Chapter 1608: Meiyin Enters the Moon
Xia Qingyue's words stunned everyone. Shui Qianheng, who had already resigned himself to his fate, suddenly raised his head: "No... no! This matter is my own decision and has nothing to do with anyone else."
"As the Realm King of Liuguang Realm," Xia Qingyue said coldly, "if it weren't for your most beloved youngest daughter, would you really have risked endangering the entire Liuguang Realm to hide the demon Yun Che for a full twelve hours? I don't believe it, and neither will Zhou Tian Shen Di. No one, absolutely no one, would believe it."
Indeed, anyone would understand that as the Realm King of Liuguang Realm, the only one who could make Shui Qianheng disregard the safety of the entire Liuguang Realm was Shui Meiyin.
"No," Shui Qianheng shook his head violently. He had faced death without fear a moment ago, but now his face was full of terror. "Yue Shen Di, you said before that you would only punish me alone and would not harm others. As a supreme God Emperor, how can you go back on your word?"
"I only said I would not kill others, but I never said I would not investigate them," she glanced at Shui Meiyin. "Shui Qianheng, you must be well aware in your heart that if it weren't for her possessing the world's only Stainless Divine Soul, a unique treasure of our Dong Shen Domain, the first person I would punish would not be you, Shui Qianheng!"
"But since it involves the demon Yun Che, it is absolutely impossible for me to let her off just like that." Xia Qingyue's gaze shifted slightly. "Zhou Tian Shen Di, what is your opinion?"
Zhou Tian Shen Di did not meet Xia Qingyue's gaze, but he clearly understood her meaning... Xia Qingyue had already made a concession on the matter of Shui Qianheng, changing the sentence from death to stripping him of his Divine Lord power. If he, Zhou Tian, insisted on protecting Shui Meiyin as well, not only would it anger Yue Shen Di, but once this matter spread, the entire world would look upon him differently.
"Zhou Tian Shen Di," Shui Qianheng's body, still pierced by the Purple Que Divine Sword, struggled forward. He seemed to feel no pain, completely disregarding his injuries. He looked at Zhou Tian Shen Di and said almost pleadingly: "My daughter Meiyin may have been at fault, but she is young and inexperienced. All... all decisions were made by this sinner Qianheng. Qianheng is willing to atone with death. I beg Zhou Tian Shen Di to save my daughter, I beg... Yue Shen Di to show mercy. Even if Qianheng dies, I will still be grateful for your grace of forgiveness."
He admitted it openly and faced death calmly, displaying the bearing of a high-ranking Realm King. But when it came to his daughter, as a father, he became so flustered, helpless... and humble.
Given Yue Shen Di's ruthlessness, especially her resolute attitude towards Yun Che, he could not imagine what kind of treatment Shui Meiyin would face in her hands... He dared not think about it.
Xia Qingyue was completely unmoved, saying coldly: "Since I promised Zhou Tian Shen Di that I would not kill you, then I will certainly not kill you. Otherwise, wouldn't I become a despicable person who breaks their word?"
Zhou Tian Shen Di: "..."
"Even if you want to die now, I will not allow it. Back then, when you harbored Yun Che, you should have thought of today's price!"
"Yue Shen Di," Zhou Tian Shen Di suddenly spoke, saying slowly: "Since you have taken the trouble to deal with Shui Qianheng, how about letting me handle Shui Meiyin? Since it is a confinement, there should be no difference between Yue Shen Realm and my Zhou Tian God Realm."
The gloom in Shui Qianheng's eyes lessened considerably, replaced by a glimmer of brilliant hope.
It was well known throughout the Dong Shen Domain that Zhou Tian Shen Di was extremely fond of Shui Meiyin. Even before the Xuan Shen Convention, Zhou Tian Shen Di had personally gone to Liuguang Realm wanting to take Shui Meiyin as his personal disciple... his final disciple, but Shui Qianheng had refused.
If confined in Zhou Tian God Realm, even if she could not leave for a thousand years, given Zhou Tian God Realm's righteousness and Zhou Tian Shen Di's fondness for her, she would at least not suffer any harm.
"It seems that Zhou Tian Shen Di is still merciful at heart, unable to bear even towards a sinner who once harbored the demon Yun Che," Xia Qingyue said.
"What they did was ultimately driven by their nature, not to aid evil," Zhou Tian Shen Di said. "Otherwise, I would not be so 'merciful'. I believe Yue Shen Di is certainly aware of this."
"That is true," Xia Qingyue said. "Otherwise, I would not have taken half a step back. But a mistake is a mistake. Without a price, how unfair would that be to those who have suffered the consequences of their mistakes!"
