Chapter 96

Chapter 96: I’m Guilty, I Love Her

Everyone took their assigned roles and began diligently chopping down trees.

“Alright, we should go pick the Lychee fruits now.”

As she spoke, Qingyu turned her head, seeing her daughter clinging to Xie Chenzhou, and felt a headache coming on:

“Weiwei, why are you clinging to the guest again?”

Weiwei wrapped her arms around Xie Chenzhou’s neck, rubbing her forehead against his face, affectionately calling out:

“Zhou, Zhou.”

Xie Chenzhou held her with one arm, turning his face away awkwardly:

“Stop calling me that, it’s annoying.”

She ignored him, continuing to rub against him, still calling out “Zhou” over and over again.

Xie Chenzhou couldn’t do anything about her, so he looked at Sang Nian for help.

Sang Nian snapped out of her thoughts and smiled:

“She really likes you, she’s been clinging to you the whole time.”

Xie Chenzhou furrowed his brows:

“It’s annoying.”

Sang Nian said: “Don’t say that in front of the child.”

Xie Chenzhou changed his words: “A little annoying.”

Sang Nian: “Tsk.”

Xie Chenzhou remained expressionless:

“She’s so cute.”

Sang Nian nodded in satisfaction.

He stiffly handed Weiwei to Qingyu, then turned to join the others in chopping down trees.

The flash of his sword and the sound of “boom” echoed continuously, and in a blink of an eye, a row of trees had fallen.

The Zhuyu people holding axes stared blankly, their jaws nearly hitting the ground.

Qingyu also said:

“It’s really strange, our Weiwei actually likes your friend so much. This morning too, it was as if she knew you were coming, and suddenly ran out.”

Sang Nian stroked her chin:

“She wouldn’t have come out specifically to greet us, would she?”

After saying that, she narrowed her eyes, leaned close to Weiwei, and lowered her voice:

“Tell me, who sent you? Who is your superior?”

Weiwei: “Ya?”

Sang Nian: “What is your purpose in lurking among us?”

Weiwei was amused by her, waving her little hands and saying “ah,” then hugged her neck, just like she did with Xie Chenzhou, rubbing against her.

Sang Nian’s heart melted, her back didn’t ache anymore, her legs didn’t hurt anymore, she held the sword and chopped with a bang.

With their help, the wood needed for the bridge was quickly chopped down.

The next problem was transporting the wood to the riverbank.

“Use ropes to pull them one by one?” Sang Nian said, “That’s too slow.”

The Zhuyu people scratched their heads:

“What should we do then?”

Sang Nian put all the wood into her storage bag:

“Alright, I’ll take them out tomorrow when we reach the riverbank.”

The Zhuyu people widened their eyes, not understanding how she made the wood disappear.

Sang Nian demonstrated again and explained:

“This storage bag has a formation drawn on it, containing a small space, about the size of your village.”

Their eyes widened even further.

“Alright, pack up and go back for dinner,” Qingyu said, “We’ve also collected our fruits.”

Everyone responded in unison, quickly packing up their things, and headed back with laughter and joy.

The Zhuyu people ate together, not separately in their houses.

On the east side of the village, a god statue stood on the grass, towering over ten meters tall.

Time had weathered the statue, its facial features were blurred, and its original appearance was indistinguishable.

Its hands were clasped together in front of its chest, its demeanor was extremely peaceful, but at its feet lay a ferocious beast.

“This is the god that our Zhuyu people worship,” Qingyu introduced, “It was He who created the Zhuyu and gave us life.”

Sang Nian hurriedly followed her example and bowed to the statue.

Xie Chenzhou stood far away, showing no intention of coming over to bow.

Sang Nian didn’t force him, she smiled at him:

“Come on, let’s go eat.”

A long table was set up on the nearby grass.

Wooden plates held food of unknown ingredients, one plate after another was brought to the table.

Everyone sat on both sides, clasped their hands in front of their chests, and prayed in unison:

“May the gods bless us.”

As soon as the words fell, they picked up their utensils and began to eat.

Sang Nian looked curiously at the food in front of her.

It was a bunch of milky white, noodle-like things, soft and floppy, smelling of grass and wood.

“This is made from the ground seeds of the yellow grass.”

Qingyu said:

“Eating it will prevent you from getting scabies, and your skin will be very good.”

Sang Nian tentatively took a bite, it had a very unique grass and wood flavor.

She took a bottle of vinegar from her storage bag, poured in a lethal amount, and devoured it.

Xie Chenzhou also took a bite, silently took her vinegar, and poured in a lethal amount as well.

There were also a few plates of Lychee fruits.

Sang Nian said:

“You only eat fruits and noodles for dinner? So bland, no meat?”

There were clearly many wild rabbits and other animals in the mountains, it couldn’t be that there wasn’t even a speck of meat.

