The second hand ticked forward, and time in the mortal world continued to mercilessly flow through the day and night.

Dan Lin glanced at the time and realized that they had just experienced a heart-stopping adventure inside, while outside time seemed to have frozen.

The Heavenly White Jade Palace was like a surreal illusion.

"How did we get out?" Zhang Zhao looked around in a daze, as if he was still dreaming.

He then saw Yan Qiushan and exclaimed, "Captain Yan! You scared me! Are you guys okay? How did that huge palace suddenly collapse?"

Li Chen was puzzled and asked, "What palace? And why are you all soaking wet...with a strong smell of the sea? Do you need to change your clothes?"

Sheng Lingyuan's gaze landed on the perfectly preserved Xuan Ji and then glanced at the mermaid scale that had turned to ashes.

He used a slight of hand and suddenly disappeared from the spot, without making a sound, in front of everyone's eyes.

In fact, he should have left long ago.

If it weren't for the fact that the "Fire-keeper" was on the verge of extinction, he wouldn't have bothered with a bunch of incompatible mortal juniors - it was a waste of breath and they were always making a fuss. As a demon born to fulfill his destiny, he was forcibly tied to the fate of the human race and had dealt with humans his entire life.

He was really tired of it and annoyed by their presence.

Now that he knew who the so-called "fire keeper" was and the Nirvana Stone was broken, Xuan Ji had remembered everything he needed to. There was no point in staying here any longer.

Although Xuan Ji occasionally made mistakes, he had lived for over three thousand years and was generally reliable. He no longer needed protection.

In the end, his failure to leave in time was simply due to his own selfishness. He was reluctant to turn around and leave.

Since childhood, Dan Li had taught him to be decisive and not hesitate in all matters.

He had mostly succeeded in life, with only two failures.

The first was due to loyalty. He had repeatedly shown mercy to Aluojin, allowing him to become more and more extreme until it resulted in a great disaster.

The second was due to gratitude. After the destruction of the Witch Clan, the rift between him and Dan Li grew wider and wider until it became irreparable. He could never bring himself to strike first, even when it became necessary to remove the useless heart.

Years had passed, and he thought he had moved on.

But now, his old affliction had resurfaced, making it impossible to untangle his feelings. S

heng Lingyuan glanced back and saw Xuan Ji chasing after him, anxiously searching for him. Without hesitation, he merged into the western wind, passing through the rows of streetlights and power poles, heading towards the bustling city center.

With his divine consciousness fully activated, Xuan Ji scanned the entire West Mountain in an instant. Suddenly, under the watchful eyes of the descendants of the ancient Vermilion Bird, all the flying birds in the West Mountain Nature Reserve landed and buried their heads in their wings.

Even some ordinary people with heightened sixth senses shuddered in unison.

However, Xuan Ji gained nothing.

If it weren't for fear of being struck by lightning, His Majesty could use the highest level of concealment technique to blind even the "all-seeing eyes" of the Southern Crowned Monkey.

Even though he was restricted by the strict laws of the heavens here, he had countless ways to avoid being found by others.

Xuan Ji pinched his forehead, recalling the words that Sheng Lingyuan had said on the way back from Jiangzhou.

Unethical, unjust, and lacking in common sense. It's too ugly.

The path of man and the path of the sword... it's absurd.

At the time, Xuan Ji thought he was just "speaking without thinking," only concerned with his own internal injuries.

But now it seems that this statement was not only not "without thought," but carefully designed and planned!

All the joys and sorrows of his past lives weighed heavily on his heart, and his internal injuries instantly turned into anger. He had been wandering aimlessly for centuries, tormented by the figure who had jumped into the magma without looking back for a lifetime.

Xuan Ji thought to himself: I waited for you for three thousand years, and you say we're on different paths?

Sheng Lingyuan returned to the city and found that the traffic on the streets was significantly sparse. Many small shops on the side of the road had already closed early. It wasn't until he saw the huge "Happy New Year" sign hanging outside the city complex that he was stunned.

He calculated on his fingers and realized that he had inadvertently arrived on the eve of the lunar new year during this chaotic time. The "Gregorian calendar" and "lunar calendar" were still a mystery to him, but he knew roughly that they differed by one or two months.

