Chapter 2162: Misty Clouds and Moon (Part 1)
Li Suo certainly remembered these words Yun Che had once spoken, because this self-created tactic was far from his first use.
When he first entered the Abyss, the very first node he integrated into this world was by deliberately creating a severe injury to attract Helian Lingzhu, and his subsequent encounter with Hua Caili brought this method to its extreme.
When faced with a severely injured person, one's vigilance drops and pity arises—this is an instinct of human nature, especially for women.
But...
Li Suo had observed Yun Che's entire journey through the Abyss. His schemes rarely failed, yet at this moment she couldn't help but remind him, "The loss of memory does not mean the simultaneous dissipation of one's mindset and cunning. She was once the emperor of a realm, and she once saved and rewrote your life in that desperate situation that made you utterly despair, helping you become the emperor of an era."
"A person like her—how could she be as easily deceived as Hua Caili?"
"Deceived?"
BOOM!
Another heavy strike from the Abyss Ghost shattered and caved in several ribs on his right side. The color drained further from his face, and the corner of his mouth twisted into a faint, sorrowful smile. "Every image in my memories of the moon, I have engraved deeply into my soul... Toward her, the thing I am least capable of is deception."
Li Suo: "..."
"You are right. Even if she has lost all her past, her heart and soul will not change. She has only returned to her purest, freest form."
"One of the greatest mistakes of my life was once not believing in her. But now, I firmly believe that beneath the exterior of Shen Wuyi, there is still... and always will be, the heart and soul of Xia Qingyue."
His figure suddenly burst forward, charging straight ahead. As his profound energy surged, every wound on his body split open, scattering patches of blood behind him.
Li Suo remained silent for a long time. She realized that her offhand words seemed to have inadvertently exposed his scars, spreading a lingering pain through his soul sea.
In the silence, Shen Wuyi's eyes suddenly flashed with a cold light. As her exquisite profound realm shifted, she appeared high in the distant void. With a single glance, she saw through the gray, hazy dust and mist a blood-stained figure retreating rapidly while fighting two frenzied Abyss Ghosts alone.
She recognized him at once—Yun Che of the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom!
The Abyss Ghosts he faced alone were actually two Abyss Ghosts at the third level of the Divine Annihilation Realm!
At Eden Cloud Summit, with his cultivation at the fourth level of the Divine Lord Realm, he had defeated Dian Sansi, who was at the third level of the Divine Annihilation Realm. Anyone who witnessed it could not help but be astonished. But this was the Divine Sleep Forbidden Domain, where profound energy was heavily suppressed by Abyss Dust. Facing two Abyss Ghosts at the third level of the Divine Annihilation Realm alone, even with his astounding profound way talent, it would be difficult for him to have a chance of victory.
He fought while retreating, narrowly escaping danger at every turn, his entire body drenched in blood, his aura in chaos... Only his gaze remained as resolute as ever, never once touching the Void-Breaking Divine Jade on his shoulder.
Shen Wuyi cast her gaze downward, her eyes bottomless and unruffled, filled only with endless frost and cold. She was dressed in black, her ink-black hair like a waterfall, silently blending into the gray sky.
The direction Yun Che was retreating was precisely where she was. The distance between them gradually narrowed, and with each step of retreat, his injuries grew heavier. At the same time, a red-gold flame light began to shine on his body, growing increasingly dazzling in the gray world.
Just as he neared her position, Yun Che suddenly stopped and launched a counterattack.
His figure traced a strange ice shadow, appearing abruptly between the two Abyss Ghosts. The long-gathered flame exploded violently, blossoming in the gray world into a magnificent, dazzling Phoenix divine shadow, accompanied by a soul-shaking, proud cry.
In the blazing flames, the two Abyss Ghosts flew out engulfed in fire. Yun Che's ice shadow flickered again, instantly closing in on one Abyss Ghost. With a resounding shout, just as at Eden Cloud Summit, he unleashed a Divine Lord power strong enough to shatter all understanding of the profound way.
BOOM!
The Abyss Ghost's body was forcibly severed, and at the same time, the sound of Yun Che's left arm shattering from the backlash rang out.
But Yun Che seemed oblivious to the pain, not allowing himself even a moment's respite. He lunged at the other Abyss Ghost, his right hand grabbing its body. Amid the continuous Phoenix cries, red-gold flames fiercely incinerated the Abyss Ghost... for several breaths, until the second Abyss Ghost also fell still.
The flames gradually extinguished. Yun Che appeared completely drained. Leaning against a pitch-black Abyss stone, he slowly slid down to sit, gasping heavily. A pool of blood quickly spread beneath him, and even through the dust and mist, it was shockingly glaring.
