Xiaobai muttered in his sleep, his arms tightening around her as he whispered, "Sister, Xiaobai likes you. Don't leave Xiaobai behind. Xiaobai will be very good."
Wang Zhaojun smiled faintly. Back then, she had tried every possible means to eat him, yet he had turned out like this, clinging to her so tightly. She softly said, "I won't abandon you. I'm going to feed you until you're round and plump."
As if hearing her, Xiaobai's furrowed brows relaxed slightly, and a hint of a smile seemed to float across his face as he sank into a deep sleep.
She gently stroked Xiaobai's hair. Just how terrified was this little fellow that she would throw him away, to be so restless even in his sleep? Who knew what he had been through.
Wang Zhaojun propped her head with one hand and closed her eyes to rest.
Gongsun Li looked at the two of them without a word, peeling nuts by herself.
Before long, Xiaobai woke up leisurely, rubbing his sleepy eyes with his tender, white little hands.
"Sister, we're here! Are you going to take me to play?" Xiaobai curiously looked at the scenery outside, shrouded in mist, where a massive palace stood at the top of the grand stairway.
"This is to attend a banquet, not to play. You are not allowed to leave me for even half a step, and you must not speak." Wang Zhaojun gave Xiaobai a faint glance and tapped his little head.
"Oh..."
Xiaobai lowered his little head, making it hard to read his emotions, but she could clearly sense that he was unhappy.
"I'll take you to play later." Wang Zhaojun said with some helplessness, naturally taking Xiaobai's chubby little hand.
Xiaobai's dim eyes lit up slightly, and he exclaimed, "Sister, will you really take me to play?"
She did not speak further, only nodding.
Holding the little fellow who reached her shoulder, Xiaobai seemed to have grown a bit taller. She remembered when he had first taken human form, he only came up to her waist.
Walking into the Heavenly Palace, Celestial Clan members occasionally came over to exchange pleasantries.
"Zhaojun! Come over here!"
A melodious voice rang out. Fairy Zixia, dressed in a flowing purple gauze dress, danced along with the breeze. Every glance and smile of hers was breathtakingly beautiful.
Hearing the call, Wang Zhaojun looked over and saw Fairy Zixia surrounded by a group of immortals. She lowered her head and smiled; Zixia really was popular.
"Wow, a pretty fairy sister!" Xiaobai held Wang Zhaojun's hand and cheerfully ran over to Fairy Zixia.
Wang Zhaojun gave Xiaobai a faint glance. "Didn't I tell you not to speak?"
Only then did Fairy Zixia notice that Wang Zhaojun was accompanied by a remarkably pretty little fellow. Having seen countless beauties, she had never laid eyes on such a stunning face.
Instantly, her maiden heart stirred, and she exclaimed, "How can there be such a handsome little beauty?"
The corners of Wang Zhaojun's mouth twitched slightly. Helplessly covering her forehead, she said softly, "A-xia, that's enough."
"You've been raising him for so long without letting me know. Are you hiding a golden house for your darling?" Fairy Zixia suddenly laughed, looking at Wang Zhaojun with mischievous intent.
Wang Zhaojun pulled Fairy Zixia aside, leaned close to her ear, and said through gritted teeth, "A-xia, enough is enough. He's just a child. No matter how good-looking he is, I wouldn't prey on a child."
She pulled Xiaobai over, gestured toward Fairy Zixia, and introduced her, "This is Fairy Zixia, my dear friend."
"Hello, Sister Zixia." Xiaobai ran up to Fairy Zixia, tilting up his exquisite and handsome little face.
"You're so cute. What's your name?" Looking at the adorable Xiaobai, Fairy Zixia couldn't resist pinching his cheek.
"My name is Xiaobai." Xiaobai didn't mind Fairy Zixia pinching his cheek; he thought Sister Zixia was very pretty and wanted to play with her.
Seeing them deep in conversation, Wang Zhaojun picked up a pot of wine and sat by the Jade Pool to drink.
"This wine tastes awful, and this immortal banquet is nothing special either!"
