Evil Emperor Zun

Chapter 2035 Harmonious Union, A Perfect Ending

When Uesugi Felicia found Shinuchi Shigure, she was packing a medical kit. Upon hearing Felicia's account, her hand paused for a moment.

"Is he giving up?" Shigure's tone suddenly hardened, and his brows furrowed.

She wasn't as rational as Philica and Elodie; she couldn't calmly analyze how much goodwill was behind the blow she received. If she had been there, she probably would have argued with Tang Mu right away.

That's her little Qin Jia, the girl who made her feel especially close the first time they met, the girl who would cling to her and call her "Mom," the girl who brought her countless comforts and joys during difficult times. How could she just abandon her like that?!

Uesugi Felicia shook her head: "Xiaoyu, what Tang Mu means is that the way to the mysterious space is blocked. For some reason, it has been sealed off, and using the old method is definitely useless. However, there is still a chance of being caught in turbulence during the teleportation. Rather than repeatedly trying the wrong path and risking death, it is better to accept reality as soon as possible and find the right path sooner."

"But what is the right path?" Shigure Kamui blurted out in his anxiety, "He didn't tell us! He only talks discouraging things and can't offer any solutions. Isn't he just... just trying to wash his hands of it?"

Actually, she wasn't usually this unreasonable. To be fair, she understood that Tang Mu had no obligation to help. She had always taught Qin Jia not to trouble others. But in this world, isn't it through mutual help that we survive? Is it really wrong to yearn for a helping hand when you're in trouble?
The suffocating feeling in her chest grew stronger. Qin Jia might be in danger, and all she could do was complain. Shigure hated this weak version of herself, and even more so, this version of herself who only blamed others when powerless. Her churning emotions finally transformed into tears that streamed down her face. She stared at Felicia before her, her eyes red-rimmed, and choked out, "Is there really no other way?"

Uesugi Felicia remained silent, holding her sister's hand and waiting for her to finish. She could feel Shigure immediately tighten her grip on her hand; at this moment, she was the only one who could support her. The few words, frequently interrupted by Shigure's trembling, incoherent voice and helpless sobs, took quite a while to finish.

“Sister, Chi Ye and Qin Jia are both there. He wants us to give up, but I can't... I've wanted to be with them for a long time, to see Qin Jia safe and sound, and to help Chi Ye. If only I had agreed to go with Qin Jia instead of staying here…”

Wasn't her rejection cruel to Qin Jia back then? If that was their last meeting, all she left her with was a cold face, disappointing and regretting her... Overwhelmed with grief, she couldn't continue speaking.

Uesugi Felicia pulled the already distraught Shigure Kamui over and gently embraced her. Shigure buried her face in her shoulder, her tears soaking her clothes.

“Xiaoyu,” Uesugi Felicia’s voice was steady, yet it also revealed an unconcealed heartache, “we will not give up, but we need to find another way, which will take time, and the hope is slim. If something happens to us, it will make Qin Jia even more upset. Saran and Elodie are helping, and we will find another way together.”

Seeing her sister calmly comforting her, as steady as a rock, Shigure Shinnai softly hummed in agreement, but her heart was filled with worry that she could not shake off.

Unable to locate Qin Jia, unable to access the mysterious space, and unable to contact the people there, what other options were there? She knew that even if Tang Mu would give them a perfunctory answer, her sister certainly wouldn't. Every second she spent crying and whining was taking up from her sister's potential solutions. She really couldn't hold them back any longer.

At night, Shigure Kamui sat alone by the window, gazing at the tranquil night sky. In such a vulnerable and helpless moment, she missed Ikeya terribly. If he were by her side, if she could talk to him, she wouldn't feel so desperate.

Although her older sister is also very good to her, she is now one of the backbones of the entire faction, and there are too many things that need to be handled by her. She can't just revolve around her and listen to her joys and sorrows. As for Chi Ye, he is the "only one" that belongs only to her.

Thinking of Chi Ye, thinking of all the little things they shared in the past. The moment she closed her eyes, those thoughts flooded in like a tidal wave. Was he alright over there? Was he hurt? Was he eating properly? Was Qin Jia still safe? Was she behaving herself? If the enemy who steals pure souls appeared, would Chi Ye also be in danger? Would she lose both of them at the same time?

Lately, she has been tormented by a deep sense of powerlessness, and coupled with her desperate need for this "one and only," Shigure Shinnai has lost faith in their relationship.

Does Chi Ye miss her? Does he, like her, yearn for her alone at night? Or is he too busy, too busy to think of her? Too busy to slowly forget her? Will he meet someone more worthy of him and stop loving her? Even she herself dislikes how useless she is. Will Chi Ye really always be committed to her?

