Chapter 28 028 Nightmare, please don't let me forget you, please...
The ghosts imprisoned on the island in the middle of the lake dispersed, and a heavy rain fell in Huaicheng. The next day, the rising sun looked brighter and more vibrant than ever before.
Yun Tianjiao and Zhiwei set up a tent and rested for more than an hour. When dawn broke, they went to the place where they had landed on the island the day before and sure enough, they saw the old man waiting there in his boat.
"Gentlemen! Gentlemen!" The old man, wearing a straw hat and a raincoat that was still dripping with water, was very happy to see them and waved his arms.
When Yun Tianjiao saw that Zhiwei hadn't followed, he turned around and saw him staring blankly at the water.
Just one day ago, this place was a vibrant lotus pond.
"Zhiwei?" Yun Tianjiao called out.
Zhiwei came to her senses.
"What's wrong?"
"It's nothing," Zhiwei said, lowering her eyes. "I just feel bad for Your Highness, and I'm afraid I don't want to see lotus flowers again."
Yun Tianjiao didn't react at first, but he quickly remembered the lustful ghosts that had transformed from lotus flowers.
Zhiwei once said that he hoped all her memories of him would be beautiful. The scene she witnessed that night must have been categorized as "unpleasant" in Zhiwei's mind.
"Why don't you want to see it?" Yun Tianjiao grabbed Zhiwei's wrist and pulled him towards the old man's ferry. "The lotus flowers that bloomed for me are so beautiful."
"Won't Your Highness associate this with those disgusting things?" Zhiwei let her pull her along, her lowered eyelashes obscuring the deep depths of her eyes.
"So what if I make those connections?" Yun Tianjiao said calmly. "Even if I was ugly before, it doesn't affect my past beauty or my future beauty. What you gave me was that moment of heart-fluttering feeling."
Zhiwei suddenly stopped, and Yun Tianjiao turned to look at him.
He suddenly grabbed her hand.
On the tranquil lakeshore, in the dried-up mudflats, tender pink lotus leaves sprout anew, full of vitality.
His eyes reflected the lotus flowers and her, and he smiled, "Alright, then every year from now on, I will accompany Your Highness to admire the lotus flowers, is that alright?"
Yun Tianjiao's heart stirred slightly, thinking that if she couldn't break the curse on her body, how could she have "year after year" to appreciate the lotus flowers? However, she hesitated for only a moment before smiling and saying, "Okay."
The two boarded the old man's boat, and in an instant, the surrounding scenery collapsed and turned into a blinding white light. When their vision returned, Yun Tianjiao saw Shen Qiongzhi rushing towards them.
They had actually returned to the stone steps plaza of the Boundless Secret Realm.
"Sister Tianjiao, are you alright? Are you hurt? It was so dangerous watching you fight that actor ghost!" Shen Qiongzhi checked Yun Tianjiao over like a dog.
Yun Tianjiao used his hands to pry open Shen Qiongzhi's head, preventing the hairpins on her head from scratching her face.
"You saw our mission?"
"I finished the two-star mission that Zhu Jingxianjun and I took on the next day. When we came back, we saw you guys eating, drinking and playing all day."
As Shen Qiongzhi spoke, her eyes revealed undisguised envy, but she continued to scold, "You're really neglecting your duties. You drew a four-star mission, but instead of sorting out the clues and making progress, you were dragged around wandering around. You were the last ones to come out, and you almost missed the five-day deadline."
After saying that, he gave Zhiwei a reproachful look.
At this moment, several celestial beings came over and offered their congratulations to Zhiwei.
"Congratulations to Heavenly God Zhiwei and Your Highness the Princess. In the history of the Ascension Conference, very few people have been able to complete a four-star mission successfully, which shows that Heavenly God Zhiwei is quite powerful."
"Yes, this is the first time I've ever seen anything like it. A god can actually command ghosts and spirits! This battle was truly spectacular!"
Zhiwei remained indifferent, clearly having no intention of engaging in conversation with these people.
The leading deity persisted, asking, "However, what secret method did the God of Wisdom use to subdue that demon in the end? My understanding is too limited to discern it."
Yun Tianjiao recognized the person as Yuan Shan, the Immortal Lord, whose popularity was second only to Zhu Jing in this Immortal Ascension Conference.
After Yuan Shan Xianjun finished speaking, he glanced at the huge light screen above the stone steps. The scene displayed on it was Yun Tianjiao and Zhiwei's experience in the opera house.
In the light screen, Zhiwei pointed a knife at Liang Yue and silently uttered a phrase. Liang Yue immediately submitted to the law and received the salvation.
Yun Tianjiao naturally knew that Zhiwei was secretly telling Liang Yue that his lover Wan Cai'er's soul was still waiting for him in the ghost realm. However, if an uninformed bystander saw this scene, it would indeed seem strange and suspicious.
Faced with such questions, Zhiwei chose to remain silent, as he had no obligation to explain.
