The courtyard was left with only two people.
"I have something to attend to, farewell," Jun Lan said, and also walked out.
Ye Ziling watched the black silhouette disappear at the end of the doorway, and her suspended heart finally relaxed, her gaze filled with more suspicion.
She hadn't learned any of Ling Xi's good qualities, but she had picked up a bad habit.
The habit of flying off the handle whenever Bai Yu was mentioned.
But how did she feel that life seemed empty, as if someone had silently disappeared?
As soon as she stepped out of the door, Jun Lan bumped into Shen Yueru, who was walking towards her. At this moment, she was in a celestial gown, and the little junior sister of the past now had a face marked by weariness and maturity.
Neither of them had expected to meet in this way.
Upon meeting again, their statuses were already different.
Shen Yueru's eyes were filled with tears, and she looked at her former senior brother with reddened eyes, but could only stand there blankly.
She was now the pending Celestial Consort, and her every word and action had to be cautious.
Jun Lan's sword-like eyebrows furrowed, and he withdrew his gaze.
"...Senior Brother Ling?" Shen Yueru laboriously mimicked her previous manner, playfully calling out to him, and lowered her eyes to wipe away a tear, "...I thought you were gone."
Jun Lan looked up, his gaze flickering, "Junior Sister's wedding, you should be happy."
Although these twenty years felt like just over twenty days, he had spent over ten days of this time with his junior sister. The childhood affection naturally remained.
Jun Lan's voice was neither warm nor cold, but it made Shen Yueru weep profusely. He opened his palm, and a delicate red box appeared in his hand. "Junior Sister's wedding, I have nothing much to gift. A small token of my regard, please accept it, Junior Sister."
Shen Yueru took the box, her eyes curving, and said softly, "...Thank you, Senior Brother."
Jun Lan stepped away, walking past her without looking back.
Shen Yueru watched his receding figure, her fists clenched, already in tears, and murmured, "It's too late..."
Inside Qing Le Hall, the window was half-covered, and the fine rain tapped on the orchids by the window, bringing a hint of damp coldness.
Ye Ziling looked at the fallen blossoms battered by the rain, pulled her cloak tighter, and blew into her hands.
She opened her palm, and the Jixin Flute reappeared before her, shimmering with a faint glow, as if wanting to take her somewhere.
She had forgotten that she hadn't returned this Jixin Flute to Jun Lan yet, nor had she asked what the meaning was behind him giving her this flute.
Ye Ziling walked out of the palace and bumped into Qing Bai, who was looking for Shen Yueru.
As the two met, the atmosphere was naturally not very warm.
The attendant celestial official bowed to her, "Greetings, Goddess."
Ye Ziling waved her hand to dismiss them and looked at Qing Bai beside him.
Although she held no real power now, she still did not bow to Qing Bai.
Seeing their stalemate, the celestial official beside Qing Bai, fearing something might happen, reminded him respectfully, "Your Majesty, the Celestial Consort has been out for half an hour. If you don't find her soon..."
Qing Bai waved his hand to interrupt, signaling him to withdraw. The celestial official could only leave in a hurry, leaving the two of them alone.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty has deceived another innocent and charming maiden," Ye Ziling's eyes flickered, and she looked at Qing Bai mockingly.
The man was unfazed, casting a subtle glance at her. Seeing the Jixin Flute in her hand, he said coldly, "Coincidentally, I have something to give you."
Without waiting for Ye Ziling's reply, they were enveloped in a white light. When they opened their eyes, they found themselves in another place.
The surrounding coldness was bone-chilling. Ye Ziling shivered from the cold and wrapped her cloak tighter.
"You brought me here, do you intend to fight to the death?" Ye Ziling glanced around the ice cave, her eyebrows raised.
She had killed so many people. To die in such a place, what an honor it would be!
At this temperature, corpses would probably not rot even after thousands of years.
Qing Bai looked at her shivering body, his gaze softened, and then led her to the center of the ice cave.
The area at the entrance of the cave was spacious, and light filtered through the cave ceiling, falling onto the ice coffin.
Qing Bai stood beside it, gazing at the coffin before him, his eyes filled with tenderness.
Ye Ziling looked into the coffin curiously, and the corpse lying inside made her heart tremble, causing her to take two steps back.
The woman in the coffin had a clear and cold countenance, her eyelashes and eyebrows frosted with ice. The clothes she wore were the wedding gown she had on after her death.
Seeing her own former face, Ye Ziling felt only a sense of creepiness. She quickly asked in a cold voice, "Qing Bai... what do you mean by this?"
"The Jixin Flute was made by soaking it with your heart's blood. It rightfully belongs to you."
Qing Bai's eyes were deep, and he continued, "Over the years, I have searched for people all over the world, only to find those who bore a slight resemblance to you, and then used various immortal techniques to make her look like you."
Ye Ziling's stomach churned, and she suppressed the nausea within her.
So, why tell her? Was it to atone for his mistakes?
Did Qing Bai think that all he owed her was a celestial body?
Ye Ziling sneered, "So, by making someone else look like me, you intend to erase your sins?"
He was simply a madman!
"Then what about my clansmen?"
"What do you take me for? A sacrifice for you!"
"If it weren't for your conspiracy, I would have had my own life, instead of living like an offering!"
"You deities are noble, but we mortals are ants that you can manipulate at will, right? A mere word of 'heaven's will' makes me accept my fate? Dream on."
...
Ye Ziling applied force to her palm, and in a moment, the ice coffin melted, erupting into a raging inferno. The corpse, accompanied by a stream of light, disappeared within the flames.
The person who should have rested in peace should not be suppressed here as her substitute!
Qing Bai watched as the masterpiece he had painstakingly crafted was ruthlessly destroyed by Ye Ziling, his voice chilling to the bone, "Tu Yao, I advise you not to be ungrateful!"
He had already lowered his status to atone for her, and since she was so unappreciative, he saw no need to humble himself to keep her!
"You are injured. Are you sure you want to fight me?" Qing Bai looked at the restless phantom behind her, his gaze sinister, and warned her in a low voice.
Ye Ziling's primordial spirit gradually exerted its strength, and the phantom behind her gradually solidified. "Your Majesty, perhaps you should worry about yourself first?"
Just as the two were about to engage in battle, the ground trembled violently, and the ice at the cave entrance continuously collapsed.
Ye Ziling had to withdraw her power and quickly escape from the cave. The scene before her had once again turned into the Heavenly Palace.
She smoothed her chest, her anger still surging within her.
Coupled with her injuries not having fully healed, this exertion of power had directly injured her internal organs. Combined with her fury, she leaned on the railing and couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood.
Damn it, if Qing Bai didn't die, she would surely be angered to death one day.
Ye Ziling raised her hand to wipe the bloodstains from the corner of her mouth. When she turned, she saw a tall figure standing behind her, startling her.