When Yuan Che returned to Qionghua Palace, she saw Haotian Zhenjun standing there.
"Princess Yuan Che, you're a bit late."
Haotian Zhenjun said with a faint smile.
"Sorry, Haotian." Yuan Che playfully stuck out her tongue.
"Your Highness, you seem to be in a very good mood," Haotian Zhenjun said.
"That... that's natural. After all, it's rare to go out for a trip and relax, so naturally, I'm in a good mood," Yuan Che said.
She would never mention meeting Jun Xiaoyao.
Otherwise, Haotian Zhenjun might not let her go out again.
"Alright, Your Highness, I shall take my leave first. However, it may not be long before the Immortal Court holds the Myriad Immortals Banquet," Haotian Zhenjun said.
"Myriad Immortals Banquet? Is something important happening?" Yuan Che asked.
The Myriad Immortals Banquet is the Immortal Court's highest-spec feast.
It is usually only held when something major occurs or for an important celebration.
"Your Highness will know then," Haotian Zhenjun smiled politely, keeping her in suspense.
After Haotian Zhenjun left, Yuan Che's expression became dazed.
She even felt that her encounter with Yu Xiaoyao in Shili Taolin (Ten Mile Peach Blossom Grove) was nothing more than a dream.
It was too dreamlike, to the point of being somewhat unreal.
"Will he... keep his promise?"
Yuan Che's heart suddenly felt a little uneasy.
This feeling was very new to her.
It was like a young girl's first stirrings of affection.
To avoid Haotian Zhenjun's suspicion,
Yuan Che also endured, and after a period of time, she had Haotian Zhenjun cover for her to go out.
Haotian Zhenjun did not suspect anything.
And when Yuan Che arrived at Shili Taolin (Ten Mile Peach Blossom Grove) again,
She revealed a knowing smile.
Beneath the peach blossom tree, a young man in white casually leaned, with a flurry of falling blossoms.
The phrase 'human face and peach blossoms reflect each other's redness' is usually used to describe a woman.
But at this moment, it was surprisingly suitable for the man who was as handsome as jade and as unrestrained as an Immortal.
"Your Highness, I have kept my promise."
Jun Xiaoyao smiled faintly, raising his cup to greet her.
Yuan Che showed a genuine smile.
This kind of smile had never appeared on her face before.
Afterward, they sat opposite each other, drinking wine and chatting.
Yuan Che seemed very envious of Jun Xiaoyao having visited so many places.
"No wonder you're called Xiaoyao; you're truly free and unrestrained," Yuan Che said.
"Immortal Ascension is easy, but being unrestrained is difficult."
"Even the Immortals who are said to transcend their shackles might not be as free and unrestrained as I am," Jun Xiaoyao said with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Yuan Che looked at Jun Xiaoyao.
There was a hint of admiration in her eyes.
This was truly a free-spirited, uninhibited, and extraordinary man who embraced the world.
It seemed as if nothing could restrain him.
"Oh, right, I also brought a chessboard. Play a game with me," Yuan Che said.
She took out the chessboard and pieces.
"This is..." Jun Xiaoyao's gaze fell upon it.
"This is a little gadget I researched when I was bored; it's called Nine Army Chess."
"Look, these pieces represent the Feather Nation, these represent the Spirit Nation... and this one, this is the Daughter Country."
"The rules of this game are that the Nine Great Nations conquer each other, competing for three Heaven and Earth Secret Realms..."
Yuan Che explained to Jun Xiaoyao with great enthusiasm.
It was like a child showing off their achievements.
Jun Xiaoyao, however, was slightly surprised.
Isn't this the Nine Great Nations and the Three Great Opportunity Secret Realms of the Forgotten Land?
As Jun Xiaoyao played the game, he pondered in his heart.
"What's wrong?"
Seemingly noticing the unusual look in Jun Xiaoyao's eyes, Yuan Che looked up and asked.
"Nothing, Princess, you are truly intelligent; I have lost," Jun Xiaoyao said.
