The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 1149: Accident?

Accident? . . .

As Jun Yinglian gazed at him, her eyes took on a gentler expression.

"He must be reminiscing about our memories," she mused silently. "Only our shared memories can ensnare him in this way, and only in those memories can his true emotions surface."

With this thought, a subtle smile curved her lips.

"Is it too late?" she questioned herself. "No, not at all!"

In fact, she was immensely thankful to the heavens for the current turn of events. If Cha Eun Xiao hadn't undergone rebirth after his apparent demise, she believed that, even after thousands of years, he would still refuse to accept her. Before his apparent death, Xiao Monarch had never had the chance to marry her.

The death of Xiao Monarch, which had shattered her heart, had unexpectedly provided her with an opportunity.

Wasn't it a stroke of good fortune that Cha Eun Xiao had been reborn from the throes of death?

At least it was a stroke of good fortune for her and her enduring love for him.

She half-closed her eyes, feigning sleep to prevent Cha Eun Xiao from discovering her wakefulness. Instead, she peered beneath her eyelids to observe Cha Eun Xiao's face.

A peculiar sensation overcame her.

It was not because Cha Eun Xiao now bore a different visage. As she locked eyes with him and detected the genuine emotions—guilt, coldness—she was certain that this man was indeed Ye Xiao, the Xiao Monarch. Regardless of any change in his appearance, his eyes remained steadfast. At least, they couldn't deceive her. Noᴠelꜰire

No one else possessed such a pair of eyes.

They contained the entire world and projected the image of a sovereign descending to Earth. They cared for people's suffering but held disdain for the entire universe. They exhibited fear while remaining fearless. They showed mercy while dispensing decisive judgment.

"It's a much more handsome face, though," Jun Yinglian couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.

And it was true, even an understatement. Both Ye Nantian and Yue Gongxue were exceptionally beautiful individuals. Their genes were evidently superior. As their son, Ye Xiao was bound to be strikingly handsome. Despite personal preferences and the fact that beauty was subjective, Jun Yinglian couldn't deny that the new Ye Xiao's appearance surpassed that of Xiao Monarch.

The reason Jun Yinglian readily accepted Ye Xiao's altered appearance lay in their shared history.

Back in the old days, Jun Yinglian and Ye Xiao rarely had the opportunity to be together, and when they were, they often needed to conceal their true identities. These two made for a formidable pair of mischief-makers. Whenever they teamed up, trouble was sure to follow. They constantly antagonized influential figures who subsequently launched massive hunts to capture them.

Disguise became their salvation.

For Jun Yinglian, who had little time to spend with him, the specifics of Xiao Monarch's appearance held little importance. What truly mattered was having him by her side. As long as he was Ye Xiao, she would love him unconditionally, regardless of any change in his appearance.

For Dao Origin Stage cultivators, altering their appearance was a simple feat.

Feng Zhiling served as a prime example of disguise.

Cha Eun Xiao excelled at assuming roles that concealed his true identity, and his disguises were so impeccable that no one ever detected any flaws. He was, without a doubt, a master of disguise.

For Jun Yinglian, Cha Eun Xiao's appearance held no significance. What truly mattered was being enveloped in his embrace.

Now, he had finally accepted her.

"He said it clearly! He accepts me! There's nothing standing between us anymore!" she thought to herself.

After a moment of contemplation, Jun Yinglian rolled her eyes and feigned a cough of pain, causing blood to trickle from the corner of her mouth. She slowly opened her eyes and gazed weakly at Cha Eun Xiao.

Cha Eun Xiao was struck with terror and quickly inquired, "Lian Lian, what... what happened to you?"

"It doesn't make sense! I've already examined her with my spiritual power. She did lose consciousness, and her physical condition isn't at its best, but there should be no severe issue. After all, she was such a dominant cultivator. She shouldn't feel this weak. She passed out due to sheer excitement. As long as she calms down and gets some rest, she should be perfectly fine... But... what's going on? How can she be this frail? The blood... she's even coughing up blood... A superior cultivator like her should never experience such a problem. Did I miss something? Was I negligent in my examination?" Cha Eun Xiao pondered in confusion.

Jun Yinglian managed a weak smile and said, "I... I'm... fine."

She coughed once more, her voice growing even fainter. "Cha Eun Xiao, is it really you?"

"Of course! I'm here!" Cha Eun Xiao affirmed. "I'm here for real!"

Jun Yinglian gasped, her eyes lighting up. "It's... it's you... Cough, cough..."

"What's happening to you..."

Cha Eun Xiao was bewildered. He was anxious and concerned as he couldn't comprehend why the woman who had been so vigorous and had beaten him into a sorry state earlier had suddenly become so feeble. She was barely breathing!

He hastily checked her pulse by holding her wrist. As he did so, he was horrified to the point of nearly losing his composure.

What he sensed was that the spiritual qi within Jun Yinglian's body was in disarray. It couldn't gather or flow properly; it appeared to be dissipating...

It seemed as though there was no way to save her.

"What's going on?"

"Did the sudden turn of events shatter Lian Lian's cultivation heart because it all unfolded too abruptly and swiftly? She also unleashed her full power during the fight. That must have consumed a significant amount of her energy. She was perfectly fine before the altercation. Could this upheaval have thrown her spiritual qi into turmoil and ultimately broken it?" Cha Eun Xiao swiftly arrived at a logical conclusion, given his expertise in cultivation.

"By the heavens... and hell... Is this not too cruel to me?" he lamented.