Yao Zuizui’s pupils contracted slightly as she took several steps back, putting distance between herself and Xue Rui.
Xue Rui continued to gaze at her with the same gentle expression, full of adoration, yet it sent a chill down Yao Zuizui’s spine, filling her with dread.
He knew.
He knew everything?!
She had been performing like a clown in front of him all this time—he had probably been watching her with amusement.
Perhaps… his tenderness, his affection, had all been an act!
Yao Zuizui’s heart felt as if a basin of scalding water had been overturned inside her, spilling and burning, searing every corner of her being with panic.
“Zuizui, come here,” Xue Rui extended his hand, trying to draw her back to his side.
Yao Zuizui recoiled, jumping away and keeping her distance, eyeing him warily.
Xue Rui’s gaze was distant, tinged with melancholy and sorrow. “Zuizui, do you know that once I return, I may face certain death? I might never see you again…”
Yao Zuizui turned her head away, hardening her heart to avoid looking at his face.
She forced herself to recall every moment she had shared with her mother.
Biting back tears, she lowered her head and spat out viciously, “Suhei, I wish you were dead!”
If only he had died sooner—before he could harm her mother. How wonderful that would have been…
===
Yao Zuizui returned to the immortal realm.
When she awoke, she found herself in the cold, desolate halls of the Jieyin Palace. Apart from the lonely howl of the wind outside, there was no sound.
The chill was bone-deep, freezing her to the core.
Yao Zuizui lay motionless on the floor, staring blankly at the domed ceiling as if the entire world had come to a standstill.
Her thoughts stagnated. If only she could be an immortal devoid of emotions—how blissful that would be…
She thought back to the last ten years in that dimension, where she had finished telling Xue Rui the story she had left incomplete.
Their story.
From the immortal realm to different dimensions, starting with that little pig, then the brothers who loved and fought, the apocalypse, the youthful school days, the supernatural and fantastical worlds…
She had only omitted the final dimension and the ending she didn’t know.
Xue Rui had been disappointed that the story had no conclusion.
So he had crafted his own happy ending.
Yao Zuizui had scoffed at him—the male protagonist of this story was a heinous villain. There was no way he could have a good ending.
But Xue Rui refused to believe it. He argued that a true villain wouldn’t love someone so deeply.
He said the villain must have had his own unspeakable reasons, that his evil wasn’t absolute.
Yes…
Yao Zuizui hadn’t told him that the villain had killed the mother of the woman he loved. Nor had she told him that he was that very villain.
She didn’t know whether Xue Rui at that time had already regained his memories as Suhei.
Nor did she understand what she truly meant to Suhei.
Why had Immortal Su Bai specifically chosen her to traverse those dimensions?
Back then, she had assumed anyone could have done it. But now, she realized Su Bai must have believed only she was capable—that was why he had sought her out…
Yao Zuizui had no idea how long she had lain there, until her limbs grew numb and her vision blurred. She had no desire to move.
But the sound from outside the palace forced her to face reality.
It was Su Bai’s attendant.
“Immortal Qingzhuo, Immortal Su Bai has purified the soul fragments of the Great Demon King Suhei, and his divine power has advanced further. He has now ascended to the position of Supreme Immortal Sovereign! He has sent me to invite all immortals to gather at Penglai Pool to celebrate this once-in-a-million-years joyous occasion!” The attendant wore an excited and proud smile, overjoyed for his master.
Previously, Su Bai had merely been an Immortal Sovereign—one among many with considerable power.
But now, he had become the Supreme Immortal Sovereign, the highest-ranking and most powerful of them all.
It was no exaggeration to say he now ruled the immortal realm.
With such a formidable master, the attendant naturally rejoiced.
The old Yao Zuizui would have leaped for joy, perhaps even run laps around the Jade Pool in excitement.
But now, hearing this news—knowing it was achieved by Su Bai purging the soul fragments of the Great Demon King—she couldn’t muster any happiness.
Reason and emotion were like two powerful, opposing shadows, locked in an endless battle within her mind.
===
After a perfunctory attempt at dressing up, Yao Zuizui arrived at Penglai Pool.
Thousands of immortals had gathered, their auras ethereal, the water shimmering under the light. The scene was breathtakingly beautiful.
Countless fine wines flowed freely, and the spring breeze carried an intoxicating warmth.
All the immortals were merry, laughter echoing everywhere.
Only Yao Zuizui stood motionless by the water’s edge, lost in thought.
Su Bai descended upon a cloud of auspicious light, drifting gracefully from afar.
Immortals rushed forward to offer their congratulations, and Su Bai beamed with joy.
Yao Zuizui had never seen him so happy before.
Once everyone else had paid their respects, Yao Zuizui felt she couldn’t slight Su Bai too much.
After all, he had once saved her life. She had once adored Immortal Su Bai, believing him benevolent, kind, and devoted to saving all living beings—the finest person in existence.
Approaching Su Bai, she forced a smile. “Congratulations, Immortal Su Bai, on your ascension to Supreme Immortal Sovereign.”
But Su Bai gave her a cold, distant glance, stepping back to put space between them. He responded with a mere “Hmm.”
Yao Zuizui was puzzled. She had the strangest feeling—Su Bai seemed to be avoiding her.
