Chapter 2050: Departure and Sorrow

These sudden words plunged Hua Caili's tightly strung emotions into instant disarray. "I... I..."

Yun Che's voice and demeanor remained completely calm. "If I'm not mistaken," he said, "your surname is 'Hua' and your given name is 'Caili,' isn't that right?"

"…!" Hua Caili suddenly looked up, her gaze trembling.

As if her expression provided the definitive answer, Yun Che smiled. "Just as I thought," he said. "It wasn't that hard to guess, actually."

He tilted his head back, looking at the sky that had returned to a dim gray, and slowly said, "On that day, your mist veil drifted away, and I had the fortune to see your true face, which was as stunning as a dream. Later, I unintentionally recalled that legend, lamenting that even the Caili Goddess of legend, said to possess all the grace and charm of the Abyss, might not compare to a fraction of your beauty."

"It was after that moment of marveling that a nearly absurd thought naturally occurred to me: Could it be that you, a transcendent being like a dream immortal, are the legendary Caili Goddess?"

Hua Caili bit her lip silently, lost for words.

"Then, I recalled our first encounter in the Lin Yuan Realm. When you faced that silver-robed man who intended harm, you confidently determined his surname was 'Meng,' and then called out the names 'Meng Jianxi' and 'Meng Jianzhou' separately. Although I'd never interacted with anyone from the Divine Realm, I knew that Meng Jianxi was the Divine Son of the Divine Dreamweaving Realm."

"But at that time, the Divine Realm was too distant for me, almost illusory; I certainly wouldn't have extrapolated anything else from it. Reflecting now, you, who are clearly guileless, were remarkably calm and certain when you spoke the Divine Son of Dreamweaving's name..."

"Unless you are someone of equal status to him."

"During our encounter in the Misty Sea, we met a person named Fan Qingzhou. With just one glance, you declared him a provisional Knight of the Pure Lands. I was deeply surprised then but found it inconvenient to ask more. However, the legendary Caili Goddess, though a goddess of the Heaven-Folding Divine Realm, frequently resided in the Pure Lands, beloved by the Abyssal Emperor and divine officials, and would naturally be more familiar with Abyssal Knights than anyone else."

Without looking at Hua Caili's expression, Yun Che continued, "And then there's the sword art you cultivate. My master has taught me about various sword paths, and everything I've seen in my life fits within his knowledge. Only the sword intent you displayed was beyond my master's understanding of sword paths."

"The pinnacle of Abyssal sword arts is found in the Heaven-Folding Divine Realm. It's rumored that the sword arts cultivated there were taught by the Supreme Abyssal Emperor himself, so it's highly probable they are indeed beyond my master's sword knowledge. Since we met, you've never revealed a single word to me about the sword path you cultivate, your sword techniques, or even the name of your beloved sword. This is surely because even the slightest revelation would expose your identity."

These reasons, laid out one by one, revealed the various tell-tale signs Hua Caili had inadvertently exposed.

She moved her lips, lifting her head slightly. As the Heaven-Folding Goddess, her voice at this moment was surprisingly soft and timid: "Are you blaming me for deceiving you...? But I... I..."

"No, of course not." Before she could finish, Yun Che decisively shook his head. "You are a goddess of the Divine Realm, how incredibly noble. Hiding your identity is the most appropriate course of action; no one could possibly blame you for this."

Her dim, beautiful eyes brightened again, and the girl's voice regained some cheerfulness: "Then... Young Master Yun, you're truly not angry with me?"

As she spoke, she stepped forward, reaching out to take Yun Che's wrist, but just as she took a step, Yun Che abruptly stepped back.

Hua Caili's figure instantly froze, and in her eyes, starlight seemed to shatter.

"You... you're still angry with me after all," she said. "And you have every right to be. You've always been devoted and sincere to me, never holding back even your biggest secrets. But I... I..."

She bit her lip hard, barely suppressing the bitterness that threatened to flood her eyes. With great effort, she managed a smile: "I promise you, from now on, I won't deceive you about anything. And... all my secrets, whatever they are, I'll tell you if you want to know... Okay...?"

"..." Hua Qingying's brows gradually furrowed, slowly resembling two sword blades concealing murderous intent.

