Ye Yu had no idea that after Xie Buyu finished her healing, she was thinking about so many other things.
He was still reeling from shock. He couldn’t understand why, out of nowhere, Xie Buyu would suddenly come to him like this. There was no reason!
Seeing that Ye Yu still hadn’t spoken, Xie Buyu grew a little nervous. She lightly twisted her fingertip and tentatively asked, “Do you... want to back out?”
At the hint of coldness in her tone, Ye Yu felt as though he were facing a mortal enemy. “No! Don’t get the wrong idea—if I won’t let you be my Dao-partner, you’d resort to fighting?” he blurted. “Heavens have mercy! I was only demonstrating how to confess to Hong Zhencheng. You were just my stand-in practice target. I wasn’t really confessing to you. You came over and agreed of your own accord. It was a total misunderstanding—don’t take it so seriously!”
In fact, Xie Buyu wasn’t angry; she had simply never encountered anything like this. She’d thought, since Ye Yu was practicing his confession on her anyway, she might as well accept—it would save him the trouble of more practice, and everything would proceed naturally. After all, she couldn’t forget the moment he had stepped in front of her! The idea that her future Dao-partner might be him didn’t seem so bad.
But once she agreed, Ye Yu showed not the slightest sign of joy. Wasn’t that a reversal? Was he teasing her?
Xie Buyu couldn’t help frowning, increasing the pressure on her fingertip. Ye Yu saw it all too clearly. She was really about to make a move on him! If she struck first, he knew he wouldn’t fare well against a fellow Ancient-God-Realm powerhouse. He silently labeled her “unyielding: ready to fight at any moment.” Better not provoke her before he reached the Late Golden-God Realm!
Elsewhere, hidden in the mountain range, Hong Zhencheng watched everything through his “Water-Moon Mirror-Flower” illusion, jotting down notes on paper. “Indeed,” he murmured, “confessing really is quite simple. I’ve learned much today!” He felt an urge to applaud—what a surprise.
That afternoon, Xie Buyu suggested they go retrieve the Xuan-Ba Devour-Heaven Axe from Old Dog Gou Langtu. It was their master’s final possession; allowing others to take it would bring shame. Ye Yu agreed. From Bai Shuang’s memories he knew Gou Langtu was only at the Peak Golden-God Realm, and without usurping Hong Zhencheng he couldn’t wield the axe. In a straight duel, Xie Buyu could easily crush him—and Ye Yu was eager to earn more Devotion Points before she did. So the two cheerfully set off for his lair.
As for Hong Zhencheng? At Ye Yu’s urging he’d begun “working” on taking over the Dao-partner Sect. With Ye Yu’s guidance, he felt the task was not so daunting and dove into it with full confidence.
Night fell. Xie Buyu and Ye Yu arrived atop Bai Xuan Mountain. Guided by Bai Shuang’s spirit-memory, they slipped past the guardian formation without disturbing it—but found Gou Langtu gone. Ye Yu guessed that, seeing Bai Shuang hadn’t returned, Gou Langtu suspected her death and fled. Xie Buyu agreed—Gou Langtu was cautious by nature; of course he’d run. “How infuriating,” she fumed, “this vast Heavenly Realm—where could he have gone?”
At that moment, Ye Yu’s Communication Stone from Elder Ge buzzed: “Young friend, return to LieYang Sect at once!” Curious, Ye Yu asked what was wrong—but got no reply. Doubt crept in. Could he be the legendary bane of sect alliances? First he’d slain someone in the Boundless Palace, and now even LieYang Sect couldn’t hold out?
He turned to Xie Buyu. “Elder Ge may be in danger. Let’s head to LieYang Sect together.” It was simple: with an Ancient-God-Realm powerhouse at his side, he’d feel much safer.
Xie Buyu nodded, her eyes flickering. Perhaps this was the legendary harmony of husband and wife. Things were moving fast!
Ye Yu didn’t ponder /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ romance; he led Xie Buyu toward LieYang Sect, and messaged Hong Zhencheng to find a hiding place. If Gou Langtu found him first, he’d surely attempt to usurp him!
