Chapter 15: The Triple Fusion

The hall fell into a sudden silence.

The Immortal Lord Yuchen lowered his gaze slightly. “This ignorant disciple is young and naive; please forgive me, Senior Uncle. Besides, this matter was merely my speculation—”

Su Zhen took a deep breath. “—Yes, speculation. Because it’s all false.”

After a brief pause, she recalled another detail.

According to the records in the book, during that period, although Liu Yunyao took nighttime strolls, she never encountered Junior Sister Yao who challenged her, nor did she recklessly use her spiritual power. Thus, their master likely never paid her any attention.

Su Zhen understood why.

Recently, disciples within the sect had been training diligently, inspired by her recent breakthrough in cultivation. Consequently, more lower-level cultivators appeared at night.

It was, in a way, an effect of her reincarnation.

In her previous life, Liu Yunyao never met Junior Sister Yao, and Zhou Ziheng never came to the rescue, so the assassination plot against Senior Sister was never “discussed” with Liu Yunyao.

Later, when he made that decision, he probably didn’t even ask for his junior sister’s opinion—just as this time, he seemed to consult but clearly didn’t care what Liu Yunyao thought.

In her past life, Immortal Lord Yuchen likely had no idea what Zhou Ziheng was thinking.

But—

This lifetime, he knew, and that night he probably knew she was nearby.

So perhaps he could guess what happened afterward?

Did he truly believe Zhou Ziheng’s casual assurance to Liu Yunyao that he wouldn’t act? Or did he think that if he overheard, he would strike first? Or did he simply not care about the fate of these two disciples, letting them fight it out on their own, and whoever won would be the victor?

Su Zhen pondered and suddenly realized she no longer cared about the answer.

If this had occurred in her previous life, she would have confronted him and demanded the truth.

Now—

It no longer mattered.

After all, he had never truly cared about her from the start.

“You’re so clever, Senior, you should be able to tell that my master was joking with me,” Su Zhen said, glancing at Xiao Yu. “Who would trick me out of my sword? I would have given it willingly.”

“I see,” Xiao Yu nodded earnestly. “Then I misunderstood. You and this Senior Uncle must be very close, right?”

What a big-headed fool.

Others might not understand the situation, but how could he not? Even without knowing the intricacies of the celestial sword, this guy wasn’t stupid; at this point, he could certainly guess what was going on.

Su Zhen couldn’t help but glare at him, about to retort.

Immortal Lord Yuchen frowned. “Zhen’er, you must not be rude to Senior Uncle Xiao.”

Before Su Zhen could respond, Xiao Yu spoke first, suppressing a smile as he looked only at Su Zhen, ignoring the others. “My fault. Why does the junior niece say such things about her?”

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have joked,” he added. “Shall we go outside to talk?”

Su Zhen sighed in resignation. “Let’s go.”

There was no place in here for her anymore.

No sooner had she taken two steps than her master called her back.

Su Zhen turned to look.

Xiao Yu happened to be beside her and stopped as well, motionless yet without turning back.

The white-robed young man inside the hall frowned, his eyes dark and unreadable. “Senior Uncle Xiao, if this disciple has offended you…”

“Stop.”

Xiao Yu still didn’t turn, staring instead at the lush garden beyond the hall. His voice was calm, “First, she hasn’t offended me, nor will she ever.”

He paused, then continued, “Second, I don’t find her ‘inferior’ at all. Among the many disciples of my junior niece, isn’t she the most outstanding?”

Even knowing this man was being deliberately difficult, Su Zhen found those words pleasant to hear.

Though, thinking about the others in the sect, that wasn’t exactly a comfort.

Almost simultaneously, even before she had the thought—

Xiao Yu added, “But those twisted and broken apples don’t deserve to be compared with her.”

Su Zhen looked up, surprised.

She rarely heard Immortal Lords speak like this.

Even if they mocked each other, it was usually directed at one another, never belittling their disciples.

At their level, such masters hardly cared about losing face; they only recognized peers of equal strength and rarely concerned themselves with juniors’ matters.

Of course, she hadn’t met many Immortal Lords.

Those who reached such heights did not abide by mortal logic, and Xiao Yu was particularly peculiar.

