The White Moonlight Disdained by the Male Protagonist of Redemption - Chapter 18.3

These fragments she never thought too deeply about suddenly came together into one cold truth. Ning Yao felt her scalp tingle as she stared at Feng Jingzhuo.

He noticed her and looked back with his usual gentle smile.

Ning Yao slowly clasped her hands and whispered to Grandmaster beside her, “Do you know…”

She paused slightly.

Jie Zhongyi was drinking by himself and mumbled, “Know what? ”

“In Cangyuan, the Lord of the Mulberry Clan and the Lord of the East—were they once husband and wife?”

Jie Zhongyi squinted. “Yeah.”

“That was a long time ago, thousands of years back. No one really remembers. They were young back then, and their families weren’t enemies yet.”

Ning Yao felt her heart turn cold. “And then?”

“Well… After some years, their fathers fell out. So, they took sides and fell out too. Time passed; they both became powerful. Now they fight constantly. Any love from the past is long gone.”

Long gone indeed.

Ning Yao asked, quietly, “Did they have a child?”

“No idea. Probably not. And even if they did, the child probably died. Canglong dragons are cold-hearted. Hatred is stronger than love. If they had a child, they’d see it as the enemy’s son. Who knows who would’ve killed him first.”

Ning Yao gave a soft “mm.”

“Why suddenly ask about this? ” Jie Zhongyi said. “It’s ancient history. Surprised? ”

She thought, If you knew Feng Jingzhuo was their child, you’d be even more surprised.

If the war between those two clans hadn’t happened, he would’ve been a prince of great honor and glory.

His early life was full of pain. But soon, he would ascend and become a god. He wouldn’t suffer anymore.

Ning Yao stood up and waved. “You all keep drinking and have fun. I’m a little drunk—I’ll head to bed.”

***

Ning Yao returned to her room and threw herself onto the bed.

She wasn’t sleepy at all. Her heart felt heavy. If she stayed out there, Feng Jingzhuo would definitely notice something was wrong—he was too attentive. He would ask.

She didn’t want to tell the truth and reopen his wounds. But she wasn’t good at making up excuses either.

So Ning Yao just lay there, wide awake, feeling every step as Feng Jingzhuo approached the door, entered, and sat down beside her bed.

Even the gentle way his gaze landed on her—she felt it.

He leaned down and kissed her hair.

Then, after a moment of silence, he touched her head, tucked her in, and quietly left the room.

But the warm feeling he left behind stayed.

Moments later, Ning Yao sat up.

She stared into space for a while, then threw off the blanket and walked out.

***

She found Feng Jingzhuo at Muyu Pond.

As expected, he was training.

He wore thin white clothes, standing in the water up to his waist. His long, wet hair floated on the surface. With his snow-pale skin and soft red lips, he looked like a forest spirit—someone who had stepped out of a painting.

No, not a spirit. A god. He looked like clouds piled high, like moonlight flowing in the sky.

Ning Yao quietly slipped into the pond and swam toward him. The spiritual energy around him felt strange, so she reached out under the water—

—and touched something hard and smooth.

It was dragon scales.

These were stronger, sharper, and more solid than when she’d helped him repair them before. They were like stone… like armor.

“Yao Yao, what are you doing?”

His helpless voice floated down as his dragon tail twitched and moved away.

Ning Yao answered honestly, “I’m touching your dragon tail.”

Feng Jingzhuo’s fair ears turned red. “You can’t just…”

You can’t just what?

She waited for the rest.

“…Not good.”

That was all he said after such a long pause. Ning Yao frowned, “What’s wrong with just touching it? It’s not like I haven’t touched it before.”

Feng Jingzhuo sighed.

Touching it once wasn’t a big deal, but he was a grown man. He was a dragon, with normal senses, and his true form was even more sensitive than his human form. When she touched him, he had to hold back for a long time.

“Yao Yao,” Feng Jingzhuo said, “you should… wait until we are married.”

“What’s the difference?” she asked.

Before marriage or after marriage, it was still the same tail, wasn’t it?

Feng Jingzhuo thought for a moment and said, “After we get married, if you touch me again, I can follow my feelings and do what I want to do.”

