I Was Wrong . . .
Cha Eun Xiao found himself on the receiving end of a relentless assault. His once handsome face now resembled a swollen pig's head, and his entire body had suffered a barrage of blows.
"Lian Lian, you just want to see my moves..." Cha Eun Xiao managed to utter through his swollen mouth. "Why do you have to hit so hard..."
Jun Yinglian remained resolute, responding, "I determine how to confirm your identity, and you must continue with your moves!"
– Bang, bang, bang, bang, puff, puff, puff… – Over the next stretch of time, Cha Eun Xiao endured a relentless onslaught. Aside from his head, which had already ballooned to the size of a pig's head, every part of his body bore the brunt of her furious attacks.
As she struck him repeatedly, Jun Yinglian cursed in her mind.
[Pure-Yang Martial Art, huh?]
[You should have come to me first!]
[You've shamed me!]
[Concubines!]
[First! Second!]
[Concubines!]
[Concubine, concubine, concubine…]
With each word echoing in her thoughts, she continued her relentless barrage of kicks and punches to vent her frustration.
Cha Eun Xiao's body was visibly swelling, and in the midst of his agony, he cried out, "Lian Lian, have you recognized me yet... This should be enough... Puff! Ah!"
Perhaps his head was muddled at the moment, or perhaps he had been struck too hard in the head. He had still asked a rather foolish question.
Wouldn't she have simply used her sword to cut him down if she hadn't recognized him? It would have been a much quicker and simpler way to vent her anger!
The grueling confrontation persisted for fifteen minutes, during which Cha Eun Xiao kept a mental tally of the blows he endured. He estimated that he had been struck at least ten thousand times by Jun Yinglian.
Fortunately, Jun Yinglian had not employed her full power, focusing on inflicting physical injuries rather than damaging his meridians, bones, or internal organs. Every inch of his skin and muscle had been pushed to the limit, causing intense pain in his external tissues.
After those fifteen grueling minutes...
– Bang! –
Jun Yinglian delivered a powerful kick to Cha Eun Xiao's belly, causing him to soar through the air as though he were riding on clouds and mist. He was launched hundreds of meters away and remained suspended in the air, a dazed expression on his face.
He continued to fly through the air with his posterior leading the way, adopting an oddly elegant posture. Then, suddenly, it dawned on him.
The lady's stated intent was to verify his identity, but it had become abundantly clear that she had another motive—to inflict torment upon him.
Xiao Monarch seethed with anger.
[Goodness gracious! Is she actually subjecting me to this?]
[She has undoubtedly recognized me already!]
[She's simply using any excuse to pummel me mercilessly...]
[Otherwise, I would have been pummeled to death!]
"Wait!" Cha Eun Xiao shouted in frustration.
Jun Yinglian had returned to his field of vision. She responded coldly, "Wait for what? Are you giving up?"
Cha Eun Xiao sorrowfully stated, "You... You aren't testing me! You already know who I truly am! You know I am Xiao Monarch... yet you're still beating me... You simply want to beat me! Don't you?"
Jun Yinglian snorted. "Yes, I do. So what?"
So what?
Her response was direct and unapologetic, leaving Cha Eun Xiao dumbfounded.
[My goodness! Her reaction is entirely contrary to what I expected!]
[This is an entirely different scenario...]
[Wasn't she supposed to burst into tears when I revealed my true identity, tremble with happiness, express her excitement, and then rush into my arms? It should have been filled with warmth and tenderness after all this time...]
[It was supposed to be like this...]
[That's the correct version, isn't it?]
[But now...]
[Why is everything happening in the opposite manner?]
Cha Eun Xiao looked at his own body, which had ballooned to a comically "big" size. Every part of him was twice as swollen as usual, resembling a chubby bear. He wanted to cry but couldn't shed any tears. [What on earth is happening to me?]
"You recognized me! Why are you still beating me?" Cha Eun Xiao asked, his sadness evident. He just couldn't comprehend.
"I recognized you. Why can't I still beat you?" Jun Yinglian's eyes welled up with emotion. She struggled to control her feelings. "You failed me... Why can't I beat you?"
"I regret that I left you to be alone. If there is a next life, I promise to accompany you in your travels... Didn't you write that to me?"
"Then what?"
"You're still alive! Even if you couldn't fulfill your promise right away, couldn't you have at least come to talk to me? What did you do instead? You went and found yourself concubines... Why can't I beat you? I would love to beat you even more!"
"You only sought me out when you were already at the Dao Origin Stage. No, you didn't even seek me out. I happened to find you by chance! How much longer will it take for you to remember that you should have come to find me on your own? Well, forget about that for now. But what were you just saying?"
"We finally reunited after enduring so much suffering, and the first thing you mention is getting yourself some concubines... Several concubines!"
"Concubines!" Jun Yinglian grew even more furious. Suddenly, she lunged forward and resumed her assault. "Concubines, huh?"
Cha Eun Xiao, holding his head, crouched down, uncertain of what to do. But to his surprise, he wasn't struck. Slowly, he removed his hand and gazed at Jun Yinglian with his swollen eyes.
She stood right beside him, her clothing trembling, as though she were shaking with emotion.
Cha Eun Xiao felt his heart ache.
After a while, she finally burst into tears. She could no longer contain her emotions. Her tears fell onto Cha Eun Xiao's head.
"Cha Eun Xiao..." Her voice quivered. "Are... Are you really... still alive?"
Cha Eun Xiao was deeply moved. He assured her, "I am! I made a promise... that I would accompany you on a journey around the world."
"Travel the world..." Jun Yinglian was trembling uncontrollably. She bit her lip, attempting to stifle her sobs and suppress the overwhelming mix of emotions, but it was futile.
Her commanding presence and strong mindset as a level nine Dao Origin Stage cultivator were utterly powerless at this moment.