Ren Zu remained standing at the edge of the lake, the silence of the bamboo forest enveloping him like a living cloak. The morning breeze continued to whisper among the stalks, carrying the fresh, slightly sweet scent of evaporating dew. The sun had already climbed a little higher, and its beams now sliced through the canopy at sharper angles, turning the low-lying mist into golden veils that drifted lazily over the water.
Hei Jiayue still hovered at his right side, just a few inches from his shoulder. Her arms remained crossed, her chin raised in her usual pose of an offended queen, yet her curvaceous body was subtly tilted toward him—an unconscious gesture that betrayed how much she wanted to be close, even if she would hardly admit it…
For long minutes, neither of them spoke.
It was a comfortable silence, the kind that only exists between people who have already spent far too much time together to need to fill every gap with words. The lake reflected the sky in soft shades of blue and pale pink, and the tiny ripples caused by the occasional breeze seemed to dance in slow motion.
Finally, Ren Zu broke the silence, his voice low and calm, almost part of the surroundings.
"…You've been quiet longer than usual."
Hei Jiayue huffed, but the sound came out softer than normal.
"Hmph. This queen was merely… thinking." She turned her gaze aside, pretending sudden interest in the wildflowers growing among the stones. "Not that you deserve to know what I'm thinking about."
Ren Zu gave a faint smile, not teasing her this time.
"I see. Deep thoughts about how to conquer the universe, I presume?"
She shot him a sharp glance, but the corners of her lips betrayed a slight quiver—almost a suppressed smile.
"…Perhaps. Or perhaps about how you become even more irritating when you try to act philosophical."
He chuckled quietly, the low, genuine sound breaking the stillness around them like a stone dropped into calm water.
"Well, I'll stop then. You know me well enough to understand that I've found what I was looking for… and now that I have a goal, my focus is entirely on it… I just have to wait for Jasmine to reconstruct her body…"
Hei Jiayue didn't reply immediately. Her eyes remained fixed on the lake, reflecting the faint light and the movement of the water, while his words echoed silently in the air.
"…It's been almost three years…" she murmured, her voice low, almost lost in the surroundings. "I know you quite well… yet I still know almost nothing about you, Master…"
Ren Zu tilted his head slightly, a subtle smile curving his lips.
"Do you think so? I would say the person who knows best what goes through my mind is you. I've already told you things I've never shared with anyone else, so without a doubt, you are my most faithful confidante…"
She remained silent, but the weight of his words seemed to hang between them. Finally, after a restrained sigh, she continued:
"…Even so, I feel a certain distance between us that didn't exist… ever since you brought Jasmine, and that thing…"
Ren Zu studied her expression, noticing the hesitation, the contained discomfort.
"Is it because we're no longer just you and me, like in the beginning? Maybe that has bothered you…?" he asked.
Hei Jiayue abruptly turned her face away, a faint blush coloring her cheeks as if the mere suggestion of vulnerability irritated her. She crossed her arms more tightly and lifted her chin, trying to reclaim her indomitable queen pose.
"I-It has nothing to do with… with jealousy or anything like that!" She huffed, her voice coming out louder and sharper than intended, betraying her own tension. "It's… it's just… I… don't like feeling excluded from anything, okay?!"
Ren Zu raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth curving into a subtle, amused smile.
"'I don't like feeling excluded,' huh?" he said calmly, as though analyzing each word. "I've never excluded you from anything, Jiayue…"
Hei Jiayue rolled her eyes, but the red flush on her cheeks persisted. She looked away, crossed her arms once more, and muttered almost inaudibly:
"I know… I just… don't want anything to change between us… understand?"
Ren Zu stayed silent for a few seconds, studying her, before tilting his head slightly, his expression serene.
"I understand perfectly. And you don't need to worry… nothing will change between us, Jiayue…"
His voice was calm, firm, yet carried a touch of sincerity that contrasted with her tsundere tone.
