Happy reading, folks!

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The bright moon shone in the dark sky, and cricket sounds could be heard as the rest of the immortals in Jiuchongtian were deep asleep, chasing dreams and catching rests. While everyone was comfortably snuggled in their beds, two people were outside and wide awake.

Feng Jiu remained silent when she couldn't think of a great answer to Dong Hua's question after he caught her trying to sneak out. She grimaced internally for not being able to come up with good hogwash this time.

"Are you not going to say anything?" Dong Hua spoke again, reminding her to speak.

He was awake the whole time, reading different scrolls in his study room as part of the research he was doing regarding his wife's bizarre situation when he heard the footsteps of Xiao Bai coming out of the master chamber. He instantly put down the scroll on the table and quietly went out of the room to check what his wife was up to.

The ward he placed around Taichen Palace immediately appeared when she attempted to push the door open. This unexpected act made him come out of his hiding place when he panicked and thought she would be gone once again.

He almost lost her once, and he's not stupid enough to lose her the second time around.

She did not answer his question again. He sighed and gently took her hand, which prompted her to be closer to him. This action seemed to surprise her when she looked at him with wide, questioning eyes.

"Dijun, what are you doing?" She finally spoke since what Dong Hua did was not very him. She stared at his face and noticed the solemn look he wore.

His brows furrowed at her question. "Holding your hand." He stated the obvious.

Feng Jiu sighed at his answer. "Why?" She asked.

"Why not?" He answered. "You still haven't answered my question, Xiao Bai. Why are you outside and not in bed? Where were you planning to go?" He continued his inquiry.

Feng Jiu bit her lip and thought for an answer. "I was planning to leave early to see Gugu." She used her aunt as an excuse this time and hoped that Dong Hua would finally let her go. But then, she was unaware of the fact that the Bai Qian from this world has been staying in Qing Qiu for the whole duration of the week.

Her answer made him still. He observed her face to see anything amiss. He was starting to get suspicious of her uncanny behavior and answers since she woke up yesterday morning.

One of the monumental events in her immortal life that happened last week was something they did not expect to turn out to be. For some unknown reason, even the protection shields he provided her weren't enough to keep her safe. Hence why the moment he finally found her, she was already gravely injured.

He thought that the heavens really made sure that his power won't be enough to protect the woman he deeply loved during that time.

Her first ascension wasn't that disastrous since he was able to witness the whole event, and he was quick enough to help her rush home, with Zhe Yan in tow, to treat the wounds she obtained from the lightning strikes. But the second one... He stopped from his thoughts.

"Why would you go to your aunt this early, Xiao Bai?" He asked as he tried to understand why she was behaving this way.

"She must be looking for me already, Dijun. And I also don't want to overstay here and abuse your kindness." Feng Jiu answered. She thought that honesty could save her from the long conversation that she knew was about to ensue.

"Overstay? Abuse my kindness? Why would you say those words?"

This made Feng Jiu looked at Dong Hua with uncertainty and sadness. She was starting not to like where this was going. "Dijun, did you already forget the promise you made four years ago? You wanted me to finally stop. I've been doing my best to do that, but your behavior since yesterday is totally not helping at all."

Dong Hua did not understand what she was talking about since he doesn't remember any promise he made that would cause her to behave this way. "What promise are you talking about?" He paused. "It's still dark and cold out here. It's better if you go back to your room."

Feng Jiu was now confused and frustrated at the same time with Dong Hua's behavior. "I'm not going back there." She sighed. "I know it was rude of me to leave without personally thanking you for the hospitality and kindness you've shown after I fainted." She then gave him a proper bow. "Feng Jiu is grateful for your help, Dijun. Without it, I would have been still unwell. Thank you."

Dong Hua watched her bow to him in thanks. From this moment, he knew that there was something not right. "Why are you doing that. Xiao Bai?"

She went back to her previous stance and looked up at him. "I am thanking Dijun for his kindness before I leave for my aunt's palace." She glanced at the transparent force field that remained in force. "But I can't leave since this ward is stopping me from going out of Taichen Palace. I would appreciate it if you could help me by inactivating the field, Dijun."

Her great intent to leave made Dong Hua very confused. He shook his head. "I can't help you with that, Xiao Bai. I apologize, but no one's leaving this place tonight."

Anger flooded her veins when Dong Hua denied her request to help her leave. She stared at him with a sharp look. "Why would you trap me here? Do I really need to remind you of what you told me years ago, Dijun? Because you're very confusing right now."

He saw the anger that flashed through her eyes, and he couldn't help but be worried for her health. "I'm only doing this to keep you safe, Xiao Bai. This is for your safety." He calmly said as he gave her hand that he was holding with a gentle squeeze.

His reply made her seethe more inwardly. How can he say those words?! She snatched her hand out of his grasp. "Dijun, you're doing this confusing thing again." She let out a deep breath and looked at him with tearful eyes. "Four years ago, you told me to stop because we can never be together. It was difficult for me to accept that reality, but I did my very best to stay away and begin again without you. And your behavior right now is very contradicting from what you asked from me. Please, stop now. You're just hurting me even more."

