Chapter 2057: Remaining Life

The misty sea was eerily cold and silent; no roars of abyssal beasts had been heard for a long time. This was because all abyssal beasts within a three-hundred-mile radius had been exterminated by Hua Qingying. Yet, this did nothing to quell her fury. When Hua Caili was involved, her sword heart, which had remained unperturbed for ten thousand years, crumbled in an instant.

Two hours passed. These were arguably the most difficult two hours of Hua Qingying’s life. In this short time, she shifted her position hundreds of times, pacing restlessly. Hua Caili’s identity, her engagement, her unbreakable ties to the Heaven Smiting Divine Kingdom and the Senluo Divine Kingdom, and the secret vow she had made to protect her for life... Yet, she had personally handed her over to... At this moment, she had no idea how to face Hua Caili, how to face Hua Fuchen, or how to atone to Qu Wanxin, to whom she already owed an endless debt of guilt.

Inside the barrier, Yun Che slowly rose and gazed fixedly at the young girl before him. Her flawless body was like the most perfect jade sculpture, exquisitely proportioned and delicately graceful. Though the misty sea was dim, her jade-like skin glowed luminously, like flowing light covering snow.

He took out one of his outer garments and gently draped it over Hua Caili. As if sensing something, the girl, still in a coma, parted her lips and subtly shifted her slender waist. Even with the outer garment covering her, her waistline remained so perfectly defined, as if the Creator had poured all their essence into its design.

Yun Che averted his gaze and gently exhaled. Two hours were enough for Yun Che to recover a significant amount of vital energy and profound strength. He had also used his profound light energy to slightly alleviate Hua Caili’s extremely severe internal injuries.

He stood up and walked very softly to the barrier. Reaching out to touch it, his fingertips passed through without any resistance. This barrier blocked all perception, but did not block physical bodies.

Stepping out of the barrier, everything around him was terrifyingly quiet. He knew instantly that the Sword Immortal’s boundless resentment must have caused great misfortune for the abyssal beasts in this area. "They were such obedient and useful creatures. What a pity."

Glancing around, he did not find Hua Qingying. Clearly, after two hours of "calm," she still didn't know how to face any of this. Even a Sword Immortal would flee.

Yun Che sat down on the ground, looking straight ahead, and remained silent for a long time.

"Everything went as planned, with no surprises or flaws. Why aren't you happy?" Lishuo's voice rang out.

Yun Che replied indifferently, "It was all within expectations. There's nothing to be happy about."

Lishuo immediately followed up, "Are you feeling guilty?"

"Guilty?" Yun Che's lips twitched. "Would someone sworn to completely overturn this Abyssal World feel guilty over such a small, malicious scheme? How could I then be worthy of being this Calamity Devil God?"

"...Your heart is in turmoil," Lishuo continued. "You even forgot that our souls are connected; not a single one of your emotions can be hidden from me."

Yun Che was silent for a while, then his lips twitched again, revealing a rather forced faint smile. "Perhaps I'm just not used to it yet," he said. He held out his hand, his gaze fixed on his palm. "There was a time," he began, "when all I wanted was to escape all grievances and conflicts, to never again stain my hands with bloodshed... That was because I found my daughter, who had been lost for ten years. She was too beautiful; I didn't want to embrace her with hands stained with defiled blood. Now, what these hands are stained with is more than just defiled blood."

Lishuo stated very directly, "Your current state of mind is proof that your true nature is not evil after all."

"Heh... hehe... hahahaha!" Yun Che chuckled lowly, then burst into maniacal laughter. "Can a devil who just used vile and sinister means to scheme and harm others find peace just by feeling guilty about it? Can he be forgiven? You, a half-amnesiac Creation God, truly are overflowing with compassion... Hiss!" His trembling laughter pulled at the wounds all over his body, making him sharply draw in a breath.

Lishuo: "..."

"However, you did remind me," Yun Che continued. "These superfluous emotions are the most unnecessary encumbrance. I haven't fully grown accustomed to it yet; I can't be like the Devil Queen. However, people always grow, and so do devils. Since I've decided to be the Calamity Devil God, I must be thorough. If I succeed, I can save the entire world from peril. If there's retribution..." He closed his fingers, smiling faintly, "All evil deeds were done by me alone, so naturally, the retribution will fall solely upon me. It's a good deal."

Lishuo did not speak for a long time. When she finally spoke again, it was with another question: "What will you do next?"

Yun Che raised his eyes. "Enter the Heaven Smiting Divine Kingdom."