His voice was low and deep. Hearing it made Ning Yao’s heart skip a beat. She quickly tried to change the subject. “Uhm… so, it’s so late already. Why are you still cultivating?”

“Is it that late?”

“It is.”

Feng Jingzhuo raised an eyebrow. “You cultivate even later than this.”

“That’s different. I like staying up late, but you usually sleep well. I practice at night but have fun during the day. You’re serious all the time.”

Feng Jingzhuo looked down and smiled, “Yao Yao, I want to become stronger.”

Ning Yao blinked, curious. “Do you have a goal? Like, how strong do you want to be before you’re satisfied?”

He didn’t answer directly. He just smiled and gently pulled her into his arms.

Strong enough that she would never have to worry. No more fears about enemies attacking Luoxiang Mountain. No more need for barriers over Zansnow Lake. No more outside threats, ever.

Ning Yao tapped his shoulder, “What does that mean? Strong enough to control me?”

Feng Jingzhuo chuckled. He wasn’t sure how strong he had to be to reach his goal. After thinking for a bit, he said, “Like the Creator God—Fu Tianhe.”

Ning Yao’s eyes lit up, and she hit his shoulder lightly. “That’s a really high goal! But I think you can do it!”

Fu Tianhe was the first dragon, ancestor of all dragonkind. He helped the seven ancient god clans create the world. After he died, his body became the Abyss—what is now known as Cangyuan.

Feng Jingzhuo looked down. The topic felt too distant, as if it made them feel far apart. He didn’t know why, but he felt a bit uneasy. “Yao Yao… no matter what happens in the future, please don’t leave me.”

Ning Yao poked his nose. “As long as you don’t forget me, I’ll never leave you.”

Feng Jingzhuo gently held her hand. “I will never forget you.”

He had a good memory. Everything about her—big or small—he remembered clearly.

Late at night, when everything was quiet, he would think about those memories like a treasure keeper. He’d count them one by one, then fall asleep with peace in his heart.

Ning Yao smiled. “Our Zhuo’er has the best memory.”

Looking at her smiling face, Feng Jingzhuo’s heart was soft, but suddenly, he felt a sharp pain.

It was just a flash, but it was strange and violent.

Ning Yao noticed right away. “What’s wrong?”

Feng Jingzhuo shook his head. “It’s nothing.”

She wasn’t convinced. “You looked off just now. Are you hurt?”

He smiled again. “I’m not hurt.”

Ning Yao wanted to ask more, but suddenly, she paused. His look just now… it didn’t seem like pain.

It looked like…a killing intent.

Her heart started to pound. Before she could say anything, he picked her up in his arms.

There was a shadow of worry between his brows, but he spoke gently, “Yao Yao, let’s go. Time to go back to your room and rest.”

Ning Yao said, “But I—”

He lowered his eyes and smiled. It was a protective smile. “Be good. Master Jie asked me to look after your schedule. I promised. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”

***

The next day, Ning Yao opened her eyes as usual, but Feng Jingzhuo wasn’t there.

She searched the front and back of the house but didn’t see him.

He never missed giving her a good morning kiss before.

She looked around again, and as her worry grew, a guess came to her mind. She slowly walked along the mountain path, trying to sense his dragon aura.

She stopped in front of a cave.

She had brought Feng Jingzhuo here once. It was a place where her father once trained in seclusion as a young man. Back then, it was a remote and quiet spot. After the Bodhi Clan’s people became fewer, no one used it anymore. But now, that familiar aura was coming from inside.

Ning Yao walked forward and placed her hand on the cave wall. “Jingzhuo, why are you hiding in there? What’s wrong?”

After a moment, his voice came from within. It was muffled and weak, hard to hear through the stone.

“Yao Yao…”

“I’m fine. I’ll come out soon.”

Her fingers went cold. Her heart began to tremble, though she didn’t know why. “Did you… lose control while training? Are you hurt? Let me come in and help you.”

His voice got a bit louder, still gentle as usual. “I’m not hurt. Don’t worry, Yao Yao. Go back and wait for me.”

She stared at the sealed cave wall, lips pressed together. Then suddenly, her whole body froze.

She leaned closer, held her breath, and listened carefully.

She heard a sound.

Very faint, almost inaudible—but definitely there.

It was the sound of… blades slicing through dragon scales.