(Part 1)

On a night as calm as water, Yuyu Palace was as bright as day. Night pearls of various sizes were inlaid on the phoenix pillars, exuding a thin mist. White jade stairs were connected to a golden throne, looking gorgeous and noble. The hall was empty and quiet, with only the Heavenly Empress there with closed eyes, sitting on the throne of a leader, with an inexplicable expression.

Low footsteps sounded from outside the hall. The Heavenly Empress opened her eyes, saw the incoming person, and said calmly, "I have already sent Jing Zhao back to the Heavenly Palace. You clearly know that she lost her dragon pellet. Why did you give her such a harsh punishment?"

"Wu Huan, the dragon pellet is so important to the golden dragon line. Jing Zhao acted very recklessly, so she should be punished." The Heavenly Emperor walked into the palace through the moonlight. In the silver-filled room, he looked at the person sitting on the throne that he hadn't seen for nearly a thousand years. There was faint yearning in his black eyes, but it was nicely covered.

"Wow, you're fair!" The Heavenly Empress pursed her lips with an inexplicable look in her eyes. She sat upright and leaned back against the throne, "But you don't need to worry. That person is just a mere lord. He can't refine Jing Zhao's dragon pellet. I will get it back for Jing Zhao."

Hearing this, the Heavenly Emperor was obviously taken aback, and blurted out, "But in the back palace today, didn't you tell Hou Chi that it's her choice?"

"You really were..." The Heavenly Empress looked meaningfully at the Heavenly Emperor. She gently clasped her hand on the edge of the royal chair, and said casually, "The choice is naturally hers, but...no matter how she chooses, I won't let Qing Mu take Jing Zhao's dragon pellet out of the Heavenly Palace. He is just a normal lord, how can his life be compared with Jing Zhao's future cultivation!"

"Wu Huan, Qing Mu has inherited True God Bai Jue's Taicang Spear. He will be a great help in resisting the Demon Realm in the future. What's more, he was injured by the Three-Headed Fire Dragon because of Jing Jian. This is also the reason why I didn't retrieve Jing Zhao's dragon pellet. To do so...is really against the heavens! Besides, Hou Chi is your daughter after all, how can you let her make a choice in such a situation?"

The Heavenly Emperor's voice carried a bit of annoyance, and his eyebrows gradually became cold and sharp. He was the Heavenly Emperor after all and was in charge of the Three Realms. Even if Jing Zhao suffered from this matter, he couldn't just watch and do nothing.

The Heavenly Empress glanced at him with a little surprise, and faint mockery flashed across her eyes, "Mu Guang, you don't need to worry about Hou Chi's affairs. This is my business. But I didn't expect that you would allow Jing Zhao to lose her dragon pellet for that immortal lord called Qing Mu. It seems that it was really wise for True God Shang Gu to choose you as the leader of the Three Realms. The golden dragon line is indeed of heavenly fate, you keep justice very well."

"Wu Huan, True God died for the Three Realms back then. The Nine Continents are indebted to her. You are a beast under her after all, how can you say such nonsense!" The Heavenly Emperor's brows straightened, and there was finally a little anger in his voice.

For tens of thousands of years, the Heavenly Emperor rarely said serious things. Even if he now knew that she was making things hard for Hou Chi, he didn't seem to mind much. But as long as True God Shang Gu was involved, he never pretended in front of her.

You have been dead for tens of thousands of years, but why are you like a maggot on the bone [1], how can you not disappear...

The Heavenly Empress's hand on the royal throne suddenly stiffened, her eyes suddenly darkened, and her multicolored hair also gently raised. She suppressed the anger at the bottom of her heart. Her voice softened a bit and she said, "How could I not know how much True God Shang Gu helped you? I just casually said it. You and I have been husband and wife for tens of thousands of years. Could it be that I cannot match the respect you have for True God Shang Gu?"

