Chapter 2072: The Final "Test"
The silver-clad man in the projection was none other than the Divine Venerable of the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom—Meng Kongchan.
His divine title was "Dreamless."
Hua Fuchen did not mince words and directly stated, "I would like to trouble Brother Meng to help me probe into a person's mind."
Meng Kongchan revealed an intrigued expression: "For Brother Fuchen to be so solemn, this person must be extraordinary."
"In a certain sense, indeed so." Hua Fuchen's expression was complex. "This person is... the one Caili has set her heart upon."
"...!" Meng Kongchan's expression changed markedly.
Both fell silent simultaneously. For a long time, Meng Kongchan could not find any hint of jest on Hua Fuchen's face.
Finally, Meng Kongchan spoke slowly, "This matter is far more than 'extraordinary.' What about Brother Luo Hou..."
"He does not know, and I have no face to tell him." Hua Fuchen said, "Aside from me and Qingying, only you know of this."
He did not ask Meng Kongchan to keep it secret, for he knew Meng Kongchan would never reveal a single word to anyone.
Meng Kongchan suddenly frowned: "Wait? You want me to probe him? Do you mean... you are considering accepting this person and Caili's affair?"
"Sigh." Hua Fuchen let out a faint sigh. "In the end, human calculations cannot compete with Heaven's plans. Though it has only been a few short months, Caili has already sunk her heart into this child, both in body and soul."
Although "both in body and soul" was somewhat vague, spoken by the Heart-Painting Divine Venerable, it was enough for the Dreamless Divine Venerable to understand its implication, and his face showed clear agitation.
Hua Fuchen continued, "When I first heard of it, I was filled with rage, wishing I could blast him to death. But... he saved Caili's life, and even Qingying clearly favors him. And Caili's determination for him completely exceeded my expectations."
"If I forcibly separate her from that boy, it will surely wound her for life, and our father-daughter bond may develop an irreparable rift forever. That... is absolutely not a result I can accept."
"Oh?" Meng Kongchan's surprise deepened. "Caili has seen nothing but the finest men of this era in her life. For her to be so infatuated, even forcing you to consider backing down... it seems that boy truly has extraordinary qualities."
"But the consequences of this move..." Halfway through his words, Meng Kongchan shook his head. "Never mind. Your decision must have been carefully considered. Though I find it greatly improper, I suppose there's no need for me to dissuade you."
"To what extent do you need me to probe this child?"
These two Divine Venerables had known each other since childhood and were practically sworn brothers through life and death. They understood each other too well to require excessive explanation.
Hua Fuchen lowered his voice, each word solemn: "First, I need to confirm whether his feelings for Caili are genuine... at the very least, whether his sincerity outweighs his schemes."
"Oh?" Meng Kongchan narrowed his eyes, which were covered with a silver, unusual light. "This surprises me greatly. Among the younger generation's women in this world, none can compare to Caili in elegance and talent. With Caili's status and beauty, what man in the world would not lose his heart and soul upon seeing her?"
"Take Dian Jiuzhi, the top Divine Son of this generation—his infatuation with her is known throughout the world. If he becomes a Divine Venerable in the future, I suspect he would wish to give her the entire Senluo Divine Kingdom. And if not for their engagement, my unworthy son Jianxi would surely pursue her relentlessly."
"A man favored by Caili can be considered the luckiest person in the world. If someone does not give his true heart when facing Caili... either that child has a soul as firm as a rock, or he is exclusively fond of men, hahaha."
Meng Kongchan's words seemed half-joking, but in truth, they were an irrefutable truth for all beings in the Abyss. The Divine Maiden Caili was peerlessly elegant, the pinnacle of women in this era, and the ultimate obsession of men... why doubt the sincerity of the heart?
"As for schemes, what pure soul exists in this world? Might is a scheme, beauty is a scheme, influence is a scheme, power is a scheme... If one truly has no schemes, how is that different from a useless piece?"
After saying this, Meng Kongchan did not detect any change in Hua Fuchen's expression. He put away his jesting attitude and said, "Since you have such a concern, could it be that you have detected a 'flaw' in that boy?"
"No," Hua Fuchen shook his head. "Quite the opposite."
"Caili's meeting, interactions, and falling in love with him were all initiated by Caili. As for him, he saved Caili from danger multiple times, even risking his life for her. Even Qingying, with her indifferent nature, was moved by him and repeatedly favored him."
"All the traces, as well as my exchanges with him, led to the result that his feelings for Caili were pure and flawless, with no schemes toward anything else, and no reaction to any other temptations."
