Chapter 28 replied, "Bai Lisheng, you've forgotten about it too."...

Upon hearing that seemingly gentle and composed voice, Hua Xun's fingertips trembled uncontrollably.

Perhaps only a few breaths passed, or perhaps a long time, but she finally calmed down, turned around, and smiled as usual, saying with a start, "Jin Huan, it's you. What brings you here so late?"

Jin Huan stared at her expressionlessly, stroking the teacup in his hand, then took a sip, and placed the teacup on the table with a soft "clatter".

Hua Xun's heart trembled slightly, overwhelmed by the suffocating feeling of impending death, but she could only force herself to remain calm: "Young Madam Fang said you had already left. I thought you were no longer with the Chen family."

Jin Huan rested his hand on the wooden table, his fingers tapping lightly and casually: "Jin Huan is indeed not at the Chen family's house."

Hua Xun's heart skipped a beat. Hearing his almost frank response, she was actually a little afraid that he would reveal his true identity.

"Are you here to collect the reward?" Hua Xun didn't respond to his question, but took out a heavy money bag from her purse. "The Chen family hasn't given me the reward yet. If you're in a hurry to leave, I can pay it to you first."

Jin Huan stared at the money pouch in her hand, then slowly raised his eyes after a long while, looked at her tense face, and smiled, "When did you guess my identity?"

Hua Xun's fingers tightened slightly: "I don't understand what you're talking about."

"Is that so?" Jin Huan asked back, quietly standing up and walking step by step to her.

Hua Xun's eyelashes trembled, and she involuntarily took a small step back, looking towards the door.

“Chang Sang Jiuqing’s clones only possess one or two tenths of the original body’s magical power,” Jin Huan said slowly. “If you want to rely on him to save you, it’s just the right time for me to settle both my old and new scores with him.”

Hua Xun suddenly looked up at him.

Baili Sheng stared intently into her eyes. He remembered that during those ten years, every time she saw him, those eyes were always smiling.

But now, all that remains is fear and defensiveness.

He disliked it very much.

Baili Sheng raised his hand, intending to cover her eyes.

Before he could even touch her eyelids, he felt a sharp pain on the back of his hand.

In her panic, Hua Xun condensed the dark blue spiritual energy in her hand into a blade of light, and unconsciously slashed the back of his hand hard.

Bright red blood immediately seeped out, dripping onto the ground.

It was particularly jarring against that pale skin.

Baili Sheng lowered her eyes, looking at the unsuspecting wound on her hand.

Inappropriately, he remembered a small matter at that moment.

Hua Xun used to be very afraid of him bleeding.

As new flesh and blood grew, the old bone and blood fell off, and the wound was slow to heal. She was so anxious that her eyes reddened, and in her haste, she covered his wound and asked him anxiously, "Why is there so much blood?"

But now, she can create wounds on him with her own hands.

Baili Sheng raised his eyes and looked at Hua Xun: "What? Did you think I was going to kill you?"

Hua Xun pursed her lips tightly, her eyes slightly darkening.

She hadn't expected that Baili Sheng wouldn't dodge.

With his magical powers, he could easily sweep her aside with a wave of his sleeve.

Baili Sheng chuckled softly. The handsome young man with honey-colored skin began to pull away, his eyebrows and eyes like a slowly blooming mandala flower, alluring, beautiful and dangerous.

It's the look of Baili Sheng.

Hua Xun looked at him as he revealed his true form, her eyes showing a hint of panic, and her gaze gradually dimmed.

I still ran into him.

She lowered her eyes, no longer able to pretend she didn't know his true identity, and took the initiative to explain, "Meeting you was just a coincidence, and I never expected to meet you in the human world."

Baili Sheng's gaze suddenly darkened.

The first thing she said when she saw him in person was that she never expected to meet him.

Seeing his dark eyes, Hua Xun felt a chill run down her spine. Then, remembering something, she quickly added, "You can rest assured, I have never told anyone what happened during those ten years."

Baili Sheng's eyes grew even more somber, tinged with dark demonic energy: "Is that so?"

As he spoke, he took half a step closer to her.

Hua Xun almost immediately took two steps back, spiritual energy condensing in his palm again, his face tense, full of caution and vigilance.

Baili Sheng gradually stopped walking, staring intently at her every move.

Another drop of blood slid from the wound on the back of his hand to his fingertip, accumulating little by little before hitting the ground and splashing up a silent spray of blood.

Hua Xun smelled the pervasive stench of blood, and the spiritual energy in his palm stagnated slightly before gradually dissipating.

