"My Lady," Han-Qing said as he handed her the nectarine she had recently eaten.
She turned slowly, picked up the nectarine, and took another bite, her eyes briefly glancing at the man they all acknowledged as 'Young Master' standing before her.
A while later, Xue Wuya arrived, rushing toward them.
"Your Highness, have you hurt yourself?" he asked, immediately checking her over with clear worry.
The man in front of them watched quietly, observing how Xue Wuya fussed over her. His eyebrow rose as he saw Xue Wuya gently spin the woman around, scanning for injuries.
The atmosphere froze when Xue Wuya noticed Yu Xiao's expression had darkened. With the nectarine pressed to her mouth mid-bite, her eyes were as sharp as blades as she glared at him. A curse flashed through her mind:
Xue Wuya! You fooled me! You think I didn't notice you taking advantage of me? You scumbag, old man!
Noticing her mood, Xue Wuya's lips parted slightly as Yu Xiao finished nibbling the nectarine and chewed it, her eyes rolling with disappointment.
The man beside them continued to observe, brows furrowed as he tried to figure out the dynamic between the two, his attention mostly on Yu Xiao's changing expressions.
Even the twins, Han-Yun and Han-Qing, were left speechless. They already knew their master's temper could be unpredictable, so they kept their posture, zipped their mouths, and watched the tense atmosphere unfold—eyes darting elsewhere.
Yu Xiao, standing in a bossy posture with one hand on her waist and the nectarine in the other, glared at Xue Wuya as if she might bite him at any moment. Her frustration was obvious as she confronted him.
"So, you can also cast a spell to teleport somewhere else!" she said, her voice sharp, one eyebrow raised, jaw clenched.
Xue Wuya's eyes narrowed.
"Instead of teleporting, you'd be better off sending your turbo-speed wolf to kill me! Hmm!" she snapped.
"To kill you? Your Highness, if you'd been killed, you wouldn't have reached this place," Xue Wuya replied calmly.
"Really? Do you know what happened today? I almost met my funeral twice. If it weren't for this Young Master, I'd be a ghost right now," she said sassily. Xue Wuya was left speechless and glanced at the man beside him, who gave a slight nod before Xue Wuya turned back to Yu Xiao.
"You're mad at me again?" he asked softly, as if afraid to break glass.
Yu Xiao pouted and crossed her arms, still holding her nectarine. "What do you think?" she huffed, exhaling heavily.
The man beside them smiled faintly, thoughts flickering behind his eyes.
It Xue Wuya can't handle this woman. I never expected him to turn into a harmless puppy. He's never acted like this with any other woman. What is it about her?
Xue Wuya stepped forward and crouched lower to meet her eyes. Yu Xiao kept scowling, slowly lifting her other hand and pointing a finger at him.
"Don't stare at me like that!" she warned, grinding her teeth.
Xue Wuya gulped, straightened up, and kept a respectful distance. "Your Majesty didn't get a good rest last night. Let's go to the palace so you can sleep," he offered gently.
"No need!" she snapped, continuing to nibble her nectarine.
"Then what do you want me to do?" he asked again, his eyes glimmering with hope.
"I almost died in your service. I'd rather go with Han-Yun and Han-Qing back to the quarters, so I won't bother you anymore." She shoved the nectarine into Xue Wuya's chest. "Take it! It's turned bitter!" she declared and rushed away.
Han-Yun and Han-Qing, standing nearby, were left with mouths open, eyes wide, fixed on Xue Wuya.
A soft chuckle came from the side—the 'Young Master' lowered his head, trying to stifle his laugh.
Xue Wuya glanced down at the nectarine in his hand, sniffed it, and after a moment, took a bite.
Han-Qing, Han-Yun, and the 'Young Master' were stunned. Xue Wuya chewed and savored the nectarine.
"It's sweet, not bitter. How could she say that?" he murmured.
The twins exchanged shocked glances, and even the 'Young Master' reacted in surprise.
A smile crept onto Xue Wuya's face as he took another bite, only to notice the three staring at him. He finally looked up, holding the nectarine in his hand.
"She lied. This isn't bitter," he explained.
The 'Young Master' smiled and stepped forward.
"She's new here? Why did you let her stay?" the 'Young Master' asked, suspicion in his eyes.
Xue Wuya glanced at the Duan siblings for a moment, then back at the man in front of him.
