The hot vapor spewing from the volcanic opening had obviously changed. Xiang Su watched intently, feeling that if she blinked she would miss the moment Junshang emerged radiantly. The voices around her gradually lowered as well, everyone concentrating on watching the opening where the hot vapor was diminishing. But a long time passed, and there wasn’t the slightest trace of Dong Tianyun at the mountain opening.

“Kunpeng, why hasn’t Junshang come out yet?” Xiang Su anxiously frowned, continuously wringing her fingers.

Kunpeng’s expression was grave. Seeing his look, Xiang Su felt even more uneasy. Though he said with a firm tone: “Junshang will return,” Xiang Su felt no comfort at all.

Time slowly passed. She didn’t know if it truly was very long, or if waiting made it seem exceptionally prolonged. The immortals who had been watching attentively began whispering among themselves. Hearing them say “Has Dong Tianyun died in the volcano?” made Xiang Su very angry.

Though Junshang had this or that fault, when these people said Junshang wouldn’t return, she wished she could use a gust of wind to blow them all away.

Tuoying and Yumu were especially tense. When Xiang Su was anxiously stamping her feet left and right, she inadvertently glimpsed their expressions—even graver than Kunpeng’s. Seeing them so concerned about Junshang, Xiang Su’s opinion of them improved slightly. Tuoying leaned close to Yumu wanting to say something but was stopped by Yumu’s frown and raised hand. The two of them looked at the mountain opening as if their eyeballs were about to pop out.

“Yuanhou…” Sister Qingsui beside them couldn’t help but speak up, “Isn’t this time too long…”

Hearing this, Yuanhou remained silent in contemplation without answering. Seeing him completely lacking his usual playful smile, Xiang Su felt her heart begin to flutter uncontrollably, as if it wanted to jump out of her throat.

Seeing her brother too preoccupied to mind her, Xianji secretly drove her cloud next to Kunpeng, wanting to say something to him. Seeing how he was forcibly suppressing his worry, she held back after all, only standing silently beside him.

“Ninth Prince.” An immortal on a cloud head not far away cupped his fists toward Yumu. “Shenghuan Dijun has been in the mountain for such a time now, I fear…”

Xiang Su didn’t know how she suddenly became extremely furious. Before that immortal could speak the inauspicious words, she shrilly shouted: “Don’t talk nonsense! Junshang will be fine!”

The scolded immortal was stunned, appearing somewhat surprised.

Qingsui frowned and perfunctorily smoothed things over, not very sincerely reprimanding Xiang Su: “Don’t be rude to Immortal Linye.”

Xiang Su rolled her eyes, sullenly turning her head away. So it was an immortal superior, but since he said Junshang wouldn’t return, even if he were a Celestial Lord she wouldn’t apologize!

Linye snorted coldly. “A thing using its master’s power to bully others! When did it become the turn of Shenghuan Manor’s servants to shout at me? Your master might have already turned to ash by now—what are you all barking about?”

These words detonated Kunpeng’s long-suppressed fury. He was seen rising into the air, instantly manifesting his true form, crying out fiercely and charging straight at Linye.

Yumu clicked his tongue. Tuoying, knowing his status made it inconvenient for him to act, immediately flew up, drew the longsword at his waist, and shouted: “Kunpeng, don’t be presumptuous!”

Just as Tuoying was about to catch up to Kunpeng, a fierce flame suddenly shot over. Tuoying dodged, and Kunpeng had already swept above Linye’s head. Tuoying still wanted to attack, but Chilin had already urged her phoenix forward, charging at him with a ferocious expression. Tuoying had no choice but to not advance further. Kunpeng had already swiped a claw at Linye. Linye blocked with a magical artifact but was pushed back half a step by the swift wind on Kunpeng’s claws. Feeling even more humiliated before so many immortals, he said hatefully: “Beast, when is it your turn to attack me!”

Trouble arose suddenly. The immortals looked at each other in confusion. Qingsui and Yuanhou exchanged glances, tacitly standing aside to watch. With Chilin’s assistance, even if Tuoying acted, Kunpeng absolutely wouldn’t suffer a loss.

