Chapter 5845: Promise

"Yao'er, what's the meaning of you looking at me like this?" Long Chen felt a bit uneasy seeing Chu Yao staring at him with widened eyes.

"Are you... doing this on purpose?" Chu Yao's expression grew urgent, a rare sight on her face.

"Yao'er, could you be a bit clearer? I really don't understand what's going on," Long Chen said innocently. "Please don't cry first; let's talk about this slowly."

Seeing Chu Yao suddenly burst into tears, Long Chen panicked.

Chu Yao choked up, "How could you do this? You clearly promised before, and now you want to go back on your word? You can accept other sisters, but you can't accept Ru Yan? Just because she's not of the human race?"

"Where did this come from? How could I reject Ru Yan? I simply don't remember ever making such a promise," Long Chen was utterly bewildered, having no recollection of it whatsoever.

Chu Yao wiped her tears, saying, "Let me ask you, do you remember the Tianmu Divine Palace?"

"Yes?" Long Chen responded hastily; it was the sect where Chu Yao resided on the Tianwu Continent. How could he not remember that?

"Then let me ask you, do you remember the exquisite Blood Jade Orchid?" Chu Yao continued.

"Of course I do."

"Let me ask you again, who drank the bull's milk that day?" Chu Yao's face carried a peculiar expression as she spoke.

"It was Di Xin. Han Feifei squeezed it for him," Long Chen replied. His memory was impeccable; everything from the Tianmu Divine Palace, the White Snow Spirit Bull, Mengqi, Chu Yao, Tang Wan'er, Liu Ruyan, and Yu Qingxuan all came flooding back. Even figures like Di Xin, Han Feifei, and Shen Bijun were vividly recalled. (If anyone has forgotten, they can revisit Chapter 1637 where genders were confused.)

"When Shen Bijun framed you back then, what did you say?" Chu Yao asked again.

Long Chen carefully recollected and then gasped. Angered, Chu Yao said, "You remember now?"

Indeed, he recalled it. At that time, Shen Bijun intentionally provoked Long Chen, trying to incite jealousy from Di Xin. She deliberately showed affection toward him, even personally squeezing a cup of milk for him, but it was laced with something.

Long Chen saw through it instantly. He asked for another cup, and Shen Bijun feigned victimhood, claiming that Long Chen didn't trust her.

At that moment, Mengqi, Chu Yao, Tang Wan'er, and Liu Ruyan arrived simultaneously. To strike at Shen Bijun, Long Chen directly declared they were all his wives.

Later, due to this address, Liu Ruyan fiercely played along, addressing Long Chen as "husband." However, at that time, Long Chen was merely teasing and trying to take a jab at Shen Bijun. He hadn't expected Liu Ruyan to take it seriously, let alone Chu Yao.

Seeing Long Chen's expression, Chu Yao took a deep breath, trying not to get too agitated. "Long Chen, here's a serious matter: due to being born in the mortal realm, Ru Yan has begun to undergo partial humanization under our influence.

After the Cataclysmic Battle of the Tianwu Continent, we were transported by a mysterious force to the Undead Demon Forest. At that time, it was discovered that Ru Yan's humanization was becoming too severe, possibly deviating from the path of the Undead clan's cultivation, unable to continue her original divine powers, and unable to awaken the Emperor's Bloodline.

We once wanted to forcefully use the Emperor's Pool to baptize her, but she'd rather die than comply. Do you know why?"

At this point, Long Chen fell silent.

"It's because once she accepts the baptism of the Emperor's Pool, she'll fully revert to the nature of the Undead clan. She's afraid she won't be the Ru Yan she used to be. She's afraid it will dilute her feelings for you because she has always adhered to the initial promise.

Because she didn't accept the Emperor's Pool, she awakened the Emperor's Bloodline on her own. Do you understand..."

Choking up, Chu Yao continued, "Do you know how much hardship Ru Yan endured to become stronger, to avoid being looked down upon? How many life-threatening trials she underwent? And now, you..."

At this point, Long Chen felt struck by lightning. He never expected such treatment from Liu Ruyan, who had always been cold and distant.

"She has now deviated from the cultivation path of the Undead clan. You've seen it; her aura is vastly different from that of the Undead clan. Her flesh and soul are infinitely close to the human race, transitioning towards becoming a true human. Do you know, she's sacrificed so much for this?"

"I'm sorry; this is all my fault," Long Chen hurriedly apologized. In reality, he couldn't entirely blame himself. Liu Ruyan was such a proud person, never expressing any emotions. Who would have known she had such thoughts?

But thinking about Liu Ruyan's experiences within the Undead clan, Long Chen felt both ashamed and distressed. She was too strong-willed and stubborn.

Now he finally understood the hesitation when Lady Xihua intervened to save him and why Liu Ruyan was so angry. At that time, he was the only one kept in the dark about their feelings.

Chu Yao took a deep breath. "Thankfully, you've brought this up. Otherwise, if Ru Yan hears about this and you haven't mentioned it, she might..."

Hearing Chu Yao's words, Long Chen couldn't help but break into a cold sweat. With Liu Ruyan's fiery temperament, things could escalate quickly. If something happened to her, Chu Yao wouldn't forgive him, and he couldn't forgive himself either.

Seeing Long Chen turning pale with fear, Chu Yao stopped being angry. This showed that Long Chen did care about Liu Ruyan. Luckily, there was still a chance to salvage everything.

More importantly, Liu Ruyan didn't know Long Chen's previous thoughts, so there was still time to make amends.

"Long Chen, Ru Yan loves me and she loves you. No one understands her better than I do, and no one understands me better than her. I hope you can love her as you love me." Chu Yao looked at Long Chen, a plea hidden in her deep affection. She didn't want to see Liu Ruyan hurt in any way.

If Long Chen hurt Liu Ruyan, it would be like tearing her heart into two, and Chu Yao wouldn't know what to do.

"Don't worry; leave this matter to me. I do have feelings for Ru Yan, and I won't despise her identity. But this person, at all times, is so cold, so aloof, and distant; I don't know if she harbors any feelings for me. But knowing now isn't too late; feelings can be nurtured slowly," Long Chen smiled.

Hearing Long Chen's words, Chu Yao finally relaxed. She had been genuinely scared before.

Long Chen already had close confidants like Mengqi, Tang Wan'er, Ye Zhiqiu, and

others. Being from an imperial family, Chu Yao didn't have the habit of being jealous. Now that Long Chen agreed, she felt relieved, and her smile returned.

The two held hands and walked towards the depths of the forest. After a while, a high mountain appeared in front of them.

Pointing to the mountain, Chu Yao said, "On the mountaintop, there's a waterfall; that's where we often go. She must be there. Go on."

"Aren't you coming with me? I'm a bit scared to go alone!" Long Chen suddenly hesitated.

"Haha!" Seeing Long Chen's hesitant expression, Chu Yao couldn't help but laugh. "The unruly Lord Long Three is also afraid at times? Go on; she won't bite you."

"The problem is, we usually don't interact much. I'm afraid it might be awkward when I meet her. Accompany me; more people mean more support." Facing Liu Ruyan alone, Long Chen was indeed a little scared.

"No, our minds are connected; if I'm too close, she might sense something strange. This is something you'll have to handle," Chu Yao insisted.

"Alright, I'll take the plunge." Gritting his teeth, Long Chen plucked up the courage to walk towards the high mountain.

(End of this chapter)