"..." Meng Kongchan frowned slightly, then said, "Then, were there any flaws in his soul fluctuations?"
"None at all." Hua Fuchen gave Meng Kongchan an answer that could not fail to surprise him. "His cultivation base is merely at the third level of the Divine Lord Realm. Yet, in my presence, under the several soul pressures I secretly exerted, he remained calm and polite, neither servile nor overbearing. The rare emotional fluctuations he showed were only anxiety regarding matters concerning Caili."
"Although it is highly likely that I am overthinking, if he does harbor malicious intent, given his temperament and cunning, how could Caili... possibly be his match?"
This time, Meng Kongchan did not refute or dissuade Hua Fuchen from these seemingly redundant concerns.
Flawlessness, in turn, breeds unease.
"I understand." Meng Kongchan slowly nodded. "I have always known your deep love for your daughter, Brother Fuchen. I will naturally eliminate this 'what if' for you. However, I suspect your doubts are not solely due to this reason, are they?"
"Heh, as expected, I cannot hide it from Brother Meng's keen eyes." Hua Fuchen said, "Secondly, I need to trouble Brother Meng to investigate his origins clearly."
"Oh?" Meng Kongchan's brows furrowed slightly. "What do you mean? Things have been forced to this point, yet you still do not know that boy's true origins?"
"Don't laugh at me, Brother Meng, but it is indeed so." Hua Fuchen smiled self-deprecatingly and continued, "That child bears the surname Yun, with the single given name Che. But he has no backing or clan. According to him, he was saved by an ancient soul about a hundred years ago, when he was merely ten years old, and he lost all memories before that age, so he has no idea of his true birthplace."
Meng Kongchan's eyebrows twitched involuntarily... and then he saw Hua Fuchen fall silent.
"Is that all?"
"Yes, that is all." Hua Fuchen said, "As for what that ancient soul was, he cites 'master's orders' and never reveals a single word to anyone. Over these days, I have also sent people to investigate secretly, but they found nothing related to him. It indeed seems, as he claims, that he only recently entered the world."
"In other words..." Meng Kongchan looked at Hua Fuchen with a slightly strange expression. "You, the esteemed Heart-Painting Divine Venerable, know virtually nothing about this boy who has messed with your daughter?"
"Correct." Hua Fuchen slowly closed his eyes. "So, how could I not be worried?"
"Thus, I understand." Meng Kongchan slowly nodded. A few short words were the promise of the Dreamless Divine Venerable.
"This matter still requires Brother Meng to perform it personally." Hua Fuchen emphasized heavily.
"Of course." Meng Kongchan's gaze was earnest. "Caili's matter also involves Senluo and the Pure Land. Naturally, I will not let others know."
"Not only that," Hua Fuchen said. "This child Yun Che possesses qualities that even I find astonishing. So if the 'master' he speaks of is true, his origin is likely to be earth-shattering, perhaps accompanied by shocking secrets. If others know, it may breed ill intentions."
Meng Kongchan nodded solemnly, then joked, "Rest assured, Brother Fuchen. Even if I find out he is the son of Yuan Huang, I will never reveal a word to anyone."
"With Brother Meng's words, I am naturally at ease."
A promise from the Dreamless Divine Venerable was no small matter.
The Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom specialized in soul cultivation. And breaking a promise would surely damage the soul.
With the unique "Dreamfall" and "Sinking Dream" powers of the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom, they knew countless secrets of innumerable profound practitioners, yet no personal secret had ever leaked from the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom.
This was true for ordinary Weaving Dream cultivators, let alone the Dreamless Divine Venerable.
"However," Meng Kongchan's expression was serious, with hidden concern in his eyes. "If everything is merely your unnecessary worry, are you truly... going to break the engagement personally bestowed by Yuan Huang and accept this boy who has no power, no status, a pitiful cultivation base, and not even a background?"
As a father himself, he could not imagine how anxious and enraged he would be if such a matter fell upon him.
"Yes." This single word came out without hesitation.
Meng Kongchan's gaze was complex as he nodded slightly. "It seems you have made your decision. I will say no more... You sending that boy here probably also intends for me to get familiar with him, so that I may mediate in the future. It seems you actually have some confidence in this boy, believing he will win my favor."
"Heh, such thoughts naturally cannot be hidden from Brother Meng." Hua Fuchen admitted frankly.
"Then," Meng Kongchan asked, "how long do you intend to have him stay with me?"
"Five years." Hua Fuchen said, "During these five years, you need not give him attention or assistance. Let him rely on himself."
