Chapter 769: Heartbreak of Love
Tonight felt exceptionally long. As the grand and bustling Realm Son Banquet came to an end, the sky on the horizon began to show a pale fish-belly white. The air felt especially cold, and dewdrops rolled on the grass blades along the path.
Zhang Ruochen and Huang Yanchen walked one behind the other, their steps neither hurried nor slow, heading toward the direction of Divine Platform City.
Both had their own thoughts and remained silent.
For Zhang Ruochen, deceiving someone—especially when that person was his fiancée—filled him with considerable guilt and placed a heavy psychological burden on him.
Before this, Zhang Ruochen had always believed that concealing the truth of his survival was entirely for Huang Yanchen's sake, to prevent her from being caught in a dilemma.
Moreover, before resolving the enmity between him and Chi Yao, Zhang Ruochen truly lacked the confidence to love another woman. He feared hurting her, feared being unable to give her a future.
However, during this Realm Son Banquet, Zhang Ruochen's heart had been greatly stirred, giving rise to some different thoughts.
Perhaps, in the past, he had been too selfish, forcing what he thought was right onto Huang Yanchen.
Was that really good for her?
For instance, the identity of "Heir of the Eastern Domain Saint Prince Mansion" that Zhang Ruochen had secured for her was indeed a good thing for Huang Yanchen. Yet, she also had to bear pressure from all sides, facing suppression and exclusion from the direct descendants of the Chen Clan.
If not for her sufficient strength, she might have already collapsed.
Another example was "Zhang Ruochen's death." Wasn't that also a form of psychological torment for Huang Yanchen?
You couldn't expect her to be flawless, to be unyielding as iron, to stand strong without falling. After all, she was just a woman—a woman in need of care and affection.
Sometimes, perhaps he should stand in her shoes and carefully think about what she truly needed.
Because even the strongest person could be crushed by hardship.
Ahead, Hanxue was using her movement technique, her steps extremely fast, as if flying close to the ground.
"Whoosh—"
Her petite body turned into a streak of white light, rushing directly into Zhang Ruochen's arms. She widened her beautiful eyes and said joyfully, "Master, your performance on the Book Mountain was truly amazing! Your sword technique has reached the pinnacle. All the geniuses and talents of Kunlun Realm combined can't compare to even one hand of yours."
The little girl was very excited, staring at Zhang Ruochen with an utterly adoring gaze. Her slender jade arms tightly hugged Zhang Ruochen's waist, as if she wanted to immediately tell everyone that she was Zhang Ruochen's only disciple.
Earlier, Hanxue had been at the foot of Book Mountain, watching Zhang Ruochen's battles with the various experts of the Demon Sect. She had long been captivated by his undefeated heroic bearing.
Especially the battle between Zhang Ruochen and the Third Prince of the Undying Blood Clan, which had left an indelible impression on Hanxue's heart.
What were the Nine Realm Sons? What were the One Hundred and Eight Young Kings? Compared to her master, they were far too inferior.
Although Hanxue had grown quite a bit, now standing at one meter thirty, she was already a girl with a clear and beautiful face. Yet, Huang Yanchen still recognized her.
When Huang Yanchen heard Hanxue call Lin Yue "Master," even though she had mentally prepared herself, it still felt like being struck by lightning. She couldn't breathe for a moment.
Hanxue sensed something and immediately looked behind Zhang Ruochen. Her round, sparkling eyes fixed on Huang Yanchen, and she was startled, realizing she had caused a huge disaster.
She knew that her master had been hiding the truth, not wanting Yanchen Sister to know he was still alive.
Now, she had actually called out "Master" in front of Yanchen Sister—hadn't she exposed her master's identity?
"Master... I... I didn't see just now..." Hanxue lowered her head, somewhat self-reproachfully.
But Zhang Ruochen showed no panic. He didn't deliberately conceal anything, nor did he blame Hanxue.
What was meant to come would eventually come. Since that was the case, he could only face it calmly.
Zhang Ruochen didn't turn around to look at Huang Yanchen. A slight smile appeared on his handsome face. He took Hanxue's hand and walked toward Divine Platform City, asking, "Since you've returned from your training, why didn't you attend the Realm Son Banquet? Your cultivation has already reached the third transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm. You still have a good chance of securing a seat among the Outstanding Talents."
Hanxue's little head secretly glanced back at Huang Yanchen, who was following behind. She shook her head and said, "I'm still so young. If I secure a seat among the Outstanding Talents, it will definitely attract a lot of attention. Then someone will surely investigate my background. What if they trace it back to you, Master?"
Zhang Ruochen was somewhat surprised. "At such a young age, you can think this far ahead. You really don't seem like a ten-year-old girl. In the future, your wisdom and cunning will be unimaginable. It seems this training trip has been beneficial for you."
Hearing her master's praise, Hanxue was naturally quite happy.
