The walk to the waterfall was a quiet one. Ruo Yin's heart was pounding in her chest, overwhelmed by the words Zhan Luo had spoken. "I'll chase you to the ends of the universe." The War Deity had promised to follow her, no matter where she went. It was a startling declaration, and Ruo Yin wasn't sure what to make of it. She repeated a mantra to herself, trying to regain her focus: "Ruo Yin, focus on your mission. Don't let pretty words cloud your vision."
But despite her resolve, the same question gnawed at her. Was Zhan Luo truly as cruel as You Xie had claimed? He didn't seem like it. In the short time she'd spent with him, Ruo Yin had already seen sides of him that didn't match the image You Xie had painted. At times, she'd even caught glimpses of something like guilt in his eyes. Maybe he was treating her kindly because he felt responsible for what had happened five thousand years ago. But what if it was something more?
Meanwhile, Zhan Luo's mind was clouded with uncertainty. "Am I helping her because of what I did, or because I feel something for her?" For a being like him, who had spent most of his life honing his powers and cultivating his strength, love had never been a consideration. He had no need for company. His existence had always been solitary, created from mortals' desires for power and justice. He couldn't even remember how many years had passed since his creation—how many leaders had come and gone, how many wars he'd fought in, how many lives had been lost.
Yet nothing in his long life had troubled him as much as the incident five thousand years ago, when he had erased Ruo Yin's memories. He hadn't expected to meet her again, and at the time, he had simply been trying to fulfill a dying parent's wish—to save their daughter. But no one had asked him to take her as his wife. And yet, he had done it. Why?
His thoughts were interrupted by Ruo Yin's voice, filled with excitement. "Hey, look! We've already arrived! It's so beautiful!" She dashed ahead toward the river where the waterfall cascaded, skipping across the rocks with a carefree nature. Zhan Luo couldn't help but admire her lightheartedness.
"Hey, be careful! The rocks are slippery!" he called after her.
"There's no need to—" Ruo Yin's words were cut short as her foot slipped on a rock, and she began to fall.
In a flash, Zhan Luo was beside her, catching her around the waist to steady her. But in the process, they both lost their balance and tumbled down the waterfall, the rushing water enveloping them. For a moment, neither of them moved. Ruo Yin's hands were pressed against Zhan Luo's chest, their faces barely inches apart. The sound of the waterfall and their breaths were all that filled the space around them.
Zhan Luo gently moved one of his hands to tuck a strand of Ruo Yin's hair behind her ear, but at that moment, she winced in pain. A sharp throb shot through her ankle, and she nearly lost her balance if not for Zhan Luo's steady grip on her waist.
"Sorry," Ruo Yin murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "I think I sprained my ankle."
"Don't worry, I'll carry you back," Zhan Luo said, and before she could protest, he scooped her up into his arms with ease. "If you'd like, you can rest."
Ruo Yin laid her head against his chest, closing her eyes in an attempt to calm her racing heart. Stupid, Ruo Yin! Stupid! Stupid! she chastised herself. If it weren't for her ankle, she was almost sure Zhan Luo would have kissed her beneath the waterfall.
"Is your ankle really that painful?" Zhan Luo's voice broke her thoughts.
"Huh?" She blinked, not fully understanding.
Zhan Luo nodded toward her hands, which were tightly clutching the hem of his clothing.
"Sorry, I... um..." Ruo Yin's face flushed a deep red, her heart threatening to leap out of her chest.
"If it hurts that much, you don't have to hide it. I should have warned you about the rocks before you got too excited by the waterfall," Zhan Luo said, his tone surprisingly gentle.
"Can we talk about something, so I don't focus on the pain?" Ruo Yin asked, trying to steer the conversation away from the way her heart was racing. This was her chance to subtly uncover the truth.
"Fine. What would you like to talk about?" Zhan Luo replied.
Ruo Yin thought for a moment. If she asked him directly about the past, he would surely grow suspicious. She needed to be careful. "Why do you live on Kunlun Mountain all alone?"
Zhan Luo's answer was simple, and a little revealing. "I just don't like how loud all deities are.."
"Oh... so you don't have any friends?" Ruo Yin asked, her curiosity piqued.
Zhan Luo chuckled softly. "I do have an annoying deity that I do not seem to be able to get rid off. You might meet him one day. He's annoying though—more annoying than you."
"Hey!" Ruo Yin playfully swatted at his chest. "I'm not annoying! I just don't fawn over you like the other deities." She rolled her eyes.
"So, did you have any friends in the Demon Clan, my dear wife?" Zhan Luo asked, his eyes glinting with amusement.
"Not really," Ruo Yin admitted, a tinge of sadness in her voice. "I was friendly with some of the retired generals, but that was only because they were friends of my parents."
Zhan Luo's expression softened, and for a moment, he seemed to hesitate. "Do you remember what happened to your parents?"
Ruo Yin felt a wave of longing for them. She knew it was a delicate subject, but she could tell by his tone that Zhan Luo wasn't asking out of guilt—he was asking because he cared. And for some reason, being near him made her feel like she could be honest. The more time she spent with him, the more she found herself forgetting her mission, forgetting what she was supposed to be doing.
"The truth is..." Ruo Yin took a deep breath before continuing. "The truth is, I don't remember anything about the revolt five thousand years ago. I was only told what happened to my parents."
Zhan Luo's brow furrowed slightly as he asked, "Have you ever asked what happened?"
Before she could answer, they had arrived back at the living quarters. Zhan Luo used his powers to dry them both, his hands deftly tending to her ankle as he applied a bandage. "You still haven't answered my question," he said gently.
"No," Ruo Yin said, her voice small. "And I don't want to know." The words left her before she could stop them, but the truth was, she had already started falling for Zhan Luo. If You Xie's words were true, then Zhan Luo was her enemy. But even so, she couldn't bring herself to regret what she was feeling.
Zhan Luo paused, and when he looked at her, she noticed a flicker of sadness in his eyes. He had hoped that one day, if the truth came out, they could still maintain their bond. But for now, there was nothing they could do except live in this fragile moment.
Ruo Yin, too, felt the weight of that sadness, but she couldn't take it back now. She had already fallen too far. The only thing she could do was hold onto this small, fleeting happiness. Both of them silently prayed for the same thing: Please, let us be happy, even if only for a little while.