Lost You Forever Recap, Plot, Synopsis

Lost You Forever Synopsis

In ancient times, humans, gods, and demons lived together, and there were three kingdoms, Shennong, Xuan Yuan, and Gao Xin.

After a hundred years of hardships, Jiu Yao(Xiao Yao), the leader of Gao Xin, who was stranded in the wilderness, not only lost her identity, but also his appearance, and settled in Qingshui Town.

She lived a life of unrestrained recklessness by commenced her medical career.

Xiao Yao’s cousin, Prince Xuan Yuan, is a very tolerant man, he traveled all over the wilderness to find Xiao Yao and came to Qingshui Town.

The days in Qingshui Town were simple and warm. Wen Xiaoliu accidentally saved the dying Prince Tu Shanjing of Qing Qiu. gradually had an affection for each other.

Wen Xiaoliu and Xiang Liu, a nine-headed demon, acquainted with each other and became friends.

Wen Xiaoliu and Cang Xuan met again, but they were unable to recognize each other. After several twists and turns, she finally identified with Cang Xuan and restored her real identity.

In order to unify the world, Xuan Cang gave up his personal love and took the throne. After Xiang Liu died in battle and Xiao Yao helped Xuan Cang complete his great work, then she and Tu Shanjing retired to Jianghu.

Xu Cang devoted all his efforts to managing the country because he knew that as long as the world is peaceful, his Xiao Yao will be able to be happy and healthy.

Lost You Forever Recap

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In the chaotic universe, when the Great Void first opened, humans, gods, and demons lived together in the vast and untamed world. Haoling Kingdom was the most prosperous, Chishui Fenglong had abundant land and a large population, and the Xiyan Kingdom had strict laws and a powerful military. The three major clans ruled over different parts of the world, and their strength was evenly matched. Xiyan's Princess, Xiling Yan, married the Haoling King, but she couldn't forget about General Chi Chen from the Chenrong Kingdom.

Princess's daughter, Xiao Yao, was childhood friends with her cousin, Cang Xuan. They were close and spent their days on Chao Yun Peak, hoping for their parents' return after the war. However, due to personal grudges, Xiyan Yipeng intercepted a crucial message seeking reinforcements. The Haoling King saw the situation but refused to help, leading to a disastrous defeat in the Xun Mountain Battle, resulting in the death of Xiyan Zhongyi and six thousand soldiers of the Ruoshui Tribe.

Xiling Yan, disappointed with the Haoling King, and blaming herself for not protecting her son and daughter-in-law, was on her deathbed. She called Cang Xuan and Xiao Yao to her side to entrust them with her final wishes. Tearfully, they vowed to take care of and trust each other, never abandoning each other.

After Xiling Yan's passing, Chao Yun Peak felt empty and cold. Cang Xuan often suffered from mistreatment by the Xiyan clan members, but Xiao Yao protected him in crucial moments. One day, while going back home, Xiao Yao carried Cang Xuan through the Phoenix Forest, and they made a promise to forever be like siblings and never be separated.

That night, Cang Xuan saw his aunt sitting alone at the table, her eyes red. He approached her and learned that the Xiyan war was not over, and the Chenrong army was at the city's gates. Xiling Yan took command to lead the troops but was worried about her two children. Before leaving, she gave Cang Xuan the dagger "God's Blade," hoping he would protect Xiao Yao and give her the Nine-Tailed Fox's tail if he found a girl he loved.

Xiling Yan led the army for years, and spring and autumn came and went. Until news arrived that she died in battle, along with Chi Chen. In fact, the Xiyan King forced XiLing yan into the battle, intending to weaken Chi Chen's army by sacrificing his daughter, but it led to an unexpected outcome.

After this war, the Chenrong Kingdom collapsed, and Xiyan fully annexed it, leaving only two countries in contention. To keep Xiao Yao away from the power struggles, the Xiyan King decided to send her to Yushan to study and train with the Queen Mother. Cang Xuan was heartbroken but realized that he needed to become stronger to protect Xiao Yao. Under the jade mulberry tree, they bid a reluctant farewell. Xiao Yao once again gave Cang Xuan the Nine-Tailed Fox's tail before getting on the carriage and leaving. As she got farther away, Cang Xuan couldn't help but cry out in heartache.

Three hundred years passed, and the once lawless Central Plains became prosperous and well-governed. In Clearwater Town, the elderly recounted the stories of the two orphans from Chao Yun Peak, embellishing the tales with some exaggeration. Xiao Yao, now known as Wen Xiaoliu, was nicknamed Liu Ge, and everyone knew she came from the not-so-famous Huichun Hall medical center, skilled in treating women's infertility and occasionally acting as a midwife. At the same time, Cang Xuan, as the boss Xuan, arrived in Clearwater Town with A Nian and a servant girl but sadly missed the chance to meet with Xiao Yao.

After a busy day, Wen Xiaoliu helped the rabbit spirit deliver its babies and prepared to return to the clinic, but she bumped into A Nian. Surprised to hear A Nian complain about her smell, Wen Xiaoliu found it strange. Cang Xuan looked at Wen Xiaoliu dressed as a man and clearly didn't recognize her as his long-lost Xiao Yao.

Over the years, Cang Xuan had to leave Xiyan due to the unkind treatment from his uncles and went to Haoling Kingdom as a hostage, where he met Princess A Nian. Now, under the pretense of investigating remnants of the Chenrong army, Cang Xuan came to Clearwater Town personally to search for Xiao Yao. He had heard that there was a talking spirit stone in the town, which often transformed into an old man to tell stories about the divine realm to the demons.

Back at the clinic, Wen Xiaoliu overheard Ma Zi and Chuan Zi talking about renting their shop to some newcomers from the East but didn't pay much attention to it. She just wanted to live her own life peacefully. On the other hand, Cang Xuan planted A Nian's favorite plum blossoms in the courtyard and imagined seeing Xiao Yao swinging under the phoenix tree, feeling emotional. Through Mr. Shi, Wen Xiaoliu learned about Cang Xuan's experiences in Haoling Kingdom, where he faced animosity from the fifth and seventh princes and had to accompany Princess A Nian on outings, which made him feel uncomfortable.

The next morning, Wen Xiaoliu carried a bucket full of dirty dishes to the riverside and stumbled upon a beggar lying in the bushes. The man looked ragged and frail, seemingly about to die at any moment. Wen Xiaoliu reminded herself not to meddle in other people's affairs and began walking back without glancing at the bushes. On the other side, the rabbit spirit tried to get information about Cang Xuan's visit to the town. Upon learning that he was opening a tavern, she felt relieved, as she no longer had to worry about him competing with her.

In the evening, they all had dinner together. Ma Zi and Chuan Zi were human orphans taken in by Wen Xiaoliu. Despite their rough appearances, they were kind-hearted and simple-minded. They informed Wen Xiaoliu about the man they saw by the bushes, but she warned them not to get involved. However, after dinner, she found herself inexplicably at the riverside, looking at the man clutching flowers, and her heart softened.

Wen Xiaoliu brought the man back to the clinic and discovered that he had suffered from years of torture, with scars covering his body. His ten toenails had been plucked out, and even his right leg had been broken and regrown misaligned. Wen Xiaoliu had to break and reset his leg properly, and he endured the excruciating pain without making a sound, earning Ma Zi and Chuan Zi's admiration.

Old Mu recognized the man as a member of the divine clan and possibly someone exceptional. He advised Wen Xiaoliu not to get involved to avoid trouble. However, she felt responsible for him after saving him, especially considering his severe injuries and lack of divine medicine. So, when no one was watching, she used her own blood to feed him, hoping for some improvement.

In order to find Wen Xiaoliu's whereabouts, Cang Xuan visited Mr. Shi, hoping he could help him find someone with a peach blossom mark on their forehead. Unfortunately, Mr. Shi's search yielded no results, and Cang Xuan suddenly thought that Xiao Yao might have changed her appearance. He infused his divine power into the Clearwater Spirit Stone, showing images of Wen Xiaoliu. Mr. Shi mentioned that Wen Xiaoliu arrived in Clearwater Town several years ago, taking in a non-combatant soldier from Xiyan and two human orphans, and opened a clinic. However, Cang Xuan still didn't recognize Wen Xiaoliu, and his search ended in failure.

The man woke up and saw Wen Xiaoliu sleeping by his bedside. He lifted his hand to protect her from the dripping candle, and Wen Xiaoliu saw this scene in the early morning, touched by his benevolence despite the hardships he endured. In the following days, under Wen Xiaoliu's careful care, the man gradually recovered from his life-threatening injuries. Wen Xiaoliu teased him about taking a bath, but when she couldn't bring herself to remove his clothes, she quickly found an excuse to leave. The man noticed that Wen Xiaoliu was actually a woman.

As the wooden door slowly opened, everyone finally saw his true appearance. With dark eyebrows and bright eyes, a straight nose, and simple coarse clothes, he exuded an elegant and noble demeanor, making Ma Zi and Chuan Zi feel ashamed and in awe. The man didn't want to leave Clearwater Town and chose to stay by Wen Xiaoliu's side as a servant, finally adopting the name "Ye Seventeen."

In the following days, Ye Seventeen's condition improved significantly. Although he occasionally limped while walking, he never saw himself as a patient and took the initiative to help tidy up the house and take on the task of washing dishes for Wen Xiaoliu. Old Mu worried about Wen Xiaoliu's safety and was suspicious of Ye Seventeen's background, but Ye Seventeen, recalling the humiliation he had endured, vowed to be only Ye Seventeen.

Although Clearwater Town was not large, it was situated in a dangerous area at the edge of the wasteland, surrounded by mountains that formed a natural barrier, making it a lawless area. Here, humans, gods, and demons coexisted harmoniously, and the remnants of the Chenrong army had taken refuge. The military advisor, Xiang Liu, was notorious for his cunning and ruthlessness, rumored to have nine lives, and the Xiyan Kingdom had been unsuccessfully trying to capture him for over a hundred years.

A Nian and the others heard the children talking about Xiang Liu's deeds and were curious about his background, so Old Sang patiently explained. Xiang Liu was still at the top of the most-wanted list, and he not only possessed powerful spiritual abilities and strategic brilliance but also strictly disciplined his army. Cang Xuan highly valued this formidable opponent, knowing that without him, the Chenrong army would not have lasted so long with only the Hongjiang River as their support. Cang Xuan dispatched people to contact the insider in the remnants of the Chenrong army, hoping to turn them into allies and strengthen their forces.

Ye Seventeen helped out at the clinic, doing various tasks such as fetching water, chopping wood, planting herbs, and grinding medicine. He had an excellent memory and a keen intellect, much to Wen Xiaoliu's delight. However, the butcher Gao Su demanded a hefty dowry, delaying Ma Zi and Chun Tao's wedding. Wen Xiaoliu pondered and decided to go up the mountain to collect spiritual herbs and sell them for money.

Old Mu was concerned that Xiang Liu was in the deep forest on the mountain and tried to dissuade Wen Xiaoliu from going, but she reassured him not to worry too much. Unbeknownst to her, Ye Seventeen secretly followed her and Wen Xiaoliu, noticing him, brought him along. She praised him for being very considerate, saying that any girl who married him would be fortunate.

When they arrived at the monument of the Chenrong army, Wen Xiaoliu asked Ye Seventeen to wait for her while she followed the tracks of the Houhou beast to find it. Houhou liked to listen to girls' singing and disliked seeing people sad, so Wen Xiaoliu sat by the river and sang to attract it.

As expected, Houhou appeared, and despite being in danger, it still tried to help Wen Xiaoliu. Wen Xiaoliu couldn't bear to capture it, but suddenly, a giant eagle named Snowball swooped down from the sky. Wen Xiaoliu instinctively hugged Houhou, and while Snowball was distracted, she sprinkled poison powder on its face. Just as she was about to escape, she encountered a white-haired man wearing a mask, and it was none other than the infamous Xiang Liu with nine lives.

The remnants of the Chenrong army's base was there, and Xiang Liu suspected that Wen Xiaoliu was a spy. He brought her back to the camp and subjected her to harsh interrogation. Wen Xiaoliu had forgotten her true identity and vaguely remembered being abandoned when she was young, her ever-changing face reflected in the river water. Twenty years ago, she arrived in Clearwater Town and officially gave herself the name Wen Xiaoliu. Xiang Liu realized she wasn't lying and proposed that she be responsible for preparing medicines for him, obeying his orders at all times.

The whole night passed, and Ye Seventeen still hadn't seen Wen Xiaoliu. He followed the remaining traces and entered the temporary base of the Chenrong army with his magic. Initially, Wen Xiaoliu refused Xiang Liu's request, but she couldn't bear the pain of whipping and finally agreed to serve him on the condition that he allowed her to stay in Clearwater Town forever.

Xiang Liu's request seemed simple but was actually difficult and demanding. Wen Xiaoliu complained endlessly, but suddenly, she heard Ye Seventeen breaking into the base. Ye Seventeen broke through the soldiers' encirclement, insisting on taking Wen Xiaoliu away. Surprisingly, Xiang Liu didn't intervene and ordered the soldiers to step aside, watching Ye Seventeen carry Wen Xiaoliu and leave quickly. A woman and a high-level divine being trying to conceal their identities had piqued Xiang Liu's interest.

On the way back, Wen Xiaoliu felt a mix of anger and touched by Ye Seventeen's daring act of breaking into the enemy camp, risking his safety for her. She was also annoyed at herself for not making any money this time in the mountains but instead attracting the attention of the wicked Xiang Liu, making her future days difficult. To prevent Old Mu and the others from worrying, she told Ye Seventeen not to tell them anything. Ye Seventeen personally applied medicine to Wen Xiaoliu and went back to the mountains early in the morning to collect two more spiritual herbs.

Finally, they returned with a full load, and Ma Zi's wedding plans were settled, bringing joy to Old Mu and the others. Under everyone's arrangement, Ma Zi and the butcher Gao's daughter Chun Tao had their engagement, and a lively wedding was held. Ma Zi was a product of war, an orphan who survived through hardship. Wen Xiaoliu had taken care of him since he was six years old, and now, after more than a decade, he had grown into a tall young man. To him, Wen Xiaoliu was like a parent.

At this moment, Xiang Liu, dressed in white, appeared at the entrance of Hui Chun Tang. He stood tall and pure, with a hint of coldness. Wen Xiaoliu left to bring Xiang Liu inside to avoid dampening everyone's excitement. She accompanied him with flattering words, but deep down, she felt disdain for him. Xiang Liu looked at the bustling scene outside and wondered why Wen Xiaoliu, as a divine being, would be infatuated with this fleeting companionship when they would both age after a hundred years.

However, Wen Xiaoliu didn't care at all; she just wanted to enjoy the moment, even if it was temporary. She secretly put poison in Xiang Liu's tea, but to her frustration, it had no effect on him. After Xiang Liu left, she continued to prepare the poison and absentmindedly handed a cup to Ye Seventeen, who promptly drank it. Frightened, she quickly hugged him and fed him the antidote. Ye Seventeen was unharmed, but she was determined to study harder and eventually defeat this big villain.

The insider planted among the Chenrong rebels sent a message to Cang Xuan, claiming to have important matters to discuss. To ensure safety, Cang Xuan arranged for Old Sang to meet with the informant, bringing additional people along to prevent any mishaps. At the same time, A Nian bumped into Chun Tao on the street, and when the sauce spilled on her clothes, she began to pester her.

Since Ma Zi got married, he had become like a brother to the butcher Gao and often helped with the work, which made Chuan Zi somewhat dissatisfied. Wen Xiaoliu and Old Mu paid no attention to it. For Wen Xiaoliu, one Ye Seventeen could handle ten Ma Zis, and for Old Mu, as long as Ma Zi lived peacefully and happily, that was all that mattered.

Surprisingly, Ma Zi, who was big and strong, was very reasonable and always gave people some leeway. So when Chun Tao helped him back while he was injured, it was quite unexpected. Old Mu and Chuan Zi understood the situation and immediately went out to seek justice for Ma Zi. After Wen Xiaoliu finished applying medicine to Ma Zi, she hurriedly followed.

Clearwater Town had no official authority; the only rule was survival of the fittest. But now, Old Mu and Chuan Zi were humiliated in front of everyone, making them lose face. A Nian still didn't want to stop and ordered her servant Hai Tang to continue mocking the two. Wen Xiaoliu suppressed her anger and went up to A Nian, begging her to spare them. When A Nian was off guard, she tried to poison Hai Tang, and Ye Seventeen used the opportunity to break Hai Tang's spell.

The commotion quickly ended, and Old Mu's face darkened. He returned to his house without saying a word. Wen Xiaoliu knew there was no way to comfort him and asked Chuan Zi to watch over him, preventing him from doing anything rash. The people dispersed, and Ye Seventeen noticed a faint hint of hostility in Wen Xiaoliu's eyes. She confessed that she couldn't be considered a good person, having killed many people in the past. Today's events made her want to kill again.

Ye Seventeen agreed to help Wen Xiaoliu deal with A Nian and the others. Hearing this, Wen Xiaoliu felt relieved and waited for them to come. As she expected, Hai Tang's poison was difficult to resolve, and Wen Xiaoliu planned to let Ye Seventeen resist their attack while she observed their spiritual power to determine their susceptibility to poison. But when she turned around, she found the corner empty, and Ye Seventeen had disappeared without a trace.

Cang Xuan never expected Wen Xiaoliu's spiritual power to be so weak that he easily knocked her down. Regretful, he quickly withdrew his power and apologized. As A Nian arrogantly took the antidote and left, Wen Xiaoliu felt extremely disappointed in Ye Seventeen. She followed Xiang Liu, riding on Mao Qiu's back, soaring through the sky, and vented her emotions in the river, reminding herself not to rely on others.

Xiang Liu saw that Wen Xiaoliu was becoming more and more reckless and daring. He deliberately bit her neck to punish her and it indeed scared Wen Xiaoliu. Afterwards, Xiang Liu personally escorted Wen Xiaoliu back. Ye Xiaoqi was still waiting by the river. When he saw the red mark on Wen Xiaoliu's neck, he felt uneasy. Wen Xiaoliu was still upset about what happened today, so she decided to distance herself from Ye Xiaoqi.

Jin Yi also arrived at the agreed location and encountered Xiang Liu, who had transformed into the appearance of an insider. Since he was far inferior to Xiang Liu in terms of power, he was quickly defeated. Jin Yi had already set up a formation with his men so that they could capture Xiang Liu when he was seriously injured. However, Xiang Liu broke free from the restraints and escaped.

Since that day, Wen Xiaoliu's attitude towards Ye Xiaoyi had undergone a significant change. Although they spoke as usual every day, there was a noticeable distance between them. Ye Xiaoyi personally prepared a sumptuous lunch with several dishes that Wen Xiaoliu loved. Wen Xiaoliu didn't care much and asked about Old Mu's situation, learning that he hadn't left yet, which made her somewhat worried.

Chuanzi was clamoring to retaliate against Boss Xuan's liquor store, but Wen Xiaoliu reminded him not to act impulsively, as the other party was from the divine race, high above them. Old Mu didn't want to cause trouble for Wen Xiaoliu, so he voluntarily went out pretending that nothing had happened. However, Wen Xiaoliu couldn't swallow this, so she went to the liquor store to deliberately provoke trouble. Eventually, no customers dared to stay in the store.

Jiang Xuan still tried to be patient and listened to Wen Xiaoliu's intentions. He immediately brought a large group of people carrying mulberry wine and went to Huichuntang to sincerely apologize to Old Mu. Old Mu could see that Jiang Xuan was a reasonable person and his anger subsided. They toasted each other until dark before parting ways. Not far away, Wen Xiaoliu saw this scene and felt that Jiang Xuan was indeed a talented person. He could be gentle and coax a girl, yet he could also be bold and decisive with his brothers.

After Old Mu and Jiang Xuan had three rounds of drinks and went home, Wen Xiaoliu tidied up the mess they left behind. When Ye Xiaoyi offered to help, she was refused. Watching Ye Xiaoyi's figure in the distance, Wen Xiaoliu didn't know how to explain her feelings. Jiang Xuan returned to the shop and stopped pretending to be drunk. He considered A Nian's misbehavior as a result of her young age and indulgence towards Xiao Yao due to her debt to her.

Xiang Liu suffered a lot of spiritual power losses from Jin Yi's ambush and hurried to Huichuntang to find Wen Xiaoliu. She used her blood to heal herself. Although Wen Xiaoliu's spiritual power was weak, her blood had healing properties, which was a precious treasure for many people to practice their spiritual power. Wen Xiaoliu noticed that Xiang Liu tonight was different from before. Although his white hair was still neat, and his white clothes were still clean, the bloodstains on his cuffs were hard to ignore.

It was because of this that Wen Xiaoliu took the opportunity to poison Xiang Liu, rendering him unable to resist, and brazenly drew nine heads on his face. Xiang Liu was extremely angry, but he couldn't stop his cultivation to heal the injuries, or they would worsen. After Wen Xiaoliu finished everything, she called Ye Xiaoyi to watch over Xiang Liu in the room and not let anyone disturb him.

Later, Wen Xiaoliu hid in Jiang Xuan's hidden wine cellar, leisurely drinking wine. Unexpectedly, she overheard Jiang Xuan and his men discussing getting rid of Xiang Liu. She felt somewhat uneasy but chose to stay and see how Xiang Liu would handle the situation. On the other hand, when Ye Xiaoyi entered Wen Xiaoliu's room after daybreak, Xiang Liu had already left. There was a strand of his hair left on the bed, which made Ye Xiaoyi feel jealous and he directly changed the bedding.

Jiang Xuan found Wen Xiaoliu hiding in the liquor store and invited her to have breakfast together. They were both testing each other, appearing harmonious on the surface but harboring secret intentions. Ye Xiaoyi made flower cakes for Wen Xiaoliu and solemnly promised that there wouldn't be a second time. If she still wanted to rely on him in the future, he would never disappear again. Wen Xiaoliu was touched by his words and ultimately chose to forgive him.

Old Mu suspected that Chuanzi had a crush on someone and took Wen Xiaoliu and Ye Xiaoyi to follow him. They saw several women from the brothel coming out of the liquor store, and one of them, Sang Tian'er, followed Chuanzi into an alley and kissed him passionately. Old Mu's face turned livid, and he left in anger. Wen Xiaoliu teased Ye Xiaoyi a few times about this and was met with his clear and intense gaze, making her feel embarrassed.

Although Wen Xiaoliu was worried about Sang Tian'er's identity, seeing that Chuanzi sincerely treated her, she deliberately acted to make Old Mu agree to the marriage. Old Mu advised Chuanzi to carefully consider the matter, but he couldn't interfere too much. When the time was right, Wen Xiaoliu reminded Old Mu to prepare money to redeem Sang Tian'er, as they couldn't just break up the couple forcibly.

