âLetâs go!â
Before Yun Che could get close or ask a question, without addressing the Burning Moon God Emperor even once throughout the process, Chi Wuyao levitated Qianye Yingâerâs still body into the air and flew away in an instant.
Chanyi and Yun Wu exchanged a glance with each other before chasing after their queen.
âForgive me, but this king will not be seeing you out all the way.â The Burning Moon God Emperorâs majestic voice traveled fifty kilometers to reach his guests.
Suddenly, the Devil Queen turned around to look at him just before she disappeared completely into the horizon.
He couldnât sense any pressure, coldness, ridicule, or anger from her eyes... in fact, he couldnât sense any emotion at all.
âHmph!â Fen Daozang said in a low voice, âThey must be delusional to think that a level eight Divine Master would be enough to challenge our god emperor.â
â...â The Burning Moon God Emperor didnât say anything. He didnât look like he was enjoying the fact that he had finally taken the Devil Queen down a peg for the first time in his life either.
Although Qianye Yingâer had made a series of bewildering movements throughout the short fight, he hadnât forgotten the sudden pressure he felt when she unleashed her strength.
Still, now wasnât the time to think about such things.
The fact that Yun Che bore the power of a devil emperor, and the miraculous transformation he caused within the Soul Stealing Realm... both were unprecedented matters that could rewrite the power structure of the Northern Divine Region completely!
âRecall all our Moon Eaters,â he ordered. âTell them to drop everything and return immediately!â
Meanwhile, the darkness profound ark was flying back to the Soul Stealing Realm at top speed.
Inside a room, Chi Wuyao gently put Qianye Yingâer on a bed... from the beginning, she had purposely kept Yun Che from touching Qianye Yingâer, not until they had left the Burning Moon Realm completely.
Qianye Yingâer was still unconscious even after they had left the Burning Moon Realm, but it made no sense to Yun Che. Neither her injuries nor her loss of energy were serious enough to knock her out in the first place, much less keep her in an unconscious state for so long.
âWhatâs going on?â Of course, Yun Che noticed that Chi Wuyao was intentionally keeping him from touching Qianye Yingâer. However, he didnât disobey her and examine Qianye Yingâer by force.
After nearly a year of association, an unconscious bond of trust had taken form between the three of them.
This was especially true after Yun Che had killed Zhou Qingchen and crushed Zhou Xuziâs spirit.
It was also why neither of them showed their surprise despite being completely caught off guard by Chi Wuyaoâs announcement to make Yun Che the new ruler of the Soul Stealing Realm.
Chi Wuyao turned around to face him. She said slowly, âHer child... is gone.â
â...â Yun Che froze for three full breaths before he finally managed to turn his neck. âWhat... did you just say?â
âYou may check her yourself.â Chi Wuyao stepped away from Qianye Yingâer before exhaling slowly.
Yun Che walked up to Qianye Yingâer and placed a finger on Qianye Yingâerâs chest. The moment he released his profound energy and consciousness, he froze as if time had stopped for him.
Both he and Qianye Yingâer were people who had transformed into demons of vengeance.
Most of their âsessionsâ were for the sake of cultivation only, not to mention that they both took the necessary precautions to prevent even the slightest chance of an accident from happening. They hated each otherâs guts, after all.
At Qianye Yingâerâs cultivation level, it was literally impossible to impregnate her if she was unwilling.
And knowing her stance and her hatred for him, he couldnât think of any reason why she would allow something like this to happen!
âThe childâs life force was weak. It was conceived two weeks ago at most,â Chi Wuyao said.
Yun Cheâs vision blurred all of a sudden!
Two weeks ago... It was the day he killed Zhou Qingchen, the day they did it on this very ship!
It was also the most active and craziest Qianye Yingâer had ever been of all their love-making sessions.
âBut why would she...â Yun Che muttered unconsciously.
Slap!
Suddenly, Yun Che felt something slapping his hand away hard from Qianye Yingâerâs chest.
