# Chapter 2178: Binding Heart, Bestowing Jade
In the Divine Son Hall, Mo Su and Yun Che had been drinking heartily for an entire hour. Broken wine jars lay scattered everywhere in disarray. The rich, fiery aroma of alcohol filled the hall, permeating and flowing — just a few whiffs were enough to make one's soul intoxicated, half-drowned in tipsiness.
*Boom!*
Another jar was drained. Mo Su slowly moved the jar away from his lips. His face was already flushed crimson like blood, his eyes completely glazed over, a lingering drunken tenderness between his brows. Even the smile at the corners of his mouth carried a lazy, dazed quality of one who had momentarily forgotten all worldly affairs.
At this moment, there was not a trace of the Abyss Emperor's divine dignity about him, not a hint of godly coldness. He was merely a mortal soul who had cast off the shackles of a thousand autumns, allowing himself to indulge in the state of inebriation.
He let out a long puff of turbid breath, looking up to the heavens with melancholy: "The myriad paths often say that three cups of turbid wine can dispel a thousand sorrows. It turns out it wasn't that alcohol couldn't relieve my worries — it was that I had never had such a drinking companion before... Hahaha..."
He laughed heartily, with such abandon: "This kind of exhilaration, this kind of ethereal lightness... it has been far too long since I last... *gulp*..."
Yun Che laughed along with him, flicking his finger as two more large jars slammed onto the table: "I have a thousand jars of wine prepared in my hall, but I too never had anyone to drink with until today, when I finally found such unrestrained joy. Brother, you are always welcome here. As the lofty Abyss Emperor who overlooks the world, you have more right than any living being in this world to indulge in the pleasures of wine and romance... if only to steal half a day of joy and half a day of leisure."
Mo Su did not respond. His expression suddenly stiffened, and even the surrounding air seemed to freeze solid.
In an instant, he slowly stood up. In that single moment, the tipsiness and smell of alcohol on him completely dissipated. There was no longer any trace of haziness or blurriness in his eyes — they were once again as clear as an ancient, cold abyss.
Even the wine that had soaked half his body was completely expelled. What remained upon him was only the dignity and calm that looked down upon all heavens and regarded all beings with contempt.
Yun Che was slightly startled, then rose as well. The intoxication and alcohol on his own body were also completely dispelled as he let out a slightly helpless sigh: "Is Brother going back?"
"Mhm." Mo Su nodded slightly. Gazing at Yun Che with intently gazing eyes, he gave a faint smile: "This half day of joy feels like a rebirth. But for me, it is too extravagant... and too guilty."
As he spoke, seemingly unconsciously, his fingers lightly touched the black bracelet on his wrist, not moving away for a long time.
Yun Che's lips moved, but he still sighed and said bluntly: "So, for Brother, as long as she does not wake up, every shred of happiness you obtain is an undeserved and unbearable sin?"
Mo Su's smile did not change, but he asked a somewhat cruel question: "If you were a member of her clan, would you forgive her?"
Yun Che thought briefly, then gave the most truthful response: "Although there is no true empathy in this world, if I try to place myself among the Demon Clan of that time... whether it be her father's clan or her mother's clan, no matter how much they had previously doted on and praised her, afterwards... they would only have the most intense resentment and hatred towards her. If the dead had knowledge and witnessed the final outcome of the Demon Clan, this kind of hatred and resentment would probably be difficult to dissolve even after death, let alone forgiveness."
Mo Su's expression did not change in the slightest due to Yun Che's blunt words, because he knew the answer with absolute clarity.
He continued to ask: "Then, if there was a woman who, like Xiao Die, did not hesitate to do such a thing to save your life... if your life was saved at the cost of her committing an unpardonable sin for ten thousand generations, could you convince yourself to be at peace?"
"..." Yun Che did not answer, could not answer.
"It is easy to forgive others, but so difficult to forgive oneself. She is like this, so what right do I have to..."
Before he could finish his words, he shook his head and smiled: "Yun Che, you are still young. You should live a life of joy and follow your heart like Brother Ni Xuan. Such gloomy matters should not always be spoken to you."
