The Wine Shop of Eternity
Round 86 Different Sides of Jiu Shen
Jiu Shen carefully held onto Hestia who had received light injuries from her battle with the demon general. He was brought back to the shop by Defender Duanmu who immediately left after saying goodbye. The old man seemed to be in a hurry, so Jiu Shen did not stop him from leaving.
“Master, I have failed to live up to your expectations. And I even let that loathsome devil slip out of my grasp!” Hestia said with an expression of regret and self-blame. His hatred towards the demon general also increased which was visible from his burning gaze.
He was stronger than a demon general by the small realm because he was a mid-level rank 8 celestial realm cultivator, whereas a demon general was only a rank 8 early stage heavenly realm body enhancer.
If he was not bothered with his thoughts at that crucial moment, then he could defeat that demon without any problem. But during that time, it was as if something in the depths of his soul was awakening. He felt like he suddenly remembered something about her, but everything seemed too vague for him to realize what it was.
Jiu Shen shook his head and held Hestia's shoulder gently. He then glanced at her and sighed. “Hestia, you don't have to blame yourself for this. Besides, the mission I gave you was just to protect those humans and let them return safely to the imperial palace.”
Hestia raised her head and looked at Jiu Shen with a sad and confused expression. “Master, the moment I saw the demon, something inside me seemed to have been resurrected. I don't know how to explain it, but it feels like I've remembered some things about myself. But I don't understand anything about it. I-” He held back his tears as he spoke in a trembling voice.
Jiu Shen sighed again and a rare expression of tenderness flickered in his silver eyes. “Hestia, it's hard to explain this now, but I'll tell you the truth about your origin.”
Hestia was confused but she still felt a warmth in her heart when she saw the expression of worry in her master's usually indifferent eyes.
Lu Sulan and Theia who were standing behind Jiu Shen tactfully left the room and gave both of them privacy.
“You are dead and you are someone who was given the chance to reincarnate to serve me. And why are you disturbed when you see that demon .. My guess is that your death has something to do with them. …” Jiu Shen did not tell her about everything because her identity was too sensitive to reveal. But what he told her wasn't a lie either.
Hestia covered her mouth with her tiny hands and her eyes flickered in surprise. “Master... That means all the fuzzy memories that popped up in my mind before... was it something that happened in my past life?”.
Jiu Shen glanced at him calmly and nodded his head. “Hm, it should be.. If you want to get your freedom, you are free to do it. Don't worry, I won't stop you.” He said nonchalantly, but there was a faint ripple in his heart as he said those words.
Hestia's eyes widened, and she could no longer hold back her tears from flowing down her face. “No! Mister, w-w-w-w-w-w-w-w-w-w-why did you throw me out? No!” Hestia held onto Jiu Shen's arm while looking at him sadly.
Jiu Shen felt a piercing sensation slowly spreading in his heart as he looked at Hestia's teary face. He thought that he had already trained his emotions to become stiff and cold, but the sensation he felt now was certainly beyond his expectations. ‘To think that after billions of years, a woman's tears can still make my heart waver ..’ She mocked herself, but she doesn't know why she feels relieved.
Hestia was surprised by the actions of her master. He did not think that the normally calm Jiu Shen would actually hug him affectionately.
He felt his heart beating fast as if it was about to jump out of his chest. All the worries he had recently felt were thrown into his mind as he inhaled Jiu Shen's natural manly scent. He then buried his face in his chest and silently listened to his rhythmic breathing. ‘Jiu Shen .. What am I to you? No matter what it is, I will cherish this moment forever.’.
Jiu Shen was unaware of Hestia's thoughts as she subconsciously rubbed her back. A familiar yet foreign feeling appeared in his heart as he held Hestia in his arms.
“Master, can you hug me like this in a moment?” Hestia asked without looking at Jiu Shen, but she felt embarrassed when those words came out of her mouth.
Jiu Shen's poker face smiled. “M N.” He answered softly.
* * *
Inside the throne room of the Silver Wing Empire's imperial palace.
“Are you telling the truth, Duanmu?” The emperor's dignified voice resounded in the throne room.
Defender Duanmu nodded and replied in a grim voice. “Your Majesty, this subordinate will never lie to you about such things. This time, we were lucky enough to get the help of Young Miss Hestia. If it wasn't for him, the fourth prince and the fifth princess would.. Sigh !”.
Emperor Elyk breathed a sigh of relief. “It must be Wine Master Jiu who ordered him to protect you. And now we owe him a big favor.”.
Defender Duanmu remained silent after that.
Emperor Elyk closed his eyes as he gathered his thoughts. “After the continent war fifty thousand years ago, no demons dared to set foot in our Profound Dragon Continent. Our ancestors made a pact with them to stay out of each other's territory. But to think that there was actually someone among them who dared to oppose this agreement! Are they not afraid of the Alliance?” He muttered as he tapped his finger onto the armrest of his throne.