In Shrek City, if you were one of the victims of the Level Twelve God-Slaying Fixed Soul Guidance Cannon bombardment of Tang Sect and Shrek Academy, then you and your family—no matter when, no matter whether it's a serious illness or a minor one—can receive free treatment at the Holy Spirit Hospital.
Although it was the Holy Spirit Cult that destroyed Shrek Academy and Tang Sect, and they were the ones who harmed these people,
They were all innocent people caught up in the conflict between Shrek Academy, Tang Sect, and the Holy Spirit Cult.
For them, Yali had always felt deeply guilty.
You could even say that the Holy Spirit Hospital exists just for them.
Nowadays, the Holy Spirit Hospital runs at a loss almost every day. Even the staff's wages are being covered by Yali, the hospital director, from her own pocket—let alone other expenses.
Although the victims of the Mingdu Cangshan region don't receive the same treatment as those from Shrek City, Yali still regularly visits them.
You could say that Yali has always been cleaning up after Shrek Academy and Tang Sect in her own way.
"Mm... Xia Yi, not now. I need to go to Mingdu. Let's continue when I get back, okay?" In the Holy Spirit Hospital, inside Yali's bedroom, she said, panting heavily.
"Just hold on a little longer. I'll go with you afterwards." Xia Yi was also breathing a little heavily.
Before Yali could reply, Leng Yulai suddenly barged in. "Brother-in-law, if Yali doesn't want it, then give it to me!"
"Get lost." Xia Yi rolled his eyes at Leng Yulai.
"Waaah! You're so biased! Even though Yali doesn't want it, you still won't give it to me. Hmph! I knew it—Yali's a little fox spirit, seducing my brother-in-law in no time." Hearing Xia Yi's "heartless" words, Leng Yulai's eyes welled up with tears.
"Leng Yulai, if you're going to stir trouble, can't you at least find out what kind of trouble it is first?" Xia Yi was exasperated. This girl was obviously doing it on purpose. He gritted his teeth and said, "I'm helping Yali refine the Skyholding Spear so she can wield it freely in the future and make up for her lack of offensive power. What do you need it for?"
"Oh, I thought you two were…"
"Were what? Can't you see what's going on?" Xia Yi interrupted her, face darkened.
"Hehe, I was just worried people might misunderstand." Leng Yulai chuckled.
"Misunderstand? You think everyone is as dirty-minded as you?" Xia Yi said helplessly.
Watching the banter between Xia Yi and Leng Yulai, a smile appeared on Yali's lips. She was increasingly envious of Leng Yulai's carefree and light-hearted way of living.
"Xia Yi, I should get going now. Fully refining the Skyholding Spear isn't something that can be done in a short time. We can continue refining it when there's more time." Yali took a deep breath. She wasn't like Leng Yulai—she couldn't live so casually.
"Let's go, I'll go with you." Xia Yi stood up as well. Since their wedding was approaching, it was only right for him to show up with her in public.
"Alright!" Yali smiled brightly and disappeared with Xia Yi.
"That works too. Heh, good luck to you both." Leng Yulai snorted coldly, her lips curling into a teasing smirk. She might act playfully, but when it came to serious matters, she never slacked off.
She was actually tasked with monitoring the Plane Master and Long Yeyue's group. How could Long Yeyue planning to ambush Yali along with Chen Xinjie and the Seven Old Devils possibly escape her notice?
She had originally come to accompany Yali to Mingdu.
But since Xia Yi was tagging along, there was no need for her to intervene.
Rather than fighting and killing, she'd rather sit back and enjoy the drama.
She didn't even bother to warn Xia Yi.
"Xia Yi, I just realized—from the moment we met at East Sea Academy, we've been flirting constantly. Be honest—were you already scheming something back then?" In the skies, Yali and Xia Yi flew rapidly. As the scenery rushed by below, Yali suddenly turned to Xia Yi, her beautiful eyes sparkling.
