Dual Cultivation God Returns Chapter 1095: A promise

Seated once more in the armchair, Wu Long resumed recounting the events to Hong Xinyi.

She nestled in his lap with a newfound ease, as though it was her ordained place. Yet, a hint of a pout would grace her features upon hearing of another woman joining his Dao Family, a subtle reminder of her own waiting period. Despite this, an overwhelming sense of joy and relief bloomed within her heart, a feeling potent enough to coexist with the multitude of other intense and often conflicting emotions already present.

This profound happiness found its space, swelling for him upon hearing of his reunions: first with Ye Ling, then Wu Mengqi, and finally Liang Yuhan, whom she had only known previously by the alias Lin Aihua.

The names echoed in Hong Xinyi's memory from long ago, and the distinct look in his eyes as he spoke of them now resonated deeply.

Consequently, she couldn't help but feel an upsurge of happiness for him.

She was also in a state of constant surprise and awe as he spoke of things previously unimaginable for either of them. Whether it was his discovery and acquisition of Dao Runes, Luo Mingyu's cultivation of Dao Intent, the Grandmist Keepsake, or his newfound ability to command the lightning of Heavenly Tribulation and even Heavenly Punishment, each revelation was staggeringly, mind-bendingly shocking. Only because it was Wu Long recounting these tales would she have believed any of it.

Beyond the astonishment at the profound mysteries of the Dual Extremes Infinite Union Art, she found herself utterly captivated. The mere thought of experiencing such a deep connection with Wu Long sent a shiver through her, and the anticipation alone made her impatient.

However, as his narrative progressed to a certain juncture, a noticeable slowing in his speech emerged, as if he were carefully selecting his words. She soon understood the reason. The moment Hong Ye and Hong Yue were mentioned, an intense, unbridled fury consumed her vision. Blinding rage propelled her from his embrace, and she let out a roar, "HOW DARE THEY?!?!!!!! That abominable ritual still exists?! Who dared to preserve it?!"

A terrifying, palpable killing intent erupted from her, accompanied by the ancient, potent arrogance of a ruler. Her eyes blazed a crimson red, a spectral aura enveloping her and filling the room. Black mist coiled around her, coalescing into indistinct forms of skulls, varying in size. These eerie apparitions bore a striking resemblance to the masks of Bahshi assassins, complete with sharp, fanged teeth, short horns, and the skull's distinct shape, their empty jaws agape in silent screams.

"They are safe, Xinyi. I intervened before the final phase of the ritual commenced and brought them with me," he stated, rising to pursue her. His hands gently framed her head, turning her face upwards to meet his gaze. Caressing her cheeks lightly with the back of his fingers, he continued, "The ringleader Matriarch who orchestrated the Bahshi Hell of Ten Thousand Ghosts, along with the principal Elders and those holding executive authority, were all eradicated. The scrolls and jade slips were utterly destroyed."

As she absorbed his words, the dark, spectral aura within the room gradually dissipated. Her eyes slowly regained their clarity and composure, the intense red glow receding to a more subdued level.

A tremor of unyielding rage still coursed through her, but now, intertwined with that fury, profound grief flickered in her eyes. "And the twins?" she inquired, her voice tinged with apprehension.

He sighed and led her back, recounting the tale of the twins in a slow, measured manner, which gradually eased her anxieties. He then informed her that Hong Ye had also become his woman.

"Heh... such audacity, becoming your woman before her Supreme Demon Ghost," she chuckled, prompting a wry smile from Wu Long.

The sheer absurdity of a member from a splintered branch of her own organization joining his Dao Family before she herself did served to momentarily break her rage, finding amusement in the situation.

Hong Xinyi paused, realizing he had not stated that *both* were his women, but only one, despite her awareness that both were alive and well from what she had heard prior to his mention of Hong Ye. She turned to him, an eyebrow raised, "And the other?"

"I am working on making that happen," he replied, causing her jaw to drop in astonishment as she sat bolt upright.

"Y-You've truly changed... have you lost some of your skills?" Hong Xinyi scrutinized him from head to toe.

