Chapter 2067: Fruitless
"When the former Divine Venerable learned of Wanxin's background, he immediately summoned me and berated me for having an affair with a mortal woman bearing the mark of a criminal, saying it defiled the name of the Divine Son of the Zhe Tian Divine Kingdom, and demanded that I sever all ties with her."
"At first, the former Divine Venerable merely reprimanded me without fury. But I... at that time, I was too young and naive, too arrogant and reckless, lacking the wisdom to plan for the long term or to feign compliance. I openly contradicted the former Divine Venerable on the spot and declared that my feelings for Wanxin were deep as the ocean, that I cared nothing for her origins, and that I would never abandon her for the sake of being a Divine Son."
"Ha ha ha ha," Hua Fuchen chuckled softly, whether laughing at his past self or at the cruelty of fate. "At the time, I was full of the belief that a man should be so impassioned and heroic, should resolutely never retreat for the one he loves, standing fearless and undaunted."
"Thus, without a doubt, I incurred the thunderous wrath of the former Divine Venerable."
"The former Divine Venerable's fury could not shake my resolve in the slightest. To prove my feelings to Wanxin and to the former Divine Venerable, I became even more inseparable from her thereafter, unafraid of anyone's stares or words."
"After that, the former Divine Venerable scolded me countless times, grew furious with me... even personally met with Wanxin and exerted divine pressure on her. But the two of us did not retreat an inch, nor did we feel any fear. Our relationship was like a boat sailing against the current, becoming ever tougher and unbreakable."
Yun Che listened silently. He could sense the weight in Hua Fuchen's words... even though ten thousand years had passed.
"Later, the former Divine Venerable compromised. He said that after I succeeded to the throne of Divine Venerable, Wanxin could enter the Zhe Tian Divine Kingdom as a concubine, but she was not allowed to step outside the divine kingdom or show her face in public."
Yun Che's brows moved slightly. "The former Divine Venerable's compromise... did he later renege on it?"
If he were Hua Fuchen, he would have accepted immediately. After inheriting the power of the Divine Venerable, the entire Zhe Tian Divine Kingdom would be under his control anyway — who cared about the former Divine Venerable then?
"No, no." Hua Fuchen said the word "no" twice, each syllable filled with sorrow. "It was I who refused... angrily refused. At the time, I felt that the former Divine Venerable's words were an insult to Wanxin, and I declared on the spot that I would rather give up the identity of Divine Son than be separated from Wanxin."
"That sentence planted an irreparable disaster. Heh... hahahaha, how foolish I was back then, how impulsive, how arrogant and conceited! I naively believed that as long as I was sincere enough, determined enough, fearless enough, I could overcome everything!"
"Just like you and Caili now."
Yun Che did not respond to that remark but instead interjected, "So... was Caili's mother indeed killed by the former Divine Venerable?"
Hua Fuchen's eyes snapped around, sharp as swords. "Indeed?"
Yun Che explained calmly, "For someone who should be her grandfather, Caili is instructed to address him as 'former Divine Venerable.' From that, I guessed that you must have an irreconcilable enmity with this 'former Divine Venerable.' The most likely cause is Caili's mother."
"Although you have never spoken of it to Caili, given her intelligence, I believe she guessed something long ago but refrained from asking out of consideration for your feelings."
Hua Fuchen gave Yun Che a deep look, then slowly uttered five extremely heavy words: "You guessed correctly."
"After countless attempts, the former Divine Venerable saw that my attitude was unshakable and became utterly disappointed in me. So he shifted the hope of inheriting the Divine Venerable's legacy onto Qingying."
"But Qingying refused even more firmly. She had long sworn in her heart to pursue the path of the sword for life and would not be distracted by anything else. If pressed further, she would rather leave the Zhe Tian Divine Kingdom immediately."
At that moment, Yun Che suddenly understood the guilt that Hua Caili had mentioned was engraved into Hua Qingying for a lifetime.
Perhaps it was that she felt if she had not refused to become Divine Venerable, the subsequent tragedy would not have occurred.
"After that, the former Divine Venerable learned that Qingying, who had always been ice-hearted, had become close friends with Wanxin, confiding in each other... His fury grew even greater, and he felt deeply that Wanxin had corrupted his most beloved pair of children."
