Volume One: The Celestial Palace of Mist Chapter One Hundred Thirteen: Clarifying the Relationship

Chapter 113: Clarifying Relationships

Seeing the man and woman so intimately close ahead, Yu Nan inexplicably felt anger rise within her, yet she said nothing, only comforting herself: Huahuo was just a little girl, merely a celestial blossom that had taken human form; it was impossible for her to develop feelings for Zhou Hao.

However, there was another person equally furious—Xiao Shanshan, Yu Nan’s little junior apprentice who followed closely at her side. She glanced at her senior and found that Yu Nan showed no reaction, neither stepping forward to reclaim her man. This usually gentle and quiet junior, who only became lively and talkative around acquaintances, was now enraged!

“Zhou Hao, what’s your relationship with this woman? Hugging so closely? Don’t tell me you’re trying to betray my senior?” Though Xiao Shanshan appeared frail and delicate, when serious, she was truly intimidating. Her tone was cold, laced with contempt and a hint of interrogation.

Hearing this, Zhou Hao and Huahuo turned to face everyone, confusion written all over Zhou Hao’s face. He didn’t understand the implication behind Xiao Shanshan’s words.

“Huahuo is my lifesaver and a good friend. What’s wrong with that?” Zhou Hao replied earnestly.

Xiao Shanshan’s lips curled into a suspicious smile. “Good friends? I think you’re treating her as a little sister—or perhaps more than that. Have you ever thought about how sincere and devoted my senior is to you? Yet you ignore her completely and openly cling to other women in front of her. Do you think that’s fair to her?”

By the end, Xiao Shanshan’s cold gaze had turned into a furious glare, like an enraged canary accusing Zhou Hao.

“You…” Zhou Hao was caught off guard by her questioning, momentarily speechless.

“What ‘you’? No words left to say, huh? Angry and ashamed? Then just admit you don’t like my senior, so she can see your true colors,” Xiao Shanshan pointed accusingly at Zhou Hao.

“Shanshan, stop it,” Yu Nan interrupted, pulling Xiao Shanshan behind her.

“Why can’t I speak? I just don’t want to see my senior get hurt. She loves him wholeheartedly and treats him well, but he only knows how to flirt with other women—Su Qing was one, now Huahuo is another. I think he doesn’t truly care about her at all…” Xiao Shanshan refused to relent, continuing her accusations.

“Xiao Shanshan, shut up!” Yu Nan’s tone sharpened with anger, silencing her companion. Yet Xiao Shanshan’s eyes remained coldly fixed on Zhou Hao.

“Fine, since someone brought it up, I’ll make my feelings clear today,” Zhou Hao said, looking at Yu Nan with suddenly resolute eyes.

Almost simultaneously, Yu Nan met Zhou Hao’s gaze, staring at him with longing, awaiting his next words.

“At first, when I came to Yunmiao, you seemed like a fiery young lady, quick to challenge duels. I truly disliked you. But then you said you liked me—I found that so surprising, so impossible. In the days that followed, you treated me well, and we went from enemies to friends…” Zhou Hao spoke softly.

“Just… friends? So you only ever saw me as a friend?” Yu Nan closed her eyes, her radiant face tilted skyward.

Zhou Hao’s expression turned apologetic. “I’m sorry. I never loved you, never regarded you as a partner. It’s my fault for never making my feelings clear, for not responding to you properly. I truly owe you an apology.”

Yu Nan said nothing, offering no reply. Around them, an eerie silence fell—so profound it was almost terrifying. No one broke this awkward stillness, not even the usually talkative Turtle, who quietly watched the scene unfold without a word.

Finally, Yu Nan was the first to break the silence. She opened her eyes and looked at Zhou Hao. “If you don’t like me, then who do you like? Is it Su Qing?”

Zhou Hao smiled and shook his head. “Su Qing has indeed treated me well. I’m touched by her silent dedication, especially when she risked her life to save me—I owe her my life. But I don’t love her. My feelings for her are only those of friendship and comradeship.”

“Heh, so the only one you truly like is her?” Xiao Shanshan sneered, nodding toward Huahuo in red beside Zhou Hao.

“Huahuo is also my lifesaver. Without her, I would have died long ago in the magma lake deep within the earth vein. Without her, I wouldn’t have risen to where I am now. I only feel gratitude toward her. After all that’s happened, we are just good friends,” Zhou Hao replied.