Xiaobai and Fairy Zixia were chatting happily when, realizing belatedly that Wang Zhaojun was gone, Xiaobai hurriedly looked around and exclaimed, "Sister is gone."
Fairy Zixia stroked Xiaobai's hair and curved her lips slightly. "Don't worry. When the banquet is over, Sister Zixia will send you back."
"No! I only want my sister."
Before his voice faded, Xiaobai ran off to look for Wang Zhaojun, feeling once again that he had been abandoned.
Startled, Fairy Zixia chased after him.
"This is bad. Xiaobai is so cute—if someone abducts him, I'll be in serious trouble."
"Lord Shaojun, look, that little fox seems to be lost." Daji gazed at Xiaobai in the distance and pointed him out to Han Xin.
Han Xin suddenly raised his eyes, saying nothing.
"He seems to be in trouble." Daji watched the commotion Xiaobai had stirred up.
"Let's go take a look."
Han Xin raised his brows slightly and leisurely walked in Xiaobai's direction.
"Let me go! I won't go with you!" Xiaobai struggled fiercely, grabbing the man.
"Such a delicate pretty boy—why don't you come home with me?" A man stared greedily at Xiaobai, undisguised evil lurking in the depths of his eyes.
"Go away! Don't touch me!" Xiaobai glared in disgust at the old man, struggling hard to pull his hand free.
"It looks like this refined young lad won't escape this disaster. What a pity," a fairy maiden sighed.
Another fairy maiden holding immortal brew shook her head. "Nowadays, if pretty people don't have the ability to protect themselves, they just end up as playthings, barely surviving in this Heavenly Realm. Let's hurry along."
The people around them all wore expressions of pity, yet they merely watched the events unfold with cold indifference, showing no intention of stepping forward.
Han Xin gave Xiaobai's stubborn little face a faint glance, his handsome sword-like brows knitting slightly, but he made no move to intervene—after all, it had nothing to do with him.
"Lord Shaojun, aren't we going to save him?" Daji tugged at Han Xin's sleeve.
"Didn't the little fox dislike him?" Han Xin tilted his head slightly, the corners of his handsome, pale lips curving into a cold and haughty arc.
"I..." Daji fell silent. She didn't really hate Xiaobai; it was just that back then, her emotions had been running high, which was why she had hit him.
"Let's observe a little longer." Han Xin looked at Xiaobai again, his brows lifting in a subtle, imperceptible arch.
Grabbed by that old man, Xiaobai could do nothing and had no strength to talk back. At that critical moment, he caught sight of a familiar figure in the distance.
"Sister!"
Xiaobai blurted out instinctively, but fearing trouble, the man directly sealed Xiaobai's mouth with a spell.
Wang Zhaojun twirled a koi fish in the water with her slender fingers, her expression detached and lost in thought.
In her daze, she thought she heard Xiaobai calling her, sounding quite urgent.
She instinctively looked around, but failing to see that white figure, she assumed it was just her imagination and comfortably continued sitting there.
Suddenly, she overheard the whispers of some young fairy maidens ahead.
"That young lad is so refined; he's bound to be extraordinary when he grows up."
"What good is that? Isn't he still being carried off by that Dragon Clan Envoy?"
"I heard that envoy is arrogant and domineering, bullying men and women alike, taking whichever he pleases."
"Won't that pretty young lad be doomed? Judging by his looks, he has no backing or powerful lineage, or perhaps he's just a young master who snuck out to play."
...
Hearing this, Wang Zhaojun felt a sudden tightening in her chest, and her figure instantly vanished from the spot.
Walking rather hastily, she failed to notice Fairy Zixia coming toward her. Just as she was about to pass, Zixia called out to her.
"Zhaojun, Xiaobai is lost."
Wang Zhaojun frowned slightly, pressing her lips together in silence. Instead of answering Zixia, she followed Xiaobai's aura toward the palace gates.
Before the bustling gates of the Heavenly Palace, Wang Zhaojun recognized Xiaobai's figure at a glance. Without a second word, she stepped forward to block the Dragon Clan Envoy and called out, "Envoy, please stay."