Chapter 334-335 On How to Conquer System Fairies and Make Them Your Wives 334-335 |
Xiang’er patiently explained the story of the Changming Sword to Luo Qiaoqiao, who, after hearing it, couldn’t help but gasp.
“You’re saying… he’s been forging the sword for six months?!”
“Yes. And there’s been no news from him,” Xiang’er sighed. “I don’t even know how much longer it will take. And I still feel bad for Sword Maiden. The thought of her becoming a sword spirit… it makes me feel guilty…”
“Don’t be,” Luo Qiaoqiao said, shaking her head. “It was her choice. And her family supported her. They should be thanking Chen Yin.”
“That’s true, but—”
Before Xiang’er could finish, the entire mountain shook violently, and they rushed outside.
“What’s happening?!”
A pillar of light shot up from the back mountain, piercing the sky, dividing the night into two halves, one dark, one light, a breathtaking spectacle visible for miles around.
Mortals and cultivators alike gazed up at the sky, their voices filled with awe and wonder.
“The heavens are angry! There will be a famine next year!”
“A treasure has appeared! Or perhaps a great cultivator is undergoing their tribulation!”
On the back mountain, Chen Yin emerged from the cave, looking up at the sky.
“Wow. That’s… a bit much. A Dao Realm treasure, indeed. Quite the spectacle.”
Two figures landed beside him. “Senior Brother! How did it go?!” Xiang’er asked excitedly.
“…I succeeded.”
Chen Yin drew the sword, its blade as smooth and flawless as a piece of jade, its form simple and elegant, its aura breathtaking.
Even Xiang’er and Luo Qiaoqiao felt a tremor in their hearts as they looked at it.
“Is that the new sword?” Luo Qiaoqiao asked, examining it curiously. “It looks the same as before.”
“Sister Qiaoqiao, what are you doing here?”
“What am I doing here?!” She pinched his ear playfully. “You disappeared for six months, leaving me to clean up your mess! And you didn’t even send a message!”
“Six months…” Chen Yin’s eyes widened slightly, then he chuckled, shaking his head. “…I almost missed it.”
He had made it just in time.
“So… Sword Maiden…” Xiang’er’s voice was filled with sadness.
Chen Yin’s eyes dimmed. “Don’t be sad. It was her choice.”
“But…” Xiang’er lowered her head, her eyes filling with tears. “We should build her a grave.”
“What’s a grave?” a voice suddenly asked behind her.
“It’s a place… to remember those who have passed away—ah!”
Xiang’er turned around and saw Sword Maiden, her amber eyes clear and bright, her expression curious.
“Why would you build a grave for me?”
“Because… you… you’re…” Xiang’er stammered, then looked at Chen Yin, who was grinning mischievously.
She realized she had been tricked and punched him playfully. “Senior Brother! You lied to me!”
“I didn’t lie,” he said with a straight face, “Sword Maiden was always the sword spirit. The real Gu Mingyue died a long time ago. It would be perfectly reasonable to build a grave for her. But what does that have to do with our Sword Maiden?”
“So…” Xiang’er turned to Sword Maiden, her eyes shining with hope, “you’re alright?”
“I’m the sword spirit. I just need to be near the sword,” Sword Maiden said calmly, her expression unchanged. “There’s no such thing as… living or dying. And he promised to give me twice as many swords now.”
“I think it’s a good deal.”
Xiang’er breathed a sigh of relief, but Luo Qiaoqiao frowned.
“So you were hiding her away all this time?” she said, her voice laced with a playful accusation.
…Seriously? You’re jealous of her?
“I don’t care. You owe me,” she said, her hands on her hips.
Chen Yin chuckled and put his arm around her. “Of course, Sister Qiaoqiao. You’ve done a great job. But the… reward… will have to wait. I have some unfinished business to attend to.”
Xiang’er’s eyes widened. “Senior Brother, you mean…?”
“Xiang’er, let’s go,” he said with a smile,
“Let’s bring Master home.”
Mount Buqi.
Luo Luo and Qing Mei Niang, their fox ears twitching nervously, looked at Chen Yin.
“Are you sure about this?” Qing Mei Niang asked, her brow furrowed with worry. “Once the passage opens, the one Little Ling’er sealed will be released.”
“Don’t worry,” Chen Yin smiled, his confidence reassuring.
Qing Mei Niang sighed, then glared at him playfully. “If you don’t bring my Little Ling’er back, don’t even bother coming back yourself.”
“Mother…” Luo Luo wanted to defend him, but Qing Mei Niang silenced her with a glare.
Chen Yin just shrugged.
Qing Mei Niang and Luo Luo extended their hands, and the Void rippled, a dark fissure slowly opening before them, revealing the familiar, yet also terrifying, passage to the frozen realm where Yu Ling was trapped.
…Traces of ice and frost still clung to its edges.
Chen Yin’s gaze lingered on the passage, his mind filled with memories of the past six months.