Unexpectedly, Yuan Che puffed out her cheeks and said, "Are you letting me win?"
She could tell that Jun Xiaoyao was a person of great wisdom.
"Your Highness is the creator of this Nine Army Chess; it's only natural for me to lose to you," Jun Xiaoyao said with a slight smile.
Yuan Che stopped talking, but her face quietly flushed.
This feeling of being cared for and pampered was quite pleasant.
And for a long time afterward, Yuan Che would occasionally make time to meet Jun Xiaoyao at Shili Taolin (Ten Mile Peach Blossom Grove).
The two also gradually became familiar and talked about everything.
Besides playing Nine Army Chess,
Jun Xiaoyao would also tell her some stories.
"Today, I'll tell a story about the Yao Race."
"Yao Race?" Yuan Che's eyes widened like a curious child's.
"Once upon a time, there were two snakes who Cultivated into spirits, one white snake and one green snake..."
Jun Xiaoyao narrated slowly.
Finally, Yuan Che's eyes turned red from listening.
"It's too pitiful. Why can't people who love each other be together? That stinky monk is too wicked."
"In this world, not everything can go as one wishes," Jun Xiaoyao said.
"Really... can't it?"
Yuan Che whispered, quietly leaning her head against Jun Xiaoyao's side.
Jun Xiaoyao very naturally put his arm around Yuan Che's shoulders.
"Clouds want clothes, flowers want faces, the spring breeze brushes the railing, and the dew is thick with beauty."
"If not seen on the top of Mount Jade, we would meet under the moon on the terrace of the Immortals."
Upon hearing this poem, Yuan Che's face turned completely red.
She understood that this poem was praising her peerless beauty.
It wasn't that she was easily swayed.
It was just that the man in front of her was too outstanding, almost perfectly dreamlike.
He came and went freely, as unrestrained as the wind.
Although his origin was mysterious, he was gentle and kind to her.
He didn't mind the misfortune she carried at all.
He was even willing to touch her and wasn't afraid of being tainted by bad luck.
One must know that even Haotian Zhenjun, who often showed her affection, had never come within three feet of her.
Thinking of this, Yuan Che seemed to pluck up her courage and said,
"Yu Lang, do you know why I carry misfortune?"
During this time, her relationship with Jun Xiaoyao had also grown intimate.
Because Jun Xiaoyao called himself Yu Xiaoyao, she called him Yu Lang.
"Why?"
A hint of darkness flashed in the depths of Jun Xiaoyao's eyes.
"Because I am a great sinner," Yuan Che said.
"A great sinner? But you haven't committed any sin," Jun Xiaoyao said with slight surprise.
"I'm not sure either. Since my birth, I have been an Innate great sinner. My father once mentioned it by chance."
"It might be because the Immortal Court's long reign has accumulated a lot of bloodshed and sin."
"And my father, Eastern Hua Emperor, as the Lord of the Immortal Court, this sin was transferred to his daughter, which is me."
Yuan Che's tone was mournful, making her appear pitiful.
One can imagine, she was an innocent girl.
Yet, she was born to bear the bloody sins of the entire Immortal Court.
How unfair this was to her fate.
"So that's how it is," Jun Xiaoyao said.
This last princess of the Ancient Immortal Court was indeed quite tragic.
"Is there any way to solve it?" Jun Xiaoyao said.
Yuan Che sighed and said,
"Currently, there are only two methods."
"One is to find others who can transfer great sin, but such people are too rare, and it's impossible for them to be willing to accept this sin."
"The other is to suppress the sin within my body with the dual Imperial power of the Fuxi and Wa Huang lineages of the Immortal Court, but that is also not a simple method."
Upon hearing this, Jun Xiaoyao's eyes suddenly flashed.
He suddenly understood.
The dual Imperial power of the Fuxi and Wa Huang lineages, wasn't that precisely the Fuxi Sacred Body and the Wa Huang Sacred Body?