Immortal Lord Yuchen’s expression remained unchanged. “Senior Uncle speaks in jest.”

He appeared entirely unangered.

Perhaps because he had a half-demonic disciple, he dared not argue about such matters, especially before someone stronger than himself.

Otherwise, even if someone casually paraded around his disciples, he might be helpless.

But if not for Liu Yunyao, if Liu Yunyao’s bloodline were not demonic but from another race, given his temperament, he might have acted more decisively.

Even if he died or was defeated instantly, he would probably not have feared it.

Just as back in the Demon Realm, facing several demonic gods’ attendants, surrounded by enemies, he never bowed before them despite the odds.

Watching coldly from the side, Su Zhen almost smiled.

If it had been her old self long ago, seeing him endure humiliation for Liu Yunyao would have been deeply uncomfortable.

However, after countless bitter quarrels in her previous life and no harmony now, she was more content merely to watch the spectacle.

Jealousy, confusion, resentment, and anger had mostly faded.

Of course, some remained, but fewer now.

She also recalled how her master hurriedly sent Liu Yunyao away, probably to avoid interference from others.

“…I’m not joking; all of this is sincere,” Xiao Yu said, then added, “Junior niece, you have urgent matters back at Weiyun Peak, so no need to escort us.”

He looked at Su Zhen.

Seeing that they seemed unlikely to argue or fight, she bowed her head and politely took her leave. “Disciple takes her leave.”

The bright mind hall was heavily shielded by barriers; ordinary cultivators could not fly or teleport at will. She had to slip out, cross the corridors, and enter the outer courtyard.

The courtyard was filled with rare spiritual plants, lush green trees, jagged low rocks, all encircling a warm spring. The water shimmered with clear ripples, steam rising in delicate wisps.

The mist slowly spread, lending an ethereal, immortal aura to this mountaintop garden.

Looking up, Su Zhen saw a familiar figure appear on the other side.

A white-robed young man with a cold aura was walking toward her, face stern. “Su Zhen—”

Su Zhen smiled wryly. “Senior Brother, so fierce—have you come to demand an apology?”

Originally standing side by side with Xiao Yu, she now spoke while stepping forward, placing herself directly in front of him.

Clearly, she did not want others to intervene.

Xiao Yu obediently took two steps back.

Jiang Wang noticed someone behind his junior sister.

But at the main hall earlier, his mind was preoccupied with his junior sister and he hadn’t examined Lord Chaohua’s appearance closely.

Now, though irritated, he only glanced briefly and paid no mind.

Most of his time was spent in secluded cultivation; he knew few around Lingxiao Peak. Feeling no spiritual pressure from that man, he assumed him to be a mere seventh-rank cultivator.

Here in the Bright Mind Hall, such a rank was common.

Jiang Wang gave it no further thought. Seeing the man retreat, he refocused on Su Zhen. “Where are you going?”

Su Zhen sneered. “Make way.”

She bypassed him and walked forward.

Jiang Wang stepped sideways and reached out to grab her shoulder. “Stop!”

Su Zhen staggered back a step. “Looking for trouble?”

“You should apologize to Junior Sister.”

Jiang Wang’s eyes darkened. “That matter has nothing to do with her. She was even coughing blood—”

Su Zhen didn’t bother to listen. “I don’t care how she pleaded with you. I never said she tricked Zhou Ziheng; that was the Zhou family’s claim. You can go find those Zhous and demand an apology. Oh, I forgot—they’re all seventh-rank experts. How could you, Jiang Wang, possibly force them? You just think you’re stronger than me, so you pick on me to play hero. What are you anyway?”

Jiang Wang’s expression shifted.

He had gone to the master’s residence, finding his junior sister weeping there, even coughing blood from an old injury. His heart ached, and he acted impulsively.

But Liu Yunyao had been crying silently, speaking vaguely.

Hearing Su Zhen’s words now, if true, his understanding was probably flawed.

However—

Su Zhen snapped, “Get lost or don’t blame me for being rude.”

After a brief pause, seeing the white-robed youth unmoving, she suddenly summoned a green glow at her side.

Jiang Wang’s expression turned cold.

He favored softness over hardness. In the past, some who challenged him, thinking him unworthy as head disciple, had poor endings.

