Chapter 1910: Flaw (Part 1)
Yun Che's figure slowly descended, and just as his feet touched the land of the Liuguang Realm, a familiar aura was rapidly approaching him.
"Brother Yun Che!"
A joyful cry of infinite delight, Shui Meinyi descended from the sky like a lightly dancing black butterfly: "It's really you! Why did you suddenly come back here? Did you miss me that much?"
Just as she was about to throw herself onto Yun Che, she noticed his extremely abnormal aura and expression. Her smile faded, and she asked worriedly, "Brother Yun Che, what's wrong? Did something happen?"
Her divine sense swept around: "Where did Yun Wuxin go?"
"Meinyi," he looked straight into Shui Meinyi's jet-black eyes, "that Cosmic Thorn of yours, did Xia Qingyue give it to you!"
This sudden, blunt question left Shui Meinyi stunned on the spot.
But in Yun Che's tightly focused gaze, what he saw in Shui Meinyi's eyes was not a sudden panic, but a naturally arising surprise and confusion.
"Eh?" She tilted her head slightly, looking at Yun Che's face with quite a doubtful expression: "Cosmic Thorn… Xia Qingyue? Of course, the Cosmic Thorn was given to me by Jie Tian Mo Di. How could it possibly be from Xia Qingyue? Why is Brother Yun Che asking such a strange question?"
An unguarded probing question, and there was not a single trace of suspicion or flaw in her eyes or expression.
If it were someone else, Yun Che might have had his doubts greatly dispelled.
But she was Shui Meinyi, who possessed the Stainless Divine Soul.
He didn't continue looking into Shui Meinyi's eyes; instead, he gazed into the distance and said calmly, "Back then, before sending off Jie Tian Mo Di, she told me that Shen Xi had met with misfortune and warned me not to rashly enter the Dragon God Realm… Then after the upheaval, before she tried to kill me, she told me that she had personally gone to the Reincarnation Forbidden Land and confirmed that Shen Xi was dead."
Shui Meinyi: "…"
"After killing Long Bai, I went to the Reincarnation Forbidden Land in the Dragon God Realm and found that the barrier there was attached to Long Bai's dragon soul. And the 'barren wasteland' and 'only a pool of blood' in the Reincarnation Forbidden Land were exactly as she had described them back then."
"So, what method did Xia Qingyue use to enter the Reincarnation Forbidden Land without triggering the perception of the dragon soul?"
Just as Shui Meinyi was about to speak, Yun Che continued, "If she had the Cosmic Thorn on her at that time, she could have done it easily."
"And precisely because she had the Cosmic Thorn, she had no need to deliberately focus on sensing and forcefully breaking the barrier to create complications. So it's very likely that she didn't even know back then that the barrier was attached to Long Bai's soul… thus leaving this flaw."
Even if this was a flaw, it wasn't one that people would take too seriously… Yun Che had only been briefly puzzled at the time, and Qianye Ying'er hadn't paid it any mind either.
Shui Meinyi's brows furrowed, her face half confused, half worried: "Long Bai's soul-attached barrier is certainly powerful. But there are other things in the world that can directly and tracelessly shuttle through space besides the Cosmic Thorn. For example… the Void Cauldron of the Zhou Tian Realm might be able to do it. Another example… any star realm with a certain foundation will have its hidden secrets. Especially powerful spatial profound artifacts, which can be used to save lives in times of crisis, so they are all deeply hidden."
"For a king realm like the Yue Shen Realm, it's not strange for it to harbor all kinds of strange and powerful things. And since Xia Qingyue is the Yue Shen Di, she knows everything and can use them freely."
"This is hardly something worth paying much attention to. Why would Brother Yun Che say such strange things because of this?"
What Shui Meinyi said was no different from what Qianye Ying'er had said back then.
"There's another thing." Without responding to Shui Meinyi's counter-question, he continued, "When you told me the truth back then, you said that only your Stainless Divine Soul could forcefully activate the spatial divine power of the Cosmic Thorn, thus completing the Celestial Shift. That was also why Jie Tian Mo Di gave the Cosmic Thorn to you."
"Mm." Shui Meinyi nodded lightly.
"But, in an ancient text from the Dragon God Realm, the records about the Cosmic Thorn clearly state that if the owner of the Cosmic Thorn possesses the power derived from the Primordial Chaos, they can forcefully activate its spatial divine power, not just the Stainless Divine Soul."
That ancient text was left by the ancient Dragon God clan, every word unquestionably true.
"Aside from the deceased Yue Wugou, the ones who possessed 'power derived from the Primordial Chaos' at that time were you, who have the Stainless Divine Soul, and Xia Qingyue, who has the Glazed Glass Heart."
