Chapter 215

Chapter 215. His Presence Was Everywhere

Cailin truly had never imagined that, although she had only been in the world of the Human Race for a short time, everything before her, every little detail of her daily life, was already filled with Chu Feng’s presence.

Everything she ate, drank, used, wore, and adorned herself with had all been carefully arranged for her by Chu Feng himself. So during this period, Cailin had truly had no worries at all in her daily life, nor had she felt the slightest discomfort anywhere.

Perhaps it was precisely because of Chu Feng’s attentive care and meticulous concern that Cailin had begun to feel at home here, gradually forgetting the pain she had suffered before.

What she had never expected, however, was that just as she had finally begun to adapt to life here, those storms would come crashing toward her like a tornado.

That tornado seemed to clutch at Cailin’s throat, leaving her almost unable to face her life now.

But why?

Why did it have to happen only after she had grown used to Chu Feng’s care?

Cailin’s eyes stung again...

She bit her lip, forcing herself not to cry, but her heart truly ached, ached so badly. It felt as though things always turned out the opposite of what she wished.

It had been the same in the Ancient Royal Clan. She had been living just fine, yet she had suddenly been brought into a new world. And just as she had finally adapted to that new world, now she was about to be driven away again.

Everything felt like some cruel play, toying with her again and again.

The more she thought about it, the worse she felt. But Cailin knew that she absolutely could not cry.

By now, all the palace maids and eunuchs keeping the night watch had already fallen asleep. Cailin could even hear their steady breathing from outside the door.

This time, she had already made up her mind that she had to leave this place. If she woke the maids, then there was no need to think further—she definitely would not be able to go.

Cailin did not know whether the decision she was making now was truly the right one, but things had already reached a dead end. If she kept stubbornly staying, even more problems would surely arise.

Cailin did not want to face those complicated problems, nor did she want Chu Feng to face them either. So the best solution was for her to leave of her own accord.

If she had not been driven to the point of utter helplessness, Cailin would never have made such a decision.

But the reality now was that the rumors outside were indeed growing more and more vicious. Especially this afternoon, when she had already heard many palace maids whispering in the corners.

Those words had already formed a deep, deep scar in Cailin’s mind.

A wound that could never be erased.

“Have you heard? That Demoness eats a human heart every night. A human heart—an actual living person’s.”

“Really? That’s too terrifying. Those are living people. Isn’t it horrifying to eat a heart dripping with blood like that?”

“Of course it’s true! Otherwise, how could she be so beautiful? Just look at her skin—so delicate it could break with a breath, not a single wrinkle, radiant and dazzling. It’s all because she feeds on people’s essence blood!”

“Then what about His Majesty? Could it be that she’s draining him dry too? I think His Majesty has truly been blinded by infatuation. By the time he’s been devoured down to the last scrap, he probably still won’t know what happened.”

“Who knows... Anyway, I heard them say that Demoness is already carrying a Demonic Spawn. In the future, it’s going to overturn the realm of our Great Chu Dynasty. When that time comes, His Majesty probably won’t be able to withstand it either.”

“Heavens, that’s too frightening, isn’t it? Then I think we’d better leave the Imperial Palace as soon as possible. Otherwise, when that day comes, won’t we become food in that Demon Consort’s belly?”

“Why run? If you ask me, she ought to be thrown out—or... or killed outright! A monster is a monster, so what right does she have to come to our Great Chu Dynasty?”

Cailin had heard those words several times. Nearly every palace maid and eunuch said the same thing. Yet even so, those words still felt like knives, carving into her heart one stroke at a time.

Cailin closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

I can’t cry.

I cannot soften my heart...

At least not this time.

She should have left the last time, yet because her heart had softened for a moment, she had ended up suffering through all of this now.

The instant she thought of that, Cailin was filled with bitter regret.

Grinding her back teeth together, she resolutely walked forward, her bare feet stepping onto the carpet.

The moment her feet touched it, Cailin immediately lowered her head and glanced at it. The carpet was soft and warm. This too had been specially commissioned by Chu Feng, because he knew that the Heaven-Devouring Python Clan of the Ancient Royal Clan feared the cold.

Warmth rose from beneath her feet, yet she felt her heart turning cold bit by bit.

Because perhaps none of this had ever truly belonged to her.

And Cailin felt that she had only once possessed it. Now she had completely lost it and had returned to what she originally was.

She did not dare put on shoes, afraid that the sound of their soles touching the ground would alert someone. So she walked barefoot, step by step, toward the door.

When she reached the screen, Cailin still could not help stopping. She raised her hand and gently stroked the phoenix embroidered upon it.

Phoenix, oh phoenix, do you know that this “phoenix” kept in captivity is about to fly away?

Her fingers brushed across the phoenix tail embroidered with gold thread. Beneath the moonlight, the phoenix seemed almost to tremble softly, as though trying to keep her from leaving.

Cailin instinctively closed her eyes and took a deep breath, forcing herself to release her hand.

Then she continued forward.

When she reached the dressing table, she stopped once more and looked at that little warm-jade box.

The corners of Cailin’s lips could not help but curve into a faint smile. Then she reached out, gently opened the box, took out a piece of candied fruit, and placed it in her mouth.

Sweet...

And a little sour too...

In the past, Cailin had loved eating this. Whenever she had nothing to do, she would always keep a piece in her mouth. But now, tasting that familiar flavor again, she found that tears were already spilling down her face.

Fearing that her crying would only grow more uncontrollable, Cailin hurriedly wiped away her tears at once. She did not dare look at the box again and quickly walked on without the slightest hesitation.

When she reached the bookshelf, her steps slowed again.

Those books had all been translated into the Ancient Script at Chu Feng’s order. It had been such difficult work, yet back then, Chu Feng had shown not the slightest impatience.

Cailin could not help but reach out and gently touch those books, one by one, as though she were saying farewell.

The more she lingered, the more unwilling she became to leave. All these things seemed to be silently begging Cailin to stay.

Everything—every object, every blade of grass, every tree—was filled with far too many memories, and Cailin truly could not bear to face them.

In the end, she still closed her eyes, withdrew her hand, and walked toward the door without looking back.

But when she reached the doorway, and the thought struck her that she was truly about to leave this place forever, she still could not help turning back for one final look at the Palace Chambers.

Moonlight streamed through the window, spilling across the carpet, across the screen, across the dressing table, across the bookshelf, across the bed where she had once lain...

Everything was so quiet, so beautiful, beautiful enough to feel like a dream.

Cailin even found herself hoping that this truly was only a dream. At least when a beautiful dream ended, she would still be able to remain here, undisturbed by those trivial matters and all that clamor.