Cassie Cao stood at the doorway of the wooden cabin. When she saw Joe Di returning, her eyes immediately lit up with joy—just like a wife welcoming her husband home from a journey.
"Senior Sister, I've made up my mind. We'll make our life here. I believe that, at most, within a year, we can leave Tianhuang District openly and with dignity." Joe Di spotted Cassie Cao from afar, and with a single stride, appeared before her and embraced her.
Cassie Cao nestled against Joe Di's chest and spoke softly, "Ah Jiu, a year is too short. Let's live here for three years."
Joe Di was taken aback for a moment and instinctively replied, "Senior Sister, it's too stuffy here, and life isn't convenient. The only reason we're not leaving now is that I'm worried my strength isn't enough yet."
Cassie Cao's expression dimmed. Before she could speak, Joe Di noticed her reluctance to leave and quickly added, "Senior Sister, let's just live here, then. Being with you, it certainly won't feel stuffy at all."
"You always know how to say the sweetest things," Cassie Cao replied in a low voice, her cheeks flushed.
Joe Di lowered his head and gazed at Cassie Cao tenderly. "I spent the last two days in seclusion. Leaving you alone right after our wedding was my mistake."
Cassie Cao's face grew even redder at Joe Di's words.
Joe Di bent down, scooped Cassie Cao up in his arms, and carried her into the simple wooden cabin.
......
Andy Hou spat out the fish bone from his mouth, let out a sigh of relief, and quickly slung his backpack over his shoulder.
He’d been in the Tianhuang District for over a year now, and almost every moment had been spent on the run. Still, it hadn’t all been for nothing—despite Marlon Mao being betrayed, Andy had managed to acquire a scroll of cultivation techniques. Over the past year, he’d trained according to its teachings, confident he was no less skilled than the Earth-rank martial artists.
But this was the Tianhuang District—Andy Hou rarely dared to light a fire for himself. Most of the time, he ate things raw. Once he finished eating, he would quickly move to another spot.
"Ungrateful wretch! If it weren’t for Cassie Cao saving you, and Marlon Mao always protecting you, would you still be alive today, Luna Cui? Bah!" After packing up his things, Andy Hou muttered his usual curses under his breath before quickly slipping away.
The reason he’d survived this long, besides being clever, was his unwavering rule: never stay in one place for more than three days. If you did, your presence would leak out, inevitably attracting even stronger Dire Beasts.
But today, Andy Hou had only walked for half an hour before freezing in place—he’d spotted smoke rising in the distance. Who had a death wish? Who dared light a fire in the Tianhuang District? Any ordinary martial artist who did so here was courting death. The smoke would, without fail, draw Dire Beasts.
Could it be a Heaven-rank martial artist? Should he go take a look? Andy Hou hesitated.
Since coming to the Tianhuang District, this was the first time Andy Hou had ever seen anyone dare to light a fire here. Even martial artist squads usually wouldn’t risk it.
......
Joe Di returned to the small wooden cabin with two wild rabbits in hand. The rising smoke meant Cassie Cao was already making dinner.
Over the past year, as his cultivation grew stronger, more memories began to return. He now knew his current level was equivalent to the Golden Core stage; with one more breakthrough, he could condense his Nascent Soul. Unfortunately, the Heaven and Earth energy here was far too thin—if it were abundant, his cultivation would be a hundred times stronger.
Joe Di still felt there were things he hadn’t remembered yet. If he could recall them, he’d have access to endless cultivation resources, and his strength would skyrocket like a rocket launch.
No one else dared light a fire in the Tianhuang District, but here, Joe Di was free from all taboos. To the Dire Beasts of the district, this place was a forbidden zone—Joe Di’s territory. Any Dire Beast approaching would skirt around it, and those that didn’t were long reduced to dust and bone. No matter how fierce, once a Dire Beast entered Joe Di’s domain, it never left alive.
"Cassie Cao, I’m back!" Joe Di called out from afar.
