At the entrance of the Heavenly Emperor Palace.
Bai Yu'er still knelt on the ground; for a whole year, she hadn't risen.
Her red feathered robe was covered in dust.
Her originally snow-white and delicate cheeks had lost all color, appearing pale and weak.
Even though Bai Yu'er was a heaven-gifted proud lady, protected by the Vermilion Bird Divine Fire, kneeling for a year without a single grain of rice still made her extremely weak.
For a year, Jun Xiaoyao had entered and exited the Heavenly Emperor Palace many times, but he had never once looked her directly in the eye.
Bai Yu'er's heart also sank deeper into the abyss with the passage of time.
She felt that Jun Xiaoyao might never forgive her.
This meant that she could no longer possibly obtain an Immortal Divine Herb from Jun Xiaoyao, let alone save her Imperial Father.
The Vermilion Bird Ancient Kingdom, due to Jun Linglong's instructions, had not passed on the news that the Vermilion Bird Ruler had obtained an Immortal Divine Herb to Bai Yu'er.
Bai Yu'er still foolishly believed that she was utterly without hope.
She felt as if she had sunk into a bottomless abyss, on the verge of suffocation, despair filling her crimson crystal-like beautiful eyes.
Just then, faint footsteps sounded.
Bai Yu'er subconsciously raised her beautiful eyes to look, her breath almost stopping.
The figure she had thought about day and night was actually walking towards her.
Jun Xiaoyao was dressed in white robes whiter than snow, spotless and pure. His skin glowed with a divine radiance.
A year had passed. Jun Xiaoyao was nine years old, his figure even taller and more slender. His facial features, as if exquisitely carved by the heavens, already possessed the early signs of world-stunning handsomeness.
His expression was calm as he walked up to Bai Yu'er.
Jun Linglong followed behind him.
"Greetings, Lord Divine Son!"
Bai Yu'er's expression was one of astonishment mixed with pleasant surprise.
A whole year. She had finally waited for this day.
Jun Xiaoyao sized up Bai Yu'er. She had lost a lot of weight and indeed showed an attitude of sincere repentance.
However, Jun Xiaoyao didn't express any opinion, merely looking at her faintly.
Seeing this, Bai Yu'er bit her silver teeth and kowtowed heavily three times to Jun Xiaoyao, saying, "Lord Divine Son, Yu'er knows her mistake. Please forgive Yu'er this once."
Jun Xiaoyao said faintly, "It's good that you know your mistake. Get up. After all, I'm not some kind of demon."
Hearing this, Jun Linglong felt a little critical in her heart.
You're not a demon, yet you made her kneel there for a whole year?
You even took out the Immortal Divine Herb but kept it from Bai Yu'er, letting her continue to kneel.
"Thank you, Lord Divine Son." Bai Yu'er struggled to get up, her legs numb, swaying and feeling weak.
Seeing this, Jun Xiaoyao flicked his finger, and a top-grade Saint Pill landed in Bai Yu'er's hand.
Bai Yu'er felt even more overwhelmed by the unexpected favor.
A top-grade Saint Pill could fetch a sky-high price in the outside world, yet Jun Xiaoyao casually gave it to her to consume.
For a moment, Bai Yu'er felt no resentment towards Jun Xiaoyao; instead, she felt a kind of gratitude.
She consumed the Saint Pill and began to recover her strength.
A faint, cold smile touched the corners of Jun Xiaoyao's lips.
The tactic of giving a sweet after a beating – he was all too familiar with it.
The Saint Pill's medicinal effect was astonishing, and Bai Yu'er quickly shed her weakness.
However, thinking of the gravely ill Vermilion Bird Ruler, Bai Yu'er's jade-like hands clenched tightly, finding it somewhat difficult to speak.
Being able to obtain Jun Xiaoyao's forgiveness was already an unexpected joy.
How could she have the nerve now to ask Jun Xiaoyao to produce an Immortal Divine Herb?
Thinking of this, Bai Yu'er took a deep breath, bowed to Jun Xiaoyao, and said, "Thank you, Lord Divine Son, for your forgiveness. Yu'er will take her leave."
Bai Yu'er sighed deeply in her heart. In the end, she still couldn't bring back an Immortal Divine Herb.
At this moment, Jun Linglong chuckled softly, "Bai Yu'er, don't you want the Immortal Divine Herb anymore?"
Hearing this, Bai Yu'er smiled bitterly, "To be able to obtain Lord Divine Son's forgiveness is already fortunate. How would Yu'er dare to ask for more?"
