“It is said that there was a Devil Realm princess named Nansheng, who was playful and lively. When she reached the age of maturity, she came to this creek to play and encountered a refined and handsome Young Master in white.”

“The Young Master stood gracefully on the creek’s surface, holding a black umbrella, and with just one look, the princess was drawn to him. That day, she and the Young Master wandered by the creek, enjoying each other’s company.”

“After that, the little princess came to the creek every day to see him.”

“They met only three times over three days. On the second day, the Young Master told the princess interesting stories about the Devil Realm, much to her delight. On the third day, they declared their love for each other in the middle of the creek. The Young Master gave the black umbrella to the little princess, who shyly ran back with it.”

“The next day, the little princess woke up on her bed, holding the black umbrella, eager to go to the creek, but was stopped by the guards. The little princess was only allowed to go if the guards accompanied her. When she arrived at the creek, the Young Master was not standing in the middle of the creek as he usually did.”

“The little princess thought maybe he had been delayed. But that day, she waited all day, and the Young Master never came. Finally, the guards told her that three days ago, the little princess had fallen seriously ill and had been bedridden in the Devil’s Palace for the past three days with the Devil Queen by her side, never leaving her for a moment.”

“Upon hearing this, the little princess refused to believe it, thinking the guards were making up nonsense. After all, the black umbrella was in her hand! Desperately, she ran back and asked her maid, and then her mother, only to hear the same: the little princess had not left the Devil’s Palace for three days, nor had she gotten out of bed.”

“Everyone thought it was a dream the little princess had while she was ill, but she believed it was real. To her, the black umbrella was proof! The little princess remained hopeful and came to the creek every day to wait, day after day. People passing by the creek always saw a woman in white with white hair holding a black umbrella, standing by the creek or gracefully poised on its surface. This continued for hundreds of years.”

“To commemorate this devoted princess, people named this creek Nansheng Dream.”

Gong Xue scoffed, “Nansheng Dream, just a dream. That little princess was truly foolish. Only met him three times, was it worth wasting her life for a man? Not worth it!”

It was as if she were speaking to herself.

Gong Xue took a swig of wine, and casually tossed the wine gourd to Mu Xian at the front of the boat.

“A few days ago, I found a grove of lychee trees in the forest. The ripe lychees looked so enticing, so I picked some and made this wine. Give it a try!”

Mu Xian drank half in one gulp and exclaimed with a word of praise, “Refreshing!”

Seizing the opportunity, Gong Xue persuaded, “My winemaking skills may not be the best, but they aren’t bad either. If you come out with me, I can brew whatever drink you want. How about it?”

Mu Xian smirked coldly and replied with two words, “In your dreams!”

Gong Xue slumped back onto the boat in frustration, “You won’t accept kindness or force. I’ve been diligently trying to please you these days. The least you could do is help me out a bit!”

Seeing Gong Xue’s demeanor, a trace of warmth pierced Mu Xian’s icy heart, and he couldn’t help but smile slightly.

“Alright, seeing how hard you’ve tried to please me, I’ll tell you how to repair your deity soul.”

Gong Xue immediately perked up and scrambled to her feet, “What method?”

“Your deity soul is shattered, completely and thoroughly. Re-gathering it is impossible, but it can be reborn. There’s a secret spell in this world called the ‘Soul Reviving Spell’ that can regenerate a deity soul and restore the seven souls.”

“Soul Reviving Spell!” Gong Xue felt she had heard these words somewhere before, and a conversation echoed in her mind.

“Yun’er, this Soul Reviving Spell is something demons, Deities, and humans all desire. It is invaluable.”

“Then where is it now?”

“Naturally, it’s at Loong Head Mountain, in Cloud Academy.”

“Hidden Immortal Sect, Cloud Academy?”

Gong Xue’s eyes lit up, and hope ignited in her heart.

Afterward, Gong Xue tried to leave Gaoshang Land, but her powers were weak. Each time she stepped outside the barrier set by Mu Xian, demons lurking eagerly would swarm upon her within three steps. Luckily, Mu Xian always arrived in time to pull her back into the barrier.

“Are you crazy! Do you know what this place is? If you walk out, you’ll become their food!”

Mu Xian, furious, threw the heavily wounded Gong Xue back onto the ground.

Gong Xue resolutely said, “I need to leave!”

Mu Xian couldn’t understand, “Why do you have to leave immediately? What could be more important than your life?”

