# Chapter 2088: Senluo Nine Knowledges
In the empty hall, Yun Che and Dian Jiuzhi sat facing each other.
The appearance of Dian Jiuzhi, the Senluo Divine Son, was as gentle and handsome as the rumors claimed, without any of the oppressive aura befitting the First Divine Son, nor the blazing, tyrannical presence of his father god.
But looking closely at his eyes, Yun Che could still catch a deeply hidden sharpness within them.
A First Divine Son who had grown up trampled upon—Yun Che absolutely did not believe that deep in his bones, he was as forgiving and magnanimous as his outward appearance suggested.
"Brother Yuan Chen, this visit is quite abrupt. I hope you'll forgive the intrusion."
Dian Jiuzhi, despite being the First Divine Son, was so humble and polite. If it were any other Weaving Dream Divine Son in his place, they would likely be a thousand times astonished and ten thousand times terrified.
Yun Che smiled and said: "What are you saying, Divine Son Jiuzhi? Your great reputation has been like thunder to my ears since I was young, but I never dared to seek your acquaintance. Now that you have graced me with your presence, I am endlessly honored. How could there be any talk of offense? Additionally, I have not yet fully identified with the identity of Meng Jian Yuan, so you may simply call me Yun Che."
Dian Jiuzhi nodded directly: "Very well, Brother Yun. The title of 'Divine Son' is merely an empty name spoken to the world. I am older than you by fifty jiazi. If Brother Yun has no objection, you may call me Brother Dian in private."
Yun Che nodded with a smile: "Then may I ask, Brother Dian, what business brings you here?"
Dian Jiuzhi was slightly startled, then burst into laughter: "Hahaha! In the past, when I said such things, the other party would either take it as courtesy or become even more flustered, and still address me as Divine Son. Brother Yun is truly an interesting person. It seems that coming here to make your acquaintance was the right choice."
Yun Che's expression remained unchanged, his faint smile as before: "Three parts friendship, seven parts probing. I imagine Brother Dian finds it hard to accept that Senior Sword Immortal is willing to be my aunt..."
Dian Jiuzhi's smile suddenly froze. He stared into Yun Che's calm, flawless, and sincere eyes, then laughed again and sighed softly: "We have only just met today, yet you can see through my thoughts so thoroughly and speak so directly... It is only now that I realize there is such a remarkable person as you in this world."
"Brother Dian flatters me." Yun Che lowered his gaze slightly, looking at the teacup beside him, unmoved by Dian Jiuzhi's surprised and admiring words: "Brother Dian's reputation as the First Divine Son resounds throughout the world. But even greater than this reputation as the First Divine Son is your unchanged devotion to Hua Caili, the Heaven-Breaking Divine Maiden, for thousands of years. Senior Sword Immortal is the aunt of the Heaven-Breaking Divine Maiden, as well as her sword path teacher and guardian. She never shows favor to anyone, yet she allowed me to call her aunt and publicly declared her protection over me."
He lifted his eyes again to look at Dian Jiuzhi: "So it's not that I am perceptive, but rather that when it comes to the person Brother Dian is devoted to, you are bound to have this reaction."
Dian Jiuzhi shook his head, not to deny Yun Che's words but seemingly in self-mockery: "Brother Yun is so straightforward and candid. I, who am older by fifty jiazi, feel quite ashamed. Very well, I will speak frankly. I am indeed concerned about the special attention Senior Sword Immortal has given you. I hope Brother Yun can clear my doubts."
He had always known that Hua Caili's side was guarded by Hua Qingying, both openly and covertly. Every time Hua Caili left the Pure Land, he would drop everything to visit her, and his contact with Hua Qingying was naturally frequent.
But even though he was betrothed to Hua Caili, Hua Qingying never gave him a second glance. The only exchanges were him respectfully performing the rites of a junior, and Hua Qingying responding faintly... nothing more.
He had long been accustomed to this. After all, even his father god—Dian Luohou, the strongest divine venerable among the Six Divine Kingdoms—was never given a proper look by Hua Qingying.
But today, she was so special to Yun Che... so special that he could hardly believe it for a long time.
And the only reason he could think of for Hua Qingying, whose temperament was so indifferent as to be almost without desire, to act this way... was Hua Caili.