Yun Che, however, still shook his head. "I truly am not angry, nor do I blame you," he said, "and I have no reason or right to blame you or be angry with you."

As if daring not to touch the shattered light in her eyes, he lowered his gaze and slowly said, "Do you remember what I once told you?"

"We are people from two different worlds."

Hua Caili: "..."

"When we first met, your mere aura and charm let me know that your background must be extraordinarily uncommon. At that time, I thought you might come from a major sect or a great clan, or perhaps even from the Divine Realm itself... But I never in my wildest dreams imagined you would actually be a goddess of the Divine Realm."

He gave a self-deprecating smile. "It turns out we are more than just people from two different worlds," he said. "A goddess of the Divine Realm, a rootless wanderer... Between us lies a chasm that countless worlds could not bridge."

"..." These words caused the murderous intent between Hua Qingying's brows to instantly dissipate by more than half.

"No, that's not true, it's not," Hua Caili said, shaking her head vigorously in denial. "I've never felt there's any difference between us. On the contrary, you are the best person I've ever met in my life... the best in every aspect. Even... even Uncle Abyssal Emperor often tells me 'all beings are equal'..."

"You would indeed think so, because you are still too pure, kind, innocent, and naive." Yun Che's face showed none of the emotion Hua Caili hoped for. "What's more tragic is that the phrase 'all beings are equal' only ever comes from the mouths of those in power."

"A goddess of the Divine Realm... I believe that no matter how naive you are, you should understand what this identity entails. It's not just supreme nobility and status, but also the destiny and future of a vast divine realm."

"Her nobility tolerates not a single speck of defilement from mortals; her choices brook no harm to the divine realm; and her dignity, her will... Can you imagine the turmoil and uproar if the world were to learn that a divine son or goddess was close to a mere mortal with no discernible background?"

Yun Che's words guided Hua Caili's thoughts. She wanted to refute him but couldn't think of any words strong enough, so she could only shake her head more vigorously.

Yun Che slowly extended his hand, his fingertips gently resting on the corner of her eye.

A teardrop melted on his fingertip, spreading the first tear of love in the girl's life.

Hua Caili stared at him blankly, unable to move or speak.

"Sister Qu," his voice became incredibly gentle, "every moment I've spent with you has been like a dream."

"Your figure, your eyes, your voice, your purity, your innocence... Everything about you has captivated me, making me utterly lost in fascination countless times."

"Ah..." Hua Caili softly whimpered, her eyes brimming with tears.

"I guessed your identity, but I couldn't bear to leave. Every moment near you was too beautiful, too luxurious. I selfishly watched you, protected you, and tried to do things that might make you happy, until..."

He suddenly turned his head away. Though his movement was swift, Hua Caili still caught a faint hint of moisture in his eyes.

"Until just now, when I felt you drawing closer to me."

His hand slowly moved away from her cheek, as if carrying away the last trace of his yearning. He turned away, his voice faint as wind: "I was joyful, and then came a fear a thousand times greater than that joy... I absolutely cannot allow myself to become a burden to you, not even a temporary blemish."

He exhaled a long breath. "Caili Goddess," he said, "may your life be smooth and prosperous. I will never forget... Sister Qu."

As his voice faded, his figure decisively departed, never looking back.

"Young Master Yun!" Hua Caili, in a daze, cried out in alarm, subconsciously chasing forward.

"Your betrothed is still waiting for your return."

A faint, rapidly receding voice reached the girl's ears, causing a buzz in her soul sea, leaving her standing stunned on the spot, her eyes quickly losing focus.

Her betrothed...

It was widely known throughout the world that Diang Jiuzhi, the Divine Son of the Senluo Divine Realm, and Hua Caili, the Goddess of the Heaven-Folding Divine Realm, were betrothed, a union decreed by the Abyssal Emperor himself.

Because it could involve the "allocation" of divine inheritors and the ownership of bloodline inheritances, marriages between divine sons and goddesses were extremely rare in the history of the Abyss. Thus, the world-shaking significance of this engagement was readily apparent.

Yet the person least concerned and most superficially aware of this was precisely Hua Caili.

She knew the meaning of the engagement but had never truly taken it to heart.

Because it was her Father God's arrangement.

