âAlright, you guys can head back first. Iâm going to walk around,â said Qing Shui to Nuo Lan and Ling Chen.
Ling Chen and Nuo Lan had confirmed their relationship and were going to get married soon. This was a piece of great news and Qing Shui was happy for them. He was pleased with the home which Nuo Lan would be marrying into.
âQing Shui, are you going to look for her?â Nuo Lan asked worriedly.
âAlright, donât worry. I know what to do.â Qing Shui waved his hand dismissively and left.
Nine Continents Demon Gate!
It was the Nine Stars Emperor Cityâs Nine Continents Demon Gate. Upon arriving, Qing Shui just watched from afar at first. This place was built along the Nine Stars Mountain, but it was the same as the Divine Palace. The Nine Stars Mountain wasnât tall but the area atop its peak was enormous. It was flattened by someone and became a mountain city.
It wasnât far-fetched to call it a city. There were three major roads atop the peak, lined with pavilions and manors. The roads were straight along the mountain range which led outside.
Palaces stood in great numbers there, along the bend of the Nine Stars Mountain. The area was big. That was the Nine Stars Emperor Cityâs Demon Gate Headquarters.
Qing Shui stood here for about two hours. Just as Qing Shui was in the dilemma of looking for Tantai Lingyan, a beautiful figure stepped out of the Nine Continents Demon Gate and walked toward Qing Shui.
She traversed in mid-air toward him in a light snow-white apparel. Her beauty transcended this world, exuding a cold aura. While it wasnât as ice cold as before, it gave others a sense of dejection.
She had indeed reached a breakthrough. Qing Shui knew it the moment she felt Tantai Lingyanâs aura and could tell that he wasnât her match.
With an air of superiority, her eyes were like the boundless stars above; the beauty behind the coldness was stifling.
Qing Shui thought she looked familiar but felt like a stranger now. This left him ill at ease, just like how one would feel when partners had fallen out of love in his previous life. It felt like they would become strangers after this, making Qing Shui feel uneasy.
âQing Shui?â Tantai Lingyan called out to him gently as though she didnât really know him.
Qing Shui let out a bitter laugh then sighed. âI feel like Iâve gone back to the time when I was courting you. Always feeling like thereâs a distance between us when I catch up to you.â
Tantai Lingyan didnât smile and merely set her gaze on Qing Shui. She had broken through but found that there was still a shadow in her heart. She yearned for familiarity, and it felt like so. This was something she had not felt before. Now that she had seen Qing Shui, she realized that the shadow was him, and it was why she called out his name hesitantly.
âDid you look for me because of the matter with the Divine Palace?â Tantai Lingyan asked.
Before Qing Shui could answer, Tantai Lingyan continued, âIf thatâs the case, then letâs forget about it. The Divine Palace and the Demon Gate were enemies from the start. Who knows how many Demon Kings a Battle God like you has killed, or Demon Gates you have destroyed. So, letâs not think that Iâm cruel.â
Qing Shui was stunned but thought it through. Since they were enemies, and he did destroy quite a few Demon Kings and Demon Gates, he didnât think he had the right to blame her.
After processing the thought, Qing Shui pondered over his purpose there. They had once been lovey-dovey and were close. They couldâve have been married after some time; yet, things slowly turned out this way. With time, even Qing Shui became a stranger toward it.
Tantai Lingyan saw the lack of response in Qing Shui as they stared quietly at each other. Qing Shuiâs gaze was clear. Watching the face which had captured his soul, he was suddenly filled with love, heartache, adoration, regret, and resignationâŚ
Qing Shuiâs complex gaze caused Tantai Lingyanâs heart to race. The shadow in her heart became clearer, suddenly feeling as though she was really close to the man in front of her. In all honesty, she was very lonely; she had no friends, much less a lover, one who was just like her kin.
âLingyan, can I hug you?â Qing Shui asked sincerely. He was afraid that Tantai Lingyan would slice him again.
Tantai Lingyan watched Qing Shui wordlessly. She was used to her lonely days and didnât feel much about the relationships between men and women. She didnât find anyone she fancied and neither did she feel anything in this regard. It was true now too, but her interactions with Qing Shui made her feel that this man was different from the others.
He was indeed different. Because subconsciously, she knew that he was regarded as her man. Whether she remembered it or not, she knew this to be true, especially now. On one hand, there was the shadow in her heart; on another, there was Qing Shuiâs gaze.
He did not retaliate when she had attacked him previously, and he had nearly died under her blade. This incident had a great impact on her.
Suddenly, she realized that she was in a light embrace. Instinctively, she wanted to attack and had many methods in her mind to kill the man, but she didnât move.
The light scent of the man engulfed her. It felt natural and the scent was a little familiar to her. It was comforting and it shocked her. How was it possible for her to quietly lie in a manâs arms? Without realizing it, she curled her arms around his waist.
Qing Shui was relieved, but he didnât do anything. Just like that, he quietly hugged her shoulders.
âLingyan, my wife. You donât know how much I miss you. That impulsive desire to see you, to see your familiar smile was tearing me apart. How I wish to hold you in my arms tightly, to keep you near me.â Qing Shuiâs voice was low as though he was holding back something.
âIâm sorry. I know what you say is true, but IâŚâ
âI understand. You donât have to apologize. Heavenâs pulling a prank on me.â Qing Shui laughed in resignation.
âDidnât you say you want to hug me tightly? Hug me as tight as you want then,â said Tantai Lingyan gently.
Qing Shuiâs heart leaped at it and hugged her tightly, holding her close to his own body as he buried his face into the crook of her neck. Taking deep breaths of her scent, the pair was stuck close to each other. The feeling relieved Qing Shui from some of his heartâs desire.
Tantai Lingyan felt exceptionally peaceful at that moment. The man and her were supposed to be enemies; yet, she didnât have an ounce of worry that he would attack her when locked in that embrace. Not worried that heâd kill her or the like. Furthermore, she could sense that he didnât guard himself against her either; it would have been easy to kill him right then.
Qing Shui calmed down only after a long time, releasing his grip on her slightly but couldnât bear to let her go completely.
âThank you, Lingyan. It has been a long time. I guess there was still some feeling from last time.â Qing Shui smiled.
âQing Shui, Iâm a little scared now,â Tantai Lingyan replied softly.
âWhat are you afraid of?â Qing Shui was puzzled.
âI believe the words youâve said before. If I regain my memories one day, Iâm afraid I wouldnât be able to face reality. Did I hurt a lot of people?â Tantai Lingyan sighed.
âThis is destiny. Itâs not your fault,â said Qing Shui helplessly.
âIf we have to stand on the opposite ends of life and death one day, and we have to make a choice between us. What would you do?â Tantai Lingyan asked Qing Shui quietly.