Ever since Senior Sister Zhu Yin went to the mortal realm for cultivation, Qilin Hall had initially worked feverishly to devise plans for her. But after reality proved that every single one of those ideas was terrible, they gradually backed off. Before long, it seemed that Senior Sister had developed her own approach to mortal life. Luan Ling hadn’t heard from her through their spiritual channel for quite some time—aside from the occasional request to provide background narration.

There was one exception.

Because of the divine imprint previously left behind in the mortal realm, Luan Ling and the others were ordered to descend once again to carry out a mission. In addition to cleansing the lingering mark at the palace, they also investigated a case Zhu Yin had discovered—demons emerging from妖族 (spirit beasts). No matter how strong a demon beast became, it should never be able to transform into a true demon. Since this was not an isolated case, and combined with earlier incidents involving forbidden cultivators producing demonic energy, Du Gu suspected a deeper connection. He submitted a request for Qilin Hall to descend and assist Zhu Yin in eliminating the threat.

During the operation, they uncovered an evil sect known as the Mystic Sword Sect. Under the pretense of eradicating demons on behalf of the gods, its elders secretly led disciples in a forbidden art—refining demons into demons, then killing them to harvest cultivation. Qilin Hall joined forces to wipe out the nest completely. At that point, Zhu Yin’s so-called romantic tribulation should have ended, and she was ready to return to Heaven with Qilin Hall from Penglai.

By the sea, at the mortal harbor closest to Penglai Immortal Island, Xie Yuyan watched as the five members of Qilin Hall boarded the ship one after another. When they looked back at him, he nodded and smiled in return.

Li Xiao and the others responded politely. Everything that needed to be said had already been spoken during the farewell banquet. They had exchanged thoughts on the mortal realm and the Heavenly Realm alike, all having enjoyed themselves. It had not been a wasted journey.

Now, it was time to part.

“I have a feeling we’ll meet again,” Luan Ling said as she looked at Xie Yuyan and Xuan Jing on the shore. “Perhaps someday in the near future.”

As she spoke, she glanced at Zhu Yin, who had been unusually quiet since the day before.

Zhu Yin stared calmly ahead. Luan Ling assumed she was simply lost in thought—but suddenly, Zhu Yin took out Wu Xiang, plucked a single string, and leapt off the ship in the opposite direction of travel.

“Senior Sister!”

Luan Ling rushed forward, only to be grabbed by Si Zhuo.

Watching Zhu Yin’s retreating figure, he tightened his grip on the demon-binding rope restraining Zhang Cheng and said, “She still has unfinished business. Let her go.”

“But the travel pass became invalid the moment we entered Penglai,” Luan Ling argued anxiously. “She has no spiritual link with us now, and she’s restricted by mortal-world prohibitions. What if something happens?”

Li Xiao frowned slightly. “Senior Sister has always acted on her own judgment. If she chose this, she has her reasons. We shouldn’t act recklessly—let’s return and report this to the Dean and the teachers first.”

After all, Zhu Yin had spent far longer in the mortal realm than any of them. She understood its rules far better. If she chose to turn back at Heaven’s doorstep, something important must have remained unfinished.

Luan Ling didn’t fully understand what was happening. During Zhu Yin’s two months among mortals, she still appeared cold and distant—but also subtly changed. Perhaps the so-called emotional tribulation had been more intense than expected for a young god.

“What?! It wasn’t an emotional tribulation?!”

Luan Ling stared in shock at the god and mortal before her.

Zhu Yin remained expressionless, while Xie Yuyan—the supposed object of the tribulation—gave a complicated smile.

The story went back much further.

Xie Yuyan had once been nothing more than a young prince who accidentally discovered that mortals could cultivate magic. After realizing this, he used his maternal family’s wealth to establish Four Directions, an organization dedicated to gathering talented individuals. As these practitioners increased in number, some attained higher-level techniques. Xie Yuyan then gathered these elites and wandering cultivators into a secretive organization called Yin-Yang.

The Four Directions Yin-Yang used magic to intervene in mortal affairs—an act of unauthorized worldly interference. Once Heaven learned of this, Rui Bi, a Divine Lord, confronted Xie Yuyan and offered him two choices: sever all ties with the mortal world and cultivate without entering it again—or remain a mortal prince, abandon all cultivation, and have all memories of magic erased.

Si Zhuo snorted coldly. “The Heavenly Realm is still as overbearing as ever.”

Li Xiao replied more cautiously, “It’s… understandable. Many techniques originate from Heavenly opportunities. Premature revelation could plunge the mortal world into chaos. Still, Xie Yuyan, your cultivation was self-realized. If you never intended to ascend, Divine Lord Rui Bi technically had no authority to strip your cultivation. Why, then—”

“He made a trade,” Zhu Yin said suddenly.

“A trade?”

Xie Yuyan calmly explained, “I chose to surrender all cultivation in exchange for keeping my memories and remaining in the mortal realm.”

Li Xiao frowned. “Is the mortal world really so appealing that you’d abandon ascension?”

Xie Yuyan smiled faintly. “Objectively speaking, I do have much there.”

Everyone glanced at Situ Meng.

The junior disciple hesitated. “He is a prince. I imagine survival isn’t an issue.”