However, she secretly glanced behind her again. Yanchen Sister was still following, still so cold and beautiful, but her walking posture was like a walking corpse. Her icy face showed no expression, only tears continuously welling up from her eyes.
"It seems I've caused trouble..."
Hanxue looked at the tears on Yanchen Sister's face and bit her lips, feeling very uncomfortable.
The Demon Ape and the Swallowing Rabbit had returned with Hanxue and were walking at the very back.
The two beasts were carefree and oblivious, not noticing the tense atmosphere at all. Instead, they were still discussing the Saint Flame Qilin meat from the Realm Son Banquet. As they talked, drool dripped from the corners of their mouths.
Before long, the three people and two beasts arrived at Xuanji Sword Saint's residence.
Zhang Ruochen clasped his hands behind his back and instructed, "Hanxue, take the Demon Ape and the Swallowing Rabbit to play elsewhere. Later, your master will test your cultivation and the results of your training."
After Hanxue, the Demon Ape, and the Swallowing Rabbit left, Zhang Ruochen and Huang Yanchen walked toward the lotus pond at the center of the residence.
It was just before dawn. Wisps of white mist rose from the surface of the lotus pond, creating a hazy, misty scene.
Zhang Ruochen stopped, looking at the water surface, trying to steady his emotions. He said in a low voice, "You already know, don't you? Just as you guessed, Zhang Ruochen didn't truly die."
The residence was arranged with numerous formations, so Zhang Ruochen didn't have to worry about other Saints spying on them in secret.
Huang Yanchen stood by the lotus pond. Her figure was exceptionally slender, her blue hair falling to her waist, gently swaying in the breeze, emitting a faint fragrance.
Her eyes were wet and blurry. She stared unblinkingly at the young man before her—both unfamiliar and yet somewhat familiar.
With a surge of Saint Qi flowing across Zhang Ruochen's skin, his figure, appearance, and aura began to change continuously.
Finally, he became completely identical to Zhang Ruochen—the gentle temperament, the handsome face.
Huang Yanchen still stood rigidly in place, but her delicate body trembled uncontrollably. Tears streamed down her face, flowing past her cheeks, dripping drop by drop onto the ground.
"Wh... why..." Huang Yanchen said, her voice trembling.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Back then, when I was captured, it was my master who saved me. He used a false death to help me shed my skin like a golden cicada."
"Why... why... why..."
Huang Yanchen's emotions grew more and more intense. Her heart ached terribly. Finally, overwhelmed with unbearable pain, she crouched down, muttering to herself, "You clearly weren't... dead... why didn't you tell me? Why did you lie to me? Why did you pretend... not to know me? You never loved me, did you?"
Seeing her in such pain, even Zhang Ruochen's strong heart felt his eyes moisten.
He could imagine that Huang Yanchen wasn't just suffering now—she had been suffering all along. It was only at this moment that she was finally releasing all her emotions.
Zhang Ruochen helped Huang Yanchen up, then held her tightly. One arm wrapped around her slender waist, the other rested on her back, giving her enough sense of security.
After a long time, Huang Yanchen's emotions finally began to stabilize.
Zhang Ruochen said, "I didn't mean to deceive you. It's just that, back then, I had many concerns that made me have to think carefully about whether or not to tell you."
Huang Yanchen bit her lips, her deep blue beautiful eyes staring intently at Zhang Ruochen. "What's so difficult about it? I am your fiancée. We were so close to getting married. Even if you had a great hardship, I could understand you."
"As long as you told me you were still alive, I could immediately give up everything I have now and go into hiding with you, even if it meant wandering the world. But you didn't."
Zhang Ruochen took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
A pained expression appeared in Huang Yanchen's eyes. After struggling for a long time, she still asked, "It's because of Xingling, isn't it? She's that little Saintess of the Demon Sect, right?"
"She already knew you weren't dead. She also knew you were Lin Yue. That's why, on Book Mountain, you would rather hurt yourself than harm her. And for you, she could strike out and injure the Demon Sect's Life-Seizing Sword Master. The bond between you two must be very deep. At least... deeper than between us..."
As she said this, Huang Yanchen's ten fingers clenched tightly together, a look of confusion in her eyes.
Meeting her fiancé again should have been a joyful thing, but for some reason, she felt extremely bitter, as if she had already been abandoned.
It had to be said, women were truly sensitive.
Just as Zhang Ruochen was about to explain, Huang Yanchen continued, "When news of your death reached the Eastern Domain Saint City, Xingling disappeared shortly after and never returned to the Saint Academy. You told her the truth first, didn't you?"
Zhang Ruochen didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Do you think that the reason I didn't tell you the truth was so I could be with Senior Sister Duanmu forever? If that were really the case, I probably wouldn't be at Liangyi Sect right now. I would have already joined the Demon Sect and become the son-in-law of the Mu Clan."