He felt that the people here just went with the flow, celebrating holidays according to whichever calendar they followed. They even celebrated "New Year" twice a year, taking advantage of the holidays.

He didn't feel anything special about holidays like New Year's Day, Christmas, or Singles' Day, but he knew that the Lunar New Year was different.

He stopped on a pedestrian overpass in an unfamiliar commercial district, with two shopping centers on either side of the overpass, competing with each other in noise. A street performer, wrapped in a thick coat and carrying a loudspeaker, sang "My Heart Will Go On" in the windy spot on the overpass, with a QR code for tips displayed next to him.

Sheng Lingyuan couldn't understand the foreign language in the lyrics, but music knows no boundaries. He could sense a hint of loneliness, reminiscent of the long sea breeze.

Wait, sea breeze?

Yong'an is not by the sea. In winter, the northwest wind from the inland ice fields would come and dry up any moisture left from the summer.

However, Sheng Lingyuan suddenly caught a whiff of the unique scent of seawater. Immediately, that scent locked onto him and was frozen into tiny ice fragments by the demonic energy on his body.

Someone with great powers was using the language of the mermaids to search for someone on land, using the humidity in the air as water.

After visiting the mermaids, he even learnt some new skills!

Sheng Lingyuan turned and walked away. With a quick spin, his illusionary technique once again erased his figure. He swiftly darted into the narrow alley beside the sky bridge, but the dampness followed him like a shadow, seeping into his body as if it could merge with his veins.

In the next moment, a massive shadow loomed over him.

In the deserted alley, the flapping of wings echoed as a flock of pigeons that had been flying towards him scattered in panic.

Sheng Lingyuan couldn't break free from the bone-chilling mist that clung to him like a festering sore before the bird he least wanted to see landed just five steps away from him, silently staring at him.

Xuan Ji descended, his wings not fully extended.

The bones on his wings remained motionless, relieving Sheng Lingyuan's anxious heart.

Sheng Lingyuan turned around, and Xuan Ji immediately followed.

Sheng Lingyuan continued walking as if he hadn't seen him, and Xuan Ji started flying backwards in front of him.

Sheng Lingyuan: "..."

The emperor finally sighed, surrendered, and looked up at Xuan Ji hanging in front of him.

He only glanced at him once, then lowered his head - Xuan Ji's wings were more dazzling than the sun, no matter which direction he faced, his face was against the strong light, making it difficult to see clearly, almost giving Sheng Lingyuan a headache.

Sheng Lingyuan stood with his hands behind his back, tapping his fingers on his palms.

When he tapped for the tenth time, the emperor spoke in his usual calm tone: 'I think you should calm down.'

Xuan Ji stared at him relentlessly, taking a step closer. His eyes were hungry, like a laborer who had been owed wages for many years and had to demand an explanation today.

"Never mind," Sheng Lingyuan waved his hand and sighed, "let's find a quiet place to talk." It was time to have a thorough conversation and come to a conclusion.

Xuan Ji reached out and grabbed his wrist, then asked seriously in a soft voice, "Your Majesty, may I hold your hand?"

"Enough is enough," Sheng Lingyuan frowned and abruptly pulled his hand away, "are you possessed by a demon?"

Xuan Ji obediently let go of his hand and silently chuckled to himself.

When he was young, if Lingyuan said "no good," it meant "yes," and if he said "absolutely not," it meant "if you try a different way to coax me, I might agree."

Only when he calmly said "enough is enough" was he truly angry, and no matter how much Xuan Ji threw a tantrum, he wouldn't give in. If he continued to ignore the warning and act unreasonably, it was highly likely to lead to a fight.

Although Lingyuan was taught from a young age that "an emperor should have the capacity to tolerate others," even emperors start out as small children with chests no bigger than a palm, unable to contain a vast heart.

When his temperamental sword spirit became too much to handle, he would often argue with it in his mind for several rounds, still feeling unsatisfied.

Then, in a fit of anger, he would grab a small knife and carve the words "Sword Spirit Bastard" into the ground.

Back then, arguments were a common occurrence. As children, no one could shield themselves from the other's thoughts. They knew everything that was going on in each other's minds. Arguing in their spiritual consciousness was more efficient than speaking out loud.

