Chapter 1588: Farewell
"Feeling sorry? Or... regret?" Qianye Ying'er turned her gaze toward Yun Che's silent expression, her words carrying a strange undertone.
"No," Yun Che said coldly. "What I gave her was merely an opportunity. Growth must come from herself alone. No growth is easy, especially within the current Tiangang Cloud Clan. All eyes, hopes, and resources have been bestowed upon her. In receiving these, she also bears an equal pressure."
"Is that so?" Qianye Ying'er gave a half-smile. "But you've been restless these past days, even out of sorts during your cultivation. Could it be that you're savoring the memory of that woman Nanhuang Chanyi's body?"
Ignoring her taunt, Yun Che stared at the tightly shut door and said, "I'm just a little worried that the Tiangang Cloud Clan, under these circumstances, might take some extreme actions toward Yun Shang, this heaven-sent thread of hope."
"Oh—" Qianye Ying'er drew out her voice in a look of sudden realization. "So it's still for that little girl. Speaking of which, when Xia Qingyue married you, she was only sixteen. And your daughter said her master Feng Xue'er got involved with you when she was also sixteen... Tsk, after all these years, your tastes haven't changed one bit."
Yun Che's brows sank. "What are you trying to say!?"
"If your daughter were still alive, she'd be about sixteen now, the same age as Yun Shang, and even bearing a resemblance in features. What a pity, what a pity..." Qianye Ying'er lowered her head, idly playing with her slender white fingers. "What a pity she isn't Yun Wuxin. Your daughter is already dead, forever dead!"
Bang!
Yun Che's heart and profound energy simultaneously erupted out of control. He lunged forward, his hand clamping onto Qianye Ying'er's snow-white neck and slamming her body heavily against the wall behind.
"...!" His eyes were bloodshot, his face twisted in terrifying ferocity.
The fingers locked around her throat felt like iron hooks, and his rapid breath struck her face like flames. Yet Qianye Ying'er showed no panic. Staring at Yun Che's face inches away, she instead flashed a mocking smile. "How did your daughter die? Killed by Xia Qingyue? Forced to death by the three divine regions? No—she died from your naivety, your incompetence, and your self-righteous kindness!"
"You!" Yun Che's fingers tightened abruptly, then trembled violently.
"Do you think that by being good to Yun Shang, you can erase the sin and guilt of failing to protect your own daughter? That you can fill the void in your heart? Let me tell you... impossible! Forever impossible!" Qianye Ying'er met his gaze, her eyes even sharper than his. "On the contrary, you're compounding your mistake!"
"What you should do now, and the only thing you can do, is avenge her! You finally have no attachments or weaknesses, yet you're trying to forcibly create another one here, huh?"
She raised her hand and grabbed his wrist. "On the first day we arrived here, you said your purpose in staying was to use the grievances of the Sin Cloud Clan to plunder the Jiuyao Heavenly Palace's resources. And I actually believed you!"
"...!" Yun Che clenched his teeth but said nothing.
"I am your tool, yes. But don't forget, you are also my tool! You can be foolish, but I can also stop you from being foolish!" Qianye Ying'er's eyes, as brilliant as celestial stars, suddenly radiated a killing intent cold enough to freeze ten thousand spirits. "You'd better know your limits, or else... I will definitely kill her!"
The air turned icily cold. In the dreadful silence, Yun Che slowly removed his hand from Qianye Ying'er's neck, leaving five crimson finger marks behind.
"Though they come from the same lineage, they are now two clans from different worlds. Since I've already visited, there's nothing worth lingering over." Yun Che closed his eyes as if talking to himself.
As he spoke, he pointed his finger, releasing Light Profound Force's glow to slowly erase the red marks on Qianye Ying'er's neck.
Slap!
Qianye Ying'er knocked his hand away fiercely and said coldly, "So what?"
"...Tomorrow, we will leave this place," Yun Che said in a low voice. "Whatever outcome they face on the Day of Calamity will be their own fate, and has nothing more to do with me."
...
"Senior... Sister Qianying."
Yun Shang arrived very early, earlier than any day during this period. She seemed to be in a good mood today, her smile noticeably lighter than yesterday's.
"Not going to the ancestral temple today?" Yun Che asked with a smile.
"Just came back from the ancestral temple." Yun Shang beamed. "The elder grandfathers said my body and profound veins are very miraculous now, that even the blood of a Thunder Dragon can be easily refined and fused, several times faster than they anticipated. Then they said they had important matters to decide and told me to go out and play."
Over these days, Yun Shang's aura had undergone very obvious changes every day, with one after another high-level medicinal spirit aura appearing. Her body had also been tempered multiple times, clearly done by several powerful figures working together without holding back.