"Are you... not afraid of being killed by Divine Venerable Huaxin's palm?" Lishuo's voice was faint and ethereal.

"Then wouldn't all my planning during this time be in vain?" Not a trace of worry rippled in Yun Che's heart or soul at Lishuo's words. "She will live and die with me. Given that, do you think Divine Venerable Huaxin would truly strike?"

Lishuo could not judge.

"The Heaven Smiting Divine Kingdom is just a springboard," Yun Che said slowly, a deep, cunning glint flickering in the depths of his eyes. "I need to guide Divine Venerable Huaxin to send me to another place."

"...Where?"

Just as Yun Che was about to answer, an exceptionally faint sound of footsteps came from behind him. His expression froze, but he did not turn around. He remained seated there as if he hadn't noticed.

The footsteps drew near, carrying a clearly palpable softness and faintness, yet Hua Caili's voice never came. Hua Caili's breath brushed against his body, carrying a hint of the lustful aura that had tainted her purity, which had not yet fully dispersed. A pair of jade arms gently encircled Yun Che's waist, and her head rested against his body. Her jade fingers, normally weak and powerless, clutched his garment so tightly, as if fearing he would leave as resolutely as he had before. Not a single word was spoken, yet it was worth a thousand words.

Yun Che completely froze. He had long anticipated Hua Caili's various emotions, reactions, and possible words. At this moment, however, he suddenly didn't know how to respond or what to say. Hua Caili today had undoubtedly experienced the greatest calamity and upheaval of destiny in her life. Any intense, uncontrolled emotion from her would have been understandable. Yet she showed no despair, no sorrow, no tears, and no outbursts at all... Instead, she quietly snuggled close.

Hua Qingying watched from afar and did not approach for a long time. She felt too ashamed to face them. It was her insistence that Hua Caili undergo solitary training, and it was also her failure to protect her...

Yun Che quietly turned his gaze, looking at the girl beside him. Her eyes were closed, her exquisite face serene as a painting. Her long eyelashes did not tremble in the slightest, revealing a reliance, peace, and contentment utterly devoid of any distance.

It was as if something deep within him had been silently stirred. He finally spoke, "You... have very severe internal injuries. I only temporarily suppressed your pain with profound light energy. You need to rest and recover for a while."

Hua Caili did not respond to his words, still quietly leaning against him. Yun Che also said nothing more. After another long moment, the girl beside him finally slowly opened her beautiful eyes.

"This time, it's my turn to invite you to watch the shooting stars."

"..." Under Yun Che's astonished gaze, Hua Caili gently opened her eyes. Her watery eyes held a delicate vulnerability and intoxicating blurriness, as if freshly watered; they were heartbreakingly beautiful.

She raised her hand, and the Liuyun Sword flew into the air, instantly disappearing into the dim, gloomy sky, swallowed by layers of abyssal dust. Soon, a beam of white light shone in the distant sky, like a suddenly appearing star. Following that, the light streaked downwards, trailing a long luminous trail, falling straight towards the two embracing figures.

Just as Yun Che thought it was the Liuyun Sword's sword glow, the beam of light suddenly split into two, falling intertwined. They passed through layers of dimness, abyssal dust, and gloom, still without diminishing their bright light. Tracing two intertwined and dependent paths, they finally flew down to the mortal realm, slowing their speed, coming before Yun Che and Hua Caili, and obediently landing in Hua Caili's outstretched palm.

They were two small jade beads, shining with an infinitely warm white glow. That was soul light, bearing an identical soul aura to Hua Caili.

"The moment I was born, I faced a death tribulation," she said, looking at the white glow in her palm, her voice faint as smoke. "Fortunately, at that time, Father God and Auntie each had a Heaven-Praying Jade bestowed by Uncle Abyssal Emperor. Only with these two Heaven-Praying Jades was my life saved. After the power of the two Heaven-Praying Jades dissipated, Father God attached my soul to them and told me to keep them with me at all times as 'Longevity Pearls' to protect me. As long as my soul endures, they will shine eternally. So..." She stared without blinking. "The light of a shooting star doesn't always vanish in an instant. With enough careful nurturing, it can... last until the end of life."

"..." Yun Che opened his mouth.

A warmth spread across his palm; it was Hua Caili's hand. She placed one of the Longevity Pearls into his hand, her movement gentle, yet carrying her unswerving resolve. "Now, I entrust half of my life to you. You... won't leave like that again, will you?" The hand clutching his garment quietly tightened a little more, fearing his rejection.

