Chapter 498 - 496: Nerida, You Unfaithful Woman

Chapter 498: Chapter 496: Nerida, You Unfaithful Woman

’Whether or not to marry, to take a husband... that’s a matter of personal freedom. Just look at The Exalted One and his wife. Their love for each other is profound, and they have a son and a daughter. Their relationship has stood the test of time—something she has witnessed every step of the way.’

When she said nothing, Aeron clutched the sleeves of his robes, his head lowered slightly. "Are you still unwilling to be my wife?"

She could hear the sadness in his voice.

"Nerida."

He called her name.

Then he raised his head, his gaze locked on hers, his tone accusatory. "What’s so wrong with me? Tell me, what’s so wrong with me? How am I not good enough for you?"

Before Nerida could say a word, he continued.

"In terms of status, I am the Young Master of Silvanis, the future Lord. In terms of looks and build, I’m the most handsome man in all of Silvanis; there are countless women who want to marry me. My Cultivation might not compare to yours, but it’s not bad either. I’ve given you my whole heart, yet you do nothing but brush me aside."

Nerida remained silent.

’This isn’t a matter of whether he’s good enough or not.’

’All this time, her world had revolved around nothing but Cultivation and fighting to the death. She was a Demon Cultivator, a female demon, a lone wolf with no one to answer to. The term "Taoist Companion" simply didn’t exist in her plans for the future.’

At this thought, Nerida finally spoke. "No, you’re wonderful, but we’re not right for each other. There are countless female cultivators in Silvanis who are better than me. I’m sure you can find someone better than me to be your wife. You might not really know me. I’m a Demon Cultivator. Do you know what that means? It means I’m a female demon who kills without batting an eye."

The moment she finished speaking, the man’s eyes turned red, but he fought to hold back his tears. He took a step back and said, "Nerida, all I did was fall in love with you. Do you really have to humiliate me like this?"

"Do I look like some casual man who will take just anyone? The men of Silvanis marry only one wife in their entire lives. I have already committed myself to you, so there can never be another. Are you trying to kill me by saying these things? You’re just cruel."

He shot her an accusatory glare.

"I gave you my pure, untouched body, and now you want to just walk away and pretend nothing happened! Nerida, you seduced me and now you’re abandoning me! You’re a heartless, faithless woman!"

"Well..."

She found she had no rebuttal.

The way he put it made her feel like a genuine scumbag.

’The Exalted One... His wife...’

’What should I do? I’m panicking.’

’I can raise children, I can fight and kill, but getting tangled up with a man... is this right? I used to think there was a reason The Exalted One was doomed to be single for centuries. But now that it’s my turn, I feel like I could stay single for thousands of years, even tens of thousands.’

At this moment, the mountaintop was utterly silent.

Only the howling wind served as a reminder that he might, in fact, be right.

His eyes were red.

He cried.

’This... this...’

"Hey, you’re a man! Don’t... don’t cry."

Nerida said instinctively, "That’s not what I meant! I just... I really think we’re not a good match. I’m going to have to leave this place sooner or later."

Before she could finish, the man before her spoke. "Nerida... do you truly not like me at all?"

His question stopped Nerida in her tracks.

Nerida froze.

’Don’t I like him at all?’

’That’s... not entirely true, is it?’

Meeting him had been an accident.

「Six months ago.」

After ascending to the Upper Realm, she had found herself in a mountain range choked with thorny brambles. Within the mountains lay a ruin, protected by a dilapidated Array.

In a corner of the Array grew a single red fruit, exuding a rich, medicinal aroma. A single inhale was enough for her to feel her Cultivation stir and grow. She knew instantly it had to be one of the fabled rare treasures capable of enhancing one’s Cultivation.

She had never seen such a fruit and didn’t know what it was, but anything that could attract countless Demonic Beasts upon ripening had to be a good thing.

She plucked it casually, but the fruit probably required a special Magic Treasure for storage, as it began to wither the moment it was picked. Acting on the principle of "waste not, want not," she swallowed it in one gulp.

And her Cultivation did indeed increase.

But she felt hot. Unbearably hot.

It was as if she’d ingested some kind of drug; she felt dizzy and disoriented.

Even if she’d never experienced it herself, she knew what was happening.

The fruit she had eaten was indeed a rare treasure that could increase her Cultivation. But it also had a powerful aphrodisiac effect. When she circulated her Cultivation after eating it, the drug took effect even faster. By the end, she had no memory of how she even managed to walk out of that mountain range.

Along the road, she came upon a carriage being pulled by a Spirit Beast. At that exact moment, a man dressed in green robes lifted the curtain.

Ordinarily, no matter how handsome a man was, her heart would remain as still as a tranquil lake. A man could only affect the speed of her whip, nothing more. But now, his every gesture—even the simple act of raising his hand—seemed to be seducing her, luring her toward him.

Swaying unsteadily, she staggered in front of the carriage.

The moment she appeared, someone pointed their Weapons at her.

"Insolence! Who are you?"

’Too noisy.’

She simply gave a light wave of her hand.

The female guards in front of the carriage were sent flying. They wouldn’t be coming back anytime soon.

She raised a finger.

And froze the carriage in place.

"You... who are you?"

Sensing her powerful aura, the man inside the carriage watched her with vigilance.

He wasn’t afraid, however.

Nerida leaned against the carriage, casually pulling aside the curtain to look at the aristocratic man inside.

’He’s good-looking,’ she thought. ’A one-night stand would be fine. It’s not like he’d be at a disadvantage; if anyone’s being ’taken advantage of,’ it’s me.’

Even as a Demon Cultivator, she had her principles.

So she asked bluntly.

"Do you have a sweetheart?"

"Are you married?"

The questions were startlingly direct.

’Her reasoning was simple: if he had a sweetheart or was already married, she would never do anything to wreck someone’s relationship.’

When Nerida asked her questions, the man in the carriage froze, the tips of his ears instantly flushing red. He pointed a finger at her, his teeth clenched.

"You’re shameless! I am a man of virtue and purity! What sweetheart? Stop slandering my reputation!"

’He assumed she was just another one of his countless admirers.’

’But this one was far too brazen, asking if he had a sweetheart or was married right here on the road. Utterly improper! Even if he didn’t, he certainly wouldn’t tell *her*.’

At that thought, he cursed under his breath.

"Hussy."

He may have cursed her aloud, but as his gaze swept over Nerida’s face, he saw her flushed cheeks and bewitching expression. His Adam’s apple bobbed. To his own surprise, he found her breathtakingly beautiful.

And in truth, she was.

She was, by far, the most beautiful female cultivator he had ever seen.

’The female cultivator before him had a powerful aura; she was tall, fair-skinned, and stunningly beautiful. Wasn’t she the perfect candidate for the wife he had always dreamed of? The only problem was, one look at her and you could tell she was trouble. After all, what kind of decent woman blocks someone on the road and asks if they’re married?’