She huffed again, but this time without force—almost a whisper of frustration:
"Hmph… it's not like I totally believe you… but…" She took a deep breath, her arms slowly falling to her sides. "…okay, maybe I don't want anything to change…"
Ren Zu smiled faintly, choosing not to reply with words. Over the past two years, he had grown even closer to Hei Jiayue, who had become the person he trusted most in that world. She was the only one who knew many details of his plans and secrets, and that mutual trust drew them together in a unique way. Observing her lately, he had noticed a growing sensitivity in her regarding the feeling of "abandonment." The attention he gave to Jasmine, Hong'er, and Ni Jie stirred in her a quiet jealousy, as though every moment he spent with the others diminished the exclusive bond they shared…
Curiously, this jealousy did not manifest toward his wives, which made the situation even more complex. Hei Jiayue was not human: she was the spirit of an artifact, always present, always discreet, accompanying him without anyone else noticing. But now, realizing she was no longer the only one by his side, a sense of loss had emerged—almost as if part of her exclusivity had been invaded. To him, this explained much about her recent behavior: the subtle possessiveness, the watchful gaze, the contained tension in every gesture—and it also reinforced how deeply she cared, even if she still didn't fully know how to express those feelings…
Hei Jiayue huffed once more, but this time the sound came out almost… affectionate.
They stayed like that for a while longer—he at the lakeside, she beside him—sharing the morning silence as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
Then…
A soft red light appeared in the air to Ren Zu's left.
Jasmine emerged from the Heaven's Poison Pearl, her small, ethereal form materializing with silent grace. Her ruby hair fell like liquid fire down to her waist, and her black eyes immediately locked onto Ren Zu. She crossed her arms, chin raised in her classic princess pose.
"I'm finished," she announced, her voice firm and direct. "The poison has been completely purified from my soul. Not a single trace remains."
Ren Zu turned slowly to face her, the calm smile still on his lips.
"Oh? So quickly! I thought it would take at least another week. Congratulations."
Jasmine huffed, though a glint of satisfaction shone in her eyes.
"This princess doesn't need your congratulations. What I want is to begin reconstructing my body as soon as possible." She floated a little closer, her eyes fixed on him with an almost feverish intensity. "So… let's start. Now."
Ren Zu fell silent. In truth, he could understand why Jasmine seemed so anxious and impatient. Several years had passed since she had no choice but to take the form of a spiritual body. She must have dreamed countless times of the day she could reconstruct her body, reclaiming her life, power, and freedom all at once. Now that all the requirements had been met, she couldn't even bear to wait an extra breath.
On the other hand, Hei Jiayue shot Jasmine a cutting glare, clearly irritated by the interruption.
"Already? Without even saying good morning? How rude."
Jasmine didn't even glance at her.
"…This princess has no need to greet an arrogant woman like you…"
Hei Jiayue huffed loudly enough for the sound to echo across the calm lake, the noise laden with pure disdain and deliberate provocation.
"Hmph. As if this queen needed manners from a little girl who spent the last few years locked inside a pearl like a forgotten toy."
Jasmine's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Little girl?" she repeated, her voice low and sharp as a freshly forged blade. "You—a parasitic spirit who clings to Master like a noisy shadow—have the audacity to call me that?"
Hei Jiayue raised her chin even higher, her lips curving into a cruel, taunting smile.
"Parasitic? At least I exist outside a glass cage. You're still just a floating soul waiting for Master to give you a new body…"
Jasmine's face turned red—not from embarrassment, but from suppressed fury. Her small fists clenched so tightly that her ethereal nails dug into her palms.
"You—"
Before she could finish, Ren Zu raised his right hand in a calm, decisive gesture.
"Enough. This isn't the time to fight…"
He sighed at the end of his words.
