It was already evening when Ximen Xueya had everyone teleported to Ximen Mountain. Space distorted for a few minutes before a large group of people were transported to a new location. When everyone had opened their eyes, they were welcomed by a huge open area. It looks like a gymnasium but twice larger than a normal-sized gym.
Everyone was amazed by two things. The first is that the place is spacious enough to accommodate all of them. Lastly, is the space ability of Ximen Xueya. Transporting a large number of people takes lots of strength. But when they've sneaked a peek at leader Ximen just now, it looks like he didn't break a sweat after teleporting them to this place. Before it was an ice ability that can turn land into an ice world and now this teleportation ability falls under the category of space. This shows how godly Ximen Xueya's abilities are.
Upon arriving in the facilities of the Ximen Mountain, the old butler called Wu had welcomed everyone together with Su Wan and Lu Meng. There are few doctors behind to check on the survivors whether they were infected or not for safety purposes. Moreover, they still need to register.
Uncle Wu, the old butler, approached his masters, "Welcome back, Master Xueya. You've finally come over general." He cheerfully greeted but for some reason, the two didn't accept his greetings.
Cao Junye is silent the whole time while staring at Ximen Xueya as if he wanted to possess him. A glint of anger could be seen within those obsidian orbs which are formerly purple in color. Ximen Xueya, on the other hand, wore a helpless yet doting smile on his face as he stared back at the general.
Seeing this weird situation between the two masters, left the old butler dumbfounded. He had been staying at Ximen Mountain the whole time after the group left for the forest. He understood nothing about the current weird situation between his masters.
The bewildered old butler was dragged away from the quarreling couple by Yun Suisen and Lou Lan.
"Uncle Wu leave them alone for a while and give them some privacy. They've been like this the whole time on our way here," whispered Yun Suisen.
Lou Lan is nodding his head. Yun Suisen and the rest had secretly informed him what happened between Cao Junye and Ximen Xueya. The contents were surprising but they weren't that surprised about Ximen Xueya's death and revival. They knew that those with Mo Bloodline were called immortals even in their real world.
"They need to talk. Let's give them some space for tonight. Let's register everyone here for now." said Lou Lan.
Hearing the situation Uncle Wu had sent everyone out of the place and let the rest complete the registration of the other survivors. He had also left to command the soldiers among the group and gave them some duties to complete before dinner.
In the gymnasium. Those who stayed were mostly foreign souls like Ximen Xueya and Cao Junye.
Not far from Cao Junye and Ximen Xueya is standing while carrying a baby Chino, Zhi Yue. He remained still and quiet as if afraid that his Lord would remember his existence and get scolded as well for not reporting to him. The only reason Cao Junye isn't roasting him alive is that the former knew that his host must have told him to keep his mouth shut once again. But this time Zhi Yue received no such orders from his host, instead, he didn't want to inform his boss.
Zhi Yue is more afraid of the current host with all his memories back than a memoryless one. After all, his host identity is completely above him and no one didn't knows what kind of person Hei Anjing is. He is an embodiment of frost, blood, and destruction. It's normal to be more afraid of him than the others.
Cao Junye is still staring at Ximen Xueya observing his wife's changes. Since last night, his wife's expressions have been mellow and rich, especially when he is talking to him and their son. He also smiles towards their friends which made the rest feel frightened rather than delighted. Continuing his observation of his wife, Cao Junye couldn't see any more changes than his expression of emotions.
Ximen Xueya had a feeling of being down to earth than before with all those emotions but looking through those silver orbs, one couldn't completely see through him. As if his whole being is covered in fog, he could feel him but could only vaguely see him.
The small creases on Cao Junye's forehead due to his frown made Xueya uncomfortable. He didn't want to lie to his husband but even if he told him anything he wouldn't understand at all. He keeps silent knowing things would change much even if he told him his memories had returned or not. After all, Cao Junye himself had problems with his memories as his soul isn't complete.
He gently reached out his hand and held the general's hand. Then hooked up his lips as he looked at Cao Junye's eyes affectionately.
"Let's talk. I would like to listen to your words, my love," said Xueya.
Cao Junye's thoughts, 'You would listen but would answer my questions?'
As if hearing his thoughts Xueya says, "No. I wouldn't. It is better if you return at the right time. Because knowing it right now wouldn't let you believe it." he said.
"I can meet that Willow Deity as well and have him help me return my memories," said Cao Junye without thinking things through.
The words the general had spoken angered the latter. "No! I would never allow you to do that!" exclaimed Ximen Xueya.
The tone and volume of Xueya's voice had risen which startled everyone in the area. He unconsciously spread the might of his presence silencing the area instantly. In that split second, everyone inside the gym had felt pressure beyond mortals and ordinary gods. An overwhelming presence made them hold back their breath and existence.
Cao Junye was caught off guard. His wife had never shown this kind of emotion before. His face is distorted with feelings of worry and nervousness. They were so used to an emotionless-faced Xueya before that this kind of expression rendered everyone speechless. Not only that, they could even feel his distress just by seeing the rich emotions on his face. It made them uncomfortable.
