Chapter 2662: Twisted Love
Zhang Ruochen stood on the sea surface with an extraordinary bearing, like a banished immortal, and said, "Lianxi."
Seeing the person before her, Lianxi felt most of the strength drain from her body, as if she had been pulled back a thousand years to the Seven Star Imperial Palace. Her eyes revealed an indescribably complex emotion, and for a long time, she could not speak.
There was no hatred. Instead, her heart was beating faster due to an inexplicable feeling.
"It seems I have no further business here. I'll take my leave first. Zhang Ruochen, once you've settled matters in the Heavenly Court, we'll meet at the Wuding Divine Sea." Yan Wushen withdrew from Zhang Ruochen's spiritual power domain.
Of course, he was not simply leaving the Red Dust Archipelago. Instead, using the identity of Chi Kunlun, he went to fulfill the promise he had made to Zhang Ruochen.
A cold wind blew across the sea, rustling Zhang Ruochen's robe and causing it to flap with a "pop, pop" sound.
After an unknown amount of time, Lianxi finally spoke: "You are actually still alive."
"It seems you were not hoping I would still be alive. That makes sense. The humiliation you suffered in the Hell Realm was all given to you by me. Of course you wouldn't want to see me. Seeing me reminds you of that dark past. The Grand Palace Master of the Trial Palace should be radiant and holy..."
Zhang Ruochen stopped because he noticed that Lianxi's gaze had become delicate and fragile, a completely different person from the cold and ruthless Grand Palace Master of the Trial Palace he had seen at the Red Dust Sea Market yesterday.
Which one was the real her? Which was the facade?
Was this a genuine outpouring of emotion?
Or was she pretending to be pitiful, trying to gain Zhang Ruochen's sympathy to secure a chance to escape?
Zhang Ruochen looked at her shining holy armor, then at the Sword of Judgment, and said, "It seems that a thousand years ago, when you returned to the Soul Realm, you were truly at your wit's end, so you brought the Sword of Judgment and joined the Radiant Divine Temple?"
Lianxi remained silent, sheathing the Sword of Judgment.
"Now that you have become the Grand Palace Master of the Trial Palace, I suppose no cultivator dares to speak ill of you anymore?" Zhang Ruochen said.
"They just don't dare to do it to my face."
Lianxi raised her head, her jade-like neck slender and pale, her gaze turning sharp and cold. "Zhang Ruochen, I may have harbored hatred for you, but that was a very long time ago!"
A thousand years had allowed Lianxi to see through many things.
Back then, she and Zhang Ruochen were mortal enemies. Having been captured by Zhang Ruochen, could she expect her enemy to repay evil with good?
The reason Zhang Ruochen had not killed her was clearly because he saw value in her.
At that time, Zhang Ruochen was tormented by inner demons and plagued by physical defects, and he needed her to resolve these issues. And she, wanting to survive and maintain the most basic dignity in the Hell Realm, could only rely on Zhang Ruochen's protection.
She understood better than anyone that Zhang Ruochen, living in the Hell Realm, was always walking on thin ice, working hard to disguise himself. One misstep and both of them would be doomed.
Just like her now, in order to establish herself in the Heavenly Court and to intimidate those cultivators who mocked and gossiped about her, she had to put on a facade of coldness and ruthless killing.
During those days in the Seven Star Imperial Palace, Lianxi had a great deal of contact with Zhang Ruochen, and naturally, she came to know this man's heart clearly and profoundly.
Zhang Ruochen was not as glorious as he appeared on the surface. In reality, he was constantly monitored by enemies, ostracized by cultivators of the Hell Realm, and met with distrustful gazes. Yet he had to continue staying in the Hell Realm, unable to escape that environment.
It took a strong heart to endure that.
Every time Zhang Ruochen left the Seven Star Imperial Palace, Lianxi wondered if he might not return.
Sometimes, Lianxi even felt that Zhang Ruochen was more pitiable than her, that he bore more than she did.
What truly touched Lianxi's heart was when Zhang Ruochen let her return to the Heavenly Court and gifted her the Sword of Judgment, having already thought out a path of retreat for her.
When she was in the Seven Star Imperial Palace, she felt she was merely a tool for Zhang Ruochen. It was only at that moment that she understood Zhang Ruochen cared for her and had treated her with sincerity.
It was precisely because life was so difficult after returning to the Soul Realm and the Heavenly Court, and because she had come to understand too much of reality's cruelty, that she increasingly understood Zhang Ruochen's situation back then.
Lianxi snapped out of her heavy memories and thoughts, revealing a flustered and anxious expression. She looked up at the Red Dust Peerless Pavilion suspended in the sky and said, "Leave quickly, get out of the Red Dust Archipelago. I will pretend I never saw you here."
"If I leave, how will you explain things to Shang Zihong?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Lianxi said, "Since you know Shang Zihong has already noticed you, why aren't you running? Don't worry, I am the Grand Palace Master of the Trial Palace, backed by the gods of the Trial Palace. No one dares to do anything to me."
Zhang Ruochen remained very calm. "Does Shang Zihong know my identity?"
"He probably doesn't know yet. Otherwise, it wouldn't be me here, but a large group of strong experts from the Heavenly Realm Faction, or divine generals from the Red Dust Peerless Pavilion," Lianxi said.
"In that case, why should I fear him?"
Zhang Ruochen seemed unconcerned, then added, "Lianxi, I cannot fully trust you, so I cannot let you leave. You must make a choice now. How about coming back to the Hell Realm with me?"
