"Bai Yu, the sky is breaking," Ye Ziling approached Bai Yu, her eyes brightening, and said in a low voice.
Bai Yu looked up and gazed towards the east. Indeed, the sun had already peeked over the horizon, signaling a new beginning for everything.
Golden light cascaded onto his silver armor, shimmering as if coated with a layer of pure gold.
"Indeed, it's time for the dawn," Bai Yu responded indifferently, then led the way forward.
Ye Ziling watched Bai Yu's retreating figure, a complex emotion stirring within her. She reached out and unfurled her palm.
The military tally resting in her palm glowed with a striking crimson hue under the light of the rising sun.
"The military tally is yours. I promised that if you helped me eliminate Qingbai, you could control this Heavenly Realm as you wished, and I would not claim any part of it," Ye Ziling's gaze narrowed, her voice unwavering. "I never cared for these things to begin with."
Bai Yu paused, then turned, his gaze deep as he looked at Ye Ziling. "It wasn't me who helped you."
Bai Yu continued with a faint smile, "General Jun Lan had already resealed the Divine Spring before this, and I was merely acting under his orders."
"The mortal realm is not yet peaceful."
As Bai Yu spoke, a flicker of wistfulness crossed his features. "I know you don't care about matters of the mortal realm, nor do you care if it falls into ruin."
"But Brother Jinghuai is still there. As the Valley Master of the Sacred Physician Clan, he wouldn't stand idly by and watch the mortal realm descend into crisis."
Bai Yu pursed his lips, his eyes darkening suddenly, words left unspoken.
Ye Ziling understood; Bai Yu wanted her to go to the mortal realm, defeat demons, and maintain peace there.
Currently, the major sects of the mortal realm were in decline, with the exception of her own Jiuling Palace.
Ye Ziling smiled faintly. "I understand."
Though at times she felt fate was unfair, wishing to destroy the Heavenly Realm, or even to see the Three Realms burn along with her own immortal body.
But in the end, it was only Qingbai who had truly ruined her.
Now that her great revenge was complete, and with her two brothers still alive, she also wished to protect her remaining clansmen.
She had no desire to stay in the Heavenly Realm anyway; the mortal world offered more freedom.
"Ziling," Bai Yu called to her softly, a hint of hesitation in his eyes. "If you wish, you could stay in the Heavenly Realm with me..."
"If you don't mind..." Bai Yu's throat moved. He looked at her expectant gaze, his fists clenching. He couldn't bring himself to say the words.
Would it be too abrupt to say he wanted to marry her?
Bai Yu's ears instantly flushed red. Just as he was about to speak with newfound resolve, he saw her smile faintly and speak first, "Immortal Lord Bai Yu also knows, I don't belong to the Heavenly Realm. And now, with my mortal body, I am even further estranged from the Heavenly Palace."
Ye Ziling surveyed the Heavenly Palace behind her, gazing at the surrounding flora. She continued, "Furthermore, as you said, the mortal realm is in turmoil. I fear I can no longer remain in this Heavenly Palace. If you have time in the future, you can come find me in Peach Blossom Valley."
Ye Ziling's eyebrows curved, her smile sweet. "Oh, and I heard from my second brother that you like peach blossoms?"
Hearing this, Bai Yu's eyelashes trembled. He lowered his gaze and nodded. "It was precisely because the peach blossoms in Peach Blossom Valley were blooming so brilliantly back then that I chose to reside here."
"It's early spring in the mortal realm now, the peach blossoms in the valley should be opening soon," Ye Ziling mused, then suddenly remembered and laughed softly. "I'll take good care of the peach trees in front of your residence for you. When I return, we can brew peach blossom wine again."
The two exchanged smiles, watching the sunlight fall upon the Heavenly Palace, bathing it in a bright radiance.
Ye Ziling went to Qingbai's former sleeping chambers to visit Shen Yueru.
The surrounding furniture remained unchanged, all arranged in Qingbai's usual elegant style, but the atmosphere was far more desolate than before.
Ye Ziling, accompanied by a few immortal maids, pushed open the grand doors and approached Shen Yueru.
At this moment, Shen Yueru lay quietly on the bed, clad in white, her eyes devoid of any light.
Even upon seeing Ye Ziling standing before her, she remained unmoving.
"What? Are you here to kill me?" Shen Yueru parted her pale lips, her gaze remarkably calm.
"I said, I don't covet your life."
Ye Ziling's expression was indifferent, her face devoid of any emotion. "The crime of defamation by the Heavenly Consort is not for me to judge."
"However, once your injuries heal and this matter is clarified, the gates of the Heavenly Prison should await you."
After Ye Ziling finished speaking, an immortal maid slowly approached with a bowl of medicine, but Shen Yueru abruptly knocked it away, spilling the liquid onto the ground.
"...I don't need your pity! Can't you understand what I'm saying!"
The immortal maid, startled by her sudden outburst, knelt down, all of them bowing their heads. "Your Highness... the Heavenly Palace has undergone great changes. You should focus on recovering from your injuries first!"
Seeing Shen Yueru's emotional turmoil, Ye Ziling paid no mind and said slowly, "I don't have time to watch Miss Shen's theatrics. I've come today only to deliver some news."
Having spoken, Ye Ziling laid her palm flat and offered her several spiritual letters, stating indifferently, "Why Shen Qingfeng died, and by whose hand, is clearly written here in black and white."
With that, Ye Ziling turned and left.
After Ye Ziling departed, Shen Yueru suddenly flipped herself up from the bed and snatched the spiritual letters from the table. As she read their contents, her face grew increasingly grim, until finally, she tore them to shreds, scattering the pieces across the floor.
Shen Yueru glared venomously at the fragments on the ground, her eyes filled with rage and resentment.
"It's impossible..."
"My father would never be that kind of person. You're lying to me, you're lying to me!"
Shen Yueru yelled hoarsely at Ye Ziling's receding figure, tumbling from the bed and crawling towards her. She cried out, "Ye Ziling, explain yourself... you fabricated this, didn't you?"
...
Ye Ziling stepped outside and ordered the guards to close the door. The cries from behind her ceased abruptly.
Outside the door, the wind rustled through the treetops, and flowers bloomed in profusion, the air filled with a faint floral fragrance.
After returning to the mortal realm this time, she likely wouldn't visit this Heavenly Palace again.
Ye Ziling returned to Qingle Palace and looked at the red sashes fluttering on the trees, her gaze distant.
She wondered how the person who had endured several lifetimes of tribulation for her was faring.
During the celestial upheaval, she had believed it was her own formidable cultivation that had saved her life. Little did she know, someone had borne the burden of her sins.
She doubted she would ever be able to repay Jun Lan's kindness in this lifetime.
She wondered if there was anything she could do for him.
Just then, Mu Heng emerged from the palace, struggling under the weight of a large bundle. Seeing her lost in thought, he called out, "Crazy girl, come help... it's so heavy."