"And if... your worries come true?" Meng Kongchan narrowed his eyes.
The gentleness on Hua Fuchen's face instantly dissipated, and his sword-like brows condensed a cold, majestic air: "Between the third and fifth year, find a reason to send him out, then seize the opportunity to kill him."
"Without involving Zhe Tian or Weaving Dream, and leaving no traces."
"Mm." Meng Kongchan understood his intention and slowly nodded. "But even if the situation is perfect then, it will be hard to eliminate Caili's suspicions. Why not tell Caili directly and make her give up?"
Hua Fuchen let out a faint sigh, his words carrying a hint of helplessness: "You have not seen firsthand how deeply she is involved with that boy. If that boy is truly not the one to trust... rather than breaking her heart and tearing her insides, it would be better to leave a fleeting illusion in her heart that she can still reminisce about."
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"Boy, this last test, if you can pass it, I will personally go to cancel the engagement with the Senluo Divine Kingdom, and I will no longer oppose your affair with Caili. If there are any obstacles, I will do my utmost to clear them for you."
The next day, as soon as Yun Che and Hua Caili walked behind Hua Fuchen, they were greeted by such direct words.
Yun Che immediately bowed in salute: "Very well, Junior will do his utmost and will not fail Caili's feelings and Senior's trust."
Hua Caili quickly "warned" him, "Father God, we agreed, you absolutely cannot deliberately make things difficult for him, or else I... and Aunt will not agree."
"Rest assured." Hua Fuchen spoke lightly. "This final test is actually extremely simple. As long as he is willing, he will surely be able to complete it."
Hua Fuchen turned around and looked at Yun Che: "The last test is that I want you to go to the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom and stay there alone... for five years."
Yun Che raised his eyes, a trace of surprise on his face.
"Ah!?" Hua Caili let out a startled cry and immediately objected, "No, no! Brother Yun has never been to any other Divine Kingdom, and he has had no interaction with the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom. Leaving him alone there, he... wouldn't even have anyone to get along with. And if he encounters danger, there will be no one to help him."
"And five years... how can..."
"What?" Hua Caili's reaction was entirely within Hua Fuchen's expectations. He did not comply with his daughter's words, but instead became even more stern: "Do you think that Yun boy does not even have the ability to stand on his own in the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom for a mere five years? Or do you think that your feelings cannot even survive a mere five years?"
Before Hua Caili could speak, he continued with utmost disappointment, "The best test for feelings is time. The best test for a person's ability is to stand alone. I did not set a limit of a hundred years, nor fifty, but merely five short years... Caili, time and again you say that you two fear nothing and will never change, yet you are so afraid and evasive of this mere five years?"
"It seems that your feelings are nothing more than this."
"Of course not!" Hua Caili immediately retorted, "Brother Yun and I have only been together for a few short months. How could we... suddenly be separated for so long? And the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom is not an ordinary place—it is a Divine Kingdom! Although Brother Yun is very formidable, he is, after all, only two Jiazi old. In a place like the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom, he simply wouldn't..."
"Hmph!" A heavy snort interrupted Hua Caili's words. "So that means rejection? Very well..."
"No!" Yun Che squeezed Hua Caili's hand, then stepped forward and said with the utmost solemnity, "Junior has said before, I will do my utmost to complete whatever trial the Divine Venerable Senior gives me!"
Hua Fuchen finally turned his gaze aside.
Yun Che continued, "And, as Senior said, compared to Caili's feelings and Senior's concession, such a test is actually extremely simple, nothing less than a kindness."
"Brother Yun..." Hua Caili's hands gradually clenched. As she spoke softly, her eyes already held a thin mist.
She feared that Yun Che would encounter danger alone outside, and she also feared... the two words "separation" that suddenly surged into her heart, momentarily making her heartrendingly sorrowful.
"Very well." Hua Fuchen's majestic air softened, and even his gaze toward Yun Che became a little gentler.
No one in the Abyss was unaware of the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom. He believed Yun Che could roughly guess the purpose of sending him there.
His acceptance so readily indicated that he most likely had no guilt in his heart.
"Three days from now, someone will prepare a Mysterious Ark for you. You must travel alone. However, since you are the one Caili holds dear, it is not that I am completely leaving you without care. Once you arrive at the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom, the Dreamless Divine Venerable will personally summon you and arrange a place for you... but after that, it will be entirely up to you."
He stared at every slightest change in Yun Che's pupils: "Five years only... Never let me and Caili down."