# Chapter 2068: Qingying's Heart-Piercing Words
As Yun Che just stepped out of the Sword Pavilion, Hua Caili quickly approached, grabbing his arm and examining him intently: "Brother Yun, are you... alright?"
"Of course I'm fine." Yun Che wore a relaxed smile. "Your father god is indeed as you said, a very gentle person. Not only did he not make things difficult for me, he even deliberately controlled his divine pressure while speaking with me."
Hua Caili bit her lip and said softly, "Actually... I heard everything you said."
"Brother Yun, go back with Lianzhi first. I have some things... I want to say to Father God."
As if she had made some kind of resolve, without waiting for Yun Che's response, she called out ahead: "Lianzhi, take Brother Yun back to my Sword Pavilion first."
Hua Lianzhi's figure quickly approached, acknowledged the command, and stood before Yun Che: "Young Master Yun, please."
"Caili, don't conflict with your father god. All his decisions are actually made with you as the priority." Yun Che reminded.
"I understand."
Watching Yun Che leave with Hua Lianzhi, Hua Caili hurriedly stepped into the Heart Remembrance Sword Pavilion.
Hua Fuchen raised his eyes, his demeanor gentle: "You heard everything."
Hua Caili walked closer slowly: "Father God, I..."
"How long have you two been together in total?" Hua Fuchen asked.
Hua Caili answered directly: "These four months, Brother Yun and I have been together constantly, never apart."
"Four months." Hua Fuchen's voice was melancholy. "Do you know how long it truly takes to understand a person? Not to mention four months, even four years, four hundred years... perhaps even an entire lifetime, you may never truly understand someone."
"And your understanding of him is more than just lacking. He doesn't even have a verifiable origin to speak of. That so-called 'master' who saved him exists only in his words, with no way to verify truth or falsehood, and no witness to confirm."
"I understand everything Father God says." Hua Caili said seriously. "But, I believe in Brother Yun. No matter what he says, I am willing to believe."
Hua Fuchen's voice grew slightly heavier: "The word 'believe' must never be given lightly. Although you are not yet twenty years old, the young men you have seen in your life—from Divine Sons down to Crown Princes—are all among the most foremost existences of this era. What is it about him that makes you so determined?"
Hua Caili didn't answer directly but instead turned the question back as Yun Che had done earlier: "Then, Father God, what do you think was Brother Yun's reason back then for not hesitating to protect me at the risk of his own life?"
Hua Fuchen: "..."
"At that time, what we faced was the Primordial Qilin God, whom even Aunt could not defeat. For Brother Yun, that wasn't danger—it was almost a situation with no chance of survival. He could have stayed out of it, but he threw himself in, using his own body and all his power to protect me... Father God, you simply cannot imagine the immense price he paid, how severe his injuries were."
A third-rank Divine Lord throwing himself at the Primordial Qilin God—describing it as "no chance of survival" was not an exaggeration at all. On this point, Hua Fuchen could not refute... Yun Che's life-saving act was beyond any doubt.
Hua Fuchen's voice softened: "On this matter, I am indeed grateful to him. That is why, despite being extremely irritated by that boy, I still gave him such patience. But there are countless ways to repay kindness..."
"This has nothing to do with gratitude!" Hua Caili directly interrupted Hua Fuchen's words. "I truly... truly want to spend my whole life with Brother Yun. In this lifetime, this heart can no longer accommodate anyone else."
Hua Fuchen lowered his eyes and said slowly: "You are still young, at the time when emotions burn hottest. But you must understand, in this long life, the love between man and woman will only be a very small... almost insignificant portion. The passionate heart you have now might only last a few short years. If you're willing to change your entire life for this momentary emotion, you will surely regret it in the future."
"Father God lies." Hua Caili looked into her father's eyes. "If what Father God says were true, then why do you still stare blankly at Mother's portrait to this day? Why, after I awakened my divine rank... have you never stepped into the harem since?"
Hua Fuchen's lips moved, and it was a long time before he said with difficulty: "It is precisely because of what happened between your mother and me back then that I... absolutely cannot allow your life to be swept into uncontrollable turmoil."
Hua Caili's eyes rippled with emotion, carrying heartache: "So, even though Brother Yun and I are both so resolute, Father God still refuses... to cancel my engagement with Dian Jiuzhi?"
The grief in Hua Caili's eyes pierced his heart, but he could not yield: "Caili, you are still too young. You haven't even clearly seen what human nature is, let alone the full picture of the Pure Land and the Divine Kingdoms. Your engagement with Dian Jiuzhi has never been just a simple betrothal. The things it involves are far beyond your understanding. If you insist on being with Yun Che, once it is exposed to the world, the consequences and resistance will also be far more complicated than you imagine."
Her father never deceived her, but this still did not create any fear in her heart: "Back then, Father God was willing to give up the title of 'Divine Son' for Mother. If my identity as 'Divine Maiden' causes Father God so much trouble, I can also give it up without hesitation."