The brothel in Qingshui Town was an especially unique place, with many beautiful and talented women. It was also a hub for gathering and spreading information. So, Old Mu needed a large sum of money to redeem Sang Tian'er, but even if they sold the clinic, they might not have enough.

Chuanzi was determined to marry Sang Tian'er, and he came to the liquor store to drown his sorrows. Through him, Jiang Xuan learned that Wen Xiaoliu's fondness for mulberry wine was due to her older brother. This made Jiang Xuan curious, and Chuanzi revealed that Old Mu was Wen Xiaoliu's brother, shattering the last bit of hope in Jiang Xuan's heart. Just then, Ye Xiaoyi came to take Chuanzi back, and Jiang Xuan became curious about Ye Xiaoyi's identity.

Wen Xiaoliu suspected that Xiang Liu was causing trouble behind her back, so she went to find him. Finding a suitable moment, she began to rehearse her apology, but she couldn't find a good reason. Instead, she lay on the tree, not closing her eyes, and admired the moon in the distance until she felt a bit dizzy, reminding Xiang Liu to stop. Wen Xiaoliu treated Xiang Liu candidly and spoke about the time she encountered a snake demon. She felt lonely and was accompanied by the snake demon for a while, although she later learned that the snake demon also wanted to eat her.

However, in Wen Xiaoliu's view, humans and demons could communicate and had emotions. When the Nine-Tailed Fox wanted to eat her, the snake demon stood up for her and died in front of her. The Nine-Tailed Fox captured Wen Xiaoliu but didn't eat her right away; instead, it intended to fatten her up. However, she didn't know that well-fed prey could turn around and bite, so she personally killed the Nine-Tailed Fox.

Initially, Xiang Liu had some sympathy for Wen Xiaoliu, but when he thought of his past experiences, anger and hatred surged in him. He threw Wen Xiaoliu off the tree, telling her she was nothing more than a snake's egg meant to be eaten. After saying that, he left with Maoqiu. Wen Xiaoliu was in a daze but managed to get up and, leaning on a stick, limped back. Just then, Ye Xiaoyi came looking for her.

Ye Xiaoyi used magic to ease Wen Xiaoliu's pain, but when he saw the bite marks on her neck, a nameless anger surged within him. Wen Xiaoliu noticed Ye Xiaoyi's expression and quickly pretended to be pitiful and coquettish. Ye Xiaoyi reluctantly carried Wen Xiaoliu back to the clinic and blamed himself for not protecting her. After Ye Xiaoyi applied the herbal medicine to Wen Xiaoliu and saw her sleeping peacefully, he couldn't help but smile.

Since Sang Tian'er's matter had nothing to do with Xiang Liu, Wen Xiaoliu thought of Sang Tian'er having visited the liquor store and personally went to Jiang Xuan, hoping he could help resolve the situation and allow Chuanzi to marry her, giving Old Mu a comfortable retirement. This was her only wish. Jiang Xuan listened thoughtfully and eventually agreed to help Wen Xiaoliu with this matter. Happily, Wen Xiaoliu stood up to express her gratitude but nearly stumbled. Jiang Xuan was about to help, but Ye Xiaoyi suddenly appeared and stopped him, personally supporting Wen Xiaoliu back.

Jiang Xuan observed how carefully Ye Xiaoyi took care of Wen Xiaoliu and secretly had Jin Yi investigate his background. In fact, Jiang Xuan wanted to help Wen Xiaoliu fulfill her parents' expectations for her, as he himself had not been able to marry and have children. If he could help others achieve this, it wouldn't be a bad thing. Jiang Xuan wished to become an ordinary person and settle down with Wen Xiaoliu in Qingshui Town, living an ordinary life.

Soon, Old Mu and the others redeemed Sang Tian'er and brought her back to the clinic. Wen Xiaoliu deliberately kept everyone away and asked Sang Tian'er to tell the truth. Sang Tian'er admitted that she was asked by a man to approach Chuanzi and investigate their identities, and that man was Jiang Xuan. Although Sang Tian'er had never believed that men could be sincere, after meeting Chuanzi, she wanted to gamble with her true feelings. If Chuanzi didn't disappoint her in this lifetime, she would accompany him forever.

In the end, Wen Xiaoliu accepted Sang Tian'er and Chuanzi's marriage, and everyone joyously celebrated their wedding, inviting Jiang Xuan to the wedding banquet. A Nian suddenly appeared, catching everyone off guard, and her unfiltered words added tension to the atmosphere. Seeing this, Jiang Xuan made an excuse to take A Nian away.

Cang Xuan, before leaving, still remembered to ask about Ye Shiqi, but was brushed off by Wen Xiaoliu using excuses. Afterwards, Wen Xiaoliu reminded Ye Shiqi to be cautious and vigilant as she sensed ill intentions from Cang Xuan. While they were talking, Xiang Liu suddenly appeared to take Wen Xiaoliu away. Ye Shiqi intervened, and it seemed like a fight was about to break out, but Wen Xiaoliu quickly defused the tension, riding on a furry creature and leaving with Xiang Liu. Ye Shiqi watched them depart, feeling lonely.

Xiang Liu was obviously in a bad mood but still curious about why Wen Xiaoliu's spiritual power was so weak. Wen Xiaoliu admitted that she used to be ranked high among her peers but was later captured by a fox demon who forced her to take a medicine that weakened her spiritual power. She endured long-lasting pain and suffering and ended up like this. Although Wen Xiaoliu pretended not to care, she actually held a lot of grievances. Whenever Xiang Liu raised his hand, she would instinctively flinch, indicating that she had often suffered abuse.

Not long after, the furry creature gradually descended and flew close to the sea's surface. Xiang Liu held Wen Xiaoliu's hand, walking on the waves, gazing at the bright moon. Both of them had similar experiences, which made them empathize with each other. Xiang Liu comforted Wen Xiaoliu, saying that appreciating such beautiful scenes in the world would make life precious. Wen Xiaoliu reflected that beautiful scenery needed someone to accompany and give it meaning.

On their way back to Qingshui Town, Wen Xiaoliu noticed the fatigue in Xiang Liu's eyes and suggested that if he liked power, he could abandon Hongjiang and join the Xiyan Kingdom. However, this angered Xiang Liu, and his eyes turned blood-red. He used magic to imprison Wen Xiaoliu, causing her injuries and weakness. She pleaded desperately to save her life.

Ye Shiqi waited by the riverbank throughout and saw Wen Xiaoliu return with injuries. He felt uneasy and personally cooked hot soup for her. Luckily, there were no red marks on Wen Xiaoliu's neck this time, which somewhat relieved Ye Shiqi. He promised never to leave Qingshui Town, but Wen Xiaoliu didn't care and was focused on planning how to deal with Xiang Liu.

In the following days, everything remained the same at the Return Spring Hall, despite the addition of a new girl named Sang Tian'er. Old Mu still managed the kitchen, teaching cooking to Sang Tian'er. Chishi's intelligence was lacking, always inferior to Ye Shiqi, and often received scolding from Wen Xiaoliu, making him resentful.

However, this warm and lively atmosphere at the Return Spring Hall was suddenly disrupted by news that Mr. Yu announced the reclamation of the shops near the riverbank, including the Return Spring Hall. Though Qingshui Town appeared fragmented, it was organized, and Mr. Yu's efforts played a significant role, almost like a half king of the town, someone to be obeyed without question. But the Return Spring Hall was where everyone made a living, so Wen Xiaoliu was determined not to sit idly by and decided to negotiate with Mr. Yu, bringing Ye Shiqi along.

A crowd had gathered near Mr. Yu's mansion, all curious about the celestial-like woman who seemed to be a distinguished guest. Mr. Yu understood Wen Xiaoliu's purpose, honestly but ruthlessly stating that he was just following orders and couldn't go against his family's commands. He then instructed his servants to escort them away.

As Wen Xiaoliu and Ye Shiqi prepared to leave, a beautiful woman rushed out and claimed to be Ye Shiqi's maid, Jing Ye. She tearfully clung to his leg and refused to let go. Ye Shiqi stood rigidly, looking back at Wen Xiaoliu, and in those few steps, they seemed like an insurmountable barrier. His eyes carried sadness. Wen Xiaoliu suddenly realized and pretended not to care, smiling at him, and asked him to stay to handle family matters.

Although Wen Xiaoliu knew that Ye Shiqi had met an old friend and might leave her, she still held a glimmer of hope. Sang Tian'er came to the Return Spring Hall with a smile, understanding some truths and using them to comfort Wen Xiaoliu. Meanwhile, in the military camp, several soldiers were infected with a miasma, and Xiang Liu knew they were short on medicine. He commanded his subordinates to buy all the herbs needed for Xiang Liu. When they were desperate and had no other choice, he could use that opportunity to persuade them to surrender.

That evening, Ye Shiqi came back to find Wen Xiaoliu, dressed in simple clothes, and still loyal as ever. Wen Xiaoliu felt somewhat relieved and gave him some herbs she had prepared, teaching him a few self-defense methods. The next day, Mr. Shi talked about the Three Royal Families and Four Aristocratic Families in the vast wilderness, including the rich Tu Shan family, whose wealth was countless and made both kingdoms wary.

The current generation of the Tu Shan family had two legitimate sons, twin brothers with the same parents. The second young master, Tu Shanjing, was resourceful and intelligent, becoming the dream husband of all the women in the clan. He was engaged to the young lady of the Fengfeng family, but he fell seriously ill before the wedding and had to cancel it. He disappeared for many years, leaving the family business to the eldest young master, who was relatively unknown.

Mr. Shi talked endlessly, and everyone chimed in, discussing the upcoming battle between the two Tu Shan brothers and who would eventually take control of the Qingqiu Tu Shan family. Wen Xiaoliu played with the remaining white fruit in her dish, visibly in a bad mood. Beside her, Ye Shiqi and Cang Xuan had different states of mind – one stiff and cautious, watching Wen Xiaoliu, and the other smiling playfully, occasionally teasing Ye Shiqi about his identity.

Ye Shiqi's real name was Tu Shanjing. He had concealed his true identity and stayed in Qingshui Town for many years. Now that his identity was exposed, he didn't even bother to explain, leaving Wen Xiaoliu angry and vowing to have nothing to do with him anymore. Tu Shanjing's appearance made Qingshui Town lively and bustling, with power and fame at stake.

In recent days, Wen Xiaoliu hadn't gone to the riverbank to cool off. She lay alone on the grass, gazing at the stars in boredom. Xiang Liu took the initiative to find her and asked her to gather the required herbs through Tu Shanjing's connections. Wen Xiaoliu resolutely refused, but Xiang Liu had already discovered that the two Tu Shan brothers were at odds. If the elder brother hired someone to kill, Tu Shanjing's life would be in danger. Xiang Liu had a grasp on Wen Xiaoliu's lifeline, and she had no choice but to take him to see Tu Shanjing and hand over a list of prescribed herbs, which Tu Shanjing readily accepted without hesitation.

Before Xiang Liu obtained the herbs, he took Wen Xiaoliu back to his base as a hostage. Last time, she didn't pay much attention to her surroundings, but now, looking at the dilapidation, she couldn't help but tease him. Xiang Liu didn't want to hear her rambling and directly took her Hundred Poisons Pill. However, Wen Xiaoliu also fed two gu worms with her essence and intended to implant them into Xiang Liu, but the gu worms seemed to be afraid of him and hesitated to get close.

As an important general of the righteous army, Xiang Liu lived a simple and harsh life. Wen Xiaoliu couldn't understand his true intentions. Soldiers were meant to defend the country and its people, but they were hiding in the deep mountains without any country or people to protect. The next morning, she saw Xiang Liu training with the soldiers and felt a hint of admiration.

At this time, two more soldiers died from miasma poisoning. Dozens of soldiers stood solemnly, and Xiang Liu first toasted three cups of wine, then threw a torch into the pile of firewood. Under the blazing fire, the soldiers' weather-beaten faces showed little emotion, as if they had long since grown indifferent to life and death. However, their low voices sang a mournful and sorrowful song, "Embracing decay, loyal soldiers' bones, never surrender, the glory of Chenrong warriors." These two lines finally made Wen Xiaoliu understand the significance of Xiang Liu staying in the Chenrong army and made her appreciate him more.

Upon hearing that the herbs from various places had been bought out, Tu Shanjing asked Mr. Yu to visit noble families on his behalf, willing to exchange Crystal of Return to Nothingness for the herbs listed, not wanting to disappoint Wen Xiaoliu. On the other side, Cang Xuan learned about Tu Shanjing's cooperation with Xiang Liu and had his people inquire about the location of the herbs, preparing to seize the chance to capture him.

Seeing more and more soldiers falling ill, Wen Xiaoliu wanted to use her fresh blood to save everyone, but Xiang Liu hurriedly intervened. Maomao delivered a message that Xiang Liu took Wen Xiaoliu to meet Tu Shanjing and find out where the herbs were stored. However, when he arrived, Xiang Liu fell into an ambush again and not only failed to get the herbs but also got injured, so he had to seek Wen Xiaoliu's help.

Xiang Liu analyzed that there might still be spies in the Chenrong army that hadn't been completely eliminated. Wen Xiaoliu immediately thought of the conversation she had overheard in the wine cellar and suspected it was Cang Xuan's doing. While Xiang Liu wanted to confront Cang Xuan, Wen Xiaoliu advised him not to act impulsively. If he wanted to retrieve the herbs without bloodshed, he could capture A Nian and use her as a hostage.

Afterward, Xiang Liu arranged four of his subordinates to follow Wen Xiaoliu while he went alone to attract Cang Xuan's attention. Wen Xiaoliu took the opportunity to go to the wine shop, lied that Cang Xuan was severely injured, intentionally distracting Lao Sang, and then, with the help of the four subordinates, knocked out Haitang and left a letter before abducting A Nian, who was arrogant and overbearing.

Haitang and the others handed the note to Cang Xuan, and Lao Sang regretted and blamed himself, knowing he shouldn't have believed Wen Xiaoliu's words. Cang Xuan left the note and turned to leave, vowing not to allow his sister to be lost again. He was determined to make everyone who hurt her pay the price, including Wen Xiaoliu.

Xiang Liu vaguely guessed Cang Xuan's identity, but it hadn't been confirmed yet. Therefore, he worried that Cang Xuan's protective instincts towards Wen Xiaoliu might harm her. He wanted her to return to the Chenrong military base with him. However, Wen Xiaoliu didn't agree. After Xiang Liu obtained the medicinal materials, he prepared to return to Qingshui Town with A Nian. During their journey, he playfully teased A Nian, scaring her into tears.

In haste, Cang Xuan arrived with his men to find the heavily injured Wen Xiaoliu. He immediately ordered her to be taken back for severe torture, especially after hearing from A Nian that Wen Xiaoliu had poisoned her. The executioner was called upon to inflict torment on Wen Xiaoliu. They smeared corpse oil on her hands and let corpse maggots gnaw at them. Before leaving, they blew out the oil lamp, plunging her into darkness to intensify the excruciating pain of her fingers.

During this ordeal, Wen Xiaoliu kept talking to herself, forcing herself to think of pleasant things to distract her mind. She ended up losing track of time, coming up with dozens of ways to cook fish and use spices. The executioner couldn't help but marvel at her resolute will, which was extraordinary. At the same time, the venomous insects Wen Xiaoliu raised quietly entered Cang Xuan's body. Although these creatures didn't pose much harm to a person, they made the victim experience the pain inflicted on the venom's target.

Tu Shanjing took the initiative to meet Xiang Liu and offered a hefty sum of money to help save Wen Xiaoliu. In response, Xiang Liu inquired about their relationship. Even if Tu Shanjing hadn't sought his help, Xiang Liu was already prepared to save Wen Xiaoliu, as he still intended to use her to kill Cang Xuan. When Wen Xiaoliu woke up, she was already wearing clean clothes and lying on a soft couch, but her hands were wrapped in layers of gauze, like two big rice dumplings.

Both of them were currently in the Chenrong militia's territory. Tu Shanjing asked about the purpose of the venomous insects and intended to stay and take care of Wen Xiaoliu, but she firmly declined. She didn't want to burden Tu Shanjing and Xiang Liu and had always been used to facing things alone; relying on others was not her style. Xiang Liu sat on a tree outside the house, listening to their conversation with a contemplative expression.

Currently, Cang Xuan's body was experiencing the effects of the venomous insects, and the intense pain in his hands was unbearable. He called for a physician, but they found nothing wrong. Although Tu Shanjing had sent back the Gui Xu Crystal and the Ten Thousand Years Jade Marrow, Wen Xiaoliu didn't use them immediately. She wanted Cang Xuan to experience the same pain. Though Xiang Liu blamed Wen Xiaoliu persistently, he was genuinely worried about her and lamented her foolish behavior of harming herself to harm the enemy.

Due to using the Gui Xu Crystal and the Ten Thousand Years Jade Marrow for recovery, Wen Xiaoliu's pain significantly diminished. Cang Xuan ordered his men to find her whereabouts and led the divine troops to rush over. Feeling Cang Xuan approaching, Wen Xiaoliu informed Xiang Liu, who had already prepared himself. He couldn't forget the war between Chenrong militia and the Xiyan Kingdom hundreds of years ago; now, it was time to settle old scores.

Wen Xiaoliu decided to help Xiang Liu. She hid in the shadows to observe their confrontation and deliberately injured herself, causing Cang Xuan to shift from an offensive to a defensive position. Cang Xuan accidentally dropped the Nine-Tailed Fox's tail he carried with him, and Wen Xiaoliu recognized his identity, feeling shocked and sad.

Just as Xiang Liu was about to kill Cang Xuan, Wen Xiaoliu, disregarding her own safety, bravely stepped forward and intercepted Xiang Liu's thunderous strike intended for Cang Xuan. Cang Xuan felt her pain as if it were his own, but he was only in agony, not injured, and couldn't understand why Wen Xiaoliu would sacrifice herself to save him.

The attendants took the opportunity to take Cang Xuan away, leaving Xiang Liu, who was on the verge of losing his temper, and the almost unconscious Wen Xiaoliu. In the end, Xiang Liu couldn't bear to kill Wen Xiaoliu. Instead, he took her to a mountain cave with a healing spring containing Ten Thousand Years Jade Marrow, Gui Xu Crystal, and Tanggu water to help her recover. Despite Xiang Liu's own injuries, he still transferred his demonic power into Wen Xiaoliu's body.

Xiang Liu sat cross-legged on a piece of jade bed, his brows knitted with a gathering of hostility, as if it could collapse at any moment. However, when he treated Wen Xiaoliu's injuries, he was extremely gentle and attentive. When Wen Xiaoliu regained consciousness, she faintly heard the coldness and suppressed anger in Xiang Liu's voice when he faced questioning. He immediately used the excuses he had prepared long ago, claiming that he had already guessed Boss Xuan's identity. If Qiang Xuan were to die, the King of Xiyan would undoubtedly seek revenge, and she might never have peace again.

Furthermore, Wen Xiaoliu also noticed Tu Shanjing's and Xiang Liu's intentions. Tu Shanjing deliberately provoked the century-old feud between Xiang Liu and Qiang Xuan, using the opportunity to take her away. On the other hand, Xiang Liu wanted her to confirm Boss Xuan's identity and waited for the right time to eliminate him completely. Xiang Liu had thought that Wen Xiaoliu was timid and weak, but now he was surprised by her intelligence. He couldn't help but feel resentful at being toyed with by her.

However, Xiang Liu didn't kill Wen Xiaoliu; instead, he vented his anger by biting her neck, leading to a misunderstanding when Qiang Xuan sensed the situation. Wen Xiaoliu always maintained her carefree and reckless appearance, but when she saw Xiang Liu staring at her and his fingers sliding down to her collarbone, she quickly stopped him and emphasized that she was a man.

Xiang Liu didn't believe her and trusted his instincts, so there was no need to continue questioning. Initially, Xiang Liu planned to take Wen Xiaoliu back to the Chenrong military base, but she was in pain whenever she moved. Feeling Qiang Xuan's presence, Xiang Liu infused some demonic power into Wen Xiaoliu to help her endure the discomfort and hastily left.

Following the trail, Tu Shanjing found Wen Xiaoliu and personally took her back to their residence. The room was filled with Gui Xu Crystals, and he used his spiritual power to help her heal. In just a few days, Wen Xiaoliu made a remarkable recovery. Tu Shanjing was delighted and hugged her, and she reciprocated, making the atmosphere more ambiguous, until Jing Ye's appearance disrupted the mood.

As her injuries gradually healed, Wen Xiaoliu bid farewell to Tu Shanjing and returned to her clinic. Watching her back, Tu Shanjing suddenly missed Ye Seventeen's identity. In Rechuntang, Wen Xiaoliu wanted to let Chuanzi treat the patients and injuries, but Chuanzi pretended to have a stomachache, and Sang Tian'er voluntarily helped bandage the wounds. Wen Xiaoliu noticed Sang Tian'er's talent for medicine and expressed her willingness to take her as an apprentice so that she would have a skill to rely on in the future. Sang Tian'er was deeply grateful, and Wen Xiaoliu also entrusted some matters to her, as if she was preparing for what might come.

While they were talking, Qiang Xuan came to the clinic and bluntly said that Wen Xiaoliu was pretending to be helpless. This startled Wen Xiaoliu, who wasn't ready to interact with her brother whom she hadn't seen in hundreds of years. Qiang Xuan misunderstood her nervousness as guilt and questioned her about the venomous insects. Wen Xiaoliu promised not to harm him and assured that if she ever left Qingshui Town, she would remove the venomous insects. Qiang Xuan was half-believing and half-doubting, reminding her that she could come find him for a drink when she had the time.

The first snow of winter came, and Wen Xiaoliu, Laomu, Chuanzi, and Sang Tian'er gathered around the stove to eat. They were happy and harmonious, while Xiang Liu silently stood outside the house, recalling when he said that he didn't seek long-lasting companionship, just hoping for a short period of company. On the other hand, Qiang Xuan and A Nian had arranged to taste wine and appreciate the plum blossoms. However, because A Nian drank too much, they couldn't enjoy the plum blossoms. Qiang Xuan was left sitting alone by the window.

Wen Xiaoliu thought about Qiang Xuan leaving Qingshui Town soon, so she brought a lamp to have a few drinks with him. They sat on the warm couch, with five or six small dishes, and a small red clay stove. Snowflakes and plum blossoms were all in sight, creating an atmosphere of intimacy. However, Wen Xiaoliu knew that this intimacy was unique to A Nian. As she listened to Qiang Xuan mentioning A Nian throughout, she felt uncomfortable. Drink after drink, she unknowingly fell asleep, and Qiang Xuan contemplated taking action but hesitated and ultimately gave up.

