Chapter 1749: "Grace"
"..." Shui Meiyin's words fell upon his ears, bringing Yun Che a vague sense of familiarity.
At some point in the past, it seemed someone had said something similar to him.
He smiled faintly, a warmth tinged with a deep, cold sharpness: "To become the rule-maker... the purpose of my return is not merely revenge."
Looking at the dark gleam in Yun Che's eyes, Shui Meiyin nodded heavily. Tears still clung to her eyes, but her smile bloomed with unparalleled brightness.
Not only was Yun Che safe and sound, not only had he become far stronger than anticipated, not only did he command the entire Northern Divine Region... even his soul state was far, far better than she had feared.
Over the years, her two greatest worries had been that Yun Che would completely succumb to darkness, losing his humanity in hatred, and that he would harbor a death wish as strong as his desire for revenge...
But neither had occurred... Chi Wuyue's words to her before were not mere consolation.
His soul and will had grown immensely strong as well.
"What exactly is the secret? Why can't you say it?" Qianye Ying'er's cold voice suddenly pierced through. "Immature women always resort to cheap tricks like hiding things to keep a man hooked, don't they?"
"Shut up," Yun Che rebuked her lightly.
Back when he was hunted by everyone, only the Liuguang Realm and Shui Meiyin had taken him in and protected him, risking great involvement.
When he returned to the Eastern Divine Region and unleashed the dark calamity, as a denizen of the Eastern Divine Region, even if Shui Meiyin had drawn her blade against him, it would have been understandable... yet at the best moment, she brought out the Huanxin Liuying Jade, which she had long prepared to clear his name across the entire God Realm and shatter the beliefs of countless profound practitioners.
Toward Shui Meiyin, he had never given even the slightest favor or return—not even an emotional response. Even their engagement had been forcibly arranged by Mu Xuanyin.
Yet he had continuously received her unreserved devotion and heart... whether across three thousand years, whether he was human or demon, whether he was peaceful or brutal.
To others, this might seem foolish, laughable, even incomprehensible.
But to have such a kindred spirit in one's life—what immense fortune it was.
Like a star... that belonged solely to him, needing no reason, yet willing to shine for him eternally.
Having experienced utter darkness and despair, his cherishment for the girl before him now filled every corner of his heart and soul.
"Hmph!" Qianye Ying'er turned directly around, not even glancing at them again.
Shui Meiyin's starry eyes blinked. In just a few short years, Qianye Ying'er had also undergone a tremendous change compared to the Fandi Shennü of old... in many aspects.
"Brother Yun Che, I'm not deliberately hiding it from you, but... there's a very important reason," she explained briefly, then smiled. "But Lord Jie Tian Mo Di is really, really good to Brother Yun Che. Before she left, she secretly did a lot for him."
"Mm," Yun Che nodded. How could she not be good? Both her daughters were in his hands.
Whether the Evil God or the Heaven's Calamity Demon Emperor, that couple was undoubtedly the greatest gods, the greatest demons.
Unfortunately, the world was unworthy.
Without pressing or forcing Shui Meiyin, Yun Che turned his gaze to Chi Wuyue and asked, "Why are you all together?"
"Why wouldn't we be?" Chi Wuyue asked with a teasing smile. "Little Meiyin and I are old acquaintances."
"Old acquaintances?" Yun Che frowned slightly... then suddenly remembered that when Shui Meiyin had first come to the Yin Xue Realm and seen Mu Xuanyin, she had given her an unusually strange look.
"She sensed my existence back then," Chi Wuyue said slowly and languidly. "But fortunately, she didn't speak of it. Later, the engagement between you and little Meiyin was also my decision."
Her seductive eyes curved gently. "Such a beautiful and intimidating little girl—how could we let someone else have her?"
"~!@#¥%..." The Moon Devourers standing guard on the side twitched and their scalps went numb. They couldn't leave, yet staying was awkward.
The circle of the Demon Lord and Demon Empress... was just too damn bizarre.
Chi Wuyue's seductive face bore a light smile, but a deep question lingered in her heart.
The Stainless Divine Soul could perceive her Nirvana Wheel Demon Soul.
And her Nirvana Wheel Demon Soul could, to some extent, also perceive Shui Meiyin's Stainless Divine Soul.
