Chapter 22
Eternal Rift
Located in the frigid heart of the entire Eternal Night Fortress, no mortal can set foot there; the ice will instantly freeze a person into a block of ice, and finally shatter into pieces with a "clang".
"No wonder they sent us here. Why do they make us deal with all sorts of messy things?"
Winslow held the "little yellow chick" on a leash in case she got lost.
"But aren't I just a mortal? Won't I turn into an ice block if I go in?" Li Jia asked, puzzled.
To be honest, Li Jia was quite curious to go inside and see what the dragon actually looked like, and whether it was as majestic and imposing as the dragons in Game of Thrones.
"It's alright, you can turn into an animal and hide inside my clothes."
Hera said seriously, while Li Jia pursed her lips, thinking that Hera was definitely doing it on purpose to tease her.
Seeing her reluctance, Hera waved her hand and said, "If someone is unwilling, then so be it. They'll just have to wait for us outside."
"Who says I'm unwilling? I am willing!"
Upon hearing that Hera didn't intend to take him into the Demon Cave, "Little Yellow Chicken" immediately started squawking.
Hera smiled, her provocation working.
"Can I decide what animal I become? It can't be too ugly."
Li Jia is a person with her own aesthetic sense; even if she were to become an animal, she would still want to be a beautiful animal.
"Then become an animal just like you are now."
Hera recited a simile, and Li Jia felt herself slowly shrinking. How did Winsloworine turn into a "giant"?
When she looked up, she could only see their ankles. Soon, Li Jia saw her own reflection.
Her pale yellow feathers were neatly spread across every inch of her down. Her head was round and her body was plump, like a chubby cotton candy.
Li Jia tried to take a couple of steps, her little paws bobbing up and down, her tail feathers swaying gently, as if she were dragging a tiny sunflower petal.
She turned into a little yellow chick.
Li Jia was a little angry. She didn't want to turn into a little yellow chick. Since she could turn into an animal, why couldn't she turn into a mermaid or something like that?
"Chirp chirp chirp!" Li Jia flapped her wings, loudly expressing her dissatisfaction. She demanded to be transformed back into a mythical creature; she wanted to become a noble and aloof peacock!
Hera crouched down, tapped her little head with her finger, and laughed, "Isn't this cute? Other species aren't suitable for you, and they're not convenient to carry around either."
Li Jia pecked her lightly, then continued her accusations, demanding the restoration of human rights or animal rights.
Hera scooped her up in her hands and stroked Li Jia's fluffy feathers. The feel of them was so wonderful that she couldn't resist.
She finally understood why Artemis was so fond of her little penguin, even though she only had twelve hours of human form and still insisted on keeping her by her side.
Who wouldn't like this?
The little yellow chick was humming happily as it was being petted, like it was getting a head massage. Seeing Hera's comfortable expression, it was too embarrassed to continue chirping, which is probably similar to petting cats and dogs in modern times.
Actually, it was quite comfortable. I don't know if she had studied it specifically or if there was some technique involved, but Li Jia didn't dislike the feeling.
Since there's no way to resist anyway, I might as well enjoy it.
Gradually, Li Jia realized that being a little yellow chick wasn't so bad. She didn't have to walk on her own; she could just be a pendant attached to the big boss and that would be fine.
Winslow also wanted to touch her, but Hera ruthlessly refused.
Outside, it was pitch black and a biting cold wind howled past, but Li Jia nestled comfortably in Hera's warm hands.
Amidst the commotion and chaos outside, she remained a humble little yellow chick, untouched by worldly strife.
The Demon Cave is hidden in the center of the Eternal Abyss, surrounded by a deathly silence. At the entrance stands a huge black rock, its surface covered with strange patterns, like a seal of some mysterious power.
Above the cave entrance, vines intertwined into eerie shapes, swaying in the wind, ready to seize any intruder.
A black mist filled the entrance, emanating a pungent, fishy odor that made one want to vomit. Occasionally, wisps of black smoke drifted out of the cave, like ghosts wandering in the air, adding to the eerie and terrifying atmosphere of the entire demon cave.
Li Jia's eyes lit up.
How could there be such a realistic haunted house?
"You like it here?"
Hera could feel that the further she went in, the faster and more excited the little guy in her palm moved.
"I like it."
Li Jiaxian really wanted to go to Happy Valley, but she never had the chance. The only time she could experience it was when she worked part-time as an NPC and was paid to do so. Being there as a customer was a different experience from working there.
