Chapter 1036: One Tear, One Pearl
Kong Lanyou's tears fell to the ground, producing a tinkling sound.
Every single tear condensed into a crystalline, translucent bead, radiating a shimmering brilliance.
Given her cultivation level, a single drop of blood could pierce through a mountain; a single strand of hair could sever rivers.
A single tear, naturally, also contained boundless sacred power, being a hundred thousand times more precious than the most valuable pearl in the world.
The Devouring Elephant Rabbit picked up a teardrop bead, roughly the size of a mung bean.
Instantly, a layer of white sacred light surged forth, enveloping its small paw.
An astonishing sacred power actively surged into the Devouring Elephant Rabbit's body, causing its entire form to emit crackling sounds.
In a mere instant, its physical body's strength had noticeably increased.
"Good stuff."
Greed gleamed in the Devouring Elephant Rabbit's eyes as it grabbed the teardrop bead and stuffed it into its mouth.
It had already discerned that the white-haired woman was not an enemy, so it ate without any restraint.
At this moment, the white-haired woman was embracing Master Chen, likely a lover he had kept on the outside.
The Devouring Elephant Rabbit felt that Master Chen's actions were somewhat excessive, after all, Commandery Princess Huang Yanchen was right there.
Even if you were the Crown Prince, with an extraordinary and noble status, you should still exercise some restraint and not be so blatant.
In all the world, which woman doesn't get jealous?
However, when the Devouring Elephant Rabbit saw the continuous stream of teardrop beads falling to the ground, it stopped thinking and immediately pounced forward, picking them up and stuffing them into its mouth.
After eating six beads, the Devouring Elephant Rabbit sensed something was wrong. It felt an intense chill throughout its body, followed by a scorching force surging from within.
A single teardrop bead contained a terrifying amount of sacred power, which an ordinary person simply couldn't digest and would be overwhelmed by.
But the Devouring Elephant Rabbit was gluttonous, swallowing six in a row.
The six teardrop beads were like six miniature suns suspended inside its body, expanding its form larger and larger until it reached dozens of meters in height, flames erupting from its entire body.
A giant flaming rabbit appeared before everyone.
"Master Chen, save me..."
The Devouring Elephant Rabbit screamed in agony as it charged toward Zhang Ruochen.
At that moment, Zhang Ruochen was catching up with Kong Lanyou. The two had reunited after a long separation, with countless words to share, and he had no desire to deal with the Devouring Elephant Rabbit.
Kong Lanyou waved her hand, swatting the Devouring Elephant Rabbit away like a fly, sending it flying dozens of zhang away.
Zhang Ruochen glanced at the Devouring Elephant Rabbit, a faint smile appearing on his face, but he wasn't worried about it.
This rabbit was extraordinary; it had consumed Crimson Blood Divine Soil and managed to digest it, so it certainly wouldn't be killed by swallowing six teardrop beads.
Kong Lanyou stood in the snow, her hair whiter than the snow itself, trailing all the way to the ground. Her bright eyes were still misty with tears. "Eight hundred years ago, I thought you had left me forever, never to return. For eight hundred years, I don't know how I got through it. It seems I only did two things: cultivate and seek revenge. Eight hundred years later, you appear again, giving a woman whose heart had died a faint glimmer of hope."
"Do you know how shocked I was when I first heard news of you? How joyful? How terrified?"
"Do you know how heartbroken I was when I first met you in the Eastern Domain? How pained? How despairing?"
"Cousin, you are truly heartless. What kind of hardship could make you deceive me twice in a row? I remember you never used to lie to me; you were always so open and honest, always caring for me the most. Don't you know that every time you deceive me, my heart is torn apart once more?"
Then, the ground echoed with tinkling sounds again as countless crystalline teardrop beads rolled across it.
Eight hundred years of emotion poured out in this moment, impossible to hold back.
Zhang Ruochen's gaze fixed on Kong Lanyou's face, and he let out a long sigh.
He had thought Kong Lanyou was no longer the same person she had been eight hundred years ago, that time would have completely changed someone.
But now, Zhang Ruochen realized that Kong Lanyou had never changed.
The one who had changed was actually him.
Zhang Ruochen couldn't meet Kong Lanyou's eyes. He looked into the distance and said, "I didn't think that after eight hundred years, you would still be so persistent. Can't time even dilute a person's feelings?"
Kong Lanyou looked at him with a sorrowful gaze and asked, "Are you secretly laughing at me, thinking I'm still as foolish as before, that eight hundred years haven't made me any smarter?"
"No."
Zhang Ruochen was silent for a long time before reaching out a hand, gently stroking Kong Lanyou's long hair, silently thinking: "I'm sorry, cousin. I shouldn't have deceived you, and I shouldn't have doubted you."
Kong Lanyou's face gently leaned in, resting against Zhang Ruochen's chest. She closed her eyes, extended her snow-white, crystalline jade-like arms, and held him tightly.
At this moment, she had none of the majesty of a Bright Hall Holy Ancestor, only a faint, happy smile curling at the corners of her lips.
Eight hundred years had passed, and indeed, she had not changed at all.
There are always some people who possess the most sincere, pure emotions. No matter how much time passes, their hearts remain untainted, still the same as before.
