"I'm sure the High God still has much to ask, so I won't disturb you any longer and will take my leave now."
The Demon Emperor gave a perfunctory bow and then left.
Lingyan refocused her attention on the fairy maid who had come to report the news.
"Is what you're saying true? She really came back?"
His voice trembled involuntarily as he asked the question.
"Absolutely true!"
"Great—where is she?"
"Naturally, it is to guard the Abyss of Gods and Demons—"
Upon receiving an affirmative answer, Lingyan could no longer contain her excitement and rushed towards the palace gate.
However, her elation abruptly stopped in front of the palace gate. For the first time ever, she felt fear and hesitated.
It was her own momentary recklessness that caused Gu Zhong to be trapped in a spatial rift and barely escape death. Did she really want to let such a thing happen again?
Slowly retracting the foot that had stepped out of the palace, a wave of guilt washed over her. Suppressing her overwhelming longing, Lingyan turned and walked back into the palace, heading towards the Sword Pavilion.
—She can no longer go to the battlefield at will; this is a lesson learned in blood and tears.
News of the battles at the front occasionally reached the heavens, bypassing the Lotus Pond Palace and flying to Lingyan's ears.
"The Zhenyuan Army displayed its might, utterly defeating the demons!"
"Lord Gu Zhong has slain another demon general."
"The demons have completely retreated to the border, not daring to set foot even an inch into the realm of the gods!"
Each word and phrase was a report of Gu Zhong's triumphant return and remarkable achievements.
Whenever she heard this news, Ling Yan felt the same joy as everyone in the God Realm, and sincerely congratulated Gu Chongqing.
If she could, she really wanted to go to the Abyss of Gods and Demons, see Gu Zhong, and wish her well.
But every time this longing rose from the bottom of her heart, she always tried her best to suppress it.
To stop herself from having wild thoughts, Lingyan ultimately chose to stare at the furnace fire day and night, watching the heavenly fire heat the black iron until it glowed red-hot, pouring all her longing and desire onto the divine sword she was forging.
"It's rare to see you not making a fuss about going out for a whole month."
A clear and elegant female voice came from behind her. Lingyan turned her head slightly and saw Shaojun appear silently at the door.
"Sister Shaojun!"
Ling Yan's eyes flashed with a hint of grievance, and she did not get up.
"The Demon Emperor has returned to the Demon Realm."
Shaojun strode over, squatted down beside her, and casually mentioned something.
"oh."
Lingyan's reaction was exactly what she expected, and she didn't care at all.
"Gu Zhong returned unharmed. I thought you would secretly go looking for her again."
Shaojun changed the subject.
"What would I do there? I'd only cause trouble and make things worse."
Lingyan said sullenly, filled with self-blame.
"You've grown up..."
Shaojun was taken aback, let out a long sigh, and looked at his sister with pity and worry in his eyes. He then spoke to comfort her.
"However, you don't need to feel so guilty. The situation that day was sudden, and no one could have predicted it. Besides, Lord Gu Zhong probably wouldn't want to see you like this either."
"Sister Shaojun, please take care of her—is there any new news?"
Lingyan clearly didn't want to continue discussing this issue. She threw the last piece of strange bone into the sword furnace and asked Shaojun.
"Of course, otherwise why would I have come all this way to find you today?"
Shaojun blinked, and a rare hint of liveliness and humanity appeared on his usually stern face, beyond his usual discipline.
What is it?
Lingyan looked at her with pleading eyes.
"I thought the little god had long forgotten about me—"
A leisurely sigh came, and the voice she had been longing for suddenly appeared in her ears, making Lingyan freeze.
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Author's Note:
I, Hu Hansan, am back! I'm so sorry! (bowing frantically) I should be able to write properly this month, with about 10 more chapters expected!
Chapter 152 The Supreme God and the God of War (Part Twelve)
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She knew it was Gu Zhong, but she didn't dare turn around because she didn't know what expression to wear when facing the person she wanted to avoid.
"Ayan—"
Gu Zhong called out softly again, his tone tinged with pity.
Seeing Ling Yan's wretched appearance, the young lord who was watching the show from the side burst out laughing, instantly breaking her somewhat sorrowful mood.
"Alright, you two can continue your conversation. I have other important matters to attend to, so I'll be leaving now."