"These disciples have worked in the palace for more than three hundred years. Usually ten days on, with two days' break. Fenglin Town is an outer territory under Western-Southern authority, home to many commoners. It's remote, and they couldn't leave their master alone there. It's not a safe place, so they decided to bring her here for safety. Why do you suddenly ask, Yun Qingjue?"
Yun Qingjue—the 'Young Master'—nodded silently.
"I sense something special about her. After observing, I understand why her followers are so devoted," Yun Qingjue stated.
"She's mad," Xue Wuya muttered.
"Thankfully, I arrived, or she might have been in real danger," Yun Qingjue said calmly.
Xue Wuya let out a heavy sigh, burdened by disappointment.
"I neglected my duty; she almost got into trouble. I planned to bring her here, yet I failed to protect her," he admitted, pain in his voice.
Yun Qingjue tilted his head, watching Xue Wuya's reaction.
"I already dealt with those cultivators. They learned their lesson and admitted their mistake. But why are you so worried about her?" Yun Qingjue asked, curiosity in his tone.
Xue Wuya didn't respond, just glanced at Yun Qingjue.
Is Wuya really falling for her? The way she scolded him, and he barely reacted… Maybe the rumors are true.
Yun Qingjue thought, suspicion growing.
At that moment, the twin siblings found an excuse to slip away, leaving the 'Young Master' of the Northern Domain and his counterpart from the Eastern Domain alone for a private conversation. Once the twins had gone, the two 'Young Masters' continued their discussion without interruption.
Yun Qingjue was widely known as Cangtian Zhizun's most trusted aide—a vigilant observer who kept watch over the shifting events across the land, especially in the devastated domains.
Of all the great domains, only the Northern Domain remained untouched and vibrant.
Five centuries ago, chaos swept through the continent. The Southern and Eastern Domains were transformed into hunting grounds. Members of the Feng and Long Clans, no matter how distant the relation, were scattered and forced to flee for their lives. Those who fell into Zhou Yan's hands became his prey. The rest escaped death by seeking refuge in the Northern Domain.
Now, the people who live in the ruined domains are mostly cultivators from unrelated bloodlines, no longer true descendants of the ancient clans. Yet some distant branches of the Feng Clan still survive in those harsh lands, especially the Southern Domain, where daily existence means running and hiding to avoid Zhou Yan's corruption. As Palace Lord, Zhou Yan now controls both the Western and Southern Domains.
Things have only grown worse with the Central Golden Throne in the hands of his tyrant son, Zhou Xuanyuan. The Central Ruler—source of the present chaos—wields power to cause trouble whenever he wishes.
When disaster struck the great domains, the Northern Domain acted swiftly. The elders joined forces to establish a formidable barrier that barred outsiders and Western sect cultivators alike. This barrier is so refined that it can sense a person's intentions and reject those who mean harm.
Yun Qingjue is one of the few who can cross the barrier, thanks to the blessing of Palace Lord Xue Baitian and the elders. As Cangtian Zhizun's trusted aide—now secluded by his own choice for safety—Yun Qingjue remains the Northern Domain's link to the outside world.
Through his vigilance, news from beyond still reaches the Northern elders, even in Cangtian Zhizun's absence. Yun Qingjue often faces fierce battles during his visits to the Eastern Domain, always seeking to save those he can.
The tragedy is that survivors in the ruined domains—those who long to escape—find the Northern Domain's barrier impossible to cross. If they are caught, their fate is grim: they will either be made slaves or become prey for Zhou Yan or Zhou Xuanyuan.
It has been three centuries since anyone last saw Cangtian Zhizun. His presence has faded into legend, and no one truly knows his condition—except for Yun Qingjue, who remains the sole keeper of that secret.
After the great battle centuries ago, when An Chi and the final generation of the Long Clan fought relentlessly for ten days, Cangtian Zhizun disappeared without a trace, much like Feng Xiaotian after him.
Feng Xiaotian's fate, however, is well known. She is believed to have died, her name wiped from history at Zhou Yan's command. To even speak of her is forbidden and punishable. By contrast, Cangtian Zhizun, according to Yun Qingjue, is still alive—though stricken by a grave illness that has forced him to neglect his responsibilities.
Do you think Cangtian Zhizun and Feng Xiaotian share the same fate?