# Chapter 1888: Fading Moon Without Trace
Many things that had been unintentionally overlooked, never given a second thought, become strikingly poignant when brought up by Chi Wuyue.
Looking back through her memories, after Xia Qingyue entered the Bing Yun Fairy Palace at sixteen, she had indeed never once gone to visit Xia Hongyi.
It wasn't that she had never left the Bing Yun Fairy Palace—she had participated in the Cang Feng Ranking Battle, attended his wedding with Cang Yue... And due to her special status within the Bing Yun Fairy Palace, she enjoyed considerable freedom.
Yet in his memories, he couldn't find a single scene of her conversing with Xia Hongyi, or even being near him.
She pursued the Xuan Path for the sake of lost familial affection—yet why was she so utterly indifferent and heartless toward her own birth father?
Could it be that she had been pretending from the very beginning? That even her reason for dedicating everything to the Xuan Path was a lie?
"It seems you find it quite bizarre as well, don't you?" Chi Wuyue watched the changes in Yun Che's expression.
"It doesn't matter anymore. Perhaps everything she showed was fake." Yun Che forced himself to stop thinking about it, then suddenly asked, "Did you just read Uncle Xia's memories?"
Chi Wuyue's eyes curved, and she said with a smile, "Oh my, so you noticed after all."
With Chi Wuyue's terrifying demon soul, reading the memories of a mere mortal from the lower realm was child's play—it barely left a trace.
The reason she had quietly probed Xia Hongyi's memories was that all these peculiarities made her unable to help suspecting whether Xia Qingyue was truly Xia Hongyi's biological daughter.
For instance, when Xia Hongyi had found Yue Wugou back then, she was already pregnant... And Xia Hongyi had concealed this fact, which Xia Qingyue later came to know.
Only such a scenario could explain everything.
But the result disappointed her greatly.
In Xia Hongyi's memories, the woman he had named "Dongxue"—Yue Wugou—was still a virgin when she gave herself to him.
Xia Qingyue was indeed his and Yue Wugou's biological daughter.
This result only deepened her confusion.
There was also another rather peculiar point.
Although more than thirty years had passed since their separation, Xia Hongyi's memories of Dongxue (Yue Wugou) were all extremely clear and profound.
But his memories of his daughter Xia Qingyue were strangely simple, sparse, and blurry.
The same was true for Xia Yuanba, but far less severe than with Xia Qingyue.
At the same time, from Xia Hongyi's memories, she detected a distinct sense of dissonance.
Chi Wuyue was undoubtedly the most powerful soul force expert in the current world. Yet even with her Nirvana Wheel Demon Soul, which surpassed everything in existence, she could not discern what this dissonance actually was.
"Given your nature, unless absolutely necessary, you wouldn't stoop to doing something like this." Yun Che wore a helpless expression. Chi Wuyue's persistence on this matter was astonishing.
"The Emperor's reprimand is well taken. This concubine admits her fault." Chi Wuyue's charming eyes drooped slightly, taking on a coy, apologetic demeanor, but her gaze was captivating and dazed. Her suddenly softened voice was enough to melt bones to the marrow: "If the Emperor wishes to punish this concubine, then this concubine... will serve you together with Xuanyin later to make amends—how about that?"
Yun Che's eyes shot wide open instantly. He "whooshed" his head around, blood rushing straight to his pupils: "You said it yourself! No backing out!"
"Hehe." Chi Wuyue smiled seductively, her breath fragrant as orchid: "I have several hundred ways to handle little Xuanyin. For example, her..."
The teleportation formation of the Black Moon Merchant Guild ahead suddenly flashed with white light, and two figures stepped out side by side.
Chi Wuyue stopped speaking, a smile lingering on her face.
"(╰_╯)#" Yun Che looked at these two uninvited guests with displeasure... and they were both acquaintances.
The master of the Black Moon Merchant Guild, Zi Ji, and the former Sea Emperor of the Supreme Sea Palace—Qu Fengyi.
Seeing Yun Che, Zi Ji was startled for a moment, then slowly bowed: "Zi Ji pays respects to Yun Zhenren. Your esteemed presence graces the Black Moon with endless glory."
Years had passed, and Zi Ji still wore that purple robe. But he seemed to have shed some of his aged appearance. His wisdom-filled eyes had also lost their sharpness and depth, becoming unusually serene and peaceful.
And the woman beside him—Qu Fengyi...
