CHAPTER 1695: THE DEMON EMPRESS'S VOW
No wonder, on the very first day he met Chi Wuyue, she had directly mentioned the existence of the “Evil God's Mysterious Vein,” and the explanation that followed was also incredibly subtle.
No wonder she always seemed able to see through his thoughts.
Could it be that her understanding of him ran so deep that it repeatedly startled him, making him think time and again that her eyes could pierce his very soul?
So it turned out that as early as ten years ago, she had already entered his life. During those years in the Yin Xue Realm, she had been watching him, teaching him... all the way until the day both Lan Ji Star and his heart shattered simultaneously.
“Your body holds far too many secrets.” Chi Wuyue continued her narration. “The secrets of a man are often the easiest abyss for a woman who seeks to explore them to quietly fall into—even for her (me).”
“Especially in the Burial God Fire Prison... when even she (I) had fallen into utter despair, you used your strength, wisdom, persistence, and your very life to rescue her (me).”
“What you invaded was not just her body, but also her heart... And for a woman who had sealed her emotions in ice for ten thousand years, making it impossible for her to fall in love, once she does, it is a devotion unto death.”
Yun Che: “...”
“It was also after that incident that she would more frequently, more willingly, face you using this ‘personality’ of mine. Perhaps in her subconscious, this ‘personality’ of hers would attract you more, make you more infatuated.”
“However...” With a slight pause, Chi Wuyue's voice carried a hint of deeply hidden sorrow. “Outside Lan Ji Star, just before her jade body shattered and her soul dissipated, during those few moments when her soul finally separated from my demon soul, she became aware of my existence.”
The world before Yun Che's eyes blurred violently. Those heart-piercing, blood-draining scenes and voices once again surfaced clearly before him:
“I'm not the only one who can be willful...”
“Che'er... live... on...”
His body began to tremble violently. An overwhelming sense of grief threatened to burst forth from within. He lifted his eyes to stare at Chi Wuyue within the black mist. His gaze was terrifying, and his words were low and heavy: “What... do you people... take her for...”
The Ice Phoenix God Spirit's soul had dwelled within her, using Mu Xuanyin's eyes to see the outside world. The only time it had directly interfered with her will was when Yun Che appeared.
Even that had enraged Yun Che.
Even after removing that interference, even though he knew Mu Xuanyin's doting love might turn to hatred, he had still insisted that the Ice Phoenix God Spirit undo it. Because to have one's very will tampered with... was far too unfair and cruel to Mu Xuanyin, and to anyone.
But Chi Wuyue... although it was only a soul attachment, and although it could never achieve forced interference, her influence on Mu Xuanyin had spanned almost her entire life.
This meant that Mu Xuanyin's entire life had been spent under the invisible manipulation and control of others.
“What do you take her for...” Yun Che repeated the words over and over, his fingers tightening as they trembled. “Why... does one after another of you... treat her like this!?”
Too intense a surge of heartache, self-blame, and fury welled up within him in chaotic turmoil. Yun Che's vision blurred violently, and his hand suddenly shot out, closing the distance between him and Chi Wuyue in an instant. His fingers pierced through the black mist and grabbed at Chi Wuyue's throat.
Chi Wuyue did not move. She allowed his out-of-control fingers to tightly grip her neck.
It was at that moment that the black mist around Chi Wuyue slowly dissipated... For the first time, her true countenance was reflected in Yun Che's chaotic pupils.
The Demon Empress of Calamity, Chi Wuyue, was the most beautiful woman in the Northern Divine Region. Every living being in the Northern Divine Region knew this clearly, and no one had ever questioned it.
As the black mist scattered, what appeared before Yun Che was a face that seemed to embody all the enchanting grace and seductive aura in the world.
In terms of pure facial delicacy, she was undoubtedly breathtakingly beautiful, yet still slightly inferior to Shen Xi and Qianye Ying'er.
But her crescent-shaped brows and phoenix eyes, without needing any expression or posture, naturally exuded an endless captivating charm that could seize one's very soul. Her exquisitely shaped lips were glossed with a pink sheen. A mere glance seemed to directly invade the heart and soul, easily shattering a man's will and giving rise to an endless, burning, body-consuming desire.
