Emperatrices transmigradas (hombres y mujeres)

Capítulo 36

"Everyone's so worried! Sister Zhu'er is almost dying of guilt! She's taken all the blame for your disappearance upon herself. She went to the Hunter's Headquarters the day before yesterday. Shiba and Kuang Ao just went to Chang Xiao's place! They go there every day to inquire about things. Xiao is also extremely anxious, but everyone is helpless. I'm just staying at home waiting for you to come back..." Hu Yi finally couldn't hold back a tear. He thought about how these past two days had felt longer than two thousand years of cultivation. He held Ling'er's hand tightly, afraid that she would disappear again if he turned around.

Hearing Hu Yi's words, Ling'er felt a chill run through her body; the old man of fate had once again predicted it. She just couldn't understand why Zhu'er had gone to the Hunter's Headquarters. She must have gone to find the Hunter King's senior brother for help.

So, what about the third one? What will happen to the third one?

"Ah Yi, hurry up and get a face mask. Your skin is so dry, and you even have fine lines. Also, remember to shave. If your admirers see you like this, they'll be devastated." Ling'er deliberately tried to lighten the mood. Hu Yi cared so much about her, and she had treated him so badly before, which made her feel quite guilty.

"Master, you always say that appearance is just a shell that will change sooner or later. As long as you are safe and sound, I would even be willing to turn back into my eighteen-year-old self." As clever as Hu Yi was, how could he not know what Ling'er was thinking? Since she didn't want him to worry, why should he make her worry?

"I'm a little tired, I'll go back to my room and rest for a bit. Call Zhu'er and tell her not to worry. Remember to call me when Shiba and Kuang Ao get back."

The moment the door closed, Ling'er couldn't control her tears. Xiao would kill her? It wasn't that she was afraid of death; having grown up in the Hunter Headquarters, she had long been accustomed to life and death. What she couldn't accept was how she would die. Now, she knew that Chang Xiao, whom she loved so deeply, would pierce her heart with crimson flames!

Ling'er pressed her entire body tightly against the bed, tears soaking the pillows. Why did Chang Xiao laugh? Did you really have the heart to personally deliver Chi Yan into my heart? Ling'er murmured to herself. She had made up her mind; if Chang Xiao behaved strangely that day, she wouldn't wait for him to act. During her two days in the cave, Ling'er had thought a lot. If she were truly killed by Chang Xiao, Lei Zhu'er, Hu Yi, Shi Ba, and Kuang Ao would likely seek revenge for her, not to mention how terrifying Chang Xiao and the Wolf King's power was. Even for Zhu'er's sake, she had to act herself. Someone as emotional as Lei Zhu'er, who harbored hatred for everything associated with her, once she knew she had died at Chang Xiao's hands, could she still continue her relationship with the Wolf King? Even if they could still be together, wouldn't there be a barrier between them?

Ling'er sat up, untied the Milky Way from her waist. She'd rarely used it since Zhu'er gave it to her, so she decided to return it. As for Hu Yi, Ling'er touched the small jade pendant around her neck. It was a gift from Xiao. Hu Yi had already reached the eight-tailed stage; one more tail was enough to complete it. This jade pendant would definitely help him. As for Shi Ba, Ling'er felt a headache coming on. She couldn't possibly buy a whole house full of snacks and staple foods and keep them at home. If she did, there would only be one outcome: Shi Ba would definitely die from overeating! Kuang Ao had been clamoring for a Tianya Ghost Friends gathering for a while. She took out her credit card from the bedside drawer; it contained her savings from the past two years of "working and studying." She'd keep it for Shi Ba and Kuang Ao. Ling'er shook her head with a smile. These few troublemakers! Thinking of these rascals, a smile appeared on Ling'er's lips. She put the Milky Way, the small jade pendant, and the credit card into a box. The credit card's PIN was a combination of Xiao's and her own birthday. She figured Shi Ba and the others already knew, so she decided not to tell them.

Pearl hasn't returned yet. She must have a serious talk with her when she gets back. Ling'er always hesitated about regaining her memories before, but now it seems that if she doesn't, she might never have another chance. She knows that Xiao loves her. She also knows that Xiao is forced into this situation. After all, she's from the realm of light, while Xiao is from the realm of darkness. And what can she do? Light and darkness have always been opposing forces.

That day, when Fate revealed this secret to her, Ling'er was truly shocked and speechless! Then, she saw a dejected smile reflected in the crystal ball, and Ling'er's heart clenched with a pang of pain. She never imagined that a smile could be so dejected.

