Xuan Huaiyu rubbed the small goosebumps that had formed on her arms from the chill.
Sang Ruo’s expression remained indifferent. “Is that so? The weather is indeed turning colder now.”
Xuan Huaiyu nodded in realization.
Sang Ruo then added critically, “Who told you that I was weak?”
Xuan Huaiyu straightened up solemnly at the words. “Could it be that you are a hidden master?”
Sang Ruo nodded. “Moving mountains and filling seas is a simple matter for me.”
Xuan Huaiyu followed with a serious nod of her own, but then burst out, “Hahaha! Sister, you are far too funny!”
Sang Ruo propped her head on her hand and watched her laugh.
When she returned late that night, Sang Ruo found the lamps lit in her courtyard. Entering the room, she indeed found an uninvited guest.
“Lord High Priestess, how do you have the time to visit me in the midst of your busy schedule? Are you not discussing grand matters with the other City Lords?”
Rong Ji’s gaze darkened slightly.
Sang Ruo’s eyes swept lightly over Rong Ji, catching a trace of exhaustion in her eyes.
Rong Ji’s strength, if translated to the cultivation world, would be at the Great Transcendence stage. Such a person would not easily feel fatigue. It seemed that the recent troubles with the demons, combined with Sang Ruo’s excursions with Xuan Huaiyu, had placed a significant burden on her.
However, sometimes things must be broken before they can be rebuilt.
Sang Ruo gave a small yawn. “If there is nothing else, I am going to rest.” This was a clear order for her guest to leave.
Rong Ji stood up, pursed her lips slightly, and said, “I know you do not wish to see me. I came here specifically because I have official business to discuss with you.”
Sang Ruo walked to the table and sat down, leaning lazily against the back of the chair. Her body stretched slightly, making her look like a drowsy black cat.
“Do not go out for the time being. No matter what is said outside, do not leave this house.”
Sang Ruo looked up at her.
Rong Ji’s voice was very soft. Although she was standing, she gave Sang Ruo a faint impression of vulnerability. “I do not wish to restrict you. Just for this period of time, all right?”
Sang Ruo did not comment on the request itself. Instead, she addressed Rong Ji’s earlier sentence. “You think I don’t want to see you?”
Rong Ji looked at her calmly, her lips curving into a self-deprecating arc. “Is that not the case?”
Ever since she had done that and placed Sang Ruo under house arrest, she no longer dared to hope for Sang Ruo’s forgiveness. She felt her own behavior was absurd: she clearly wished for Sang Ruo’s well-being, yet she stubbornly forced her to stay. Her inner voice screamed for possession, yet she was unwilling to overstep again and cause the other woman pain.
She often wondered how much longer she could restrain herself. Knowing that the end of this path was total ruin, why did she continue this deadlock?
Perhaps, sometimes, human emotions truly break free from the shackles of rationality.
Rong Ji lowered her eyes.
Sang Ruo said nothing more and closed her eyes, her long lashes trembling like the wings of a butterfly. “I am tired.”
Rong Ji watched her for a while, whispered “Rest well,” and went out, closing the door behind her.
Over the next few days, although Sang Ruo did not stay inside the manor as Rong Ji had requested, she did reduce the frequency of her outings. Xuan Huaiyu was confused, thinking Sang Ruo was trying to distance herself. After being pestered many times, Sang Ruo finally told her the truth: Rong Ji wanted to restrict her movements.
Xuan Huaiyu didn’t overthink it at all and grumbled, “She’s being far too strict.”
After some time, reports of victory arrived from distant cities. It was said that Extraterrestrial Demons had invaded, but through the joint efforts of various cities, they were successfully repelled. This was only the beginning, but it undoubtedly reassured the people.
In Fuqu City, colorful banners were hung as if for a festival. Through the persuasion of the surrounding City Lords, Rong Ji had agreed to hold a celebration with them.
That morning, Xuan Huaiyu snuck over to find Sang Ruo. She said mysteriously, “Did you know? I heard that a new Bestiary has been built on the outskirts of the city. It was made using a Sumeru Mustard Seed, and it is incredibly ingenious! Do you want to go see it together?”
“A Bestiary?” Sang Ruo looked at the black aura on the girl, which was thicker than before. “Who told you about this?”
“My cousin!” Xuan Huaiyu tilted her head with an expression that practically begged for praise. “Her inside information is very reliable. I first heard about you through her as well.”
Sang Ruo looked at her thoughtfully. “I see.”
“So, Sister, are you going?”
“Why wouldn’t I go?”
The two set out for the eastern outskirts of Fuqu City. Zhu Shiyi was originally going to report to Rong Ji, but Sang Ruo stopped her. “Does she not have another important meeting to attend today? There is no need to bother her.”
