Chapter 1901: Journey (III)

In the third month of their journey, Yun Che, accompanied by Yun Wuxin, set foot in their first King Realm—the Ten Directions Azure Sea Realm.

Upon their arrival, Cang Shuhua, the Azure Sea God Emperor, was already personally waiting to welcome them.

"Your humble servant, Shuhua, respectfully welcomes Your Majesty's esteemed presence," she said, bowing gracefully, her voice as soft as autumn waters.

Yun Wuxin also bowed in turn, saying, "Wuxin greets Aunt Shuhua."

She had heard Yun Che briefly mention Cang Shuhua a long time ago, but seeing her in person now, Yun Wuxin stared at her, mesmerized, for quite a while.

As someone who could be her father's Imperial Consort, her appearance was naturally exceedingly beautiful—Yun Wuxin had not the slightest doubt about this.

And the Cang Shuhua in her sight, beyond her exquisite beauty—her watery eyes, soft lips, delicate eyelashes... even her snow-white hands and long, cascading black hair—her entire being, from inside out, exuded a softness and fragility that moved one from their eyes to their heart, and then to their very soul with tenderness.

She was like willow catkins in a swirling wind, or a drifting feather in a vast ocean.

She couldn't believe it... she was certain that anyone seeing Cang Shuhua would absolutely, unequivocally never believe that she was a God Emperor who governed a King Realm.

Cang Shuhua smiled faintly at Yun Wuxin and said, "Wuxin, this is our first meeting. I only received news of your arrival two hours ago, so I didn't have time to prepare a welcoming gift for you. Please, feel free to take anything you like from the Ten Directions Azure Sea Realm to enjoy. Don't be shy or formal."

Not just her appearance and temperament, but her voice was soul-stirringly soft. Every word, every phrase, was like the whisper of wind in a secluded valley, and simply listening was an inexpressible, luxurious pleasure.

"Thank you, Aunt Shuhua," Yun Wuxin said, bowing again. Then, completely unable to help herself, she added, "Aunt Shuhua, you are so beautiful, and your voice is... so lovely."

Facing Cang Shuhua, for some reason, her heart was filled with a desire to praise her.

Cang Shuhua returned a faint smile, saying, "Our little princess is truly beautiful and adorable. No wonder His Majesty dotes on you so much."

Cang Shuhua, who came to personally welcome Yun Che, had not brought any Sea Gods or Divine Emissaries with her; only Ruiyi accompanied her. However, after bowing alongside Cang Shuhua, Ruiyi stood silently behind them, her head half-bowed, stubbornly refusing to look at Emperor Yun.

In her half-lowered eyes, was a clear, undisguised resentment.

"As the Emperor of the Azure Sea, you are busy with many matters. There was no need for you to welcome me personally," Yun Che said calmly. "I wish to take Wuxin to see the Abyssal Sea to the north and borrow the Azure Sea Rage Shark for a while."

As the exclusive mount of the Azure Sea God Emperor and the largest profound beast ever captured, Yun Che naturally wanted his daughter to see it.

"Hmph!" Ruiyi finally lifted her gaze, her eyes filled with a rage that seemed ready to spray onto Yun Che's face.

She had thought Yun Che had had a change of heart and decided to visit Cang Shuhua while passing by... but it turned out he was just here to borrow the Azure Sea Rage Shark!

Cang Shuhua said softly, "Your Majesty and Wuxin have traveled across star regions and must be weary from the journey. While Your Majesty may not tire easily, Wuxin is still young, and if she's tired, she won't be able to enjoy herself fully. Why not rest a little in the King Realm first?"

"Your humble servant has already prepared tea and refreshments; Your Majesty and Wuxin might enjoy sampling them."

"Oh, yes, yes!" Before Yun Che could respond, Yun Wuxin already exclaimed, "I want to go see Aunt Shuhua's place too!"

"...Alright," Yun Che could only agree.

Although nearly two years had passed, looking down from above, the Azure Sea Divine Realm was still scarred, with traces of the fierce battle from that year everywhere.

Especially some residual power from Yun Che and Long Bai had still not completely dissipated.

The current Azure Sea Royal City had been temporarily relocated to the east of the Divine Realm and now possessed considerable scale and grandeur.

"For a place that was once a battlefield, its recovery to this extent in such a short time is quite surprising," Yun Che remarked.

On their way to the Royal City, Yun Che surveyed his surroundings and spoke with what seemed like admiration.