Yun Che's gaze was sincere: "Between brothers, there is nothing that cannot be said. I think these words, Brother would only speak to me."
Mo Su turned around. His handsome profile that could topple the heavens carried a faint divine glow, yet was stained with an eternal sorrow that would never fade, as if his earlier drunkenness had merely been a briefly woven luxurious dream:
"This life is wearisome and barren, yet I have been fortunate enough to meet you, Brother Che, and enjoy this joyful intoxication. But this heart is self-bound in the abyss, ultimately unable to be fully given. When the Eternal Pure Land in the future clears the clouds and sees the sun, and light reappears, then I will drink heartily with my brother until the ends of the earth."
"Good!" Yun Che did not try to dissuade him, nodding heavily: "Since the Eternal Pure Land is already within reach, the light that Brother has always hoped for is naturally also within touching distance. I will gaze at your silhouette from afar, quietly awaiting the arrival of that day."
Mo Su closed his eyes slightly. When he opened them, there was still a light smile: "Given Xiao Die's temperament, she will surely like you very much. That day... truly makes one ache with longing... Brother Che, do not forget the journey to the Pure Land in ten years."
Having once again given that seemingly somewhat superfluous reminder, Mo Su had already risen into the air.
"Brother!"
But Yun Che suddenly called out to him. However, after speaking, hesitation appeared on his face. After pausing for a few breaths, he said: "Can Brother leave me a sound transmission stone that can contact you at any time, or a similar object?"
"Oh?" Mo Su turned back, his eyes containing a smile: "Given your temperament inherited from Brother Ni Xuan, you naturally disdain any form of protection. It seems there is some unresolved matter?"
Yun Che said: "Brother's eyes are like torches — indeed that is the case. Before my master passed away, she entrusted a precious item to me. After meeting Brother, I always felt that this item might be more suitable in Brother's hands... but I have not yet fulfilled my master's commission, so I am always somewhat hesitant."
Mo Su did not say much, nor did he press further. Instead, he lightly tapped his finger, and a faint pale light slowly drifted down, falling into Yun Che's hand, condensing into a piece of translucent white warm jade entwined with faint soul light.
"Shatter this jade, and I will appear. No matter when, no matter what."
Without a doubt, as long as Yun Che was willing, it could be a life-saving stone that could easily resolve any danger in the Abyss.
Yun Che solemnly put it away: "Good. Once I have made my decision, I will naturally invite Brother to meet."
Mo Su nodded slightly, and his figure had already disappeared into the sky above, leaving not a trace of profound energy fluctuations.
Yun Che did not immediately put away the barrier. He stood still, deep in thought for a long time.
Li Suo whispered: "To the myriad beings of the world, he regards them as nothing but grass; to Pan Xiao Die, his affection cuts to the bone and blood. So, is he a heartless person, or a deeply feeling one?"
Yun Che said slowly: "The union of those two was, to a great extent, the catalyst for the annihilation of the God and Demon Clans, bringing about the end of an era. What Mo Su carries is not just that, but also the heinous crimes Pan Xiao Die committed for him... I am not Mo Su, I cannot empathize. But during this time, I have been pondering his life, and I am gradually beginning to feel that, having endured such experiences, no matter how extreme a person he became, it would not be surprising."
"Will he come here often in the future?" Li Suo asked with some concern. Clearly, she was afraid that Yun Che might expose some secrets because of this... after all, this was the Abyss Emperor, Mo Su.
"No." Yun Che said with considerable certainty: "I am not at all surprised that he would take the initiative to seek me out. After all, given my 'identity', I am the only person in this world for whom he is willing to humble himself and draw close. An entire three million years of solitude will inevitably stir up irrepressible waves in his heart. But... it will probably only be this once. Because he will soon realize that every moment of comfort he feels will, upon sobriety, transform into an even deeper guilt."
"As long as Pan Xiao Die does not wake up, he will never be able to let go of his heart."
"So..." Li Suo seemed to understand: "Your words were deliberately meant to sting him?"