The warmth from another soul flowed from his palm to his very core, and every word she spoke touched... and collided with his soul. He looked at Hua Caili, completely unaware that, at this moment, her reflection in his eyes was no longer so clear, but instead had a gradually deepening haziness.

"Okay..." The incredibly brief word left his lips, but he suddenly froze. Because this voice had completely bypassed his cold awareness and rationality, and had been murmured in an uncharacteristic daze.

The faint mist that had been trembling in Hua Caili's beautiful eyes instantly dissolved, giving rise to endless shimmering ripples. The gentle smile blossoming on her lips... was as if she had not just experienced the greatest calamity of her life, but had instead entered the most beautiful and fantastical dream.

She looked at the Longevity Pearls shining in her own and Yun Che's palms, and murmured, "Do you know, when they fell like stars just now, I suddenly thought of... our child's name."

"..." Yun Che turned his head with some difficulty, as if hearing ethereal sounds from beyond this world. Our... child... What... was she saying...?

"If it's a girl, we'll name her Xingluo. If it's a boy, we'll name him Xingchen... Is that okay?" She seemed completely immersed in a beautiful dream. The smile at the corner of her lips and her soft voice reached Yun Che's ears, all veiled in a misty haziness.

Thump...Thump...Thump-thump...

He finally realized his heart rate was erratic. He also finally noticed he had been looking at her smile, at her eyes, for a very, very long time, and had been lost in them for a very, very long time.

"Yun Che, remember this... In the Abyssal World, whether it's friendship, a master-disciple bond, love between man and woman, or even gratitude... they can only be tools for you to use, but you absolutely cannot allow even a trace of true emotion to be mixed in! You know your own character. If true emotion arises, you will surely be shackled by it! But the consequence of being shackled... could very likely be you, and this world's... All living and dead beings in the Abyss are my enemies. As the emperor of this world, I bear the responsibility for its survival or demise. In the Abyss, all emotions must be rendered emotionless!"

The haze in his eyes, bit by bit, almost cruelly turned into complete cold sobriety, while sharp pain and a metallic taste of blood filled his mouth. He curled his fingers, very carefully holding Hua Caili's Longevity Pearl in his hand. Then he nodded heavily and replied with a voice much clearer than before: "Okay."

But immediately, he raised his head again, looking at the dim, lightless sky. "If this moment is a dream, I wish to sleep forever. But... you must, after all, return to reality, return to the Heaven Smiting Divine Kingdom."

"I know." She pressed her head a little closer into his embrace. "I am Hua Caili, the Divine Daughter of the Heaven Smiting Divine Kingdom, bearing the future of the Heaven Smiting Divine Kingdom. I also have an engagement with the Divine Son of the Senluo Divine Kingdom, personally bestowed by the Abyssal Emperor." She spoke aloud each of these burdens that had previously been suffocatingly heavy, but her tone was so gentle and calm, as if none of it was heavy or important anymore. "But, I'm not afraid anymore."

She gently pressed the Longevity Pearl in her hand against the one in Yun Che's hand. "I have already died once; my current life was saved by you. You were willing to risk your life to save me; how could I then be afraid of these small obstacles?" She raised her eyes and met Yun Che's gaze, letting him see every glimmer of light in her bright eyes. "So, let's work together, okay? You told me then, 'As long as you're not dead, never give up.' You just promised, so you absolutely cannot run away again, absolutely not."

Her true feelings, her resolve, and the rest of her life were laid bare before Yun Che, without reservation or hesitation.

Far above them, Hua Qingying listened and watched in silence, her heart in a chaotic mess. Hua Caili was inexperienced and simple-minded, but by no means foolish. She clearly understood what her words and her promise meant. Born in the Heaven Smiting Divine Kingdom and having long resided in its pure lands, and having also stepped foot in all Divine Kingdoms outside the Everlasting Night Divine Kingdom, she understood the concept of Divine Kingdoms better than anyone. And she naturally understood perfectly what her resolve would entail. Yet she...

Hua Qingying looked up and let out an exceptionally strained sigh.

"Wanxin, you actually aren't even afraid of my Father God. It's the first time I've seen anyone maintain their aura before him with only Divine Master Realm cultivation."

"Hehe, I have no father, no mother, no roots, no clan, only a body full of sin marks. At worst, I die, so what is there to be afraid of?"

"...So, there's nothing in this world that can make you afraid?"

"Of course not... except, being separated from Fuchen."

Wanxin... Since she met Yun Che, your shadow is everywhere on her. What... should I do...?