Only when the flames had completely died out did Shen Wuyi's eyes still reflect the ice shadows and flame light, lingering for a long time before slowly fading.
"I want you to kill Yun Che!"
"Kill Yun Che!!"
Shen Wuyanye's frenzied shrieks echoed through her soul sea like a nightmare's demonic sound.
This place was the Divine Sleep Forbidden Domain, isolated from the outside world, with no one able to spy.
At this moment, Yun Che was severely wounded, his profound power heavily depleted, with almost no power to resist.
To kill Yun Che, there could be no more perfect time and place.
The Heartless Sword emerged, and Shen Wuyi's figure descended from the sky. The cold light cut through layers of Abyss mist, thrusting straight at Yun Che's heart.
At that moment, Yun Che slowly raised his head.
Their gazes silently met in the cold light of the Heartless Sword.
There was no shock or fear, no panic or terror. On his pale, paper-like face, a very faint... but infinitely warm smile appeared. His bloodshot eyes, piercing through the sword light that sought to take his life, stared straight into the depths of her eyes, as if filled with endless tenderness, unwilling to shift even a fraction.
Sshhh—
The Heartless Sword cut a long rift through the space, but it came to an abrupt halt half an inch from Yun Che's heart.
Time and space seemed to freeze. Yun Che, with the cold sword pointing at his heart, did not look down at his chest. He just gazed at her eyes with that same infatuated, dazed expression... Her eyes were so exquisitely beautiful and cold, like a frozen river of stars, reflecting nothing of the mortal world.
Between them, there was only a hair's breadth.
Their breaths silently intertwined. In this world, they had never been this close before.
In the silent stagnation, it was Shen Wuyi's voice, devoid of any warmth, that broke the cold stillness.
"Why didn't you flee?"
The sword descending from the distant void a moment ago would have been enough for Yun Che to sense the danger and use the Void-Breaking Divine Jade to escape this place.
Yun Che smiled, still staring straight at her, as if no matter what, he would not allow even a moment of distraction. "Because I know you won't kill me."
Her moon-like eyes narrowed slightly, then released a soul-chilling killing intent. The killing intent passed through the tip of the Heartless Sword and pierced directly into Yun Che's heart and soul, yet it still failed to evoke even a tremor of fear in him.
The sword light withdrew, then with ice-cold, bone-piercing killing intent, stabbed anew at Yun Che's heart.
Yun Che finally moved. His still intact right arm reached for the Void-Breaking Divine Jade on his shoulder... and then knocked it far away.
Clang!
The Heartless Sword pierced into Yun Che's heart, but only half an inch before it stopped dead. The too-abrupt halt sent tremors and hums through the entire slender blade.
Blood beads slowly seeped out, reflecting in Shen Wuyi's eyes. Her snow-white fingers gripping the sword tightened slightly.
The world seemed to freeze once more. Unchanged was Yun Che's expression and gaze.
Thud!
The Void-Breaking Divine Jade rolled away in the distance, making a very light sound that nevertheless struck the heartstrings.
Finally, Shen Wuyi furrowed her brows and averted her gaze, avoiding his direct stare.
"Just as I thought... you won't kill me."
Under his severe injuries, the color in his face faded with every breath, but the light smile on his lips grew gentler and more affectionate. From beginning to end, his gaze never wavered, as if he couldn't even feel the cold sword at his heart or the piercing pain.
Shen Wuyi's gaze remained as indifferent as a lone moon, now tinged with a hint of faint mockery. "When faced with danger, you do not flee, but instead actively entrust your life to another's hands. Whether you rely on your status as the Weaving Dream Divine Son or the gaze of the Abyss Emperor, it is utter foolishness."
"Neither," Yun Che gently shook his head. "I rely on our shared past."
"I rely on my belief that even if fate is severed, memories lost, time and space displaced, my Qingyue, my wife, could never truly want to kill me."
Li Suo's heart rippled: (He actually...)
At this point, she truly understood why Yun Che had severely wounded himself. Because if not for this, Shen Wuyi, who was cold and distant toward everything, would never have come this close to him or spoken to him like this.
Shen Wuyi slowly turned her gaze back, bit by bit. She stared into Yun Che's eyes for several long breaths before speaking in a cold, piercing voice: "What did you say?"
Yun Che reached out, his fingertip touching the sword tip that had entered half an inch into his body. The beating of his heart seemed to travel along the blade into Shen Wuyi's perception. "What am I saying... With your keen mind, do you truly have no awareness? When you first saw me, did the ripples in your heart tell you nothing?"
