Two days later, Ye Yu, leading the bound Gu Ji, followed Shen Fuxin to the Jiyue Pavilion in the northern reaches of the Divine Realm.
The place looked as though it had been ripped from myth, a sky of shifting clouds stretching endlessly overhead.
Countless divine cities floated upon auspicious clouds, encircling the main hall in majestic array.
Could this be the Divine Pact of the God Realm?
Ye Yu turned to Shen Fuxin at his side, about to speak, but held his tongue.
She had been weighed down by unspoken troubles ever since their journey began, her silence thick as stone.
Ye Yu sensed her desire to avoid him, yet could not fathom why.
He had tried probing gently, only to be met with Shen Fuxinās forced smile and a slight shake of her head.
Their former closeness felt gone, replaced by an unbridgeable distance.
Iāll contact Senior Xue Hen nowāI hope he can help Sister Gu Ji! Shen Fuxin murmured, drawing a communication stone from her pocket.
But at that moment, a figure materialized before the three of themāa middle-aged man in white robes.
āMiss Shen, when did you arrive? Why not let me know?ā he called, stepping forward.
Shen Fuxin retreated half a pace, bowing her hands before him. āSenior Xue Hen, Iām afraid I must trouble you with a matter.ā
She then recounted everything concerning Gu Jiās plight and asked if there was any solution.
Hearing this, Xue Henās gaze shifted to Ye Yu and Gu Jiābut the warmth heād shown before was gone, replaced by an icy aloofness.
āFor Miss Shenās sake, I will helpābut only this once. Youāre lucky to count Miss Shen as a friend.ā
Frankly, Ye Yuās first impression of Xue Hen was far from good. He was insufferably pompous. If not for needing his aid to purge Gu Jiās mind-devil, Ye Yu would have liked nothing better than to slap him.
Perhaps noticing Ye Yuās scowl, Shen Fuxin sent a mental whisper: Xue Hen may be arrogant, but he can cure Sister Gu Jiās inner demonājust bear with him.
Ye Yu exhaled, saying nothing further.
Xue Hen did not lead them into the Jiyue Pavilion, but instead guided them to the edge of a divine mountain. Thunder rumbled constantly here, bolts of god-lightning striking distant peaks with heart-stopping force.
Shen Fuxin bowed her head, silentāclearly rejecting him.
Xue Hen was no fool and saw it too, but he remained undeterred, resorting to a familiar ploy.
āMiss Shen, Iāve seen your friendās body overrun by an inner demon for some time now. To sever and destroy it is nearly impossible. Even if I give my all, I will harm her core and lose my cultivation. Yet I am willing to sacrifice so much for youādo you not understand my heart?ā
In the rear courtyard, Ye Yu watched this exchange in his mind and felt his face darken. How low-brow, how base!
Though their lines were similar, the skill gap was vast. Xue Henās delivery was stiff and insincere, colored by the implication: if you donāt agree, I wonāt bother.
By contrast, Ye Yuās own approach was far more subtle and masterfulāhis acting instinct at full throttle, speaking only just enough to prompt the other to offer what he wanted, never resorting to blunt threats or demands.
Utter trash, he thought.
Having vented silently, Ye Yu prepared to step into the front courtyard and halt this crude transactionāhe could not allow Shen Fuxin to pay such a price for his sake.
Moreover, that bastard Xue Hen had long annoyed him. Today he would teach him the true cost of loveāand then extract his memories to purge the inner devil himself.
But as Xue Hen and Shen Fuxin continued speaking, Ye Yu froze in place!

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