Wen Xiaoliu still hasn't found a way to break the curse. She can only teach Cang Xuan some methods to identify poisons, hoping he can be cautious and vigilant in such situations in the future. They chatted freely, discussing everything. Cang Xuan reminisced about his master's daughter, Xiao Yao, and felt guilty for not being able to protect her. He hoped they could reunite soon. Hearing this, Wen Xiaoliu couldn't help but shed tears, quickly lifting her cup to pretend to drink and hide her emotions.

In the following days, Wen Xiaoliu continued to visit Cang Xuan. Once, she forgot to bring money when buying pastries, and Tu Shanjing appeared and helped pay. Initially, Wen Xiaoliu didn't want to accept the favor and tried to return the pastries to Tu Shanjing. However, Cang Xuan invited them both to the shop for a few drinks and specifically asked Tu Shanjing to play chess with Wen Xiaoliu. Wen Xiaoliu insisted on joining the game but played in a carefree and mischievous manner. Tu Shanjing's advice helped her turn defeat into victory, and Cang Xuan couldn't help but admit that he was no match for her in chess.

As the evening approached and Mr. Shi was about to tell a new story, Wen Xiaoliu, Cang Xuan, and Tu Shanjing went together. Leaving the shop, they walked along the street while Mr. Shi talked incessantly. Suddenly, they saw a luxurious carriage passing by. The curtain was embroidered with golden bows and arrows, the distinctive emblem of the Fengfeng clan, indicating that it belonged to the future wife of Tu Shanjing.

Wen Xiaoliu seemed lost in thought and said farewell to Tu Shanjing without further ado. Mr. Shi continued to talk about the Fengfeng clan, especially about Fengfeng Yinying, a loyal woman who had been waiting for Tu Shanjing in Qingqiu for many years. He believed that it wouldn't be long before they became a deeply in love couple.

Observing Wen Xiaoliu's expression, Cang Xuan curiously asked her about the reason for taking Tu Shanjing in. Wen Xiaoliu honestly explained the whole story, but Cang Xuan didn't believe her at all, stating that Tu Shanjing was not as simple as he appeared to be. Upon hearing about Cang Xuan's struggles in building his power over the years, Wen Xiaoliu felt sorry for him, knowing that she couldn't reveal her identity to him at the moment.

Fengfeng Yinying personally came to see Tu Shanjing and tried to probe his situation. It was evident that Tu Shanjing didn't want to discuss it further and wanted to end the conversation quickly. However, Fengfeng Yinying came to Chishui Town not just for Tu Shanjing; she also had one more thing to do. She brought a specially made bow and arrow and secretly contacted Xiang Liu to plan an assassination.

On the other hand, Xiang Liu sought Lirong Lao-Bo and inquired about the gu planted on Wen Xiaoliu. Despite being a gu breeder herself, she didn't know what kind of gu it was. Lirong Lao-Bo, being knowledgeable, listened to Xiang Liu's description of the symptoms and determined that it was likely a male-female gu, also known as the love gu mentioned in the Jianghu legends.

Later, Cang Xuan came to find Wen Xiaoliu and, pretending to playfully embrace her, jumped into the sea, making it difficult for her to break free. At the same time, dozens of black-clad individuals appeared at the wine shop. Wen Xiaoliu nearly drowned, and Cang Xuan couldn't fully focus on fighting back. In the end, he was shot through the chest by Fengfeng Yinying's arrow. Seeing Wen Xiaoliu on the verge of unconsciousness, Xiang Liu immediately gave her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and brought her back to the shore.

The plan for tonight's operation was for Xiang Liu to control Cang Xuan using Wen Xiaoliu, while Fengfeng Yinying took the opportunity to kill Cang Xuan. However, Wen Xiaoliu was still kept in the dark and expressed her grievances when she woke up. The two sat by the river, and after a moment of contemplation, Wen Xiaoliu thought that since Xiang Liu was a demon, other insects and animals might be of the same kind. Perhaps Xiang Liu would know something about breaking the curse.

Xiang Liu warned Wen Xiaoliu that if she didn't want to die, she should not forcibly recall the gu. The only way to try was to transfer the gu to someone else's body and harm others. Unexpectedly, Wen Xiaoliu looked seriously at Xiang Liu and said that the only person she wanted to harm was Xiang Liu. Hearing this, Xiang Liu was taken aback, and she recalled Lirong Lao-Bo's words. Finally, she realized that she had developed feelings for Wen Xiaoliu and couldn't help but reach out and touch Wen Xiaoliu's hair.

Xiang Liu and Wen Xiaoliu had a heart-to-heart talk under the moonlight, cherishing the rare moment of peaceful companionship. However, such moments of joy in the world are always fleeting. After bidding farewell to Xiang Liu, Wen Xiaoliu returned alone to the clinic. Meanwhile, Cang Xuan was injured by an arrow, and he suspected that last night's assassination attempt was related to Fengfeng Yinying. So, he sent A Nian and others to find Wen Xiaoliu, as only she could make Tu Shanjing hand over the antidote.

In addition, Cang Xuan emphasized that if Wen Xiaoliu didn't cooperate, they would use wooden arrows to keep Xiang Liu bleeding, and Tu Shanjing would not stand by and let her die. In that case, they could seize the antidote from her. Wen Xiaoliu hurried to help Cang Xuan, and after examining the wound, she confirmed that the arrow was likely smeared with ice crystal. She urgently washed the wound with Tanggu water.

Considering that Tanggu was far away in Chenrong Kingdom, and to ensure that Cang Xuan safely reached there, Wen Xiaoliu decided to borrow ice crystals from Tu Shanjing. By using the extreme cold of the ice crystal to solidify the blood, they wouldn't have to worry about Cang Xuan bleeding to death on the way. However, Wen Xiaoliu didn't encounter Tu Shanjing as expected but instead saw Fengfeng Yinying. Observing her weak appearance, Wen Xiaoliu felt surprised and suspected Tu Shanjing's involvement in the assassination attempt.

Fengfeng Yinying took Wen Xiaoliu to see Tu Shanjing, and Wen Xiaoliu directly stated her purpose. Tu Shanjing readily agreed and instructed Jingye to retrieve the ice crystal immediately. However, Fengfeng Yinying intentionally blocked Jingye, learning that Wen Xiaoliu came for the item in person. She started to plan her own scheme. Soon, with the help of the ice crystal, Wen Xiaoliu managed to stop Cang Xuan's bleeding. A Nian prepared to head to Wushen Mountain, and Wen Xiaoliu, who was parting ways with Cang Xuan, declined his invitation and decided to stay in Chishui Town. She promised to find a cure for him.

Assisted by the others, Cang Xuan sat in the cloud carriage, which gradually rose and disappeared into the distance. Wen Xiaoliu felt a mix of emotions and silently wished Cang Xuan all the best. However, Cang Xuan was not an easy person to deal with. Although she saved him twice, he was willing to let her go just once. He believed that the debt of gratitude would be repaid in time.

Since Cang Xuan's departure, Wen Xiaoliu felt unhappy and despondent. Life in Chishui Town was uncertain, with people arriving and leaving unpredictably. She was accustomed to the impermanence of life and death and remained indifferent to the departure of Gongzi Xuan. However, Xiang Liu saw her break the death trap twice and looked at her with admiration. He then revealed the method to break the curse: transferring the gu to another person.

Lirong Lao-Bo had mentioned that the love gu consisted of a male and a female gu with equal strength. The person who used the gu could not control it. Most of the time, women cultivated the gu and gave them to their beloved, seeking mutual love and loyalty. Once planted, the gu would link their lives together, destined to be inseparable. To plant the gu, one must have genuine feelings; otherwise, it would backfire. Planting the gu required emotions, and breaking the gu required even stronger emotions. Xiang Liu had fallen for Wen Xiaoliu and was willing to transfer the gu to herself, on the condition that Wen Xiaoliu agreed to something.

Wen Xiaoliu was overjoyed and stated that as long as the condition did not involve harming Cang Xuan and Tu Shanjing, she would agree to anything. She also made a vow that breaking the promise would result in everything she loved turning into pain and everything she enjoyed turning into suffering. As the gu required a close distance, Wen Xiaoliu and Xiang Liu set off for Wushen Mountain. When Tu Shanjing came to the clinic looking for Wen Xiaoliu, he was told that she had gone out.

To avoid attracting attention from Haoling Kingdom, Xiang Liu planned to travel through the sea. They both rode on clam shells and floated in the sea near Wushen Mountain. When the time was right, Wen Xiaoliu sat down and used her blood to invoke the gu. Even though Xiang Liu knew the consequences of planting the love gu, she risked her life to transfer the gu to herself. Lirong Lao-Bo had warned her that planting the gu required both life and heart. Although Xiang Liu had nine lives, she had only one heart. Once given away, it could never be retrieved.

At that moment, Cang Xuan recalled the scene of the promise he made with Xiao Yao in his childhood and spat out a mouthful of blood. The love gu was naturally broken, but he didn't appear joyful at all. After planting the gu, Xiang Liu took Wen Xiaoliu on an underwater journey. Wen Xiaoliu marveled at the colorful underwater world, filled with curiosity and excitement. Xiang Liu held her hand and touched the jellyfish lanterns, creating a breathtaking scene. Wen Xiaoliu was having a great time and looked back at Xiang Liu, only to find him smiling, and she couldn't help but notice his handsome appearance, which was no less than Cang Xuan and Tu Shanjing.

Cang Xuan returned to Wushen Mountain and met Princess Haoling. He narrated his encounter in Qingshui Town and Princess Haoling was curious about Wen Xiaoliu's identity. Princess Haoling ordered Cang Xuan to bring Wen Xiaoliu to Haoling Kingdom, believing that she might be the child of an old friend. On the other hand, Wen Xiaoliu prepared a table of delicious food and wine for everyone, but only Sang Tian'er noticed that their separation was approaching, and her heart was filled with reluctance.

Soon, Wen Xiaoliu packed her bags and coincidentally, Tu Shanjing came to deliver ice crystals to cool down from the heat. Tu Shanjing was shocked to learn that she was leaving. Wen Xiaoliu didn't want much contact with Tu Shanjing, so she intentionally said some hurtful words. However, as soon as Tu Shanjing left, Cang Xuan suddenly appeared at Hui Chun Tang and insisted on taking her to Haoling Kingdom.

Although Wen Xiaoliu was feeling uneasy, she tried to politely refuse, but Cang Xuan would not take no for an answer. He gave her only two hours to pack her things and bid farewell to her loved ones, or else he would use force. Wen Xiaoliu hurried back to her room, anxiously thinking that she must not meet Princess Haoling, or her true identity would be exposed.

Meanwhile, Xiang Liu disguised himself and wore a mask to ask Jin Tianxing to forge a powerful weapon, a bow and arrow. Wen Xiaoliu didn't want her identity to become a weakness for Cang Xuan, so she sought Xiang Liu's help. She struck her leg hard, trying to make Xiang Liu feel the same pain, but unfortunately, Xiang Liu did not appear.

Considering that the only person she could seek help from was Tu Shanjing, as the Tu family had business throughout Da Huang and often supplied various materials to the rebels, she believed they must know the secret passage in and out of Qingshui Town. So, Wen Xiaoliu entrusted Hui Chun Tang to Sang Tian'er and asked her to seek Chuanzi and Mazi's help if she couldn't handle it. She trusted Sang Tian'er to manage Hui Chun Tang well.

After settling everything, Wen Xiaoliu went straight to Tu Shanjing's residence and directly explained her intentions. In her heart, she was a little scared, as Tu Shanjing's acceptance would mean that the Tu family would become enemies of Haoling Kingdom. However, Tu Shanjing agreed without hesitation and offered to accompany Wen Xiaoliu on her journey. He was already accustomed to being Ye Shiqi (Seventeenth Leaf) because being the ordinary and humble Ye Shiqi brought him more happiness and joy.

In the end, disregarding the obstacles of the quiet night, Tu Shanjing led Wen Xiaoliu out of Qingshui Town through a secret passage. When Cang Xuan received the news, he led people to search for them, and Fengying intentionally revealed some clues. When Xiang Liu rushed to Hui Chun Tang, Wen Xiaoliu was already gone, which made him worry and regret.

That night, Wen Xiaoliu and Tu Shanjing camped in the wilderness. Tu Shanjing had never intended to conceal his identity and secrets, but he had his own reasons. Now, they were relying on each other for life and death, and Tu Shanjing voluntarily revealed his past before coming to Qingshui Town. There were two legitimate sons in the Tu family's generation: the eldest son, Tu Shanhou, and the second son, Tu Shanjing. They had different mothers, with Tu Shanhou being born to a maidservant and the family head. After the maidservant's death, the family head entrusted the son to his main wife for upbringing.

Though Tu Shanhou and Tu Shanjing were brothers, their personalities and preferences were completely different. Tu Shanhou liked to raise fierce beasts and had a wild and adventurous spirit. He possessed considerable spiritual power and quickly mastered martial arts techniques. In contrast, Tu Shanjing was gentle and refined, with interests in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Initially, the two brothers had a good relationship, but Tu Shanhou was never favored by their mother, and whatever he did, he was punished and scolded.

Later, after their mother passed away, Tu Shanhou was devastated and went through a self-destructive phase until he learned about his true identity. He stopped indulging in drinking and self-pity. Tu Shanjing was glad to see his brother's change, thinking that they would work together to manage the family. However, unexpectedly, Tu Shanhou unleashed all the accumulated resentment on Tu Shanjing, locking him in a dungeon, sealing his spiritual power, and restraining him with dragon bone chains. As Wen Xiaoliu listened to Tu Shanjing's account, she could feel his pain and reached out to hold his hand, assuring him that as long as she was there, no one would dare to bully him again.

The next day, Tu Shanjing sensed that the inn was surrounded by Haoling's army, and there were two extremely powerful gods among them, making it difficult for him to deal with the situation. With Tu Shanjing's protection, Wen Xiaoliu escaped the inn, while Tu Shanjing confronted Cang Xuan and ended up severely injured. Cang Xuan threatened to take Tu Shanjing's life to force Wen Xiaoliu to return to him.

To protect Tu Shanjing, Wen Xiaoliu had no choice but to return and face the situation. Upon Cang Xuan's command, two guards broke her legs and threw her into a prison cart. Tu Shanjing was unconscious, and Wen Xiaoliu endured the pain to feed him blood for healing. Although she was already developing feelings for him, she knew that emotions could bring both sweetness and bitterness. Having experienced so much suffering in her life, she didn't want to continue down that path.

When Tu Shanjing regained consciousness, he realized that Wen Xiaoliu had used her blood to heal him and understood the origin of the red mark on her neck. He learned that Xiang Liu had sucked her blood for healing, and it was not what he had misunderstood. This revelation relieved Tu Shanjing's heart, and he advised Wen Xiaoliu not to use such a method again.

Soon, they arrived at Haoling Kingdom's Dragon Bone Prison, where Cang Xuan ordered Wen Xiaoliu and Tu Shanjing to be imprisoned. The dungeon was located deep within the mountain, with no light source and filled with despair after thousands of years. Tu Shanjing used his magic to create several flower-shaped lamps, providing gentle light to soothe Wen Xiaoliu's emotional distress.

Originally, Wen Xiaoliu wanted to take this opportunity to clarify their relationship and not involve Tu Shanjing. However, Tu Shanjing insisted on not leaving her, already knowing Wen Xiaoliu's true identity as a woman, and he had developed feelings for her. So, Tu Shanjing explained that he had never liked Xingling Xie and that he would break off the engagement once they returned, asking Wen Xiaoliu to give him fifteen years to return to Ye Shiqi. He wanted her not to let any other man into her heart.

Upon hearing this, Wen Xiaoliu was completely touched and, while half-jokingly, said that her heart was as hard as a shell and that no man would enter it for fifty years. They pledged their agreement by clapping their hands, and Tu Shanjing held Wen Xiaoliu's hand tightly, vowing that even if she didn't accept him, he would wait for her all his life.

Suddenly, there was a commotion outside, and Cang Xuan's men took Wen Xiaoliu away on a stretcher, while Tu Shanjing was carried by Zhu Dong. Xiang Liu sensed that something had happened to Wen Xiaoliu and hurried to Wushen Mountain. He crossed the boundless sea and arrived, suggesting that Wen Xiaoliu should jump into the sea and follow him. However, considering that there were many water-controlling gods in Wushen Mountain, and Tu Shanjing would undoubtedly be caught and tortured by them, Wen Xiaoliu politely refused Xiang Liu's offer, promising that she was cowardly and would never owe him any debt.

Outside the Cheng'en Palace, Wen Xiaoliu's heart was in turmoil as she remembered the scenes of playing with her mother in her childhood, causing her eyes to redden with tears. Later, Tu Shanjing and Wen Xiaoliu were arranged to rest in Cang Xuan's palace. A physician examined Wen Xiaoliu's legs, and she changed into clean clothes. While lying leisurely on the couch, she couldn't sleep well. Tu Shanjing noticed that her unease was because of Princess Haoling, and he stayed by her side, guarding her.

As the sun set in the west, Princess Haoling summoned Wen Xiaoliu and carefully observed her disguised appearance, but still couldn't figure out the truth. Wen Xiaoliu dared not meet Princess Haoling's gaze, fearing that he might recognize her. At the same time, she felt a bit wronged. Princess Haoling knew that Cang Xuan had ordered Wen Xiaoliu's legs to be broken, so he decided to let them have dinner here.

Princess Haoling didn't eat much and didn't drink alcohol. He carried himself with dignity and grace, and both Cang Xuan and Tu Shanjing behaved similarly. However, Wen Xiaoliu ate crudely, displaying rough manners, causing Cang Xuan to look at her with disdain. Princess Haoling doted on Wen Xiaoliu and ordered someone to bring her green mugwort cake, reminding her to listen to a story and eat a little before sleeping.

Cang Xuan was surprised to hear this because he suddenly remembered that Xiao Yao (Little Fairy) loved green mugwort cake and would often listen to stories while eating before bedtime. Moreover, she had a strong aversion to longan fruit. He began to suspect that the person in front of him might be Xiao Yao, which caused him to spill the drink from his cup without noticing. After Wen Xiaoliu and Tu Shanjing left, Cang Xuan asked Princess Haoling if he recognized Xiao Yao. Princess Haoling couldn't see through Wen Xiaoliu's disguise technique, but he already had some answers in his heart. He said that some injuries in the world are not caused by evil intentions but by love. Now, he just needed to give her some time to admit it herself.

Because of this, Cang Xuan recalled the moments he spent with Wen Xiaoliu in Qingshui Town, replaying them in his mind like a fleeting memory. He had previously ordered cruel torture on Wen Xiaoliu and didn't hesitate to have her legs broken. Yet, she still protected him and risked her life to save him. Even so, he still suspected that her actions were just a scheme, a ploy of gratitude. Masked for too long, he had been blinded by cruelty in his heart. Cang Xuan remained silent and channeled spiritual energy to Wen Xiaoliu's injuries. Wen Xiaoliu endured the tears until Cang Xuan left alone, then finally couldn't help but cry.

Cang Xuan was deeply immersed in self-blame, and Princess Haoling also had complex feelings, as he bore significant responsibility too. Xiao Yao had been exceptionally talented and far ahead in cultivation among her peers. But now, her spiritual power was weak, and even self-defense was challenging. It showed just how much suffering she had endured all these years, which explained why she refused to acknowledge her identity and be recognized. In truth, Wen Xiaoliu had already accepted Cang Xuan in her heart. Otherwise, why would she risk her life repeatedly to save him? In Cang Xuan's heart, no matter how Wen Xiaoliu changed, she would always be Xiao Yao.

The next morning, when Wen Xiaoliu woke up, Cang Xuan had already left. Instead, there was a large mountain made of stacked coins placed in front of the palace, showing that Cang Xuan remembered what she said yesterday. Seeing this shining mountain of coins, Wen Xiaoliu, who had been feeling down for several days, finally showed a faint smile, and her heart felt much calmer.

Knowing that Wen Xiaoliu couldn't stay put, Princess Haoling informed her that she could go to Yiqing Garden if she felt bored. That day, Tu Shanjing accompanied Wen Xiaoliu to Yiqing Garden. There, she suddenly remembered the beautiful time she had spent with her mother and recalled eating chilled melons with her. Tu Shanjing immediately went to get some for her.

However, just as Tu Shanjing left, A Nian arrived with a group of people. She was shocked to see Wen Xiaoliu and then became furious, ordering her to be taken back to the palace. Since Wen Xiaoliu had offended A Nian before, A Nian wanted to settle old and new scores together, interrogating her as if she were a criminal. Wen Xiaoliu refused to answer and deliberately said provocative things to anger her.

Since Wen Xiaoliu was brought by Princess Haoling, A Nian couldn't use severe punishment. Instead, she had the maids hold Wen Xiaoliu's hand and reluctantly ordered them to hit her hands. After dozens of strikes, Wen Xiaoliu's hands were covered in fresh blood. When she looked up and saw Princess Jing'an, she cried out "mother" with all her might, crawling forward desperately, asking why she had abandoned her.

Clearly, Princess Jing'an and Xiling Yan only looked alike. Seeing Wen Xiaoliu rushing towards her in madness, she was scared and hid behind A Nian. Because Wen Xiaoliu resembled Xiling Yan so much, she became the most favored person in the entire harem. But everyone knew that Haoling King's true love was only Xiling Yan, and they treated Wen Xiaoliu as her substitute.

Tu Shanjing knew that Wen Xiaoliu was in trouble and urgently sought out Princess Haoling and Cang Xuan to stop A Nian's violence. Cang Xuan saw Wen Xiaoliu covered in blood and went mad, pushing everyone away and hugging her tightly. He could feel her trembling all over, shaking like a withered leaf, calling out "mother" repeatedly. Tu Shanjing repeatedly emphasized that Princess Jing'an was not her aunt.

Princess Jing'an left with A Nian, leaving only Wen Xiaoliu, Cang Xuan, Tu Shanjing, and King Haoling in the palace. In the end, Wen Xiaoliu and Princess Haoling recognized each other as father and daughter, and Tu Shanjing had long guessed Wen Xiaoliu's true identity. The physician bandaged Wen Xiaoliu's hands, and Old Sang regretted not recognizing that Wen Xiaoliu was Princess Jing'an, but she didn't mind at all. She said that as long as he picked mulberries for her every year to make wine, that would be enough.

During dinner, Cang Xuan patiently fed Wen Xiaoliu, and later in the evening, he brought mulberry wine for them to drink together with Wen Xiaoliu and Tu Shanjing. Over the past three hundred years, Wen Xiaoliu was no longer the little girl under the phoenix tree or on the swing. She had wandered in the deep mountains, feeding on blood like a wild beast. She had been kept in a cage, raised like a cat or dog. She had been chased and killed many times, and her life was filled with lies, blood, and death. Everyone had deceived her, and she didn't know which identity she should stand in front of everyone.

