Transforming into a stunningly beautiful fox spirit, leaving a scar on the heart of a prodigy.

The wind in the land forsaken by God always carries a chill that seeps into your bones.

Even though the sacred parasol tree has revived and the golden divine light illuminates half of the Burial Abyss, it will still take some time for this wasteland, abandoned by heaven and earth for ten thousand years, to fully recover.

A slightly dilapidated carriage slowly moved forward on the ancient road paved with gravel.

The cart was pulled by two stone-scaled horses from the Mountain Moving Sect. Their hooves were large and they were very steady on the rocks.

The driver was only three feet tall, with a head of sparse green hair; he was none other than Tu Ling, who had just latched onto a powerful patron.

It waved a whip in its hand, hummed an unknown tune, and its wrinkled face was full of joy at surviving a disaster.

This time, the gamble paid off.

Not only did he save his life, but he also got a hollow promise of being called "Earth Virtue True Lord".

Although it hasn't been fulfilled yet, judging from the demeanor of the two people in the car, it's highly likely to go through.

As long as we follow these two gentlemen back to the capital, we'll live a life of luxury and never have to suffer in this godforsaken place again.

Thinking of this, Tu Ling swung the whip even more vigorously.

"drive!"

The stone-scaled horse snorted and quickened its pace.

Inside the train carriage.

Gu Xiang leaned back on the cushion, holding an ancient book he had taken from the library of the Mountain Moving Sect, and was engrossed in reading it.

Su Qing sat next to him.

Because of that "ten-meter restriction," the two are now almost inseparable.

Su Qing idly played with the jade pendant at Gu Xiang's waist.

That was the dragon-patterned jade pendant, the place where her divided soul had previously resided. Although she had now regained her original body, this jade pendant had been nurtured by Gu Xiang with his heart's blood for so long, and it was filled with his aura.

It feels warm to the touch.

Su Qing pressed the jade pendant against her face and rubbed it.

Then she looked up and glanced at Gu Xiang.

This guy is more focused on reading than on her.

Su Qing felt somewhat displeased.

She stretched out her foot and gently kicked Gu Xiang's calf.

Gu Xiang didn't move.

Su Qing intensified her efforts.

Gu Xiang didn't move, he just turned a page of the book.

Su Qing narrowed her eyes.

She suddenly reached out and snatched the book from Gu Xiang's hand.

Gu Xiang then came to her senses.

He looked at his empty hands, then at Su Qing, who had a "I'm very unhappy" expression, and smiled helplessly.

"What's wrong?"

Su Qing tossed the book aside, leaned back against the carriage wall, and slumped against it.

"cold."

She uttered a single word.

Gu Xiang was stunned for a moment.

He glanced at Su Qing's red dress.

That was a magical robe conjured with the power of a celestial fox demon, impervious to water and fire, and unaffected by heat or cold.

In addition, she is now a great demon in the Transformation Realm with a strong physical body, so how could she be afraid of this bit of cold air?

But he didn't expose it.

He put down what he was holding and moved closer to Su Qing.

"Where is it cold?"

Su Qing pointed to her face.

"here."

Gu Xiang reached out his hand.

His hands were large with distinct knuckles, and his palms had a thin layer of calluses.

Those are the marks left from years of holding a pen, and later a sword.

He placed his palm on Su Qing's cheek.

My palms are warm.

Su Qing's face did indeed feel a little cold.

That's because the divine tree had just recovered, and the yin and yang energies within its body had not yet been fully harmonized.

Gu Xiang's hands were so large that they almost covered half of Su Qing's face.

He gently stroked it.

"Are you still cold?"

Su Qing didn't say anything.

She looked at Gu Xiang.

Gu Xiang's image was reflected in those narrow, fox-like eyes.

Then she smiled.

She had a very sweet smile.

Gone is her former arrogance, and that aloofness that keeps people at arm's length.

It's like a child who has just gotten candy.

She turned her head slightly to the side.

She rubbed her cheek against Gu Xiang's palm.

Once, twice.

Like a lazy kitten.

It's like a spoiled puppy.

Gu Xiang's heart skipped a beat.

That feeling was like being gently tickled on the tip of my heart by a feather.

It feels tingly and numb.

He looked at Su Qing.

Looking at this once arrogant nine-tailed celestial fox, now nestled so obediently in his palm.

The suffering and pain of these past few years.

At this moment, it all seems worthwhile.