“I must seek revenge! A deep-seated enmity! If I don’t avenge it, I won’t die in peace!”

Gong Xue took a step closer to Mu Xian, her gaze unwavering. In her eyes, Mu Xian saw something he once possessed but had long since lost.

Courage and determination. These were traits Mu Xian had avoided, unable to embrace. Betrayed by his lover, he had grown weak and chosen to escape, ultimately trapping himself in this place, numbing himself with despair.

This woman before him had lost everything but refused to be defeated. She could still stand tall, pick up her sword, and seek justice for the deceased.

“Mu Xian, why can’t you even muster the courage to seek justice for yourself? She owes you! You need to take back what’s yours!”

Compared to this mortal, his existence as a Deity was indeed absurd and laughable.

In the cramped stone cave, the feeble campfire flickered precariously, as if it might extinguish at any moment.

The cave was stiflingly quiet. The duo sat in silence for a long time, with countless thoughts swirling in their minds.

Mu Xian turned his head to look at the slightly forlorn figure of Gong Xue, who was curled up in the corner.

“Can you share your story with me?”

Gong Xue raised her eyes to meet his, took a deep breath, and began to narrate her past.

“I met a man named Liao Sixin…”

Upon hearing this name, Mu Xian instinctively felt a surge of fear, his hair standing on end.

As Gong Xue continued her story, the color drained from Mu Xian’s face.

Gong Xue concluded her tale, describing her century of sacrifices and efforts. The hatred constantly reminded and tormented her.

Turning to Mu Xian, she saw him paralyzed, breathing heavily, his eyes tinged with red.

Deep guilt and self-reproach pierced Mu Xian’s heart like thorns, making every breath agonizingly painful.

“You are… the Gong family’s eldest daughter?” Mu Xian’s voice trembled, hoarse with emotion.

“I am,” Gong Xue replied softly, her smile gentle.

Suddenly, Mu Xian, as if losing his mind, lunged forward, gripping Gong Xue’s shoulders, loudly demanding, “I am Mu Xian! I am that Deity Lord Mu Xian, the one who caused your family’s demise, the culprit, Mu Xian!!!”

Gong Xue continued to look at him with the same calm and gentle demeanor.

Mu Xian instantly seemed to age, his strength vanishing. Releasing Gong Xue, his body crumpled, his eyes red-rimmed. In a low voice, he asked, “Don’t you hate me? You should want to kill me!”

Gong Xue burst into laughter and said, “No! You are not my enemy. The one who massacred a hundred members of my Gong Family was Liao Sixin. The one who gravely injured me was also Liao Sixin. The ones who shattered my deity soul and threw me here were Meng Yi and that Divine being. What does any of this have to do with you? You haven’t killed anyone, and I don’t hate you.”

Mu Xian lifted his guilt-ridden eyes to look at her. When Meng Yi betrayed him, he didn’t feel much sorrow. When she inflicted three Heavenly Punishments upon him, he wasn’t sad. Living for a hundred years in this desolate Gaoshang Land, he still felt nothing. But today, seeing this woman—who should have possessed all the world’s beauty, who was so fragile yet persisted until now—filled him with immense grief.

It was shame, guilt, and a deeply buried hatred he dared not show.

Mu Xian’s tears began to fall to the ground. Gong Xue couldn’t help but sneer at him.

“A grown man crying? You were a Deity once; isn’t this a bit embarrassing?”

Mu Xian quickly wiped his tears and sniffed, stubbornly standing in front of Gong Xue.

“Who’s crying? Can’t a guy get some dust in his eyes?”

Gong Xue was amused and played along, giving him an out: “Fine, fine, whatever you say. You go ahead and shed those tears. I’m going to keep looking for a way out.”

As she walked towards the cave entrance, Mu Xian felt, for a fleeting moment, that he and Gong Xue were kindred spirits in some sense. They were both victims of this ordeal.

“Wait!” Mu Xian called out to Gong Xue. She turned her head, and Mu Xian resolutely declared, “I’m going out with you. I’ll help you!”

Gong Xue hesitated for a second, then jumped up excitedly, quickly accepting his offer, afraid he might change his mind: “You said it! It’s a deal!”

Mu Xian stubbornly turned his head, muttering softly, “But you have to promise to make wine for me.”

Gong Xue chuckled in exasperation, “Oh, you prideful Deity!”

With a smile, Gong Xue hooked her arm around Mu Xian’s shoulder and led him towards the barrier entrance.