As his gaze traveled downward, her rather simple black dress outlined a voluptuous, curvaceous figure that was startlingly breathtaking. She stood there quietly, and with each most basic, most natural breath, her curves presented a dizzying, alluring rise and fall that made one's blood boil.
It was also at that moment that, in his daze, Yun Che truly understood for the first time in his life what a “devilish figure” meant.
Yun Che had seen many seductive women and had experienced various forms of charm magic. But he had never known that a woman could be so entrancing to this degree.
Every part of her body... even her snow-white skin, even the jade-like neck his fingers were gripping, seemed to be radiating a dreamy, enchanting light.
Yun Che's fingers, his entire body, froze in place. He stared blankly.
The intense heartache, sorrow, and anger that had been so vivid just a moment ago all vanished, as if sucked into an endless abyss of seduction.
“Che'er,” Chi Wuyue spoke softly, her misty, watery eyes gazing directly into Yun Che's. “Do you really want to kill your master?”
Her master's eyes, her master's enchanting voice, her master's words that, even when sighing, carried seduction and provocation...
Yun Che withdrew his hand from Chi Wuyue's neck like a flash of lightning.
“No, that's not...” Yun Che stepped back. In that instant, he couldn't even believe he had been so audacious and unfilial as to attack his own master.
But as he stumbled back, his body losing balance, a wisp of faint fragrance swept over him. In his dazed confusion, he was gently embraced by Chi Wuyue, his face sinking into a warm softness.
“Che'er...” The voice that sounded softly in his ear seemed to come from a dream: “She is your master, and I am also your master. Together we watched you grow, watched you walk further and further away, quietly watched over you... Together we rejoiced for you, sighed for you, grieved for you, and shed tears for you.”
Yun Che's body trembled. The dark barrier that had formed in his heart for so long was silently shattering.
“She protected you with her own life. That was the choice... she regretted the least in her entire life.”
“And from now on... leave it to me, along with her desire to protect you.”
“I will no longer let anyone hurt you or betray you. Whoever bullies you, harms you, or betrays you—no matter who—I will make them pay a thousand, ten thousand times over.”
“Everything you want, everything that is most beautiful in this world... even if I have to take it by force, I will give it all to you, to make it up to you.”
“Alright?”
Chi Wuyue's words were like the most gentle dream, yet also carried a vow from the depths of her soul.
Yun Che's body trembled, his teeth chattered. He gritted his teeth fiercely, over and over, but could not muster the strength to struggle.
“Mas... ter...”
With that soft call from the depths of his soul, the dark fortress in his heart, before his master whom he had lost and found again, collapsed fully for the first time, releasing for the first time the fragile side he had buried deep within.
“Master... Master... Master...”
He called out again and again. The tears he thought had long dried up burst forth like a breached dam, freely soaking Chi Wuyue's bodice.
This was a dream that made him willing to shatter... especially since it wasn't entirely a dream at all.
Chi Wuyue gently closed her eyes, holding the man before her softly.
Perhaps it was because of her extreme doting on Yun Che, perhaps it was due to her guilt towards Mu Xuanyin... But her words were not merely a comfort to Yun Che.
They were a vow she had made long before she found Yun Che again.
——————
Eastern Divine Region, Yin Xue Realm, Southern Domain.
The Snow Azure Qilin Beast, the Xuan beast overlord of the southern domain of Yin Xue Realm and one of only two surviving Divine Lord-ranked giant beasts in the Yin Xue Realm. Its strength was equivalent to a human's sixth-level Divine Lord.
Its “rebellion” had always been one of the greatest worries of the Bing Huang God Sect.
The Yin Xue Realm had two Divine Lords: Mu Bingyun and Mu Huanzhi. Suppressing a single Snow Azure Qilin Beast was not too difficult. But far more terrifying than the beast itself was its status as the southern domain overlord of Yin Xue's Xuan beasts, allowing it to command a vast, limitless horde of beasts.
If they were to attack human cities to expand their territory, it would cause a bloodbath.
