Chapter 55 Zhou Chen, I Only Wish You Well
"Hu Lie Na?"
Zhou Chen stared at the golden-haired, stunningly beautiful woman gracefully descending the spiral staircase, murmuring softly.
Although they hadn't seen each other for six years, at first sight, Zhou Chen was certain that she was the Holy Maiden of the Spirit Hall, Hu Lie Na.
This made him both incredulous and unexpectedly delighted.
Zhou Chen couldn't forget that night, when Hu Lie Na, unwilling to harm him, had defied the orders of the Spirit Hall elders and escaped with him from the Hunting Soul Forest despite being strangers.
He also couldn't forget how, when he was too exhausted from overusing his soul power to run, Hu Lie Na had gritted her teeth and carried his weight on her slender shoulders, running hundreds of miles with him on her back.
He further couldn't forget how, when they were surrounded by the Star Luo Royal Guards with no escape, Hu Lie Na's trembling back as she stood before him.
He especially couldn't forget how, when they had to part, Hu Lie Na had silently watched him, tears streaming down her face endlessly.
For six years, during the quiet of night, Zhou Chen often thought of this kind and devoted woman, worrying about her safety and longing for her face.
Originally, Zhou Chen thought he wouldn't meet her so soon, but fate often works in such coincidental ways.
Fate brings people together despite vast distances, while those without fate may never meet despite being face to face. The ancients truly did not deceive me.
"Zhou Chen, what are you looking at?"
Zhu Zhuqing was originally browsing the hotel directory at the counter, selecting a room, but when she slightly turned her head, she discovered Zhou Chen was actually staring at another woman!
This instantly awakened her tigress nature as she coldly stared at Zhou Chen and shouted somewhat loudly.
"Zhou Chen?"
From above the spiral staircase, Hu Lie Na, who possessed the Demon Fox Martial Soul and had extraordinary hearing, trembled when she heard this name buried deep in her heart, so familiar. She quickly turned around, looking toward the source of the sound.
What met her was a pair of eyes as bright as stars, filled with surprise and longing.
The owner of these eyes was a young man dressed in exquisite purple clothes, with sword-like eyebrows and star-like eyes, tall and slender, incomparably handsome.
It's him! It's really him!
This was the figure she had longed for day and night.
Although six years had passed, and the child who could break ten thousand techniques with one punch and shatter mountains and rivers with one sword had grown up with significant changes in appearance, that gaze, that jade-like purity yet world-dominating aura, was something no one could imitate!
In an instant, Hu Lie Na felt her whole body tremble and go numb, her eyes grew hot, and covering her mouth, tears flowed uncontrollably.
The two just gazed at each other from a distance, using their eyes instead of words to express their feelings.
"Zhou Chen, who is she."
A question filled with coldness, accompanied by the sharp pain of the soft flesh at his waist being twisted, instantly brought Zhou Chen back to his senses.
He turned to look at the ice-cold Zhu Zhuqing, his eyes filled with gentle apology, "Zhuqing, she's my lifesaver, and also... someone I promised to protect."
Hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing was startled and couldn't help but look carefully in Hu Lie Na's direction.
Alluring!
This was the word that automatically appeared in Zhu Zhuqing's mind at first sight of Hu Lie Na.
This stunningly beautiful woman with soft golden hair, dressed in a white-patterned golden dress, possessed a charm that was irresistible to everyone, including other women.
In terms of face and figure, Zhu Zhuqing believed she was in no way inferior to her, but that natural charm exuded in every gesture was something she couldn't compare to.
This immediately made a huge sense of vigilance rise in Zhu Zhuqing's heart!
You should know, even when Ning Rongrong approached Zhou Chen with various hints, Zhu Zhuqing paid no attention.
Because she, coming from a ducal family, understood very well that outstanding men are scarce resources, and it's normal for them to attract attention. It was also normal for someone to want to compete with her for a man.
Her father, the current Duke of the Zhu family, had more than a dozen wives and concubines. Neither she nor her second sister, Zhu Zhuyun, shared the same mother.
But the enchanting woman before her now made Zhu Zhuqing unusually vigilant, even fearful.
She was afraid Zhou Chen would be bewitched by this vixen, afraid he would no longer love her, or even abandon her.
Just thinking of this possibility made Zhu Zhuqing feel as if life was not worth living.
At this moment, Hu Lie Na finally noticed Zhu Zhuqing.
Just now, she had been so focused on Zhou Chen that she hadn't noticed there was actually a girl in a black dress beside him.
This girl appeared to be about the same age as Zhou Chen, at least five or six years younger than her. She had an icy temperament, a beautiful face, and an incredibly fiery figure, making Hu Lie Na feel a bit jealous.
Although Hu Lie Na was very confident in her own appearance, she had to admit that this girl in black was absolutely a stunning beauty, not beneath her.
This immediately made her feel a surge of jealousy.
She couldn't help but want to question Zhou Chen, asking why he had promised to protect her for all eternity, only to be with another woman in the blink of an eye, just six years later!
Her jade feet stepping on golden high heels, Hu Lie Na walked step by step to stand before Zhou Chen and Zhu Zhuqing.
She didn't even glance at Zhu Zhuqing, just looked directly into Zhou Chen's eyes and asked, "Do you still remember what you told me? If love between two people is to last for a long time..."
"How can it be... bound by the length of day and night."
Zhou Chen finished the second half of the sentence, his words slow and deliberate.
His eyes felt a bit hot, but as a man, he could not show the weakness of crying in public.
"It really is you."
Hearing these words, Hu Lie Na's tears immediately streamed down. With intense, burning affection and a voice thick with sobs, she said, "It's been six years, Zhou Chen, have you thought of me?"
"I have."
Although Zhou Chen's tone was calm, it contained an undeniable sincerity.
For Hu Lie Na, this single word, "have," was the most moving declaration of love.
She suddenly no longer wanted to worry about the girl in black beside Zhou Chen.
Just hearing Zhou Chen say that he had thought of her, and seeing that he was safe and sound, she was already deeply content.
Even if Zhou Chen was not with her, or not only with her, she would accept it.
Just like six years ago, while carrying Zhou Chen during their escape, she had once thought to herself:
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