Chapter 57: A Fateful Encounter
Translator: Krukist
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Around the crystal coffin stood four massive bronze pillars, equally covered in rust. Aside from these pillars and the crystal coffin, the hall was empty.
Wang Feng's expression shifted slightly. Instead of immediately approaching the crystal coffin, he walked over to the four bronze pillars. As he drew closer, he noticed that beneath the rust, the pillars were inscribed with mysterious runes.
The moment Wang Feng laid eyes on these runes, he felt a wave of dizziness. His soul even trembled slightly. Just as he was about to look away in shock, the sensation vanished. When he looked at the runes again, they appeared ordinary, as if the earlier dizziness had been an illusion.
Wang Feng gave the bronze pillars a deep look but didn't continue examining them. He knew that these pillars, and the bronze hall itself, must hold extraordinary secrets. However, with his current level of insight, he couldn't decipher anything.
Then, Wang Feng walked toward the crystal coffin. He moved slowly, each step accompanied by a surge of power within him. By the time he reached the coffin, a layer of Profound Qi armor had formed around his body.
Facing the mysterious bronze hall and the crystal coffin, Wang Feng didn't dare to be careless. He was even prepared to flee at any moment.
Humans are naturally curious about the mysterious and fearful of the unknown. It's in their nature.
Wang Feng looked into the crystal coffin, and what he saw left him stunned. His entire body froze, as if he had been petrified, staring blankly at the coffin.
Inside the crystal coffin lay a woman. It was this woman who left Wang Feng speechless, as if his world had come to a standstill.
The woman lay quietly in the crystal coffin, as if shrouded in a mist of snow-white vapor. Her lustrous black hair was spread out beneath her, and her oval face was like a masterpiece of art, with delicate features. Her eyes were closed, resembling a sleeping beauty.
She wore a snow-white gown, her waist so slender it seemed as if it could be held in one hand. Though she appeared fragile, her beauty was radiant. Her skin was as smooth as warm jade, glowing softly, as if it could be pierced with a touch.
Wang Feng had seen beautiful women before. In fact, his Divine Immortal Sect had several stunning beauties, any one of whom could captivate countless men.
But this was the first time he had seen a girl like this. She seemed like a fairy descended from the heavens, untouched by the mortal world. What Wang Feng couldn't forget was the luminous glow of her skin, like pearls or gemstones.
Looking at her, Wang Feng felt as if the eerie, oppressive hall had become bright and pure.
Wang Feng couldn't understand why this woman, even in her sleep, exuded such charm. And why did her skin have such a radiant, enchanting glow?
At this moment, Wang Feng's mind was blank. This woman left him unable to think. In his heart, there was an indescribable stirring.
It was as if he had known her before, as if he had come to the depths of the Ancient Land of Fallen Gods just for her. This felt like a fateful encounter.
Originally, Wang Feng had thought that if Yue weren't so cold, her beauty could be captivating. But now, he realized that there was a kind of beauty that could intoxicate even gods.
Wang Feng's heart raced wildly, as if it might leap out of his chest. Unable to resist the stirring in his heart, he reached out and touched the crystal coffin. It was cool and smooth, the chill calming his fervent heart.
Through the crystal coffin, Wang Feng couldn't feel the woman's breath or heartbeat. He wanted to know if she was still alive.
He didn't want to think about why she was lying in the crystal coffin or where she came from. He only wanted to know if she was alive.
So, he pushed the coffin lid. He didn't know if he would encounter danger, but he pushed it anyway.
With a gentle push, the coffin lid slid open without any resistance.
Without the lid, Wang Feng could see the woman clearly. As the lid slid open, he even caught a whiff of an intoxicating fragrance.
In the silent hall, with his heightened senses, even the sound of a falling needle would be audible. But Wang Feng heard no heartbeat, no breath.
At this moment, Wang Feng's eyes dimmed. Had this fairy-like woman truly passed away? It made sense. If she were alive, she wouldn't be lying in a crystal coffin. This was likely her tomb.
Wang Feng shook his head. He knew that this encounter would be etched in his memory forever. He took one last look at the woman and prepared to close the coffin lid.
Although he hadn't obtained any treasures during his journey to the depths of the Ancient Land of Fallen Gods, Wang Feng felt that this glimpse of her beauty was the most precious memory of his life. That alone made the journey worthwhile.
Just as Wang Feng was about to close the coffin lid, he froze, suddenly at a loss.