Having been humiliated by two junior immortals, Linye became increasingly resentful. Gathering ten levels of spiritual power, he was about to use a killing move against Kunpeng. At this moment, the volcano suddenly made a tremendous “boom” sound, like a firecracker exploding. The mountain opening also abruptly spat out a fountain of fire, then quickly fell back into the mountain body. Dong Tianyun swiftly flew out in the gap between the lava’s rise and fall. Kunpeng couldn’t spare attention for Linye’s killing move and sharply wheeled backward to meet Dong Tianyun.

Dong Tianyun’s entire body still carried scorching hot vapor. Meeting with the moist sea air, it formed a thin mist. He gracefully and elegantly steadied himself on Kunpeng’s back as it whistled toward him.

Linye’s killing move had already struck at this moment. Dong Tianyun raised his hand and flung out a thunder flame. With a tremendous crack, it dissolved Linye’s attack. Linye hadn’t expected Dong Tianyun would return at this moment. For a time he didn’t know what to do, staring blankly at him standing on Kunpeng’s back slowly flying toward him.

Dong Tianyun looked at him a few times and said indifferently: “Even if I turn to ash, no one is permitted to make provocations against Shenghuan Manor.”

Linye shuddered. Yumu knew this was bad and shouted: “Show mercy!” But it was already too late. Dong Tianyun’s finger flicked lightly and casually, and a thunder ball struck toward Linye. Linye still wanted to block it, but his magical artifact had just touched the thunder ball when it was blasted to fragments. That thunder directly struck his chest. His entire person instantly turned to dust, scattering across the sea surface.

Yumu’s face looked terrible. Dong Tianyun glanced at him with his eyes and said coldly: “In the future, control your Heaven Clan’s dogs properly.”

Yumu made no reply.

The immortals were still in shock from Linye being beaten until he vanished in smoke and ashes, not yet recovered. Xiang Su didn’t feel Junshang was tyrannical at all; rather, she felt very vindicated. Watching him slowly fly toward her standing on Kunpeng’s back, her nose stung and she actually cried.

Drawing closer, much of the scorching heat from Dong Tianyun’s body had also dissipated. Only then did Xiang Su see clearly that his appearance was actually somewhat bedraggled. The hem of his long robe had been burned ragged, and even that head of glossy black hair she secretly envied had its ends singed. He extended a hand toward her. She quickly grabbed it tightly and swiftly stepped onto Kunpeng’s back. “Junshang…” His hand was burning hot. Thinking he had almost not returned, tears gushed outward.

“All right, I’m back…” Before the immortals who were all watching this place, Dong Tianyun pretended to be calm and patted Xiang Su’s head.

Hearing him say so ordinarily that he was back, Xiang Su suddenly felt full of grievances. How worried had she been? Hearing those bad people say he died in the volcano, how sad had she been? She cried out with a wail, almost including him in her complaints too.

Dong Tianyun looked at her helplessly. Her weeping and sniffling appearance was truly adorable. He could only gather her into his embrace, lightly patting her back as comfort. “Xiang Su…”

Hearing him call her name, Xiang Su felt heartbroken again. Usually she found him annoying, but if he truly hadn’t returned, who would give her good food, who would vent anger for her, who… could call her in such a tingly way? She pressed both hands against his waist, stood on tiptoes and kissed his lips. She was truly grateful he returned safely.

Dong Tianyun suddenly turned his head away. That kiss ended rapidly. Xiang Su looked questioningly at the flush spreading across his fair face. What was this? Had the volcano really burned him badly after all? She became anxious again.

Nearby Yuanhou and Qingsui both very recklessly burst out laughing. Dong Tianyun glared at them fiercely, but in this situation it had completely no effect.

Yuanhou laughed with abundant charm again. “Oh my, Little Yun, why be embarrassed? Oh, that’s right—your Su Bing stole the spotlight today. Looks like she’ll attract quite a few admirers. I advise you to strike first and claim this spot.”

Dong Tianyun’s complexion returned to normal. He glanced at Xiang Su in his arms. “Is that so?”

Yuanhou smiled wickedly while looking at the forlorn-faced Tuoying in the distance, nodding: “Yes.”

Qingsui covered her mouth with her sleeve, laughing quite deviously. “Look, everyone—the little red snake is so angry she’s about to vomit blood. How pitiful.”