"…" Shui Meinyi gently shook her head, a deeper confusion appearing on her face: "I am willing to believe that the ancient records are accurate and correct. But so what? Jie Tian Mo Di saw that I had the Stainless Divine Soul, so she only told me that the Stainless Divine Soul could, when necessary, forcefully activate the Cosmic Thorn's spatial divine power, without adding extra remarks about other things. That's also not something to be strange about."
Having said this, she suddenly turned around and stood directly in front of Yun Che, holding both his hands, her black eyes looking straight into his, and said with extreme seriousness, "Brother Yun Che, you are really strange today. What happened? If it's just this, you wouldn't say such strange things."
"What exactly happened? Tell me, okay?"
Yun Che raised his arm and took out that Eternal Shadow Stone.
He released the scene he had frozen.
"This is?"
Shui Meinyi looked seriously at the scene before her. The crimson light was undoubtedly the divine radiance released when the Cosmic Thorn used its spatial divine power.
And the faint purple light clinging to its outer edge…
"…!!" Shui Meinyi's pupils contracted as if pierced by a needle, then instantly returned to normal.
"Seven years ago, when the Lan Ji Star was being transferred, Yun Wuxin happened to use this Eternal Shadow Stone to record the anomalies that occurred on the Lan Ji Star at that time."
Yun Che spoke slowly: "The red light is the spatial divine radiance of the Cosmic Thorn. And the purple… is her Purple Que Divine Radiance."
When the calm voice fell, it carried a slightly heavy breath: "The Lan Ji Star was transferred by you using the spatial divine power of the Cosmic Thorn. So why did her power appear at that time… Meinyi, I want to hear your explanation."
Shui Meinyi slightly opened her lips and looked at him. Her face still only showed surprise and confusion, but no panic.
Their gazes met quietly. Suddenly, Shui Meinyi raised her hand to cover her mouth and let out a "pfft" laugh.
Yun Che: "…"
"Brother Yun Che, you're not serious, are you?" She laughed softly while looking at Yun Che's expression, as if searching for traces and flaws of his forced seriousness.
"Hey~~" After a while, Yun Che's expression didn't change. Shui Meinyi waved her little hand in front of his eyes, and her crescent brows curved even more at this moment, as if she found it even more amusing and fun.
Yun Che, however, reached out and grabbed her wrist, repeating his previous words: "I want to hear your explanation."
"It's very simple." That little hand he caught playfully scratched the back of Yun Che's hand: "Have you forgotten? Back then, I was locked up by the Moon God Emperor in the Moon Prison for a long time. It was only when you began your assault on the Eastern Divine Region that I secretly used the Cosmic Thorn to escape."
"But, although I used spatial divine power to escape the Moon Prison, I couldn't get rid of the seal that the Moon God Emperor had placed on me. And the power seal personally applied by the Moon God Emperor was, of course, the Purple Que Divine Power."
Yun Che: "…"
"The Moon God Emperor's power was too strong. After I escaped, I tried my best but couldn't get rid of it. Then the upheaval happened, and I hurried to transfer the Lan Ji Star. When I used my Stainless Divine Soul to forcibly activate the Cosmic Thorn's spatial divine power, the surging spatial divine power unexpectedly expelled the Purple Que seal on me."
"This purple light should have been produced when the Purple Que seal on me was expelled."
"At that time, I was concentrating all my spirit on transferring the Lan Ji Star. I vaguely sensed the disappearance of the Purple Que seal, but I didn't notice the accompanying Purple Que profound light. I never expected that it would be recorded by Yun Wuxin and cause Brother Yun Che to have such strange thoughts."
Shui Meinyi's explanation was unhurried, her voice still so ethereal and pure.
But this explanation could not fully convince Yun Che or put him at ease.
He took out those four Illusion Heart Stream Shadow Jades.
"These are the four Illusion Heart Stream Shadow Jades from you." Yun Che looked at her: "They were recorded by you, so they naturally don't have your figure. But why, in all the scenes, is there no trace of Xia Qingyue?"
"Could there be… such a coincidence?"
"Of course, it's not a coincidence." Without any hesitation, Shui Meinyi directly replied, "After Brother Yun Che went to the Northern Divine Region, I knew that these four Illusion Heart Stream Shadow Jades had not been recorded in vain. At the right time in the future, I could project them to the God Realm and reveal all the truths to the present world."
"But, except for the scene about Jie Tian Mo Di, the other three scenes were recorded very long, which would be inconvenient for large-scale projection."
"So, during the time I was imprisoned by the Moon God Emperor in the Moon Prison, I erased many unnecessary scenes, leaving only the core scenes and sounds."
"As for the Moon God Emperor," Shui Meinyi's face showed a bit of anger at this point, "She not only almost killed Brother Yun Che, personally destroyed your homeland, but also severely wounded my father, and she locked me up in the deepest prison of the Moon God Realm… She is the most hateful, the most vicious woman I have ever seen in my life. At that time, I truly hated her to the extreme."
"So, when organizing the profound images carried by the Illusion Heart Stream Shadow Jades, I angrily erased all the scenes where she appeared, not leaving a single moment for her, humph!"
