Bai Ze, who was in the spatial pouch, actually sensed the panic in its master's heart.
It knew about the Emperor Venerable's unwillingness, his wavering, and his frozen heart that had once fluttered because of a little girl named Ye Ling.
Later, it gradually returned to calm.
If Ye Ling had really died, perhaps Yan Ruyu would have given up.
But now, she had come back to life under another identity. In this way, Yan Ruyu was suffering even more.
On one hand, he wanted to get closer to her, but was afraid that his bad luck would affect Zhao Shuning.
On the other hand, he wanted to stay away from her. But every time he remembered that smiling face, those little moments they had spent together, and those days of joy, hardship, and mutual support, Yan Ruyu just couldn't bear to leave.
He really couldn't bear to.
When Yan Ruyu withdrew his hand, his heart felt as if it was weighed down by a thousand - jin burden, so heavy that he could hardly breathe.
How he wanted to get closer to Zhao Shuning. She was so wonderful.
But what could he do? Get closer to her and push her into the fire pit again?
Yan Ruyu shook his head.
"Emperor Venerable, aren't you going to rest yet?"
Dawn had broken. The world was full of hope again, and all things began to grow. But Yan Ruyu felt that his own world was so gray.
Maybe he hadn't seen the bright sunshine for too long, so he was so nostalgic for the warmth Ye Ling had left behind.
"Xiaobai, you go and rest."
Bai Ze hid its breath. It seemed to be tired too.
Yan Ruyu didn't know how many days and nights he had spent sleepless.
His body would neither die for a thousand years nor rot for ten thousand years.
What awaited him was never light.
At this moment, Zhao Shuning slowly opened her eyes. She stretched and then twisted her neck. Somehow, she always felt that there was a familiar smell in the room.
Maybe she was just being too sensitive.
Not long after she got up, a maid rushed over in a hurry. Soon after, Xie Yuan also came. He stood outside the room, pacing back and forth in the yard. He looked very anxious.
Through the window, Zhao Shuning could feel Xie Yuan's nervousness.
"Miss, the family head has been waiting for you for a long time."
"What's the matter?"
"As maids, we don't know exactly what it is. But the family head told us that after you wake up, we should invite you to the ancestral shrine of the Xie family."
"Since you've come, why is the head of the Xie family here too?"
The maids looked at each other. It was the leading maid who was bolder. She curtsied and then said, "Miss, we've been waiting for you outside the yard for a long time. Since the family head told us not to disturb your rest, we could only wait for you outside."
Zhao Shuning felt a little embarrassed.
It turned out that because she had overslept, Xie Yuan had been so impatient that he came here himself to wait for her.
Sure enough, since she was eating and living at someone else's place, she couldn't be too lazy.
Zhao Shuning quickly tidied herself up and walked out of the room.
When Xie Yuan, who looked anxious, saw Zhao Shuning coming out, he quickly stepped forward. While apologizing, he led the way for Zhao Shuning.
"I'm really sorry to trouble you, senior. If it weren't for something urgent, I would never have disturbed your rest."
Zhao Shuning frowned and quickened her pace.
"Senior, this way please."
After Zhao Shuning turned past the back garden, she saw a magnificent ancestral shrine.
When they got there, Xie Yuan stopped the others. He only took Zhao Shuning, Xie Yu, and Xie An into the shrine.
When they saw Zhao Shuning, they didn't say much. This was in sharp contrast to the situation in the Misty Barrier Forest before.
Of course, times had changed. At that time, the identity she used was not Zhao Shuning.
Xie Yuan and his son knew that Zhao Shuning didn't want to expose her identity. They told Xie An that Zhao Shuning was just an elixir master.
Xie An nodded. Naturally, he knew this.
In the shrine, Xie Yuan first led Xie Yu and Xie An to offer incense to their ancestors, and then sat down on his seat seriously.
"Xiao An, after offering incense, go and find your parents first. They seem to have something to tell you about the disciples' joint competition."
Xie An knew that they had something to discuss. He also knew his own status. Being able to enter this shrine was already a favor from Uncle Xie.
So after Xie Yuan said this, he just bowed and then went out.
The big door slowly closed. Since there were many candles in the room, it was still quite bright.
As soon as Xie An left, Xie Yuan immediately stepped forward and was about to kneel down in front of Zhao Shuning. Zhao Shuning was quite confused about such a grand ceremony.
"Head of the Xie family, what are you doing?"
"Senior, please save and protect our Xie family."
"Has Nan Feng come?"
Xie Yu nodded. Xie Yuan looked very solemn.
"What happened?" If it was just Nan Feng's arrival, they shouldn't look like this. Nan Feng must have done something else to severely damage them.
"Clap! Clap! Clap!"
Xie Yuan clapped his hands. A hole actually appeared on the right side of the shrine. That hole led to the basement. Judging from its secrecy, it was not hard to guess that this was a secret chamber. Except for the Xie family father and son, probably no one else knew about it.
"Senior, you are the third person to know about the existence of this secret chamber. We have no defense against you, senior. Please save us."
"I have to know the truth before I can decide what to do. It's too early to say these things now."
If it was something that might not be accomplished even if she risked her own life, Zhao Shuning would definitely not get involved. She had passion, but she also cherished her own life.
"Senior, please follow me."
Xie Yuan picked up a candle and was about to walk into the secret chamber.
"Wait a minute. Use this."
Zhao Shuning took out a night - pearl from her bosom and gave it to Xie Yuan. Since the phoenix liked night - pearls, Zhao Shuning had developed a habit of collecting any night - pearls of good quality that she saw.
"Thank you, senior."
Xie Yuan led the way in front, Zhao Shuning walked in the middle, and Xie Yu followed behind.
The petite Zhao Shuning walked in the middle.
The three of them walked through a long tunnel before they reached a spacious place.
As soon as they emerged, Zhao Shuning felt that her vision had broadened a lot. The flowers, plants, trees, and scenery were all very well - arranged.
But in this vast grassland, there was a very strong smell of blood.
The thing that could cause such a strong smell of blood was definitely not something that human beings like them could do.
"Your Xie family also has a monster?"
Xie Yuan nodded. "You're right, senior. A large part of the reason why our Xie family can gain a foothold south of the Huai River is because of the spiritual beast we've raised."
The spiritual beast was a monster that was blood - red all over and covered in hair.
Its spiritual power was at the lower end of the middle level in the beast world. It was quite good for the Xie family to have such a monster.
"Is it injured?"
Xie Yuan sighed. He knocked on the wall covered with green vines three times, and the wall retreated to one side.