Chapter 2589: Rescue Method

Xie Daoyun wiped the fine sweat from Ji Xiaoxi's forehead and looked towards the Heavenly Palace: "I wonder how Brother Zu is doing now?"

"He and Miss Chang'e must be cherishing their last moments together." A faint sadness flickered in the Wushan Goddess's eyes, partly for Chang'e's fate, and partly from her own reflections. In a way, wasn't she just like Chang'e...?

Xie Daoyun also sighed softly: "I hope Brother Zu can spend some good time with Miss Chang'e." She had originally felt a bit restless at the thought of waiting another year, but the realization that the Mermaid Queen could only spend one day with Brother Zu filled her with sympathy.

"I wonder what the two of them are doing right now," Ji Xiaoxi murmured, grinding herbs while gazing at the sky, her eyes full of curiosity.

At this moment, the Mermaid Queen felt as if she was melting with tenderness. Born of the sea folk, what great storms and waves had she not seen? As a child, she had even loved to dart through the most ferocious storms, relishing the playful sensation. No matter how strong the winds and waves, for her, as the Mermaid Queen, it was always like treading on flat ground. Yet, only now did she realize how overconfident she had been. It turned out there were storms in the world so immense they could make one dizzy. She felt like a small boat in a storm, tossed back and forth by violent gales and waves, on the verge of sinking at any moment. She no longer dared to be arrogant, recalling her past techniques of controlling water, trying to relax completely and let the 'boat' merge with the 'waves'.

Fortunately, Heaven seemed to sense her apprehension; the storm subsided, and the sun gradually emerged from the clouds, bringing a feeling of gentle breeze and soft rain. The sunlight on her body felt wonderfully warm and comfortable. She could no longer suppress the tenderness in her heart. Embracing her lover tightly, she whispered into his ear, "I want a child..." Her words were like a bugle call on a battlefield, or the prelude to a storm. She was already a peerless beauty, acknowledged as the most beautiful woman by all races. Coupled with such a deep declaration of love, what man in the world could refuse?

Outside Guanghan Palace, the swaying red lanterns seemed to be telling a story. In the courtyard, the previously withered ancient tree suddenly burst with life, growing green leaves again and then blooming with beautiful flowers. The entire palace was filled with the sweet fragrance of osmanthus, as sweet as the feelings between a newlywed couple at this moment.

It was unclear how much time had passed. The Mermaid Queen, with flushed cheeks, nestled in Zu An's arms, gently twirling a strand of her hair on his chest. "Husband, you seem a little unhappy."

"Ah, am I?" Zu An was startled, surprised by her sensitivity to notice that.

"Yes, you look preoccupied. Is it because you're worried about me?" The Mermaid Queen shifted, finding a more comfortable position in his embrace.

Zu An didn't know how to answer her question at once.

The Mermaid Queen, however, smiled understandingly: "Actually, you don't need to be troubled. I know I can't leave this place. Now that we, as lovers, have finally become a couple, I have no regrets. What's more, perhaps I've just conceived your child, and then I'll have a companion." At this point, she suddenly paused and quickly added, "No, that's too selfish. It wouldn't be fair to the child if they could only stay here."

Zu An held her tightly in his arms: "My dear wife, I will find a way to get you out."

The Mermaid Queen smiled sweetly: "Husband, you don't need to feel pressured. I'll always be here, so you can come to see me whenever you miss me."

Zu An's heart ached. This was an ancient era, tens of thousands of years from his own time. How could they possibly reunite across such a vast expanse of years?

"I'll stay here with you," he blurted out, unable to control himself. Leaving her like this would be too cruel.

The Mermaid Queen was startled at first, then she smiled, a very happy smile, with tears welling up in her eyes. She pressed her face tightly against his chest: "Husband, I'm so happy to hear you say that, even if it's just a fleeting thought. But I can't be that selfish. You have too many things to do, too many responsibilities. How could you stay here with me forever?"

Zu An opened his mouth, but he, who was usually eloquent, found his throat dry and constricted.

"Don't worry, I'll wait for you forever, no matter how long it takes until you come back for me," the Mermaid Queen suddenly sat up. Her dark hair cascaded casually, brushing against his cheek. "Husband, let's not talk about unhappy things. Let's talk about happy ones, like what happened around you before you met me. I want to understand you better."

Zu An's heart trembled. He embraced her tightly and told her everything.

Sunsets and sunrises passed. Sometimes a day felt so long, and sometimes so short.

The Mermaid Queen gently nudged Zu An. "Husband, time is almost up." Clearly, she had learned about the teleportation gate during their night of conversation. As their parting approached, though she forced a smile, tears still glimmered in her eyes. Nothing causes such profound sorrow as parting.

Zu An's heart suddenly stirred, and he quickly summoned Mo Xi. Seeing the suddenly appearing woman with scant clothing and a fiery figure, the Mermaid Queen was startled. "Husband, who is she?"

"Her name is Mo Xi..." Zu An briefly introduced her origins. "She has a special skill called 'Parting at Nanchao,' which can sever various contracts in the world. The one between you and Guanghan Palace is also a type of contract. But there's a problem: she can only sever contracts with those whose cultivation levels are similar to her own."

Hearing this, the Mermaid Queen's eyes dimmed. This girl in front of her was at most a slightly stronger human, far from her current cultivation level, and certainly couldn't improve enough in a short time. Zu An's thoughts raced. The cultivation gap between the two women was simply too vast. Not to mention that he didn't have much time left; even if he had a few more days, or even months or years, it would still be very difficult for Mo Xi's cultivation to catch up to the now-ascended Mermaid Queen.

Suddenly, he thought of a method: he asked Mo Xi if she could stay with the Mermaid Queen, so she would have enough time to grow and cultivate. One must remember that in this era, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was exceptionally abundant. Moreover, with countless immortals and powerful Witch race experts, opportunities were everywhere. Perhaps there truly was a way for her to grow rapidly.

However, Mo Xi simply turned her head away. Zu An, however, was pleasantly surprised. Her reaction indicated not an inability, but an unwillingness.

"Then what would make you willing? I could give you many Vitality Fruits?" Zu An currently had 3,039,680 points of Rage value, enough to exchange for quite a few Vitality Fruits.

Mo Xi still shook her head. Zu An communicated with her through their souls, understanding her meaning, and couldn't help but look strange. Because she didn't want Vitality Fruits; instead, she wanted something else. Something he had never expected. She actually wanted a set of clothing from the shop system—clothes that had no abilities whatsoever, serving only as decoration. And the outfit Mo Xi wanted was precisely the one that had shocked Zu An so much back then—a bikini!