306: Chapter 306 What are you doing...?

That night, Wutong City was brightly lit, and the entire city was celebrating.

In the center of the city, inside the Wutong Palace, Spiritual Qi permeated the air amidst the carved beams and painted phoenixes. Jade tables were laid out with spiritual fruits and immortal brews, while elegant music played, lingering in the rafters.

The banquet atmosphere was lively.

Su Fengyi sat upright in the main seat; her crimson gold phoenix-patterned palace attire made her appear graceful and luxurious.

Ling Hao occupied the first seat of the guest area, with his six Disciples—Chi Wanhe, Qin Zhaoxue, Du Yuqing, Lu Changning, Lin Xiwei, and Xia Yingying—seated in order behind him.

An Hongxiu, Lan Zhiwei, Yue Qianqian, Gu Qingyao, and Tushan Bailing of the Jade Fox Clan, among others, sat at the banquet, conversing in low voices.

Ye Xinglan sat slightly below Su Fengyi's side; when her deep purple eyes occasionally swept over Ling Hao, a ripple of emotion stirred within them.

Su Fengyi raised her cup, her voice clear and resonant as she said: "This calamity of the True Demons was entirely dependent on the efforts of the Supreme and the Moonshadow Sect. Everyone in the Wutong Divine Dynasty is deeply grateful."

Ling Hao smiled and raised his cup in response, saying: "It was within my duties. The Empress and the State Preceptor holding the northern border is also worthy of admiration."

Their gazes met briefly. Su Fengyi was the first to look away, her expression uncomfortable.

...

The banquet gradually dispersed.

Su Fengyi instructed the palace maids to lead the six Disciples, including Chi Wanhe, to the "Yingluan Courtyard" on the east side of Fengqi Palace to rest, making arrangements that were extremely thoughtful.

When it came to Ling Hao, Su Fengyi paused slightly. She frowned slightly, turned to the side, and used voice transmission to ask the Ye Xinglan beside her: "Where would be best to accommodate the Supreme?"

Ever since Fengqi Palace was built, no man had ever entered it. Was she to make an exception for him? Su Fengyi was somewhat hesitant.

Ye Xinglan's eyes flashed slightly as she suggested: "It does not have to be at Fengqi Palace. The top floor of the Stargazing Palace at the peak of the Wutong Divine Tree has a quiet room. It is tranquil, elegant, and rich in Spiritual Qi, suitable for the Supreme to rest."

Su Fengyi frowned and pondered for a while: "That should work. That is where you observe celestial phenomena, and ordinary people are not allowed to enter; it is worthy of the Supreme's status."

"Then I shall instruct..."

"I will lead the Supreme there myself."

?

Su Fengyi glanced at Ye Xinglan, and Ye Xinglan said with a calm expression: "This can also show our respect."

Oh, that's true. Su Fengyi nodded in agreement.

...

The night was deep, and the lights were fading.

Ye Xinglan led Ling Hao to the top floor of the Stargazing Palace.

Pushing open the carved wooden door of the side hall, a cool, woody scent rushed toward them.

The hall was vast and deep, as if it formed a small world of its own.

Above the dome, thousands of stars simulated by magic flowed silently, casting a hazy, cool radiance.

The floor was covered with a thick, dark blue, almost black carpet; walking on it was soft and silent, like stepping into the Void Realm.

To one side, a massive star tracking instrument with precision-interlocking parts rotated slowly, emitting a barely audible hum as it guided the trajectories of the stars on the dome.

"Everything here has been prepared; the Supreme may rest with peace of mind. I shall be in the main hall next door."

Ling Hao's gaze swept across the room and finally landed back on the deep purple figure before him, and he nodded slightly.

Ye Xinglan turned and left, quickly returning to the main hall. The heavy palace doors closed behind her, cutting off the view.

She leaned her back against the cold door, looking toward the side hall, and sighed.

"Is the little State Preceptor sighing?" A low, smiling voice sounded right beside her.

Ye Xinglan shuddered violently, turned around instantly, her purple eyes wide open: "Supreme?! You..."

She hadn't even noticed when he had appeared there!

Ling Hao stood before her, able to see his own miniature reflection in her eyes.

Looking around this main hall, which was also covered in star patterns but clearly had more of a lived-in atmosphere, Ling Hao hooked the corner of his lips into an arc.

