Chapter 1890: Fleeting Moon Without a Trace

Many things that had been unintentionally overlooked and never given a thought became acutely poignant when Chi Wuyao brought them up.

Recalling his memories, since Xia Qingyue entered the Frozen Cloud Asgard at the age of sixteen, she had indeed never once visited Xia Hongyi.

It wasn't that she had never left the Frozen Cloud Asgard; she had participated in the Profound Sky Ranking Tournament and attended his and Cang Yue's wedding ceremony. Given her unique status within the Frozen Cloud Asgard, she enjoyed considerable freedom.

Within his memories, there wasn't even a single instance of her conversing with Xia Hongyi, or even a scene of them close together.

She pursued profound cultivation for lost familial affection, so why then was she so detached, so devoid of affection or concern, towards her own biological father?

Could it be that she was feigning everything from the very beginning? Was even her reason for pouring everything into profound cultivation a lie?

"It seems you also find this quite peculiar, don't you?" Chi Wuyao watched Yun Che's changing expression.

"It doesn't matter anymore; perhaps everything she presented was fake." Yun Che forced himself to stop thinking, then suddenly asked, "Did you just read Uncle Xia's memories?"

Chi Wuyao's eyebrows curved into a smile as she said, "Oh my, you found out after all."

With Chi Wuyao's formidable demonic soul, reading the memories of a mortal from the lower realms was effortlessly simple, leaving virtually no trace.

She had quietly read Xia Hongyi's memories because the sheer strangeness of the situation made her strongly suspect whether Xia Qingyue was truly Xia Hongyi's biological daughter.

For instance, when Xia Hongyi found Yue Wugou back then, she was already pregnant. This fact had been concealed by Xia Hongyi and later came to be known by Xia Qingyue.

Only such a scenario could explain everything.

But the outcome greatly disappointed her.

In Xia Hongyi's memories, Yue Wugou, whom he had named 'Dongxue,' was still a virgin when she committed herself to him.

Xia Qingyue was, without a doubt, his and Yue Wugou's biological daughter.

This result only deepened her confusion.

There was also another rather strange aspect.

Although they had been separated for over thirty years, all of Xia Hongyi's memories of Dongxue (Yue Wugou) were exceptionally clear and profound.

Yet, his memories of his daughter, Xia Qingyue, were inexplicably simple, sparse, and vague.

The same applied to Xia Yuanba, though not nearly as severely as to Xia Qingyue.

At the same time, she clearly detected a sense of incongruity within Xia Hongyi's memories.

Chi Wuyao was, without a doubt, the most powerful soul practitioner in the current world. However, with her Nirvanic Demonic Soul, which surpassed everything else in this era, she still couldn't discern what this incongruity truly was.

"Given your nature, you wouldn't stoop to such actions unless it was absolutely necessary." Yun Che looked utterly helpless; Chi Wuyao's persistence in this matter was truly astonishing.

"The Emperor's admonition is correct; your concubine knows her mistake." Chi Wuyao's charming eyes lowered slightly, feigning the demure appearance of one who had erred, but her gaze remained elusive and mesmerizing. Her suddenly softened demonic voice instantly melted into his very bones: "If the Emperor wishes to admonish your concubine, then perhaps your concubine... could serve you later with Xuanyin as atonement, would that be acceptable?"

Yun Che's eyes instantly widened, and his gaze shot around, his rapidly surging blood instantly dyed his pupils crimson: "You said that, no going back!"

"Hehe!" Chi Wuyao smiled charmingly, exhaling a faint, enchanting fragrance. "To handle little Xuanyin, your concubine has hundreds of methods, for example, her..."

Suddenly, a white flash erupted from the profound teleportation array of the Black Moon Merchant Guild ahead, and two figures emerged from it side by side.

Chi Wuyao immediately fell silent, her smile radiant.

Yun Che glared with a displeased expression at these two uninvited guests, who turned out to be two acquaintances.

The Master of Black Moon, Zi Ji, and the former Sea Emperor of the Supreme Ocean Palace—Qu Fengyi.

Upon seeing Yun Che, Zi Ji paused, startled. He then slowly bowed low: "Zi Ji greets True Lord Yun. Your esteemed presence bestows endless glory upon the Black Moon Merchant Guild."

After many years, Zi Ji still wore his customary purple robe, but he seemed to have shed some of his aged appearance, and the sharpness and profundity in his sagacious eyes had diminished, replaced by a remarkable serenity and elegance.

And Qu Fengyi beside him...