"Ling'er, where did you go the other day? Everyone was so worried." Chang Xiao's gaze wandered, as if she dared not look directly into those bright eyes.

"It's nothing, just taking a walk to clear my head."

"Ling'er, do you believe in fate?" Chang Xiao asked, his voice hoarse, as he suddenly pulled Ling'er into his arms.

"Fate? My life is my own, why should I believe in fate?" Ling'er pushed him away, turned her back to Chang Xiao, and stubbornly raised her head. In her dream, he had asked her that question, so whenever fate was mentioned, Ling'er felt a deep aversion to the word.

"Ling'er, you don't understand. We cannot defy the will of Heaven..." Chang Xiao slowly held the Crimson Flame in his hand, tears seeping from the corners of his eyes. Even so, he still forcefully plunged the Crimson Flame into Ling'er's back.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..." Xiao's words echoed in Ling'er's ears for a long time. With those words, it was enough. At least Xiao wasn't disgusted with her, but had no other choice.

"Xiao, although I don't know why you're from the Dark Realm and I'm from the Light Realm, and we can't be together, I won't blame you, even if you want to kill me. Actually, what does my life matter if you just say the word?" Ling'er's tears flowed again. She wasn't afraid of anything else, only that after she left, Xiao would feel guilty and lonely. Thinking of this, Ling'er's heart ached suffocatingly. Does loving someone really make you lose yourself?

"Master, Eighteen Arrogant Ones is back." Hu Yi gently knocked on the door.

"Oh, wait a minute, I need to change. I haven't had any clothes to change into these past few days, it's really uncomfortable." Ling'er got out of bed. She quickly took out her foundation and powder from the dressing table; her eyes were red, it was better to cover them up. She didn't want them to know she had just been crying.

When Hu Yi saw that Ling'er was still wearing the same clothes and had red, swollen eyes, he understood. Their master didn't want them to worry or get involved. What exactly had happened?

"Master! Where did you go?" Eighteen was no better off than Hu Yi, his face equally haggard.

"Never mind, the master must have his own reasons. Let's not ask any further," Hu Yi said.

"But..." Kuang Ao said unwillingly, "But they are really worried." But he didn't say it aloud. He knew that A Yi must have his reasons for saying that.

Ling'er glanced at Hu Yi gratefully; he was the one who understood her best.

"Master!" The door was suddenly pushed open, and Leizhu'er's tears and sweat mingled together, but it did not diminish her stunning beauty in the slightest.

Looking at Leizhu'er's tearful face, Ling'er felt deeply remorseful. She really shouldn't have disappeared for those two days.

"Zhu'er, you're back?" Ling'er felt a lump in her throat.

"Master, I shouldn't have abandoned you the moment I got together with the wolf. How could I be so fickle, prioritizing love over friendship?" Tears welled up as she clung to Ling'er, crying like a helpless child.

"I'm back now, aren't I? Besides, it's none of your business. I just wanted to go out and clear my head!"

"Where's Xiao? Why didn't he come? Go call him quickly and tell him that the master is alright! Those who laughed these past few days can't be doing any better!" Teardrop raised her head and said to Arrogant.

"Xiao wasn't there when we went there today. We don't know where he went," Kuang Ao said arrogantly.

"Zhu'er, I have something to tell you." Ling'er didn't give Tears Pearl a chance to ask.

Hu Yi and Shiba exchanged a haughty glance, then turned to leave in perfect unison. Ling'er grabbed Hu Yi's arm, saying, "You two don't need to leave."

Upon hearing this, the three of them said nothing more.

Ling'er took a deep breath and looked at Leizhu'er with great solemnity. After a long while, she said, "Zhu'er, help me regain my memories."

Everyone was taken aback by what they heard. "What's wrong with Master? In the past, when Sister Zhu'er wanted to restore Master's memories, didn't she always resist to the death?" Shi Ba muttered softly. Hu Yi and Kuang Ao rolled their eyes at him at the same time, but they had to admit that what he said was true.

"No!" Tears of determination made almost everyone fall to the ground, including Ling'er.

"Sister Zhu'er...didn't you used to chase after Master, desperately trying to help her regain her memories?" Hu Yi couldn't help but blurt out.

Tears welled up and her sharp gaze swept over him, startling Hu Yi so much that he almost fell off the sofa.

"Pearl, why did you refuse?" Ling'er asked, she really couldn't understand it, just like Hu Yi and the others couldn't understand why she suddenly wanted to regain her memories.

