w.a.n.g Hu inhaled lightly and quickly adjusted his emotions. Now wasn't the time for him to become lost in his past.

He didn't notice that Di Baijun, whose back was to him, had a stunned expression on her face.

She tried hard to secretly peek behind her out of the corner of her eye. Was that jerk crying?

At the same time, she also involuntarily thought of her parents.

How wonderful would it be if Father and Mother were still around?

Sorrow surged up in her, and her panic and bashful embarra.s.sment lessened a little. A look of sorrow and longing surfaced on her countenance.

“He cried very helplessly and felt even lonelier. There was no longer anyone in this world that would love him.

“Every day, he could only eat, sleep, and eat again after he woke up. Rinse and repeat. Aimlessly, numbly, and apathetically; he lived only for the sake of living.”

w.a.n.g Hu's faint, sorrowful voice continued to ring out. The sense of vacancy and solitude around him was exceptionally obvious and infectious.

“After his mother pa.s.sed, it seemed like his younger brothers were different from him. There wasn't much to talk about among them. He could only visit them every once in a while and even had to be careful not to disturb their lives.

“After all, to his younger brothers, he was too powerful. It was to the extent that they instinctively worried over if their eldest brother would usurp their territory or even kill their children and seize their wives.

“Hah. That was their eldest brother who had loved and cared for them since they were young. How would he possibly do something like that?”

His voice was low, deep, and filled with wry, resigned amus.e.m.e.nt from being misunderstood and distrusted by his brothers. It was as though that sense of solitude was about to devour one's heart.

The world was so vast and flouris.h.i.+ng, yet all one had was oneself.

Even Di Baijun's breathing couldn't help but get caught in her throat as if that experience was her own. It was just like the time after her parents had pa.s.sed.

However, she still had the tigers back then, whereas the jerk had nothing left.

“Besides, he didn't know why, but he had felt since he was young that he was different from other tigers. He had a lot of thoughts, far more than other tigers.

“This led to him feeling that no woman could understand him. He had no intentions of forming a family at all either. He continued to live by himself, not even knowing the purpose of his life.”

w.a.n.g Hu didn't hide the fact that he had already possessed human intelligence in the past because there was no way he could keep it from her anyway. Of course, he didn't clarify anything either. He would just let her wonder about it herself. She would come up with an explanation for it by herself anyway.

He paused for a moment as even more emotions poured out of him. The next part was the most critical.

Di Baijun mentally heaved a sigh of relief for some reason.

This jerk didn't have any spouse or children in the past?

He's not lying to me, is he?

However, as though she had suddenly thought of something, an even stronger sense of nervousness welled up in her the next moment. The next part… the next part…

A low, deep, and gentle voice that carried some guilt yet also sounded glad slowly rang out.

“He lived on in solitude until that day when he met her.”

Di Baijun trembled, and she couldn't help but grit her teeth.

“He would never ever forget that day when he saw that figure. Obstinate, stubborn, and beautiful… she was so perfect.

“Just like sunlight warming the earth, in that instant, he felt as though the world had become different.

“With just a single glance, he suddenly felt as though his life had gained meaning. He had found a goal to live for and found faith and conviction for the rest of his life.

“He felt that the woman destined for him in his life was here. Thus, he made the biggest, guiltiest, but also the gladdest decision he had ever made in his life—he wanted to marry the woman, take her as his wife, and form a family with her.”

“And so, it gave him the right to force himself on her?” Unable to stop herself any further, Di Baijun sneered in admonishment.

It was just that, despite her fury of having her wound ripped open and some embarra.s.sment, she simply refused to leave it obediently.

“Listen to me and let me finish first, alright? Baijun.” w.a.n.g Hu let out a wry chuckle filled with a sense of resignation.

Di Baijun snorted coldly and stubbornly expressed her displeasure. Nevertheless, she still quieted down and didn't speak further.

“Thanks to his hard work, the exceptionally stubborn woman had become pregnant with his children. However, the woman continued to despise him.

“He didn't give up. After all, no matter what, in his heart; they've already had children together. That was the wife whom he had set his mind on, so how could he possibly give up?

“Thus, he quietly provided her with food. It was alright even if she didn't accept it. One day, two days, ten days, a month… even he himself had forgotten how long he had sent food to her for.

“In any case, he had made up his mind. He treated this as his most important task every day. It was fine even if he went hungry. However, he must let the pregnant woman have a full meal.

“He even did something very egotistical and very stupid. He wasn't clever. All he knew was that he had to protect the woman, so he actually killed all the animals in his territory that may pose a threat to the woman.

“Ha, at that time, he was really full of motivation. He ran all over the mountains and the forests every day as he searched for those animals.

“At last, when she was close to labor, the woman finally accepted the food that he'd sent. That day, he was overjoyed for a very, very long time. After that, they gained the world's most adorable son and daughter.

“The woman seemingly also finally accepted him, and they lived together as a family. Those were the happiest moments of his entire life.

