"You shouldn't be like this," he said, his eyes, green and luminous like rippling water reflecting the sun, filled with a deep sigh.
Having spent some time with South Yuan Exalted Lord, Fu Wanyan understood somewhat what he was thinking when he wore that hesitant expression.
But she disliked being defined by labels.
If she shouldn't be like this, then how should she be? Did he really think she cared what image she presented in his eyes?
"South Yuan Exalted Lord is not Wanyan, and no one is me. Therefore, you wouldn't understand. The person I seek is my fated one. This was destined by heaven since my birth, an affinity I cannot change, and neither can the other party."
Thus, she hadn't intervened in anyone's affairs. She believed that Liu Jiang Fusheng had merely strayed off the right path for a while.
It was she who arrived too late, allowing someone else to claim his heart and identity first. Now that he had met her, he would eventually realize his mistake.
Because no one could defy the will of heaven.
Fu Wanyan banished all distracting thoughts and emotions, trying to convince herself.
South Yuan Exalted Lord always respected everyone's choices. He practiced the Way of Nature, believing in "what comes naturally." Hearing Fu Wanyan's earnest advice so vehemently rejected and her mention of "fated one"—these four words carried great weight, perhaps representing an irreversible resolve in her heart. He knew then that she had made up her mind.
South Yuan Exalted Lord's naturally kind eyes fell on her face. He recalled their first meeting, which was not on a pleasant, sunny day, nor in a suitable, warm setting.
He had been trapped by ghost cultivators from the Underworld in Chen Tang, Southern Wu. They had captured disciples from the Boundless Realm traveling abroad and threatened him with the lives of innocent civilians in a city. Restrained, he was ultimately bound by his limbs and hung from the "Red Yin Gate," an object of extreme Yin and evil, which greatly countered his cultivation techniques.
It was in this moment of extreme danger and urgency that Fu Wanyan appeared. She wore a white dress and walked alone on the empty, desolate street, as if she paid no mind to the unfolding events. Only with unwavering faith and confidence could she maintain such a calm and composed demeanor.
She stood not far away and said to South Yuan Exalted Lord, "I have nowhere to go. If you are willing to shelter me for a time until I find the person I am looking for, I will save you."
A group of fiendish ghost cultivators, upon seeing a delicate young woman barge into their dangerous den, were surprised and amused by her naivety or perhaps her arrogance. They burst into laughter, mocking, "Where did this silly girl come from? She looks pretty, but her judgment is poor. She doesn't see the situation clearly. It's a shame to kill her, why don't you kneel and beg us, and we might be merciful?"
"You should leave quickly," South Yuan Exalted Lord said urgently. He had his own means of self-rescue and could endure some suffering to lower the ghost cultivators' guard, but he was unwilling to implicate others.
"I'll take that as a yes."
She turned back towards the ghost cultivators with a smile that could enchant a hundred魅, and in the next second, those ghost cultivators were as if "grasped" by a mysterious force. They were yanked into the air, their limbs and heads contorted into twisted, broken postures, their eyes looking at Fu Wanyan in horror.
Though Fu Wanyan was young and unlikely to possess profound cultivation, she had an abundance of powerful artifacts to subdue her enemies.
The scene that followed, he still couldn't forget.
Her countenance possessed the inherent gentleness and loveliness of a woman, but her disposition was like a poplar tree, appearing soft and yielding. If it bent under the weight of wind and snow, its trunk remained steadfast, standing tall and upright on the ground.
Such a disposition should have been free-spirited and at ease, yet now she was trapped in an inescapable stubbornness.
South Yuan Exalted Lord was unsure whether he felt regret or disappointment.
"Now that you have found him, what do you plan to do?"
Fu Wanyan believed that unspoken words were better. Since South Yuan Exalted Lord did not approve of her actions or thoughts, why should she explain herself in detail?
There was no need, and she didn't want to.
She turned back, her posture graceful. She was like a noble lady raised in a prominent family, her every move exuding a charm that made one feel as if bathed in spring breeze. She curtsied to South Yuan Exalted Lord, her gaze lowered, her head slightly bowed.
"Thank you for sheltering me during this time, South Yuan Exalted Lord. Wanyan will take her leave now."
South Yuan Exalted Lord stood silently.
He had admired Fu Wanyan's uniqueness and decisiveness, perhaps even felt a flutter of affection at some moment. However, Fu Wanyan was solely focused on finding her "fated one" and never engaged in private flirtations with him. Therefore, South Yuan Exalted Lord respected her and did not cross boundaries.
