"You want me to help you commit suicide!?"

Hearing Xiluo’s sudden raise in volume, Xiang Yao was suddenly not as venomous-tongued as before, instead merely flicking his snake tongue out, calm as ever.

"To be precise, he wanted to die before I arrived."

"After all, it’s not easy to kill a Celestial God—especially one like Xiangliu who’s lived thousands of years."

"Even a severed head can survive to this day. Do you dare say the death of the flesh can truly end Him completely?"

After Li Boyang’s reminder, Xiluo instantly had a realization.

But precisely because of that, Xiluo now seemed even more confused—the gaze she cast at Li Boyang grew distinctly strange.

"So, why is he so afraid of you?"

Right now Xiluo was very curious—just what kind of reputation did Li Boyang have in the outside world, in Great Xia?

Why would even a Celestial God like Xiang Yao be so terrified of meeting Li Boyang?

"Put away that look—I’m not as scary as you imagine."

Shooting Xiluo an exasperated glare, Li Boyang saw through her little thoughts instantly.

"He’s afraid to meet me because he’s hiding secrets—ones he doesn’t want me, or anyone else, to know."

"Tell me, am I right, Xiang Yao?"

Taking a deep breath, a trace of human-like reverence surfaced on Xiang Yao’s serpent face.

"You’re only partly correct. Indeed, there are some secrets of mine that outsiders shouldn’t know."

"But what that mountain cat said isn’t wrong either—you seem to underestimate your reputation outside the Hundred Lands Mountain Range."

"You refined Returning Void into a Baking Furnace, traversing ten thousand miles with a single thought..."

"If Great Xia hadn’t dealt with the Hundred Lands Mountain Range before simply because of internal strife, then—"

"Ever since that ’Great Upheaval’ five years ago, Xia has only felt awe toward you."

Li Boyang never expected Xiang Yao to use the words "Great Upheaval" to describe the birth of the Eight Trigrams Furnace.

"Didn’t you all notice how peaceful the Hundred Lands Mountain Range has been these past five years?"

"In an era of strife and change, at the heart of the storm, the Hundred Lands Mountain Range has enjoyed five full years of peace—not even a moderately sized disaster has occurred."

This time it was Xiluo’s turn to be puzzled—she really had never considered things like that.

But on closer thought, Xiang Yao himself was actually a prime example.

Xiangliu died in the aftermath of the East Sea chaos, a casualty of the Second Gonggong’s rebellion.

If you go by that timeline—

Xiang Yao probably infiltrated the Hundred Lands Mountain Range seven years ago.

And other than causing a little stir by the improper Soul Jade wishing, creating the human-god mixed-blood Li Xi, he didn’t make any waves at all.

Even when he was chased by the Flower Mantis recently—

Xiang Yao chose to flee west, toward the Sea of Trees, rather than wreak havoc in the Hundred Lands Mountain Range.

This is Li Boyang’s current prestige—in the eyes of the Great Xia Gods and Great Witches, he’s the Great Celestial God of this era.

The sort of protagonist in those movies and novels from Li Boyang’s previous life, stubbornly harassed by various villains despite their power, would never appear among these cunning old foxes.

"A Great Celestial God, Tao Ancestor who teaches the Dao and imparts laws..."

"Hundred Earth Celestial Being, your reputation and renown are far greater than you realize."

Staring fixedly at Li Boyang, Xiang Yao’s tone remained tranquil—so tranquil it carried a hint of resigned despair.

"Observing Others’ Hidden Thoughts·Unobstructed Communication Divine Power..."

"I recall that’s how you referred to that divine power you use for teaching, isn’t it?"

"During this conversation, can you avoid using that power to probe my mind?"

"I promise to answer whatever you ask next."

"Believe me, I won’t lie or hide anything."

Xiang Yao’s tone was more sincere than ever—this was his only request.

He’d lived thousands of years, hiding countless secrets in his heart—truly unsuitable for outsiders to pry into his inner thoughts.

Will Xiang Yao lie or conceal something, though?

Whether by Telepathy’s lie-detection ability or Celestial Destiny Bone Armor’s divination, both could reveal the truth.

"I can understand how you feel—everyone needs privacy, right?"

"Don’t worry. So long as you don’t lie or hide anything, I promise not to pry into your mind."

Li Boyang could fully understand Xiang Yao’s concerns—and this was also why he used Telepathy so sparingly.

Forcibly prying into another’s mind is way more extreme than rifling through someone’s browser history.

At least browser history requires some actual records.

Telepathy, on the other hand, can catch even the fleeting thoughts that flash by—it’s an unbelievably overpowered divine skill.

"Go ahead and ask—anything, I’ll answer."

Clearly, Xiang Yao didn’t fully believe Li Boyang’s promise—but now, he had no choice but to trust him.

Since he was completely at someone else’s mercy, and not even suicide was possible—what choice did he have but trust?

"Alright, let’s start with the first question. Why did you betray Gonggong?"

......................................................

Li Family Village, in Li Boyang’s courtyard.

"Did brother leave for something again?"

Reaching out to tug Li Jingshu’s sleeve, the joy on Xi’s face slowly faded—replaced by a faint, almost imperceptible longing.

As the foster daughter acknowledged by the couple Li Yu and Chen Yun—

It was perfectly reasonable for Xi to call Li Boyang "brother."

Not to mention that Li Boyang truly liked Xi—he often carried her around to play, just like Li Jingshu once carried Li Boyang himself.

So in Xi’s heart, besides Li Yu and Chen Yun, her closest person was Li Boyang.

"That’s right! Your brother really is a busy man these days."

"Not like me, your dear older sister—after some real effort, I finally finished my business and can finally spend time with our little Xi."

Squatting down to squeeze Xi’s cheeks, Li Jingshu spoke with a laugh.

The Flower Mantis had been sent back to Cyan Ox Mountain by Li Boyang, and the whole course of events told to Li Jingshu as well.

So now, Li Jingshu was genuinely free, with both time and energy to be with Xi.

"Not sister—it’s aunt."

Pouting, Xi mumbled her correction indistinctly.

Though Li Jingshu was just a few years older than Li Boyang, by seniority she was of the same generation as Li Yu.

In terms of family hierarchy, Xi calling Li Jingshu "aunt" was perfectly correct.

Looks like the only one not too thrilled about it was the person involved—everyone else just watched with amusement.

"Since you call Non-crying Baby brother, you’ve got to call me sister."

Deliberately pinching Xi’s cheeks, Li Jingshu, just as always, playfully pretended to be angry as she stressed it.

This scene made the Red Fish behind them smile, before turning to gaze toward the direction of Yunmeng Marsh.

[Destiny... What kind of trouble have you gotten into again this time?]

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