In the covered corridors of Flower Dawn Palace, Lu Yao stood gracefully, speaking with Xing Xian. As they talked, a pair of brothers passed by, pausing briefly to greet them with a bow before continuing on their way.
Lu Yao was puzzled. “Are they also residents of this palace? I don’t believe I’ve ever seen them before.”
Xing Xian replied, “Just thousand-year-old peach demons. Lord Divine brought them back and allowed them to cultivate here in Flower Dawn Palace.”
Lu Yao frowned. “Why has he gone to the mortal realm again?”
Xing Xian’s eyes flickered. “He still can’t let go of that girl.”
Her tone was deliberately calm, but there was a hint of probing curiosity in it. Lu Yao, naturally, caught on. With a subtle shift in her gaze, she sighed. “After drinking the waters of the Jade Pool, she should have lost all ties to immortality. It was only because he defied the heavens with his divine power that she was granted another chance. If she fails to ascend in this lifetime, she will remain a mortal forever. He has carried his guilt for so long—it’s no wonder he’s invested in her fate.”
Seeing that Lu Yao showed no signs of anger, Xing Xian let out a quiet huff, her expression tinged with dissatisfaction. “With the tribulation approaching, Lord Divine still spends his time on such trivial matters. Are you not worried?”
“I certainly won’t allow such a thing to happen, and neither will the Emperor.” Lu Yao cut her off, a sharp glint flashing through her beautiful eyes before she quickly masked it with a soft smile. “He ruled the Central Heavens for a hundred thousand years, earning the reverence of all—do you think he would lose his composure and jeopardize such an important return to power over a mere mortal?”
Sensing her displeasure, Xing Xian hurriedly said, “You are right, Celestial Lady. I was only worrying over nothing.”
Lu Yao seemed thoughtful. “What’s strange is that she is but an ordinary mortal, yet I, with my hundred and fifty thousand years of cultivation, am unable to divine her fate. The Emperor refuses to explain why, and even the Divine Consort of Jiuyi does not know the reason.”
Xing Xian laughed. “It’s not just you. Lord Divine himself has been troubled by this mystery for quite some time.”
Lu Yao was surprised. “Even he…?”
Xing Xian nodded. “It is said that when Lord Divine forcefully guided her through reincarnation, something went wrong, altering her fate. Now, even he cannot predict her destiny.”
Lu Yao finally understood. “If that’s truly the case, then it makes sense. No wonder he keeps returning to the mortal realm—he must be afraid of unforeseen consequences. The Divine Consort even reminded me the other day to assist him so he doesn’t become too distracted.”
Xing Xian was displeased. “Are you really going to watch over her?”
Lu Yao’s gaze flickered with amusement, a faint, unreadable smile playing on her lips. “He has gone to such great lengths to atone for his past mistakes. Defying fate itself is no small matter—I am merely a woman with limited abilities. It would be unfortunate if I were to ruin his plans.”
It was always wise to demonstrate a certain level of composure. But from what she had heard, that mortal girl was exceptionally stubborn. If she openly interfered and everything went smoothly, that would be fine. However, should any complications arise, it might cause tension between her and Lord Divine. That would be far too great a loss.
Xing Xian, unaware of Lu Yao’s deeper calculations, only felt reassured by her apparent reluctance. Her expression relaxed. “You are right. Instead, why not take the time to persuade Lord Divine to stop going to the mortal realm so often? She’s a grown woman—surely she doesn’t need this much attention.”
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