Xiang Su clung to Junshang’s arm to look at her, feeling Sister Qingsui’s schadenfreude was truly tasteless. However, seeing Chilin fly away riding her phoenix without looking back, she was still very happy—at least she wouldn’t come pester Junshang again and take out her anger on her.

Dong Tianyun urged Kunpeng forward. Yuanhou waved his hand flirtatiously. “Leaving already? What’s the rush?”

Dong Tianyun looked at him with a half-smile. “I think your suggestion is not bad.”

Yuanhou raised his eyebrows and smiled quite obscenely. “Today your vital energy is greatly damaged—can you still manage it?”

Dong Tianyun didn’t even look at him and urged Kunpeng to leave. Xiang Su leaned out of his embrace to wave goodbye to him and Sister Qingsui.

Yuanhou still said quite solemnly: “Don’t forget… Little Su Bing isn’t even five hundred years old yet!”

Xiang Su looked up at Junshang in confusion. He narrowed his eyes coldly again. She was really afraid he would harm Yuanhou Dijun. Though Yuanhou Dijun was sometimes crazy and foolish, he was a good person!

Returning to Shenghuan Manor, Kunpeng stopped on the jade platform before Shengyun Hall. Dong Tianyun pulled Xiang Su through the hall doors. This was Xiang Su’s first time entering inside Shengyun Hall. She widened her eyes looking around. Her Liusu Hall already had so many good things—here there must be treasures piled like mountains and seas, right?

The result was a bit disappointing. The furnishings were very simple and unadorned—large chairs, large tables. Imposing was imposing, but empty. It didn’t seem like a place where someone lived. Going around a screen was a door with a beaded curtain. Xiang Su’s eyes sparkled as she swept around—so this was where Junshang slept. Junshang’s bed was very large. The bed curtains had pale ink landscape paintings. Aside from several luminous pearls, Junshang’s bedroom didn’t have any particular treasures either.

Junshang showed no intention of stopping. Going around a small door beside the bed, there was still more inside. Xiang Su smiled happily—the further back they went, would there be better things hidden?

Exiting the door, they were actually already in the back courtyard. A medium-sized artificial mountain had a waterfall with abundant water flowing down, gathering into a large pool. The pool was paved with polished black jade stone. The water on it was crystal-clear, luxurious yet not creating an abrupt feeling with the mountain stones. The pool water should be hot springs—mist swirled over the water surface. Xiang Su discovered the mist didn’t scatter with the wind. There should be a barrier over the pool. Lifting her head to look carefully, sure enough—the leaves and petals from flower trees extending from behind the mountain couldn’t fall in. Xiang Su was amazed. Junshang truly was someone who knew how to enjoy life.

Junshang kept not speaking. Xiang Su thought it was because of those inexplicable words Yuanhou Dijun said when they parted that made Junshang unhappy.

Dong Tianyun silently removed the burned outer robe and casually conjured an exquisite pair of scissors. He glanced back at Xiang Su and raised his hand slightly. Xiang Su had already been trained to be very perceptive. She immediately came forward obsequiously to take the scissors.

Dong Tianyun still didn’t speak but gracefully sat at the edge of the black jade pool with his back to her. Xiang Su understood completely, kneeling behind him and carefully trimming his singed hair.

“Xiang Su.” He called her name lowly.

“Mm?” Xiang Su was concentrating entirely on cutting hair, not paying much attention.

“Do you… want to always be together with me?” he asked in a calm tone.

Xiang Su was stunned, stopping with the scissors in hand. Always… did that mean for a lifetime? Their lifetimes were too long. Always together? She had already determined that after he finished forging the sword, she would return to Qingsui Manor.

Seeing she didn’t answer, Dong Tianyun slowly turned around. Sitting, he was exactly at eye level with the kneeling Xiang Su. He said nothing, only quietly looked into her eyes.

Xiang Su nearly couldn’t hold the scissors. She couldn’t tell if her heart felt numb or her body felt numb. When Junshang looked at her like this, she felt wretchedly that even if he wanted her life, she would be willing to give it.

“Mm… all right…” She actually still wanted to negotiate conditions, like not speaking to her in that sarcastic way, not making her suffer losses silently whenever he got angry. But having just said “all right,” she was pulled into his embrace and pushed down beside the black jade pool. “Careful!” She had scissors in her hand!

