Visiting the Lumina Realm

"No way! Demon Whale Beasts are huge, sure, but they're total slowpokes—there's no chance one could ever catch her!"

Lily Bai nodded. "Hey, do you know an immortal named Eve?"

Claire shook her head. "Nope, never heard of her."

Lily nodded again. Claire's been holed up in seclusion for years—no way she knows what's been going on in Drake Abyss lately.

"Your Highness the Crown Princess, what exactly did Jean Qiao do wrong?"

Lily explained to her how Jean Qiao had basically turned into a whole other person.

Claire blurted out, "Jean Qiao's clan is called Qiuyuan, but they're also known as Water Skin-Walkers! Their freaky talent is they can eat someone from the inside out and wear their skin like a costume—perfect disguise to hunt for more snacks."

Lily blinked. "Wait, are you saying... Jean Qiao's wearing Eve's skin? If that's true, how did none of us ever notice?"

"Maybe she used some other trick so nobody could tell?" Claire admitted, not sounding too sure.

Lily thought for a second. "I'll head back and double-check everything. Claire, seriously, thanks!"

"Your Highness, if you thank a junior immortal like me, you're just being way too formal," Claire teased.

"If she gets hauled in, I'm absolutely making her spill the truth about what happened with my master back then!" Lily declared.

Claire nodded, eyes a little misty.

"And... Faustin misses you like crazy," Lily grinned. "A few years ago, just thinking about you made him cry! Even if you two split up, you should still drop by and see him sometimes!"

Claire's eyes went red and she nodded.

...

When Lily went to say goodbye to Divine Marquis Lann Yin, she found Sean Shaw already chatting with him.

Spotting Lily, Sean flashed her a smile. "I just asked Divine Marquis Lann Yin about Soren Lann's situation. He says Soren's doing fine, so you don't have to worry about him."

Lily shot him a look. Wow, someone's being awfully proactive today.

Divine Marquis Lann Yin immediately contradicted Sean. "He says he's fine, but actually, he's not. Soren's been holed up cultivating all day and still hasn't named a Divine Empress! The Empress Dowager's so worried she's gotten sick!"

Bai Xiaoyu stayed silent.

With Xiao Chen watching her closely, she didn't dare say a word.

Otherwise, he'd pester her all night...

"Why don't we go try to persuade him?" Xiao Chen suddenly suggested.

Bai Xiaoyu glanced at him again, still not saying anything.

Divine Lord Sang Yin said, "If Your Highnesses could go talk to him, that would be wonderful."

"Then we'll take our leave," Xiao Chen pulled Bai Xiaoyu to her feet. "Sorry to disturb you."

After leaving Futi Mountain, Bai Xiaoyu asked him, "Are we really going to the Radiant Divine Realm?"

"We've already said we would—what else can we do?"

"Let's not go!" Bai Xiaoyu frowned. "It's so awkward..."

"I think, after you married me and after Azure Flame died, it hit him pretty hard. I should go check on him."

"Are you serious?"

Xiao Chen pulled her hand to his chest. "Every bit of it is sincere."

"So what exactly are you planning to say to him?" Bai Xiaoyu asked.

"You'll see when we get there!"

...

The two of them headed straight for the Great Radiant Palace.

When they saw Sang Lan, he was standing at the doorway of his bedchamber, staring blankly at the swallow's nest under the eaves.

His whole being radiated an indescribable loneliness.

Seeing the two of them, Sang Lan gave a faint smile and asked, "What wind blew you two here today?"