My enemies became my companions

Chapter 724 The Little Fox (Part 2)

In ancient times, the people and gods were not mixed.

However, the Jiuli people were corrupt and their people and gods were mixed together, making them incomparable.

The secrets of heaven have crumbled, immortals and gods have vanished, demons and monsters roam freely, cause and effect have been reversed, and destiny has become as fleeting as cotton.

Chen Yi acted without any taboos. Although he was Zhou Yitang's disciple and knew a few Taoist tricks, barely qualifying as a half-Taoist, he didn't abide by any taboos. For example, Taoists don't eat beef, but he loved to eat beef. Even so, thanks to being Zhou Yitang's disciple, he had heard some ancient secrets.

The phrase "severing the connection between heaven and earth" is something that ordinary people may often hear, but most know the facts but not the reasons behind them. It is not an ancient admonition sealed in bamboo slips, but rather the real devastation that this world has experienced.

In that distant era, when even time itself was blurred, humans and gods lived together, the laws of nature were in disarray, the will of the gods in the heavens could descend at will, interfering with the rise and fall of the mortal world, and the prayers and grievances of the earth could easily reach the heavens, disturbing the peace of the immortals and gods.

At that time, cultivators might ascend to heaven in one step and seize divine positions, while the beings in the heavens could bestow blessings or calamities based on their own whims. What seemed like an abundance of opportunities was actually a source of chaos. Cause and effect were entangled like a tangled mess, and destiny was as fragile as a pile of eggs; the entire world was like a quagmire that could collapse at any moment.

Until Zhuanxu received the mandate of heaven, he appointed the Southern Minister Chong to govern the heavens and the Fire Minister Li to govern the earth, so that the old order would be restored and there would be no mutual encroachment. This was called severing the connection between heaven and earth, separating the people and the gods, and thus establishing order in the human world.

Xu Qi, however, remained stationed at the Great Tianshan Mountain, rarely interfering in worldly affairs, much like Zhuanxu, who severed all ties between heaven and earth.

As Chen Yi reflected on this moment, he suddenly had an epiphany.

The true celestial being Xu Qi is that insurmountable chasm that lies between the heavens and the mortal world.

And the martial spirit lies in this.

Having reigned supreme over the Great Tianshan Mountains for many years, he is the undisputed number one in the world. He dominates the entire martial arts world, isolating it from the heavens, thus preventing celestial beings from descending to the mortal realm, and naturally also preventing earthly beings from communicating with the divine.

Therefore, this visit was not at the request of any deity, but rather because Xu Qi's rules forbid the appearance of any human deity, and he especially detests beings like "Ming Zun" who can manipulate the river of time.

The Shenxiao Sect had told them that there would be a great demon in the prophecy, and also that a great figure would come. Chen Yi guessed that the so-called great demon was Mingzun, but he still did not expect that this great figure would be Xu Qi.

If Chen Yi had known it was Xu Qi earlier, he would have been much calmer at first. Although he had lived two lives and had only met this True Celestial Being a few times, it was hard to say that he disliked such a person who was high above the world and rarely interfered in the martial arts world.

Xu Qiren left before an incense stick had burned, without lingering for long.

Of course, there was no farewell; after a brief pause, his figure vanished in a flash.

Chen Yi landed slowly, ran his hand across the sword's edge, turned around, and saw Gongsun Guan standing behind him like a shadow.

Chen Yi did not turn around, but slowly asked, "Now... am I finally considered a Mingzun?"

"When you are the enlightened one, you are the enlightened one."

Gongsun Guan's words remained cryptic, seemingly containing some hidden meaning, but Chen Yi knew that he was actually being quite straightforward.

Within those fragments of time, he personally shattered the Bright Palace and used the boundless resentment brought from the Lord of Resentment to slowly erode and weaken its power, reducing it to a level sufficient to contain the world of sword intent.

When he radiates this light, he is the Bright One.

In other words, Mingzun is just one of his identities.

This is why Xu Qi regarded the Pure Saintess as a great demon, yet he left just now. The True Celestial had already seen through the mystery at a glance. He had imprisoned the so-called great demon in a cage, isolating himself from the world.

Chen Yi let out a slight sigh, thinking to himself that this could be considered a bug. Of course, this might also be because Xu Qi was giving Zhou Yitang a break, or perhaps, someone as powerful as the world's number one figure knew some inside information.

He circulated his true energy again, and the true energy flowed throughout his body, opening up his meridians. The previous feeling of blockage was gone. His true energy flowed like a dragon rushing into the sea, smooth and unobstructed. Even without using the power of the Bright Venerable, he had already stepped into the second rank realm. Meanwhile, the Lord of Resentment was still blindly wandering in the World of Ignorance in the distance, unaware of him, like a drifting island.

The world of ignorance remains as lifeless and stagnant as ever.

A figure staggered out of the shadows and knelt down before him.

It was none other than Wumeng.

"May the Venerable One dwell in peace and without hindrance, forever free from sorrow and distress..."

