# Chapter 1886: Xia Father (Part 1)
In the early morning, Yun Che took a deep breath of air mixed with morning dew, instantly feeling refreshed and relaxed.
He released his divine sense and swept it toward Qianye Ying'er's location. He found that she was actually on the Cang Yun Continent, and judging by her position, she should be investigating the dark abyss beneath Jueyun Cliff.
"After such a long time with no activity, she's actually gone there," Yun Che muttered, then called out in a low voice: "Yan Er!"
Swoosh!
A black shadow flickered, and Yan Er's hunched, thin figure knelt before Yun Che: "Master, what are your orders?"
"Has any abnormality been detected around this star region?" Yun Che asked with lowered brows.
"Reporting to master, this old servant has carefully inspected even the neighboring star regions several times. There are absolutely no dangerous elements present, please rest assured," Yan Er said cautiously.
"Very good." Yun Che nodded slightly, his voice turning cold: "Remember, unless they are people close to me, anyone who dares to approach this star region will be expelled first. If they refuse to comply, no matter who they are, crush them directly."
"Yes, this old servant would never dare to forget." Yan Er lowered his head in acknowledgment.
"Go."
Yan Er's black shadow vanished without a trace in an instant.
"Little Che!"
Just as Yan Er left, a delicate cry rang out, a fragrant breeze brushed by, and Xiao Lingxi was already throwing herself heavily onto him, holding him tightly.
Yun Che wrapped his arm around her slender waist. The soft sensation against his chest came with somewhat rapid breathing. He smiled and said: "Lingxi, haven't you had enough hugs these past three days?"
"I... I'm a bit afraid." Her head pressed tightly against Yun Che's chest, unwilling to leave: "I accidentally fell asleep just now, and when I woke up... I was so afraid everything was just another dream."
Five years. For the realm of the Divine Realm, it was often as brief as an instant. But for those who deeply worried and cared for him, it was an unbearably long torment.
"Lingxi," Yun Che said softly, "From now on, I will never let you worry again. Never again."
"...Mm." Xiao Lingxi responded softly, her arms still refusing to loosen around him.
Until a familiar shout came from afar.
"Brother-in-law, I'm here!"
Only then did Xiao Lingxi rise from Yun Che's embrace, reaching out to straighten his clothes: "I... I'll go check on Dad and Yongning."
Sensing Xia Yuanba's aura getting closer, Yun Che's expression became somewhat complicated... They had met just the day before, and he knew full well the purpose of this hurried return.
With a flicker of his figure, Yun Che appeared before Xia Yuanba: "Yuanba, you're here."
Xia Yuanba stopped his momentum, looking Yun Che over once more, excitement hard to conceal in his eyes: "Heh heh, the whole Tian Xuan Continent already knows you're back. But they definitely can't possibly understand what a Divine Emperor of the Divine Realm means. Even I've been in a daze these past few days."
"By the way, are you leaving again soon?"
"No." Yun Che smiled with faint pride: "There's nothing left in this world that can bind my freedom now."
"Heh heh, as expected of my brother-in-law!" Xia Yuanba laughed, then his gaze sharpened slightly: "Then... what about my sister? Why didn't she come back with you?"
No matter how much he tried to avoid it, what was coming would eventually come.
The day before, if it hadn't been for Yun Che's long-awaited reunion with his family, Xia Yuanba would have asked then.
But now, Yun Che could no longer hide it.
"Yuanba," Yun Che's expression turned solemn, "I hope you..."
"Is my sister already dead?" Xia Yuanba suddenly said.
"..." Yun Che stopped speaking. Facing Xia Yuanba's direct gaze, he slowly nodded: "Yes."
Regarding Xia Yuanba's blurted-out words, Yun Che wasn't actually too surprised in his heart. His repeated evasions, his solitary return this time... no matter how slow Xia Yuanba was, no matter how unwilling to touch upon it, he couldn't help but think of that possibility.
A pair of tiger-like eyes suddenly widened, then trembled violently. Xia Yuanba's body stiffened, his breathing becoming heavy and chaotic. After a long while, he finally spoke in an especially pained voice: "Then... my mother?"
"...She's also dead." Yun Che stated simply and directly.
His massive body shook violently again. Xia Yuanba took a deep breath and waited a full five or six breaths before speaking in a low voice: "Tell me, my sister... and my mother, how did they die?"
