The White Moonlight Disdained by the Male Protagonist of Redemption - Chapter 17.2

Murong Lianzhen was much stronger than the rumors said. If she had been as weak as people claimed, Ning Yao’s attack would have seriously injured her. But the woman only staggered back a few steps and didn’t even cough up bl00d. Clearly, she was hiding her true strength—and probably had learned some kind of dark technique.

Wan Dongze was even weirder. He just stood there smiling, watching the fight with interest, like none of it bothered him at all. He didn’t look like the same person from before.

Ning Yao didn’t care anymore. She’d take down one of them first.

She moved fast, her fingers glowing softly, and leapt forward inside the barrier. Her punch flew straight toward Murong Lianzhen’s face.

Just as expected, Murong Lianzhen was used to comfort and luxury. When it came to hand-to-hand combat, she was weak.

Ning Yao’s punch was a fake—she changed her move midway and aimed straight for the woman’s heart.

Murong Lianzhen spat out bl00d, but just then, a burst of energy came rushing in from the side. Ning Yao’s heart dropped: What is Wan Dongze? Why is he this strong?

She dodged Murong Lianzhen and blocked Wan Dongze’s energy with her left hand, pressing his hands down. Her right hand aimed for his face, but suddenly—

A third hand grew from Wan Dongze’s back, bursting with power and striking toward her stomach.

What the hell? Three hands?!

Ning Yao tried to block, but it was too late. A huge gust of wind and energy erupted into the sky, blasting them both apart.

Wan Dongze’s attack was mostly broken apart by the force, but part of it still hit Ning Yao, throwing her to the side.

She rolled and landed hard, hands on the ground, bl00d at the corner of her mouth. She looked up—

A huge black dragon was hovering in the air, letting out a thunderous roar.

The roar echoed across the sky. The trees shook. The air buzzed.

Wan Dongze was forced back several steps. He looked at Ning Yao deeply, then grabbed the unconscious Murong Lianzhen and opened a vortex. The two disappeared into it.

Ning Yao collapsed, her insides was hurt from Wan Dongze’s spiritual strike. She gasped from the pain and reached down to check—but before she could—

She was suddenly pulled into a strong, warm embrace.

“Yao Yao… Yao Yao,” Feng Jingzhuo’s voice was trembling, “Let me see. Let me see.”

Ning Yao, ever the opportunist, weakly said, “Jingzhuo, come closer…”

Feng Jingzhuo’s heart was about to shatter. He gently lowered his head.

With a smear of bl00d at her lips, face pale and eyes unfocused, Ning Yao said, “Zhuo’er, I don’t have much time left. Before I die, I only have one wish…”

“Don’t say that.”

Ning Yao paused—Feng Jingzhuo’s voice, truly, was enough to make anyone feel heartbroken.

Looking at the redness around his eyes, she couldn’t bear to keep acting and cheerfully said, “Ay, I’m just teasing you. It’s just a minor wound.”

Feng Jingzhuo didn’t reply—he simply picked her up in his arms.

Ning Yao laughed, “I’m serious, it’s not even worth tending. But… I suppose I’ll rest anyway. You can all take turns acting as the Mountain Lord. I really don’t enjoy the job.”

Feng Jingzhuo said softly, “Once you’re home, just focus on recovering.”

The words were truly pleasing to hear. Ning Yao said, “By the way, you really rise to the occasion—your explosive power is impressive. No wonder you’re the Azure Dragon, definitely one of a kind.”

Feng Jingzhuo tightened his hold.

Even now, the lingering fear in his heart hadn’t fully subsided. Waves of dread kept surging, each stronger than the last.

He held her tighter, walking slowly and steadily.

Ning Yao was already tired due to her injuries. Leaning against his chest, her eyelids grew heavy. Her head rested against the crook of his neck, nodding off bit by bit.

In the haze of sleep, she vaguely heard him say, “Yao Yao, I won’t let this happen again.”

Ning Yao sleepily murmured a response.

His voice was distant and soft, as if coming from far away.