And then there's Alice, her best friend who accompanied Chi Ye into the Sun Realm and risked her life to save her. Noel's gone; will anyone protect her? Will she find like-minded people? Qin Jia is a nuisance. Before Chi Ye and she met Qin Jia, it was Alice and Noel who took care of her. When Chi Ye is too busy, Qin Jia will definitely cling to Alice. Won't she feel exhausted? She's even more afraid—Alice is so lively, so brave and proactive; will Chi Ye gradually fall for her too?
Shigure Kamui suddenly opened her eyes, her heart pounding. It couldn't be like this, Ike wasn't that kind of person, but countless fears and worries pierced her heart like needles. She wasn't afraid he would change his mind, but she was afraid she wasn't good enough, afraid he was suffering too much and being lonely over there, while she could only wait for news of his return from the sidelines, unable to help him in any way.

If she had agreed to Qin Jia's request back then, she should be by his side now, supporting him, assisting him, offering him a glass of water when he's tired, and making him a bowl of hot soup when he rests. As one of the few doctors in the mysterious space, he has to treat the wounded and take care of Qin Jia—it's too much for him…

Tossing and turning, she repeatedly reflected on her actions. It was her fault. She had only thought that the demons wouldn't welcome her, and that she couldn't trouble others or let Qin Jia become arrogant. But she forgot that Qin Jia was just a child who only wanted her family to be together; Chi also needed an assistant, needed her by his side. He could take care of others, but he couldn't take care of himself... She belatedly realized that in order to please the enemy, she had neglected the feelings of those closest to her. Wasn't this putting the cart before the horse?
Having made that request, she could repay the debt of gratitude she owed, but now, nothing was more important than their safety… If she could do it all over again, she wouldn't make this choice…

……

In the mysterious space, Qin Jia was already asleep. Sasaki Ike sat beside her, gazing at the little girl's peaceful sleeping face.

Looking at Qin Jia, he thought of Xiao Yu. They had been apart for too long. He knew she would wait, but he was afraid she would wait too long, afraid that she would miss him too much during those days, afraid that she would be sad because he wasn't by her side when she needed him, afraid that she would slowly get used to life without him and then discover that she could live well without him.

He was even afraid that Xiaoyu would meet a more powerful man in the neutral camp, who would treat her well, protect her, and take care of her, only to find out in the end that he was nothing special and then accept someone else's advances... He didn't know what he was afraid of. His Yu'er would not change, but some thoughts were deeply hidden in his heart and he couldn't shake them off.

He looked down at his hands. These hands could heal and save lives, but they couldn't reach her, couldn't care for her, or protect her. All he could do was take good care of Qin Jia, protect her, hold her little hand, stroke the hair on her forehead, and tell himself again and again that Qin Jia was the bond between them, and that she should stay by his side and protect this child.

Night deepened, and he didn't know when he fell asleep. Thoughts surged like a tide, then slowly receded, until a dream arrived. It was a misty dream, but as he walked forward, he could see each other's figures. Shi Yu stood before him, quietly watching him, tears welling in her eyes. The thing in her gaze was familiar—she had been waiting for him.

“Yu’er, don’t cry. Qin Jia and I are both fine.” He pulled her into his arms, letting her murmur in his embrace, pouring out her anxieties and worries of the past few days. He couldn’t bear to interrupt her; he just wanted to hear her voice, to know how she was doing. He held her tighter, and after hearing her worries, he became even more determined: “Yu’er, in this life, there’s only you. You are my wife. This title belongs only to you.” Shiyu Shinnai lifted her head from his embrace, her voice soft, her eyes blurry with tears: “Chi Ye, we’re not married yet…”

“I won’t wait any longer. In my heart, you’ve always been it.” Sasaki Ikeya’s voice was firm as he tightened his grip on her hand. “We have no parents here, and we don’t know if we can go back, or what the future holds. So, I want you to marry me, to be my wife. Then, we and Kotomi will be family. It’s just that I’m sorry to have left you without witnesses, without a wedding. We’ll wait for the day we meet again, okay?”

"Okay, I'll wait for you. I'm your wife, so you're my husband." She buried her head in Chi Ye's arms again, closed her eyes, and hugged him tightly.

The dream was very long, so long that they talked for an unknown amount of time. When Sasaki Ike opened his eyes and woke up again, he was still in this familiar room, with Kotomi sleeping peacefully beside him.

These days, he has gazed at Qin Jia countless times after she falls asleep, her little face reflecting both Shi Yu and his own features. This child combines Shi Yu's delicate beauty with Chi Ye's handsome looks, half of each, just right.

Her eyebrows are like Shi Yu's, curved like crescent moons; her eyes are like Chi Ye's, bright and clear, looking at people without fear, confident and sharp; her nose is like Chi Ye's, straight and upright; her mouth is like Shi Yu's, small and cute when pursed, and the curve of her lips when she smiles is like Chi Ye's; her sleeping face is like Shi Yu's, and she is also like Shi Yu when she is quiet, sitting there obediently, without making a fuss.

When she smiles, she resembles Ikeya, her eyes and brows relaxed, making people's hearts soften. Almost everyone who sees her would like her, like an adorable doll. Her thoughtful expression and her stubbornness when angry are just like the children of the Sasaki family.

