My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion

Miss Donggong blinked blankly, looked left and right, seemingly not fully understanding the sudden change in situation. Feeling the solemn atmosphere, since everyone was doing it, she imitated them, awkwardly touching one knee to the ground.

Finally, Gongsun Guan, who had been standing still like an ancient moon reflected in a deep pond, slightly moved his sacrificial white robe, turned to face Chen Yi, and also slowly knelt on one knee.

"Ming Venerable above us."

The crowd chanted in unison,

......

Chen Yi was not in a hurry to leave the World of Ignorance.

Unlike before, when he wanted to leave but couldn’t, now leaving or staying was just a thought away. However, many things still needed wrapping up, such as the unfinished wedding, and also...

Beside him, Yin Tingxue.

Walking in the stagnant and silent World of Ignorance, the surrounding was devoid of even the slightest noise, with the streets empty and eerily quiet.

Clearly no longer in the depths of the forbidden area of the World of Ignorance, yet Yin Tingxue still felt restless.

He had taken her away from there but left her with endless confusion, making her uneasy and uncertain of where the path ahead lay.

Just like... in the past.

The Demon Sect Saintess didn’t know which past it was, only felt a slight headache. This past might be... when he took her from the Prince Mansion and made her his concubine.

The memories she had tried hard to seal were still seeping out, causing a tightness in Yin Tingxue’s chest and making her gasp heavily.

A hand supported her shoulder, gently patting her back. She gradually regained her breath and, looking up, saw him right in front of her.

He gazed at her quietly and tenderly called, "Little Fox... is it you?"

Before Yin Tingxue could react, his fingertip lightly touched her forehead.

Like a dragonfly skimming water, ripples spread from the tranquil lake, ripple after ripple, wave after wave, dissolving the thin, paper-like seal of memories.

Instead of the strong repulsion she had expected, it felt as if buoyed gently by a feather, with the rippling waves carrying memories spreading over her, lifting her softly.

Her mind went blank.

Opening her eyes again... the surrounding scene suddenly changed.

Fir trees stretched towards the sky, and in the distance, an endless range of mountains.

Is this... Cangwu Peak?

The girl was stunned, like waking from a dream, wondering how she knew the name of this place, and after a while, wondering how she didn’t know this name. Her mind was in a haze. Taking two steps forward, she found that the water underfoot was clear as a mirror, and lowered her head to gaze at her reflection in the lake.

Yin Tingxue rubbed her face in the reflection of the lake.

It seems... a bit off...

Wasn’t I... in... Sword Town... wait, I... am I really... the Demon Sect Saintess?

As if a past life had flooded into her current memories, Yin Tingxue suddenly recalled what had happened.

In just a dozen or so hours, it seemed like a long dream that had filtered into her mind...

In the dream, she seemed to become the Demon Sect Saintess, seemed to never show him a friendly face, and it seemed... what he said about the past life was true.

Strangely, why would she dream such a dream? Her mind felt like a mess... like someone who just woke up would want to sleep again, an undeniable weariness rising up.

"Little Fox... what did you remember?"

The familiar voice reached her ears.

Thunk.

Little Fox stiffened for a moment, lifting her face with a bit of a tremble to meet the smiling face of Chen Yi.

"Chen... husband, husband..."

In a subconscious moment, Yin Tingxue’s words tangled.

Suddenly two kinds of memories mixed in her mind, leaving the girl somewhat dazed, like someone awakening from a dream, backing away, her form swayed, and she plopped down into the lake, but even so, she was still subconsciously afraid of him, especially this version of him.

Because whenever he smiled like this, it was when he would punish her, bully her.

What he left on her heart was such a scar.

He slowly approached, Yin Tingxue’s breathing grew more rapid, unable to sort her thoughts, even forgetting to smile to soften his heart, just closing her eyes in a bit of fear; she had always been afraid of his bullying.

But not this time.

Chen Yi did not do as her memory recalled. He only bent down, extended his hand not to seize, but to gently grasp her wrist soaked in the cold lake water, and slowly pulled her up from the lake.

Yin Tingxue dazedly let him move, her whole body drenched, with lake water dripping down from her hair and clothes. She raised her head, looking at Chen Yi right in front of her.

Then, she was embraced by him.

His arms softly encircled her shoulders and back, gently embracing her, without any impropriety or aggression, just gently holding her.

Yin Tingxue’s tense body trembled slightly within his embrace, not out of resistance, but from a release after such long-held tension.

He didn’t ask how much she remembered, nor did he explain that the scene of Cangwu Peak before her eyes was the world within his Heart Lake, he just held her like that.

Yin Tingxue’s tense nerves gradually relaxed, her cheek unconsciously rubbing lightly against his shoulder, like a little fox searching for the most reassuring corner.

"... Chen, Chen Yi..."

"Hmm."

"... Chen Yi..."

"Hmm."

She murmured, met with two gentle responses, and she slowly relaxed in his embrace, the return of memories bringing a weary sleepiness that her mind couldn’t shake off.

"... Mother..."

"..." After a long moment, "... Hmm."

The girl in his embrace fell silent, except for the light sound of breathing. She closed her eyes and fell asleep again.

After that murmured call, there were no words for a long time, but something frozen seemed to be quietly melting in this silent embrace.