“I’ll never let you get hurt again.”

A month later, at Luoxiang Mountain:

“I’m just saying, Ning Yao, aren’t you going a bit too far?” Ning Yuzhu burst in anger while staring at Ning Yao lounging in a rocking chair, clearly annoyed. “Didn’t Grandmaster say half a month ago that you were fine?”

Ning Yao leaned limply, looking half-dead: “Just two more days… let me lie here two more days.”

Ning Yuzhu plopped down beside her: “You could lie there for two lifetimes, and Zhuo-ge would still take care of you, but that doesn’t mean he’ll marry you. That’s not how dating works.”

Ning Yao scoffed: “Oh really? Then please, enlighten this fool, oh great master.”

Ning Yuzhu said, “Two taels of silver per word of wisdom.”

Ning Yao, annoyed, kicked him: “Scram. Scram, scram, scram.”

After booting Ning Yuzhu out, Jie Zhongyi came in: “Yo, you’re still not up?”

Ning Yao let out a long nasal sigh.

Jie Zhongyi said, “The thing you asked me to look into—I’ve got some leads.”

Ning Yao stiffened, immediately sitting up: “What did you find?”

Jie Zhongyi, half-sarcastic: “Didn’t you say your stomach hurt? Didn’t you say lying down helps you think?”

“Oh come on, Old Jie, not the time for sarcasm,” Ning Yao quickly stood up, then pushed him into the chair and started massaging his shoulders with a grin. “This is life or death stuff—we can’t joke around. Go on, I’m listening.”

Jie Zhongyi said, “When you fought Murong Lianzhen, you said her strength was far beyond what the rumors said. A few years ago, Ning Tang met her, and she told me there’s no way Murong was that powerful back then.”

“And that Wan Dongze—originally just a favored servant of Murong’s—he acted like their roles were reversed that day. I suspect that these people, whose powers have skyrocketed or whose personalities have drastically changed, have all consumed the flesh and bones of the Azure Abyss Dragon Clan. They now obey the leader of the Azure Abyss. The attack on Luoxiang Mountain is likely imminent.”

Ning Yao’s expression turned serious. She sat down and after a while asked, “How certain is this theory?”

“Ninety percent sure,” Jie said.

“In war, scattered forces are useless. These puppets—they’ll concentrate their power in one person. That Wan Dongze is clearly a prime example.”

He looked at her solemnly. “Yao Yao, no matter what, we must prepare.”

Ning Yao fell silent.

After a pause, Jie Zhongyi asked, “What are you thinking?”

Ning Yao slowly said, “I’ll link the hearts of all our clansmen. If I die in ascension, they’ll follow me into dust. When I become a god, we’ll reunite in the divine realm.”

Jie Zhongyi considered it: “That’s fair.”

Then asked, “What about Jingzhuo? How’s your progress?”

Ning Yao: “I’m trying.”

Jie Zhongyi looked at her for a moment, hesitated, and coughed: “Yao Yao, hypothetically speaking, say you both ascend and become gods. When you meet again in the divine realm… how would you feel seeing him again?”

What would she feel? Ning Yao said, “Isn’t forcibly recovering past memories bad for the brain? Just pretend we don’t know each other.”

“What if it didn’t hurt your brain?”

Ning Yao thought about it, honestly not getting the point of the question: “Then… say hi? Make… a friend?”

Her completely confused face made it clear she didn’t get what he was asking.

Jie Zhongyi was relieved. He poked her forehead and chuckled: “You really are a descendant of the Heartless Goddess.”

Ning Yao straightened her back: “Why are you bringing that up again? I’m always careful in my words and actions, okay? What part of me isn’t righteous?”

“Very righteous,” Jie said with a laugh. “No heart. Perfect.”

What nonsense. After he left, Ning Yao grumbled a bit and opened Ning Tang’s second advice pouch.

—Don’t be too focused. If he already likes you, remember to say: ‘I like you too.’

Ning Yao slowly put it down and looked out the window.

She finally realized what the problem was.