Yue'er..."
"Get lost..."
Xia Yi had just caught up to Gu Yue and started speaking when she interrupted him with an angry, tearful shout.
She hailed a taxi, stopping one that was driving by.
Yesterday, she had been in seclusion. This morning, she had broken through to the four-ring level.
Originally, she had planned to find Leng Yaozhu and request a week off to spend time with Xia Yi.
But instead, she witnessed this scene.
How could she not be furious?
She had made mistakes first, so Xia Yi didn't dare get mad at her.
He could only shamelessly climb into the back seat of the car.
"Your Excellencies, what happened between you two?" The taxi driver was none other than Zi Ji. When Xia Yi and Gu Yue were at the Spirit Pagoda, she would always wait nearby.
As soon as she sensed Xia Yi and Gu Yue's presence, she would immediately drive up to them.
She couldn't understand how the two, who had been so affectionate just yesterday, were now at such odds.
"Let's talk after we get back. Notify Di Tian and the others to return immediately," Xia Yi said in a deep voice.
"Understood!" Zi Ji nodded.
"Hmph!" Gu Yue snorted coldly without saying another word.
She didn't even object to Zi Ji continuing to address Xia Yi as "Your Excellency."
Soon, the vehicle arrived at their estate in Shrek City, which belonged to the Star Dou Forest.
By now, all the fierce beasts that had accompanied Gu Yue into the human world had gathered.
Seeing Gu Yue seething with rage, her face livid, and her eyes red and swollen from crying, all the beasts were just as bewildered as Zi Ji.
"Your Excellencies, what on earth happened?" Di Tian couldn't help but ask.
"I was unfaithful and made Gu Yue angry," Xia Yi stated plainly.
If he was at fault, he would admit it.
Gu Yue was the god of these beasts. Xia Yi didn't want to hide the truth from them.
Hearing Xia Yi admit it himself, Gu Yue turned her head away, her tears streaming down again.
She had believed she had treated Xia Yi with utmost devotion.
Yet, within just a few days of being together, he had been with another woman.
And not just any woman—her teacher.
And not just that—her teacher and her teacher's sister together.
She had trusted Xia Yi so much, but he had done this to her.
How could she not feel wronged?
She was the co-ruler of soul beasts, the Silver Dragon King. She had already gone to such lengths for Xia Yi, yet what more did he want?
How could he betray her like this?
Even if he truly couldn't control himself, shouldn't he have at least told her beforehand?
"Your Excellency…" Di Tian and the other beasts looked furious but didn't know what to say.
Gu Yue had treated Xia Yi so well; they had all witnessed it.
They hadn't expected this to happen.
They glanced at Xia Yi, then at Gu Yue, who was crying her heart out. They wanted to ask her what she wanted to do, but they didn't know how to bring it up.
Asking would just be reopening her wounds.
"You think you can brush this off with just a sentence?" Gu Yue glared at Xia Yi, seething with anger. "Aren't you going to explain yourself?"
Xia Yi took a deep breath and recounted the events of the previous night, explaining how Leng Yulai had drugged him.
After he finished, he looked at Gu Yue and then at the gathered beasts. "No matter what the reason, it doesn't justify my betrayal. I have wronged your ruler. Whatever punishment you see fit, I will accept it."
"Accept? What can you offer? Do you think accepting punishment will make up for the pain you've caused Her Excellency?" Xiong Jun, known for his explosive temper, was the first to lose it.
Their ruler was so noble, so extraordinary.
For her to be with Xia Yi was already a fortune he had accumulated over lifetimes.
Yet, instead of cherishing her, he had made her so miserable.
Xia Yi remained silent.
This was indeed his fault.
Since it was his fault, he wouldn't make any excuses.
"Leng Yulai, the Dark Phoenix, huh? Find a way to lure her to a secluded place and kill her," Zi Ji said coldly.
Four years ago, she had been suppressed by Leng Yulai due to a lack of battle armor.
Now that she had her two-word battle armor, she was eager to reclaim her dignity.
"That's a good idea. Let's do it," Di Tian added icily.
"All of you, get out!" Gu Yue suddenly shouted. "This is a private matter between me and Xia Yi. We will handle it ourselves. We don't need your meddling."
"Understood!" Di Tian and the others hesitated, but seeing Gu Yue's fury, they had no choice but to leave reluctantly.
