Chapter 1313: That Man

He Ling knelt on both knees and bowed her head deeply towards Shen Xi, saying, "Master... Ling'er begs you... please guide me."

"Ling'er," Shen Xi sighed softly. "Three years ago, you were like duckweed adrift in the wind, alone and helpless, yet your heart held no hatred. Why, then, is your heart suddenly filled with resentment and hatred now?"

"Because..." He Ling said mournfully, "Back then, Ling'er still had hope and dreams in her heart. But... everyone who taught me never to resent and never to abandon hope... they all died. Now... Ling'er has nothing left but hatred."

Yun Che: "..."

"Even if your greatest enemy is the Brahma Heaven God Realm, do you still wish for revenge?" Shen Xi asked.

He Ling slowly rose, her eyes, filled with both despair and a glimmer of hope, fixed on Shen Xi, who was bathed in a sacred white glow. "Master, is there truly someone who can help me?"

Shen Xi gently nodded. "The Brahma Heaven God Realm is the most powerful King Realm in the Eastern Divine Region. Its foundations are deeply rooted, and its power is far beyond your comprehension. For a million years in the God Realm, no one has dared to provoke or anger it."

"However, there is one person who, in the future, truly has the potential to shake the Brahma Heaven God Realm. And it so happens that he also has an irreconcilable feud with them. Therefore, if you are truly set on avenging yourself against the Brahma Heaven God Realm, let him help you. Moreover, with your 'power,' his chances of shaking the Brahma Heaven God Realm will significantly increase."

Yun Che: "...??" (Who is she talking about? Shaking the Brahma Heaven God Realm? Does such a person truly exist in this world?)

He Ling couldn't comprehend the phrase, "With your 'power,' his chances of shaking the Brahma Heaven God Realm will significantly increase." If anyone else claimed someone could shake the Brahma Heaven God Realm, no one would believe them, but these words came directly from Shen Xi.

He Ling bowed again. "Please tell Ling'er, Master... how can I find him?"

Shen Xi didn't answer directly, saying softly, "You must understand that this will come at a great cost to you."

"Ling'er knows." He Ling didn't hesitate in the slightest. To seek revenge against the Brahma Heaven God Realm, the price she would have to pay was no longer as simple as just a "cost." "If I can have my revenge, the Wood Spirit Orb, my dignity, my life... everything will be fine."

All her beliefs, hopes, and even her future had been shattered. Under the devastating blow, just as she said, she had nothing left but a furiously growing desire for revenge.

"Your heart has fallen into an abyss, and you have lost yourself. Therefore, I will not tell you now." Shen Xi stepped forward, took He Ling's hand, and gently helped her up. "I will give you one month. Within this month, you must calmly clear your mind and, in your most lucid state, truly think about what you want to do in the future."

"If, after one month, you are still determined to seek revenge, then I will tell you who that person is, and I will personally bring him before you."

Yun Che: "...!?"

She was Shen Xi; every word she spoke was a divine vow.

"Yes." He Ling didn't press further, and tears finally welled up slowly in her eyes. "Master, Ling'er must have disappointed you. In the future, no matter what happens, Ling'er... will never forget your great kindness."

Shen Xi slightly shook her head. "You have not done anything to disappoint me. When I brought you back all those years ago, I promised to help you find your royal brother... It is I who have disappointed you."

He Ling shook her head, shaking it with immense force, as tears, long dried, finally streamed from the corners of her eyes.

Shen Xi reached out and gently wiped away the tears from her face. "Ling'er, you haven't slept in a long time. Go and get some good rest. Only then will you be clear enough to know what you truly want."

"Yes, Ling'er will listen to Master."

Yun Che's attempts at comfort had always met with only hollow responses from He Ling. Yet, Shen Xi's few brief words—words that Yun Che felt should not have been spoken, even words he found difficult to comprehend—had managed to awaken He Ling's spirit and bring forth her tears.

He Ling left; she had indeed not had peaceful sleep for a very long time.

"Senior Shen Xi," Yun Che immediately asked, confused, as soon as He Ling left, "Are your words to He Ling genuinely meant to encourage her revenge, or... do you have another intention?"

"What do you think?" she counter-asked.

Yun Che replied without hesitation, "Senior Shen Xi would have no reason to encourage her to seek revenge. I imagine you believe she will abandon her current thoughts after a month; after all, she is a Wood Spirit."

"No," Shen Xi said. "After one month, not only will she not abandon this idea, but she will become even more resolute—precisely because she is a Wood Spirit."

"Why?" Yun Che couldn't understand Shen Xi's words.

She looked at Yun Che and slowly said, "If one compares a person's mind to a piece of land, then your heart is full of countless green leaves, blooming flowers, withered grass, ancient trees, as well as thorns and poisonous vines."

"If a seed of darkness were planted in this 'land,' once it grew, it would blend in with its surroundings and would not cause too much of a change."

