The realm gate opened.

　　Bai Ze could not believe his ears when Yi Feng reported this to him. After all, they had been trying for tens of thousands of years. He only believed it when he saw the floating white opening, which was then as tall as a human being. He sensed the familiar aura – the divine race aura he had unfortunately been separated from all these years.

　　This really is the realm gate that led to the Divine Realm.

　　But why now, at this time!

　　(⊙_⊙)

　　He… doesn’t want to go back?

　　Bai Ze was not in the least bit happy. Instead, he felt like bursting into tears. He had just given away the Black Spirit Blossom and decided to stay in this realm. Why did the realm gate open now?

　　“Spirit Master, is this…” Yi Feng asked excitedly.

　　Bai Ze stepped toward the opening and nodded, “Yes.”

　　“That’s great!” The Yi Family finally fulfilled the promise they had passed down for generations.

　　“Congratulations, Spirit Master, you can finally go home.”

　　Bai Ze did not respond. Instead, he turned around to look at Shen Ying, who stood beside him. His expression was cool, but his eyes appeared… unwilling. He seemed like he was waiting for Shen Ying to say something.

　　Shen Ying shifted uncomfortably and cleared her throat. She waved, “Goodbye, Furball.”

　　His eyes dimmed, and he looked even more unwilling. He clenched his fists by his side and stepped forward toward her, his face flushing a deep red. He took in a deep breath and finally found his voice, “Shen… Ying, you are the only one I have ever given the Black Spirit Blossom to.”

　　Shen Ying paused. “Oh.” Why was he telling her this?

　　“Really!” He insisted, thinking she did not believe him. “I will never… never give it to another person. Believe me.” That was the most important memento among those in the divine race.

　　He grasped her hand suddenly. She was the only girl who made him want to give the Black Spirit Blossom to her after all these years.

　　Yi Qing, who had been standing by the side the entire time, suddenly looked upset. He put himself between the two of them, blocking the passionate gazes from Bai Ze.

　　“Master has already used the Black Spirit Blossom to help you open the realm gate.” Stay away from my master, you little bastard! “The realm gate only stays open for a limited time. Fellow Daoist, you best be going now.” Get lost!

　　Bai Ze hesitated and glared at Yi Qing. The tension between the two of them rose once again. I really hate this mortal!

　　“Spirit Master, you do need to hurry!” Yi Feng nervously pointed to the realm gate, which started rapidly shrinking.

　　Bai Ze turned to glance at the realm gate, then turned to look back at Shen Ying. Finally, he took several steps toward the realm gate. He stopped in front of it, scanning the opening, which was flashing as white as snow. He frowned deeply, refusing to step through the gate.

　　If he went through the gate, he would not be able to come back. He would never get to see…

　　“Please, Fellow Daoist.” Yi Qing said in an impatient manner..

　　“Spirit Master, the Yi Family has finally fulfilled the promise that its ancestors made tens of thousands of years ago. You… please take care,” Yi Feng was a mess of emotions, not bearing to see his spirit master go.

　　“Quickly enter, the realm gate is closing,” Lonemoon added.

　　Even Shen Ying was waving her hands, “Bye bye, Furball! Go home for a good meal.” She paused and added, “Look for a pretty beast.” Man and beast have no future together.

　　“…”

　　He did not want a beast! Bai Ze felt like he had been stabbed in his chest. A sourness rose at the back of his throat and his entire gut clenched up. He was so unwilling to leave.

　　Suddenly, he remembered the words of rejection Shen Ying had spoken to him the day before: Different species cannot fall in love! She was clearly fond of him the first day that they met. He even touched… touched… why is she rejecting him?

　　o(╥_╥)o

　　If he went back now, they would not just be of different species; they would be of completely different realms. They might never meet again, then he…

　　In a moment, he filled with resentment toward the divine realm. He peered into the realm gate once more. Then, he clenched his jaw and took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind. He started to turn to face Shen Ying as he announced, “I have decided not to…”

　　Before he could finish, he felt a pain in his butt. He lost his balance and fell headfirst through the realm gate. The next second, he was gone. The realm gate sealed up after he went through it. Bai Ze and the gate disappeared before their very eyes.

