Nagni lost her cool instantly. She summoned her hidden blade and pressed it against Luo Xianling's neck.
"Say that again, you slut."
Luo Xianling smiled, unfazed.
"Looks like I hit a soft spot," she said sweetly. "Makes me want him even more now. Maybe I'll make him my actual husband. Bear him a few children, too."
She giggled.
Madam Yuelin stared at her, stunned.
Gods, she thought. She's gone completely mad.
She used to be calm—like a lake.
Now she's impulsive and erratic.
Like a tsunami.
Nagni retracted her blade beneath her sleeve.
"Don't joke like that," she said coldly. "I might've actually killed you."
Luo Xianling smiled again.
"But I'm not joking," she said sweetly. "I offered him marriage. He declined. That infuriated me. So I asked you here today to make his life difficult. I've even ordered my husbands to do the same. Even my Luo descendants will play their part. His wedding day won't be ruined—but I want to warn him. He should marry a woman like me."
Nagni slapped her across the face.
"You're such a fool. You'll regret this."
Luo Xianling's temper snapped.
Madam Yuelin gave Xu Xiao and Lingling a sharp look.
"Leave. Close the door."
They obeyed without a word.
"You fucking bitch," Luo Xianling snarled. "How dare you hit me. I've had enough of your attitude."
Nagni's voice was low, bitter.
"I had some respect for you once. But look at you now—a shadow of your former self. Arrogant. Entitled."
"You're a hypocrite, Nagni."
Madam Yuelin spoke again, her voice steady.
"I'll ask a second time—calm down, both of you."
She resumed sipping her tea, unshaken.
They both looked at her with fury and annoyance.
She met their gaze with an indifferent expression.
"Stop acting like children," she said calmly. "It's clear as day—Nagni, you and Shen Wuyin share a deep past and bond. Whatever it is, as I said before, you may speak of it or not. I'll keep it secret and confidential. That choice is yours."
She turned to Luo Xianling again.
Luo didn't reply. She simply sat back down and resumed drinking her tea.
"Like I said—I'm leaving now. Good day to you both."
Nagni turned to go, but was stopped a second time by Luo Xianling.
"You'll accept my offer, then?" she asked, sipping her tea, trying to steady her emotions.
"I'll do it," Nagni replied. "But it won't be to make his life difficult. That's impossible for someone like him. Trust me—you really don't know who you're trifling with."
"Fine. I'll pay you regardless—for your trouble."
Nagni left.
It was just the two of them again, drinking tea in silence.
Madam Yuelin spoke once more, her voice soft but firm.
"Honestly, you're no longer calm like a lake."
She spoke again.
"Why are you still paying her if she's not going to make his life difficult?"
"Because she says she won't—but she'll still bring some kind of trouble. And she's using this as an excuse to see him, obviously. Like you said—their past relationship must've meant a great deal to her."
Madam Yuelin spoke once again, her tone light but deliberate.
"I'm quite excited for this marriage. Aren't you?"
"I suppose I am," Luo Xianling replied.
Shen Wuyin stood beneath the plum tree, its blossoms pale against the night.
Nagni approached in silence, her steps deliberate.
"Still pretending you don't see me."
He didn't turn.
"I see you."
"Then why haven't you spoken to me?"
"I had nothing to say. I was thinking what to say to you, that's all."
She scoffed.
"You always were good at silence. But I remember when your silence meant something."
He looked at her then—calm, unreadable.
"And now?"
"Now it's just cowardice."
A long pause stretched between them.
The wind stirred the branches overhead.
"You came all this way to insult me?" I asked.
"No," she said. "I came to see if you changed."
"And?"
"I'm not sure," she whispered.
I said nothing.
She stepped closer, searching my face.
"You're really going to marry her?"
"Yes."
Nagni's jaw tightened.
"Then I've seen enough."
She turned to leave.
But I was suddenly in front of her—my true form unveiled.
Towering over fifteen feet tall, I stood silent.
She, without heels, reached nine foot four.
She looked up at me.
I looked at Ren.
His long, thick white hair hung loose, untied.
