Husband and Wife!

Tang Xiao let her fuss over him, gazing at her serious profile, his heart utterly calm.

After he was properly dressed, Qian Renxue took his hand again and led him to sit before the bronze mirror.

She picked up an exquisite white jade comb, stood behind Tang Xiao, and gently smoothed his long hair.

"My husband's hair is really wonderful. It's even softer than mine."

As she combed, Qian Renxue praised him.

Tang Xiao looked at the two of them in the mirror, one gold and one black; they seemed especially well matched.

"If you like, I'll let you comb it every day from now on."

At those words, Qian Renxue's eyes curved into beautiful crescents.

"You said that yourself. No taking it back."

"I'll remember it."

Her movements were very slow and very gentle, unwilling to ruin this rare, tender moment.

"Oh, right, husband. The Sky Screen announced tenth place yesterday, so it should continue with the rankings today, shouldn't it?"

As she tied up Tang Xiao's long hair, Qian Renxue asked softly.

Tang Xiao's expression was calm as he looked at their reflections in the mirror.

"Since the Heavenly Dao Gold List has appeared, it will naturally produce a result."

"However, the names on that list mean nothing to me."

Qian Renxue inserted a blue-silver hairpin into place, took a step back, and carefully sized him up.

"Husband, you're truly handsome."

Unable to hold back a word of praise, Qian Renxue then sat down beside him with some curiosity.

"Then who does husband think ninth place will be?"

"Could it be one of those beings from the Far North?"

Tang Xiao stood up and shook out his sleeves.

"In the Far North, aside from the Snow Empress and the Ice Empress, there really aren't any figures worth mentioning."

"However, those two little ones are still some distance away from five hundred thousand years of cultivation."

"The ninth-place spot will most likely still belong to someone in the Star Dou Great Forest."

His analysis was light and effortless, as if Tang Xiao were commenting on his own back garden.

The two walked side by side out of the bedroom and arrived at the pavilion in the manor.

The morning breeze carried the fragrance of earth, along with a faint floral scent.

The Blue Silver Grass within the manor seemed to sense the arrival of their supreme one. One after another, they straightened their blades and bent slightly toward the pavilion.

A faint blue glow flickered among the grass, like a sea of stars.

Qian Renxue looked at the scene, her eyes filled with wonder.

"Every time I see these Blue Silver Grass, I find it incredible."

"It's like they really have spirits."

Tang Xiao walked over to the stone table and sat down, casually beckoning.

A thick Blue Silver Grass vine obediently slid over, placed an exquisite food box on the stone table, then silently withdrew.

"All things have spirits, let alone my people."

Tang Xiao opened the food box. Inside were several exquisite little pastries, still steaming hot.

Qian Renxue sat down opposite him and took the initiative to ladle a bowl of hot porridge, placing it before Tang Xiao.

"I specially had the kitchen maid prepare this plain porridge yesterday. Husband, try it."

She looked at him expectantly.

Tang Xiao took a bite and nodded slightly.

"The heat was just right. It melts in the mouth. You put thought into this."

Qian Renxue smiled very sweetly, then picked up a bowl herself and drank it in small sips.

"Husband, once the world is at peace, shall we go to the Sun Moon Continent?"

"I want to see the empire you established."

With a trace of longing in her eyes, Qian Renxue spoke softly.

She had always been filled with curiosity toward that mysterious continent.

Tang Xiao put down his spoon and looked at the distant sky.

"All right."

"Once the trivial matters here are settled, I'll take you back."

"The Blue Silver Empire there is far more vast than you imagine."

"When the time comes, you will be its mistress."

Qian Renxue's face flushed slightly, but her heart felt sweet.

"Husband, there's something on the corner of your mouth."

Qian Renxue spoke softly and gently, her fair fingers pinching a snow-white silk handkerchief as she leaned closer.

She carefully wiped the congee from the corner of Tang Xiao's mouth, her movements as gentle as if she were cleaning a priceless treasure.

Tang Xiao naturally took that bonelessly soft hand and wrapped it in his palm.

"For such a small thing, I can do it myself."

"You were tired out last night, and your body hasn't fully recovered yet. Rest more."

Hearing Tang Xiao mention last night, another blush rose on Qian Renxue's cheeks, even dyeing her fair neck a faint pink.

She shot Tang Xiao a slightly coquettish glare and tried to pull her hand back, only for him to hold it even tighter.

A little unwilling, Qian Renxue swayed her body and stretched out another slender finger, gently drawing circles on Tang Xiao's chest.

"Husband only knows how to tease me. You're clearly the one full of wicked thoughts."

"How am I full of wicked thoughts?"