When it came to two strong, prideful personalities like Jasmine and Hei Jiayue, conflict was almost inevitable. Both possessed assertive temperaments, firm convictions, and a natural tendency to want to dominate any situation, each with her own sense of authority and worldview. Putting them in the same space—especially over the past two years of constant close proximity—could only generate friction: silent contests, provocations, tense glances, small everyday "battles" for space, decisions, or even his attention…
Thus, the last two years had become a minefield of disputes between the two…
Fortunately, he knew how to handle the situation.
Silence.
Hei Jiayue was the first to look away, huffing loudly and crossing her arms with exaggerated force.
"Tch… fine. This queen has no patience to argue with a spoiled child today." She cast one final sharp glance at Jasmine before floating backward, her body slowly beginning to dissolve into black and golden shadows. "I'm going to rest. Don't call me unless it's important, Master."
With one last dramatic "hmph," she vanished completely, leaving behind only a faint scent of night-blooming flowers and a subtle emptiness in the air.
Jasmine kept her fists clenched for a few more seconds, taking deep breaths to calm herself. Finally, she exhaled in an irritated sigh and uncrossed her arms.
"…That woman is unbearable."
Ren Zu remained quiet for a few moments, watching the lake's reflection. He said with irony in his voice: "I don't know why you two still fight so much…"
"This princess…" Jasmine finally spoke, her voice low and firm, yet carrying a hint of softness, "…simply cannot stand that woman's arrogance. Nothing more."
Ren Zu sighed, the sound calm, almost contemplative. It was a sigh that carried no irritation—only the understanding of someone who already knew both personalities very well.
For a few seconds, neither spoke. They simply stood there, looking at each other, the gentle breeze lightly stirring Jasmine's hair while the golden morning mist spread across the still lake surface. It was a comfortable silence, almost intimate, yet unhurried, with no need for words.
"Tell me, Jasmine…" Ren Zu broke the silence, his voice low, almost part of the breeze. "…What will you do after you reconstruct your body?"
Jasmine glanced away for a moment, her black eyes reflecting the morning light, and took a deep breath before answering.
"This princess will naturally return to the Star God Realm…" she said, her voice soft yet laced with delicate determination. "…I want to see if Caizhi is alright…"
Ren Zu raised his eyebrows slightly, and an almost imperceptible smile curved his lips.
"Is that so?" he murmured in a low, thoughtful tone. There was no doubt or irony in the question—only curiosity and a strange sense of farewell…
Jasmine looked straight at him, the wind gently lifting a few strands of her hair. For a moment, the world around them seemed to disappear: a soft silence fell between them, heavy with something indefinable yet profound.
"Yes…" she said, almost a whisper. "It's important to me…"
Ren Zu nodded slowly, his gaze locked on hers.
"Of course it's important to you," he said, his voice low and serene, filled with quiet understanding. "She's your family… I get it, but…"
He paused briefly, his dark eyes reflecting Jasmine's small, ethereal face. There was something different in that gaze—not mere curiosity or kindness. It was a silent acceptance, a closeness that had grown over two years of constant companionship…
"…I'll miss you, Jasmine."
For an instant, Jasmine simply didn't react. The words seemed not to make sense at first, as though they had reached her without finding anywhere to land. Her gaze remained fixed on him, motionless, while her mind struggled to catch up—perhaps too slowly for someone rarely caught off guard. Then, when she finally processed it, her expression faltered. Her eyes met his—that absurdly beautiful, almost unreal face worthy of an immortal—and worse still, that look… gentle, directed at her in a way that warmed her heart and moved her deeply. It was in that moment that any remaining control slipped away.
"W-What…?!" was all she managed to say, her voice betraying a rare mixture of disbelief, confusion… and something dangerously close to nervousness.
A fierce blush rose rapidly across her face, staining her cheeks a vivid red that clashed with the rigid posture she immediately tried to reassume. She forcefully looked away, as if doing so could erase what she had just heard.
"Hmph!" She huffed, crossing her arms tighter than necessary. "Don't think that kind of line will work on me!"
