Chapter 19: Zhao Yu's Wife

In the midst of intermittent hoarse murmurs, the creature hurriedly retreated into the swirling black wind. In the blink of an eye, the black wind vanished as well. Outside, the sky cleared and the earth brightened.

Zhao Yu blinked, glanced down at the firewood knife, and spoke sharply, “You’re not called Firewood Knife?”

He had such a close relationship with the knife, yet it never told him its real name? How disappointing!

The firewood knife manifested a human face and shrugged innocently. “I’m not the Nine-Spirit Phoenix Wing. You obviously mistook me for another blade.”

“That obviously strong guy just now really mistook you?” Zhao Yu was not easily fooled.

The knife sighed, “Have you ever seen a divine weapon that’s just a firewood knife?”

Zhao Yu pondered seriously for a moment, then agreed, “Come to think of it, weapons in books are mostly swords, or if knives, then real ones—not a chopping knife like you.”

He couldn’t catch a rabbit alone, and neither could the knife alone. Judging by that, both he and the knife were useless... so that strong fellow really had mistaken the knife.

The firewood knife urged urgently, “The black wind outside is gone; we’d better hurry home.”

“Yes, we must hurry back. With the black wind blowing everywhere, who knows how worried my family must be,” Zhao Yu also grew anxious.

He hurriedly left the cave, running toward the tunnel.

When his family went out, he would worry about them. Now that he hadn’t returned, his brother and sister-in-law must be deeply concerned. He couldn’t let his family worry too much.

This time the journey was smooth, with no black wind blocking the way.

Through the tunnel, Zhao Yu soon arrived home.

Home.

“Brother-in-law, you’re back!” Seeing Zhao Yu return, Little Maruko happily rushed forward.

She glanced behind Zhao Yu but saw no Ling Xuzi, no Iron Stone from before.

Zhao Yu looked back as well. “What are you looking at?”

Little Maruko said nothing, quietly returned to the door of her room and sat dazed.

Zhao Yu was about to get closer to his sister-in-law when his nose twitched.

He couldn’t help but smile, “Wife, you’re out of seclusion?”

Most of the time, his wife remained in seclusion.

The main hall door opened softly as a woman stepped out.

Dressed in a white gown, with bright eyes and pearly teeth, an unparalleled beauty. Yet her face was unnaturally pale, a shade unlike human skin.

This was Zhao Yu’s wife, Ying.

Zhao Yu hurried to her side, grasping her hand, eyes reddening. “Wife, your face is so pale again. You must have been secluding yourself, eating and sleeping poorly. It pains me deeply.”

If he could cultivate, his wife wouldn’t have to endure such hardship with constant seclusion.

Ying’s voice was gentle. “Husband, don’t worry. A little sunlight will restore me.”

Zhao Yu helped Ying sit on a chair, feeling guilty. “It’s all my fault. If I could cultivate, you wouldn’t have to suffer through endless training.”

His wife’s grueling practice was all to guard against the man-eating evil spirits lurking about.

Ying softened her tone further. “Husband, you care for your brother and Little Maruko every day. You’re the one who truly works hardest.”

They exchanged tender words of mutual concern.

Little Maruko, still dazed by the door, grew impatient as she listened.

Soon, she smiled sweetly. “Brother-in-law, you didn’t bring any ingredients back just now. What shall we eat tonight?”

“I was planning to make plain noodles...” Zhao Yu began.

But then he stood abruptly. “Since you’re out of seclusion today, wife, we should have a more sumptuous meal. I’ll go out again and try to catch a rabbit!”

Though the black wind still blew outside, a little caution wouldn’t hurt. The only problem was that rabbits were elusive; even with the firewood knife’s help, catching one wasn’t guaranteed.

Ying quickly rose to stop Zhao Yu. “I ate meat yesterday, husband. You don’t need to work so hard today.”

Zhao Yu felt warmth flood his heart. “Wife, you’re so kind...”

“Dear husband,” Ying lowered her head shyly.

Suddenly, a human face appeared at the back of Ying’s head, staring coldly at Little Maruko.

Little Maruko instinctively ducked her head.

Zhao Yu and Ying resumed their intimate exchange of sweet words.

Half an hour passed.

After their tender talk, Zhao Yu remembered the matter at hand. “By the way, wife, why did you come out of seclusion?”

He recalled his wife had said she would seclude herself... but for how long? He couldn’t quite remember. Certainly, it wasn’t supposed to be so soon.

Ying took Zhao Yu’s hand and smiled radiantly. “Husband, don’t overthink it. I came out because the black wind is blowing everywhere. I wanted to see for myself.”

Zhao Yu was surprised. “The black wind blows often—what’s the big deal?”

Little Maruko interjected, “Brother-in-law, according to the pattern, the black wind should only come every two to three years.”

Zhao Yu was astonished. “The black wind’s appearance actually follows a pattern?”

If not for experiencing the black wind many times—and the pain it brought—he wouldn’t have been so cautious, always rushing home at the sign of it.

Little Maruko’s eyes sparkled as she smiled sweetly. “It’s because brother-in-law worries about the family all the time that he never noticed. Actually, the black wind appears at fixed intervals.”

“I see,” Zhao Yu said with sudden understanding.

Had Little Maruko not pointed it out, he might never have noticed the black wind’s regularity.

Ying spoke again. “Husband, enough of that... Yesterday you mentioned Ling Xuzi could help you cultivate. How did that go?”

“Talking about it just makes me angry. The world is changing for the worse, and people’s hearts grow more corrupt!” Zhao Yu fumed.

He had hoped to begin cultivation yesterday, but Ling Xuzi—well, if Ling Xuzi were still alive, he’d want to kill him.

Ying comforted him, “Husband, don’t be angry. Even if we stay here forever, it’s quite good.”

Zhao Yu was stunned for a moment, then choked up, holding Ying’s hand. “Just thinking about how hard you train every day... it pains me so deeply...”

Of course, he also felt something was wrong with his body—he never grew properly, nor developed more limbs or the beautiful tentacles he desired. He couldn’t even remove his head as he wished.

Only cultivation could offer the chance to grow, to develop tentacles and more limbs.

Cultivation was essential for his health.

Ying looked up at the sky, whispering, “Husband, do you really want to cultivate?”

Zhao Yu sighed deeply. “Of course, but unfortunately, you have no way either.”

He and his wife were deeply bonded; if she had a method, he would have started cultivation long ago.

“Husband, during this seclusion, I gained some insights on how to help you cultivate. There’s a glimmer of hope, though some things still need confirmation.”

She smiled brightly. “I’ll go out to make those confirmations. If all goes well, husband, you should be able to cultivate soon.”