Dong Hua was taken aback by the words that came out of her mouth. He doesn't remember such an incident from four years ago. He tried to calm her down, but she pushed him away.

"You can't just act like you care and that everything's okay right now and then throw me out again the next day and pretend like nothing happened. I can't let that happen again. I can't let you get my hopes up for further heartbreak." She said while looking at him as though the sight of him was causing her too much pain.

The distraught look on her face broke Dong Hua's heart. He doesn't understand what she was talking about and why she was behaving this way. All her confusing behaviors he noticed since yesterday until right now started to pile up. And an idea entered his mind that he hoped was wrong.

He remembered Zhe Yan mentioned about a scar on one of her tails, but Zhe Yan confirmed when he came back with the new batch of tonics that she did not get any cut or injury in that part ever since she was a kit. And as far as he could recall, his wife was wound-free for the past thousands of years they've been married.

Right now, Xiao Bai was talking about a promise from four years ago that he didn't make. Because why would he be stupid enough to tell her to let him go, when ever since the moment they met, all he wanted to do was keep her close.

He doesn't want to think that the woman in front of him could possibly not be his wife.

But as he stared at her, he couldn't believe that his mind came up with such a thought. Especially when she exactly looks like her, feels like her, and behaves like her. Except for the sudden outburst of emotions he doesn't normally see from his wife.

However, there's only one way for him to confirm this.

"Calm down, Xiao Bai. You're still not fully well." He said.

Feng Jiu was catching her breath from the intense confrontation that she started. She inhaled deeply and slowly exhaled to calm herself. And when her breathing was almost back to normal, she asked him once more, "Dijun, please inactivate this ward so I could leave now."

He continued to stare at her face with a look she couldn't explain. Moments later, he nodded. "Okay, I will do that. But I have a question before you leave."

Feng Jiu wanted to ask him why, but she didn't have the energy to prolong this taxing conversation with him. So she nodded for him to continue.

"Do you still remember what happened during your coronation ceremony?" He asked since it was the first time he introduced himself as her prince consort, her husband.

"I do. In the middle of the ceremony, Siming came down to Qing Qiu to present your gift for me, a map you've personally made back in the antiquity period." She answered quietly.

Her answer shocked him since no such thing happened. And to confirm his suspicions, he pulled her into a tight embrace, keeping her so close to him.

She let out a surprised sound at his sudden and unexpected pull. "What are you doing, Dijun?"

He remained silent as he examined her magical breath. He couldn't detect the faint smell of sandalwood in her that she acquired from drinking his unique blood. And this discovery solidified the idea that the woman who looked, felt, and behaved like his wife wasn't his wife.

He slowly let her out of the hug and gave the two of them a bit of distance. He looked at her face once more that mirrored confusion right now.

His brows furrowed when he could not detect any disguise spell on her also, which greatly baffled him.

"Who are you?" He asked himself. Sighing, he secretly cast a lethargy spell on her and immediately caught her in his arms before she could fall on the ground.

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In the other universe, Dong Hua and Mo Yuan sat across each other as their discussion about the issue that happened in the Ministry of Mysteries began.

"You were one of the few people who knew about the full extent of Zu Ti's power." Mo Yuan started. "I also remember Zhe Yan remarked before that you two are so much alike since you were both born as a High God and a High Goddess. A rarity in our universe." He continued.

Dong Hua was silent but was listening to him speak.

"You were also one of the few who knew what her publicly and privately known magical artifacts can do. And the once unbroken moonstone crystal that was kept protected in the ministry is one of her privately known possessions. Surely, there's a reason why that item is isolated from the others. So, what can it do, Dong Hua?"

Dong Hua replied. "The moonstone crystal was created during a rare blue moon. And it has the power to give someone who has it the ability to travel to a separate dimension. But the complicated feature of this artifact was that a magical spirit, who was a small part of Zu Ti's power, lived inside that crystal."

Mo Yuan's forehead slightly scrunched at the foreign concept Dong Hua explained to him. "What does this magical spirit do?"

"This spirit is the one who would determine whether the one holding the stone is worthy to use its power." Dong Hua replied.

Mo Yuan went silent for a while as he absorbed all the information he received from Dong Hua. "I never knew such artifact exists. Has anyone used it before?"

Dong Hua shook his head. "No one. Zu Ti was very careful and protective about the item."

Mo Yuan nodded. "I see. But how did the Ministry of Mysteries get a hold of the artifact when it was so important to her back then? Shouldn't it have disappeared together with her when she perished? Just like her other artifacts."

Dong Hua paused. "The artifact was found in Zhang Wei Mountain."

"What? Who would dare take it?" Mo Yuan asked him with a slight surprise look on his face.

Dong Hua sighed. "It was me who took it from Shao Wan's palace and brought it to the ministry."

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Hola!

It took me long to post this chapter since I've been pretty busy lately due to work responsibilities and was only able to find the time to write this one. I hope you enjoyed this new chapter.

Also, I've already finalized how this story will end haha. We're finally moving up now.

Let me know your thoughts in the comment section.

Thank you! 🦊💜