This time, Mu Bingyun personally came to the Southern Domain, leading the sect's nine great elders and countless disciples, and mobilizing the forces of all branch sects in the Southern Domain. But when they descended upon the beast domain, what they saw was a scene beyond belief.
The Snow Azure Qilin Beast was over a hundred feet long, radiating boundless beastly might. A single claw could shatter mountains and crack the earth.
Yet, it lay prostrate on all fours at the edge of the beast domain, with not a trace of dominating pressure or killing intent.
Behind it stretched a sea of beasts, too numerous to count.
But such a massive beast horde exuded no sense of violent aura or danger. Almost all of them were lying prone, barely moving for a long time.
When Mu Bingyun arrived with her Ice Phoenix disciples and Yin Xue Xuan practitioners, this was the sight that greeted her, causing her brows to furrow deeply.
This snowfield, where a fierce battle had raged just yesterday, was eerily silent today.
At the very front of the beast horde, catching sight of Mu Bingyun's personal arrival from afar, the Snow Azure Qilin Beast shuddered all over. Its entire upper body slammed heavily to the ground, its head bowed, and it cried out: “Little beast greets the arrival of the great Yin Xue Realm King!”
“...?” Mu Bingyun's figure halted in midair. Her gaze swept far into the distance, her icy countenance filled with vigilance and doubt.
But behind her, the Ice Phoenix disciples and the Yin Xue Xuan practitioners who had fought bitterly against these beasts just yesterday all exchanged glances, their faces filled with confusion.
“Sect Master, be careful. It must be a trick.” Mu Tanzhi said in a low voice.
Clang!
The Yin Xue Sword was drawn, pointing at the Snow Azure Qilin Beast. Mu Bingyun said in a cold voice: “Snow Azure Qilin, you have violated the contract with the former Realm King, inciting the southern domain Xuan beasts to seize human resources and territory. Today, I have come to settle this once and for all!”
Beneath the sword's aura and cold might, the Snow Azure Qilin Beast did not rise, nor did it release even the slightest fluctuation of Xuan power. It lowered its posture even further, its voice pleading: “Little beast knows its wrong, little beast knows its wrong. A while ago, little beast lost its mind in a moment of foolishness and committed an unforgivable great sin. Little beast now knows its wrong, and begs the Realm King to show mercy... begs the Realm King to show mercy!”
The Snow Azure Qilin Beast's roar could unleash terrifying beastly might. But now, kneeling prostrate, every word carried humility and supplication, also faintly tinged with fear. Its enormous body was clearly trembling.
This time, even those who hadn't been confused before were utterly bewildered.
The Snow Princess Sword hung motionless in midair. Mu Bingyun was momentarily at a loss.
“Wh... what's going on?” Mu Tanzhi frowned deeply. He released his spiritual sense, spanning the boundless beast horde as far as the eye could see. All of them were displaying signs of submission, emitting tremors of fear, not daring to release even a hint of malice or aggression.
Seeing that Mu Bingyun did not respond for a long time, the Snow Azure Qilin Beast trembled even more violently. It hurriedly said: “Little beast knows its crime is heinous... Little beast swears that from now on it will retreat to the Southern Lan Domain and will never take a single step out for the rest of its life. The southern domain Xuan beasts will also never again leave their territory without permission.”
“As for the damage caused before, we will make triple reparations within three months. Moreover... starting this year, our Southern Beast Domain will annually present the Ice Phoenix God Sect with five hundred thousand pounds of the finest Cold Ice Xuan Crystals... Begging the Realm King for mercy, begging the Realm King for mercy.”
With these pleas, the Snow Azure Qilin Beast began kowtowing frantically, and the beasts behind it also desperately knocked their heads in supplication.
To have forced Mu Bingyun to personally come to the Southern Domain, the might of the Snow Azure Qilin Beast and the horde it commanded was imaginable.
Even if Mu Bingyun could ultimately suppress them and force them back to the Southern Domain, it would be considered a good result, and would have come at no small cost.
But before the suppression had even begun, the Snow Azure Qilin Beast and the massive beast horde it led were already begging for mercy willingly, even proposing what could be called harsh terms to win forgiveness.
Moreover, their posture of submission and the fear they displayed were absolutely not false.