Chapter 1646: Qianye's "Crisis"
"And in this empress's view, if Zhou Xuzi truly valued Zhou Qingchen that much, after his death, his most likely course of action would actually not be a forceful assault on the Northern Divine Region."
"Because Zhou Qingchen's death would not only enrage him and drive him mad, but also fill him with guilt! Since the man is already dead, the last thing he could do is to do everything in his power to protect Zhou Qingchen's reputation, absolutely ensuring that the fact that he had become a 'demon' never becomes known to the world."
"A forceful attack born of extreme rage could vent his temporary fury, but it would also inflict losses on the Zhou Tian God Realm. At the same time, it would very likely expose the secret that Zhou Qingchen had already become a demon, expose the taboo fact that he had voluntarily entered into a transaction with this empress, and lead to countless unpredictable consequences."
"On the other hand, if he suppresses his rage and does not act, even if his heart is consumed by flames, he can preserve Zhou Qingchen's final honor, and none of those earlier consequences will occur."
Chi Wuyue moved a step closer to Qianye Ying'er: "How strongly the Zhou Tian God Realm detests the word 'demon', and how great a disgrace it is to become a 'demon'—you must understand this far better than this empress does."
"So, which course do you think he would be more inclined towards?"
"Oh, and one more thing." Before Qianye Ying'er could respond, Chi Wuyue suddenly added: "Let this empress help you recall something properly... Zhou Xuzi's lifespan, experience, and the time he has been an emperor all far surpass Qianye Fantian's."
"Moreover, during his reign as emperor, he has always been the one in the Eastern Divine Region—no, among all three divine regions—who can be called the most renowned and most respected Divine Emperor."
Qianye Ying'er: "..."
"How great is the likelihood that such a person would lose control of his rage?"
Qianye Ying'er's hands remained clenched tightly. Though her heart was filled with anger, she was not one to easily lose her reason. But Chi Wuyue's words left her momentarily unable to refute.
When she had described the situation to Yun Che, she had said that given Zhou Qingchen's special significance to Zhou Xuzi, the probability of Zhou Xuzi losing control was around sixty percent, and that she would find a way to turn that into a hundred percent, with enough time remaining.
But now, listening to Chi Wuyue's words, although she was unwilling to agree, she suddenly felt that the probability might now be only around ten percent, or even lower.
She was intimately familiar with Zhou Xuzi's past with his legitimate wife, and thus was absolutely certain that Zhou Qingchen was Zhou Xuzi's greatest—and possibly only—weakness. But she had overlooked an important point... and that was Zhou Qingchen's "honor" after his death.
And Chi Wuyue, having only heard her describe it once, and in less than half a day, had directly exposed this "loophole" that she had always missed.
This woman...
"Since that's the case, why did you deliberately make Yun Che's presence here public and proactively let the Eastern Divine Region know?" Qianye Ying'er asked.
"Of course, to use your 'suggestion' to lure him into bringing Zhou Qingchen and meeting with this empress," Chi Wuyue said.
"Now?"
"Of course."
Qianye Ying'er did not immediately flare up. After a brief deliberation, she said in a deep voice: "Let alone merging the three king realms, we haven't even taken the first step yet. Offending the Zhou Tian God Realm now would be equivalent to wasting the most effective opportunity we have."
"And if he erupts in rage and loses control, attacking the Northern Domain with full force, we haven't even secured a foothold. Trying to use the situation for a counterattack would be nothing but a huge joke."
"He won't," Chi Wuyue said with a faint smile. "And even if he does, it won't matter. If this dark land were so easy to invade, it wouldn't have survived until today."
"Then what is the point of you doing this?" Qianye Ying'er quickly considered several possibilities, but none of them made sense.
"It's very simple. As long as he comes, that is enough." That was Chi Wuyue's answer.
Yun Che, who had been silently listening to Chi Wuyue's words, spoke: "What do you mean?"
