The troops immediately began searching throughout the Heavenly Realm, yet they maintained as much silence and calm as possible.
Zhaotian was about to leave when suddenly Fu Qin grabbed his arm. "What is it?" Zhaotian turned his gaze to Fu Qin.
"Are you also going?"
"Of course...? I can't possibly let the troops search alone, can I?"
"What I mean is... searching in the Heavenly Realm? What if she's somewhere else?" Fu Qin slowly released his grip.
"Somewhere else? What other place do you think exists in the Heavenly Realm—"
"That... what's it called... the forest that connects the Mortal Realm and the Heavenly Realm."
"Lihua Forest?"
"Yes! What I mean is, Lady Xin Meng is a mortal. She must miss her family and have the desire to return home. But the main boundary gate is heavily guarded."
"So, what are you suggesting?"
"Exactly—the only way is through Lihua Forest!"
"Your words make sense. Let's go there."
"Ah, in that case, you go ahead alone." Fu Qin responded to the invitation with a smirk.
"Go." A single push from Zhaotian was enough to make Fu Qin's feet move, following him.
__________
"Lady..." Zhen Hua widened her eyes in disbelief at what she had just heard.
"You don't believe me, do you? Aside from our differing dreams, there's one more difference between us—our soul core marks." Xin Yuan stood up from her seat.
"Mine is a golden scale." She directed a bit of magic to her forehead, revealing an elegant golden scale.
"Xin Meng's is half a lotus flower with a droplet of water beneath it." Xin Yuan conjured another illusion, forming Xin Meng's soul core mark.
"Zhen Hua doesn't understand... So, you are... Lady Xin Meng's friend, Xin... Yuan?"
"Correct."
"Then... then why does Lady wish to go to the Mortal Realm...?" Zhen Hua stepped closer.
"To find Xin Meng. The night before she was brought here, she disappeared. Until now, I still don't know where she is or how the search is progressing."
Xin Yuan sat down, her eyes fixed on the still-burning fire in front of her. Every thought of Xin Meng made her increasingly restless, especially when she faced the bitter reality she had always denied—the possibility that Xin Meng had truly left to pass on the divine decree to her.
"Zhen Hua... In this vast Heavenly Realm, you are the only one who knows this truth."
After saying those words, Xin Yuan heard footsteps approaching. She quickly extinguished the fire and hid in the darker areas of the cave.
"Hide behind me and don't make a sound." Xin Yuan pulled Zhen Hua to conceal herself behind her.
"Xin Meng!!" A man's voice shouted, calling out a name all too familiar to Xin Yuan's ears.
Xin Yuan listened carefully—it was a familiar voice, one that felt intimately known. She gathered her courage to see clearly who was calling that name.
"Xin Meng?"
The man was Zhaotian, with his attendant, Fu Qin, standing beside him.
"Heavenly... Supreme?" Xin Yuan slowly walked toward him, her steps cautious. "Why are you here?"
"Of course, because I was looking for you! I was worried!"
Those words were enough to make Xin Yuan's heart skip a beat. Her legs weakened, followed by her heart pounding rapidly.
"Come with me. We'll discuss this at Cangwei Manor." Zhaotian gripped Xin Yuan's hand tightly.
"M—My Lady!" Zhen Hua hurried after them.
The journey to Cangwei Manor passed in silence. None of them initiated a conversation. Zhaotian and Xin Yuan simply walked in quietude, as usual. Xin Yuan only gazed at the beautiful sky of the Heavenly Realm.
"Why did you go to Lihua Forest? If you missed your family and wanted to return, you could have just told me. I would have explained it to the border guards." Zhaotian's words broke the silence of the forest.
"I... Next time, I'll say something. I didn't want to trouble the Heavenly Supreme, so I acted on my own." Xin Yuan replied, her eyes still fixed on the sky.
"Please forgive Xin Meng's carelessness," she added.
"I've kept this matter hidden from the other deities, but if you do it again, I won't be able to protect you."
Xin Yuan remained silent, as if lost in thoughts far more important.
"Tomorrow morning, go to the Heavenly Library and cultivate. Consider this a minor punishment."
---
"My Lord, everything is proceeding as you planned. It should all unfold as it once did."
Elsewhere, a middle-aged man reported the events to a mysterious figure. The place was dilapidated and shrouded in darkness—a fitting den for demonic clans.
