# Chapter 1664: Shadow Grief
"Let's go!"
Without waiting for Yun Che to inquire or approach, nor saying a single word to Burning Moon God Emperor, Chi Wuyue swept up Qianye Ying'er and directly rose into the air, vanishing into the distance in an instant.
Chan Yi and Yun Wu exchanged a glance, then swiftly followed.
"I shall not see you off further." Burning Moon God Emperor's voice carried a hundred miles, his imperial might stern and imposing.
From afar, at the very moment before Chi Wuyue completely disappeared from sight, Yun Che saw her suddenly turn her head and cast a faint glance back at him.
There was no dominance, no coldness, no mockery, no anger... no emotion of any kind.
"Hmph!" Fen Daocang said in a low voice, "An Eighth-rank Divine Lord, yet daring to challenge our king's demonic might."
"..." Burning Moon God Emperor did not speak, nor did he feel any of the satisfaction that should have come from finally suppressing Chi Wuyue's edge after she had suffocated him with her pressure.
When Qianye Ying'er's power erupted, that sudden, oppressive feeling had not yet dissipated even now.
And afterward... her series of actions were completely illogical and inexplicable.
However, these were not matters for him to ponder at this moment.
The Demon Emperor's power that Yun Che bore, and the transformation of Soul Plunder Realm caused by him... this was unprecedented, and would likely be a major event that could completely reshape the configuration of the Northern Divine Region!
"Recall all Moon Devourers," he commanded in a grave voice. "Order them to return immediately, no matter where they are."
---
The Dark Profound Ark flew through the void, racing back to Soul Plunder Realm at its utmost speed.
Inside the ark's chamber, Chi Wuyue gently laid Qianye Ying'er down... From start to finish, she had been very deliberate in not allowing Yun Che to touch Qianye Ying'er.
Even now, they were far from Burning Moon Realm.
Qianye Ying'er remained unconscious. Yet her injuries and blood loss were far from sufficient to cause her to fall unconscious.
"What exactly is going on?" Yun Che could clearly see that Chi Wuyue was intentionally preventing him from touching Qianye Ying'er.
But although his heart was filled with countless doubts, he did not forcefully go against Chi Wuyue's will.
After all, over the past year of their association, a subtle sense of trust had unknowingly formed between him, Chi Wuyue, and Qianye Ying'er.
Especially after killing Zhou Qingchen and soul-crushing Zhou Xuzi.
Just as when Chi Wuyue suddenly declared that Yun Che would become the Demon Emperor of Soul Plunder, neither Yun Che nor Qianye Ying'er had any prior knowledge, yet neither showed any abnormality.
Chi Wuyue turned around and slowly spoke: "Her fetal breath... has dissipated."
"..." Yun Che stood rooted to the spot for a full three breaths before turning his head in an extremely stiff manner: "What... did... you... say?"
"See for yourself." Chi Wuyue moved aside, then slowly exhaled.
Yun Che stepped forward, reached out and placed his hand on Qianye Ying'er's heart, slowly releasing his profound energy and spiritual sense... Then he was completely frozen there, his entire body as if suddenly petrified, lasting for a very, very long time.
Both he and Qianye Ying'er were people filled with hatred, incarnations of vengeful ghosts.
In their usual unions, most were for the purpose of dual cultivation. With hearts full of vengeance, they would both deliberately avoid such accidents.
With Qianye Ying'er's cultivation, as long as she was unwilling, there was absolutely no possibility of conception.
With her position and hatred, she had no reason for it either!
"The fetal breath is shallow and weak, it should be less than half a month," Chi Wuyue said.
Yun Che's pupils sharply flickered!
Less than half a month... That day was the one when they killed Zhou Qingchen, right on this Dark Profound Ark!
It was also when Qianye Ying'er had been the most active and the most frenzied.
"How... could she..." Yun Che murmured in a daze.
*Slap!*
A sharp sound rang out as Yun Che's hand on Qianye Ying'er's heart was heavily knocked away.
Qianye Ying'er opened her eyes and sat up. Her face was still covered in a layer of pallor, but her gaze was already as icy cold as before, showing no abnormality.
"Hmph, letting you two see a joke," Qianye Ying'er said indifferently. She stood up and continued, "I didn't let it take root as a fetus precisely so I could dissolve it at any time. This is fine... no, this is best."
"...Are you alright?" Chi Wuyue asked in an extremely soft voice.
"What could be wrong with me?" Qianye Ying'er replied coldly. "We're about to annex Yan Mo, then Burning Moon afterward. Everything is within reach. If an extra trouble appeared at this time... that would be utterly foolish."
"Originally, I would have dissolved it before going to Yan Mo as well."
Chi Wuyue: "..."
Qianye Ying'er glanced at Yun Che and said, "That time, I was preoccupied with being wanton beneath you and forgot to seal myself. Rest assured, this kind of mistake won't happen again."
Yun Che did not speak.
"Chi Wuyue, I caused you to lose face in front of Burning Moon this time... I will make up for it myself."
Having said that, Qianye Ying'er turned around, pushed open the door, and walked out.
A long silence.
Chi Wuyue let out a faint sigh, slowly stepped forward, and prepared to leave.
"Indeed," Yun Che said in a low voice, as if talking to himself, "this is for the best."
"..." Chi Wuyue's foot, about to step out of the doorway, halted. Her chest heaved heavily.
"Yun Che," she suddenly spoke, her voice very soft and gentle, yet carrying a touch of sorrow that tugged at the heartstrings, "I know that within your heart there is endless pain and endless hatred. Revenge is your only goal and obsession. Apart from hatred, you don't even allow yourself to have any other emotions."
