Black Myth: The Legend of Tianpeng Seeking Demons

Zhu Feifei solemnly explained that she came to the Tang Dynasty to complete an important mission: to collect the true tears of the nine-tailed fox reincarnated, and Yang Guifei was the reincarnation of the nine-tailed fox.

After listening, Yang Guifei fell silent. She looked at Zhu Rong with a complex expression, a mixture of surprise, doubt, and perhaps a hint of...fear. In the moonlight, her face appeared exceptionally pale, like a delicate porcelain vase that might shatter at any moment.

"So, you approached me just to collect my tears?" Yang Guifei's tone was icy, her eyes revealing a hint of hurt. Her voice trembled slightly, as if she were trying her best to control her emotions.

Zhu Rong felt a pang of heartache; she hadn't expected her words to cause such a blow to Yang Guifei. She hurriedly took a step forward, wanting to explain, but Yang Guifei instinctively took a step back, maintaining her distance.

“No, Your Majesty,” Zhu Rong quickly explained, her voice filled with sincerity, “I did approach you with that purpose at first, but… I now consider you a true friend. I will not harm you, I swear!”

Tears welled in her eyes, and her voice choked with emotion. Zhu Rong suddenly realized that, without realizing it, she had genuinely come to like this beautiful and intelligent woman. It wasn't just an appreciation of her beauty, but also a respect and love for Yang Guifei's inner qualities.

Yang Guifei remained silent. She turned away from Zhu Rong, the moonlight outlining her figure, making her appear exceptionally lonely. Her shoulders trembled slightly, as if she were suppressing some emotion.

Zhu Rong watched Yang Guifei's retreating figure, her heart filled with guilt and unease. She didn't know if Yang Guifei would believe her words, or forgive her deception. A heavy atmosphere hung in the air; even the night breeze seemed to have stopped breathing.

"Your Highness," Zhu Rong mustered her courage, approached Yang Guifei, and whispered, "I know I lied to you before, and I'm very sorry. But my sincerity towards you is as clear as day! I'm willing to protect you with my life, please believe me!"

Her voice was sincere and earnest, with a hint of pleading. Zhu Rong knew that if she lost Yang Guifei's trust, she would not only be unable to complete her mission, but would also lose an important friend.

Yang Guifei remained silent, but her tightly clenched hands slowly loosened. In the moonlight, her knuckles, white from excessive force, could be seen.

"Your Highness..." Zhu Rong wanted to say something more, but suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her chest. Her face turned pale, her body swayed, and she almost collapsed to the ground.

"What's wrong?" Yang Guifei noticed Zhu Rong's unusual behavior and quickly helped her up, asking with concern. Her tone was no longer cold as before, but instead filled with genuine care.

Zhu Rong clutched her chest and said painfully, "I...I'm fine...it's just..." Her voice grew weaker and weaker, and the world before her eyes began to blur.

Before she could finish speaking, everything went black, and she fainted in Yang Guifei's arms.

"Consort Zhu! Consort Zhu!" Consort Yang called out anxiously, but there was no response. Consort Yang's voice was filled with panic and worry, completely unlike her usual composure.

"Someone! Quickly summon the imperial physician!" Consort Yang shouted to the palace maids behind her, her voice trembling slightly.

Upon hearing the commotion, the palace maids sprang into action; some went to summon the imperial physician, while others helped Consort Yang carry Zhu Rong back to her chambers. Throughout the entire process, Consort Yang held Zhu Rong's hand tightly, as if she could transfer her life force to her in this way.

……

When Zhu Rong woke up, she found herself lying in her own palace. Sunlight streamed in through the window, casting dappled shadows on the floor. She felt a splitting headache and her body was weak and powerless, as if she had just recovered from a serious illness.

"You're awake?" A familiar voice rang in her ear, tinged with weariness and concern.

Zhu Rong turned her head and saw Yang Guifei sitting by the bed, looking at her with concern. Yang Guifei's face looked slightly haggard, with faint dark circles under her eyes, clearly indicating that she had not slept all night.

"Your Majesty?" Zhu Rong asked in surprise, her voice weak. "What are you doing here?" She tried to sit up, but Yang Guifei gently pressed her down.

"Don't move, just lie still," Consort Yang said gently, her tone tinged with reproach. "How dare you ask? Your sudden fainting scared me to death! The imperial physician said you fainted due to overexertion and the shock."

Zhu Rong felt a warmth in her heart; she hadn't expected Yang Guifei to care about her so much. Thinking about what had happened last night, she suddenly felt a pang of guilt and unease.

"Your Majesty, are you...you're not angry with me anymore?" Zhu Rong asked cautiously, her eyes filled with trepidation.

Yang Guifei sighed and said, "What you said... I don't know whether I should believe it or not, but I can see that you genuinely care about me. Perhaps I should try to believe you."

Her voice was gentle, and her eyes held a complex emotion. Yang Guifei reached out and gently stroked Zhu Rong's cheek, as if to confirm her presence.

Zhu Rong was deeply moved upon hearing Yang Guifei's words. She knew that she had finally gained Yang Guifei's trust, which made her happier than anything else.

"Your Majesty, thank you!" Zhu Rong said excitedly, tears welling in her eyes. "I swear, I will protect you with my life and will never betray you!"

Yang Guifei smiled, a hint of tenderness flashing in her eyes. "Alright, you should rest well. Once you're better, you can tell me your story in detail."

After saying that, she stood up and prepared to leave.

“Your Majesty,” Zhu Rong suddenly called out to her, her voice tinged with hesitation yet also determination, “I…I want to tell you my true identity.”

Yang Guifei stopped and turned around to look at Zhu Rong, her eyes filled with curiosity and anticipation. "Go ahead and speak; I'm all ears."

Zhu Rong took a deep breath and began to tell her story. She told Yang Guifei that she was originally Marshal Tianpeng in Heaven, but was banished to the mortal realm for causing trouble while drunk. She came to the mortal world to complete a mission: to collect the most precious tears in the world to prove her worth and return to Heaven.

“I thought completing the mission would be easy,” Zhu Rong said, her eyes flashing with complex emotions, “but after meeting you, I realized that what is truly precious is not tears, but the sincere feelings between people.”

Consort Yang listened quietly without interrupting. After Zhu Rong finished speaking, the room fell silent.

After a long silence, Yang Guifei finally spoke: "Your story... is hard to believe, it even makes me want to laugh a little, but I choose to believe you." Her voice was firm, and her eyes were full of trust and warmth.

Zhu Rong was moved to tears. She grasped Yang Guifei's hand, her voice choked with emotion, "Your Majesty, thank you... thank you for believing in me."

Consort Yang smiled and nodded, then said softly, "Alright, you need to rest. Rest well; staying in the palace for too long can cause hallucinations. We'll have a proper talk once you've fully recovered."

After saying that, she gently patted Zhu Rong's hand, turned and left the room. Sunlight streamed through the window, bathing her in a golden glow, making her look like a true fairy.

Watching Yang Guifei's departing figure, Zhu Rong was filled with gratitude and happiness. She knew that from now on, her relationship with Yang Guifei would be even closer. No matter what the future held, she would do everything in her power to protect Yang Guifei, not only because of her mission, but also because of her sincere feelings.

Xiao Bai's voice suddenly rang out from the jade pendant: "Silly pig, you did very well. Remember, sincerity is always the most powerful force."

Zhu Rong smiled, closed her eyes, and drifted off to sleep. She knew that when she woke up again, it would be a brand new beginning.