"Tu Yao, the Divine Maiden? Are you the Empress that the Emperor took in over a decade ago?" Luo Yao exclaimed, covering her mouth with her hand, her eyes wide with shock.
As Luo Yao had been cultivating in the East Sea, she had only recently returned to the Heavenly Realm. She remembered past events but was completely unaware of the current situation.
Luo Yao then added, "I've heard of you from the Emperor. He said he would invite me to his wedding, but unfortunately, my grandmother sent me to the East Sea for cultivation at that time, which was truly regrettable."
"By the way, did you two get married in the end?"
Ye Ziling was speechless.
Miss Luo Yao was lively and adorable, but she was a bit of a mood killer, bringing up sensitive topics.
Ling Xi's face darkened for a moment before returning to normal.
He hadn't expected these two to know each other.
Just then, Mu Heng interrupted their conversation, "Palace Master, the carriage was a bit bumpy just now... the medicine spilled..."
Mu Heng scratched his head, standing awkwardly to the side, pointing ahead. "There's an inn ahead. Let's rest there for a while and get your eyes treated before we continue our journey."
Ye Ziling nodded.
Since she couldn't see anything anyway, continuing the journey would be futile. With the dangers along the road, it was better to stay somewhere temporarily.
"It's alright, I have medicine with me," Luo Yao said cheerfully, taking out a small bottle she carried and pouring out a pill, which she handed to Mu Heng.
"I have antidotes for all the hundred demons, including the giant python and the Rakshasa bird."
Luo Yao said warmly, a smile spreading across her face.
Mu Heng looked at the pill in his hand and said calmly, "Thank you."
Afterward, he helped Ye Ziling sit down, took out some candied fruits from the carriage, and, with a sweep of his robe, crouched down. "The medicine works fastest when dissolved in the mouth. If you find it bitter, you can have something sweet."
Ye Ziling nodded, took the candied fruits, put the pill in her mouth, and finally popped a candied fruit in.
Although she couldn't see, she could smell the sweet fragrance, which made her feel refreshed and invigorated.
Ling Xi stared at her dazed eyes, pursed his lips, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes.
"Since Brother Mu is here, we will take our leave first."
Ling Xi suppressed the emotions in his eyes and turned to leave, but Ye Ziling called him back.
"Ling Xi, I have something to say to you." Ye Ziling knew that if she didn't say it now, it would be even harder to say later.
Seeing this, Luo Yao and Mu Heng discreetly moved to a distance, leaving the two of them alone.
A gentle breeze blew, lifting the stray strands of hair from her forehead.
As the wind passed, leaves twirled in the air.
Ye Ziling tilted her head slightly, tucking the stray hair behind her ear. Even without sight, she still looked up at him and said, "I didn't know you suffered through so many lifetimes for me..."
"I have no way to repay such great kindness. If you still..."
Ye Ziling stopped herself in time and lowered her gaze.
She now knew what she cared about, but it seemed a little too late.
Ling Xi knew she couldn't see and didn't deliberately avoid her gaze. Staring at the complex thoughts in her eyes, he coldly interrupted, "I have no feelings for you."
A cold wind whistled past, blowing up his long robes. A faint scent of cold plum blossoms filled the air.
"I came here only to complete the task assigned by the Heavenly Emperor. As a Divine Maiden of high status, I, Ling, am not worthy."
Of all things in the world, emotions were the most difficult to unravel.
If her change in attitude towards him was merely out of gratitude, then it was unnecessary.
Indifference was indifference. Whether it was gratitude or pity, he didn't need it.
Even if she cared about him a little, he would have given her his heart.
Ye Ziling hadn't expected him to refuse so resolutely.
However, she deserved this.
Her eyes flickered, and she fell silent.
She had never tried to pester someone, and she didn't know how to do it. She carefully recalled that she didn't seem to have any experience in winning someone back, nor did she know how to keep them.
Hating someone was simple, but expressing love to someone was difficult.
Silence fell around them.
They looked at each other for a long time without saying anything more.
