Chapter 1621: Colorful Petals and Thousand Leaves (Part 2)

Facing Qianye Ying'er's dismissive, almost provocative words, Caizhi showed no hesitation. With a slight flick of her sword, she sent Yun Che flying backward. The Might of the Heavenly Wolf Sword instantly enveloped Qianye Ying'er, sealing off all her escape routes—and even her life force.

Just before the devastating sword aura erupted, Qianye Ying'er lightly raised her arm and slowly spread her five fingers. A blue light descended, accompanied by a pleasant "ding-a-ling" sound. "Little Heavenly Wolf," she said, "do you still recognize this?"

It was a simple string of bells, braided from different colored vines. The bells themselves were carved from colorful jade, yet they shimmered with a pale blue light.

Caizhi's sword stopped. She looked at the wind chime, a slight tremor appearing in her deep eyes. She had not forgotten, nor could she ever forget, this simple—even crude—jade bell. It was the very first gift she, as a young girl, had made for her brother, Xisu, with Jasmine's help. It held her purest, most sincere concern and worry, a wish for his eternal safety during his travels.

She had even stood on her tiptoes to tie it around Xisu's waist herself.

Later, when he returned to their realm with his last breath, the jade bell was no longer at his waist.

"You..." Caizhi's teeth bit down lightly, her eyes momentarily blurring.

"Don't worry," Qianye Ying'er said, "I didn't take it from him. He knew his life was ending, and he gave it to me himself before returning to the Star God Realm with his last breath."

Caizhi remained silent.

"I originally thought I'd never need to use it, but it seems his intentions weren't wasted after all." As she spoke, Qianye Ying'er moved her finger lightly, and with a "ding-a-ling," the blue light covering the jade bell suddenly detached. It then rapidly flashed and spread, slowly revealing a blurry, azure image.

It was a human shadow.

The azure figure had a build similar to Yun Che's, with an indistinct, blurry face. But the moment it appeared, both Yun Che and Caizhi felt a violent stir in their hearts.

Yun Che was no stranger to this image and the accompanying aura, as he had seen it before on the ring Caizhi had given him. It was the soul projection of Heavenly Wolf Xisu!

As for Caizhi, even if the voice and soul aura were ten times blurrier, she could never mistake them!

Yun Che's gaze slightly narrowed... The remnant soul of Xisu on that ring had dispersed after revealing the truth to him. He had believed it to be Heavenly Wolf Xisu's last remnant in the world. Unexpectedly, a wisp of his remnant soul had remained with Qianye Ying'er!

As she watched Xisu's soul projection slowly clear, Caizhi's expression remained unchanged, but her eyes were completely frozen in shock.

After so many years, she had never imagined she would be able to approach and face her brother's soul again.

A faint voice drifted from the soul projection: "Caizhi, you've grown up."

The voice was identical to what Yun Che had heard before, just much weaker.

Caizhi showed no reaction, but the slender fingers gripping her sword tightened imperceptibly.

"I never expected you would inherit the Heavenly Wolf divine power after me. You, who were once as delicate as a young butterfly, have cornered the Goddess. Both you and Jasmine are the pride of my life."

Xisu's voice was calm and warm. With just a few words, his soul projection had already faded by nearly half. Clearly, the remnant soul sealed in the jade bell was far less substantial than the one on the ring. Without waiting for Caizhi's response, he continued, "Before I died, I specifically told you not to avenge me. But I knew that neither Caizhi nor Jasmine would listen to me. So, I left this... the most precious gift I ever received, with her."

"I hope that if such a day ever comes, when you face each other, my presence might allow you to put aside your hatred and obsession..."

"Your Highness, the Goddess, they are my most important family in this world. Please, for my sake, do not harm them. Otherwise, even I, who willingly gave my life for you, will never forgive you."

"Jasmine, Caizhi, Her Highness the Goddess is the dream I was willing to pursue my entire life. To die for her, I was completely willing. Her safety was also my lifelong wish."

"Do not seek revenge for me, because there has never been any hatred between you. Should either of you suffer harm, I will never find peace in the afterlife."

*Zing*... With his last faint words, the flickering remnant soul dispersed with the wind, leaving no trace.

The blue light on the jade bell in Qianye Ying'er's hand vanished.

