Chapter 26: The End

Fireworks exploded in his mind, a relentless surge of vitality flooding his body. His heart raced as mist swirled around the room.

Oxygen was scarce yet not fully depleted; breaths came unevenly, shallow and broken. His pupils contracted, his body rising and falling with the struggle.

He knew no fatigue, no sunset. The red cords of the Fate Hall twisted and coiled again and again; the headache was unbearable, yet his hand writing the invitations quickened.

“Do I really have to invite so many people?” Countless doubts flickered through his mind, but he resigned himself and continued the labor.

Still, he pondered whether to upgrade the Sixty-Nine once more; after all, it clearly hadn’t completed its task.

Outside the Sixth Ring City, thick, scalding mist billowed from the room, drawing the curious gaze of passersby.

“Oh, a fire! So much smoke—this must be serious!” an elderly lady returning from the market said slowly as she put on her glasses. “Let me see which floor it is!”

“Ah! Damn it, it’s my neighbor!” Unable to contain herself, she pulled out her phone and quickly dialed the fire department.

The onlookers’ eyes brimmed with pity. “That person probably won’t make it.”

“Maybe there’s no one inside? Otherwise, how could such a big fire rage without anyone escaping?”

“True, I’ve been watching for a while and haven’t seen any flames—only smoke, and the smoke isn’t even irritating.”

“Not just not irritating—it smells quite pleasant. Strange, very strange.”

The murmurs among the crowd prompted those holding their breath to inhale deeply.

That first breath was harmless, but the second left faces flushed; by the third, breathing grew ragged, and one by one, people exchanged glances and hurried home.

No one realized this fire was unlike any other.

As one group departed, another arrived, some to gawk, others prepared to fight the supposed blaze—a rare event on the Sixth Ring.

Unaware, inside the room, a man and a deity merged seamlessly as if water and milk.

Warm yellow sheets were entangled with scorching green branches, encircling Xu Si completely. Sweat dripped down his pale nose.

His already exquisite face now glowed with even more delicate beauty.

“Si!”

The soft murmur brought the fierce battle to a gentle pause.

Xu Si felt a flash of white light in his mind, then blankness. His breathing slowed. Just as he was about to speak, a loud bang echoed.

The front door of his living room burst open under force. Through the white mist, several men clad in orange uniforms stormed in.

Nan Xian was propped on Xu Si, frowning with mild annoyance as he glanced back.

“Strange, why have these people dragged a giant snake into our home?”

“A snake?” Xu Si’s pupils contracted sharply. He pushed Nan Xian away and hastily grabbed clothes from the floor to dress.

“Fool, those are firefighters dragging hoses!”

...

“So you’re saying the smoke is because you bought a lot of dry ice?” the firefighter asked, his expression peculiar.

Xu Si consulted his phone for an answer: dry ice can produce vast amounts of fog.

Without hesitation, he nodded. “Yes. I saw on TV that the Heavenly Court looks just like this.”

“What have you been watching lately?” The firefighter glanced at the exposed skin, carefully taking notes.

“Journey to the West!” Xu Si replied firmly.

“Hmph.” The firefighter hummed twice, then, having understood the situation, turned to explain to the crowd outside.

“Everyone, disperse. There’s no fire, no casualties. The young lady was just bored at home playing with dry ice.”

While speaking, he glanced intentionally at the tightly closed bedroom door.

The “dry ice” Nan Xian blushed, muttering quietly, “Don’t look—right in front of you, yet you still can’t see me!”

“Shut up!” Xu Si gritted his teeth.

The firefighter frowned and looked back, but Xu Si quickly waved his hand. “I wasn’t talking to you. Do you believe me?”

...

“All right, young lady, just don’t play like this with your boyfriend in the future.”

The firefighter paid no more attention, still thinking Xu Si was chatting on the phone with her boyfriend. He coiled the hose and drove off swiftly.

Across the way, the elderly lady still craned her neck nervously to peer into Xu Si’s home.

“Strange. Isn’t dry ice cold? Why is your room so hot?”

“Hot? Not at all, haha!” Xu Si replied, unusually flushed, then slammed the door shut with a bang.

With both hands, he clutched at Nan Xian’s neck fiercely. “You’re dead meat!”

“Ah! Murderous husband!”

Their delicate fingertips brushed, causing both to shiver. As Nan Xian prepared to spray mist again, Xu Si reacted swiftly, punching his head.

“Shut your head up!”

“Huh? Heads can shut?”

Rubbing the sore spot, Nan Xian said, “By the way, little mischievous spirit, how about holding our wedding in the Heavenly Realm?”

“No way!” Xu Si refused outright. Ridiculous—she was the leader of the interstellar alliance, untouchable among the leaves!

“Huh?” Nan Xian’s eyes darkened. “But I ordered the entire Heavenly Realm to send me wedding gifts. If we don’t marry, then…”

“Gifts?” Xu Si’s eyes lit up. She grabbed Nan Xian’s mouth. “Fine, let’s just do it for the gifts.”

‘After all, she’s human now. Marrying a god doesn’t require a marriage certificate—no legal binding, no loss.’

Nan Xian secretly rejoiced too: ‘Hah, the mighty deity can’t resist a little treasure hunter?’