When Shui Meiyin was telling Yun Che everything, her soul fluctuations... were far too strange.
Chi Wuyue couldn't even imagine what kind of complex emotions could cause such soul fluctuations.
What was she hiding?
And why was she hiding it?
"Cough," Shui Qianheng cleared his throat. After gathering his emotions for a long time, he finally spoke. "Demon Lord, the reason we came here is actually to ask a favor."
Yun Che turned his gaze, his voice calm: "Senior Shui, your kindness in the past is unforgettable. If Senior Shui has any request, feel free to speak—except... pleading for mercy!"
Shui Qianheng's expression stiffened slightly.
Shui Yingyue stepped forward, neither humble nor arrogant: "Our Liuguang Realm has not come to plead for mercy this time. Rather... we hope the Demon Lord can give the Eastern Divine Region a chance."
"Give the Eastern Divine Region a chance?" Yun Che's lips curled upward, and he let out a low, cold laugh. His originally gentle voice suddenly turned icy and piercing: "Back then, who gave me a chance?!"
He turned around, no longer looking at Shui Yingyue. "No matter what becomes of the Eastern Divine Region, your Liuguang Realm will not be affected. Your kindness, I will repay many times over. But if you think to use this to make me spare the Eastern Divine Region..."
"Ha!" He gave a low snort. "Your kindness isn't weighty enough to make me forget my dead parents, wife, and daughter!"
His cold words left no room for negotiation.
Before Shui Qianheng and Shui Yingyue could respond, he shifted his gaze slightly and said coldly, "Could the distinguished guest from the Futian Realm also be here to plead for mercy?"
As his words fell, after a brief silence, two more figures landed side by side on the Soul Heaven Ship.
They were none other than Lu Zhou, the Realm King of the Futian Realm, and Lu Lengchuan, the Futian Realm Young Master.
During the calamity in the Eastern Divine Region, the Futian Realm had also been untouched.
This was not because the Futian Realm, one of the three strongest star realms in the Eastern Divine Region alongside the Shengyu Realm and Liuguang Realm, was too powerful, but because Yun Che clearly remembered that back at the edge of the chaos, Lu Zhou had spoken up for him under immense pressure.
It was a light remark... but at that time, in his extreme fury, he had still heard it clearly.
"Lu Zhou of the Futian Realm pays respects to the Northern Domain Demon Lord."
Lu Zhou bowed, and Lu Lengchuan beside him also saluted respectfully.
Yun Che turned back, accepting their bow. "Realm King Lu once spoke for me back then. I have not forgotten. And I have a slight friendship with Brother Lu. If you come as guests, you are most welcome. But if you come to plead for mercy... don't blame this Demon Lord for turning hostile!"
Lu Zhou raised his head, a look of surprise on his face.
He had blurted out that remark under a splitting chest and raging fury, yet Yun Che had heard it and remembered it until now.
It showed how much Yun Che valued loyalty deep down.
Lu Lengchuan's gaze was far more complex.
Back then, he and Yun Che had fought a spectacular battle at the Feng Shen Platform. In the end, despite having a great advantage, he had conceded with heartfelt admiration and given the victory to Yun Che.
He had spent three thousand years in the Zhou Tian Realm to become a Divine Lord, while Yun Che, without entering the Zhou Tian Divine Realm, had become the Demon Lord commanding the Northern Domain and terrifying countless realms. Now, looking back, that battle with Yun Che might well be the most glorious moment of his life.
"No, Demon Lord misunderstands," Lu Zhou said. "We came at the invitation of the Liuguang Realm King to pledge allegiance under the Demon Lord's banner."
"Oh?" Yun Che narrowed his eyes, staring straight at Lu Zhou's face. He found his gaze clear and sincere.
"Heh," Yun Che let out a low laugh. "Did I hear that right? As one of the three major star realms of the Eastern Divine Region, at a time when the Eastern Divine Region is suffering a demon calamity, your Futian Realm is actually pledging allegiance to me, a demon?"
"Could it be that the blood spilling across the Eastern Divine Region and the dark profound energy on us that 'the world cannot tolerate' have all been forgotten by you?!"
Lu Zhou's gaze remained calm as he met Yun Che's eyes. "The blood in the Eastern Divine Region cleanses not just the land, but also beliefs and souls."