South Yuan Exalted Lord had maintained a friendly attitude from the beginning. As for Ru Lan's misunderstanding of his relationship with Fu Wanyan, South Yuan Exalted Lord had used it as an opportunity to sever her hopes. Fu Wanyan, with her sharp mind, perhaps understood his unspoken intentions and had cooperated with him.
In essence, Fu Wanyan had saved him once and helped him. South Yuan Exalted Lord considered her a friend of many years and naturally wished her well.
After a long pause, he said with heartfelt earnestness, "Wanyan, no matter what the future holds, I hope you will remain clear-headed and not lose yourself for anything."
Although South Yuan Exalted Lord had not closely interacted with the top ranker of this year's "Newcomer Ranking," he possessed the insight to judge people.
That young man, despite his captivating appearance, was not a good match, at least not for Fu Wanyan. His eyes, clear and transparent like glass, reflected no warmth or affection for the world's happenings. Yet, such a cold and heartless person, once they captured his heart, would be singularly devoted.
It was evident that Liu Jiang Fusheng's eyes only held his wife. If she approached him rashly, she would surely be hurt.
Fu Wanyan also felt his sincere concern. She relaxed her expression and said, "Thank you. I will remember that."
Fu Wanyan's response was indeed sincere.
—
"Junior Brother Fusheng, to act like this in broad daylight, you are too reckless."
A voice, like the clear essence of moonlight, carrying the chill of midnight, reached them.
The speaker was Tan Ya, whose mouth was currently filled with jealousy. Besides him, Lang Ci, Gui Ying, Yan Tianjiao, and Lu Ziyin, all of whom had ranked, had also gathered at some point and were approaching.
"Tsk tsk tsk..." Ru Lan's eyes widened as she watched the intimate affection between the couple, looking both envious and amazed.
She never imagined that Liu Jiang Fusheng, such a cold-hearted person, would have such a passionate side. Her heart ached; she also wished for such a sickeningly sweet love.
Lang Ci, with the sharp edge of ice hidden beneath a still pond, stared at Liu Jiang Fusheng and Gu Yi.
A malicious smile played on his lips.
He had underestimated the value of this woman in Liu Jiang Fusheng's heart. Even though he had recovered his memories, he still refused to let go. Then she... must die.
Gui Ying, blind, could not see the situation. He could only sense through his spiritual consciousness that the two were very close, but he couldn't understand what they were doing.
Liu Jiang Fusheng was not truly doing anything improper. In fact, he was only with tenderness, testing, and feeling, his lips brushing and rubbing against hers before he released Gu Junshi.
However, this seemingly casual, yet restrained act of affection, revealed an even greater desire.
Whether intentional or not, Liu Jiang Fusheng had successfully shown everyone one thing: Gu Junshi belonged to him, Liu Jiang Fusheng.
Before he had seen Gu Junshi, he had imagined many scenarios in his mind. He had also thought that after recovering his memories, even with his past deep feelings for her, his mindset might be different when facing her again.
Indeed, it was somewhat different. But if something had changed, it was that he discovered his love for her was no longer a cautious embrace after being subdued, but a more ferocious, possessive claim.
Anyone who dared to approach her, he would ensure they died.
He had long forgotten how to express normal affection, because his love had become twisted and perverted after being killed by the one he loved countless times. His love was stained with blood and death; this was the "love" he had learned from Gu Junshi at first.
But after his rebirth, she had taught him another kind of "love"—pampering.
In this life, she seemed to be making up for her past indifference and ruthlessness, showering him with all sorts of pampering after his amnesia.
He also discovered that the more pathetic he appeared in front of her, the more love he could receive and feel.
It seemed that the romance novel introduced by Senior Sister Chang E was indeed useful.
To achieve the "sweet after" ending, he already had a series of plans in his mind. This was something the amnesiac, pain-averse, and fearful "Liu Jiang Fusheng" would not have dared to implement, but he was fearless.
Or rather, he felt that the more he self-inflicted, the better.
Because he wanted her to feel the same pain as him. He wanted the arrogant and conceited her to fall completely in love with him, to become a monster with a heart like his. He wanted her to experience the pain and wounds he had endured.
Lu Ziyin, being a familiar and gregarious person, first smiled and looked at the couple, then playfully asked with a smile, "Is this your little sister-in-law?"
