Chapter 123: The Azure Fox’s Home, Uncontrollable Feelings
Silence engulfed the cave as Yun Yue stared at the shattered remnants of her soul realm, utterly defeated.
Never had she imagined her ultimate defense to be so easily broken.
A millennium of solitude, swept away in a single gesture.
Lin Tianlu had fulfilled his promise with brute force, shattering her last shred of resistance and bringing their conflict to an end.
“…”
She should have smiled serenely, accepted her defeat gracefully.
But…
Yun Yue clutched her chest, a profound sense of emptiness and confusion washing over her.
Her long-held desire had been destroyed, yet she felt no relief.
Only…
Emptiness.
Why was she even alive?
The vibrant first half of her life had vanished in an instant, replaced by a lifetime of solitary confinement.
A thousand years, filled with nothing but endless loneliness and despair.
The sliver of hope she had clung to for centuries…
Had been crushed by Lin Tianlu.
What was the point of her endurance and suffering?
“What… what am I even doing…”
Yun Yue murmured, a sigh escaping her lips.
She felt a gaping hole in her heart, as if a part of her had been ripped away.
Her millennium of cultivation seemed insignificant, her cunning and intelligence a cruel joke.
Now, she had nothing.
She was still alone.
Looking up at Lin Tianlu, who was standing before her, Yun Yue’s eyes were filled with a distant longing.
“—Sir, kill me.”
Lin Tianlu’s expression remained unchanged, as if he had anticipated this. “You want to die?”
“My centuries of cultivation are meaningless, my thousand-year-long hope just a fleeting dream. My existence as the Azure Fox is nothing but a pathetic joke.”
A bitter smile appeared on Yun Yue’s lips. “I almost harmed Ruoyu. How can I possibly ask for forgiveness?”
“And besides, I committed countless atrocities a thousand years ago. A sinner like me deserves to die.”
“—I understand.”
Lin Tianlu nodded slightly, his expression unwavering. “But you’re afraid.”
Yun Yue’s face paled, her lips losing their color.
They both knew what had transpired during those six months in the dream realm.
Whenever he encountered someone consumed by bloodlust and malice, Lin Tianlu never hesitated to eliminate them.
“…”
Although she had embraced the idea of death, the thought of facing it now filled her with anxiety and a heart-wrenching pain.
She didn’t want to expose her ugliness and sins to this man.
Her conflicted emotions made her face contort, her lips trembling, unable to utter a single word.
Perhaps, she truly was afraid.
But…
This journey into the Netherworld had made Lin Tianlu contemplate many things.
As he traversed the countless ‘prisons,’ he had encountered all sorts of demons and ghosts.
There were crazed, maddened spirits, and there were those who appeared refined and elegant, devoid of any bloodlust, yet still intent on taking his life.
There were those bathed in bloodlust, yet possessing a kind and gentle demeanor.
The line between good and evil was often blurred.
Although Yun Yue had a faint aura of bloodlust, the six months he had spent with her… had been surprisingly warm and peaceful.
In the dream, she hadn’t displayed any extraordinary power. She was just an ordinary, lazy woman, spending her days lounging on the corridor, sitting in the pavilion, or even lying on the roof, like a carefree fox, occasionally brushing her hair as her only form of exercise.
But she had never neglected any requests from her family.
He remembered her every smile and gesture, her gentle and kind demeanor.
There were no schemes or deceptions, no hidden agendas.
Yun Yue had simply enjoyed their life together, accepting their reliance with a loving smile, and caring for everyone with kindness and consideration.
She was Mao Ruoyu’s sister.
Even though they weren’t blood-related, their bond in the dream was genuine.
“So—”
Lin Tianlu extended his hand.
Yun Yue closed her eyes, her heart filled with sorrow, waiting for death.
But instead of oblivion, she felt a large hand ruffling her hair gently.
“You should prepare to atone for your sins.”
“What… what do you mean?”
Yun Yue looked up in surprise.
“Perhaps it’s my own selfishness, or perhaps my way of thinking has changed. Whether you’re Madam Mao’s sister or a friend who shared our home, I won’t let you die here.”
Lin Tianlu gently pulled her up from the ground, his hand on her trembling shoulder.
“Don’t forget my initial promise, Miss Yun Yue. I will safely rescue both of you from this place. Neither of you will be left behind.”
“W-why…?”