Qu Fengyi bowed alongside Zi Ji, but soon, she slightly raised her head, quietly observing Yun Che, her eyes filled with awe and curiosity, yet devoid of fear, and not a trace of the domineering presence of the former Supreme Sea Emperor.

Noticing the peculiarity in Yun Che's gaze, Zi Ji said: "As True Lord Yun can see, my wife is no longer the Sea Emperor she once was. After recovering from her injuries, she sealed her memories, and along with them, all past glory, sorrow, joy, grievances, and rights and wrongs."

"I see." Yun Che replied blandly.

Qu Fengyi bowed deeply and said, "Although I no longer possess my past memories, my husband has taught me to engrave True Lord Yun's immense kindness of sparing and saving my life deeply in my heart, and I shall never forget it throughout my life."

As she spoke, her body naturally leaned gently against Zi Ji, a sense of affinity and reliance stemming from her very soul.

Zi Ji glanced at his wife beside him, his gaze soft, gentle, and filled with an almost overflowing doting affection: "And these years, on the contrary, have been the happiest and most peaceful time for us as a couple. I have never seen her so carefree, so utterly lovable in both joy and anger. Even I no longer wish to return to the past; whether it be the Supreme Ocean Palace or the Black Moon Merchant Guild, their future and their ultimate destination, it turns out, are not that important at all."

"Sometimes, I quietly lament that after toiling for half a lifetime and looking back, what I sought was actually so simple."

Yun Che nodded: "That is certainly a blessing. It's just a bit regrettable that if the Profound Sky Continent were to lose Mr. Zi and the Sea Emperor, it would be missing two legends."

"Hehehe," Zi Ji smiled faintly. "With Yun Che in the world, there are no more legends."

The four Sacred Grounds of the Profound Sky Continent back then—the Sun Moon Divine Hall and the Heavenly Sovereign Sword Region were destroyed, the Extreme Sky Holy Land was governed by Xia Yuanba, and the Supreme Ocean Palace entered a semi-reclusive state.

Perhaps it won't be long before the Sacred Grounds of the Profound Sky Continent will only consist of the Extreme Sky Holy Land, the Frozen Cloud Asgard, and the Phoenix God Sect.

"Looks like a rather poignant ending?"

Leaving the Black Moon Merchant Guild, Chi Wuyao said softly.

"Regrettable isn't quite the word, but it does evoke some emotion." Yun Che said, "Some people... or rather, a considerable number of people, never know what they truly want until they die."

"Then tell me, what did Xia Qingyue truly want from all her actions?" Chi Wuyao turned her eyes and asked.

"..." Yun Che gave her an uninspired glare.

"How long do you plan to stay on the Blue Pole Star?" Chi Wuyao stopped deliberately teasing him and asked with a smile.

"A long time," Yun Che said without thinking. "After some time, Xuanyin, Meiyin, Caizhi and the others will also come... Let Jie Xin and Jie Ling come too; they should meet my parents."

Reaching out and pressing his nose, Yun Che said in a lower tone, "Wuxin doesn't know where she got the idea, but she always wants to see them."

Chi Wuyao smiled meaningfully: "What about the Azure Dragon Emperor and Cang Shuhua? They are also your publicly proclaimed Imperial Consorts, aren't you going to bring them to meet your parents?"

"Them?" Yun Che saw no jesting expression on Chi Wuyao's face. "Let's not."

Chi Wuyao said: "Even if it's just a 'nominal title,' you should at least maintain it somewhat. After all, the Azure Dragon Emperor is crucial for the stability of the Western Region, and Cang Shuhua is vital for the balance of the Southern Region."

"Especially Cang Shuhua; she is the only one who can turn Cang Shitian, that loyal dog, into a vicious one."

"Vicious dog?" Yun Che scoffed with a disdainful smile: "Then just crush him to death."

"Crushing him is easy, but cultivating another loyal and useful dog like him is truly not that simple." Chi Wuyao looked troubled, as if she had already begun to worry about such a situation occurring.

"Alright, alright," Yun Che conceded: "Although I won't bring them to meet my parents, I'll visit them occasionally. Wuxin just wants me to take her to see the God Realm, so I'll drop by when we pass through the Southern and Western Regions."

"My Emperor," Chi Wuyao sighed softly: "Do you want your concubine to just write 'perfunctory' all over your face?"

"...I'm going to see Caiyi." Yun Che made to escape.

"Caiyi? That delicate, petite little Demon Queen who looks like a white jade doll?" Chi Wuyao raised an eyebrow: "You just returned, and all your wives and beloved confidantes are practically desperate to melt into your arms, yet you're going to favor only her?"

