Chapter 1784 - 157: Witnessing the Future (3)

"I... am now a Phoenix, the leader of the Wutong Tree, but... but I’ve always been afraid, feeling insecure. Such a vast place, so many races, so many things that need my decision... I’ve only been in this ’Phoenix’ identity for a few months, never had such an education, sitting on the throne of the Phoenix King, I even feel that it’s just a ramshackle operation, with a little crippled girl pretending to be a Phoenix..."

Valentina looked down, gazed at her intact legs, and slapped them in frustration,

"Being able to walk should be something to be happy about, but I feel like only my body can walk again while my heart is still sitting in a wheelchair. It was Master Tao who taught me what to do, he told me that no one is born a king, even the revered Phoenix has broken free from enslavement... When I went to see you, I was worried and afraid that my current appearance would frighten you, I even specially turned into a human form, and even considered reverting to my old wheelchair-bound appearance...

"It was Master Tao who scolded me awake, she secretly told me, ’If he can’t even accept you standing up, changing appearance, and hopes you return to your previous crippled, fragile form, just because it satisfies his twisted desire to protect and possess, then does he see you as a lover or merely a pet kept for amusement?’..."

Fisher looked at the budding peach sapling in front of him, somewhat taken aback.

However, he had only briefly interacted with Master Tao during opposition, he was in no position to understand her, nor the nature of this eldest daughter of the Elves.

From a stereotype perspective, Fisher had always thought she was like a foul-mouthed eternal loli old woman?

"Moreover, she also told me about that Tang... Asuka and the Angel who sacrificed her life to save you..."

Yet speaking of this, Valentina seemed to recall something, and her tone turned somber, making Fisher’s body stiffen.

Indeed, when he was with Tangze Asuka and Helair, Master Tao was also there, and he had quite a time in her Barrier. But seeing Valentina not mentioning it at this moment, it’s either Master Tao didn’t know, or she chose not to tell Valentina.

Upon bringing up this matter, Valentina couldn’t help getting angry, pouting and muttering,

"An Angel from the Mythical Species like Master Tao was willing to sacrifice her life for you, even someone from the Otherworld could be so infatuated with you, Fisher..."

That sassy but adorable murmuring made Fisher unable to resist reaching out to ruffle her hair, causing it to be even more tousled by the wind, making her pout and turn her head, but in the next moment, as if performing magic, a shiny ring appeared in Fisher’s hand.

Valentina’s expression froze momentarily, and she covered her mouth in surprise,

"This... you..."

"Didn’t I promise you before? I still owe you a ring, this is a pair, one for you, one for me..."

With a flick of his fingers, another larger ring of the same style appeared in his palm. It was a pair of wedding rings he bought when leaving Nali to fulfill the promise made with her back then.

Valentina’s breathing unwillingly quickened, she covered her mouth, while Fisher took the smaller ring and said,

"Although the main rituals of the Holy Marriage do not include exchanging rings, in Nali’s customs, rings are indispensable, and this is also a promise I owe you... I don’t want to break any more promises, Valentina."

"Fisher..."

Valentina’s face flushed slightly, her fingers trembling as she tentatively raised them, wanting him to place the ring on her; however, before doing so, she couldn’t help but ask,

"Is this ring just for me, or do other women you know have it too?"

"..."

Fisher was taken aback by the question, but his actions didn’t pause; he only spoke softly,

"This ring is of course only yours, Valentina."

Valentina finally happily extended her finger to let him put on the ring that was owed since their Holy Marriage years ago.

The place where the ring was worn happened to be before the tender sprout that Master Tao was still growing.

She couldn’t resist displaying and stretching her fingers slightly, but without the annoying "trivial" voice criticizing her for showing off, Valentina felt a bit of emptiness.

With a hint of regret, she looked at the peach blossom beside her and quietly said to Fisher,

"I heard from Master Tao that she possesses powers from the past, so whether speaking or acting, she comes off as an obstinate old relic... yet I foolishly attempt to convey the wonder of the future with my young and slight strength... But even if the effect is minimal, she clearly... clearly can glimpse the future, and will say things that suit the present rather than the past...

"She evidently... is almost reaching the future."

Upon hearing this, Fisher’s heart couldn’t help but stir slightly.

The remnants of the past were being covered at this moment by snow and wind, and the vast Snow Mountain, rooted in the World Tree’s roots, was already shrouded in white snow, rendering all memories invisible.

Only the peach blossom growing through the snow sprouted a hint of pink, facing this moment, facing a future that might symbolize Destruction in the sky.

The future, a term laden with uncertainty.

No one knows what tomorrow will bring; no one can be sure of what the future holds, hence there can be no definitive assertion that the future will be good.

Nevertheless, the miracle is that when people talk about tomorrow, they will always be optimistic.

"Tomorrow will be better."

"It’s okay, there is always next time, there is always tomorrow..."

So at this moment, looking at the growing peach blossom branch, Valentina finally couldn’t resist it, bowing her head, somewhat sadly questioning Fisher, questioning herself,

"So... is there really no other way? Can’t Master Tao really live to see the future?"

"..."