As Xu Chen and the others hurried to the Floating Palace, they found Sakiko waiting outside the hall.

"Let's go!" Sakiko said directly, accompanied by a few female attendants.

"Huh?" Xu Chen and the others were stunned.

"Let's get on the ship and talk!" Sakiko deliberately took the flying boat of Ziwan, instead of the one prepared by the Rhino Demon General for her.

"Your Highness, what does the King mean..."

"Shut up! The flying boat of my sister, Ziwan, is much faster than what you prepared! Do you want to hinder me from meeting the King faster?" Sakiko reprimanded.

Hence, the Rhino Demon General dared not say anything else.

On Ziwan's flying boat, Xu Chen asked in confusion, "Aunt Sakiko, didn't you say it was very difficult to leave the Floating Capital? How did you manage to come out so easily? I haven't unraveled those mazes yet!"

"Xu Chen, I have a mark left by the Ghost King on me. Wherever I go, the Ghost King will know! So escaping is impossible for me! This time, I took the initiative to request an audience with the Ghost King. I said that I heard he had captured The Maiden of the Celestial Realm and the Shura Witch, and that The Maiden of the Celestial Realm is an acquaintance of mine. I tried asking him if I could go and see her! Unexpectedly, the Ghost King agreed readily! So, naturally, he let the Rhino Demon General allow us passage! And on our way to the Ghost King's cave, we didn't deviate from the course, so the Ghost King naturally knows. Therefore, this journey is problem-free!" Sakiko explained.

"I see! But in that case, once we reach the Ghost King's cave, it will be troublesome to escape!" Xu Chen said.

"Indeed, the Ghost King's cave is full of traps, but unlike the Floating Capital, which has various defenses, warnings, and mazes designed for imprisoning me, the Ghost King's cave is only intended to defend against external enemies, making it easier to enter than to exit. I can naturally enter with this reason, and then, we can find a way to escape! Otherwise, once you unravel the mazes, the Ghost King will immediately know of my escape, and how are we going to enter the Ghost King's cave again to meet The Maiden of the Celestial Realm and the Shura Witch?" Sakiko explained.

"I understand now..." Although Xu Chen felt that Sakiko's explanation made sense, she was still worried.

The journey to the Ghost King's cave would take half a month of flying, but this time brought a rare moment of tranquility.

On the third day of the journey, Sakiko was resting in her cabin when she suddenly heard a knock on the door.

"Come in!" Sakiko said.

"Sakiko Auntie..." The girl standing at the door surprised Sakiko. It was Xu Chen's girlfriend with beautiful long hair.

"You are... Qingyin, right?"

"Yes..."

Sakiko invited Qingyin to sit down, poured her a cup of tea, and closed the door. She asked, "Qingyin, do you have something to ask me?"

"Yes!" Qingyin nodded. "I have something to ask you."

Sakiko smiled easily and said, "If you have something, just ask."

"Are you really determined to leave with Xu Chen?" Qingyin asked directly.

"Well..." Sakiko hesitated. She didn't expect Qingyin to ask such a sensitive question right away. She looked at the vast blue-gray clouds outside the cabin window and said, "How should I put it, to be honest, I am confused too. But Xu Chen, that child, his persistence, his passion, seems to have unconsciously led me to follow his lead!"

"Unconsciously? What does that mean?" Qingyin pursued the question. "Aunt Sakiko, you should know that in our mercenary group, Xu Chen is the only male member. Do you know what that means? Aunt Sakiko, of course you can't see yourself as an ordinary female soldier, but do you know, we women who follow Xu Chen into adventures... in our hearts... we all love him... Can you understand? We willingly become his women and go on adventures with him!"

Qingyin lowered her head and blushed as she spoke.

Sakiko looked at Qingyin, her gaze flickering, and said, "I understand. I have known about your relationship with Xu Chen for a long time. It's just that I believe you and he must have had many unimaginable experiences, which you may not feel comfortable telling me. But I can sense that bond between you and him, and that's not something I can easily touch!""Aunt Sakiko, the truth is, I came to talk to you not about myself, my everything, my life, my heart, and even every drop of water in my body belongs to Xu Chen! That's how I feel! What I want to know now is your true feelings. Do you really like Xu Chen? You haven't experienced life and death with him, and your time together isn't that long. Why have you made this decision? Qingyin anxiously asked.

