"Qi Yi!"
"Your Majesty!" shouted Qi Yang and General Gu together.
"From the start, I sensed that this creature was extremely dangerous. It's also my fault that I couldn't capture it and allowed it to escape and cause trouble in the three realms," Emperor Qi explained, but the other two still had expressions of disbelief.
"Forget about going to the upper realm, you haven't even left your room, this castle for thousands of years! Qi Yi, I swear I will—"
"Brother, we have to capture this creature, right?" Qi Yi stared deeply at her brother. Perhaps in her case, even though the demon emperor couldn't see, her eyes still conveyed things, successfully silencing Qi Yang. With a heavy sigh, Qi Yang stopped arguing, allowing the two opposing sides to discuss their strategies.
Although unconvinced by the Demon Emperor's statement, when Yun Guoqun didn't reject the offer, Fu Ziya and Wan An couldn't refuse. The Demon Emperor had a good reason to join them, and they needed it.
The next few days passed peacefully. Their wounds began to heal, and so did their spiritual energy. Sun Li woke up, and the first thing she did was scold Shen Xing for still not finding his sword.
They prepared to return to the upper realm, while Shen Xing and Sun Li returned to the human world. Initially, Yun Guoqu didn't want to reveal their identities to the two humans, but now that they were involved in this matter, there was no harm in telling them. Yun Guoqu also gave Shen Xing and Sun Li a special jade so that if they encountered any oddities in the human world, they could report to him.
"I still can't find my sword." Shen Xing's complaints continued until the others stopped bullying him. These past few days, they have become closer to each other. Despite their frequent quarrels, Wan An and Shen Xing were on the same wavelength—admirers of Yun Guoqu. Fu Ziya was happy because she finally had another woman to talk to. Sun Li was a tough woman and no less powerful than herself. Her nature was also good, and they became friends more quickly.
At that time, they were preparing to return to their respective worlds. Sun Li was feeling better, though not yet fully recovered. Wan An, Fu Ziya, and Shen Xing's wounds were also healing rapidly. Although they didn't want to say it out loud, they had to admit that the treatment the Demon Emperor had given them was excellent.
They waited for the Demon Emperor and Yun Guoqun, who hadn't yet arrived. They had agreed to gather here the night before. Honestly, none of them knew how to exit the Demon Realm. Unlike the human world, which could be freely entered, the Demon Realm had its own protection. No one could enter or leave at will, of course, except for those who had intended to do so secretly. Perhaps Yun Guoqun knew how, and of course, the Demon Emperor knew it too.
"Sorry, I'm late." The light voice of the demon emperor Qi Yi stopped Sun Li and Shen Xing's argument, the woman who had been unconscious since the beginning and didn't know what they had been through since coming to the demon world was still discussing Shen Xing's missing sword.
The appearance of the demon emperor drew a gasp of admiration from Shen Xing, the lover of beauty, or womanizer. "I never thought I'd find something this beautiful in the demon world. Can I ask her out on a date?" It may have been a joke, but the blow to the back of his head was no joke.
"I agree." Wan An said. Even as a woman, Fu Ziya had to admit that no one could match the beauty of the demon emperor. Who was Lady Shun? The most eternal beauty in the upper world couldn't match her.
Yun Guoqun walked beside Qi Yi, dressed in a bright blue robe that accentuated her pale skin. Her long silver hair was draped over her shoulders, swaying as she walked. Small flowers adorned her hair. She held a folding fan in her hand and tapped it against her palm several times. This time, she was wearing footwear, preventing the flowers from forming with each step. Her face brightened in her more human-like attire. A smile never left her face.
"Aish... that ugly monster is an eyesore." Wan An sneered, seeing General Gu's large frame behind the Demon Emperor. He shook his head in discontent. His eyes felt like they were stained with tears after seeing two beautiful things walking side by side, only to be ruined by General Gu's appearance.
Recalling their previous conversation, after a long debate, they finally allowed the Demon Emperor to come with them, on the condition that General Gu would also go with her. There was no need for further debate, and Yun Guoqu readily agreed.
"Sorry I'm late." Said the demon general Gu.