"Whether dark profound energy can be tolerated by the world is decided not by so-called heavenly law, but by the rule-makers!" His eyes burned. "If the Demon Lord becomes the new master of the God Realm and the new rule-maker, then with just one word from the Demon Lord, dark profound energy will no longer be a sin, but an unparalleled glory!"
Yun Che: "..."
"As for the future master of the God Realm that our Futian Realm chooses..." Lu Zhou's gaze grew even more focused. Since he had been persuaded and had made his decision, he would not hesitate or regret. "It is the Demon Lord, Yun Che."
Yun Che's brows furrowed slightly, his eyes fixed on Lu Zhou. "Are you not afraid... that this Demon Lord will drag your Futian Realm into eternal damnation?!"
"In life, one must always face and make choices. Once chosen, there is no regret." Lu Zhou said. "Moreover, for our Futian Realm, this matter is not merely a choice, but also... a repayment of kindness and atonement for sin."
Yun Che turned to look at Shui Qianheng and Shui Yingyue. "Is the Liuguang Realm the same?"
"Yes," Shui Yingyue answered. "This time, the Zhou Tian projection not only revealed the truth of the past, but also, for the first time in the history of the Eastern Divine Region, truly shook the world's perception of darkness. I believe the world will not be too surprised by our choice, and at the same time, many star realms and many realm kings will harbor similar thoughts to ours."
"Ha, hahahaha!" Yun Che suddenly burst into loud laughter. "As expected of the Liuguang Realm King and the Futian Realm King. I have to admit, your method of 'pleading for mercy' is quite clever. But what a pity, what a pity... The people I want to kill, even if they kneel before me and smash their heads to pieces, they still have to die!!"
Shui Yingyue and Lu Zhou both held their breath.
"Brother Yun Che..." Shui Meiyin whispered very softly.
Yun Che suddenly lifted his gaze and said to Chi Wuyue, "You brought them here on the Soul Heaven Ship. Are you, perhaps, agreeing with their plea for mercy?"
"Of course," Chi Wuyue answered without hesitation, meeting Yun Che's gaze. A faint, elusive smile lingered on her lips.
"..." Yun Che looked at her without speaking. He knew Chi Wuyue would give him an answer that would satisfy him enough... Especially since she knew best the depth of his hatred for the Eastern Divine Region.
"When the rule-maker makes a decision, those below must either obey or be judged or even annihilated. They truly have no choice. So..." A black gleam flashed in Chi Wuyue's eyes, and every word she spoke was steeped in murderous intent. "The king realms that participated back then deserve annihilation, even extermination."
"But below the king realms, they can indeed be given a chance to choose again." Chi Wuyue smiled faintly. "Ahead, we still have the Southern Divine Region and the Western Divine Region. We need many corpses to pave the way and many lackeys, don't we?"
Though she was ostensibly helping them and giving the Eastern Divine Region a chance, Chi Wuyue's words sent chills down the spines of Shui Qianheng, Shui Yingyue, Lu Zhou, and Lu Lengchuan.
Yun Che's gaze shifted slightly, then he fell silent for a moment.
In that silence, his memory returned to the time in the Huan Yao Realm...
Back then, when Xiao Yaohou had obtained the Golden Crow divine power and regained control of the Huan Yao Realm, she had massacred the Huai Wang's nine clans. But during the century of intense upheaval in the Huan Yao Realm, as many as sixty percent of the royal clans and guardian clans had sided with the Huai Wang lineage.
Rebellion was a capital crime, punishable by the extermination of entire families.
But if that were truly done, the Huan Yao Realm would be severely weakened, plunged into prolonged chaos, and it would take who knows how many years to recover. Many of the most supreme inheritances might even disappear forever from the history of the Huan Yao Realm.
If she spared them, she would wrong the deceased Demon Emperor and Little Demon Emperor, and even more so, wrong her own sacrifices and the guardian clans and Huan Yao royal clans that had remained loyal.
And her final choice... Yun Che had witnessed it all.
"Well said." After a long silence, Yun Che spoke slowly, as if to himself, as if pronouncing his final judgment. "I truly should grant the Eastern Divine Region a chance to choose again."
With each word he spoke, the corner of his mouth curled a little more. By the time he finished, the smile on his face no longer conveyed the mercy of forgiving the world, but a grimness... that sent a chill straight to the heart.