Su Zhen was nearly a hundred years younger and one realm lower than him—how dare she speak so boldly?

Originally, he hadn’t intended to fight his junior sister, but seeing her make the first move, he decided to teach her a lesson.

Jiang Wang’s fingers moved, and silver light flashed beside him.

A frost-white blade slashed through the air, a dazzling cold gleam tearing through the mist.

His sword strike was much faster than hers.

—That’s what Jiang Wang thought.

But after a moment, he realized something was wrong.

Because Su Zhen hadn’t drawn her sword at all.

Yet it was already too late.

Jiang Wang’s sword sweep unleashed a bone-chilling sword qi, causing the surrounding mist to condense into thousands of sparkling icy shards.

He couldn’t retract in time and only hoped to let Su Zhen suffer a bit, having no intention to strike hard.

Before him, light shimmered and countless intricate runes flickered. Green threads wove a formidable barrier.

Jiang Wang’s sword struck the barrier.

Su Zhen held one hand suspended midair, the other performing a hand seal.

Despite the difference in realms, she couldn’t match his spiritual power head-on, but she used a secret technique to bolster the barrier’s energy—not only from herself.

Spiritual trees, flowers, rocks, and soil around were all rich in spiritual energy, some of which was drawn out, flowing through her body and into the shield.

As long as her feet touched the ground, her body served as a conduit, sustaining the barrier.

Moreover, this was no ordinary energy-consuming shield.

Spiritual energy roared!

A surging wave swept through, dispersing the courtyard’s white mist instantly. The surrounding green trees trembled, branches rustled, and leaves fluttered.

Jiang Wang’s face paled as he took several steps back.

He pressed a hand to his forehead, sensing damage to his primordial spirit.

“You?!”

Jiang Wang looked up in disbelief.

That sword strike, seemingly blocked by the barrier, had actually rebounded—equivalent to him striking himself.

And inexplicably, the spiritual energy and sword intent within that strike penetrated his protective energy and flesh, directly harming his primordial spirit!

Su Zhen ignored him and walked past.

Jiang Wang had stepped back to clear the way but watched her pass with growing doubt.

The green-robed girl brushed by without a glance.

The tall black-clad man behind her also left.

Jiang Wang stared at his sword in a daze.

Had he struck harder, his spirit would not be merely wounded now.

“My heavens, how did Su Zhen do that?”

From a distant corridor, several Lingxiao Peak disciples passing by gawked at the scene.

They were no novices; their eyesight was keen enough to see the combatants clearly from afar.

“She’s a realm lower than Jiang Wang, right?”

“Good grief, could her realm actually be…”

“I knew it! That really was Su Zhen. She didn’t even draw her sword!”

“What use is a sword? She hasn’t even bonded with Leng Xiang yet. Jiang Wang’s sword is a celestial artifact, and he’s bonded. Sword against sword, Su Zhen would surely lose…”

“So she’s not really a sword cultivator?”

“Who’s that behind Su Zhen? Why does he keep facing away from us?”

“Senior Brother, the sun’s over there. Shouldn’t he turn his back?”

“Are you crazy? That’s definitely a seventh-rank cultivator. Their eyes can roast with fire; a little sunlight won’t bother them.”

They whispered among themselves.

Su Zhen left the Bright Mind Hall and immediately used spiritual power to dissolve into a pale green mist, vanishing in an instant.

She flew back to her residence on Weiyun Peak.

Just as she stepped onto the porch, her form halted.

She turned back. “Senior?”

Xiao Yu stood behind her. “Hmm?”

At the moment she landed, he appeared simultaneously, his spiritual pressure unchanged, as if he had never activated his power.

If Su Zhen were a true Spirit Transformation realm cultivator, she might find that terrifying.

But having reached the Golden Immortal realm in her past life, she vaguely sensed the boundaries of great power and was unsurprised—this was only natural.

Su Zhen asked, “When Senior Brother came to cause trouble earlier, had Master already returned to Weiyun Peak?”

Xiao Yu nodded. “The moment we stepped out, he left.”

Ordinary cultivators couldn’t teleport within the Bright Mind Hall, but quasi-Sage realm experts certainly could.

