Chapter 1273: Unwavering Commitment

People weren't surprised to hear she was married, as her hairstyle and other adornments in the coffin indicated she was a married woman.

As for the husband she mentioned, everyone's gaze shifted to the black-furred monster beside her. Now, much of the black fur had receded, vaguely revealing a very imposing man. However, his complexion was extremely pale, almost like a zombie, likely due to years without sunlight.

Before Zu'an could reply, the beautiful woman landed next to the black-furred monster, using her body to shield him from the flashlight's beam. Only then did the monster's suffering ease slightly.

The woman held him in her arms, her eyes filled with sorrow.

Seeing that the flashlight beam had no effect on her, Zu'an knew she wasn't an undead creature. After a moment's hesitation, he moved the flashlight slightly to the side, no longer illuminating the black-furred monster.

Of course, he wasn't foolish enough to turn off the flashlight entirely. It was his last chance to use it before it automatically shut off after an hour. He wanted to make full use of the remaining time to prevent the black-furred monster from suddenly lashing out again.

"Thank you, young master!" the woman said, bowing to Zu'an, her eyes filled with gratitude.

The black-furred monster continued to whimper, clutching his head as if in great pain. But the woman gently patted his body, humming a tune unknown to the others, and the monster gradually calmed down.

He seemed to enjoy being held in her arms, even adjusting his posture. The ferocity on his face largely faded, replaced by serenity and dependence.

"Madam, what is your name?" Zu'an asked in a low voice. "And what exactly happened to you both?"

"Everyone calls me Lady Yu," the woman replied. As soon as she finished speaking, Yan Xuehen and Yun Jianyue exchanged odd glances, wondering why the name sounded so similar to Yu Yanluo's.

Yu Yanluo also looked bewildered. She had sensed a familiar warmth from the woman when she was in the jade coffin, and now that she was alive, that feeling was even stronger. It was as if the woman was a close relative, yet she clearly wasn't from the Medusa tribe.

At this point, the woman slowly continued, "This is my husband, the former ruler of the State of Sui, known as Marquis Sui."

"The State of Sui?" The group on the stone platform exchanged bewildered looks. Neither humans nor demons had ever heard of such a state.

Zu'an, however, felt a flicker of recognition: State of Sui, Marquis Sui? There was indeed such a state in ancient times on Earth, his previous world.

Noticing the confusion on their faces, the woman seemed a little surprised. "You haven't heard of it? It seems too much time has passed, and the State of Sui has vanished into the long river of history."

Then, with her slender fingers, she gently smoothed the hair of the monster in her arms, as if reminiscing while answering. "I first met my husband in a broken mountain valley. I was gravely wounded after a life-and-death battle with a sworn enemy, my body almost torn in two, unable to maintain my human form. He happened to pass by, and instead of being repulsed by my appearance, he had his subordinates treat me, even personally bandaging my wounds and taking care of me..."

"He truly is a very kind man," the woman said, looking down at the monster in her arms, her face filled with an unexplainable tenderness.

The others were surprised, simultaneously recalling the murals they had seen upon first entering the ancient tomb. Those paintings seemed to depict this very story.

However, the creature depicted as torn in two in the murals was a giant snake.

Yu Yanluo's gaze towards the woman grew more intense. This woman was indeed her kind, but why couldn't she sense any aura of their species from her?

The subtle pressure emanating from the woman wasn't due to strength, but rather a suppression from her bloodline. Could there be a snake lineage even nobler than Medusa's?

"The Marquis Sui Pearl!" Zu'an finally remembered where he had heard a similar story.

The Heshibi Jade and the Marquis Sui Pearl were two of the most famous treasures in ancient China during the Spring and Autumn period. However, the Marquis Sui Pearl's whereabouts became unknown early on, so its fame was relatively lower compared to the Heshibi Jade.

The woman was slightly surprised. "Oh, you know this past event? Indeed, after my wounds healed, I returned to him to repay his kindness, giving him my natal pearl. People did call it the Marquis Sui Pearl."

Zu'an felt a moment of disorientation. Since arriving in this world, he had discovered many ruins and legends connected to his previous life. Yet, these tales were more or less imbued with mythical elements. Was this truly the history he knew from his own world?

"But according to records, it was a giant snake that repaid kindness by offering a pearl. Are you...?" Zu'an asked hesitantly.

The woman nodded slightly. "Yes, I am a descendant of Nüwa, and I do possess a part of the snake bloodline."

The others on the stone platform were somewhat confused, as they had never heard the name Nüwa. However, upon learning that the woman was indeed of the snake race, they all glanced at Yu Yanluo.

Yu Yanluo's breath quickened. She was indeed of the same race, but why had she never heard of the Nüwa clan?

"Nüwa?" Zu'an was shocked. In Chinese mythology, it was said that a great hole appeared in the sky, and Nüwa not only mended the heavens but also sculpted humanity from the remaining five-colored divine clay.

The woman explained, "Our ancestor is merely a legend. We, her descendants, do not possess such heaven-defying abilities."

She looked down at the man in her arms again, a gentle smile appearing on her face. "After he saved me, we spent time together day and night, and I unknowingly fell in love with this kind man. So later, not only did I return to repay him with the pearl, but I also intentionally transformed into human form to 'accidentally' meet him. It was as if it was destined; he quickly fell in love with me too."

The people present had strange expressions, thinking to themselves, *With your beauty, if you actively approached a man, who in the world could refuse? It would be strange if he didn't fall in love with you.*

"Unfortunately, our happiness was short-lived. Later, disaster struck. Marquis Sui bravely fought to protect his people, but he became tainted by an evil entity, and his entire being gradually succumbed to 'demonization'."

The others recalled the earlier sight of him covered in long black fur and shrouded in dark mist. Was that what 'demonization' meant?

Princess Sorena opened her mouth, wanting to argue that this had nothing to do with the Demon Race. Why did everyone use the word "demon"? The human 'Demon Cult' was like this, and so was the "demonization" the woman spoke of.

Zu'an's heart stirred. "What kind of disaster was it?" he wondered. Why didn't he remember such an event in history? And for it to turn Marquis Sui into such a monstrous, inhuman being, that disaster must have been truly terrifying.

But the woman shook her head. "Knowing too much about certain things is not good for you; it could even harm you."

Zu'an looked exasperated. He hated riddles, but since she didn't want to elaborate, he couldn't force her to speak.

The woman continued, "After Marquis Sui succumbed to demonization, he worried that he would harm his people and me once he lost his mind. So, he left without a word, vanishing without a trace."

"To find him, I traveled across countless mountains and rivers. Eventually, I located him. By then, he had completely lost his former appearance, just as you saw him earlier, but I still recognized him."

"After his demonization, he was confused and bloodthirsty, yet he never once made a move to harm me."

"I tried every method imaginable to save him, but all failed. Later, I heard of a possible solution, though it was extremely dangerous. Still, for him, I was willing to try. Unfortunately, not only did it not succeed, but it also cost me my own life..."

Upon hearing this, everyone looked puzzled. She claimed she had died, yet here she was, standing alive. What was going on?

The woman looked down at the monster in her arms. "He was the one who saved me again when I was on the brink of death. I don't know where he found the legendary Three-Three Flower to extend my life. Unfortunately, the Three-Three Flower wasn't blooming at the time and couldn't save me immediately. Since its blooming period is extremely long, he then found Primeval Dew and sealed me within it, waiting for the day the flower would bloom."

"Even after succumbing to demonization, with only his instincts remaining, he still protected me. He did so much to save me..." At this point, she could no longer hold back her sorrow, and tears, like pearls, dripped onto the face of the man in her arms.