Transmigrated As A Cannon Fodder Sacrifice, I Tricked An Evil God Into Becoming My Live-In Husband - Chapter 4

Zhuohuo spoke, his voice like ice cracking—cold, emotionless, and piercing. He stared at Zheng Qiuyu as if she were some strange, unfamiliar creature.

You… He paused, as if searching for the right words. …Why did you protect me?

Zheng Qiuyu’s heart leaped into her throat. Damn it, he’s asking that question! Her mind buzzed with panic. This answer was crucial one wrong word could mean death.

She forced herself to remain calm, her face still pale but her eyes now red-rimmed. She couldn’t tell if it was genuine fear or just acting, but she looked utterly pitiful.

Instead of answering directly, she countered with a question, her voice trembling slightly. My… my husband, have you forgotten?

She sniffled, straining to sound wronged. Protecting you… it’s like an instinct. I don’t fully understand it myself, but I just… I just wanted to do it.

When she finished, Zhuohuo still looked blank and confused, deepening her anxiety. Then she remembered his white hair—that’s it!

She forced a strained, ugly smile, her voice trembling with tears. Ten thousand years ago… you shielded me from the Heavenly Punishment. When your divine soul was on the verge of shattering, you said… you said that if there were a next life, you’d let me protect you.

She slowly raised her hand, trembling slightly, and pointed at Zhuohuo’s white hair. This white hair… you dyed it for me back then, didn’t you? She didn’t dare touch it, her hand hovering an inch away. You said… it was proof of our… love. She ventured tentatively, her voice growing softer with each word.

Instinct, white hair, proof of love—these words crashed into Zhuohuo’s empty mind one by one. He still didn’t understand, but seeing the sorrow in Zheng Qiuyu’s eyes, he felt a strange discomfort, like a sharp prick in his heart.

He touched his white hair. It was cool, yet there was something else about it, something… familiar.

Suddenly, the System’s cold voice echoed in Zheng Qiuyu’s mind

Lies Credibility 5%. Target’s emotions confusion, reminiscence. Reward 200 Heaven-Deceiving Points.

Zheng Qiuyu secretly exhaled in relief. It seemed… her gamble had paid off, at least a little.

Just as Zheng Qiuyu was about to catch her breath, a thunderous roar erupted from outside the cave, far more terrifying than the Wang Clan cultivator’s earlier attack. The entire cave shook violently, rocks tumbled from the ceiling, and a frigid, malevolent aura surged inward, freezing Zheng Qiuyu to the bone and blurring her vision.

She knew she was reaching her limit. Her body couldn’t withstand this place any longer. She had to take the Marrow Cleansing Pill immediately. But… the pill was incredibly potent a mortal who consumed it without protection would likely die. And the only one here to protect her was Zhuohuo.

No, I can’t let him guard me! That would expose my weakness! If he knew how frail I truly am, he’d crush me instantly!

Yet the demonic presence outside grew closer, threatening to burst into the cave at any moment. Zheng Qiuyu clutched the pill in her sweaty palm, her heart pounding.

She glanced at Zhuohuo, still lost in his memories, gritted her teeth, and decided to gamble.

Forcing a pitiful expression, she spoke in a soft, weak voice with a strange, coquettish tone, Husband…

Our child… he seems… hungry, she said slowly, even she didn’t believe it. He needs… just a little… strength.

The child is hungry? Zhuohuo froze at her words. He didn’t understand. What did hungry mean? How did children eat?

His bl00d-red eyes shifted from Zheng Qiuyu’s face to her flat stomach. He felt nothing there. But the words my child churned through his blank mind like a stick, preventing him from thinking of anything else.

Zheng Qiuyu watched him nervously, the air seeming to freeze around them.

Suddenly, Zhuohuo vanished without a trace, disappearing from the spot without a sound.

Zheng Qiuyu jumped in fright.

A moment later,

Roar—Awoo!! The terrifying demon outside the cave let out half a cry before its voice was abruptly cut off, as if something had strangled it.

Then Zhuohuo reappeared in the same spot, as if he hadn’t moved at all. He extended one hand, palm up, holding something dark and fist-sized that pulsed rhythmically thump-thump-thump-thump! A violent energy surged from the object, nearly knocking Zheng Qiuyu off her feet. It was a Demonic Heart!

Zhuohuo offered the terrifying Demonic Heart to her as casually as handing over a steamed bun, uttering a single word Eat.

Zheng Qiuyu’s scalp prickled with horror! Eat this?! The energy contained within this thing would vaporize a hundred of her into ash!

She frantically waved her hands, her face contorting in terror as she forced a loving smile. No, no! Husband, you’ve misunderstood!

Her voice trembled violently. The child… the child is too young! It can’t withstand such a violent force! She spoke rapidly. I need… I need to temper it, make it gentler, before… before giving it to the child! Fearing Zhuohuo might do something else rash, she quickly sat down.

She swiftly popped the life-saving pill into her mouth. The moment it dissolved, a searing heat surged through her body like wildfire. Pain! Every bone in her body felt like it was cracking and reforming. She gritted her teeth, suppressing the urge to scream.

Her trembling fingers reached out and touched the pulsating Black Demon Heart. She closed her eyes, pretending to absorb energy.

A miraculous thing happened. The Demonic Heart’s malevolent energy, like poison, collided with the pill’s power. The two forces locked in a stalemate, preventing the heart from exploding so easily. She felt dark, foul-smelling substances oozing from her pores, as if something within her body was being cleared and strengthened. In her Dantian, a small, warm current of Qi stirred.

She had reached the first layer of the Qi Refining Stage! Her body felt lighter, and her senses sharpened.

Just as she opened her eyes, a strange, croaking voice echoed from the cave entrance, its tone unmistakably malicious.

Tsk tsk, it’s the Blazing Fire Divine Sovereign… A gaunt old Daoist priest, dressed in tattered robes and as thin as a skeleton, emerged from the shadows. His triangular eyes darted about like a venomous snake.

It was the Wang Clan Patriarch! He was still alive!

The moment the old man entered, his greedy eyes locked onto Zheng Qiuyu. Seeing the spiritual energy radiating from her body and the terrifying Demonic Heart before her, his eyes glowed with a malevolent green light.

A Pure Yin Physique… and she’s absorbed the Divine Sovereign’s power… His mouth watered. A supreme treasure! A supreme cauldron!

He completely disregarded Zhuohuo, dismissing him as a cripple. Turning to face Zhuohuo, the old man’s face twisted with vengeful glee. Zhuohuo, do you remember me?

I was one of the ones who hammered the ‘God-Suppressing Nails’ into your bones! he boasted.

Your woman belongs to me now! He pointed at Zheng Qiuyu. Zhuohuo showed no reaction to the earlier taunts, having no memory of the God-Suppressing Nails. But when he saw the old man’s lecherous gaze fixed on Zheng Qiuyu and heard the words Your woman belongs to me now… a primal, all-consuming rage erupted in his bl00d-red eyes, burning with unprecedented intensity.

His voice, cold as glacial shards, dripped out word by word

Who… are you looking at?