Wu Meng knelt on the ground, chanting incessantly as if in a frenzy, his shoulders trembling slightly, his excitement indescribable.

Then, footsteps sounded behind them.

The four holy maidens and Donggong Ruoshu all rushed over, their expressions varied, like an overturned inkwell spreading different colors.

The wise saintess remained the most composed, as if this scene had been within her calculations, merely bowing her head slightly. The old saintess was first stunned, her wrinkled face filled with disbelief, then that astonishment transformed into ecstasy, her lips trembling slightly, as if she had waited far too long for this moment.

Zhu E was overjoyed without any attempt to hide it. She looked up at Chen Yi, her eyes burning with intense passion. Yin Tingxue's expression was the most complicated. Her eyes flickered, as if a thousand words were stuck in her throat. Surprise, confusion, and a hint of loss were mixed together, which turned into a barely audible sigh.

Donggong Ruoshu didn't understand anything, so he scratched his head.

Immediately, amidst Wumeng's frenzied and devout chanting, the four holy maidens exchanged glances.

The Holy Maiden of Wisdom was the first to kneel, followed closely by the Old Holy Maiden and Zhu E. Yin Tingxue hesitated for a moment before slowly bending down as well.

The young lady from the Eastern Palace blinked blankly, looking left and right, seemingly not quite understanding the sudden turn of events. She only felt the solemn atmosphere and that everyone else was doing the same, so she followed suit and awkwardly knelt on one knee.

Finally, Gongsun Guan, who had been standing still like the moon in a deep pool, slightly fluttered his white sacrificial robes and faced Chen Yi, slowly kneeling on one knee.

"By the Venerable One above."

The crowd chanted in unison.

………………

Chen Yi was not in a hurry to leave the world of ignorance.

Unlike before when he wanted to leave but couldn't, now whether he leaves or not is just a matter of a single thought. However, there are still many things that need to be settled, such as the unfinished marriage, and so on...

Yin Tingxue beside me.

Walking in a stagnant and lifeless world of ignorance, there wasn't even a few noises around, the streets and alleys were empty and extremely quiet.

Even though she was no longer deep in the forbidden land of the world of ignorance, Yin Tingxue was still restless.

He took her away from there, but left her with endless confusion, making her uneasy and unsure of where the future lay.

Just like... in the past.

The Holy Maiden of the Demonic Sect was from some unknown past, but she had a slight headache. Perhaps this past was... when he took her away from the royal palace and made her his concubine.

The memories she had tried so hard to seal still spilled out, and Yin Tingxue felt a tightness in her chest and gasped for breath.

A hand supported her shoulder and gently patted her back. She gradually caught her breath, looked up, and saw him right in front of her again.

He gazed at her quietly and called out gently, "Little fox...it's you, isn't it?"

Before Yin Tingxue could react, his fingertip gently touched her forehead.

Like a dragonfly skimming the water, ripples spread across the calm lake surface, wave after wave, and the paper-thin seal of memory melted away in an instant.

Contrary to her initial expectations, she felt as if she were being gently lifted by a feather, with ripples carrying her memories that slowly spread and tenderly cradled her.

My mind went completely blank.

When I opened my eyes again... the scenery around me had suddenly changed.

The fir trees stretched towards the sky, and the distant, endless mountain ranges stretched as far as the eye could see.

This is...Cangwu Peak?

The girl paused, as if opening her sleepy eyes, wondering why she knew the name of this place. After a while, she wondered why she didn't know the name of this place. Her mind was a little muddled. She took two steps forward and found that the lake water under her feet was as clear as a mirror. She couldn't help but lower her head and gaze at the reflection in the lake.

Yin Tingxue rubbed her face against her reflection in the lake.

Something seems... a little off...

I'm not... in... Sword Village... wait, I... I really am... a... Demon Cult... Holy Maiden?
As if her past life memories were flooding into her future life, Yin Tingxue suddenly remembered what had happened.

The events of just over ten hours felt like a long dream, flooding her mind one after another... In the dream, she seemed to have become the Holy Maiden of the Demonic Sect, and she seemed to have never given him a kind look along the way, and it seemed... what he said about his past life was all true.

It's strange, why would she have such a dream? Her mind was like a lump of... paste, as if she wanted to sleep again after waking up, and an overwhelming sense of weariness welled up inside her.

"Little fox... what's on your mind?"

Those familiar words fell into my ears.

hum.

The little fox froze for a moment, then shakily raised its little face to meet the smiling Chen Yi.

“Chen…husband, my husband.”

Subconsciously, Yin Tingxue's mouth trembled slightly.

Suddenly, two memories flooded her mind, leaving the girl somewhat disoriented, as if waking from a dream. She swayed as she backed away, eventually falling onto her bottom in the lake. Even so, she was still instinctively afraid of him, especially him in this state.

Because whenever he laughed like that, he would punish her and bully her.

The scar he left in her heart was just like that.

He slowly approached, and Yin Tingxue's breathing quickened. Her mind was in turmoil, and she even forgot to smile and soften his heart. She just closed her eyes in fear, as she had always been afraid that he would bully her.