Su Zhen nodded, thinking her master was rushing to comfort Junior Sister.

She looked at Xiao Yu’s calm expression and recalled the earlier incident.

Jiang Wang came looking for trouble. Whether Lord Chaohua wanted to intervene was entirely his choice.

Even if Xiao Yu scolded a disrespectful junior, no one could object.

Yet he did not get involved.

Was it because he felt Jiang Wang did nothing wrong? Or because he disdained scolding a low-level cultivator? Or because Su Zhen clearly showed she didn’t want his interference?

Su Zhen wasn’t sure but felt it was likely the last reason.

Xiao Yu wasn’t someone who cared about status.

She always thought that if anyone truly displeased him, whether a low-level cultivator or even a mortal, he would not hesitate to strike back.

Curious, she showed it in her eyes.

Xiao Yu noticed. “What is it?”

Su Zhen straightforwardly voiced her question, omitting the first part. “If a low-level cultivator—like someone still refining their body or qi, or even an ordinary person—unaware of your identity, offended you…”

“Hm?”

Xiao Yu said matter-of-factly, “What do you think? I don’t have that foolish ‘I’m stronger, so I won’t bother with you’ attitude…”

He paused.

From her years among demons, Su Zhen guessed he wanted to curse but didn’t.

“…I just act on how I feel. If I’m annoyed, I’ll care.”

Su Zhen couldn’t help but laugh. “Senior, you’re right. Please wait here a moment; I’ll be back soon.”

“If you have business, go ahead.”

The handsome young man in black crossed his arms, relaxed and unconcerned.

“I’ll just wait. No rush.”

The sunlight was just right. He looked up, his deep blue eyes shining with genuine warmth.

Su Zhen blinked. “Earlier, you said you’d be impatient. Now you’re not?”

“Still a little, but your matters are most important.”

Xiao Yu tilted his head. “If I can help, I will. If not, I’ll just wait.”

Su Zhen only wanted to bring out the pastries and arrange them. Since they were gifts for him, she didn’t want him to see the process, just the finished product.

Hearing this, her mood became complicated.

Suddenly, she recalled something from her past life.

Back then, she brought a scripture to consult her master about primordial spirit techniques only attainable at Spirit Transformation. They arranged to meet at the Mao hour.

She timed it perfectly, arriving punctually, but found the hall’s entrance still sealed by barriers.

She stood in the courtyard, unwilling to wait idly, so she released spiritual pressure to signal her presence.

She then received a voice transmission.

Immortal Lord Yuchen told her to wait outside a moment.

Yet an entire hour passed before a girl in red finally emerged.

Su Zhen stood in the blossoming courtyard and saw her junior sister beaming with joy.

As the girl descended the steps, the sealed barrier at the hall entrance vanished instantly.

“My master told me to come at Mao hour, but it’s already Chen hour,” Su Zhen said angrily, blocking her.

“If you can’t come out earlier, just tell me, and I’d have gone back,” she scolded.

Liu Yunyao pursed her lips. “I was happily talking with Master and lost track of time. If Senior Sister didn’t want to wait, why didn’t you just leave?”

“?”

Su Zhen’s anger flared. She grabbed Liu Yunyao’s shoulder tightly. “Lost track of time? I was releasing spiritual pressure! You didn’t know I was outside? Do you think I was putting on a show for Master? Even if I didn’t, could he not know I came? I gave you face, and you refused! You really think—”

Tears welled in Liu Yunyao’s eyes. “It hurts!”

“—Let go!”

Before she finished, a sharp chill swept from behind, the air turning icy cold.

Without turning, Su Zhen drew her sword backward.

The jade-green blade cut a luminous arc, shattering the icy sword qi.

Only then did she turn, still holding Liu Yunyao’s shoulder, and saw the furious senior brother standing there.

Jiang Wang hesitated, wary of striking further. “Su Zhen, a Spirit Transformation cultivator bullying a Qi Refinement cultivator—”

Su Zhen sneered. “Exactly. Senior Brother, a Great Ascension realm master, jumps out to uphold justice. After all, I can’t beat you Spirit Transformation experts, right?”

“Enough.”