The woman in question slowly opened her eyes and sat up on the bed. Her face was still deathly pale, but her eyes had regained their usual frigidness.
âHmph. I apologize for making the two of you witness something this unsightly,â Qianye Yingâer said indifferently before rising to her feet. âThe reason I didnât allow it to take physical form is so that I can dispel it anytime I want to. So this is fine... no, this is the best possible outcome I could have hoped for.â
â...Are you okay?â Chi Wuyaoâs voice was barely louder than a whisper.
âWhat are you talking about?â Qianye Yingâer replied in the same indifferent voice. âWeâre on the verge of conquering the Yama Realm and the Burning Moon Realm. It would be... incredibly foolish of me to allow a burden like this to weigh me down when there is so much to do so quickly.â
âI was going to dispel it myself before we traveled to the Yama Realm anyway.â
Chi Wuyao: â...â
Qianye Yingâer shot Yun Che a glance before saying, âI was so busy venting myself that I forgot to take the usual precautions that day. Donât worry. I will not allow the same mistake to happen again.â
Yun Che didnât say anything.
âChi Wuyao, I apologize for making you lose face just now... I will make up for it.â
Finally done, Qianye Yingâer turned away and walked out of the room.
A long silence later, just when Chi Wuyao was about to step out of the room herself, after a sigh.
âI suppose... that this is the best outcome,â Yun Che whispered seemingly to himself.
â...â Chi Wuyao froze in her tracks, her chest rising and falling visibly in that moment.
âYun Che.â Chi Wuyao spoke up suddenly. Her voice was soft, gentle, and immeasurably sorrowful. âI know that your heart is filled with infinite pain and hatred. I know that vengeance is your only goal and obsession. I also know that you will not allow yourself to feel anything besides those two things.â
âBut even then... even if every corner of your soul is overflowing with hatred, I still hope that you wonât allow it to devour your heart completely.â
She slowly turned around and looked at Yun Che. Then, in a voice so quiet it was almost inaudible, she whispered, âAs tragic as the fate of your daughter may be, she at least had the chance to be born in this world and enjoy your unreserved love.â
Yun Che: â...â
âThat wasnât an accident that day. And it was a selfish motive that had driven her to do such a thing.â Chi Wuyao continued, âBut she wasnât being selfish for herself. She was being selfish, for you.â
âShe didnât want you to die.â
Chi Wuyao finally left the room, leaving Yun Che to stare blankly into nothing for a very, very long time.
Some time later, Yun Che walked out of the room and traced Qianye Yingâerâs aura to the stern. The woman was staring at the infinite darkness ahead of her in silence.
âAre you here to reprimand me?â Qianye Yingâer shot him a sideways glance when she noticed his approach. She quickly turned away and said, âI accept that it was my mistake this time. I already told you that it was a mistake I wonât make a second time. The Burning Moon God Emperor... I will make him pay for this.â
Yun Che didnât say anything. He simply stared at her as if his eyes were glued to her person.
â... ?â Qianye Yingâer turned around in puzzlement and saw the strange look in his eyes. She frowned a little and asked, âWhatâs wrong? Are you still angry?â
âHow do you know Iâm angry?â Yun Che asked using an emotionless voice.
âIs there anyone else who knows you better than I do right now?â Qianye Yingâer responded without thinking. It was true though.
âFrankly,â Yun Che replied, âIâm more surprised than angry right now.â
âSurprised? Heh! You canât possibly be thinking that I intended for this to happen, did you?â
Qianye Yingâer turned back toward the rapidly receding darkness in front of her and said, âForget it. It doesnât matter anymore. Youâre free to think whatever you want.â
âDoes it though? Does it really not matter?â Yun Che asked in an emotionless voice again.
