The Demon Lord Is Carrying My Child - Chapter 16

The mountain forest was naturally seldom traveled. Even with someone clearing a path ahead, the trek remained arduous. By the time they reached the base of the mountain, the horses could go no further, let alone the carriage.

Everyone began to proceed on foot.

Zhuang Yi and Ye Yiran walked in the middle, guarded by men in front and behind. Ye Yiran supported Zhuang Yi as they slowly ascended, her hand gripping Zhuang Yi’s arm with a death-grip. She did not fear the overgrown thorns of the forest, nor did she fear the swarming poisonous snakes; she simply did not know where her own life would eventually fall, light as a feather.

Zhuang Yi had no choice but to pat her hand to comfort her.

As they neared the mountainside, Zhiming gave the order to stop and rest for a while.

This mountain was treacherous. The view looking down from the halfway point was terrifying enough; one could only imagine what the summit would look like.

Zhiming cast a glance at Zhiwu. Understanding the signal, Zhiwu slowly walked toward Zhuang Yi.

Although Ye Yiran was terrified, she still stood in front of Zhuang Yi. Stumbling over her words, she asked, “What… what are you going to do?”

Before Zhiwu could utter a sound, Zhuang Yi stood up on her own. She said, “I didn’t expect the always-righteous Cangyou Pavilion to actually use a living soul as a sacrifice to the heavens. Since you have gone to such lengths to bring me here to kill me, why act so furtively? If you wanted me dead, why didn’t you just run me through with a sword at the foot of the mountain?”

“The swords of Cangyou Pavilion do not touch the blood of the innocent.”

The sword in Zhiming’s hand was already unsheathed, glinting with a cold, piercing light. He wiped it nonchalantly a scene so ironic it was utterly farcical. Their blades had likely already claimed the lives of many innocent people.

“Even you must feel guilty saying those words.”

Zhiming stepped forward, waving Zhiwu away. There was no longer any room for negotiation in his tone: “It is precisely because you know too much that you will lose your life here.”

Ye Yiran was pinned down firmly by the others. She could only watch helplessly as Zhiming stepped toward Zhuang Yi, one pace at a time. Not far behind Zhuang Yi was a precipice; if she fell, the consequences would be unthinkable.

Ye Yiran cried and cursed simultaneously, but she was only a young woman; her strength could not match theirs, and her insults could only go so far.

Zhuang Yi, conversely, remained very calm. It wasn’t that she didn’t fear the cliff, and she knew that if she fell, her life would likely end today. However, before that happened, she could still put up a fight with raw martial force.

Ahead was the area where the mountain’s vegetation was most lush. As long as Zhuang Yi could run into it, she would have a glimmer of hope.

Just as Zhiming was about to push her, Zhuang Yi dodged and slipped directly behind him. She swept her foot across the ground, kicking up a cloud of sand and stone that blinded those before her. Seizing the opportunity, she turned and bolted toward the woods behind her. Unexpectedly, midway through her flight, a rope hooked around her waist. Along with the rope, she was flung down the ten-thousand-foot abyss.

As Zhuang Yi plummeted, the wind howled in her ears. Her limbs were sprawled in the air, devoid of all strength.

She thought of Ji Shutao the Ji Shutao who said she liked her. Like the wind, the thought poured bit by bit into her heart.

She wanted to see Ji Shutao one last time, but it was too late.

She closed her eyes, thinking despondently that if she died like this, Ji Shutao might shed a few tears as a friend should, but she wouldn’t remember her forever.

Remembering brings pain, so it was better not to be remembered at all.

One begs and pleads while alive because there is still a chance to meet again. To see each other again whether once or a thousand times gives a person hope.

Once dead, there is no need to remember.

Memory is the root of all suffering. Zhuang Yi suddenly felt a touch of gratitude that Ji Shutao had already forgotten. Their past would soon fade until it could no longer produce even a ripple of recollection.

The only regret was that the “forever” they had long ago promised would never be realized.

“Zhuang Yi, have you lost your mind?!”

Ji Shutao’s voice was right in her ear. She sounded as if she were crying, filled with both shock and fear.

Simultaneously, Zhuang Yi felt her waist being embraced. She opened her eyes to see Ji Shutao right beside her, holding her firmly in her arms. Beneath them both was the Qingyi Sword.

“Why are you here?” Zhuang Yi hadn’t processed the situation yet; her expression remained dazed. She reached out almost foolishly to touch Ji Shutao’s face. The warmth seeped into Zhuang Yi’s body, reminding her that everything before her was real.

“I reached the foot of the mountain, and the Qingyi Sword went crazy. I couldn’t hold it back, so I ended up flying here with it.”

Ji Shutao nuzzled against Zhuang Yi’s hand. Suddenly, she buried her entire face in Zhuang Yi’s chest, her voice trembling as she said, “I was scared to death. I was so scared.”

Zhuang Yi stroked her head, smoothing her hair from the crown to the ends, coaxing her: “It’s alright now.”

“You’re a liar,” Ji Shutao said petulantly.

“I have never broken a promise to you.”

“Doesn’t saying goodbye forever count as breaking a promise? If it weren’t for the Qingyi Sword, do you know what would have happened to you?” Although Ji Shutao was questioning her, she was actually still paralyzed by lingering fear.

If the Qingyi Sword hadn’t been able to sense Zhuang Yi this time… Zhuang Yi might have…

The mere thought gave Ji Shutao a stabbing pain in her heart.

Knowing she was in the wrong this time, Zhuang Yi avoided Ji Shutao’s gaze. Somewhat awkwardly and with a hint of anticipation, she asked, “Did you… remember everything?”

“No,” Ji Shutao replied crossly.

“Oh.” Zhuang Yi twisted her fingers lossly; she was clearly disappointed.

“However,” Ji Shutao kissed Zhuang Yi’s forehead, “I have fallen in love with you all over again.”

Zhuang Yi stared blankly at Ji Shutao. Perhaps the wind was too loud, echoing her own heartbeat; in short, she didn’t react until they touched the ground.

The Qingyi Sword carried Zhuang Yi and Ji Shutao slowly downward, finally stopping a few meters above the ground. Ji Shutao jumped down while holding Zhuang Yi.

Fortunately, her Senior Brothers had already headed up the mountain; otherwise… if they saw Zhuang Yi like this, what would they think?

Zhuang Yi gripped Ji Shutao’s sleeve tightly, her gaze no longer flickering. As she always had in the past, she stared at Ji Shutao without moving. Her eyes were bright and clear, filled with nothing but love.

She asked, “What did you just say?”

“I said,” Ji Shutao took a deep breath, and this sentence came out earth-shaking, echoing through the clouds, “I like Zhuang Yi!”

It was as if she were proclaiming it to the heavens and the earth: Ji Shutao had fallen for Zhuang Yi.

Zhuang Yi’s stunned expression was exceptionally adorable it was rare to see her this way. Ji Shutao nonchalantly poked her cheek: “Was it like this the first time I confessed my feelings to you?”

Zhuang Yi struggled to get down from Ji Shutao’s arms, her face flushing a deep red. After walking a few steps away, she ran back and hugged Ji Shutao, asking in disbelief, “Is this real?”

“It’s real.”

Zhuang Yi remained silent for a long time, only holding Ji Shutao tighter. It was just like the day they were reunited, when Zhuang Yi arrived covered in the scent of blood, hugged Ji Shutao forcefully, and said: “Shutao, let’s go home.”

Ji Shutao hugged her back and said, “Zhuang Yi, let’s go home.”

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