Honghuang: It makes sense that there are four Sanqing, right?

"That's all we can do."

Xu Qing nodded after hearing Yuan Shi's words, but his melancholy expression remained. Just as they were wondering what to do, a voice came to each of the three of them.

"Xu Qing, Fellow Daoist Yuanshi and Fellow Daoist Tongtian, you have already come to the Underworld. Even if it's just a stop along the way, don't you want to take a look at this stone man from the underworld?"

It turned out that Houtu had arrived. Yuanshi and Tongtian breathed a sigh of relief, hoping that after talking with Houtu, Xu Qing could temporarily forget about Zhenyuanzi.

Upon hearing Houtu's telepathic message, Xu Qing's melancholy expression changed, and he immediately responded.

"Houtu, what are you saying? We were just planning to catch up with you, but we were delayed here with you. We didn't expect you to come to us first."

After speaking, Xu Qing and Yuanshi Tongtian went down from the pavilion and walked until they reached the Houtu Reincarnation Plate.

As Yuanshi said, the cracks in the stone statue on Houtu's Wheel of Reincarnation have indeed been repaired. At this moment, Houtu's primordial spirit has left her body, her form is solid, and her aura is vast and stable.

When Houtu transformed into a being of reincarnation, both Xu Qing and Zhen Yuanzi were witnesses. At that time, the area around the Reincarnation Disc was a barren, chaotic wasteland, desolate and deserted.

Now, after countless days and months, and countless transformations by the Wu and Asura tribes, this place, centered on the Wheel of Reincarnation, has now formed a large courtyard.

The front yard is where guests are received. It is decorated in a simple and grand style, with a building every five steps and a pavilion every ten steps, arranged in a row. The gate at the front is inscribed with the three elegant Taoist characters "Lun Hui Ju".

The backyard was Houtu's usual residence. Houtu built a small garden for herself, tending to the flowers and plants, and discussing official business with the Ten Kings of Hell or Zhen Yuanzi.

When Xu Qing and Yuanshi Tongtian arrived at the Reincarnation Abode, Houtu was waiting for them under the three characters "Reincarnation Abode." She was barefoot, dressed in a yellow skirt, and looked serene and gentle. Behind her, the garden was faintly visible with some red flowers and green willows.

Four words: Unparalleled and independent.

"Houtu".

"Fellow Daoist Houtu."

Xu Qing and Yuanshi Tongtian stepped forward, and the three of them bowed to Houtu in greeting.

"Xu Qing, Fellow Daoist Yuanshi, Fellow Daoist Tongtian."

Houtu nodded in return to the three of them, and then pointed to the small courtyard behind her and said.

"Xu Qing, you haven't been to my newly built Reincarnation Abode yet, have you? Perfect timing, now that you and fellow Daoists Yuanshi and Tongtian are here, why don't you come in with me and enjoy the view together?"

Xu Qing glanced behind Houtu and saw that it was indeed the Reincarnation Abode he was seeing for the first time. There were layers of tree shadows, a small bridge over a stream, and white peach blossoms and red apricot blossoms. It was really beautiful.

Fortunately, the beautiful scenery dispelled some of the melancholy in Xu Qing's heart. He smiled and nodded, saying, "That's very good."

Houtu raised her hand and said, "Please."

Yuanshi and Tongtian walked side by side toward a pavilion in the front courtyard, while Xu Qing was pulled by Houtu toward the back courtyard. The four of them then separated into pairs.

When Yuanshi and Tongtian arrived at the pavilion, they were just about to wander around when they saw two cups of tea already set out on a table and chairs.

Yuanshi and Tongtian exchanged a smile, and then Yuanshi stroked his beard with a grin and said to Tongtian.

"Third brother, it seems that our fellow Daoist Houtu, whom we have known for many years, has come prepared this time."

Tongtian, without any restraint, simply chuckled.

"Since you've mastered the laws of emotions, it's only natural to be successful in love. Second brother, are you perhaps envious? Perhaps I could help you find a few suitors."

The bright smile on Yuanshi's face froze. He lowered his hand that was stroking his beard and tapped Tongtian's head with his knuckles.

"You bastard, Tongtian! How dare you joke about your second brother? You're asking for it!"

…………

Two flowers bloomed, but let's leave that aside for now. Houtu and Xu Qing walked together to the back garden, strolling side by side among the flowers, enjoying the beautiful scenery together.

As Xu Qing walked, he found it strange that even though he was walking in a straight line, the distance between him and Hou Tu's shoulders was getting closer and closer. It was truly a strange thing.

As they drew closer, Xu Qing could smell the gardenia scent on Hou Tu, while Hou Tu sensed the cedar-like aura emanating from Xu Qing.

It wasn't that they brought sachets; rather, both of them were innate deities, possessing immaculate and pure bodies, and were imbued with divine power day and night, naturally exuding fragrance.

Xu Qing felt the fragrance growing stronger and stronger. He, who had been able to remain calm even after experiencing life and death, blushed. Finally, he couldn't help but whisper.

"Fellow Daoist Houtu, could you please move a little further away?"

The two remained silent throughout the journey. Houtu initially thought that Xu Qing and she were kindred spirits, both immersed in the beautiful scenery, and she was quite proud of her own aesthetic sense.

So she intentionally or unintentionally got closer to Xu Qing, and Hou Tu thought that if she continued like this, things would naturally fall into place.

Unexpectedly, Xu Qing actually said such a thing, and Houtu wanted to slap him to death.

She immediately raised her eyebrows and questioned him.

"Xu Qing, what do you mean by that? The road is only so wide, how far do you expect me to stay from you?"

"Huh? Why are you angry?"

Xu Qing asked, puzzled.

"..."

Houtu was defeated by Xu Qing's words. She took a deep breath to calm herself down and then asked again.

"Xu Qing, look... do I look any different or different today?"

Xu Qing examined it carefully and said seriously.

"It's been three years, and Fellow Daoist Houtu seems to have made even greater progress in her cultivation. Congratulations!"

Houtu was somewhat expectant when she heard the first half, but when she heard the latter part, her fair and flawless face turned as black as the bottom of a pot. She glared at Xu Qing and said directly.

"Xu Qing, you're unbeatable, you're this, can I just be honest, I like you."

"Huh? What did you reveal?"

Xu Qing thought she had misheard.

Houtu remained expressionless, even somewhat disgusted, but still dragged out the last syllable of each word.

I said, I like you.

Xu Qing heard it clearly this time; in fact, it was impossible for him not to hear it now.

「… … … … … … … 」

Silence was the abode of reincarnation tonight. Xu Qing stared blankly into Houtu's eyes for a long time before finally speaking.

"The Gate of All Wonders has opened, but the Great Calamity of Gods and Demons and the Great Calamity of the Imperial Beasts have not yet been resolved, and the Primordial World is in imminent danger."

Houtu hummed in agreement. "And then?"

Xu Qing added, "I could die at any moment."

Houtu exhaled through her nose and said with a hint of disdain, "Isn't I also at risk of dying at any moment?"

"Yes, and I like you too, but what if I die and you don't?"

Upon hearing Xu Qing say that he also liked her, Houtu suddenly smiled, a smile as bright as the sun melting the winter snow in early spring.

"You want me to commit suicide for love? No way! I still have the vast underworld to rely on. If you die, it'll be the same as it is now to me. So what? I like you because I love you and want you to be my Daoist partner, not because I need a Daoist partner."

"If you died, what difference would it make to me whether you're alive or dead? I really don't understand why you would ask such a question. What are you thinking?"