Having said that, the young lord vanished from the small sword hut in the blink of an eye.
After several internal struggles, Lingyan, concerned for Gu Zhong, knew she couldn't keep running away. So she gritted her teeth and turned around.
"What's wrong, Ayan?"
Gu Zhong stood unharmed before her, still as dashing and handsome as ever. He looked as if he had just arrived from the battlefield, his murderous aura still lingering, carrying a hint of sharpness and power.
"···sorry."
Ling Yan pursed her lips and spoke in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz. If the room hadn't been so quiet, Gu Zhong probably wouldn't have been able to hear her.
"What?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Zhong was stunned and didn't immediately understand what she meant.
"It was all my fault that day; I caused you to fall into the spatial rift—"
Ling Yan's face began to turn red. The usually proud and arrogant little goddess had never sincerely apologized before, let alone offered any explanation. Now, however, her eyes were filled with guilt, and she carefully chose her words.
"You didn't come looking for me because you were bothered by this matter?"
Gu Zhong suddenly realized what was going on and couldn't help but chuckle.
"No, that's not true!"
Seeing Gu Zhong's teasing expression, Ling Yan blurted out a rebuttal in response. After thinking carefully for a while, she managed to put together a plausible reason.
"It's just that the Abyss of Gods and Demons is too dangerous, and I don't want to cause any more trouble."
—Not wanting to cause Gu Zhong any more trouble isn't exactly a lie.
"You..."
Gu Zhong sighed softly, moved closer to her, and stared intently into her eyes.
“Ayan, you don’t need to blame yourself. It’s my fault for not keeping my promise and for not protecting you. I should be the one apologizing.”
Both women were trying to exonerate the other and take the blame upon themselves, while they genuinely believed that it was their fault.
"Respect—"
Ling Yan spoke again, seemingly wanting to say something more, but Gu Zhong interrupted her directly.
"I heard that the Demon Emperor has been pestering you relentlessly lately."
Gu Zhong's words carried a hint of murderous intent.
"The gods are powerless to resist the demons' attack. In order to seek an alliance with the demon realm, Father has no choice but to temporarily accept the demon king's proposal."
Sensing Gu Zhong's inexplicable anger, even though it wasn't directed at her, Ling Yan felt a little flustered. Even though she knew Gu Zhong couldn't possibly be unaware of the background of this unplanned marriage, she still quickly tried to explain.
After hearing Ling Yan's response, Gu Zhong remained silent for a while.
This moment of silence made Ling Yan even more flustered. She began to repeatedly think about whether she had said something wrong, until Gu Zhong spoke again.
"...Ayan, if the God Emperor really wanted you to marry the Demon Emperor, would you be willing?"
They had discussed similar topics before, but the situation was not critical at the time, and Lingyan did not face this real pressure. Gu Zhong also vowed that he would never let Lingyan become a sacrifice.
However, what was said at the time seems too naive and unbelievable now.
"If that day truly comes, it will be an extremely critical moment, requiring gods and demons to resolve their long-standing feud and join forces. None of us can escape..."
Perhaps she had already thought too much, Lingyan's words were filled with helplessness and sadness, and a sense of responsibility that she "had no choice" to bear.
"Ayan, I'm only asking you, are you willing?"
Gu Zhong felt as if she had been struck hard by a blunt instrument, and a sudden pain spread through her chest. However, she herself did not know why, but she still stubbornly wanted to get the most truthful answer.
"Even if I don't want to, what can I do? Is there really any way?"
Ling Yan gave a bitter smile. If she really had other choices, she would not let her life be controlled. Moreover, the Demon Emperor's purpose was not pure, and the future was full of mystery. She did not know where to go.
"Ayan, as long as you don't want it, I will never let you fall into this situation again, no matter what."
Breaking through the facade of feigned strength, seeing Ling Yan's vulnerable inner self completely exposed before him, Gu Zhong felt a subtle pity and heartache welling up in his heart.
"Yeah?"
Ling Yan wore a relieved smile, but Gu Zhong knew she didn't believe him. When the upheaval came, her power seemed so insignificant, unable to change anything.
"I will do my best."
Unlike before, it wasn't so resolute; it carried a hint of uncertainty, and was filled with a plea full of struggle and effort.