If possible, Ruyi wanted to take back what she had just said.

The traveling palace stood on the north side of the mountain, majestic across dozens of li, with courtyards scattered and overlapping, undisturbed from each other.

She was pressed against the most secluded warm pavilion, her waist soft and unable to stand, fragrant sweat dripping from her neck.

“I was wrong.” Ruyi sincerely apologized to the person behind her. “I won’t provoke you again next time, I swear.”

Shen Qiyuan paid no attention to her words, only opening his mouth to gently bite her nape: “Do you still remember what your former lover looked like?”

Eyes misty, Ruyi replied slowly and incoherently: “How could I not remember? I still remember when we first met, it was raining from the sky, fine and continuous, clinging to one’s clothes.”

She answered very honestly and sincerely, yet the person behind her suddenly became angry, becoming fierce as if wanting to drag her to hell.

“Master Shen.”

“Shen Qiyuan.”

Her angry threats and pitiful pleas for mercy were all useless.

With reddened eyes looking back, she pouted and finally complained coquettishly with grievance: “Ziyan, it hurts.”

Shen Qiyuan felt as if a knife had sliced through his heart.

He took a deep breath and turned her around, holding her tightly in his arms.

What a calamity.

“Why care about these things?” She gently stroked his black hair, her warm breath sprinkling on his ear. “I also remember the scene when I met my lord, and I remember my lord’s preferences, even my lord’s sleeping habits.”

She remembered everything, except him as a person.

Shen Qiyuan closed his eyes and bit her side neck again as if venting frustration.

Ruyi gasped and angrily wanted to push him away, but he pressed against her and asked: “What did you experience during your demon cultivation?”

She raised an eyebrow in confusion: “Why think to ask this?”

“The matter of Yuncheng and Haiyan.” He picked up a strand of her black hair. “If you were a smooth-sailing demon, you shouldn’t know such delicate human nature.”

So it was about this.

Ruyi smiled lightly, her eyes full of indifference: “Where in this world are there smooth-sailing matters? My lord’s divine cultivation must also have many hardships, let alone for cunning and treacherous demons.”

Demons and immortals in this world were not born naturally; they all had to cultivate from ancient times. She originally was also going to cultivate divinity, but unfortunately met with an accident. Her most trusted friend opened the city gates she had entrusted to her, causing her people to be killed, the entire city slaughtered, and herself pierced through the chest and nailed to the city gate.

She had asked her why at that time. The delicately featured young girl looked up at her and only said, “I should be the supreme god.”

What was good about being the supreme god? Better than the sister she had called for over a thousand years? Better than her who had endured thunder tribulations together with her?

Ruyi couldn’t understand then, and still hadn’t understood even before coming here.

But when Yuncheng and Haiyan’s case occurred, she suddenly understood.

Originally, all were human; no one could cast aside this trace of vile human nature. Jealousy and comparison were born from the same root as friendship and companionship—they couldn’t be separated or severed.

It wasn’t because she had done something wrong. She wasn’t wrong; what was wrong were people whose thoughts had gone astray.

Her lips suddenly felt warm, and Ruyi stopped talking.

She looked up and caught sight of the softness in Shen Qiyuan’s eyes.

“I won’t betray you.” He spoke softly to her. “So, will you choose me?”

Ruyi suddenly laughed.

She touched this person’s handsome face, saying teasingly: “Qingqing, though you are a Pure God, in terms of actual age, I’m afraid I’m somewhat older than you.”

A young little immortal also wanted to control her, this great demon?

The things in his eyes deepened somewhat. Shen Qiyuan pressed his lips together, pressing against her and answering hoarsely: “Mm.”

So what if she was older? So what if gods and demons walked different paths? There was nothing left in this world that could stop him.

Ruyi smiled carelessly, not saying anything more, only gathering her long hair to one side, revealing her fair collarbone.

In the traveling palace, Li Zhaoying was searching everywhere for Ruyi’s whereabouts. Today at the hunting ground, she had been with Shen Qiyuan, becoming a thorn in many people’s eyes. It would be more comprehensive for her to return and stay together.

However, after searching for a long while, Ruyi was not only absent from her assigned room but also nowhere in the gardens.

Just as she was about to call for help in the search, she saw Zhou Tingchuan and Song Zhenshan talking ahead.

Her steps slightly stiffened. She turned to leave, but Song Zhenshan spoke: “Princess.”

Sighing inwardly, Zhaoying awkwardly turned around: “What a coincidence.”

“Not a coincidence. I was just looking for the Princess.”

Zhou Tingchuan saw the situation was unfavorable and immediately withdrew, leaving Song Zhenshan alone to walk toward her, his temperament cool and somewhat oppressive.

Zhaoying instinctively pressed her back against the stone pillar behind her.

Song Zhenshan stopped in front of her. Though his face showed no expression, he was silent for a long time before slowly speaking: “What I said in the main pavilion today was all sincere. Please consider it seriously, Princess.”

Sincere?

Zhaoying found it incredible: “Do you look like you’d marry no one but me? You and I, you and I only grew up together for a few years as children.”

“The Princess is even less familiar with Master Shen, yet why would you say you’d marry no one but him?”

When he said this, the wind around seemed to grow colder.

Zhaoying shivered: “That, that’s because I’m willing.”

“This is also my willingness.” Song Zhenshan said in a deep voice. “The Princess receives imperial grace and surely wouldn’t want to make things difficult for the Central Palace and His Majesty.”

“If you insist on marrying, I’ll naturally marry as well, but let’s agree first.” Zhaoying frowned. “Even if we marry, you live your life and I live mine. We won’t interfere with each other.”

Song Zhenshan pressed his lips together, his fist in his sleeve tightening and loosening: “Fine.”

Taking a long breath of relief, she finally smiled: “If you’d said this earlier, I wouldn’t have been so nervous. Everyone can discuss things properly. By the way, have you seen Ruyi? The woman who was beside Brother Qiyuan today.”

“The Princess doesn’t dislike her?” Song Zhenshan looked up.

“Why would I dislike her?” Zhaoying put her hands on her hips. “Sister Ruyi is very good. If not for her today, I would have lost my life.”

His expression softening, Song Zhenshan nodded: “Then the Princess needn’t search. She went to Master Shen’s side.”

Zhaoying:?

Impossible. How could Brother Qiyuan let someone enter his room at dusk? That person was full of propriety.

But Song Zhenshan spoke with certainty, even pulling her toward the other direction: “Don’t go disturb them.”

Zhaoying’s mouth fell open.

The mountain peak swallowed the last trace of sunset glow. The traveling palace darkened, but Shen Qiyuan’s room had no lights lit.

The dim light made this person’s skin appear even more snow-white. He reached out to restrain her, doing everything possible to trap her in this scene of passion.

In her confused consciousness, Ruyi felt this person didn’t seem as cool and clean as he appeared on the surface. In the darkness, he was more like a wild beast wanting to devour and possess her forever.

But meeting his clear, transparent eyes, she felt she was overthinking. After all, Shen Qiyuan was a Pure God. People who could become gods must be upright and kind.