They nodded. General Gu walked in front, his hands clasped together and pressed them to the ground. As he did so, a large gate appeared before them. The demon general would open the door to the human world. Emperor Yun Guoqu would lead them to the upper world from there.
"Ah, General. It would be better if you didn't look like that." General Gu's sharp eyebrows rose. "I'm comfortable with my appearance, Your Majesty."
"No, no. You must change your appearance." Although half-hearted, General Gu still complied. The Demon Emperor was stubborn enough, and General Gu respected her too much to refuse.
General Gu's expression changed, and everyone's face—except Yun Guoqu and the demon emperor's—fell. They rubbed their eyes, afraid their vision would worsen.
The terrifying monster transformed into a handsome figure. He was the same height as Yun Guoqu and had a muscular build. Not to mention his handsome face, with a perfectly shaped, high nose, piercing red eyes, and full, luscious lips. He wore dark clothing and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Y-You!"
"Can you transform into a woman with…?" Shen Xing waved his hands in front of his chest with a mischievous smile. General Gu growled angrily.
"Don't be mistaken, this is his true appearance, he just wants to look strong 'like a general' and show his scary figure more often." They were still silent in disbelief.
"Then what about you?" Yun Guoqu's question was directed at the demon emperor, with certainty, the woman smiled. "I've always been like this." They entered the door of the two worlds, in the blink of an eye, they had arrived at a different place. Shen Xing and Sun Li were about to part with them here, after exchanging a few words, Yun Guoqu opened the gate to the upper world, and in an instant the scenery changed again.
The gate closed, and the surroundings became clearer. Snow hadn't fallen, but its trail had remained. The temperature had dropped, and the expanse of white as far as the eye could see shone in the sunlight. The Demon Emperor might not have seen it, but she could feel it.
She felt something warm on her shoulder. "Thank you, Emperor Yun." Yun Guoqu nodded. "The air here is much lower." The rest of the people looked relaxed, they were used to it and this was not the first time General Gu had been here.
"Hmmm."
"Qi Yi. I think it's better if you call me by my name." Yun Guoqu nodded again, but his face softened. "Then you can call me Yun Guoqu."
"With pleasure." They continued on their journey, their footprints left in the snow. The youngest member, Wan An, walked first, complaining of hunger and began to run away, followed by Yun Guoqu and Qi Yi, who walked slowly without speaking, while Fu Ziya and General Gu followed behind them, watching. Fu Ziya believed that the demon general would stab Yun Guoqu if she didn't keep an eye on him, and General Gu was also wary.
"Ah, I wanted to return Shen Xing's belongings, but I forgot." General Gu took out a sword that was neatly stored in its jade-colored sheath.
Fu Ziya snorted. "So it was you who stole his sword."
"I didn't steal it! I found it." The demon general couldn't accept it, and Fu Ziya sarcastically retorted. "If you didn't steal it, why didn't you give it to Young Master Shen sooner? He's already discussed it a hundred times!"
"Didn't you hear me when I said I forgot?" The two of them continued to argue endlessly. Initially, Wan An was the one who expressed his dislike for the demon general, but as time went on, he began to bicker more and more with Fu Ziya.
"Ah.. isn't it colder here than last time?" Qi Yi muttered.
"Emperor Qi spoke as if this wasn't her first time here. Have you guessed what this place is?"
Qi Yi smiled. "The only place that's always covered in snow is Bingshan Mountain. And now we're in Xuehua, or more precisely, in the courtyard of Xuehua Palace."
Xuehua Palace was originally the residence of the Yun clan, which had long occupied Bingshan Mountain. After becoming emperor of the upper world, Yun Guoqu sought no other location and continued to use Xuehua Palace as his residence.
"Maybe I can't see it, but I can feel how beautiful this place is with the white snow stretching out like a carpet." Qi Yi's expression was so peaceful, enjoying the cold breeze that brushed against her face.
"I will show you around."
"Bringing a blind to see beauty?" Qi Yi may have said it as a joke, but Yun Guoqu took it seriously.
"Even a perfect person can't see the beauty that's right before their eyes. You 'see' differently, and I believe it." Yun Guoqu said. Qi Yi didn't continue their brief conversation. They walked slowly but surely, unaware that two people had been watching them from behind.