"I won't allow you! My love, don't make me destroy the willow deity!" said Xueya as he stared at Cao Junye with tears in the corner of his eyes. There's a firm determination within those argent orbs saying that if Junye plans to use the same method he did to get his memories, Xueya won't hesitate to destroy that Celestial Tree just to stop him from doing so.
The general felt distressed seeing tears from the corner of his wife's eyes. It wasn't his first time seeing it but the tears he had seen before weren't caused by sadness but pleasure instead. Even so, the ones right now are made of pure sadness, he could even see fear mixed within.
It made Cao Junye's heart extremely restless. His body moves before he thinks about it. Reaching out to gently wipe those tears, he had the deja vu as if he had done this countless times before but he had no memories of it.
"I'm S…" Before Cao Junye spoke words of apology, he heard his son scolding him.
A small ball made of snow hit his face, cooling him down. Cao Junye and Ximen Xueya were startled. When they've looked at the culprit, they've seen Chino red-eyed with tears pooling in his adorable big eyes. He is glaring at Cao Junye. There's another snowball held in his hands.
"Father is bad. Don't make daddy cry!" yelled Chino. "Daddy rarely cries but father makes daddy cry all the time. Daddy is already not feeling well and father is still bullying daddy. Bad. BAD. Father is bad!"
The enraged little bun started throwing snowballs at his father. Zhi Yue tries to stop him but holding on to his tiny hands but the baby struggles and forces his uncle to let him down. Once again started throwing snow towards the general. Cao Junye dodges as he tries to approach his son.
He tried coaxing the angry little bun, "B-Baby? Father is sorry. He won't do it anymore." said Cao Junye.
The little bun didn't listen and instead yelled, "No! Liar! You always make daddy cry when you're asleep. When you don't remember us, you always… always make daddy sad. Father is bad!"
Hearing that the little bun started saying things that involve things that aren't connected in this world. Things that only a foreign soul could understand, Ximen Xueya had to coax the little bun to stop crying. He carried him into his arms and hugged him while gently patting his back. The baby hugged his daddy's neck and started wailing.
"Shss… Shss… Xiao Jing, calm down. Father didn't make daddy cry. Look at daddy, I'm not crying…" said Xueya.
Little Chino slowly calms down but he's still making some sobbing sounds.
"Wuwuwu~ It's so unfair. We have to wait for father to remember us. What if in the future he doesn't recognize daddy and Xiao Jing anymore. Would father bully us?" said Chino.
Ximen Xueya said, "No. baby. Your father won't bully us. He loves us the most. Even without his memories, he wouldn't hurt our Xiao Jing."
Seeing the little bun finally stopped crying, the words the little boy had said struck Cao Junye's heart with pain. It's not like he didn't know how many times his soul fragments made his wife suffer. Whenever his souls merged, even the memories would combine as well.
He would see himself in those scenes when his soul fragment would make his wife sad, he had never done himself but that soul is still him. Though his soul fragments wouldn't think of harming Hei Anjing, their unrestrained words and gestures would still cause harm. Yes, like how the soul fragment called Cao Junye treated Ximen Xueya like a criminal that one time.
The general could still remember the hurtful words he had spoken to his wife before the arrival of the apocalypse. He called him a criminal. That he couldn't trust his words and that he is not willing to his pleads at all. It wasn't Ye Xiajie who spoke it with his own mouth but… that was still a wisp of his soul, a part of him. It wouldn't change the fact that he had spouted barbed words towards his love.
Once he thought about this, Cao Junye knew he owed his wife too much. It is because of this his son had thoughts of him bullying his daddy. As long as his soul isn't completely healed. These kinds of situations would continue to happen.
Unless he strengthened his soul enough to directly occupy the soul fragment's vessel and dominate the soul fragment. This is not impossible but… he needs to sleep without waking up for a while if he plans to do so. Cao Junye had fallen deeply within his thoughts that he didn't even notice that his wife and son had come over to him.
He had been staying silent the whole time that even Chino felt uncomfortable. The little bun thought he had made his father angry and that he was hated. He started crying once again but this time he didn't bawl or whine. Instead, he stifled his cries trying to stop his crying sounds from being heard.
"Father, Xiao Jing is wrong~," said Chino as he suddenly jumped at Cao Junye the moment his dad walked over to where Cao Junye was.
Startled Cao Junye nervously caught the little bun that jumped on him. Likewise, the general started cajoling the crying baby to calm down for the second time.
The general smiled and said, "Hm~ Our Xiao Jing isn't wrong. It was father who was wrong."
"Sniff~ really?~," asked Chino.
Cao Junye gently wipes the tears and snot off the crying brat with the towel his wife had silently passed to him.
"Yes. Father is sorry."
"Mm~ forgiven but father isn't allowed to bully daddy anymore," said Chino.
Cao Junye kissed the boy's forehead and agreed to the little bun's words. "Father promises."
It was only after Ximen Chino complained that he was hungry that this event had come to an end. What Cao Junye didn't notice is that Ximen Xueya had secretly sighed in relief beside him. As if he is afraid that his husband had heard what their son had spoken about just then. About his state not being good.
