My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion-Chapter 955 - 551: I’m Also a Pig (3-in-1 Bonus)
The Old Saintess spoke clearly this time: "Literal meaning, this place may not truly be the Vacuum Home, but… the White Lotus Sect disciples treat this as the Vacuum Home."
Chen Yi suddenly had a realization. The White Lotus Sect was originally an extremely mixed-up and ignorant demon cult. Now, even the divine beings they worshiped were likely not their gods but gods of the Chu Land. So regarding this place as the Vacuum Home in their scriptures was not out of the question.
Then does that mean that the real purpose of the Saint Heirs of the White Lotus Sect leading their elite into the Demon Refining Abyss was to find this place?
Many hypotheses flashed through his mind as his thoughts raced.
Donggong Ruoshu closely followed behind, as if afraid of getting lost, not looking around randomly. Yin Weiyin was not entirely uncurious about the place, but at the moment she was restless, all sorts of feelings blending into bitterness.
Her foot kicked a pebble, and she suddenly lost balance. But before she stumbled a few steps, a hand reached out to steady her. She turned her head and saw his gentle smile, "Are you okay?"
"…I'm fine."
"Let's walk side by side…."
Donggong Ruoshu was silent for a long time, her head bowed as if she wanted to say something. Chen Yi watched patiently, waiting.
The path was shrouded in mist, and the Phoenix Pavilion and Dragon Tower was still a distant mirage, threading through silken clouds, jade trees, and ethereal branches, an enchanting sight that should captivate. Yet Donggong Ruoshu's eyes flickered in this dew-like, lightning-like scenery, seemingly destined not to find the answer she sought.
After a long while, she softly spoke:
"You really know how to take care of people."
Chen Yi nodded slightly, responding gently:
"I've always been good at caring, that's what everyone says."
"…E-everyone?"
Her tone held some surprise, with a tinge of certainty, as if it pertained to what she truly wanted to ask.
The path ahead was uncertain, the circumstances peculiar, nothing was settled, and Chen Yi was reluctant to stir any trouble. He knew well enough how terrifyingly jealous women could get, and did not wish to create a chaotic scene drenched in blood.
"There's no one else, just family." He replied.
"Oh..."
She paused, cautiously asked: 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖
"You haven't married someone else, have you..."
"No."
Meeting her skeptical gaze, Chen Yi blinked and said:
"Absolutely not."
Donggong Ruoshu fell silent immediately.
Absolutely not!
Anger, agitation, annoyance, disdain… a mix of emotions surged up. The dusk enveloped in thin mist left her hands and feet cold, yet she feigned composure. Her eyes stung with tears, her heart tight, like hearing the crackling of a candle before it extinguished…
Chen Yi didn't look back, not knowing what she was thinking, only noticing her steps had slowed, perhaps out of restraint.
She had something to say, and those nearby, though they didn't turn back, seemed to be aware, keeping silent. Fallen petals filled the path, creating a cozy and tranquil space for the two.
The deep blue sky, with cotton clouds like orange, was genuinely beautiful, as if a child with wings had flown up and painted it with crayons.
"Chen Yi, do you… really like me?"
In the twilight, the naive girl mustered her courage to finally ask. Unexplainably, Chen Yi felt a slight shiver.
What else could he say?
"…Really like you." Chen Yi looked straight ahead.
Donggong Ruoshu paused, trying hard to curve her trembling lips upwards.
She smiled, but it was a heartbreakingly sad smile.
Chen Yi inexplicably felt a gloom in his heart, unfounded guilt creeping in.
Yin Weiyin sniffed, her eyes glistening briefly. At this moment, Chen Yi also heard the sound of breathing behind him, a tear slowly sliding down the corner of Donggong Ruoshu's eye,
"Why… are you crying?"
"Crying?"
She belatedly wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes, speaking with a heart-wrenching voice:
"I'm so moved, that's why I'm crying….."
Chen Yi, inexplicably, felt a bit sad, though his expression remained calm, uttering gentle words,
"Cry for a while, I'll wait for you."
She could no longer hold it back, and tears fell like pearls.
...
Fairy Cai Xia and others led Chen Yi into the village, saying they would let them spend the night first. Chen Yi looked up and saw a giant gourd lying between distant fields, each one as large as a wagon cover.
A man knocked on a gourd with a wooden spoon, snow-white rice grains poured out without milling, each one sparkling. Women walked through the alleys, Chen Yi's gaze followed, watching springs welling up among the fields, and the rich aroma of wine wafting over like a mist.
Everything seemed extremely natural, yet all the scenes were inexplicably strange.
"It's just plain tea and simple food, not worth mentioning."
Fairy Cai Xia turned around the screen, bringing the food and wine before them. Noticing Chen Yi's gaze, she remarked:
"The young master guessed right, they came from those places."
Chen Yi caught something from her reaction, asked: "Have others also visited here?"
"Yes, from time to time someone intrudes, some fierce and evil, some mild-mannered," Fairy Cai Xia paused: "And some are babbling about nonsense like 'Vacuum Home.'"
"Babbling?"
"Don't worry, they've all been cleared out and won't bother you." Fairy Cai Xia seemed unwilling to elaborate, continued: "I won't disturb you further, slowly enjoy yourselves. We'll be back tomorrow, oh, and at that time, the Emperor might come to see you."
The Emperor?
Chen Yi wondered: "You have… an emperor here?"
Fairy Cai Xia smiled, gestured towards the distant view outside the window. Chen Yi followed her direction, seeing a White Jade Pavilion at the plain's edge.
"The Holy Emperor is there, though he hasn't attended court for three years."
The words barely finished when someone outside urged her to return, seemingly reminding her. Fairy Cai Xia smiled sweetly, then retreated.
