Chapter 2052: Fog King Patrols the Sea

The young girl rose from Hua Qingying's chest, vigorously wiping away the tear stains from her face, as if demonstrating a newfound resolve."Auntie, I understand," she said, seriously wiping away the last trace of moisture from her cheek. The sorrow in her beautiful eyes was also diligently suppressed. "I'll be fine... like the wounds from sword practice. They hurt at first, but... they always heal... they will definitely heal..."Yet, while sword wounds were painful, she could endure them stubbornly even at a young age. But why did the wounds of the heart and soul pierce deeper the more she tried to bear them?

Hua Qingying seemed to see through her heart. "Caili, you don't need to try so hard to forget. Yun Che is indeed an extraordinary person; his uniqueness has surprised me several times. It's not at all strange that you fell for him so quickly.""And he is worthy of your affection."Instead of deliberately avoiding the name "Yun Che" in front of Hua Caili, she spoke of him with high regard: "He made you cry and led you into this trial, yet I cannot fault him in the slightest. His final choice was the most rational one, and truly a way to protect you... His sincerity towards you is indeed something that moves one deeply."

"I know, I know," Hua Caili said, the mist she had just managed to clear from her eyes welling up again.

The Sword Immortal gently patted the girl's trembling shoulder. "You have three more months left of this trial. That time will be enough for you to heal. When it's over, you will face your marriage to Dian Jiuzhi with a clearer mind and more complete emotions.""Years from now, when you remember this, you might still feel a bit of regret and sadness, but more than that, there will be reflection and gratitude. Your life... the life of Qu Wanxin's daughter, should have this segment."She had never spoken so many words to Hua Caili at once.

She had indeed met an exceptionally outstanding man. Reflecting on it, it was no surprise that she developed such deep feelings for him in such a short time.If only Caili wasn't the Heaven-Folding Goddess...She recalled years ago, the "Heaven-Folding God Child" who knelt before the divine temple, begging to renounce his title...His wish was not granted.Thus, the once arrogant, wild, and undignified Heaven-Folding God Child became the gentle, refined Divine Venerable Huaxin, as steadfast as an old pine by a calm lake.She remembered even more clearly when she learned that Hua Caili had awakened a perfect divine core, something unprecedented in the history of the Heaven-Folding God Realm... His first reaction was not joy or pride, but a painful sorrow that almost overflowed from his eyes.He had long ago chosen a companion for his daughter... In his eyes, the most exceptional, most suitable, and kindest man in this world for his daughter, thereby eliminating all her possible "deviant paths."Her heart remained unsettled.Ten thousand years had passed, and Hua Fuchen never spoke of Qu Wanxin's name, yet she herself had never forgotten those years, nor had she ever forgiven herself.

Hua Caili nodded softly, taking her aunt's words to heart one by one. "Auntie, I will. After all... I've already grown up."A segment...Can it only be a segment...?Perhaps, to have such a segment in this life is already an immense fortune.Suddenly, she understood what they often called love between a man and a woman. Suddenly, the once indifferent engagement felt so heavy. Suddenly, she realized her identity came with so many shackles. Suddenly, she fully understood all the questions her aunt had asked. Suddenly...If only she could, she wished she understood nothing.If she could start over, she'd rather have never met him...No... she still wanted to see him...

From Hua Caili's eyes, it was clear how chaotic her emotions were beneath her attempts at calm speech. Hua Qingying offered no more comfort. Although Yun Che's two parting statements beneath the veil of snow indicated they would never meet again, they were undoubtedly too strong a shock for the young girl's heart.The rest could be left to time.After all, their time together was short, their feelings shallow; there was no deep imprint, no shared life-and-death experience. A few months at most would be enough for it to fade completely.

"For the next three days, I will stay with you, but only for three days," Hua Qingying said."Okay," the girl nodded. "Thank you, Auntie.""Let's go." She took Hua Caili's hand and turned in the opposite direction to where Yun Che had gone.Hua Caili did not immediately move, instead carefully folding the sash inscribed with light characters.

"Throw it away," Hua Qingying instructed. "Since you've decided to end this connection, then be completely resolute from the start. Just like how he left you without hesitation, without looking back."Hua Caili's movements froze. She stood stunned for a long moment before bending down and gently placing the sash on the snow-covered ground.

Hua Qingying subtly nodded and slowly walked away with Hua Caili.However, after only a few steps, the young girl's soft hand abruptly broke free from hers.She rushed back to the sash and clutched it tightly in her hand. Her already pale hands turned even whiter from the grip, as if she intended to merge it into her own flesh and blood.

"..." Hua Qingying turned back, sighing. "This is not a good choice."The usually obedient girl did not loosen her grip in the slightest. She softly said, "Mother left many, many years ago, but Father God still often secretly looks at her portrait for hours on end."

"You two are different," Hua Qingying stated. "Your Father God and your mother went through life and death together, fighting against worldly norms and destiny. Their feelings had long permeated each other's very bones. You and he merely met by chance, attracted to each other... Severing ties completely is the most appropriate choice.""It's impossible to completely sever them," Hua Caili said, standing up. She wrapped the sash around her jade wrist, feeling a faint, elusive warmth. "He and I will definitely meet again.""With an appearance superior to all other God Children, cultivation comparable to a God Extinction realm master, and elemental profound energy surpassing even Spirit Immortal Granny... How could such a person remain unknown in the future?""..." Hua Qingying could not refute her.

"By then, my destiny will already be set. And perhaps others will already be by his side. So the only thing that belongs uniquely to me from him will be this sash.""Let it be... the only keepsake of this 'segment,' okay?"Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at her aunt, so fragile and pitiful, yet holding an unyielding resolve within.

