Chapter 1036: One Tear, One Bead
Translator: Larbre Studio Editor: Larbre Studio
Kong Lanyou’s tears pinged when they dropped onto the ground. Each teardrop had solidified into a translucent bead. They glittered.
With her cultivation, a drop of her blood was able to pierce a mountain. A strand of her hair could cut a river.
A teardrop was naturally filled with saintly might as well. They were tens of thousands of times more valuable than the world’s most precious gems.
The Elephant-swallowing Rabbit picked up a teardrop the size of a mung bean. White saintly light instantly flooded out and covered its small claws.
Shocking divine power rushed into the Elephant-swallowing Rabbit, making its body crack and pop. In that instant, its physical strength increased substantially.
“This is good.”
The Elephant-swallowing Rabbit’s eyes gleamed greedily. It grabbed the teardrops and shoved them into its mouth. It could tell that the white-haired woman wasn’t an enemy, so it ate without any worry.
At the moment, the white-haired woman was hugging Lord Chen. She was probably a lover that Lord Chen took care of on the side.
It felt that Lord Chen was being a bit too much. After all, Princess Yanchen was right there. Even if he was the Crown Prince and had a special status, he should still be more reserved. He couldn’t be so obvious.
What woman wouldn’t get jealous?
However, the Elephant-swallowing Rabbit didn’t think too much when it saw the teardrops that kept falling to the ground. It pounced instantly and picked them up, shoving them into its mouth.
After eating six beads, it felt something wrong. Its entire body swelled and felt burning heat surge out.
One teardrop contained a terrifying amount of divine power. A regular person couldn’t digest it at all and could die from bloating.
The Elephant-swallowing Rabbit was very greedy and had eaten six in a row.
The six teardrops hung in its body like six small suns. Its body kept expanding until it was dozens of meters tall. Flames shot out of it.
A huge burning rabbit appeared before everyone.
“Lord Chen, save me…” the Elephant-swallowing Rabbit cried, rushing toward Zhang Ruochen.
At the moment, Zhang Ruochen was enjoying his reunification with Kong Lanyou. They hadn’t seen each other in forever and had many things to talk about. They didn’t want to care about the rabbit at all.
Kong Lanyou waved her hand as if swatting a fly and sent the rabbit flying hundreds of feet away.
Glancing at the Elephant-swallowing Rabbit, Zhang Ruochen smiled but wasn’t worried for it. This rabbit was very unique. It could even digest the Divine Blood-red Earth, so it definitely wouldn’t die from swallowing six teardrops.
Kong Lanyou stood in the snow. Her long hair, even whiter than the snow, fell to the ground. Her eyes were still misty.
“Eight hundred years ago, I thought that you’d left me forever and would never come back. I don’t know how I lived through these 800 years. I seemed to have only done two things: cultivate and take revenge. Eight hundred years later, you appear again. My heart had died, but now, I see a shred of hope again.”
“Do you know how shocked I was when I first heard news about you?” she continued. “How happy? How fearful?”
“Cousin, you’re so cruel. What reason could you have that would make you lie to me twice? I remember that you’d never lied to me before. You’ve always been straightforward with me. You’ve always cared about me the most. Don’t you know that my heart was torn apart whenever you lied to me?”
With that, pings sounded on the ground again. A large amount of translucent teardrops rolled.
Her emotions, pent-up for 800 years, were vented out at this moment. She couldn’t hold back at all.
Staring at Kong Lanyou’s face, Zhang Ruochen let out a long sigh.
He’d thought that Kong Lanyou wasn’t the Kong Lanyou from before. Eight hundred years would definitely change someone entirely.
Now, he discovered that she hadn’t changed at all.
The one who’d changed was he.
He didn’t dare to meet Kong Lanyou’s eyes. Looking into the distance, he said, “I didn’t think that you’d still be persistent after 800 years. Can’t time dilute someone’s feelings?”
Kong Lanyou looked at him with pitiful eyes. “Have you always been laughing at me inwardly, thinking that I’m still as stupid as before? I hadn’t become smarter after 800 years.”
“No.”
After a long silence, Zhang Ruochen extended a hand and patted Kong Lanyou’s hair softly. I’m sorry, he thought. I shouldn’t have lied to you or suspected you.
Kong Lanyou rested her face softly against Zhang Ruochen’s chest. Closing her eyes, she extended her snow-white arms and hugged Zhang Ruochen tightly.
Right now, she didn’t look like a Saint Elder of Sacred Central Crypt at all. A happy smile ghosted her lips.
She really hadn’t changed at all in 800 years.
There were always some people who had the most genuine and purest feelings. No matter how much time had passed, their hearts would still be exactly the same as before.
Just as Kong Lanyou had said, she’d only done two things throughout the 800 years: cultivated and taken revenge.
“Lord Chen, save me… I’m burning to death… I can’t…”
The fire on the Elephant-swallowing Rabbit burned even brighter. It ran toward Zhang Ruochen again.
Kong Lanyou sent it flying again. This time, it flew dozens of miles away. She really didn’t want it to come back.