Lianxi's gaze froze, then she let out a self-deprecating laugh. "Go to the Hell Realm? What would I do there? Be your maidservant, or a plaything kept in the Seven Star Imperial Palace? Since you don't trust me, just kill me with one sword strike."
"If I wanted to kill you, I wouldn't have waited until now."
Zhang Ruochen walked up to Lianxi, reached out a hand, and grabbed her slender wrist.
Lianxi's wrist surged with Radiant power, resisting Zhang Ruochen, but only for a moment before she withdrew her power and allowed Zhang Ruochen to hold her.
It wasn't that she had no strength to fight back, but for some reason, she chose to submit.
Seeing her feigned cold and tough exterior, Zhang Ruochen's heart was also stirred. He thought of himself back in the Hell Realm, wasn't he also like her, pretending to be strong and cold?
"Hmm..."
Lianxi found herself pulled tightly into Zhang Ruochen's arms.
All the strength in her body vanished, and she went completely limp. Finally, she rested her pale face against Zhang Ruochen's chest and said in a choked, low voice, "I admit, I have developed a rather twisted love for you. In truth, I want to leave with you, to escape from everything and everyone now. But I know there is no place for me in your heart. To you, I will always be like a villain, because in your eyes, I am not a good person."
Perhaps she was hoping Zhang Ruochen would refute her words.
But to her disappointment, Zhang Ruochen only responded with silence.
"Let's go!"
Zhang Ruochen used his spiritual power to seal Lianxi's cultivation, then, holding her, walked away across the waves.
Before long, Shang Zihong, sensing something was wrong, arrived at this sea area, his expression solemn as he observed his surroundings.
Arriving with him were the Nine-Tailed Heart Fox and the Ancient Bronze Lion.
The Nine-Tailed Heart Fox said, "There are residual traces of spiritual power in this sea area. Not long ago, that old man from the Giant Deer Divine Dynasty must have used a spiritual power domain here."
Shang Zihong was deeply worried, gazing in all directions. "I underestimated the opponent. I shouldn't have sent Lianxi to track him alone."
The Nine-Tailed Heart Fox showed surprise, having never seen Shang Zihong so nervous before. She smiled and said, "Zihong, there's no need to be so worried. The Grand Palace Master is a peak Half-God level expert, and she wields the Sword of Judgment. In this Red Dust Archipelago, no cultivator below the God realm could kill her or capture her without anyone noticing."
"Unless it's an assassin like Tao Hua, delivering a killing blow. That old man couldn't possibly be Tao Hua, could he?" the Ancient Bronze Lion said.
If Lianxi's love for Zhang Ruochen was twisted, then Shang Zihong's love for Lianxi was even more so.
He both loathed that Lianxi had once been Zhang Ruochen's woman, feeling she was impure and unworthy of him. Yet he could not control his own emotions and still deeply loved this woman, worried that something might happen to her.
Shang Zihong's pupils shimmered with five-colored light. Following the residual aura on the sea surface, his gaze fell upon a distant island. "That is the island where the Green Pear Garden is located. It seems certain now—that old man is indeed highly suspicious. He is most likely Shu Qianchi from the Kunlun Realm. It appears the plan to attack the Green Pear Garden must be moved up."
"Zihong, don't lose your composure. This matter still needs careful consideration. Grand Palace Master Lianxi may not have fallen into enemy hands yet," the Nine-Tailed Heart Fox advised.
"Whoosh!"
A Great Saint of the Angel Clan, with eight white wings, landed on the sea surface, looking somewhat flustered. He quickly reported, "Young Hall Master, Yu Sheng, the leader of the Confucian Realm's Foolish Life Sect, was just assassinated."
Shang Zihong's eyes darkened, and his killing intent surged. "Which force made the move?"
"An assassin from the Death God Temple, the Sun-Moon Dark Concubine."
Just then, Michael, with twelve wings, flew in like a meteor and said, "A top-tier expert from the Kunlun Realm has blocked the courtyard where the cultivators of the Blade God Realm are staying. He has already defeated three Great Saints in a row and issued a threat, saying he will challenge all the cultivators of the Blade God Realm alone tonight."
The Nine-Tailed Heart Fox showed a surprised expression, her charming smile rippling. "Who in the Kunlun Realm has such ability? Even if the Sword Emperor and the Stone Emperor joined forces, they wouldn't dare to make such a threat! Yu Ze is ranked thirteenth on the Red Dust List; they are no match for him."
Michael's expression was rather peculiar.
Shang Zihong said, "Is it not the Sword Emperor and the Stone Emperor?"
"It is Chi Kunlun," Michael said.
Shang Zihong's eyes were somewhat dazed. "Who? Who did you say?"
"Could it be that another unknown strong expert has emerged from the Kunlun Realm?" the Nine-Tailed Heart Fox said.
"No!"
Shang Zihong thought of something, his expression frozen. He stared at Michael and said, "That Chi Kunlun you speak of, could he be the son of the Kunlun Realm god Chi Yao and Zhang Ruochen?"
"It is him," Michael said.
Shang Zihong's eyes were slightly vacant, as if he found it too incredible and absurd. He laughed. "If I remember correctly, he was taken to the Hell Realm by Yan Wushen, wasn't he? I heard he has been cultivating in the Abyss of Darkness. How did he return to the Heavenly Court?"
"Not only has he returned, but he is also extremely powerful. With just one punch, he pierced through the chest of a Supreme Realm Great Saint from the Blade God Realm. I'm afraid no one in the Blade God Realm can match him." Michael also felt this matter was too bizarre, even more strange than Zhang Ruochen's resurrection.