“You believe being a demon is the better path?”
“The heavens do not tolerate demons or ghosts.”
“Every few millennia, divine retribution descends.”
“Very few survive past ten thousand years—how can you speak of eternity?”
The moment his words fell, something miraculous happened.
The half-withered peach tree suddenly came back to life.
Its dying leaves detached from the branches, floating gently to the ground.
Tender green buds sprouted in their place, followed by delicate pink blossoms.
Bathed in the soft drizzle, the flowers trembled weakly, fragile yet filled with newfound vitality.
And beneath those blossoms stood a man whose radiance outshone the bloom of a thousand flowers.
To effortlessly restore the life force of a tree—Wu Ling finally realized who this man was.
A look of pure shock crossed his face.
He dropped to his knees, bowing deeply.
“It is an honor to be in your divine presence, Lord Shen Zun.”
“I once had the fortune of seeing your esteemed visage at the Flower Festival.”
“Yet today, I failed to recognize you immediately. I deserve to die for my offense.”
The man in gold lowered his gaze, smiling faintly.
“A thousand years of cultivation is not easily gained.”
“You are already close to immortality—why abandon the path so readily?”
“You and your brother are destined for celestial fortune.”
“Why not train under me? If you do, you will both attain great achievements one day.”
Wu Ling hesitated, glancing at the peach tree beside him.
“But…”
The High God understood his hesitation and sighed.
“This is fate.”
“You must let go of your attachments.”
“Go with your brother to the Flower Palace and await your orders.”
Wu Ling, who had initially been unwilling to leave Bi Qin, was now overjoyed.
He lowered his head in reverence.
“Thank you, Lord Shen Zun.”
With a sweep of his long sleeve, both Wu Ling and the peach tree vanished without a trace.
* * *
Hong Ning let out a bitter smile.
This man…
He could see through a person’s weaknesses at a glance.
He always knew exactly what to say.
Every sharp edge was hidden beneath a gentle smile—never exposing even the slightest vulnerability.
Ever since his banishment, he had truly kept to himself, no longer participating in any major affairs of the Heavenly Court.
Wait.
Banishment?
He was banished?
Since when?
Shocked by the sudden thought, Hong Ning felt a wave of confusion.
She tried to recall where the idea had come from, but no matter how hard she searched her memory, nothing came to mind.
Right now, though, she had no energy to dwell on others' affairs.
Her limbs felt icy cold, exhaustion weighing down on her, and she knew it was due to her injuries.
She reached out to steady herself against the wall, then turned to head back to her room.
But after taking just two steps, her vision darkened.
A violent wave of dizziness struck, and her legs faltered beneath her.
A pair of hands reached out from the side and caught her.
"Recklessly drawing blood from your heart will shorten your lifespan."
His voice was gentle.
"If you truly love the mortal world, then cherish your life. Don’t do this again."
The rain had grown heavier, carried in by the wind, dampening the eaves and their clothes.
Perhaps it was due to her dazed state, but his voice, when it reached her ears, seemed to carry an unfamiliar tenderness.
The dizzy spell passed quickly, and her vision cleared once more.
She found herself cradled in his arms.
His warm, gentle eyes were dimmed, devoid of color.
He sat quietly on the stone steps, holding her.
She lay sideways against his chest.
Feeling that their posture was far too intimate, Hong Ning frowned, intending to push herself upright.
But for some reason, his embrace had an inexplicable pull, making her forget to resist.
A fierce sense of familiarity surged through her.
This moment—this scene—
It was as if she had been here before.
“Hold me first.”
“We’ll talk about it later.”
“Then I’m not going.”
“It’s a rare opportunity. Why wouldn’t you go?” His voice was helpless yet indulgent.
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