Qingyu’s expression became serious:

“We can’t harm them, it’s wrong.”

Sang Nian was stunned.

Qingyu’s husband chimed in:

“If we hurt a rabbit, we would be so heartbroken, heartbroken to the point of wanting to die with the rabbit.”

“The same goes for harming other sentient beings.”

Sang Nian paused her eating.

The words of the thief from that day echoed in her ears:

“There are no beings more compassionate and kind than them.”

The Zhuyu people, descendants of the gods.

They possess a heart of compassion that rivals the gods.

But for them, this might not be a good thing.

…

The sun slowly sank behind the distant mountains, dusk enveloped the land.

After dinner, the villagers gathered around the statue, singing and dancing.

Sang Nian and Xie Chenzhou sat to the side, watching, their chins resting on their hands, comfortably saying:

“This is so nice.”

Xie Chenzhou looked at her intently, casually humming in agreement.

Qingyu rushed out of the crowd, forcefully pulling them away, enthusiastically saying:

“Let me teach you how to dance!”

Sang Nian was startled, hurriedly waving her hands:

“No, no, no, no…”

Before she could finish, she and Xie Chenzhou were pushed in front of the statue.

Suddenly, the statue glowed.

Two white flowers floated down from the sky, slowly landing in Sang Nian and Xie Chenzhou’s palms.

Sang Nian curiously asked: “What is this?”

Xie Chenzhou wasn’t interested, and casually threw it away.

Qingyu excitedly said:

“This is the White flower, it represents the blessing bestowed upon you by the gods, proving that He acknowledges your union, you will be a happy couple!”

Sang Nian translated truthfully, Xie Chenzhou bent down and picked up the flower.

The next moment, the surrounding Zhuyu people swarmed over, each escorting the two away.

Sang Nian was confused, she had changed into Zhuyu clothes, and asked dazedly:

“What are we doing?”

Qingyu skillfully dressed her hair, smiling and replying:

“According to tradition, those who receive the White flower must be married immediately under the statue.

This way, the blessings of the gods will be fulfilled, and you will be together forever.”

Sang Nian: “Ah??!!!”

Soon, she was dressed in new clothes and escorted back to the statue.

Xie Chenzhou was already waiting there.

He had also changed into Zhuyu clothes, making him look even taller and more upright.

Hearing Sang Nian’s voice, he immediately turned around.

Both of them were stunned.

The young man had his slightly curly hair loose, a thin silver chain-like headband adorned his forehead, with small red and blue glass beads hanging from it.

He had braided small braids on both sides, with glittering pendants hanging in his hair, and a few bright feathers of the Red pheasants at the ends.

Except for the headband, Sang Nian and his attire were almost identical.

However, she had more and more exquisite pendants in her hair, and her clothes were more flowing, the bracelets on her arms were dazzling.

This was the first time Sang Nian had seen him in such an exotic outfit, she subconsciously held her breath, even forgetting to blink.

She stared and praised: “You look so handsome.”

He also said: “You look so beautiful.”

Sang Nian: “Yes, yes, you look so handsome.”

Xie Chenzhou: “I was talking about you.”

Sang Nian’s already dazed head became even more dizzy.

Amidst the congratulations of the Zhuyu people, she was pushed to Xie Chenzhou’s side, standing side by side with him under the statue.

The Zhuyu people on both sides diligently scattered petals.

Xie Chenzhou, with red ears, stretched out his hand to Sang Nian.

Sang Nian nervously said:

“Isn’t this a bit inappropriate? Do you know what we’re about to do?”

Xie Chenzhou: “Hmm?”

Sang Nian: “They said we got the flower, and we have to get married under the statue, are we really going to… get married?”

Xie Chenzhou asked back:

“Didn’t we already get married?”

Sang Nian’s voice was so small that only she could hear it:

“But that time… that time didn’t count.”

Xie Chenzhou pursed his lips and asked:

“Then would you be willing to marry me again?”

Sang Nian was stunned.

After a long while, she took his outstretched hand and intertwined her fingers with his.

She softly said:

“I would.”

Sang Nian was willing to marry Xie Chenzhou.

Cheers erupted like a tidal wave.

The two looked at each other and smiled, their hearts pounding.

…

No one knew that many years later, Xie Chenzhou, no longer a young man, came to this statue once again.

At that time, he was the Demon Lord feared, hated, and loathed by the world.

Demon Lord Xie Chenzhou knelt before the statue, his hands clasped together in prayer.

“Oh, great god, I, Xie Chenzhou, repent for all the sins I have committed.”

“I am willing to fall into the abyss for this, to suffer the pain of being burned by fire and the agony of having my bones broken and tendons pulled, forever and ever.”

“I only beg… for my wife to return.”

“I am guilty.”

“I love her.”