How Could I Forget

How Could I Forget

The members of the Medicine Sovereign Valley came to an abrupt halt, their footsteps ceasing as the Holy Maiden stood motionless.

Astonishment rendered the white-robed maidens speechless. Tear stains adorned the countenance of their revered Holy Maiden. What could possibly have transpired to evoke such a reaction from her? It was a sight none of them had ever imagined witnessing.

Confusion and concern painted the faces of the two maidens flanking Mo Qingcheng. "What's happening to the Holy Maiden?"

"I'm not sure," one of them replied with a touch of panic. "But earlier, she mentioned something from her past."

The other maidens from the Medicine Sovereign Valley exchanged keen glances, their eyes brimming with curiosity. The Medicine Sovereign's talents were truly awe-inspiring. Despite the Holy Maiden's near-fatal injuries and the drastic measure of condensing her life force into a pill to preserve her, he had promised that she would regain her memories with the right stimulus.

Could it be that this moment was her memory's resurgence?

But what event could have possibly triggered it? They had always been by the Holy Maiden's side, and nothing out of the ordinary had occurred. The only remotely unusual incident had been the young man's sudden approach. However, they couldn't fathom how such a minor occurrence could serve as a powerful stimulus for her memory recovery.

The Holy Maiden remained stationary, her tears flowing continuously. She clutched her chest as if wracked by intense pain. In this moment, no one dared to interrupt her.

Meanwhile, Ye Kongfan and his companions were taken aback by the unexpected turn of events. They watched in stunned silence as the Holy Maiden grappled with her emotions.

None of them comprehended the turmoil raging within her. It was as though a lightning bolt had shattered the dam guarding her memories, and the image of a young man continuously resurfaced.

The first time they encountered each other was in a forest beyond the borders of a city. She had saved a young man's life but chose to remain anonymous.

The second encounter took place in the royal capital of Chu during the Emperor Star Academy's disciple recruitment event. Seated in a sedan chair with her friend, she had spotted him amidst the bustling crowd. For a fleeting moment, their eyes locked, and she bestowed upon him a radiant smile.

In the wake of this revelation, during their training session in the enigmatic Dark Forest, she had misunderstood him, burdening her heart with a profound sense of guilt.

Memory after memory played out in her mind's eye. From their first serendipitous encounter to the prestigious Jun Lin Banquet, that once foolish youth had transformed into a young man. His unwavering and carefree disposition had etched itself deep within her heart. Gradually, she had discovered the beautiful sensation of love. It was as sweet as honey, filling her thoughts with him, and his presence lingering every time she closed her eyes.

Then came the next chapter of their story, her arrival at the Pill Emperor Hall. It was here that she truly comprehended the torment of longing for someone, a feeling even more agonizing than physical pain. Yet, he had traversed the vast distance from Chu to the very gates of the Pill Emperor Hall to find her. In her name, he had taken the life of Hua Xiaoyun from the Hua Clan. For her, he had stood valiantly atop the Heavenly Fate Ranking battle arena, clasping her hand and boldly proclaiming her as his own. At that moment, she felt as though the entire world was within her grasp. She would forever remember the moment when the multitude of gazes fixed upon her. The unwavering determination in his eyes conveyed to all the chosen that even if he had to face them alone, he would never release her hand.

Tears drenched her robes, yet no one around her understood the depth of her agony. It was apparent that she had recalled something, but what memory could evoke such excruciating pain?

Mo Qingcheng felt as though her heart was being torn asunder, both hands now clutching her chest. Her thoughts circled back to their last encounter—Qin Wentian feeding his blood to the demon sword, transforming into a primordial great roc, and shattering the Pill Emperor Hall to save her. She remembered the battle where he faced numerous powerhouses, enduring grievous injuries from Celestial Phenomenon Ascendants to the brink of death. How could she have forgotten? How could she ever forget this?

Suddenly, the crowd witnessed Mo Qingcheng sprinting toward a specific direction with breakneck speed. Her tears flowed incessantly, glistening like crystal drops as they fell to the ground.

"HOLY MAIDEN!" The maidens from the Medicine Sovereign Valley and the experts from the Violet Thunder Sect turned pale with alarm. They rushed after Mo Qingcheng, baffled by her inexplicable behavior. What had happened to her? Why was she reacting this way?

In the span of mere moments, Mo Qingcheng had relived her entire life. Her emotional turmoil was inevitable as she recalled the precious memories shared with the young man she held so dearly.

However, even as Mo Qingcheng walked past him earlier, Qin Wentian had also felt a searing pain gnawing at his heart.

What was happening? Had Qingcheng truly forgotten him?

But as he remembered that she had expended the majority of her life force to create a pill, understanding dawned upon him. He held no resentment toward her. Surviving was already a miraculous blessing. Once, he had feared nothing more than losing her forever, but now that she lived, it was perfection itself. Although she had forgotten him for now, he believed that it wasn't intentional. Her memory lapse was a consequence of her grievous injuries. Mo Qingcheng would eventually remember him—of that, he was certain.

With this realization, a smile once again graced Qin Wentian's face. Everything was just as it should be.

Gazing up at the brilliant sunlight, he marveled at the beauty of the day.

As long as she lived, nothing else mattered.

"Junior brother, you've certainly broadened my horizons. Despite the Holy Maiden's unparalleled beauty, you fearlessly approached her. You are quite the bold one," Liu Yun praised, patting Qin Wentian on the shoulder while admiration shone in his eyes.

