Chu Yang looked at the woman before him with deep affection. Her desires had always been simple and pure, yet she had to pay such a heavy price for them.
It was astonishing to realize that just wanting to live could be so difficult.
Before meeting the little fox, Chu Yang had never considered that merely surviving could be such a luxury for some people.
Even the cultivators outside the mirror, who had experienced various aspects of the mortal realm, were touched and deeply moved by the sight of the little fox. Many female cultivators even wept for her tragic experiences.
They wished that this poor little fox could live in peace forever.
But they knew the truth—the little fox had eventually died. This was an undeniable fact.
Perhaps for her, living was truly a luxury that she did not deserve.
...
Chu Yang's eyes were filled with determination as he gazed softly at Xiao Qi. "From now on, I will protect you and won't let anyone or anything harm you."
At this moment, Chu Yang felt a great sense of relief.
The trials in the Forbidden Land had been tough and arduous, but the outcome was perfect.
His strength had greatly increased, and both of them had survived.
In fact, Chu Yang felt a newfound sensation.
For the first time, he looked forward to the days beyond the Forbidden Land.
From the moment he had borne the grudge of his parents' bloodshed in his youth, he had no longer lived for himself…
Now, he could finally live for himself, for Xiao Qi, and for the two of them.
Xiao Qi smiled and took Chu Yang's hand. "I know a beautiful place I've always wanted to visit but never had the chance. Now that the curse is lifted, I'd love to see it."
Chu Yang nodded in agreement. "Alright, I want to see if it's more beautiful than Xiao Qi."
Xiao Qi's laughter rang out like silver bells.
The two of them flew through the sky, leaving the Forbidden Land behind.
Once outside, they both took deep breaths of the fresh air, feeling rejuvenated.
They wandered through mountains and lakes like an ordinary couple, discovering many previously unseen scenic spots.
The little fox, now unburdened, behaved like a child, dragging Chu Yang to explore and enjoy every interesting place they came across.
This period was the most relaxed Chu Yang had ever been.
He cast aside all previous burdens and focused solely on enjoying his time with Xiao Qi.
Playing, being childish, and making mischief together.
They continued in their chosen direction, ignoring everything else, and everything felt relaxed and pleasant.
Enjoying the world's beauty and savoring delicious food was quite comforting.
Xiao Qi sighed, "I didn't realize there were so many wonderful places, beautiful landscapes, and delicious foods in the world."
"I used to think about how to break the bloodline curse, traveling far and wide to find a solution. I never had the chance to truly appreciate this beautiful world."
"Looking back, it's a bit of a pity."
Her expression was peaceful, and a satisfied smile graced her face.
The rising sun cast a warm, comforting glow over them.
Suddenly, Xiao Qi turned to Chu Yang and asked, "Is there anything you've always wanted to do?"
Chu Yang pondered seriously for a moment before replying, "Since I was young, I've been carrying the grudge of my parents' murder. The thing I most want to do is find the killer and avenge my parents."
The little fox was evidently not satisfied with this answer, as if she was searching for something more.
"What about after you avenge your parents? What do you want to do then?" she continued.
"After avenging them? I'd find my sister and see how she's doing. It seems like it's been a long time since then."
"And after you see her?"
"Well, once that's done, I'd find my old friends and catch up over drinks."
Xiao Qi's face darkened further. Unwilling to give up, she asked, "Is that all?"
Chu Yang looked up at the sky and pondered deeply. After much thought, he realized that aside from these obsessions, he didn't have many other desires.
Xiao Qi was left speechless.
Xiao Qi couldn't help but feel exasperated. She wanted to knock on Chu Yang's head to see what exactly was going on inside.
Despite her obvious hints, he still hadn't picked up on them.
Frustrated, Xiao Qi decided to be more direct: "Haven't you ever thought about finding a partner to share your life with? Someone to enjoy life's highs and lows, to witness sunrises and sunsets together? The path of cultivation is lonely, and having a companion can make the journey much more enjoyable than wandering alone."
Chu Yang shook his head and replied, "That's not something I've considered. I'm used to being alone."
Xiao Qi shot him a frustrated glare, as if she could swallow him whole with her eyes.
Fuming, she sped off in the distance.
Chu Yang was puzzled and surprised. Was this how women generally reacted?
He thought hard about his response and couldn't figure out what he might have said wrong. Why would Xiao Qi be angry?
Shaking his head, he ran after her, calling out, "Wait for me!"
Outside the Heavenly Emperor's realm.
The cultivators watching the scene were both disdainful and incredulous towards the Emperor.
Many of them openly criticized, "So what if he's the Emperor? No matter how extraordinary he is, I wouldn't be surprised if he falls short in this regard."
"I never believed there could be someone so oblivious until I saw the Emperor!"
They were quite frustrated, noting how Xiao Qi had made her feelings so clear—practically explicit—but the Emperor still seemed oblivious.
Xiao Qi's appearance was almost identical to the Demon Empress Bai Xiao Qi, someone many cultivators dreamed of pursuing. Even though Xiao Qi was not as exalted as Bai Xiao Qi, she was still a top choice among many. Yet, the Emperor showed no interest.
Ye Fan was particularly envious and confused.
He couldn't understand where he had fallen short.
In terms of appearance, the Emperor's ordinary looks couldn't compare to Ye Fan's strikingly handsome features. In terms of looks alone, Ye Fan was confident that he surpassed the Emperor.
And yet, despite his many beautiful admirers, none seemed to show any real affection towards him.
Ye Fan was determined, thinking to himself:
"One day, I'll make sure to win over the Demon Empress Bai Xiao Qi!"