"Because I finally understand something..." Tears welled up as she closed her eyes. She couldn't understand why Ling'er was so kind, yet fate had repeatedly played tricks on her.

"You... what do you know?" Ling'er asked nervously. Could it be that she also knew about the Old Man of Fate?

"I understand that love is beautiful, and I hope you are happy." Tears welled up in everyone's eyes again.

"What is this all about? Sister Zhu'er, stop beating around the bush, just say what you mean!" As soon as Eighteen said this, he regretted it as soon as he said it. Oh no, Sister Zhu'er's snake tail is going to help him know what it feels like to fly again.

However, to everyone's surprise, Teardrop remained unmoved by Eighteen's words, staring at Ling'er for a long time before finally saying, "Because... because the day you regain your memories will be the day you lose Changxiao!"

"I don't understand, I've never understood, what does it mean that I've regained my memories?"

"Master, once you regain your memories, it means that this cycle of reincarnation is about to end, and what awaits you is the pain of the next life!" If the Wolf King hadn't told her, Teardrop wouldn't have believed it was true.

"Why?" Ling'er sighed softly.

"I don't know, that's all the wolf told me." Teardrop was surprised by her master's reaction. She had imagined countless times how heartbroken her master would be when he found out.

"And what about laughter? Does laughter have memory?" the arrogant man asked.

"He has retained all his memories."

"Why can he have memories, but his master can't?" Eighteen asked, puzzled.

"Perhaps this is fate's punishment for Xiao. Don't you think Xiao is suffering more than his master? He knows everything, but he is powerless to change anything. There is no greater tragedy than this for a man who cannot even protect the woman he loves," Hu Yi said in a low voice.

"Yes, Xiao is suffering much more than I am. He knows less, so he has fewer worries. But he has to deliberately keep smiling every day..." Ling'er's tears fell. She longed to see Xiao again; she knew their days were numbered. Hu Yi's words were so profound, so profound that she forgot something very important.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Ling'er stood up, wiped away her tears, and said, "It must be Xiaolai."

Unexpectedly, standing outside the door was a woman of celestial beauty. "Holy Lord, Holy Maiden, it's been a long time. How are you both?" The woman bowed gracefully and bent down.

"Who are you?" Tears welled up in front of Ling'er, scrutinizing the seemingly ethereal beauty before her. Cherry lips, bright eyes, pearly teeth—her features were exquisitely perfect. Tears was certain she had never seen her before, for no one would forget such a woman, not even a fleeting glance. Yet, she sensed a familiar aura. Who could it be?

The woman covered her mouth and smiled, saying elegantly, "Holy Lord, Holy Maiden, it seems you truly don't remember me."

Ling'er and Leizhu'er exchanged a glance, shook their heads, and were certain that they had never seen this woman before.

The woman didn't say who she was, but simply took something out of her bag—it was blue tears.

"This...you are Qingluo?" Teardrop remembered that she had given Blue Tear to Qingluo.

"How is that possible? You don't even remember what Qingluo looks like? Zhu'er?" Ling'er was still scrutinizing the mysterious woman.

"Ah! I know! I know who she is!" Eighteen jumped up from the sofa.

Hu Yi rolled his eyes at him arrogantly and said, "Even the master doesn't know, how would you know?"

"Oh? Eighteenth Brother, who do you think I am?" the woman asked, startled.

"Wait a minute, do you know Eighteen?" the arrogant man asked.

The woman smiled slightly, sized up Hu Yi and Kuang Ao, and said, "Not only do I know Brother Eighteen, but I also know that you are Brother Kuang Ao, a prince of the Demon Clan. And this one is Brother Hu Yi, the only descendant of the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox, who has now cultivated to the Eight-Tailed stage. Am I right?"

As soon as she finished speaking, everyone except Eighteen gasped in disbelief. Who exactly was she?

"Eighteenth Brother, do you really know who I am?"

"Hehe, I think it should be you..." Eighteen scratched his head shyly. It was the first time someone had called him "brother," and a woman of such stunning beauty at that, that made him blush. "You're Meiniang, right? Hehe..."

"Meiniang?" Ling'er and Leizhu'er screamed.

Yes! It's Meiniang! Tears welled up as she slapped her forehead. No wonder her voice sounded so familiar. But…

"I know! You must have had plastic surgery! Right?" Hu Yi jumped up excitedly. If someone so ugly could become a beauty, what if she went too…

Mei Niang smiled but said nothing, and nodded.

"Ah! It really is Meiniang! It really is Meiniang!" Meiniang's arrival eased Ling'er's sorrow and made her temporarily forget the impending misfortune.

