When Qiao Xuan went out with Hualan earlier, he had already memorized the route. On the way, he encountered no fewer than ten celestial servants, and there were even two gatekeepers at the entrance of the palace. However, the palace’s defenses weren’t particularly strict, and there weren’t any powerful formations either. Clearly, this Mountain and Sea Map was just another ordinary object in the Heavenly Palace… No wonder Hualan Dijun is so rich and carefree!

Just wait a few days, find a quiet time in the middle of the night…

Seeing success so close at hand, Qiao Xuan couldn’t help but feel a little excited.

Then, he touched the corner of his lips, recalling Hualan’s earlier actions, and let out a soft sigh.

To be honest, Qiao Xuan never expected that even after a thousand years, Hualan still remembered exactly what he liked to eat.

Although Qiao Xuan had guessed from seeing the puppet earlier that Hualan still had feelings for him, he never thought those feelings ran so deep.

Xiao Lu was an emperor, and Hualan was a supreme deity.

Both were figures who stood above the rest of the world.

Although Xiao Lu loved him, he was first and foremost an emperor, and only then his lover. Rong Xuan’s existence was nothing more than a fleeting embellishment in Xiao Lu’s grand, turbulent life—a brief, romantic dream, or perhaps just a place to rest occasionally… Compared to romance, Xiao Lu valued the world more. That’s why he always made Qiao Xuan wait.

Wait until he ruled the world, wait until he had no more worries, wait until they could be together openly.

There was no doubt Xiao Lu loved him, which was why he wanted to keep Qiao Xuan by his side.

But that didn’t mean Xiao Lu became some lovesick fool.

In Qiao Xuan’s view, Xiao Lu was playing out the typical “career-focused protagonist” script, destined to become a revered emperor in history, establishing a prosperous Nanyue Kingdom.

In reality, Xiao Lu had somewhat neglected Rong Xuan.

But Qiao Xuan didn’t think Xiao Lu was wrong. There’s no rule that love must take precedence over everything. No one is required to give up everything for love.

Life, freedom, dreams, ambitions… all of these are more important than love.

Xiao Lu was just a normal emperor driven by his ambitions. Qiao Xuan believed their tragic ending was more due to fate. Even though he longed for that brief moment of tenderness and made some irrational decisions, it wasn’t entirely Xiao Lu’s fault. Both of them were equally to blame.

In Xiao Lu’s magnificent life, Rong Xuan was nothing more than a fleeting dream.

So in Hualan’s tens of thousands of years as a deity, could Xiao Lu’s life also be just a brief dream to him?

Who would even remember the fleeting love in a dream?

He was supposed to be insignificant.

That’s why Qiao Xuan was so shocked when he saw the puppet. But after thinking about it, it wasn’t entirely inexplicable…

Whether it was Xiao Lu or Hualan, they both ultimately achieved everything, standing high above the world. Except for him, they had no other regrets.

The most beautiful things in this world are often not as memorable as regrets.

Happiness and joy pass in an instant, but pain and regret linger.

From the human realm to the heavens.

Hualan couldn’t forget his only regret.

So he created a puppet to accompany him every day. Sure, there was affection, but it was more about comforting that regret…

When Qiao Xuan was a child, he lost his favorite toy and regretted it for a long, long time. He cried and fussed, demanding another one just like it, and the unattainable made him remember it even more… But no matter how much he liked it, it was still just a toy.

For a Heavenly Emperor who had lived for tens of thousands of years, what did a mere year of emotional turmoil during a trial mean?

Qiao Xuan figured Hualan was probably the same.

Hualan, lonely at the top, started reminiscing about the past. That fleeting love became deeply etched in his memory, and the unattainable lover gradually became his idealized figure.

If you were struggling for survival every day, where would you find the time to reminisce about an unfulfilled promise?

Although he had analyzed it a lot… Qiao Xuan summed it up in one word: bored.

Two words: too bored.

Three words: way too bored!

However, after spending time with Hualan recently, Qiao Xuan had the vague feeling that he might have underestimated Hualan’s persistence…

In the end, it was just a trial, right? He had been through plenty of those and didn’t even take them seriously anymore. Was the mighty Heavenly Emperor really more sentimental than he was?