"More or less," Yun Che said. "Even if I had not deliberately stung him with words, after he sobered up, he would have bound himself with guilt anyway. I merely accelerated this process. After all, when facing him just now, I couldn't dispel the effects of the alcohol by any method. If we had kept drinking... I'm afraid I might have misspoken."
Even if Mo Su truly could have let himself get drunk to the point of complete loss of soul, he absolutely could not.
Suddenly, Yun Che's soul sea stirred.
"What is it?" Li Suo immediately asked.
"..." Yun Che shook his head slightly: "Nothing. Just many emotions stirring my heartstrings."
Li Suo knew he was not telling the truth, but did not ask further.
That feeling of being watched...
The soul wound inflicted by the Wild Devouring Punishment had already healed, but that feeling of being watched still existed, whether here or in the Mist Sea.
Even when drinking with Mo Su just now...
But Mo Su had no reaction.
Was it something not even he could detect, or did the so-called surveillance simply not exist...
Or perhaps...
At that moment, he sensed Meng Jianxi's aura rapidly approaching, carrying a hint of anxiety.
Yun Che reached out and dispelled the barrier, instructing: "Lai Sheng, go out and welcome the Xi Divine Son into the hall. No need to announce."
Soon, Meng Jianxi arrived before Yun Che and got straight to the point: "Abyss Brother, the head of the patrol envoys of the Eternal Night Divine Kingdom, Shenwu Mingque, has come in person to pay a visit, but it is not to see the Father God or the Chief Overseer — instead, she seeks an audience with me. This matter is truly strange."
"Oh? To see you?" A puzzled expression appeared on Yun Che's face. After a moment of contemplation, his eyes narrowed slightly, and he said in a low voice: "It seems it's for that dragon-shaped Abyss Crystal?"
Meng Jianxi's lips parted slightly, followed by a heartfelt sigh of admiration: "As expected of Brother Abyss. I pondered for a long time, and I too felt this was the most likely possibility. If that is indeed the case, since this Abyss Crystal was obtained by Brother Abyss, if there is any involvement, it should naturally be decided by Brother Abyss."
Yun Che assumed a contemplative posture while Meng Jianxi silently waited. After a long time, Yun Che finally spoke indifferently: "Having just incurred great enmity, yet coming to our door with such shamelessness, and the head of the patrol envoys at that — undoubtedly, the one in urgent need of this dragon-shaped profound crystal is that Wuming Divine Venerable."
"Given Wuming Divine Venerable's temperament, if she does not obtain it, she will never give up. And we do not know the secrets of this dragon-shaped Abyss Crystal, nor its use. It would be better to give it to her, but..."
He paused, his gaze turning to Meng Jianxi: "Remember this carefully. First, this Abyss Crystal was obtained by someone under your command by chance in the Mist Sea. It must not involve me, and even less should it involve Long Jiang. Second..."
A cold glint of undisguised malice flickered in his eyes: "With enmity beforehand and a request afterwards, what reason do we have not to... ask her for a king's ransom!"
Meng Jianxi understood and silently nodded.
...
Returning to his mansion, Meng Jianxi could already distantly sense that aura of gloomy ferocity unique to the Eternal Night Divine Kingdom. He quickly straightened his attire and, upon entering, immediately bowed in haste: "Senior Shenwu gracing my humble abode with your presence fills me with great trepidation. Due to trivial matters outside, I was unable to greet you in person — a true breach of etiquette. I beg your forgiveness, Senior."
Shenwu Mingque turned around and said blandly: "Xi Divine Son, there is no need for formalities. I have come without prior notice, taking the liberty to visit, for a matter in which I seek the Xi Divine Son's assistance."
Meng Jianxi quickly replied: "Senior, you flatter me. If it is within my power, Senior need only command. The word 'seek' is something I dare not bear."
Shenwu Mingque's gaze was dark, her emotions difficult to discern — not the profound cold authority of a high-ranking superior, but rather a lusterless dimness born from dignity that had long been shattered and trampled, a belief long twisted and alienated.
