Heaven, Earth, Me Chapter 1562. Strained Reunion.

As Yasenia proceeded, the attending maids and young ladies couldn't suppress their anxious glances. A few felt the urge to speak, but ultimately decided against it, believing it best to let the two involved parties settle their dispute without external interference, which could potentially worsen the situation. Stepping back seemed the wisest course.

Luan Feixue, being carried by Tatyana's formidable energy, couldn't help but softly inquire, "Grandmaster, um... will Master be alright?"

Tatyana's response was subdued, "She better be."

Evelyn blinked in surprise at this reply. "You weren't aware of this situation?"

Tatyana shook her head, a hint of vexation in her expression. "Flora never disclosed this information. It's highly probable that Kali convinced her she could handle it herself. All I knew was that someone was attempting to approach Kali."

Angel expressed mild astonishment. "That's... Flora truly kept this hidden? Shouldn't she have revealed it for Yasenia's benefit?"

Tatyana contemplated for a moment before sighing. "Normally, that would be the expected course. However, Flora possesses a considerably tender heart towards those she holds dear. Naturally, I still believe she prioritizes Yasenia and thinks this matter could be resolved. Nevertheless, it is quite irritating that she failed to report it."

Eve, soaring nearby, interjected with a chilling tone, "She will face retribution."

Andrea glanced at Eve's stern countenance before averting her gaze. Much like her approach in Evelyn's and Angel's respective worlds, Andrea would not intervene. She placed her trust in both Yasenia and her companions, thus deeming it unnecessary to interfere when no one had interfered with her own affairs.

Evelyn and Angel shared the same conviction. Whatever challenges arose were theirs to overcome.

Meanwhile, considerably ahead of the group, Yasenia journeyed onward with a stern expression, her long lashes casting subtle shadows upon her eyes. Behind her, giant feathered wings, conjured by the 'Pegasus Gallop', beat continuously, propelling her forward at a velocity that caused the very fabric of space around her to shimmer like disturbed water.

It wasn't long before Yasenia located the cluster of peaks concealed within the dense woods, known as the [Cralure Mountain Forest]. Indeed, to prevent Kali's potential liberation, a powerful formation was in place, complete with a concealment barrier. This barrier was exceptionally potent, typically rendering it undetectable.

Unfortunately for the creators of this barrier, Yasenia's Spiritual Sense had already ascended to the pinnacle of the [Big Improvement] realm. As she navigated the skies, her exceptionally keen senses detected a faint, surreptitious energy fluctuation.

Ordinarily, she might have overlooked such a subtle anomaly. However, given her specific objective in this search, Yasenia's golden, slit pupils swiftly shifted focus, and she began to decelerate her flight.

In the subsequent moment, her Spiritual Sense surged forth like an overwhelming tide, engulfing the entire vicinity and effortlessly penetrating the deceptive veil. 'It is here.'

Her heart pounded, and a tremor of nervousness ran through her hands. Yasenia, despite harboring immense bitterness in her heart, found herself uncertain how to confront her 'Honey'. She was 99% certain that her current apprehension stemmed from overthinking, yet that residual 1% left her breathless.

Yasenia couldn't recall the last time she had felt such intense agitation.

Thus, with a heart thrumming with unease, Yasenia alighted and commenced her wait. Precisely as anticipated, a figure swiftly traversed the forest and materialized before her. "Young Miss, you have arrived."

Yasenia gazed down at the respectfully bowed dryad, her voice carrying a chill far colder than she intended. "Where is she?"

Flora faltered, her heart suddenly clenching. Upon lifting her head to meet Yasenia's gaze, her knees nearly buckled. "Y-Young Miss, you..."

"Where..." Yasenia interjected, her voice unwavering. "...is she?"

Flora swallowed, then stepped aside, her voice tinged with palpable apprehension. "T-This way, Young Miss."

Yasenia advanced in the direction she indicated, and almost immediately, the remainder of their group arrived. Eve and Anna landed before Flora, their expressions severe. "You will be punished. This time, your transgression is profound enough to potentially cost you your maid qualifications."

Flora's complexion grew somewhat ashen. Without complaint, she offered a deep bow. "Yes, Head Maid."

Anna and Eve turned away and followed. As Xyrona passed by, she inquired with a tone of bewilderment, "Why conceal it?"

Flora offered a wry smile. "Madam Kali inquired about it. Her reasoning was rather sound, so I acquiesced."

