Veil of Darkness: The Enchantress's Revenge

Chapter 18: Drinking Companion (2)

Shangguan Mo didn't push the issue. "If you don't want to talk, that's fine. I'm going to sleep now, so please return the way you came!"

Just as she was about to get up, Gong Jue Shang asked, "Does the Princess think I should seek revenge?" His tone was calm, and while it was a question, it lacked any hint of doubt, as if he were merely asking out of boredom.

Shangguan Mo raised an eyebrow. She was well aware of the incident when Sima Yu forced Sima Wan'er to drink the drugged chicken soup; there were witnesses. Thus, she had investigated the matter thoroughly. However, who had rescued the Consort remained unknown.

From her guess, it should be Sima Yu's disciple, Wan'er's senior brother, since that person had also disappeared after Wan'er went missing.

"Doesn't Your Highness already know? Wan'er sacrificed her life to curse the Sima family, likely for various reasons, but the most important one was to ensure your survival! If she hadn't done that, Sima Yu would have hunted you down, and even if you had been fortunate enough to be born, you wouldn't have survived. As long as you live well, that's the greatest comfort for her."

"Ha ha..." Gong Jue Shang chuckled softly, "The Princess has done her homework!" He knew that Sima Wan'er was a good mother. Even though he had never met her, he should seek revenge for her. However, since her last wish was for him not to take revenge, he wouldn't.

In truth, he didn't harbor any hatred for Gong Mingxuan. Although Sima Wan'er could be said to have died because of him, he had never spent a day with her, so he couldn't feel deep resentment towards Gong Mingxuan. He wouldn't hate Gong Mingxuan for having everything taken from him; what he wanted, he would take for himself without needing others to bestow it upon him!

Shangguan Mo said lightly, "Know yourself and your enemy, and you will never be defeated!"

Hearing this, Gong Jue Shang raised an eyebrow. "So the Princess considers me an enemy?" Shangguan Mo merely smiled and remained silent.

The sky was drenched in blood, coloring the entire expanse red. No, perhaps it wasn't the sky that was stained red, but her own eyes. The heavy scent of blood filled her nostrils, and she could even feel the blood splattering against her skin, burning her as if her skin were about to be scalded.

Gong Jue Shang was jolted awake, noticing the person in his arms frowning and sweating profusely. He was momentarily stunned, reaching up to rub his forehead. How did they end up sleeping together?

He remembered that after their conversation last night, he seemed to have gone to fetch several jars of wine, and by the looks of the empty jars scattered on the floor, his memory wasn't failing him.

It seemed they had both gotten drunk, but although their clothes were disheveled, they were still fully clothed, indicating nothing inappropriate had occurred.

"Hmm..."

The pained groan brought Gong Jue Shang back to reality. He frowned and lifted Shangguan Mo, cradling her in his arms, and gently patted her face. "Shangguan Mo, wake up!" Had she drunk too much? It seemed that drinking should really be left to men!

Shangguan Mo slowly opened her eyes, her gaze filled with confusion. After a while, her eyes gradually focused, and upon seeing Gong Jue Shang's face, she suddenly reached out and hugged his waist, burying her face in his chest. "Hold me for a while."

Noticing something off in her voice, Gong Jue Shang tightened his embrace. They didn't speak, simply holding each other quietly.

A faint, unseen bitter smile crept onto Shangguan Mo's lips. She could be fearless now, but back then, during her first kill, no one knew how terrified she had been. She was still young, her abilities not fully developed, and having never killed before, she was filled with fear and couldn't control her strength. She watched helplessly as a living person was instantly reduced to fragments, the sky seeming to rain blood, with blood and flesh splattering onto her head, face, and body. Blood should have felt warm, but at that moment, it felt as if the blood touching her skin was scalding hot, sending waves of pain through her. She wished desperately for someone to hold her.

But that was just a wish. Shangguan Ling was a very stern person; she had never hugged her even before she turned five and wouldn't allow Yun Yi to hug her either. Not just her, but Yun Tian and Yun Xuan were the same. After she turned five, that embrace became exclusive to Yun Xuan. In truth, she didn't envy Yun Xuan or feel jealous; she despised love that came from guilt. She had imagined what her mother's embrace would feel like, having heard that a mother's hug is the warmest. Yet no matter how much she imagined, she couldn't envision that warmth because deep down, she believed Shangguan Ling's embrace was cold!

That kind of longing was limited to the carefree Yun Fengqing before she entered the training base. She had spent three years in the training base, and after coming out, she was no longer the same Yun Fengqing. She was no longer innocent, no longer dreaming, and her emotions had grown faint. For some reason, living felt like a habit—a habit left behind from fighting to survive in the training base.

After a long while, Shangguan Mo casually pushed Gong Jue Shang away and said淡淡地说道, "Next time you want to get drunk, don't look for me!" Alcohol was truly not a good thing; these memories should have been forgotten, but because of the alcohol, they resurfaced so vividly. These were just past emotions, and since they were in the past, they shouldn't trouble her present self.

Gong Jue Shang mumbled an indistinct "mm," unsure if he was agreeing.

Shangguan Mo didn't pay him any more attention and called out, "Yun Su..."

Yun Su entered with washing supplies and was taken aback upon seeing Gong Jue Shang. She then glared at Ouyang Lin in the courtyard, blaming him for not guarding the door properly, completely forgetting that Shangguan Mo had rejected Ouyang Lin's offer to guard the door at night.

Ouyang Lin looked innocent, completely unaware of what had happened. Although he was a ghost, he still respected the boundaries between men and women and wouldn't just casually enter Shangguan Mo's room, so he didn't know that there was an extra person inside.

Yun Su withdrew her gaze and looked at Gong Jue Shang, hastily giving a rough salute. Shangguan Mo smiled and said, "There's no need for such formality in the future; I'm sure Your Highness won't mind." As she spoke, she looked at Gong Jue Shang and asked gently, "Right, Your Highness?" Her people only needed to show her respect.