Before Xia Yuanba's arrival, Yun Che had already prepared his answer. He reached out and pressed on Xia Yuanba's slightly trembling shoulder, speaking slowly: "Yuanba, you possess the rare Overlord Emperor Divine Meridian of this world. Your future will absolutely not, and should not, be limited to the small world of Lan Ji Star."
"In the future, in the realm of the Divine Realm, you will certainly have your own place. And it won't be too distant a future."
"So, I hope you can explore the truth of all this yourself, and in that process, use what you see, what you hear, and your understanding and state of mind, to comprehend the causes, effects, grievances, and enmities within, and ultimately make your own judgment."
Yun Che's gaze remained fixed on Xia Yuanba's eyes. Xia Yuanba listened quietly, his gaze gradually calming under the peaceful tone of Yun Che's voice.
"When a person loses emotional control, both their judgment and actions will depart from reason and self-control. I don't want to see or face such a you, so..."
Yun Che stopped his words and let out a slight breath.
If these words had been spoken by someone else to Xia Yuanba, he would have undoubtedly pressed for the truth without hesitation.
But facing Yun Che's words, he took a deep breath, closed his eyes briefly, then slowly nodded: "Alright. Since brother-in-law says so, there must be a necessary reason... I understand."
Xia Yuanba had always been very obedient to his words, in the past and now. This made Yun Che's emotions even more complicated.
"Although it was only a very brief stay in the Divine Realm, the energy there has an extremely strong attraction for me. If I hadn't promised brother-in-law, over these past six months, I might not have been able to resist the impulse to enter the Divine Realm again."
"I also understand myself. This should be the influence of the Overlord Emperor Divine Meridian on me."
Bearing the Overlord Emperor Divine Meridian, the craving for power and higher planes was etched into his bones.
Xia Yuanba's gaze gradually shifted from chaos to determination, his hands quietly clenching: "I truly should not confine myself to this world. Once I settle matters with the Huangji Sacred Domain, I will enter the Divine Realm again."
"Good!" Yun Che looked at him and nodded heavily.
"But before that, there's one thing I need to ask of brother-in-law." Xia Yuanba suddenly raised his head.
"Speak, and I will certainly do it." Driven by the complex guilt within his heart, Yun Che agreed without waiting for him to state his request.
Xia Yuanba said: "Before coming here, I first went to see my father and promised him that I would immediately bring back news of my mother and sister."
Yun Che: "..."
Xia Yuanba's expression darkened: "Even I find it somewhat difficult to bear this outcome, and I don't know how to tell or face my father, so... so..."
"I understand." Yun Che said. "I will go visit Uncle Xia right away."
"Mm." Xia Yuanba's expression relaxed slightly: "Brother-in-law, I'm counting on you."
After Xia Yuanba left, Yun Che didn't delay at all. After sensing the location of Xia Hongyi's aura, he directly reached out and tore through space, intending to head to the Black Moon Merchant Guild where Xia Hongyi resided.
The space in the lower realm was too fragile. Even though Yun Che wasn't skilled in the laws of space, forcibly traversing this space was a simple task for him.
"You're going to see Xia Qingyue's father?"
Chi Wuyue's voice suddenly came from behind, and then her figure appeared beside Yun Che.
Clearly, she had been listening to the entire conversation between Yun Che and Xia Yuanba.
"It's Yuanba's father," Yun Che corrected uncomfortably. "He's my elder. He showed me much care during my childhood and youth. Setting aside my promise to Yuanba, as a younger generation member, I should also visit him."
"I'll go with you."
Not giving Yun Che a chance to refuse, Chi Wuyue directly took his hand and semi-forcibly dragged him along with her into the spatial rift leading to the Black Moon Merchant Guild.
The various barrier restrictions of the Black Moon Merchant Guild were practically nonexistent to someone of Yun Che's current level. Yun Che and Chi Wuyue appeared directly inside the Black Moon Merchant Guild, outside the courtyard where Xia Hongyi had been residing these past years.
"Wh... who is it!!"
The sudden ghost-like appearance of figures startled the Black Moon attendant guarding the door. When he saw Yun Che's face clearly, he was so shocked he nearly lost his soul. After being dazed for quite a while, he stammered: "Yun Yun Yun Yun Yun... Yun True Person!"