When Shen Qiongzhi first watched Zhiwei perform the ritual to deliver the ghosts, she was so concerned about Yun Tianjiao's safety that she didn't pay attention to the details. Now, watching the replay for the second time, she became curious about Zhiwei's silent recitation and was about to ask Yuan Shan Xianjun a question when she was interrupted.
"Everyone, the Heavenly God Zhiwei and Her Highness the Princess have been fighting the Ghost for two days and must need to rest. We should not disturb them any further."
A very pleasant male voice came from the side; it was Zhu Jingxianjun walking over.
This was the first time Yun Tianjiao had come into such close contact with this immortal lord. He saw that the immortal lord had bright eyes and a handsome, upright appearance. He was indeed a person of integrity and upright character, no wonder he was so popular with worshippers.
Shen Qiongzhi's face flushed red, and she instantly transformed from a fierce little tiger into a docile kitten. Yun Tianjiao had never seen her so demure in his entire life.
Zhu Jing bowed to Yun Tianjiao, and their eyes met for a moment, during which he seemed lost in thought.
Zhiwei stepped forward without making a sound and blocked his view.
Zhu Jing snapped out of his daze, looked away, and bowed to Zhiwei again.
The gods at this Ascension Assembly held Zhu Jing in high esteem. Since he had spoken, the others could not press Zhiwei any further, and they soon dispersed.
Yun Tianjiao thanked Zhu Jing, saying, "Thank you, Immortal Lord, for getting us out of this predicament."
Zhu Jing's eyes were calm, and he remained neither humble nor arrogant even when facing the wealthiest pilgrim in Yun Chi Kingdom.
“Your Highness, Miss Shen has already told me that you need the Reincarnation Mirror, the prize for winning the grand prize. If I am fortunate enough to win the grand prize, I will gladly give you the precious mirror.”
Yun Tianjiao said, "Then thank you very much, Immortal Lord."
Zhiwei sneered, "Immortal Lord Zhujing, let's save those words for after we win the championship."
Zhu Jing said nothing more, bowed again, and took his leave. Shen Qiongzhi seemed to have a lot to say to Yun Tianjiao, but she was also reluctant to give up the opportunity to spend time with Immortal Lord Zhu Jing. She hesitated for only a moment before turning around and chasing after Immortal Lord Zhu Jing.
The stone steps plaza gradually quieted down. Yun Tianjiao was exhausted. After a long journey with Zhiwei, they returned to their residence. She went into the flower room, and Zhiwei went into the leaf room.
However, as soon as Yun Tianjiao stepped into the room, he sensed that something was wrong.
There was someone inside!
She was about to speak when she was silenced by a spell.
"Your Highness, please don't be alarmed. I have something to say to you, and I'll leave after I finish."
Yun Tianjiao looked at Qingyuan Immortal Lord's face in front of him and frowned in disgust.
Qingyuan lifted the silencing spell, looking somewhat hurt. "Has Your Highness become so disgusted with me now that you feel aversion at just one glance?"
Yun Tianjiao grew increasingly disgusted with his hypocritical attitude, wondering why she hadn't noticed how repulsive this man was before.
"Speak quickly if you have something to say."
Qingyuan's face turned even uglier. "I am highly valued by the Heavenly Venerable and have been too busy to spare any time. I originally planned to remind Your Highness of the suspicious aspects of Zhiwei after the Ascension Ceremony. Who would have thought that Your Highness would be so ungrateful as to become his accompanying pilgrim?"
Yun Tianjiao snorted: "If you've only come here to talk about Zhiwei, you don't need to say a word."
Qingyuan: "Your Highness trusts him so much?"
Yun Tianjiao: "If you don't like him, you'll naturally find fault with him in every way."
Qingyuan nodded with a cold smile: "Alright, even if Your Highness is unwilling to believe me, didn't you notice anything amiss during the process of eliminating that ghostly figure?"
As he spoke, he waved his wide sleeves and summoned a small light screen in mid-air, just like the huge light screen on the stone steps square. At this moment, the screen was still replaying the two people's every move in the opera house on the island in the middle of the lake.
Yun Tianjiao's attention was instantly drawn, because what was being replayed was what happened after she lost consciousness and fell into a coma. She saw Liang Yue swooping down from mid-air, preparing to command the ghosts to attack Zhiwei. However, for some reason, the ghosts no longer obeyed Liang Yue's orders and instead surrounded him at his command.
Qingyuan said, "Nowadays, disasters are frequent and demons and ghosts roam freely. There are many powerful ghosts and spirits in the Great Wilderness who impersonate gods to steal offerings from the people. Your Highness, Zhiwei is suspicious. You should be careful."
Yun Tianjiao stared at the light screen until Liang Yue was released from his suffering, and the video started playing again from when the two had just entered the theater. Only then did she look away.
"So you're saying that Zhiwei is actually a ghost?"
"This person is suspicious and should be treated with caution."
