My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion

The old nun's sleeves billowed as she struck out with a single palm, sending the Brocade Spring Blade wailing mournfully under the force of her palm wind.

Chen Yi braced himself against the Brocade Spring Blade, the blade cutting into and tearing apart the palm wind, leaving ghastly scars on the ground as dirt and pebbles flew about like serpents slithering in chaos. Yet even so, the blade could no longer withstand the pressure; its edge wavered, slipping from his grip as though about to fly out of his hands.

A blade may falter, but a sword can always follow.

Chen Yi thrust forward with the Hou Kang Sword in his hand. The Brocade Spring Blade was merely bait, but the Hou Kang Sword held the killing blow.

In countless battles, Chen Yi's strategies always layered one move over another, each strike concealing the next, each hidden maneuver always laced with lethal intent, every technique crafted to be deadly.

However, such lethal moves could win against those similarly skilled or even slightly superior opponents, but when the gap in mastery was insurmountable, they all became futile.

No matter how many hundreds or thousands of moves you possess, I only need one force to shatter them all.

The murderous momentum of the Destruction Zen Sword surged forth, its trajectory as fluid and ferocious as a flood dragon charging across rivers. Yet the old nun merely met it with the simplicity of a single palm strike.

With one palm strike, she struck precisely at the midpoint of the surging sword momentum. The flood dragon, in its attempt to transform, was forcefully shattered into fragments on the spot.

Chen Yi's body was sent flying backward, the blade and sword embedding themselves into the ground, as he slid back a dozen furlongs in retreat.

He stared at the old nun, and in the latter's expression, there was already a trace of impatience.

"Chen family brat, if I choose not to kill you, abolishing your martial arts is child's play for me."

The old nun's voice was as oppressive as storm clouds rolling in,

"Even as a cripple, you can still avenge the Empress."

Chen Yi remained silent, slowly stood up, and wiped the blood from his lips. For the first time, he had been beaten to such a sorry state. Two dark palm strikes on his body made his flesh nearly split open.

Even so, he did not reveal Qin Qingluo's whereabouts. Instead, he stood firm, raising his right hand to beckon with a crooked finger.

"I face you with blade and sword, yet you don't dare to kill me?!"

Chen Yi laughed aloud:

"A second-grade Grandmaster, why so repressed?"

That was all.

But it was enough to completely enrage the old nun.

Her eyes bulged like a wrathful deity, striding towards him with killing intent. Lifting her aged hand, she prepared to annihilate him on the spot!

"Enough!"

A steady voice suddenly descended, halting the old nun's hand midair. Even the winds in the dense forest seemed to still. The old nun froze, her withered head turning slowly backward.

From the forest, the figure emerged slowly. Even in plain clothes, her elegance and grandeur were world-shaking, regal enough to topple kingdoms. Her hair was pinned with a Golden Phoenix Jade Hairpin, her delicate brows radiating both charm and shadowed melancholy. Her face was pale, her forehead damp with sweat; clearly, she had hurried here in great haste.

In a soft voice, she said, "Momo, that's enough."

Upon seeing her, the old nun's body stiffened for a moment, emotions surging all at once.

She continued, "He cannot die yet. I… still remain his royal mother."

The old nun lowered her hand, not sparing Chen Yi even a glance. Instead, she gently cradled Du Juan's lifeless body, her voice rasping:

"Since the Empress says it's enough, so be it…"

As her voice fell, she lingered no longer, sparing neither Chen Yi nor the royal consort another look. Her aged features twisted like a crumpled cloth before her figure flickered and vanished.

The Princess of Annan watched the old nun's retreating figure, her expression complex, before letting out a deep sigh.

Afterward, she turned to face Chen Yi again. Her gaze rested on him, her brows lowered, her expression unreadable.

Since their parting in the underground palace, it had been days since they last met. Now seeing him again, she didn't know what to say. Her face betrayed a few traces of wistfulness; she neither wished for him to stay too far away nor dared let him too close.

But as fate would have it, Chen Yi approached her slowly, with a smile tugging at his face.

Seeing his injuries, her heart clenched. She opened her mouth as though to say something, but immediately she stopped herself. Closing her lips, her gaze chilled, though her fingers seemed to betray her will, extending subconsciously.

When she realized Chen Yi had drawn near, she instinctively thought to touch him when he was still far. Yet when he was truly close, her fingers recoiled violently as if burned and prepared to retreat.

Suddenly, he pulled her into an embrace, folding her into his arms.

The Princess's delicate body trembled, stunned and rooted in place.

