Xiang Su lay on the bed tossing and turning—this was the first time she couldn’t fall asleep since getting used to sleeping in a bed. Absent-mindedly stroking her lips, she couldn’t help but think about what happened today.

Gratitude?

She smacked her lips, not knowing why her face felt hot… Junshang had said it with such certainty, yet she always felt something wasn’t right.

Because she was accustomed to keeping the window open, and the nights at Shenghuan Manor were extremely quiet, she still heard the very faint sound of clothing sleeves rustling in flight. “Who?!” Xiang Su was so startled she jumped up from the bed—it was almost dawn, who would come to Liusu Hall at this hour?

The person outside the window seemed not to have expected her to still be awake. Caught off guard, he didn’t answer immediately, but afraid she would be frightened, he reluctantly spoke softly: “It’s me…”

Xiang Su frowned, feeling somewhat reassured. Kunpeng? She walked to the window full of questions, widening her eyes to look at the tall figure outside, carefully confirming his identity.

She couldn’t figure out why he would come looking for her at this hour. To steal something? Was there anything in Liusu Hall that Lord Kunpeng would even fancy? To talk? If she had been asleep, would he wait for her to wake up?

Absolutely impossible. Kunpeng would very wickedly wake her up—he wasn’t someone with a good temper at all, especially lacking in patience.

Close to dawn, the moonlight was very sparse. Xiang Su couldn’t see Kunpeng’s expression very clearly. Ice and frost from the Far North that hadn’t yet melted still clung to his shoulders, faintly glimmering with light in the dark night.

“What do you want?” Xiang Su stood in the room, half a head taller than Kunpeng outside the window, which made her feel she had a great advantage, and her tone unconsciously became arrogant.

Kunpeng didn’t speak. Xiang Su couldn’t help but ask again.

“Do you like Junshang?” Kunpeng suddenly asked this question.

“Huh?” Xiang Su was a bit confused. The words “I dislike Junshang” reached her lips, but she alertly stopped herself.

If she said she disliked Junshang in front of Kunpeng, would she even survive? One swipe of his claws could scratch her to death! Moreover, after the trip to Nine Absolute Mountain, she felt pity and sympathy for Junshang’s circumstances. She had even said she would stay with him, and Junshang had thanked her. Now her feelings toward Junshang… she couldn’t quite describe them, but in any case, they definitely couldn’t be called dislike anymore.

“Mm,” Xiang Su raised her eyebrows, somewhat like pledging loyalty, “Yes, I like Junshang.”

Her decisive statement instead made Kunpeng fall silent again.

Xiang Su felt a bit uneasy. Could it be that this roundabout flattery missed its mark? She certainly couldn’t tell Kunpeng she didn’t like Junshang—this dead bird would definitely tattle on her!

Kunpeng slowly clenched his fists, grateful that such a dark night, when he couldn’t conceal his emotions, made him appear less helpless and pitiful.

Many jokes couldn’t be made. He hadn’t expected that Qinghe’s joking remark would quietly take root in his heart. He didn’t know when he had started to tacitly accept a fact he thought he was very reluctant about—that one day Junshang would betroth Xiang Su to him.

On the road to fetch charcoal, when Wensheng casually mentioned Junshang’s special treatment of Xiang Su, he suddenly understood. Junshang’s repeated small punishments were merely reminders to him.

He was somewhat unwilling to give up, until he heard Xiang Su’s admission with his own ears. This silly little flower tree, from the moment Junshang saved her with his blood, seemed destined to be entangled in an inseparable fate.

“If you wrong Junshang, I’ll kill you!”

Kunpeng spoke coldly, word by word, yet his heart seemed to lighten. Regardless of disappointment, for him, a clear answer was liberation.

Xiang Su shuddered. Why so cruel?! Kunpeng had already turned to leave. Only then did Xiang Su shout indignantly: “Don’t come threaten me so late at night again!”

This was too frightening. Did he come straight from the Far North just to intimidate her so urgently? Too much of a bully—at least wait until daylight!