“He felt like everything had been worth it. He was willing even if they told him to die. Of course, he didn't want to die either. He wanted to experience more days like those.”

His tone became somewhat more lighthearted and relaxed. As though he was engrossed in his memories, he gave off a joyful and blissful aura.

Di Baijun blushed a little again; she had also recalled that period of their lives. She secretly spat.

Who had accepted a jerk like you?

I was just deceived by a jerk like you because my memories hadn't returned yet. That doesn't count at all.

Suddenly, his lighthearted and relaxed tone became low and deep again.

“But shortly after, the awakening of spiritual energy came. He was thankful for the awakening because this gave his family even more possibilities.

“However, he also abhorred it because the wife whom he had set his mind on had changed.” w.a.n.g Hu closed his eyes, wry and resigned.

“She became a stranger to him… aloof and condescending, incredibly cold and haughty… she even wanted to kill him. It seemed like she thought of him as something that disgraced her.”

Di Baijun was rather embarra.s.sed. At that time, it was just that… just that…

Unable to come up with any excuse, she awkwardly snorted lightly. What was the point of bringing up the things that had happened back then?

“That night, he was very sad. He didn't understand why. He felt like someone had stabbed him in the heart, and it made him feel rather inferior.

“Later on, as he interacted with the wife whom he had set his mind on, he felt even more inferior. She was so beautiful and such a peerless existence in the world, whereas he was just an ordinary tiger. He didn't dare to express his love for her anymore. He could only try harder and do his best to treat her and their children well, in hopes—that's right, hope—that his wife wouldn't drive him away. That was exactly what he thought.

“For the sake of that, he was willing to do anything.

“After that, he got to know of the concept of cultivation from his wife. As he got to know more and more things, he became increasingly aware of his wife's formidability. She was just like a celestial maiden that had descended from heaven that humans spoke of.

“Everything was like a dream. He had actually had children with a celestial maiden from heaven.

“He was secretly very thrilled but also felt even more inferior. He didn't dare to think too much anymore and merely tried even harder to protect and watch over his wife and their two children. That was enough for him.”

Di Baijun felt rather troubled, embarra.s.sed, happy… yet also furious.

In the end, everything was condensed into two sentences: 'You know that I'm so wonderful, yet you still make me angry all the time. What a jerk.'

Eh?

That's not right. How did I become his wife?

Upon suddenly realizing that, the scarlet flush on her cheeks that had significantly faded came back again. She thought: How shameless! You have no sense of shame!

“Although such days were a little off from what he dreamed of, the inferior man nevertheless didn't dare to ask for too much. He only hoped that this would continue.

“Generally speaking, those days were also joyful ones. Although he didn't know why his wife was always angry, it was fine. If she was mad, then that meant that what he was doing wasn't good enough yet. He would just work harder.

“This went on until his wife hurt herself for his sake. He was full of anxiety and regrets. How he wished he could use his own life in exchange for his wife's good health. Thus, he—who had always felt very inferior—mustered up his courage and put on his most forceful demeanor.

“He wanted his wife to recover at any cost. Even if it displeased his wife or even made her hate him, that was what he was going to do.

“Thus, he even made a deal with China, a country that he had always been wary of, to head off together to an incredibly dangerous world and take a risk there—because things that could help with his wife's recovery existed there.

“He got into battle after battle. Fortunately, his combat power wasn't too bad, so he managed to get what he wanted. This continued until he finally met the most powerful enemy he has ever met in his entire life.

“Despite the combat power that he was so proud of, he was at a slight disadvantage. In fact, he even faced the threat of death at one point. It was exactly then that innumerable thoughts went through his mind, and he understood something.

“Do you know what he was thinking of, Baijun?”

w.a.n.g Hu's gaze s.h.i.+fted to the back view of the figure that was as peerlessly beautiful as ever.

His almost-solid gaze made Di Baijun uncomfortable all over—coupled with getting nervous and troubled.

She braved through and said somewhat softly, “How would I know?”

“He had regretted something. He regretted not clearly confessing his feelings to his wife. He regretted not asking for his wife's hand in marriage. He regretted not treating his wife even better.

“He was filled with hate. He hated his inferiority complex and hated his cowardice.

“Even if he might fail, speaking up would ultimately bring a bit of hope. Yet, precisely because of his inferiority complex and because he hadn't spoken up, he didn't have even that bit of hope.

“If he died, then he would really be dead. Everything would be gone.”

Fear, extreme fear, appeared in his voice. Yet, it was also filled with determination.

“Once he was dead, he would never see his wife again. Slowly, over time, no one would remember him anymore. He could only die with endless regrets.

“Everyone, no matter who, only has one chance at life. In this time of peril, n.o.body knows what will happen.

“One may just die any day. Once they die, nothing would be left. Even if one had remorse, regrets, and so on; they wouldn't have any chance to do anything all over again.