"Sigh," Zhou Tian Shen Di let out a long sigh and said: "Further words are pointless. How about confining Shui Meiyin in my Zhou Tian God Realm? Rest assured, Yue Shen Di, within a thousand years, I will never allow her to leave Zhou Tian even half a step. I will make her reflect on her mistakes every day, and after a thousand years, I will also demand that she atone for her faults with her own strength."
Zhou Tian Shen Di knew that his words were very likely to be rejected. His eagerness to take Shui Meiyin as a disciple back then was known to all. But after a brief moment of thought, Xia Qingyue slowly nodded and said something that greatly surprised him: "Since Zhou Tian Shen Di insists so much, then I... will give Shui Meiyin a chance to choose."
Choose?
"Shui Meiyin," Xia Qingyue slowly turned to face the girl who had been silent all along: "Harboring the demon Yun Che was done by your father, but you were the most important reason. A thousand years of confinement in a King Realm is the most merciful punishment I can think of, and besides, it can also save your father's life. You have no right to refuse, but now I give you a chance to choose." Xia Qingyue's beautiful eyes narrowed, and her voice softened: "Yue Shen Realm or Zhou Tian God Realm? Choose for yourself! Of course, if you want to go to Fan Di God Realm, that is also acceptable."
It seemed that, in Xia Qingyue's view, it made no difference which King Realm in the Dong Shen Domain imposed the punishment... As for Xing Shen Realm, it had been effectively kicked out of the ranks of King Realms.
Upon hearing these words, everyone breathed a deep sigh of relief. Shui Qianheng and Shui Yingyue both looked at Shui Meiyin, their gazes trembling, but they said nothing... because this was an extremely simple choice.
The space fell briefly silent. Shui Meiyin's gaze met Xia Qingyue's. In each other's eyes, they saw only the other's eyes... both equally deep and endless, one like a dark night sky dotted with countless brilliant stars, the other like a purple abyss dreamlike yet devoid of any other light.
Shui Meiyin's lips moved slightly, and she uttered a voice like a dream: "I will go with you... to Yue Shen Realm."
Shui Meiyin's answer stunned the three of them simultaneously. Shui Qianheng exclaimed: "Meiyin! What... what foolishness are you committing! Go to Zhou Tian... that is the place more suitable for you!"
Zhou Tian Shen Di was even more puzzled... Who was protecting her? Who was doing their utmost to preserve Liuguang Realm? Could she really not see that clearly?
Shui Meiyin turned her gaze and smiled lightly, saying: "Yue Shen Di is right. Regardless of the reason, from the perspective of the Dong Shen Domain, we have committed a great wrong. Since we have wronged, we should atone. And if we are to atone... if I choose to go to Zhou Tian God Realm, then Father... and Liuguang Realm will face countless criticisms in the future. Because once today's events spread, everyone will understand that Grandpa Zhou Tian was protecting me."
"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter at all," Shui Qianheng said urgently. "Your safety is far more important than all of this!"
Shui Meiyin shook her head and said to Xia Qingyue: "Yue Shen Di, I will go back with you to Yue Shen Realm. Please also keep your promise and spare my father."
"When have I ever broken my word?" As Xia Qingyue's voice fell, the purple sword aura piercing Shui Qianheng suddenly surged. A flash of purple light burst from Shui Qianheng's chest, directly destroying his profound veins.
"Father!"
Shui Qianheng let out a heavy groan. He did not resist or defend, knowing that doing so would only invite more severe consequences. He let that terrifying force surge directly into his profound veins, mercilessly crushing and crushing again the power that had once stood arrogantly above all living beings...
Hum.
The purple light flickered and vanished. The Purple Que Divine Sword disappeared from Xia Qingyue's hand. Shui Qianheng slowly knelt to the ground, the blood hole in his chest still gushing crimson blood.
Shui Yingyue stepped forward, supporting her father's body, frantically using profound energy to seal his wound... His life was saved, but even if he fully recovered, his cultivation would fall to the Divine Sovereign realm. Moreover, under such severe damage, it might be impossible for him to ever return to the Divine Lord realm.
The Divine Sovereign realm is something countless profound practitioners seek their whole lives. But he was the Realm King of Liuguang Realm... falling from the late-stage Divine Lord realm to the Divine Sovereign realm, how was this any different from another kind of death?
Shui Yingyue's hands were trembling. She hung her head low and did not raise it... because she feared Xia Qingyue would see the fierce anger and killing intent churning in her eyes.
"Let's go," Xia Qingyue turned around, not looking at anyone else.
"Now... now?" Shui Meiyin's voice was very slow, as if she were still sunk in a dream, not yet awake?
"Yes," Xia Qingyue replied.
"Alright." She nodded gently, took a last look at her father and sister, and said softly: "Father, sister, wait for me to return."
With only these words, she stepped forward slowly. When she drew near to Xia Qingyue's side, Yao Yue suddenly raised her hand, and a cyan barrier enveloped her, sealing her within.