Just then, Immortal Lord Yuchen appeared at the hall entrance, frowning as he looked at her grasping her junior sister’s hand. “Zhen’er, release your junior sister.”

Su Zhen let go. “Senior Brother came at Chen hour, and he’s already here. But my Mao hour appointment hasn’t even entered the door!”

Angry at both her junior sister and master, she vented her frustration.

“If Junior Sister wouldn’t leave, couldn’t Master have sent her away? Or just told me to wait outside less—just let me leave! If Master didn’t want to see me, he should have said so earlier to save me the trouble.”

“Enough. I’ll send your Senior Brother away. You may come in.”

Immortal Lord Yuchen lowered his gaze. “I kept you waiting longer. I apologize. It won’t happen again.”

Su Zhen was still upset. “Am I a slacker? Don’t I have other matters?”

He sighed. “Zhen’er, you’ve passed your hundredth birthday. With your cultivation, you need not worry about lifespan limits. We Immortals differ from mortals, you…”

What else did he say?

Su Zhen didn’t want to recall.

Her mind flashed to the comments beneath that chapter—readers thought she was making a fuss, that she was a hateful villainess.

Some pitied Liu Yunyao; some wished Su Zhen dead; others thought her unlucky, and then they all argued.

Su Zhen thought they were all fools.

What did they understand?

Since age twelve, she’d never missed her duties, classes, or shifts.

Immortal Lord Yuchen was a decent master, at least in teaching.

As a disciple and sect member, she never faltered.

Beyond her duties, she answered letters for him, tended the garden’s spiritual plants, taught registered disciples, and guided their cultivation!

Su Zhen wasn’t the type to act as a mentor and spoke little to the young ones.

Their comprehension varied; the less capable approached her timidly, and no matter her impatience, she taught them seriously.

Perhaps her teaching wasn’t excellent, but she tried her best.

So why should she endure such ill will?

—What had Liu Yunyao done?

If low-level, fine. But after raising her cultivation, she had others do her duties.

That was at Master’s instruction—others thought pleasing the head would gain favor, so they scrambled to do her work.

Jiang Wang and Zhou Ziheng were willing but never took over the registered disciples’ tasks.

And these were just a fraction of countless bitter memories.

Scenes flashed through Su Zhen’s mind, making her nauseous.

Her hand on the door pressed harder; the heavy wooden door trembled slightly.

A faint golden barrier shimmered in the air.

Snapping out of her trance, she realized she had subtly moved spiritual power and triggered the barrier.

She looked back at the man below the steps.

Xiao Yu stood firmly. “Your barrier’s level is extraordinary—rare in the world. I haven’t seen some of those runes before.”

Su Zhen had only been distracted for a moment, but emotional fluctuations affected her power, so she knew he sensed it.

Yet he didn’t ask and seemed unwilling to speak of other matters.

She thought for a moment. “Senior, is there anything you want to ask me?”

Not long ago, they had discussed a certain “Senior Uncle” in the side hall.

“Hmm.”

Xiao Yu was noncommittal. “Do you want to say something?”

Su Zhen sighed, bouncing the question back. “If you want to know, I’ll say it. If not, why bother? It only breeds annoyance.”

Xiao Yu instinctively said, “You won’t.”

He blinked, then added, “It won’t cause annoyance. Even if your master thought I tricked you out of your celestial sword, I wouldn’t be angry.”

Su Zhen: “If he knew it was you, he wouldn’t say that. He honestly thought you wouldn’t care about someone like me—at least before today.”

After all, Lord Chaohua lacked no fine celestial weapons. Most artifacts were easily obtained by him.

Immortal Lord Yuchen worried his disciple would be tricked by that mediocre Senior Uncle.

“Then he’s truly a fool.”

Xiao Yu studied her expression. “May I ask how you explained it to him?”

Before Su Zhen replied, he added, “If you don’t want to say, don’t.”

“Oh.”

Su Zhen was indifferent. “He asked why I went to the Demon Realm. I said I went to gather herbs, which I gave to one of his senior uncles. I didn’t specify which one.”

Xiao Yu raised an eyebrow. “So later, for some reason, you told him you also gave your celestial sword to this Senior Uncle?”

This guy was quick-witted.

Su Zhen sighed. “I said I gave the sword away. He just imagined things himself.”

