"I'm not tired, I'll carry you."

Pei Zhi quickly declined, "Actually, I'm not that tired. Climbing the stairs and sweating a bit is good."

Zhong Changyuan raised his eyebrows slightly, remained silent, and simply watched Pei Zhi quietly.

Pei Zhi really didn't dare to provoke Zhong Changyuan, so she could only obediently lie on Zhong Changyuan's back.

Upon seeing this, Gao Shijie quickly said that he had something to do and flew away on his sword.

In reality, Gao Shijie had someone recall all his disciples to prevent them from seeing anything they shouldn't have.

At the very least, we must ensure that no disciple encounters Zhong Changyuan and Pei Zhi on their way back to the mountain.

Fortunately, Zhong Changyuan was on foot, so Gao Shijie was also in time.

Pei Zhi lay on Zhong Changyuan's back, looking at the surrounding scenery, and her heart calmed down.

"Master, don't you feel that you've been acting a little differently lately?"

Zhong Changyuan countered, "Have you ever considered that this is the real me?"

Pei Zhi bit her lip and said no more.

"You don't know that when I announced your marriage to Sikong Ren, I wanted to kill him."

"I have been consciously restraining myself, but why should I restrain myself?"

Zhong Changyuan retorted, "Why should I watch you holding hands? Why should I watch you smile at him?"

"Why must I watch you go to the demon realm with him, unable to do anything about it?"

Pei Zhi paused slightly. Judging from Zhong Changyuan's words, it seemed that Zhong Changyuan had been interested in her for a long time... But why?

After fulfilling the original owner's wish, Pei Zhi maintained a distance from Zhong Changyuan.

Why did Zhong Changyuan end up like this in the end?

Pei Zhi asked curiously, "Master, when did you realize that you had strange feelings for me?"

Previously, Pei Zhi had no idea how Zhong Changyuan had suddenly become like this.

"I don't know either."

"Anyway, I just didn't like Sikong Ren, and then I was a little envious of Qi Yan."

Zhong Changyuan didn't understand why he had that kind of mindset at the time.

It wasn't until this time, when Pei Zhi returned to his side, that Zhong Changyuan felt a sense of having lost something and then regained it.

This is a feeling that is even more advanced than his cultivation level, and even makes him happier.

Pei Zhi put her arm around Zhong Changyuan's shoulder, said nothing, but let out a deep sigh.

"So, stop making trouble and just stay by my side from now on."

Pei Tianming stood on the main hall, watching Zhong Changyuan carry Pei Zhi back to Wuwang Peak.

Gao Feng looked up at the sky and said, "I have a feeling that the sky is about to change."

"Have Gao Shijie send a message to Pei Zhi: please go out less often in the future."

In this way, Zhong Changyuan and Pei Zhi will be alone on Wuwang Peak, and they can do whatever they want with them.

Gao Feng nodded, "But this isn't a long-term solution."

Pei Tianming gazed in the direction of Wuwang Peak: "There's no other way right now."

There's nothing anyone can do about Zhong Changyuan right now; let's just take it one day at a time.

Gao Shijie couldn't get in touch with Sikong Ren directly, but fortunately, he was able to contact Liu Meiniang.

Gao Shijie sent a message to Liu Meiniang and waited two days before receiving her reply.

Liu Meiniang directly arranged to meet Gao Shijie in Linglong Town.

Gao Shijie sensed that something big must have happened, so he stopped talking and packed his things, heading towards Linglong Town.

When Gao Shijie saw Liu Meiniang, he almost didn't recognize her.

Where is the arrogance of Liu Meiniang now?

What's wrong with you?

Liu Meiniang grabbed Gao Shijie's hand and said, "I'm telling you, the Demon Lord is acting strangely."

Gao Shijie hurriedly asked, "What happened?"

"My father, along with a group of elders, went to see the Demon Lord for some reason, and then never came back."

Liu Meiniang was worried about her father. "I went to the palace to ask, and the protector said that there was a problem with the ancient tree, and my father and the others will not be able to come back anytime soon."

Gao Shijie didn't understand. "The Ancient Tree of Mitian is a treasure of the demon realm. If something goes wrong, your father and the others will definitely be in the palace discussing countermeasures. It's normal that they won't be able to come back, right?"

Liu Meiniang quickly shook her head, "I went to check on it secretly, and the branches and leaves of the ancient tree have started to turn yellow, looking like it's about to die."

"Is it really that serious?" Gao Shijie was also somewhat surprised. "All the demon lords in your demon realm have been nurtured by the ancient tree. If the ancient tree withers and dies, this matter will indeed be quite difficult to handle."

Liu Meiniang lowered her voice, "I suspect it was done by someone."

Ever since Elder Liu went to the palace and didn't return, Liu Meiniang has been very worried.

After secretly going to investigate, she remained uneasy, but had no one to talk to.

Such a momentous event, if it were to spread in the demon realm, would surely cause panic.

Gao Shijie speculated, "Is it because this tree has lived for too long that it's dying?"

Liu Meiniang rolled her eyes. "This is obviously done by someone."

Although Liu Meiniang knew that it was not a good idea to speculate about the Demon Lord without evidence.

But currently, apart from the Demon Lord, there is probably no one in the entire demon realm who can do anything about the ancient tree.

"I suspect that the Demon Lord did something. You have to help me tell Pei Zhi this news and ask her to think of a way to stop the Demon Lord from continuing, as this will destroy the Demon Realm."

Gao Shijie was also somewhat embarrassed upon hearing this.

“Pei Zhi is trapped inside the barrier, so I rarely see her.”

Liu Meiniang raised an eyebrow: "What?"

"Isn't she your sect leader's daughter? That disciple of some sword immortal? With such a powerful status, who's going to keep an eye on her?"

Gao Shijie pursed his lips, somewhat hesitant to tell Liu Meiniang.

Liu Meiniang is, after all, a person from the demon realm, and if word gets out, it will inevitably sound bad.

"Just tell me what's wrong, stop beating around the bush. I've already told you about something as big as the ancient tree incident, and you're still hiding it from me?"

Gao Shijie thought about it and realized that was indeed the case: "Then let's keep it a secret from each other."

"Uncle Zhong has locked Pei Zhi up."

"Why?" Liu Meiniang asked, puzzled. "Did Pei Zhi get into trouble, or did she fail to meet her studies? Or did she not cultivate properly?"

Gao Shijie shook his head at them all, "He seems..."

"What does it look like?"

Gao Shijie hesitated to speak, "Uncle Zhong seems to like Pei Zhi."

After saying that, Gao Shijie shuddered as if he had goosebumps.

Although Gao Shijie was convinced that Zhong Changyuan had ulterior motives towards Pei Zhi.

However, it's hard for Zhong Changyuan to admit that he likes Pei Zhi.

Liu Meiniang wondered if she was hallucinating: "What?"

“I said that Uncle Zhong likes Pei Zhi, so he locked her up.”

Liu Meiniang clicked her tongue twice, her expression showing utter disdain.

"You cultivators have such elaborate methods too?"

"A teacher-student relationship?"

"captivity?"

Liu Meiniang shuddered, seemingly unable to bear it any longer. "Vulgar, it's really too vulgar."