Chapter 404: She, Without Regret (Second Update)

After hesitating for a long time, Qingteng finally made her own decision.

Ren Yidao was an excellent master, an outstanding partner, and a man worth her lowering her status to pursue.

But there was a prerequisite to this: he had to remain as excellent as he had been in the past.

If he were to collapse from here on out and become a useless person, she would have no way to continue following behind him.

Qingteng took a deep breath and said with a lack of confidence:

"I still won't go."

"You all know that I am not like you; my status within the clan is not yet stable enough. If I waste too much time going on this trip, then all my previous efforts will have been in vain."

Compared to viviparous races, the oviparous Green Snake Clan has a massive advantage in numbers.

But at the same time, this also means that competition among peers is extremely brutal.

It had already taken a great deal of heart and blood for Qingteng to stand out among her peers in the past, and she truly could not abandon her current status.

"So... I really cannot go."

"Please take good care of His Highness for me."

The others remained silent, understanding Qingteng's choice in their hearts.

Even Canglan did not open her mouth to ask questions at this moment; she simply looked at Qingteng and shook her head with some regret.

*Sigh. *

Among those present, only Canglan knew clearly in her heart exactly what Qingteng had given up with this decision.

Canglan did not speak, but her calm actions instead stung Qingteng's heart, making her feel a wave of inexplicable irritation.

Did I miss some detail?

Was my choice wrong?

... No, I am not wrong!

To bolster her own confidence, as if to prove something, Qingteng turned her head to look at the silent Mo Qi and asked:

"Mo Qi, what is your choice? I imagine you are the same, right?"

Qingteng's expression appeared calm, but the nervousness in her eyes and her somewhat dry voice betrayed her.

"You just received a reward from the clan elders, so you surely cannot go either, right?"

It must be like that, right?

It must be, right!!!

She craved the same answer from Mo Qi to alleviate the pressure she was bearing.

And after a long silence, Mo Qi raised his head; he did not look at the anxious Qingteng to the side, but instead stared at Canglan and said in a deep voice:

"I am willing to go."

What?

Hearing this answer, Qingteng almost failed to control her expression; she stared fixedly at Mo Qi and asked with some hesitation:

"Mo Qi, you... have you forgotten the duties you bear?"

Mo Qi was the most special among them; besides his status in the Crown Prince Guard, he also held an official position guarding the city gates.

"..."

Mentioning this matter, Mo Qi's expression was also one of regret and reluctance, but in the end, he shook his head firmly:

"... Regarding the official position, I will explain it to the clan and ask them to find someone else to take it over."

This action of his meant that he had completely abandoned his status within the clan, handing over all the efforts of the first half of his life to others.

Like Qingteng, he was also gambling.

It was just that Mo Qi was betting that Ren Yidao would make a comeback and be able to bring him more than what he was abandoning today.

"..."

Qingteng was speechless.

At this moment, she, who was always good with words, felt as if something were stuck in her throat; she actually did not know what to say.

In the end, was she the only one who had actively chosen not to go?

This made Qingteng unable to keep a straight face; the corners of her mouth twitched, and her expression was uncertain.

"Mo Qi."

But just at this moment, Luzhi suddenly spoke up, frowning deeply as she said:

"Just now, Master sent me a message, telling you to stay behind with me as well to coordinate matters here in Demon Emperor City."

Qingteng: What?

The sudden turn of events caused Qingteng's expression to completely lose control, and she looked at Luzhi in shock.

Why didn't you say so just now!!?

If I had known earlier that an extra person needed to stay behind, then why would I have needed to make such a choice?

But Luzhi remained unmoved and nodded firmly toward Mo Qi.

And Mo Qi also let out a long sigh of relief, saying in a low, somewhat exhausted voice:

"Hoo... If this is the True Person's intent, then I shall obey."

In fact, making that decision just now to abandon everything had been extremely difficult for him as well.

If there had been a choice that didn't require discarding his past, he would not have been willing to give it up either.

Mo Qi looked toward Canglan, watching this old rival with whom he had struggled for the first half of his life, lowered his head, and said slowly:

"The matter of His Highness... is all entrusted to you; please be sure to protect His Highness well."

Following this, Luzhi also spoke up and bowed; although Qingteng still held resentment in her heart, she did not act differently and spoke just like the two of them.

And Canglan, after taking in all the reactions of the three, cupped her hands in return:

"I will certainly not fail the task entrusted to me; Canglan will definitely protect His Highness well!"

At this moment, even Canglan, who had never been considered particularly clever, could understand one fact.

A broken mirror is difficult to make whole again.

There are some things that, once a choice is made, can never return to how they were before.

This made her feel somewhat regretful.

But she did not regret it.

……

……

Demon Emperor Palace.

Huang Huang watched as Ren Yidao and the others stepped into the spatial rift before them, watching it slowly close.

"……"

It is not too late yet.

She could still grab them back.

As long as she reached out a hand, just like the day she caught the fleeing He Shou, she could pull them out from the cracks in space.

Huang Huang's fingers twitched, but in the end, they stopped.

She forced herself to close her eyes, no longer looking.

However, she could not do that.

This place is a cage.

This Demon Emperor City is the sanctuary she established, and also the cage they speak of.

Some birds are destined not to be kept in a cage.

He was never the canary she kept in captivity.

He does not have the bloodline of a Phoenix, yet he acted more like the Phoenix Divine Son than anyone else.

No one can trap a Phoenix.

Unless, He voluntarily descends and remains here.

Huang Huang staying here is also her own choice.

Ever since the day Huang Huang awakened, She had already made the decision to protect the Demon Race.

This cannot be blamed on anyone.

She does not regret it……

After a few breaths, the spatial rift closed completely; now, even she could no longer track their location.

She could finally give up completely.

Huang Huang opened her eyes, and within them was only a dead silence.

She was alone once again in this vast, cold Imperial Palace.

It is nothing, just the same as the past.

But just at this moment, Huang Huang's brows twitched, and her pupils trembled violently.

"……Hm?"

This is……

Whoosh!

Huang Huang's figure turned, arriving before an elegant small building.

She hesitated for a moment, then without knocking, she pushed the door open and walked in.

And inside that small building, at this moment, a tall, upright figure stood with hands behind his back, admiring the painting he had just finished.

The painting depicted a beautiful woman with long, red-gold hair.

The woman was clearly smiling, yet crystalline tears swirled in her eyes.

She was not a perfect person either.

Although she had no regrets.

She also had tears.