She looked down at the back of his hand.

The wound was deep; she had thought he was going to gouge out her eyes, and had used all her strength.

Baili Sheng's fingertips twitched slightly as her gaze fell upon the spot.

After a long while, Hua Xun lowered her guard and called out softly, "Baili Sheng." She called him as she had called his name every time over the past ten years.

Only she always liked to call him by his full name.

Baili Sheng looked into her eyes.

“I know you loathe those ten years,” Hua Xun said softly as she gradually calmed down, “but for me, I never felt those ten years were so terrible.”

“That is my past, and I will not deny its existence. Unless you completely erase it from your consciousness, it will remain in my memory forever.”

Baili Sheng's eyes flickered slightly.

Forever...?

However, Hua Xun continued, "But all of that is in the past. Not to mention revealing your secret, I myself rarely recall those past events anymore."

"So, you should forget about it too."

The faint light in Baili Sheng's eyes froze, then sank into an even deeper darkness.

After a long while, he finally found his voice, which was calm and without any inflection: "You said you rarely recall those things anymore?"

Hua Xun nodded: "Yes."

The moment she admitted it, Baili Sheng's injured hand suddenly moved.

It was an unconscious tremor, only a slight, spasm-like movement.

Then, Baili Sheng chuckled briefly: "You don't actually think that I would remember those humiliating things, do you?"

Humiliation...?

Hua Xun paused for a moment, then lowered her eyes, ignoring his disdain for ten years, and said sincerely, "It's great that you can forget."

At the very least, he wouldn't want to kill her because of the past.

Baili Sheng watched her expression closely, not missing a single change.

Unable to detect even the slightest hint of pretense, he abruptly withdrew his gaze, gave a cold laugh, and walked outside.

Hua Xun's tense heart gradually relaxed.

The door opened by itself without any wind, but Baili Sheng stopped at the doorway.

Hua Xun's heart leaped into her throat once again.

As if sensing her fear, Baili Sheng stood frozen at the door for a long time before turning to look at her, his voice hoarse: "What do you think of Qingjiao as the Demon Queen?"

Fairy Qingjiao?

Thinking of her beautiful face and kind nature, Hua Xun sincerely said, "Fairy Qingjiao is very good and a perfect match for you."

Baili Sheng's back paused slightly, and the demonic energy around him surged even more wildly. He stepped out of the room without saying a word.

Not far away, under a plum tree, a white figure was quietly admiring the flowers. Hearing the sound, the figure looked at him, showing no surprise in his eyes, but only smiling and nodding: "Demon Lord."

Baili Sheng stared blankly at this emotionless and desireless so-called "god," then let out a soft sneer before his figure vanished instantly.

The door was slammed shut by a gust of wind and then violently opened again with a loud bang.

Hua Xun stared intently at the empty room, the demonic energy and bloody stench around him gradually dissipating, and gently exhaled.

She hesitated for a moment, then walked into the courtyard.

The deity remained standing in the same spot, smiling at her, as if he would always remain the same, unmoved.

“My Lord,” Hua Xun stepped forward, wanting to say something, but only one sentence came out, “I want to go back to White Mist Cliff to see the peach blossoms.”

*

The next morning, in front of the Chen residence.

The divine lord Jiuqing stood gently to one side.

Hua Xun focused on counting the reward money in her hand. After confirming that every penny was correct, she carefully put the money bag into her purse and looked at Chen Changyan, who had come to see her off: "Thank you for the reward."

Chen Changyan scoffed: "You saved me, why would the Chen family lack your money?"

Hua Xun glanced at him, then looked behind him: "Where are Old Madam Chen and Young Madam?"

Chen Changyan frowned and said, "Why are you talking so much?"

“Mother was bedridden, and after she recovered, she said she wanted to go to the temple to worship Buddha. As for Fang Shi,” Chen Changyan frowned even more, “who knew she would fall ill again and not leave her room all night, not even having breakfast…”

His voice trailed off when he caught Hua Xun's gaze, then his face darkened: "Since you two have already received the reward, I will not see you off any further."

Hua Xun withdrew her gaze and walked towards the deity not far away: "Sir, let's go too."

The deity glanced at Chen Changyan, then looked at Hua Xun, and nodded with a smile: "Alright."

The two walked side by side toward the direction where the sun was rising.

Chen Changyan remained standing in front of the Chen residence gate, watching the two leave. Only after they were out of sight did he straighten his clothes and slowly walk towards the residence.

