Love & Redemption
Chapter 91 - 48: Fuyu Island (7)

Chapter 91: Chapter 48: Fuyu Island (7)

"Do you still remember that Cult from Zitong Mountain?" he asked. Chu Lei nodded his head.

Back then, it was Dongfang Qingqi who had rescued Lady Dongfang from Zitong Mountain. Out of gratitude, the beauty offered herself to him in marriage. However, her identity was doubted by Chu Lei and Valley Master Rong. Despite the opposition, Dongfang Qingqi insisted on taking her as his wife.

Their married life was nonetheless blissful and sweet. Though they had no children to date, Dongfang Qingqi didn’t care at all and cherished her as if she were a precious treasure in the palm of his hand.

Recently, it was rumored that the remnants of the Zitong Mountain Cult had begun to wreak havoc in Qin Mountain. Dongfang Qingqi thus sent more than a dozen disciples to eradicate them, capturing one of them and bringing the person back.

Chu Lei’s eyebrows raised at this point, realizing that the key lay with this captive.

Dongfang Qingqi spoke in a low voice, "I used some methods to force that person to reveal the whole truth... Do you know who Qingrong is? Not only is she a member of the Cult, but she is also akin to the Holy Daughter Sect Leader within it. She was obeyed without question because of her stunning looks, which led others to believe she was a Heavenly Immortal descended to earth. A beautiful woman’s greatest fear is aging, she initially wanted to cultivate into an immortal, but when that failed, she somehow learned that using virgins in Alchemy could eternally preserve her youth, and so..."

From this, his wife was not just some orphan from Zitong Mountain, but a core member of the Cult. It was ludicrous that he had been deceived for over a decade, and she had not revealed even the slightest flaw. The depth of her guile was simply immeasurable and utterly terrifying.

Chu Lei furrowed his brows in contemplation, and after a long time, suddenly rose to his feet. Dongfang Qingqi was slightly startled, "What do you plan to do?"

Chu Lei said indifferently, "Demons and heretics should be vanquished by all. Do you still intend to protect her?"

Dongfang Qingqi remained silent, then after a long while, he said, "I need a few more days to think about this..."

Chu Lei sighed, "So the disciples you sent away were all those who went to eliminate the remnants of the Cult? You were afraid that news might leak, so you drove them away..."

"It wasn’t about fearing the leak of information, but rather worrying that Qingrong would harm them if she found out," said Dongfang Qingqi in a low voice. "Since she is their Shiniang, they naturally wouldn’t dare to disobey her orders. I had no choice but to impose on them for the time being."

"Ridiculous! Your actions injure not just those you sent away! You’ve always acted with integrity; how could such a mistake occur! I don’t blame you for not bearing to act against a wife you’ve been with for over a decade, but you should remember what your master told you when he entrusted Fuyu Island to you!"

Never to collude with demons and heretics, never to be swayed by beauty.

Dongfang Qingqi could now only respond with a bitter smile and silence. Even if she was a great evil, after all, she was a wife he had shared a bed with for over a decade; to kill her so simply was likely something only someone with a heart of stone could do.

The earlier ’should be vanquished by all’ statement by Chu Lei was merely for show. This was Dongfang Qingqi’s family affair, and he lacked the right to claim authority and take the life of another’s wife. It was but a warning to jolt him out of his denial. Seeing him so lost in thought now, Chu Lei could only inwardly sigh.

"Go for a walk. I haven’t seen the sights of Fuyu Island for a long time."

He patted Dongfang Qingqi on the back, "I won’t force you, you need to clear things up on your own."

*****

Ouyang, as the Chief Steward of Fuyu Island, was usually very busy. On the rare occasions he managed to snatch a half day of leisure, he liked to sit on the small hill on the island, leaning against a tree to read a book or meditate.

Today he had managed to get half a day off as well and was sitting under the tree, except this time what he was looking at wasn’t a book, but a very small piece of paper.

It was unclear what was written on it, but he was engrossed in it.

