Chapter 96: Volume 1, Chapter 96 – Demon Lord x Nine-Tailed Fox x Righteous Sect Leader (1)

He slightly lifted his finger, covering his eyes; his snow-white sleeve drooped with his movement, and his pallid arm was covered in black markings, like mysterious sigils, etched into his skin, extending inward without end.

"Why… am I blind?"

Jiang Zhi moved closer, wanting to examine the black markings on his arm in detail, but he quickly evaded, letting his long sleeve fall and cover everything.

She pouted, withdrew her curious gaze, her voice laced with sorrow: "I only recently married my husband; before that, he had already lost his sight, yet you never told me the reason."

"You ask me these things—do you regret marrying me?"

Fu Xue listened to her sincere words, yet felt no ripple in his heart, even finding it somewhat unfamiliar.

Perhaps it's because they've only just married.

He let out a soft sigh, leaned against the trunk behind him to stand, his palm touching the rough, mottled bark, and felt a moment of daze.

"Sorry…" he said hesitantly: "I've lost all my memories, even my surname and given name… I've forgotten them."

"Besides, I am blind; you need not suffer by following me."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhi stepped forward, took his hand resting beneath his snow sleeve, and said with a smiling face:

"I won't leave; I want to stay by your side."

The touch was soft and warm; the sudden closeness made Fu Xue start, the girl's breath near, so near her hair lightly brushed the back of his hand, hinting at something unusual.

The man paused for two seconds in Jiang Zhi's eyes, his expression quickly returning to normal; allowing her to hold his hand, his narrow eyes, veiled with a white film, appeared naturally silver-white, beautiful and translucent like glazed glass.

"Good." The corner of his thin lips curved with a faint smile, warm and gentle like a breeze brushing the face.

Jiang Zhi withdrew her fingers and glanced at the Favorability.

It remained at zero.

What a man who is different inside and out.

…

The night grew dark.

Jiang Zhi gathered plenty of dry twigs and piled them to make a fire; taking advantage of the man's blindness, she directly formed a fire seal, pretending to strike a match to ignite the pile.

The blazing firelight instantly dispelled the surrounding darkness, falling on Fu Xue's face as he sat by the fire, illuminating his pupils.

"Zhizhi." He called softly, unsteadily rising from beside the stone, saying: "Let me help you."

Jiang Zhi was skewering the fresh fish she'd caught to roast by the fire; hearing his voice, she frowned, walked over, pulled him to sit, and said: "Why don't you call me 'my lady'?"

As she spoke, she tugged his long sleeve twice, eagerly saying: "I called you 'my husband'; you should also call me 'my lady'."

Fu Xue was unaccustomed to her closeness and contact, but did not reject it; the girl's soft, sweet voice made people feel pleased, wanting to lean on her.

"My lady."

Jiang Zhi smiled contentedly, propped her arms on the stone behind her, lifted her face to gaze at the round, bright full moon overhead, legs swinging, and said leisurely: "Husband, aren't you curious how I came to know you?"

"Aren't you afraid I might be deceiving you?"

Fu Xue: "Why would you deceive me? I have nothing worth scheming for."

He knew he held no utilitarian value for others.

As for the 'curiosity' she asked about, Fu Xue felt no curiosity toward those matters.

Jiang Zhi naturally hummed, then changed the subject: "Then where do you wish to go? What do you wish to do?"

Due to the girl's movement, the jade pendant hanging at her waist emitted a clear chime, and her honey-like fragrance, carried by the breeze, brushed his nostrils.

Fu Xue lowered his brows and eyes: "I want to recover those lost memories."

He dislikes feeling anything beyond his control.

Jiang Zhi thought of the plot: when the villain Fu Xue regains his memory, it is already late in the story, approaching the grand finale.

After a moment's thought, she replied: "Sure, I'll go with you."

"Good."

The gentle voice faded into the evening wind.

——

The next day.

They passed through the dense forest and arrived at a nearby town.

Jiang Zhi did not want to draw attention; moreover, Fu Xue was still being hunted, so she used a spell to alter their appearances to those of ordinary people.

Yet Fu Xue's transcendent aura always attracted many gazes.

She also bought a carriage, not wanting to walk anymore—not because she felt tired, but because the man could not see, making their journey ever slower.

The carriage owner glanced at the man at the doorway and quietly asked her: "Who is he to you?"

Jiang Zhi smiled and replied: "My husband."

Fu Xue, standing outside the door, heard the voice from inside.

"How tragic… such a young girl marrying a blind man…"

"Look at that blind man—his appearance is utterly ordinary; I don't know what she sees in him."

"I think the money for the carriage came from the girl herself; the blind man is good for nothing, just a burden."

The mocking words fell upon his ears; Fu Xue's emotions flickered slightly, his fingers gripping the doorframe tightened a bit, and he drew a slow breath, lifting his head.

Dark, thread-like malice seeped into his body, then quickly vanished.

A segment of unfamiliar memory surfaced in his mind.

In a place as black as an abyss, he could find no way out.

Jiang Zhi, having stepped out of the shop, saw him standing there like a dazed, soulless shell, and called out:

"Husband?"

"Husband!"

Fu Xue suddenly withdrew from memory, replying, "What?"

Jiang Zhi looked at him doubtfully and said, "What are you thinking?"

Fu Xue chuckled lightly: "Nothing, are we leaving?"

Jiang Zhi suspected he was hiding something from her, glanced at him, and asked the system, "Has he remembered?"

777: "Sorry, Host, I don't know either."

Jiang Zhi let out an "oh".