"If it weren't for Eighteenth Brother, I'd still be an ugly woman hiding deep in a cave, secretly weeping. Ever since I received some guidance from the Holy Lord in the Realm of Light, I, Meiniang, decided to mend my ways. But who knew that people still couldn't accept my ugly face? So I hid in a cave, avoiding contact with others. These days felt like an eternity, until Qingluo appeared. Eighteenth Brother, Meiniang should thank you properly!" Meiniang looked at Eighteenth Brother gratefully; one's fate is truly unpredictable.

"What are you thanking me for? It was nothing!" Shiba said with a smile as he reached out to grab the chicken coop on his head.

"But how do you know about those three people?" Ling'er was puzzled. When they entered the Bright Realm, wasn't Hu Yishiba arrogantly waiting outside the whole time?

"Of course, Qingluo told me. She reveres you all like gods, and your deeds are practically known throughout the Bright Realm. Especially Brother Kuangao! She said how heroic he was when he dueled with the Eastern Inspector. Hehe, everyone's even imitating Brother Kuangao's habits!" Meiniang laughed.

"You mean it's now fashionable in the Light Realm to commit suicide with nail clippers?" Teardrop asked, her mouth agape.

"Hehe, yeah."

The crowd burst into laughter, and even the arrogant one laughed, never expecting to have such influence.

"What about Qingluo? Is she alright now?" Ling'er asked.

"She's incredibly happy now. The power of love is truly remarkable. She used to always look so worried and sad, which is why I didn't kill her back then." Mei Niang felt ashamed, regretting her past cruelty.

"Why bring up the past? Besides, as the ancients said, 'Put down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot...'" Eighteen was a little anxious; he never knew how to persuade people.

“Eighteen is right. As long as we correct our mistakes, it will be fine.” Ling’er quickly chimed in, otherwise Eighteen might make up some more stories and insist that they were said by Confucius or Lao Tzu.

"Thank you for your guidance, Holy Bishop."

"Don't call me 'Holy Master' anymore, it makes me feel embarrassed. Just call me Ling'er. And you guys too!" Ling'er pointed to Leizhu'er and the others, then continued, "Don't call me 'Master' either! It sounds so distant to me."

Seeing that Ling'er was determined, the others didn't know what to say and nodded in agreement.

Ling'er glanced at the sky; it was getting late, and she thought Xiao should be back by now. However, when Leizhu called the Wolf King, he said that Xiao hadn't returned since leaving that morning, and he couldn't reach him.

"Alright! Let's go downstairs and get something to eat. Meiniang is here today, so it's my treat!" Ling'er shook her head, deciding not to think about her worries. Isn't it a joy to have friends coming from afar?

Upon hearing this, Shiba jumped up excitedly. He hadn't had a proper meal since Ling'er disappeared.

"No need, no need. With me here, why would we need to go out to eat?" Meiniang laughed. When Meiniang brought out the last dish, stir-fried bamboo shoots with cured pork, the eighteen-year-old who was sitting around the table let out a howl and grabbed a piece of garlic pork rib with lightning speed, stuffing it into his mouth, completely ignoring Meiniang who was staring in disbelief.

Normally, Tearsdrop would have used extremely harsh methods to teach Eighteen a lesson, but faced with a table full of delicious food, she could only drool...

"This is taro cake, this is bamboo-tube braised pork, this is plum blossom dumplings..." Mei Niang explained as she added the dishes to everyone's plates. She smiled, feeling her explanations were superfluous, since no one was listening to her at all. After a whirlwind of eating, Ling'er and the others sat on the sofa, patting their bellies. Mei Niang looked at the mess on the table with immense pride and said, "Mei Niang never dreamed that one day she would actually cook for the number one expert in the Light Realm—the Holy Lord!"

"What? I'm the number one expert in the Realm of Light?" The Old Man of Destiny had only said that he was from the Realm of Light, but no one knew that he was actually the number one expert in the Realm of Light!

"Pearl, who am I?" Ling'er asked. Before Pearl could answer, Meiniang said smugly, "Holy Lord, have you really forgotten? Back then, you led a million Heavenly Generals of the Light Realm to confront the Dark General at Kuangjie Mountain for a whole year..."

"Meiniang...!" Tears welled up and interrupted Meiniang. Just as Ling'er heard the words "Kuangjie Mountain," her mind went blank, and she heard the sounds of battle, the clatter of hooves, and the groans of wounded soldiers—sounds that lingered and wouldn't fade. The scene before her eyes gradually blurred...