My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion-Chapter 714 - 460: Daughter’s Birth (Two in One)_2

"Hmph..."

Unaccustomed to Chen Yi's fingers lingering on her abdominal muscles, Min Ning let out a muffled grunt. Her taut stomach tightened inward as she propped herself up with one hand. After a moment of pause, she pressed her shoulder lightly against Chen Yi's.

Min Ning didn't brush his hand away. Instead, her gaze settled on his body, covered in wounds. "Zunming..."

Chen Yi's fingers paused at the central line of her abdomen. Catching her gaze, he chuckled softly, "It's nothing, just a few scratches. A few days of training, and they'll heal."

Across the world, no matter the distance, martial artists were known for their powerful healing abilities. Minor injuries rarely left lifelong scars, and those who practiced external hardening techniques could even heal deep wounds seamlessly—unless deliberately leaving them as a reminder for oneself or as a warning to others.

Min Ning reached out her hand. She hesitated and then pulled it back, pausing briefly before finally placing it on him. Her touch was cautious, a rare expression for her. Chen Yi found himself momentarily transfixed by her demeanor.

"Does it hurt?"

"It's from Wu Buxu, after all," Chen Yi replied.

No matter if they were equals, Wu Buxu had once held the title of the world's number one. Even now, the sword scars on his body didn't ache sharply but persisted as a dull pain. Perhaps that was why he hadn't allowed himself to take too much earlier.

Min Ning's tone turned icy as she scoffed, "You shouldn't have let lust cloud your judgment."

Chen Yi poked her abdominal line, eliciting a faint, soft grunt from her. Amused, he said, "If it weren't for you, I'd go through it ten times over."

Min Ning didn't play the part of a coy, blushing girl. Instead, she raised an eyebrow and gave him a sidelong glance, her demeanor exuding the boldness of a Jianghu heroine. Unintentionally, Chen Yi compared her to Yin Weiyin and belatedly realized that Min Ning didn't have the habit of tracing circles on his chest.

Chen Yi leaned in closer. The faint scent of the valiant heroine's sweat wafted past his nose. Min Ning furrowed her brows and turned her head away.

The two remained silent for a long while until Min Ning suddenly asked,

"What were you saying earlier about your master?"

Chen Yi hesitated for a moment, recalling how, in their earlier warmer moments, he had unwittingly commented that Zhou Yitang lacked Min Ning's gentle touch.

Not knowing whether Min Ning was jealous, he said, "She really isn't as gentle or capable as you, though I must admit my Yue Chi is quite dashing."

"'My Yue Chi,' indeed," Min Ning replied with a hint of mockery.

Chen Yi softened his tone, "If she's not my Yue Chi, then whose Yue Chi is she? Never mind, let's not bring her up again. Talking about her only makes you upset. Just remember one thing: being with you is much easier than being with her."

Min Ning didn't tease him with a "Well, you are my Chen Zunming." The night was dark and impenetrable, her expression flickering between light and shadow.

Chen Yi gently folded her into his arms.

Tonight, Min Ning seemed especially keen to hear about Chen Yi and Zhou Yitang. It made sense; Min Ning always regarded the Sword Armor as potential rivals. Thankfully, she wasn't overly jealous and refrained from asking whether he felt more at ease with her or with his master.

After a long pause, Min Ning asked again, "What do you think of Wu Buxu?"

Chen Yi pondered briefly before replying, "What do I think? What do you mean by that?"

"You are, after all, a junior of the Sword Dao."

Chen Yi considered her words and then said, "Respect. No matter how I think about it, respect outweighs all else. If not for him, I wouldn't have overcome my obstacles and achieved this level of insight. Before, I saw him as a formidable foe, but once he died, I realized that throughout my journey in the Sword Pool, he was not an enemy but a mentor."

Min Ning nodded faintly, as if understanding his state of mind.

Chen Yi's eyes gazed far off into the horizon. With no trace of sentimentality or regret, he said, "Still, the living are soon forgotten. After all this, he's gone. It's a pity. Just like the Loulan Sword Emperor, a few years will pass, and few will remember his name."

A hundred years ago, after the battle of Dangyang Lake that saw the first-ranked master dethroned, Sword Saint Wu Buxu had perished in public memory, leaving behind only the faint, blood-red shadow of the Sword Demon.

A hundred years hence, even the Sword Demon Wu Buxu would fade into nothingness...

You sheathe your blade, never asking after old companions. As three autumns passed, the Martial Arts world had already forgotten you.

"Death is not to be feared, but regret is," Min Ning sighed lowly.

But Chen Yi disagreed, "Fear or no fear of regret, death itself is terrifying. I won't die."

As he spoke, he grasped Min Ning's hand with unusual seriousness. "And neither will you."

She seemed somewhat startled. The entire night passed, and she never responded to his statement.

......

As dawn broke, the Sword Pool was unusually tranquil. Without the disruptive presence of Sword Intent, its natural beauty became even more pronounced. In the misty morning light, all exuded a soft serenity.

Yin Weiyin hadn't slept the entire night. After yielding the Absolute Sword Cavern, she had followed Lu Ying to a long-abandoned cave mansion and meditated through the night. Now that daylight had cleared the heavens, her posture standing atop the peak appeared even more ethereal. She hesitated for a moment as her gaze rested on the direction of the Absolute Sword Cavern. Though she had no intention of going there, after some thought, she decided it wouldn't hurt to take a look.

What if Chen Yi had casually mentioned preferring her taste, and Min Ning, in anger, stabbed him?

The thought crossed Yin Weiyin's mind.

Branches and foliage intertwined along the path, with thick shrubs everywhere. The female crown peeked cautiously from the cliff's edge, her gaze sweeping inward.

Suddenly, a streak of red flashed in the shadows.

Startled, Yin Weiyin instinctively stepped back, but her foot slipped. Her mind blanked as she tumbled down, about to be shattered to pieces.

A crimson figure reached out a hand, grabbed her by the shoulder, and pulled her back up, steadying her on the ground.

The female crown, still shaken, exhaled deeply after a moment and looked up to see Min Ning standing alone. Unable to help herself, she asked, "He… where is he?"

"Sleeping," Min Ning replied flatly.

Immediately intrigued, Yin Weiyin asked, "Then why are you out here alone?"

Min Ning sneered, "So I can't leave you alone in peace?"

A spark of joy flickered in Yin Weiyin's heart, but something didn't feel right. Realizing this, suspicion crossed her mind as she scrutinized Min Ning. Could this be part of her scheme?

While she was lost in thought, Min Ning ignored her and began to walk past. Yin Weiyin reached out to grab Min Ning's right hand, but she dodged nimbly. Turning to her left, Yin Weiyin extended her hand again and successfully caught hold this time.