"Don't let more people bear the consequences of this outcome that has already occurred..." Zhou Tian Shen Di's voice was calm but seemed to carry a faint pain. "Treat her well."
Xia Qingyue said nothing. A moment later, she had already left far away with Yao Yue and Shui Meiyin, disappearing from sight.
Bang!
As Shui Yingyue was lost in despair, Shui Qianheng collapsed to the ground, his whole body trembling in pain. But what tormented him was not physical pain, but the pain in his heart.
Once Shui Meiyin entered Yue Shen Realm, her fate would be completely decided by Yue Shen Di. No one could help her, let alone save her.
The current Yue Shen Di was already seen as no less fearsome than the former Fandi Shennü in the eyes of the world. For Shui Meiyin to fall into her hands... what would the consequences be? Unimaginable, too terrible to think about.
Zhou Tian Shen Di did not leave immediately. Looking at Shui Qianheng, he sighed and said: "Realm King of Liuguang, do not worry too much. At least, her life will certainly be safe."
Now, the only thing that could be guaranteed was Shui Meiyin's life... Beyond life, a thousand years was enough to change and bring about too many things.
"The fruit of today... Realm King of Liuguang, do you regret it?" Zhou Tian Shen Di said.
"Re...gret?" Shui Qianheng slowly raised his head. On his pale face was actually a bitter smile. "Why would I... regret?"
Zhou Tian Shen Di frowned slightly and said slowly: "Yun Che is now in the Bei Shen Domain, a place where our hands cannot reach, thus planting a calamity with terrible potential. Do you still not think you were wrong?"
"Calamity?" He continued to smile bitterly. "Hasn't the greatest calamity already passed? Is there any disaster greater than the Demon Emperor and the Demon Gods?"
Zhou Tian Shen Di: "..."
"And the one who saved us from this world-destroying catastrophe was Yun Che." Shui Qianheng's face was pained, but his voice and words were so firm. "What I saved back then was not only my future son-in-law, but also my, Shui Qianheng's... Liuguang Realm's lifesaver. It was only right and proper. How could that be wrong!"
Zhou Tian Shen Di's expression suddenly froze, perhaps unable to believe that Shui Qianheng would say such words. "Realm King of Liuguang, regardless of the past... at that time, did you not know that he had already become a demon!?"
"Demon..." Shui Qianheng murmured softly. "What is a demon? Back then, the Yun Che I saw bore the title of Son of Heaven's Dao, the prophecy of 'True God Descends', the inheritance of the Evil God, the allegiance of the Heavenly Poison Pearl, and endless possibilities... With all this, after the Demon Emperor returned to the world, he also gained the Demon Emperor's protection."
"Zhou Tian Shen Di, you can imagine if Yun Che were replaced by anyone else you know, what would that person do? He would wish for the Demon Emperor to stay forever in the Chaos World, because then he would be the master of all beings under the Demon Emperor, and even the God Emperors, even the Dragon Emperor, would bow at his feet!"
Zhou Tian Shen Di opened his mouth but could not make a sound.
"And as for what Yun Che did, you saw it more clearly than many others. He made Jie Tian Mo Di ultimately decide to leave the Chaos. Otherwise, even if Jie Tian Mo Di truly had no intention of harming the world, those returning Demon Gods would turn the Chaos World into a hell. 'Savior Divine Son', this title that you personally bestowed—he deserves it!"
"No one will deny or forget what he did back then. But..." Zhou Tian Shen Di sighed. "Now, what meaning is there in saying all this?"
"Deny and forget?" Shui Qianheng shook his head. "The world knows nothing of what he did. How can they deny or forget? All they know is that he associated with the Evil Infant, that he became a sinful demon!"
"I say all this only to ask Zhou Tian Shen Di..." Shui Qianheng's body grew weaker, his consciousness wavering, but his voice was extremely clear. "Why did a person with so much kindness that it bordered on naivety suddenly become a demon that frightens you so much..."
"Enough!" His heart and soul deeply touched, Zhou Tian Shen Di barked, his aura visibly disturbed. He turned his back and said: "He did indeed save the world in the past. But... if one day he returns with disaster, will you still defend him like this?"
"All I know is that every person in my Liuguang Realm owes him a life. If he wants to kill, then let him kill. But..." Shui Qianheng suddenly laughed. "I know even more that if that day truly comes, even if he slaughters all other star realms, he will definitely not kill anyone from Liuguang Realm..."
"Even if he becomes a devil, he is still... the son-in-law that I, Shui Qianheng, chose..."
Shui Qianheng's consciousness dissipated, and he finally fell unconscious.
Zhou Tian Shen Di stood frozen there. He closed his eyes, his body trembling slightly... After an unknown amount of time, he left far away, but the direction he went was not towards Zhou Tian God Realm.