"Whoever dares eavesdrop, don't blame me for being ruthless," Gu Yue warned again.
Once the others had left, she turned to Xia Yi, her gaze sharp and chilling. "You're quite something. You did this, and yet Zi Ji and Di Tian still want to cover for you."
Gu Yue was incredibly intelligent. When Zi Ji suggested killing Leng Yulai, she immediately understood that Zi Ji wanted to shift all the blame onto Leng Yulai.
To protect Xia Yi.
Gu Yue could accept it from Zi Ji.
Among the beasts, Zi Ji was the one who respected Xia Yi the most.
She was the most likely to try and shield him.
But what shocked Gu Yue was that Di Tian had agreed with her.
Like Zi Ji, he had only talked about eliminating Leng Yulai—never once mentioning Xia Yi's wrongdoing.
Of course, Gu Yue absolutely wouldn't let them act.
If she truly let them target Leng Yulai, they would surely eliminate Leng Yaozhu as well.
They would cut off all of Xia Yi's lingering attachments with a single stroke.
"Yue'er…" Xia Yi cautiously called out again.
"Don't call me Yue'er." Gu Yue snorted coldly. "Don't think I don't know. Ordinary aphrodisiacs have no effect on you. From beginning to end, you acted of your own free will, didn't you?"
"That's right," Xia Yi admitted honestly.
A trace of curiosity rose in his heart.
Yesterday, he had indeed been unaffected by the Phoenix Chant.
Even he didn't know why.
Yet, Gu Yue had instantly seen through it. How did she know?
"Hmph, at least you're being honest and not lying to me," Gu Yue huffed. "I know you did it to save Teacher. Tell me the whole story. In detail."
"I already explained it in detail," Xia Yi replied solemnly.
"I meant detailed details," Gu Yue said coldly.
"D-Detailed details…?" Xia Yi suddenly realized what she meant. His face turned awkward. "Is that really necessary?"
"Are you telling me or not? If you refuse, don't even think about getting in my bed again," Gu Yue threatened, her dragon eyes filled with authority.
"I'll talk, I'll talk, alright?" Xia Yi reluctantly recounted the entire process in vivid detail.
Gu Yue listened, her face growing redder by the moment. When he finished, she spat out a single word—
"Beast!"
"How am I a beast?" Xia Yi asked, feeling wronged but not daring to show it.
"Leng Yulai was a virgin too, and you were so rough. If you're not a beast, what are you?" Gu Yue snapped.
"I felt guilty toward you and wanted to vent. Leng Yulai, as the culprit, became the target of my frustration," Xia Yi said solemnly.
Thinking back, he did act like a beast.
If Leng Yulai hadn't used her soul power to protect herself, she might have actually been in danger.
"That's more like it." Gu Yue nodded, then said, "Forget what Xiong Jun said. That guy mates with any female bear weaker than him. He has no right to judge you."
"Yue'er…" Xia Yi looked at Gu Yue in a daze, not expecting her to forgive him so quickly.
"I want to hit you too, but what's done is done. Hitting you won't change anything," Gu Yue said, biting her lip, her eyes once again brimming with grievance. "Falling for you is probably the worst decision I've ever made. You're too outstanding. Too many people want you. Even I can't have you all to myself."
"I'm sorry." Xia Yi pulled Gu Yue into his arms, filled with guilt.
"Don't touch me." Gu Yue shoved him away. "Not until Leng Yaozhu calls me 'big sister.'"
"Ah!" Xia Yi was dumbfounded.
He had thought Gu Yue would want to torment him instead.
To exhaust him so he wouldn't have the energy to fool around.
"What are you waiting for? Last night, Yaozhu agreed to be yours, didn't she? But half of your night was taken away by Leng Yulai. Hurry and go get it back." Gu Yue rolled her eyes at Xia Yi before vanishing in a flash of silver light.
Fortunately, Leng Yaozhu and Leng Yulai were both highly cultivated individuals.
If it had been her frail little body instead, she would probably be dead beyond saving.
She finally understood—Xia Yi had always been holding back with her.
No wonder he always stopped at the very brink of her limits.
At this moment, Gu Yue had an urgent desire to restore her peak strength.
She wanted Xia Yi to know what true dragon instincts were like.
(End of Chapter)