Why…?
She stared at him for a few seconds before taking another step forward.
Su Bai frowned, retreating again, his expression tinged with impatience.
The usually serene and emotionless Su Bai now wore a frown, keeping her at arm’s length.
When Yao Zuizui tried to approach once more, Su Bai raised a hand, summoning a gust of wind that pushed her several meters away.
Seizing the opportunity, Su Bai turned and left.
Yao Zuizui rushed after him but was blocked by an invisible barrier, unable to get any closer.
And Su Bai never looked back at her.
Watching Yao Zuizui’s futile attempts to approach Su Bai throughout the banquet, the other immortals murmured in sympathy.
“Poor Immortal Qingzhuo…”
“Indeed… She’s loved Immortal Su Bai for so long, yet he won’t even speak to her.”
“Ah, what do you know? I heard she nearly died for him at the hands of that vile Great Demon King!”
“Do you think the Great Demon King was insane? Trying to destroy our immortal realm?”
“Shh… I heard it was for the sake of an immortal maiden…”
…
Yao Zuizui didn’t hear the whispers around her. She was too busy scrutinizing Su Bai, sensing something different about him.
===
After returning from Penglai Pool, Yao Zuizui tried visiting Su Bai several more times.
Each time, the attendant turned her away, claiming Su Bai was too busy cultivating to see her.
Growing increasingly suspicious, Yao Zuizui decided to wait outside Su Bai’s palace for him to emerge.
Just then, another Immortal Sovereign arrived, and Yao Zuizui watched as he entered Su Bai’s palace unimpeded.
“I thought you said the Sovereign was cultivating? Why can Immortal Yu Si enter?” Yao Zuizui protested.
“Immortal Yu Si is here to discuss cultivation techniques with Sovereign Su Bai. Can you?” the attendant retorted.
Unable to argue, Yao Zuizui sat down in a huff, stubbornly keeping vigil at the palace gates.
===
Inside the palace, Immortal Yu Si smirked at Su Bai.
“That Qingzhuo girl is still waiting outside…” Yu Si teased.
“Let her be,” Su Bai replied indifferently, his voice serene and detached.
“She seems quite devoted to you—utterly infatuated. Why not just marry her?” Yu Si winked, enjoying the drama.
“You know my heart belongs only to cultivation,” Su Bai said calmly, his eyes half-lidded.
“Tsk, tsk. I know you only care about cultivation. It’s hilarious that she actually believed you’d waste ten thousand years of divine power to save her!” Yu Si slapped his thigh, laughing uproariously.
Su Bai’s brow twitched, but his expression quickly smoothed over.
“Have you brought what I asked for?” Su Bai clasped his hands behind his back, watching Yu Si coolly.
“Of course.” Yu Si produced a small, radiant vial shimmering with purple light. “Su Bai, since you’re willing to share your divine power with me, I won’t expose your little secrets.”
“Good.” Su Bai’s lips curved into his usual gentle, benevolent smile.
===
Yao Zuizui waited until nightfall. The moonlight bathed the clouds in a silvery glow, casting a dreamlike haze.
Exhausted, she decided to return the next day.
With one last glance at the palace, she left, disappointment weighing heavily on her.
She didn’t know that inside, the scene had turned nightmarish.
Immortal Yu Si lay sprawled on the floor, his face twisted in agony, his form flickering as if on the verge of dissolution.
Gasping for breath, he cursed, “Su Bai… How dare you attack me!”
“I didn’t attack you. Suhei did.” Su Bai loomed over him, gazing down like a giant observing an insignificant ant.
“You’re draining my cultivation!”
“I’m not draining it. The world is.” Su Bai’s palm glowed with pure light, enveloping Yu Si’s entire body.
A faint smile played on Su Bai’s lips.
After today, his divine power would grow even stronger.
Saving all living beings was his mission—his deepest desire.
He needed more power, not for himself, but for the sake of the world…
===
Yao Zuizui continued her vigil for months.
But Su Bai showed no intention of meeting her. Instead, he descended to the mortal realm.
Left with no choice, Yao Zuizui busied herself with other matters in the immortal realm.
First, she searched for Suhei. He had said he faced certain death—but what if he had survived?
Second, she sought her mother. Even if Su Bai claimed her mother was dead, she couldn’t fathom why Suhei would kill her without reason.
She wanted the truth.
Her search lasted ten thousand years.
The mortal realm had changed beyond recognition—countless dimensions had collapsed, countless new ones had risen.
She never saw Su Bai again; he continued to evade her.
Nor did she find Suhei—not even a whisper of his existence.
If not for the lingering legends about Suhei, she might have doubted whether any of it had been real.
Suhei had vanished like a grain of sand cast into the vast ocean—gone without a trace.
===
Just as Yao Zuizui was losing hope, Su Bai’s attendant came for her one day.
“Immortal Qingzhuo, the Sovereign requests your presence.” The attendant wore a polite smile—one Yao Zuizui hadn’t seen in ages.
Skeptical, she followed him to Su Bai’s palace.
Ten thousand years had passed. Her trust in Su Bai, in his words, in his actions, had long since eroded.
Yet now, he wanted to see her.
Why?
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