"If I were the Crown Prince, I'd definitely come here to relax," Sean Shaw said. "The layout here is really nice; it just feels comfortable."
Lily Bai didn't say anything; she just wandered around the garden, looking at everything.
There wasn't a trace of any array or talisman here—just clever design and thoughtful arrangement.
Xavier Xiao hadn't taken human form yet, but he already had his own study.
Inside, he dipped his tail in ink and was... drawing talismans.
Eve walked in, carrying a plate of Fairy Fruit, and set it down in front of him: "Eat some, okay?"
"No need," Xavier replied in dragon-speech, not even glancing up.
"You're still growing," Eve said. "Eat more Fairy Fruit and you'll grow even better."
Xavier glanced at her, nodded, and ate all the Fairy Fruit.
Eve took the plate and quietly backed out.
Lily Bai and Sean Shaw left the First Prince's palace and headed back to their own quarters.
"Did you notice anything odd, darling?" Lily Bai asked him.
Sean Shaw said, "Eve and Xavier Xiao don't act much like mother and son in private. And when Eve left the study, she was so respectful—she even backed out for the first few steps."
Lily Bai nodded, "I'm pretty much convinced Xavier Xiao is abnormal—odds are, he's actually Liam Leshan!"
Sean Shaw: "How can you be sure?"
"Two reasons. First, their place looks simple but is packed with profound feng-shui—it's not by chance you feel so comfortable, it's deliberate. And that's way beyond Eve's abilities. Second, Xavier Xiao may be drawing Dragon Talismans, but his technique is pure Rune Master stuff."
Sean Shaw said, "Then let's wait for King Hades to get back to us."
Speak of the devil—just as they mentioned King Hades, Sean Shaw's Messenger Charm lit up. He answered, and sure enough, it was Ian Yan.
"Has your cultivation recovered?" Sean Shaw asked.
"It's recovered," Ian Yan replied, his tone heavy. "I've found evidence—there really have been living souls forced into reincarnation. And not just one, but two!"
...
After years of seclusion in her own domain, the Celestial Empress Liz Li suddenly emerged.
As her son and daughter-in-law, Sean Shaw and Lily Bai had to pay their respects—it was only proper.
She seemed much more calm and gentle than before. Not a word of reproach—she even brought up the approaching memorial for the Gatekeeper and Emperor Evan Xiao, and said it was time to start preparing.
"...The Gatekeeper Festival is only held once every hundred years, and many High Gods from the Three Divine Realms will attend," Liz Li said. "I'm worried you two are still young and inexperienced with such major events, so I came out of seclusion to teach you."
Sean Shaw bowed. "Thank you, Mother! We're grateful."
Liz Li smiled. "Let me explain. First..."
...
With Liz Li's guidance, the Gatekeeper Festival was held in full swing on the memorial day for the Gatekeeper and Emperor Evan Xiao.
The venue was the Gatekeeper Shrine.
Though it was Memorial Day, everyone said the Gatekeeper and Emperor Evan Xiao hadn't really died; they'd simply gone to the place they were meant to be, living together forever in happiness. So this day was a celebration!
And so, the Gatekeeper Festival was born.
Once every hundred years, the Gatekeeper Festival fills the realm with lanterns and joy.
Lanterns were everywhere, painted by the finest artisans with scenes celebrating the Gatekeeper's world-saving deeds and Emperor Evan Xiao's thousand-year devotion.