Xin Yuan, upon hearing that sentence, fell silent with a serious expression—an expression she would never have shown when she was still the Noble Miss.
"Thank you for your advice, Great Deity," Xin Yuan replied in a calm voice, bowing slightly. "Xin Meng will remember your counsel."
After the conversation ended, Xin Yuan and Zhen Hua left the Main Hall, leaving Zhaotian alone there.
The journey from the hall to their residence passed in silence. Xin Yuan walked through the corridors of the Heavenly Palace, gazing at the night sky of the Heavenly Realm.
In her mind, countless thoughts clashed and warred with one another. She began to regret, to feel inferior, to wish she could return to the moment she made that decision.
"My lady, what that minor goddess said—"
"I know. Don't dwell on it, don't take it to heart, and so on. I already know."
Xin Yuan cut off Zhen Hua's words with a cold tone. Her mind was preoccupied with thoughts of Xin Meng. How much better it would be if Xin Meng were here instead. Because if it were Xin Meng, she would surely have been crushed by self-doubt for a long time.
Amidst her swirling thoughts, a major question arose—one that had led her to this situation: Where was Xin Meng? She had known Xin Meng for over ten years; they had grown up together. Yet, this was the first time she had witnessed Xin Meng running away from fate.
Had she truly run away? Or had someone made her run away? So many questions swirled in Xin Yuan's mind, but they were all interrupted by Zhen Hua's voice.
"My lady, we've arrived at the residence."
Zhen Hua pushed open the main gate of the Cangwei House, revealing a small garden and a modest dwelling inside. Exhausted, Xin Yuan entered the courtyard in silence and then retreated into her room without uttering a single word.
Inside her room, she lit a few dim candles and sat at her writing desk. She began organizing everything she knew.
"That morning was the last time I spoke with Xin Meng... Did my words make her run away? What happened?"
"Xin Meng has no relatives—as far as I know, her parents and other family members have already cut ties. But why? If she really did run away, where would she go?"
"To a sect? To wander? To explore? None of it makes sense... Xin Meng never liked traveling or had any interest in cultivation. She only wanted a peaceful life—she said that a thousand times whenever she made a birthday wish."
"The only one who might know is... Ling Xiao."
Xin Yuan set down the brush she was holding and stood up abruptly, walking swiftly toward the courtyard.
"Zhen Hua!" she called out.
"Huh? What is it, my lady?" Zhen Hua turned her gaze away from the pond.
"Good, you haven't gone back to cultivating yet! Can you help me?"
"Help? Help with what, my lady? Of course I can!"
True to her nature, Zhen Hua's enthusiasm flared up again. Thankfully, this time, she didn't transform into a lily.
"I want to return to the mortal world!"
"WHAT?!"
"NO, MY LADY! ZHEN HUA KNOWS YOU'RE HURT, BUT—"
"Shhh!! Lower your voice!" Xin Yuan quickly covered Zhen Hua's mouth. If she didn't, even the Heavenly Deity might hear. "I need something from the mortal world. I'll explain everything on the way!"
"M-My lady wants to return to the mortal world...?"
"Ugh, you—! That's not what I meant. Just follow me for now!"
Xin Yuan tightly grasped Zhen Hua's hand and, using a basic technique, changed both their outfits. Then, they slipped through a quiet, dark path—the Lihua Forest.
"M-My lady, do we have to go through here?"
"I overheard once when I was in the palanquin—they said one of the paths to the mortal world is through here."
"W-Where even is this place, my lady...?"
"If I'm not mistaken, it's called... the Lihua Forest?"
"WHAAAT?!! MMMPH—!"
Once again, Xin Yuan's hand clamped over Zhen Hua's mouth.
"Shhh!!! If you keep shouting, not only will the Heavenly Deity hear, but even the sun might rise early from the disturbance!"
"B-But the f-forest—"
"Just follow me! I have a compass! I accidentally brought it from the mortal world."
Xin Yuan marched forward, eyes fixed on her compass, oblivious to Zhen Hua, who had frozen in place behind her. Realizing this, she turned around.
"N-No—"
"Why are you just standing there?!"
Xin Yuan moved to approach Zhen Hua, but suddenly, Zhen Hua forced Xin Yuan to face forward.
"M-MY LADY, A DEMON BEAST!!"
Both of them screamed hysterically and bolted. The tiger demon was enormous, its aura overwhelmingly powerful. Xin Yuan kept a tight grip on Zhen Hua's hand, her eyes darting around for a cave or some kind of barrier against the demon.
