Chapter 46 (Part 1) – Vixen

The Heavenly Emperor clearly saw them as well, but he displayed no emotion. Instead, he smiled and greeted the two of them: “It’s been a while.”

His tone was entirely natural, as though catching up with old friends after years apart.

Hengwu Xianjun masked his emotions, raised his sleeve to shield the sleeping Shanshui in his arms, and calmly walked over to the guest seating area on the right. He sat down with composure. “It has indeed been a while.”

Yu Zhengzheng couldn’t help but click her tongue in amazement. Were these two really not father and son?

Honestly, if her scoundrel father had severed her Achilles tendons, she would’ve used her last breath to drag him down to hell with her.

But these two, despite their deep-seated hatred, now acted as though nothing had ever happened. They even exchanged greetings with composed expressions—it was truly admirable.

Rong Shang let out a soft laugh, lazily lifting his eyelids. “What a coincidence.”

The two of them had only met a few times before. However, the Heavenly Emperor had only seen Rong Shang’s youthful face. After escaping the Eastern Sea, Rong Shang usually disguised himself. Therefore, it wasn’t surprising that the Heavenly Emperor could recognize this false face.

The Heavenly Emperor looked at him and smiled. “This must be fate.”

As his words fell, the hall fell into silence.

Yu Zhengzheng glanced at one, then the other, her curiosity burning like wildfire.

She had only heard bits and pieces of Hengwu Xianjun and the Heavenly Emperor’s complicated family matters—just enough to know a fraction of the story.

But the Ghost King’s peculiar demeanor suggested he also had unresolved grievances with the Heavenly Emperor.

Yu Zhengzheng knew very little about the Heavenly Emperor and couldn’t think of any possible conflict between him and the Ghost King.

However, according to the typical storyline, old men like the Ghost King often had earth-shattering love stories in their pasts.

Perhaps the Ghost King and the Heavenly Emperor had once been love rivals?

Yu Zhengzheng quietly shifted away, finding a seat far from the Ghost King.

The Heavenly Emperor was the supreme ruler of both the Heavenly Realm and the Ghost Realm. If a conflict broke out with the Ghost King, she wouldn’t survive even with ten lives.

Rong Shang noticed her subtle movements, and his lips curled slightly. Yet, he didn’t get angry over her distancing herself from him.

After all, she bore his mark. Even if she jumped to the base of the mountain, the Heavenly Emperor would still sense it. So, what was the point of hiding?

As long as the mark remained on her, no one would be unaware that she was his woman.

Despite this, he didn’t sit next to her.

Instead, he was curious about why the Heavenly Emperor had left the Heavenly Realm to come to Mount Qingcheng.

The Heavenly Emperor didn’t immediately reveal his intentions. He looked at Xiao Yuqing and smiled, “It’s been years, but Nephew Xiao hasn’t changed much.”

Xiao Yuqing responded with a gentle smile, slightly bowing to the Heavenly Emperor and Xiao Bichi in a gesture of respect. “It is my incompetence. I’ve failed to break through the Nascent Soul stage all these years, which must disappoint both Uncle and Father.”

The Heavenly Emperor shook his head with a smile. “Nephew Xiao, you’re too modest. You’ve already surpassed many of your peers.”

Xiao Bichi waved his hand, beckoning Xiao Yuqing closer. “I haven’t seen you in over four years. Come, let your father take a good look at you.”

Xiao Yuqing wasn’t surprised. One day within the formation equaled a year outside. Though they had only been trapped in the formation for less than five days, more than four years had passed in the outside world.

He stepped forward and sat beside Xiao Bichi, selectively recounting some recent events while concealing certain details.

The Heavenly Emperor listened with interest. When Xiao Yuqing mentioned that Hengwu Xianjun had fallen into the formation, the Heavenly Emperor’s expression turned apologetic. “This was the fault of my son. I failed to discipline him properly. I hope Nephew Xiao can forgive us.”

Hearing the words “my son,” Hengwu Xianjun froze for a moment.

Ever since the previous Demon Lord fell gravely ill and demonic cultivators caused chaos in the Heavenly Realm, the Heavenly Emperor had refused to acknowledge his identity. It had been years since the Heavenly Emperor had addressed him so affectionately as “my son.”

His eyes filled with mockery. Something must have happened while he was trapped in the formation to change the Heavenly Emperor’s attitude so drastically.

Sure enough, in the next moment, the Heavenly Emperor’s gaze fell upon him. “Heng Su, I had planned to visit the Demon Realm to find you, but fate brought us together here. I wronged you back then. Now your younger brother has been gravely injured while fighting a demon beast and is near death.”

Heng Su was Hengwu Xianjun’s given name. In the Heavenly Realm, most called him Xianjun, while in the Demon Realm, they addressed him as Demon Lord. It had been a long time since anyone used his true name.

Hengwu Xianjun smiled faintly. “If you’re inviting me to attend his funeral, you’d better schedule it a year in advance. I’ve been quite busy lately.”

He wasn’t lying. Just organizing his wedding would take at least two or three months. He intended to ensure that Shanshui married into the Demon Realm with grandeur.