"But... I still hope that even if every corner of your soul is filled with hatred, you won't let it completely devour that... originally warm heart of yours."
She slowly turned her head back, her already gentle voice ethereal like smoke in a dream: "Your daughter, Yun Wuxin, at least she once came into this world, at least she once received your unreserved fatherly love."
Yun Che: "..."
"That day was not an accident. She did have her own selfish motives," Chi Wuyue continued. "But her selfishness was not for herself, but for you."
"She didn't want you to die."
Chi Wuyue left. In the quiet room, Yun Che stood there dazed, for a very, very long time.
Stepping out of the inner chamber, following the aura, he found Qianye Ying'er standing silently at the tail end of the ark.
"Want to scold me?" Sensing his approach, Qianye Ying'er cast him a sidelong glance and turned her face away. "I admit my mistake this time. I told you, it won't happen again. As for Burning Moon God Emperor's account... I will definitely collect it."
Yun Che did not speak, just stared fixedly at her.
"...?" Qianye Ying'er turned her head in confusion, meeting Yun Che's clearly unusual gaze. She frowned and said, "What? Still can't get over it?"
"How do you know I'm angry?" Yun Che spoke, his voice cold.
"Is there anyone who understands you better than me?" Qianye Ying'er replied without hesitation. She was indeed the most qualified to say that.
"Rather than anger," Yun Che said, "I'm more surprised."
"Surprised? Hah! You don't think I did it on purpose, do you?"
Qianye Ying'er turned her gaze again, looking at the rapidly rushing dark world ahead, and said, "Anyway, it doesn't matter anymore. What you think is your business."
"Does it really not matter anymore?" Yun Che's words seemed devoid of any emotion.
Qianye Ying'er laughed coldly, as if she had heard a joke: "What, should I weep bitterly like a pitiful, useless weak woman? How utterly ridiculous."
Her beautiful eyes narrowed halfway, her gaze as sharp as a cold sword: "Though it's a bit embarrassing, at least it's settled a matter that has been troubling me for days. Now I can be completely single-minded."
"Over at the Yan Mo Realm, do you still intend to take the risk alone?" she suddenly asked.
"I have my own plans. You don't need to have these unnecessary worries."
Having said that, Yun Che turned around and walked away.
After walking a great distance, he stopped, his aura slowly withdrawn, then withdrawn again, and his figure also gradually became indistinct... until both his aura and form completely disappeared from where he stood.
He moved silently, turning back and walking in reverse. Soon, Qianye Ying'er appeared in his sight again.
The chilling cold wind, carrying bursts of ghostly wails, made Qianye Ying'er's flying golden hair the most gorgeous scene in the darkness.
In silence, she remained motionless, unaware of Yun Che's return. Time itself seemed to have frozen.
In the dim world with faint light, Yun Che watched Qianye Ying'er for the first time with such careful and such unblinking focus.
After a long time, just as Yun Che half-turned his body to leave... Qianye Ying'er's figure slowly curled down.
Her knees touched the ground as she knelt... a posture that went against her pride, that she most detested and rejected, and never allowed herself to make easily.
But she did not stand up for a long time. Her hands tightly hugged her chest, her body trembling violently as if bathed in the cold wind of an icy hell...
*Drip!*
*Drip!*
*Drip!*
The sound of water droplets falling was so faint, yet each drop heavily struck the strings of Yun Che's heart.
Qianye Ying'er slowly raised her hand. Through her blurry vision, she saw her palm that was already wet. She bit her teeth tightly, but tears from her eyes surged out like crazy, falling endlessly, unable to stop no matter what.
"Why... am... I..."
She murmured in confusion...
Clearly it should have been relief, clearly no longer needing to struggle or hesitate, clearly... just a mistake that should never have appeared.
Why was it so painful...
Why did I still have tears...
Why am I... like this...
What is wrong with me...
She deeply lowered her head, using all her strength to hug her own shoulders, desperately, not allowing herself to make the slightest sound of weeping, because that would be detected by Yun Che.
"Your daughter, Yun Wuxin, at least she once came into this world, at least she once received your unreserved fatherly love."
"She didn't want you to die..."
Yun Che's hands slowly clenched, then clenched tighter.
In silence, he withdrew his gaze, slowly walked away, maintaining his Shadow Concealment state, and came all the way to the other side of the ark.
He stared ahead, silent for a long, long time.
....
"Help me... take revenge."
"Please... bestow upon me the slave mark anew. I am willing to be your slave... forever!"
"You won't regret it!"
"Qianye Ying'er is dead. In this world, there is only Yun Qianying!"
"Do you think that by being good to Yun Shang, you can erase the sin and guilt of failing to protect your daughter? That you can fill the void in your heart? I tell you... impossible! Never! On the contrary, you are making a mistake on top of a mistake!"
"Right now, what you should do most, and the only thing you can do, is to avenge her! You finally have no attachments and no weaknesses, yet you want to forcefully create a new one here? Hah!"
"I am your tool, that's right. But don't forget, you are also my tool! You can be foolish, but I can also stop you from being foolish!"
....
Yun Che murmured in a daze: "You were the one who made me cut off all emotions, who helped me erase the last of my attachments and weaknesses..."
"Why did it have to be you..."
He closed his eyes, then suddenly plummeted downward, breaking away from the Dark Profound Ark, flying straight in the opposite direction.
In his perception, the aura of the Dark Profound Ark rapidly faded into the distance. At this moment, Yun Che's figure also manifested. Dark light radiated from his body, his speed increased explosively, and in his opened pupils, the darkest light of darkness since entering the Northern Divine Region slowly began to shine.
His gaze was fixed on... Burning Moon Realm!