"Grandfather..."
Lin Ni wheedled affectionately with the Heavenly Emperor, who gazed at her with fond indulgence. Grandfather and granddaughter basked in each other's company.
Shi Yi watched quietly from the side, saying nothing.
He knew this might be one of Lin Ni's few happy moments in the Emperorfall Era.
It was truly cruel for her. She had only just reunited with her closest kin, yet they would soon be separated by life and death.
Shi Yi sighed softly, sadness stirring in his heart. Although he had not spent much time with Lin Ni, he could tell she was a friend with whom he could share genuine sincerity.
Suddenly, the Heavenly Emperor spoke, bringing up Shi Yi.
"Young friend, are you Shi Yi?"
"Yes. Shi Yi pays his respects to the Heavenly Emperor." He bowed to the imposing middle-aged man.
The Heavenly Emperor nodded slightly, making no attempt to hide the admiration in his gaze. A being of his stature could tell at a glance whether a young person was true gold.
Without question, Shi Yi was the purest of gold, shrouded in feathering immortal light and wreathed in the aura of the mortal world, sacred and transcendent.
Most importantly, he bore traces of time, karma, and fate that drew even the worldly Heavenly Emperor's attention.
After that, the Heavenly Emperor raised no heavy subjects, nor did he probe Shi Yi's origins. A being like him could see through the ages at a glance. How could he fail to notice the extraordinary things about Shi Yi? He simply did not want to put Shi Yi in a difficult position. When time was involved, many things were taboo and could not be spoken of.
Like a kindly elder, he chatted and laughed with Shi Yi and Lin Ni, recounting the marvelous encounters