Volume Six: The Return of the Monarch God to the Shattered Continent Chapter Eleven: The Bitterness of Parting-Void Realm(Lingering Under the Moonlit Night)

Zhuohua’s blood surged with indignation as he barked sharply, “If you are truly so devoid of humanity, then please leave Tianshui City immediately. Otherwise, I will exhaust every ounce of my strength to make you regret crossing me.”

Suddenly, Lanling burst into a fit of laughter, covering her mouth. “I just love seeing you in such a frenzy; it’s truly comical. I can heal him, but you must agree to one condition.”

“Name it,” Zhuohua replied, feeling helpless. Lanling had possessed this same temperament for many years.

“After I heal him, you must accompany me away from this void. No matter what happens here, we shall never return.”

Upon hearing this, Su Mengling looked up at Zhuohua in shock. She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug deep into her fair, delicate skin, drawing beads of blood. *Do not agree! Do not agree!* she pleaded silently to herself.

“Very well! I agree! However, you must first return my Qi-Stabilizing Bead,” Zhuohua said with ironclad resolve.

“Stingy,” Lanling muttered. She reached into her Qiankun bag and pulled out the glowing bead, but as she went to toss it to him, she hesitated and tucked it away again. “I’ll give it to you later.” With that, she strode inside.

“I do not have a Cangyue Pearl,” Zhuohua said, hurrying to catch up.

“What would I need a Cangyue Pearl for to treat a wound like his?”

Su Mengling watched their retreating figures, then glanced at the crowd celebrating their victory. A wave of profound sorrow washed over her. Thinking of her father, whose fate remained unknown, she could no longer hold back her tears. Lowering her head, she silently followed in their footsteps.

Time slipped away rapidly; three hours passed in the blink of an eye.

The door creaked open, and Lanling emerged, looking relaxed as she tidied her small medical kit.

“Is he alright?” Zhuohua asked with concern.

“This minor wound? Hardly a matter of consequence,” Lanling replied dismissively.

“He was down to his last breath, practically at death’s door, and you call that a minor matter?” Yu Changsheng, standing behind Zhuohua, retorted sharply. It was strange; one would expect a man of talent to admire beauty, and naturally, he should have been smitten with such a stunning woman, just as he had been with Su Mengling at first sight. Yet, ever since he learned this beauty was the cold-blooded demon known as Fairy Lanling, any such feelings had vanished entirely.

Lanling did not even lift her eyelids, completely ignoring Yu Changsheng’s barbed remarks.

“What medicine did you use?” Zhuohua asked, his heart heavy with anxiety.

“A formula from the Dark-Fiend tribe,” Lanling said nonchalantly.

“Why?”

“Neither of us has a Cangyue Pearl on hand. Ordinary herbs would be useless for his injuries. I had to use harsh, potent medicine.”

Zhuohua held out his right hand, palm upward. “Let me see it.”

Lanling looked reluctant, but after a moment’s hesitation, she pulled a small, jet-black porcelain bottle from her kit.

“This is Black Gold Life-Extension Paste. It has miraculous healing properties. The Dark-Fiend people have incredibly hardy bodies and recover from injuries at a startling speed. Their shamans brew this divine medicine using the blood, skin, hair, and flesh of their strongest warriors. It is specifically designed to treat fatal trauma like that suffered by Yan Congxu.”

“Barbarians, through and through. Even their medicine is repulsive,” Yu Changsheng remarked, his brows knitting in disgust.

Zhuohua, having just opened the bottle, was about to bring it to his nose to smell it, but after hearing Lanling’s description, he promptly capped it and returned it to her.

Lanling shoved the bottle back into Zhuohua’s hand. “Keep it! This substance is rare even among the Dark-Fiend. I have another bottle.”

Seeing Zhuohua’s hesitation, Lanling knew what he was thinking. “Things have no moral standing; as long as they can save a life, they are good.”

Zhuohua listened and, finding the logic sound, tucked the porcelain bottle into his pouch.

“I have fulfilled my promise to you. When will you fulfill yours?” Lanling asked, her face radiant as she tilted her head and smiled at him.

“Follow me.” Zhuohua turned and walked away.

Beyond the walls of Tianshui City, on the summit of Wuwei Mountain:

“Why have you brought me here?” Lanling asked, full of confusion.

“Look at how vast and magnificent this wilderness is,” Zhuohua said, standing with his hands behind his back, gazing into the distance.

“Indeed! The savage lands possess a wild, untamed charm.”

“The kiss from last time was never finished.”

“What? What did you say?”

“Back at the Dragon Palace, I lost consciousness before we could finish, a regret I have carried ever since. Let us share that kiss, and then we shall leave this place.”

Lanling laughed, her hair ornaments jingling. “A fool is a fool. You are so broad-minded when it comes to matters of great principle, yet you act so petty when it comes to such trivial romance.”

Zhuohua grinned, his bright teeth showing; he looked remarkably handsome.

“I am ready!” he said solemnly. “Close your eyes.”

“Fine, fine. I suppose I must indulge you, mustn’t I?” Lanling closed her eyes with a smile. For a moment, the world seemed to soften, and a cloud that had been blocking the sun drifted away. Sunlight spilled onto Lanling’s delicate face, making her dark purple gown appear exceptionally vibrant.

Her long eyelashes fluttered, mirroring the state of her heart.