Qu Fengyi followed Zi Ji in bowing. But soon, she slightly raised her head, quietly sizing up Yun Che. Her gaze held awe and curiosity, but no fear, and none of the former majesty of the Supreme Sea Emperor.
Sensing the strangeness in Yun Che's gaze, Zi Ji said, "As the Yun Zhenren can see, my wife is no longer the Sea Emperor of old. After her injuries healed, she sealed her own memories, along with all past glory and disgrace, joy and sorrow, enmity and right and wrong."
"I see." Yun Che responded flatly.
Qu Fengyi bowed deeply and said, "Though I no longer have my past memories, my husband has deeply engraved the Yun Zhenren's mercy in sparing my life and saving me into my heart, never to be forgotten for the rest of my life."
As she spoke, her body naturally leaned lightly against Zi Ji, a closeness and dependence that originated from the depths of her soul.
Zi Ji glanced at his wife beside him, his eyes tender and soft, filled with almost overflowing affection: "But these years have instead been the happiest and most peaceful time for us as husband and wife. I have never seen her so carefree, so endearing in both joy and anger. Even I no longer wish to return to the past. The Supreme Sea Palace, the Black Moon Merchant Guild—their future and ultimate destination are not so important after all."
Zi Ji smiled faintly, his smile exceptionally relaxed and relieved: "Sometimes, I secretly sigh. After half a lifetime of toil, looking back, what I sought was actually so simple."
Yun Che nodded: "That is indeed a blessing. It's just that without Mr. Zi and the Sea Emperor, the Tian Xuan Continent will have lost two legends—a bit of a pity."
"Hehehehe," Zi Ji chuckled softly: "With Yun Che in the world, there are no more legends."
The Four Sacred Grounds of the Tian Xuan Continent—the Sun Moon Divine Palace and the Tian Wei Sword Domain had been destroyed, the Huangji Sacred Domain was under Xia Yuanba's control, and the Supreme Sea Palace had entered semi-seclusion.
Perhaps in no time, the only Sacred Grounds of the Tian Xuan Continent would be the Huangji Sacred Domain, the Bing Yun Fairy Palace, and the Fenghuang God Sect.
"It seems it's a rather lamentable outcome?"
Leaving the Black Moon Merchant Guild, Chi Wuyue said softly.
"Not quite lamentable, but somewhat thought-provoking." Yun Che said, "Some people—or rather, quite a number of people—die without ever knowing what they truly want."
"And what about you? What do you think Xia Qingyue truly wanted in all that she did?" Chi Wuyue turned her eyes to ask.
"..." Yun Che gave her a completely unimpressed glare.
"How long do you plan to stay on Lan Ji Star?" Chi Wuyue stopped teasing him and asked with a smile.
Yun Che didn't hesitate: "A long time. After a while, Xuanyin, Meiyin, Cailin, and the others will come too... Have Jie Xin and Jie Ling come as well. They should meet my parents."
He rubbed his nose and said in a slightly lower voice: "Wuxin somehow got the urge, wanting to see them all the time."
Chi Wuyue smiled meaningfully: "And what about Qinglong Di and Cang Shuhuan? They are also your imperial consorts, publicly announced and enfeoffed. Aren't you going to bring them to meet your father and mother?"
"Them?" Seeing that Chi Wuyue wasn't joking, Yun Che said, "Better not."
Chi Wuyue said, "Even if it's just in 'name' only, it should be maintained to some extent. After all, Qinglong Di is crucial to the stability of the Western Domain, and Cang Shuhuan is essential for the balance of the Southern Domain."
"Especially Cang Shuhuan. She is the only one who can turn that loyal dog Cang Shitian into a vicious dog."
"Vicious dog?" Yun Che sneered disdainfully: "Then just crush him."
"Crushing him is easy, but cultivating another loyal dog as obedient and useful as him—that's not so simple." Chi Wuyue wore a troubled expression, as if she had already begun to worry about such a situation.
"Fine, fine, fine." Yun Che conceded: "I won't bring them to meet my parents, but I will occasionally go see them. Wuxin happens to want me to take her to the Divine Realm for a look. When I pass through the Southern and Western Domains, I'll make a stop."
"My Emperor," Chi Wuyue let out a soft sigh, "Should I just write the word 'perfunctory' on your face for you?"
"...I'm going to see Caiyi." Yun Che made a move to flee.
"Caiyi? That petite little thing, like a white jade doll, the little demon empress?" Chi Wuyue raised an eyebrow: "You just came back, and all your wives and lovers can't wait to throw themselves into your arms—yet you want to go dote on her alone?"