A wedding was a joyous occasion. How could one attend a funeral beforehand? Naturally, a few months’ buffer was necessary to avoid bad luck.

The Heavenly Emperor choked on his words for a moment but wasn’t angered. He responded lightly, “I once arranged a marriage for him. The engagement cannot be ignored. I’ve already discussed with the Feather Clan, and replacing him with you for the union would suffice.”

Immortal Lord Hengwu chuckled softly and replied without hesitation, “In your dreams.”

“If you bring this up again, I wouldn’t mind leading an army to attack the Celestial Realm and settling some unresolved scores from tens of thousands of years ago.”

The Heavenly Emperor fell silent, his expression unreadable as he gazed at Hengwu.

After a long pause, he spoke slowly, “There’s no rush. I’ll stay here for a few days. Once you’ve thought it through, you can give me your answer.”

It was an irresistible temptation.

The Heavenly Emperor had only two sons. The elder, Hengsu, had been exiled from the Celestial Realm due to his notorious reputation, while the younger, Hengyang, was highly favored and considered the next candidate for the throne.

But now, Hengyang was gravely ill, and the arranged marriage had become urgent. If Hengsu stepped up as a substitute and fulfilled the marriage contract, he would have a high chance of succeeding to the throne.

Hengsu was pragmatic, never swayed by personal feelings. Even though the Heavenly Emperor had treated him poorly, he wouldn’t let that deter him from claiming the supreme position of Celestial Sovereign.

Hengwu Immortal Lord, however, remained silent, his demeanor unchanging, as if he hadn’t heard a word the Heavenly Emperor said.

An eerie silence enveloped the hall.

Rong Shang’s long eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze sweeping over everyone before settling on Xiao Biqi. He said lazily, “Old Xiao, I’ll also be staying here for a few days. Make the necessary arrangements.”

Xiao Biqi’s face darkened. This was blatant coercion—deciding without even asking and demanding hospitality. Shameless.

He was about to protest when two unexpected guests burst in. The familiar face at the doorway made him freeze, his lips trembling slightly, “Xue… Xuexi?”

Yu Zhengzheng cast a glance at the newcomers, Xiang Feng and An Ning, and scoffed. An Ning must be in cahoots with the Xiao family. Xiao Biqi sure knows how to put on a show.

Xiang Feng was supporting An Ning. Hearing Xiao Biqi’s trembling voice, he paused momentarily before turning his head to look at An Ning.

Indeed, An Ning must be Xuexi—either Xuexi survived or she had reincarnated.

Either way, she was definitely Xuexi.

Xiang Feng wouldn’t mistake her, and neither would Xiao Biqi.

Xiang Feng tightened his grip on An Ning’s arm. An Ning’s face was pale, her lips devoid of color and slightly cracked.

She was in intense pain but couldn’t collapse just yet.

According to her agreement with her master, she needed to endure a little longer.

In the second illusionary realm, she had stabbed herself in the chest with a dagger. Before she could heal, she shielded Xiang Feng from a sword in the third realm.

Though a puppet, she could feel pain—more acutely than ordinary people. The past two days had been pure torment.

Yet, as long as she lived, she would fulfill her mission.

Clenching her teeth, she slowly sat down with Xiang Feng’s help.

Seeing Xiang Feng, Xiao Biqi’s face turned ashen. He wanted to have him thrown out, but Xiao Yuqing managed to calm him.

When Xuexi was alive, her fame spread across the six realms. The Heavenly Emperor had naturally seen her before. As he looked at An Ning, he sighed softly, “Too similar.”

Yu Zhengzheng, utterly disinterested in their discussion, felt her hunger gnawing at her. After two days of starvation, she only wanted to eat something to appease her stomach.

The low table before her held no sumptuous feast, only a plate of fruit. But for someone famished, even a grape or an orange was a heavenly delight.

She plucked a grape from the plate, ready to pop it into her mouth, but hesitated.

Who knew if these fruits were safe?

Though Xiao Biqi likely didn’t know they would emerge, what if he dared poison the Heavenly Emperor and had tampered with the fruit?

Still suffering from the poison inflicted by the Seventh Prince, she couldn’t afford to risk another dose. Death would be preferable.

As Yu Zhengzheng wrestled with her decision, a faint voice sounded by her ear, “Want to eat?”

His breath was so close it brushed her face. Startled, her hand jerked, and the grape rolled away.

Rong Shang nonchalantly extended a long, slender finger, catching the grape as it rolled onto the low table. He slowly peeled the grape’s purplish-red skin.

Yu Zhengzheng stared at him in a daze.

She watched as his crimson lips softly enclosed the translucent fruit. The grape burst in his mouth, and sweet juice trickled down the corner of his lips. His tongue darted out to lick it away.

Her mind was stuck replaying that moment when he licked his lips. She swallowed involuntarily.

Is he a reincarnated fox spirit?

How could someone make eating a grape so… seductive?

Rong Shang lazily raised his eyes, his gaze indifferent. “What are you looking at?”

Yu Zhengzheng blurted, “You’re so… flirtatious.”