Her tone returned to its usual cold, proud register… but a slight tremor lay beneath it.
"Words like that might seduce stupid women…" she continued, lifting her chin. "…but they have no effect on this princess! Don't even dream that I would fall for one of your tricks!"
Ren Zu simply watched her for a moment.
Then he sighed softly.
"I wasn't trying to seduce you…" he said plainly. "It was just the truth. After spending two years with you… it feels like I'm suddenly going to lose something important when you leave."
Jasmine froze.
The blush on her face grew even deeper. Her small fists clenched at her sides, but this time she couldn't look away. Her black eyes met his, and for a moment, her usual arrogance gave way to something far more complex.
Inside, though, she was far less composed than she appeared. His words still echoed in her mind, repeating insistently, warming something in her chest that she couldn't—or perhaps didn't want to—ignore. She knew he was being sincere. After two years at Ren Zu's side, she had learned to perfectly distinguish when he was joking and when he meant something genuinely. And this… had not been a joke. That was exactly what left her speechless.
It felt strange to admit, but she knew him well. She knew his flaws—such as being a complete pervert, especially considering what he did with his wives… Wait? She wasn't watching! Right? No way would someone as noble as her occasionally end up witnessing those situations between the beautiful immortal and his companions. It was simply unavoidable at times… Still, that didn't define who he was. In the end, Ren Zu was calm, straightforward, and above all genuinely kind to those he cared about, while remaining almost completely indifferent to everyone else. Very different from Yun Che, who was arrogant, constantly seeking attention, and imposing his presence in an… unpleasant way.
And perhaps that was exactly what affected her so much. Over those two years, it wasn't just the training or the absurd talent he showed in mastering everything she taught, surpassing her with irritating ease. It was the small moments. The unexpected conversations, the stories he told, the way he naturally included her in his daily life… even the absurdity of her, as a spirit, being able to taste the food he cooked. All of it, accumulated little by little, had transformed something inside her. Her heart—once rigid and distant—was now… soft. Complex. And somehow, deeply connected to him. He didn't even need to say anything; she already knew. Because deep down, she cared about him far more than she was willing to admit out loud…
She remained silent.
Ren Zu continued, his voice low and steady, without any trace of manipulation or games.
"No matter how our relationship began—just a transaction, a convenient alliance—I care about you now. If you're ever in danger… I will help you immediately. No matter where you are or what you're facing."
The words hung between them like a silent promise.
Jasmine lowered her gaze to the lake, her blood-red hair falling like a curtain over her face. Her small shoulders trembled slightly—not from anger, but from something she still didn't know how to name.
"…Hmph."
The sound came out low, almost inaudible.
"…This princess doesn't need your help," she said at last, her voice quiet but firm, though lacking its earlier harshness.
Ren Zu didn't seem surprised.
"I know…" he replied with a small shrug.
She furrowed her brows slightly, still not fully lifting her gaze.
"Then why say it…?"
Ren Zu looked at her calmly, unhurried.
"Because it doesn't matter. Whether you need it or not… it doesn't change the fact that I would…"
Silence.
Jasmine pressed her lips together lightly, as though wanting to retort, as though wanting to keep that barrier intact… but this time, no words came.
The wind blew between them, gently lifting their hair.
Ren Zu then glanced briefly at the lake before returning his eyes to her.
"So…" he said, his tone more neutral now. "Shall we begin?"
"…" Jasmine remained still for a second, as though she needed to reorganize everything inside herself before responding. She took a slow, controlled breath, trying to contain the whirlwind of emotions threatening to overflow—like a dam pressed beyond its limit yet still holding firm through sheer willpower.
Then, gradually, she raised her head.
Her black eyes still carried something deep, too dense to be translated into simple words, but they were no longer unsteady as before. There was control there. Resolve. She didn't look away this time.
Without saying anything, she simply gave a small, almost imperceptible nod… but one that carried far more meaning than any words she could have spoken.
___________________
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