Cang Xuan wanted to know what Wen Xiaoliu had experienced. She hesitated for a moment and then revealed that she had thought about returning to Wushen Mountain to find her father, only to hear the palace maids gossiping about rumors of her mother's tarnished reputation. So she decided to secretly go to Yushan to find where her mother died in battle. During her journey, she had encountered the pursuit of monsters and had been deceived and used by a nine-tailed fox demon, suffering various forms of abuse. She later discovered that her mother and Haoling King had a blood feud.

Fortunately, Wen Xiaoliu persevered and managed to kill the nine-tailed fox when it was off-guard. Now, she cherished the opportunity to reunite with her father and brother. Cang Xuan was furious upon hearing the truth and told Princess Haoling the real situation. Princess Haoling said that Wen Xiaoliu wasn't ill but had a rare artifact called the "Resplendent Blossom" sealed inside her body. This flower allowed her appearance to change at will. At present, there was no way for him to help Wen Xiaoliu remove the artifact, but he promised that she would eventually regain her true appearance.

Wen Xiaoliu had already become accustomed to being carefree and was naturally unwilling to revert to her Princess identity and be constrained by it. So she discussed with King Haoling and decided to put this matter on hold. Later, Wen Xiaoliu shared with Tu Shanjing the reason for her changing appearance. Tu Shanjing assured her that no matter how she looked, he would wholeheartedly love her. Tu Shanjing needed to return to handle family affairs, so they agreed to meet again in fifteen years, and Wen Xiaoliu was willing to wait for him.

However, after Tu Shanjing left, Cang Xuan noticed that Wen Xiaoliu seemed visibly less joyful, becoming more silent and reserved. Wen Xiaoliu pretended to be strong, saying that she wouldn't burden others with her emotions, as having something meant that no matter how joyous it was, it felt like sinking into happiness while staying clear-headed. All these things would eventually be lost, so she was prepared for the day when she truly lost something.

Cang Xuan empathized with Wen Xiaoliu's words, as they both had lost so much. Besides each other, there was nothing else that could move their emotions. Now that they had reunited, they were determined to protect each other. However, there was still a doubt buried deep in Wen Xiaoliu's heart. She couldn't ignore the rumors about her being the child of her mother and Chi Chen. Cang Xuan told her not to worry and reassured her that she was forever King Haoling's daughter.

Regarding Wen Xiaoliu's changing appearance and the sealed artifact in her body, Cang Xuan remembered King Haoling's reaction and the words her aunt had entrusted to him before leaving. He guessed that the "Resplendent Blossom" was probably sealed within Wen Xiaoliu. At that moment, Cang Xuan briefly doubted Wen Xiaoliu's true identity, but then he remembered that she was his sister and someone worth sacrificing for.

Upon hearing that Wen Xiaoliu was treated specially by her father and brothers, A Nian felt extremely dissatisfied and went to find King Haoling, intending to have him punish Wen Xiaoliu for her impudence. King Haoling said that he would soon announce a big joyous event, and then A Nian would not bother about Wen Xiaoliu anymore. However, A Nian misunderstood, thinking that her father was arranging a marriage between her and Wen Xiaoliu, so she angrily warned Wen Xiaoliu not to entertain such thoughts. Wen Xiaoliu didn't reveal the truth but promised never to marry her in this lifetime. After hearing this, A Nian finally let go of her anger.

Cang Xuan volunteered to return to Xiyan Kingdom's Yunfeng Peak. Although he was not fully grown yet, he could go back and accumulate strength secretly, taking back everything that belonged to him. Only then would he have the ability to protect the people he wanted to protect. King Haoling thought for a moment and understood that Cang Xuan had made up his mind, so he allowed him to return to Xiyan.

Before parting, Cang Xuan bid farewell to Wen Xiaoliu, and when they chatted, they mentioned A Nian. Wen Xiaoliu was curious about whom Cang Xuan would choose between her and A Nian. Cang Xuan imagined that Xiao Yao should be like A Nian, growing up in sunlight and rainbows, never having experienced darkness and storms, pure and beautiful like April's osmanthus flowers. If Xiao Yao were like that, Cang Xuan would do everything he could to shield her from darkness and storms. But now she was strong and wouldn't make things difficult for herself.

Watching Cang Xuan's lonely departure, Wen Xiaoliu remembered Xiyan Zhongyi and his wife and her mother's death. She finally made up her mind to return to being Princess Haoling. Cang Xuan was surprised by her sudden change of mind, and Wen Xiaoliu pretended to be lighthearted, saying that being Princess Haoling brought her many conveniences. Moreover, if anyone dared to bully her in the future, they would have to consider whether they could bear the wrath of an entire country and an emperor.

Cang Xuan excitedly hugged Wen Xiaoliu, secretly vowing to protect her and not let her suffer any harm or injustice. Little did he know that Wen Xiaoliu chose to become Princess Haoling for his sake. Since he had chosen to return to Xiyan Kingdom, she wanted to accompany him, facing the bloody battles together as Princess Haoling.

King Haoling was pleased that Wen Xiaoliu had regained her Princess identity. He told her to visit Queen Mother on Yushan, as she had already promised to help Wen Xiaoliu restore her true appearance. Cang Xuan and A Nian asked to accompany her. The four of them set off together. On the other hand, Tu Shanjing asked to dissolve his engagement with Xingling Xie. Xingling Xie tearfully refused. Once Tu Shanjing left, she wiped away her tears, changing her gentle demeanor.

Zhuyi City was where various prominent families in the Central Plains gathered. To avoid attracting attention, Wen Xiaoliu and the others temporarily stayed at an inn as Haoling Qinglong's disciples. That night, the four of them rowed a boat on the lake, enjoying grilled fish and shrimp, laughing and having fun. Chenrong Yuxin invited Xingling Xie to ride the dragon boat with her and personally played a song for her, which Wen Xiaoliu admired. Cang Xuan played the flute to complement the music, attracting Chenrong Yuxin's attention. She ordered her men to turn the boat around, but unexpectedly, the flute stopped suddenly. Xingling Xie recognized Cang Xuan and Wen Xiaoliu, intentionally stirring up conflict between Chenrong Yuxin and A Nian and using this opportunity to launch a surprise attack, causing all four of them to jump into the lake.

Wen Xiaoliu brought A Nian back to the shore and saw her crouching in the bushes, her whole body filled with fear due to the eerie calls of night owls around. He spoke gently and praised her for being brave. On their way back to the inn, Wen Xiaoliu carried the unconscious Haitang on his back and instructed A Nian to follow closely so she wouldn't get lost. He reassured her that the herbal scent on his body would repel snakes and insects.

Luckily, Haitang was fine. After hearing Wen Xiaoliu's account of their encounter, Ruxu agreed to intervene first to resolve the conflict with Fengyue. She didn't want the situation to escalate and bring harm to them or Fengyue. Wen Xiaoliu deliberately kept A Nian away and warned Ruxu to be cautious of Fengyue, as she might recognize Jianxuan's identity.

Meanwhile, Fengyue found a floating bamboo flute on the water and ordered her maid to take it back to her residence. Jianxuan, who was injured and weakened, stayed at Fengyue's residence for the night. He introduced himself as Haoling Qinglong, admitting that he was the one playing the flute that night. The next day, Jianxuan and Fengyue played music together, making her even more fond of him. However, her maid believed that Fengyue deserved to be with a prince or noble, at the very least, a clan leader, not someone of lower status like Jianxuan.

A Nian, worried about Jianxuan, urged Ruxu to personally go to Fengyue's residence to bring him back. Wen Xiaoliu, on the other hand, stayed outside and unexpectedly met Tu Shanjing. Despite this, Wen Xiaoliu didn't greet him, feeling disappointed that Tu Shanjing was no longer Ye Seventeen. But as soon as she expressed this, Tu Shanjing appeared behind her, saying, "I'm here." Wen Xiaoliu was moved by his words. However, they couldn't stay together for long. Tu Shanjing asked her to leave first, promising that when she turned back, she would still see him standing there. They agreed to announce something significant in a few days.

Tu Shanjing and Chishui Fenglong were close friends. He personally introduced Jianxuan and Wen Xiaoliu to Fengyue and Fenglong, using the excuse of holding a banquet at Ruxu's residence and sending invitations to the inn. Wen Xiaoliu and Jianxuan reviewed what happened earlier and confirmed that Fengyue might seek refuge with King Xiyan's people, which led to the attack on them. Jianxuan needed the support of the Chenrong and Chishui families, and this invitation provided a good opportunity. Thus, Wen Xiaoliu postponed her plan to go to Yushan for the time being.

Later, Wen Xiaoliu accompanied Jianxuan to the banquet at Fengyue's residence. Tu Shanjing introduced them to Fengyue and Fenglong, and they sat together, drinking and talking. Tu Shanjing mentioned that there were accusations against Ruyi for colluding with rebels and having disloyal intentions towards the court.

However, Jianxuan didn't find anything wrong with this statement and confirmed that it was true. Fenglong was furious upon hearing this but restrained himself for Tu Shanjing's sake, listening carefully to the explanation. Jianxuan stated that when Ruyi took control of the Central Plains hundreds of years ago, he emphasized that he was loyal to peace, kneeling to the will of the people, and seeking the well-being of the people. He never promised loyalty to a single person, and his goal was to ensure the people's safety and happiness in the Central Plains. He argued that this was not a disloyal intention. As for colluding with rebels, he was trying to persuade the enemy to surrender, demonstrating his great charisma and character.

Fenglong pondered over his words and finally understood Jianxuan's intention. He admired him greatly for this revelation. As the conversation ended, Xingling suddenly appeared and deliberately sat between Tu Shanjing and Wen Xiaoliu. Fengyue was unaware of the situation and praised Tu Shanjing and Xingling as an exemplary couple. Tu Shanjing couldn't bear to listen to this and was about to leave, but Xingling held him back for the family's face. Seeing this, Wen Xiaoliu made an excuse to leave the table and found a boat by the river. She urgently waved at the person on the boat, asking for a ride. It turned out to be Xiang Liu, who transformed into a woman and had a conversation with Wen Xiaoliu. They enjoyed food, wine, and fireworks together.

On the other side, Jianxuan found Tu Shanjing alone and expressed that Wen Xiaoliu deserved the best man. He couldn't tolerate seeing her hurt, and if Tu Shanjing couldn't do that, he should stay away from her. Xiang Liu tried to test if Wen Xiaoliu was thinking about someone, but she immediately denied it, which made Xiang Liu somewhat angry. She instructed the boatman to stop by the shore and gave a food box to Wen Xiaoliu, telling her to think about the person she cares about the next time she feels unhappy.

Wen Xiaoliu watched the splendid fireworks tonight and saw the affectionate couples beneath them. The graceful and delicate charm unique to women struck her heart, making her both envious and self-conscious. For hundreds of years, Wen Xiaoliu had transformed into various male forms, but now she longed to return to her female identity. She wanted to wear beautiful dresses like an ordinary woman, but feared that her true appearance might disappoint her loved ones.

Cang Xuan comforted Wen Xiaoliu, telling her not to overthink and encouraging her to be confident. They prepared to pack up and set off for Yushan. The next morning, Chang Pu was ordered to take A Nian back to Haoling Kingdom. Faced with A Nian's persistent questioning, she could only evade or use delicious food to appease her.

Shennong Xinyue came to deliver medicine to Tu Shanjing and happened to see him changing his clothes, exposing his scarred body. She was frightened and quickly turned away. In fact, Tu Shanjing deliberately revealed his scars, hoping that Shennong Xinyue would realize they were not a good match. However, unknown to him, Shennong Xinyue had a secret relationship with Tu Shanjing and approached him to help him seize the position of clan leader.

Having not returned to Yushan for many years, Wen Xiaoliu was visibly nervous. Fortunately, Yushan was secluded and surrounded by peach forests, which eased her anxiety. The Queen Mother herself examined Wen Xiaoliu's body and stated that she could only regain profound spiritual power if she stayed in Yushan. However, Wen Xiaoliu knew that such honor came at the cost of her freedom, and she didn't want to be confined and lose hope for her future. She preferred to continue her current life, which might not be too exciting but at least not boring. The Queen Mother didn't force her and instead took out a peach branch to enlighten her, saying that she couldn't remove the artifact in Wen Xiaoliu's body. Moreover, the Resilience Flower would keep her youthful, which was not a bad thing.

Following the Queen Mother's guidance, Wen Xiaoliu fell into the Jade Pool, surrounded by countless flower petals. After a while, they dispersed, and she emerged with the Resilience Flower blooming. With long hair cascading down and wearing a long dress, she looked as beautiful as a flower, leaving Tu Shanjing mesmerized and speechless. Recalling their past moments on Chaoyun Peak and their recent time together in Qingshui Town, Tu Shanjing felt excited, while Wen Xiaoliu felt uneasy, fearing her real appearance might be ugly.

After bidding farewell to the Queen Mother, they immediately returned to Wushenshan. Having not dressed as a woman for so long, Wen Xiaoliu was somewhat uncomfortable. Haoling King noticed the mark on Wen Xiaoliu's forehead and became absent-minded until she spoke and brought him back to reality. Soon, Haoling King held a family banquet and invited A Nian and Princess Jing'an to officially introduce his daughter, Xiao Yao, as the Haoling Kingdom's Princess Gaoxin Jiuyao.

A Nian couldn't accept this and didn't recognize that Xiao Yao was actually Wen Xiaoliu. She thought Xiao Yao was here to take her position and forced Jianxuan to choose between them publicly. Jianxuan advised A Nian and Xiao Yao to get along well and revealed that Xiao Yao was Wen Xiaoliu. This revelation angered A Nian even more, and she overturned the table and ran out of the hall.

Haoling King remained calm and composed, continuing to enjoy the meal. Jianxuan and Wen Xiaoliu followed suit, but Wen Xiaoliu was worried about A Nian. She found it hard to eat the delicious food in front of her. Shortly after, Haoling King announced to the world that they would welcome the return of Princess Gaoxin Jiuyao and held a special celebration for her. Wen Xiaoliu had to practice etiquette daily, which was quite challenging. A Nian's jealousy reached its peak, and she attacked Wen Xiaoliu, but fortunately, Chang Pu intervened in time. After this incident, Wen Xiaoliu decided to prepare some medicine for self-defense, and Cang Xuan felt guilty seeing this.

Meanwhile, the shop in Qingshui Town was crowded with people. They were all listening to Mr. Shi talk about Princess Gaoxin Jiuyao, from her mysterious disappearance to her mysterious return. The most enviable thing was her identity – the daughter of Haoling King, the granddaughter of King Xiyan, and the disciple of the Queen Mother.

Mr. Shi explained that Haoling King had been low-key since his ascension, not fond of extravagance. But this time, he sent invitations to all the clans in the Great Wilderness, inviting them to the celebration of Princess Gaoxin Jiuyao's return, showing the deep affection and favor Haoling King had for her. Xiang Liu listened silently nearby, thinking about Wen Xiaoliu's past claim of being lonely and helpless with nowhere to go. Now, it seemed like everything had been a lie.

During this period, Wen Xiaoliu was busy preparing poisons in her spare time, occasionally reminiscing about the people and events in Qingshui Town. She regretted that no one else was willing to be a test subject like Xiang Liu. The mirror showed Xiang Liu's appearance, and Wen Xiaoliu was completely absorbed in watching. Unaware of Haoling Wang Ji's presence beside her, he noticed the man in the mirror. Haoling Wang Ji had thought his daughter would be interested in the little fox from the Tu Shan family, but Wen Xiaoliu reassured her father that there was no need to worry, as she had lived as a man for hundreds of years and no longer had the heart of a young girl in love.

As the return celebration of Princess Haoling Ji approached, Tu Shanjing, Chishui Fenglong, and Chenrong Xingling arrived at Wushen Mountain. Qiang Xuan personally greeted them and revealed his true identity. Chenrong Xingling was surprised, and her heart was filled with excitement, making her cheeks blush. She quickly turned away, appearing to be angry but actually delighted that he was the grandson of the Xiyan King. Now, she wouldn't have to worry about their difference in status if she wanted to be with him.

On the other hand, Chishui Fenglong's reaction was as Qiang Xuan expected. After the initial surprise, he didn't mind and invited Qiang Xuan to play a game of chess. Tu Shanjing didn't see Wen Xiaoliu, and his disappointment was evident. Qiang Xuan noticed this and was equally distracted. Both of them made mistakes in their games, which made Chishui Fenglong happy as he didn't expect to excel in chess this much.

Later, Qiang Xuan went to Mingse Palace to find Wen Xiaoliu and confided in her that his relationship with Chishui Fenglong and others had progressed. He was worried that if they encountered Tu Shanjing in the future, Wen Xiaoliu would face a difficult choice. Without any hesitation, Wen Xiaoliu declared that she would choose Qiang Xuan. Anyone who opposed Qiang Xuan would be her enemy because she had already decided to wholeheartedly assist him in reclaiming his position.

Originally, Ruxiao had prepared a set of clothes for the celebration, but it was primarily red, which reminded Princess Haoling Ji of Chi Chen. She ordered a new outfit to be made. However, A Nian deliberately made the first outfit dirty, so Wen Xiaoliu had no choice but to wear it for the ceremony. With all eyes on her, she walked up to King Haoling to complete all the rituals. Qiang Xuan, Tu Shanjing, and Chishui Fenglong were captivated by her, but there was a man in the crowd who resembled Xiang Liu and wore a cruel and eerie smile.

After the celebration, King Haoling returned to Chao Huidian, freshened up, and rested briefly before heading to Yiqing Garden for the evening banquet. Wen Xiaoliu returned to Mingse Palace and took a nap, completely unaware of what was happening outside. Tu Shanjing came to Qiang Xuan and directly requested to meet Wen Xiaoliu, hoping he could pass on the message and meet her outside the Longgu Prison at the foot of the mountain.

Upon hearing this, Qiang Xuan's emotions fluctuated, and he jokingly remarked that the location he chose was quite secretive and not like a suitable place to meet a girl. However, Tu Shanjing didn't provide any explanation and simply thanked him politely. Qiang Xuan smiled, indicating that it was fine, but as soon as he turned around, his smile disappeared, and he looked extremely gloomy.

At the same time, under Xiang Liu's influence, A Nian decided to punish Wen Xiaoliu and deliberately led her away and pushed her off a cliff. Wen Xiaoliu fell into the sea, confident that she could swim to the surface. Unexpectedly, Xiang Liu suddenly caught her and forced her to rely on his breath. Life and death were simple choices, but Wen Xiaoliu shook her head, refusing to agree. In the end, Xiang Liu brought her back to the shore.

Xiang Liu scolded Wen Xiaoliu for telling lies, but she insisted that she was sincere. This made Xiang Liu's sharp nails disappear silently, just for a moment, she narrowly escaped death. Wen Xiaoliu could feel Xiang Liu's anger and took out the poison she specially prepared, claiming it was a special concoction for him. Indeed, Xiang Liu's mood improved, as the so-called poison was like candy to him.

Then Xiang Liu questioned why Wen Xiaoliu hadn't kissed him, and she honestly admitted that she was afraid. She believed that people like him shouldn't enter her dreams, as she feared falling in love with him. However, Xiang Liu interpreted her words differently, thinking she was rejecting his feelings, so he angrily left her on a deserted island.

In order to meet with Tu Shanjing as agreed, Wen Xiaoliu swam with all her strength to the opposite shore. Luckily, Tu Shanjing was still waiting for her and pulled her out of the water when she was exhausted. Xiang Liu witnessed this scene, feeling heartbroken. He remembered what Li Rong Lao Bo had said about the Love Gu - it not only claimed lives but hearts as well. Though he had nine lives, he only had one heart, and once it was given away, it could never be taken back.

Wen Xiaoliu and Tu Shanjing were both in a sorry state, sitting on the ground, yet they appeared perfect in each other's eyes. Tu Shanjing felt inferior, thinking he was not worthy of Wen Xiaoliu, but she didn't mind at all. She took the initiative to lean in and kiss Tu Shanjing. However, he restrained himself and gently kissed her forehead. Although their relationship had progressed, Tu Shanjing still lacked sufficient confidence because he wanted to have all of Wen Xiaoliu's love, not just sympathy and pity.

Upon hearing that Wen Xiaoliu and Tu Shanjing hadn't returned all night, Qiang Xuan suppressed his anger and went to Longgu Prison to find them. Wen Xiaoliu warned Tu Shanjing not to make a sound, and she faced Qiang Xuan alone, honestly revealing that A Nian had caused her to be soaked in seawater. Qiang Xuan couldn't deal with this matter and suggested that the conflicts between sisters should be resolved by themselves.

Then, Wen Xiaoliu went directly to A Nian's chamber, locked the door, and used a poison to suppress A Nian's spiritual power. The two engaged in a fierce fight, pulling each other's hair and scratching each other's faces. Soon, both of them were bruised, and Wen Xiaoliu realized that A Nian was blaming her for her humble mother's identity but didn't want to say it out loud. She then expressed her preference for having a humble mother who wouldn't die in battle for the country.

Through this incident, Wen Xiaoliu officially negotiated with A Nian, proposing that they either peacefully coexist or offend Qiang Xuan and King Haoling. A Nian was simple-minded and didn't want to harm Wen Xiaoliu, so she agreed to keep the peace between them, resolving all their grievances.

Fengfeng Yixing and Tu Shanhou had a private meeting, but he accidentally found a handkerchief embroidered by a woman in his room. Outraged, he left in anger. Wen Xiaoliu and Qiang Xuan, along with others, arrived at Yingzhou and enjoyed a boat ride while toasting. Though they appeared harmonious on the surface, each harbored their own thoughts. Chishui Fenglong openly showed his affection for Wen Xiaoliu, being attentive to her, which made Tu Shanjing and Qiang Xuan jealous. Fengfeng Yixing even deliberately poured wine for Tu Shanhou right in front of Tu Shanjing, who couldn't refuse and ended up drinking three cups. Wen Xiaoliu couldn't help but feel uncomfortable seeing this.

After dinner, everyone was a bit tipsy and started jumping into the sea to catch fish. Qiang Xuan initially didn't want to join but saw Wen Xiaoliu and Tu Shanjing standing together. Due to Chenrong Xingling's insistence, he had no choice but to jump in as well. Wen Xiaoliu confessed to Tu Shanjing that she did care about him, but if he let her down, no matter how good he was, he wouldn't be worth it, and she would decisively let go. Tu Shanjing seemed to be contemplating her words.

On the other side, Tu Shanhou sat with Fengfeng Yixing by the shore, bringing up their first encounter to make her happy. He lied, saying the handkerchief was given by a spy he placed next to Tu Shanjing, and he was only pretending. Fengfeng Yixing gradually softened, and they reconciled.