Cang Shuhua said softly, "Although the Azure Sea suffered severe damage, its foundation was not harmed. Progressing steadily, it will surely regain its former splendor."

"It seems there are no new Sea Gods either?" Yun Che added.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty," Cang Shuhua said, smiling and bowing, her soft voice like a whisper. "Although the Sea Gods have greatly diminished and most of the Divine Emissaries were lost, the world now rests entirely in Your Majesty's hands. With Your Majesty's protection, we need not fear external enemies taking advantage. Therefore, there is no need to rush or force the succession of Sea Gods or the training of Divine Emissaries. Considering the long term, it is better to take our time and choose the best, rather than compromise quality for speed."

Yun Che turned his gaze to her. "You are quite rational and patient," he noted. "In style, you are very different from your elder brother."

Cang Shuhua replied, "Actually, my elder brother only appeared wild and unrestrained on the surface. In reality, he was meticulously shrewd and deeply insightful. Your humble servant cannot be compared to my elder brother."

"That's true," Yun Che agreed. "Someone whom the Empress praised multiple times and entrusted with important responsibilities could hardly be as simple as they appeared."

Yun Che's tone shifted, and his dark eyes deepened slightly. "However, that phrase 'cannot be compared' is far too modest," he said. "You've only been Emperor for a mere year, yet you've brought all the realms of the Southern Region under your control. Such capability would likely make those God Emperors who pride themselves on a lifetime of achievements feel ashamed."

Cang Shuhua gently shook her head and spoke slowly, "Your humble servant has been afflicted with severe illness and coveted by the Southern Sea Realm. Consequently, for half my life, I have been unable to see the sun or moon. In that solitude and coldness, I could only focus my mind on books and texts, reading the legacies of ancients, gleaning the wisdom of predecessors, examining the state of various realms, and observing the changes in the world."

As she spoke softly, her jade-like, snow-white fingers gently picked up a flower petal or leaf that had drifted from somewhere and stuck to her skirt sash, then watched it float lightly and solitarily from her fingertips into the distant unknown.

"Unknowingly, ten thousand years had passed," she continued. "And the vast Southern Region, with its nine thousand star realms, were all clearly and intimately engraved in my mind."

Yun Che merely stared.

"All your humble servant possesses is familiarity," she said. "When it comes to the ability to govern people and the world, I dare not compare myself to my elder brother, nor can I accept Your Majesty's praises."

"All of the Azure Sea's current standing comes from the title of 'Huo Fei' granted by Your Majesty and my elder brother's lingering prestige."

For a moment, Yun Che couldn't think of how to respond.

Her almost terrifying familiarity with the nine thousand star realms of the Southern Divine Region was born from ten thousand years of chilling solitude and isolation, unable to touch the light of day.

Simply contemplating it was so heavy it left one breathless.

The reason she clung so persistently to life was solely to not betray the utmost efforts of Cang Shitian.

Yun Wuxin looked at Cang Shuhua, then at her father, who had suddenly fallen silent... As a junior, she consciously dared not speak presumptuously.

Upon arriving at the Royal City, Cang Shuhua did not lead them to the main hall but directly to her private chambers.

The atmosphere in the chambers was warm and gentle, peaceful and serene. The palace maids inside and divine emissaries outside had all been dismissed.

"Your humble servant knows that Your Majesty dislikes formalities and disturbances, so I did not allow others to serve close by."

It had been over a year since Cang Shuhua was granted the title of "Huo Fei," yet this was Yun Che's first time entering her private chambers.

As the private chambers of a King Realm's God Emperor, it was far more modest than expected. Simple decorations, muted colors, yet within its simplicity, it subtly revealed an elegance that inspired quiet admiration and a touch of self-reproach.

"Compared to Cang Shitian's extravagant desires, you are quite the opposite extreme," Yun Che said casually.

Given Cang Shuhua's past experiences, it was perfectly normal for her to prefer such a style.

"Then..." Cang Shuhua's lips curved into a delicate arc, and looking into Yun Che's eyes, she asked, "Does Your Majesty prefer extravagance, or simple elegance?"

"If I want extravagance, I'll have extravagance. If I want simple elegance, I'll have simple elegance," Yun Che said, sitting down casually. "For me, is there really a need for a second answer?"

"Hmph!" Ruiyi, standing behind, quietly scoffed.

Cang Shuhua chuckled softly, "Only Your Majesty is truly qualified to give such an answer in this world."

"Ah!"

