Wei Zijue sat beside her, his expression extremely grave: “His Majesty has issued an edict to exile Yuncheng to Lei Zhou.”

“It’s already fortunate that he can keep his life,” Ruyi curled her lips, “it’s not a loss.”

“But logically speaking, Lady Zhang committed suicide, Yuncheng not only didn’t get blood on his hands, but also handed over the letters that exposed her treachery. He should be innocent.” Clenching his fists, Wei Zijue said in a heavy voice, “His Majesty’s judgment is tantamount to kneeling before Great Xia’s envoys.”

A vast great nation, to avoid war, actually had to bow its head to another country’s ministers – this could not be called anything but shameful.

But Ruyi asked: “Exiling one Yuncheng, will Great Xia let the matter rest?”

Lady Zhang took her own life out of fear of punishment, so her crimes must have been significant. The information she leaked out must have been more than just what Yuncheng handed over. Great Xia has frequently provoked at the borders in recent years – if they learned of Great Qian’s true military situation, would they be able to restrain themselves?

Wei Zijue let out a long sigh: “They won’t let it rest. What I fear is that His Majesty will concede, giving away several more states – there’s no longer any river left for us to cross south.”

The last half of that sentence was spoken with such a hoarse voice that it sounded desolate to hear.

Ruyi poured him tea and was just about to console him with a few more words when she heard footsteps on the stairs.

“Ruyi.” Shen Qiyuan climbed up to the third floor, looked at her then at the person beside her, his face showing confusion.

Remembering that Wei Zijue didn’t know about his memory loss, Ruyi hurriedly stood up and said, “It’s chaotic outside, Grand Commander should head back first.”

Wei Zijue looked at her slightly flustered expression, his eyes half-lowered, saying with some disappointment: “Alright.”

He brushed his robes and walked downstairs. When passing by Shen Qiyuan, his steps paused slightly.

“I was just chatting about some matters with my elder sister,” he said. “Sir, please don’t misunderstand.”

After saying this, without waiting for an answer, he went straight downstairs.

Ruyi, listening from behind, felt the corner of her mouth twitching.

For an impetuous young man to play some small schemes was harmless enough, but Wei Zijue’s rather deliberate tone made her somewhat afraid to look into Shen Qiyuan’s eyes.

Who would have thought that Shen Qiyuan didn’t get angry like before? He stepped toward her, his expression very natural: “Let’s go.”

“Go where?” she asked, puzzled.

“I requested the Demon Hunting Order from His Majesty, allowing free entry and exit to the Seventy-two Districts of Lin’an.” He curved his lips slightly, “If we can catch more demons, it would count as merit for both you and me.”

Ruyi: “…”

She looked down at herself, then looked at him: “You want to go demon hunting with me?”

“Since you and I are both undergoing tribulation, naturally, we need to accumulate merit. Demon hunting is the fastest way.”

Slowly raising her hand to wipe her face, Ruyi gave a dry laugh: “The logic isn’t wrong.”

“Then let’s not delay.” He pointed to the street below, “Starting from this side.”

“Wait,” Ruyi blinked, “aren’t you curious about what Wei Zijue and I talked about just now?”

“Why should I be curious?” Shen Qiyuan’s eyes were completely clear. “That’s your business.”

“But what if I made plans with him to do something else?” she said, “Wouldn’t that mean I’d have no time to go demon hunting with you?”

A trace of confusion colored his ink-black pupils as Shen Qiyuan asked: “Would you refuse to accompany me because of someone else?”

His tone was too certain – rather than a question, it was more like a refutation.

Ruyi was puzzled: “Why wouldn’t I?”

“You never would.”

He said, “Back in Skeleton Tower, when I was severely injured and could barely walk, you didn’t take the boat ahead. Instead, you carried me on a detour, walking for a full seven days before reaching Qidou Mountain.”

“When our Dao natures clashed, there were cultivators more suitable for you who offered you better conditions, but you didn’t go.”

“When Master wanted to take you to play at Huatuo Mountain, you prepared happily for several days. But when I wanted to go to Xiling, you jumped off Master’s carriage without a second word and followed me.”

“Even if that person just now resembles me, he ultimately isn’t me. You wouldn’t like him, and naturally you wouldn’t choose him either.”

Shen Qiyuan’s gaze was firm and natural: “Your choice will only be me.”

Ruyi stared at his profile in a daze.

The white mist in her memories scattered from a few more corners. In those corners were countless scenes of her running toward him.

The most formidable female cultivator on Qidou Mountain was completely infatuated with the most formidable male cultivator beside her – everyone knew this, including the male cultivator himself.

Her love was unrestrained and frank. No matter when or where, no matter who she faced, she would always stand united with him, always share his hatred for enemies. No matter what happened, no matter how far apart they were, she would always run toward him with a smile.

The tacit understanding and deep affection accumulated over thousands of years gave him complete confidence.

But.

Ruyi pressed her tongue against her teeth.

Later, she had chosen Wei Zijue over him without hesitation.

Shen Qiyuan had detected the formation on the pleasure boat at the time, but he didn’t break it. Instead, he chose to trust her, probably also because of these memories. In his memories, she loved him deeply.

So when the heavenly punishment approached, what was Shen Qiyuan thinking in his heart?

Her heart ached with a long-absent pain, and Ruyi licked the corner of her mouth.

“Are you going with him?” Seeing her remain silent for a long while, Shen Qiyuan’s brow furrowed. “Is your appointment with him very important?”

“No.” Coming back to her senses, Ruyi smiled brilliantly, “Naturally, demon hunting with you is more important.”

His expression relaxed, and he nodded as if it were only natural: “Good then.”

“Let’s go.” She instinctively reached out to pull him, but he quickly dodged.

Shen Qiyuan was somewhat annoyed: “You’ve completely ignored what I said last time.”

She raised her eyebrows in confusion: “In Purgatory Valley, I held your hand, and in Skeleton Tower, I carried and held you even more. Why didn’t you dodge then?”

“That was different.” He said in a heavy voice, “During training, you and I were fellow cultivators. Physical contact was without guilt.”

“Oh?” A rippling light appeared at the corner of her eyes. “So now if we touch, you would feel guilty?”

Shen Qiyuan forced himself to stay calm: “No.”

This bit of stubbornness was far inferior to his later self. Ruyi couldn’t help but laugh, suddenly blooming with mirth.

The more happily she laughed, the more annoyed Shen Qiyuan became: “I already said no, restrain yourself a bit.”

“Really? I don’t believe it, unless you hold my hand now.” She laughed while raising her hand, her jade-onion fingertips placed before him.

Shen Qiyuan stiffened, unwilling to admit defeat verbally, but not daring to raise his hand either.

“Let’s go.” He flicked his sleeves and turned around. “Demon hunting is urgent.”

Looking at his crimson ear tips, Ruyi laughed and shook her head, then strode to catch up, stepping on his shadow.

Shen Qiyuan glanced sideways, saying irritably: “A thousand-year-old person, still playing such childish tricks.”

Then he complained: “Hurry up and let go, I can’t walk.”

One person being childish wasn’t interesting – it took two thousand-year-old people being childish together to be fun.

Familiar feelings flowed through her mind, and Ruyi felt warmth and swelling in her heart.

So she had indeed been moved by someone before. So when she was infatuated with a person, she was also wholehearted and unable to extricate herself.