Tang Xiao caught her misbehaving finger and brought it to his lips, gently biting it.

"I only want to be closer to my own wife. Is that wrong too?"

Qian Renxue only felt a tingling sensation spread from her fingertip, like a faint current of electricity running up her arm and straight into her heart, making half her body go weak.

She shot Tang Xiao a somewhat coquettish glare, her voice lowering with a hint of barely perceptible shyness.

"Husband is talking nonsense again. With your divine power nourishing me, how could I be tired?"

"It's you, Husband—does a God King truly have such abundant energy, to be so bright and spirited first thing in the morning?"

Tang Xiao let out a low laugh. With a stretch of his long arm, he pulled her straight onto his lap.

Qian Renxue cried out in surprise and instinctively wrapped her arms around Tang Xiao's neck, her whole body pressing against that broad chest.

"Whether it's nonsense or not, you know best in your heart."

"Do you want me to help nourish you again?"

Tang Xiao leaned to her ear, his warm breath brushing over Qian Renxue's sensitive earlobe, making her body tremble slightly.

Qian Renxue hurriedly buried her head in the hollow of Tang Xiao's neck, speaking in a soft, sweet, coquettish voice.

"No more. It's broad daylight. What if someone comes in?"

"Other than you and me, there are only those obedient Blue Silver Grass in this manor. Who could come in?"

Tang Xiao found it a little funny and pinched her cheek, the touch warm and smooth as jade, making it hard to let go.

Qian Renxue raised her head, ripples flowing in her beautiful eyes.

"That still won't do. What if Zhong Lingyue suddenly has something to report?"

"She wouldn't dare disturb us at a time like this."

Tang Xiao paid it no mind, his fingers gently twining around a lock of her long golden hair.

"Still, seeing this little-girl side of you now makes me think of how you used to disguise yourself as the Heaven Dou crown prince."

"Xue Qinghe back then was so dignified and imposing. How was he anything like you now, getting shy so easily?"

Hearing this, Qian Renxue pouted in dissatisfaction.

"Husband, did you see through me long ago back then?"

"I thought my disguise was flawless. Even that old fox Ning Fengzhi couldn't see through it."

Tang Xiao lowered his head and looked at her, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

"That disguise of yours could fool mortals, but how could it fool my eyes?"

"Putting aside the fact that your bones and aura were wrong, your figure alone had nowhere to hide before divine sense."

"Not to mention, back then, in order to make the act convincing, you even made yourself a fake Adam's apple. Yet when you spoke, that Adam's apple didn't move at all. It really was a little crude."

Qian Renxue froze as she listened, then somewhat vexedly patted his chest.

"So you were laughing at me even back then!"

"And there I was, on edge every day, afraid you'd discover some clue, testing you in all sorts of ways in secret."

"But you were just watching me struggle like you were watching a show."

Tang Xiao's smile deepened. He held that misbehaving little hand of hers and placed a gentle kiss by his lips.

"If I didn't let you struggle, how would I have seen the proud Angel successor acting so cautious in the mortal world?"

"Still, you back then truly had an unwilling-to-lose spirit. I admired it quite a bit."

Qian Renxue gave a soft hmph, though her heart felt a little sweet.

"Then, husband, do you like the me from back then, or the me now?"

She asked the question a little cautiously, her bright eyes fixed straight on Tang Xiao.

Tang Xiao looked at the expectation in her eyes and deliberately pondered for a moment.

"Let me think."

"Xue Qinghe back then was valiant and impressive. He really was rather special."

Seeing Qian Renxue's eyes gradually dim with disappointment, Tang Xiao stopped teasing her and held her a little tighter.

"But I like the Xue'er of now more."

"Because the you now is wholly and completely my wife, and you no longer need to wear that false mask."

When Qian Renxue heard that, the tiny bit of grievance in her heart instantly vanished like smoke, and her whole body softened in Tang Xiao's arms.

"Husband, meeting you truly is the greatest fortune of my life."

"Back in Spirit Hall, all I thought about every day was how to fulfill Grandpa's expectations, and how to prove myself to that woman."

"I never lived a single day for myself."

"Not until I met you did I learn that being alive could be this easy, this happy."

Her voice was a little low, carrying a sense of release from the past.

Tang Xiao gently patted her back, as if soothing a peerless treasure.

"The past is past. From now on, with me here, you can live however you want."

"In this world, no one can force you to do anything ever again."

Qian Renxue nodded slightly and pressed her face against his chest. Listening to that strong heartbeat, she felt utterly safe.

She wrapped her arms around the man's waist with some dependence.

"But, husband, I really am grateful to you."