He let out a laugh, shaking his head. "It turns out that courting someone for a genuine relationship is not as straightforward as seeking a physical encounter. There are far more factors to consider, such as the opportune moment and the foundation for a healthy future bond."

"My~ my~, what a remarkable spectacle~... The renowned God of Pleasure, attempting to woo someone for over a millennium without success," she chirped, her mood visibly brightening.

He offered a smile. "I recall you weren’t exactly enamored with me during our initial encounters, spanning thousands of years. True, our meetings were brief, never exceeding half an hour each, and it took quite some time before I was greeted with anything less than a dagger poised to strike. This persisted even long after we mutually agreed to let bygones be bygones, especially after you exhausted your allotted attempts as per your organization’s regulations. Thus, a little over a year is hardly an eternity in comparison."

"Naturally, I was dispatched to eliminate you on those nine occasions; why would I have been fond of you then?" Hong Xinyi retorted with a hint of amusement, leaning back against him. His arms encircled her once more as she continued, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart. "Furthermore, you weren't exactly making overt romantic advances, so it hardly counts. I would scarcely describe attempts to kill me multiple times as a prelude to courtship. Had it not been for Older Brother, I would have perished by your hand at numerous junctures, starting from our fourth encounter. I can recall at least 57 instances where you nearly succeeded, with roughly half of those occurring during our final confrontation."

"Hold on now, let’s not forget that I was barely clinging to life during the first three encounters, completely unable to retaliate even once," he interjected, feeling the need to set the record straight, as it seemed to imply she was the sole target in danger. "...And even from the fourth encounter onwards, we were quite evenly matched in how many times we each teetered on the brink of death. I simply accrued double the close calls because I faced you and Xinan alone. You two were so exceptionally lethal that I was compelled to live in a constant state of alert and train relentlessly, specifically to counter your prowess."

"Since we’re reminiscing about the past, that last part about intense training applies to us as well. So many failures against a single individual—for the most outstanding rookie Prime Demons in the entire Bahshi Assassination Group, this is a matter of immense significance. It’s precisely why they prohibited any other Bahshi Assassins from interfering with you; they decreed that you had to fall by our hands to preserve our impeccable record," she countered. "And my original point remains: you never romantically pursued me, even after our relationship had improved, so it doesn’t count."

"By the time our relationship had improved sufficiently for romantic pursuit to even enter my thoughts, I had grown too fond of you to initiate such advances. On that much, I concur," he admitted, a slightly contemplative expression gracing his features as he re-examined that period from a new vantage point. "I am merely emphasizing that a year is not an excessively long duration."

"It’s not excessively long when one has limited opportunities to meet, but a year of practically living side-by-side..." she grinned, gazing up at him. Noticing the resigned look in his eyes, she giggled and tightened her embrace. After a moment of comfortable silence, she inquired, her voice softer, her head still nestled against his chest, "Wu Long... do you believe... I mean... if you were to encounter Ye Ling and the others again... Older Brother..."

She trailed off, but he understood her unspoken question.

He knew that query was inevitable. Gently stroking her silky hair, he responded with profound sincerity after a soft sigh, "I cannot say for certain, Xinyi. In my previous life, aside from Ling’er, Mengqi, and Yuhan, there were only two individuals I recall: the prince I mentioned to you, and Butler Bang. Neither of them retains any memories from that past existence. As I’ve explained, the prince seemed more of an anomaly than a true human, judging by the peculiarities within his Soul Sea. Therefore, I am uncertain if it is possible or if such a reunion will occur..."

He then softly cupped her cheeks, lifting her chin slightly so he could meet her gaze directly. "However, since it became possible for me with the intervention of someone like Fairy Xun, whom I’ve told you about, perhaps when I reach her level, avenues may open. What I can firmly promise you, however, is that if any path exists, no matter how arduous, I will discover it and commit every ounce of my strength to making it a reality."

Hong Xinyi nodded, her eyes glistening with emotion as she witnessed the gravity with which he made his vow, evident in the sincerity radiating from his gaze.

She had only ever seen that same intensity in his eyes when he swore to avenge her brother against Old Man Bahshi. Back then, Wu Long lacked the power and influence to even contemplate such a feat, yet he ultimately honored his word.