However, most of the time, it was over trivial matters. The storm would pass quickly, and they would soon be interrupted by the dangerous outside world, naturally becoming scared for each other.

As they grew older, things became more complicated. The "mature" boys learned how to cold war. It was mostly initiated by Sheng Lingyuan because Xuan Ji had the intention but lacked the ability to fight back. When Xuan Ji had become proficient in the technique of shielding his thoughts, Sheng Lingyuan had already matured and didn't argue with him as much.

Later, when they left Dongchuan, the weight of the emperor's crown expanded his heart to the size of a day and a night, and everyday trivial matters could only stir up gentle ripples, no longer causing any waves.

That was all a very long time ago.

Xuan Ji had forgotten how many years it had been since he last heard the phrase "enough is enough."

In a flash, he moved forward and the sudden burst of light made Sheng Lingyuan unable to open his eyes. The next moment, Sheng Lingyuan felt a tightness around his waist and was lifted up into the air, the cold wind from the northwest blowing against them as they soared higher and higher.

Xuan Ji used his power to shrink the distance and brought him up to a height of ten thousand meters. Before he could even open his eyes, they were already descending back to the human world.

They flew across the entire city of Yong'an, with the strong winds of the high altitude whistling past their ears, but Xuan Ji's huge wings blocked it all.

The warmth of the winged clan's body temperature seeped through his clothes, tightly enveloping him and melting away the ice on Sheng Lingyuan's body.

In a flash, Xuan Ji carried him and landed on the balcony of his own home. His scorching lips brushed against Sheng Lingyuan's temple, and he quickly closed his eyes, anticipating a hit.

"Hmm, I must be possessed by a demon," he said before Sheng Lingyuan could react.

Sheng Lingyuan was stuck in a swamp that reeked of birds. The more he struggled, the deeper he sank, feeling helpless. So, he flicked his finger lightly on Xuan Ji's forehead.

Exhausted, he hung up the truce card and said, "Let's take a break. I have a headache. Don't cause any trouble. Just spend the New Year with me."

The room didn't expand today.

It was still Xuan Ji's chicken coop-like two-bedroom apartment. The spatial array used for expansion required someone to support it. Although the person supporting the space was burdened, they could also control the various rules in the space to a certain extent, creating their own little world.

In the past, the emperor didn't care and let Xuan Ji do as he pleased. But now, their relationship was more delicate, so it wasn't appropriate...

Although Xuan Ji dreamed of trapping Lingyuan in his own little world.

Fireworks and firecrackers had long been banned, so the big cities were empty during the holidays. People could wear new clothes anytime they wanted, without waiting for a special occasion. Even the traditional dishes served during the New Year's Eve dinner were no longer popular, often being pushed around the table without anyone taking a bite.

The plastic taste of mass-sent greetings was becoming stronger, and many people online were calling for an end to this wasteful behavior.

Chief Huang stayed behind at the temporary command center, reviewing the list of suspects from each department in the bureau. All the suspects had been arrested and handcuffed with special restraints.

"Let's keep the people locked up and maintain the state of emergency," Chief Huang, wearing his reading glasses, ordered. "The most dangerous things have been taken care of. We don't need to rush to finish counting the rest. I suggest that everyone, except for those on duty, go home and celebrate the New Year with their families."

After Chief Huang finished speaking, no one responded. He looked up and suddenly realized that in order to celebrate the New Year, one must have a home.

With a quick glance, he realized that there were not many people who had a home.

In the end, Xiao Zheng asked the kitchen staff at the resort to work overtime and prepare a decent New Year's Eve dinner. They ate amidst piles of work emails, but at least it didn't seem so miserable.

The taste of the New Year faded quickly, but it was Sheng Lingyuan who had the most authentic New Year's Eve. Xuan Ji didn't make a grand New Year's Eve dinner - there wasn't enough time, and he was afraid of boring the Emperor.

He just cooked a few dishes that looked good and that he was good at, and made some dumplings. Dumplings are a traditional folk food, but for Sheng Lingyuan, an unearthed cultural relic, they were a fresh and unfamiliar sight.

He couldn't help but take a closer look at the round little things, trying to figure out their structure.