"Go, announce that Yun Che has come to visit." Yun Che said indifferently.
"Ah... y-yes yes yes." The Black Moon attendant nearly stumbled to the ground with his first step. He practically crawled inside, then quickly rushed back out, his voice still stumbling: "Ch... Chief Steward Xia invites you in."
The entire Tian Xuan Continent already knew that Xia Hongyi was Yun Che's father-in-law, so his status and treatment at the Black Moon Merchant Guild were naturally far beyond what they had been back then.
Entering the courtyard, Xia Hongyi was already waiting there. It had been many years since they last met, but his appearance hadn't changed much. His attire remained simple and casual, without a trace of luxury. His peaceful eyes carefully examined Yun Che, and a smile appeared on his face, just like in years past: "Che'er, after all these years, you've come to see me. I'm very happy."
"Uncle Xia." Without addressing him as father-in-law, meeting Xia Hongyi again now, Yun Che's inner complexity was beyond words.
After all, regardless of the reasons, it was he who had personally forced his daughter to her death.
Chi Wuyue's divine sense only lingered on Xia Hongyi for a moment before moving away.
Because he was too ordinary... no, in terms of physique and Xuan Dao talent, he couldn't even be considered ordinary.
And yet, this was the person who had raised a Moon God Emperor possessing a Glass Heart and a Exquisite Body!?
After brief pleasantries, the three of them sat down. Yun Che clearly didn't want to face Xia Hongyi for too long, so he directly said: "Uncle Xia, besides visiting you, I also have some things I want to tell you face to face."
"Is it about Qingyue?" Xia Hongyi asked with a chuckle. "Several years ago, Yuanba told me that she was with you in a distant space called the 'Divine Realm.'"
"Yes." Yun Che nodded, using the gentlest tone he could: "What I want to tell Uncle Xia is that a year ago, she met her end in the Divine Realm."
"..." Xia Hongyi's eyes moved intensely, his expression freezing for quite a while before he slowly spoke: "Where? Why?"
"Tai Chu Divine Realm, a place called the Abyss of Nothingness. She fell into it, and no remains or belongings were left." Yun Che narrated in a calmly detached tone that even he found uncomfortable: "As for the reasons... Yuanba will explain them to you after some time has passed."
Xia Hongyi closed his eyes. After a few breaths of silence, he spoke: "I understand."
"Please accept my condolences," Yun Che could only say this.
Xia Hongyi shook his head slightly and said: "Back then, after Qingyue married you and formally entered the Bing Yun Fairy Palace, I had a feeling: that we, father and daughter, were already living in two completely different worlds."
"This feeling was very strange, yet extraordinarily clear. And the facts were indeed so."
"Her life was wonderful, wasn't it?" He suddenly said.
Yun Che was slightly stunned, then said: "Yes. In many aspects, it could even be said... among the women of this era, no one could compare to her."
Born in the lower realm, possessing both a Glass Heart and an Exquisite Body, she had only first entered the Bing Yun Fairy Palace at sixteen, yet had attained Divine Emperor by thirty... and was the youngest Divine Emperor in the history of the Divine Realm.
Setting aside sin and evil, her life was more than just wonderful.
At this moment, a smile appeared at the corner of Xia Hongyi's mouth, one that seemed both bitter and relieved: "Then that's good. This was the path she chose, her own life. Although it was too brief, she once shone like moonlight over the world. I imagine she has no regrets or resentment. Why should I need to grieve futilely?"
"..." Yun Che was silent for a moment, then spoke: "Uncle Xia's breadth of mind is both comforting and admirable to me. Yuanba will surely be much more at ease knowing this."
Chi Wuyue had been silently observing Xia Hongyi's reactions the entire time. Her brows unconsciously furrowed, and remained so for a long time without relaxing.
Xia Hongyi was not a powerful expert who could be indifferent to everything for the pursuit of the Xuan Dao, nor was he a cold-blooded emperor with numerous wives and countless children. He was merely an ordinary mortal, and had only one daughter, Xia Qingyue.
Compared to Yun Che's painful despair back then after "losing his daughter," the Xia Qingyue's father before her... had no uncontrolled emotions, no heart-wrenching questioning, no bone-deep grief...
It was as rational as if he were facing the death and separation of someone else's child.
Was this really the reaction a normal, ordinary father would have?