Xiao Yu chuckled, amused. “Ha, though false, it’s fun to think about.”

Su Zhen didn’t know which part amused him. “As long as you don’t mind.”

“Of course. Didn’t I say, even if you told him it was me, I wouldn’t care? In fact, I’d be quite pleased.”

He pondered. “If you need, just say I took the sword so he won’t bother you.”

Su Zhen narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean by that?”

He even knew Master asked her for Leng Xiang?

“Hm? I’m not saying you have to do that—just if you want, I’m happy to help.”

Oh.

He meant to stop her master from nagging that her sword was stolen by a down-and-out senior.

Su Zhen was speechless. “No… um, have you heard about Leng Xiang? It was originally my master’s sword in his youth. Later, when he forged the divine sword Liushuang, he gave Leng Xiang to the sect.”

Such stories were common in major sects.

Xiao Yu seemed aware. “Mm.”

Knowing he’d heard of her deeds, Su Zhen said directly, “Do you think, if my master asked me to give Leng Xiang…”

Forget it.

She had thought not to let him meddle in her sect’s messy affairs.

She shook her head. “Never mind. Pretend I didn’t say that.”

Xiao Yu regarded her thoughtfully and nodded quietly without pressing.

“Good.”

Su Zhen turned to enter but paused. “Senior, have you also encountered…”

She thought about it. With Xiao Yu’s experience, he probably had seen all kinds of people and wouldn’t be surprised.

So her question was pointless.

She was about to retract when—

“Encounter what? People like your master? Or your senior brother?” Xiao Yu naturally finished her sentence. “Both. Those with bizarre mindsets who blame everything on you and attack you unprovoked—I’ve killed many like them.”

Su Zhen understood.

Her own methods were similar.

She’d slain countless in both lives and felt no surprise hearing this.

If only she had killed Zhou Ziheng sooner.

Of course, for many reasons, she was reluctant to harm sect members in her past life to avoid trouble.

“If you weren’t unwilling to let me intervene, I’d have liked to smash your senior brother.”

Xiao Yu sighed. “But it’s good—I got to appreciate your exquisite technique.”

Su Zhen: “?”

Honestly, if he killed Jiang Wang, she wouldn’t care.

She’d only stopped him out of instinct, not wanting unrelated people involved.

Now, hearing “exquisite technique,” she wasn’t sure if he was mocking or sincere.

“Wait.”

Xiao Yu studied her face; his expression shifted. “I’m not belittling you. The combination of the Spirit Absorption Realm and Soul-Shattering Secret Spell is truly brilliant. Even I can’t use it so well.”

Su Zhen doubted his last words. “You said you don’t understand barrier runes, so were you teasing me?”

“I never said I don’t understand. I just have limited knowledge. Besides, I don’t identify your barrier by runes but by sensing changes in surrounding spiritual energy…”

Xiao Yu explained seriously. “Can’t you believe I’m genuinely complimenting you?”

Su Zhen was silent. “If just a compliment, I accept it. But you always say you’re not as good as me…”

Xiao Yu was calm. “That’s true. Our skill sets don’t completely overlap; each has strengths. You probably excel in more areas.”

Su Zhen didn’t fully grasp but understood the gist. “I have a mixed background. As for swordsmanship…”

She knew some obscure, unconventional spells. Even before thousands of years old cultivators, she could hold her ground, knowing a few techniques they didn’t.

But what did it matter?

They knew more she didn’t.

Even considering past life, she was much younger.

So the comparison was endless.

She paused. “Enough. I don’t want to repeat myself. Your talents are renowned, so I accept your praise. If you think I’m arrogant… then so be it.”

Tired.

“Fair enough, fair enough.”

Xiao Yu nodded enthusiastically. “No problem. I don’t think that. I believe capable people should have confidence.”

Su Zhen gave him a helpless look and recalled her mission. “Please wait here a moment.”

She broke the barrier on the door. “It really will be a moment—I’ll be out in fifteen minutes.”

Xiao Yu smiled. “No rush. I’ll wait.”

Su Zhen stepped inside and halted. “I mean it!”

She shut the door, quickly entered, and took out the pastries from the ice box.