“He came to understand that. Thus, he decided that he didn't want to die. He wanted to go back. He wanted to go back and make up for his regrets. He wanted to go back and save himself from his inferiority complex.

“He wanted to confess his feelings to his wife… and ask his wife to truly marry him and form a perfect family with him.

“Thus, he has come home… oof.”

After finis.h.i.+ng his speech in a tone that gradually became more and more pa.s.sionate, w.a.n.g Hu let out a m.u.f.fled grunt and struggled to sit up.

Di Baijun was feeling rather down. Two lines that he had said echoed within her mind.

Once a person died, nothing would be left. It was impossible to do anything all over again.

The m.u.f.fled grunt brought her back to reality with a start. She hastily turned and took a look. She wanted to stop him, yet she couldn't bring herself to say anything. Then, she thought of his last couple of lines.

Great panic surged up within her, and she subconsciously wanted to flee.

Her breathing turned a notch heavier, and she said in a panic, “I'm going out first.”

As she spoke, she wanted to take a step forward and escape the cave.

How would w.a.n.g Hu possibly let her leave at this point? With lightning-quick reflexes, he grabbed her hand right away. Seemingly because he had used every ounce of strength he had, the bloodstains at his chest turned even darker. He pulled her into his arms.

Caught off-guard, coupled with her frail const.i.tution at the moment and her panic; Di Baijun didn't manage to resist him.

With a cry of alarm, she fell into w.a.n.g Hu's arms. He held her hand with one of his while his other arm hugged her tightly around her shoulders.

His gentle and simple gaze was as though the sharpest of mighty swords, causing Di Baijun's heartbeat to race at several times their original speed. Unable to withstand it, she avoided his gaze.

“Don't leave, Baijun. That tiger's story hasn't ended yet. There's still one more thing that's the most important in his life that he'd like to personally tell you,” said w.a.n.g Hu softly.

“Don't say it. I want to leave,” replied a panicked Di Baijun at once as her soft, pliable body struggled in his arms.

w.a.n.g Hu didn't let go. The blood at the wound at his chest flowed rapidly, causing him to turn even paler.

Shocked, Di Baijun quickly stopped struggling. She said angrily, “What are you doing? Hurry up and stanch your bleeding.”

“It's not important.” w.a.n.g Hu didn't even look at his wound. He kept his eyes on the pretty face in front of him and said resolutely, “I must say everything that I want to say today. I might not have the chance to say it tomorrow.”

“What nonsense,” chided Di Baijun—who didn't dare to meet his eyes—softly.

“The world is unpredictable. n.o.body knows for certain that will happen tomorrow. We have to seize the day and cherish the present instead.

“If I die, I won't be able to see you anymore. I'm really very scared,” said w.a.n.g Hu with lingering fears as he shook his head.

Di Baijun was silent, though she still wanted to flee.

w.a.n.g Hu decided not to give her any chance of avoiding the issue anymore. He said with agitation and pa.s.sion, “Baijun, I've returned. With the determination to see you once more, I've fended off the enemy and returned.

“I don't want to feel inferior anymore. I don't want to regret again at my dying moments, not even having confessed my feelings to you.

“I don't want to regret anymore. That feeling makes me want to die. It makes me feel that living is worse off than death itself.

“I love you. You're the wife whom I've decided on for this lifetime. Will you marry me?

“Be my wife. We'll make a real and perfect family with Big Treasure and Little Treasure.”

Phew.

Heavy, ragged breathing could be heard between the two tigers. Part of it was w.a.n.g Hu's, but more of it was Di Baijun's.

At last, upon hearing those words that she feared and didn't dare to face the most, her mind turned completely blank in an instant.

She subconsciously wanted to flee from the cave. However, the jerk didn't allow her. The bloodstains on his chest also made her not dare to use too much force.

Her heart raced faster and faster, and she even felt as if she couldn't quite breathe. She didn't know what she should say.

Her mind was in utter chaos.

Innumerable messy thoughts welled up in her mind. Yet, it was also as though she wasn't thinking of anything at all.

In the end, as though clutching at straws, she couldn't help but secretly plead while at a complete loss: Father, Mother, what should Baijun do?

After waiting a few seconds, upon seeing that Silly Girl's eyes were dull and unfocused and that she wasn't answering him either; he understood very well that she must be in a state of utter chaos at the moment. He didn't press her, choosing to quietly wait instead.

Although he couldn't help but become awfully nervous as a result—as a man, he had to give the woman some time to consider at a time like this. He mustn't press her too much.

Another few seconds later, when he still didn't receive any response, w.a.n.g Hu couldn't help but speak again.

“Baijun, even though I'm not perfect by any means and also very stupid at times—and even always making you angry for no reason; I promise that I'll definitely protect you, Big Treasure, and Little Treasure with my life. I'll protect our family with my life.

“If you become angry again in the future, you can beat me up. I'll definitely do my best to make you happy.

“But can we discuss something? Can you try not to beat me up when there are outsiders around?”