Kunpeng suddenly turned back around. Though Xiang Su couldn’t see his expression, she felt his glare pierce her painfully. Kunpeng used a teleportation technique and vanished into thin air. Xiang Su stood alone at the window in the sparse moonlight, dazed. Kunpeng… Ugh, everyone in Shenghuan Manor from top to bottom was weird!

The next day, before Wensheng came to invite her, Xiang Su very proactively went to Shengyun Hall for breakfast. Because she hadn’t slept well, Xiang Su was dizzy and muddled, without a bit of energy.

The dishes had already been set out. Dong Tianyun wore a light cyan Bibo brocade robe, reclining on a lounge chair slowly flipping through a book. Xiang Su felt somewhat helpless—right now her head was mush, she couldn’t possibly remember any incantations.

Dong Tianyun lifted his eyes and glanced at her coolly, then lowered them back to his book. Xiang Su pondered, trying to think of a decent excuse to escape this morning’s cultivation. Unexpectedly, Junshang spoke first: “Let’s eat.”

Xiang Su was stunned. He didn’t mention cultivation—wonderful! She immediately smiled happily and walked to the table, looking much more spirited than before.

Kunpeng, as usual, requested an audience below the jade platform. After Dong Tianyun acknowledged him, only then did he teleport up.

While eating sugar pastries, Xiang Su glanced at him sideways. Old and new grudges—he should at least exchange a few glares with her, right? Unexpectedly, Kunpeng had a solemn expression, not even looking at her, treating her completely as air. Xiang Su was a bit surprised. This was the first time meeting face-to-face without suffering his contempt—she was actually a bit unaccustomed to it.

“We’ll go to the Flame Sea today.”

Xiang Su heard Junshang instruct Kunpeng. She immediately swallowed the food in her mouth and pleaded with a smiling face: “Junshang, take me too.”

Dong Tianyun looked at her coolly. “What would you go for? You’d be more hindrance than help.”

Xiang Su widened her eyes ingratiatingly, begging: “What wood spirits like most is to travel around everywhere, to see the world. Junshang, you understand.”

Dong Tianyun coughed awkwardly. Of course he understood, but did she need to say it out loud?

“Junshang…” Xiang Su was ready to cry at any moment—begging this way showed more sincerity.

Dong Tianyun looked at the pages of his book and reluctantly nodded.

Xiang Su almost jumped for joy. She had already inquired clearly from Wensheng—the process of Junshang combining the three swords into one was extremely complex. Fortunately, Junshang was the Lord of Metal, forging was his exclusive divine skill, and combined with his profound cultivation, he could complete this feat that attracted the attention of all three realms.

Forging the sword was difficult, and preparation wasn’t easy either. The most difficult part was taking fire from the Flame Sea. What kind of place the Flame Sea was, she wasn’t too clear, but according to Wensheng, since the last time the Demon Lord took fire, eight hundred years had already passed. This was also a once-in-a-millennium spectacle—she had long determined to shamelessly pester Junshang to take her to see it.

Xiang Su lost interest in eating further and cozied up beside Dong Tianyun with an ingratiating expression. Kunpeng manifested his true form. After Xiang Su waited for him to settle, she carefully and cautiously prepared to mount. Unexpectedly, Junshang, who always treated her as a burden, gracefully extended his hand to her.

Xiang Su looked at that hand, and somehow her face flushed red. She herself found it baffling. To cover up this strange reaction, she grabbed Junshang’s hand with extra generosity and composure. With one pull from him, she easily sat onto Kunpeng’s back.

Junshang held her hand, seeming to have forgotten to let go. Xiang Su looked at him questioningly. He urged Kunpeng forward with his usual majesty, without the slightest abnormality.

Xiang Su frowned slightly. Kunpeng’s flight was unsteady—holding Junshang’s hand was much safer. She had quite painful memories of Kunpeng’s barrel rolls. She tentatively used a bit of force to grasp Junshang’s fingers and wasn’t shaken off. Xiang Su secretly rejoiced. When she sneakily peeked at Junshang, she discovered he was actually smiling slightly too.