Qiao Xuan felt conflicted. He couldn’t tell whether Hualan was too deep in love, or if he himself was too indifferent.

…

Hualan was leaving the Beichen Star Lord’s residence and passed by the crystal lake in the central hall when he happened to meet Ruohua and Palace Master Miyun, who were enjoying a boat ride on the lake.

Ruohua, the goddess, was dressed in a light purple gauze dress, and Palace Master Miyun wore a dazzling, flowing multicolored gown, with their robes trailing on the ground. The two stood on a small boat, hand in hand, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene.

Ruohua glanced sideways with a smile, chatting with Miyun, and when she caught sight of Hualan, her eyes lit up with delight. “Brother!”

Ruohua and Hualan were both from the dragon clan, although they were generations apart. However, Ruohua had already reached the level of a supreme deity, and with only Hualan as her celestial kin, they addressed each other as siblings. Hualan had always treated her like a little sister.

Hualan saw the two and, after a moment’s hesitation, approached with a smile. “You’re both here.”

Ruohua held Miyun’s hand affectionately, laughing softly as she said, “Brother, you’ve been too busy. I’m keeping Palace Master Miyun company on this boat ride for you.”

Palace Master Miyun cleared her throat, “Don’t talk nonsense.”

Hualan knew Miyun’s feelings for him, but he had been uninterested in romantic matters in the past, and now his heart already belonged to someone else. He couldn’t reciprocate her feelings.

However, Miyun was an old friend and a prominent supreme deity in the heavenly realm. He couldn’t ignore her over such a trivial matter, so he replied politely and with grace, “I’ve indeed been busy, my apologies for neglecting you, Palace Master Miyun.”

Miyun’s eyes dimmed for a moment as she gazed at Hualan’s gentle yet distant expression, but she quickly hid it. She had known Hualan for nearly a hundred thousand years and was well aware of his obliviousness to romantic feelings. If she didn’t make things clear, they could at least remain friends. If she spoke too bluntly, Hualan would probably start avoiding her.

Oh well, friends it is. She had long gotten used to it.

Miyun smiled. “By the way, I brought some special flower honey from Liuguang Palace.”

The flowers of Liuguang Palace were famous throughout the heavenly realm, and its flower honey was a rare and prized delicacy, one that even gold couldn’t buy. However, Hualan wasn’t particularly interested in it. He was about to politely decline when he suddenly thought of Xuan’er. Xuan’er loved these rare delicacies, and maybe that boy did too…

Hualan paused for a moment, then accepted it with a smile. “Thank you. In return, please accept this Cloud Mist Divine Silk.”

With a wave of his hand, a roll of semi-transparent silk with a misty glow appeared before Palace Master Miyun.

This Cloud Mist Divine Silk was not only incredibly beautiful but could also be crafted into a powerful protective artifact. Its value far exceeded that of the flower honey.

Miyun was slightly startled but still accepted it with a smile and shook her head. “I always seem to be getting the better deal whenever I visit…”

Hualan smiled. “You’re too modest, Miyun. We’ve known each other for so long, it’s only natural to exchange gifts.”

Miyun laughed, “I misspoke.”

After receiving the flower honey, Hualan, thinking of the boy, said, “I still have some matters to attend to, so I’ll be taking my leave.”

Miyun watched as Hualan turned and walked away, letting out a small sigh. She had made the honey herself, but it seemed Hualan was utterly unaware of her feelings. Moreover, he calculated everything so carefully, never wanting to owe her anything, not even a single jar of honey. She would have preferred it if Hualan hadn’t been so meticulous in keeping everything balanced…

…

Three peaceful days passed for Qiao Xuan. During this time, he wandered around several more times, never staying idle, and he was gradually getting more confident about his plan.

Calculating carefully, the ten-day deadline given by Jiang Weiqing would be tomorrow. He couldn’t afford to delay any longer and would have to take a risk!

That day, as he prepared to eat in high spirits, Hualan showed up again, and Qiao Xuan immediately perked up to deal with him.

Hualan strolled over, his expression calm and gentle, and said with a smile, “Have you been getting used to everything here, little friend?”

