Ye Ziling woke up again to find herself in the Celestial Garden.
A gentle breeze rustled her robes. She opened her eyes to see herself half-reclined on a rockery.
Coincidentally, it was the very spot where Ling Xi had once rested.
How had she ended up here? Wasn't she inside the painting Qing Bai had set up?
A pang of pain struck her chest, and a scent of medicine filled her nostrils. Looking down, she noticed her wound had already been bandaged.
Strange, was that person truly saving her? Did he truly have no other motives?
And, that was Qing Bai’s sleeping quarters. How could that person have entered, and even gotten into the painting?
A flood of unpleasant memories surged into her mind, flashes of vivid, passionate scenes flickering past. Her body reacted once more.
It was one thing to have feelings for Ling Xi, but for this body to have feelings for other men too?
Ye Ziling abruptly slapped her forehead, her expression hardening, her face becoming extremely grim.
Disaster, the military seal…
She still hadn't obtained the military seal!
She pushed herself up from the rockery, and with a clatter, something fell to the ground.
Seeing the token inscribed with a dragon, Ye Ziling’s heart leaped with joy. She quickly picked it up and examined it closely.
It was indeed the military seal!
Just as Ye Ziling was overjoyed, a voice reached her ears from not far away.
“Bai Yu, are you openly defying this seat?” Qing Bai flicked his sleeve, glaring at the handsome figure before him, his expression dark and gloomy.
“Just a trivial subordinate. Why must Your Majesty the Emperor be so angered?” Bai Yu smiled calmly, his clear, cold brows exuding a noble and elegant demeanor that looked down upon all beings, his presence equal to Qing Bai’s.
Watching the Lord of All Beings fly into a rage, Bai Yu’s smile deepened, and the mockery in his eyes intensified.
“A subordinate? Since you call him a subordinate, why did you deliberately make things difficult? It was merely that the tea was not served steadily. Do you have to gouge out his heart?” Qing Bai snorted coldly, his eyes gloomy.
Bai Yu’s expression was serene, a mocking smile playing on his lips.
“It was indeed an unintentional act, but was the poison added to the tea also an unintentional act?”
Bai Yu’s tone shifted, his voice suddenly rising, the coldness in his features gradually spreading.
“You…”
Qing Bai was struck speechless. His subordinate had been by his side for many years; how could he have the audacity to act on his own? It was clear Bai Yu was orchestrating this himself!
Furious, Qing Bai swept his sleeves and left.
Only then did Bai Yu notice a figure behind the rockery. He looked back and saw Ye Ziling standing there, her face somewhat pale, appearing to have weakened further.
“…Bai Yu, the military seal.” Ye Ziling pursed her lips, speaking softly, her breathing somewhat heavy. She handed the military seal to him.
Bai Yu did not take it, his gaze falling on the bloodstain at her chest. He pursed his lips.
“What happened?” he asked, frowning with a serious expression, his tone laden with a palpable sense of pressure.
Was she risking her life to get the military seal for him?
“It’s nothing.” Ye Ziling’s gaze returned to its usual coolness, avoiding his cold, probing eyes.
Perhaps out of habit, she even felt it shameful for anyone to see her wound.
Realizing she was evading his inquiry, Bai Yu’s gaze darkened further. He deliberately fixed his eyes on her face.
Ye Ziling felt a chill from his stare and said indifferently, “Immortal Lord Bai Yu only needs to keep the military seal safe.” Her expression was impassive, her tone devoid of warmth.
She was already risking her life for revenge; dying would be justifiable. Having obtained the military seal, her death would have meaning.
As long as Bai Yu could kill Qing Bai for her, she would consider it worthwhile.
Although she was a Saintess, her hands were stained with the blood of countless people, which undoubtedly violated the vows her parents had made her swear: to not kill, only to save.
Her two brothers had to remain pure for her to hand over the Sacred Medical Valley to them. Since she had already taken a wrong step, she would go all the way, making the mistake worthwhile!
“For a mere military seal, is it worth casting your life to the heavens?” Bai Yu pressed on, his tone overly cold, yet a glint of light flashed in his eyes.
He turned his back to her, saying, “Goddess, do you believe that without the military seal, this Lord can still seize the throne?”
Bai Yu’s gaze was sinister, his tone resolute.
Ye Ziling didn’t know why Bai Yu was suddenly angry and had reverted to his usual stern demeanor towards her.
Yet, those cold eyes hid a trace of concern.
She didn’t know why, but she could see it.
Perhaps it was because his personality was somewhat similar to hers.
“Without paying a price, how can one achieve their goals?” Ye Ziling retorted indifferently.
Unexpectedly, that stern face suddenly turned back, his gaze seeming to pierce through her. His tone was stiff: “If the Goddess intends to repay with her life, this Lord would rather not have this military seal!”
He wanted cooperation, not for her to become a sacrifice to seize the throne!
How useless would he be if he relied on others to pave his way with their lives!
Bai Yu extended his palm, and a glazed medicine bottle appeared in it. Without looking at Ye Ziling, he directly handed the bottle to her, his tone softening, “This is the ointment Queen Mother of the West gave me earlier. It has excellent medicinal effects.”
Ye Ziling took it and was about to thank him when she saw Bai Yu had already walked several steps away, leaving only his back. “Farewell.”
Seeing this, Ye Ziling also returned to the Sacred Medical Valley.
She was currently lying on her bed, having Ye Jinghuai examine her pulse.
Ye Jinghuai’s expression was not good. It was natural to feel heartache seeing his sister get injured so frequently.
He frowned and said gently, “Why are you always so careless? If the Sacred Master were still here, how could he rest easy seeing you like this?”
She got injured so often even when he was by her side; he wondered how she had managed to take care of herself when she was alone before.
Ye Ziling didn't argue this time. If it were anyone else, she would certainly not yield, but before her was her brother, and she could only listen to him finish speaking out of helplessness.
If her brother knew about her near-death experiences in the past, he would probably lecture her for three days and three nights.
Perhaps fate favored her, or perhaps the King of Hell dared not claim her. One had to admit, her life was truly resilient.
She couldn't be killed by falls or poison.
Seeing that she had fallen silent, Ye Jinghuai immediately stopped scolding. He hastily wrote a few lines on the paper and instructed a subordinate, “Zhan Tang, fetch the herbs according to the prescription and decoct them. Remember, the heat must be appropriate, and the timing must not be deviated.”
The man in green standing beside him nodded slightly, took the prescription, and respectfully withdrew, “Yes.”
“By the way, your second brother sent a letter just now, asking you to visit him in the capital in a few days. Recover well from your injuries, and then go have fun with your second brother.”
“Understood.” Ye Ziling replied faintly.
Ye Jinghuai stood up, tidied the quilt for her, and walked out of the room with his hands behind his back.
Ye Ziling watched his retreating back and smiled faintly.
Fortunately, there was still someone to scold her; it seemed she should cherish this life.