The voice carried a soft and weak complaint that contrasted to the cold and arrogant Heavenly Empress just now. The Heavenly Emperor frowned, sighed, and walked a few steps further into the palace, saying, "Alright, we won't talk about this. Back then, what happened between us was already a betrayal to Gu Jun. Hou Chi's body is weak, so we should take care of her more."

"Don't intervene in Hou Chi's matters." As soon as these words came out, the Heavenly Empress's eyes obviously carried a strange meaning. She frowned. Seeing the Heavenly Emperor's surprised face, she stood up and looked at him, and slowly said, "We have not seen each other for a thousand years. Are you really going to be angry with me for a few outsiders?"

The Heavenly Emperor's expression paused. Seeing the Heavenly Empress looking at him with scorching eyes, he finally sighed slowly and waved his hand, "Wu Huan, do it your way, as long as you don't overdo it."

"Rest assured. How could I argue with a few juniors? I'm going to go visit Jing Zhao." The Heavenly Empress frowned, apparently not satisfied with the Heavenly Emperor's reserved words, but still terminated the dialogue, then turned and walked outside the palace.

Yuyu Palace instantly became quiet and cold, and the Emperor looked at the disappearing figure of the Queen, his expression gradually becoming more complicated.

Tens of thousands of years ago, the Three Realms were inaugurated in chaos. He was just an ordinary god in the ancient world. It was his luck that True God Shang Gu was looking for someone who could protect the lower realm, and found out that he had the fate of a golden dragon and possessed the appearance of an emperor, so she carefully taught him the skills of an emperor. It was also those one thousand years that he fell in love with the beast under True God Shang Gu — The Five-Colored Phoenix Goddess Wu Huan.

It was a pity that when the god realm was still bustling, there were many gods and he was no more than a small lower realm god. Wu Huan was the person who stood next to True God Shang Gu, and who knew how many gods tried to court her. He had no chance at all. After the Tribulation of Chaos arrived, True God Shang Gu disappeared with the three other true gods, and many gods fell. In the end, the god realm was sealed and when everyone became calm again, there were only three gods left, but Wu Huan turned her attention to Gu Jun, who was suddenly promoted to the god position.

Now, he was the leader of the Three Realms and his status was no longer what it used to be, but he was still at the same level as Gu Jun. Even though his heart was unwilling, there was no alternative. He and Gu Jun gradually became irresistible and got along with each other in a peaceful manner. He just didn't expect a thousand years later that Hou Chi would be born. In addition to his bitterness, he also found out that Hou Chi had the fate of dying prematurely. In grief, Gu Jun visited the ancient godly places to find a way out for her. He left Wu Huan in Qingchi Palace, giving him a chance, and in the end, the situation became what it is like today.

It has been tens of thousands of years now, and he still doesn't know...whether Wu Huan loved her Heavenly Empress position more or cared about him more.

There was an inexplicable coldness in Zisong Courtyard. Under the bright moonlight, Hou Chi sat on the stone bench in the courtyard, resting her chin with one hand and staring blankly in the direction of the swaying purple pine silently.

Feng Ran stood in the corridor with a faintly worried expression. Hou Chi had looked like this since returning from Yuyu Palace. The three of them also tacitly did not mention the matter of leaving the Heavenly Palace. She gritted her teeth and was about to step forward when she slightly froze and stopped walking.

A young man dressed in black and red clothing walked out of the room, hidden under the moonlight. The footsteps were slow but faintly calmed the soul.

Qing Mud draped the big black fur on Hou Chi. Seeing her turning her head and looking blank, he helped her brush off the pine leaf on her hair and smiled softly, "Although your immortal power has increased quite a bit, your body is still weak. The Heavenly Palace is cold, it's better to be more careful."

Under the warm and luscious moonlight, Hou Chi only felt that this smile was extremely precious. She suddenly held Qing Mu's hand and said, "Qing Mu, I won't allow anything to happen to you."