"Then why don't you contact the Vermilion Bird Ancient Kingdom?" Jun Linglong's beautiful eyes sparkled.
Bai Yu'er was slightly stunned, then took out a jade slip to send a message.
From the other side, a message also came from the Vermilion Bird Ancient Kingdom.
"The Jun family sent an Immortal Divine Herb some time ago. This is all thanks to Lord Divine Son's grace."
"Not only has His Majesty the Ruler recovered from his injuries, but he is now in seclusion, aiming for a higher realm."
"Everything is thanks to Lord Divine Son's benevolence!"
These pieces of news made Bai Yu'er's mind go blank for a moment.
Then her face flushed red with excitement, finding it almost unbelievable.
"Lord Divine Son, it was you..."
Bai Yu'er's gaze was fervent and excited as she looked at Jun Xiaoyao, her voice choked with emotion.
"This Divine Son has said, I am not some kind of demon," Jun Xiaoyao smiled indifferently.
At this moment, Jun Xiaoyao's figure was deeply engraved in Bai Yu'er's heart.
His mark was deeply imprinted on her heart, difficult to erase for a lifetime.
This feeling was like a person who had fallen into deep despair suddenly having all their hopes realized.
And all these hopes were brought to her by Jun Xiaoyao.
"Yu'er is willing to serve Lord Divine Son for a lifetime, as a slave or a servant, never daring to disobey. If I violate this oath, may heavens strike me with lightning!"
Bai Yu'er knelt before Jun Xiaoyao, speaking with firm conviction.
If before, she was begging for forgiveness, then now, she was sincerely submitting to Jun Xiaoyao.
And just at this moment, a voice filled with anger sounded from outside the Jun family's mountain gate.
"Where is the Jun family's Divine Son? What skill is there in bullying a weak woman? If you have guts, fight me!"
This voice was like a clap of thunder, shaking heaven and earth.
Many Jun family members were alarmed.
A Jun family guard came to Jun Xiaoyao's side and reported.
"Reporting to the Divine Son, there is an insolent youth outside the gate. He should be from the Azure Dragon Ancient Kingdom."
"Heh... It seems this fiancé still lacks self-awareness..." Jun Xiaoyao sneered inwardly.
He said faintly, "Let him in. I'll handle this."
"Yes." The guard withdrew.
But Bai Yu'er, kneeling on the ground, her face turned somewhat pale.
Jun Xiaoyao had just forgiven her, and now her fiancé had come to provoke him.
Wasn't this ruining things for her?
At this moment, Bai Yu'er actually felt a hint of resentment towards her fiancé, Xiao Chen.
"Lord Divine Son, I..." Bai Yu'er's heart was terrified, and she hurriedly wanted to explain.
"No matter." Jun Xiaoyao waved his hand.
In a short while, a youth dressed in an azure dragon robe, with a handsome and refined appearance, arrived at this place.
When he saw Bai Yu'er kneeling before Jun Xiaoyao, his eyes immediately narrowed, and a furious killing intent emanated from him.
Any man would find it unacceptable for his fiancée to be kneeling before another man.
"Yu'er, get up quickly! How dare this person force you like this!" Xiao Chen shouted angrily.
"Xiao Chen, shut up! How dare you be disrespectful to Lord Divine Son!" Bai Yu'er immediately chided.
Xiao Chen was stunned, looking at Bai Yu'er with disbelief.
"Yu'er, I'm here to save you! Why are you speaking up for him?" Xiao Chen was bewildered and uncomprehending.
"Enough! I knelt willingly. Lord Divine Son is willing to forgive me, I couldn't be happier. What are you doing here, meddling?" Bai Yu'er said coldly.
Originally, she had a slight fondness for Xiao Chen, her childhood sweetheart.
But the Azure Dragon Ancient Kingdom had broken its promise and refused to give the Vermilion Bird Ancient Kingdom an Immortal Divine Herb.
She had previously asked Xiao Chen for help, and Xiao Chen had promised her, but she still hadn't seen any sign of the Immortal Divine Herb.
If Jun Xiaoyao hadn't produced an Immortal Divine Herb, her Imperial Father might still be critically ill.
Between Jun Xiaoyao and Xiao Chen, who exactly had shown kindness to Bai Yu'er?
"Yu'er, how can you think like this? Did he force you into this?"
Xiao Chen gritted his teeth, his heart burning with even greater anger.
(End of this chapter)