Chapter 736: Chapter 738 Changed Appearance
Fu Yunhe didn’t know whether he should believe in the zodiac. He didn’t understand what a contract meant or its implications.
All he knew was that these Zodiac Beasts were brought back by Nian Shutong, and they all obeyed her commands. But what if they didn’t want to listen anymore?
"Jing Bai, I just want to know where Nian Shutong is. I won’t disturb her advancement, please step aside."
Fu Yunhe’s spiritual power was already stirring impatiently. He didn’t want to start a fight.
Jing Bai glanced at Fu Yunhe, who had spoken, and calmly said, "The master is in the process of advancing. She cannot be disturbed."
"I’m not here to disturb her. I just want to know that she’s alright!"
"Who’s alright?"
A voice came from the sky.
Fu Yunhe quickly retracted his spiritual power and looked towards the newcomer.
"Nian Shutong?"
"What, you don’t recognize me anymore?"
Nian Shutong walked over and said to Jing Bai, "Your Boss Long is looking for you. Go."
"Yes."
Jing Bai led the Zodiac Beasts onto a Flying Device and soon disappeared into the horizon.
The now advanced Nian Shutong finally had time to take a good look at Fu Yunhe in front of her. At that moment, Fu Yunhe reached out a finger and touched Nian Shutong’s face.
"Will you despise me?"
"Do you think I dare?" Fu Yunhe, gazing at the transformed Nian Shutong, asked lovingly, "Does it hurt?"
Does it hurt?
It seemed to be the first time Nian Shutong was asked such a question; as if she had always been strong, never admitting pain, but the pain was certainly real.
"It’s all in the past."
Nian Shutong took her hand off her face and held it in her palm, waving at Lin Mu, who was watching her from behind.
"Lin Mu, do I look good?"
Lin Mu wanted to say she looked good, but he instead spoke the truth: "You look hideous!"
"Ha ha ha ha ha! I knew you’d tell the truth."
Nian Shutong laughed heartily and said to everyone, "Don’t worry, everything will be fine. I just had a little accident during my advancement. There’s no need to worry; it will get better later."
"Master Fan, I’m hungry."
Her expression of hunger made the concerned Master Fan nod vigorously and stride toward the kitchen to cook.
Cook for the Boss.
The people behind her, including Rubble, Ha Ha, Ji Sisi, and others, stepped forward to exchange a few words with Nian Shutong.
"You’ve gotten darker, but you’re still Ha Ha’s good person. Ha Ha will go to work now."
"Alright, go."
Ha Ha turned and left without much emotional fluctuation. It was good that the good person was fine.
Rubble curiously looked at Nian Shutong and asked, "There seems to be a different kind of energy inside your body."
"Rubble is smart. There is something different, but unfortunately, I can’t extract it."
Rubble nodded in understanding, "That is a bit of a pity."
"Ms. Nian Shutong, won’t this different energy conflict with your own?"
"It won’t. It will be tamed by me."
Rubble didn’t quite understand, but he looked deeply at Nian Shutong and said, "Good luck."
He, too, had left.
Ms. Nian Shutong, looking at Ji Sisi with tear-filled eyes, asked, "What are you doing? I’m still alive, aren’t I?"
"When you cry, it makes me feel like I’m about to—Hey, why are you pinching me?"
Nian Shutong glanced at Fu Yunhe by her side, saw the disapproval in his eyes, and had no choice but to say, "Okay, okay, no more inauspicious talk."
There was a warmth in Nian Shutong’s eyes, the warmth of being cared for, as she looked again at Ji Sisi.
"Mr. Nian, your tear mole has disappeared."
"Has it? I didn’t notice. Don’t worry, it’s probably just temporarily obstructed. It’ll heal later."
Ji Sisi nodded, wanting to say something, yet not knowing what to say, and finally, she too walked away.
In the end, only Lin Mu and Lian Qing remained, and both tactfully retreated, leaving some space for the young couple.
Nian Shutong, noticing everyone had left, asked curiously, "Didn’t see Dou Dou though?"
"He’s in class."
"Oh," Nian Shutong nodded and then looked at the unexpected person, Fu Yunhe.
"Why have you come back? Could it be that you’ve already succeeded in becoming the Commander?"
"I couldn’t get in touch with you, came back to check."
With that, Fu Yunhe embraced Nian Shutong, resting his chin on top of her head, "Could you let me know next time? I’m scared."
Nian Shutong patted Fu Yunhe’s back with one hand and consoled, "I can’t promise that because this was an accident. I can’t guarantee there won’t be another accident next time."
"Xiao He, our lives are destined to be full of dangers, especially you, someone aspiring to be a Commander—it’s inevitable."
"Remember, no matter what, I’ll always keep one thing in mind: Fu Yunhe is waiting for me, and I won’t give up."
Nian Shutong just felt Fu Yunhe, who had been holding her, not putting much force into it, and instead, loosening his grip.
"What are you doing, releasing me like that when I’ve just poured out my heart to you?"
Fu Yunhe took Nian Shutong’s hand and led her toward the small wooden house without a word.
Once the two of them entered the small wooden house, Fu Yunhe had Nian Shutong sit on the bed and let go of her hand.
"There’s no one here now, let out the pain if you need to."
The words from Fu Yunhe made Nian Shutong ask in surprise, "How did you know I was in pain?"
"I just knew."
Fu Yunhe looked at Nian Shutong sitting before him, feeling an immense tenderness. She must be in so much pain.
That’s Nian Shutong, who would pretend not to care even when she’s covered in bruises from a fight. But just a moment ago, when she took his hand, hers trembled.
Nian Shutong stretched out one hand, her fingers tracing the contours of Fu Yunhe’s eyebrows and eyes, smiling happily.
"Fu Yunhe, you’re really good, I’m starting to like you more and more."
Nian Shutong’s candor left Fu Yunhe wanting to hold her but not daring, as he asked, "Can you tell me?"
"Of course."
Nian Shutong stood up with no intention of hiding anything and positioned herself in front of the mirror, looking at the reflection of herself.
"Poor Lin Mu, it’s not just ugly, it’s downright frightening."
In the mirror, Nian Shutong was bald, not a single hair on her head, an intricate network of lines like the veins on a leaf spread from the top of her head across her face, in black and purple, densely intertwining and completely obscuring her original features.
Moreover, the lines on her face continued down to her neck, where they were concealed by her clothes, but from the look of those lines, it was clear they covered her body as well.
"These lines appeared during my Heavenly Tribulation, when the last bolt of lightning was absorbed into my body. Though terrifying to look at now, they are in fact an opportunity for me."
"Each line represents the external manifestation of the meridians within me, strengthening my inner self with the power of the lightning."
"Right now, I’m using my Spiritual Power to absorb this power, and as I absorb even the smallest bit, these lines will fade away. But, the benefits are more than substantial."
"So, don’t worry, I will become beautiful again."