FRGNM -Chapter 157 Give Her Back to Me

Could he say that he had been whipped all the way here by the tail of a divine beast? Of course not—where would his pride go then? “Idiot! Who told you to bathe here? You’re already a married woman. Don’t you know how dangerous shape-shifting magical beasts are once they take human form?”

“Huh?” Shape-shifting magical beasts—wouldn’t that be exactly like Xiao Bai? Ling Ruoxi froze for a moment. Thinking of the beasts in the magical beast space, who were always cracking jokes and, whenever released, loved to flirt with the smaller beasts, she couldn’t help but swallow hard.

Luo Mingyu reached out and pressed a hand to Ling Ruoxi’s small head, stroking it indulgently. His fingers slid along her fair cheek, but suddenly the strength in his hand increased as he gripped her chin. “How have the past three years in the Dongdu Kingdom been? Did the Dongdu King really allow you to fool around like this and bring you here?”

“Luo Mingyu, I…” Ling Ruoxi frowned slightly and subconsciously stepped back.

The man before her let out a cold laugh—his smile pale and powerless. “I said I would help you, help you rescue your mother. Why won’t you believe me? Hm? So tell me—is the Dongdu King incompetent, or are you just so shameless that you ran here to train on your own? Do you even know what kind of place this is? This is an island that devours people without leaving a single bone!”

“Luo Mingyu!” Grinding her teeth, Ling Ruoxi clenched her fists. “Yes, I don’t believe you—so what? I’m here now. What does that have to do with you? Who let you come in here? Don’t tell me you’re also here to train!”

“You guessed right.” A wicked smile curved up at the corner of Luo Mingyu’s lips. Folding his arms across his chest, he lowered his head to look down at her. “Three years apart, and you’ve become even more beautiful. How was your honeymoon with the Dongdu King?”

“……” Damn it! Ling Ruoxi was furious. Back then, she had used that very excuse to drive Luo Mingyu away. Who would’ve thought he’d use it now to provoke her?

Raising her brows, she snorted coldly. “It was fine. Move aside—I’m going back.”

“Going back? Going where?” Luo Mingyu reached out and clasped her slender arm. His heart ached. She was far too thin—she had always been someone who never gained weight no matter how much she ate, but now she was nothing but skin and bones. What on earth had the Dongdu King been thinking? Had he not even fed her properly?

Suppressing all his anger, Luo Mingyu said nothing more. He hoisted Ling Ruoxi out of the river without explanation. Fortunately, the wounds on her body had improved after soaking in the water and no longer showed obvious traces.

As soon as her feet touched the ground, Ling Ruoxi hurriedly picked up her clothes and put them on in a fluster. What left Luo Mingyu speechless was that she even put on his outer robe beneath her clothes—after putting on her inner garments, she turned her back to him and removed the inner layers, not letting him see even the slightest hint of skin.

He had already seen that body long ago. Yet now, her faint shyness softened much of the coldness in his eyes.

“Luo Mingyu, if you’re really here to train, then go train. Don’t follow me.” Glaring fiercely at him, Ling Ruoxi quickly headed into the forest.

But the unpredictable man followed closely behind her, like a ghost—moving without making a sound.

What exactly does he want?!

Turning back to look at his expressionless face, Ling Ruoxi felt a headache coming on. With Luo Mingyu helping her, what kind of training would this even be? But remembering the Dongdu King’s warning, she decided not to bother arguing.

With a flick of her hands, blood flew from her fingertips. The standing woman swiftly raised both hands, her blood-stained fingers dancing rapidly through the air.

A sharp gleam flashed in Luo Mingyu’s eyes—double-handed array formation! This foolish woman… after just three years of training, she had improved this much?

Generally speaking, even high-level array masters would only draw arrays with one hand. Drawing with both hands tested the caster’s mental capacity—unless one’s mind was completely free of distractions, the array would inevitably backfire and injure the caster.

Golden light burst forth. The one forming the array quickly sat cross-legged, sealed her six senses, and sat on the soft grass.

Oh? Luo Mingyu raised an eyebrow slightly. He knew she had completed the array—but did she really think such an array could trap him?

The corner of his lips lifted. Three years apart, and this was how the foolish woman welcomed him? He reached out and pressed his hand against the array—then froze. He couldn’t break it.

“Interesting. If you think this array can stop me from entering, you’re mistaken.” The silver-white figure stood outside the array, then casually stepped straight through the barrier!

If Ling Ruoxi had been conscious, her face would have gone pale. The array she set up might not have been invincible, but under the Dongdu King’s guidance, she was already considered highly skilled— even high-level magical beasts might not be able to break in. Yet this man had dismantled it with ease!

“Hm?” Just after entering the array, Luo Mingyu paused. Sensing the aura of the space, he slowly crouched down. Purple Dou Qi flowed along Ling Ruoxi’s body.