Yun Wuxin, who had been curiously looking around, suddenly let out an exclamation.

She stood before a wooden table, staring blankly at an unfurled painting.

The painting was only partly finished, depicting simple landscapes, birds, fish, and insects. Yet, under the divine skill of the brush, it made one feel as if they were truly there, hearing the wind, seeing insects and birds flit by, vividly alive.

Moreover, an indescribably profound and lofty artistic conception emanated from the paper.

Feng Xue'er enjoyed calligraphy and painting, and Yun Wuxin, when not cultivating with her, often practiced these arts too. But the painting before her, its technique and artistic conception, completely surpassed anything she had ever seen in her life.

It even surpassed her understanding of the very concept of "painting."

And... this was merely an unfinished work.

"Aunt Shuhua," Yun Wuxin took a while to tear her gaze away from the painting, "Is this... something you painted?"

This was Cang Shuhua's God Emperor's chambers, so it could only be her work.

Yet, it was almost too incredible for her to believe.

"A casual piece from a while ago," Cang Shuhua said, turning her gaze. "However, this painting is not yet finished. If Wuxin likes it, why not stay a bit longer, and I'll give it to you once I've completed it?"

"Rea... really?"

Yun Wuxin's excitement was palpable. For those who didn't appreciate art, it was merely a God Emperor's painting, but for those who did... even this half-finished piece was a peerless treasure, unobtainable even with ten thousand gold.

"Thank you, Aunt Shuhua, I will cherish it dearly!"

Yun Che had rarely seen her so excited and delighted. Besides his surprise, he felt a little jealous. "I didn't realize you were skilled in this art too," he said.

"Hmph! This is nothing, my lady is incredibly skilled."

Before Cang Shuhua could respond, Ruiyi, standing beside her, couldn't help but exclaim, "It's not just painting! My lady's calligraphy, engraving, zither, flute, and embroidery... every single one of them is unrivaled in the world! To marry my lady would require the good fortune accumulated over ten thousand lifetimes."

"Ruiyi!" Cang Shuhua lightly admonished. "When speaking to His Majesty, you must be gentle and respectful; do not forget your manners."

Ruiyi turned her face away, pouted her lips, with an expression of reluctance and defiance.

Her address for Cang Shuhua had always been "my lady," rather than "God Emperor," suggesting that she was more accustomed to this address in private.

Cang Shuhua smiled faintly, "In the past ten thousand years, when I sat idly, I would seek out elegant pursuits to pass the time. They are not worthy of Your Majesty's attention."

"Is Aunt Shuhua really that amazing?" If not for this half-finished painting, Yun Wuxin might not have felt much, but having been so deeply amazed by the painting, Ruiyi's words undoubtedly filled her with extreme astonishment.

"Of course!" Ruiyi interjected immediately, her face full of pride. "I've accompanied my lady her entire life; I know better than anyone how wonderful she is. If you want to talk about what my lady is best at, it's her cooking!"

"There are so-called rumors outside that the number one delicacy in the Southern Divine Region is the 'Jade Ripple Heart Soup' from the Splendor Dream Pavilion in the Seven Star Realm, hmph! That's only because they haven't had the fortune to taste the delicious dishes my lady prepares herself!"

"That 'Jade Ripple Heart Soup' doesn't even deserve to be called 'crude' in front of my lady!"

Yun Che's eyebrows twitched. He was not unfamiliar with the name "Jade Ripple Heart Soup."

Before the fierce battle with the Western Divine Region, Shui Meiyin had pulled him to the Seven Star Realm with the stated purpose of tasting this "Jade Ripple Heart Soup," rumored to be the best in the Southern Region.

However, that day, his wish was unfulfilled because the Northern Region's army had already heavily garrisoned the Southern Divine Region, and the Splendor Dream Pavilion in the Seven Star Realm had fled to the lower realms in fear.

On this trip to the Southern Divine Region, Yun Che had specifically taken Yun Wuxin to the Seven Star Realm.

With the situation stabilized and the Southern Region peaceful, the Splendor Dream Pavilion had indeed returned. He had, as wished, taken Yun Wuxin to taste the "Jade Ripple Heart Soup" that Shui Meiyin had highly praised.

And the result had not disappointed him at all. The deliciousness of the "Jade Ripple Heart Soup" absolutely lived up to its renown and Shui Meiyin's high recommendation, even exceeding his expectations.

For Yun Wuxin, it had caused an almost world-shaking impact on her taste buds.

That had been just a month ago.