Qiao Xuan responded quickly, “Very much so, very much so.”

Hualan sat down beside him and placed a crystal bottle on the table. “This flower honey tastes quite good. See if you like it.”

Qiao Xuan’s eyes lit up. Over these past few days, he had come to realize just how luxurious Hualan was. Whatever he brought out was bound to be good.

He opened the bottle, and a delicate fragrance drifted into his nose. Unable to resist, he took a sip. The honey was not overly sweet but melted smoothly in his mouth, with a floral aroma that made him feel as though he was standing in a sea of flowers in the clouds, light and ethereal…

Wow, what a treasure!

Even though Qiao Xuan had tasted many heavenly delicacies recently, this honey still amazed him!

Hualan watched the boy with gentle eyes. Seeing Qiao Xuan’s delighted expression, clearly enjoying the honey, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of warmth. “If you like it, keep it.”

Qiao Xuan felt he should at least be polite, but the honey was too tempting, and as a foodie, he couldn’t resist its allure. He chuckled sheepishly, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

As he said that, he subtly moved the honey to his right side, away from Hualan. Since it was given to him, there was no way he would return it…

You’re an emperor, surely you won’t go back on your word!

Hualan noticed the boy’s little move, shook his head with a smile, but didn’t expose him.

That meal left Qiao Xuan completely satisfied.

After Hualan left, Qiao Xuan patted his stomach. The heavenly delicacies were indeed special, far superior to those in the mortal world. To be honest, if it weren’t for his two exes keeping such a close watch on him… staying here for a while wouldn’t be so bad…

But Qiao Xuan was clear-headed. The reason Hualan was treating him so well was because he suspected a connection to his past life.

He grabbed the bottle of honey, tossed it in his hand a few times, then stuffed it into his waistband. This thing was too good, he’d save it for the journey!

…

Qiao Xuan patiently waited until nightfall.

He opened the window and looked out. The night sky was vast, the stars shining brightly, and the silence was complete with no sound at all. Qiao Xuan nimbly slipped out of the window. Instead of using the main entrance, he jumped onto the rooftop and swiftly made his way toward the treasure-filled palace.

Perhaps because no one dared to act recklessly here, or maybe Hualan had too many treasures, the palace wasn’t heavily guarded.

The two celestial guards at the entrance were half-asleep, not noticing anyone scaling the walls. Qiao Xuan’s journey was smoother than expected. He quietly pushed open the door and looked at the white screen in the center of the room, excitement spreading across his face.

When Hualan operated the screen before, Qiao Xuan had been carefully observing. He tentatively reached out his hand and channeled some spiritual power into the screen.

Slowly, an ink painting began to appear on the white paper…

Before long, beads of sweat started forming on Qiao Xuan’s forehead. Seeing how effortlessly Hualan had done it, he thought it would be easy. Who would have thought this thing was so draining on his spiritual power…

He manipulated the Mountain and Sea Map to display its scenes while pondering where he should go…

Suddenly, a crane’s foot kicked open the window, and its long neck stretched in. The celestial crane squinted at Qiao Xuan and sneered, “Hmph, I knew you wouldn’t behave. Sure enough, you’re here stealing again, even after all that with the puppet. I’m going to report you to the emperor and make up for my mistakes!”

It had been spying on him for days, just waiting for this moment! As long as it reported this little thief and made the emperor see his true colors, it would surely be spared from its punishment!

Qiao Xuan looked at it: “…”

The crane saw Qiao Xuan was speechless and proudly raised its head, “What’s wrong? Even if you beg for mercy, this lord crane… won’t forgive you! Hahaha!”

Qiao Xuan looked at it with pity. “If the emperor comes, and I tell him you were my accomplice, helping me keep watch and guiding me here, along with your previous offenses, who do you think the emperor will believe?”

Celestial Crane: “…”

Qiao Xuan gently added, “Oh, and by the way, the emperor can’t even understand what you’re saying, so I’ll have to explain it for you. Rest assured, if something happens to me, you won’t fare well either.”

Celestial Crane: “…”

Qiao Xuan, seeing it go silent, shifted his tone, speaking slowly, “But if you wait until I’m gone and then report it, things will be different. By then, I’ll already be gone, and whatever accusations you throw at me, I won’t be able to refute. The emperor will think you did well in redeeming yourself…”

The crane’s eyes flickered with temptation.