Hua Qingying remained silent for a long time, stunned.At that moment, her vision blurred violently..."Sister Qingying, Fuchen says you cultivate the Heartless Sword Path and have long since cast off all emotions... Hahahaha, I don't believe it. The difference between humans and Abyss Beasts is precisely that humans have emotions. If one truly has no feelings or desires, how are they different from an Abyss Beast?""My understanding of the Heartless Sword Path is that you are devoted to your sword, unwilling to share your affection with anything else. Ah, I'm different; I was born with abundant feelings... In the past, I loved traveling the world, vowing to spend my entire life setting foot on every inch of land outside the Pure Land and the Mist Sea. Then, I met Fuchen.""Hmm... Fuchen, who looked so cute and lovable, turned out to be a troublemaker. After leaving him, no matter where I went, even to places I once yearned for, I lost all interest. I could always think of him, which made me transfer my affection to him, and I didn't want to go anywhere else.""Qingying, I truly envy you, emotionless and without worries, free from attachments, sorrow, and suffering... But I would never wish to become you... Even if it were a thousand, ten thousand times harder and more painful, I would never regret meeting Fuchen...""I was an orphan girl, he was a God Child... I never thought I was unworthy of him...""Even if the world mocked my delusion, slandered my heart... Even if a Divine Venerable brought down their power to break my bones and shatter my soul... as long as he didn't give up, I would never let go of his hand... Never!""Fuchen... Qingying, don't hate him, and don't seek revenge for me... He is, after all... your... Father God...""Especially... my Sister Qingying... You cultivate the Heartless Sword... How can you shed tears... You were not wrong, never were... I forbid you from blaming yourself... That life was... never yours to begin with...""To have you both as beloved and dearest friend in this life... I have... no regrets, no sorrow..."

"Auntie? Auntie, what... what's wrong?"The girl's worried voice roused her from her prolonged daze. Hua Qingying quickly turned her gaze back, calmly saying, "Fine, if you want to keep it, do as you wish."She suddenly began to feel some regret, even a hint of apprehension.What if... what if Hua Caili's nature truly was like her mother's...?She immediately shook her head. No, even so, her relationship with Yun Che was nowhere near that level yet.It definitely wouldn't be.

In another space, Yun Che stood still, concentrating for a long time."Why is your heart beating so fast?" Lishuo asked."Because I'm nervous, of course," Yun Che replied.Lishuo was silent, then said, "It seems what you're about to do is indeed a major undertaking.""Very major," Yun Che said, his eyes deep."What are your chances?" Lishuo asked."Ninety percent," Yun Che answered promptly.Lishuo was momentarily speechless, then after a while, asked, "If that's the case, why are you so nervous?""Because the remaining ten percent means eternal damnation."

He had promised Chi Wuyao never to risk his life.But this shortcut involved Hua Qingying, the Sword Immortal, the foremost person beneath the gods in the Six God Nations, someone who could decide his life or death in an instant.Yun Che clenched his fingers, producing a faint grinding sound from his bones. He sensed the flow of the surrounding Abyss Dust, and the light in his eyes gradually dimmed, as if hidden within the dust."I can start now."

"The core of the Heaven-Folding First Sword is 'intent.' Based on intent, countless variations can be derived. The sword techniques you cultivate—Heaven-Asking Sword, Heaven-Pacifying Sword, and Heaven-Controlling Sword—can all be integrated into it. Once proficient, you can even forget the specific forms, adapting freely and changing with each battle."The young girl danced with her sword, its shadow like a rainbow, her posture like a dream.Hua Qingying watched every sword trace the girl performed, still slightly hesitant and disorganised, revealing the lingering ripples in her sword heart.

A cold wind swept by, and Hua Qingying slightly furrowed her brow.The Mist Sea's wind was eternally oppressive, but just now, it inexplicably sent a momentary chill through her.She released her divine sense, extending it outwards.Just then, a sinister wind suddenly arose.Hua Caili's sword movements abruptly halted, and Hua Qingying also snapped her gaze forward. Both simultaneously looked up at the sky ahead.

What surprised them was not the sinister wind, but... the swirling black mist rolling towards them in the distance!Above the Mist Sea, less than ten li away, the sky had inexplicably turned exceptionally dark. Beneath the darkened sky, vast swathes of dense black mist slowly rolled...No, that was clearly Abyss Dust!The center of the Mist Sea was the Primordial Death Abyss. The closer one got to the Primordial Death Abyss, the denser the Abyss Dust became. Beyond this rule, Abyss Dust existed naturally and uniformly like air, only gathering when near Abyss Beasts and Abyss Ghosts.But the inky black mist visible was an immense aggregation of concentrated Abyss Dust.Its density was utterly impossible for this region, almost comparable to the deepest parts of the Mist Sea as known by Hua Qingying.

"Auntie, what is that?"Hua Caili quickly moved to Hua Qingying's side, gazing at the distant phenomenon with surprise.With her aunt beside her, Hua Caili never needed to fear anything, yet she failed to notice the chill in Hua Qingying's eyes.The densely gathered Abyss Dust rolled and moved, heading directly towards their location.Hua Qingying's divine sense pierced through layers of Abyss Dust... but beyond that were even denser layers, which even her powerful divine sense could not fully penetrate.Just as Hua Qingying was about to retract her divine sense, from the sky above the Mist Sea... from within the rolling dense mist, a majestic, low voice resounded:"Mist Emperor's Sea Patrol, all mortals withdraw!"Each word sent shivers through the soul, like a devil's chant from the abyss.Instantly, Abyss Beasts fell silent, the Mist Sea grew still, and the grey sky seemed on the verge of collapse.