Suddenly, a snow-white hand reached out from behind and gently snatched away the piece of paper. He was taken aback, only to hear a coquettish laugh by his ear as a soft voice said, "Let me see, what is our Chief Steward so fascinated by?"

He quickly stood up and bowed, "I pay my respects to the Lady."

It was indeed Qingrong who, seeing him act so respectfully, couldn’t help but wrinkle her nose, "You’re playing the prude with me again. You didn’t take my words to heart at all that day."

Ouyang remained silent, clearly irritating the beauty with his taciturn nature. She let out a couple of sighs, took his hand in hers, and whispered softly, "You—you mustn’t leave. In the past, weren’t you very good to me? Why do you suddenly want to go?"

Ouyang remained silent for a long while before he finally said, "I have repaid my debt of gratitude, it’s time for me to leave."

"What debt of gratitude? Have I ever been kind to you?" The beauty pressed her face against his, her eyelashes grazing his ear, tickling and tingling him.

Ouyang gave a bitter smile, "Lady Dongfang clearly knows, so why bother asking again. Humans and demons are ultimately different, and it’s not good for me to stay on the island for too long."

The beauty pushed his hand away, urgently saying, "All you think about is the debt of gratitude he owes you! What debt is that?! He merely pulled you out from the water, so you wouldn’t drown! Was there a shred of sincerity in it? My feelings for you are genuine! Does my kindness to you not count as a favor? Are you really that eager to leave?!"

Ouyang fell silent once again. Whenever he faced a difficult situation, silence was always his only response.

The beauty cried for a while, then said, "If you’re going to leave, take me with you! I can’t bear to stay in this place for another moment! I don’t care whether you’re human or demon; I like you either way! I want to follow you!"

She was out of options, this man was like a block of wood, soft, yet if you hit him, scolded him, or teased him, he would not make a sound. This kind of silence drove one to the brink of madness.

Ouyang quietly looked at the slip of paper falling from her hand, on which were only drawn some bizarre symbols, resembling talismans.

He stared at it for a very long time, and then suddenly said, "Alright, I can take you with me."

Qingrong could hardly believe her ears, she stared at him for a long time before finally opening her arms and embracing him tightly, sobbing, "Are you serious? You’re really willing to take me with you?"

"Of course, I’m serious."

Qingrong held him tightly, her face radiating a dreamlike glow, whispering, "I knew you wouldn’t bear to leave me... Do you remember what you said when I discovered your true identity?"

Ouyang said indifferently, "My goal is cultivation, even though I’m a demon, I never harm humans. Besides, with my power, it would be easy to harm you or the Island Master. My visit was simply to repay a favor."

Qingrong laughed, "That’s right, I’ve always remembered what you said that day. Dear Ouyang, you’re stronger than anyone else here... Those cultivation sects, always deluding themselves into thinking they can become immortals, but none of their methods work... Take me with you, teach me how to cultivate, so we can become immortals together and never part."

Ouyang paused for a while, then said softly, "You should remember what I’ve told you, becoming an immortal is not easy. Many demons cultivate for thousands of years but only manage to transform into humans, never able to advance further. And you, you’re not even a demon, just an ordinary person, are you sure you can become immortal?"

"With you by my side, for your sake, I will definitely become immortal."

Her vows were always so simple, with no persuasive power. But who says that vows must always be grand and soul-deep?

Ouyang was silent for a long time before finally saying, "Alright, I’ll take you with me. But you must do me a favor."

"Tell me what it is."

"There’s a secret chamber beneath Fuyu Island. I hope you can help me find it. It is very important to me."

Seeing her about to ask, he continued, "Don’t ask any questions. After I take you away, I’ll tell you everything."

She ran off with happiness radiating from her face.

Was that happiness because of him, or because of the possibility to cultivate?

Ouyang stood there for a long time, finally bending down to pick up the piece of paper from the ground, crumpling it in his palm into ashes, which the wind blew away in an instant.

He turned and walked away as if he had not seen a figure standing behind the distant trees, disappearing in a flash. (To be continued. For the continuation of the story, please visit www.qidian.com. More Chapters available, support the author, support genuine reading!)