“Bang!” Suddenly, another surge of purple Dou Qi erupted from within Ling Ruoxi, lightning-fast, intercepting his energy and slamming it hard to the ground.

“After three years, you’ve actually cultivated Dou Qi? The Three-Talents Array—could it be… no, the Three-Talents Array is still here. You borrowed some other treasure—could it be…?” His face darkened. Thinking back to how she had driven him away three years ago, Luo Mingyu had more or less guessed the truth.

So even with the Dongdu King’s help, she had still refused to leave with him. This woman had rejected his help—and even the Dongdu King’s? That was why she came here to train?

So the fated bearer of the Hetian Jade… was you.

Reaching out, Luo Mingyu gently touched her gaunt face. His brows knit tightly, yet he still sat down behind her, placing his hand against her bony back. Purple Dou Qi coiled around her body and slowly seeped into her.

Her entire body felt as if it were being washed by spiritual energy—an indescribable sensation.

Slowly opening her eyes, Ling Ruoxi didn’t know how long she had been sitting there. She only knew that the campfire in front of her had gone out, and beside it lay roasted wild rabbit meat.

“Huh? Since when did the Dongdu King become so kind? I’ve been eating dry rations for three months—my mouth was so bland I could cry.” Grabbing a tree branch, Ling Ruoxi took a big bite of the tender meat, nearly moved to tears by the taste.

After devouring two-thirds of it, she suddenly realized—wait, yesterday it seemed like… Luo Mingyu! Was this roasted by Luo Mingyu?

Her mouth twitched violently. Not daring to confirm the truth, she heard footsteps behind her and felt the hairs on her back stand on end. If it really was Luo Mingyu, what should she say?

“Awake?” A slightly teasing voice sounded. Immediately after, a warm embrace wrapped around her, pulling her straight into his arms.

“L-Luo Mingyu…” So it really was him! Ling Ruoxi didn’t know what to say and hurriedly tried to hide the meat in her hand.

Raising an eyebrow, Luo Mingyu chuckled. “That was meant for you anyway. Eat it all. In a while, that old fox, the Dongdu King, should be arriving too.”

“What are you planning?” Ling Ruoxi sensed something ominous.

Before Luo Mingyu could answer, a red figure appeared—as if out of thin air. The fiery red silhouette looked like flowing blood under the sunlight, instilling a faint sense of fear.

The silver-white figure stepped forward and hooked Ling Ruoxi’s chin with one hand. With a single wicked glance back, he seemed to outshine even the blazing sun. “Dongdu King—three years apart. How have you been lately?”

“Quite well. But Evil King, you’d best put away that fake smile. I’m not one of those ordinary mortals—I don’t like seeing you smile. The three-year term is up, and you’ve emerged from seclusion to come to Death Island. Is it for Ruoxi?” The Dongdu King replied with a faint smile.

Compared to Luo Mingyu’s dazzling smile, his was not as eye-catching—but it was a hundred times more genuine. He carried a natural calmness, a touch of indifference, like a transcendent cultivator. His aura was unique. Luo Mingyu, on the other hand, carried a sharp killing intent, like a war-torn monarch who made it hard for others to breathe.

“Don’t ask questions you already know the answer to. My woman has stayed with you for three years—it’s time you return her to me.” Luo Mingyu snorted coldly.

The Dongdu King shook his head with a smile. “Not yet. But since you’re here, there’s no need for me to stay. With your current strength, you should already surpass her. I once said I am both your friend and your enemy. One day, we will inevitably stand against each other—won’t we?”

Ling Ruoxi faintly sensed something wrong, yet she couldn’t quite grasp it. The feeling was extremely strange. She frowned slightly, trying to catch hold of something—only for it to vanish in an instant.

Ignoring Luo Mingyu, the Dongdu King placed a hand on Ling Ruoxi’s shoulder and smiled gently. “Remember this: until you possess absolute Dou Qi, you must not leave this place. To the outside world, I will announce that you died here. Don’t worry about anything else.”

He then turned to Luo Mingyu and continued softly, “Evil King, let me also remind you—your strength is formidable now, but don’t forget that power gained too quickly will eventually backfire. Until you fully suppress it, it’s best to stay here with Ruoxi. When the time comes, working together from inside and out, you’ll have enough confidence.”

“I won’t thank you,” Luo Mingyu said coldly.

The Dongdu King merely smiled faintly. Turning away, he snapped his fingers and said with a light laugh, “And Ruoxi—haste makes waste. Do not go to the Realm of Wuji where your mother is imprisoned ever again. As for now, I’ll give you both one final gift, as a farewell.”

He glanced back at the two of them, smiling calmly. With a wave of his pale fingers, a purple gate opened before him, and without looking back, he walked through it.

Gone…

The Dongdu King—the man who had never once left her side from the moment she returned from training until now—had just left like that?

Her heart clenched. Ling Ruoxi didn’t even know why she felt sad.