Han Xue's legs suddenly went soft, and her slender body "reasonably" tilted forward, falling straight toward Xiao Jietian.
Xiao Jietian extended an arm without hesitation, wrapping it firmly around her narrow waist and steadying her against his chest.
"What is the matter?" he asked, voice low and gentle.
"I… perhaps I stared too long inside the spatial tunnel just now. My head feels a little dizzy," Han Xue murmured, feigning frailty with lowered lashes.
Xiao Jietian did not expose her transparent little ruse. Instead, he smiled faintly.
"Then shall I carry you the rest of the way?"
"Yes! Yes!" Han Xue instantly perked up, eyes sparkling like stars—only to remember her act a heartbeat later. She hurriedly slumped back against him with an exaggerated sigh. "Oh dear… now I feel even dizzier. Did I just have a moment of clarity?"
Han Yue, watching from the side, could only press a palm to her forehead in helpless exasperation.
My foolish little sister… your acting is so exaggerated it could be used to perform in a traveling opera troupe.
Xiao Jietian shot Han Yue an amused glance. She promptly turned her face skyward, pretending the drifting clouds were suddenly of utmost interest.
"Ah—!"
Han Xue let out a startled gasp.
In the next instant, Xiao Jietian swept her up into a princess carry, cradling her securely against his chest.
Han Xue's arms flew instinctively around his neck, clinging tightly.
"You were so sudden… I wasn't prepared at all," she whispered, cheeks flaming as she gazed up at the face so near her own.
"Oh? Then shall I set you down?" Xiao Jietian asked, deliberately loosening his hold just a fraction.
"No—no!" Han Xue hurriedly tightened her grip. "My head is still spinning, and my legs have no strength. If you put me down now, I truly won't be able to stand steady."
Xiao Jietian lowered his gaze. He could clearly see her knuckles whitening from the force of her grasp around his neck.
This is your so-called "dizziness and weakness"?
Heh… women.
Han Yue watched her younger sister's performance with barely concealed mirth.
Truly, the intoxication of first love could turn even the cleverest mind into a puddle of spring water. The holes in Han Xue's acting were large enough to drive a carriage through.
"Yue'er, would you like me to carry you on my back as well?" Xiao Jietian asked, turning to Han Yue with a teasing smile.
Han Yue immediately seized the chance to poke fun at her sister.
"No need. I can walk perfectly well on my own. Besides, I am not dizzy in the slightest."
Han Xue squirmed in Xiao Jietian's arms, cheeks burning.
"Sister, you're so mean—always teasing me! It wasn't on purpose, you know…"
Her embarrassed wriggling only made Xiao Jietian and Han Yue laugh even more warmly.
"Let us return first," Xiao Jietian said, casting a brief glance toward the two Hall Guards seated discreetly in the corner, pretending to be absorbed in their own thoughts. "This is not the place for idle talk."
"Mn. Let us go. We can also see whether the other sisters have finished their seclusion," Han Yue agreed, taking the lead and gliding forward.
Xiao Jietian followed close behind, still carrying Han Xue, who secretly studied his sharp profile from within the cradle of his arms.
A sudden thought struck her: I should never have worn this slim-fitting skirt today.
If she had chosen a flowing, wide-hemmed dress instead, she could have wrapped her legs around his waist—allowing her to press even closer, to feel his warmth more completely.
Han Yue walked beside them through the void, occasionally exchanging knowing glances with Han Xue—as though silently confirming: Plan proceeding smoothly. Check.
Xiao Jietian had long since noticed every furtive look and whispered soul transmission between the sisters. He quietly added another mental checkmark to his tally.
At first Han Xue kept stealing glances at him, but soon the breathtaking scenery of the Eternal Heaven Small World captured her full attention.
Xiao Jietian deliberately slowed his pace, allowing her to drink in every detail of the floating jade peaks, the cascading spirit springs, and the auspicious clouds drifting like immortal silk.
Han Xue naturally noticed his thoughtfulness. The warmth in her chest grew even stronger.
A considerate man always earned extra marks in a maiden's heart.
Along the way, Xiao Jietian and Han Yue took turns pointing out famous sights and explaining their wonders to her.