"Junior brother, you are impulsive. The Holy Maiden of the Medicine Sovereign Valley holds an extraordinary status. As members of the Battle Sword Sect, we must be mindful of our reputation," Qiao Yu cautioned. Qin Wentian's actions had been indisputably rash.

Qin Wentian nodded in acknowledgment but chose not to explain himself. His smile remained undiminished.

Ye Lingshuang, on the other hand, was utterly flabbergasted by Qin Wentian's reaction. It was one thing to be playful or flirtatious, but the Holy Maiden was currently responsible for treating her father. She couldn't even begin to imagine the consequences if they were to offend the Medicine Sovereign Valley.

"Junior Brother Qin... In the future, please consider it a personal favor not to engage in any more of those daring acts, alright?" Ye Lingshuang implored Qin Wentian, her tone filled with concern. She didn't want to chastise him too harshly, considering that he had been part of the escort that safeguarded her all the way to Ye Country. She could only attempt to persuade him gently.

"Senior Sister, you're right. My actions earlier were indeed a mistake, and I won't repeat them," Qin Wentian responded, understanding the reasons behind Ye Lingshuang's words. The Medicine Sovereign Valley represented her father's best chance for recovery, so she naturally wished to avoid any potential conflicts between the Battle Sword Sect and the Valley.

"Thank you for understanding," Ye Lingshuang replied softly, her expression softening.

Qin Wentian nodded apologetically. Several experts from the Ye Country, who were on the Human Emperor's side, were now eyeing him with unfriendly gazes. As for those aligned with the Qi King, their eyes brimmed with mocking amusement.

"Qingcheng," Qin Wentian sighed inwardly, then turned to his companions. "Didn't the members of the Violet Thunder Sect mention wanting to go to the battle arena? Let's head there as well."

"Mhm," the others agreed, and they proceeded in the direction of the arena. Ye Lingshuang accompanied them, knowing that attendants would be looking after her father.

However, at that very moment, they all stood in stunned disbelief, unable to trust their own eyes.

Approaching them was an astonishingly beautiful figure, tears streaming down her face. Her face radiated an expression of heartbreak that could shatter anyone's soul with just one glance.

"The Holy Maiden from the Medicine Sovereign Valley?" They were left dumbfounded, uncertain of how to react.

The Holy Maiden was not only crying, but she was also rushing toward them.

Qin Wentian, too, was rendered speechless. However, upon seeing Qingcheng approaching, he smiled warmly.

Mo Qingcheng's footsteps halted as she stood before the group, lowering her head slightly. She extended her hand, as if to wipe away her tears, but her efforts were in vain. When she raised her head again, tears still streamed down her cheeks, yet beneath those tears, a pure and radiant smile illuminated her eyes. The level of beauty she exuded left everyone in the Battle Sword Sect utterly awestruck. Even Ye Lingshuang was entranced by her.

Qin Wentian walked to Mo Qingcheng's side, gently placing his hands on her face to wipe away the tears. With a sweet smile, he reassured her, "No more tears, we're together now, aren't we?"

His voice was incredibly tender, prompting Mo Qingcheng to chuckle softly in response. However, her tears showed no sign of stopping. She trembled slightly before throwing herself into Qin Wentian's arms, holding onto him tightly as if afraid of losing him once more.

The members of the Battle Sword Sect stood there in stunned silence, their jaws dropping in disbelief. They rubbed their eyes, questioning if what they were witnessing was a mere illusion.

Liu Yun, his mouth agape in an 'O' shape, gulped and muttered under his breath, "Which rascal is playing tricks with illusions on me?"

Ye Lingshuang's heart raced uncontrollably, struggling to accept the astonishing sight before her. Could it be that the Holy Maiden of the Medicine Sovereign Valley actually knew Qin Wentian before this?

"Holy Maiden." The members from the Medicine Sovereign Valley finally caught up, their faces displaying profound shock. They stood like statues, watching their Holy Maiden embrace the young man with unwavering intensity.

Were the tears she shed earlier all for him?

Was the agony she experienced a moment ago also because of him?

Could it be that the intense stimulus the Medicine Sovereign spoke of was linked to this man?!

Their heads spun in confusion. They couldn't reconcile what they were witnessing with reality. Did their Holy Maiden and this man share an unforgettable love story deeply etched in her memories?

In that case, the young man's impulsive actions earlier weren't merely the result of being captivated by the Holy Maiden's beauty? Instead, they were lovers?!

The members of the Violet Thunder Sect had ashen expressions, utterly unprepared for this revelation.

Particularly Ye Kongfan, a chosen from the Violet Thunder Sect and a prince of the ancient Ye Country. He had hoped to use this opportunity to build a strong connection with the Holy Maiden and gradually win her heart. But now, the stark reality had shattered his hopes.

Even a fool could see that not only did the two know each other, but they were also deeply in love.

However, despite the love the Holy Maiden felt for him, could this man truly be worthy of her affection? As he pondered this, a cold glint flickered in Ye Kongfan's eyes.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." Mo Qingcheng kept repeating these words, her self-reproach overwhelming. How could she have forgotten him? She despised herself for it.

"Qingcheng, please don't blame yourself. It's alright," Qin Wentian reassured her, his heart trembling as he watched Mo Qingcheng burdened by guilt. Yet, he, too, shared the same feelings. It was his weakness that had nearly cost Qingcheng her life and her memories.

"Mhm," Mo Qingcheng nodded, but her embrace remained just as tight as before. At that moment, it felt as though they were the only two people in the world, with no one else to intrude upon their intimate moment.