"This is the Saintess’s private chamber!?" Su Bei hesitated for a moment before speaking up. "Isn’t this inappropriate? This is your private chamber, after all..." Key Smoke smiled softly. "In the Illusion World, we were supposed to be married. Do we still care about this?" Her words were lightly spoken, her lips slightly parted, exhaling an intoxicating fragrance. It brushed against Su Bei’s face—cool, gentle, and ticklish, like the spring willow breezes of Jiangnan, subtly chilling and stirring the depths of his heart. Su Bei felt a little embarrassed, an uncharacteristic twinge of shyness washing over him. Am I being teased by her in return? "What about the people from the Sword Sect?" Key Smoke gazed at the man who had left an indelible mark on her heart, her emotions a complex tangle. "They’ve already left... they don’t want you anymore." "Is the Ascension Platform over? How long did I sleep?" "It’s over. You didn’t sleep for long, about half a day." "What was the result of the Ascension Platform?" "Naturally, the Dao Sect won..." "I see. That’s a pity. I thought my incredibly cool sword strike should have secured the win." "Actually... you could say you won. Tong Xiu entered Dao Integration." "Yes. You are now the foremost expert below the Dao Integration realm." Su Bei smiled, saying nothing. The foremost expert below Dao Integration... I know my own situation clearly. Key Smoke paused, looking at this man, so much younger than herself, and suddenly asked, "Don’t you care at all about your injuries?" Su Bei raised an eyebrow and said quietly, "As the saying goes, ’Fortune favors the virtuous.’ I’m a man of great destiny, so of course, I’m not worried." I hold the title of Child of Destiny, after all. Mere severed meridians are nothing. Key Smoke had no idea where his confidence stemmed from. She reached out to check the pulse on his wrist and was astonished to find his meridians slowly mending themselves, even if only by a tiny fraction... The room was quiet. So quiet, in fact, that when Key Smoke suddenly spoke, Su Bei was startled. "You don’t know where the Eastern Emperor has gone?" Su Bei caught the faint fragrance of her hair near his nose, his expression puzzled. Is Ji Nanjue still missing? "I really don’t know. Empress Lin was asking me about it just yesterday..." Key Smoke’s eyes narrowed. She recalled the divination she had performed for Ji Nanjue a few days ago; it had shown some ominous signs. The hexagrams, however, were chaotic. Great misfortune, yet followed by good fortune? There was danger, but not fatal. Instead, there might even be some opportunities. Now, her own Heart Demon Tribulation was imminent. Su Bei’s earlier Heart Demon Tribulation had forcibly advanced her own. After some thought, she could only sigh. "Empress Lin has already returned to the Dongfeng Ancient Country. The Eastern Emperor has been away for too long, and many matters require his attention." "During this time, you should stay in the Sacred Land. Don’t go anywhere." "Your sect’s Grand Elder instructed me to take good care of you." Su Bei glanced out the window at a garden in full, splendid bloom. I can’t stay in the Sacred Land for long. The sooner I get to the South Wind Ancient Country, the better. Suddenly, a soft voice reached him. Su Bei shifted his gaze from the vibrant spring scene to the woman beside him. Key Smoke held the bowl, still half-full of medicinal broth, and dipped a white jade spoon into the dark liquid. "My dear, drink your medicine..." After a slight hesitation, he complied, allowing her to place the spoonful of medicine into his mouth. Seeing Su Bei’s expression, Key Smoke smiled and rose to her feet. "You should rest well..." She set down the now empty medicine bowl and left. 「The Saintess’s Manor in the Sacred Sanctuary.」 A peaceful atmosphere pervaded the estate. Several maids had gathered, discussing the events of the Ascension Platform. Their words, spoken and unspoken, were filled with admiration for the man whose single sword strike had seemed to make the heavens laugh. "Elder Su... Oh, how I long for him." "Sigh, I wonder what kind of woman is truly worthy of him." "You’re all still sighing, while I’m already his number one fan!" "Show me your fan badge then!!" Then, one maid suddenly declared, "I’ve met Elder Su. He has an awful temper, and he’s very rough!!" The other maids immediately turned their wide eyes towards her, completely bewildered. They saw her cheeks flush crimson as she gulped, her hands cupping her face. Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭⚑𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮⚑𝕟𝕖𝕥 "So rough! He just went right in without even a greeting!" Die Yi was resting her chin on the stone tabletop, looking listless. Why isn’t that fellow dead yet? Master... Auntie... why did they go to such trouble to reconnect his meridians? Still, if his meridians were crippled and he could no longer cultivate, wouldn’t that be a wonderful thing? The world would be rid of one less menace! But... why do I still feel a little worried about his injuries? Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but sigh at her own complicated feelings, a little sadness unique to a young girl. "Miss Die, what’s wrong? Why the long face?" A maid, her expression a little curious, sat down beside her and asked. Die Yi just shot her a sullen glance and remained silent. "By the way, why has the Eastern Emperor been missing for so long? Logically, he should have come to find the Saintess by now." "Don’t tell me something bad happened to him!" "The Saintess has never allowed anyone into her private chambers before, much less a man. Do you think..." The maids exchanged knowing glances, a peculiar light flickering in their eyes. When they saw Key Smoke emerge from that room, they scattered like startled birds, each hurrying off to their duties, leaving only Die Yi, the "idler," still in place.