Qiao Xuan didn’t bother with it anymore, letting the stupid bird think it over.

He ran his hand over the screen, and the scene slowly changed. Qiao Xuan squinted his eyes. Why not go to the Nanyue Kingdom? He missed the food and scenery there…

Gradually, a white light appeared on the screen. Just as Qiao Xuan’s eyes lit up, ready to step in, a sudden gust of fierce wind struck him, forcefully pushing him away!

Qiao Xuan looked up in shock and saw a beautiful woman floating in the air. Dressed in a multicolored gown, it was none other than Palace Master Miyun.

Miyun had stayed for several days, preparing to bid farewell to Hualan before returning to Liuguang Palace. As she passed above the palace that night, she sensed a faint spiritual disturbance. Upon closer inspection, she saw a sneaky little thief… and without hesitation, she struck!

How audacious, daring to steal from Hualan’s palace!

Palace Master Miyun hovered above, her gaze cold as she looked down at Qiao Xuan. “Which little thief dares to act so brazenly here?”

Her phoenix-like eyes lifted, her beauty stunning and her aura sharp. She reached out to grab him, intending to capture him and demand answers.

Qiao Xuan snapped back to his senses, cursing his bad luck. Everything had been going so smoothly—Hualan hadn’t even shown up to stop him. But now this woman had found him, and she didn’t seem like the type to go easy on him like Hualan. There was no way he could afford to get caught!

Qiao Xuan hurriedly dodged, but the gust of wind cut across his side, sending the glass bottle of honey rolling to Miyun’s feet. His heart ached terribly! If only he’d put it away earlier and saved it for later in the mortal realm…

Knowing he was no match for Miyun, Qiao Xuan turned to flee. But before he could, Miyun beckoned with her hand, and the glass bottle flew into her grasp. She looked up at Qiao Xuan, her eyes growing colder. “Where did this come from?”

Qiao Xuan: “…”

Could this honey be related to Miyun?

From the cold and furious look on her face, was this something she gave to Hualan? And then Hualan just casually handed it over to him…

Thinking about it from Miyun’s perspective, it was no wonder she was about to lose her mind!

Hualan, you’ve doomed me!

Qiao Xuan blinked. “It was something the emperor dropped. I picked it up to return it to him.”

But how could Miyun believe that? Her eyes were already red with rage, and she struck again! If her previous attack was meant to capture him, this time she no longer cared if he lived or died!

Qiao Xuan cursed under his breath!

At this critical moment, he couldn’t hold back anymore. With a wave of his hand, a golden light shielded him as he quickly retreated!

Miyun hadn’t expected this little immortal not only to withstand her blow but to do so with ease. Clearly, he had been hiding his true strength. She sneered, “Let’s see what else you’ve got up your sleeve!”

Qiao Xuan gritted his teeth, both resisting her attack and smiling bitterly.

That’s why he didn’t want to get involved with Hualan. The women who liked him were all terrifyingly fierce, not easy to deal with at all. And the jealousy of a woman? Deadly!

Back then, when the empress had set her sights on him, he had suffered immensely. Now, being discovered by Miyun, she was ready to kill without even speaking a word.

Hualan might not have any serious issues, but the trouble surrounding him was too much to handle.

However, Qiao Xuan wasn’t one to sit around and wait for death. During his trials, he had been without his memories and unable to fight back. Now, there was no way he’d let someone kill him without putting up a fight!

Though you may be a respected figure among the birds, if you really intend to kill me, I won’t show any mercy.

In the corner of the room, the celestial crane huddled, trembling in fear.

How did things get to this point?

It used its little brain to think. If Miyun really caught Qiao Xuan and pinned the crime on him, that shameless guy would definitely implicate it, making it suffer the same punishment. Now they were in this mess together…

And if Miyun accidentally killed Qiao Xuan—no, no, no! Even though that guy was annoying, he didn’t deserve to die! Plus, this was the emperor’s palace. If Qiao Xuan were to be dealt with, it should be by the emperor, right? Not by some outsider.

