After everything ended, Yin Weiyin was held in Chen Yi's arms.

Chen Yi kissed her lips and smiled, saying:

"Not being a good elder sister anymore?"

Yin Weiyin immediately shrank back upon hearing this and stammered in embarrassment:

"Not anymore, not anymore… You, you don't come over again."

Chen Yi chuckled softly, holding her close in his embrace. Her fragrant sweat trickled, and the breaths exhaled hit against his chest.

At this moment, Yin Weiyin was unexpectedly well-behaved; she was just a bit stiff from fear.

Cradling her, Chen Yi's gaze extended far, and his heart softened considerably. He said:

"I won't. Just look at you; how endearing you appear like this… Actually, when it comes to matters like this, I prefer your flavor."

"You prefer… my flavor?"

"Mm." Chen Yi didn't deny it.

Yin Weiyin curled up slightly, but she seemed to want to ask something. She leaned in a bit closer.

Seeing this, Chen Yi said, "If you want to ask something, go ahead."

Yin Weiyin hesitated for a moment, then finally asked, "Is it more than… your liking for Tingxue?"

Chen Yi froze upon hearing this.

So this is how rivalry between women works? Even this is something to compare.

But if both of them were wholeheartedly devoted to him, wouldn't it mean that when both Little Yin and Big Yin jockey for position, a bloodbath could ensue?

Nonetheless, Chen Yi still admitted, "Indeed, it is."

"Since you like me,"

Yin Weiyin lowered her head, her voice muffled as she said:

"Then I've already called you a good brother… Could you just slow down a little…"

Her words, half a complaint and half not, sounded by his ear. Chen Yi's instincts tingled as if a numbing sensation spread through his waist. He pulled Yin Weiyin even closer.

As he leaned near, Yin Weiyin's breathing grew hurried, her complexion slightly pale. Yet, she eventually composed herself.

Her heart was filled with indescribable emotions.

At that moment, Chen Yi's voice reached her ear:

"It's because I like you that I'm unwilling to slow down."

Yin Weiyin suddenly froze. Then her hand was clasped by Chen Yi, and another two units of True Yuan were sent into her body.

The female crown looked up at him in disbelief.

Chen Yi said slowly, "Consider this my engagement gift to you."

Something seemed to flow through Yin Weiyin's heart. Her eyes began to sting slightly. After all this time, she could finally, genuinely feel his affection.

Persistence pays off, even for those who seek love like a furnace. The bittersweet emotions filled her heartish lake, with ripples spinning in the current. Even though Yin Weiyin feared him, this time, she couldn't help but rest her head closer on his arm.

After a long while, she softly said:

"It won't be long until my birthday."

Chen Yi naturally remembered. It was on the seventh day of February.

He recalled a moonlit night not long ago when this rather clueless woman had made a promise with him—if he liked her deeply by then, he should give her a hairpin.

"I remember," Chen Yi said gently.

Yin Weiyin slightly nodded. Despite knowing, at least partially, that Chen Yi didn't like her that much yet,

he liked her enough. It wasn't far off, was it?

Resting on his arm, the female crown felt a faint prickle of discomfort, like fear—a type of fear akin to making deals with a tiger. But she also found it unbelievable; this was her darkness, yet it was so tender in giving her an arm to lean on, letting her draw close to the proximity of his heart's core, as if she could reach out and snatch his life away from this vulnerable distance.

At this distance, Yin Weiyin slowly fell asleep.

...............…

Under the guidance of the Great Cat and the Little Mouse Girl, they traveled for two consecutive days, drawing ever closer to the territory of the Black and White Impermanence.

Its name was Soul Hook Valley, derived from the idea of the Black and White Impermanence seizing souls and commanding death. The oppressive gray fog of the netherworld lingered between the mountain ridges. Coupled with the steep terrain and treacherous paths, the journey became increasingly difficult. Along the way, Chen Yi marked the route to map out a path for their return.

Sounds in the valley were scarce; everything was eerily silent. Occasionally, a skeleton could be found near one's feet, and beside them, a Red Spider Lily blooming. These bones mostly belonged to those who had accidentally entered the underworld during days like the Demon Extermination Day—times when the borders between yin and yang intersect. Many failed to return, eventually perishing in these overlooked corners.

One reason was that the underworld had virtually no food to offer, leaving only stone wastelands. Those starving could eat nothing but Breakheart Grass and Red Spider Lilies. Breakheart Grass brought instant death upon consumption, whereas eating Red Spider Lilies slowly eroded one's soul—a desperate and futile gamble.

Even if one were fortunate enough to encounter patrolling ghost messengers and receive some mundane food from the living realm, the underworld's bitter winds were too harsh for any human. When the winds caressed mortal skin, their killing intent followed. At first, it seemed harmless, but lingering for too long—say, ten or twenty years—would drain away any surviving yang energy, leaving one indistinguishable from the spirits.

As for the souls that had perished along the way, most would have been taken by patrolling ghost messengers to the Department of Rewards and Punishments for judgment, finally arriving at King Yan's hands for red marking and distribution of destiny.

The road ahead was murky and obscured. Faintly visible were curved eaves of rooftops jutting upward. Taking two more steps forward revealed a distinctive courtyard bustling with activity, full of distinguished guests.

"Looks like the Black and White Impermanence is quite hospitable to you," Chen Yi remarked in a dry tone.

The Great Cat pricked its fur, hunching its back, hissing aggressively.

The Little Mouse Girl hurriedly interjected: "Please don't make jokes, young master. The Black and White Impermanence has done nothing but evil in these parts for years, truly unforgivable. He alone has taken in ten concubines."

Yin Weiyin instinctively cast a sidelong glance at Chen Yi.

Chen Yi returned a glance, prompting the female crown to hurriedly turn her face away.

The Little Mouse Girl remained oblivious and continued:

"Young master, when you meet the Black and White Impermanence, it's better to be cautious and respectful. After all, he has served as a ghost messenger before and has connections in the Ghost Gate."

The implications of the mouse girl's warning were clear: once inside, Chen Yi and Yin Weiyin should tread carefully and avoid provoking the Black and White Impermanence as much as possible.

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