Gu Xiang's fingers twitched, gently scraping the bridge of her nose.

"Silly girl."

Su Qing snorted, but did not dodge.

She closed her eyes, savoring this rare moment of tenderness.

"Gu Xiang".

"Um?"

"What do you plan to do now that you're back in the capital?"

Gu Xiang thought for a moment.

"First go to the Ministry of Personnel to cancel your leave, then go to the palace to express your gratitude."

"And then..."

He paused.

"I'll take you to eat roast chicken."

Su Qing opened her eyes and rolled her eyes at him.

"Promising."

"Is that all you aspire to?"

Gu Xiang smiled.

"Then tell me, what do you want to do?"

Su Qing thought for a moment.

"I want to buy Zuixianju."

"From now on, I'll eat this every day, at every meal."

"We also need to capture that storyteller and make him tell me stories every day."

Gu Xiang chuckled to himself.

"it is good."

"Whatever you say."

"You can buy the entire palace if you want."

Su Qing pursed her lips.

"boast."

"With your meager salary, you can't even afford a corner of the palace."

Gu Xiang was not annoyed.

He reached out his other hand and cupped Su Qing's face in his hands.

"I can't afford the palace."

"But I can sell myself to you."

"The current prime minister should still be worth some money, right?"

Su Qing looked at him.

Look at the seriousness in his eyes.

She suddenly leaned in and pecked Gu Xiang on the lips.

"make a deal."

"From now on, you're mine."

"If you dare to run..."

She clenched her fist.

I'll break your legs.

Gu Xiang grasped her fist and held it in his palm.

"I won't run."

"I will never run away in my life."

"I won't run away even in my next life."

Outside the train carriage.

Tu Ling shuddered as he listened to the sounds inside.

This smell is sour and foul.

It was even more intense than the corpse aura of the land abandoned by the gods.

It shook its head and sighed.

Being a demon is difficult.

Being a single woman is even harder.

Being a single demon who also has to drive for a couple is extremely difficult.

It cracked its whip.

"drive!"

The carriage jolted slightly.

Su Qing swayed and fell into Gu Xiang's arms.

Gu Xiang then put his arm around her waist.

Su Qing found a comfortable position and nestled in his arms.

"Gu Xiang".

"Um?"

"That ten-meter limit..."

"What's wrong?"

"What am I supposed to do when you're at court?"

Gu Xiang was stunned for a moment.

This is indeed a problem.

In the Golden Palace, all the officials paid homage.

As the prime minister, he stood at the very front.

If Su Qing were to follow along...

The scene was too beautiful to bear.

"or……"

Gu Xiang thought for a moment.

"Shall I add a seat for you next to the dragon throne?"

Su Qing rolled her eyes.

"You want those censors to impeach you to death?"

"A wicked concubine disrupts the government, and the prime minister is incompetent."

"This charge is enough to get you into serious trouble."

Gu Xiang smiled.

"What's there to be afraid of?"

"Anyway, my reputation isn't good right now."

"The living Yama, skinned alive."

"One more person who's afraid of their wife isn't a big deal."

Su Qing pinched him.

Who is your wife?

"She's not married yet."

Gu Xiang took her hand and kissed it.

"Soon."

"Once I return to the capital, I will have the Ministry of Rites make preparations."

"The three letters and six rites, a proper marriage with a formal ceremony."

"I want the whole world to know."

"Su Qing is my wife, Gu Xiang's wife."

Su Qing didn't say anything.

They just buried their heads even deeper.

A long time passed.

A very soft murmur came from inside the carriage.

"fool."

The carriage drove out of the territory of the Forsaken Land.

The sky ahead gradually brightened.

It was no longer that gray, lifeless silence.

Instead, it's a vibrant blue.

Occasionally, a few wildflowers can be seen in the roadside grass.

Although small and thin, it blooms stubbornly.

Just like fate in this world.

After going around in circles.

Having experienced life and death.

In the end, it did bloom.

Gu Xiang looked at the person in his arms.

Su Qing was already asleep.

Breathing evenly, eyelashes trembling slightly.

That hand was still tightly gripping his collar.

It was as if he was afraid that if she let go, he would disappear.

Gu Xiang lowered his head.

He gently kissed her forehead.

Go to sleep.

My Qing'er.

The road home is still long.

As long as you are here.

I'm willing to keep walking this path.

Even if it lasts until the end of time.

Even if the sea dries up and the rocks crumble.

As long as you are here.

Just fine.