86: Chapter 86: Goku's Hermitage

As the voice faded, that figure turned into specks of fluorescent light, scattering into the air, leaving not even a trace behind.

Dozens of pilgrims stood with their backs straight, their faces wearing identical smiles of extreme satisfaction.

Their skin was shriveling at a speed visible to the naked eye, wrinkles covering their faces, their hair turning gray, yet they smiled even more happily.

Cold sweat ran down Niu Fei's spine, soaking his rough cloth shirt, making him shiver from the cold; he had never seen such an eerie way to die.

Dying while smiling, dying willingly. Even at the brink of death, they still felt it was a great blessing.

"Is this... emotional blackmail?" Niu Fei's throat felt like it had been scrubbed with sandpaper, raspy and hoarse, and the knuckles of the hand gripping his wolf-tooth club were white.

Qiu Chuanxing's long blade had already been unsheathed by half an inch, its cold light reflecting off his tense face.

Jiang Jiye covered her mouth tightly, her stomach churning. She looked at the shriveled corpse curled up on the ground, then swept her gaze over those smiling pilgrims, and a chill shot from the soles of her feet straight to her crown.

Jiang Yuehong trembled like a leaf in the autumn wind, her eyes nailed to the corpse, her pupils shrinking to the size of pinpricks.

The playfulness on Ling Muxue's face vanished completely; she narrowed her eyes, like a leopard ready to pounce, her gaze sweeping over every pillar in the great hall.

"Be careful, they are coming."

Footsteps emerged from the darkness in the deepest part of the great hall.

Three figures walked out from the darkness, step by step.

On the left was a seven or eight-year-old girl in a pink cloth dress with pigtails; her cheeks were rosy, and she had two shallow dimples when she smiled.

In the middle was a scholar in a green robe with a face like jade and eyes like bright stars, a gentle smile playing on the corners of his lips, holding a folding fan in his hand.

He had transformed into Jiang Yuehong's lover, Lin Jingyu.

On the right was a woman in black with silver hair cascading to her waist and purple eyes like the deepest sea. She tilted her head slightly, her gaze filled with laziness, allure, and a trace of sadness that could not be hidden.

The three people walked up to the group and stood still.

They did not attack.

They just looked at them with reddened eyes.

"Brother."

Niu Yaya spoke first.

Her voice was soft and sweet, carrying a sobbing tone, like a needle gently pricking Niu Fei's heart.

"Brother, I missed you so much."

Niu Fei shuddered all over.

He stared intently at the little girl before him.

"Ya... Yaya?" Niu Fei's voice trembled uncontrollably, and his wolf-tooth club fell to the ground with a clang.

"It's me, Brother." Niu Yaya reached out her small hand and walked toward him step by step, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I've been waiting for you here for such a long, long time. I sat at the door waiting for you every day. I thought you would never come again."

She walked up to Niu Fei, tilted her little face up, and sobbed.

"Brother, why did you only come now?"

"Yaya!"

Niu Fei roared like a wounded beast and rushed forward violently.

"Niu Fei! Don't go!" Qiu Chuanxing reached out to grab his arm.

Niu Fei jerked his arm away with shocking strength, directly sending Qiu Chuanxing staggering.

"Get lost!" He said with red eyes, as if he had gone mad. "That's my sister! That's Yaya!"

He rushed to Niu Yaya, knelt down with a thud, and carefully reached out his hand, wanting to touch her face.

His hand was shaking violently; he tried to touch her several times but couldn't.

"Yaya, is it really you?" He choked, large tears falling onto the ground. "Brother is sorry. If it weren't for me back then... if it weren't for me..."

He couldn't continue.

His throat felt blocked by something, aching intensely.

"Brother, I don't blame you." Niu Yaya reached out her small hand and gently wiped the tears from Niu Fei's face. Her hand was warm and soft, exactly like a living person.

"I know Brother didn't mean it. I have never blamed Brother."

She stood on her tiptoes and kissed Niu Fei on the cheek.

"Brother, stay." She looked into Niu Fei's eyes, her gaze as clear as a spring of water. "Stay and keep me company. We will never be separated again. Here, no one will bully us, there are no monsters, and no bad people. We can be together forever."

Niu Fei looked into her eyes; they were full of expectation and dependence.

Stay, yes, stay. Stay and be with Yaya forever.

Wasn't this his greatest wish in this life? His hand slowly dropped.

"Okay," he said softly, his voice as light as a breeze. "Brother will stay. Brother will stay with Yaya forever."

"Great!" Niu Yaya laughed happily, threw herself into Niu Fei's arms, and hugged his neck tightly. "Brother is so good!"