After Kunpeng had flown for a while, the airflow noticeably warmed up. Xiang Su adjusted the ribbon hanging on her arm—going to a place with fire, she’d have to rely on it.

At a phoenix’s cry, Xiang Su immediately tensed all over. Looking back, she indeed saw Chilin in bright red and glittering gold flamboyantly catching up. Xiang Su was truly afraid of her—any female within ten feet of Junshang was her enemy.

Only then did Xiang Su realize she was still holding Junshang’s hand. If Chilin saw this, wouldn’t a fireball come burning down on her head? She quickly released his hand and very pretentiously straightened her back, pretending to gaze ahead as if she didn’t know Junshang at all.

Chilin had already caught up to Kunpeng’s right side, glaring at Dong Tianyun with reproach and anger, but didn’t speak in greeting.

Dong Tianyun acted as if he didn’t see her and signaled Kunpeng to slow down. Chilin had no choice but to ride her phoenix ahead.

Kunpeng’s speed became very slow, obviously not wanting to catch up to Chilin again. Xiang Su relaxed, observing Junshang’s reaction—indeed, his face was like still water, his brow slightly furrowed, very obviously displeased. When he was unhappy, she was happy. On the point of disliking Chilin, she hoped to forever maintain the same attitude as Junshang. Although the dragon girl looked a bit awkward, as a wife for Junshang, she was ten thousand times better than Chilin.

“Little Yun, Little Su Bing.” A familiar greeting drifted over leisurely. Xiang Su’s face lit up with a smile as she turned back to look—sure enough, it was Yuanhou Dijun and Sister Qingsui.

The two stood on the same cloud, looking quite well-matched. Behind them on another cloud head, Jin Zhan stood all alone by himself. Jin Zhan usually had no expression, so Xiang Su couldn’t judge his mood. Since he followed silently behind the two, had he already accepted this fact?

Junshang, as always, was rude, sweeping his eyes over Yuanhou Dijun and Sister Qingsui and snorting heavily. Xiang Su waved enthusiastically, making conversation: “What a coincidence.”

Qingsui chuckled. “Not a coincidence. We came specially to watch your Junshang descend into the sea of fire.”

These words sounded somehow off. Xiang Su frowned and thought about it, then made a sound of understanding.

When Kunpeng slowly stopped, Xiang Su was dumbfounded. Many people had actually come—comparable to the number who came the day they retrieved the Jifeng Sword.

The female immortals she’d seen at the East Sea were also here, standing in the distance in their colorful clothes. Seeing Junshang arrive, they bowed from afar but didn’t come closer.

Xiang Su knowingly glanced at Chilin—sure enough, she sat murderously on her phoenix, eyes coldly staring at the female immortals, stroking her sword intermittently.

This posture even intimidated Ziyin.

Dong Tianyun acted as if he saw nothing. On the point of clearing away troubles for him, Chilin was still quite excellent.

“Kunpeng—” Xianji had also come. When she waved at Kunpeng, Xiang Su clearly felt Kunpeng shudder. Xianji wanted to rush over but was grabbed by the arm by her brother Yumu, who glared fiercely at her. This time Xianji seemed very afraid of Yumu. She immediately deflated, looked at Kunpeng resentfully, and obediently stood on Yumu’s cloud without moving again.

Xiang Su looked at the densely packed cloud heads. “Junshang… did you notify them to come watch?” It seemed she wasn’t the one lacking worldly experience—”descending into the sea of fire” truly was a grand spectacle that everyone wanted to see.

Dong Tianyun snorted disdainfully. “Need to notify them?” Countless spies lurked outside Shenghuan Manor—he had deliberately not avoided them.

Xiang Su didn’t think much of it. Some immortals with insufficient cultivation kept fanning themselves with fans, still covered in sweat. Xiang Su had been watching people all along and only now noticed the sea surface below shrouded in mist, with a strange island standing tall and isolated in the gurgling, bubbling water. That island looked very much like a hollowed-out Lingze Mountain. The flat mountain opening continuously spewed hot vapor, looking quite frightening.