Tu Shanjing assured Wen Xiaoliu that he had no romantic feelings for Fengfeng Yixing, and she was only getting close to him for her own interests. This marriage contract would be destroyed sooner or later, and then he would marry Wen Xiaoliu properly. Although Wen Xiaoliu hoped he could turn back into Ye Shiqi, she couldn't interfere with his choice. Tu Shanjing explained that the gift of Qingmei wine represented his yearning for her, which made Wen Xiaoliu shy.

Everyone gathered on the deck, sharing what had happened earlier. Qiang Xuan was visibly hostile toward Tu Shanjing. Suddenly, Tu Shanhou emerged from the sea, holding a precious fish pill in his hand. Wen Xiaoliu was curious, and Tu Shanjing explained that the fish pill could be used as jewelry, for refining tools, or as medicine. This fish pill was pure and top-grade treasure.

As they were leaving Yingzhou the next day, Wen Xiaoliu asked Qiang Xuan to say goodbye on her behalf to everyone. They planned to go back to Xiyan together to pay respects to her mother. King Xiyan inquired about his ministers' opinions, and while his son, Yu Yang, was unwilling to treat the visit with state-level ceremony, De Yan, who was the most cunning, noticed that King Xiyan valued his granddaughter and said that Xiling Yan had died for the country in the past. Now, King Haoling Ji had returned to the country to pay respects to her mother, and treating her with state-level ceremony was not inappropriate.

Not long after, Wen Xiaoliu and Qiang Xuan arrived at Xiyan. The two uncles came to greet them with their cousins. Among these younger generations, Yue Liang and Shi Ran of Xiyan were the most contemptuous towards Qiang Xuan, which also affected Wen Xiaoliu. Wen Xiaoliu wanted to take Qiang Xuan to meet their grandfather, King Xiyan, but they were politely rejected and faced with well-organized guards blocking their path.

Wen Xiaoliu assertively defended Cang Xuan in public, even resorting to aggressive behavior, which forced Xiyan De Yan to agree to let them go. The two of them went to meet the King of Xiyan. Wen Xiaoliu still held resentment towards him, and being used to being casual, she sat down on a couch, while Cang Xuan stood respectfully in front of the King.

The King of Xiyan treated Wen Xiaoliu and Cang Xuan differently. He praised Wen Xiaoliu's face and mouth, saying they resembled his grandmother. However, Wen Xiaoliu remembered her grandmother as having a withered appearance and wrinkles all over her face. Despite being renowned for her beauty in her youth, she had married the King of Xiyan.

Thinking of this, Wen Xiaoliu felt even more frustrated and didn't hesitate to retort to the King of Xiyan. But the King didn't mind and only turned his gaze towards Cang Xuan, his smile fading, as he sternly questioned him about his plans for the future. Cang Xuan openly stated that he wanted to claim the Xiyan Mountain and wasn't afraid of opposition from the King's relatives. The King of Xiyan would not support Cang Xuan, knowing that even if he handed the throne to him, it would be hard to secure his position without his own efforts.

Later, the two of them left the main hall and arrived at the side hall where they used to reside. The phoenix tree canopy was grand, and the phoenix flowers bloomed brightly, reminding them of the past. However, the swing under the phoenix tree was long gone. Cang Xuan noticed Wen Xiaoliu's disappointment and handed her a phoenix flower, comforting her that as long as the places they cherished in their memories remained, everything could be restored to how it used to be.

Meanwhile, Tu Shanjing went to see his grandmother and encountered Tu Shanhou along the way. Remembering what he had done to him, Tu Shanjing felt some fear. Tu Shanhou revealed his true intentions, warning Tu Shanjing that if he wanted to make amends, he should disappear forever.

Tu Shanjing decided to cancel his engagement with Fengfeng Yinying, even if it meant giving up his position as the clan leader and enduring all the criticism. He hoped his grandmother would grant his request. However, his grandmother was so angry that she fainted on the spot. Tu Shanjing had to call for medical assistance and even asked not to continue sending plum wine to Wen Xiaoliu, as things had changed, and he couldn't fulfill his promise ahead of time. Fengfeng Yinying felt sweet as she received the fish dan given by Tu Shanhou, but when she heard about Tu Shanjing's decision to break off the engagement, she became furious.

The next day, Wen Xiaoliu came to the phoenix tree again and found that Cang Xuan had prepared a swing. Although familiar things had returned, the person who used to push her on the swing was no longer there. Cang Xuan was chatting with the King of Xiyan, and when asked if he had any grievances about the King's actions over the years, Cang Xuan replied that all the hardships would only strengthen his determination to pursue his chosen path.

In the Chao Yun Hall, Wen Xiaoliu looked at her grandmother's jewelry and was surprised that the King of Xiyan had kept them so well. Just then, the King of Xiyan and Cang Xuan entered the hall. The King said that Wen Xiaoliu could take the jewelry if she liked, but she firmly refused. She resented her grandfather's coldness towards everyone, whether it was her grandmother or her mother. Cang Xuan might not fully understand her feelings yet, as he hadn't taken up that position. Wen Xiaoliu knew that Cang Xuan was using her to get close to Tu Shanjing and the Fengfeng family, but she still enjoyed it. Whatever Cang Xuan wanted, she would do her best to help him achieve it.

Afterward, Cang Xuan took Wen Xiaoliu to the Song and Dance Pavilion in Xiyan City. This pavilion was just an entertainment place for music and dance, and all the captivating fragrances were visible but out of reach. Cang Xuan asked Wen Xiaoliu to wait alone for a while, while he went to meet the spy Jin Xuan, to learn about the King of Xiyan's deteriorating health and the increasing power of the Fifth and Seventh Princes.

On the other hand, Wen Xiaoliu saw a man embracing a dancing girl and going upstairs. She carefully looked at the man, dressed in elegant attire with black hair and a smile on his face, resembling Xiang Liu but with some differences. When Wen Xiaoliu finally realized it, the man had already disappeared from the surroundings.

Tu Shanjing deeply understood that Wen Xiaoliu's greatest wish was for peace in the world. In order to fulfill her wish, he personally persuaded Chishui Fenglong to form an alliance with Cang Xuan. However, Cang Xuan was weak and couldn't compete with others. Chishui Fenglong was hesitant, but Tu Shanjing believed that helping others in their time of need was a noble act, and he was well aware of Chishui Fenglong's ambitions. He knew he wouldn't settle for just being a clan leader.

Xiyan Yueliang actively invited Cang Xuan to the Yue Liang Palace, but Wen Xiaoliu was worried that he might get hurt. She insisted on accompanying him to the banquet. As expected, Cang Xuan was shunned by the others, but he encountered a skilled martial artist named Yu Jiang from the Haoling Kingdom. On the contrary, Wen Xiaoliu was surrounded by noble ladies, but she couldn't connect with them due to her lack of knowledge in their topics.

Since it was a private banquet, there weren't many guests, and Wen Xiaoliu felt bored. She decided to stroll in the garden and met a man who looked like Xiang Liu. He denied being Xiang Liu and invited her to have a drink together. Wen Xiaoliu secretly poisoned the drink to test him, but he didn't show any signs of being affected.

It turned out that the man was not Xiang Liu but Fengfeng Bei, the elder brother of Fengfeng Yinying. He wrote his name in Wen Xiaoliu's palm before leaving. Wen Xiaoliu realized that he was seeking revenge for his brother's death, which was caused by Cang Xuan.

Later that night, as the guests dispersed, Yu Jiang appeared with a bow and arrow, targeting Cang Xuan. Wen Xiaoliu bravely stood in front of Cang Xuan to protect him, even at the risk of her own life. This act made Fengfeng Bei spare Cang Xuan and leave.

Fengfeng Bei and his brother Yu Jiang came from the Xiling Yan tribe. Yu Jiang sought revenge for his brother's death at the hands of Cang Xuan. However, Chishui Xian advised him not to seek vengeance that would lead to the destruction of their tribe.

After this incident, Cang Xuan decided to send Wen Xiaoliu back to Wushen Mountain to keep her safe. Wen Xiaoliu refused, believing that they should face dangers together and protect each other. They made a promise in front of their ancestors' graves to depend on each other.

Cang Xuan was appointed as the River Operations Official and took charge of river management, planning to build alliances with the Chishui and Fengfeng clans. However, the Five and Seven Princes couldn't tolerate his rise and plotted to kill him. Meanwhile, Tu Shanjing repeatedly disappointed Wen Xiaoliu by failing to deliver the promised gift of plum wine.

Wen Xiaoliu then went to Tu Shanjing's carriage business and prepared some delicately poisoned pastries for Xiang Liu. She asked the carriage business to deliver them to Qingshui Town as quickly as possible. There, she encountered Fengfeng Bei and, charmed by his words, she began to learn archery from him.

Although Wen Xiaoliu didn't know Fengfeng Bei's true intentions, she became interested in archery and he patiently taught her. He even took her to an underground betting place.

During this period, Wen Xiaoliu and Fengfeng Bei had frequent interactions due to Wen Xiaoliu teaching him archery. They felt a subtle closeness between them. In Wen Xiaoliu's eyes, Fengfeng Bei was a very casual person, completely different from Xiang Liu's aloofness. While learning archery, she saw him as a teacher, but in private, they were like close friends, sharing everything with each other.

The two of them arrived at an underground betting place set up by the Lirong tribe. Since the ancestors of the Lirong clan were double-headed tengu, every guest had to wear a mask. When Wen Xiaoliu saw Fengfeng Bei wearing the mask, she couldn't help but mockingly call him "Doggy Bei," imitating a dog's barking with raised paws, laughing merrily.

The underground arena was crowded with guests, all looking towards the central arena where two young slaves were locked up. Amidst the frenzy of shouts, they fought relentlessly until one was dead and the other injured. The dead slaves were carried away in animal form, while the surviving ones cowered in a corner with lifeless eyes.

Wen Xiaoliu and Fengfeng Bei bet on who could bring hope to the slaves in an instant. Fengfeng Bei used a special language spoken in the death arena to communicate with the slaves and kindle their hope. This made Wen Xiaoliu curious about Fengfeng Bei's true identity. They put their hands on each other's hearts, feeling the same rhythm of their heartbeats, wondering if he was really Xiang Liu in disguise.

At the same time, Tu Shanjing and Fengfeng Yixing passed by in a carriage. Fengfeng Yixing noticed Fengfeng Bei and hurriedly got off the carriage to greet him. Seeing this, Tu Shanjing felt uneasy, and Wen Xiaoliu's attitude towards him turned even colder. He found an excuse and left with Fengfeng Bei. Fengfeng Yixing couldn't help but sigh, realizing that his second brother was indeed very close to Princess Haoling.

A Nian missed Cang Xuan and couldn't stand being trapped in the royal palace all day. So she came up with a plan to sneak out with Haitang to Xiyan. Princess Haoling was well aware of this and allowed her to go, while secret guards were ordered to protect them. One day, Tu Shanjing came to see Cang Xuan, hoping that he could convey a meeting request to Wen Xiaoliu. However, Cang Xuan politely declined the request.

Suddenly, a servant reported that Princess Haoling was visiting. Tu Shanjing thought it was Wen Xiaoliu, but he was slightly disappointed when he saw A Nian instead. After Tu Shanjing left, Cang Xuan reminded A Nian that if someone asked about her identity, she should say that she is Wen Xiaoliu's friend. After all, her real identity could bring trouble.

Wen Xiaoliu practiced archery on Chao Yun Peak. The King of Xiyan noticed that her heart was unsettled and initiated a conversation with her. Despite knowing Wen Xiaoliu's strong and independent nature, he advised her to find a husband soon. As long as he was alive, she could marry anyone she liked.

However, due to the relationship between the King of Xiyan and Princess Haoling, Wen Xiaoliu had lost faith in men. She feared that having high expectations and investing too much in someone would only lead to disappointment and eternal suffering. Therefore, she claimed that she had already come to terms with the idea of remaining unmarried if she couldn't find the right man in this lifetime.

Cang Xuan took over the river transport business, and on the first day, he almost fell into Wang Shu's trap, which would have ruined his reputation. Fortunately, Tu Shanjing arrived in time to help him resolve the issue. Later, Cang Xuan took A Nian to meet the King of Xiyan, and her sweet and clever words made the King of Xiyan very happy. As a result, the King of Xiyan presented two jade bracelets, one for Wen Xiaoliu and the other for A Nian.

Wen Xiaoliu confronted Fengfeng Bei alone, raising her bow and arrow with a look of anger, questioning his true identity. Fengfeng Bei helplessly claimed that he was the second young master of the Fengfeng clan, a carefree playboy who indeed didn't resemble Xiang Liu. Wen Xiaoliu gradually dispelled her suspicion. Fengfeng Bei noticed her uneasy mood and half-jokingly suggested that she give up her identity as Princess Haoling and roam with him. Without hesitation, Wen Xiaoliu agreed on the condition that he would give up everything, leaving a deep impression on Fengfeng Bei.

Tu Shanjing came to see Wen Xiaoliu again, but unexpectedly, it was Fengfeng Bei who personally received him. Wen Xiaoliu was resting inside and, upon hearing Tu Shanjing's voice, hurriedly tidied up her appearance before coming out to talk briefly with him. She lied, saying that she was going out with Fengfeng Bei, but at the doorstep, she remembered Cang Xuan's words and had to break her promise to Fengfeng Bei.

In the next moment, Fengfeng Bei's gaze turned cold, and Wen Xiaoliu felt chills running down her spine. Just when she thought the person in front of her was Xiang Liu in disguise, Fengfeng Bei's smile returned, pretending to be unconcerned, and left. Tu Shanjing gave the Fish Dan Purple to Wen Xiaoliu as an apology for what happened before. Wen Xiaoliu felt upset because every time she tried to be firm, he managed to soften her resolve.

Tu Shanjing knew that Wen Xiaoliu's greatest wish was to bring peace to the world. In order to fulfill her wish, he personally persuaded Chishui Fenglong to form an alliance with Cang Xuan. However, Cang Xuan was in a weak position and couldn't compete with others, so Chishui Fenglong hesitated. But Tu Shanjing believed that adding embellishments to an already beautiful picture was common, and offering timely help was rare. If they judged the future based on the current power dynamics, they could only adopt a mediocre stance. Besides, Tu Shanjing was well aware of Chishui Fenglong's ambitions and aspirations; he would never be content with being just the head of a clan.

Xiyan Yueliang invited Cang Xuan, and the intentions were unclear. Wen Xiaoliu was worried that Cang Xuan might be harmed and insisted on accompanying him to Yueliang Mansion for the banquet. As expected, Cang Xuan was cold-shouldered by the others and saw Haoling Xiyu and the top expert, Yu Jiang. On the contrary, Wen Xiaoliu was surrounded by the daughters of noble families, but she had little understanding of girly topics, so the conversation died quickly.

As it was a private banquet, there weren't many guests. Feeling bored, Wen Xiaoliu decided to wander freely in the garden and encountered the man who looked like Xiang Liu. The man refused to admit that he was Xiang Liu himself, and invited Wen Xiaoliu to have a drink together. Wen Xiaoliu secretly tested the drink with poison, but the man didn't show any sign of being affected.

It turned out that the man only looked like Xiang Liu, but he wasn't actually him. Wen Xiaoliu handed him the antidote, and the man asked her to feed it to him. He wrote his name on Wen Xiaoliu's palm. Wen Xiaoliu suddenly realized that the man was actually Fengfeng Bei, the second brother of Fengfeng Yixing. They had a brief conversation before he left abruptly.

As the night approached, the guests gradually dispersed, and Cang Xuan and Yu Jiang had a friendly chat before bidding farewell at the door. Wen Xiaoliu noticed Fengfeng Bei riding a horse with a bow and arrow in the sky. Intuitively sensing the danger, she hurriedly warned Cang Xuan, but before he could react, he was struck down by Yu Jiang.

Yu Jiang's real name was Xuan Ming, and both he and his brother Xuan Ting came from the Xiyu clan. Xuan Ting was killed by Cang Xuan, so Yu Jiang had hidden his identity for many years, intending to avenge his brother someday. Despite Wen Xiaoliu's attempts to stop him, she witnessed Yu Jiang raising his knife to strike Cang Xuan. She screamed in desperation, but at the critical moment, Chishui Xianjiang transformed his water knife into a snow knife and insisted on taking Yu Jiang away.

Fengfeng Bei saw the situation and aimed his bow at Cang Xuan. Wen Xiaoliu quickly embraced Cang Xuan, protecting him without regard for her own safety. As a result, Fengfeng Bei slowly lowered his bow and arrow, smiling wryly. He then rode away, and the crisis for Wen Xiaoliu and Cang Xuan was finally resolved. They both understood that in the face of absolute power, any clever strategy was futile.

Chishui Xian was sent to rescue Cang Xuan on orders, and he also warned Yu Jiang that he should not seek revenge in this manner, as it would lead to the destruction of the entire Xiyu clan. After that, Chishui Xian returned to report to Chishui Fenglong. Upon hearing that Wen Xiaoliu risked her life to save Cang Xuan, Chishui Fenglong held her in even higher regard. On the other hand, Tu Shanjing worried that she would face more danger around Cang Xuan.

After this incident, Cang Xuan suggested taking Wen Xiaoliu back to Wushen Mountain, fearing that he couldn't protect her completely with his current abilities. But Wen Xiaoliu didn't agree, believing that they should find ways to solve the dangers they encounter instead of escaping. Eventually, the two of them made a promise to each other at their ancestors' grave to rely on and protect each other.

Not long after, Cang Xuan was appointed as the internal historian of river transportation and took over the responsibility of managing it. He planned to win over the Chishui and Fengfeng clans. The fifth and seventh princes couldn't sit still and began plotting to harm Cang Xuan. Originally, Tu Shanjing was supposed to send plum wine as agreed, but his repeated delays disappointed Wen Xiaoliu. She ordered her maids to dispose of all the wine bottles, even giving the last bottle of plum wine to him.

Then Wen Xiaoliu went to Tushan Horse and Carriage Shop to deliver goods personally. She prepared some exquisitely crafted poison resembling pastries for Xiang Liu and asked the shop to deliver them to Qingshui Town quickly. Coincidentally, Fengfeng Bei appeared there, and his sweet words gradually pacified Wen Xiaoliu's anger. She decided to learn archery from him, although she was unaware of his hidden agenda. Fengfeng Bei patiently taught her archery skills and even took her to an underground betting place.

After Wen Xiaoliu slowly lifted the mask of the black-clothed person, she saw the familiar face and initially thought it was Xiang Liu. However, the person revealed a smile similar to Fengfeng Bei, which inevitably disappointed her. Since Fengfeng Bei was weak from his injuries, Wen Xiaoliu kindly offered him medicine and asked about the cause of his injuries. Fengfeng Bei avoided answering, so Wen Xiaoliu had to let him hide in her own bed.

Xiyan Yipeng led a search of Qiang Xuan's sleeping chamber and found him in disarray, leaning on the bed, with scattered elixirs of ecstasy nearby. He seemed to be in a trance, much like someone who had taken an excessive amount of the "Soul-Enchanting Elixir." After these people left, Qiang Xuan's gaze became somewhat clearer, realizing that he was now no different from a drug addict, which left him feeling quite uneasy.

Following this, Xiyan Yue Liang and Xiyan Yipeng blatantly disregarded the face of Haoling Kingdom and directly barged into Princess Wang Ji's palace. A Nian was furious and ordered Haitang to beat the soldiers to vent her anger. Wen Xiaoliu didn't show herself but summoned Xiyan Yipeng, implying that the people outside were the second princess of Haoling, which made Xiyan Yipeng somewhat apprehensive, leading to a hasty end to the search.

Wen Xiaoliu secretly checked Fengfeng Bei's pulse for healing and realized that high-quality medicinal herbs were ineffective for him, immediately suspecting that he was indeed Xiang Liu. Fengfeng Bei didn't directly answer, but, as usual, approached Wen Xiaoliu's neck. Wen Xiaoliu, considering her current female identity, prevented him from biting her neck but offered her wrist instead. Soon, Wen Xiaoliu lost too much blood and fell into a coma. Fengfeng Bei helped her lie down and purposely kept a distance from her.

The next morning, A Nian came to Qiang Xuan to complain, but unexpectedly, Xiyan Yue Liang sent two beautiful women as an apology, which Qiang Xuan readily accepted. This made A Nian disappointed in Qiang Xuan, unable to understand his inner struggles, so she packed her things sadly and returned to Haoling Kingdom with Haitang.

Wen Xiaoliu stood by the bed, watching Fengfeng Bei sleep. She recalled the moments she spent with Xiang Liu in Qingshui Town and compared the two in her mind, smiling involuntarily. Although Wen Xiaoliu hadn't yet figured out why Xiang Liu appeared as Fengfeng Bei, she already believed that the two were the same person. She prepared clothes for Xiang Liu, indicating that he should leave when he woke up, without saying goodbye.

After Wen Xiaoliu left, Xiang Liu suddenly opened his eyes, with images of Wen Xiaoliu in Qingshui Town and Xiao Yao in Xiyan City flooding his mind, filled with sadness. Wen Xiaoliu had a tough exterior but a tender heart. She specially returned, changed her clothes, and brought a vial of poison for Xiang Liu. However, she found the chamber empty, which left her heartbroken and sitting alone in the corridor lost in thought.

Seeing this, Qiang Xuan came over and sat beside Wen Xiaoliu. Wen Xiaoliu asked him for help in investigating Fengfeng Bei's identity, and Qiang Xuan agreed readily. Lately, Qiang Xuan had been playing a part for important matters, and sometimes he couldn't distinguish between truth and pretense. Wen Xiaoliu offered to share his burdens and difficulties, but Qiang Xuan refused, not wanting her to get hurt, and returned to the sleeping chamber to deal with the intelligence sent by King Shu.

Shennong Xinyue successfully convinced her grandfather to report the restoration of Chenrong Mountain, giving Qiang Xuan a reason to leave Xiyan City and develop power in the Central Plains. The old temple on Chenrong Mountain was in ruins, and the King of Xiyan appointed Qiang Xuan as the inspector to oversee its repair. Qiang Xuan used this opportunity to take Wen Xiaoliu along, despite objections from the Fifth and Seventh Princes. It was only when the King of Xiyan brought up the illustrious achievements of General Wang Ji that everyone ceased their objections.

After arriving in the Central Plains, Qiang Xuan was deeply affected by the erosion of the "Soul-Enchanting Elixir," experiencing daily torment. Even when taking the elixir, the effects were minimal. Wen Xiaoliu searched through medical books to find a solution for treating elixir poisoning, helping him endure the difficult treatment process. When Qiang Xuan went mad and inadvertently injured Wen Xiaoliu, he regained a moment of clarity and calm.