"Farewell." Ling Xi saw the indifferent expression in her eyes as she looked at everyone and turned to leave with disappointment.
Ye Ziling felt a pang in her heart, clutched the hem of her clothes, and blurted out, "Since we're going the same way, why don't we travel together?"
After all, they were both heading to the Divine Spring in the Demon Capital. If they traveled together, there might still be a chance.
Ling Xi's steps faltered, but he did not turn back.
Ye Ziling bit her lip, her fingers clenched tightly, and said, "It's getting late. There's an inn ahead. We can continue our journey tomorrow."
Ling Xi turned and looked at her.
His gaze softened, but his tone was chillingly cold, "Alright, we'll rest here for the night and set off tomorrow."
Since her eyes weren't healed anyway, they could travel together for a while.
Ye Ziling's heart leaped with joy. She reached out blindly and said to him, "Ling Xi... help me up."
Ling Xi looked at her, his expression calm, and said nonchalantly, "I'll go call Commander Mu over."
Ye Ziling sat in the carriage, Mu Heng drove the carriage from the front, Ling Xi and Luo Yao rode horses ahead, and the four of them headed towards the inn.
The innkeeper had already been waiting. Seeing them arrive, he quickly stepped forward and asked solicitously, "Guests, how many rooms would you like?"
Mu Heng put his arms around his chest and tilted his head to size them up, "Nonsense, look at how many of us there are and book that many rooms, right?"
"But... the inn is quite full today, and there are only three rooms left." The innkeeper looked troubled.
Ling Xi glanced at Ye Ziling subtly, as if expecting something, but her eyes remained vacant.
A simple sentence lingered in Ye Ziling's throat for a long time. Just as she was about to speak, Luo Yao grabbed her wrist. "Then I'll share a room with Miss Ye, and you two can share a room. That way, we can save some money."
Mu Heng's face turned green, and he quickly pushed back, "No... How can a mere commander like me be worthy of sharing a room with a Heavenly Realm scholar... It's fine to spend a little money. I'm not short on cash, and it doesn't matter who I sleep with, mainly because I have too much money to spend..."
Mu Heng didn't want to be tormented by Ling Xi. He, a divine beast, living with a beast tamer scholar, wasn't that like running into his natural enemy?
"Alright, then three rooms it is," Luo Yao replied.
Back in the room, Luo Yao applied ointment to Ye Ziling's eyes, picked up a white veil, and gently covered her eyes. She said with pity, "Such beautiful eyes shouldn't be lost like this... Miss Ye must be more careful these few days."
Ye Ziling naturally knew of Luo Yao's medical skills, as the medical arts of the East Sea were well-known.
"How do you know Ling Xi, Miss Luo Yao?" Ye Ziling asked curiously.
She had only left the Heavenly Palace a few days ago, and seeing how familiar their relationship was, she wondered when they had met.
Luo Yao lowered her gaze, her cheeks flushing slightly, and said irritably, "Waiting for him. If he hadn't had to undergo tribulation, I wouldn't still be unmarried..."
Ye Ziling was stunned, and her heart ached, feeling as if a heavy stone was pressing down on it.
As expected, the engagement between Luo Yao and Jun Lan was still valid. She wondered if she should still try to fight for him.
With her way of speaking, even without a love rival, she probably couldn't do much.
"I won't worry about it for now. Let's talk about it after sealing the Divine Spring... This way, I can understand him better," Luo Yao said, her eyes curving into a smile.
At that moment, a knock on the door interrupted their conversation.
"Luo Yao." Ling Xi gently knocked on the door, waiting for a response from inside.
"I'm here." Luo Yao got up, beckoned to Ling Xi, and then said to Ye Ziling, "Miss Ye, Ling Xi and I are going out for a bit. If you need anything, just call the attendant."
Luo Yao got up and, still looking back with concern, instructed, "Young Master Mu is also here. If you're really worried about anything, you can ask him for help."
Ling Xi had been waiting outside the door for a long time. He glanced inside with concern. Seeing Luo Yao emerge, he tentatively peeked inside and whispered, "How is she?"