NOVPUB"Miss, is meeting someone really worth such a grand reception?"
"You don’t understand," Lan Ke’er tried on her clothes and mumbled back.
"What’s there not to understand? The Miss is surely going to meet someone she likes," Yun teased with a laugh.
"I also want to see who the future son-in-law is, to actually capture our Miss’s affection."
"You little girl, don’t talk nonsense," Lan Ke’er’s lips curved slightly upward, her cheeks flushed with color.
...…
The spring sunshine poured down softly, the sky was cloudless, bright and pleasant.
The guests in the front yard were still enjoying themselves heartily, toasting and drinking.
Inside the small courtyard, the sound of the flowing water was very peaceful, and the trees on both sides swayed their branches gently amidst the noise of the old days’ wind.
A young girl in a blue dress walked in with the light breeze, her steps tranquil.
Xu Zimei watched her quietly as she approached, her long, lustrous black hair was gently tied with a purple ribbon.
Her snow-white oval face broke into a smile like a fresh breeze; her cherry lips were red and her teeth white, clearly carefully made up.
Her slender and graceful figure was dressed in a moon-white gown, with a matching chiffon white blouse on her upper body.
The chiffon floating sleeves swayed lightly, and around her waist was a belt of the same moon-white color, with scattered floral embroidery on the chest, ethereal and elegant.
The breeze came along, wafting the chiffon as if everything in the world faded in comparison to Lan Ke’er’s arrival.
Lan Ke’er slowly stopped in front of Xu Zimei, tilting her head slightly to look at him.
A faint fragrance surrounded them.
"You’re here," she said calmly.
If you listened carefully, you could detect an uncontrollable surprise and excitement hidden within that calmness.
Xu Zimei pulled the girl into his embrace, inhaling her scent.
He gently caressed her beautiful hair and replied with a smile, "I’m here."
"Did you come especially to find me?" Lan Ke’er lifted her head and asked expectantly.
"Yes," Xu Zimei nodded, affirming.
"Then why didn’t you come find me sooner?" Lan Ke’er’s arms wrapped around Xu Zimei slightly as she asked.
"You also know that the Central Continent is far away from the Eastern Continent, and it is fraught with dangers along the way," Xu Zimei said with a laugh.
"I naturally needed to train hard."
"I missed you," hearing Xu Zimei’s words, Lan Ke’er hugged him even tighter.
She pressed her face against Xu Zimei’s chest and murmured, "Missed you so much."
Xu Zimei took Lan Ke’er’s hand, and they sat together on the stone bench under the Demon Vanquishing Tree.
They chatted quietly, Lan Ke’er shared her experiences of the past few days with Xu Zimei.
Xu Zimei listened with a smile; the girl from his memories made him feel as if he were in a trance.
It was as if there was indeed a concept of reincarnation in this world.
"Have you seen my father?" Lan Ke’er asked, looking at Xu Zimei.
"Not yet, but I plan to meet him, although it might not be too pleasant," Xu Zimei said with a smile.
"Why?" Lan Ke’er asked, puzzled.
"I heard that you are going to hold a Demon-hunting Event," Xu Zimei explained.
"Yes, Father has already invited many forces to serve as witnesses," Lan Ke’er replied, still confused.
"Could you talk to your father about releasing that demon?" Xu Zimei suggested.
"That’s probably impossible, our Lan Family is a Demon-Slaying Family, and everyone in the family hates demons," Lan Ke’er shook her head.
"Besides, the one we caught this time is a peerless great demon, Father will definitely kill it."
"If I were a demon too, would you also want to kill me?" Xu Zimei said, gently stroking her hair with a light smile.
"What are you talking about?" Lan Ke’er stood there perplexed, her eyes filled with confusion as she looked at Xu Zimei.
"You understood me. I am also demonic," Xu Zimei said calmly.
Upon hearing Xu Zimei’s words, Lan Ke’er was stunned, rooted to the spot.
Then, she forced a smile and said, "You’re joking with me, right? You’re the Saint Heir of the True Martial Holy Sect, how could you be a demon?"
"Would you kill me?" Xu Zimei asked.
"I... I wouldn’t," Lan Ke’er shook her head, her expression still somewhat disbelieving.
"Could you pass a message to your father for me?" Xu Zimei asked gently.
"Say it," Lan Ke’er replied.
"For your sake, I’ll give him two options. Either release that demon or I will personally save it myself, and whoever stands in my way shall die!"
Xu Zimei spoke every word carefully and seriously.
"Why does it have to be this way," Lan Ke’er looked at Xu Zimei in pain.
"Good girl, I’ll wait for his reply," Xu Zimei smiled.
"If a war really breaks out, will you stand by me or your family?"
"I don’t know, I really don’t know," Lan Ke’er kept shaking her head, her eyes beginning to mist over.
"You came here, not to find me but to save that demon, right?"
"It’s both to find you and to save him," Xu Zimei said.
"This time tomorrow, I’ll be waiting for you here. Tell me your answer then."
"Why must we choose? Can’t we just live well?" Lan Ke’er asked in anguish.
"This is the path I must walk. I am a demon, but for you, I am willing to spare the Demon-Slaying Family.
What about your Demon-Slaying Family?" Xu Zimei said.
"I understand," Lan Ke’er took a deep breath and nodded her head.
Watching Lan Ke’er’s retreating figure, Xu Zimei squinted his eyes and remained silent for a long time without speaking a word.
...…
"You really are ruthless, giving such a difficult choice to your own woman," the Divine Emperor commented from the side.
"On one side is the person she loves, on the other is her own family. You didn’t make the choice but threw it to her instead."
"You’re wrong. In fact, I’ve already made my choice," Xu Zimei shook his head and spoke indifferently.
"I could just descend upon Heaven Blue City and annihilate the Lan Family outright.
But because of her, I’ve already stepped back and given the Lan Family a choice.
If they’re willing to release Bai Meng, they can not only avoid the catastrophe of annihilation but also gain my Xu Zimei’s friendship, as well as that of the True Martial Holy Sect behind me.
Where in the world could they find such a good deal?"
"Do you think the Lan Family will agree?" the Divine Emperor asked.
"Whether they agree or not, their life and death don’t concern me," Xu Zimei replied.
"I just wanted to give Ke Er a clear stance, to let her know that I’ve given them a chance."
"So you’re truly planning to eradicate the Lan Family?" the Divine Emperor asked curiously.
"That depends on whether they know when to advance or retreat," Xu Zimei replied.
"I’ve taken a step back, and if there is still someone who doesn’t appreciate it,
what’s wrong with wiping them out?"
"What if she tries to stop it?" the Divine Emperor asked.
Xu Zimei was silent for a moment, finally, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon.
He said lightly, "I won’t let a woman stand in my way.
I’d rather betray the world than let it betray me."