"There is a very fitting saying that I'm sure you must have heard." Chi Wuyue's brow seemed to arch slightly as she whispered softly:
"When yellow mud falls into the crotch of your pants, even if it's not shit, it's still shit."
A long silence hung over Hunluo Heaven.
When Qianye Ying'er lifted her eyes again, she had finally understood Chi Wuyue's meaning. She let out a low laugh: "When it comes to despicable and shameless methods, compared to you, I am still far behind."
These words seemed both mocking and sighing.
Chi Wuyue's smile remained, her enchanting voice flowing smoothly: "Relying on others to deliver an opportunity versus forging one yourself, being passive versus being active—this empress still prefers the active approach a bit more. After all, taking the initiative to control and being forced to endure are completely different things, wouldn't you agree, Yun Qianying?"
Qianye Ying'er's brows twitched repeatedly. She abruptly averted her gaze, but her entire body involuntarily softened by a fraction.
Her smile faded, and Chi Wuyue turned around, saying something somewhat ambiguous: "This empress usually disdains such despicable little tricks. But if it's that Zhou Xuzi... that's a different matter."
The last sentence carried a faint, deeply hidden murderous intent.
"Yun Che, you will cooperate in this matter, won't you?" Chi Wuyue said. She didn't need Yun Che's answer to know it.
Because regarding this matter, Yun Che was more eager than anyone else.
"Timing," Yun Che said.
Qianye Ying'er did not object.
Chi Wuyue smiled faintly and said: "Given the degree of mutual isolation between the Northern Divine Region and the Eastern Divine Region, in at most a month, Zhou Xuzi will receive news that you have fallen into this empress's hands. It will incidentally also include some trivial tidbits about how you repeatedly angered this empress. At that time, he will certainly contact me immediately to arrange a meeting."
"As for the time of that meeting, it cannot be too long, nor too short."
"Too long, and it will gradually fray his patience, and the longer the night, the more dreams will arise."
"Too short... if this empress does not take this opportunity to demand the sky and press him step by step, it will instead make him suspicious."
"How about a hundred days from now?" Her gaze swept over Yun Che and Qianye Ying'er, but she was surprised to find that when she said this time, both of their auras showed a strange disturbance that shouldn't have existed.
"Oh?" She narrowed her eyes: "Could it be that this timing does not suit your wishes?"
"No," Yun Che spoke, his expression and tone completely normal: "This time... is very good."
Chi Wuyue: "...?"
Qianye Ying'er silently glanced at Yun Che and swallowed the words she was about to say.
At that moment, a gentle breeze drifted in, and a woman whose entire body radiated colorful light descended gracefully—it was the Seventh Demoness, Hua Jin.
With her arrival, all nine Jiehun Demonesses were now gathered before Yun Che and Qianye Ying'er.
"Reporting to our master," Hua Jin bowed: "Young Master Yun's bedchamber has been prepared."
"Mm." Chi Wuyue responded lightly. Facing Yun Che, she smiled sweetly: "Yun Che, after years of drifting, now that you have stopped here, allow yourself a day of rest. Starting tomorrow, you won't even have a moment to relax."
"Chan Yi, take Yun Che and Yun Qianying to their bedchambers. Today, you will attend outside the halls. If they wish to tour the Holy Domain, you shall guide them."
"Yes," Chan Yi accepted the order. To serve as a "companion" in her capacity as a Demoness, but she felt little reluctance in her heart. After all, the grace Yun Che had bestowed upon her was truly beyond repayment.
Yun Che gave a very faint nod.
Chi Wuyue's demonic form turned slightly, her gaze lingering on each of the nine Demonesses: "Jie Xin, Jie Ling, Ye Li, Yao Die, Qing Ying, Lan Ting, Hua Jin, Yu Wu, Chan Yi."
She recited the names of the nine Demonesses one by one, her tone carrying a unique gentleness: "This empress has described to you time and again the vision we yearn for. I once thought it could only be an eternal dream, but... this day has suddenly arrived, starting from today."
