Without realizing it, Zhao Xue's hand rested on Zhu Xu's nape.
Zhu Xu slowly stopped her tears, only then noticing that Zhao Xue's once black phoenix eyes had turned crimson.
"Zhao Xue."
Zhu Xu whispered Zhao Xue's name, her expression one of bewilderment.
Zhao Xue's eyelashes flickered, and the hand on Zhu Xu's nape tightened.
Abruptly, Zhao Xue pushed Zhu Xu's head into her neck.
Upon witnessing this, the Jade Emperor secretly commanded the three Great Celestial Venerables beside him to approach Zhao Xue.
Zhao Xue's phoenix eyes glinted, and with a raised hand, the three Great Celestial Venerables were repelled three feet away.
Zhao Xue tilted her head, narrowed her eyes, and nuzzled Zhu Xu's smooth black hair. Then, she lowered her head and whispered a few words into Zhu Xu's ear. The next second, Zhu Xu lost consciousness.
Zhao Xue lifted Zhu Xu horizontally, her white robes transforming into pure black.
Concurrently, the divine soldiers and celestial generals opposite Zhao Xue charged at her with lightning speed.
In an instant, the crimson in Zhao Xue's phoenix eyes intensified.
The divine soldiers and celestial generals were blocked by a thick barrier of demonic energy. By the time the three Great Celestial Venerables broke through this dense demonic aura, Zhao Xue had already vanished from the Ninth Heaven.
Silence fell upon the Ninth Heaven, an unnerving quiet.
The Heavenly Emperor and General Huo Gui wore grim expressions. They exchanged glances, each seeing the confusion in the other's eyes.
No matter how powerful the Demon Lord was, it was impossible to escape so easily from the Ninth Heaven with everyone present resisting him.
Someone among them must have tampered with something.
Or perhaps Zhao Xue's identity was more than just harboring the Demon Lord's demon seed?
With no concrete clues, no one dared to speak rashly.
-------------------------------------
"Who are you?"
Two hours later, Zhu Xu slowly awoke, feeling disoriented.
Zhu Xu looked at the person before her – fair-skinned, dressed in black, exuding an aura of abstinence. Zhao Xue. Her heart began to beat faster.
"I am your lover."
Zhao Xue sat by the bed, her gaze towards Zhu Xu distant, as if she were looking at chess pieces in a peach orchard, or perhaps at the Wine Immortal across a game table.
In any case, there was none of the tenderness and affection Zhao Xue had shown Zhu Xu before.
"What is a lover?"
Zhao Xue did not reply, her expression appearing somewhat impatient.
The next moment, Zhu Xu's hands wrapped around Zhao Xue's neck.
"I don't know what a lover is, but seeing you makes me incredibly happy."
As Zhu Xu finished speaking, Zhao Xue paused, looking at Zhu Xu with complex eyes. His phoenix eyes softened involuntarily.
But soon, Zhao Xue turned away, indifferently pushed Zhu Xu aside, and stood up to leave.
"I'll go prepare dinner for you."
Zhu Xu watched Zhao Xue's retreating figure, a pang of sadness in her heart. She rose, intending to follow. However, as her feet touched the ground and she tried to stand, her legs felt as if they hadn't been tamed, causing her to fall.
The fall was hard, and the sound was loud. Zhao Xue only paused upon hearing it before continuing to walk out.
...
Since Zhu Xu regained consciousness, Zhao Xue had been her only companion.
However, Zhao Xue spent little time with Zhu Xu, only bringing her meals and clothes each day.
More often than not, he was engrossed in reading.
While Zhao Xue was reading, Zhu Xu would stumble from her room towards Zhao Xue's study, which was filled with books, and quietly watch him.
To Zhu Xu, 'reading' simply meant flipping through pages.
Zhao Xue seemed to be searching for something. Zhu Xu watched as Zhao Xue used his magic to make the books turn pages one by one.
The speed was astonishing. To Zhu Xu, it looked as if Zhao Xue were searching for something akin to a fallen leaf or a flower.
Strange, what were leaves? What were flowers?
Thinking of this, Zhu Xu unconsciously frowned. Sudan Novel Network
*Bang—*
As Zhu Xu stood in a daze, Zhao Xue left again.
Zhao Xue never allowed Zhu Xu to follow him when he went out.
At times like these, Zhu Xu felt extremely dejected and sad. She felt that Zhao Xue was gone for so long, yet she saw him for such a short duration.
"Xuxu, we will become partners tomorrow."
That night, the door in front of Zhu Xu opened, and she saw Zhao Xue again.
"What does it mean to become partners?" Why did her heart race when she heard Zhao Xue say this?
"Becoming partners means you will be with me forever." Zhao Xue's tone was flat and emotionless.
Hearing Zhao Xue say this, Zhu Xu's crescent eyes instantly brightened. She loved being with Zhao Xue every day.
From that night onwards, Zhao Xue and Zhu Xu spent noticeably more time together. They slept in the same bed at night.
Looking at Zhao Xue's profile, Zhu Xu couldn't resist wanting to be closer to him.
With this thought, Zhu Xu acted upon it.
Tentatively, Zhu Xu leaned closer to Zhao Xue, then gently placed an arm around his abdomen.
Zhao Xue suddenly opened his eyes.
"What are you doing?" Zhao Xue also turned sideways, pushing Zhu Xu's hand away.
Seeing Zhao Xue, Zhu Xu began to cry, as if releasing all the sadness she had held in her heart these past few days.
Zhao Xue's gaze shifted from Zhu Xu's face, then he placed his hand on her back.
Zhao Xue looked up, his chin resting above Zhu Xu's head.
As the night dew deepened, Zhu Xu's sobs gradually lessened, then vanished into the boundless darkness of the demonic realm.
The next morning, Zhu Xu donned a bright red wedding dress.
When Zhu Xu stepped out, she was surprised to see many people, their faces beaming with smiles, holding celebratory gifts.
If Zhu Xu remembered the customs of mortal weddings at this moment, she would find this scene very familiar.
That night, Zhu Xu and Zhao Xue entered the bridal chamber.
In front of Zhu Xu, Zhao Xue drugged their exchanged wedding wine and then handed one cup to Zhu Xu.
They both drank it down, and then the wine cup in Zhao Xue's hand suddenly transformed into a gleaming dagger.
Zhu Xu stared blankly, not realizing what this signified.
With a *plunk*, the dagger in Zhao Xue's hand pierced Zhu Xu's heart.
Disbelieving, Zhu Xu lowered her head to look, then quickly raised it.
Zhu Xu's crescent eyes filled with tears. She simply looked at Zhao Xue, unable to utter a word.