Sakiko looked into Qingyin's determined eyes and could tell how much this girl liked Xu Chen. At least for now, she dared not compare herself to Qingyin. She said, "Actually, you don't have to explain the depth of your feelings for Xu Chen. As women, I can understand. Do you know what I appreciate most about Xu Chen? He is the only man in the world who, knowing that I am the top devil emperor in the Magic Realm, the Evil Spirit Ghost King's woman, still sincerely and without hesitation says he wants to take me away! Qingyin, my sister, you yourself are a stunningly beautiful woman. You should know that women like us are never lacking in male pursuit, and even scheming and competing. However, although men may be bold and brash, once they hear that I belong to someone who can easily kill them, they distance themselves from me. They value their own lives more than us! In their eyes, we are just tools for fulfilling their desires! Xu Chen, on the other hand, is different. Although he also finds me beautiful, he doesn't have any ulterior motives. And though he may desire me, he remains upright and doesn't cross any boundaries. He knows that he is no match for the Ghost King, and he knows that taking me away could bring him great danger. Yet he speaks without hesitation or fear about taking me away! Moreover, he is so kind-hearted. Most men may want to possess me, but deep down, they would find me contaminated by the Ghost King. They would feel repulsed. Xu Chen's gaze is so transparent. From his eyes, I can see his sincere intentions. He pities me for the situation I'm in, yet he doesn't judge me... This is exactly what a woman like me wants! The world despises me as dirty, and even I feel that way about myself. If there isn't a man who truly accepts me in his heart, then what meaning is there for me to continue living... The only reason I haven't killed myself is because the Ghost King is using my hometown and loved ones to blackmail me! However, when I met Xu Chen, I felt that he had no ulterior motives towards me. He genuinely pitied and cared for me, wanting me to be happy... I... I want to be with a man like him. Whether he truly considers me his woman or not, I want to be cherished... I want to be happy..."

"Aunt Sakiko..." Qingyin initially didn't agree with Sakiko's decision, but after hearing her words, she couldn't argue back. "I understand your feelings now, but have you thought about this from Xu Chen's perspective? If he really takes you away, how will people view Xu Chen? I know, it's not your fault to have been stained by the Ghost King multiple times, but it is still a fact. Xu Chen may be kind-hearted and sincere, and he may not mind, but doesn't this bring shame upon him? He may not mind, but do you not care about tarnishing Xu Chen's reputation?"

"Qingyin..." Sakiko lowered her head and said, "Although your words may sound harsh, they are indeed true. I know that being with a woman like me would bring shame to Xu Chen. From what you said, I can also guess that you and your sisters have followed her all along with pure intentions. It's inevitable that having a woman like me join you would make you uncomfortable. But don't worry, Qingyin, although I long for Xu Chen's love, I will never do anything to harm him once I've accepted him. After helping you open the Gate of Time, I will leave. I won't let Xu Chen be ashamed. So, can you feel relieved now?"

"Aunt Sakiko..." Qingyin didn't expect Sakiko to give up so easily. It made Qingyin feel guilty. "I'm sorry. The way you said that, it's as if I don't accept you and am forcing you to leave. I really don't want it to be like this..."

"Hehe, how could that be, Qingyin? You are wholeheartedly protecting Xu Chen's reputation. Xu Chen is lucky to have a girlfriend like you, and I feel relieved. At least the boy I approve of will be happy. And that makes me happy too." Sakiko smiled with tears in her eyes."No!!! Aunt Sakiko, I, I didn't mean that... I... I don't know, I don't want Xu Chen's reputation to be damaged, but I also don't want you to return to the depths of pain. I don't know what I should do..."

"Qingyin, I am truly glad that you are such a kind girl, and not like those girls who play with schemes and plots. Alright, let's not talk about this anymore! I have made up my mind long ago, and it's not because of what you said! Let's talk about something interesting!" Sakiko said.

"Huh?"

"I asked you, how is Xu Chen in that aspect? Is he good?" Sakiko suddenly changed the topic.

"Ah???" Qingyin blushed, "Aunt, why are you suddenly asking about these things! Which aspect are you talking about? I... I don't know!"

"Don't pretend! I know why you're blushing!"

"Alright! I'm going back!" Qingyin stood up, about to leave.

"Qingyin..."

"Aunt Sakiko..."

"Promise me, you must bring happiness to Xu Chen. I feel that you're the most important person to him, so you must never fall into the hands of the Ghost King. That would be the true pain for Xu Chen!" Sakiko said solemnly.

"I understand!" Qingyin replied.