PWE – Chapter 177

Xiao Wange raised an eyebrow.

Looking at him carefully, she said deliberately, word by word, “Do you really want to know my identity?”

Perhaps in the past, if he had seen through that she was not the original Xiao Wange, she might have felt a flicker of panic. But now, she felt no panic at all. In fact, him bringing up this secret gave her a sense of relief, as if the shackles she had been carrying for so long were finally removed. Sometimes, carrying a secret can be incredibly burdensome.

“Yeah, I want to know,” Zhan Zeyan said without hesitation, his gaze unwaveringly fixed on her eyes.

She looked at him for a moment, then turned her gaze toward the fire in the stove.

After a few seconds of silence, she said suddenly, “Actually, I don’t even know what I really am. I only know that I’ve lived for a very, very long time… through an incredibly long stretch of years.”

As she spoke, the corner of her lips lifted in a faint smile—but the smile carried a desolate, lonely undertone: “Maybe I’ve lived so long that I’ve forgotten where I came from.”

Zhan Zeyan saw the bitterness and desolation in her smile. His brow furrowed tightly, and in a low voice tinged with gentle concern, he asked, “So living too long really can make you forget your origins?”

Xiao Wange extinguished the remaining embers in the stove with the tongs and lowered her gaze to the floor. “Yes. Living for so long… it feels like I’ve forgotten many things. But… would you be afraid of me? Someone like me… I’m no different from a monster.”

Most humans fear monsters, right? The word alone often stirs dread in people.

Zhan Zeyan’s gaze softened as he listened.

Suddenly, he reached out, grabbing her shoulders and turning her to face him. He looked at her eyes carefully, speaking slowly, word by word:
“If you had said this when we first met, I might have feared you, maybe even kept my distance. But now… I only know that you are my wife. I see how good you are to me, to Zhaozhao. If not for you, no one would know the injustice done to my mother. If not for you, my mother’s soul would still be trapped on the mountain. I will always remember the good you’ve done for me and my family. Wange… no matter who you are, whether a celestial being or a monster, I love you. In my heart, you will always be my wife.”

Xiao Wange: “…” Listening to his words, warmth surged uncontrollably in her heart. Her eyes grew moist, and tears slowly gathered.

After a moment of silence, her body relaxed against his chest. “Remember what you said. If one day you fear me or betray me… I will hunt you down to the ends of the earth.”

Zhan Zeyan smiled, brushing his chin lightly against her hair, and said softly, “Don’t worry. That will never happen. The two of us… will never reach that point.”

Xiao Wange smiled too, letting out a soft “Mm,” and wrapped her arms around his waist.

…

The next day, at noon.

As soon as Zhan Zeyan finished training, he prepared to head home. The Tang Sect people were coming today, and he worried they might cause trouble for Wange. Although Wange said she wasn’t afraid of those guys, he still worried she might be bullied.

Just as he was about to go home, Commander He’s guards found him.

They told him to go immediately to Commander He’s office, saying the Tang Sect wanted to meet him. Right now, all the Tang Sect members were in Commander He’s office.

Zhan Zeyan frowned slightly. The Tang Sect specifically wanted to see him? What were they planning? But the guards said that after arriving at the base, the Tang Sect went straight to Commander He, not looking for Wange yet. He lowered his gaze, letting out a small sigh of relief.

He didn’t hesitate and walked toward Commander He’s office.

…

Inside Commander He’s office.

Commander He glanced at the Tang Sect members. His brow twitched slightly, then he suddenly grinned: “It’s a long way for you to come, and I truly appreciate your effort. But regarding this matter…”

“I know, Commander He. You’ve found other help, haven’t you?” the Tang Sect’s senior elder said, stroking his beard as he looked at Commander He.

The last time Commander He called the Tang Sect, he said they didn’t need to come, that the base could handle the Qiyun Mountain matter themselves. They had already guessed that the base had found some other help, likely the woman named Xiao Wange.

Commander He sat behind his desk and smiled candidly: “Yes, there’s an expert helping us retrieve the supplies. I thought that since she’s already with our base, you wouldn’t need to make this long journey. After all, it’s a long way, and I’d feel bad making you go back and forth.”

The senior elder and other elders smiled, secretly scoffing. They weren’t worried about trouble—they were clearly being looked down upon.

Still, they were curious to see just how capable this Xiao Wange really was.

“Since you’ve come, why not join us on the trip to Qiyun Mountain? After all, more hands make the work easier,” Commander He said, his gaze flicking to the elders.

The elders nodded. “Don’t worry, Commander He. This time, we will help the base retrieve the supplies.”

Commander He smiled but didn’t respond further. He didn’t even need them—he had Xiao Wange helping. Xiao Wange, the ruler of the underworld, was more than capable. If the King of Hell acted, would she fail to retrieve the supplies? Ridiculous!

“Knock, knock, knock~” At that moment, the door was knocked.

Everyone looked toward the door.

Commander He knew it was Zhan Zeyan and said, “Come in.”

Hearing the reply, Zhan Zeyan pushed the door open and entered.

He first quickly scanned the Tang Sect members, then focused his gaze on Commander He.

He approached Commander He and gave a military salute.

Commander He stood up from his chair. “Come, let me introduce you. These are the experts from the Tang Sect. This is the senior elder, this is the second elder…”

Commander He introduced each Tang Sect member to Zhan Zeyan.

Zhan Zeyan remained serious, politely greeting each of them.

The Tang Sect senior elder looked at Zhan Zeyan, wearing what he thought was a friendly smile: “So this is Regiment Commander Zhan Zeyan. You’re young and capable, sitting in such a position at such a young age. Given time, you will surely reach even higher ranks.”

Zhan Zeyan pressed his lips thinly, glancing at the senior elder: “You flatter me, Senior Elder.”

Now that Commander He was here, this elder’s comment about rising higher made Zhan Zeyan wonder about his intentions.

The senior elder smiled: “Not only young and capable, but modest too. I like this young man.”