As they approached the carriage, she reached out to help him up, but the man leapt ahead, steadily standing and stepping into the carriage.

Seeing this, Jiang Zhi almost thought his eyes had returned to normal.

The hand hovering in midair paused, then after a moment withdrew.

The shopkeeper kindly reminded, "Miss, remember to avoid South Gate Town; something big has happened there recently."

Jiang Zhi couldn't help but ask, "What big thing?"

The shopkeeper hesitated, glanced around cautiously, then lowered his voice: "Many people have died; I heard demonic energy has appeared in the town."

Ordinary people tremble at the mere mention of the demon race, whether true or false, they shudder involuntarily.

Jiang Zhi nodded in thanks: "I'll be careful, thank you."

After leaving the town, she cast a spell to let the carriage run normally, then relaxed her hands and rested against the carriage door.

A man's voice came from inside.

"'Madam.'"

Upon hearing that, Jiang Zhi had the carriage stop, lifted the curtain, and said, "My lord, what do you summon me for?"

Fu Xue slowly said, "Let's go to South Gate Town; I might be able to recall some memories."

Jiang Zhi frowned slightly, recalling her conversation with the carriage shop owner; it must have been overheard by him.

But why would he want to go? Could it be that, even having lost his memory and become a mortal, he still senses demonic energy?

Jiang Zhi not only has one mission, but also a mission to make him a good person.

Therefore, this journey must stay away from demonic energy!

"'No!' she refused, then continued, 'That place is very dangerous; I cannot let you fall into peril.'"

Fu Xue still wanted to say something, but Jiang Zhi was already unwilling to listen further.

"'I said no, so no! My lord, although I promised to help you regain your memory, you must obey me on this journey.' She said, her voice softening, she tugged at his sleeve and acted coquettishly: 'Please, my lord?'"

Her long sleeves kept swaying; the nearby maiden exhaled orchid fragrance, warm breath spraying onto his face.

Fu Xue subconsciously answered: "Hmm."

By the time he reacted, the carriage resumed moving; a cool breeze blew open the curtains, and pale golden light poured into the carriage, spreading across the carpet.

He helplessly sighed, lifted a finger to pinch a corner of his clothing, and suddenly grew curious about the lady's appearance.

Wondering if she is as cute as she is.

After a day's travel, the carriage stopped before an inn; the inn was built on a slightly desolate road, and from afar it looked like a household.

She led Fu Xue into the inn, surveyed the whole place: constructed of timber, the interior differed from the exterior's simplicity, with complete facilities, neat and clean.

Inside, all seats were filled; various people some ate with heads down, some chatted while drinking, making it very lively.

"'Two of you?' the female innkeeper exclaimed, her excitement hard to conceal, she glanced at the two of them and beamed."

Jiang Zhi nodded: "Open one room."

One

Upon arriving at the inn room, Jiang Zhi requested a bucket of hot water to wash herself; the waiter brought a dish full of color, aroma, and flavor, ordered for Fu Xue.

She doesn't need to eat; she only needs to absorb a bit of heaven and earth spiritual energy each night, which counts as completing a day's cultivation.

But Fu Xue, now a mortal, needs to eat, otherwise he will starve to death.

After Jiang Zhi finished her hot bath, she saw the untouched food on the table and asked doubtfully, "My lord, why aren't you eating?"

Fu Xue slightly lifted his eyelids; his black eyes, veiled by a white film, were calm and still: "I'm not hungry yet."

Jiang Zhi smelled the food on the table, found it uninteresting; as the bright moon rose, moonlight filled the windowsill, revealing nine long tails swaying in the light.

"'My lord, you should sleep early; I still want to read a book.'"

Saying that, she conjured a book and began to flip through it.

Fu Xue heard the sound and became slightly curious about the book in her hand: "What book?"

Jiang Zhi glanced at the title: "Young Master Lu's Fierce Love".

She swallowed, then whispered: "It's just a vulgar storybook."

Fu Xue's brows and eyes softened with a gentle smile: "Can you read it to me?"

Jiang Zhi: "……"

"'How old are you, still needing your wife to coax you to sleep!'"

She transformed the book into a fairy-tale bedtime book, retracted her nine tails, walked to the bedside, and said: "Alright, I'll read it to you."

"'Once upon a time, there was a country; after the empress gave birth to the princess and died, the princess was taken out of the palace and adopted by an ordinary family; the foster mother was vicious, often bullying the princess; after the princess came of age, the emperor found her and brought her back to the palace, but knowing the princess's situation, he let the princess...'"

"'Fu Xue: 'Execute the foster mother?''"

"'Upon hearing that, Jiang Zhi quickly shook her head: 'No, the princess pleaded with the emperor, granting the foster mother a prosperous life.'"

"'Fu Xue frowned slightly: 'Why?''"

"'Having reached the point, Jiang Zhi took a deep breath and earnestly said: 'If the princess had not been adopted by them, she would have died before reaching adulthood. Moreover, the princess is very kind and upright; she does not wish to become like the foster mother.'"

"'So, my lord, you too must become a kind person.'"

Fu Xue fell silent, dark thoughts surfacing in his heart.

If he were that princess, he would lock the foster mother in a cage, torment her bit by bit until she fell into madness.

But the girl in front of her probably wouldn't want to hear such an answer.

Fu Xue echoed in agreement: "Hmm, I will."

Jiang Zhi curled the corner of her mouth, smiled, and said: "I like my husband the most."

Fu Xue suddenly stopped, feeling the joy and trust emanating from the girl.