After a long discussion, Lory finally faced the biggest problem of them all which explained everything that had happened to Zhao Li Xin. The Four Kings Palace made a smart decision by shoving the problem to Lory. One by one trying to coax her.

Jin Hao: "Young lady, I have the perfect ointment to make your skin clearer and moisturized, it also adds sun protection and is so light on your skin that you can use it on a daily basis, I guarantee you will see the difference in one day" he raised his thumb and smile widely.

​​

'I've heard ads like this before'

Wu San Bo: "Young madam, this is my new creation, I remembered you talking about the flashlight in your world, I have made a prototype according to your description, look how small and light my own flashlight creation, and it even better because the light colors could change whatever you like, look...it could change to red, yellow, blue, orange and you press this button, it changes automatically, look - look!"

'It's like a Disco lamp, AWESOME!'

Bei Li Yan: "Lory, you are a true foodie, right? listen, I found the best pastry chef in the world who he uses to make innovative cakes and desserts that no one has ever seen, everyone loves this chef's creations and they all fight like crazy trying to invite this chef to work for them even royal families from all over the world tried to recruit him but he never accepted. Luckily, I had the opportunity to meet this famous chef and it just so happens that this particular chef also owes me quite a bit so I can invite him to come and cook at the manor any time you like, oh, did I tell you he got the best snowflake cake with raspberries and coconut filling, have you ever tasted steamed pears before? You have to give it a try, he can also make the perfect fried sesame balls which you should try at least once in your life."

It goes without saying that Lory was sold in an instant.

Jiang Jin Wei: "...I'm sorry I don't bring anything"

'...'

Lory thought he was incorruptible, unfortunately, he realized she was wrong. Therefore she was now restless in her room alone even Girsha refused to accompany her this time, Lory walks back and forth waiting for Zhao Li Xin to return from cultivation, she had come up with the best script to tell a story that would make Zhao Li Xin less angry although she's not sure it would work. Lory saw herself in the mirror feeling irritated with herself for being such a coward, unfortunately, she couldn't help but feel nervous, facing Zhao Li Xin somehow made her just as anxious as she was facing her own father.

"Lory, are you there?!" Zhao Li Xin's baritone voice called her gently.

"Ah, screw it!" she takes a deep breath and braces herself.

Shee used to prance towards Zhao Li Xin when she heard his voice but now she gasped and her heart was beating erratically, was it too late to return the bribe now? She should have listened to her father's warning 'Corruption is the road to destruction

Zhao Li Xin heard Lory dragging her feet then her head peeked out from behind the room partition, Lory's purple eyes sparkled and she grinned awkwardly, Zhao Li Xin felt she was up to something.

"Come here" he beckoned her.

Zhao Li Xin sat on the bed in the lotus position, his back was straight and his long silky hair draped over his chest like a waterfall, the black robe he was wearing made his dark eyes more conspicuous, combined with his flawless smooth white skin Zhao Li Xin's ethereal beauty was almost surreal, Zhao Li Xin smiled faintly, his Languid expression mimicking a lazy leopard resting in a meadow, beautiful and dangerous at the same time. Lory's heart was pounding rapidly, but she didn't know if it was because of his appearance or because of her guilt, nonetheless, it was all because of him.

See her rigid body language Zhao Li Xin gracefully tilts his head "Why are you look...nervous?

Lory said defensively "I'm not!"

Zhao Li Xin glanced outside then he turned his gaze back to Lory and calmly say: "why are you stand so far away?"

"No…nothing, it just warmer stand near the furnace" she throws another excused while waving her hands excessively.

"The furnace is not lit yet…." he reminded her of the nearby cold furnace with a flat expression.

"..."

'What a tough opponent'

Zhao Li Xin wiggled her index finger as a signal for Lory to come closer, Lory reluctantly stepped forward still leaving quite a distance between them. Zhao Li Xin's brows furrowed he wiggled his index finger again to signal her to come closer, Lory knew she couldn't avoid Zhao Li Xin, Lory then lowered her head then anxiously walked towards Zhao Li Xin.

Zhao Li Xin wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her gently in his embrace because Zhao Li Xin was sitting on the bed, their heights were reversed so he could peek at her expression from below.

"What naughty thing do you do when I'm not around?" His melodious baritone voice teased her and instantly Lory's heart skipped a beat.