"Has Brother Dian ever heard of the 'Mist Emperor'?" Yun Che suddenly asked.
"I have heard something of it." Dian Jiuzhi's brow twitched slightly: "The Pure Land is above all, yet this person dares to take 'Emperor' as his title. No matter who hides in the shadows, once exposed, there is only death."
Yun Che held his teacup and smiled without speaking.
"Brother Yun mentioning this person... is it possible..."
Not disappointing him, Yun Che sniffed the tea fragrance lightly and then said unhurriedly: "Since Brother Dian knows of the Mist Emperor, you should also know of the Primordial Lin Shen who appeared alongside the Mist Emperor, and... the purple sword scar that appeared over the Mist Sea."
Dian Jiuzhi thought for a moment, then suddenly realized: "That purple scar... was indeed left by Senior Sword Immortal?"
"Correct." Yun Che nodded slightly: "That day, Brother Dian likely only heard a few rumors, with many errors and omissions. But I happened to be nearby."
He began to narrate: "At that time, the Mist Emperor and the Primordial Lin Shen appeared very close to the training ground of the Heaven-Breaking Divine Maiden. The sudden appearance of the Primordial Lin Shen severely injured the Heaven-Breaking Divine Maiden, nearly causing her death."
"What?!"
Dian Jiuzhi suddenly stood up, his expression drastically changing. The violent surge of his aura shattered both their teacups into pieces.
Yun Che raised a finger, and the fragments and water stains swept past it without touching him at all.
He continued calmly: "Aunt... oh, Senior Sword Immortal had to quickly lead the Primordial Lin Shen away, unable to attend to both ends. I felt a pang of compassion and gritted my teeth as I rushed into the dangerous situation where Senior Sword Immortal was entangled with the Primordial Lin Shen, rescued the Heaven-Breaking Divine Maiden, and was fortunate to escape."
Yun Che's gaze rose slightly, looking at the Senluo Divine Son whose face still held lingering fear: "That is why Senior Sword Immortal allowed me to call her aunt and promised to protect me."
Upon hearing that Hua Caili had been gravely wounded to the point of near death, his reaction was truly astonishing.
It was a long while before Dian Jiuzhi murmured: "So... that's how it is..."
"Exactly so," Yun Che said.
Dian Jiuzhi let out a long breath. Even though it was a past event, he still seemed to have been greatly frightened.
His aura gradually calmed. When he looked at Yun Che again, he was met with an extremely frank and sincere pair of eyes, as if all hypocrisy, cunning, filth, and slander... had no place to hide before those too-clear eyes.
His gaze changed, less probing and scrutinizing, but filled with much more gratitude.
He suddenly stepped back and then made a most solemn bow to Yun Che.
Yun Che seemed stunned. It was only after Dian Jiuzhi completed his bow that he stood up with some confusion and said: "Brother Dian, this is... really too much for me to bear."
Dian Jiuzhi said sincerely: "Caili's training this time, with Senior Sword Immortal secretly accompanying her, I thought there would be no trouble. I never imagined that Caili would encounter such a life-and-death crisis."
"The border of power between Senior Sword Immortal and the Primordial Lin Shen... its terror is beyond imagination, every step a death trap. If Brother Yun had not risked his life to save her, I... cannot bear to imagine..." Toward the end, his voice clearly trembled with lingering fear.
At this moment, he completely understood why Hua Qingying was so special to Yun Che.
To Hua Qingying, Hua Caili was more important than her own life. He had saved Hua Caili's life. No matter how Hua Qingying repaid him, it would never be an exaggeration.
"Brother Yun saved Caili's life, which is equivalent to saving my own life." He stepped forward and heavily patted Yun Che on the shoulder: "Brother Yun, the grace of saving a life will never be forgotten. In the future, I will repay it a hundredfold!"
Yun Che quickly said: "Brother Dian doesn't need to be like this. I was also fleeing for my life that day, and saving the Heaven-Breaking Divine Maiden was incidental. Moreover, I gained Aunt's protection because of it, and returned to the Weaving Dream through the recommendation of the Heaven-Breaking Divine Kingdom. I have already received an enormous repayment."
Dian Jiuzhi shook his head and said with utmost sincerity: "Brother Yun, you must not understand how important Caili is to me. What you saved was not just Caili's life... but also my very existence."