“Wait here.” Dong Tianyun summoned a cloud and indicated for Xiang Su to dismount from Kunpeng’s back.

Xiang Su obediently descended onto the cloud. “Wait!” She belatedly called out to Dong Tianyun. “Junshang, where are you going?”

Dong Tianyun looked at her wordlessly. “Into the mountain.” He still answered.

Xiang Su was shocked and grabbed the corner of his robe. Into the mountain? The island spewing hot vapor inside? Sister Qingsui had said descending into the sea of fire, but this was simply descending into a cauldron of oil! She blinked, pulled down the ribbon, and frantically tied it around Dong Tianyun’s waist. “It can at least help…” She saw Junshang smile that bewitching smile again, so beautiful she forgot the rest of her sentence.

Dong Tianyun smiled as he untied the ribbon and draped it over her shoulders. “I’ll go and come right back. You… be careful.” As he spoke, he looked coldly at Chilin, who was staring fixedly in their direction.

“But…” Xiang Su looked at the mountain opening with some fear.

“I’ll be fine.” Dong Tianyun’s eyes held a smile as he urged Kunpeng forward.

Kunpeng cried out long and loud, carrying Dong Tianyun flying toward the mountain opening that erupted with extreme heat and high temperatures. “Go!” Dong Tianyun, afraid he would be injured, stood up and leaped early, lightly tapping his back with his toes to signal him to fly away.

Kunpeng’s wings were swept by the scorching hot air, burning painfully. Taking fire was extremely dangerous—every bit of borrowed force meant less peril. Watching Junshang swiftly fly into the mountain opening, Kunpeng’s emotions surged. Such a Junshang was worth repaying with his life without regret.

Xiang Su watched Kunpeng, who had transformed into human form and flown back, with alarm. His right hand hung abnormally—clearly injured.

“What happened?” She discovered she actually didn’t truly hate him. Seeing him like this, she still felt worried and sympathetic.

“It’s nothing.” Kunpeng frowned, staring tensely at the mountain opening.

Xiang Su gently pushed aside his sleeve. His arm was swollen and red. If just getting close resulted in such burns, then Junshang… Only now did she truly become anxious, having a profound understanding of just how dangerous this trip was.

As time passed, the crowd made increasingly loud buzzing discussions. Everyone looked with surprise and worry at the mountain opening that showed no movement.

“What are you doing?” Xiang Su heard Jin Zhan scold in a low voice. Chilin, taking advantage of everyone’s focus on the mountain opening, had silently maneuvered her cloud behind Xiang Su, but was discovered by Jin Zhan, who blocked her.

“Something barely able to protect itself—get out of the way!” Chilin obviously didn’t take Jin Zhan seriously. To avoid attracting everyone’s attention, she lowered her voice.

Only then did Xiang Su notice Jin Zhan’s flushed cheeks and cracked lips. That’s right—wood spirits feared fire. If not for the ribbon’s protection, she would probably have been dried out by this volcano long ago.

Chilin’s attitude enraged Jin Zhan. He coldly confronted her, showing no intention of stepping aside. Chilin only feared Dong Tianyun somewhat. She completely disdained arguing with this little wood spirit before her. With a flip of her palms, Xiang Su knew this was bad. She knew Chilin’s abilities all too well. She called out a warning and rushed forward wanting to knock Chilin aside.

Seeing her charge over, Chilin was delighted—just what she wanted. The crimson flames spurting from her palms immediately increased to nine levels of spiritual power, practically becoming a wall of fire roaring toward them. Xiang Su was terrified. Instinctively, she opened the feather fan to shield her face. In her panic, spiritual power surged chaotically, and she shouted out the wind-controlling and thunder-controlling incantations in complete disorder.

The ribbon and feather fan immediately spurted out stars and gardenia flowers. The dark stars were like dazzling fireworks, beautiful enough to leave people stunned even in daylight. The white gardenia flowers’ fragrance diffused, gathering into a flower fountain that countered the flames. The scene was so beautiful that all present gazed in stunned silence without a sound. Even Kunpeng forgot to lend her a hand.