Shen Wuyi still gazed at him coldly, unmoving and silent.
"At Eden Cloud Summit, during the Wild Devouring Punishment, while desperately resisting, I also tried as much as possible to divert my mind to you. I sensed your confusion, and I also caught the pain that occasionally flickered across your face... and the glance you cast at me when you left."
Yun Che's brows curved. Severely injured, with a sword tip pointing at his heart, he smiled so happily, his eyes warm and hazy, as if reflecting a warm moon:
"My Qingyue, even if I let you down, even if I hurt you... even if fate overturned and you forgot everything, you would still feel pain for me... So how could you bear to kill me?"
A sharp sting came from Yun Che's heart... Her hand holding the sword had lost its calm for a single instant.
Sshh!
The Heartless Sword was abruptly withdrawn, sending a splash of blood flying from Yun Che's heart. In the next instant, the sword tip was already pressed against his throat.
Shen Wuyi looked down at him from above, her beautiful eyes incomparably cold and clear, showing not a trace of emotion. "Are you saying you know my past?"
"Yes."
His injuries were worsening, and Yun Che's breathing had become rapid, but only his gaze remained as before. "I know everything about your past—your name, your homeland, all that you..."
"So what?"
The indifferent, heartless words cut him off. The Heartless Sword pressed another fraction closer to his throat. "My name is Shen Wuyi, the Divine Maiden of the Eternal Night Divine Kingdom. This life was saved by Mother Goddess, this body was bestowed by Mother Goddess. The rest of my existence is only for Mother Goddess and the Eternal Night Divine Kingdom."
"What does the past have to do with me!"
Yun Che did not show the slightest gloom because of her words. He looked into Shen Wuyi's seemingly eternally cold eyes, and his weak voice carried an unyielding resolve: "In this world, aside from yourself, I am the only one who truly understands you... Your existence possesses a nobility that transcends heaven and earth. How could you be manipulated by others? How could you be willing to remain beneath anyone?"
"The Mother Goddess you speak of is no more than a chess piece between your fingers... Even this Divine Sleep Forbidden Domain is but a single square on your chessboard."
"..." Shen Wuyi's gaze seemed to grow even more profound.
She spoke coldly, "If these words are wrong, they insult me and insult Mother Goddess—a crime deserving a thousand deaths. If they hit the mark, then all the more reason for me to kill you to silence you."
"Truly foolish."
"Heh, hehe..." Yun Che laughed softly, but now his smile was tinged with sorrow and self-mockery. "You're right. Back then, I was indeed utterly foolish. If only I had been even a little less naive and stupid, how could I have caused you to suffer such a cruel fate for my sake?"
Shen Wuyi: "..."
A cold wind suddenly rose, stirring her night-ink-like long hair. She laughed—a very faint laugh, but one of endless scorn:
"What a fine Weaving Dream Divine Son. You truly open my eyes wide. Just a day ago, at Eden Cloud Summit, before the watchful eyes of the nations, you endured double the Wild Devouring Punishment for your Heaven-Breaking Divine Maiden—truly heart-stirring and tear-jerking."
"And now, here before me, a person without memories, you acknowledge her as your wife and put on a deep display of affection unafraid of life or death. Even I, with my frozen heart, would love to know—if your Heaven-Breaking Divine Maiden were to witness this face of yours, what scene would unfold?"
As her words fell, Shen Wuyi's freezing gaze still could not capture any fluctuation in his eyes.
"I am not the Weaving Dream Divine Son, nor the son of Meng Kongchan, nor a person of this world."
The greatest secret Yun Che held in this world was spoken so directly and calmly.
The mockery at the corner of Shen Wuyi's lips slowly faded, and her eyes returned to a profound stillness.
"You have been in this world for decades. With your wisdom, you must have long realized that you are not of this world."
"We come from the same world. We are truly husband and wife, and we were once people bound by fate."
He looked up, meeting Shen Wuyi's gaze directly, allowing her to see every gleam in his eyes without missing a single trace. "You possess a peerless Crystal Heart. You are better than anyone at discerning truth from falsehood and good from evil. Every word I say—true or false—can you truly not feel it?"
"Hmph!" Shen Wuyi let out a cold snort, the mockery returning to the corner of her lips. "Crystal Heart? So even the honorable Weaving Dream Divine Son believes such baseless rumors."
"The Ice Crystal Heart recorded in this world is said not only to distinguish truth, falsehood, good, and evil, but also to be pure and flawless, untainted by filth. Unfortunately, in my own eyes, I am an extremely selfish and cold-hearted person."
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