Chapter 17: Xiao Chen's Provocation

At the entrance of the Heavenly Emperor's Palace.

Bai Yuer was still kneeling on the ground, not having stood up for a whole year.

The red feathered robe she wore was covered in dust.

Her originally snow-white and delicate cheeks had lost all color, appearing pale and weak.

Even though Bai Yuer was a favored daughter of heaven, protected by the divine fire of the Vermilion Bird, a year of kneeling without a single grain of rice had left her extremely frail.

Throughout the year, Jun Xiaoyao had entered and exited the Heavenly Emperor's Palace multiple times, yet he had never once looked at her directly.

As time passed, Bai Yuer's heart sank deeper into despair.

She felt that Jun Xiaoyao might never forgive her.

This meant she could never obtain the elixir of immortality from him, let alone save her ailing father.

On the side of the Vermilion Bird Ancient Kingdom, due to Jun Linglong's orders, the news of the Vermilion Bird monarch receiving the elixir of immortality was not conveyed to Bai Yuer.

Bai Yuer still foolishly believed that she had lost all hope.

She felt as if she had sunk into an unfathomable deep sea, nearly suffocating, with despair evident in her beautiful crimson eyes.

At that moment, faint footsteps echoed.

Bai Yuer instinctively raised her beautiful eyes and nearly stopped breathing.

The figure she had been longing for day and night was actually walking towards her.

Jun Xiaoyao, dressed in white as pure as snow, with skin glowing with divine light, radiated brilliance.

A year had passed, and Jun Xiaoyao was now nine years old, his stature even taller, his features seemingly sculpted by the hands of heaven, already possessing a stunningly handsome face.

At this moment, his expression was calm as he approached Bai Yuer.

Jun Linglong followed closely behind him.

"Greetings, Divine Son!"

Bai Yuer's expression was one of astonishment mixed with joy.

After a whole year, she had finally awaited this day.

Jun Xiaoyao assessed Bai Yuer, noticing that she had become quite frail, indeed showing a sincere attitude of remorse.

However, Jun Xiaoyao did not express any opinion, merely gazing at her indifferently.

Seeing this, Bai Yuer bit her silver teeth and heavily knocked her head three times, saying, "Divine Son, Yuer knows her wrongs. Please forgive me just this once."

Jun Xiaoyao replied lightly, "It's good that you know your mistakes. Get up; after all, I'm not a devil."

Hearing this, Jun Linglong couldn't help but scoff internally.

You're not a devil, yet you made her kneel for an entire year?

You even took out the elixir of immortality and kept it from Bai Yuer, making her continue to kneel.

Truly an old devil.

"Thank you, Divine Son." Bai Yuer struggled to rise, her legs numb and shaky.

Seeing this, Jun Xiaoyao flicked his fingers, and a top-tier holy pill fell into Bai Yuer's hands.

Bai Yuer felt even more flattered.

A top-tier holy pill could fetch an astronomical price in the outside world, yet Jun Xiaoyao casually gifted it to her.

In an instant, Bai Yuer felt no resentment towards Jun Xiaoyao; instead, she felt a sense of gratitude.

She consumed the holy pill and began to regain her strength.

Jun Xiaoyao's lips curled into a faint, cold smile.

He was quite familiar with the tactic of giving a reward after a punishment.

The holy pill had astonishing effects, and Bai Yuer quickly shook off her weakness.

However, thinking of her gravely ill father, Bai Yuer clenched her jade-like hands, finding it hard to speak.

Being granted Jun Xiaoyao's forgiveness was already an unexpected joy.

How could she now dare to ask him for the elixir of immortality?

With this thought, Bai Yuer took a deep breath and bowed to Jun Xiaoyao, saying, "Thank you for your forgiveness, Divine Son. Yuer will take her leave now."

Deep down, Bai Yuer sighed; in the end, she still couldn't bring back the elixir of immortality.

At that moment, Jun Linglong chuckled softly, "Bai Yuer, don't you want the elixir of immortality?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Yuer smiled bitterly and said, "To receive the Divine Son's forgiveness is already fortunate; how could Yuer dare to be greedy?"