Yuanhou was the first to come to his senses. He swiftly drove his cloud forward and used a magical artifact to collect Chilin’s flames. Xiang Su had already exhausted all her strength. Her legs went soft. If not for Jin Zhan supporting her with a deathly pale face, she would have collapsed to the ground.

Actually, Xiang Su’s appearance at this moment was quite embarrassing—her whole body drenched in cold sweat like rain, hair disheveled, face colorless, soft-handed and soft-footed, leaning on Jin Zhan for support. But the scene just now had been too beautiful. Even hundreds of years later, when mentioning this scene of flowers and fire confronting each other, the immortals still praised it endlessly.

Dong Tianyun’s little immortal attendant, the gardenia flower—in this moment, she was so beautiful the heavens and earth lost color, delicate and enchanting. All the male immortals present wanted to be the one supporting her.

Yuanhou was somewhat angry, laughing mockingly and coldly: “Chilin, there are reasons you can’t get married.”

Chilin didn’t dare confront Yuanhou head-on after all. After receiving his ridicule, she could only snort to show disdain.

Qingsui also drove her cloud over, saying with a half-smile: “Chilin, you’ve repeatedly bullied people from my Qingsui Manor. Even if this lord has lost the wood spirit divine artifact, I’m not incapable of dealing with you!”

With two Dijun speaking simultaneously, Chilin couldn’t stubbornly resist further. Slanting her phoenix eyes coldly, she said: “As long as you don’t provoke me, am I someone who causes trouble for no reason?”

Xiang Su truly admired that she had the nerve to say such words. If she wasn’t someone who caused trouble for no reason, who was?!

Yumu and a refined-looking man came over at the right time. Yumu smiled and said: “A misunderstanding—why should everyone take it seriously? Brother Dong Tian has ventured deep into danger. We should wait calmly. Perhaps in a while there will be places where our assistance is needed.”

Xiang Su disliked him even more. What blatant lies—was that a misunderstanding with Chilin? If not for her fire-repelling treasures, would she and Jin Zhan still have their lives?

Yuanhou and Qingsui couldn’t very well continue to confront a junior like Chilin publicly. They forced smiles and said no more, taking the out offered.

Chilin also snorted, flicked her sleeves and left, returning to her previous position and proudly mounting her phoenix.

“This… must be Immortal Xiang Su?” The man who came with Yumu had been staring at Xiang Su. Only when he spoke did Xiang Su notice him. Perhaps because he was Yumu’s friend, or perhaps his somewhat ingratiating smile made her very uncomfortable, Xiang Su immediately disliked this person. “I am Tuoying…”

Xiang Su felt Jin Zhan release the arm supporting her, and he turned to leave. She completely ignored Tuoying’s self-introduction and grabbed Jin Zhan’s arm. “Where are you going?”

Jin Zhan’s face was deathly pale, his expression quite dejected. He shook his head, said nothing, and rode his cloud away.

Xiang Su wanted to call after him but was stopped by Qingsui. “Let him go,” Qingsui smiled bitterly and shook her head. “This child has high pride…” For Jin Zhan, actually needing Xiang Su’s protection to escape death from Chilin’s hands was a helpless humiliation. This kind of disappointment in himself—she who had lost the previous lord’s divine artifact, causing even a junior like Chilin not to take wood spirits seriously—didn’t she feel the same heart-piercing pain?

“Bah!” Yuanhou chuckled, long having lost the majesty from scolding Chilin earlier. “Water immortals are just full of twists and turns in their hearts. If I encountered a woman who could protect me,” he looked at Qingsui with a mischievous smile, “I’d immediately marry her as my wife.”

Tuoying’s words were interrupted, making him somewhat embarrassed. He still wouldn’t give up and continued trying to get Xiang Su’s attention, cupping his fists: “Immortal Xiang Su, I am…”

“Look! Shenghuan Dijun is coming out!” Someone shouted. Everyone cried out and turned to look at the volcanic opening. Tuoying’s words were once again drowned out by the voices of the crowd.