"I... I didn't do anything" she looked down feeling nervous and guilty.

Zhao Li Xin chuckled lightly "So why are you acting like a cat who was caught stealing fish, in front of me"

"I didn't steal anything, it's just…." Lory's heart pounded under his domineering gaze.

"Just what?" Zhao Li Xin looked at her dubiously.

"Uhm…but, but you promised me you wouldn't be angry with me or anyone else…." what Lory meant were the four royal palaces and the Mong brothers, they were responsible for her safety when Zhao Li Xin wasn't around so when something happened to her the one who would be responsible would be them, luckily Lory wasn't injured this time so her plead shouldn't be overboard, right?

Zhao Li Xin felt suspicious, it was normal for Lory to apologize for herself but why would she ask forgiveness for others too, were they involved? Zhao Li Xin narrowed his eyes and said: "I can't promise anything I don't know yet..."

Unable to deny it Lory bit her lip nervously then she sat down next to Zhao Li Xin slowly she tells what had happened, the more Lory spoke the darker his eyes grew, Wei Zu Tian's boldness made anger boil inside him like molten lava, his breathing becomes heavy it almost suffocates him.

"That's... what happened" Lory raised her head nervously.

Zhao Li Xin closed his eyes as if she was trying to swallow his anxiety, anger, and relief, he took a deep breath then raised his hand "Wait a minute"

Lory blinked her eyes as Zhao Li Xin's figure suddenly disappeared in thin air, did Zhao Li Xin return to the mystic realm, why? then Seconds later Zhao Lixin reappeared but half of his robes were visibly burnt, without explanation he calmly got off the bed and walked behind the screen divider then casually changed his robes, a moment later he came out and walk towards her.

Lory probed his mood then carefully asked "You feel better?"

Zhao Li Xin's expression is more relaxed now, he nodded and said: "Let's drink first"

_________________________

Meanwhile, in the mystical realm, Huo Long's jaw dropped as he stared at the scorched fields around him, Huo Long then looked up at the sky and shouted angrily, "DAM* YOU, BOY!"

___________________________

In the garden, Lory and Zhao Li Xin were sitting on the sofa, Lory's head rested comfortably on Zhao Li Xin's shoulder, but then something bothered her so she asked Zhao Li Xin, "Why don't you ever attack the Heaven's Gate sect when you have strengthened the power of the Hei Shen sect, or after I heal you? You know it's unwise to have someone like Wei Zu Tian hanging around without being closely watched, you should know soon or later he would come for you"

"En, you're right" he smiled then put his arm around her shoulder "But back then I wasn't sure if I could win against him, that's why I never revealed about my condition even after you healed for two years" Zhao Li Xin was manly enough to admit his inadequacy.

Lory then understood why Zhao Li Xin was still pretending to be a sick young prince, not only did he deceive the royal family he also didn't want to alert Wei Zu Tian, not until he felt ready, Lory suddenly became curious "Is Wei Zu Tian that strong? " ever since Lory met Zhao Li Xin, she had never seen anyone close to Zhao Li Xin strength, not even Lao Min Na could compare to Zhao Li Xin without Lazaru's help.

"The problem is the array around the Heaven gate sect territory, the protective array is unique and very powerful, rumor has it one of the Wei ancestors who were the Array master plant powerful protective array thousands around the Wei territory thousand years ago and that also the reason why the heaven gate became an unstoppable power ever since then"

"You are also a top-level Array Master, can't you break it?" asked Lory.

"I can, but I will receive a heavy backlash for forcing myself to use that much power and if Wei Zu Tian attacks me while I am injured by that counterattack, I will have no chance of winning against him" His forehead was tightly knitted together, it was not like Zhao Li Xin never thought of facing Wei Zu Tian head-on but unfortunately the opportunity wasn't ripe yet, on the contrary, what people thought about Zhao Li Xin, he was not someone who would launch an attack without further preparation.

"He's not come out, and you can't come in, so that's how the status quo remains..." concluded Lory.

Zhao Li Xin shrugged halfway, "Sort of, or maybe it's because he thinks I'm sick so he thought he doesn't need to rush."

"But now that Wei Zu Tian is here, not only that he even dares to approach me, it feels like he is trying to challenge you," Lory thought there was something fishy about Wei Zu Tian's moves.

"That's what confuses me, is he being too arrogant or….he's got a trick up his sleeve" he mutters quietly.