Luan Ling narrowed her eyes. “If it were only wealth and luxury, Rui Bi wouldn’t have let you off so easily. Your cultivation was sealed, not destroyed—and those practitioners are unharmed. You definitely did more than you’re admitting.”

Growing up sparring intellectually with the Heavenly Empress, Luan Ling was no stranger to hidden agendas. Though Xie Yuyan appeared cheerful and open—so unlike Zhu Yin—he gave her a familiar feeling. Only later did she realize why: it was the same feeling Rui Bi and Wen Yuan inspired. Knowing everything, saying nothing.

Xie Yuyan simply nodded politely. “I only neglected to mention one thing to the Divine Lord. After forming Yin-Yang, I gained further opportunities and befriended seven individuals across the Three Realms. Our connection is secret—thus, I named it the Eight Trigrams.”

“Friends across the Three Realms…”

Luan Ling sucked in a breath. “You mean demons too?!”

Xie Yuyan answered calmly, “The Demon Realm—Wei Jiang.”

Everyone immediately understood.

A voice exclaimed “Ah!”—but not from any of them.

Luan Ling turned sharply. “Sir, if you’re eavesdropping, could you at least do it quietly?”

Du Gu coughed and stepped out of the bamboo grove. “Kid, you’re impressive. I’ve only met Wei Jiang twice.”

Wei Jiang was the Demon Realm’s great general. Du Gu encountering him during his undercover days wasn’t surprising—though keeping distance had likely saved his life.

Xie Yuyan smiled. “To General Wei Jiang, I’m merely an insignificant mortal. But between Heaven and the Demon Realm…”

Luan Ling groaned. “So you used the Demon Realm to keep Rui Bi in check. You stirred things up in the mortal world, learned demon secrets—Heaven can’t touch you without calculating the consequences.”

After all, the origin of the last life-and-death war was still remembered vividly.

Xie Yuyan raised his hands quickly. “No threats intended. I merely believe that once you know magic exists, you cannot continue clinging to outdated rules. I promised Divine Lord Rui Bi that practitioners would not reveal themselves to common folk, and that Yin-Yang would not engage in mortal conflicts—only use their abilities to better the world.”

Luan Ling sighed. “Now I really understand Rui Bi’s headache.”

She glanced at Zhu Yin, then at Si Zhuo. They exchanged a look of mutual realization—and mutual disgust—before turning away simultaneously.

“You want to go back?”

Zhu Yin finally spoke, coldly replaying an earlier memory.

“What did you say?” she asked.

Xie Yuyan answered without hesitation, “Lady Zhu, I wish to join Qilin Hall.”

“…Huh?”

Zhu Yin frowned—not in suspicion, but analysis. “You have no magic. Staying in Heaven as a mortal would kill you.”

“I don’t wish to become a god,” Xie Yuyan said. “You came to the mortal realm to learn. I merely wish to return the courtesy—to briefly observe a place I’ve never been.”

“You should ask my mother instead,” Zhu Yin replied flatly.

Everyone thought the same thing: That would be suicide.

Zhu Yin saw through his intent immediately, yet said calmly, “Fine. I’ll take you to Heaven.”

Just like that?!

Xie Yuyan hesitated. “Lady Zhu, I—”

Before he could finish, she smiled—rarely—and tapped his brow. In the next instant, they vanished.

They reappeared in Qilin Hall—right in the middle of class.

The sudden arrival of a mortal caused a moment of collective shock.

Du Gu was genuinely stunned. Everyone else merely panicked briefly, then lowered their heads guiltily.

Ascending to Heaven was complicated procedurally—but simple in execution. With a god’s spell, it took only an instant.

Now, everyone was gathered, discussing Xie Yuyan.

“You said you wanted to join Qilin Hall,” Zhu Yin stated coolly.

“Yes! We all heard it!” Luan Ling chimed in eagerly.

Li Xiao added smoothly, “While mortals cannot remain in Heaven, you were once a cultivator and Rui Bi’s disciple. Don’t you want to see greater magic?”

Xie Yuyan sighed. “Magic was never my goal. But I still have responsibilities in the mortal world. Like you gods, our paths differ, but our ends align.”

Luan Ling muttered to Zhu Yin, “Senior Sister, why didn’t you just knock him out first?”

Du Gu flicked her forehead. “Don’t learn bad habits.”

“But isn’t that exactly Rui Bi’s plan?” Luan Ling protested.

Xie Yuyan chuckled. “I’m honored by your enthusiasm—”

“Three days a month,” Zhu Yin cut in. “I stayed in the mortal realm for two months. You’ll stay in Heaven the same.”

Xie Yuyan stared, stunned.

Humans don’t fear hardship when doing something forbidden.

Later, Rui Bi knocked Wu Xiang from Zhu Yin’s hands in exasperation.
“You stayed an extra month in the mortal realm—just to slap Xie Yuyan once?!”

“No,” Zhu Yin replied, wiping blood from her lip. “He’s just a mortal. Power struggles are no different from Heaven.”

Rui Bi raised a finger. “Some truths are spoken in the Demon Realm. In the mortal realm. But not in Heaven.”

“Hmph. Boring.”

Zhu Yin reclaimed her weapon and walked off, ignoring his calls, heading to deal with another group.

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