"Nonsense!" Hua Fuchen scolded lightly, then immediately softened his tone: "Caili, this matter absolutely cannot be willful. You have seen clearly enough over the years just how vast the difference is between a Divine Son or Divine Maiden and the children of other Divine Venerables. It's not just about status—it also determines whether you can inherit my true divine power in the future, thereby possessing the absolute power to protect yourself."
As for the succession of the divine kingdom, that was secondary.
Hua Caili still shook her head: "None of these are what I want. Aunt also gave up the title of Divine Maiden back then, pursuing her own life with determination. That's why Aunt is now more remarkable than anyone else."
"If Father God is unwilling, I will personally go to the Senluo Divine Kingdom and cancel my engagement with the Senluo Divine Son before Jueluo Divine Venerable!"
With that, she turned her head and walked away.
BANG!
Hua Fuchen slammed the table and stood up, his voice angry: "How dare you!"
The heavy sound shook the ears. Hua Caili's figure froze in place, and Hua Fuchen was also stunned for a moment.
In his entire life, he had never spoken a single angry word to Hua Caili.
As if all his strength had left him, Hua Fuchen slowly sat back down. He looked at his daughter's back, his voice drifting: "Caili, if your father insists on separating you two... will you hate me?"
Hua Caili turned her eyes, slowly walked back to Hua Fuchen's side, and knelt gently by his knee, saying softly: "No."
"Even if everyone in this world hates Father God, I never will." Her eyes filled with tears, every word heartfelt: "The year I was born, Father God held me and knelt before the Pure Land for seven days and seven nights, kowtowing until his skull fractured, blood staining nine feet of ground."
"Every time Father God tempered my soul for me, he endured immense pain. Aunt said this pain was like having one's heart ripped out and soul torn away, unbearable for any human, but Father God endured it for me twenty times... And each time the tempering was complete, despite such agony, you always smiled so happily, because your pain had made me one step more 'complete.'"
"I know all the good things Father God has done for me, all the favoritism. That's why I have always been most willing to listen to Father God's words. I also know that Father God's decisions are all for me to have the smoothest possible future. You don't want me to be with Brother Yun because you're afraid we will repeat what happened between you and Mother back then..."
"But, I am not my mother, and Brother Yun is not Father God. Just this once... for this one time, I beg Father God to allow me to be willful... I beg Father God to try trusting me, to try trusting Brother Yun..."
Hua Fuchen closed his eyes, breathing deeply... After a long time, he murmured: "You may withdraw."
...
Yun Che followed unhurriedly behind Hua Lianzhi. Neither of them spoke.
"It seems you have failed." In his soul sea, Li Suo's voice sounded.
Yun Che shifted his attention: "Oh? What makes you say that?"
Li Suo said slowly: "From your conversation with Hua Fuchen, I could sense that his resolve had not wavered at all."
"And what of it?" Yun Che raised an eyebrow. "You didn't actually think I could convince Hua Fuchen, did you? You must understand, I am ultimately a complete stranger to him. No matter how silver my tongue, there is absolutely no way I could produce any stir in the will of a Divine Venerable of a Divine Kingdom."
He focused his gaze: "The ones who can truly move Heart-Painting Divine Venerable's will are only Caili and her aunt."
"I see." Li Suo seemed to realize something. "No wonder you acted so calm... I should say, overly calm."
Yun Che smiled: "Even you think I was overly calm, so how much more so for Heart-Painting Divine Venerable."
Li Suo: "?"
A mysterious curve appeared at the corner of Yun Che's mouth: "Acting too calm, too perfect, sometimes instead breeds unease."
"What do you mean?" Li Suo didn't understand.
"Very soon, you will know." Yun Che still looked completely at ease. "My confidence before was only about sixty percent, but after meeting with Heart-Painting Divine Venerable, my confidence now is over eighty percent."
"He... will definitely take that step."
Just then, a female figure rapidly approached from ahead, accompanied by an extremely terrifying sword might.
Hua Lianzhi stopped and bowed from afar: "Lianzhi greets Radiant Light Sword Venerable."
The woman nodded slightly, then suddenly stopped as she was passing by. She looked sideways and asked: "Lianzhi, I heard that Caili has successfully broken through to the Divine Annihilation Realm. Breaking through a major realm should be a crucial time for consolidating the new realm's foundation, but the Venerable has forbidden us from seeing Caili... Do you know the reason?"
Hua Lianzhi immediately replied: "To report to Radiant Light Sword Venerable, the Divine Maiden has been occupied with other matters recently. The foundation consolidation will need to be postponed. When the time comes, Father God will trouble the seven Sword Venerables for their assistance."
It wasn't a very satisfactory answer, but Radiant Light Sword Venerable didn't press further. She nodded slightly and vanished into the distance in an instant.
"Ah... Princess Lianzhi, that senior just now was?" Yun Che asked at the right moment.
Hua Lianzhi replied softly: "She is one of our kingdom's Seven Sword Venerables—Radiant Light Sword Venerable."