The world fell silent. Caizhi stared blankly at the jade bell, speechless for a long time.

Yun Che quietly exhaled.

To leave such a soul fragment required a significant cost to one's lifespan and soul source. At that time, Xisu was already on the verge of death, yet he still forcefully left this soul fragment with Qianye Ying'er.

Half of his purpose in doing so was to protect Jasmine and Caizhi. He knew Jasmine and Caizhi would undoubtedly seek revenge for him, and he also knew Qianye Ying'er's power. If they forcefully sought revenge, they might very well be killed by Qianye Ying'er. Should such a thing happen, he hoped Qianye Ying'er would spare their lives out of consideration for his sacrifice for her, and release his soul projection to sever their obsession with revenge.

His other purpose was to save Qianye Ying'er's life should she be pushed to a desperate situation by them.

However, it was clear that the former reason had no effect on Qianye Ying'er at all. Not long after Xisu's death, Qianye Ying'er nearly killed Jasmine by using the Southern Sea Divine Emperor's hand.

Other than her father, Qianye Ying'er could not be swayed by any emotion. To Xisu, Qianye Ying'er was someone he willingly died for, but to Qianye, Xisu was simply a useful tool. Even dying for her failed to elicit the slightest bit of emotion from her.

Even after his death, he was still being used by her.

However, the latter purpose could not fail to affect Jasmine and Caizhi.

Especially his last line... that if Qianye died, he would never find peace in the afterlife. He was practically protecting Qianye Ying'er at the cost of cursing himself.

Both Caizhi and Jasmine, facing those words, no matter if they hated Qianye Ying'er a hundred or a thousand times more, how could they possibly bring themselves to strike?

In this world, there were countless people driven to madness by the "Goddess." The pinnacle of wealth, the pinnacle of power, the pinnacle of profound arts... and she was the pinnacle of beauty.

Among these maddened individuals, Heavenly Wolf Xisu was perhaps the most deeply affectionate.

Yet, the one he faced was precisely the most ruthless and heartless woman in this world.

As for Heavenly Wolf Xisu, Yun Che didn't know whether to admire him, lament his fate, or pity him.

Finally, the sword in Caizhi's hand slowly lowered... then vanished from her grasp.

The sword was sheathed, yet the killing intent still permeated the air.

Space tore open. The jade bell in Qianye Ying'er's hand was snatched by Caizhi. She slowly raised her gaze, looking at Qianye Ying'er, and enunciated each word: "I truly cannot kill you."

"Oh?" Qianye Ying'er's brow subtly arched.

"But someone can." Her eyes turned to Yun Che. "Yun Che, I'm giving you two choices."

Her address was not "Brother-in-law," but the cold, two-word "Yun Che."

Yun Che remained silent.

"Kill her," her tone was cold and emotionless, her gaze a frosty indifference completely alien to Yun Che. "And I will follow you to the Northern Divine Region, to be your sword, your tool, your cauldron."

Yun Che's eyebrows twitched.

"Or, you let her live." Her already deep, cold eyes seemed to darken further. "Then, there will be nothing between us ever again. For this life and all future lives, you will never see me again."

"Choose!"

The once radiant, overly naive girl who was inexplicably concerned about her age and figure might never reappear. Facing the current Caizhi, and the heartless words she would never have uttered before, Yun Che slowly raised his hand.

On his finger was the ring Caizhi had given him.

"Why ask such a foolish question?" Yun Che looked at her and said softly, "Although our 'ceremony' back then seemed like a simple farce, it was Jasmine's wish, witnessed by her and even your mother. With three bows completed and tokens exchanged, you and I became husband and wife."

Qianye Ying'er: "…?"

Caizhi's lips moved very slightly.

"You are my wife, and she is my tool. For me, this is no choice at all." Yun Che stepped forward, extending the hand with the ring. "Caizhi, will you come with me to the Northern Divine Region?"

As Yun Che's hand and aura drew closer, a flicker of panic actually crossed Caizhi's eyes, despite her terrifyingly ruthless demeanor.

The pervasive killing intent abruptly dissipated. Her petite figure suddenly turned, and she flew far away, vanishing into the sky in an instant.

"Caizhi!"

Yun Che cried out, but Caizhi's speed was far too great. He couldn't possibly catch up and could only watch as she completely vanished from his sight.