He wondered countless times why this child always made him feel so close to her, and why he was willing to protect her at all costs. It wasn't because the child resembled Yu'er or him, but rather because of some deeper, more ambiguous feeling that was driving him.

Kotomi Kamui clutched the hem of Sasaki Ikeya's clothes with her little hand, groggily waking from her dream. Her eyes were half-open, her light blue eyes not yet fully focused. In her half-awake state, seeing Ikeya beside her, she called out softly, "Daddy—Daddy, I dreamt of Mommy. She's waiting for us at home..."

"Then when we find a chance to go back, we'll go home and find Mom." He stroked the little girl's soft hair, held her in his arms, and coaxed her to sleep. "It's not dawn yet, sleep a little longer."

"Mmm." Kotomi Kanouchi leaned contentedly against Ikeya's chest, and soon drifted off to sleep again.

Memories from the past few days surfaced in his mind. He thought of Qin Jia's excited cry of "Little Auntie He," his inexplicable affection for her, Qin Jia's extraordinary dependence on him, and her small face that combined the features of Xiao Yu and him. All these clues pieced together, and the thought deep in his consciousness became clear again.

Looking down at the little girl in his arms, Sasaki Ikeya's voice was very soft, as if asking, or as if confirming: "Kotoka, will you be my and Yu'er's child?"

Qin Jia didn't answer. She slept soundly until dawn. When she woke up, she rubbed her eyes and saw Chi Ye guarding her. Her eyes lit up instantly, flashing with a cunning and probing light. She called out "Daddy" in a domineering yet sweet voice.

"Yes, Dad is here." Sasaki Ike naturally agreed and combed Kotoka's hair as usual. His skills were much better than Shigure's, and he quickly braided two cute little braids for Kotoka.

Upon hearing the response, Kotomi turned to stare at Ike, as if confirming something. She winked playfully, pouted, and then turned to snuggle into Ike's arms, whispering, "Daddy, when are we going home? Xuan Shuang is younger than me. Will he take Mommy away?"

"No, we love Little Cherry the most. We just share a little bit of our love with other children. Love isn't like a cake; the more you share it, the less there is. It will grow bigger the more you share it. Once we find our way home and have the opportunity, we'll go back."

……

The morning sunlight pierced the mist, and Shigure Kamui awoke from her sleep to find her pillow damp. Was it because of last night's dream? She quickly washed up and rushed to Uesugi Felicia's room, knocking on the door. Felicia had just finished practicing martial arts and magic and hadn't changed out of her training clothes yet. Seeing her sister, she immediately welcomed her in: "Shigure, what's wrong?"

Shigure Kamui told Uesugi Felicia about her dream in detail, saying that it felt incredibly real, as if it had actually happened. Afraid her sister would think she was being ridiculous or imagining things, she gently asked at the end, "Sister, do you believe it?"

Uesugi Felicia listened intently, took Shigure's hand, and smiled gently to reassure her: "I believe you. It's because the longing was too strong and the bond too deep. When you needed him most, he came into your dreams. They say that lovers can sense each other, and perhaps it is this power of longing that transcends time and space, allowing you to receive his feelings."

"And who said you had no witnesses? You have me. How could you forget your older sister? Your sister is family too!"

Uesugi Felicia took out paper, pen, and a seal. The paper was royal stationery from the magical world, and the seal was a private seal carved for her by a royal craftsman, with "Felicia" engraved on it in the magical world's script. She carried it with her at all times, just in case.

At that moment, she picked up her pen and wrote a passage using both the script of the magical world and the script of her human homeland. Her pen moved steadily and carefully; once finished, she solemnly affixed her personal seal. She then took out a small brocade box containing a pair of moonstones.

"This is your marriage certificate and my dowry for you. There wasn't time to prepare it all, but I'll make you a proper one when we go back. The dowry is a moonstone from the magical world, used for guiding the way. It's not anything particularly valuable, but as long as you have it, you won't have to worry about not finding your way home. Congratulations, Xiaoyu, my most worried little sister, you've now found your home, right here in your and Chi Ye's hearts."

Looking at Felicia's elegant handwriting, Shigure's eyes welled up with tears: "My dear sister Shigure, and my friend Chi Ye, childhood sweethearts, your hearts are in love, you have vowed to be together forever, and are now united in marriage. Heaven and earth bear witness to your love. Though you are in a foreign land, without parental consent or a matchmaker, as your elder sister, I, as the Crown Prince, hereby witness your marriage, fulfilling all the proper rites. My sister entrusts her life to my friend Chi Ye. May you stay together for life, never to be apart. May you be of one heart and grow old together. Though separated by mountains and seas, you will eventually meet again. May your wedding day be as you wish, and may your love be harmonious and joyful."

The name of the eldest sister, the name of the crown prince—this was the most solemn and sincere blessing the elder sister could offer. Although it had no effect on Tian Tan, she sent her blessing to her younger sister in the name of a kingdom.