Ye Yu had no idea that after Xie Buyu finished her healing, she was thinking about so many other things.
He was still reeling from shock. He couldnât understand why, out of nowhere, Xie Buyu would suddenly come to him like this. There was no reason!
Seeing that Ye Yu still hadnât spoken, Xie Buyu grew a little nervous. She lightly twisted her fingertip and tentatively asked, âDo you... want to back out?â
At the hint of coldness in her tone, Ye Yu felt as though he were facing a mortal enemy. âNo! Donât get the wrong ideaâif I wonât let you be my Dao-partner, youâd resort to fighting?â he blurted. âHeavens have mercy! I was only demonstrating how to confess to Hong Zhencheng. You were just my stand-in practice target. I wasnât really confessing to you. You came over and agreed of your own accord. It was a total misunderstandingâdonât take it so seriously!â
In fact, Xie Buyu wasnât angry; she had simply never encountered anything like this. Sheâd thought, since Ye Yu was practicing his confession on her anyway, she might as well acceptâit would save him the trouble of more practice, and everything would proceed naturally. After all, she couldnât forget the moment he had stepped in front of her! The idea that her future Dao-partner might be him didnât seem so bad.
But once she agreed, Ye Yu showed not the slightest sign of joy. Wasnât that a reversal? Was he teasing her?
Xie Buyu couldnât help frowning, increasing the pressure on her fingertip. Ye Yu saw it all too clearly. She was really about to make a move on him! If she struck first, he knew he wouldnât fare well against a fellow Ancient-God-Realm powerhouse. He silently labeled her âunyielding: ready to fight at any moment.â Better not provoke her before he reached the Late Golden-God Realm!
Elsewhere, hidden in the mountain range, Hong Zhencheng watched everything through his âWater-Moon Mirror-Flowerâ illusion, jotting down notes on paper. âIndeed,â he murmured, âconfessing really is quite simple. Iâve learned much today!â He felt an urge to applaudâwhat a surprise.
That afternoon, Xie Buyu suggested they go retrieve the Xuan-Ba Devour-Heaven Axe from Old Dog Gou Langtu. It was their masterâs final possession; allowing others to take it would bring shame. Ye Yu agreed. From Bai Shuangâs memories he knew Gou Langtu was only at the Peak Golden-God Realm, and without usurping Hong Zhencheng he couldnât wield the axe. In a straight duel, Xie Buyu could easily crush himâand Ye Yu was eager to earn more Devotion Points before she did. So the two cheerfully set off for his lair.
As for Hong Zhencheng? At Ye Yuâs urging heâd begun âworkingâ on taking over the Dao-partner Sect. With Ye Yuâs guidance, he felt the task was not so daunting and dove into it with full confidence.
Night fell. Xie Buyu and Ye Yu arrived atop Bai Xuan Mountain. Guided by Bai Shuangâs spirit-memory, they slipped past the guardian formation without disturbing itâbut found Gou Langtu gone. Ye Yu guessed that, seeing Bai Shuang hadnât returned, Gou Langtu suspected her death and fled. Xie Buyu agreedâGou Langtu was cautious by nature; of course heâd run. âHow infuriating,â she fumed, âthis vast Heavenly Realmâwhere could he have gone?â
At that moment, Ye Yuâs Communication Stone from Elder Ge buzzed: âYoung friend, return to LieÂYang Sect at once!â Curious, Ye Yu asked what was wrongâbut got no reply. Doubt crept in. Could he be the legendary bane of sect alliances? First heâd slain someone in the Boundless Palace, and now even LieÂYang Sect couldnât hold out?
He turned to Xie Buyu. âElder Ge may be in danger. Letâs head to LieÂYang Sect together.â It was simple: with an Ancient-God-Realm powerhouse at his side, heâd feel much safer.
Xie Buyu nodded, her eyes flickering. Perhaps this was the legendary harmony of husband and wife. Things were moving fast!
Ye Yu didnât ponder /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ romance; he led Xie Buyu toward LieÂYang Sect, and messaged Hong Zhencheng to find a hiding place. If Gou Langtu found him first, heâd surely attempt to usurp him!