His eyes—red and black like fire—held no clear emotion.
I couldn't read them.
But I was drawn to them all the same.
And for a moment, I forgot everything.
I leaned forward, about to kiss him.
But I stopped myself.
I saw Xu Yunfei approaching—coming straight toward us.
My expression changed.
Fury.
Annoyance.
A flash of something deeper.
I stepped back, eyes narrowing.
I watched Nagni hide in the darkness, curled in her serpent form—silent, unseen.
Her eyes never left me as Xu Yunfei approached.
She hugged me gently.
Then leaned in, attempting to kiss me.
I stopped her.
"Why did you stop me?" she asked, voice soft, puzzled.
"Xu Yunfei… when the marriage is over, there's something I need to tell you about myself. Something important. I won't hold anything back. Do you understand?"
She paused, searching my face.
Then nodded.
"Okay. I trust you, Shen. Always and forever. You're my soon-to-be husband, and I'm your soon-to-be wife. You've always been blunt anyway."
She hugged me again—more tightly this time.
She stood around nine feet two without heels.
I adjusted my height for her—just as I always did whenever we hugged or kissed.
She looked into my black eyes, then up at my long, thick pitch-black hair.
I shifted back into Shen Wuyin.
It wasn't time yet for her to know who I truly was.
But soon.
After a while, she left.
The quiet returned.
Nagni stepped from the shadows.
Her serpent form peeled away, and she stood before me—human once more.
She looked at me for a few moments, then spoke again.
"I nearly killed her, Ren. And I might still do it when you're not around. I don't particularly like sharing. I don't know why I love a man like you—my creator."
I said,
"You don't have to anymore. You can move on. If that makes you happy, then that's all that matters."
She didn't answer.
She stepped closer, looked me in the eye.
"We both know the answer to that, don't we."
Then she turned without another word, shifted back into her serpent form, and disappeared into the tall grass.
I thought about Cristina again. My older sister.
I wonder what she'd say if she was still alive.
She'd probably be furious.
Mad at me for the choices I've made.
One example—having countless lovers in my true immortal life.
All the women carrying my children.
Children that still haven't been born.
Not since eternity began.
I was only eighteen when I became a true immortal.
Created everything—before everything.
Even before I was born.
In the year 2002.
The twenty-first century.
I created so many realms.
Countless.
My homeworld—planet Earth.
Mìngjiè Xiānlù was the last place I stood before I left. Before I returned to planet Earth. That was eternity ago. I reversed my age back to eighteen—back to the beginning, when I first became a true immortal. But nothing changed. Not what I'd done. Not what I'd created. Everything remained the same.
I teleported back into my room.
Liraine, Shuyin, and Sura were fast asleep.
Lingxue was in the spare room—probably asleep too.
I didn't bother checking. With my abilities, I didn't need to.
But before I could settle, Lingxue stepped out.
She saw me and spoke.
"Tomorrow marks one more day until your wedding with Xu Yunfei. You excited?"
I didn't answer.
She didn't ask again.
But she continued speaking nonetheless.
"You've already acquainted yourself with the Luo family's ancestor.
How will you convince her?
Are you going to kill her to make our job easier?"
I replied calmly.
"We'll see.
She offered me marriage—I declined.
If I need to convince her, I'll think of a solution later."
I paused.
"I want to sleep. I'm about to change.
Can I go to sleep, or is there something more you need to say to me?"
Lingxue shook her head.
"Not that I can think of.
Goodnight, Shen.
I can't wait to return to our sect after this mission is over.
I miss my residence and my followers there.
It's been far too long, in my opinion."
The next morning, I began cultivating.
I had already reached the Divine Realm—concealed, of course.
No one could know unless I allowed it.
I had reached the mid 3000th step in cultivation.
I opened my eyes.
I was alone.
Until Nagni slithered into my room in her serpent form.
Small. Silent. Watching.
She shifted into her human form without a word.
I looked at her yellow, serpent-like eyes as she stared at me.
"Do you have to marry her?" she asked.
"I've waited eternity for you.
And now you're marrying a girl you barely even know—
Not like me."