Xyrona rolled her eyes. "Sound reasoning? Hiding matters from the Young Miss? Flora, you have served her longer than I, yet it appears you have forgotten the one thing the Young Miss despises above all else: being kept in the dark."

Flora let out a sigh. "I know... I truly don't comprehend what I was thinking at the time."

Yasenia continued her forward movement, and with each step closer to the seal's central nexus, the surrounding pressure intensified upon her. It was evident that this seal was actively attempting to impede her progression toward the core area.

However, when contrasted with the immense pressure she endured within the [Sovereign Echo Cavern] in the Blue Pearl World, this current pressure felt akin to a gentle zephyr. Her stride remained unbroken, her pace showing no signs of faltering whatsoever.

Yasenia soon reached the boundary separating her from the core domain. Her hands, partially morphed into draconic claws, shot forward.

A piercing screech echoed as her exceptionally sharp golden talons tore through the barrier. Gripping its edges, she used sheer physical might to wrench it open.

CREAAAK!

The protective formation buckled under the immense pressure, failing to prevent the dragoness from tearing a path inward.

Upon breaching the seal, Yasenia stepped through. The moment she did, her surroundings underwent a dramatic transformation.

She found herself in a spacious clearing dotted with a few trees, encircled by a dense wall of verdant foliage. At the heart of this enclosed space stood an elegant wooden dwelling, featuring rooms open to the elements. Adjacent to the house, a tranquil lake occupied a quarter of the clearing, its waters so clear that the bottom was almost entirely visible.

The sky above was a brilliant blue, adorned with drifting white clouds. A meticulously tended garden flourished nearby, evidencing the inhabitant's care.

After a brief survey of her new environment, Yasenia glanced back. Behind her, where she had entered, a colossal spatial rift now gaped. 'It's sealing itself, albeit slowly. Still, escape won't be an issue. I can break out easily enough.'

With these thoughts, Yasenia began her approach toward the wooden house.

Meanwhile, within the house, Kali was engrossed in cataloging her alchemy knowledge. She meticulously recorded her findings during her leisure moments. Suddenly, her senses registered an anomaly, startling her.

'An energy fluctuation? How is this possible? Has someone breached my seal?'

A chilling expression briefly crossed her face. Her initial assumption was that the intrusion was by that bothersome man. 'Did someone grant him entry?'

However, as she extended her Spiritual Sense to investigate, she froze. The sight that greeted her was almost unbelievable.

"...Huh? Yasenia?"

Her first reaction was disbelief, thinking she was hallucinating. But once she confirmed her senses were accurate, an overwhelming wave of joy washed over her.

Without delay, Kali leaped to her feet and propelled herself through the window, soaring towards Yasenia. "Yasenia!"

Yet, as she drew closer, something felt amiss. The dragoness, who typically greeted her with open arms, now regarded her with a cool demeanor. While Kali sensed Yasenia's underlying happiness, her eyes held a discernible melancholy.

Kali's heart skipped an odd beat as she halted a few meters before Yasenia. "Y-Yasenia?"

A gentle breeze rustled the grass and carried the scent of blossoms, filling the space between them. Despite the warmth of the air, Kali felt an inexplicable chill under Yasenia's gaze.

Yasenia, observing Kali, felt an tumultuous surge of complex emotions. Foremost among them was sheer delight. She was, without question, overjoyed to see her cherished little fox thriving.

Yet, this profound happiness was tinged with an undeniable bitterness. Yasenia yearned to close the distance, to embrace Kali, to share tender words and loving kisses.

However, each time this yearning surfaced, the name Xa Tian would flash through her mind, like icy water dousing her fervor. "I have arrived..." Yasenia managed to speak, her voice devoid of emotion. "Forgive my prolonged absence."

As she spoke, the bitterness lingered. Nevertheless, her apology was genuine, for in a twisted sense, had she returned sooner, Kali might never have encountered that man.

Kali's brow furrowed in confusion at Yasenia's peculiar behavior. She felt no fear from Yasenia's coldness, never suspecting any harm from her. With a look of concern, she moved closer.

"Yasenia... you... Did something happen? Are you alright?"

Gazing at Kali's ears, which drooped slightly with worry, Yasenia found herself unsure how to proceed. She desperately wished to comfort Kali, but an invisible barrier, a 'fishbone' in her heart, prevented her from acting.

This peculiar emotion was likely a first for Yasenia. Her previous relationships, while involving suitors, had been with individuals less significant, easily dismissed as mere annoyances.

