An immortal protecting a demon and opposing his kind – if word of this reached the Nine Heavens, what would become of it?

Ruyi felt somewhat reluctant: “It’s fine, step aside.”

With her current cultivation level, aside from world-destroying heavenly thunder, she might not lose to anything else.

Shen Qiyuan laughed coldly: “I’ve cultivated divinity for many years, thinking I could clearly distinguish right from wrong, good from evil. Yet now he won’t let me slay the demons I should slay, but wants me to kill the one I love deeply. What kind of logic is this?”

Supreme Lord slapped his thigh: “Foolish! You are the most gifted divine cultivator in these three thousand years. As long as you can return to the Nine Heavens, forget Divine Lord – you could even become Emperor Lord. Why must you entangle yourself with demons!”

“I’m not deliberately entangling myself with demons.” He straightened his spine, stubbornly lifting his neck. “It’s just that the one I love happens to have become a demon.”

Ruyi’s heart stirred slightly.

She looked up at him. The person in her sight stood tall and elegant, his broad shoulders appearing solid and reliable.

Liar. Earlier, when she asked whether he trusted his deity or trusted her, he hadn’t chosen her. Yet now he protected her like this, standing in opposition to the deity he most believed in.

A lustrous light welled up in her eyes as she stepped forward two paces, suddenly moving past him.

Her red dress blazed like fire. The woman with painted features rose gracefully, transforming her arm into a blade as she charged directly at the Supreme Lord.

Supreme Lord reacted quickly too, swinging his whisk to block, his face full of disbelief: “You, you little woman, actually launching a sneak attack?”

“No choice.” She smiled brilliantly. “Someone had to make the first move.”

Supreme Lord’s eyes darted about.

This little woman didn’t want Shen Qiyuan to bear guilt? That showed deep affection and loyalty.

But still… He repelled Ruyi and said seriously: “Let’s start over – this time I won’t go easy on you.”

Ruyi borrowed momentum from the battlements and struck at him again.

The bright moon behind the city walls was as pure as a jade disk. In the moonlight, two black shadows exchanged vicious moves.

At first, Shen Qiyuan wanted to intervene, but after watching for a while, he no longer wanted to stop them.

After watching a bit more, he wanted to intervene again: “Don’t be so heavy-handed.”

Ruyi pinned Supreme Lord against the battlements, plucking his whiskers one by one while humming: “This is for looking down on demons, this is for trying to sneak attack with magical treasures.”

Supreme Lord howled in pain, no longer caring about his face as he twisted his head to shout: “Young deity, save me!”

Shen Qiyuan stepped forward, dispersing the confrontational aura between them. He lowered her foot from the man’s face and grasped her hand, bringing her aside: “Enough.”

Seeing her methods, she had no intention of killing him.

Ruyi seemed unsatisfied: “This old man isn’t much of a fight.”

Losing to a demon was infuriating enough without being mocked like this. Supreme Lord stood up, blowing his few remaining whiskers: “You little girl has quite the attitude!”

Song Zhenshan laughed as he mediated: “Enough, True Lord. Didn’t you just gauge her skill level?”

Supreme Lord grumbled a couple times, resentfully patting his robes: “I only lost because she once cultivated divinity – knowing yourself and your enemy naturally leads to victory in every battle.”

Seeing the little girl across from him rolling up her sleeves again, he quickly added: “Her natural talent and cultivation also have merit.”

“Alright.” Song Zhenshan gave Shen Qiyuan a meaningful look and helped the Supreme Lord walk down from the walls. “Miss Liu isn’t an evil demon – you needn’t rush to subdue her.”

“But what does it look like for an immortal to be with a demon?”

“With the firmament here, if you don’t tell and I don’t tell, who would know? Besides, you just saw how the young deity nearly acted impulsively and caused trouble. If Miss Liu hadn’t settled things on that side, wouldn’t we two be worried sick now? Consider it repayment – stop calling her ‘demon’ with every breath…”

The two walked ahead, their voices gradually fading.

Ruyi looked at the person beside her: “What were you trying to do earlier?”

Shen Qiyuan said lightly, “Cross the river to take a look.”

“Better not – the heavenly thunder beyond the firmament truly shows no mercy,” Ruyi said with lingering fear. “I at least still have Liu Ruyi’s mortal flesh in this body, yet it still chased me to strike.”

“Who told you to commit such great slaughter?” He was somewhat puzzled. “Why did you burn their military camp?”

“Making long-term plans for the demon clan.” She looked up at the city’s liveliness with a slight smile. “Shen Qiyuan, I think I’ve found a good way out.”

Demons and immortals were irreconcilable based on the premise that one wanted to eat and harm people while the other wanted to save and protect them. But if all the world’s demons could go to Great Xia and survive by cultivating through incense offerings, wouldn’t this contradiction be easily resolved?

Though fraught with difficulties, as long as there was such a path, she felt there was hope.

Shen Qiyuan’s eyes softened.

He had originally thought she chose the demon clan because it suited her better, never imagining it was for this reason.

One person’s long journey was tiring and wretched, but if two people were traveling toward each other, then no matter how many mountains and rivers lay between them, there was always more anticipation and hope.

“…This way it would be like well water, not interfering with river water. Hey, are you listening?” She turned to look at him, her eyes carrying some anger.

Shen Qiyuan came back to his senses, pressing his index finger to his lips with a low laugh: “I was listening.”

“Then repeat my fifth-to-last sentence.” She put her hands on her hips.

His ears reddening slightly, he rolled his eyes: “You said… how good it is to have me?”

Ruyi rolled her eyes and snorted with laughter: “I said that having Wei Zijue lead troops across the river now would achieve great merit.”

With the enemy camp half-burned and in panic, if surprise troops descended from heaven, they would surely rout the enemy completely.

Shen Qiyuan stopped walking with displeasure: “Didn’t you say once your wish was fulfilled, you needn’t concern yourself with him anymore?”

“I’m not concerning myself – it’s just a small favor, why be stingy?” She snapped her fingers and conjured a letter.

The person before her showed no good humor but still took her letter and passed it to their contact at the inn.

The military camp by Nine Rivers Prefecture was also celebrating. The Prince’s manor had sent several hundred jars of good wine, and everyone was quite drunk. The commander pulled Wei Zijue aside, extremely pleased: “You’ve achieved great merit – when we return to the capital, I’ll request rewards for you!”

Wei Zijue hadn’t drunk much and replied soberly with cupped hands: “Marshal, though the enemy is defeated, their strength still cannot be underestimated. After tonight’s celebration, we should discuss battle formations and defenses tomorrow.”

“Ah, those are tomorrow’s concerns – when there’s wine today, drink today.”

“Exactly.” He Zeyou laughed. “It’s rare for the Marshal to think so highly of you – how can Commander Wei spoil the mood?”

Wei Zijue didn’t much like this person. He was absent during battlefield charges but quick to claim credit afterward, relying on his noble title to demand and grab. However, with the Marshal present, he couldn’t very well fall out openly.

Just then, a soldier reported: “Commander, there’s a message from our outside contact.”

Wei Zijue nodded and rose to take his leave, but He Zeyou pressed him down: “Commander, you’re the great hero – why should you personally walk these few steps? I’ll go.”