"But... why does my Lord wish to repeat those events?" the man asked again.
"Must your master explain his actions? Is carrying out my orders too difficult for you?!!" The voice rose sharply as he choked the middle-aged man before throwing him to the ground.
"N—No, my Lord!! No!!! I—I will do as you command! Without asking anything further!!!!" The man pleaded, kneeling before his master.
"Continue with the plan—until the very end."
---
Step by step, Zhaotian now headed toward his residence. He was still pondering his earlier words in the cave—had they been too blunt?
"Hey, Fu Qin. Do you think what I said earlier was too harsh?" Zhaotian paced back and forth in front of Fu Qin, seemingly uncertain and worried.
"My Lord, the Heavenly Supreme! You are Xin Meng's betrothed! Saying such things is only natural for a couple in love!"
"But wasn't it too much? We've only spoken once, yet I was terrified out of my mind when she was gone. Isn't that a bit rude to a stranger?"
"A stranger?!! Good heavens, Heavenly Supreme!!! My Lord... do you not realize you have a fiancée? She is your future wife! Not some random passerby!!" Fu Qin stood up and approached Zhaotian.
"My Lord! I know you're rigid and inexperienced in romance, but I never thought you'd be this dense!"
Zhaotian, feeling provoked, lightly smacked Fu Qin's forehead. Fu Qin's mocking grin was the most annoying thing, especially when he smirked like that.
"Hey, do you think I should go to the Heavenly Library tomorrow to accompany her?"
"Didn't you have a meeting with the Beast Tribe tomorrow?" Fu Qin interjected.
"Oh, what time was it again?"
"Truly, love makes one forgetful... The meeting is at 9 a.m.!"
"Can't I still visit her at 7 or 8?"
"Ah, never mind, do as you please." Fu Qin's expression showed resignation.
---
Meanwhile, Xin Yuan, who had just arrived at her residence, lay on her bed bathed in moonlight. She had no way to search for Xin Meng now, nor could she leave anytime soon—Zhaotian still suspected her.
"Lady Xin Meng, someone is looking for you."
Zhen Hua's words made Xin Yuan rise from her bed. "Who?" she asked.
"Heavenly Supreme Yun Yanxiao..."
Xin Yuan quickly got up and walked to the entrance, where a man resembling Zhaotian stood admiring the flowers, his face softened by the gentle moonlight.
"Ah... Lady Xin Meng is here. Forgive Yanxiao's impropriety for not noticing your presence earlier." The gentle voice greeted Xin Yuan, who remained silent at the door.
"Divine Lord Yanxiao, please come inside. Let us talk." Xin Yuan invited.
Yanxiao responded with a soft smile, stepping closer. "After you, Lady," he said, gesturing for her to sit first.
Now seated at a table, Xin Yuan poured tea into Yanxiao's cup.
"What important matter brings Divine Lord Yanxiao to a secluded place like my humble abode?" Xin Yuan asked softly.
"Ah, I had heard of your arrival but hadn't the chance to personally welcome you. I also noticed your difficulties during the banquet."
"Yanxiao came to gift you a painting of the night sky—one I painted on the first night you arrived in the Heavenly Realm."
Yanxiao retrieved a painting wrapped neatly in golden cloth and handed it to Xin Yuan.
"I wonder if Lady Xin Yuan will like this painting." Yanxiao smiled faintly.
Xin Yuan reached out, accepting the painting and unwrapping it. It depicted a beautiful night sky filled with countless stars.
"Thank you for your kindness, Divine Lord Yanxiao, in gifting this painting to Xin Meng."
"Not at all, no need for formalities. It seems late now—it would be improper for Yanxiao to linger." He stood up.
"Yanxiao takes his leave."
"Ah, yes, it is late. My apologies for inconveniencing Divine Lord Yanxiao."
Xin Yuan escorted Yanxiao to the gate, but her steps halted when he suddenly turned back.
"Ah, I nearly forgot! Does Lady Xin Meng have free time tomorrow?"
"Free time? It seems so, but only in the evening. In the morning, I must go to the library to cultivate."
"Lady Xin Meng is truly wise and diligent. If you don't mind, Yanxiao would be honored to teach you some basic Heavenly Realm spells to aid your cultivation." Yanxiao smiled sincerely—a gentle and graceful Heavenly Supreme.