"…" Yun Che still looked straight into her eyes, and after a long while, he softly uttered, "Is that so…"
"Of course." Shui Meinyi nodded. Her black eyes also trembled gently at this moment, and her softened voice carried a touch of grievance: "Brother Yun Che, do you not believe me?"
"It's not that I don't believe you. It's just…" Yun Che's gaze was somewhat unfocused, and his hand unconsciously placed on his heart. After a long pause, he couldn't articulate this chaotic feeling, only shaking his head: "I don't know… I don't know either…"
He wanted to believe that all this was just his imagination, and Shui Meinyi had given him sufficient answers… But for some reason, he just couldn't fully convince himself.
He couldn't even distinguish whether he was afraid that all this was true, or afraid that it was false.
As Yun Che moved, Shui Meinyi's little hand was also brought to press against his heart. The violently frightening heartbeat transmitted through her palm to her own heart.
"Brother Yun Che…" Shui Meinyi placed her other hand on his heart as well, and said softly, "You and the Moon God Emperor were once husband and wife. She appeared at the lowest point in your life, went through hardships and life-and-death situations with you, and saved you time and time again…"
"I can imagine how deep your feelings and trust for her were back then. It's precisely because of this that her betrayal and hurt caused you so much pain and were so unacceptable to you."
"And I know, in fact many people know, that you never want anyone to mention her in front of you because even now, you haven't fully let go of her betrayal and hurt. You are more willing to believe that everything was false."
"So, when this possibility inadvertently appears, you can't help but yearn to believe it, and use all your strength to magnify it… Even though your reason keeps telling you it's impossible."
Shui Meinyi's gentle words heavily struck Yun Che's heartstrings, and he slightly gritted his teeth: "I…"
"It's okay," Shui Meinyi showed a soft smile, "The Brother Yun Che I like is just such a person who cherishes emotions deeply. Even after being hurt like that, he is willing to preserve a most beautiful illusion for someone he once loved."
"So, don't force yourself. I will accompany you, slowly let go of this suddenly appearing illusion, and then hide it away again, okay?"
Yun Che's heartbeat calmed down a little. Shui Meinyi's soft words, like a gentle breeze, each word fell softly and clearly into his heart.
"Is what you said true…" he murmured, not knowing whether he was asking Shui Meinyi or himself.
"Mn!" Shui Meinyi nodded heavily: "If Brother Yun Che is still very troubled, how about I swear it to you?"
She raised her face, a smile on her lips, her slightly rippling eyes like the most beautiful stars in the night sky: "If I have deceived Brother Yun Che, then let me… forever…"
"Alright, alright." Yun Che suddenly spoke, heavily interrupting the oath Shui Meinyi was about to utter: "Swearing is something only childish kids do. You're this old and still playing this."
"…" The gentle ripple in her starry eyes briefly froze, then refracted even brighter starlight. Shui Meinyi lightly stuck out her tongue and said discontentedly, "I'm not that old. Anyway, you will be my Brother Yun Che for life."
"Alright~~ My Meinyi is forever fifteen." Yun Che finally revealed a smile.
Fifteen was the age when Shui Meinyi first met him.
"Heehee!" Clearly liking Yun Che's words, Shui Meinyi laughed even more joyfully: "Then… since I'm not swearing, I'll use another method to make you believe."
"In fact, Brother Yun Che only needs to think about one thing, and he'll let go of these strange thoughts."
Maintaining eye contact, Shui Meinyi said in a very slow voice: "If, at that time, the owner of the Cosmic Thorn was the Moon God Emperor, she transferred the Lan Ji Star, she recorded the Illusion Heart Stream Shadow Jades, her betrayal was fake, her heartlessness was fake, her two attempts to kill Brother Yun Che were also fake, and destroying the Lan Ji Star was because she knew it wasn't the real Lan Ji Star…"
"Not telling Brother Yun Che everything at the time could be explained as wanting you to grow without worries…"
"Then, when Brother Yun Che returned with powerful strength, why didn't she confess all this to you?"
"As long as she took out the Cosmic Thorn, with very simple words, she could have made Brother Yun Che understand everything… Afterwards, she could have become your ally, making it easier for you to conquer the Eastern Divine Region. The Moon God Realm would have been completely preserved, and she herself would not have died in the Abyss of Nothingness."
"If that were really the case…" Shui Meinyi's voice unconsciously became slow and distant, "What a wonderful ending that would have been."
"…" Yun Che was silent for a long time.
Even if there were ten times, a hundred times more flaws and inconsistencies, what Shui Meinyi said was enough to completely negate them.
Yes… If everything had really been done by Xia Qingyue, she only needed to tell him when he returned. There was no reason at all to push everything onto Shui Meinyi, and then die bearing his hatred…
No reason at all!
Even the most absurd reasons one could think of could not explain it.