His voice slowed further, and Hua Fuchen's tone grew heavier. "At that time, fearing that the former Divine Venerable would kill Wanxin in his extreme rage, I warned him with my life that if anything happened to Wanxin, I would not live on alone... But I underestimated human nature, underestimated the will of the divine kingdom's lineage, and overestimated my own naive and ignorant self."
"Wanxin became pregnant — she was carrying the former Divine Venerable's descendant as well. He softened his attitude, seeming no longer to forcefully obstruct. That was also the most relaxed and joyful period for Wanxin and me... until she was eight months pregnant and suddenly disappeared."
"Huff..." Hua Fuchen's chest rose and fell heavily, his fingers unconsciously clenching. "When Qingying and I found her, her body had been pierced with a full fifty-four Soul Severing Nails..."
"He did it not only to vent his hatred but also to... destroy the child in her womb — that is, Caili."
"Why?" Yun Che could not understand this point.
"To fundamentally preserve the face of the Zhe Tian Divine Kingdom, to eliminate future troubles, and to force my hand!"
Hua Fuchen continued, "Wanxin used her last strength to give birth to Caili. But under the devastation of the Soul Severing Nails, Caili's meridians, profound veins... even her soul were all shattered. Only by relying on the Prayer Heaven Jade that Qingying and I brought could she barely survive."
"At that moment, the former Divine Venerable appeared. As I was burning with hatred and ready to lunge at him, he told me that Wanxin was beyond saving. But if I wanted to preserve the only bloodline Wanxin had left me, there was only one way... to send Caili into the 'Cradle' of the Pure Land, and then have her biological father inherit the power of a true god and become the Divine Venerable of the Zhe Tian Divine Kingdom... for at least ten thousand years."
He knew that Hua Caili had told Yun Che everything without reservation, including the existence of the "Cradle," so he spoke without restraint.
"..." A chill ran through Yun Che's heart.
He wanted Hua Fuchen to become the Divine Venerable of the Zhe Tian Divine Kingdom, yet absolutely refused to allow Qu Wanxin to become the Divine Empress of Zhe Tian.
So he killed Qu Wanxin, injured their child, and forced Hua Fuchen to ascend to the throne of Divine Venerable, binding him to that position for at least ten thousand years.
Though inheritance was a primary concern for divine kingdoms — indeed for many major powers — such ruthlessness was still rare.
Hua Fuchen turned around and stared directly at Yun Che from close range. "So, do you understand now?"
Yun Che bowed deeply and said, "Divine Venerable, you have opened your most painful scar to patiently advise this insignificant junior. Such breadth of mind fills me with a thousandfold gratitude and a thousandfold admiration. I have clearly grasped the meaning of your words."
Hua Fuchen nodded slowly. "I am glad you understand. I believe you will also make the most correct, most rational... and only choice."
But Yun Che replied, "However, my answer may disappoint you, Divine Venerable."
"You!" Hua Fuchen frowned slightly, then said in disappointment, "It seems you still do not understand."
Yun Che's gaze was clear, his words crisp and resolute. "Divine Venerable, you are telling me that so-called deep feelings and resolve, so-called fearlessness, are nothing but naive, fragile, and even foolish bubbles before predetermined fate."
"For example, you who can strike me dead with a single palm; the Senluo Divine Kingdom whose thunderous rage can shake the entire Abyss; the doubts and possible turmoil within the Zhe Tian Divine Kingdom; the world's scorn and mockery toward Caili and the Zhe Tian Divine Kingdom; and the inviolable supreme Pure Land..."
Yun Che practically spoke the words Hua Fuchen was about to say, finishing them before him. Hua Fuchen's voice turned stern: "Since you are so clear on all this, why do you still speak such foolish words?"
"The answer, I gave long ago." Yun Che's demeanor remained calm and resolute. "Caili and I have both tread the edge of life and death. So whatever lies ahead, we no longer fear."
"Do you have the right to be fearless?" Hua Fuchen sneered. "On what grounds? Your cultivation at the third level of the Divine Lord Realm? Your solitary existence? Are you not afraid that I could reduce you to ashes in an instant and eliminate the trouble forever!?"
"No." Yun Che, as he said, showed not a trace of fear. "Because you love your daughter deeply. Otherwise, you would not waste so much time and effort on me, a mere insignificant person, in your capacity as Divine Venerable."