Two luminous objects slowly descended from the direction Caizhi had departed.

Yun Che reached out and caught them. One was a Primordial Divine Fruit, and the other was a simple spatial crystal... Within the crystal were hundreds of profound pills from exotic beasts!

These profound pills were perfectly preserved, hundreds of them, each exuding an aura powerful enough to be terrifying.

All these profound pills came from ancient ferocious beasts in the Primordial God Realm. Over three hundred of them emanated the aura of a Divine Sovereign, and thirty of them... unmistakably carried the aura of a Divine Master!

Yun Che slowly raised his head, standing still for a very long time.

"So there's also this kind of relationship between you and Little Heavenly Wolf," Qianye Ying'er's soft voice sounded from behind him. "Having both sisters? Truly worse than a beast."

Yun Che showed no reaction.

"The Heavenly Wolf divine power is born from hatred. The Heavenly Slaughter Star God's decision back then was clearly out of concern that Little Heavenly Wolf would be consumed by hatred after learning the 'truth.' But it seems the Heavenly Slaughter Star God succeeded," Qianye Ying'er slowly stated. "Little Heavenly Wolf's power has fallen into hatred, even completely devilized. Yet, strangely, her heart and soul haven't been entirely swallowed by resentment."

"Her father wanted to sacrifice her, the Star God Realm abandoned her, and her last remaining kin was cast into the outer chaos. That she can still maintain her current heart, you are the sole reason... Otherwise, by now, she would have long become a devil wolf, capable only of ferocity."

Yun Che still showed no reaction, but the corner of his mouth curved slightly... Though it was a fleeting gesture, it was indeed a smile.

Caizhi...

Qianye Ying'er was right. Her power had completely devilized, becoming incredibly strong, but her heart had not entirely succumbed to the abyss of hatred... so as not to disappear from her own soul and will.

Jasmine, I once laughed at you for forcefully binding Caizhi and me together back then. But perhaps it was that somewhat foolish decision of yours that created this remarkable miracle.

"She never intended to kill you," Yun Che said. "Otherwise, she's had countless opportunities during this time."

The Primordial Divine Fruit, and those profound pills, any single one of which was astounding enough to shake the world, all indicated to him that Caizhi had known of their arrival for a long time. Perhaps for a year, she had been silently watching them.

"I know," Qianye Ying'er replied. From the moment Yun Che first stopped Caizhi, she knew Caizhi didn't genuinely want to kill her. The aura she had just released was almost comparable to Xisu's back then; if she had truly wanted to kill Qianye Ying'er, Yun Che wouldn't have been able to stop her.

Perhaps, she merely wanted to get the answer her heart deeply yearned for from Yun Che.

"Let me ask you something," Qianye Ying'er said lightly, crossing her arms over her chest. "Were you so desperately protecting me in front of her truly just because I am your tool and cauldron?"

"What else?" Yun Che put away the Primordial Divine Fruit and the spatial crystal.

Qianye Ying'er said nothing more.

"There's also another reason," Yun Che said, glancing sideways. "You're still a decent plaything."

"Just 'decent'?" Qianye Ying'er chuckled softly, her voice low and alluring. "For men like you, I am the finest plaything in this world, unparalleled and irreplaceable. Tools and cauldrons can be discarded, but a plaything like me... one simply can't give up."

"Heh." Yun Che scoffed dismissively.

"I just hope that when you play with your playthings in the future, you can be a little less rough," Qianye Ying'er said, her eyelids slightly lowered, her tone both ethereal and resentful. "If you accidentally break me, even if you eventually conquer the entire God Realm, you won't find a replacement."

"Or perhaps, all you men are just such crude and base creatures?"

Yun Che shot her a sidelong glance, stating coldly, "You won't know. Because you won't have any other men."

"Oh?" Qianye Ying'er's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly. "You can't decide that!"

Yun Che reached out, his fingers slowly tracing from her snow-velvet neck to her chest. "You will never escape my control in this lifetime. Of that, I am quite certain."

"What about after you die?" Qianye Ying'er said, a half-smile playing on her lips.

"...I won't die before you do." Yun Che's fingers left her, and he turned, walking coldly away.

Qianye Ying'er did not follow immediately. Watching Yun Che's receding back, she murmured words so faint that even the light breeze couldn't catch them: "Remember what you said."