Chapter 45: Could the Shopkeeper Actually Be a Member of Beiming? The Immortal Emperor Prepares to Meet Wang Chu

Page 1/3

By leaving the story hanging like this, Wang Chu only deepened Chu Xue’s curiosity about what would happen next. Her mind gradually immersed itself in the world of "A Chinese Odyssey," and vivid scenes continuously surfaced in her imagination.

As the plot unfolded, Chu Xue alternated between tears, joy, and moments of quiet contemplation. After some time, when she saw the Fairy Zixia collapse into Sun Wukong’s arms and utter that classic line before dying, her heart suddenly ached sharply, as if a knife had been thrust into it.

This pain instantly snapped her thoughts back to reality, and tears brimmed and poured down her cheeks like a broken dam. She couldn’t help but wonder: tomorrow at this time, would she also be lying in Wang Chu’s arms...

“Oh? So sensitive to tragedy, huh?” Wang Chu looked at the pitiful girl with tear-streaked cheeks and, instead of offering comfort, teased her with a playful tone.

Chu Xue wiped the corners of her eyes with her hand. “I just can’t help it. Now I finally understand what you meant by the ‘knife’—it’s such a fitting description.”

Wang Chu took out a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to Chu Xue. “This is good, though. If you want to cry, just cry in front of me, unlike someone I know who only dares to cry secretly late at night.”

Chu Xue hesitated for a moment as she took the handkerchief. “You knew?”

Wang Chu tapped his chest. “Your tears soaked through and dampened my muscles. How could I not know?”

Flushing, Chu Xue lowered her head, wiping tears with the handkerchief and speaking shyly, “S-sorry, I didn’t mean to.”

Seeing her vulnerable expression, Wang Chu’s mischievous spirit stirred again. “What use is an apology?”

Chu Xue put down the handkerchief and looked up at him, a bit flustered. “Then what should I do?”

Wang Chu smirked. “Since you’ve dirtied my clothes, of course you have to wash them clean. From now on, all my dirty clothes are yours to wash. If you agree, I’ll forgive you.”

His condition was obviously outrageous, and he never expected Chu Xue to accept it—he was just teasing her.

Unexpectedly, Chu Xue agreed without hesitation, even happily: “Alright! I promise.”

But soon, her joyful expression vanished. “But...”

“But what?” Wang Chu was curious to hear what excuse she might come up with.

Chu Xue sighed deeply, regretful: “I may only have tomorrow left to live.”

Wang Chu was dissatisfied with this excuse—it just didn’t hold up. “What if you have more than just tomorrow?”

Chu Xue smiled gently, looking into his eyes. “Then that would be even better.”

Wang Chu wiggled his finger up and down. “You said that. I’m holding you to it.”

Chu Xue nodded softly. “Mm.”

Changing the subject, Wang Chu glanced at the book before Chu Xue. “There’s a little more left. Hurry up and finish it. It’s getting late. Afterward, we’ll go to sleep.”

Page 2/3

Chu Xue wiped her eyes again with the handkerchief and obediently replied, “Okay.”

Then she focused once more on the book. Before long, she finished reading the remaining part.

After finishing, she sighed. “Ah, this ending is really hard to accept. So many regrets.”

For once, Wang Chu spoke earnestly. “Life is like that. It’s the regrets that make things unforgettable.”

Chu Xue pondered. “That makes so much sense. Could that be the author’s true intention?”

Wang Chu shook his head. “Who knows? Let’s get some sleep.”

Chu Xue stood up and returned the book to the shelf. “Alright!”

After a quick wash-up, both Wang Chu and Chu Xue got into bed.

Before sleeping, Wang Chu asked, “Are we still going to the seaside tomorrow?”

“Yes.” Chu Xue answered without hesitation.

“Good. Then sleep well.”

Wang Chu closed his eyes.

“See you tomorrow,” Chu Xue said, closing her eyes as well.

That night, Chu Xue no longer clung tightly to Wang Chu as before; she gently lay in his arms and slept soundly.

In her dream, she ran toward the sea but stopped halfway to look back. She saw Wang Chu standing amidst a cluster of flowers behind her, waving and smiling.

...

That night, in the imperial palace of Qian Yuan City, Emperor Jiang Cheng looked up at the night sky, lost in thought, uncertain of what occupied his mind.

At that moment, a graceful figure appeared behind him.

“Greetings, Father Emperor!”

Jiang Cheng did not turn around but spoke calmly, “Any discoveries?”

Jiang Wan lifted her head slightly and reported, “Though I have yet to find the eldest prince’s whereabouts, I discovered someone suspicious in Ling City who might be a member of the Northern Abyss.”

Jiang Cheng turned around, intrigued. “Tell me more.”

Jiang Wan proceeded to recount every detail related to Wang Chu.

After listening, Jiang Cheng’s lips curled into a faint smile. “From what you say, the shop owner might indeed be a Northern Abyss member. You didn’t alert him, did you?”

Jiang Wan hesitated slightly, her tone uncertain. “No, Your Majesty.”

Jiang Cheng turned back toward the night sky, closing his eyes. Thinking to himself, “It seems I must find time to meet him personally.”

...

The next morning, Chu Xue and Wang Chu ate a bowl of noodles at a small street stall.

Page 3/3

Afterward, they returned to the shop to prepare for their trip to the seaside.

Chu Xue deliberately changed into a pure white, light dress, dressing herself beautifully.

The old man had not appeared since leaving the day before.

Chu Xue could only assume he had not yet concocted the antidote.

After all, the Seven Deadly Poisons had never been unraveled before.

“Ready?” Wang Chu asked, drawing a crack in the empty air of the room with his hand.

Chu Xue smoothed her skirt’s hem. “Yes, I’m ready.”

Wang Chu took her hand. “Then let’s go.”

Without waiting, he stepped first into the crack.

Chu Xue immediately followed, entering the fissure as well.

After passing through the same streak of lines as before, the crashing sound of waves greeted her ears.

Soon, she beheld an expanse of azure ocean beneath an equally blue sky.

This place wasn’t cold like Ling City; instead, it was warm.

“Chirp chirp chirp!”

A flock of seabirds suddenly flew across the sky, tracing a black-and-white line above.

Amidst the play of light and shade, Chu Xue caught the scent of flowers.

Looking down, she saw vibrant, multicolored blossoms surrounding her.

Standing amid the flowers, Chu Xue seemed to bloom like a radiant flower herself, especially when she smiled.

“I never imagined a place like this really existed, just as the poem described.”

Wang Chu grinned proudly. “This place is hard to find. It took me quite some time to locate it. So, how do you like it? Beautiful, isn’t it?”

Chu Xue placed her hands behind her thighs, took a few steps forward, and sat on the grass, gazing toward the sea.

“Beautiful. So beautiful. If I were to die here, it would be a kind of happiness.”

She turned to Wang Chu. “Thank you, Wang Chu.”

Wang Chu sat down beside her on the grass, plucked a blade of grass, and held it to his lips.

“This is a place I found with great effort. There’s no way I’d let you be buried here. Don’t get your hopes up.”

Chu Xue put her hands on her hips, feigning anger. “But I paid with spirit stones!”

Wang Chu lay back, hands behind his head, staring at the sky. “Your spirit stones aren’t nearly enough to bury you here.”

Chu Xue smiled bitterly. “Then I hope I live past today. Otherwise, you scoundrel might bury me in the wilderness to keep company with wolves.”

Wang Chu lazily squinted. “That won’t happen. At worst, I’d bury you in a mass grave, so at least you’d have company.”

The smile vanished from Chu Xue’s face. “Then even as a ghost, I won’t let you off!”

...