"Does Nana know about this?"
Bibi Dong asked in a low voice.
"Saintess is currently in secluded cultivation at the Mimicry Training Ground. She probably has not received the news yet."
Gui Mei answered truthfully.
Bibi Dong rubbed her brow and sighed.
"That girl Nana is proud and arrogant. For twelve years, Huang Yan has been the only one in her eyes.
And now Huang Yan has suddenly brought a woman back to Spirit City..."
"Go to the Cultivation Field. Once Nana finishes cultivating, tell her about this tactfully and give her time to prepare herself.
Don't let her lose her composure from the shock when they meet."
"Yes, Your Holiness."
Gui Mei accepted the order and turned into a shadow that vanished within the Pope Palace.
The great hall returned to its deathly silence. Bibi Dong gazed in the direction of the Worship Hall and murmured to herself,
"Huang Yan... this woman you brought back had better not destroy Nana's resolve."
The next morning, at the dining table.
Huang Yan set down his utensils, looked at Shui Bing'er across from him, and smiled gently.
"Are you full?
If you are, we'll leave and handle your enrollment at Spirit Hall Academy."
Shui Bing'er nodded lightly and put down her milk.
Looking at Huang Yan, she hesitated for a moment before asking softly,
"Huang Yan, the Evil Fire inside your body... how is it now?"
Hearing this, Huang Yan chuckled and replied with an easy expression,
"Don't worry. I can still suppress it for now.
Judging from how I sense the Evil Fire in my body, its next full outbreak will probably be in a month."
Hearing the deadline of "one month," Shui Bing'er lowered her head slightly without speaking.
She understood very clearly why Huang Yan had forcefully brought her back to Spirit City—one could even say he had "forcibly married" her.
It was to use her Ice Phoenix martial soul to suppress that terrifying Evil Fire.
One month.
That meant that, at most, in another month, she would have to give herself completely to the man before her.
At that thought, a trace of helpless sorrow inevitably rose in Shui Bing'er's heart.
But upon further thought, she quickly came to terms with it.
A woman would eventually have to find a worthy man to entrust her life to.
And Huang Yan, whether in talent, strength, background, or appearance,
not only perfectly met every requirement she had for a future partner, but far exceeded her expectations.
Since fate had arranged things this way, giving herself to such an extraordinarily gifted man was, in fact, quite a good ending.
"What is it?
Why are you spacing out?"
Seeing Shui Bing'er lower her head in silence, Huang Yan asked with a light chuckle.
Shui Bing'er suddenly came back to her senses. A faint blush crept onto her cheeks, and she quickly shook her head as she stood up.
"N-Nothing.
Let's go. We should register at the academy."
Seeing her slightly flustered appearance, Huang Yan did not expose her. He merely smiled and turned to walk outside.
"Alright, let's go.
At Spirit Hall Academy, I'll have your back."
Meanwhile, outside a Mimicry Training Ground at Spirit Hall Academy.
Xie Yue, Yan, and Hu Liena had gathered together, but the atmosphere was somewhat heavy.
The previous night, Bibi Dong had already sent someone to inform them that Huang Yan had returned to the city.
"That kid Huang Yan actually broke through to level fifty before any of us and became a Soul King. What a monster."
Xie Yue leaned against a tree trunk, his tone carrying a touch of admiration.
However, Hu Liena beside him seemed absent-minded. Her stunning face was full of worry, mixed with a hint of aggrieved jealousy.
Seeing his younger sister like this, Xie Yue sighed helplessly.
"Enough, Nana.
Your feelings for Huang Yan were obvious enough when you kept fawning over him. Now, it is practically like you have 'I like him' written across your forehead.
He has only just returned, and you have not even met that woman, yet you are already overthinking and getting jealous. Is that really necessary?"
"Brother!
What nonsense are you talking about?!"
Hu Liena's pretty face reddened, yet she bit her red lips and lowered her head somewhat unwillingly.
"I just... I just can't understand why he suddenly brought back a woman from Skywater Academy."
Yan, who had been standing beside them the entire time, felt a surge of delight at this sight. He felt that his chance had finally come.
Yan hurriedly stepped forward, putting on the appearance of a gentle, considerate man as he comforted her softly.
"Nana, don't be sad.
It isn't worth being upset over a man like that."
As Yan spoke, he began to condemn Huang Yan indignantly.
"Think about it. He clearly knows how sincere your feelings for him are, yet he still flirts around outside and even brazenly brings a woman back to Spirit City.
What does that mean?
It means he does not care about your feelings at all!"
"To put it bluntly, Huang Yan is just a selfish scumbag!
You are so outstanding. Why must you hang yourself on his tree alone?
There are clearly people by your side who understand you better and care for you more..."
"Shut your mouth!"
Before Yan could finish, Hu Liena abruptly raised her head and glared at him furiously with icy eyes.
"Yan, who the hell do you think you are, daring to slander Huang Yan behind his back?!"
Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, Hu Liena defended him loudly without mercy.
"Huang Yan is extraordinarily talented, and he is the strongest among us. With how outstanding he is, it is only natural that other women like him!
Who he brings back is none of your business, so what gives you the right to gossip here?
If I ever hear you say another bad word about him, don't blame me for being rude!"
Yan stood there, stunned by the scolding. His outstretched hand froze awkwardly in midair as his face alternated between green and white.
He stared at Hu Liena in utter disbelief. A powerful sense of grievance rose in his heart, followed immediately by rage born of maddening jealousy.
Why?!
Huang Yan does not even take you seriously, yet you still defend him so devotedly?!
What exactly gives him the right to receive such wholehearted affection from you?!
Seeing the atmosphere turn stiff, Xie Yue helplessly pressed a hand onto Yan's shoulder and tried to smooth things over.
"Enough, Yan. Say less.
You know perfectly well what Huang Yan means to Nana. Why make things difficult for yourself?"
Yan clenched his fists tightly and growled through gritted teeth.
"I'm just not willing to accept it!
The three of us grew up together. I have catered to her in every way, so why..."
"Because you can't beat him, and your talent is inferior to his."
Xie Yue hit the nail on the head, cutting Yan off without mercy.
Just then, a set of unhurried footsteps came from the end of the tree-lined path.
"Looks like everyone already knows that I'm back."
A clear, gentle voice rang out, instantly drawing all three of their gazes.
Huang Yan, dressed in white and wearing a faint smile, was slowly walking toward them.
At his side was an exceptionally beautiful young woman with blue hair and blue eyes, her temperament cool and refined. It was Shui Bing'er.
Hu Liena had still been angry, but the moment she heard that familiar voice, her beautiful eyes instantly lit up, and all her earlier gloom vanished.
"Huang Yan!
You really came back!"
Before you continue