"Grateful that you preserved Spirit Hall."

"Spirit Hall was Grandpa's lifelong labor, and also the place where I grew up."

"Although that woman did many wrong things, Spirit Hall itself was not wrong. It protected countless commoner soul masters across the continent."

"If it had truly been wiped out completely in the dust of history, I really wouldn't know how to face Grandpa."

Tang Xiao sighed and held her a little tighter.

"Silly girl, Spirit Hall's inheritance won't be broken."

"The Blue Silver Empire will take over everything from the Spirit Hall Empire, but Spirit Hall, as the sacred land of soul masters, will still be preserved."

"However, from now on it will no longer have the power to rule the continent. It can only exist as a pure soul master organization."

"For it, that is also the best ending."

Qian Renxue nodded slightly, her eyes filled with relief.

"Mm, that's good enough."

"As long as its inheritance remains, Grandpa's spirit in heaven should be able to rest in peace too."

The two of them nestled together in the pavilion for a long time, until the sunlight gradually became somewhat warm.

Tang Xiao stood up and, taking the opportunity, pulled Qian Renxue to her feet as well.

"Come on. I'll take you around the estate."

"I've been busy with all sorts of things these past few days and haven't properly accompanied you to enjoy the scenery."

Qian Renxue was naturally more than willing. She immediately took Tang Xiao's arm, and the two walked out of the pavilion side by side.

The estate was very large, surrounded by all kinds of exotic flowers and rare plants, but what there was most of was still the boundless Blue Silver Grass.

As Tang Xiao stepped forward, the surrounding Blue Silver Grass seemed to receive some kind of command and retreated to both sides, clearing a wide path.

They swayed gently in the breeze, making a soft rustling sound, as if paying respects to their king and queen.

Qian Renxue watched this magical scene and could not help crouching down, reaching out to touch the leaf of a stalk of Blue Silver Grass.

That stalk of Blue Silver Grass immediately wound meekly around her fingertip, its cool touch carrying a hint of intimacy.

"They really do like you."

Tang Xiao watched this scene, a gentle light in his eyes.

"You are my wife, so naturally they will respect you just as they respect me."

As he spoke, Tang Xiao lifted his right hand slightly.

Countless Blue Silver Grass vines drilled out of the soil, rapidly weaving and twining together in midair.

In just a short while, a swing woven from vines appeared beneath the large tree ahead.

The vines were even dotted with specks of blue fluorescent light, making it seem especially dreamlike.

"Sit on it and try."

Tang Xiao looked at her and spoke softly.

Qian Renxue's beautiful eyes lit up. Lifting the hem of her dress, she ran over with some excitement.

She sat carefully on the swing, gripping the vines on either side with both hands.

"Husband, this swing is so pretty."

"Push me."

Tang Xiao walked behind her, gently set both hands against her warm shoulders, and applied a little force.

The swing slowly began to sway, carrying Qian Renxue through a graceful arc in midair.

Her long golden hair danced in the air, reflecting a dazzling light.

Her clear laughter echoed through the estate, like a mountain spring tinkling, pleasant and melodious.

Seeing how happy she was, Tang Xiao's mood also became especially light.

He controlled his strength, not letting the swing rise too high, yet just enough for her to feel the gentle caress of the wind.

"Husband, a little higher!"

Qian Renxue turned her head, her golden strands flashing like flecks of gold beneath the sunlight, her radiant smile so bright it was impossible to look away.

"All right, then hold on tight."

Tang Xiao said it with a smile, increasing the force in his hands slightly.

The swing soared into the air, almost level with the treetops.

Qian Renxue let out a clear cry of surprise, followed by bell-like laughter.

She closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling of the wind whistling past her ears, as if she had truly become a bird flying free.

In that moment, the mission of Spirit Hall, the inheritance of the Angel God, the disputes of empires—all of it was thrown far beyond the clouds.

In her world, there was only the wind, only the sunlight, and the man behind her who had always protected her.

After swinging for a while, the swing gradually slowed.

Tang Xiao stepped forward, held the ropes of the swing with both hands, and steadied her.

Qian Renxue turned her head, an excited blush on her face and fine beads of sweat seeping out on her forehead.

Tang Xiao reached out and wiped away her sweat, his eyes full of indulgent affection.

"Was it fun?"

"It was. I haven't felt this relaxed in a long time."

Qian Renxue wrapped her arms around his neck, somewhat reluctant to get down.

Tang Xiao smiled, then gently grasped at the empty air with his right hand.

The surrounding Blue Silver Grass instantly gave off a dazzling blue glow, and countless points of light gathered into Tang Xiao's hand.