Yun Che: "..."

"But He Ling's mind was originally an incomparably pure land, with only green leaves and blooming flowers. If a seed of darkness were suddenly planted in this land and took root, it would grow rapidly, and it would devour all the green leaves and blooming flowers, as well as the entire land, transforming everything into darkness."

"And nothing can stop it."

"However pure her original goodness was, that pure her final evil will be."

"..." Yun Che's eyes flickered. He fully understood Shen Xi's words. He had already understood in his life on the Azure Cloud Continent that when an incredibly kind person is forced into hatred and wickedness, they often become more terrifying than devils.

However pure the good, that pure will be the final evil...

"So, Senior Shen Xi, were your words... serious?"

"My encouragement for her to seek revenge, and the 'person' I spoke of, are both real." Shen Xi showed no worry or concern, her voice remaining soft and calm. "At least this way, she will have a 'goal' and 'hope,' and will not fall into eternal despair."

"..." Yun Che was stunned for a long time, his mind unsettled.

He had finally met He Lin's older sister, and could be considered to have reluctantly fulfilled He Lin's dying wish... However, what he wanted to see, and what He Lin wanted to see, was not this kind of outcome, nor should it have been.

As Shen Xi turned, her figure about to dissipate, Yun Che suddenly asked again, "Senior Shen Xi, could you tell this junior who exactly is the person you said could help He Ling with her revenge? Can he really shake the Brahma Heaven God Realm? Is he, perhaps, the Realm King of some King Realm?"

"You will know in one month. During this time, spend more time with He Ling and learn from her how to identify the spirit flowers and spirit herbs here. With the Sky Poison Pearl on you, you will find it useful."

The immortal voice echoed in his ears, yet Shen Xi's figure had already vanished from before Yun Che.

"Yes." Yun Che responded, but was suddenly startled as he turned around.

How... how did she know I have the Sky Poison Pearl on me?

A month passed quietly.

This month was perhaps the most peaceful period Yun Che had experienced since arriving in the God Realm.

There was no danger, no conflict, no need to cultivate, and no need to be cautious. Every day, he bathed in the purest air and spiritual energy, and routinely received Shen Xi's power to suppress the Soul-Stealing Death Imprint. When he had nothing else to do, he would learn to identify the spirit flowers and spirit herbs with He Ling, who patiently explained each one to him.

During this time, He Ling seemed to have returned to her former self. Her eyes regained their clarity, she would occasionally smile, and she never mentioned "revenge" again.

The more He Ling appeared this way, the more worried Yun Che became. He understood more and more that Shen Xi's words were entirely correct.

The Brahma Soul Death Imprint had flared up several times, still causing heart-wrenching pain. But during these flare-ups, Yun Che was chatting and laughing with He Ling amidst the flowers, not even twitching an eye. Compared to the full agony of the Death Imprint, this pain was hardly anything to him.

Amidst this peaceful period, while worrying about He Ling, Yun Che also remained in a state of confusion. For the next fifty years, would he truly remain here? Were Jasmine and his Master still worried about his safety? What did it mean that Qianye Ying'er had suddenly left so decisively, and what did Shen Xi's words about her imply?

And also... Father, Mother, Yue'er, Caiyi, Leng Xi, Xue'er, Ling'er... He couldn't return within fifty years, and even after fifty years, he might still not be able to return... Was there truly no way to see them again?

Forcibly returning would undoubtedly bring devastating disaster upon all of them.

What exactly should I do...?

Exactly one month later, early in the morning, Yun Che, who had slept soundly through the night, got up and stretched his waist. He saw He Ling standing quietly in front of the verdant bamboo house, her emerald long hair adorned with glistening morning dew.

As expected...

Yun Che shook his head and got up, walking to He Ling's side. Just then, the door of the bamboo house silently opened, revealing Shen Xi's ethereal, fairy-like figure.

He Ling immediately knelt heavily on the ground and bowed, saying, "Master, Ling'er has thought very clearly over this past month... Ling'er's mind is made up. I beg Master to help Ling'er."

Yun Che stood beside He Ling, his gaze particularly complex.

Shen Xi did not help her up, but asked softly, "You should understand that if you insist on this, you will definitely pay a great price, possibly even your life and soul."

He Ling showed no hesitation whatsoever, her voice so calm that not a hint of sorrow could be discerned. "As long as I can have my revenge, Ling'er is willing to pay any price, and will never regret it."

Shen Xi nodded slightly. "Since you are so resolute, I will no longer try to dissuade you."

"I will grant you permission to leave here at any time. And the person who can help you seek revenge... he is standing right beside you... Yun Che."

Although Yun Che hadn't spoken, he had been listening intently, genuinely curious about who this person Shen Xi spoke of, capable of shaking the Brahma Heaven God Realm, could be. Hearing the name Shen Xi spoke so abruptly, Yun Che's legs went weak with shock, and he nearly toppled onto He Ling.