"Should we change it to this style?" Hera asked after careful consideration.
Li Jia: "?"
Li Jia: "Boss, we can do it, but it's not necessary. We can't make ourselves look the same just because others look good. That would mean we'd lose our individuality."
She didn't want to return to the hot spring valley every day to feel eerie. She liked going to haunted houses, but that didn't mean she wanted to live in them.
Hera: "..."
Does this mean I like it or I don't?
Next, Hera asked her if she liked it, and Li Jia always answered, "It looks nice, but our own house looks even nicer."
Hera then abandoned the idea of needing to change the home environment for raising her child.
The barrier at the cave entrance vanished completely with a wave of Hera's hand, and the cave entrance shone even brighter and more dazzlingly after the mist was cleared away.
It seems there's a hidden paradise inside.
Li Jia followed Hera into the cave entrance, and only then did she realize that she was really ignorant. The world inside the Demon Cave was not scary at all. She suddenly remembered the Peach Blossom Spring she had learned in junior high school.
The Shangri-La is real, but unlike the ancient Eastern version, it's a Western version with a castle and gardens.
From afar, the fortress at the deepest part of the Demon Cave looks like a dream castle, standing on the vast land.
Passing through the castle gate, you are greeted by a captivating flower garden, filled with all sorts of flowers, including roses, tulips, and lavender, all in full bloom. In the center of the flower garden stands a huge fountain, its water jets dancing to the rhythm of music.
Li Jia felt that this place was not like a demon's den at all, but more like a castle built by an evil dragon for a princess to live in, a Western version of keeping a mistress in a golden house.
Unexpectedly, the dragon could be so witty. Li Jia wanted to see the goldfish in the fountain, so it pecked at her palm with its beak, strongly expressing its desire to get down on the ground.
Hera looked at her like she was an idiot: "What's so interesting about this? Aren't the pufferfish and those colorful fish in the hot spring reservoir enough for you to see?"
Li Jia was unhappy and pecked her palm several times. "We're on vacation, why can't I take her to see the goldfish? Just because she's a little yellow chick now doesn't mean she'll lose her right to see them."
Unable to persuade her otherwise, Hera had no choice but to use Shadow Cloak to run to the fountain, holding the little yellow chick up to watch the goldfish in the fountain.
The little goldfish loves to swim close to the fountain pool wall.
Hera thought to herself, "She's a bit like me, always sleeping on the corner of the bed."
The goldfish's orange-red scales look like they're adorned with a layer of shimmering glaze, and its tail is a semi-transparent veil that sways gently as it swims, as if afraid to disturb the shimmering light suspended in the water.
They swam around in groups of three or five in the water.
As she watched, Li Jia felt a little dizzy and tired of it. She didn't want to look anymore, so she pecked her thumb and asked her to take her away from there.
To everyone's surprise, Hera waved her hand and gathered two of the goldfish into a glass bottle that appeared out of nowhere.
Li Jia quickly stopped her: "Chirp chirp chirp chirp."
Li Jia: ………
Oh no, she can't understand what she's saying now, and can only watch as Hera takes the two little goldfish away.
Is this a moral decline or the extinction of humanity?
How could she do such a thing? Li Jia started chattering again. Hera tapped her little head and whispered, "Don't make a fuss, we'll talk about it when we get home."
A wise chicken doesn't suffer losses in the short term, and the "little yellow chicken" immediately shut its mouth.
Hera placed her in the inner pocket of her dress, her little head pressed against the thin lining, and Li Jia could even hear her heart pounding.
Inside the castle.
The girl hummed a song and happily pedaled the sewing machine. The setting sun shone through the curtain, illuminating her slender figure. Her thick, light brown hair cascaded down like a waterfall, and beneath her full forehead were a pair of gentle, smiling eyes.
Lorella is making a pair of exquisite sun-protective gloves for Murphylia; the ones she gave her before were too old, and she's planning to give her a new pair.
Morpheus's hands cannot be exposed to sunlight, otherwise they will be corroded, so Lorella made gloves for her using special materials she bought to protect her from some potential dangers.
Soon, three people plus a little yellow chick appeared in front of her.
"Princess Lorella".
Doreen called her name and gave her a gentlemanly bow.
Upon seeing them, Loreira remained calm. She rose and knelt before Hera, saying, "Your Majesty, with a devout heart, I bow in worship, may Your radiance shine upon you forever."
