Ye Yu remained alone in the spacious guest chamber with Zheng Nuanshou. The sudden quiet felt uncanny. He wondered why Zheng Nuanshou had insisted on speaking with him alone, dismissing Li Ruowang and Yao Wuyai. Could it be...?
“I like you!” Zheng Nuanshou declared earnestly.
She was nothing like the shy girl he’d first met; now she spoke with unwavering confidence. The abrupt confession took Ye Yu by surprise. Before he could answer, she went on:
“To be precise, after the Heavenly Calamity, I came to admire you greatly. At that time, I was so weak that I kept these feelings hidden for a very long time. Now I’ve awakened again and my memories have merged—I had to tell you, both for myself and for the girl I once was. So... what’s your answer?”
Although her face was calm, her fists clenched tightly inside her sleeves betrayed her nerves. She’d always believed the love one felt at eighteen was pure—unclouded by concerns of wealth, temperament, or tolerance. After the calamity, her cultivation had been reduced to near nothing, and her memories had stopped at the time shortly after she ascended into the Celestial Realm. Back then she’d been innocent, her heart containing only two thoughts: restoring the Exorcist Sect’s glory, and quietly loving Ye Yu without a word to anyone. Every meeting with him had filled her with joy.
Yet she’d never dared confess—seeing his partner, each as fair as a heavenly maiden—she felt unworthy. Now, with her memories restored and her position once again as sect lord—and a true Immortal Emperor (albeit at half-step, her power still stabilizing)—she resolved to act on her heart.
At that moment, Ye Yu realized how genuine the bond between Li Ruowang and Zheng Nuanshou was; their sisterly trust had been real. In truth, when he had entered her Heart Sea, he’d already sensed her affection—so many memory-bubbles of himself! His hesitation had merely been surprise at her boldness. After all, she was the first celestial maiden he’d ever met in the Celestial Realm—and she held a special place in his heart. He, too, harbored deep feelings for her. There was no reason to refuse.
“Then let us become immortal partners,” he replied.
Zheng Nuanshou finally exhaled in relief—she had succeeded! But Ye Yu’s next words froze her smile.
“Although... that was a bit ill-timed. You could’ve waited until tomorrow to confess. Doing it so openly—and sending your senior-sister away to speak with me alone—was brave, but she’s terribly suspicious.”
“Suspicious? Wait—she’s also your immortal partner?” Zheng Nuanshou’s complexion drained at Ye Yu’s nod. She nearly collapsed. Divine Lord, what have I done? After ten thousand years apart, the very first thing she does upon waking is banish her senior-sister and confess to her sister’s partner? Even the Sect’s Patriarch would shake his head at that!
And Li Ruowang was notoriously jealous. Steal her partner? Zheng Nuanshou felt utterly defeated. She covered her face and muttered, “Why didn’t you mention you and Senior-sister were partners? I thought you were just close friends. Can I retract my confession? Maybe we wait a while.”
Ye Yu laughed at her exasperation.
The next morning, Zheng Nuanshou emerged from the guest chamber. She had planned to feign illness a few days to avoid Li Ruowang’s wrath, but Ye Yu insisted otherwise. An ugly daughter-in-law must still face the in-laws. Better to be forthright than hide. Besides, Li Ruowang had already endured countless sisterly arrivals—one more wouldn’t faze her.
Still, Zheng Nuanshou felt anxious, trailing closely behind Ye Yu. The other immortal couples, unaware of the drama, assumed her lingering pallor meant her illness persisted, and approached with concerned expressions. The more they fussed, the guiltier she felt—and grew silent.
Just then, the door to Li Ruowang’s chamber creaked open. Yao Wuyai stepped out and waved urgently. “Lady Immortal, come here—I’ll cure your mind.”
Hearing this, the other couples’ eyes lit up. Of course—her mind wasn’t yet healed! But Zheng Nuanshou was bewildered. “Why cure my mind?”
Yao Wuyai bit her lip. If I don’t fix her mind, Li Ruowang won’t let me leave! She wanted to admit this outright, but feared it would look like tattling, so she stayed silent, stomping her foot in frustration.
Before Yao Wuyai could explain further, a voice rang out: “Father!”
Ye Nian shot «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» in on the wind. “Ah Kong was captured by a monkey demon—please hurry to rescue it!”
Ye Yu’s brow rose at mention of a monkey demon. A monkey-style fiend wasn’t unbeatable, and Ye Nian’s urgency warranted checking—just he and Zheng Nuanshou; the others should remain behind to avoid seeing things they shouldn’t.
With a streak of colored light, Ye Yu departed. Li Ruowang then emerged from her chamber. “Come, my dear junior-sister, your senior-sister has something to say to you.”
Her calm tone and cold gaze sent shivers down Zheng Nuanshou’s spine. This was serious.
Desperate, Zheng Nuanshou glanced at Yao Wuyai. “My head aches—please, cure my mind!”