He took a step forward, his tall figure almost completely enveloping her petite frame in the narrow space between the door and him.

"Deliberately placing me in this side hall of the Stargazing Palace," Ling Hao leaned down slightly and teased, "Is it... that you are reluctant to have me too far away? Or..."

Ye Xinglan was forced to retreat subconsciously, her spine pressed tightly against the cold door panel, with nowhere left to retreat.

She lowered her purple eyes, avoiding that burning gaze, and said calmly: "The Supreme is joking. This action is only to facilitate proper care and is in accordance with etiquette. Previously... it was a matter of life and death, an act of sheer desperation. Now that it has passed, we must not make the same mistake again."

The only light source in the hall was a floating glazed star lamp; the candlelight flickered slightly as Ling Hao approached, stretching his already tall shadow longer, like a big bad wolf about to completely devour Ye Xinglan's small figure.

"Mistake?" Ling Hao chuckled, the laughter echoing in the silent hall: "In the eyes of a Heavenly Diviner, are you also obsessed with the distinction between right and wrong?"

"It is precisely because I am a Heavenly Diviner that I know even better that Heaven's will is hard to defy and Karma is entangled!" Ye Xinglan raised her eyes sharply: "And I know even better... that some boundaries, once crossed, lead to eternal damnation, with no turning back!"

Before she could finish speaking, Ling Hao suddenly leaned down! Warm breath brushed against her sensitive earlobe: "But I remember, that day, the one who took the initiative to cross that line... was you."

Ye Xinglan trembled violently, her legs instantly going weak, and she could barely stand. "Ah!"

Ling Hao's arm wrapped around her waist, which was no more than a handful, and easily lifted her light-as-a-feather body off the ground, locking her tightly into his embrace.

Through her thin, deep purple star-patterned Daoist robe, her soft, exquisite curves were pressed tightly against his solid, broad chest, leaving no gap.

The touch and temperature from her memories were awakened, even more vivid.

Ye Xinglan's mind went blank, and embarrassment and panic flooded her like a tide.

She struggled futilely in his arms, her slender wrists pressed against his chest, but it was like a mayfly trying to shake a tree.

Her small toes dangled in the air, kicking around in a panic.

"Stop! Don't move around!"

Ling Hao's expression changed. One hand held Ye Xinglan's waist, and the other grabbed her ankle. A moment ago, she had kicked the inside of his thigh; a little further off, and it would have been a heavy blow.

"You... there..."

Ye Xinglan felt Ling Hao's sun-like heat.

"Cough... I told you not to move around..."

"Then... then what do you want?" Ye Xinglan panted.

Ling Hao lowered his head, his lips touching her smooth, full forehead, then slowly slid to the side, chuckling into her ear: "What do you think? Protecting the Wutong Divine Dynasty, saving your life, and even helping you solve the Four Great Families... Little State Preceptor, for a life-saving grace, is offering one's body not excessive? How could a mere one-time reward be enough?"

His nose brushed against her earlobe, and feeling the body in his arms tremble even more violently, he said in a low voice: "Since the fact has already been established, then you are mine!"

As the last word fell, he tilted his head slightly and kissed her soft lips directly.

"No... don't!" Ye Xinglan jerked her face away, turning her head, and said hurriedly: "Stop! I beg you...! My intention in keeping you here was... was hoping that you could be with Fengyi... mmm..."

Ling Hao pressed her chin, forcefully taking over those small red lips: "Heaven's will shows... mmm... her destined Dao Companion is you! I cannot... mmm... cannot continue to make mistakes, cannot take away her chance at life! And I certainly cannot betray her..."

Ling Hao's movements paused: "What chance at life?"

Suddenly, he raised his eyes to look at the palace door.

Outside the hall, a figure landed lightly.

Su Fengyi's hesitant voice drifted into the hall: "Xinglan, have you rested? I... have some things I would like to discuss with you."

The two people in the hall froze instantly!

Su Fengyi pushed the door open and entered directly, as she usually did.

The scene that met her eyes made her freeze instantly; Ling Hao and Ye Xinglan were standing beside the massive star tracking instrument, extremely close to each other.

Ling Hao's hand seemed to have just been withdrawn from Ye Xinglan's shoulder, and on Ye Xinglan's porcelain-white face, a lingering blush was clearly visible.

Su Fengyi blurted out: "What is this...?"