"Geez, what kind of logic is that? Why don't you say you were the one scheming against me?" Xia Yi was speechless and argued, "Fine, I admit there was some ambiguous tension back then, but I was just responding in kind. Weren't you the one teasing me first?"
"I was just joking, but I didn't expect you to actually take advantage of it." Yali gave him a charming look, but her expression suddenly turned serious. Biting her lip, she said, "Xia Yi, let's talk about me and Yun Ming."
Seeing Yali's serious gaze, Xia Yi gently held her as she let him carry her through the air and softly said, "Since I've accepted you, I accept all of you."
"I know you don't mind, but I do." Letting the wind whip past them as they flew, Yali clung tightly to Xia Yi. "Ever since I agreed to be with you, I've wanted to talk to you about Yun Ming. But I didn't know how. Now that our wedding is near, I have to make it clear. Only by being honest can I truly move on."
"Alright, speak." Xia Yi nodded.
"Yes, I was married to Yun Ming for decades, and we were always very loving." Yali sighed lightly and looked at Xia Yi with complex emotions. "We were a loving couple, just like you and me now. But do you know the difference between how you and Yun Ming made me feel?"
"Yun Ming wasn't as good in bed. He couldn't satisfy a little fox spirit like you," Xia Yi said with a mischievous grin.
"Pfft, look who's calling me a fox spirit." Yali rolled her eyes. Xia Yi, of all people, had no right to say that.
"Hehe, I'm the male fox spirit, and you're the female fox spirit—we're a match made in heaven, haha!" Xia Yi laughed heartily.
"Shameless!" Yali giggled, her heavy heart feeling lighter. She continued, "I used to think marriage was like what I had with Yun Ming—decades of respectful, peaceful companionship. We never even argued. But with you, it's different. You're so thick-skinned. Every day, every moment is full of different emotions. I think I'm fairly even-tempered, but you've made me so mad at times I wanted to kick you. Still, being with you, I feel something I never felt before—a kind of ease, where I can express all my joys and sorrows without hiding anything."
With a radiant smile, Yali flew faster and faster with Xia Yi, shouting, "Just like now—soaring freely among the blue skies and white clouds. You're like those clouds—within reach. Yun Ming, to me, was more like the blazing sun. I could only look up to him from afar."
"So, you're saying I'm not as good as Yun Ming?" Xia Yi said dryly.
"If you insist on saying that, sure." Yali chuckled. "Even though you're pretty dazzling now, you're still not as famous as Yun Ming used to be. Just ask Sister Yaozhu how famous Yun Ming was—strong, handsome, upright, kind… every compliment you can think of fit him. To put it bluntly, Shrek Academy was amazing at crafting his public image."
"Crafting an image? So you're saying Yun Ming was just pretending?" Xia Yi grinned at her.
"Stop twisting my words." Yali snorted. "I meant that Shrek Academy helped build his image behind the scenes."
"Heh, isn't that basically the same thing?" Xia Yi snickered.
"Hmph, there's a big difference." Yali rolled her eyes. "Before you showed up, Yun Ming was the most dazzling figure on the continent. Admired from afar, but never to be approached. Me, Sister Yaozhu, and Leng Yulai—we were all the same. We mostly admired him from a distance. Let's be real—it's just that beauties fall for heroes. You're the one who caused his image to slowly collapse. It's all your fault."
"Hey! Don't pin that on me!" Xia Yi protested.
"Shrek Academy crafted Yun Ming's image so he could become like Sea God Tang San and the God of Emotions, Huo Yuhao—to gather faith power and ascend to godhood. His marriage to me was also meant to tap into the faith power within me." Yali sighed. "Maybe it changed later, but it doesn't matter anymore. What's important is, though the feelings were different, I was sincere with Yun Ming back then. And I'm sincere with you now."
"Different how? What's different?" Xia Yi asked with a smile.
Yali gave him a playful grin. "You've got more of that down-to-earth human charm. Yun Ming was someone to be admired but not touched. You, on the other hand, are someone I can mess with however I want."
"Yali, that's enough!"
(End of chapter.)