Yun Che: "emmm..."
"Such great kindness, I do not know how to repay it for now." He thought for a moment, then said solemnly: "In the future, if there is any place where you need me, Dian Jiuzhi, Brother Yun, please do not hesitate to ask."
Yun Che seemed to hesitate for a while, then smiled freely: "Brother Dian is indeed a man of deep emotion and true nature. Very well, since Brother Dian is so generous, I will not refuse. In the future, if I encounter any difficult matters, I will certainly trouble Brother Dian."
"Hahaha!" Dian Jiuzhi laughed heartily: "Refreshing! My name is Nine Knowledges, and the first of them is 'Knowing Grace.' If I cannot repay such great kindness, I fear I will be unable to eat or sleep in peace."
The two sat down again, and the atmosphere no longer held any distance.
"May I ask, Brother Dian, what are the 'Nine Knowledges'?" Yun Che asked casually.
Dian Jiuzhi smiled and said: "This is the name my father god granted me when I was established as the Senluo Divine Son. The 'Nine Knowledges' in the name mean: 'Know self, know others, know all beings; know grace, know shame, know good and evil; know advance, know retreat, know heaven's decree.'"
Yun Che smiled but did not comment, simply saying: "I see."
Dian Jiuzhi showed curiosity: "The meaning of 'Nine Knowledges'—when I spoke of it in the past, the other party would always praise the name my father god granted me for its profound significance, saying I should uphold it for life. Brother Yun is the first to react this way."
Yun Che thought for a moment and said: "Brother Dian is a gentle and straightforward person, so I will speak my mind directly."
Dian Jiuzhi smiled: "I am all ears."
Yun Che lightly tapped the tea table with his fingers, but instead of answering, he asked in return: "Brother Dian, do you think you truly understand yourself?"
Dian Jiuzhi thought for a moment but did not answer immediately.
Yun Che looked ahead and said in the most neutral tone: "How many people spend their entire lives, giving everything, finally obtaining what they desired, yet instead of feeling joy and satisfaction, they feel a sense of loss. Turning back, they see their life path covered with scars, and there is no longer anyone who walked through those scars with them... They got what they thought they wanted, but what they lost and missed along the way became eternal voids in their souls."
"So, does a person truly know what they really want?" Yun Che turned his head slightly: "Brother Dian, are you certain you understand what you truly want in this life? Are you certain that the efforts you have made are correct and without regret?"
Without waiting for his answer, Yun Che continued to speak as if to himself: "If it is difficult to know oneself, then knowing others is even harder... it could even be said that in this world, perhaps no one has ever truly and completely understood another person."
"A similar question... Brother Dian, are you certain that the thing you rack your brains to give to someone is what she truly wants? Are you certain that her thoughts are exactly as you assume them to be?"
"...!" Dian Jiuzhi seemed slightly moved.
Not looking at Dian Jiuzhi's reaction, Yun Che directly concluded: "Knowing self and knowing others, knowing grace and knowing shame, knowing advance and knowing retreat... Knowing oneself is nothing but self-deception, knowing others is nothing but arrogance, knowing grace easily leads to being constrained by grace, knowing shame easily leads to being trapped by shame, knowing advance easily leads to regretting not securing retreat, knowing retreat easily leads to regretting not striving for advance."
"As for knowing all beings, knowing good and evil, knowing heaven's decree..."
"If knowing oneself is already difficult, how can one speak of knowing all beings?"
"What is good? What is evil? When a profound cultivator enters the Mist Sea, the abyss beasts are evil that threaten his life and must be slain. But to the abyss beasts, the cultivator is the evil that invades their territory. So how can one speak of knowing good and evil?"
"Knowing heaven's decree?" Yun Che shook his head with a smile: "What is heaven's decree? Should a man know that 'heaven's decree cannot be defied,' or should he say 'my fate is up to me, not heaven'? If heaven's decree can be known, then why struggle in life? If heaven's decree cannot be known, then doesn't 'knowing heaven's decree' become merely a fallacy?"
In just a few words, this name granted by the Divine Venerable Jueluo was rendered worthless in Yun Che's mouth: "Thus, although Brother Dian's name sounds broad in meaning, in my view... it is merely empty."
