She was such a pure and transparent little demon. He had always thought her desire to be his consort came from simple infatuation, without deeper meaning. But now—he never imagined she truly meant it.
He was a high-ranking celestial being, only temporarily dwelling here under banishment. Even if she passed this trial, her fate would, at best, grant her the chance to become a lesser celestial. She had no idea how vast the distance between them really was. And yet, she blindly trusted him, following his every arrangement step by step.
But what would happen if, one day, she learned the truth—that she had been deceived?
Worse still, her fate remained clouded and uncertain. A dangerous omen. If mishandled, it could bring disaster to those around her. He had been ignoring this all along. But now, seeing how sincere her heart was, he realized: the love between a god and a demon… was this not the great tribulation meant for her?
Heaven’s will could not be defied.
A thousand years from now, he would be summoned back to the Heavenly Realm to resume his place among the gods. If he allowed himself to grow too attached, it could disturb not only her future tribulations—but his own.
Zhongtian [“the Central Heaven”], where he would return, was the heart of the orthodox celestial clan. The Kunlun tribe had long coveted that seat of power—he could not afford to make even the smallest mistake. If he faltered, the orthodox gods would be weakened, giving the ambitious outer factions the chance to strike.
As a direct descendant of the orthodox line, he could not afford to err.
This path was dangerous—for her, and for him.
He gently set her down. “Dawn is near. Go back to sleep. Once you’ve recovered, I’ll send you off.”
—
Time in the heavens is endless; dynasties in the mortal realm rise and fall.
Spring, 4th Year of Shunde.
The rebellion of the Three Princes of Liangzhou had finally been quelled. But the surrounding provinces and counties were left drained and battered. Signs of decline were beginning to show.
Only the prosperous city of Ganzhou remained untouched. Its vitality was not only undiminished—it even helped revive nearby regions such as Jiezhou. The merchants and gentry of Ganzhou always seemed to have a keen sense of timing, withdrawing just before trouble struck.
In the quiet mountains outside Ganzhou, there had been unusual activity for months. Locals often saw workers hauling massive stones up and down the paths. Curious, they began to inquire—and were shocked by what they learned.
Someone, on a whim, was building a private villa deep in the mountains. Just judging by the scale of construction, one could imagine the extravagance of the final residence. Word had it the land was purchased at a steep price from two powerful local families.
And its current owner?
Ganzhou’s most famous—and most flamboyant—wealthy gentleman: the infamous, romantic Master Duan.
In the garden was a flower bed, where all sorts of flowers grew in bloom. Not far from it, a mountain of massive stones was piled high. A group of craftsmen stood together, tools in hand—shovels, spades, pickaxes—discussing their next task.
“There’s only the Moon-Viewing Terrace left to build. Should we start on it now?”
“The steward has gone to ask the young master.”
Just as they spoke, a plump, well-dressed middle-aged man approached. At once, the craftsmen crowded around him.
“Steward, what did the young master say?”
The steward replied, “The young master will be hosting a banquet in the garden later today. He told you all to rest for now. Work will resume tomorrow. Your pay will be counted as usual.”
A day’s wage for no work—naturally, the workers dispersed cheerfully.
Hidden within the flower bed, a small demon let out a sigh of relief. She had nearly been uprooted the moment she arrived—just as Lord Divine had warned, this tribulation would indeed be perilous. Her powers were now restricted, and not even he could intervene. She would have to stay in the mortal world for a full year, guarding this fragile host body. She needed to find a benefactor—someone who could protect her. Remembering Lord Divine’s instructions, she began to plot her course in secret.
Laughter drifted over from nearby.
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