When Qiang Xuan woke up, he saw Wen Xiaoliu by the bedside and couldn't help but want to kiss her forehead. Suddenly, Wen Xiaoliu murmured to herself, bringing Qiang Xuan back to his senses, reminding him of their sibling-like relationship. Qiang Xuan then brought several boxes of wine for Wen Xiaoliu. Previously, Wen Xiaoliu didn't dare to drink alcohol to take good care of Qiang Xuan, but now that the toxin in Qiang Xuan's body had been cleared, she could finally enjoy a hearty drink.

Tu Shanjing arranged to meet Wen Xiaoliu at Caoyao Ridge. A thatched hut on the mountaintop caught Wen Xiaoliu's attention, and he discovered that it was the place where the notorious Chichen had once lived. It had been considered forbidden by King Chenrong. Many in the Great Wilderness thought Chichen was extravagant, but it turned out he lived quite simply, surprising Wen Xiaoliu.

Unaware of this, Tu Shanjing, thinking of the past where Princess Wang Ji and Chichen had perished together, suggested changing the location of their meetings. However, Wen Xiaoliu didn't mind at all and saw this place as a meeting spot for their future encounters. Tu Shanjing confided in Wen Xiaoliu, acknowledging that he knew Tu Shanhou had tried to kill him several times, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. Wen Xiaoliu candidly expressed her liking for Tu Shanjing's gentle nature and even confessed her true feelings, teasing him until he blushed.

At the same time, Chishui Fenglong came with wine to see Qiang Xuan, willing to help him achieve his goals with the support of their entire family, thus firming Qiang Xuan's determination to seize control of the Central Plains. The two swore brotherhood and promised to fight side by side in the future. Wen Xiaoliu returned to the palace with a smile on her face, seeing Qiang Xuan waiting for her. She revealed the fox-tail puppet that she had controlled, now capable of assuming Qiang Xuan's appearance, which would help him deal with the spies sent by the Fifth and Seventh Princes.

Qiang Xuan reminded Wen Xiaoliu to understand her relationship with Tu Shanjing. After all, Tu Shanjing still had an engagement, and his grandmother, the Lady of Tu Shan, was seriously ill, meaning he would have to return to take over the Tu Shan family, which could possibly lead to a marriage alliance with Fengfeng Yinying. Wen Xiaoliu seemed thoughtful upon hearing this, and Qiang Xuan reluctantly showed her the information he had found about Fengfeng Bei.

On the tenth day of midsummer, Qiang Xuan received invitations from Chishui Fenglong and Chenrong Xinyue. It would soon be their birthdays, and they specially invited him and Wen Xiaoliu to the city of Zhiyi. The longevity of the divine clan was quite long, and most people only celebrated centennial or millennial birthdays. As one lived longer, they tended to forget their age and didn't celebrate birthdays. Only those highly regarded in prestigious families would often celebrate their birthdays.

Since Chishui Fenglong and Chenrong Xinyue were twins, they would invite friends to gather for both of their birthdays. This included the Tu Shan siblings, Fengfeng Yinying, and Fengfeng Bei. Chenrong Xinyue and Fengfeng Yinying knew that their elder brother had feelings for Wen Xiaoliu, so they were competing to get closer to Wen Xiaoliu. When Wen Xiaoliu had something to discuss with Xiang Liu, she asked him to go with her to talk.

Xiang Liu noticed everyone's expressions and felt somewhat smug. On the other hand, Wen Xiaoliu, who was worried that Fengfeng Bei's true identity might be discovered, felt relieved when she saw that he was concealing it well. It turned out that Fengfeng Bei had a humble background due to his mother's low status, which resulted in him being bullied as a child. He later fell into bad habits and accumulated a huge debt, which he couldn't repay, leading him to disappear to the far northern region, with no news for many years. His family believed him to be dead, but he unexpectedly encountered Xiang Liu before his death, entrusting him with taking care of his mother and giving him his lifeblood and spiritual power.

Because of this, Xiang Liu returned to the Fengfeng family under Fengfeng Bei's identity, caring for his mother day after day, until she passed away with a smile. This earned him a reputation for filial piety. Wen Xiaoliu, upon seeing this information, was curious why Xiang Liu would take care of a patient for so long. Xiang Liu expressed that he felt like the one benefiting because, from a young age, he lacked parents, and only when he encountered Fengfeng Bei's mother did he experience the warmth of family.

On the other side, Chishui Fenglong intentionally created opportunities for his sister and Qiang Xuan to be alone together. Chenrong Xinyue, recalling what her brother had said, finally mustered the courage to stay by his side and boldly kissed him. Although Qiang Xuan was surprised, he didn't refuse. A Nian was sitting in the room, feeling downcast. Princess Haoling empathized and offered advice, reminding her that as a sovereign of a nation, there were many things she had to do reluctantly and play-acting was unavoidable. She couldn't belong to just one woman, nor make promises to just one woman.

Xiang Liu noticed that Tu Shanjing was secretly observing and intentionally teased Wen Xiaoliu by intervening and causing Tu Shanjing to be hurt. Wen Xiaoliu, angered by this, left in a huff. Chenrong Xinyue discussed Chichen's numerous misdeeds, but Xiang Liu countered that Chenrong Xinyue, as a member of the Chenrong family, had no right to criticize Chichen. He reminded her that if she disagreed, she should ask her father whether Chichen owed the Chenrong family or the other way around.

This made Chenrong Xinyue furious, and she told Fengfeng Yinying to manage her own older brother. Although Chishui Fenglong tried to mediate, Tu Shanjing completely ignored it and instead looked at Wen Xiaoliu. Qiang Xuan gave Wen Xiaoliu a piece of pastry, seeing her smiling, and finally felt relieved, leading her to leave the Chishui residence ahead of him.

Tu Shanjing didn't want to wait any longer. He went directly to Fengfeng Yinying to discuss breaking off the engagement, explaining that he had long had someone else in his heart. He assured her that he would minimize the damage and ensure that her reputation wouldn't be greatly affected. Fengfeng Yinying found it hard to accept and left without answering.

Meanwhile, the waiter asked Xiang Liu to pay the bill, but even though he was posing as Fengfeng Bei, he still had no money. Wen Xiaoliu saw his embarrassment and paid the bill, but when Xiang Liu tried to stop her, she asked the waiter to wait for a moment. Xiang Liu insisted on paying, stood up in anger, and awkwardly suggested going to a nearby shop to sell jade pendants. Wen Xiaoliu suppressed her amusement and couldn't help but laugh after Xiang Liu left.

Just when Tu Shanjing thought there might be room to reconsider his marriage, a conversation with his grandmother took him by surprise. It turned out that his grandmother had already chosen a good date for the wedding, and whether Tu Shanjing liked it or not, he was to marry Fengfeng Yinying. If he truly loved another woman, he could marry her as a concubine afterward. Tu Shanjing emphasized that he would absolutely not marry Fengfeng Yinying. He planned to supervise the transportation work in Chenrong Mountain and continue to find excuses to stay there until his grandmother agreed to cancel the marriage.

Wen Xiaoliu's archery skills were improving, and Xiang Liu suggested she buy a suitable bow and arrows for self-defense. Wen Xiaoliu couldn't help teasing Xiang Liu, wondering if he had the money to buy her a bow and arrows. Xiang Liu, however, suggested she buy it herself, and Wen Xiaoliu laughed at the response.

On the way to buy the bow and arrows, they encountered Tu Shanjing and Fengfeng Yinying, who were there to buy weapons. Initially, Tu Shanjing resisted but, for the sake of the family's reputation, had to agree to help her choose a dagger to give to the clan leader. He ended up seeing Xiang Liu teaching Wen Xiaoliu archery.

Later, Wen Xiaoliu asked Fengfeng Yinying for archery guidance. Seeing her hit all the vital points with every arrow, he couldn't help feeling a bit scared. If one of those arrows hit Qiang Xuan, it might truly be irreparable. When Wen Xiaoliu had chosen the bow and arrows, Fengfeng Yinying and Tu Shanjing had also selected the daggers. Fengfeng Yinying had Tu Shanjing buy their bows and arrows as well, and to irritate Tu Shanjing, Wen Xiaoliu had Xiang Liu pay for the bow and arrows.

Xiang Liu suppressed his anger for the time being and gave Wen Xiaoliu some face, but as he left the weapons shop, his expression grew gloomy. Wen Xiaoliu caught up with Xiang Liu, continuously apologizing. She knew she shouldn't have used Xiang Liu as a tool to provoke Tu Shanjing and wanted to explain properly, but Xiang Liu couldn't accept it and angrily walked away.

Tu Shanjing knew that Wen Xiaoliu was still mad at him. In order to explain the situation about the weapons shop, he sent his spiritual pet, the small white fox, to find her and arrange a meeting. However, Wen Xiaoliu completely ignored it. She made poison while the little fox relayed the message back. She was not as soft-hearted or indecisive as him. She was even afraid of herself when she became resolute.

The nine-tailed small white fox saw Wen Xiaoliu pretending to look fierce, and its small paws immediately made a gesture of respect. Its big black eyes stared attentively at Xiao Yao, seemingly quite troubled. When Qiang Xuan entered from the outside and saw the small white fox, he used magic to bind it. Wen Xiaoliu couldn't bear it, saying it wasn't the fox's fault; its owner was the one at fault.

Wen Xiaoliu changed into male attire and found Xiang Liu, offering him a fish dish she made as a gift and wanting to know his reaction. Xiang Liu ate it all without any discomfort, surprising Wen Xiaoliu. She had thought they could continue practicing archery together as they used to, but Xiang Liu informed her that he would be leaving for some time. He sounded reluctant, and Wen Xiaoliu couldn't help murmuring that it would be great if Xiang Liu could stay as Fengfeng Bei. Hearing this, Xiang Liu, without lingering, stood up and left. He had his own tasks to attend to and couldn't stay for emotions.

Fengfeng Yinying worried that their previous plan might be ruined. She directly sent someone to assassinate Tu Shanjing, who was returning from a friend's banquet. However, she didn't expect that the person in the carriage was a puppet. It turned out that Tu Shanjing had been waiting at Caoyao Ridge for Wen Xiaoliu to come, and he only found out about the puppet incident when she arrived. Wen Xiaoliu warned Tu Shanjing to be ruthless when necessary; otherwise, it would only make the other party more reckless.

At this moment, Fengfeng Yinying was still bragging, but when she heard that the puppet had been killed, she became worried. Tu Shanjing assured Fengfeng Yinying that she didn't need to worry; he had already arranged for someone to handle the situation. Thanks to this assassination attempt, Tu Shanjing had an opportunity to eliminate the spies within the clan. The Fifth and Seventh Princes lost Tu Shanhou, a useful pawn, which would benefit Qiang Xuan and Chishui Fenglong.

Qiang Xuan couldn't do it without the help of Chishui Fenglong. He asked Wen Xiaoliu to meet with Chishui Fenglong a few times to persuade her to consider accepting him. Wen Xiaoliu understood the difficult position of Qiang Xuan and agreed to meet Chishui Fenglong, but she would treat him as a friend and not consider anything else.

In order to create an opportunity for Chishui Fenglong, Xingling Xie invited Wen Xiaoliu to the Chenrong Mansion. However, Chishui Fenglong directly presented Wen Xiaoliu with two baskets of small sweet melons, leaving Xingling Xie a bit helpless. She quickly took her brother aside and advised him to choose gifts that Wen Xiaoliu would like. Chishui Fenglong seemed to understand and nodded. Later, he gave Wen Xiaoliu a bottle of monkey wine, and the two started a drinking competition like good brothers. Xingling Xie was angry to see this and reminded her brother to find out what Wen Xiaoliu likes.

Xingling Xie and Chishui Fenglong were fraternal twins, but she and her mother were kept as hostages in the Xiyan City, while Chishui Fenglong underwent training in the Chishui tribe. Their father was arranged to go to the Central Plains. As a result, the family was separated in three different places. Xingling Xie was initially reluctant, but as she grew up, she understood the hardships her parents faced, so she cared less about it.

Wen Xiaoliu sympathized with Xingling Xie after hearing her story. Their experiences were somewhat similar, and Xingling Xie was willing to share these details precisely because of that. Later, Xingling Xie gave Wen Xiaoliu many beauty products, expressing her regret that they didn't know each other earlier. In return, Wen Xiaoliu gave her some beauty ointments. During this time, she learned about the past between Tu Shanjing and Fengfeng Yinying. Although they were already engaged, both parties were sensible, and Wen Xiaoliu listened thoughtfully.

After dealing with family matters, Tu Shanjing requested to stay in Qiyuan for a few days. Wen Xiaoliu and Xingling Xie went to see him. Chishui Fenglong also appeared, and they all gathered to drink again. Qiang Xuan asked Miao Pu about Wen Xiaoliu's recent situation, learning that she treated Chishui Fenglong like a brother. Qiang Xuan understood Wen Xiaoliu's character, but when he heard that Tu Shanjing was also staying in the Chenrong Mansion, the smile on his face instantly disappeared.

At Muxiyuan, everyone started to feel a little drunk. Chishui Fenglong happily suggested playing with fireballs, even letting Wen Xiaoliu hold a fireball he had condensed using spiritual energy. When Tu Shanjing saw this, he quickly used his spiritual power to break it, and the fireball blossomed like fireworks in front of them, gradually warming the atmosphere. Taking advantage of the moment, Wen Xiaoliu boldly kissed Tu Shanjing, and they separated when the fireworks ended.

Fengfeng Yinying and Chishui Fenglong didn't witness this scene. Wen Xiaoliu sang a song on the spot, although the tune seemed a bit melancholic, the affection in the song was evident. Then, Fengfeng Yinying suggested they all dance together, creating a joyful atmosphere. On the other hand, Xiang Liu faced enemies and fought alone, wielding a curved knife. His situation was in stark contrast to the joyful scene at Muxiyuan.

As time passed, the relationship between Wen Xiaoliu and Xingling Xie grew stronger. Wen Xiaoliu inquired about Tu Shanjing's situation, and Xingling Xie lamented that among the young talents of the four major families, Tu Shanjing was particularly outstanding. However, he suddenly disappeared many years ago, and when he returned, he had changed dramatically. His hands couldn't produce the beautiful music anymore, like white jade gathering dust, falling from the peak to the lowest point.

Wen Xiaoliu felt sorry for him and thought that since he couldn't play the qin, maybe she could teach him. Perhaps this could help him overcome his regrets. Meanwhile, Tu Shanjing was lost in the memories of Wen Xiaoliu, not even noticing when Chishui Fenglong approached. Chishui Fenglong wanted to know Wen Xiaoliu's feelings toward him, and Tu Shanjing honestly told him that Wen Xiaoliu didn't like him. To prevent another rival for her affection, Tu Shanjing advised Chishui Fenglong to continue treating her with respect.

Tu Shanjing wanted to talk to Wen Xiaoliu and explain things about Fengfeng Yinying. However, when he heard Wen Xiaoliu's evaluation of him, he felt very happy. Wen Xiaoliu knew that Tu Shanjing never needed pity, but she didn't want to care too much, so she always tried to help others. Her words warmed Tu Shanjing's heart, and he planned to find more opportunities to spend time with Wen Xiaoliu.

To handle the restoration of Chenrong Mountain, Qiang Xuan agreed to meet with Xingling Xie. During the meeting, Xingling Xie mentioned Wen Xiaoliu and even sang a song that Wen Xiaoliu had sung before. Qiang Xuan felt uncomfortable hearing this and made an excuse to leave. Tu Shanjing, on the other hand, was feeling a bit insecure, but when he saw that Wen Xiaoliu accepted the scars on his body and he didn't need to suppress his emotions anymore, he took the initiative to kiss her.

On the peak of Chenrong Mountain, Qiang Xuan pondered his promise and worried about Wen Xiaoliu's safety, so he asked Chishui Fenglong to help take care of her. Chishui Fenglong agreed and postponed his return to Chishui. Princess Haoling received a letter from Qiang Xuan, which made A Nian happy. However, when she learned that Qiang Xuan and Xingling Xie were getting closer, she felt a bit sad. Princess Haoling advised A Nian to find another suitor. A Nian agreed, and her father, the king, arranged a meeting with a suitable man, with the responsibility entrusted to Ruyu.

In the Song and Dance Courtyard, Xiang Liu met Tu Shanjing alone. He wanted Tu Shanjing to help transport a batch of goods to Qingshui Town and proposed using Wen Xiaoliu as part of the deal. Tu Shanjing was a businessman, and he agreed to what he could do. However, he wouldn't have agreed to use Wen Xiaoliu in the deal. Yet, considering that Xiang Liu had taught Wen Xiaoliu archery skills as Fengfeng Bei, he reluctantly agreed. Xiang Liu sighed and handed over the details to Tu Shanjing.

On the other hand, Wen Xiaoliu tried to help Tu Shanjing overcome his shadow and suggested that he play the qin and sing his favorite songs. This gradually allowed Tu Shanjing to let go of his guard, and his music became more natural, perfectly blending the sound of the qin with the melody of the song. Jingye passed by the door and felt excited hearing the music. After all, she hadn't heard Tu Shanjing play the qin in many years, and she was genuinely happy for her young master.

During this period, while learning the qin, Wen Xiaoliu spent more and more time with Tu Shanjing. Sometimes she played the qin while Tu Shanjing accompanied her, using his paintbrush to capture her image while she practiced. Other times, Tu Shanjing played the qin, and Wen Xiaoliu sat by his side, drinking and enjoying the music. If she got too drunk, she would just fall asleep on his shoulder. They were living a very happy life.

However, Wen Xiaoliu was worried that Xingling Xie would suspect something, so she pretended to be a bit playful and asked Tu Shanjing to teach her a simple yet pleasant-sounding tune. After Xingling Xie and Chishui Fenglong heard it, they advised Wen Xiaoliu to give up playing the qin, but she thought she played quite well and playfully teased Xingling Xie.

As the New Year approached, King Xiyan instructed preparations for the ceremony and asked to provide Wen Xiaoliu with some rare treasures. Tu Shanjing received a letter from the family, needing him to return and oversee the ceremony. He was reluctant to leave, knowing that this joyful time was coming to an end.

Wen Xiaoliu, although sad to see him go, respected Tu Shanjing's decision. She prepared a medicinal ointment for his leg ailment, and they privately held hands as they bid farewell. Both of them knew each other's thoughts and looked forward to the next meeting. As they parted, Tu Shanjing slipped a love letter to Wen Xiaoliu, expressing his feelings between the lines, which deeply moved her.

At the beginning of the New Year, Wen Xiaoliu and Qiang Xuan stayed in the Chenrong Mansion to celebrate. The atmosphere was joyful as they were together with Chishui Fenglong and his sister. Meanwhile, King Haoling held a family feast, but King Xiyan spent the New Year alone, pouring wine for his deceased wife and daughter. Although there was a lively atmosphere in the Tu family, Tu Shanjing couldn't fully immerse himself in it. He stayed outside, yearning for Wen Xiaoliu.

The soldiers of the Chenrong army celebrated around the bonfire, but Xiang Liu sat nearby, drinking alone, with a melancholic air.

King Five and King Seven sought Mu Fei's advice on dealing with Qiang Xuan and unexpectedly learned about an old story from many years ago. Meanwhile, Chenrong Xinyue took Wen Xiaoliu and many young ladies from prestigious families to appreciate the plum blossoms. The surrounding plum trees were vibrant and beautiful, making Wen Xiaoliu can't help but remark that this place would be great to visit with Qiang Xuan next time.

However, as soon as she finished speaking, the nearby sounds suddenly vanished, and the plum forest became eerily quiet. She instinctively stopped and turned around, only to find her maid, Miao Pu, had disappeared without a trace. She called out several times, but there was no response. The snow-covered ground was blank, with no footprints. Wen Xiaoliu felt that something was wrong and carefully observed the plum trees. She realized that there were no sunny or shady sides to the trees, making it impossible to discern direction. The only explanation was that she was trapped in an array.

Because of this, Wen Xiaoliu immediately drew a dagger for self-defense and remained vigilant, looking around cautiously. Unfortunately, her spiritual power was weak, and she couldn't break through the array. The dagger not only failed to ward off the myriad of projectiles but also pierced her right foot. Despite this, she didn't beg for mercy but rather asked the person behind her to reveal themselves.

This array is profound and unfathomable. Only the top experts in the wasteland could decipher it. Wen Xiaoliu was puzzled about who could have brought her to such a dire situation. Suddenly, she heard the roars of wild beasts around her. Two fierce monsters attacked Wen Xiaoliu, their sharp teeth gnawing at her, but she endured the pain and managed to kill them.

However, before Wen Xiaoliu could catch her breath, Mu Fei appeared from the front. It turned out that due to his family being killed by Chi Chen, he was determined to use Wen Xiaoliu's life as a sacrifice to the deceased. Wen Xiaoliu insisted that her father was only King Haoling, but Mu Fei refused to listen to any explanations. He threw several sharp blades into Wen Xiaoliu's hands, feet, and body. Despite the excruciating pain, she didn't scream or beg for mercy.

In the end, a barrage of plum blossom darts rained down on Wen Xiaoliu, piercing her body with blood pouring out like rain, splattering the plum forest. Xiang Liu sensed that something had happened to Wen Xiaoliu and immediately took the Maoqiu to Chenrong Mountain. Qiang Xuan and Tu Shanjing also noticed something was amiss and rushed over.

Tu Shanjing was the first to find Wen Xiaoliu, but unfortunately, she had already passed away. Despite his desperate efforts to channel spiritual power for healing, it had no effect. In despair, Tu Shanjing activated a suicidal formation, flames engulfed him, and he was determined to die with her. When Qiang Xuan arrived at the valley, the entire plum forest was ablaze. Guards tried to stop Qiang Xuan from entering, but he, along with a few followers, charged into the formation.

At that moment, Tu Shanjing tightly held Wen Xiaoliu. Because he continuously transmitted spiritual power to her, her body was not harmed by the fire. Instead, he suffered severe burns and lost consciousness. When Qiang Xuan arrived, he immediately rushed to see Wen Xiaoliu. He was informed that she had already passed away, but he couldn't accept this fact. He was determined to find a way to bring his sister back to life.

Chenrong Xinyue invited two physicians to examine Wen Xiaoliu, and Qiang Xuan tried to contain his anger, considering the overall situation. Feeling guilty, Chenrong Xinyue ordered a thorough investigation of the incident. At the same time, Xiang Liu was still on his way, using his life to protect Wen Xiaoliu's soul from dispersing.

Outside of Chenrong Mountain, a barrier was set up. Despite being seriously injured, Xiang Liu forcibly broke through the array and headed towards Qiang Xuan's residence. Clad in white with white hair and a silver-white mask, adorned with specks of blood, he remained as pure as snow, yet a red plum blossom decorated the scene, making him exceptionally distinct. Soldiers surrounded Xiang Liu, attempting to keep him out of the door. Xiang Liu used his spiritual power to send his voice into Qiang Xuan's ears, questioning whether he wanted Xiao Yao to live or die.

