Chapter 1345: Heartfelt Knot

Jiang Fan felt a bit guilty under her glare and said, “You were going to flay me alive. Was I wrong to fight back?”

Green Pearl angrily retorted, “Right, right, right, you’re not wrong. *I* am? Satisfied?” Her fingers curled into claws, lunging fiercely at Jiang Fan! A monstrous, dark claw of demonic energy swiftly enveloped Jiang Fan.

The Demoness and Venerable Truth's expressions subtly shifted, and they once again launched an attack at her back. Green Pearl had no choice but to withdraw her hand, deciding to defeat the two women first. Despite her injuries, she unleashed overwhelming combat power, single-handedly forcing the Demoness and Venerable Truth into continuous retreat. Even though Venerable Truth employed her supreme spiritual artifact and the Demoness exhausted all her tricks, Green Pearl's power was like an insurmountable mountain, pressing down on them until they could barely breathe.

The Demoness muttered, “Did this little girl eat gunpowder? This isn't about snatching a man; she's risking her life.”

Venerable Truth suppressed the metallic taste in her throat, finding it difficult to express her frustration. For some reason, Green Pearl's attacks against her were noticeably fiercer than against the Demoness. Her gaze was also clearly more hostile towards her than towards the Demoness. This utterly perplexed Venerable Truth.

Seeing that the Demoness and Venerable Truth were close to collapsing, Jiang Fan didn't dare to hesitate, saying, “You two, try your best to suppress her!”

The two women exchanged a glance, then looked at Venerable Xin Nie, instantly realizing that Jiang Fan was about to unleash a killer move capable of slaying a Venerable! They immediately forced themselves to withstand Green Pearl's massive onslaught, simultaneously unleashing the power of their spiritual artifacts. Two fiery waves once again converged on Green Pearl from both sides. With the attacks from the two Venerables, combined with Jiang Fan's Venerable-slaying strike, Green Pearl was bound to suffer severe injuries!

*Clang!*

Jiang Fan seized the opportunity, and his three supreme spiritual swords sprang from their scabbards. Green Pearl, realizing Jiang Fan was still intent on attacking her, became utterly enraged.

“You again!” she roared, two mystical ripples swirling in her eyes. It was unmistakably her innate bloodline talent! Memory Erasure!

As the ripples swept forth, the Demoness and Venerable Truth instantly felt their minds go blank. It was as if their memories had been suppressed by something. The two stood dazed, forgetting why they were even there. Their attacks, losing their support, dissipated one after another.

Green Pearl broke free from the pincer attack of black and red fiery waves, her beautiful face grim as she glared at Jiang Fan. Her voice, cold and piercing, emerged from her lips.

“Jiang Fan! I won't let you get away with this!”

Jiang Fan's heart skipped a beat. He had still underestimated the power of a Two-Crown Asura King; the gap between two crowns and a single decline was not something numbers could bridge. Watching Green Pearl approach, he said awkwardly, “Green Pearl, would you hear my defense just one more time?”

Green Pearl grew even angrier. “Do you think I'll fall for your tricks again? You wretched liar, full of deceit!”

With a whoosh, Green Pearl teleported over, and with one swift motion, grabbed the three supreme spiritual swords, which hadn't yet transformed into divine rainbows, in her hand. Her face was barely a foot from Jiang Fan's; they could hear each other's breathing.

“It's time for you to pay the price!” She raised her palm, bringing it down fiercely.

Jiang Fan's heart pounded, but he remained surprisingly calm. Because he still had the Sage's Inscription, Green Pearl's slap would cause her to fall into a state of self-oblivion. At that moment, he would be free to escape.

However, the anticipated slap never came. Just as Green Pearl's palm was about to connect with his chest, she suddenly pulled back her force, ending with a mere light tap. Her face remained icy, but her eyes held a hint of misty confusion, and her voice trembled slightly:

“You're the one who deceived me and made me gnash my teeth in hatred! Yet, you're also the one who moved me by using your body to shield me from the Sun-Chasing Asura King! Jiang Fan, which one is the real you? Why do you make me both hate you and... unable to forget you? Why?”

Jiang Fan was taken aback. It turned out Green Pearl still remembered Jiang Fan shielding her from Asura King Ahri, who had transformed into the Three-Star Giant King, beside the ancient sinkhole. She had been bothered by this ever since.

He sighed softly, saying, “Both are true. My deception was real; we were adversaries, and I needed to survive. Saving you was also real; you aren't evil, and I didn't want to see you die. Is that answer enough?”

Upon hearing the first part, Green Pearl angrily raised her palm again. But upon hearing the latter, she slowly lowered it. Finally, she silently withdrew her hand. It was as if a knot in her heart had unraveled; tears streamed down her face as she choked out:

“Do you know what I was thinking when you selflessly protected me? I thought, if you returned alive from Hong Xiu, what would be wrong with me becoming your true wife? You were the first person to risk your life for me, yet I erased your memories and manipulated you. Do you know how guilty I felt?”

Jiang Fan reached out to wipe away her tears. Green Pearl slapped his hand away, biting her red lip slightly. “But I didn't realize *I* wasn't the one deceiving *you*. Instead, you were the one who had been deceiving me all along! Do you know how angry I was the moment I learned the truth? I was so furious my lungs felt like they would explode. Do you know what it's like when your lungs explode?”

At this, she couldn't help but laugh. But then she felt she shouldn't be laughing and deliberately put on an angry expression. For a moment, she looked both exasperated and amused.

Jiang Fan cleared his throat. “Well, it's not too late for you to become my true wife now, is it?”

Green Pearl genuinely laughed in anger, clenching her fist. “Dream on! You tricked me like an idiot, spinning me around in circles, and you still expect me to be your true wife? You've already missed your chance when I was most moved! You'll regret it for the rest of your life! You'll never have me! Hmph!”

She put her hands on her hips, lifting her pointed chin like a proud little peacock, and let out a delicate hmph.

Jiang Fan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He really wanted to take Green Pearl down a peg, to tell her he wasn't lacking in women. But after finally clarifying the misunderstanding with such effort, why would he provoke this little tigress again?

“Then you should quickly return to the Celestial Realm. The commotion here is so great that if the Grand Wine Sacrificer arrives, you'll find it difficult to leave.”

Hearing Jiang Fan's concern for her, the resentment in Green Pearl's heart diminished even further. But she still rolled her eyes. “I don't need your feigned concern; I know what I'm doing!”

She turned her head to look at the dying Venerable Xin Nie, who was barely clinging to life. Her face turned cold. “You are Venerable Xin Nie? I heard you can move the Sky-Connecting Dark Pillar?”

The Demoness and Venerable Truth gradually shook off the influence of the innate bloodline, their memories returning. Upon hearing this, both women's eyes flickered, and they subtly glanced at Jiang Fan. The true culprit was standing right there. But neither of them spoke up. Instead, they looked at Venerable Xin Nie, growing nervous.

It appeared Green Pearl's true objective was to kill the one capable of moving the Sky-Connecting Dark Pillar. If Venerable Xin Nie exposed Jiang Fan, would Green Pearl spare him? If she did, she wouldn't be able to report back on her mission.

Jiang Fan's expression also tensed. Venerable Xin Nie must surely resent him for bringing him to this state, right? If he spoke the truth, Jiang Fan and Green Pearl might find themselves in an armed confrontation. This was a scenario he truly wished to avoid.