Because of the Longxi Jade Liquid and the Dark Eternal Calamity, Yun Shang's affinity for all kinds of spiritual energy—especially dark energy—far exceeded ordinary people. Thus, whether it was pill refinement or body tempering, the speed and results constantly astonished the entire Tiangang Cloud Clan, making them even more excited and eager.
Now letting her come out to relax her mood and state of being was very likely in preparation for some important ceremony to come. The Day of Calamity might be the day of the clan's extinction, and they needed to use the entire clan's strength and resources to elevate Yun Shang before then.
Yun Shang's face was still adorned with a sweet smile, but her gaze carried a slight evasion. He didn't need to ask to know—Yun Xiang's attitude from yesterday had already made everything clear. Her clansmen must have told her not to get too close to him, even to persuade him to leave. But she was trying very hard not to show it.
"Yun Shang," Yun Che crouched down and said, "You will have a hard time during this period. But under the calamity of your clan, it's a process you must go through. Your future will definitely be filled with thorns. I hope... you can grow quickly, at least gain the ability to protect yourself soon."
"Huh?" Yun Shang blinked in confusion. "Mm, I know. But Senior is acting strange today; he never says things like this before."
"I'm leaving," Yun Che said directly.
Yun Shang froze, then her face suddenly became flustered. "Leave... Senior, where are you going?"
"Of course, I'm leaving this place," Yun Che said. "I've been a guest in your clan for so long; it's already time to say goodbye."
"But... but..." She panicked—a deep, startling panic. "Senior said he would stay until the Day of Calamity."
Yun Che reached out, placed his hand on her shoulder, and looked into her eyes. "Yun Shang, you must remember this firmly. Never easily trust anyone's words. Because anyone—even the person you believe to be the most trustworthy—can deceive you."
"...!" Yun Shang's eyes trembled. She parted her lips, then gave a soft laugh. "Mm! Senior is... such an amazing person. Not only did he save me, but he also sent me back to my clan and gave me so much... yet I'm still so greedy... I don't want Senior to leave... I..."
She tried to force a smile, but tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. "Senior's world must be very high and vast... wherever you go, please be safe."
"Mm, rest assured." Yun Che reached out his finger to wipe away her tears, his gaze calm and serene.
"I... I'll go tell the clan leader grandfather and Brother Xiang and the others. Everyone must want to see you off in person." Her small hand unconsciously tightened on Yun Che's sleeve, unwilling to let go.
Yun Che shook his head. "No need. I'll leave right now. They should have long wished for me to go."
Yun Shang's gaze dimmed. She lowered her head, and after a long while, she softly asked, "Senior... will you come see me in the future?"
"No," he replied, flat and cruel.
She wiped away all the tears from her face forcefully, not showing sadness. Instead, she lifted her little face with determination. "Then... if I find Senior in the future, Senior must not run away, okay?"
"...Okay," Yun Che nodded gently. "But my world is as high and vast as you said. If you want to find me, you must become stronger than you are now."
"Mm!" She nodded very, very hard. "No matter... no matter what happens, I will live well. I... will definitely... see Senior again."
His hand left her shoulder, and his gaze left as well. Yun Che said, "Qianying, let's go."
Before his voice faded, he stepped forward, pushed open the door, and walked out without any hesitation or lingering.
"Senior!" From behind him came Yun Shang's call again. "Can you grant me one more selfish request?"
Yun Che's footsteps stopped.
"Can Senior leave me... something?" Her voice was soft, on the verge of tears, carrying a plea that could melt any heart of stone. "When I miss Senior, I can..."
"Unnecessary attachments will only become obstacles in your life." Yun Che's cold, hard words brutally cut off her voice. Then he took another step forward.
One step... two steps... three steps... Behind him, there was no more voice from the young girl, only a trace of sorrow spreading silently.
Yun Che's footsteps came to a halt. He let out a heavy sigh, then suddenly turned back and returned to Yun Shang's side. The tip of his finger shone with a rich, pure black light.
The light of the Dark Eternal Calamity.
"Ah..." Amid Yun Shang's startled gasp, Yun Che's finger pointed out and drew a black arc-shaped mark on her heart. The moment the mark took shape, black light flashed, then vanished without a trace.
"Senior...?" She looked up in confusion.
"If you encounter danger, you can try using it to call my name."
With that, he turned around directly, soared into the air, and a storm swept through. His figure had already vanished into the sky until it completely disappeared.
Yun Shang silently gazed at the distant sky, her eyes dazed, and for a long time, she did not look away.