The originally leisurely pace became somewhat anxious as they stepped into the familiar courtyard.

When he reached the familiar door, Chen Changyan looked at the familiar white plum tree outside the door, hesitated for a long time, and then knocked on the door.

The room was deathly silent.

Chen Changyan hesitated for a moment, then pushed the door open with a little force.

The room was filled with a familiar fragrance, and the lotus leaves and flowers embroidered on the exquisite screen were the same as the sachet in her bosom.

The morning sun streamed into the room, casting a warm glow.

He raised his hand and finally touched the object.

A soft footstep sounded outside the door, and Fang Qinglian walked in carrying a bundle. She was startled when she saw the man in the room, and the bundle fell to the ground, scattering and revealing her packed luggage.

"What are you doing here?" Fang Qinglian frowned, staring at him warily.

Chen Changyan stared intently at the woman, his gaze falling on the faint scar on her forehead, the missing little finger, and her injured ankle. His eyes suddenly reddened.

Fang Qinglian was silent for a moment, then took out a letter from her sleeve: "This is a divorce agreement. We should get it done as soon as possible..."

“Little lotus seedpod,” Chen Changyan suddenly spoke, cautiously.

The divorce papers in Fang Qinglian's hand fluttered to the ground. She looked up in surprise, and after a long while, tears streamed down her face.

The rising sun shone on the two of them, and their shadows, one long and one short, gradually overlapped.

*

"What if the husband that the young mistress has wholeheartedly chosen, the one with whom you have spent half your life, is not human?"

"Whether he is human or demon, he is the husband I have chosen for this life."

"If you want to stay by her side, you must give up more than a hundred years of cultivation and become a mortal with only a few decades of lifespan, living as your enemy. Are you really willing?"

- "Willingly".

*

Hua Xun was once again guided by the immortal light to Baiyujing.

The avatar of the deity, summoned by the main body, had already transformed into a golden light and was absorbed into the body.

Meanwhile, Hua Xun was using his wind-riding technique to fly towards White Mist Cliff.

Perhaps due to her practice over this period of time, she felt that the meridians in her body had widened considerably, and her magical power was circulating more and more smoothly.

Flying to the top of White Mist Cliff, Hua Xun could see from afar that the once snow-white cliff was now covered with peach blossoms in full bloom.

The mountainside is covered with peach trees, one after another. A gentle breeze blows, and the petals fall in a colorful shower. The petals dance lightly with the mist, weaving an endless crimson brocade.

The snow-white figure radiating divine light before the peach tree, with its timeless gentleness, stood amidst the swirling celestial mist; even its silhouette was captivating.

Hua Xun was stunned for a long time before slowly descending into the celestial mist of White Mist Cliff.

A petal landed on her head, and she saw the deity turn his head and look at her. His black hair fell down, his eyebrows and eyes were as beautiful as a painting, and his gaze was like a vast sea, encompassing everything.

Hua Xun thought that she was probably just a hypocrite, like Lord Ye who loved dragons but was afraid of them. When she was in the human realm, she wanted to see the true form of the God Lord when she saw the clone that concealed the divine light, but when she actually saw it, she was too embarrassed to look directly at him.

"My Lord." In the end, Hua Xun managed to squeeze out only two words, her ears turning red.

The deity smiled and nodded: "I'm back."

The word "brief" was just like what he would always say when she returned from picking peach blossoms in the peach orchard.

It's like... no matter where she goes afterward, he will always be here to welcome her back.

Hua Xun nodded vigorously, about to say something, when a shrill cry pierced the silent sky, startling the petals into a flurry of falling.

"Cheer—"

Hua Xun looked in the direction of the sound and saw Liu Huo glaring with eyes burning with rage, spreading its large, fiery red wings, dragging its tail which looked like it was about to catch fire, and opening its sharp beak as it charged straight at her.

The divine bird's graceful form has vanished without a trace.

Hua Xun remembered something and, forgetting all her shyness, hurriedly ran behind the God Lord: "God Lord, save me!"

*

Jiuqing had withdrawn his spirit into his body half an hour ago.

One moment, someone beside him was calling him "Divine Lord, Divine Lord" repeatedly; the next moment, there was only the eternal silence of White Mist Cliff.

For the first time, he was struck by how quiet it was here.

Even though he could hear the rustling wind, the sound of petals falling from branches, and the drifting of clouds, he still couldn't help it.

It's too quiet.

Until this moment.

The crisp cries of chasing and begging echoed through the cliffs, dispelling the loneliness of the entire mountain.