Huang'er listened with rapt attention. The tale of Dongyan Island in particular left her heart pounding—she felt both pride and aching sympathy for her beloved.
He had endured so much hardship and braved so many dangers just to find her. How could Huang'er's heart not be moved, not overflow with gratitude?
"Oh, and Huang'er—I remember you once estimated it would take you decades of cultivation to reach the quasi-Celestial tier. How did your cultivation advance so dramatically in just a few short years?" The question Jiang Chen was most curious about was precisely this one.
"Brother Chen, after I returned to the clan, I thought of you every single day until it became unbearable. So I buried myself in cultivation. I don't know why, but my progress was incredibly fast. Before I knew it, I broke through to the Sovereign realm, then inexplicably reached the peak of the Sovereign realm—the quasi-Celestial tier."
Jiang Chen sighed. "It must be because your parents' bloodlines are extraordinary. You inherited the finest qualities of their lineage, which gives you outstanding martial talent."
Even Huang'er's speed of advancement left Jiang Chen secretly amazed.
"Brother Chen, your cultivation has grown just as quickly. When I left, you had just entered the early stage of the Emperor realm. Now you're already at the late stage of the Sovereign realm."
"Ha ha, how could I dare claim I'm fast when compared to you, Huang'er?" Jiang Chen teased.
Huang'er giggled. "Perhaps this recent breakthrough is making up for the years I wasted on my martial cultivation in the human domain?"
During her time in the human domain, Huang'er had indeed made very little progress in her cultivation. She had been constrained by the Hundred Lives Intertwined Curse, which made serious cultivation inconvenient.
Having been separated for years, the two of them had no shortage of things to talk about.
"Huang'er, there's one more thing I must tell you." Jiang Chen let out a sigh, his tone turning somewhat complicated.
"Go ahead, Brother Chen." Huang'er noticed the gravity in his voice, her delicate lashes lifting slightly as her clear, tender eyes gazed at Jiang Chen with boundless affection.
"During my trial at the Undying Spirit Mountain many years ago, I was ambushed and accidentally took an aphrodisiac. A woman saved me during that ordeal, but I never knew who she was at the time. It was only later that I learned she was an old acquaintance from my days in the Tiangui Kingdom—Consort Dan, the personal disciple of Elder Ye Chonglou. She sacrificed her innocence to save me, then left the Undying Spirit Mountain and vanished without a trace. Eventually, I discovered by chance that the Lady Dan'er taken in by the Peacock Emperor was none other than that same Consort Dan. And she bore me a daughter…"
Jiang Chen had never intended to hide any of this from Huang'er.
Still, deep down, he feared that the revelation might hurt her.
Huang'er was momentarily stunned, but then she smiled softly. "Brother Chen, are there any other romantic debts I should know about?"
Jiang Chen smiled bitterly. "This one alone is enough to make me feel I've wronged you, Huang'er. But if I shirked my responsibility, I would wrong Consort Dan and Nian'er even more."
"Nian'er?" Huang'er murmured the name. "Jiang Nian'er? That's a lovely name. Brother Chen, are you worried that Huang'er might be jealous?"
Jiang Chen smiled helplessly and shook his head slightly.
Huang'er placed both hands on Jiang Chen's shoulders, her beautiful eyes gazing at him with deep emotion. "Brother Chen, there are countless men in this world, yet why does Huang'er love only you? Because you have a sense of responsibility, because you are learned and magnanimous, and because there are so many qualities about you that Huang'er admires. A man as outstanding as you—how could Huang'er be the only one who loves you? Consort Dan, the Ling sisters from Danqian Palace—which of them has not fallen deeply for you? Even Sister Gouyu has been quietly hiding her feelings all along, hasn't she?"
Huang'er was as intelligent as she was beautiful. Having spent so much time with Jiang Chen, she was fully aware of how popular he was with women.
She especially knew all about Ling Bi'er and Ling Hui'er. She had even witnessed Ling Hui'er boldly seizing Jiang Chen's hand and pressing it against her chest.
But Huang'er was exceedingly perceptive and never brought these matters up. She let nature take its course. If Jiang Chen truly developed feelings for these women, she would not deny him for it.
Most women in the world were deeply devoted, wishing that an exceptional man belonged to her alone.
But sometimes, that was nothing more than wishful thinking.
Huang'er was no ordinary mortal woman. Her love was purer, yet also more selfless—long since transcending the petty, possessive love of the mundane world.
So how could she feel any hostility toward Consort Dan? Her nature was simply not that of a selfish person.
Moreover, after Consort Dan had sacrificed her innocence and formed a bond with Jiang Chen, she had not clung to him. Instead, she chose to leave.
Such nobility of spirit only deepened Huang'er's respect.
"Brother Chen, don't blame yourself. If you had never come into Huang'er's life, I might have withered away like a faded flower long ago. It was you who gave Huang'er the hope of a new life, who painted color into my existence. Of course Huang'er would want more people by your side who care for you and cherish you."
As she spoke, Huang'er was overcome with emotion. She pressed her head against Jiang Chen's chest, savoring the warm, masculine warmth of him, and felt nothing but bliss. Everything else ceased to matter.
Jiang Chen drew Huang'er into his embrace, gently stroking her silky hair, and asked softly, "Huang'er, what is Xiahou Zong's cultivation level exactly?"
At the mention of that name, Huang'er's body trembled ever so slightly. Clearly, it brought back far too many nightmares.
"Huang'er, don't worry. That name will soon be struck from the records of Myriad Abyss Island. The nightmares he gave you—I will end them personally."
Huang'er looked up, startled. "Brother Chen, you mean to challenge Xiahou Zong?"