Dong Tianyun didn’t even look. With a wave of his hand, the scissors slipped from her hand and clattered as they slid far away across the stone platform.

As for Junshang coming to “thank” her again, Xiang Su wasn’t too surprised. But did he have to press down on her? His mouth was busy again—she was having trouble breathing! She protested with various sounds, but to Dong Tianyun’s ears, these were extremely charming moans. After kissing for a while longer, he lifted his head. Xiang Su breathed in large gulps, raised her leg and pushed his waist with her knee. “Junshang, don’t press on me. It’s very uncomfortable.”

Dong Tianyun laughed lowly. “I’m also very uncomfortable.”

Xiang Su snorted unconvinced. He was the one pressing on her—what did he have to be uncomfortable about! Xiang Su discovered he was looking at her that way again. Those beautiful eyes instantly sucked her soul right in, especially being so close that their noses were almost touching—she couldn’t withstand it!

“Xiang Su…” He called her in a low voice, his tone somewhat lingering. Xiang Su felt herself go limp all at once. What kind of sorcery was this? She wanted to learn it too! “If it’s truly decided, we must conduct a contract ceremony.”

There was a ceremony… Xiang Su’s hands were pressed down by him, so she could only lift her chin to look at the sky in a thinking pose. “Then…” She rolled her eyes, then looked at him. “Can Junshang guarantee to treat me well this lifetime, not get angry at me, not harm me secretly, not withhold good food when angry, not let Chilin burn me with fire again, not let Kunpeng peck me with his beak anymore…”

She racked her brains to state every single requirement she could think of. She was so focused that she didn’t even notice Junshang had already stood up and was carrying her into the water pool.

The pool water was somewhat hot and also deep. Xiang Su felt herself floating on the surface unable to touch bottom, and could only tightly embrace Junshang’s neck.

When Junshang smiled, Xiang Su couldn’t help but want to smile along with him. “Mm, I agree to everything.” He said very readily.

Xiang Su hadn’t expected him to be so generous today. If all these could be accomplished, following by his side for a lifetime would be quite good! She went to “thank” him with a beaming smile. This time he didn’t dodge; instead he bit her lip and “thanked” her back, until they were both somewhat breathless before separating from each other.

“When there are people around, you can’t thank me like this.” As he spoke, he put on a resentful stern face.

Xiang Su nodded, but he “thanked” her again, saying while their lips and teeth were entwined: “When it’s just the two of us, you can.”

Xiang Su hung on his neck, questioningly yet leisurely kicking at the water rhythmically. “Junshang, does the ceremony require removing clothes?”

Dong Tianyun smiled with pressed lips. “Yes, I’ll help you remove yours, you help me remove mine.”

Xiang Su beamed with smiles again. Junshang removed her clothes, and she also stripped him bare, feeling this was very equal, no longer oppressed.

The water surface was thick with mist. Xiang Su could only see Junshang’s perfectly lined neck and shoulders. After being moistened by the water vapor, Junshang’s skin looked even better than hers after soaking in Qingze Pool. She couldn’t help but touch it—she even wanted to take a bite. Junshang touched her too. Xiang Su felt this was very normal. Following his example, she also pinched his chest. It was hard—she couldn’t grasp anything, could only rub against it.

She felt Junshang’s throat rumble lightly. Her body felt cool—he had lifted her out of the water. He also stepped up the steps to the pool edge. When he placed her on the black jade, Xiang Su was a bit unwilling. “It’s cold…”

Junshang pressed down on her again. His voice was also muffled: “It’ll be warm in a moment…”

When the ceremony began, Xiang Su again used her knee to push him away, whimpering: “It hurts…”

Hearing this, Junshang laughed lowly, with indescribable allure and charm. He “thanked” her again. The time was a bit long. Xiang Su felt herself unable to breathe properly for an extended period, her head completely blank. When sharp pain suddenly attacked, she cried out with a wail, wanting to twist and throw him off but discovering her hands and feet were completely restrained by Junshang.

“What… what kind of ceremony is this?!” Xiang Su cried out accusingly, feeling she’d been deceived again.

A thin layer of sweat appeared on Dong Tianyun’s forehead. He smiled bitterly. “The ceremony for being together forever. Look, aren’t we ‘together’ now?”

He lifted his body slightly. Xiang Su craned her neck to look, and indeed they were…