*When the swallows return, the wind shears the willows; beneath the peach trees, spring is in full bloom.*
*The thunder of awakening insects, the rains of Qingming; year after year, the new graves wait for those who are gone.*

“Lanling, I am sorry. I cannot go with you. I must return to the Cloud-Top Heavenly Palace to fulfill the duties that are mine to bear.”

Lanling opened her eyes in confusion to see Zhuohua forming a hand seal, chanting a spell. Her smile froze, and tears streamed down her cheeks like a torrent.

“Are you closing the rift between us? How can you be so heartless?”

Zhuohua said nothing, continuing his chant.

“Very well! My final illusion is shattered. The next time we meet, we shall no longer be friends. Here is your bead, take it back.” Lanling pulled the Qi-Stabilizing Bead from her Wuji bag and threw it at him before closing her eyes once more.

Zhuohua did not reach for the bead, his heart repeating a silent refrain: *I am sorry! Lanling! I am sorry.*

As the final syllable of the incantation was uttered, dark clouds blanketed the sky, turning day into sudden night. The mountain breeze whipped into a gale, thunder roared, and countless bolts of lightning momentarily turned the darkness back into blinding white.

Fifteen heartbeats later, everything dissipated, and the world returned to its former state. The earth remained bathed in brilliant sunlight, and the creatures of the grassland seemed unaware of what had just occurred.

Zhuohua did not wipe away his tears. He bent down, picked up the glowing bead, and tucked it into his sleeve. He then lifted a limp female corpse from the ground and turned to descend the mountain path.

As he walked, he recited the poem once more:

Upon returning to Tianshui City, Zhuohua locked himself in the cellar and did not emerge for an entire month.

During that time, Su Mengling tried several times to get in. Whether she used charm or feigned madness, there was never a response. Only when others tried to break down the door could they feel a powerful aura erupt from within, knocking them flat to the ground.

Only then were the people certain that Zhuohua was still alive.

Yan Congxu’s wounds healed quickly, and he was soon walking about, boasting to everyone about his robust constitution and hardiness. Those who knew the truth dared not tell him who had saved him, nor what medicine had been used, fearing he might take his own life if he found out.

Life continued in this awkward fashion for over a month. By the time May arrived, the weather began to grow warm.

Su Mengling, as was her habit, went to the cellar door to try her luck. To her surprise, the door was wide open, and the sound of voices drifted out.

The young girl wandered into the cellar, which was dim, lit only by a faint oil lamp in the distance.

As she crept toward the light, a voice suddenly rang out from above: “What are you doing skulking about? I have nothing of value here for you to steal!”

Su Mengling stumbled in fright, falling forward. A pair of strong hands caught her just in time.

Another voice laughed audaciously: “Su Mengling, you may be good at throwing tantrums, but you’re clearly a novice at petty thievery!”

The one mocking her was Yu Changsheng, and the one holding her was Zhuohua.

“It’s pitch black, I couldn’t see a thing; is it not normal to trip?” Su Mengling muttered, unconvinced, as she smoothed her clothes.

“We are discussing the route back to the Cloud-Top Heavenly Palace. Would you like to join us?” Zhuohua asked with a smile.

“We are leaving?” Su Mengling asked, stunned.

“Yes! Yes! Your big brother has just come out of seclusion and says his strength is mostly restored. There is no more danger in Tianshui City, so it is time to go home,” Yu Changsheng said, leaning against the cellar wall while fiddling with the antique oil lamp. The flickering light cast strange shadows across his thin face.

“We? You are coming too? Do you even deserve to?” Su Mengling finally snapped, grabbing Zhuohua’s arm and acting spoiled. “Big Brother, Big Brother! Why bring this brat to the Cloud-Top Heavenly Palace? He is a stranger to us, don’t take him!”

“I am indeed a stranger, but are you not one too, Su Mengling? Your father’s surname is Su, not Zhuo.” Yu Changsheng regretted the words the moment they left his mouth, but his pride prevented him from apologizing.

Su Mengling was not as delicate as she looked. She grabbed a small wooden stool and rushed at him, intending to strike.

Yu Changsheng knew a bit of martial arts, but it was superficial at best. Besides, he could not bear to strike back at Su Mengling. “A gentleman uses words, not force! A gentleman...”

Before he could finish, the stool came crashing down. “I am terribly sorry,” she said as she struck, “but I am merely a woman, not a gentleman!”

Yu Changsheng reacted quickly, grabbing the stool firmly. “Sister Mengling! Have mercy! Your brother spoke foolishly and without thought. Surely a young lady of your stature can be magnanimous and not hold a grudge?”

Su Mengling gave a wicked smile. “You haven’t been to Guanyue City, have you? You don’t know what the locals mean when they say it’s better to provoke a mad bull than a young lady of the Su family? Besides, since we are strangers, why should we call each other brother and sister?”

With that, she kicked Yu Changsheng in the ribs. He let out a yelp and doubled over to protect his side.

*Clang!* The stool struck him on the head, though it did not break.

Su Mengling dusted off her hands and looked down at him triumphantly. “Keep your eyes open in the future and give me a wide berth.”

Zhuohua chuckled. “They say the young lady of the Su family is overbearing in Guanyue City. It seems the rumors do not do the reality justice.”

Su Mengling’s face turned bright red. “Big Brother, you are teasing me again.” She lowered her head, shy and embarrassed, making one wonder if the fierce girl from a moment ago had been someone else entirely.

“Enough, no more squabbling,” Zhuohua commanded. “Go pack your things. We depart in two days.”

“As you command!” Yu Changsheng and Su Mengling replied in unison.