Just as Kong Lanyou had said, for eight hundred years, she might have truly only done two things.
Cultivate and seek revenge.
"Master Chen, save me... I'm burning to death... I can't take it anymore..."
The flames on the Devouring Elephant Rabbit burned even more fiercely as it charged toward Zhang Ruochen again.
Kong Lanyou swatted it away once more, this time sending it flying dozens of li away, hoping it wouldn't come back.
In the distance, Qing Mo saw Zhang Ruochen and Kong Lanyou embracing. A displeased expression appeared on her delicate face as she bit her lip and said, "Commandery Princess..."
Huang Yanchen shot her a look, cutting off what she was about to say.
Zhang Ruochen and Kong Lanyou talked about many things, including childhood memories and some of their experiences over the years.
Regarding some sensitive matters, the two maintained a tacit understanding, not bringing them up, clearly not wanting to spoil the current atmosphere.
Kong Lanyou's emotions had completely stabilized, a smile constantly on her face.
"There's one thing I need to tell you: I have married Commandery Princess Huang Yanchen." Zhang Ruochen said in as calm a tone as possible.
Kong Lanyou bit her lip, and in an instant, the smile on her face vanished completely.
"Chen Ge, shouldn't you introduce us? After all, we're now one family."
Huang Yanchen walked over, standing beside Zhang Ruochen. Rarely did she show a cold, icy demeanor; instead, she wore a faint smile.
Zhang Ruochen pointed at Kong Lanyou and said, "My cousin, Kong Lanyou." Then he pointed at Huang Yanchen, about to introduce her.
But Kong Lanyou spoke first, "No need for a second introduction. I know she is your wife, Huang Yanchen. Cousin, I only want to ask you one thing: Have you already let go of Chi Yao so quickly?"
Zhang Ruochen's smile also faded. He didn't answer Kong Lanyou's question but turned to look at the distant tombstone.
"I'll stay here for a while to guard my mother's tomb."
Kong Lanyou didn't press Zhang Ruochen to answer her question. "I'll accompany you."
"When I entered the tomb forest, I saw the battle corpses left behind by the Corpse-Driving Ancient Clan. Did you drive them away?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
"I have never left this place."
Kong Lanyou shook her head, then, as if thinking of something, added, "Perhaps it was that person."
"Who?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
"That person should be the tomb guardian. In the Imperial Clan Tomb Forest, I've encountered him more than once. But every time, he hides in the shadows. He thinks he can evade my five senses, but he doesn't know I've long sensed him." Kong Lanyou said.
Just then, the Devouring Elephant Rabbit let out another strange cry from afar, dragging a long trail of flames as it sprinted back: "Master Chen, save me... I just saw a ghost, and it's chasing me, trying to eat me. Luckily, I shook it off."
Zhang Ruochen frowned, feeling a headache coming on. He wanted to knock the Devouring Elephant Rabbit unconscious with a palm strike to stop it from causing trouble.
Qing Mo, however, chuckled and asked, "The Imperial Clan Tomb Forest has a sacred power that can cleanse ghostly energy; no evil beings can be born here. Guo Guo, have you burned your brain?"
"No, there really is a ghost, looking just like a living person." Guo Guo rushed in front of Qing Mo, panting heavily.
Qing Mo was a bit curious and asked, "What did this ghost look like?"
Guo Guo gestured with its paws as it spoke, "It was an extremely ferocious-looking old Daoist, with yellow teeth and shifty eyes. It almost grabbed my tail, saying it wanted to eat me. Luckily, I ran fast, or the consequences would have been unthinkable."
Suddenly, Zhang Ruochen sensed something and looked toward the center of the square.
There, an old Daoist with an immortal-like bearing stood, wearing a loose Daoist robe and holding a gourd of wine in his hand.
No one knew when he had appeared; he was just standing there.
The fur on Guo Guo's entire body stood on end as it pointed at the old Daoist and shrieked, "Ghost! Master Chen, it's that old ghost!"
A flicker of surprise passed through Zhang Ruochen's eyes, but he didn't show much emotional fluctuation.
Kong Lanyou's cultivation was unfathomable. Whether the old Daoist was friend or foe, he probably wouldn't dare to act recklessly.
The reason for Zhang Ruochen's surprise was simply that he had seen this old Daoist once before at a banquet in the Cai Clan's Holy Mansion.
At the time, everyone thought he was just a wandering martial artist looking for a free meal.
Kong Lanyou stepped forward, a powerful wave of sacred energy radiating from her. A warning gleam appeared in her eyes as she said, "This is not a place for you. Leave immediately!"
The old Daoist's gaze fixed on Kong Lanyou, a hint of wariness flashing in his eyes.
Then, he turned to look at Zhang Ruochen, knelt on one knee, and said, "Zhao Fu, one of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Guardians of the Dragon-Protecting Pavilion, ordered by the Pavilion Master to guard the Imperial Clan Tomb Forest. With the Crown Prince's arrival, I, your humble servant, had no choice but to come out and pay my respects."
Clearly, the old Daoist had been hiding in the shadows, observing Zhang Ruochen's every move, and only appeared after fully confirming Zhang Ruochen's identity.
To be continued.