She wanted to push him away but caught the scent of blood on him. Her heart seemed to burst like a broken spring, dripping incessantly. Her phoenix-like eyes quivered, lips pressed tightly shut.

"Thank you," he whispered softly.

As his words reached her ears, the Princess of Annan awakened as though from a dream. She placed her hands against the soft firmness of his chest, about to push him away.

Yet, she suddenly jolted again.

The Princess's wide phoenix eyes glared at him.

How dare he?!

The supple curves beneath her glorious garments were now pressed under a large, warm hand.

"Zhu E, thank you," Chen Yi murmured gently.

The Princess froze.

Zhu… Zhu E?

Before she could react, Chen Yi had fully wrapped her in his arms without restraint, one hand around her waist, the other boldly holding her there.

Leaning close to her ear, Chen Yi inhaled her fragrance and murmured:

"If not for you, Liao Hao would've killed me by now."

The Princess stood dumbfounded, her mind a tangled mess, frozen on the spot.

She could feel the man's palm, her entire body stiff and flushed at her ears. Lips sealed tightly, she made no response.

Chen Yi, surviving the ordeal, clung to her brazenly, as if wanting to meld her into his very being.

Despite the unbearable pain scorching through his wounded body, Chen Yi's heart softened. He had anticipated the old nun would come and confirmed she wouldn't deliver a killing blow, but that was as far as he could expect.

What followed had been a vicious one-sided beatdown, the pain tangible and overwhelming.

At first, he had hoped to endure until Zhou Yitang arrived. Never, however, did he anticipate Zhu E would show up at this time.

A decision brimming with risk.

As a Princess of Annan, if her true identity were uncovered by the old nun, there was no escaping the word "death."

And yet, she still came.

Warmth bloomed in Chen Yi's heart as he stroked the tips of her hair and softly asked:

"How did you think of coming here?"

She gave no reply, only trembling faintly in his embrace.

Chen Yi held her as gently as possible.

When it came to this Princess of Annan, deep down, he had always relied on her more often than not. Even knowing her loyalty was meant for him, he saw their relationship as calculated, even using affection to manipulate her for gain.

But this moment arose in him a tinge of guilt.

Letting himself care for the Demon Sect Saintess a bit more… after all, she had already pledged herself to him.

Lowering his face, he saw her red lips tremble as though she too felt like she'd narrowly survived death. Her flushed face left her uncertain of what to say, softening his heart further.

Chen Yi asked quietly, "Do you know? Between kissing Yin Tingxue… I prefer another place more?"

"…What?"

The voice, warped through some strange Disguise Technique, was nearly indistinguishable from Annan's Princess. Chen Yi's gentle smile surfaced as he heard it.

He lowered his head and placed a light kiss on her forehead.

Her fingers flushed pink as her phoenix-like eyes widened, staring at Chen Yi in bewilderment as she touched the spot where he had kissed. Realization dawned, and a bit of pent-up anger replaced her shock.

How dare he?!

She was the Empress Dowager, his royal mother!

Her Phoenixian wrath was stately enough to command fear; in the depths of the royal palace, just one disdainful glance from her could send eunuchs and palace maids trembling to the ground, pleading for mercy.

Even Chen Yi paused for a moment before muttering, "How alike you are."

"Leave… Leave immediately."

Her face turned wholly dark as she spoke coldly.

Chen Yi, however, only smiled as he pinched her cheek.

"You're naughty."

Her pupils constricted sharply.

Soft jade and fragrant warmth resting in his arms, Chen Yi chuckled, "Do I need to kiss your lips to feel assured?"

The Princess of Annan was covered in goosebumps, her phoenix-like body utterly shocked as she stared at him in disbelief.

Chen Yi had already leaned forward, gently cupping her face as he approached those vivid red lips.

A temptress capable of beguiling her master, his heartstrings quivered ever so slightly. His body, too, carried an undercurrent of perturbation, as his lips lightly pressed onto her own.

In the distance among the trees, a new face emerged—a second "Princess of Annan."

"My lord." With hurried footsteps, a figure in phoenix robes emerged, her face wrought with tension before stopping in confusion. "You're alright?"

?

Chen Yi froze momentarily, his hand trembling.

Another Zhu E?

Zhu E, her face anxious, approached step by step, finally spotting the flushed, shadowing phoenix-eyed Princess of Annan.

Recognizing who wore her likeness, Zhu E stood shocked as well, motionless. "My lord, that… is…"

Chen Yi blinked, not processing fully, "Zhu E, weren't you disguised…"

Before he even finished his words, Chen Yi stopped herself.

If Zhu E was here.

Then the one in his arms…

"She's the real one!"