Synopsis
The Three Realms are divided into the Heavens, the Mortal World, and the Netherworld. There were no demons in the world until the Celestial Clan, seeking to secure the Heavenly Way's legitimacy, branded the last descendants of the ancient gods as demons, gave them the name the Jin Clan, and hunted them down generation after generation.
Xie Weiheng was the youngest Immortal Lord of Discipline in the Heavens, in charge of punishment. Clad in a pristine white immortal robe, he passed by, and none of the immortals dared speak.
On the night he was ordered by Heaven to purge the Jin Capital, he saw an old friend amid the blood and flames. Covered in blood, that friend said just one thing to him: "Xie Weiheng, take her away."
That night, for the first time, he defied Heaven's decree. Carrying Jiang Zhaoye, he slipped silently out of the Jin Capital, evading the celestial soldiers throughout the city.
Later, the Heavens lost an Immortal Lord of Discipline, and the mortal world gained a master and disciple of unknown origins.
Xie Weiheng told her to call him Master. Jiang Zhaoye refused, calling him by his full name all day long: "Xie Weiheng."
He corrected her countless times, but she never changed.
There was nothing he could do about her, so he could only correct her again and again with a cold expression.
Then, one year on her birthday, Jiang Zhaoye secretly paid people to keep her company and liven things up. Instead, rumors spread throughout the city that she was throwing her weight around and bullying people.
When Xie Weiheng hurried back, he took her from door to door to apologize to everyone.
At the last house, Jiang Zhaoye suddenly asked, "Xie Weiheng, am I really so unlikeable?"
Xie Weiheng looked at her for a long time and said, "No."
They stood beneath the dimming lights, and for a while, neither said another word.
From then on, Xie Weiheng secretly raised a small squad, ostensibly to monitor demonic disturbances, but in truth, to make sure she had company every year on her birthday.
Years later, Jiang Zhaoye had outgrown her childishness and become stunningly beautiful. Rumors followed, claiming that she was Xie Weiheng's child bride, raised by his side.
Xie Weiheng's expression did not change when he heard. With a single palm strike, he made every gossiper in the hall kneel and spit blood.
That night, Jiang Zhaoye was silent all the way back. Just as Xie Weiheng turned to leave, she suddenly rose onto her toes and gently brushed her lips against his. The next moment, an unfamiliar red mark appeared on her wrist.
Only then did Xie Weiheng understand why his old friend had asked him, of all people.
His immortal bones could serve as a crucible, and his divine soul as a guide, to pass on the ancient god's bloodline to the last of the Jin Clan.
The Netherworld fire that escaped at that very moment also alerted the Nine Heavens.
Xie Weiheng knew better than anyone that if the Heavenly Emperor discovered that the ancient god's bloodline still lived among mortals, Jiang Zhaoye would have no chance of survival.
That night, he personally sealed away her ancient god's mark again, then personally laid a fatal trap and burned away every trace of himself he had left for her.
Jiang Zhaoye knelt in the ruins all night, scraping her fingers raw as she searched, but she could not find his bones. In the end, all she learned was that Immortal Lord Xuanheng had returned to his place in the Nine Heavens.
So Xie Weiheng had not died. He had gone back to be the exalted Immortal Lord Xuanheng.
Ten years later, Netherworld fire burned through the gates of the Nine Heavens. The lost ancient capital of the Jin Clan reappeared from the Abyss of Return, and the ancient god's bell rang.
The Heavenly Emperor flew into a rage and ordered the immortals to surround and attack the Jin Capital. The commander was still Immortal Lord Xuanheng, Xie Weiheng.
Before the army set out, an immortal official reported in a low voice, "A new ruler has appeared in the Jin Capital. Her name is Jiang Zhaoye."
Xie Weiheng's grip on his sword loosened, and it crashed heavily onto the jade steps.
When they met again, Jiang Zhaoye sat upon the ancient god's throne at the end of the divine steps, with several young and handsome attendants of the Jin Clan standing beside her.
She looked at Xie Weiheng's eyes as they suddenly turned cold and smiled. "I have no shortage of old acquaintances by my side these days. All I'm missing is a somewhat older lover who's good in bed."
"Immortal Lord Xuanheng, you'd be perfect."
Theme: No matter how cruel fate may be, hold fast to your true self, and learn to love and be loved.