This time, however, Xa Tian was not only someone who held sway over Kali but also someone Kali had not actively rejected despite that influence. Aware of the potent soulmate link, Yasenia's mind raced through countless hypothetical scenarios.

Thus, as Kali reached out, intending to grasp Yasenia's hand, the dragoness resolved to confront the issue directly, as she always did. Lingering would only prolong the awkwardness and the pain.

"Xa Tian."

A single word, yet Kali's outstretched hand froze mid-air, her eyes trembling as if struck by an earthquake. For a fleeting moment, the implications of Yasenia knowing that name left Kali feeling utterly disoriented.

Yasenia’s gaze registered the swirling emotions within her as she uttered the name—a mixture of shock, alarm, and a nervousness so profound it leached the color from her face. "Thankfully..." Yasenia mused internally, "There is no trace of guilt."

Had Kali harbored any guilt, Yasenia’s heart might have fractured completely, for guilt would surely imply that something untoward had occurred.

Lifting her eyes, Kali finally grasped the reason behind Yasenia’s peculiar expression. An immediate sense of impending doom washed over her, as if the very heavens were poised to collapse. Overwhelmed by panic, her limbs quivering to the brink of failure, Kali rapidly embraced Yasenia with a tight hold.

She looked up, her face etched with anxiety, speaking with hurried clarity, as if a single moment of delayed explanation would unleash utter calamity. "Y-Yasenia, I truly don’t know what unsubstantiated tales have reached your ears. However, I swear to the heavens above that I have absolutely no involvement with him! You have been, you are, and you will forever remain my sole beloved. You must place your trust in me!"

Yasenia’s arms grew rigid. The familiar, earthy scent mingling with the pleasant fragrance of freshly cut grass reached her senses. Yet, even as Kali held her close, Yasenia made no move to return the embrace.

Still... "No involvement with him?"

Confusion clouded Yasenia’s mind. "Does being his soulmate constitute ‘no involvement’? Or perhaps... is she attempting to shield him?"

Our dragoness found her thoughts veering, almost involuntarily, towards the most dire conclusions.

Unbeknownst to Yasenia, Kali’s assertion of having "nothing to do with him" pertained to a personal, intimate connection. Therefore, Yasenia quickly affirmed, "I have no dealings with him. I swear, the only thing that has ever connected me to him is the sole of my boot from that one time I kicked him!"

For a fleeting moment, Yasenia began to question the widely circulated rumors. After all, Yasenia traditionally placed her faith in her partners over mere gossip. Thus, she inquired, baffled, "So... he is not your soulmate?"

"Ah..."

Kali froze once more, a moment of profound hesitation gripping her. Should she reveal the painful truth, or should she attempt to gloss over the issue and pretend it never happened? After all, they would likely never encounter him again once they departed Skyria.

This flicker of hesitation did not escape Yasenia’s notice, and a pang of hurt shot through her heart. "Why is she faltering? Could she be afraid I might harm him?"

Meeting Yasenia’s gaze, Kali perceived the pain reflected there. Instantly, Kali’s heart felt as though it plummeted to the very depths of her stomach. All hesitation evaporated, even as her voice trembled with the sheer, throat-constricting anxiety she was experiencing. "L-Listen to me, Yasenia. I implore you to hear me out slowly, al-alright?"

Yasenia’s expression remained unchanged, still carrying a hint of impassivity. However, she offered a slow, deliberate nod.

That single nod served as a beacon of hope in the encroaching darkness, and Kali breathed a sigh of profound relief. "Alright, that’s good. If she’s willing to listen, I have nothing to fear... except perhaps hiding things from her?" Kali felt an inexplicable urge to admonish herself for even entertaining such a thought. "What is wrong with me?"

All her previous notions of concealment were now utterly misplaced and inappropriate. Yet, the very fact that it took seeing Yasenia again for Kali to recall her promise made her feel a deep sense of self-disdain.

"Yasenia is my guiding light. She is the one who guided me out of the deepest abyss, and the only person I cherish besides our children. How could I possibly forget the solemn vow I made to her in the past—the one about never resorting to deception?"

Consequently, with a deep, steadying breath, Kali resolved to articulate every detail with measured explanation, laying bare her thoughts and rationale, including her past missteps. Her ultimate aim was not merely to seek absolution, but to confess everything with the utmost sincerity and truthfulness.