Qianye Yingâer sneered as if he was telling her a joke. âHow else do you want me to react? Cry like a weak and useless woman? Are you kidding me?â
She narrowed her eyes into slits and glared swords at him. âItâs a bit embarrassing, but a resolution is a resolution nonetheless. Iâm finally free of the worry thatâs been plaguing me for the past few days.â
âSpeaking of which, are you still going to take that risk alone at the Yama Realm?â she asked suddenly.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âI have my considerations. You need not worry excessively.â
Yun Che turned away and left right after he said that.
After he walked a considerable distance away from Qianye Yingâer, he suddenly stopped moving and withdrew his aura. His aura and his person grew fainter and fainter until he vanished completely as if he had turned invisible.
He walked in the opposite direction he came, and it wasnât long before Qianye Yingâer appeared in his sight once more.
Cold wind howled against their ears as the profound ark flew, and Qianye Yingâerâs golden hair was the most beautiful part of the dark scenery around them.
The woman hadnât moved a muscle since he left. She didnât notice Yun Cheâs return either. It was almost as if time itself had stopped for her.
Although the lighting in this environment was far from excellent, Yun Che stared intently at Qianye Yingâer as if she was the only thing that exists in front of him. This was the first time he had watched her this closely.
A long time later, Yun Che turned away and got ready to leave... he was in mid-revolution when Qianye Yingâer suddenly lowered herself to the ground and curled into a ball.
Both her knees were touching the ground. It was a posture she despised deeply due to its inherent meaning, and she normally never allowed herself to assume it unless absolutely necessary.
But Qianye Yingâer didnât get back up to her feet. Clutching herself tightly and bathing in the frigid winds of hell, she shook violently like a leaf that was being battered by a tornado.
Drip!
Drip!
Drip!
The sound of her tears hitting her palm were practically inaudible, but Yun Che felt like someone was hitting his heart with a hammer every time they landed.
Qianye Yingâer slowly raised her hands and stared at them. Her vision was blurry, but her hands were practically drenched in tears in just the blink of an eye. No matter how hard she clenched her teeth and tried to hold back the tears, they poured out of her eyes rapidly like they were endless.
âWhy...â
She muttered to herself in confusion...
She was free. She didnât need to worry or struggle on the inside over it anymore. It was... a mistake that should never have happened in the first place.
So why am I hurting so much?
Why am I crying?
Why am I... like this...
Whatâs happening to me...
Her chin was pressed so tightly against her chest it couldâve sank into the flesh. She hugged herself with all her might so that none of her sobs could escape her throat. Yun Che would notice otherwise.
âAs tragic as the fate of your daughter may be, she at least had the chance to be born in this world and enjoy your unreserved love.â
âShe didnât want you to die...â
Yun Che clenched his fist tighter and tighter.
He withdrew his gaze and walked away in silence. Still concealed, he walked to the bow and stared into the darkness for a long time.
............
âHelp me... take revenge.â
âPlease... grant me your slave imprint once more. I am willing to be your slave... forever!â
âYou wonât regret this.â
âQianye Yingâer is already dead. Right now, only Yun Qianying exists in this world!â
âYou think you can wipe away the sin and regret of your failure to protect your daughter by treating Yun Shang well? You think you can use her to fill the hole in your heart? Then I can tell you that itâs impossible! It will never happen! This is a mistake on top of a mistake!â
âWhat you should be doing right now, the only thing you can do, is take revenge for her! You just discarded all of your weaknesses and burdens, and now youâre going to create a new one for yourself? Heh...â
âItâs true that Iâm your tool, but donât forget that youâre my tool as well! You can be stupid, but I can stop you from being stupid!â
............
Yun Che muttered to himself in a daze. âYou are the one who made me sever all my emotions and wiped away my final hesitation and weakness...â
âSo why are you also the one who...â
He closed his eyes and jumped off the ship. Then, he left the darkness profound ark and flew in the opposite direction it was heading.
Once the darkness profound ark had left his senses, Yun Che canceled his concealment technique and sped up in a burst of darkness. Residing in his eyes was the darkest light since the day he entered the Northern Divine Region.
His eyes were set... on the Burning Moon Realm!