Hearing this, Huahuo suddenly said, “Wait, what did you say? Look me in the eye and tell me you don’t like me?”

Zhou Hao stared into Huahuo’s eyes, speaking seriously. “Yes, I don’t like you. I don’t have anyone I like right now.”

“Bah! Shameless! I’m naturally beautiful and uniquely adorable—do I really need your affection? Stop flattering yourself. You think you’re some love god, some handsome prince? Do you deserve it?” Huahuo mocked, but soon Zhou Hao realized he’d been tricked—she was just teasing him, cleverly throwing insults.

“Ah, yes, yes, Miss Flower, you are peerless, the most beautiful, most celestial, most adorable in the world. I don’t deserve you, I don’t deserve you. How could I ever be worthy of such a petite, stunning beauty?” Zhou Hao retorted quickly, matching her wit.

“Calling me flat-chested? Hmph. I just transformed into human form, you know. In your human and celestial understanding, I’m only twelve years old. Who needs big breasts at twelve? This is perfectly normal. You filthy pervert, always thinking dirty thoughts,” Huahuo shot back.

Then, the tall man and the short woman, the cutest height difference duo, began bantering back and forth, completely ignoring everyone else around them.

“You’re twelve? I don’t believe it even if you’re twelve hundred! You called me a pervert and a weirdo—did I ever do that to you? Did I do that to you?”

“Do you deserve it? With your low-tier pretty face, you’re a dime a dozen. Don’t think all beauties like you alone. Dream on. Even if they took turns, it wouldn’t be your turn. I think your cultivation talent is just mediocre!”

“Ridiculous! Back when I was leading empires and inspiring heroes, when nobles were nothing but dirt, you were still just a seedling! I was once an emperor, seen all kinds of beauties, and had them by the handful. Catch me an emperor now, and it has to be a wise and mighty ruler like me.”

“Self-praise! Your little patch of land in the mortal world, who cares? So what if you were an emperor? I’m still a celestial blossom, living longer than your mortal lifetimes combined. And I’m a seed? Don’t joke about that!”

…

Once the war of words started, it never stopped. No one expected this outcome. Where was the promised juicy gossip? The heartfelt confession? What was this?

“Shanshan, let’s go. There’s no need to stay here any longer,” Yu Nan finally said, casting one last glance at Zhou Hao who was still embroiled in a fierce verbal ‘battle’ with Huahuo. She smiled wryly, then took Xiao Shanshan’s hand and started to leave.

“Alright. Sisters stand together, now and forever we part ways with Zhou the scoundrel,” Xiao Shanshan said angrily.

“He’s not a scoundrel. He just doesn’t like me. Perhaps the hardest thing in this world is to make someone who doesn’t like you suddenly like you,” Yu Nan told Xiao Shanshan. “Let’s go. Leaving Yunmiao Immortal Hall, there’s nothing left here worth my staying.”

At that moment, Yu Nan’s aura changed completely. Draped in crimson robes, she looked like a blazing flame descending upon the mortal realm, but her face was icy cold, pushing everyone away by thousands of miles.

In the next instant, two streaks of light—one red, one green—shot toward the exit of the Alchemy Prison and vanished in a blink.

The verbal duel between Zhou Hao and Huahuo only ended after the two senior sisters had left for some time. Turtle and Green Snake, unable to endure the ‘verbal sparring’ of these two ‘shrewish quarrelers,’ resorted to their form of violent aesthetics to abruptly put an end to this nonsensical brawl!

“What? Yu Nan and Xiao Shanshan flew away together?” Zhou Hao looked toward the exit, mouth agape, speechless.

“Was what I said too irresponsible? Did Yu Nan truly never stir any feelings within me? She used to be arrogant and domineering, all because of our master. But she made great changes for me. She fell completely in love with me, but I didn’t love her. Saying this out loud really hurts,” Zhou Hao sighed deeply, struggling to calm his heart.

“In that case, we should leave too. Nangong Xun and the Night Envoy won’t let me off easily. I might as well fight them today with this great immortal treasure gourd. I will avenge all those harmed in Yunmiao Immortal Hall!” Shaking his head, Zhou Hao made a decision—risky, but necessary.

He summoned the yellow gourd, which hovered protectively three feet above his head. Turtle, Green Snake, and Huahuo landed on his left and right shoulders. The four set off, rushing straight toward the exit of the Alchemy Prison, heading out into the wider world.

The moment to decide the fate of Yunmiao Immortal Hall had finally arrived!