After finishing his evaluation, he did not forget to say humbly: "These are just my initial impressions, likely due to my shallow experience and inability to grasp the profound intent of Divine Venerable Jueluo. Brother Dian should simply take them as careless words."
Dian Jiuzhi, however, had a fixed gaze, as if in thought. When he snapped out of it, he suddenly asked: "Brother Yun insists on using the name 'Yun Che.' Does this name carry any wish or meaning?"
Yun Che said: "It does, and it does not."
Dian Jiuzhi: "?"
Yun Che showed a nostalgic expression: "My name was given to me by my master. The two characters 'Yun Che' were his hope that I would be as carefree as clouds and as pure as water. He did not expect me to go far in this world, achieve great heights, or leave behind any fame. His only wish was that I would live a peaceful and joyful life, free from disaster and calamity."
Compared to Dian Jiuzhi's "Nine Knowledges," which were full of expectations, warnings, and admonitions, this formed a stark contrast.
Yun Che continued: "So, for me, whether it's dealing with others or myself, whether it's grace or shame... I follow my heart as I please. If one values and clings too much to these things, it only binds the heart and shackles the soul."
Yun Che's spirit sea suddenly echoed with Li Suo's voice: "This insight of yours is surprisingly moving. Is it the understanding you have gained in this half of your life?"
Yun Che twitched the corner of his mouth inwardly and said: "Just a bunch of nonsense to disturb his mind. You actually took it to heart? Forget it quickly."
Li Suo: "..."
Dian Jiuzhi was silent for another good while, then suddenly let out a soft sigh: "Ever since I became the Divine Son, no matter what I encounter, I have always remembered and followed the admonition of the 'Nine Knowledges,' never overstepping. Today, upon hearing Brother Yun's words... I feel a hint of confusion."
"Hahaha!" Yun Che suddenly let out a loud laugh: "I told you, it was just a bunch of nonsense. It should only make Brother Dian laugh, not disturb your heart."
Dian Jiuzhi did not follow his lead but said seriously: "To have met a person like Brother Yun in this life is truly a great fortune. That it took so long to make your acquaintance is a great regret."
He stood up: "Brother Yun, I still have some important matters to attend to, so I won't stay long. Although today was only a short conversation, it feels like we met too late. I have felt much and am thoroughly delighted."
Yun Che said: "The same goes for me."
Dian Jiuzhi sincerely invited: "After today, Brother Yun's name will surely resound throughout the Abyss. If you have free time, you must come to my Senluo Divine Kingdom as a guest. I will accompany you the entire time."
"Haha, certainly."
"Then, I take my leave!"
Dian Jiuzhi gave Yun Che a heavy nod. Just as he was about to turn around, he suddenly asked: "Brother Yun, there is one thing I suddenly want to hear your thoughts on."
"Brother Dian, please speak."
"Does Brother Yun have... someone in his heart?"
Yun Che answered without hesitation: "Of course."
"Then," Dian Jiuzhi's gaze shifted slightly, "if it were Brother Yun, how would you go about winning more affection and favor from that person?"
Yun Che replied with a smile: "When the parasol tree is tall, the phoenix will surely come; when the flowers are fragrant, the butterfly will come of its own accord. True feelings are not begged for, but attracted. What can truly be begged for is never true feelings, but compromise and pity."
Dian Jiuzhi's body swayed slightly.
He smiled: "Thank you for your advice, Brother Yun. Farewell."
"Zhan Yi, escort Divine Son Dian out."
Yun Che watched Dian Jiuzhi walk out of the Divine Son Hall, his expression quite subtle.
He muttered to himself: "I remember back then, when I first arrived in the Eastern God Domain, Qianying was the First Divine Maiden at that time. Her mind was full of schemes and calculations, and her methods were endless and all vicious. She was more terrifying than any demon I could conceive of at that time. Especially the Buddhist Soul Death-Pleading Seal—every time I think of it, I want to get back at her ten or eight times!"
"And this First Divine Son of the Six Divine Kingdoms has his mind full of these things."
Li Suo: "Isn't that exactly what you want?"
Yun Che rested his chin on his hand, thought for a long time, and said to himself: "His profound force aura gives me an extremely strong sense of pressure... the First Divine Son, indeed not an empty reputation in this regard."
"With such cultivation, such status, and his mind full of Caili... if used well, he could be a very useful tool."
Li Suo: "..."