Niu Fei also hugged her tightly.

Feeling her small, warm body and smelling the faint scent of grass on her hair, he felt that he had never been so happy in his life.

Even if he died right now, it would be worth it.

"Yuehong." A gentle voice rang in her ear.

Jiang Yuehong shuddered and suddenly looked up.

Lin Jingyu was standing in front of her, looking at her. His eyes were gentle, just as they were back then.

Back then, under the peach blossom tree, he had also looked at her like this and said to her, "Yuehong, when I pass the imperial examinations, I will come back to marry you."

But he never came back. To protect her, he had blocked the way in front of her and was hacked to death by chaotic blades.

She watched with her own eyes as he collapsed in front of her, blood spraying all over her face.

Warm and sticky; from then on, she changed.

She became timid and cowardly. But as soon as she saw blood, she would become another person.

Crazy, bloodthirsty, and recognizing no one.

She hated herself. She hated her own incompetence. She hated why she couldn't have died in his place.

"Jingyu..." Jiang Yuehong's lips trembled, and tears fell like broken beads, pattering down.

"Yuehong, don't cry." Lin Jingyu walked toward her step by step, reached out, and gently wiped the tears from her face. "I am here. I have always been here."

"Jingyu, I'm sorry. I'm sorry." Jiang Yuehong threw herself into his arms and sobbed loudly. "It's all my fault! It's all my fault! If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have died! It's all my fault!"

"Silly girl, how could it be your fault?" Lin Jingyu gently patted her back. "Protecting you was my own willing choice. To be able to die for you, I have no regrets."

"But I regret it!" Jiang Yuehong looked up, looking at him with teary eyes. "I would rather it be me who died! I would rather die in your place!"

"Don't say that." Lin Jingyu stroked her hair. "I want you to live well. To live happily."

He looked into her eyes and said earnestly, "Yuehong, stay. Stay and keep me company. We will never be separated again. Here, there is no Demon Sect, no slaughter. We can be like before, reading and writing under the peach blossom tree, living our lives quietly."

Jiang Yuehong looked into his eyes.

In those eyes, there was nothing but love and tenderness.

This was her greatest wish in this life.

If she could be with Jingyu forever, even if it meant becoming a shriveled corpse, even if it meant Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, she would be willing.

Her hand slowly released the short blade at her waist.

"Okay," she said softly. "I will stay. I will stay with you forever."

"That's great." Lin Jingyu smiled and hugged her tightly. "Yuehong, I missed you so much. I really missed you so much."

Jiang Yuehong leaned into his arms and closed her eyes.

Tears slid down silently.

Now, only Wu Xi and Cthylla remained.

Cthylla looked at Wu Xi quietly.

She did not speak, she just walked toward Wu Xi step by step.

Wu Xi stood where he was, unmoving.

Cthylla walked to him and stopped.

She looked up and looked into Wu Xi's eyes. "Wu Xi."

She spoke softly, her voice raspy and carrying a sobbing tone.

"You finally came."

Wu Xi's heart contracted violently.

It was as if it had been gripped hard by an invisible hand.

Cthylla, daughter of Cthulhu, princess of Rlyeh.

The woman who had experienced the reproduction ritual with him in the slippery domed hall of the Deep Ones.

"I thought you wouldn't come." Cthylla reached out and gently stroked Wu Xi's face. Her hand was very cold, like ice.

"I've been waiting here for such a long time." Her tears flowed down. "I think of you every day. Wondering if you would come to find me. Wondering if you have already forgotten me."

"I haven't forgotten." Wu Xi said softly.

His voice was very dry.

"Then why did you only come now?" Cthylla looked at him, her eyes filled with grievance. "Do you know how scared I was being here alone? Do you know how much I missed you?"

Wu Xi was silent.

"Wu Xi, don't leave again, okay?" Cthylla threw herself into his arms and hugged him tightly. "Stay. We will never be separated again. Whatever Cthulhu is, whatever world destruction is, it has nothing to do with us. We will just be here, living our lives quietly. Okay?"

She looked up, looking at him with teary eyes.

"I only want to be with you." "I only want to be your wife." "I don't want anything else." "I only want you."

Wu Xi's body stiffened. His hand slowly dropped down.

He gently hugged Cthylla. Cthylla's body shuddered violently.

Then, she hugged him even tighter. As if she wanted to knead herself into Wu Xi's body.

"Wu Xi..." she choked. "I knew it, you wouldn't leave me behind."

"Wu Xi... uh... too tight... a little lighter... okay?"