Because the eyes that had been tightly shut were now open. They were bright, like dazzling stars in the night sky, captivating at first glance.
After a brief moment of eye contact, Wang Feng averted his gaze. His body stiffened, unsure of how to face the now-awakened woman. His mind was a blank slate.
"Husband!"
As Wang Feng looked away, a soft, melodious voice reached his ears. The moment he heard it, he knew it belonged to the woman.
But the word she used left him stunned.
He looked at the girl and saw her smile.
When she smiled, a dimple appeared at the corner of her mouth. Her bright eyes narrowed into crescents, radiating pure joy. Her smile was both adorable and mischievous.
"You... what did you call me?"
Wang Feng's mind was in chaos, his words stumbling.
Since arriving in this world—no, since he had become a person—this was the first time he had felt so lost, so disoriented.
"Husband!"
The girl loved to smile. Even as she spoke, her dimple showed, and her eyes curved like crescent moons, charming and lively.
"Do you... know what 'husband' means?"
Though Wang Feng felt a secret delight, he couldn't help but ask, looking at this gentle, spirited girl.
She was like a sprite of the heavens, so beautiful that he didn't want to say anything that might disrupt her purity.
"Of course! A husband is a husband. You can only have one in a lifetime!"
The girl answered with a smile. She really loved to smile, and Wang Feng adored the way she smiled—simple and pure.
"Yes, only one in a lifetime. Then from now on, I'll be your husband."
Wang Feng nodded, though a pang of guilt suddenly struck him. Was this considered deception? Probably not. After all, she had called him "husband," and he had agreed. That settled it.
Hearing Wang Feng's words, the girl smiled again and asked, "My name is Ye Muqing. What's your name, husband?"
"Wang Feng."
Her smile was truly captivating. The more Wang Feng looked at her, the less guilt he felt.
"Muqing, how did you end up here?" Wang Feng asked, mustering his courage. Intimacy had to start somewhere.
"I don't know," Ye Muqing said, sitting up straight. She tilted her head and smiled again.
Wang Feng didn't press further. He looked at the girl and smiled too. He didn't know why, but the more he spoke to her and breathed in her scent, the more comfortable and familiar she felt. It was as if they had known each other for a long time.
Yet Wang Feng was certain he had never met her before. A girl like Ye Muqing—once seen, never forgotten.
Most importantly, Wang Feng didn't sense even a trace of Profound Qi from her. It was as if she were an ordinary mortal.
But how could an ordinary mortal appear in the depths of the Ancient Land of Fallen Gods, lying in a crystal coffin within a bronze hall?
Everything about her was mysterious, but Wang Feng didn't dwell on it. Now, she was his wife, and he was her husband. That was enough.
There's a saying: "To die under the peony, even as a ghost, is to be romantic."
Before, Wang Feng hadn't understood this saying. Now he did. And he was certain that the girl wouldn't harm him. This feeling, though inexplicable, was deeply rooted in his heart.
"Husband, help me out!" As Wang Feng was lost in thought, Ye Muqing looked at him playfully, extending her slender, snow-white hand.
Wang Feng took her hand and gently pulled her up. Her touch was soft and warm, a pleasure to hold.
The girl's face suddenly flushed with a delicate pink, a charming blush that accentuated her youthful shyness.
As the girl withdrew her hand, Wang Feng's eyes narrowed. He noticed a symbol etched on the back of each of her hands.
With just a glance, Wang Feng felt as if his head was about to explode. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and he quickly averted his gaze, his heart pounding.
"Don't look, husband."
Seeing Wang Feng's reaction, the girl reached out and gently wiped the sweat from his forehead. This time, she wasn't smiling.
"Qing'er, do you know what these are?" Wang Feng asked, using a more intimate form of address. Though his heart was heavy, he forced a smile.
"These are two paths. The one on the left is complete, and the one on the right has just begun," Ye Muqing said, waving her snow-white hands gently.
"Paths?"
Wang Feng was puzzled. Were these paths similar to the Sword Dao, or perhaps paths of cultivation?
"Yes, they're very powerful. From now on, Qing'er will protect you!" Ye Muqing said proudly, puffing out her chest. The sight made Wang Feng's breath catch.
"Alright!" Wang Feng nodded with a smile. He felt deeply content. This journey to the Ancient Land of Fallen Gods had given him the most precious treasure of his life—one he would never abandon.
He glanced at the girl beside him and said softly, "From now on, wherever I go, you'll come with me, okay?"
"Of course! I know—where the husband goes, the wife follows!"
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