He took a deep breath, then turned to Xiang’er, who was fidgeting nervously, her small hand gripping his tightly. He squeezed her hand gently.
“Let’s go,” he said softly,
“Let’s bring Master home.”
Within the dimensional passage, the Void was a frozen wasteland, a desolate expanse of ice and snow.
Everything was frozen, just as it had been when Chen Yin first arrived.
Including Yu Ling.
He walked through the frozen landscape, his mind filled with memories of their last moments together, the echoes of their laughter and their love.
He reached the familiar ice sculpture, the frozen image of Yu Ling, her smile radiant and beautiful, so lifelike that it felt as if she would jump out and hug him at any moment.
“…You always were a drama queen,” he chuckled softly, his heart aching with a bittersweet longing.
He wouldn’t mind if she did.
He wished she could always be this carefree and happy,
Not burdened by responsibilities and unspoken worries, her smiles not a mask to hide her pain.
“Hey, lazy old granny, wake up! The sun’s already up!” he said, his voice playful and teasing, but his eyes filled with a gentle warmth, “…Six months. I kept my promise.”
He gently embraced the ice sculpture and kissed her cold lips, the chilling touch sending shivers down his spine.
But he didn’t flinch, his lips lingering on hers.
He hadn’t forgotten his two promises.
To return for her within six months.
And to wake her with a kiss.
As he held her close, soft cracking sounds echoed through the frozen Void.
At first, they were faint and almost imperceptible, then they grew louder, more frequent, more insistent.
Like cracks spreading across a frozen lake.
He didn’t know how long he held her.
Gradually, her lips softened, their icy coldness replaced by a gentle warmth.
And a familiar fragrance, sweet and intoxicating, filled his senses.
Like a soft, fluffy cake, or a smooth, delicate jelly.
A soft moan, barely audible, echoed through the silence.
“Mmm…”
Chen Yin’s eyes remained closed, but his hand trembled as he heard that familiar sound, the sound that had haunted his dreams, a soft, seductive whisper in the darkness.
Finally, a clear and distinct voice, the voice he had longed to hear, echoed in his ears:
“…Ah.”
“Good morning, brat,” she murmured, her voice still thick with sleep, but filled with a familiar playful warmth.
A wave of relief washed over him, his heart swelling with emotion.
“It’s almost noon, you lazy old granny,” he said, his voice slightly hoarse, trying to hide the tremor in his voice.
He opened his eyes and saw her, her smile radiant and beautiful, her eyes sparkling with a playful amusement.
She stretched languidly in his arms, then snuggled closer, like a cat basking in the sun.
“That was a good nap. Too bad it had to end. Couldn’t you let me sleep a little longer?”
“Get up, lazybones,” he said, trying to sound annoyed, but his voice betrayed his relief, “you’re not a child anymore.”
“Sleeping in is a privilege of adulthood,” she protested playfully. “And what’s with that look on your face? You look like you’re about to cry. Are you that happy to see me? Did you miss me that much?”
She grinned, her dress swirling around her as she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him lightly on the cheek.
“Now you know how I felt, waiting for you for a thousand years! I finally got my revenge!”
She stood there, her hands on her hips, a triumphant grin on her face, but then, seeing his silence, she looked up at him, her smile fading as she saw the gentle warmth in his eyes.
She reached up and gently stroked his hair, her touch soft and comforting.
“…There, there.”
“Don’t cry.”
“I heard you.”
“I didn’t think you would actually do it in six months…”
“…You’ve worked hard.”
She smiled. “Do you want some praise?”
“No,” he said, gently pinching her nose, “but next time, don’t do something so reckless again.”
“That depends on whether or not my disciple is competent,” she retorted playfully. “If you had repaired the sword sooner, I wouldn’t have had to do this.”
Chen Yin didn’t argue.
If he had been able to use the Third Sword six months ago,
She wouldn’t have had to sacrifice herself.
He gently stroked her hair, his voice filled with regret. “…I’m sorry. I made you wait.”
“I told you, I didn’t wait,” she said, shaking her head. “For me, it was just a blink of an eye. As long as you didn’t forget about me, as long as you didn’t find someone new, that’s all that matters.”
Then, her eyes twinkled mischievously. “So… did you find any new girls while I was gone? Preferably tall and busty ones?”
“…Do you think beautiful women grow on trees?”
Chen Yin hadn’t even realized his voice had become so light and carefree.
It had been a while since he had felt so relaxed, so… himself.
It seemed that only in her presence could he truly let go of his burdens and worries.
“Oh, right,” she suddenly said, her playful tone vanishing, her expression turning serious, “we almost forgot about the main event. Look, he’s moving.”
She pointed towards the other end of the dimensional passage, where a giant figure, encased in ice, a halberd in its hand, was starting to thaw.
“Indeed,” Chen Yin said, glancing at the figure, “we still have some unfinished business to attend to.”
“Need any help?”
“No.” He leaned down and kissed Yu Ling, ignoring her playful protests.
“You just have to look beautiful.”
“I’ll handle the rest.”