Xuan Ji opened a bottle of wine and placed it on the table.

Sheng Lingyuan was taken aback and instinctively covered his cup with his hand.

After three drops of "Thousand Dreams," he never touched alcohol again and couldn't stand the smell of it. Later, when he arrested Dan Li, he implemented a prohibition on alcohol. The common people turned a blind eye, but any official or their relatives who dared to drink, whether it was hidden or not, would be severely punished.

"I'll pour," Xuan Ji stared at the corner of his eye, where there was a droplet-shaped scar that was usually invisible but only appeared when he smiled. Every time he smiled, he would relive the story of how he became a heavenly demon. "Will you drink?"

Sheng Lingyuan met his gaze for a moment before slowly moving his hand away.

Even if Xuan Ji poured poison, he would still drink it all in one go.

The wine was good, and as an amateur chef with a chef's certificate, Xuan Ji would never compromise his taste buds.

But Sheng Lingyuan couldn't taste anything.

It was as if this drink was a direct reminder of the terror he had grown accustomed to. The familiar yet unfamiliar taste rushed into his nose, and his headache worsened.

Sheng Lingyuan didn't show any expression, but his face grew paler with each drink. After finishing one cup, he didn't wait for Xuan Ji and poured himself two more.

After three cups, he seemed to have regained something and put down his cup.

"When I was twenty, if you had been so presumptuous," Sheng Lingyuan didn't look at Xuan Ji and spoke to his cup, "you would never have been able to escape from my grasp in this lifetime."

Xuan Ji's hand trembled, and the alcohol almost spilled out.

With one sentence, Sheng Lingyuan turned his ironclad bones into tofu.

Xuan Ji felt like he could be blown away by a gust of wind and scattered at the feet of the emperor.

"I wouldn't dare," Xuan Ji muttered to himself, "not even back then, and if I didn't know...even now, I wouldn't dare. Your Majesty, with your cunning mind, not giving me any hints and expecting me to guess and understand on my own, isn't that too much?"

Sheng Lingyuan remained silent, lifting his eyelids to calmly scrutinize him.

When Sheng Lingyuan looked at people, his eyes wouldn't widen too much nor would his eyelids cover his pupils. They were always open just enough, as if his eyes were meant to hold only one person.

His gaze never wandered and naturally carried warmth, giving people the illusion that no matter what they said or did, no matter how much of a mess they were, they could always receive unconditional support and tolerance from him.

This beautiful illusion would last until the moment he saw through their true intentions. As many people trembled in fear during the late nights, there were just as many who were willing to go through fire and water for that gaze.

"You didn't want me to find out," Xuan Ji suddenly understood, the anger he had suppressed earlier reigniting. "Is it because you're ashamed of liking me?"

"It's shameful," Sheng Lingyuan said calmly. "Any feeling that is beyond our control is shameful and a delusion. Do you think it's respectable to be unable to control your emotions and be consumed by desire?"

Upon hearing this lofty statement, Xuan Ji began to doubt whether he had entrusted his true feelings to a lunatic for all these years.

He almost slammed his hand on the table in frustration. "Master monk, when did you enter the religion? You haven't even shaved your head, yet you follow the strict rules and regulations so well."

"Sit down and don't jump around," Sheng Lingyuan said calmly, unmoved by his words. "I see that you have taken in many broken weapon spirits in the depths of Chiyuan. After all these years, you should know more about the art of refining than I do. Did you know that if I had not been unaware of the situation, hence bringing the Heavenly Demon Sword into Chiyuan, you could have freed yourself from the heavenly demon sword body? Did you know that?"

Xuan Ji's jaw tightened.

"The heavenly rules may be irreversible, but Dan Li's ingenuity has linked you to Chiyuan, making you its actual guardian. By using the Great Dao to transcend life and death," Sheng Lingyuan continued, "if he had succeeded back then, Chiyuan would have had a new Vermilion Bird to reign over it, and there wouldn't be so many problems now. But as they say, man proposes, God disposes. Due to a small mistake, the Vermilion Bird Bone Formation is almost completely destroyed, and Chiyuan is on the verge of losing control. What do you think we should do?"

Xuan Ji looked at him expressionlessly, not hearing a word.