It was a loyal crane after all!

Thinking this through, the crane seized the moment while the two were locked in combat and quietly flew out through the window…

…

The three-day deadline had arrived.

In Beichen Star Lord’s chamber, Hualan stood solemnly.

He asked in a low voice, “What were the results?”

Beichen Star Lord, pretending to be mysterious, pulled out his fan and waved it leisurely. “The result, you ask…”

Hualan said, “If you waste one more word, you’ll be short one round of chess.”

Beichen Star Lord: “See for yourself!”

With a wave of his hand, a water mirror slowly appeared before them. Beichen’s expression grew serious as he gently placed the jade pendant and hair strand into the mirror.

Gradually, the image of a person appeared in the mirror. It was a slender young man. Walking through the clouds, he turned his head, revealing Qiao Xuan’s handsome face. He looked somewhat confused as he walked through layers of mist. Suddenly, the scene changed, and he appeared in a serene courtyard, sitting beneath a peach blossom tree, reading a book with his bright, clear eyes…

After a few moments, the image disappeared.

Hualan stood there, staring intently, his gaze unflinching. He seemed calm on the surface, but his hand inside his sleeve was tightly clenched. After a long time, he finally spoke, his voice hoarse and filled with difficulty, “It’s really… him.”

Beichen Star Lord, his playful expression gone, sighed with some emotion. “Indeed.”

What kind of fate was this? After countless reincarnations, this boy had appeared before Hualan once again. Could this really be a destined bond?

In any case, Hualan’s emotional tribulation had hope now…

Though he often joked around, Beichen was genuinely happy for Hualan in this matter.

Curious, Beichen asked, “Now that you know it’s really Rong Xuan reincarnated, what do you plan to do?”

What will I do?

Hualan’s eyes were filled with a mix of pain and longing. A thousand years had passed, and he had never imagined he would have the chance to reunite with the boy he loved. And now… the boy he cherished had suddenly reappeared…

He…

Suddenly, the celestial crane kicked open the window, screeching in a panic, “You have to go save him now! If you don’t hurry, Qiao Xuan is going to die!”

Beichen Star Lord was startled. The celestial cranes in the heavenly realm were known for being free-spirited and aloof. How had this one become so frantic, squawking like a chicken?

Hualan was equally surprised and frowned, displeased. He was about to scold the crane when he noticed its anxious flapping, its little eyes red with panic, and it even dared to tug at his sleeve!

Hualan caught the crane and, after a moment of hesitation, finally recognized it. Wasn’t this the same crane from when Qiao Xuan accidentally trespassed into the forbidden area, the one who was punished for conspiring with him?

Wait…

Hualan’s expression suddenly changed. Could something have happened to Qiao Xuan?!

Beichen Star Lord was about to ask Hualan what was going on and why his crane was acting so strangely, when he saw Hualan’s face shift dramatically, and in the blink of an eye, Hualan vanished.

Beichen Star Lord: ???

Hualan was filled with urgency. He had been so focused on investigating Qiao Xuan’s past with Beichen that he hadn’t noticed anything unusual outside. Now, with a quick scan, he detected a strong surge of spiritual power coming from the palace where the Mountain and Sea Map was stored, as if someone was in the middle of a fight. In an instant, he appeared above the palace.

With one glance, he saw Qiao Xuan being forced to retreat by Miyun, his robe torn by the wind, and his face pale as he struggled to hold on!

Hualan’s pupils constricted, fury flashing in his eyes. He moved in a blur, stepping in front of Qiao Xuan and sending a powerful palm strike that threw Miyun far away!

Author’s Note: A long, 10k-character update! Tomorrow, a new ex-lover will make an appearance, hehe~

Also, there’s a little red packet giveaway in the comments. Mwah!

Beichen Star Lord: Why is that crane acting like a chicken?

Celestial Crane: You’re the chicken! Your whole family is chickens!

Qiao Xuan & Hualan Dijun: …

Be my Patron ~ Buy me Ko-Fi
────୨ৎ────
✨Be a part of the story – support my translations✨
✨Buy me some Ko-FI | Paypal to support my effort✨
✨✨Advance chapter at Patreon✨✨