Chapter 368: Chapter 360: That Touch of Softness
Profound Old Ghost’s words brought the dazed Mu Chen to his senses. He raised his head to look at Mu Bingling, whose ice-blue eyes were also staring at him. In her gaze, Mu Chen saw endless emotions and unspoken words. He opened his mouth, and a sharp pain suddenly pierced his heart.
’I really am an unworthy fiancé...’
Slowly turning around, Mu Chen glanced at Mo Qing and Mu Bingling, then opened the door and walked out. Qing Lei and Ye Shuangshuang exchanged a look of understanding.
Qing Lei smiled. "Miss Bingling, Miss Mo Qing, the two of us are enough to take care of Little Tiger here. It’s been two years. I’m sure Mu Chen has a lot he wants to say to you both."
At his words, Mu Bingling let out a soft breath. After calming herself, she started to walk out slowly. But when she was halfway there, she noticed Mo Qing hadn’t followed. Looking back, she saw Mo Qing watching her with gentle eyes.
"Sister, no one knows better than I how deeply you’ve missed Mu Chen these past two years. So you should go first. He won’t be leaving right away this time, so I’ll have plenty of other chances."
Seeing the gentleness and resolve in Mo Qing’s eyes, Mu Bingling’s expression softened with affection. She gave Mo Qing a deep look, then shook her head with a sigh and quickly left the room.
’Silly sister...’
How could she not understand what was in Mo Qing’s heart? Mo Qing just wanted to give her the first chance to see him alone...
After gently closing Little Tiger’s door, Mu Bingling spotted Mu Chen’s back at the end of the hallway. Mu Chen noticed her as well, but he didn’t stop. Instead, he turned and headed upstairs.
The Sacas Dynasty Hotel was thirty-nine stories high, with a rooftop terrace on the very top floor. Usually, it was crowded with people. But right now, it was the middle of the Imperial Tournament, and every Empire was focused on its matches. Naturally, no one had the leisure to come up for a breeze. Following Mu Chen, Mu Bingling found herself walking all the way up to the rooftop.
Sure enough, the rooftop was empty save for a single figure in blue and black, his back to her. Mu Bingling walked forward slowly, her head slightly lowered. It was late summer, and the wind carried the lingering heat of the season, gently ruffling her black hair. Feeling the breeze’s caress, Mu Bingling suddenly felt her thoughts fall into disarray. There were so many things she wanted to tell him, but she had no idea where to begin...
"Chen..."
Slowly stepping forward, Mu Bingling reached out her right hand, wanting to tug on Mu Chen’s sleeve. But just as her hand extended, Mu Chen suddenly spun around. He caught her delicate fingers, gave a gentle tug, and in the same motion, pulled her into his embrace. Without a word, Mu Bingling felt a warmth press swiftly against her lips.
"Mmph!"
Mu Bingling froze.
Mu Chen was jolted back to his senses!
’No! I absolutely cannot let the Qilin Blood affect my mind again!’
He admonished himself internally. Ever since learning about the negative side effects of his right arm from Xiaobai, Mu Chen had sworn that he would never let what happened with Wan Xian’Er happen a second time. He couldn’t let the woman he loved be harmed by his own beastly lust; he would regret it for the rest of his life!
Taking a deep breath, the crimson glow in Mu Chen’s eyes abruptly faded, replaced by a tenderness filled with love.
After gently brushing against Mu Bingling’s lips a couple more times, Mu Chen pulled his head back with extreme reluctance. He was afraid that if he continued, he would truly lose control of the fire burning within him.
The moment Mu Chen pulled away, Mu Bingling’s senses gradually returned. Once clear-headed, she was overcome with shyness. Even the tips of her ears felt frighteningly hot. She quickly buried her face deep in Mu Chen’s chest. She knew her face must be as red as a sunset, and she didn’t want him to see her like this at all.
Holding Mu Bingling tightly, Mu Chen took a breath and said softly, "Bing’Er, it’s been two years. I’ve missed you... every single moment..."
Hearing his words, Mu Bingling felt a sting in her delicate nose, and her eyes immediately reddened. A mist began to swirl in their depths. Two years... It wasn’t that long, but for someone like her who couldn’t bear to be away from Mu Chen for even a minute, it had been an eternity. She blinked, and two crystalline tears slowly trickled from the corners of her eyes.
