A Fine Night

Everyone followed Nie Li into the Endless Desert and searched for several days and nights, but they still failed to find the so-called Desert Divine Palace. Nie Li felt somewhat disappointed.

"Forget it. Everyone, go back for now. We can come back and look again later."

Shangguan Ye tore open space, and everyone stepped through. When they emerged, they were already at the City Lord's Mansion. Ye Yan, Ye Mo, and Ye Zong soon rushed over.

"You're back. How did it go?" Ye Mo asked slowly.

Shangguan Ye and the others took turns recounting what had happened.

"I see." Ye Mo let out a breath of relief.

"Ye Mo, the children have just returned. Let them go back and rest first, and reunite properly with their families. After all, the next time they return will be five years from now," Ye Yan said.

"Very well. Children, go on home."

"Yes." Everyone dispersed.

Night fell as Shangguan Ye held Xiao Ning'er's hand and walked down the streets toward the Winged Dragon Family estate.

"Oh, right, Ning'er. I have something for you." Shangguan Ye stopped, took out a purple Demon Spirit Stone, and placed it in Xiao Ning'er's hand. The moment she saw it, she could not look away. She felt an intense compatibility with the demon spirit within it, but she still suppressed the joy in her heart.

"I have something for you too." Xiao Ning'er took out a grass-woven bracelet with a heart-shaped flower on it.

"I found this grass in the First Deathlands. Xiao Yu told me it was called Heartbond Grass. If two people in love wear bracelets made from the same stalk of grass, the bracelets will glow whenever they miss each other."

As Xiao Ning'er spoke, she put one on Shangguan Ye's wrist, then put the other on herself. As soon as they wore them, the bracelets turned cool.

The two exchanged smiles and continued onward hand in hand.

As they chatted and laughed, they neared the Winged Dragon Family estate. The gate guard spotted them in the distance and hurried inside to report.

"Patriarch! The young miss and young master-in-law have returned! They'll be here any moment!" the guard said in a panic.

"Really?!" Xiao Yunfeng was overjoyed and hurried out to greet them, only to run straight into the pair as soon as he stepped outside.

"Father," they said in unison, much to Xiao Yunfeng's satisfaction.

"My worthy son-in-law, you've returned. The journey must have been tiring, so stay here tonight." Xiao Yunfeng pulled Shangguan Ye inside. Seeing how enthusiastic his father-in-law was, Shangguan Ye could not refuse and stayed.

Xiao Yunfeng prepared a table full of fine wine and delicious dishes. The family enjoyed a warm and happy meal, and Shangguan Ye found himself enjoying it as well. At home, he had always eaten alone.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Xiao Yunfeng pulled Xiao Ning'er aside and whispered something to her. Her face immediately flushed red. She glanced toward Shangguan Ye and, seeing that he was not paying attention, sighed in relief and lowered her head, lost in thought.

"My worthy son-in-law, get some rest early," Xiao Yunfeng said.

"Alright."

Shangguan Ye returned to his room, which was right beside Xiao Ning'er's.

Late that night, Shangguan Ye lay on the bed in a daze when the door creaked open and a slender figure entered.

"Ning'er?" Shangguan Ye sat up and saw Xiao Ning'er carrying a bowl of soup, dressed only in a thin gauzy layer.

"Shangguan, Father asked me to bring you a bowl of sobering soup." After saying that, Xiao Ning'er practically buried her head in her chest.

What kind of excuse was that? Shangguan's cultivation was so high. How could this kind of wine possibly get him drunk? Xiao Ning'er thought.

Shangguan Ye walked to the table, and Xiao Ning'er set the soup down. He glanced at it and was about to pick it up when he noticed a large amount of white powder still undissolved at the bottom of the bowl. Looking at Xiao Ning'er, Shangguan Ye suddenly understood.

Shangguan Ye could not help snickering.

"Shangguan?" Xiao Ning'er looked bewildered.

Shangguan Ye said nothing. A pair of chopsticks materialized in his hand, and he stirred the bowl. Only then did Xiao Ning'er realize that the aphrodisiac she had added had not dissolved. In an instant, she blushed from her neck to her face and hurried to run outside. But Shangguan Ye caught her and pulled her into his embrace. He lowered his head and breathed warm air against her ear. Xiao Ning'er's body trembled as though struck by lightning before she went limp in his arms.

Shangguan Ye lifted Xiao Ning'er into his arms and carried her toward the bed. She buried her face against his chest, her heart racing wildly.

Shangguan Ye gently laid Xiao Ning'er on the bed. She shut her eyes, looking as though she were prepared to face death, yet Shangguan Ye did nothing for a long while. Xiao Ning'er cracked her eyes open and saw Shangguan Ye lying beside her, quietly watching her.

Xiao Ning'er's mind was in complete chaos. Seeing that Shangguan Ye was not making a move, she actually began to undress herself. Shangguan Ye caught her hand.

"Silly girl." Shangguan Ye lightly flicked Xiao Ning'er on the forehead, then pulled her into his arms and closed his eyes. Xiao Ning'er seemed to understand what he meant, and sweetness filled her heart. She snuggled deeper into his embrace, and the two soon fell into a deep sleep.

The next day, Shangguan Ye woke and saw Xiao Ning'er still sleeping. He leaned over, kissed her forehead, then quietly left and returned to his family.

Not long afterward, Xiao Ning'er woke up and saw that Shangguan Ye was no longer beside her. However, her bracelet had begun to glow, and she smiled.

"Shangguan..."

By then, Shangguan Ye had returned home, gathered the family members, and convened a meeting.

"Uncle Xun, did anything significant happen while I was away?" Shangguan Ye asked.

"Reporting to the Patriarch, nothing major happened. However, Shangguan Yun and Shangguan Yue both broke through to Legendary Rank, while I reached Legendary Peak," Shangguan Xun replied with cupped hands.

"Hahaha! Our family has gained two more Legendary Rank combatants. It is time for us to sit in the position of Glory City's foremost family," one family member laughed.

"That's right. Though we are all protecting Glory City, we cannot always be content to trail behind others."

"Mm. You've all improved greatly, but you must not become too arrogant," Shangguan Ye reminded them.

"Yes!"

After arranging the family's affairs, Shangguan Ye entered the World of Mountains and Rivers to cultivate. More than two months passed before he emerged from cultivation and exhaled a breath of turbid air. His cultivation had already risen from the Heavenly Fate Third Realm to the eighth realm.

"Cultivating in there truly lets one advance by leaps and bounds. Demon Lord, Demon Lord... I wonder what expression you'll have when you see my cultivation." Shangguan Ye smiled, then left the World of Mountains and Rivers.

After looking into matters, Shangguan Ye learned that nothing had happened during his cultivation. In other words, the Demon Lord had not yet arrived.

As the sky gradually darkened, Shangguan Ye spread out his senses and enveloped all of Glory City. After a long while, a familiar aura finally appeared.

"He's here." Using Space Law, Shangguan Ye appeared directly before the Demon Lord.

"Well! Old friends meeting again—why are you in such a hurry?" Shangguan Ye said with a smile.

"I didn't expect you to find me even though I hid so deeply." The Demon Lord's withered, pale face slowly emerged. He flew into the sky, and Shangguan Ye followed. Before long, Ye Yan and the others rushed over and surrounded the Demon Lord.

"Demon Lord, you already abandoned Glory City, yet you still dare to return?" Ye Mo barked.

"Bullshit! Glory City was the one that abandoned me!" the Demon Lord roared, then realized that he had lost his composure.

"I have no desire to talk about this anymore. Hand over that thing, and I can guarantee that I won't kill anyone!" The Demon Lord's expression twisted viciously.