Three months after the wedding, Qihan County entered what Li Yanxu privately labeled as "the calm before chaos season."
The skies were clear, the spiritual energy steady, the market prices reasonable, and—most suspicious of all—no one was actively trying to murder anyone important.
Which was exactly when his Heavenly Space decided to whisper gossip.
Li Yanxu was sprawled on a bamboo lounge chair in the inner courtyard, a book draped over his face, when a familiar golden shimmer rippled across his consciousness.
—Important World Event Detected—
—Upcoming Spiritual Realm Opening—
—Key Figures Involved: Demon Lord, Immortal Lord—
—Predicted Outcome: One Night Stand—
Li Yanxu froze.
"…Pardon?"
The book slid off his face and landed squarely on Song An's foot.
Song An looked down, then up. "Uncle. Book angry."
Li Yanxu waved vaguely. "No, no. Uncle's just been spiritually assaulted."
The words in the space floated smugly.
—Historical Probability: 98%—
—Enemies to Lovers Trope Activated—
Li Yanxu sat up so fast he nearly tipped over the chair.
"You're telling me," he whispered fiercely, "that the Demon Lord and the Immortal Lord—who have been trying to obliterate each other's sects for the last three hundred years—are about to hook up?"
—Correct—
Li Yanxu's eyes sparkled.
"Oh. Oh this is good. This is gold. This is novel material for the ages."
He slapped his thigh. "Do you know how much readers love forbidden romance? Mortal enemies? One night stands with devastating consequences?"
Song Zhi, passing by with a plate of pastries, paused. "Uncle, what's a one night stand?"
Li Yanxu coughed. "A… philosophical concept."
Song Zhi nodded, satisfied. "Okay."
Li Yanxu turned his attention back inward. "So. Where is this happening?"
—Heavenly Abyss Spiritual Realm—
—Entry Requirement: Nascent Soul and Above—
Li Yanxu's grin slowly faded.
"…Oh."
He checked his cultivation instinctively.
Foundation Establishment. Initial stage.
A breeze drifted by, gentle and mocking.
"You're joking," he muttered. "I finally get front-row seats to a legendary love scandal, and I'm too weak to attend?"
—Cultivate Faster— the space suggested helpfully.
Li Yanxu scoffed. "Oh yes, let me just casually jump two major realms in three days."
He lay back down dramatically, one arm over his eyes. "Heavenly Dao truly enjoys suffering."
He stared at the sky, mind racing.
Could he disguise himself? No.
Borrow power? Dangerous.
Sneak in through a crack? Tempting.
"I don't need to interfere," he reasoned aloud. "Just watch. Observe. Take notes."
—Voyeurism is discouraged—
Li Yanxu sat up again. "You literally told me."
The space remained unrepentant.
Before Li Yanxu could continue planning increasingly unethical solutions, a heavy hand landed on his collar.
"Found you."
Li Yanxu yelped as he was hauled bodily into the air.
"WAIT—SISTER—PUT ME DOWN—"
Li Yanya stood before him, radiant, terrifying, and glowing faintly with newly stabilized qi.
Her aura had changed.
Where before it had been sharp and oppressive, now it was vast and steady—like a mountain that had decided to stop pretending it was a hill.
Foundation Establishment.
She had broken through.
Li Yanxu swallowed. "Congratulations?"
Li Yanya smiled.
It was the kind of smile that made criminals confess.
"Thank you," she said sweetly. "Now. You."
"…Me?"
She released him only to grab his ear instead. "Why are you not cultivating?"
"I am cultivating," he protested. "Mentally."
"Your mental cultivation will not protect you when trouble comes knocking."
Li Yanxu sighed. "Sister, you just came out of isolation. Shouldn't you be resting?"
"I rested enough." She turned sharply toward the inner rooms. "Xu Yichen!"
Xu Yichen emerged moments later, holding a stack of scrolls and looking confused. "Yes?"
Li Yanxu's heart sank.