Since Tan Ya and his group appeared, they had commanded immense attention, drawing the focus of almost the entire Nine Peaks Summit to this area.
Look at these men; each had his own style, and the only commonality was their good looks.
Gu Junshi had maintained a low-key approach for a long time. Upon being released by Liu Jiang Fusheng, she realized that being low-key was meant to be broken. Because her top-ranked husband had boldly confessed his love, she endured the gaze of the masses.
Initially, Lu Ziyin's view was blocked by Liu Jiang Fusheng. He only saw a woman with long, black hair, her attire resembling fine black silk. When she turned around and her gaze swept over him, Lu Ziyin's smile froze, and his eyes widened.
Her eyes seemed to be hidden behind mist and dust, reflecting an unseeable icy light. She possessed a magical aura that could cleanse any romantic or amorous atmosphere. She stood tall and graceful, not losing her radiance even next to the exceptionally handsome and elegant Liu Jiang Fusheng.
The fan in his hand dropped to the ground with a "slap."
"Beau—"
In the past, Lu Ziyin admired beauties of all types. He believed that beauty could be multifaceted, and as someone who appreciated beauty, he should embrace it broadly, not be limited to one type.
Yet, the woman before him, her appearance was not cute, her demeanor was not charming, her expression was not cold and elegant, and her gaze was certainly not flirtatious. She seemed to defy any standard definition of preference in this world, yet with a single glance, she perfectly matched his ideal type.
He subtly waved his jade fan, covering his lips as he smiled, his gaze deep and captivating. Clearing his throat, he modulated his voice and said, "I, I am Lu, Lu Ziyin, from the Lu family in the South Sea. My bone age is thirty-eight, and I am not yet betrothed. I wonder, Miss Fairy..."
Damn it!
"Lu Ziyin, you called her little sister-in-law, have you lost your memory already?!" Ru Lan, beside him, interrupted with an exaggeratedly shocked expression, like a "beast of burden."
She was truly disgusted and speechless at Lu Ziyin's behavior, and her heart felt stifled.
It wasn't for any other reason than she couldn't help but lament again that she couldn't even win against such a fickle person, making her feel that living was truly painful.
She also deliberately avoided looking at South Yuan Exalted Lord and that woman talking closely. However, she recalled that not long ago, that woman named Fu had abandoned her master and jumped off the spectator stand, seemingly looking for someone, and the direction she left... seemed to be towards Liu Jiang Fusheng?
Ru Lan felt a strange sense of suspicion.
Did she know Liu Jiang Fusheng?
Ru Lan looked at Liu Jiang Fusheng. Did he know that woman Fu Wanyan?
As soon as Liu Jiang Fusheng saw Gu Junshi, she had unintentionally attracted another love rival for him. Unable to blame her for attracting bees and butterflies, he glanced at Lu Ziyin.
Lu Ziyin, who looked somewhat embarrassed after being pointed out by Ru Lan, inadvertently met Liu Jiang Fusheng's icy gaze, and his heart skipped a beat.
... Out of fear.
After all, Lu Ziyin had personally witnessed how strong Liu Jiang Fusheng's possessiveness was. Just because Yan Tianjiao had taken a liking to his little spirit beast, he had chased Yan Tianjiao to the ends of the earth. If he discovered that he was coveting his wife... good heavens, wouldn't he be torn to shreds?
As the saying goes, love is precious, but life seems even more valuable.
He shivered, then covered his mouth with his fan, his gaze evasive, and he spoke insincerely, "I haven't lost my memory. It's just that Ranker Liu and this little sister-in-law are such a perfect match, it momentarily dazed me. I didn't expect Ranker Liu to possess celestial beauty, and his wife is equally outstanding. That's why I couldn't help but praise them."
Upon hearing this, Liu Jiang Fusheng's gaze gradually softened. He liked it when others acknowledged that he and Gu Junshi were a perfect match, the ultimate pairing, a celestial union.
Yan Tianjiao was not interested in these matters. He had only come to see Liu Jiang Fusheng's little spirit beast. However, he was only focused on doting on his wife. He swept a disdainful glance, but inadvertently met the woman's calm, dark eyes.
He paused.
He looked again.
And again.
Until Liu Jiang Fusheng blocked his view.
"Don't you want your eyes anymore?" he transmitted telepathically.
Yan Tianjiao's gaze turned cold as he met Liu Jiang Fusheng's.
"You cherish her so much. If I were to steal her, wouldn't you go mad?"
"Try me?"