Peerless Heiress - Chapter 143
Qingyan rushed over and carefully carried Songhu back to his side. Her hair gently brushed against his nose, leaving behind a faint, unique fragrance.
"Qingyan." He grabbed her sleeve, stopping her from leaving, and whispered, "I'm sorry."
Qingyan froze.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have let you face all this alone. You must have been so scared, right? I was scared too. If, if anything had happened to you... I would never have lived alone... Qingyan, I'm sorry..." His voice was low, filled with barely concealed fear and trembling.
"I will never live alone..." Such a sorrowful yet resolute tone.
A complex mix of emotions welled up in Qingyan's heart, along with a nameless sadness, and she slowly lowered her head.
After the Heavenly Tribulation, regarding the events that occurred in Tianxing, Jin San had entrusted them with a letter to bring with him when the Four Eccentrics arrived. She already knew about Yuwen Ke's coma and the chaos in Tianxing's court.
She wasn't blind, nor was she stupid; she was simply a playful and active young woman. She saw everything Yuwen Ke did for her, but she couldn't repay him, nor could she bear the weight of it. This affection was too profound and heavy, making it hard for her to breathe.
That kind of love was intense, desperate, pure, and complete; it was a possessive love that rejected everything, allowing no impurities whatsoever—not even her family, her friends, or her freedom.
The thought of how he silently and without a word performed the sealing technique that day, even using himself as a catalyst to prematurely trigger the madness of the heavenly tribulation, sent a chill down her spine.
She couldn't bear or reciprocate such love.
Chapter 336: Forget Each Other
He would never live alone—but wasn't everything caused by him? If she and her master had already perished in the heavenly tribulation, what good would his "never live alone" have done?
His apology was only for his absence when she was in danger, not for his actions. Ultimately, he didn't regret what he had done, so he wouldn't rule out the possibility of it happening again.
Her demon master is alright, and she has more than one close demon master by her side. What if one day, when she's caught off guard again, he silently sends that demon through an even more perilous heavenly tribulation? ... And what can he tolerate, and what can't he tolerate, of those around her? ...
That's it... This kind of love is terrifying and impossible to guard against...
Too tired...
She was just a young woman who couldn't stand being restrained, loved freedom, and sought happiness. Although she would occasionally fantasize about a beautiful and persistent relationship in the gaps of time, if such a relationship required her to completely change herself, or had to be so tragic as to lead to a life-or-death struggle, she would rather not have it.
Even though this affection had once moved her, now it only makes her hesitate.
"Yuwen Ke, you should go back."
Qingyan raised her head, no longer looking at him, her gaze piercing through the dense peach grove, reaching straight to the sky beyond. There, it was so blue, so tranquil, just like her eyes.
“Okay, let’s go together,” Yuwen Ke said softly.
Qingyan shook her head. "I won't go with you. Yuwen Ke, you should go. Treat Weiyun well, don't send her back to her country. She loves you very much, and she will be a good queen. Your childhood wish has been to revitalize Tianxing. Now you are determined, driven, and capable. I believe you will be a wise ruler of Tianxing, and your wish will surely be fulfilled. You will definitely be remembered in history. Go."
Yuwen Ke's face paled, and he tightened his grip on her sleeve, saying in a deep voice, "No, I won't leave without you."
Qingyan fell silent for a long while, then suddenly smiled, turned her head to look at him, and said, "Do you want Tianxing to fall into danger again?"
"What?"
Qingyan pointed behind him.
Chapter 337: It Won't Be Allowed
Yuwen Ke turned around. Behind him stood a group of pale-faced, dejected generals on one side, and the old Taoist Mo Gu Zi, who was fuming with anger, on the other, and a figure in dark robes. The figure stood quietly under the peach tree, his robes fluttering gently in the wind. His face was hidden in the shadows of the trees, his eyes lowered, making it impossible to see his expression, except for a glimpse of his lips, which were slightly upturned.
"I don't want to go with you. Mo Yu will definitely help me," Qing Yan said calmly. "Do you want all the Tianxing generals to stay in Mo Ming Valley?"
Yuwen Ke's pupils instantly shrank to pinpoints. He turned around swiftly, staring intently at Qing Yan, his eyes blazing with anger, his emotions spiraling out of control.
"What did you say?!" His voice was filled with terrifying rage.
Qingyan looked at him calmly, without looking away. Her gaze was extremely clear and serene.
The two stared at each other... for a long time...
The anger in his eyes gradually subsided, and even the color drained from his face. His voice instantly became hoarse, filled with exhaustion and weakness, "Qingyan...you...are you threatening me?"
"No," Qingyan said, "You're the one threatening me. If you only wanted to see me when you came to Moming Valley, why did you bring so many elite soldiers? You never intended to ask me anything, did you? Whether I want to leave or not, I have to go back with you, don't I?"
"No..." he began, but suddenly realized he was powerless to explain. Yes, he couldn't let go, regardless of whether Qingyan wanted to leave or not, he couldn't let go.
"I won't go with you. We're not right for each other. What you want is a woman who belongs entirely to you, whose body and soul can only exist for you, and can't have anyone or anything else. That's something I can never do." Qingyan paused, looking at Yuwen Ke's pained face, slightly avoiding his burning gaze. "Actually, you already have someone like that by your side. Wei Yun, everything she has is only..."
"Shut up!" he roared in a low voice, his eyes beginning to bleed. "Qingyan, you're not allowed to keep pushing me to others. You want to stay by Moyu's side, don't you? I won't allow it... Do you think I'm afraid of his Qing Shixiao? Do you think that without you, Tianxing has any meaning for me? You're wrong..."
Chapter 338: Did You Ever Love Me?
He grabbed Qingyan's arm tightly, glaring at her with a ferocious and terrifying expression. "You want to get rid of me? Don't even think about it! I won't let you have your way!"
Qingyan stared at him blankly, her clear yet bewildered eyes momentarily stunning him. Yuwen Ke couldn't help but reach out, wanting to touch her cheek.
Qingyan turned her head away, avoiding the glance.
Yuwen Ke's hand hung idly in mid-air, gradually stiffening.
"Why?" he asked hoarsely. "Why? He can do it, and so can I. Why?"
Qingyan closed her eyes briefly, then suddenly bit her lip. At the same time, a silver light flashed on her wrist, and Yuwen Ke abruptly released his grip, staggering back a step. He stared in disbelief at the silver bracelet on her hand.
"What's this?"
"The jade ring," Qingyan replied calmly. "It contains spiritual power and can protect the wearer." Therefore, as long as she refused, he had no way to take her away.
Qingyan turned around, utterly exhausted. "Go back."
She walked slowly forward, no longer looking back, her steps heavy, as if she had exhausted all her strength.