"Seven Sword Venerables?" Yun Che murmured, then said with some embarrassment: "My apologies, Yun comes from a remote place and knows very little about the affairs of the Divine Kingdom. The Divine... Princess Caili never mentioned it, so I hope Princess Lianzhi will forgive my ignorance."
"How could that be." Hua Lianzhi smiled with pursed lips, then patiently explained: "The Seven Sword Venerables are the seven strongest people in our Heaven-Breaking Divine Kingdom besides Father God and Aunt. All of them are at the Divine Extreme Realm, each commanding a sword domain. Their titles are: Celestial Pivot, Celestial Shaft, Celestial Gem, Celestial Balance, Jade Measure, Alkaid, and Radiant Light. Young Master Yun, if you reside in the Divine Kingdom for long, you will surely meet them all one by one."
Yun Che nodded: "Thank you, Princess Lianzhi, for informing me."
Seven Sword Venerables, all at the Divine Extreme Realm, plus Hua Qingying—just this Heaven-Breaking Divine Kingdom alone had eight Divine Extreme-level beings below a True God... Truly terrifying.
"As for 'Princess,' there's no need. Like my elder sister, you may just call me Lianzhi."
As she spoke, she secretly glanced at Yun Che, then quickly averted her gaze as if fleeing.
...
When Hua Qingying walked into the Sword Pavilion, Hua Fuchen was sitting upright, his eyes filled with chaos.
"How is it?" Hua Qingying asked.
Hua Fuchen raised his eyes slightly, sighed, and said: "You heard everything too. You should understand my resolve."
"What do you think of Yun Che?" Hua Qingying asked again.
"He is indeed an unexpected young man." Hua Fuchen evaluated thusly: "Among the people I usually meet, I have never seen anyone standing before me as a Divine Lord yet remaining so calm. During our conversation, I even secretly applied a slight amount of soul pressure, yet it only made his breathing slightly disordered for a moment, and he quickly returned to normal."
"For someone with such a state of mind, is he truly only two jiazi in age?"
Hua Caili's nature was so pure and simple, but Yun Che was... This made it impossible for him not to harbor a lingering doubt and unease.
Hua Qingying did not show surprise at this: "His extraordinary aspects go far beyond this. When I think back on it, it's really not strange at all that Caili likes him so much."
Hua Fuchen looked deeply at her, his gaze complex: "Qingying, your words are all leaning toward that boy."
"Yes." Hua Qingying did not deny it at all.
"Are you going to join in this nonsense too?" Hua Fuchen shook his head heavily. "Caili doesn't understand, that boy knows nothing—don't you understand either?"
Hua Qingying slowly stepped forward, walked before Hua Fuchen, and asked a very strange question: "Brother, in your eyes, what is Caili?"
"?" Hua Fuchen frowned. "Caili... she is of course my daughter."
Hua Qingying nodded slightly: "Yes, she is your daughter, the only child of you and Wanxin, the only bloodline Wanxin left in this world, the Divine Maiden of the Heaven-Breaking Divine Kingdom... You have transferred and compensated all the love and guilt you feel for Wanxin onto Caili. You have paved every step of her life, carefully guiding her to avoid all possible risks in life. Even her future, you have already built what you believe to be the best smooth path for her."
"But, it seems you have forgotten that before all these identities, Caili... is first and foremost herself!"
Hua Fuchen: "..."
Hua Qingying continued: "When you were young, you complained to me more than once, saying you hated it most when others interfered and directed your life. But what about Caili? Her entire life has been lived within the framework you wove for her, never able to step outside. Before this training journey, even when she occasionally stepped out of the Divine Kingdom, you had to follow her the entire way."
"In your eyes, you are using all your strength to protect her life, but to Caili, isn't this just a magnificent cage?"
Hua Fuchen sighed softly: "A person's thoughts always change bit by bit over time, sometimes even completely overturning. You know best that I do this because I am afraid. Wanxin suffered the cruelest fate—how could I let mine and her daughter suffer even the slightest harm!"
"Is that so?" Hua Qingying closed her eyes slightly and said softly: "In the Mist Sea, after that calamity with the Primordial Qilin God, all I thought about was how to face you, and how to separate those two, to correct the mistake before it was too late."
"But, gradually, that thought of mine began to fade away... Just a few days later, I no longer had the heart to forcefully separate them."
"Brother, you cannot imagine what Caili looks like when she is with him. She is joyful every single moment. I could almost see every wisp of her life force glowing."
"So," she turned her eyes to stare at Hua Fuchen, "as a father who doesn't want his daughter to suffer any harm, do you still insist on forcibly tearing away these life lights of Caili's, locking her back into the cage you wove for her?"
"Or..." Hua Fuchen's body visibly trembled.
"Is it that what you fear is not just Caili being harmed." Hua Qingying's voice gradually turned ice-cold, piercing the soul. "You fear the Heaven-Breaking Divine Kingdom being stained with disgrace, you fear the relationship with the Senluo Divine Kingdom turning sour, you fear incurring the displeasure of the Abyss Emperor?"
Hua Fuchen's body trembled violently.