　　Yi Qing and Lonemoon calmly brushed their legs.

　　“Patriarch Yi, Bai Ze has gone back to the Divine Realm. The Yi Family must have a lot of matters to settle now he’s gone,” Lonemoon said sombrely. He did not seem at all guilty about kicking Bai Ze through the gate.

　　“Patriarch Yi, you must be busy. My Invincible Sect will not keep you any longer,” Yi Qing added, his expression remaining neutral.

　　“If you are free, please come and visit us again. Have a safe trip home, Patriarch Yi.”

　　“Yu Hong, send our guest out!”

　　Yi Feng went into shock. By the time he regained his composure, he had already descended the hill.

　　“…”

　　Had he been… chased out?

　　And before Spirit Master got kicked through the realm gate, was he about to say he did not want to go home anymore?

　　(๑ŐдŐ)b

　　… He thought it would be best if he pretended he had not heard it.

　　——————

　　“Master, what would you like to eat today?” Yi Qing was much more relieved now that Bai Ze and Yi Feng were gone. He felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted off his chest. Now, he appeared ready to play the chef again. “Earlier, you brought home a lot of seafood. Would you like to have it deep fried, roasted, steamed or boiled?”

　　“Er.. let’s have a bit of everything?” Shen Ying was very satisfied with the way Yi Qing acted now. There were plenty of ingredients for him.

　　“All right, Master. No problem, Master!” Yi Qing had a skip in his step as he walked into the kitchen.

　　Lonemoon saw that the two of them had returned to their normal retarded ways. He rolled his eyes and just as he wanted to walk out of the main door, he stopped himself. Instead, he sat down at the table. Hmm, I wonder how the seafood would taste.

　　“Father Niu.”

　　“What?” Was she going to chase him away so she could have everything?

　　“Who is Bai Ze?”

　　“Huh?” What does she mean?

　　“Is he in the plot of the book that you read?”

　　“…” Lonemoon paused and finally understood what she was asking. He frowned and poured himself a cup of tea. “When did you find out?” He had never mentioned it before.

　　“The day I returned,” Shen Ying answered honestly.

　　“Shit!” He almost choked on his tea. Wasn’t the day she came back the same day he heard of Bai Ze’s name? “How did you freaking guess he was a character in the plot?” She guessed it right from the start. How exactly does she do it? She was a retard when she didn’t use her brain, but when she did, she was always accurate.

　　“I know from your responses,” Father Niu did not care much for the people in Invincible Sect, but he has always only shown his ugly side to people from the sect. To outsiders, he appeared polite and easy-going because he cared so much about his image. He would only talk about them behind their backs. Yet, he treated Bai Ze differently. Right from the beginning, he did not appear fond of Bai Ze. When Yi Qing strongly opposed to him being in the sect, Lonemoon insisted on taking Yi Qing’s side. Lonemoon even kicked Bai Ze through the realm gate earlier.

　　It looked as if Lonemoon did everything he could to avoid having to come into contact with Bai Ze.

　　“What kind of troublesome character is Bai Ze in the book you read?”

　　“…” Lonemoon did not answer her; he only frowned more deeply. If he had not seen Bai Ze, he would have forgotten that this is a world that belonged in the book.

　　“He’s not a villain, is he?”

　　“He’s not a villain,” he sighed and played with the teacup in his hands. “I’ve said it before – I don’t remember much of that story because it’s meant for little girls. What’s more, the story develops in the Immortal Realm. Bai Ze is of the Divine Realm. He is naturally much stronger and more capable than immortals. I think you can say he’s… the main lead’s cheat.”

　　“So it has something to do with Chef?”