Published: February 26, 2025
Fang Zixi's heart raced even faster as she looked at Tan Yun. Avoiding his gaze, she said, "Tan Yun, your journey to the Eastern Continent Divine Domain is long and fraught with unknowns. I will send the Guardian Palace Saint Elder to protect you."
"There's no need to trouble her," Tan Yun replied. "The vice palace master Nine-headed Ancestor Dragon has ulterior motives. You need the Guardian Palace Saint Elder by your side."
"If she were to leave Heavenly Gate Divine Palace to protect me, I would worry about you."
Hearing Tan Yun’s words, Fang Zixi bit her lip. Just when she wanted to say something, Tan Yun smiled and said, "As for me, you can rest assured."
"Although I am not very old, I am cunning and resourceful. Even if I encounter danger, I can turn peril into safety."
Fang Zixi chuckled, "Who talks about themselves like that?"
Looking at the smiling Fang Zixi, Tan Yun was momentarily lost in thought.
"What's wrong? Is there something on my face?" Fang Zixi blinked.
"Oh, nothing," Tan Yun's cheeks flushed slightly. "I just suddenly thought of something."
Seeing Tan Yun's shy demeanor, Fang Zixi felt sweetness in her heart. She suspected that Tan Yun had feelings for her as well.
"Tan Yun, when do you plan to leave?" Fang Zixi asked.
"Tomorrow," Tan Yun thought for a moment and replied.
"Oh." Fang Zixi nodded and said, "Wait a moment, I'll make you some snacks myself."
"No need to trouble yourself..."
"It's no trouble," Fang Zixi smiled lightly and then left.
Watching Fang Zixi's beautiful figure as she left, Tan Yun found himself deep in thought...
Half an hour later, Fang Zixi returned with a plate of small pastries, walking gracefully.
After Tan Yun tasted one, he praised it repeatedly, and the two sat facing each other, chatting happily...
An hour later.
"Zixi, it's getting late; I should leave now," Tan Yun stood up and said.
Fang Zixi bit her red lip, hesitating to speak. Finally, she softly said, "This time you leave, I don’t know when you will return. Can you stay with me a bit longer?"
"Okay." Tan Yun sat back down. That night, the two tacitly did not mention drinking again.
"Let’s go to the rooftop; it's too stuffy in the room," Fang Zixi suggested. Tan Yun followed her out of the Ancient Tower and they flew up to the rooftop.
They sat side by side, gazing at the night sky, where a few stars faintly twinkled in the dark.
In the following two hours, Tan Yun detailed his journey from the inferior divine realm and Mortal Plane to where he was now.
Listening to Tan Yun's experiences and encounters, Fang Zixi felt many emotions. She had not expected that Tan Yun's journey had been so difficult.
"Zixi, tell me about yourself," Tan Yun smiled slightly, "I know nothing about your past."
As soon as Tan Yun finished speaking, his smile froze. He noticed that Fang Zixi, who had been laughing just a moment ago, now had tears welling up in her beautiful eyes.
"What's wrong?" Tan Yun asked with concern.
Fang Zixi took a deep breath and said, "Tan Yun, actually I am not from the Western Continent Divine Domain; my hometown is in the Northern Divine Domain."
Tan Yun was quite surprised; he had not expected Fang Zixi to be from the Northern Divine Domain.
Under the night sky, Fang Zixi's beautiful eyes shimmered with tears as she softly said, "A long, long time ago, there were two major forces in the Northern Divine Domain, the Northern Ancestral Dynasty and the Northern Divine Palace."
"My father was the palace master of the Northern Divine Palace."
"The Northern Sovereign Emperor wanted to unify the Northern Divine Domain and seize the cultivation resources of my Northern Divine Palace, so he bribed someone within the Northern Divine Palace and ultimately caused my father's death."
"Not only that, but the Northern Sovereign Emperor also killed my mother, my elder brother, and my second sister."
"My Fang clan, nearly 800,000 people, was almost exterminated. Only the Guardian Palace Saint Elder managed to take me away from the Northern Divine Domain and reach the Western Continent Divine Domain."