She looked at Meng Jianxi, sighs sounding in her heart one after another... That Dreamweaving and Eternal Night had just incurred a great enmity in the Pure Land was almost universally known. Yet the Dreamweaving Divine Son before her was perfectly courteous and unhurried, without a single flaw or blemish, as if there had never been any rift or resentment between the two kingdoms.
At such an age, with such a temperament, such composure and depth of scheming — she could not help but sigh... And above him was a Meng Jian Yuan who was countless times more outstanding.
The future of the Dreamweaving Divine Kingdom was limitless. As for the future of the Eternal Night Divine Kingdom...
Pushing aside her stray thoughts, she said directly: "Very well, then I will not waste words. I happened to hear that some time ago, the Xi Divine Son obtained a dragon-shaped Abyss Crystal. Not knowing its use, you sent people everywhere searching for records, probing its secrets. I wonder if the Xi Divine Son has found anything?"
Meng Jianxi looked up, a just-right expression of surprise on his face: "This... Senior has come all this way, could it be for that strange Abyss Crystal shaped like a coiled dragon disk? Um... to be honest with Senior, no one in our Dreamweaving recognizes this crystal. We have been investigating it until now, still without any results. Since Senior mentions it, does Senior recognize this Abyss Crystal?"
Shenwu Mingque stared at every flicker of movement in his gaze, slowly opening her lips: "Of course I recognize it. Its name is... Coiled Dragon Seven Xuan Crystal."
Meng Jianxi's brows moved slightly, a flash of surprise passing rapidly from the depths of his eyes... All of this was completely captured by Shenwu Mingque.
"It seems the Xi Divine Son has heard this name before?"
From the intelligence gathered by the Xuanji Hall, Meng Jianxi would try his best to read through and commit to memory as much as possible. Although the name "Coiled Dragon Seven Xuan Crystal" only existed in the obscure corners of countless pieces of information, it was still enough for him to recall it clearly the moment he heard it.
After a moment of weighing the pros and cons, Meng Jianxi did not deny it. Instead, he said with considerable frankness: "To be honest with Senior, I have indeed heard this name before. Moreover, this name originated from the Eternal Night Divine Kingdom. It must have been accidentally discovered by someone from the Xuanji. If there is any offense, I beg your forgiveness, Senior."
"Hmph!"
Shenwu Mingque gave a lukewarm, cold snort: "The ability of your country's Xuanji Hall to gather intelligence is unmatched in all the world. Since that is the case, I do not need to beat around the bush."
Her expression was that of a senior facing a junior, with solemn dignity, carrying a not-insignificant pressure. Her tone was clear, indifferent, and cold: "The Abyss Crystal obtained by the Xi Divine Son can only be known by our Eternal Night. Naturally, only our Eternal Night knows its use and how to use it. In the hands of the Xi Divine Son, it will merely be reduced to a useless waste crystal."
"To avoid wasting a heavenly treasure, it would be most appropriate to hand this Coiled Dragon Seven Xuan Crystal over to our Eternal Night for disposal. However, I would naturally not wrong the Xi Divine Son by asking you to hand it over for nothing, nor would I deliberately devalue its preciousness just because you know nothing about it, thus lowering myself."
As she spoke, a pure white light, so brilliant it was almost dazzling, appeared in Shenwu Mingque's hand, instantly capturing Meng Jianxi's gaze.
"I will exchange it for a complete Heaven-Opening Divine Jade."
Meng Jianxi's gaze fell upon the Heaven-Opening Divine Jade, his eyes wide as if deeply startled.
His reaction caused Shenwu Mingque to heave a secret sigh of relief. Her expression remained the same, but her voice added a layer of oppressive force: "I happened to hear that three years ago, the Heaven-Opening Divine Jade granted to you was lost due to some incident, thereby losing a future step on the ladder to heaven — truly a regrettable matter."
"And the regret of the Xi Divine Son can be made up for today. Exchanging a useless crystal for this heaven-ascending jade — in my view, the Xi Divine Son should have no reason to refuse."