Xiang Liu's intention was clear: to save Wen Xiaoliu's life. Qiang Xuan mistakenly thought that Xiang Liu was the mastermind behind the plot, but he still cared about Wen Xiaoliu's safety. To reassure Qiang Xuan, Xiang Liu falsely claimed there were gains to be had from his actions and assured him he wouldn't be lumped together with a secretive villain like Princess, as it would tarnish her reputation. Qiang Xuan watched as Xiang Liu took Wen Xiaoliu away, feeling a complex mix of emotions.

After the two had completely disappeared, Qiang Xuan used a puppet transformed to look like Xiang Liu, had someone send him away to divert suspicion, and another puppet was made to look like Wen Xiaoliu, left in the palace. He claimed that he would wait for her to return. Afterwards, Qiang Xuan secretly investigated the incident in the plum forest, learning that at least three powerful spiritual experts were present, leading him to believe this was a premeditated act of brutality.

Although Tu Shanjing was not severely harmed, he remained unconscious, choosing to close his heart once more because there was no one in the world he cared about. Xiang Liu, in order to save Wen Xiaoliu, took her to a dwelling under the sea, using his own blood to feed her, urging her not to give up her life easily.

After capturing Mu Fei, Cang Xuan subjected him to severe torture to extract information. However, Mu Fei refused to reveal any conspiracies, considering himself a lone individual unafraid of life or death. Nevertheless, Cang Xuan had already discovered that Mu Fei had secretly fathered a child with a maidservant. Even though Mu Fei rarely interacted with them, he did so to protect them.

It was because of this that Cang Xuan used the life of Mu Fei's son as leverage, which immediately yielded results. Mu Fei was willing to disclose the truth about killing Xiao Yao on the condition that Chishui Fenglong and Cang Xuan came together. Since Mu Fei didn't trust the people of Xiyan, he had Chishui Fenglong promise to ensure the safety of his wife and child, before explaining why he wanted to kill Xiao Yao.

As it turned out, during the grand Princess Haoling ceremony, Mu Fei recognized that Wen Xiaoliu was Chi Chen's daughter. With some concerns in his mind, he went to the Fifth Prince and the Seventh Prince to confirm. Although the princes remained secretive about the matter, Mu Fei became convinced that Princess Haoling and Chi Chen had a past, confirming Wen Xiaoliu's identity.

Chishui Fenglong found it hard to believe, while Cang Xuan seemed thoughtful, still defending Wen Xiaoliu. He questioned why, if she was truly Chi Chen's daughter, Princess Haoling would hold a grand ceremony to announce it to the world. Upon hearing this, Mu Fei began to doubt whether he had killed the right person, but quickly dismissed the thought. He could never forget the look in Chi Chen's eyes, which were exactly the same as Wen Xiaoliu's.

Regarding Mu Fei's words, Cang Xuan had a plan in mind. He intended to first expose the mastermind behind the massacre. Analyzing the situation, Cang Xuan deduced that there must be a woman among the conspirators, as only this would divert Chenrong Xinyue's attention without leaving any traces. Chishui Fenglong agreed with Cang Xuan's inference and promised to provide an explanation.

That night, Chishui Fenglong and Chenrong Xinyue came to see Cang Xuan. They discovered that the conspirators behind the massacre were descendants of the six major clans. Two of them were already engaged and would marry in three months. This revealed the intricate connections among the six major clans, especially between the Fan and Zheng clans. They came to plead for leniency, and in exchange, the clans would repay the favor.

Cang Xuan didn't agree outright. Instead, he recounted stories of his grandmother, aunt, and mother, who were the strongest women in his life. Despite their strength, they had endured the pain of separation and the grievous injustices. Therefore, Cang Xuan had sworn to become stronger, even more powerful than the King of Xiyan, to protect those he cared for. If he spared Zhan Xueling and Jinyue Jian today, he would betray his former self.

In this matter, Cang Xuan weighed the pros and cons and made the most correct choice. Usually one to seek advantages and avoid harm, he now chose a more challenging path, even though it was disadvantageous to anger the Fan and Zheng clans. He did so with a clear conscience.

Chenrong Xinyue listened tearfully, while Chishui Fenglong looked at Cang Xuan with newfound respect, willing to stand by his side. For Chenrong Xinyue, it was a mix of happiness and sadness. She was glad that Cang Xuan promised to protect her, but regretted not meeting him earlier.

Shortly after, Cang Xuan arranged for Zhan Xueling's death and tortured Jinyue Jian to death. Having avenged his grievances, Cang Xuan hurried back to the palace, gazing at the unconscious Wen Xiaoliu. He informed her that he had exacted revenge, punishing those who had harmed her. Though he was aware that this action might undo their earlier efforts, and Wen Xiaoliu might oppose him if she woke, Cang Xuan no longer cared to adapt to circumstances.

Cang Xuan gently held Wen Xiaoliu's hand, noticing its coldness, and asked Old Sang to change her bedding. Old Sang reminded Cang Xuan not to be obsessed, as the person before him was not Wen Xiaoliu but a puppet. Thanks to this reminder, Cang Xuan suddenly realized the truth, a bitter smile on his face.

Meanwhile, Wen Xiaoliu's consciousness emerged from her body, intending to find Cang Xuan, only to find herself stuck nearby. She waited anxiously and finally encountered Xiang Liu, greeting him with excitement, although she couldn't see herself. Despite Xiang Liu's pale and weak appearance, he fed her heart's blood and extracted toxins from her body, before collapsing nearby.

Upon learning of the attack on Wen Xiaoliu, Princess Haoling considered it inappropriate to directly intervene in Xiyan's affairs. She instructed Ru Shou to expel the descendants of the four major clans and sent Qin Shou to warn them, allowing some venting for Wen Xiaoliu. An Nian naturally worried about Wen Xiaoliu and sympathized with her, seeking justice on her behalf.

Xiang Liu conveyed a message to Cang Xuan, assuring him of Wen Xiaoliu's safety, which finally put Cang Xuan at ease. Initially, Lady Tu Shanjing had requested Princess Haoling to allow Tu Shanjing to go to the Gui Xu to recuperate. However, after Tu Shanjing left the city of Zhiyi, his health worsened rapidly. Concerned, the Tu family sent him back to Chenrong Mansion for recovery.

Despite several attempts, Chishui Fenglong's secret assassinations against Cang Xuan failed. Cang Xuan didn't severely punish him. The first time, he let him go, and the second time, he took him to the dungeons, where he showcased the cruel torture devices designed by his elder brother, Xuan Ting. At first, Chishui Fenglong couldn't believe it, but upon seeing Xuan Ting's firsthand accounts of the torture, he was shocked by his elder brother's cruelty and began doubting the correctness of his revenge.

Chishui Fenglong couldn't comprehend why Cang Xuan let Chishui Fenglong go. Even when he subjected himself to agony, Cang Xuan was unyielding in protecting Wen Xiaoliu from harm. Chishui Fenglong sighed, acknowledging Cang Xuan's fierce loyalty, realizing that was why everyone around him was devoted to him, even Chishui Fenglong couldn't escape it. Cang Xuan smiled at his words, not offering any response.

After years of treatment and companionship from Xiang Liu, Wen Xiaoliu's consciousness gradually became more apparent. Thanks to his frequent conversations, she didn't feel so lonely. Unaware that Wen Xiaoliu's consciousness was nearby, Xiang Liu patiently conversed with the unconscious Wen Xiaoliu, even taking her to see the moon over the sea.

Amidst the beauty of the night, Xiang Liu recounted his experiences after escaping the slave camp, including his journey to the frigid lands to cultivate his spiritual power and meeting his savior, Hong Jiang. That led him to join the Chenrong Army and become Xuan Ting's foster son. Wen Xiaoliu understood the complexities of gratitude and felt that if Xiang Liu had been a bit more ruthless, he might not have taken on the responsibility of leading the Chenrong Army or opposing Xiyan, becoming Cang Xuan's enemy.

Suddenly, Wen Xiaoliu heard a beautiful singing voice. Xiang Liu sensed it too and explained that it was the call of the merfolk seeking mates, the most enchanting sound in the world. Xiang Liu regretted that Wen Xiaoliu couldn't hear the harmonious choir, but she wasn't concerned; she knew there would be plenty of time for that in the future. Seeing Wen Xiaoliu frowning, Xiang Liu used his spiritual power to conjure snowflakes, causing her to relax. Wen Xiaoliu's consciousness sat next to Xiang Liu, both enjoying the breathtaking view.

Thirty-seven years passed in the blink of an eye, and the phoenix flowers Cang Xuan had planted covered Chenrong Mountain, intensifying his longing for Wen Xiaoliu. However, Tu Shanjing's health had deteriorated beyond recovery, and he remained unresponsive. Cang Xuan stayed with him through the quiet nights, weeping in pain. Chishui Fenglong and Chenrong Xinyue were equally troubled.

Xiang Liu arranged to meet Cang Xuan, proposing to acquire a peak on Chenrong Mountain to provide a resting place for fallen soldiers. To prevent Wen Xiaoliu from feeling indebted, he asked for this as a favor. Cang Xuan readily agreed, expressing that he couldn't fulfill this promise unless he became the ruler of Xiyan, and hoped that Xiang Liu wouldn't trouble Wen Xiaoliu.

Xiang Liu's deep love for Wen Xiaoliu remained hidden in his heart. He was willing to give his life for her and grant her the freedom she desired. It was their final meeting. Unusually talkative, Xiang Liu said many things, surprising even Wen Xiaoliu. He sensed her consciousness nearby and looked into her eyes. Suddenly, her consciousness was pulled back into her body. Xiang Liu understood what was happening, feeling desolate.

When Wen Xiaoliu awoke, she found herself back in her body, appearing just like a normal person. She eagerly called out Xiang Liu's name, but a furball flew towards her instead. She had expected to be taken to see Xiang Liu but was told that she was being sent home.

Feeling a mix of sadness and reluctance, Wen Xiaoliu longed to see Xiang Liu. Considering their complex relationship and positions, she chose to conceal these subtle feelings. Xiang Liu watched Wen Xiaoliu leave, then came to the bed where she had lain for thirty-seven years, seeing the tear that had fallen. His heart ached.

Upon hearing that Wen Xiaoliu was about to return, Cang Xuan quickly arranged for her room to be prepared. Wen Xiaoliu first went to Chenrong Mansion, where she learned of Tu Shanjing's condition, which left her bewildered and heartbroken. Feelings that were like a rope, pulled and sliced, now weaved a net in this moment.

Wen Xiaoliu cared for Tu Shanjing alone, talking to him while administering medicine. Remarkably, Tu Shanjing no longer resisted taking the medicine. His will to live gradually grew stronger, and it seemed he would wake soon. Cang Xuan personally visited Chenrong Mansion to find Wen Xiaoliu. As he entered the room, he saw Wen Xiaoliu by Tu Shanjing's side. Overwhelmed with emotions, he tearfully called out her name.

When Wen Xiaoliu woke up, she saw Cang Xuan by her side, tears of excitement filling her eyes as she wanted to embrace him with longing. However, before Wen Xiaoliu could react, Cang Xuan had already left, pretending to be angry that she cared more about their relationship than her brother. Quickly, Wen Xiaoliu chased after him and explained, eventually calming Cang Xuan down.

The siblings reunited after a long separation, reminiscing about old times. Cang Xuan intended to take Wen Xiaoliu back to the Chenrong Kingdom, but she gently declined. Wen Xiaoliu wished to stay and take care of Tu Shanjing, concerned about his well-being. During their conversation, she mentioned Xiang Liu sacrificing himself to save her. Cang Xuan revealed that Xiang Liu didn't save her without reason; he intended to exchange her rescue for a peak of the Chenrong Mountain.

Wen Xiaoliu's heart felt a mix of complex emotions—uncertainty and acceptance. She realized that Xiang Liu never acted without a purpose, even when saving her. Meanwhile, Xiang Liu managed to obtain the rare Dragon Tendons for forging. Golden Tianxing promised to craft the bow and arrows he desired within three months.

To celebrate Wen Xiaoliu's return, Chishui Fenglong and Chenrong Xinyue prepared a lavish feast while inquiring about Tu Shanjing's condition. Wen Xiaoliu expressed confidence in saving Tu Shanjing's life, though it would take some time. Suddenly, Yujiang entered the room, startling Wen Xiaoliu. She mistakenly thought he was an assassin, only to learn that he was a trusted subordinate of Cang Xuan.

Knowing Yujiang had important news, Chenrong Xinyue left with Wen Xiaoliu. Yujiang felt guilty for not meeting Cang Xuan's expectations. Due to rising food prices, the supplies he brought would only sustain them for two months. Cang Xuan didn't blame him, and Chishui Fenglong believed that if Tu Shanjing woke up, he could help solve the food crisis.

That night, Wen Xiaoliu couldn't sleep and sneaked into Tu Shanjing's room. She whispered words of hope by his side, trying to inspire his will to survive. The next morning, she left discreetly, unaware that her actions had been observed by Jing Ye and others.

Soon, news of Wen Xiaoliu's awakening reached both the Xiyan Kingdom and the Haoling Kingdom. The King of Xiyan felt relieved and pardoned some prisoners, hoping for his granddaughter's blessings. The King of Haoling ordered remedies to be prepared for Wen Xiaoliu's recovery. Ah Nian learned this and, pretending they were for a divine beast, had some sent to the Central Plains.

Wen Xiaoliu took Tu Shanjing to a pavilion for some fresh air, combing his hair and singing softly. Tu Shanjing slowly opened his eyes, gazing at her with tears of emotion. He held her tightly, expressing his desire to be with her regardless of social status.

Wen Xiaoliu's greatest wish was genuine companionship, whether from her grandfather or Cang Xuan. She understood their motives and longed for Tu Shanjing's honest affection, hoping to open her own heart in return.

When Chenrong Xinyue learned of Tu Shanjing's awakening, she was delighted. Chishui Fenglong and Cang Xuan came to celebrate as well. During the meal, Chenrong Xinyue noticed Wen Xiaoliu's care for Tu Shanjing and guessed their relationship. While helping her pack, she asked about it, and Wen Xiaoliu openly admitted their mutual affection.

Meanwhile, Tu Shanjing promised to help Cang Xuan and Chishui Fenglong with resources and funds. He also declared that he would confess everything to his grandmother, even if it meant giving up his status, just to be with Wen Xiaoliu. Cang Xuan disagreed, driven by personal motives and the potential benefits of Tu Shanjing's status.

Chishui Fenglong, astute but oblivious to matters of the heart, finally realized Tu Shanjing's feelings for Wen Xiaoliu. Enraged, he confronted Tu Shanjing, accusing him of coveting Wen Xiaoliu despite knowing Chishui Fenglong's feelings. A fight broke out, but Cang Xuan intervened and ordered his men to take Chishui Fenglong away, reminding Tu Shanjing to resolve his own marriage matters.

Wen Xiaoliu arrived and overheard the conversation between Tu Shanjing and Cang Xuan. She defended Tu Shanjing passionately. Later, she followed Cang Xuan to a hill covered with phoenix flowers. She emphasized that his lack of wealth didn't matter, as he was penniless when they first met. Cang Xuan respected her choice, though he left feeling dejected.

After returning to Qingqiu, Tu Shanjing promptly approached his grandmother to propose breaking off the engagement, displaying a resolute attitude. However, Lady Tai didn't agree; in fact, she became highly emotional. She convened the elders overnight, deciding to hold a ceremony in three days where Tu Shanjing would become the new clan leader. Tu Shanjing and his sister, Tu Shanhao, voiced objections, but then Lady Tai suddenly coughed up blood. They learned that she had exhausted herself for the clan and had only six months left to live.

That night, lightning flashed and thunder roared as a heavy rain poured down. Wen Xiaoliu was suddenly awakened and sensed something was amiss. She rushed outside and found Tu Shanjing standing there, looking lost. She brought him inside and listened as he explained his grandmother's illness and the impending ceremony. Despite his slight disappointment, she understood his decision.

Wen Xiaoliu reassured Tu Shanjing, urging him not to blame himself. She believed that his compassionate nature was what made her fall for him. Meanwhile, Tu Shanhao visited his mother's memorial and drowned his sorrows in alcohol. He felt ashamed not because the Tu Clan only recognized Tu Shanjing but because his ambitions were belittled by his own brother. Xingling Xie suddenly appeared and shared a secret with him, revealing that they still had a chance.

Shortly afterward, the Tu Clan held a relatively modest yet dignified ceremony for the new clan leader. Wen Xiaoliu, Cang Xuan, and others attended as spectators. They witnessed auspicious signs, indicating that Tu Shanjing's leadership would bring prosperity to the clan. However, Tu Shanjing seemed distracted, glancing frequently at Wen Xiaoliu, who felt that despite their proximity, they were worlds apart.

The ceremony ended with music and announcements. As Wen Xiaoliu headed outside, Xiang Liu called her name. She remembered what Cang Xuan had said and fought to suppress her emotions. Xiang Liu didn't offer an explanation but engaged in casual conversation, asking about her views on Tu Shanjing's impending marriage to Feng Fengyi.

Wen Xiaoliu smiled, claiming she had come to terms with it. Her past hardships taught her to let go and cherish present happiness. To temporarily lighten her mood, Xiang Liu took her to an underground betting venue run by the Rong Clan in Qingqiu. There, they met the slave boy from forty years ago.

Xiang Liu told Wen Xiaoliu about the boy's deal with his master: if he won for forty consecutive years, he would gain freedom. Tonight was his final night, but his opponent was stronger. The boy struggled, and after a lengthy and intense fight, both participants collapsed, bloodied and exhausted, leaving no clear winner.

Seeing the boy's perseverance reminded Wen Xiaoliu of herself. She loudly encouraged him to stand up, and he did, finally achieving his dream of freedom. While they lost money, everyone was moved by the boy's determination. Wen Xiaoliu, on the other hand, won a significant amount. She gave all the winnings to the boy and named him "Left Ear," hoping he'd find a better future.

Watching him leave, Wen Xiaoliu's emotions grew complex. She wished that Xiang Liu could have escaped the battle and met her, leading a different life. Xiang Liu, burdened by responsibilities and ideals, felt trapped and unable to pursue the life he wanted. He gazed at Wen Xiaoliu, and their eyes held unspoken emotions. He almost reached out to touch her cheek but suddenly regained his composure, uttering harsh words.

Tu Shanjing appeared just in time to shield Wen Xiaoliu from Xiang Liu's harsh words. Wen Xiaoliu quickly led him away, leaving Xiang Liu to bear the burden of his suppressed pain alone as he walked into the endless darkness.

Initially, Wen Xiaoliu had considered giving up on Tu Shanjing. However, after seeing the boy's determination, she resolved to persevere no matter what the future held. Tu Shanjing was relieved to hear this and hugged her warmly. Later, Tu Shanjing confronted Chishui Fenglong, and they engaged in a fierce fight. Wen Xiaoliu, along with Chenrong Xinyue, left the scene, believing that men should settle their disputes as men. After the fight, they reconciled.

Currently, three out of the four major clans supported Cang Xuan. The fifth and seventh princes discussed their strategy and decided to use the "nail" buried on the Chenrong Mountain forty years ago. Shen Shu Tong and Fan Zhang personally met with Cang Xuan, informing him about the upcoming ritual at the Daming Hall. Despite the tight schedule, Cang Xuan agreed to help.

After Tu Shanjing's arrangements, Cang Xuan and Chishui Fenglong's urgent matters gradually resolved. They were also introduced to Li Rongchang, the leader of the Li Rong clan. Due to the constant suppression and exclusion by the Zhongyuan clan, the Li Rong clan could only engage in some low-level businesses to make a living. Li Rongchang, unwilling to let his ancestors' reputation be tarnished, decided to follow Cang Xuan, hoping to achieve merit and restore the former glory.

Upon receiving Cang Xuan's promise, Li Rongchang pledged to send the bravest youths from his clan, ready to be dispatched, providing fifty thousand jade and silk each year to support their efforts. After discussing matters, Tu Shanjing and Wen Xiaoliu were once again faced with parting ways. Wen Xiaoliu was preparing to return to the Haoling Kingdom, while Tu Shanjing needed to go back to take care of his grandmother.

Wen Xiaoliu initially had no intention of meddling in Madam Tai's affairs. However, considering her importance to Tu Shanjing, she promised to search for medical books on treating difficult ailments and seek methods to prolong Madam Tai's life. Tu Shanjing was deeply moved by her offer. Feng Fengyiying learned that the person Tu Shanjing admired was Princess Haoling Ji and immediately informed Tu Shanhao. The two began to discuss their strategies.

King Haoling was delighted to see Wen Xiaoliu return safely and advised her to spend more time on Wushen Mountain. A Nian rushed over, clearly concerned about Wen Xiaoliu, but she pretended otherwise. Wen Xiaoliu understood that her younger sister cared for her and agreed to stay for a while longer.

Cang Xuan continued his routine inspection of the construction site, watching as the grand hall was nearing completion, feeling satisfied. Chen Rong Xinyue took the initiative to find Cang Xuan, seemingly envisioning their appearance after marriage. Cang Xuan had gained support from several major clans this time. With the completion of the Grand Ming Hall, he would possess both strength and reputation. It was a reward for his hardships. To help Cang Xuan achieve his ambitions sooner, Chen Rong Xinyue personally transcribed the notes on the governance of the Chen Rong kings from previous generations. She believed it would be helpful for him to consolidate various forces in Zhongyuan in the future.

Feng Fengyiying learned about Tu Shanjing's firm stance on breaking off the engagement. She pretended to agree but actually jumped into the river to feign suicide, gaining protection from Madam Tai. Madam Tai reprimanded Tu Shanjing and ordered him to watch over Feng Fengyiyin. Later, Tu Shanjing unknowingly drank a soup laced with a sleeping potion and woke up next to Feng Fengyiyin, missing the Grand Ming Hall's gratitude ceremony.

With the completion of the Grand Ming Hall, Cang Xuan led various Zhongyuan clans in a gratitude and safety ritual. Unexpectedly, the grand hall collapsed, shocking everyone. The news reached the Xiyan Kingdom, and the Fifth Prince and Seventh Prince volunteered to investigate the cause of the collapse. King Xiyan agreed. King Haoling heard of the incident but chose not to intervene. He believed that Cang Xuan's path to the throne would be fraught with difficulties, and he would have to save himself at critical moments.

King Haoling knew that Wen Xiaoliu was skilled in archery and had brought the talented artisan Jin Tianxing to her. Jin Tianxing was already an outstanding master blacksmith of the Jin Tian clan at a young age. Jin Tianxing and Wen Xiaoliu got along well, and he gave her a rare bow and arrow set he had recently crafted. He mentioned that to make the bow and arrow recognize her as its master, she would need the essence of the Nine-Headed Sea Serpent, Xiang Liu. Wen Xiaoliu suddenly understood.

