Ze Tian Ji (Way of Choices)

Chapter 994 – Lovers Prattle Beneath the Celestial Tree

The girl in black was naturally the little Black Dragon.

As a Protector, she shared a mental connection with Chen Changsheng that was extremely difficult to cut, so even though she was silently hidden away all this time, Chen Changsheng had still been able to confirm that she was safe. But since this connection was being screened by the Wildfire of the Celestial Tree, Chen Changsheng had found it impossible to determine her specific location. With Bie Yanghong’s clear directions, though, such a task was now extremely easy.

The Celestial Tree was so high that even one of its hollows could hold a room. As a result, the little Black Dragon’s figure seemed even more tiny and weak.

Chen Changsheng’s gaze fell on her ankle. When he saw the chain, he couldn’t help but recall that common sight in New North Bridge, causing his heart to sink.

The little Black Dragon asked, “Why did you come so late?”

Chen Changsheng was deeply apologetic, but didn’t know how to explain.

The little Black Dragon looked over his shoulder at the White Crane and her face instantly turned cold as ice.

Chen Changsheng did not notice this change in her mood, and even if he did, he wouldn’t understand why.

He walked up to Zhusha and kneeled down, beginning to inspect the chain that imprisoned her here.

A dense clattering of swords rose from under the tree.

In an extremely short span of time, ten-some famous swords, the Stainless Sword included, came down one after the other, but none of them could break the chain.

Unlike the chain from under New North Bridge, there was no divine Qi on this chain blocking all attacks. But this chain seemed to be one with the cliff, imbued with some type of array that transferred all the attacks on the chain to the cliff.

In other words, if one wanted to snap this chain, one first had to destroy the cliff.

Destroying the cliff was not actually impossible for the current Chen Changsheng. The problem was that such an action could possibly sway the Celestial Tree’s foundation. What would he do if this caused Wildfire to surge out from underground? He could escape on the White Crane, but could he just stand by as the Black Dragon was swallowed up by the Wildfire?

Since he could not, he could only think of another method to break the array.

He recalled the name of this seal and wondered if there was possibly some saying about it.

The little Black Dragon tersely said, “The White Emperor clan were white tigers in the first place, and this toy is meant for imprisoning members of their own tribe, so isn’t it only right for it to be named as such?”

Chen Changsheng answered, “Luoluo is looking for the key, though I worry that it will take too long… If the Tiger Cage is also an array, I plan to write a letter to Yourong and invite her over. She could probably think of a way.”

At the time, he had requested Xu Yourong to teach him how to break the seal beneath New North Bridge. Although it was ultimately the previous Pope that ended up doing the deed, Xu Yourong was still very formidable in this aspect.

The little Black Dragon’s frosty visage instantly dissolved as she angrily roared, “Riding another girl’s crane to save me, and you can even do something like this!”

Startled, Chen Changsheng asked, “Do what?”

The Black Dragon grew even angrier, rebuking, “You even want her to come and save me! And save me twice! Just what sort of brain do you have in there!”

Chen Changsheng felt like his brain truly was not working properly, as he simply had no idea why the little Black Dragon was so angry or what her words meant.

He had lived together with the Black Dragon on the northern frontier for three years, eating, working, and living together. They were extremely close, but there were still many times when he could not understand her mind.

Riding another girl’s crane? Having her come and save her twice? Just what was this thing she was talking about?

He subconsciously explained, “She’s my fiancée; there’s no need to be courteous.”

The Black Dragon resentfully retorted, “You’re my first man, so why have you been acting so courteously with me all these last few years?”

……

……

The highest point of the Celestial Tree was far above the cloud layer.

The sunlight fell amongst the branches, a beautiful scene awash in golden light.

A pair of white wings slowly furled. Xu Yourong stood on the tip of a branch, swaying with the wind.

She stretched out a hand and plucked a Lava Fruit from the leaves. Her bright eyes bursting with curiosity, she carefully took a bite. After a while, she contentedly nodded.

In the next moment, her expression slightly changed, no longer so content.

It was not because the Wildfire Qi contained in the legendary Lava Fruit was too rich and had harmed her, but because she had heard a conversation carried up by the wind from below.

“Riding my crane to see another girl is fine, but to do it with two… Mo Yu really wasn’t tricking me back then. There’s definitely a problem between you and the two of them.”

……

……

Chen Changsheng came to his senses as he realized where the problem was.

It had been a very long time since they had first gotten to know each other beneath New North Bridge. He had long since learned what had happened back then and what she had always thought about it.

At the time, he had taken an enormous risk and performed Meditative Introspection, igniting the plain of snow that was his star radiance and almost burning himself into nothing.

At that crucial moment, the little Black Dragon poked open the center of her brow and used the true blood of a Black Frost Dragon to save him.

And this was her most precious and purest first blood.

Based on the laws of the Dragon race, this action was tantamount to choosing Chen Changsheng to be her husband.

In the following years, especially those three years on the northern frontier, she had always kept this mindset.

She was the one that Chen Changsheng needed to thank the most for the chance to live until this day, but though he could use his life without hesitation to save her, he could not accept this matter.

Because he had an engagement, even though this engagement had been revoked once.

Earlier, because he truly had no idea how to confront this situation, he subconsciously did not think in that direction.

This conversation packed with resentment and apology had truthfully taken place between him and the Black Dragon many times.

In the end, it still ended with his silence.

In the end, the little Black Dragon was still the one to break the silence.

“You good-for-nothing, you don’t dare to marry two people? With Luoluo, it’s only three; can you not even maintain that as a Pope? Are you that afraid of Xu Yourong?”

She sneered at Chen Changsheng, “Let’s stop talking about this. Take care of your matters, but be careful. Don’t push Madam Mu too hard, or she really might dare to kill you.”

Chen Changsheng worriedly asked, “Then what about you?”

The little Black Dragon proudly said, “No one dares to kill a noble Black Frost Dragon on the shores of the Red River.”

Chen Changsheng did not completely trust these words. He knew that the demi-humans had been able to found their country in large part due to the Black Frost Dragon tribe, but forgetting favors owed was very commonplace, and who could guarantee that Madam Mu would not go crazy? But there truly was no meaning in his remaining here for now.

He thought it over, then said, “Sorry.”

The little Black Dragon helplessly said, “Chen Changsheng, I am your Protector. Do you really want me to repeat that word back to you?”

The White Crane took flight and left.

The Black Dragon watched the crane fly off and suddenly gave a soft sigh.

No sign of arrogance could be espied on her face, no sneering smile that looked down on the world, no ruthless visage. There was only a faint forlornness.

At this moment, she was just an ordinary girl dressed in black watching as her lover went far away.

A voice came from the Celestial Tree above.

“Loneliness only requires one person, but to be forlorn requires two, because it is an emotion that only appears after parting.”

The little Black Dragon warily looked up.

She saw Xu Yourong.

Xu Yourong calmly asked, “But he is my man, so why is he making you feel forlorn?”