Her entire life had been arranged by her Father God. The engagement he arranged was, to her, like arranging a trial or a ceremony... It was no different from any other arrangements he made for her at different stages of her life.

Diang Jiuzhi was very kind to her, and she was also exceptionally close to him. So, regarding this engagement, she had no concept of aversion and never truly paid attention to it, because once the time came, Father God would arrange everything, and she would simply follow his arrangements as usual.

But at this moment, the words "betrothal" and "engagement," once so insignificant that she never actively thought of them, suddenly became incredibly heavy, making her eyes unfocused, her heart chaotic, and almost unable to breathe.

It was not just an engagement, not just a life bound to another person.

It was also the stability and dignity of two great divine realms.

It was her Father God's expectations, the gaze of the world;

It was the supreme imperial might of the Abyssal Emperor.

It was...

That's why he left so resolutely...

The world seemed to become empty, time seemed to stand still. After an unknown amount of time, the heavy suffocating feeling in her heart still hadn't dissipated. She slowly raised her eyes; as far as her sight and perception reached, there was no trace of Yun Che.

She closed her eyes. On her peerless, ethereal face was a heartbreaking sorrow that could instantly shatter any man's heart.

I am the Goddess of the Heaven-Folding Divine Realm. My life is destined not to be my own, but to belong to the Heaven-Folding Divine Realm.

So...

Was it destined to be just... a fleeting illusion...?

Like a brief, brilliant, yet destined to vanish meteor...

Hua Qingying gazed into the distance. Yun Che walked with extraordinary resolve, his speed exceptionally swift, as if afraid Hua Caili might catch up, until he was beyond her perception, vanishing into the untraceable Misty Sea.

Only after confirming he was far enough to be beyond Hua Qingying's range of perception did Yun Che slightly slow down, and all expression instantly vanished from his face.

Alone again, Yun Che completely relaxed, even luxuriously taking a few deep breaths.

After all, he had been constantly under the gaze of a Sword Immortal during this entire period, so his nerves had to be constantly on edge.

He walked leisurely for a good while longer... This time, it was finally Yun Che who couldn't help but ask, "Little Lishuo, why don't you ask?"

"...Every time I ask, after you answer, you always say I don't understand." Lishuo's voice was as soft and dreamlike as ever, but it seemed to carry a hint of resentment.

"Cough..." Yun Che said unhurriedly, "Although you were once a Creation God, your cognition is shattered after all, and everything needs to recover gradually. If you observe more and ask more, won't you gradually understand?"

"She just moved closer to you; that should have been the success you long awaited," Lishuo asked. "Why did you retreat precisely at that moment, and so resolutely?"

Just waiting for her to ask that, Yun Che immediately retorted, "Tell me, when do people truly realize the preciousness of something?"

Lishuo thought for a moment and replied, "When they lose it."

"Exactly!" Yun Che nodded in approval.

"So, that's why you did it?" Lishuo didn't seem to be enlightened by this; her voice held even more confusion.

"Of course, it's not just that," Yun Che said, narrowing his eyes. "It's for the most crucial... final step."

"The step I least expected?" Lishuo echoed Yun Che's earlier words.

"Yes," Yun Che replied without hesitation. "You can even start thinking of as many insulting words as possible now, lest you be speechless when the time comes to vent."

"What... what exactly are you going to do?"

Yun Che smiled faintly, a chilling arc momentarily gracing his lips: "Although I've already exhausted every method I could think of, how deep could her feelings for me be in such a short time? Could they possibly surpass those for her Father God, who has doted on her and loved her since birth?"

"Right now, she is... at most just captivated by me. But what I want is far more than that; it's... for her to be willing to give everything for me, to defy everything!"

"Otherwise, how could I use this Heaven-Folding Divine Realm as a fulcrum to stir up chaos among the six great divine realms, and indeed, throughout the entire Abyss!"

"..." Lishuo remained silent for a long time, completely unable to imagine how Yun Che could achieve the outcome he spoke of.

She let out a sympathetic sigh in her heart:

This Heaven-Folding Goddess, though a goddess, had an unblemished, childish heart. Upon her first entry into the world, she actually encountered Yun Che... This demonic god, who swore to overturn the Abyss, was arguably the most dangerous and terrifying being in this world.

How tragic and pitiable.