"You!" Hua Fuchen pointed at Yun Che, then fiercely dropped his hand and let out a helpless laugh. "You're right. Caili is not only my daughter but also Wanxin's only bloodline in this world. I love her and protect her more than my own life."
He raised a hand to his chest. "The wound from back then still aches to this day. What I fear most is that something similar might happen to Caili. So after ascending to the throne of Divine Venerable, I swore to let Caili live a peaceful life and never let her suffer such soul-shattering pain."
"And Dian Jiuzhi is the best choice I found for Caili."
"The divine kingdom places great importance on orthodoxy of inheritance, so marriages between divine sons and divine daughters of two divine kingdoms are extremely rare. But Dian Jiuzhi is different."
"Back when he was at his most downtrodden, Caili's kindness gave him a new lease on life. So he holds deep admiration and deep gratitude for Caili. Though he is revered as the foremost among the divine sons of the six divine kingdoms, for thousands of years he has kept no woman near him, foolishly waiting for Caili to grow up and emerge from the 'Cradle.'"
"He even repeatedly promised me of his own accord that even if he becomes the Jueluo Divine Venerable in the future, he will only have Caili in his life. Of the children they bear, aside from one with the surname Dian to inherit the divine legacy, the rest can take the surname Hua. Their divine hall can even be stationed in the Zhe Tian Divine Kingdom, so Caili does not have to leave her homeland."
Yun Che's eyes went wide, utterly dumbfounded.
"I can feel that every word he speaks is sincere — sincere enough to humble himself to the dust. It is this unchanging devotion over thousands of years that has even moved his father, Dian Luohou, whose temper was extremely violent, causing him to yield step by step."
"If they unite, the Zhe Tian Divine Kingdom and the Senluo Divine Kingdom will join forces, and no one in the world will dare to bully her. Dian Jiuzhi will treat Caili exceptionally well, put her first in everything, and love and spoil her forever... Her entire life will be noble, honored, free from calamity, and blissfully peaceful."
He looked at Yun Che. "But what can you bring Caili? Ridicule? Anger? Shame? Doubt? Unknown calamities? If you truly love her, you should do as you did the first time — turn around and leave immediately, never to see her again."
"Divine Venerable, I fully understand your love for your daughter," Yun Che said.
"You have never been a father, so how could you understand?" Hua Fuchen said heavily. "Every father wishes his daughter a smooth path without waves. No father would willingly watch his daughter dash into surging tides that could engulf her entire life, just to pursue a so-called 'brilliant flower' on the other shore!"
"Even if that 'brilliant flower' is the one she loves deeply, even if that 'brilliant flower' might one day bloom with dazzling radiance, no father would ever stand by and watch her plunge into the raging waves!"
These words came from the depths of his soul, but he did not expect to convince Yun Che. Because he had never been a father and could never truly empathize.
But in truth... Yun Che understood. He was a father too, with a daughter he valued more than life itself.
He just could not show any sign of being moved.
"Divine Venerable," Yun Che suddenly said, "allow me to ask a somewhat offensive question. If you could go back to those years, would you still be willing to meet Caili's mother?"
"..." This question actually left Hua Fuchen frozen in place, unable to answer for a moment.
After waiting several breaths, Yun Che said slowly, "So you understand the feelings between Caili and me. That being the case, Divine Venerable, do you still insist on separating us?"
"Yes." The Heart-Painting Divine Venerable's response was without hesitation. "Precisely because of this, I... absolutely will not allow you to be together."
Yun Che took a deep breath. "It seems the former Divine Venerable's ruthless methods ultimately succeeded. You, who were forced to ascend to the throne of Divine Venerable, after bearing the fate of the Zhe Tian Divine Kingdom for ten thousand years, have become a true divine kingdom's Divine Venerable."
"..." Hua Fuchen did not respond.
Yun Che took a step back and bowed respectfully. "I thank the Divine Venerable for his teachings. However, my feelings for Caili remain unmoved. But a thousand words and ten thousand promises are ultimately just empty talk. I am well aware that I am worthless and unworthy of Caili. Yet my heart for her is sincere and without blemish."
"I will prove it to the Divine Venerable in my own way... I take my leave."
With that, he did not linger and simply walked away, leaving the Heart-Painting Divine Venerable in long silence.