“Nine hundred years of solitude, even just the despair and regret, are enough to wash away most of your sins.”
“I’m not a heartless judge of the underworld.”
Lin Tianlu’s voice was calm yet firm. “In my eyes, your crimes don’t warrant death.
But while you may be spared from death, you can’t escape punishment. You must atone for your sins without any slacking.”
“…”
Looking into his unwavering eyes, Yun Yue was speechless for a moment, tears welling up in her eyes.
Only a soft, heartfelt sigh escaped her lips.
“You… foolish scholar.”
A bittersweet smile appeared on her face.
“If you truly have a way to escape this Netherworld, then take Ruoyu and leave quickly. I’m bound by the Netherworld’s chains. My body can never escape this place.”
She gently caressed his face, a wistful smile on her lips. “Your kindness is enough for me.
Once you two are gone, I’ll stay here and wish you—”
“Save those words for when we’re back home, Miss Yun Yue.”
Lin Tianlu smiled and gently placed his finger on her lips.
Then, a majestic mountain silhouette appeared behind him, shrouded in ethereal mist, its divine aura descending upon them. Emerald green energy condensed, transforming into chains of spiritual energy.
Yun Yue’s eyes widened slightly.
Lin Tianlu gently touched her chest. “Your first punishment will be… to live a happy and fulfilling life.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the emerald green chains pierced through her body, instantly shattering the Netherworld chains that had bound her!
With a muffled groan, a translucent soul phantom was forcefully pulled out of her body, merging into the ethereal mountain.
Yun Yue felt her strength draining away as she collapsed into Lin Tianlu’s arms.
Her demonic and Yin energy were fading, but her heart felt an unprecedented sense of peace, as if she had been cleansed.
“How… how is this…”
Her face was filled with bewilderment.
She couldn’t believe that this man had completely defied the rules of the Netherworld.
But as their eyes met, all her doubts and confusion vanished, replaced by pure joy and affection.
“Thank you—”
“There’s no need for thanks between us.” Lin Tianlu smiled. “If you’re truly grateful, just make us some pastries when we get back.”
Yun Yue smiled, a captivating smile, her eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief.
Then, she glanced at Mao Ruoyu in the distance.
—Perhaps from the moment they met, a spark of jealousy had ignited within her.
She envied Ruoyu’s vibrant life, her loving companions, and she yearned for… the genuine affection that had shaken her to her core.
These were all things she had never had.
And now, perhaps a trace of that envy still lingered…
“Miss Yun Yue, I’ll have to ask you to bear with me for a moment.”
“I’ll trust you this once.”
Yun Yue closed her eyes with a smile, her body glowing as she transformed into a fluffy, adorable azure cloud fox.
Lin Tianlu gently held her in his arms and walked towards the edge of the lake.
…
They reunited, but words were unnecessary.
Although Mao Ruoyu hadn’t heard their conversation, she had witnessed everything. She gently took the unconscious cloud fox into her arms, her gaze filled with concern.
“Sister Yun, she…”
“Her soul was partially extracted, and her demonic and Yin energy were sealed. That’s why she’s weak and sleeping.” Lin Tianlu said gently. “She’ll regain consciousness after some rest.”
“…”
But after a moment of silence, Mao Ruoyu’s eyes welled up with tears, and she clutched his sleeve tightly. “Why… why did you come here?!
This Netherworld hasn’t been opened for a thousand years. There’s no way out. Once you enter, you’ll be trapped here until you die!”
“Are you worried about me, Madam?”
“Of course I am!”
Mao Ruoyu was on the verge of tears. “I’m not important, but you’re wasting your youth in this place, Sir. And there’s Miss Cheng and Miss Hua waiting for you outside. How can I bear to see this happen?!”
Lin Tianlu smiled gently. “If I were to say some sweet words now, would you be so moved that you’d offer yourself to me, Madam?”
“You…”
Seeing her tears, Lin Tianlu sighed helplessly, cupped her face, and said reassuringly, “Don’t worry, since I’m here, I’ll find a way out.”
Mao Ruoyu just bit her lip, unable to contain her emotions. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him into a kiss.
Her previously cold body was now burning with warmth, the love buried deep within her heart overflowing like a flood.
Gratitude and affection, sorrow and heartache… She abandoned all restraint, wanting to express the overwhelming emotions surging within her.
Lin Tianlu was stunned for a moment, then he hugged her tightly, responding to her passionate love.
…
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