"Then why not contact the Vermilion Bird Ancient Kingdom?" Jun Linglong's beautiful eyes sparkled.

Bai Yuer was slightly taken aback and then took out a jade slip to send a message.

On the other side, the Vermilion Bird Ancient Kingdom also sent back a message.

"The Jun family sent the elixir of immortality some time ago; this is all the Divine Son's grace."

"The monarch's injuries have not only healed but he is now in seclusion, striving for a higher realm."

"All of this is the Divine Son's blessing!"

These messages left Bai Yuer momentarily stunned.

Then her face flushed with excitement, almost unable to believe it.

"Divine Son, it was you..."

Bai Yuer's gaze was fervent and excited as she looked at Jun Xiaoyao, her voice choked with emotion.

"I have said before, I am not a devil," Jun Xiaoyao replied with a calm smile.

At that moment, Jun Xiaoyao's figure was deeply etched into Bai Yuer's heart.

She felt as if she had transformed entirely into Jun Xiaoyao's shape.

Her heart was deeply marked by Jun Xiaoyao's imprint, a mark that would be hard to erase for a lifetime.

This feeling was akin to someone who had fallen into deep despair suddenly realizing all their hopes.

And all these hopes were brought to her by Jun Xiaoyao.

"Yuer is willing to serve the Divine Son for a lifetime, as a servant or maid, and will not dare to disobey. If I break this vow, may heaven strike me down!"

Bai Yuer knelt before Jun Xiaoyao, speaking with determination.

If before she was begging for forgiveness, now she was sincerely submitting to Jun Xiaoyao.

Just then, a voice filled with anger echoed from outside the Jun family gate.

"Where is the Divine Son of the Jun family? What kind of skill is it to bully a weak woman? If you have the guts, fight me!"

This voice boomed like thunder, shaking the heavens and earth.

Many members of the Jun family were startled.

A Jun family guard approached Jun Xiaoyao and reported, "Reporting to the Divine Son, there is a young man outside who is being unruly; he seems to be from the Qinglong Ancient Kingdom."

"Heh... it seems this fiancé still lacks self-awareness..." Jun Xiaoyao thought to himself, sneering coldly.

He said lightly, "Let him in; I will handle this matter."

"Yes." The guard withdrew.

Meanwhile, Bai Yuer, who was kneeling on the ground, turned pale.

Jun Xiaoyao had just forgiven her, and now her fiancé had come to provoke him.

Wasn't this ruining her chances?

At that moment, Bai Yuer felt a hint of resentment towards her fiancé, Xiao Chen.

"Divine Son, I..." Bai Yuer's heart raced, and she hurriedly wanted to explain.

"It’s fine," Jun Xiaoyao waved his hand.

Moments later, a young man dressed in a Qinglong robe, handsome and elegant, arrived at the scene.

When he saw Bai Yuer kneeling before Jun Xiaoyao, his eyes widened, and a wave of furious killing intent surged forth.

Any man would find it unacceptable for his fiancée to kneel before another man.

"Yuer, get up! How dare this person force you like this!" Xiao Chen shouted angrily.

"Xiao Chen, be quiet! How dare you disrespect the Divine Son!" Bai Yuer immediately scolded.

Xiao Chen was stunned, looking at Bai Yuer in disbelief.

"Yuer, I came to save you! Why are you speaking for him?" Xiao Chen asked, confused.

"Enough! I knelt here willingly. The Divine Son is willing to forgive me; I couldn't be happier. Why are you making a fuss?" Bai Yuer said coldly.

Originally, she had a slight fondness for Xiao Chen, her childhood friend.

But the Qinglong Ancient Kingdom had gone back on their promise, refusing to provide the Vermilion Bird Kingdom with the elixir of immortality.

She had previously asked Xiao Chen for help, and he had promised her, yet now there was no sign of the elixir.

If it weren't for Jun Xiaoyao producing an elixir, her father might still be gravely ill.

So who truly had done Bai Yuer a favor, Jun Xiaoyao or Xiao Chen?

"Yuer, how can you think this way? Did he force you into this?"

Xiao Chen gritted his teeth, his heart burning with anger.