After a thorough investigation, Cang Xuan had already identified a suspect. Unfortunately, the suspect had committed suicide in their residence, cutting off all leads. As a representative from the Xiyan Kingdom, Yue Liang came to inquire about the Grand Ming Hall collapse. Cang Xuan smiled bitterly, realizing that his departure from and return to Zhongyuan were both tied to this incident.

On the other side, Chen Rong Xinyue tore up the transcribed notes she had given to Cang Xuan. She chose not to stand by his side, fearing an ordinary life. Meanwhile, upon learning of Cang Xuan's trouble in Zhongyuan, Wen Xiaoliu hurriedly prepared to return, and A Nian wanted to accompany her. Knowing her feelings would never receive Cang Xuan's commitment, A Nian still chose to follow her without regrets.

General Ying Long sent a letter to Cang Xuan, leaving him stunned after reading it. Soon, Wen Xiaoliu returned from Haoling, and Cang Xuan eagerly embraced her with his fur coat, only to find A Nian beside her, causing an awkward moment. Wen Xiaoliu grasped the situation and immediately sent a letter to Wushen Mountain, vowing to do everything to help Cang Xuan stay in Zhongyuan.

King Haoling received the letter but decided not to provide immediate assistance. He believed his aid would be an embellishment, not a crucial rescue. Wen Xiaoliu arranged to meet Xiang Liu and successfully persuaded him to provide her with three drops of his blood. Xiang Liu was pleased that Wen Xiaoliu had graduated and felt a mix of emotions. In Li Rongchang's store, Chishui Fenglong found a drunken Tu Shanjing and brought him back home. Cang Xuan instructed him to change into clean clothes first.

Thanks to Tu Shanjing's personal organization of the account books, Xiling Yan's attempt to find any clues came up empty. However, Cang Xuan was worried that he might discover other things by following this trail. With the situation stabilizing, Wen Xiaoliu prepared to personally visit Qingqiu. She had promised to help Lady Tai with her ailment, and now that she had some leads from her medical books, she also looked forward to spending time with Tu Shanjing under the pretext of treating the illness.

However, upon meeting Wen Xiaoliu, Tu Shanjing found himself torn between what he wanted to say and what he actually said. Touched by all that Tu Shanjing had done for her, Wen Xiaoliu leaned in and kissed him, prompting Tu Shanjing to take her back to Qingqiu. Though Wen Xiaoliu couldn't fully cure Lady Tai's ailment, she could slow down the progression of the illness, which made Lady Tai quite happy.

Seeing this, Feng Fengyiying feigned weakness, acting as if she was about to faint. Wen Xiaoliu kindly examined her and discovered that she was pregnant. Before anyone could react, Feng Fengyiying knelt before Lady Tai, tears streaming down her face as she begged her not to blame Tu Shanjing. Lady Tai was overjoyed, but Wen Xiaoliu was shocked as she looked at Tu Shanjing, hoping he would shake his head and deny the accusation. Unfortunately, Tu Shanjing's pale face and the despair in his eyes confirmed Feng Fengyiying's words.

Everyone inside the room gathered around Lady Tai to celebrate, except for Wen Xiaoliu, who walked out alone. Tu Shanjing followed her in a hurry, explaining that three months ago, Lady Tai had drugged him, and he woke up beside Feng Fengyiying. While this wasn't Tu Shanjing's fault, Wen Xiaoliu knew that their relationship had reached its end, leaving them with no other choice. Watching Wen Xiaoliu's departing figure, Tu Shanjing felt anguish and guilt, tears streaming down his face.

Due to Wen Xiaoliu's excessive grief, she forced herself to return to Zijin Palace and eventually fainted from coughing up blood. After receiving medical treatment, she was out of immediate danger, but needed rest. Cang Xuan guessed that this was connected to Tu Shanjing, and without asking many questions, he left the bedroom with A Nian, ordering a servant to discard the wildflowers that Tu Shanjing had given her. He wanted anything related to the Tu Shanjing family to disappear from Zijin Palace.

Since Cang Xuan couldn't relax knowing Wen Xiaoliu was upset, he lingered outside the room. When he saw the candlelight inside, he immediately entered and brought her some water. Though Wen Xiaoliu claimed it wasn't a big deal, she couldn't hold back her tears, which deeply moved Cang Xuan. Initially, Cang Xuan had wanted to let Wen Xiaoliu calm down on her own, but she held onto his hand, hoping he would stay by her side. She couldn't bear the pain of losing him.

Not long after, Tu Shanjing and Feng Fengyiying married. Cang Xuan didn't personally attend the wedding but sent a gift. He felt that it wasn't the right time to conflict with the Tu Shanjing family, yet he was willing to lose their support rather than compromise his principles to appease someone who had hurt his sister. That night, Tu Shanjing changed into Ye Shiqi's clothes and sat alone on a hilltop. He scattered a bag of flower seeds on the ground, no matter how he picked them up, as if symbolizing the end of his and Wen Xiaoliu's fate.

Xiyan Yue Liang and his men arrived at Chenrong Mountain Cemetery. They believed this was where Cang Xuan's hidden troops were located, as evidenced by the intricate formation. Upon hearing sounds of the formation being attacked, Wen Xiaoliu's expression turned grave. Ignoring the maids trying to stop her, she struggled to put on her outer garments, fixed her hairpiece, and took out her bow and arrows. She left without looking back.

Indeed, the area outside the formation was surrounded by many Zhongyuan clan members. Wen Xiaoliu had originally intended to shoot down Xiyan Yue Liang, but Cang Xuan sensed her intentions and quickly stood before Xiyan Yue Liang. When the formation was finally broken, Xiyan Yue Liang discovered a sacrificial platform dedicated to Chishui Fenglong's ancestors inside, but nothing more.

Xiyan Yue Liang's actions had incited anger among the Zhongyuan clans, forcing him to leave in frustration. Later, Cang Xuan reminded Wen Xiaoliu not to harbor thoughts of assassinating the grandson of the Xiyan King, warning her of the severe consequences. However, Wen Xiaoliu was unwilling to lose Cang Xuan and was ready to sacrifice her life for him. Cang Xuan was deeply touched.

Because Xiyan Yue Liang had stirred up anger in Zhongyuan, he wrote a petition to Xiyan King accusing Cang Xuan of neglecting his duty and requested his removal from office, assigning someone else to oversee Chenrong Mountain affairs. If Cang Xuan returned to Xiyan, he would likely put himself in danger. Chishui Fenglong considered a marriage alliance to keep Cang Xuan in Zhongyuan, but Chenrong Xinyue firmly rejected the idea, only interested in reaping the benefits without bearing the risk of Cang Xuan's potential failure.

Now, Wen Xiaoliu has fully recovered from his injuries and is preparing to return to Xiyan to visit his grandfather. He plans to speak well of Cang Xuan and ensure that he can stay in the Central Plains. However, Cang Xuan had already thought of a strategy to deal with this situation, which was to marry Shu Hui, the legitimate daughter of the Sheng clan, as his concubine. The Sheng clan was the most powerful among the six major clans in the Central Plains. If he could gain their support, it would solidify his influence in the Central Plains.

A Nian found it difficult to accept and left, but Wen Xiaoliu understood Cang Xuan's dilemma. Later, Cang Xuan presented his plan for the reconstruction of the Grand Ming Palace to the Chenrong clan leader. Xiling Yan, the ruler of Xiyan, scoffed at it, thinking that someone would soon replace him. However, a messenger from Xiyan arrived and announced that Cang Xuan was to marry Shu Hui, and that he should continue overseeing the reconstruction of the Grand Ming Palace.

Furthermore, Xiling Yan was required to apologize and make reparations to the Chenrong clan and the Central Plains clans for his intrusion into the Wangling Mausoleum. He was to return to Xiyan immediately. Xiling Yan begrudgingly apologized, then left in anger. Xiling Wang granted permission for Chenrong Yan Zhan to enter the Wangling Mausoleum for ceremonies and to oversee the construction of the tomb. Cang Xuan and Chishui Fenglong were jointly responsible for this matter.

At this time, Ruzhou suddenly brought valuable items to Cang Xuan, which were essential for the repair of the Purple Gold Palace and the tomb. This embellished what Haoling Wang had mentioned. After this incident, Wen Xiaoliu and Cang Xuan met. They were concerned that Cang Xuan's marriage would become a subject of discussion among his uncles in Xiyan. Cang Xuan anticipated that challenges lay ahead, but he had to form an alliance with the Shu clan. He hoped Wen Xiaoliu wouldn't offer congratulations at the wedding.

Soon, Cang Xuan and Shu Hui's grand wedding took place. While not overly extravagant, it was attended by numerous guests, including the four major clans and all six major clans of the Central Plains. Even Tu Shanjing, who didn't enjoy such events, attended as the clan leader. Wen Xiaoliu and Tu Shanjing exchanged glances, triggering a sensation as if from a different world. A sudden pang of pain struck, revealing the effects of the emotion-controlling gu.

Tu Shanjing hurried over to use his spiritual power to heal Wen Xiaoliu's senses, easing her pain. After recovering, Wen Xiaoliu coldly thanked him. At an auspicious moment, Cang Xuan and Shu Hui performed the wedding ceremony in front of everyone, officially becoming a couple. Amidst the crowd, Cang Xuan involuntarily looked at Wen Xiaoliu, who remembered Cang Xuan's words and quietly left, finding solace in a pavilion.

Tu Shanjing stood nearby, hesitating whether to approach. Instead, he saw Xiang Liu appearing behind Wen Xiaoliu. As hosts of the emotion-controlling gu, Xiang Liu could sense Wen Xiaoliu's sorrow and advised her not to torment herself if she feared being sensed by him. He understood her pain, as he would suffer similarly.

To lighten Wen Xiaoliu's mood, Xiang Liu took her to have fun. Tu Shanjing hesitated to stop them, then eventually returned to the banquet hall in a daze. Upon hearing that Wen Xiaoliu was taken away by Fang Feng Yiyin, Cang Xuan's heart pondered. Meanwhile, Wen Xiaoliu and A Nian soared through the sky on a furball, then jumped into the sea.

Initially, Wen Xiaoliu tried to swim upward but seeing Xiang Liu approaching, and remembering her refusal to kiss him earlier, she gave in. With Xiang Liu's help, she could speak and breathe freely underwater. She thanked him for his actions, and he warned her to take care of herself, or no one would sacrifice their life for her again.

Suddenly, a beautiful song resonated underwater, which Wen Xiaoliu recognized as the mating call of merpeople. Curious, she went to observe, then returned to Xiang Liu with a flushed face, leaving him bemused. Back on land, Wen Xiaoliu personally roasted fish for Xiang Liu and appreciated the precious tranquility of those moments. Xiang Liu proposed to help her get rid of Fang Feng Yiyin, but she disagreed.

A while ago, Chenrong Xinyue had been busy with Cang Xuan's wedding preparations. In gratitude, Shu Hui prepared a gift for her, but Chenrong Xinyue angrily knocked it over. Even though Chenrong Xinyue had voluntarily given up on Cang Xuan, she still held feelings for him. The next morning, Wen Xiaoliu and A Nian met Shu Hui, Cang Xuan's new wife. A Nian was resentful and unwilling to talk, while Wen Xiaoliu was mature and advised A Nian not to provoke Shu Hui, as it would harm Cang Xuan's position.

Fang Feng Yiyin gave birth to a son named Tu Shanjing, but sadly, she passed away shortly after. Tu Shanhou's wife, Lan Mei, learned of his affair with Fang Feng Yiyin and intended to reveal the truth to Tu Shanjing. However, she was silenced that night. Wen Xiaoliu heard of Fang Feng Yiyin's death, and knowing that Tu Shanjing had become a father, she sent a message of condolence and a gift.

Wen Xiaoliu had suppressed many thoughts and went out alone to clear her mind. She slowly ascended the path towards the Purple Gold Peak, each step recalling past events. By the time she reached halfway up the mountain, she was exhausted and sat down on the stone steps. Cang Xuan came to her side, comforting her and encouraging her to seek things beyond life and death. Inspired by him, Wen Xiaoliu proposed that he arrange a marriage for her. The condition was that the person must wholeheartedly love her and not marry another woman. Cang Xuan readily agreed.

The Fifth and Seventh Princes jointly accused Cang Xuan before the Xiyan King, alleging that he was forming factions and building power in the Central Plains. This displeased the old Xiyan clans and offended some Central Plains clans. The Xiyan King remained silent, deciding to embark on a tour of the Central Plains and visit the Purple Gold Peak to worship the Heavenly Emperor. He appointed Xiyan Deyan as a special envoy and allowed him to accompany the King on the journey. Xiyan Yuyang and General Ying Long remained in Xiyan to handle state affairs.

Upon leaving the Xiyan City, the King's army advanced towards the Zhezhou City. As they arrived, they hosted a banquet for the various Central Plains clans, assuring them that as long as the Xiyan army was present, the Central Plains would remain peaceful. In the month of Ji Chun, when flowers were in full bloom, the major clans received invitations for flower-viewing and entertainment. However, Xiyan King ignored Cang Xuan's presence, keeping him outside the gates repeatedly.

Haoling King sensed the critical situation and exposed the undercover agents hidden in the Central Plains. He ordered them to swiftly retrieve Wen Xiaoliu and A Nian to Haoling. Wen Xiaoliu declined and had A Nian go back with Ruzhou, stating that she would stay to support Cang Xuan. Lacking confidence to handle the crisis, Cang Xuan agreed with Wen Xiaoliu that she should stay. He believed she shouldn't leave, especially because her relationship with Xiyan King was different from her mother's. Xiyan King had no nurturing relationship with her, and their bond was weak. If Xiyan King dared to harm them, they would retaliate.

For several days, the Xiyan King feasted guests in Zhezhou. Meanwhile, Cang Xuan supervised craftsmen repairing the palace, unaware of the impending danger. Xiyan Deyan falsely implicated Cang Xuan and brought water tribe members to pose as assassins targeting the King. This caused the King to grow more suspicious of Cang Xuan. He ordered Cang Xuan's presence.

As the initial plan progressed, Xiyan Deyan met with Xiang Liu alone and instructed him to ambush Wen Xiaoliu, ensuring that she wouldn't return. Despite the dangers of meeting Xiyan King, Cang Xuan didn't want to bear false accusations or risk his loyal followers' lives. He decided to go alone to Zhezhou.

Wen Xiaoliu insisted on accompanying Cang Xuan, unswayed even by his harsh words. Tu Shanjing and Chishui Fenglong worried about Cang Xuan and tried to find ways to help him. When they heard that Wen Xiaoliu would accompany him, Tu Shanjing rushed to meet Xiyan King. However, Chenrong Xinyue was hesitant and couldn't persuade her brother. She prioritized her safety over rescuing Cang Xuan.

Before Cang Xuan reached Zhezhou City, Tu Shanjing and Chishui Fenglong had already met Xiyan King and were kept in a side hall. Soon, they heard the voices of Wen Xiaoliu and Cang Xuan. Xiyan Deyan and the old clans accused Cang Xuan of hiring assassins, but Wen Xiaoliu argued on his behalf. She left Xiyan Deyan speechless, and eventually, Xiyan King concluded that the matter was unrelated to Cang Xuan.

Xiyan King raised a question before everyone: How would they treat the Central Plains clans if they became rulers of Xiyan? Xiyan Deyan flattered and echoed the King's sentiments, while Cang Xuan held a different view. He said he would treat the Central Plains clans as subjects, even if Nuwa and Fuxi were alive, they would make the same choice. Throughout history, whether Xiyan or Central Plains, they were inseparable.

Contrary to expectations, Xiyan King was not angered by Cang Xuan's words. Chishui Fenglong even admired and respected Cang Xuan more. When the crisis was defused, and they were ready to leave, they encountered black-clad individuals who were lying in ambush. Wen Xiaoliu and Cang Xuan cooperated to defend themselves. With limited spiritual power, Wen Xiaoliu managed to shoot three arrows, and Xiang Liu, seeing this, allowed them to escape for the time being.

Wen Xiaoliu used the first two arrows to fend off the attackers, and with Cang Xuan's help, the last arrow was aimed directly at Xiyan King's palace. Tu Shanjing realized something was wrong and quickly left with Chishui Fenglong. Upon hearing that Wen Xiaoliu and Cang Xuan were safe, their anxiety was eased.

After leaving Xiyan King's palace, they rested by the roadside. Wen Xiaoliu thanked Tu Shanjing and Chishui Fenglong for their assistance and noticed an unusual atmosphere between Wen Xiaoliu and Tu Shanjing. She decided to take Wen Xiaoliu back to the Central Plains. Chishui Fenglong straightforwardly expressed his intention to marry Wen Xiaoliu. Tu Shanjing, aware of his failure towards Wen Xiaoliu, hoped Chishui Fenglong would take care of her.

After everyone parted ways, Cang Xuan carried Wen Xiaoliu back to the Purple Gold Palace. He could see that Wen Xiaoliu was pretending to be at ease, but she was actually feeling sad. In fact, Wen Xiaoliu still had mixed feelings, unsure about her emotions. She knew that she and Tu Shanjing were no longer possible, yet she didn't want him to forget about her so quickly. It was a conflicting feeling. Cang Xuan felt guilty and regretful upon hearing this. He shouldn't have allowed Tu Shanjing to get close to Wen Xiaoliu step by step. It had caused her deep pain. Wen Xiaoliu comforted Cang Xuan, telling him not to overthink, and assured him that she could handle it.

Xiyan King's health was failing, and he considered using this opportunity to choose the crown prince. He ordered Xiyan Deyan to personally handle the affairs of Chenrong Mountain's memorial ceremony and instructed him to be particularly attentive, as this ceremony was extraordinary for him. Xiyan Deyan was overjoyed and assumed that Xiyan King was going to pass the throne to him. He promised and confidently assured them, using the preparation of the ceremony as a reason to drive away Cang Xuan and others.

Under the name of Chenrong Xingling, Chishui Fenglong met with Wen Xiaoliu and straightforwardly expressed his intention to marry her. He had two main reasons. Firstly, the Central Plains clans saw that Xiyan King favored the Fifth Prince. Apart from the Shen clan's support for Cang Xuan, other clans shifted allegiance to Xiyan Deyan. Thus, Cang Xuan faced a life-threatening crisis. As the foremost of the Four Great Houses, the Chishui clan could influence the Central Plains clans' stance. Only by marrying Haoling Princess Wen Xiaoliu could Chishui Fenglong quickly become the leader of the Chishui clan.

Secondly, Chishui Fenglong's affinity with Wen Xiaoliu was genuine. While not deeply in love, he had greater fondness for her than for other noblewomen. He promised that she would be the only woman in his life. Wen Xiaoliu appreciated Chishui Fenglong's straightforwardness and asked for time to consider.

Not long after, news spread that Xiyan Deyan was to be appointed as the crown prince. Xiyan King ordered the gathering of a hundred thousand troops to seal off Chenrong Mountain within a hundred miles. Even the Purple Gold Peak was under Xiyan Deyan's control. The situation was extremely unfavorable for Cang Xuan. Wen Xiaoliu proactively sought out Chenrong Xingling and gradually understood her predicament.

Though both Wen Xiaoliu and Chenrong Xingling had experienced wandering, Chenrong Xingling found it hard to be as assertive and composed as Wen Xiaoliu. She had missed the chance to earn Cang Xuan's trust and expectations. Wen Xiaoliu didn't mind this, as Chenrong Xingling was not the most special person in his heart. He didn't need to force himself to be the most special one for her.

However, when Wen Xiaoliu heard that Wen Xiaoliu was engaged to Chishui Fenglong, his smile froze. He didn't want her to sacrifice her own happiness, but Wen Xiaoliu's decisions were resolute. Wen Xiaoliu wished to strategize for Cang Xuan, knowing she would never hope for a deeply profound marriage in this lifetime. As she watched Wen Xiaoliu walk away, tears welled up, concealing her heartache.

Due to Wen Xiaoliu's status as Haoling Princess and the direct disciple of Queen Mother Yushan, news of her engagement to Chishui Fenglong quickly spread across the realm. Tu Shanjing felt uneasy upon hearing this news, but he understood it was an inevitable outcome. After all, Chishui Fenglong was impeccable in terms of family background and capability. He fully deserved Wen Xiaoliu. On the other hand, he had betrayed Wen Xiaoliu's trust, and Xiang Liu was emotionally distant. Neither was deserving of Wen Xiaoliu's trust. The two men who loved Wen Xiaoliu the most unexpectedly met in Qingshui Town.

After Chishui Fenglong and Wen Xiaoliu's engagement, he naturally became the successor to the Chishui clan leadership. He openly supported Cang Xuan and led the major Central Plains clans to plead for Cang Xuan before Xiyan King. Xiyan King claimed that the crown prince had already been chosen and reassured them not to rush it. However, this only increased their worries.

Cang Xuan couldn't predict the outcome of tomorrow and had prepared for the worst. To prevent Wen Xiaoliu from being involved, he intentionally drugged her drink and had Miao Shou take her back to Haoling. He instructed the Water Tribe to obey her commands from now on. However, Wen Xiaoliu wasn't fooled. She pretended to collapse but secretly prepared for the next day's plan. If Xiyan King declared that the crown prince's position would be given to Xiyan Deyan, she would immediately shoot Xiyan King and initiate a rebellion.

The next morning, Xiyan King personally arrived at Chenrong Mountain. Beneath the altar stood various Central Plains clans, Xiyan King, and officials. Amidst the resonant sound of the yellow bell, Xiyan King led everyone in worshipping heaven and earth. After the lengthy and elaborate ceremony concluded, he announced that Cang Xuan would be the next ruler of Xiyan Kingdom. This news was shocking and caught everyone off guard, especially the Fifth and Seventh Princes who found it almost unbelievable.

Xiyan King placed the crown on Cang Xuan's head. Cang Xuan looked at Xiyan King silently, his eyes glistening with hidden tears. For Xiyan King, the kingdom was moving towards prosperity and needed a new ruler. Though the coronation ceremony wasn't grand, people wouldn't remember the king for the ceremony, but for his deeds.

Listening to Xiyan King's words, Wen Xiaoliu slowly lowered her bow and arrows and accompanied Xiyan King down the steps. In truth, Xiyan King had long known of Wen Xiaoliu and Cang Xuan's plan. If they had indeed rebelled and seized power, they would have resorted to violence and decisiveness, just like himself. The outcome showed that Cang Xuan had both courage and strategy, as well as kindness and tolerance, which would bring more peace to the realm.

While they were speaking, the voices of the courtiers behind them rang out as they bowed to the new King of Xiyan. Xiyan King was content. He would wait for Cang Xuan to unify all the clans before deciding whether to return to Xiyan Mountain. Wen Xiaoliu was happy too and suddenly found Xiyan King to be approachable. The grandfather and granddaughter rarely had such a harmonious and warm interaction.

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