Yun Che said with a serious face: "Caiyi looks delicate and lovely, but her temper is actually violent and stubborn. For all these years... she must have bottled up a lot of anger. These past few days, with elders like Wuxin around, she couldn't unleash it. If I don't hurry over and let her beat me up, I'm afraid my Caiyi will be stifled."

"Beat you up?" Chi Wuyao gave him a charming yet chiding look: "You really should be careful; what a shame it would be to break the bed."

"Cough cough, I'm going now."

Yun Che reached out, tore open space, and followed the Little Demon Queen's aura.

A while after Yun Che left, Chi Wuyao let out a soft sigh: "Oh, do you really think I'm a woman who doesn't get jealous at all?"

She released her divine sense, which finally settled upon a place covered in ice and snow.

That was Xia Qingyue's former sect, home to Xia Qingyue's former master—Chu Yueli.

After her conversation with Chu Yuechan last night and meeting Xia Hongyi today, she found herself even more troubled.

Even... a strange sense of unease settled within her.

North of the Blue Wind Nation, in the Extreme Ice Snow Region, lay the Frozen Cloud Asgard.

"Thank you for the information."

The information she received from Chu Yueli was not much different from what Chu Yuechan had told her. Facing Chu Yueli, she asked about another matter:

"I'd like to see Xia Qingyue's former residence and cultivation grounds."

Chu Yueli, however, shook her head and said, "That is not possible."

"Why?"

Chu Yueli turned her body, facing the Frozen Cloud Asgard, which was carved from ice and snow: "The Frozen Cloud Asgard you see now is not the original one. The original Frozen Cloud Asgard was completely destroyed in the battle between Xuanyuan Wentian and the Little Demon Queen, leaving almost no trace."

"The current Frozen Cloud Asgard was rebuilt under the guidance of Palace Master Yun after he annihilated Xuanyuan Wentian. Therefore, the ice palace where Qingyue once resided is no longer here."

"No trace left..." Chi Wuyao murmured: "Not just the residence and cultivation grounds, nothing at all was left?"

Chu Yueli nodded with a hint of melancholy.

"That's truly regrettable." Chi Wuyao whispered.

Not long after, Chi Wuyao's figure returned to Flowing Cloud City, but she did not land at the Xiao Sect; instead, she went to a large courtyard that had been empty for a long time.

The Xia family in Flowing Cloud City, the place where Xia Qingyue and Xia Yuanba were born and grew up.

With Xia Hongyi having gone to the Black Moon Merchant Guild, the place had remained empty. Only one or two middle-aged housekeepers, who had followed Xia Hongyi years ago, looked after it year-round.

Suddenly seeing a figure in the air, the idle housekeeper was greatly startled and cried out in alarm, "You..."

His voice abruptly stopped, and the expression on his face quickly softened until it became completely blank.

Chi Wuyao slowly walked closer, her gaze sweeping around, and she said, "Tell this Queen, which room was Xia Qingyue's boudoir back then?"

The housekeeper, in a daze, raised his hand and pointed to the innermost bedroom.

Chi Wuyao's figure flickered; she did not open the door but directly appeared inside the room the housekeeper had pointed to.

A fine oak bed, draped with deep purple curtains.

Tables and chairs of the same material, a bronze mirror for dressing, two cabinets placed side by side, empty inside.

These were all there was.

No clothes, no toiletries or tea sets, no jewelry, no makeup... she couldn't even find any trace of someone having lived there.

The housekeeper, seized by her demonic soul, could not lie... This was the maiden's boudoir where Xia Qingyue had lived until she was sixteen.

Did Xia Qingyue take everything with her when she got married, leaving absolutely nothing behind?

Leaving the Xia family courtyard, Chi Wuyao floated high in the sky, unseen by anyone, and remained silent for a very, very long time.

There was nothing left of her in her birthplace.

The Frozen Cloud Asgard, where she had long resided, was destroyed in the battle between the Little Demon Queen and Xuanyuan Wentian, similarly leaving nothing behind.

The Moon God Realm had also been reduced to dust.

The deceased Xia Qingyue had, in this vast world, left no trace whatsoever.

If even her memory were erased, she would be as if she had never existed.

"Never mind."

After a long while, Chi Wuyao let out a weak sigh.

"She is already dead, and everything now is already the best possible outcome. Why should I cling to these unnecessary obsessions?"

The increasingly dense and hazy mist, and the vague sense of unease rising within her heart...

She gave up.