Cassie Cao rushed out, face beaming with joy. Even though Joe Di was only a dozen steps from the cabin, she still ran to greet him.
She reached out to take the two wild rabbits Joe Di had caught and teased him, "You’ve hunted all the rabbits around here."
Joe Di gave an awkward smile. "You don’t like Dire Beast meat, so I have to go farther out. Sorry, Cassie Cao."
Cassie Cao covered Joe Di’s mouth. "Enough of that—let’s go inside."
She understood exactly what Joe Di’s apology meant: he could cultivate, but he couldn’t teach her how.
Just as Joe Di was about to speak, Cassie Cao suddenly bent over and retched.
Joe Di quickly supported Cassie Cao, then exclaimed in delight, "Cassie Cao, we’re going to have a son!"
Cassie Cao paused, then murmured, "It’s true... I don’t even know if it’s right or wrong..."
Her eyes instantly reddened. She’d always hoped to leave behind a child for Joe Di before she left. Now, hearing the news, her heart was a jumble of emotions.
She was happy—her wish had finally come true, she’d given Joe Di a child. But it was bittersweet: a family of three should be so joyful, yet she only had a little over a year left to live.
Thinking of her newborn child growing up without a mother, Cassie Cao couldn’t hold back her tears any longer. Without her care, would Joe Di and their child be alright?
Seeing Cassie Cao cry, Joe Di hurriedly pulled her into his arms. "I’m sorry, Cassie Cao. It’s my fault."
Cassie Cao finally burst into tears, turning to wrap her arms around Joe Di’s waist, her heart lost in confusion. If she was gone, what would happen to their child? What would happen to Joe Di?
Joe Di didn’t know how to comfort Cassie Cao. Just as he was about to say something more, she stopped crying, lifted her tear-stained face, and looked at him. "Joe Di, let’s go outside."
Joe Di was stunned. "Cassie Cao, didn’t you say you didn’t like it outside? Isn’t it nice living here?"
Cassie Cao shook her head. "Joe Di, after you leave the Tianhuang District, find a safe place. I hope our child won’t have to live like me—in the wilds of the Tianhuang District."
There was something Cassie Cao hadn’t said: if she was gone, and their child was still young, if Joe Di couldn’t care for him, the child would disappear into the Tianhuang District.
Forget Dire Beasts—even the environment of the Tianhuang District was treacherous. One careless moment, and you’d lose your way. Besides, she and Joe Di had no ties here, but their child couldn’t spend a lifetime in this wilderness.
Joe Di wiped Cassie Cao’s tears away. "I’ll listen to you. If you want to leave, we’ll leave."
Cassie Cao answered softly and settled quietly into Joe Di’s arms.
Tap, tap! Light, cautious footsteps approached. Joe Di lifted his head, his spiritual sense sweeping outward.
Cassie Cao woke with a start and looked up at Joe Di. "Joe Di, what’s wrong?"
Joe Di patted Cassie Cao reassuringly. "Someone’s coming."
Hearing this, Cassie Cao left Joe Di’s embrace and stood by his side. Soon, two men appeared outside the cabin.
"Huh, there really are people living here—and daring to light a fire." The tall, thin man in front stared at the smoke rising beside the cabin, surprised.
Behind him was a middle-aged man with long hair. Both carried large packs, long knives, and VT assault rifles—clear signs they’d spent plenty of time in the Tianhuang District.
The VT assault rifle could fire sixty rounds in rapid succession, making it the most common weapon in the Tianhuang District. But against many Dire Beasts, it was of little use—most martial artists still preferred their own cold weapons.
"Friends..." The tall, thin man walked up to Joe Di and Cassie Cao, cupped his fists in greeting, then suddenly froze, pointing at Joe Di with shock in his eyes.
The middle-aged man behind him also recognized Joe Di, his face equally stunned as he stared at him.
Seeing their expressions, Joe Di understood immediately. He smiled faintly. "Do you two know me?"