Under Sang Ruo’s threatening gaze, Zhu Shiyi silently pulled back her foot. It was only halfway through the journey that she found a chance to quietly send out a paper crane message to Rong Ji.
Sang Ruo and Xuan Huaiyu arrived at the Bestiary. Many cultivators were already present, most from other cities. Now that everyone was gathering to discuss the demon threat, there was much travel between regions, and Fuqu City was full of visiting cultivators.
They were led to a banquet.
Today was the opening day, and the organizers were holding a large feast for the guests. On the stage, dancers moved gracefully. Not far off, through the shifting mist, one could see rare and exotic beasts trapped in cages.
Taking her seat, Xuan Huaiyu began to enjoy the spectacle with ease.
Just then, whispered chatter came from the neighboring table. “In my view, these demons are nothing to worry about. The way the major cities act as if they are facing a great enemy is truly making a fuss over nothing.”
Another person added, “Exactly! Wasn’t Xirui City fighting demons recently? I have an old acquaintance there. Those demons are not nearly as formidable as people imagined.”
Sang Ruo found it amusing, but Xuan Huaiyu raised her brows and barked at them, “The war hasn’t even fully begun yet. How can you be so careless?”
The two cultivators were from outside cities. Seeing the luxurious robes and magical treasures on the young lady, they knew she was someone they couldn’t afford to provoke, so they shut their mouths. However, their expressions remained defiant.
Sang Ruo looked at Xuan Huaiyu with some surprise. “You know about these things?”
Xuan Huaiyu replied, “Even though I don’t usually like to practice and am a bit idle, I’ve still picked up the big picture from my brother and father!”
At that moment, a scream rang out from nearby.
The situation in the arena changed instantly.
Xuan Huaiyu and the two cultivators frowned and looked over. The monsters imprisoned in the cages in the distance were shifting their forms, turning into gray, misty substances and squeezing out of the bars!
They coalesced into various hideous monsters with sharp claws, purple-green skin, and bodies covered in various tumors.
Sang Ruo kept her eyes downcast and unhurriedly took a sip of the tea on the table.
The monsters charged toward the cultivators. Zhu Shiyi and Zhu Shier stood in front of Sang Ruo, and Xuan Huaiyu’s guards also moved into defensive positions.
The two cultivators shouted, “What are these things?! My blade! Why can’t I cut through them?!”
Xuan Huaiyu murmured, “I saw this at my brother’s place. These are… demons, albeit the lowest level of demons.”
Demons.
The two cultivators were already at the late Golden Core stage, yet even against the lowest demons, they couldn’t break the enemy’s defense and could only defend passively. They had just said the demons were nothing to fear; now, they weren’t even as strong as the demons. Their faces turned bright red with shame.
Zhu Shiyi and the others managed to hold their own, but there were simply too many demons.
As many “amusement” beasts as this Bestiary had prepared, there were just as many demons. Even the maids, servants, dancers, and some of the guests in the Bestiary turned into demons.
Xuan Huaiyu realized late, her face turning pale. “There aren’t many real guests here. That means the target must be me…” She looked at Sang Ruo. “And you.”
Because they held the highest status present, they were the perfect weaknesses to use against the City Lords.
Soon, the defensive circle formed by the cultivators shrank further. Zhu Shiyi and the others were struggling. Xuan Huaiyu bit her lip, gripped her spirit whip for courage, and turned to Sang Ruo. “I am sorry. I shouldn’t have been so willful and brought you here. I… hey! Sister! Why are you still eating?!”
Sang Ruo put the last bite of pastry into her mouth and stood up slowly. “It was actually quite delicious… even if it was spiked with a bit of medicine.”
Xuan Huaiyu gasped, “What?”
She soon felt it too. The flow of spiritual power in her body seemed restricted. Many cultivators present had eaten the food; even if they hadn’t, they had the wine. They all began to show the same symptoms.
As guards, Zhu Shiyi and her companions had not eaten, but how long could the few of them hold out?
The situation spiraled downward in just a matter of moments.
Xuan Huaiyu said with a bitter face, “Now, I’m afraid we can only wait for the High Priestess to descend like a god to save us.”
Sang Ruo replied, “I prefer saving myself.”
“Do you have a plan?” Xuan Huaiyu pricked up her ears. She trusted her sister’s intellect completely.
Sang Ruo simply said, “Absolute strength crushes all schemes.”
Xuan Huaiyu blinked in confusion.
Sang Ruo turned her eyes to her. “Did I ever tell you that I am actually quite powerful?”
Xuan Huaiyu nodded without understanding. “But weren’t you just teasing me…” Before she could finish, she saw a black mist swirl in Sang Ruo’s hand. An entirely pitch-black long blade appeared in her grip.