"From today onward," Li Yanya declared, "you will supervise Yanxu's studies."
Xu Yichen blinked. "Studies?"
"Cultivation theory. Formations. Talismans. Common sense."
Li Yanxu protested, "Hey!"
Li Yanya ignored him. "If he runs, tie him. If he sleeps, wake him. If he complains—"
"I will gag him," Xu Yichen said gently.
Li Yanxu stared. "Yichen?"
Xu Yichen smiled apologetically. "Sister asked."
Traitors. All of them.
"And where is Yanli?" Li Yanxu tried desperately.
"In seclusion," Li Yanya replied. "Trying to stabilize his realm after marriage."
Li Yanxu muttered, "Figures. He always escapes at the worst times."
Thus began Li Yanxu's Academic Imprisonment Era.
Xu Yichen was a terrifying teacher—not because he was strict, but because he was patient.
Painfully patient.
Li Yanxu slumped over a desk while Xu Yichen calmly explained the principles of spatial distortion.
"…and thus, if the qi flow reverses—"
"Yichen," Li Yanxu interrupted weakly, "hypothetically speaking, what if someone wanted to sneak into a Nascent Soul–level realm while being… not Nascent Soul?"
Xu Yichen paused.
"…Why?"
"No reason."
Xu Yichen considered him for a long moment. "Hypothetically, they would die."
"…Immediately?"
"Painfully."
Li Yanxu sighed. "Fine. Hypothesis withdrawn."
Outside, Li Yanya watched from the doorway, arms crossed, satisfied.
Song An tugged her sleeve. "Mother. Uncle sad."
"He'll live."
Meanwhile, in the depths of Li Yanxu's mind, the Heavenly Space flickered again.
—Spiritual Realm Opening in 10 Days—
—Demon Lord Arrival Confirmed—
—Immortal Lord Arrival Confirmed—
Li Yanxu clenched his fist under the table.
I will witness this scandal.
Somehow.
Even if he had to cultivate a little.
Just a little.
He sighed, straightened, and looked at Xu Yichen. "Continue."
Xu Yichen smiled faintly.
By the time the sun reached its third ascent, Xu Yichen knew something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Li Yanxu was missing.
This realization struck Xu Yichen while he was standing in the corridor outside the library, holding a neat stack of scrolls and wearing the calm, patient expression of a teacher who had already resigned himself to a long day of chasing a lazy student.
"Yanxu?" he called gently.
No answer.
He checked the library. Empty.
The pavilion where Li Yanxu liked to nap while pretending to read? Empty.
The roof—because for reasons Xu Yichen still did not understand, Li Yanxu sometimes went there to "think"? Empty.
Xu Yichen frowned slightly, worry knitting his brows.
"This is odd," he murmured. "He never misses lessons unless he's unconscious… or actively escaping."
He turned and hurried toward the outer courtyard.
On the way, he spotted Xu Junyi leaning against a pillar, polishing his sword with unnecessary force.
"Brother," Xu Yichen asked, "have you seen Yanxu today?"
Xu Junyi paused, thought seriously, then shook his head. "No. And I would remember. He usually leaves an impression."
"That's true," Xu Yichen said faintly. "He tends to announce himself."
Xu Junyi frowned. "Did he steal something again?"
"Not yet," Xu Yichen replied, then corrected himself, "I hope."
The unease in his chest grew.
At the same time, the air in the training yard rippled with sharp sword intent.
Li Yanli had finally come out of seclusion.
His aura was calmer, deeper, carrying the unmistakable stability of Foundation Establishment—initial stage. His movements were precise as he practiced, dual swords tracing silver arcs through the air. Each strike carried quiet power, controlled and restrained.
Xu Yichen stood at the edge of the yard watching him, but his mind was elsewhere.
Li Yanli noticed almost immediately.
He sheathed his swords and walked over, concern softening his expression. "Yichen?"
Xu Yichen turned to him, lips pressed together. "Yanxu is missing."