In the distance, Qing Mo watched Zhang Ruochen and Kong Lanyou hug. Unhappiness colored her little face. Biting her lip lightly, she said, “Princess…”
Huang Yanchen glanced over and cut her off.
Zhang Ruochen and Kong Lanyou talked about many things, from childhood memories to recent experiences. They had a tacit agreement about not bringing up some sensitive things. They clearly didn’t want to ruin the atmosphere.
Kong Lanyou had calmed down and she smiled often.
“There’s something I have to tell you,” Zhang Ruochen said, trying his best to use a calm tone. “I’ve married Princess Yanchen.”
Kong Lanyou bit her lips. Her smile was wiped away immediately. “Brother Chen, don’t you think you should introduce us? We’re a family now, after all.”
Huang Yanchen walked over and stood with Zhang Ruochen. Instead of a cold expression, she had a rare smile on her face.
Zhang Ruochen pointed at Kong Lanyou. “Cousin, Kong Lanyou.” Then he pointed at Huang Yanchen to introduce her.
However, Kong Lanyou spoke first. “No need to introduce her a second time. I know that she’s your wife, Huang Yanchen. Cousin, I have a question. Have you moved on from Chi Yao so quickly?”
“What’s the point of bringing up the past?”
Zhang Ruochen’s smile disappeared. He didn’t answer Kong Lanyou and just turned around to stare at the headstone in the distance.
“For the next few days, I’ll stay to guard my mother’s tomb.”
Kong Lanyou didn’t force Zhang Ruochen to answer her question. “I’ll accompany you.”
Zhang Ruochen nodded. “When I entered the Royal Tombs, I saw battle corpses left behind by the Necromancer Race. There were signs of a battle too. Did you defeat them?”
“I never left this place.” Kong Lanyou’s eyes turned thoughtful. She shook her head and suddenly thought of something. “Perhaps it’s that person.”
“Who?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
“That person must be a tomb guard. I met him more than once in the Royal Tombs. However, he was always hidden. He thinks that he can hide from my senses but doesn’t know that I’ve already sensed him.”
So there really was a guard. Zhang Ruochen was instantly reassured.
With the guard’s abilities and the emperor-level formations of the Royal Tombs, the Necromancer Race wouldn’t be able to easily steal his ancestors’ corpses, no matter how mysterious their tricks were.
Just then, the Elephant-swallowing Rabbit made another weird sound in the distance. Leaving a blazing trail, it flew back. “Lord Chen, save me… I saw a ghost! He chased me and wanted to eat me. Thankfully, I lost him!”
Zhang Ruochen furrowed his brow, feeling a headache coming. He really wanted to knock the rabbit unconscious so it would stop freaking out all the time.
Qing Mo stood behind Huang Yanchen. Covering her mouth, she giggled. “The Royal Tombs has a sacred strength that can kill ghosts so there aren’t any evil beings. Guoguo, did your brain melt?”
“No, it really is a ghost. It looks just like a living being.”
Guoguo rushed to Qing Mo and panted heavily.
Seeing how serious the Elephant-swallowing Rabbit was, Qing Mo grew more convinced. Curious, she asked, “What exactly does the ghost look like?”
Gesturing with its claws, the rabbit said, “He looks like a menacing old monk with yellow teeth and leering eyes. He almost grabbed my tail, saying he wants to eat me. Thankfully, I ran fast enough. Otherwise, the consequences are unimaginable!”
Seeing how serious it was, Zhang Ruochen’s expression turned grave too.
Whoosh.
An old monk appeared in Zhang Ruochen’s sight.
Zhang Ruochen uttered a small noise and immediately looked to the center of the square.
The old monk was dressed in a loose robe and held a wine gourd. Like a real ghost, he appeared out of thin air before them all.
Guoguo’s fur stood up straight. Pointing at the old monk, it screamed, “Ghost! Lord Chen, it’s that old ghost!”
Only surprise flashed past Zhang Ruochen’s eyes. His emotions didn’t actually fluctuate.
Kong Lanyou’s cultivation was very advanced. No matter if the old monk was friend or foe, he probably didn’t dare to cause trouble.
He was only surprised because he’d seen this old monk at the Cai Family’s banquet. Everyone had thought that he was an independent martial artist who was there for free food.
Kong Lanyou walked over. Powerful Holy Qi rippled off of her, forming layers of saintly halos. Her eyes were as bright as stars. “This isn’t where you should be,” she warned. “Leave immediately.”
The old monk’s eyes were fearful when they fell upon Kong Lanyou. Then he turned toward Zhang Ruochen. He lowered onto one knee and saluted Zhang Ruochen with his fists. “Zhao Fu of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the Guarding Dragon Pavilion. I came to guard the Royal Tombs under the pavilion lord’s orders. Since the Crown Prince has arrived, I must come to greet you.”
Clearly, the old monk had been hiding and watching Zhang Ruochen’s every move. He hadn’t shown himself until he was sure of Zhang Ruochen’s identity.