But not this time.

Chen Yi did not do what she remembered. He simply bent down, reached out, and instead of grabbing her, gently grasped her wrist, which was immersed in the icy lake water, and slowly pulled her out of the water.

Yin Tingxue stood there blankly as he did what he wanted, her whole body soaked, lake water dripping down her hair and clothes. She looked up at Chen Yi, who was so close to her.

Then, he pulled her into his arms.

He tightened his arms slightly, wrapping them around her shoulders and back, gently pulling her into his embrace. There was no intimacy or aggression in his embrace; he simply held her tenderly.

Yin Tingxue's stiff body trembled slightly in his arms, not out of resistance, but out of a relaxation after a long period of tension.

He didn't press her about how much she remembered, nor did he explain that the scene of Cangwu Peak before him represented the world in his heart; he simply held her in his arms.

Yin Tingxue's tense nerves gradually relaxed, and she subconsciously rubbed her cheek against his shoulder, like a little fox seeking the safest corner.

"...Chen, Chen Yi..."

"Ah."

"...Chen Yi..."

"Ah."

She murmured, and with two gentle responses, she slowly relaxed in his arms. The return of memories brought an overwhelming sense of drowsiness, and her mind became hazy.

"……mother…"

"..." After a long while, "...Hmm."

The girl in his arms fell silent for a moment, only her soft breathing could be heard. She closed her eyes and fell asleep again.

After that murmured call, there was silence for a long time, but something frozen seemed to be quietly melting in this silent embrace.

…………

I do not know how long it has been.

Yin Tingxue opened her eyes again. Her previously dazed mind was clearer than before. Although her memories were still a jumbled mess, after a while, they seemed alright...

Where is she...?

The girl rubbed her head, vaguely remembering that after arriving in the Sword Village, a swordsmith named Li Kang said he wanted to forge a sword from her past life. She then followed Master Zhou's instructions and entered a state of profound meditation.

If that's the case, then those are all... memories from a past life?

"woke up?"

Upon hearing the voice, Yin Tingxue turned around and saw Chen Yi standing guard by the bedside.

"Chen Yi...here..."

“It’s in the lake of my heart.”

"In your heart's lake? On Mount Cangwu?!"

The girl's mouth dropped open, her astonishment beyond words.

Seeing the little fox's genuine amazement, Chen Yi couldn't help but feel smug and smiled slightly.

His smile caught her eye, and Yin Tingxue quickly shut her mouth, looking at him warily, afraid that he might say something lewd.

For so long, she had always been very obedient. Even after they became husband and wife, she never thought of causing trouble like Yin Weiying did. Not even half of it.

Her past as a concubine had left her with deep bitterness. Now she dares to laugh at him, dares to complain about him, and dares to touch his brow, but she always keeps a good sense of propriety, afraid that she might touch his sore spot or cross the line, and then her days as a concubine would come again... Chen Yi had known about her cautious thoughts before, but he never cared.

Sometimes, he even felt that this was fine.

Obedient and compliant, charming and adorable... she seemed born to be a royal concubine, never causing anyone any trouble, and even more so, deserving of pity. However, however...

Yin Tingxue shrank her neck, her almond-shaped eyes still carrying the haze of just waking up, but more so the caution she had cultivated over a long period of time.

She glanced at him furtively and saw that he was just leaning against the headboard, with no displeasure in his expression, and even appeared calm. She breathed a slight sigh of relief and unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes with her fingertips.

"Then...can we...go out now?" she asked softly.

Chen Yi did not answer immediately, his gaze falling on her slightly curled fingers, which were still damp with lake water.

He reached out and gently brushed her fingertips with his fingertips to wipe away the coldness.

"No rush," he said calmly. "There are some things I want to talk to you about."

Upon hearing this, Yin Tingxue kept guessing.

What was he trying to say? How did I get here? How is Master Zhou? Or is it about the Demonic Sect, the Bright Lord, and the World of Ignorance?
It can't be... settling scores with someone from a past life, can it? But... she's already his wife in this life...

Thinking of this, Yin Tingxue couldn't help but feel wronged. He was always unreasonable, and she had been careful for so long, but she didn't dare to really provoke him. Now, he had found a handle against her.

Could it be that she should brew tea like Sister Weiying? The girl thought of Yin Weiying's miserable state back then, and her little feet turned cold.

After an unknown amount of time, he suddenly spoke again.

"are you hungry?"

Yin Tingxue was stunned for a moment, then nodded subconsciously, but her face immediately turned pale.

He was really asking her if she was hungry.

However, Chen Yi chuckled softly, without mocking him, and simply raised his hand to make a grabbing motion.

The surrounding scenery rippled like water, and the next moment, a steaming oil paper package appeared in his hand, and a rich aroma of meat instantly filled the air. It was a perfectly roasted chicken.

"Eat this, it'll do." He handed her the roast chicken. "This is my heart's lake; anything can come from here."

Yin Tingxue took it in a daze, the warm oil paper burning her fingertips, the familiar aroma whetting her appetite.

(End of this chapter)