A terrifyingly powerful pressure radiated outward from Sang Ruo.
It was as if a special field had formed. The demons that were lunging forward froze. They began to tremble, shrinking back and not daring to move closer!
Xuan Huaiyu’s mouth hung open. She was stunned.
The Sang Ruo at this moment was nothing like the lazy woman she knew. Her hidden edge was now fully revealed. Her jet-black hair and sleeves fluttered in the fierce wind, and her expression was one of mockery and indifference.
With a light swing of the blade, the very world seemed to change color.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The surrounding monsters exploded like fireworks, one after another, and were scattered by the wind.
It was overwhelming power.
How was this a “canary” being kept in a cage?
This was clearly a powerhouse that many great factions would fail to recruit even if they tried!
The System was also shocked. 【Host, aren’t you wearing the Magic-Suppressing Ring?】
Sang Ruo paused. “Didn’t you know? This shell of mine has merged with a Divine Spark. Strictly speaking, I am already a god and I use divine power. How could a ring meant for mortal cultivators possibly hold me?”
And even without the Divine Spark, with her status, she could have shattered the ring just by getting a little serious.
System: 【…I didn’t know that!】
The low and mid-level demons were all crushed. Consequently, the masterminds—three humanoid high-level demons—were forced to appear. These were likely the strongest entities at this Bestiary banquet.
Without their underlings to set the stage, their appearance lacked momentum. They had plenty of cruelty but lacked true dominance.
Sang Ruo didn’t care to hear them talk and moved directly.
She killed two and imprisoned one, keeping it for slow interrogation.
As she pierced the second demon, several figures flew in from the horizon. The leading white figure froze upon seeing the scene and landed on the roof of a high scenic pavilion nearby.
It was Rong Ji.
Across the mask, the two women looked at each other.
It felt as if an undercurrent were surging. This moment was remarkably similar to when they first met.
The others arriving were Rong Ji’s subordinates and messengers from other cities. Rong Ji did not move. After gaining her silent permission, the others went to handle the aftermath, asking about the situation. They immediately cast looks of admiration toward Sang Ruo.
A strong person is treated with respect regardless of time or place.
As the curtain fell on this grand drama, the Bestiary in the eastern suburbs, which had served as the “stage,” looked incredibly desolate without its guests and rare beasts.
Everyone else was gone. Sang Ruo and Rong Ji stood quietly by the lake.
After a long while, Rong Ji asked in a hoarse voice, “Can I… truly not keep you?”
Her girl possessed power that reached the heavens. She could come and go as she pleased.
Once, after Sang Ruo had “fallen asleep,” Rong Ji had overcome countless obstacles to reach the cultivation world outside Ganmu City. She had sent people to investigate Sang Ruo’s life and friends, but no matter where they searched, they found no trace of a powerful cultivator named “Sang Ruo,” nor any sign of the friend who had traveled with her.
This feeling of losing control terrified her. So when Sang Ruo returned, she tried every possible way to keep her—force, gentle persuasion, she had used it all.
But she couldn’t keep her.
Sang Ruo waited a long time only to hear this sentence. She almost laughed from anger. “You…”
Just as she spoke, she was suddenly embraced.
The hands gripping her shoulders were trembling, the veins bulging on the back of the hands, yet she used every ounce of her lifelong restraint. Sang Ruo could barely feel the pressure.
“A-Ruo, listen to me, I…” Rong Ji buried her head in Sang Ruo’s shoulder.
Her tone was incredibly devout and cautious, as if she were afraid of disturbing something. Her breath hitched. “I love you. I want to possess you. I want to be with you forever. This is the only obsession I haven’t been able to let go of in all these years.”
“I didn’t dare tell you. I was always afraid that if I said it, the reality of your return would vanish like mist,” Rong Ji murmured. “I didn’t want it to turn out like this, but I always seem to make things worse.”
At this moment, Sang Ruo finally saw the shadow of that young girl from years ago in this ruler who usually faced the world with cold steel.
Sang Ruo’s heart suddenly softened.
Everyone has flaws. Some are jealous, some are hot-tempered, and some are cowardly in front of the one they love. Why demand perfection?
Sang Ruo gently pushed Rong Ji away. Rong Ji stood stunned. Sang Ruo noticed that the High Priestess usually so noble, distant, and cold like a snow-woman now had eyes that were red at the corners.
She was beautifully, achingly striking.
The next second, Sang Ruo forcefully tilted Rong Ji’s chin up and pressed her lips against the other woman’s.
She gave a hard bite.
“When I first came back, you asked if I had left to help someone else,” Sang Ruo’s voice was also a bit hoarse, carrying a fine, granular texture that stirred the heart.
“I am not some good person. Did you think I had so much free time that I would care about whether others live or die?”