This was a bit confusing, to tell the truth. Hou Chi only realized this after she finished speaking and immediately closed her mouth, lowering her head to hide the sadness in her eyes.

Hearing Hou Chi's words, Qing Mu's that she was holding slightly paused. Looking at her buried head, his eyes gradually softened, and he patted Hou Chi's shoulder and said, I know."

His voice was warm and soft, and could inexplicably calm someone down. Hou Chi raised her head, blinked her eyes, and said, "Qing Mu, I want to go back to Liaowang Mountain. The bamboo I planted must have grown up. We left Da Hei to guard the house. I don't know if he can guard it well...Let's go home tomorrow."

Was it...home? Seemingly hit in the middle of his soft heart with these words, Qing Mu stared at Hou Chi, his eyes suddenly becoming intense and deep.

"Okay?"

Hou Chi's eyes were thick and soft. She looked at Qing Mu with faint expectation and invisible eagerness in her eyes. Qing Mu nodded, put her in his arms, twitched the corners of his mouth, and replied, "Okay."

Hou Chi nodded heavily, her palms slightly tightening. Since she would Qing Mu no matter how she chooses, then she would choose the choice where she would never lose him...

(Part 2)

It didn't matter if the Heavenly Emperor and Empress would be furious, or if the immortals condemned her, or even if Jing Zhao would fall into the path of the monsters because of this...She would not let go of Qing Mu. In these ten thousand years after she broke out of her shell, this was the only thing she didn't want to lose...

Under the cold moonlight, the two quietly embraced each other. The entire garden was quiet. After a while...

"Qing Mu, you tell me, if God Father learns that I ruined his reputation, will he be angry?"

"..."

"Forget it, he left me in Qingchi Palace for so many years, he can't blame me even if he learns about it."

"Hou Chi..."

"Yeah?"

"Hou Chi, you won't."

The clear voice slowly entered her ears. Hou Chi raised her head, and under the hazy moonlight, only Qing Mu's vaguely profiled face could be seen, but she missed the faint perseverance and determination in his eyes.

Ever since Hou Chi came out from the room, the lightness and warmth in Qing Mu's eyes instantly disappeared. The entire person became cold. He walked through the corridor and was slightly taken aback when he saw the woman leaning under the purple pine.

"Feng Ran, why are you here?"

"Qing Mu..." Feng Ran walked out of the shadow with a solemn expression, "Do you know something?"

The surprise in Qing Mu's eyes was just right. He raised his eyes to Feng Ran and asked in confusion, "What are you talking about?"

Feng Ran's expression paused, and she glanced suspiciously at him. Seeing that his expression didn't seem fake, she waved her hand, turned, and left. After a few steps, she finally stopped, sighed, and turned her head.

"Whether you know or not, I still hope you...won't do anything that makes Hou Chi sad. You should know how important you are to her. Tomorrow we will return to Liaowang Mountain. It has the protection of True God Bai Jue's formation, and the Heavenly Empress can't easily break through."

After saying this, Feng Ran disappeared into the courtyard. Qing Mu's eyes flickered. He looked at Hou Chi's room not far away and sighed softly.

The dawn gradually turned white, and the entire Immortal Realm was peaceful.

Jing Zhao put on a long gilt gold dress and sat quietly in front of the window. After a while, she stuck a jade-studded golden crown into her hair. Looking at herself in the mirror, she lightly smiled.

The person in the mirror was graceful and noble, and with a smile, she was better than countless landscapes of the world. But, slowly, the pride between her eyebrows faded a bit, and in the end, there was only a touch of invisible worry and fear...

"Jing Zhao, why are you...?" Jing Jian appeared by the door and sighed as he watched Jing Zhao, who was sitting beside the window and obviously had not slept at all at night, and sighed.

"Second brother, how do you think he will choose?" Jing Zhao still just stared at herself in the mirror, slowly speaking.

"You know Qing Mu better than I do. What I am worried about now is that Heavenly Mother has seen Hou Chi and she will..."