"I missed you so, so much. I really did... Chen’Er, promise me you’ll never leave Bing’Er behind again, okay? I really don’t want to live those days without you anymore... I... I don’t want to be lonely ever again..."
Listening to Mu Bingling’s words, an image naturally surfaced in Mu Chen’s mind: that winter, in the snow, a little girl, thinly clothed and shivering, her body purple from the cold. Her eyes were so helpless, her expression so lonely. That scene was like a brand, seared not only into Mu Bingling’s heart, but into Mu Chen’s as well...
Resting his chin gently on the top of Mu Bingling’s head, Mu Chen fought back the urge to cry. He slowly stroked the ends of her hair and said with resolve, "Chen’Er promises you. If the Heavens try to take you, I will answer with Defying the Heavens! If the Earth tries to take you, I will answer with Earth Splitting! If the Death God comes for you, I will become the Godslayer! I swear, I will never, ever leave Bing’Er again."
Every word was powerful and resonant, and Mu Chen’s voice seemed to carry a strange, oppressive might. As he spoke those three sentences, the sky and the ground actually trembled, however imperceptibly!
...
The moonlight, like a silver veil, draped over the land, spilled across the rivers, and reflected off all things, suffusing the Extreme Martial Continent with a tranquil atmosphere. And on the rooftop of the Sacas Dynasty Hotel, a man and a woman sat nestled together. The young woman leaned against the young man’s chest, her flawless expression a picture of serenity and indelible happiness. Her gently closed eyes trembled slightly, her long lashes fluttering with the movement, tugging at the young man’s heartstrings. The young man had one arm around her slender waist, while his other hand toyed with a lock of her silky black hair, which was smooth to the touch.
"Chen’Er, can you tell me what happened over the past two years? And your arm... how did it heal so completely?" Mu Bingling slowly opened her eyes. Her ice-blue irises seemed to hold an enchanting magic power, causing Mu Chen to stare, completely captivated.
"Hey, Chen’Er, you can look at me every day if you want. But can you please listen to what I’m saying?" Seeing Mu Chen staring blankly at her, Mu Bingling pursed her lips into a smile and reminded him casually.
"Ah? Oh, the past two years..." Mu Chen was startled by her voice and rubbed his nose in embarrassment. Then, the various expressions of Wan Xian’Er naturally surfaced in his mind, along with her final words...
"A good woman is loyal to one man. Although I don’t know your background, your potential, or whether your future will be good or bad, my heart, Wan Xian’Er’s heart, has no room for anyone else. If we are truly fated to be, we will meet again. If we are not... then let’s just forget this rushed encounter we once had..."
’Forget it... But can I?’
He closed his eyes in pain, his brow furrowed as he vigorously rubbed his temples, trying to soothe his throbbing head.
Seeing Mu Chen’s pained expression, Mu Bingling couldn’t help but ask with concern, "Chen’Er, what’s wrong? Are you not feeling well? Or did my question put you in a difficult spot?"
Hearing Mu Bingling’s words, Mu Chen gave a slight smile, his blue-purple eyes flashing with endless apology and guilt. ’It seems it’s time to tell Bing’Er everything,’ he thought. Holding Mu Bingling tightly in his arms, Mu Chen began to recount the story of a hasty encounter between a young man and a young woman...
As Mu Chen told his story, Mu Bingling’s expression shifted from surprise to worry, and finally to sympathy. But from beginning to end, she never once showed a hint of anger, which made Mu Chen extremely worried.
"And it was this very arm." Mu Chen raised his right arm into the moonlight and said bitterly, "that made me do something worse than any beast..."
The moment he finished speaking, Mu Bingling suddenly placed her pale fingers over his lips and shook her head. "Chen’Er, don’t ever talk about yourself like that again. You had lost consciousness at the time. Although most of the fault lies with you, it can’t be blamed on you entirely. Little Sister Xian’Er is the most innocent one in all of this."
Mu Chen’s mouth fell open, utterly astonished. "You don’t blame me?"
Mu Bingling gave a bitter smile. "I do blame you. Why wouldn’t I? You’re my fiancé."
Hearing her words, Mu Chen’s heart plummeted as if his world was collapsing. His expression filled with disappointment, remorse, and guilt...
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