Li Yanli blinked. "…Missing?"
"He's not in the mansion," Xu Yichen explained. "I've looked everywhere."
Li Yanli frowned slightly. "Did he go out?"
"That's what I thought," Xu Yichen said, shaking his head. "But he didn't tell anyone. And he hasn't returned."
Li Yanli considered this. "He does go out often."
"Yes," Xu Yichen agreed, "but not quietly."
They both fell silent.
"…He didn't even complain this morning," Xu Yichen added.
Li Yanli stiffened. "That is suspicious."
They decided to wait.
After all, Li Yanxu was many things—lazy, slippery, overly curious—but he wasn't irresponsible. Usually.
The sun dipped lower.
The servants began setting the dining table.
Still no Li Yanxu.
Li Yanya arrived last, removing her gloves as she entered the hall. "Why are you all standing around?"
Xu Yichen spoke carefully. "Sister… have you seen Yanxu today?"
Li Yanya froze.
"What?"
Li Yanli turned to her. "He's been gone all day."
The dining hall grew very quiet.
Li Yanya's expression darkened. Slowly, deliberately, she set her gloves down.
"He never leaves without telling me," she said flatly.
Song An tugged at her sleeve. "Mother. Uncle not here."
Song Zhi nodded solemnly. "Uncle's room empty."
That was when Song Zhi added, as an afterthought, "But I found something."
Everyone turned.
The boy held up a folded piece of paper. "It was under Uncle's pillow."
Li Yanya snatched it mid-sentence.
She read.
Once.
Twice.
Her grip tightened.
Xu Yichen leaned in slightly. "Sister…?"
Li Yanya inhaled deeply.
Very deeply.
"Where," she said calmly, "is my slipper?"
Li Yanli immediately stepped in front of Song Zhi and Song An. "Sister, breathe."
The letter crinkled in her hand.
Li Yanxu's handwriting was unmistakable—lazy strokes, overly neat characters, and an infuriating casual tone.
Dear beloved family,
Do not panic.
By the time you read this, I will be temporarily attending a once-in-a-lifetime event.
Yes, I know the realm is only for Nascent Soul and above.
No, I am not suicidal.
I merely wish to observe.
Please trust my judgment.
P.S. If Sister is reading this—please don't throw slippers. I'm not there.
Li Yanya twitched.
"…He went," she said slowly, "to watch the Spiritual Realm opening."
Silence.
Then—
"DAMN IT!!!"
The table rattled as Li Yanya slammed her palm down, qi flaring violently.
Xu Yichen gasped. "The Heavenly Abyss Realm?! But that's—!"
"NAS—CENT—SOUL—LEVEL," Li Yanya enunciated each word like a death sentence.
Li Yanli rubbed his temple. "…Of course he did."
Xu Junyi, who had arrived late with a bowl of soup, blinked. "Did I miss something?"
Li Yanya turned toward him with murder in her eyes. "Your brother's best friend is an idiot."
Xu Junyi nodded. "Ah."
Song Zhi whispered, "Is Uncle going to die?"
Li Yanya froze.
Her expression softened just a fraction.
"…No," she said, forcing the word out. "He won't."
Because if he did, she would tear the heavens down personally.
Li Yanli exhaled slowly. "We need to assume he has a plan."
Xu Yichen clasped his hands tightly. "He promised he wouldn't be reckless…"
Li Yanya laughed—short, sharp, terrifying. "He promised me he wouldn't talk back. Look how that turned out."
She folded the letter neatly.
"Prepare a tracking formation," she ordered. "I want to know where he is the moment that realm opens."
Xu Junyi straightened. "I'll help."
Xu Yichen hesitated, then nodded firmly. "So will I."
Li Yanya looked at them, then sighed. "…Alright."
She glanced at the empty seat at the table.
"That little brat," she muttered. "Better come back alive."
Far away, somewhere near a forbidden realm gate, Li Yanxu sneezed violently.
"…Why do I feel like I'm about to get beaten?"