The distance was not great, yet the trio took nearly twenty minutes to reach the Eternal Heaven Palace, heading directly toward the rear hall by the lake.
A no-fly restriction hung over the palace proper, but it applied only to those without permission. For Xiao Jietian, Ya Fei, and the other core figures, the skies remained open.
"Is this the Eternal Heaven Palace? It is so beautiful!" Han Xue exclaimed the moment her feet touched the ground.
She slipped down from Xiao Jietian's arms and hurried to the lake's edge, eyes wide as she gazed at the enormous lotus blossoms drifting upon the water's surface.
These were no ordinary flowers.
They were Azure Leaf Jade Lotuses—precious fifth-grade medicinal ingredients whose fragrance possessed a calming, mind-clarifying effect.
Whenever Xiao Jietian, Queen Medusa, or the others finished a session of cultivation or simply wished to rest their minds, they would often sit in the waterside pavilion amid the drifting lotus fragrance.
"Xue'er, let me show you around!" Han Yue said, taking her sister's hand with a gentle smile.
"Yes! Yes!" Han Xue cried in delight, already tugging Han Yue forward—completely forgetting Xiao Jietian in her excitement.
Xiao Jietian watched the two sisters run off together, a soft smile touching his lips.
In truth, Han Xue was roughly the same age as he was—yet her heart remained pure and bright, like unblemished snow.
All these years, the weight of clan responsibilities had forced her to suppress her natural liveliness. Only now, in this immortal realm, was that long-buried innocence finally allowed to bloom freely.
Seeing the sisters so happy, he chose not to follow.
Instead he turned and walked alone to the pavilion that floated serenely in the center of the lake.
With a sweep of his divine sense, he checked the current state of the palace.
Most of the other ladies were nearing the end of their seclusion. The most unique among them—Little Zi Yan—was still sound asleep, curled up in her usual spirit beast chamber.
For Magical Beasts, especially those of her bloodline, the most efficient method of refining vast spiritual energy was simply deep slumber.
Already the aura within her body had nearly finished assimilating the rare herbs he had provided. Once she awoke, it would be time to send her back to the Dragon Island of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan.
Only there could she truly awaken her full potential.
Though the Eternal Heaven Small World brimmed with dense spiritual energy, it lacked the specific inheritances and ancestral blood essences the Void Ancient Dragons required.
Moreover, records concerning that reclusive clan were pitifully scarce—both in the original tale and in the ancient tomes of this world. They rarely appeared before outsiders, preferring to hide away in secluded cultivation.
After Zi Yan departed, he would need to begin preparations for acquiring the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit.
He would present it to her upon her return. He knew full well that once she was back among her clan, she would face one or two years of rigorous, tedious study—something the little glutton would certainly resent him for.
His little wife deserved to be pampered.
If he did not spoil her, who else would?
Meanwhile, the Little Fairy Doctor was currently cultivating within the depths of the Miasma Forest. Xiao Meng, Xiao Ling, and little Xiao Ze were being looked after by Xiao Zhan.
...
Han Yue led Han Xue on a leisurely tour through the jade halls and immortal pavilions of the Eternal Heaven Palace.
Seeing her younger sister so radiant with joy, Han Yue's own heart felt light as a spring breeze.
Since the day they had grown old enough to understand the burdens of their clan, both sisters had hidden their true natures, constantly sacrificing personal desires for the sake of the family's rise.
Han Xue, in particular, had borne the heaviest load—personally managing the merchant caravans, traveling through perilous mountains and rivers, handling countless crises with her own hands.
Only now, in this immortal sanctuary, could she finally let down her guard and simply be.
The two sisters wandered until they reached Han Yue's private palace.
Han Xue looked around curiously. The decor was almost identical to her sister's chambers back in the Han estate—only the quality of the furniture was far superior, and the bed…
She blinked.
Why is Elder Sister's bed here so enormous? It is at least twice the size of the one at home. How strange.
Without another thought, she leapt onto the mattress, rolling happily across the soft silken sheets before flopping onto her stomach and propping her chin in her hands.
"Sister, your bed here is huge! Four or five of me could lie on it without touching each other. Why don't I just move in and live with you from now on?!"