Yun Tianjiao nodded. "Alright, I understand. Can you leave now?" Qingyuan was taken aback, not expecting Yun Tianjiao to react this way. "If Your Highness wishes to leave, I can speak with the Heavenly Venerable..."
"Thank you, but it's not necessary. Please, Immortal Venerable." Yun Tianjiao dismissed him.
Some things and some people are not surprising when they are right in front of you, but once you lose them, you feel unwilling to accept it.
Qingyuan knew perfectly well that his obsession with the minor deity's identity stemmed partly from the princess herself, and partly from jealousy.
His most devout pilgrim, the noble princess whom he once considered his prize, now serves as a beacon for others, no longer giving him a second glance.
His hands, hidden in his sleeves, clenched into fists without his noticing. The usually gentle and refined immortal's face was contorted at this moment, his usual demeanor completely gone.
"Your Highness is of noble birth and precious status. Forgive my bluntness, but if you continue to be deluded and bewitched by that person of unknown origin, you may bring trouble upon yourself."
Yun Tianjiao raised his voice slightly, displaying royal majesty, "Immortal Venerable Qingyuan, it's time for you to leave."
Seeing Yun Tianjiao's resolute attitude, Qingyuan ultimately dared not make too much noise in this Boundless Secret Realm, so he angrily flung his sleeves and disappeared.
Yun Tianjiao was not affected by Qingyuan's words and went to bed after washing up.
However, in her sleep, she dreamt again of that resentful male voice—
"I curse you! I curse you to never live past nineteen, to suffer the pain of national ruin and family destruction in your prime, and to die at the hands of your beloved in every reincarnation!!!"
She woke up in a cold sweat and it took her a long time to calm her rapid breathing.
Perhaps because she was in the Boundless Secret Realm, her dream was clearer than ever before, and she could even remember some chaotic and blurry images after waking up.
In one of her dreams, she was locked in a golden cage, her hands and feet shackled. Outside the cage stood a man whose face she couldn't see. He seemed to be talking to her in a gentle and cautious voice, even with a hint of pleading.
In the second scene, she is pushed off a high platform and falls into the clouds. At the same time, the resentful voice of a man above her comes, which is the curse that has imprisoned her for more than ten years.
And the last scene was what completely woke her up—
Within the embroidered curtains, she was pinned down by a man, who gripped her wrists and, almost frantically, took her, repeating only one sentence in despair and anguish: "Don't let me forget you, please, don't forget me either..."
Warm liquid fell on her face, indistinguishable between sweat and tears. She weakly raised her hand and struggled to push the person off her, revealing a face that was incredibly stunning.
That was Zhiwei.
A note from the author:
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What's it like to be surrounded by a group of rich kids since elementary school?
Zhou Mo: I hate the rich, so I want to become a rich man and then use bundles of banknotes to slap those bastards across the face until they kneel down and call me daddy!
When Zhou Mo was six years old, her father won the lottery. Unable to bear the constant harassment from relatives and friends who came to borrow money, he spent all the money, bought a villa in an upscale neighborhood, and sent his beloved daughter to a nearby private elementary school. Thus, Zhou Mo's nightmare began. She felt that all her classmates had serious illnesses. They were an eyesore to her at school and lingered around her after school because her mother ran a small after-school care center.
At fifteen, Zhou Mo was admitted to the best high school in the city, but many things happened in the villa area—
The arrogant young master suffered a great misfortune when his family was destroyed and his parents died. He was adopted by the Zhou couple and became Zhou Mo's older brother in the legal sense.
The sons of a nouveau riche, known as the "Two Bullies," have been exposed for their mother's infidelity. The two brothers are not born to the same father, and one of them is the son of a security guard in the community.
The aloof boy who Zhou Mo thought was the most normal person was about to be transferred to Beijing with his parents for work. Before leaving, he blocked Zhou Mo on her way home from school and said he wanted to go to a hotel with her.
At the age of twenty-four, three years after graduating from university, Zhou Mo finally owned her own company in Beijing. She was riding high, but she never expected that her former patients with serious illnesses would all become powerful CEOs, appearing one after another for one thing—to propose to her.
The domineering CEO knelt before her, gripping her hand tightly and refusing to let go: "Whether it's true or not, we are husband and wife now. As long as I don't divorce you, you will always be my legal wife."
The domineering CEO pinned her against the bedroom door, his eyes bloodshot: "Am I your brother? Don't call me brother, I don't want to hear it, and I don't want to be your brother."
The domineering CEO punched the wall repeatedly in a self-destructive manner, his voice hoarse and trembling: "What's so great about my brother that you want him and not me?"
The domineering CEO, emboldened by alcohol, pinned her between the chairs, exuding a dangerous aura but with a wronged expression: "If you're going to have a fake marriage, why not with someone else, and not with me?"
Zhou Mo: "..."
What is a "tall, rich, and handsome" guy? Slaughtering him and selling his meat is illegal; you might as well raise a pig.
—From a woman who doesn't want to be Cinderella, but only wants to be a boss.
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