"Are you well acquainted with her?" Xuan Xin asked with a hint of confusion. When Xiao Man had mentioned being friends with the Ghost King Wu Huan, she had harbored doubts. In her understanding, both the divine and human races held deep animosity towards demons, reacting with hostility or avoidance upon encountering them. Yet, judging by Miao Shao's demeanor, his interactions with Xiao Man seemed to be quite amicable.
"We spent some time together," Miao Shao said, stealing a glance at Yu Ju. Yu Ju still retained his former appearance. Despite knowing the internal substance had changed, Miao Shao still felt as though the Ghost King Wu Huan was alive, and that these two individuals had become one.
"You spent some time with her?"
"While the Sovereign was sealed, Xiao Man resided in Ghost King City for a period," Miao Shao explained. "Furthermore, she broke through the Sovereign's illusion."
"No wonder she was able to obtain the Demon Heart," Xuan Xin stated, producing the Demon Heart. "However, since she gave it to me, it is time for it to be returned to its rightful owner."
Yu Ju gazed at the Demon Heart in Xuan Xin's hand, his eyes instantly dimming. After tens of thousands of years, they were reunited, and she intended to return his heart. He knew there was no future, yet he was unwilling to turn back, even if it meant crashing against a brick wall until his head bled.
"What I give away, I do not take back. If you do not want it, then destroy it," Yu Ju said petulantly.
Miao Shao was alarmed. That was the Sovereign's Demon Heart! It had been missing for many years, and the Ghost King had searched for it countless times without success. Now that someone had returned it, why would the Sovereign order its destruction?
"It cannot be destroyed! Sovereign, that is your heart!"
"It is useless to keep it. What is the point of holding onto it?" Yu Ju reached out to shatter the Demon Heart, but Xuan Xin struck the back of his hand.
"You gave it to me, and now you want to destroy it? What kind of logic is that?"
"Did you not intend to return it to me?" Yu Ju asked with a mournful expression. "I know you must have seen the Human Emperor, which is why you are here today to return the heart."
"Yes, I am here today to return the heart," Xuan Xin affirmed. "However, it is not this heart I am returning."
Yu Ju looked at Xuan Xin with some bewilderment. "Is there a second Demon Heart in this world?"
"There is no second Demon Heart in this world, but there is my heart," Xuan Xin said softly. "Yu Ju, I give you my heart."
Yu Ju froze completely, staring blankly at Xuan Xin. He must be dreaming; otherwise, how could he be experiencing such wonderful fortune?
He had always known that Xuan Xin loved the Human Emperor. Even after being betrayed by him, she had never harbored hatred. Now that she had seen the Human Emperor again, her feelings for him had likely reignited. Yet, Xuan Xin was actually saying she would give him her heart!
"Wait, are you trying to settle our accounts?" Yu Ju instinctively assumed Xuan Xin wanted to sever ties completely, given that one was of the divine race and the other of the demonic race, natural enemies.
Xuan Xin rubbed her temples with a slight headache. Had her actions ten thousand years ago been too extreme, causing Yu Ju to still hold a grudge?
"I do not love the Human Emperor."
"But he betrayed you back then, and you did not hate him. You even protected his reincarnation."
"Because I never loved him, I did not hate him," Xuan Xin said gently. "As for protecting his reincarnation, it was merely because he was also just a pawn of the Heavenly Demon Clan. From his perspective, he did nothing wrong."
"He took advantage of your trust and harmed you. That was wrong."
"It's alright, because I still have you," Xuan Xin said, cupping Yu Ju's face. She asked earnestly, "I sealed you for tens of thousands of years. Do you hate me?"
Yu Ju's body trembled slightly, and he covered Xuan Xin's hand. "I hate you for leaving me to face everything alone. In your eyes, did I not even have the courage to die with you? After tens of thousands of years of loneliness, if I hadn't held onto the unwavering belief that you were still alive, I would have almost given up."
"I knew you would accompany me in death, but I did not want you to die. I wanted you to live, to live for a very long time, preferably as long as heaven and earth. This way, no matter when I returned, I could find you." A tear rolled down Xuan Xin's cheek and dripped onto Yu Ju's hand. "For me, the Human Emperor could die, the Xuan Clan could be annihilated, but nothing must happen to you."
Hearing these words, Yu Ju wept and laughed simultaneously. A moment later, he embraced Xuan Xin. "Xuan Xin, I am so happy. It feels like a dream. If this truly is a dream, I wish to never wake up."
Miao Shao leaned against the wall, slowly inching towards the exit. He cursed himself for his poor timing, inadvertently intruding on the Sovereign's intimate moment. It explained why the Sovereign was always so difficult with him. He had never imagined that the sealing of the Demon Lord by Xuan Xin during the war between gods and demons tens of thousands of years ago was not out of hatred, but profound love for the Demon Lord!
Exiting the room, Miao Shao gently closed the door and instructed everyone to keep their distance, forbidding anyone from disturbing the Sovereign's rest.
"Someone," he commanded.
"General Miao."
"While I am away, General Hou will be responsible for all affairs in the Ghost Domain," Miao Shao instructed. "Also, the Queen has just returned. Have someone send the most beautiful clothing and the most exquisite jewels in the Ghost Domain to the Sovereign's room... Wait, send them tomorrow morning. Before tomorrow morning, no one is to disturb the Sovereign." Su Dan Novel Network
"Yes, General." The attendant finished, then inquired with some confusion, "General, are you leaving?"
"The Sovereign no longer requires my constant worry. It is time for me to attend to my own matters," Miao Shao said with a serious expression. "I must go and bring back my person."
"Your person?"
The attendant watched Miao Shao's receding figure, scratching his head. "Does the General have subordinates outside?"
"Fool!" Another person hit him on the head. "The General is going to find his wife."
"Wife... Oh, he's going to find Miss Xin Yu!"
"Not entirely foolish. Quickly go inform General Hou. I will prepare the Queen's belongings."
In Wuji City, Xiao Man looked at the captured individuals, including those from the Four Great Sects and some rogue cultivators. Zuo Feng and the others stared at the person seated at the head of the table, their expressions as if they had seen a ghost. Their teammate, whom they had invited mid-journey, was actually the very person they were supposed to apprehend. He remembered how often he had spoken ill of Xiao Man in front of her.
"Brother, am I going to lose my life today?" Zuo Feng asked Yang Di beside him.
Yang Di nodded vigorously. "I told you not to speak ill of people behind their backs, but you wouldn't listen. Not only that, you spoke ill of her right in front of her. Even if she spares your life, she'll probably tear out your tongue."
Zuo Feng covered his mouth. "I was wrong. I will never speak ill of people behind their backs again."
"Speaking ill of them to their faces is also forbidden."
"Don't tease me!" Zuo Feng was on the verge of tears. Now they were all captives, along with the people from the Four Great Sects. Everyone spoke of how powerful the Four Great Sects were, yet now it seemed they were no better. Perhaps they had been too high and mighty for too long, never imagining that one day they would suffer such a fate.