The little yellow chick poked its head out and watched Lorella bow to Hera. For some reason, it felt a little smug.
Being a big shot's accessory is pretty good, really pretty good.
Hearing Lorella's respectful address, Hera glanced at her and said, "Do you know why I'm looking for you?"
Loretta's eyes flashed with sudden realization; she already knew the answer. She lowered her head even further: "Your Majesty, Goddess of Marriage, I know..."
Hera, the goddess of marriage, never appears before people without reason; her appearance is always related to the fairness and outcome of the marriage contract.
"Lorella Pocape, I ask you in the name of God, are you truly willing to marry the dragon Mephistopheles?"
"As long as you say no, the marriage certificate will disappear, and your marriage to the dragon Morpheus will be forgotten by the world. You don't need to worry."
"And I will take you away from here."
As long as she says no, the marriage contract will be automatically lifted. This case is special because Lorela was a kidnapped bride, and based on what they've heard, Murphylia may not be male.
If she says no, Hera has the power to remove their names from the marriage history.
“No, Your Majesty the Goddess of Marriage, it was my own choice. I married Morpheus willingly.”
"Please do not erase the traces of your marital history."
Loreira knelt completely before Hera, clasping her hands together in sincere prayer.
"She is the most important and best person I have ever known in my life, she is my partner."
As if remembering something, Loretta's thoughts gathered together, reminding her of when they first met a month ago.
The story is told by Loretta.
Lorella Bocapet, a lowly bastard born of a mistress, was repeatedly warned by the Queen, who grabbed her hair: "If you weren't a girl, would you even be alive today? You filthy worms should stay in the sewers."
In fact, she slept in that dark, sewer-like corner of the kitchen and grocery store for sixteen years.
Loretta thought she would continue living this uneventful and quiet life until death.
It wasn't until the crown prince of a neighboring country sought a marriage alliance with the Bocapet dynasty that they remembered they had such a "backup" princess.
The crown prince was extremely cruel. He did inhuman things to his first five wives. Loreira learned through intermediaries that all five of his wives were tortured to death by him.
Loretta didn't want to marry this kind of person, so she began to resist in various ways, but crying, shouting, and even going on a hunger strike were useless.
King Bokkaiper II looked down at her coldly and said, "You are the princess of this country, and it is your mission to maintain national stability through marriage with other countries."
"We've already agreed to hold the wedding next month. Just wait patiently for the date."
These were the last words her biological father left her, and then the bronze door slammed shut.
At first, Loretta had some hope and begged her father to cancel her marriage, but all she got was more guarded and imprisoned outside the door. Loretta's tears had completely dried up, and she no longer longed for her father to show her even the slightest bit of pity.
Whoever you expect from you will enslave you.
Intimacy breeds contempt, and loyalty leads to abuse.
Loretta no longer expects that love that will never be reciprocated.
Even if that love is ingrained in one's very bones.
After repeatedly confirming her thoughts, Loretta came to a realization. She began to eat on her own and would even comfort the maid who brought her a change of clothes.
Everyone relaxed their guard, believing that Princess Lorella had resigned herself to her fate and was now preparing for her marriage.
This is the princess's destiny.
In the darkness, Loreira knocked out the maid who brought her bathwater, changed into her clothes, gritted her teeth, raised the brightly burning lights in the palace corridor, and as if she had made up her mind, set fire to her bedroom.
Flames shot into the sky.
Amidst cries of "Fire!" and "Fire!", Loreira escaped the palace under cover of night.
Loretta hid in a bridge archway, trembling with fear. She didn't know where to go. Bocapet II issued a warrant for her arrest, and not even a fly could get past the capital.
She held on for three days without eating or drinking anything, but she simply couldn't take it anymore.
Loretta squatted by the river, her eyes red and swollen and her cheeks pale. Looking at her reflection in the water, she felt something called courage for the first time.
She remembered that horrifying legend.
She called out the dragon's name loudly, willingly offering her soul and body to become its puppet.
A red-haired beauty appeared before Loreira, who frowned, clearly disapproving of what the human in front of her was saying.
"Who exactly told you that dragons like to eat human flesh? I'm not Hades, what would I do with your soul?"
Murphyia really wanted to cut off those gossipy tongues one by one; good news doesn't travel far, but bad news travels fast.
"Are you the evil dragon Morpheus?"
The girl sniffed and asked.
"It's me."
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