"What does she have to worry about! Regardless of her god position, or Qing Mu, she can get everything I want but can't have...Now, even you are worried for her. Is it that I am destined to be worse than her my entire life? " As if struck by the worry in Jing Jian's words, Jing Zhao turned her head abruptly, looking at Jing Jian, her eyes full of anger.

Jing Jian was taken aback for a while. Seeing the unconcealed discontent in Jing Zhao's eyes, he shook his head and didn't say much, only, "Heavenly Mother must have informed Hou Chi about your dragon pellet matter yesterday. Qing Mu will know sooner or later. They are not procrastinators, and will presumably make the decision today. If Qing Mu insists on leaving the Heavenly Palace, what will you do?"

"I..." Hearing these words, Jing Zhao's face instantly paled. She bit her lip and couldn't say a single sentence for a long time.

"If he leaves the palace, Heavenly Mother will definitely be furious and will force the dragon pellet out of him..."

"Heavenly Mother wouldn't..." Jing Zhao said anxiously. Seeing the determination in Jing Jian's eyes, she lowered her head dejectedly. Given the love her Heavenly Mother had for her if Qing Mu really chose this way, she definitely wouldn't be merciful...

"Jing Zhao, you actually already knew...that the final results would be like this." Jing Jian's expression darkened, and there was a little more anger and helplessness between his eyebrows. He looked at Jing Zhao and said every word and every sentence firmly, "You were not betting on your dragon pellet at all but on Qing Mu's life. You are not saving him, but rather...forcing him!"

Forcing him to give up Hou Chi, and forcing Hou Chi to give up him...

Jing Zhao's face paled bit by bit. Seeing the disappointment in Jing Jian's expression, she looked up in horror and murmured, "No, I just want to save him. Second brother, I really just want to save him..."

After she finished talking, Jing Zhao closed her eyes in pain, and the hand on the dressing table suddenly tightened fiercely, showing signs of bruising.

"If in the end, he decides to take out the dragon pellet, then you..."

Before Jing Jian could finish his words, a loud phoenix call sounded in the four corners of the Heavenly Palace, and it was very sad and very terrible.

"Someone has broken into Qinglong Platform [1]!" Recognizing that the scream was made by the phoenix guarding Qinglong Platform, Jing Jian was taken aback and couldn't help but feel surprised.

"Qinglong Platform is the place where immortals are heavily punished by sky thunder, who would go there...?" Jing Zhao muttered to herself. Her voice suddenly stopped, and her expression became stiff and panicked, "Second brother..." She looked at Jing Jian, her lips trembling.

"Jing Zhao, what's wrong with you?" Seeing Jing Zhao's strange expression, Jing Jian's face changed, and he hurried over to support her.

"Go, go to Qinglong Platform!" Jing Zhao's voice suddenly strengthened, her expression full of panic, "The dragon pellet has already entered Qing Mu's spiritual veins. Normal methods can't take it out, but only the Nine Heavens Profound Thunder can. He must be the one who went to Qinglong Platform. Go stop him. Once the dragon pellet is taken from him, he will turn into flying ashes!"

The phoenix call became more and more depressing. Jing Jian's expression was startled, and he stared in the direction of Qinglong Platform outside the window...then suddenly flew towards Qinglong Platform.

On Qinglong Terrace, the sky just showed the first ray of light.

A young man in red stood right under Qinglong Platform, looking into the depths of the Heavenly Palace, his eyes warm and tender.

"Qing Mu, you tell me, if God Father learns that I ruined his reputation, will he be angry?"

"Hou Chi, you won't."

The red-clothed man slowly raised the corners of his mouth. Behind him, the Taicang Spear hanging in the air let out a faint whine...

You won't, even if it means the end of my life, I won't let you make the choice...

So, I'm sorry.

I can't accompany you back to Liaowang Mountain, to guard that wooden house, see the bamboo forest you planted yourself, and wait for Bo Xuan's return...