Stroking the trunk of the tree, which was significantly thinner than his own habitat, Shar sniffed the air hard, his mind filled with confusion.
Where was this place?
He was absolutely sure this was not the world he had lived in for so many years, nor the one he had been in a few days ago, but a new world.
In a daze, he turned to look at the girl's retreating back. For some unknown reason, her happiness was evident just from her posture. As dappled light spots fell on the ground and a few fallen leaves drifted down with the breeze, she looked like an elf who had stumbled into the mortal realm.
Everything before him made Shar's thoughts waver again.
Could it be that gods truly existed in this world? Was she a god?
Otherwise, why could she traverse through so many worlds at will?
As soon as the thought arose, it was interrupted by the sound of galloping horses before it could be confirmed.
"There!" With the man's shout, Shen Jianxi and Shar were instantly surrounded by soldiers on horseback.
The warm atmosphere was abruptly shattered. Shar quickly darted in front of the girl, his body slightly hunched, a threatening expression on his face.
Shen Jianxi stared blankly at the newcomers. This time, she finally realized that not only had she failed to send him back, but she had also brought him to Qin Lang's world.
The man at the head dismounted, drew a portrait from his waist, and compared it with her. After a moment, he rolled up the portrait, clasped his fists, and knelt on one knee, "Your subordinate greets the General's wife!"
He then stood up, "Please follow me, Madam."
Shen Jianxi didn't want to go. Even with her toes, she knew this was Qin Lang's doing. However, these people didn't care whether she wanted to or not; they only cared about bringing her to Qin Lang.
They took her away with a mixture of persuasion and threat. They were especially wary of the tall man with ears and a tail. While they showed some respect to Shen Jianxi, Shar was treated like a prisoner.
Shar tried several times to tear these people apart with his fangs and claws, but Shen Jianxi stopped him each time.
She vaguely felt that the pendant had its own will, so if Shar caused trouble, she wasn't sure if she could take them both away.
The two were brought into the manor. Shen Jianxi was led directly to the study, while Shar was locked in a room.
Seeing this man again after so long, she was surprised to find that he had lost a lot of weight.
The soldiers who had brought her had already withdrawn and closed the study door. Only the two of them were left in the room. Qin Lang sat at the head, and Shen Jianxi stood below. They looked at each other, a tacit understanding that neither would speak first.
Qin Lang's gaze traced her features. Perhaps it had been too long, and it gave him a sense of time having passed.
"You..." Finally, he couldn't help but speak first. "I will marry you."
Hearing this, Shen Jianxi's pupils widened, doubting if her ears had malfunctioned. "What did you say???"
Qin Lang was not a very patient person, but at this moment, he showed his utmost sincerity. "I said, I will marry you as my wife."
Recalling what had happened that day, his expression softened slightly. "You saved me twice, and moreover, you also... Qin is responsible."
Shen Jianxi understood less and less. She could understand every word in this sentence, but how could they make no sense when put together?
"No, wait a minute." She raised her hand, signaling him to calm down, and then asked, "Responsible for what? What responsibility? What responsibility? Speak clearly."
Seeing her inquisitive demeanor, Qin Lang had no choice but to explain. "I was afflicted by a蠱 that day. If it weren't for you... I fear I would have died. The physician told me that this kind of 蛊 can only be alleviated through intercourse. Otherwise, I would have died suddenly."
The man's expression was too serious as he spoke, and Shen Jianxi even doubted her own memory. Otherwise, why did she only remember a kiss?
What nonsense was Qin Lang talking about!?
But she quickly calmed down, guessing it was the pendant's doing. Sudanshan.com
Shen Jianxi raised her eyes and said calmly, "You are mistaken, General Qin. Nothing happened between us, and you don't need to be responsible. You are misremembering everything. So, can you let my companion and me leave now?"
Qin Lang didn't rush to answer her. Instead, he slowly walked down and stood opposite her.
Now that he was closer, Shen Jianxi realized that he looked much weaker.
The man's lips curved slightly. Because his injury had not healed, the originally stern lines of his face had softened. "No."
He paused and continued, "This 蛊 worm must have intercourse with the first person five times to die completely. I will provide you with a sufficiently comfortable life. If you agree, you can leave after the fifth time."
Shen Jianxi's forehead twitched. She clenched her fists tightly to control herself from hitting him. She gritted her teeth, "You have a good idea, but I refuse."
Qin Lang suddenly chuckled softly, as if he had heard something amusing. After a long while, he stopped laughing and looked up.
"I am not discussing this with you," he said, his chin slightly raised, a smile on his lips, but a cold glint in his eyes. "You can refuse. It's nothing more than locking you up and executing you and your strange accomplice after five times."
"So, what is your choice?"