She ground nuts into small pieces, picked the thorn-heart flowers flourishing in the courtyard, washed and plucked petals, layering the ingredients carefully in a bowl.

About to slice the cooled pea jelly, she realized there was no suitable kitchen knife.

Not wanting to use her sword, she flicked her hand, condensing several fine energy blades that cut the jelly into neat strips with a whoosh.

She nodded in satisfaction.

—Spirit Transformation cultivators must control their energy precisely; a slight mistake could shatter not only the plate and table but the entire house.

But her precision left not a single scratch on the porcelain, cutting only what she intended.

Su Zhen placed the treats on the table and went to open the door.

Xiao Yu stood outside, patient and unhurried, smiling. “Ready?”

Su Zhen nodded. “Senior, please come in.”

For some reason, Xiao Yu didn’t step inside immediately but stood quietly at the doorstep.

Su Zhen tilted her head, sensing his nervousness. He even took a soft breath.

She laughed. “It’s not a dragon’s den or tiger’s lair. You’ve been inside before—what’s the matter?”

Xiao Yu snapped out of it and stepped up, quickly by her side.

“Well, um…”

He hesitated. “I actually smelled it. Sorry, does that spoil the surprise?”

Su Zhen was momentarily stunned. “I brought you a box of pastries. Surprise or not, it’s more like…”

She didn’t want to finish, meeting his gaze and glaring.

He froze, then turned away, clearing his throat. “Just saying.”

The green paulownia branches swayed, forming a canopy over a stone table set with exquisite white porcelain bowls and plates, flawless and spotless.

Beside them lay a full set of spoons and chopsticks made from translucent crystal stone, faintly glowing with colorful patterns.

The priceless Seven-Light Crystal was only found in the Demon Realm’s Biyao Mountain’s spiritual veins, coveted by many cultivators.

Used here as tableware, it failed to attract any second glance from the guest.

Xiao Yu only stared at the bowl filled with fragrant pastry.

The pastry was half-solid, half-liquid, smooth and pale white, sprinkled with raisins and nut fragments, topped with bright red and pink petals.

The aroma blended floral, fruity, creamy, and wine scents, rich and exquisite.

Xiao Yu sat carefully, lifting the spoon, “Yours looks better arranged.”

“Really? I think your cake looks more exquisite,” Su Zhen smiled, glancing at the flourishing thorn-heart flower bush. “But I used spiritual power to hasten these flowers’ growth. This flavor should be unique across the Nine Realms.”

Others could do this too.

But since spiritual power varies, the taste could never be identical.

Softly, Su Zhen said, “Though based on an old recipe, it may not match your cake…”

Xiao Yu had just taken a bite and shook his head, savoring the flavor before speaking.

“No, no, no!”

He didn’t set down the spoon. “Your skills surpass mine a thousandfold. I should learn more from you.”

Su Zhen laughed. “You said you don’t flatter people casually. I just copied what my family’s cook did.”

“I told you before, the cake isn’t my original recipe. I borrowed from others.”

Xiao Yu shook his head. “Anyway, yours is superb.”

He sampled slowly, each bite deliberate, as if afraid to miss a detail.

Then he gave her a thumbs-up.

Su Zhen smiled, enjoying the praise—every cook liked such feedback, which lifted her spirits.

Xiao Yu ate half the bowl before starting on the other dishes.

The long white porcelain platter held sliced pea jelly, stacked like gold and jade. The top piece was placed crosswise.

“This arrangement is called ‘piling gold and setting jade.’”

Su Zhen propped her chin, watching him. “Though we don’t run a business, it’s a good omen.”

Xiao Yu agreed happily.

The pea jelly was firm yet soft, tender and non-sticky, its coolness offsetting the sweetness, making it refreshing.

Xiao Yu praised generously, “As they say, this cake should only exist in heaven; how many times can one taste it on earth?”

Su Zhen: “…”

What nonsense.

But upon reflection, she found it amusing and teased, “Since it’s tasted by an immortal, so be it.”

Xiao Yu had been watching her, startled by her words. He covered his face with a hand and turned away slightly, hiding his expression.

Su Zhen: “?”

What was that reaction?

Xiao Yu cleared his throat. “Nothing. I was just sweetened.”