cold Luan.

Cold Luan laughed lightly, seeming unconcerned.

That day, she had seen Si Qing rescue Fu Huan just in time.

She naturally knew that she and Fu Huan could no longer be sisters.

That was fine. She was tired of pretending with Fu Huan anyway.

“Do you know when I first felt the urge to take your life?” Cold Luan’s face showed a smile as she stepped forward, moving closer to Fu Huan.

Fu Huan looked at her without speaking.

“It was that night when I brought red bean porridge to Si Qing, and he didn’t want it.”

“Then as I was leaving, I sensed your aura and pretended to leave. Later, I saw with my own eyes you entering his room, and he said he wanted to eat the red bean porridge you made.”

“Fu Huan, do you know how long I had to restrain myself from taking your life right then and there!”

Cold Luan frowned as she spoke these words, gritting her teeth. Even she didn’t notice how much hatred and killing intent filled her eyes at that moment.

“Is it worth it?” Fu Huan suddenly laughed lightly. For just this little thing, Cold Luan wanted to kill her?

“Worth it? Why wouldn’t it be worth it?” Cold Luan raised her eyebrows. “When I sensed something ambiguous between you and Si Qing, I deliberately gave you a letter to deliver to Si Qing, just to test you.”

“Fortunately, you didn’t disappoint me that time.”

“When I was waiting for Si Qing at the lotus pond, do you know how happy I was the moment he appeared? But before I could say a word, Si Qing said to me…”

“‘Stay away from Fu Huan in the future. Don’t scheme against her. She sincerely regards you as her sister. Please show some self-respect.” Cold Luan recited those words in Si Qing’s tone.

Fu Huan frowned, biting her lip without speaking.

“Perhaps he, as a man, doesn’t understand a woman’s heart. After he said those words, I hated you even more! So when I found your tassel hairpin in Yuggu Forest, I thought of giving it to the Celestial Emperor one day to expose your crimes!”

“You’re so lucky! You escaped again!”

“Even the water of the hot pool couldn’t devour you. Fu Huan, let me think, what method should I use to make you disappear from this world completely?”