All he wanted was for Sheng Lingyuan to say, "Your wish is my command," and reminisce about their years of longing.

But for some reason, it was so difficult to get through to him.

"You dare to go and retrieve the Law of Time, and not only that, you can return it intact. Your determination far surpasses mine. You should know what is important and urgent." Sheng Lingyuan leaned back slightly. "Only when the Chiyuan is loosened can I come back. But the Vermilion Bird Bone Seal must be reinforced, and the Chiyuan must be sealed again. I cannot stay in this world for long."

Xuan Ji could no longer bear it. "I didn't ask about the 'overall situation' or the 'big picture', I only asked you..."

"Brother Lingyuan is old and tired, and may not be able to last much longer." Sheng Lingyuan interrupted him gently, paused, and suddenly smiled.

The scar on the corner of his eye appeared.

"How about this, you show me the Nirvana technique left by Dan Li, and I'll try to get you an unbreakable Nirvana Stone."

After listening silently, Xuan Ji picked up the bottle of liquor, which still had more than half of its contents and was over 50 degrees, and drank it in three gulps. The strong liquor flowed through his veins like flames, from his throat to his chest.

The alcohol didn't make him lose his sense of direction, but it did give him courage and turned his face and clan emblem on his forehead a fiery red.

After finishing the bottle, he slammed it onto the table, feeling emboldened for the next three years.

He stood up, moved the dining table aside, and walked directly towards Sheng Lingyuan. He pressed his hands on the armrests of the chair, trapping Sheng Lingyuan in it.

"I never said it would be long-term," he said, his breath reeking of alcohol, causing Sheng Lingyuan's throat to involuntarily move.

"Your Majesty," Xuan Ji stared into his eyes, "I don't want it to be long-lasting, I just want you... would that be a crime?"

Sheng Lingyuan's head was pounding, and he clenched his fists. He was like a wild beast who had been vegetarian for many years, rarely showing mercy.

He tried to restrain himself and let the little rabbit that was bouncing around in his mouth go, but this stupid thing didn't appreciate it and kept trying to hit his fangs.

Xuan Ji was mostly sober, but alcohol doesn't digest that quickly.

He was still dizzy and swaying in place, accidentally tripping over Sheng Lingyuan's long legs and falling to his knees.

Xuan Ji didn't bother getting up: "If it's a crime, then I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness. I... I cannot deceive you, I just want you."

As he spoke, he leaned forward and almost fell onto Sheng Lingyuan's lap.

He continued to babble, "Even if it's just for one day... or just one hour, just..."

But he couldn't finish his sentence.

Xuan Ji's vision blurred, and the room spun.

The small living room suddenly expanded, the ceiling rose infinitely, and the light strips scattered like a starry sky. Illusions unfolded, and the ground became unusually soft, covered in a thick lawn.

The sofa and dining table were blocked by a pear blossom tree that appeared out of nowhere... the one in the courtyard of the witch clan chief.

Sheng Lingyuan grabbed his collar and pushed him under the pear blossom tree. His messy hair fell all over him, tangled and disheveled.

The Emperor's eyes, like ancient wells, were bloodshot, and his hands trembled.

He felt like he was going crazy.

"Do you have to provoke me?"

Without saying a word, Xuan Ji grabbed the hand that was propping him up and intertwined their fingers.

He leaned in close, his eyes lowered, and lightly brushed his lips against Sheng Lingyuan's knuckles.

As his fingers passed over Xuan Ji's shirt, the buttons popped open on their own, and the scent of wine and pear blossoms mingled together.

In that moment, Xuan Ji thought to himself, "The emperor has granted amnesty to all."

He wrapped his arms around Sheng Lingyuan, their hands clasped together behind his back, and whispered something in the language of the merfolk into his ear.

The mermaid's language was too perfect, not something a half-hearted winged creature could speak.

The words were difficult, even His Majesty, who was knowledgeable, couldn't understand them at once.

Sheng Lingyuan was stunned and instinctively felt that something was wrong.

Just then, thousands of blood-red "threads" suddenly emerged from Xuan Ji's fingertips, which were placed on his back, piercing through his chest!

Sheng Lingyuan was caught off guard and instantly lost his strength, falling into Xuan Ji's arms.