Yun Che said seriously, "Caiyi looks small and cute, but she's actually hot-tempered and stubborn. After so many years... she must have a lot of pent-up anger. The past few days, the elders and Wuxin have all been around, so she couldn't vent. If I don't hurry over and let her give me a good beating, I'm afraid I'll spoil my Caiyi."
"A beating?" Chi Wuyue glanced at him with a mix of charm and reproach: "Be careful then. It would be a shame if the bed got broken."
"Ahem, I'm off."
Yun Che reached out, tore open space, and followed the little demon empress's aura.
After Yun Che had been gone for a good while, Chi Wuyue let out a faint sigh: "Sigh, do you really think I'm a woman who never gets jealous at all?"
Her divine sense released, and the place it finally settled was a land of ice and snow.
There was Xia Qingyue's former sect, and Xia Qingyue's master from back then—Chu Yueli.
From her conversation with Chu Yuechan last night, and her face-to-face with Xia Hongyi today, she found herself increasingly unable to let go.
Or even... somehow, unsettling.
---
North of the Cang Feng Kingdom, Ice Extreme Snow Domain, Bing Yun Fairy Palace.
"Thank you for telling me."
The information she obtained from Chu Yueli was largely the same as what Chu Yuechan had told her. Facing Chu Yueli, she asked about another matter:
"I would like to see Xia Qingyue's former residence and training grounds."
But Chu Yueli shook her head and said, "That cannot be done."
"Why?"
Chu Yueli turned her body, facing the Bing Yun Fairy Palace carved from ice and snow: "The Bing Yun Fairy Palace you see now is not the original one. The original Bing Yun Fairy Palace was completely destroyed in the battle between Xuanyuan Wentian and the little demon empress, leaving hardly any remnants."
"The current Bing Yun Fairy Palace was rebuilt by Palace Master Yun after he annihilated Xuanyuan Wentian, under his guidance. So the ice palace Qingyue once lived in is no longer there."
"No remnants..." Chi Wuyue murmured softly: "Not just her residence and training grounds—nothing at all was left behind?"
Chu Yueli nodded with a hint of melancholy.
"How regrettable." Chi Wuyue said softly.
Not long after, Chi Wuyue's figure had already returned to Liu Yun City, but not to the Xiao Sect—rather, to a spacious courtyard that had been empty for a long time.
The Xia family home in Liu Yun City, where Xia Qingyue and Xia Yuanba were born and grew up.
Since Xia Hongyi had gone to the Black Moon Merchant Guild, this place had remained vacant. Only one or two middle-aged servants who had followed Xia Hongyi for years stayed to look after the courtyard.
Suddenly seeing a figure in the air, the servant who had been idling about was startled and cried out, "You—"
His voice abruptly stopped, and the expression on his face quickly calmed until it became completely blank.
Chi Wuyue slowly walked closer, swept her gaze around, and spoke: "Tell this Empress, which one was Xia Qingyue's maiden chamber back then?"
The servant, dazed and stupefied, raised his hand and pointed to the innermost bedroom.
Chi Wuyue's figure flickered. Without opening the door, she directly appeared in the room the servant had pointed to.
A fine oak bed, hung with deep purple curtains.
Tables and chairs of the same material, a bronze mirror for dressing, two wardrobes pressed together—the wardrobes empty.
That was all.
No clothes, no washing or tea utensils, no jewelry, no cosmetics... not even a trace that someone had once lived there.
That servant had been subjected to her demon soul's influence; he couldn't have lied. This was the maiden chamber where Xia Qingyue had lived until she was sixteen.
Had she taken everything—every single item without exception—when she was married off?
Leaving the Xia family courtyard, Chi Wuyue floated high in the sky, invisible to all, and remained silent for a very long time.
Her birthplace held no trace of her.
The Bing Yun Fairy Palace where she had long resided was destroyed in the battle between the little demon empress and Xuanyuan Wentian, leaving nothing behind.
The Yue Shen Realm had turned to ashes.
The dead Xia Qingyue had left no mark whatsoever in this vast world.
If even memories were erased, she might as well have never existed.
"Enough."
After a long time, Chi Wuyue let out a powerless murmur.
"She is already dead. What we have now is already the best possible outcome. Why should I bother with these superfluous obsessions?"
The increasingly thick and hazy mist, and the vague sense of unease rising in her heart...
She gave up.
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1: The Bing Yun Fairy Palace's destruction occurred in Chapter 845 (titled "Splendid Flame," also a subtle hint from back then).