"As for what the future holds, this empress cannot predict, nor can I guarantee anything. It may even be that even your lives will no longer be under my protection. In that case..."
"Master, you need not say more," Jie Xin said. "Your life and your wishes are the reason for our existence."
The other eight Demonesses did not speak, but their eyes said the same.
"Good." Chi Wuyue nodded with a smile. Indeed, between her and them, no extra words were necessary. "You may go."
The Demonesses departed. From today onward, the trajectory of their fates, and the world they were about to face, would be turned upside down.
Because of Yun Che's arrival.
"Young Master Yun, please."
Chan Yi came to Yun Che's side, her posture carrying a hint of respect.
Thinking back to their encounter in the Middle Wasteland Realm that year, her heart was filled with endless emotion.
Yun Che glanced at Chi Wuyue but did not speak. He lifted his steps and descended from Hunluo Heaven, following Nanhuang Chan Yi.
Qianye Ying'er, walking alongside Yun Che, suddenly stopped as he descended, half-turning to coldly say to Chi Wuyue: "Chi Wuyue, you certainly know how to pick a time."
"What exactly is the problem with that time?" Chi Wuyue asked.
A flicker of complexity passed through Qianye Ying'er's eyes. She gave a light snort: "That day, one hundred days from now, is his daughter's eighteenth birthday."
"...?" Chi Wuyue was startled.
"Also, there's something you had better remember clearly." Qianye Ying'er turned her back to Chi Wuyue, her tone icy: "I admit that in certain respects, I am inferior to you."
"Oh?" Chi Wuyue raised an eyebrow, showing great interest.
"But that's only because I am far younger than you. If I were at your age, I would be far above you!"
Chi Wuyue chuckled softly and said languidly: "The gap between you and me is not just a matter of age."
Qianye Ying'er's brows darkened.
"Fandi Shennü is a name known to none in the Northern Divine Region." Chi Wuyue spoke slowly: "The legendary Fandi Shennü, unparalleled in talent, never failing to get what she wants, never failing to scheme against anyone."
"But is all of this more because of your highly cunning and ruthless methods, or... because of the Fan Di God Realm behind you, which no one dares to offend?"
"And what about you?" Qianye Ying'er retorted: "The Demon Empress of the Northern Domain, Chi Wuyue. From a mid-tier Realm King to an upper-tier Realm King, then to a Divine Emperor, climbing up by clinging to one man after another—how brilliant!"
"Ha ha ha ha!" Chi Wuyue burst into laughter, but the meaning contained within that laugh could not be understood by a single person in the world. Lifting her head to gaze at the sky, she said cheerfully: "In the eyes of men who hold high positions in this world, women will always be nothing more than appendages to men. So why can't women use men as appendages, as tools?"
Qianye Ying'er: "..."
"This empress started as an ordinary woman, lifting my own feet, step by step, trampling over the stepping stones these men personally laid for me—whether their sects, their lives, their families, or their... king realms!"
"Until there was no man left in this world who dared to look down on this empress even a fraction."
"And you, born at the very pinnacle with everything, seem to be the last person in this world who has the right to look down on this empress."
"..." Qianye Ying'er stood still, silent for a long time.
"However," Chi Wuyue's tone shifted again, carrying a hint of veiled mockery. The emotions she released always seemed to change at will, beyond anyone's ability to glimpse or predict: "There's no need for you to have such hostility towards this empress, nor to feel such a great sense of crisis. After all, during his darkest years, it was you who accompanied him day and night by his side. That is something no one can change or replace."
"And conversely, it's the same."
"...What do you mean?" Qianye Ying'er whirled around.
"An excellent question." Chi Wuyue smiled faintly, her feet already treading on the edge of Hunluo Heaven: "This question, asked by you, can only be answered most accurately by you. This empress is merely babbling nonsense."
With a charming, bone-melting laugh, Chi Wuyue's figure had already receded far into the distance, leaving only Qianye Ying'er standing alone on Hunluo Heaven, not leaving for a long time.