Sure enough, there was a cave up ahead with a faint barrier around it. But even so, the demon was closing in fast.
"My lady!! You go into the cave first!! The longer you hold onto me, the slower you'll be! I'm already exhausted!"
"No! We came down to the Lihua Forest together, so we'll leave together!"
But just as they reached the cave entrance, Zhen Hua forcibly yanked her hand free, leaving Xin Yuan to stumble inside alone. The tiger demon lunged closer. Zhen Hua collapsed to the ground, utterly drained of energy.
"ZHEN HUA!!"
In her panic, Xin Yuan could only think of any possible way to save Zhen Hua. Then, she remembered something.
"The Core-Severing Spiritual Technique? Does such a terrifying technique really exist?"
Xin Yuan skimmed through the pages. The hand seals were complicated, and the spiritual energy required was immense.
"This probably isn't the time for this. Besides, my current spiritual energy isn't nearly enough."
She flipped the page and found what she was looking for.
"The Purification Technique!"
In her desperation, Xin Yuan tried to recall the movements needed for the technique. She knew full well the odds of success were slim. But if she didn't try, she would regret it even more.
"Pure Heart and Mind, Heaven Banishes Evil Spirits, Purifying the Path of Truth!" Xin Yuan thrust her hands toward the tiger demon, but nothing happened.
The beast drew closer, and closer, and...
"PURIFYING THE PATH OF TRUTH!!!!"
Xin Yuan screamed with all her might, channeling every ounce of her spiritual energy in a desperate hope it would work.
"My lady!"
Zhen Hua shook Xin Yuan's shoulders.
"Huh...? Zhen Hua?"
"You did it! Well, not exactly, but you did!"
She grinned widely, her face beaming with joy.
"What happened to the demon?"
"Your technique drained all its spiritual energy! After that, it vanished!"
Xin Yuan let out a sigh of relief. A few minutes later, the night grew deeper, and the cold air bit harder. Xin Yuan lit a small campfire to warm themselves.
"Zhen Hua... at times like this, you know? You're the person I trust the most." Xin Yuan's voice broke the silence enveloping the cave. "Huh? Zhen Hua is blushing! But why is my lady suddenly saying such things?"
Xin Yuan smiled faintly, her eyes fixed on the flickering flames. After a moment, she turned her gaze outside the cave, watching the star-filled night sky.
"Zhen Hua... What if I'm not Xin Meng?"
______________
Zhaotian's room was bathed in the soft, shimmering light of the moon. Sitting by the window, he gazed at the moon, a pang of guilt gnawing at him. Since Xin Yuan's arrival, he had never properly welcomed her or even spoken with her.
"Fu Qin."
His voice caught the attention of a male servant in the courtyard.
"Young Master Zhaotian, what do you need Fu Qin for?" The man, around Zhaotian's age, stood before him.
"I want to visit Xin Meng."
"But it's already late at night—"
"Isn't it improper of me to let my future empress suffer in silence? That banquet must have shaken her."
Zhaotian rose from his seat and strode through the vast courtyard of the Renlian Palace, Fu Qin's incessant explanations trailing behind him.
He passed through the corridors connecting the various palaces and residences of the Heavenly Realm, each step bringing him closer to a small gate.
"Ahem."
Fu Qin, understanding Zhaotian's intent, immediately opened the gate. But as the gate revealed a modest house, his eyes took in the dimly lit surroundings.
The lanterns were unlit, the courtyard eerily quiet. No candles burned inside, as if the residence were uninhabited.
Zhaotian hurried inside, searching every corner. But Xin Yuan was nowhere to be found.
"Fu Qin!!"
He bellowed.
"Y-Yes, Young Master?"
"Gather my personal guards! We must find Xin Meng tonight."
"WHAT??!!"
Fu Qin shrieked.
"Quiet! Just do it. Make sure no one knows about this until I've investigated thoroughly."
Fu Qin nodded and rushed off. Zhaotian continued searching for clues until he reached Xin Yuan's writing desk.
"Last morning... Xin Meng... Ran away?"
Zhaotian picked up a scrap of paper—Xin Yuan's notes.
"Where did she go...? No relatives?? Xin Meng—"
"Young Master!! The guards are assembled!"
Fu Qin's voice snapped Zhaotian out of his focus just as he was about to read the most crucial line. He set the paper back on the desk and walked out.
"Listen carefully. Tonight, my future empress must be found. Search everywhere."