Chapter 2

Seraphina seemed to believe the nonsense of the immortal officials. She raised her hand, and a gust of palm wind sent me flying dozens of steps away. I slammed hard against a pillar, fell to the floor, and spat several mouthfuls of blood.

The pain nearly stole my senses.

Even so, I forced myself up and begged Seraphina for mercy.

"Your Majesty, after ten lifetimes, I have truly understood. I will never interfere in the relationship between you and Rowan.

"I love a pig demon from the mortal realm.

"Please--"

Before I could finish, Seraphina shot to her feet and glared at me.

I was so frightened I did not dare continue.

"You love a pig demon? How disgraceful to the immortal rank. Guards, drag Elias out and give him three hundred lashes."

Seraphina narrowed her beautiful eyes and issued the order coldly.

"No!

"Please calm your anger, Your Majesty. Please spare me this once!"

I quickly dropped my head to the floor and begged.

But Seraphina was unmoved. Father did not stop them either. He let the guards drag me out of the hall, tie me to the Towering Heaven Pillar, and whip me with divine lashes.

Blood dyed my gray robe red.

I screamed miserably, fainting several times, only for the guards to wake me with cold water.

After three hundred full lashes, I lay on the ground like a dead dog, unable to summon even a shred of strength. My heart was full of endless grief and bitterness.

What had I done wrong?

Why did I have to suffer like this?

"Ten lifetimes and you still have not learned the rules. You are beyond saving. Walk home yourself. I do not want to touch your bad luck."

Father walked past me in disgust, not forgetting to insult me as he went.

I wanted to cry, but no tears came.

I was the one who found Seraphina gravely wounded.

I had never lied from childhood to adulthood.

I had always treated Seraphina with honesty.

So why did Seraphina and Father believe Rowan the moment he said I had stolen his credit?

Even after ten lifetimes, I still could not understand.

After a long time, I finally recovered a little strength and struggled to stand. I took a few steps into the cutting cold wind, but just as I was about to collapse, someone caught me.

I turned and saw a woman in a green gauze dress.

It was Celeste, Seraphina's junior disciple.

"I have only been in seclusion for three hundred years. How did you become like this?" Celeste asked in confusion, her eyes filled with pity.

For the first time, someone cared about me.

If this had been the past, I would have poured out every grievance, because I wanted so badly for someone to hear all my injustice.

Now, I only smiled bitterly.

"I committed a terrible crime and was punished with ten lifetimes of reincarnation."

People changed.

Father changed. Rowan changed. Seraphina changed.

So I no longer trusted anyone. I was afraid my words would be spread and bring me another round of revenge and torture.

"What kind of grave mistake? I have been in the Celestial Realm for a long time, and I have never seen anyone punished with ten lifetimes of reincarnation, not to mention having their soul nearly scattered."

Celeste frowned slightly, clearly wanting to know the whole story.

I did not dare say more and lowered my head in silence.

"Forget it. I will send you home first."

Celeste sighed, placed a pill in my mouth, then lifted me into her arms and rode the wind.

Her embrace was warm and soft. I froze for a moment, my cheeks heating faintly.

"Celeste.

"Put me down. This will only drag you into trouble."

I tried to persuade her.

This time, Celeste said nothing.

I opened my mouth, but did not know what else to say. After taking the pill, I could clearly feel my soul stabilize and the pain in my body fade.

When we reached home, my parents and Rowan were eating and laughing together. Wedding decorations hung inside and outside the residence. Rowan and Seraphina were probably about to celebrate their wedding.

No wonder Seraphina treated me that way in the hall. She was proving her feelings to Rowan.