"To be honest, I have no idea how she did this. I have been trying to find out about anything that can help us in bringing those trees back to life but even after two weeks I have found nothing."

The old man said as he settled down in his armchair beside the small window in his living room.

The dark and chilled night was filled with complete silence. The two Immortals we're currently sitting in the small living room of the old man's hut.

The Heaven Emperor sighed as he looked at his Master. The old man was really a drama king.

Even though he wanted to expose the old man and his hidden motives but after thinking about the ending result of his daring stunt, he decided to stay silent.

However, there was another person present in the living room who was not as smart as the Heaven Emperor.

"Master, you have seriously become shameless. How can you even look in our eyes directly while lying straight to our faces?" Zhang Yong asked as he made a disgusted face.

The old man turned sideways to glare at the Shadow Lord who was currently munching on the delicious pastry that Li Ming had sent for the old man.

"What did you just say?" The old man looked scary as he asked the question through gritted teeth.

Zhang Yong could see the warning look that the Heaven Emperor was passing him, but our dear Shadow Lord had already chosen his side.

How could he let the old man trick his little Ming'er? Therefore, he ignored the signals of the Heaven Emperor as he replied.

"I'm just stating the truth. Do you seriously think that we won't be able to see the truth behind your words? There's no need to hide your crafty plans behind lousy excuses. No one is going to fall for them."

The veins in the old man's temple almost burst at Zhang Yong's words. His eyes were about to burn the Shadow Lord alive right at that moment.

"Think before speaking out such outrageous words. Don't go around spouting nonsense!" The old man said as he glared at the Immortal.

Zhang Yong was about to retort when the Heaven Emperor decided to speak up.

"Are you not going to meet Miss Li? After all, it has been over a month since you last saw her. She will feel happy to see you here."

Zhang Yong looked at the Heaven Emperor and after a few seconds, he closed his open mouth while nodding his head lightly.

He passed the old man a heated glance and then turned to look at the Heaven Emperor as he said, "Fine! I'm going to see my Ming'er but let me make it very clear, there's no way I'm going to let you play your dirty tricks on my Ming'er."

Of course, his words were directed at none other than the old man. Before the old man could leash his anger out, the silhouette of the Shadow Lord disappeared from the small living room.

"This boy...he is becoming more and more outrageous. He is not even pretending to be on my side. It's not like I'm planning a murder or something. I'm just trying to find out some answers." The old man huffed in frustration.

The Heaven Emperor looked at his Master for a few seconds in silence. He looked deep in thoughts before he finally replied, "Just make sure not to anger the Future Empress of the Heaven Realm."

With these shocking words, the silhouette of the Heaven Emperor also disappeared from the living room, leaving a surprised old man behind.

---

The dirty road kept going on without any end. She had been running on it for hours by now, but unfortunately, all that she could see around her was darkness.

Except for that dirty road nothing else was visible to her eyes.

Her legs were on the verge of giving up due to the weakness that was taking over her.

'Come here....Don't stop...!'

The husky voice whispered in her ears, making her legs start walking once again.

She was too tired to think straight at that moment. All that she wanted was to reach that voice that had been calling her for the past several hours.

She wanted to rest, to sleep, to let go of everything, and to succumb to the darkness that was trying to evade her consciousness.

However, the voice was not letting her stop. It kept calling her whenever her legs started slowing down.

'You can't stop...I need you...come to me...!'

"Ming'er...!"

In that dark abyss and on that neverending road, she finally heard a voice that sounded familiar.

Someone was calling her name and miraculously it was not that husky voice.

"Ming'er, are you awake?"

She felt the darkness recoil as it started leaving her. Her mind started feeling light as the dark hold her it started to leave her.

"Ming'er...!"

**

Li Ming woke up with a loud gasp as she sat up straight on the couch on which she was lying down in her cozy living room.

"Ming'er...?"

The familiar voice once again entered her ears as she tried to adjust her eyes to the darkness that was present in the room.

Except for the fireplace where a light fire was burning and for the five candles that were glowing on the other side of the room, the living room was basking mostly in shadows.

"Are you alright, Ming'er? Is something wrong?"

Zhang Yong's worried voice entered into her ears and she immediately looked towards the man who was crouching beside her.

"Zhang...!"

Li Ming softly whispered as she looked at the familiar face in front of her.

Zhang Yong looked worriedly at the girl who was looking pale even in the darkness. He could sense her discomfort and her fast heartbeat.

He was about to say something when suddenly the girl threw her hands around his neck and hugged him tightly.

He was taken aback for a second but soon his hands went to pull the girl tighter in his embrace.

"I missed you!" Li Ming whispered softly as she snuggled her face in his nape, inhaling his strong scent which immediately calmed her down.

"I missed you too, Ming'er. It's the most difficult thing to stay away from you." Zhang Yong replied as he rubbed her back softly.

After a few minutes, Li Ming finally pulled out of Zhang Yong's warm embrace. She scooted a little on the couch to make space for the Shadow Lord.

As Zhang Yong sat beside her, she immediately snuggled back into his arms, needing the comfort of their bond in order to keep her from returning to the memories of her dream.

Zhang Yong didn't ask any questions as he silently brushed his fingers through her silky locks.

"I have something amazing to share with you. I'm hoping that you will listen to it and say yes in the end." He finally said after a long silence.

Li Ming pulled back a little as she looked at the Immortal with curious eyes.

"What is it?" She asked as she straightened up a little to look at him.

"Well, I was wondering if you will allow me to help Snowy and Mallow change into their human form." Zhang Yong hurriedly said.

For a moment, Li Ming kept looking at the Immortal with shocked eyes.

"What did you just say? They can change their forms?" Li Ming was definitely shocked after discovering such a huge news.

"En! Since Mallow is a spirit beast, she can change into human form and I have a feeling that we can find a way to help Snowy do the same too." Zhang Yong immediately answered.

Li Ming looked at the Shadow Lord with surprised eyes. It took her a few minutes to come out of her shock.

"Of course, it's such a great thing. Can we seriously do that?" She asked curiously.

All her worries, tension, and bad feelings about her dream flew away as she and Zhang Yong started discussing about the possibility of his plan.

"Then it's confirmed. I'll start my work immediately. Hope we will hear some good news soon." Zhang Yong said after their long discussion.

Li Ming nodded her head in agreement. She too was excited about the results. If Zhang Yong was sure that there was a high chance for the success of this plan then she was sure that she would probably hear good news.

"By the way, how's everyone? And what about the Demon Realm? Is everything alright there?" Li Ming asked after a few minutes.

"Everyone is good and so is the Demon Realm. Since you started to help them, their situation has become better." Zhang Yong replied with a soft smile.

"Oh! That's good news. Umm...I have a favor to ask from you." Li Ming said as she looked at Zhang Yong with hopeful eyes.

"What is it? Just say it and it will be done." The Shadow Lord said in his cheerful tone.

A small smile made its way to her lips at his words.

"I want to meet with Ruoshan!"