Chapter 427 - Jiang Zhan’s Story (End) (2/2)

No one else could tolerate her, so I gave her a safe harbour to return to. That was the only thing I could do for her.

On the trip to Mt. Di, it was completely out of my expectations that she would follow along.

In the end, I was even rescued by her.

My father once said that those things would bring the Demon Sect misfortune. He’d been planning to destroy them back then, but the Demon Sect came under attack before he could do so.

I hadn’t been planning to survive the moment I entered Mt. Di. I didn’t know whether the feeling I felt when I saw the sun again was ecstasy or something else.

I only knew that I liked her.

But it seemed that she didn’t like me.

No matter what I did, she always looked very apathetic.

I thought that it must’ve been because I was too weak, so I chose to go into seclusion to break through the Nether Mantra’s ninth level.

If I succeeded, there’d be no one in all of jianghu who could defeat me.

If I failed…

Then I didn’t have any qualification to stand by her side.

She was so strong, so dazzling.

Before I went into seclusion, I told her that I’d marry her if I came out.

I didn’t even dare to look at her expression back then.

The things I gave her were her old toys which I’d snuck away from Medicine Granny’s place.

But I think she probably doesn’t remember them, because she looked confused when she saw them again.

It’d be lying to say I wasn’t disappointed.

Those memories clearly belonged to the two of us, yet I was the only one who remembered.

To make myself feel better, I comforted myself, thinking that she was too young back then, so it was normal for her to forget.

Breaking through the Nether Mantra wasn’t smooth sailing—I nearly failed several times. But every time, I remembered what I said to her, so I gritted my teeth and persevered.

In the end, I succeeded.

I saw her waiting outside when I left the chamber. But before I could feel happy, she wanted to take my blood.

I knew in my heart that she didn’t like me, but I still couldn’t help but lose my temper.

She wasn’t waiting outside because she was worried about me, but because she wanted my blood.

I guessed it had something to do with her sword, but I didn’t give it to her. I didn’t know whether she’d leave once I did. So I didn’t dare to give her any.

Even if she didn’t like me, I still wanted her to be around.

When I learned that she had someone she liked, I felt complicated.

I had been missing for the greater part of her life. In the end, I wasn’t able to become her most important person.

When she left the Demon Sect, I went to look for her with great fanfare. But I knew…that even if I found her, she still wouldn’t like me.

I don’t know why I was so certain either. An instinct perhaps.

Although the Nether Mantra is strong, it shortens the lifespans of those who practise it. Though I wasn’t really afraid of death, since I couldn’t have the person I liked. I just feared that she’d suffer by herself.

So I asked Ting Feng to invite her back. I’ve always known where she’s been.

I’m very happy that I could see her again before I die.

My only regret is that I was never a part of the most bloody periods of her life, that I didn’t give her someone to rely on when she needed it most, that I never held any weight in her heart.

Wu Zheng, I like you.

—Jiang Zhan.