#79: Deliberation

While Shi Luoyi was speaking with Houmi, Bian Lingyu was in the main hall of the Divine Temple.

At that moment, several Great Priests were discussing Bian Lingyu’s temporary decision not to attack the Northern Realm. As the master of the Divine Temple, if Bian Lingyu wished, nothing within its walls could escape his divine awareness.

Thus, while they were deliberating, Bian Lingyu heard the clear voice of the young girl outside the temple, deliberately provoking Houmi: “Don’t worry—I’ll make sure the Divine Lord gets a good night’s rest tonight!”

Bian Lingyu lowered his gaze, staring at the divine patterns on his silver robes, his mind slightly wandering.

He roughly understood what the girl meant, and no wonder Houmi had been so infuriated. She shouldn’t have said such things—unmarried maidens of the divine race valued their reputations. For her to speak like this… it wasn’t good for her.

The elder ministers below hadn’t noticed their Divine Lord’s brief distraction and continued to debate the matter of the Northern Realm.

Opinions were divided—some agreed, others opposed.

“The existence of that illusion in the Northern Realm is already a disaster. The Chifeng clan has betrayed the gods once before. If they remain obstinate and continue to train within the illusion, who knows what might happen in the future? Whether or not we can control it is unpredictable!”

After some thought, Gongxin spoke: “Have any of you considered that Qingxuan created the illusion to allow his clansmen to atone for their sins and break free from their curse? If that’s truly the case, perhaps when the Chifeng clan gains enough strength, they might enter the Demon Extermination Grounds, purify the evil energy, and ensure ten thousand years of peace for the six realms.”

If this were true, Qingxuan voluntarily leading his people to atone would relieve the divine realm of worrying about the emergence of fallen demons for a long time. They feared that the evil energy might flow into the mortal realm, causing devastation.

But the other Great Priests exchanged glances, finding it hard to believe. If Qingxuan chose this path, perhaps thousands or even millions of years later, none of them—including Qingxuan—would emerge alive from the Demon Extermination Grounds. It would be tantamount to the annihilation of their entire clan.

Even if they managed to break free from their fate at that point, what would it matter? Would Qingxuan really take such a risk? To him, overturning the six realms might seem more feasible than this.

Gongxin asked: “Divine Lord, what are your thoughts?”

Bian Lingyu replied: “One year in the divine realm equals over three hundred years in the illusion—I can still maintain control. If he chooses the latter and willingly enters the Demon Extermination Grounds, I will allow him to prove himself. But if he chooses the former, I will annihilate them.”

The suffering of the Chifeng clan stemmed from their ancestors’ betrayal in ancient times.

Bian Lingyu felt no sympathy for them, but he wouldn’t stop their descendants from breaking free from their cursed fate either. If they truly could atone for their ancestors’ sins, it would also be a method of lifting the curse built upon countless corpses.

Hearing this, the Great Priests finally felt reassured.

They were aware of the “little spy” from the Chifeng clan that Bian Lingyu had recently brought back. Though the Qilin lineage had always sacrificed themselves tirelessly for the six realms, guarding all living beings with utmost diligence, love seemed to be a cyclical destiny for them.

They feared that because of Shi Luoyi, Bian Lingyu might eventually perish in that illusion—or worse, be harmed by the Chifeng clan.

Since Bian Lingyu had decided to give only one year, it showed that he still prioritized the safety of the six realms.

The Great Priests hoped that Qingxuan’s choice would be the latter. The resentment, evil, and demonic energy in the world continuously bred fallen demons, which, when severe, could awaken ancient sealed monsters. Every few hundred years, the Divine Lord would go to slay or reseal them.

This was why Bian Lingyu had been forced to descend to the mortal realm to exterminate demons like the Unyielding Toad and Zhuyan.

If someone were to voluntarily enter the Demon Extermination Grounds to cleanse the evil energy, it would greatly benefit the stability of the six realms, potentially ensuring peace for thousands or even ten thousand years. However, the Great Priests could only grant Qingxuan one year—at most. Beyond that, it would become uncontrollable, as the hearts of the Chifeng clan were fickle.

Bian Lingyu raised his eyes. The “little spy” who had caused his Great Priests so much worry—Shi Luoyi—was now gazing at a half-open flower beneath the corridor.

She rested her cheek on her hand, staring unblinkingly at the flower, murmuring softly: “It looks like the flowers on Buye Mountain…”

Buye Mountain? What was that?

Bian Lingyu found the name familiar. The two promises he had made to Shi Luoyi were both being fulfilled within the scope of his mission.

He had already honored the one-year agreement, and he was actively investigating the matter of his memories.

The previous day, after Shi Luoyi fell asleep, he had attempted to use a soul-searching technique akin to those employed by cultivators to check if there were gaps in his memory.

This method came with unimaginable pain, but he calmly endured it until the end. He discovered that she was right—there was something unusual. A mysterious force, like a barrier, prevented him from probing further.

Bian Lingyu pondered for a long time, reviewing all the possibilities in his mind. The most likely explanation was the Heavenly Mandate Jade Tablet.

The Heavenly Mandate Jade Tablet was in Houmi’s possession, and today he intended to retrieve it.

Just as the Great Priests finished their discussion, Houmi entered.

When Bian Lingyu firmly requested the Heavenly Mandate Jade Tablet, Houmi was astonished: “You already know?”

“Just a guess,” Bian Lingyu glanced at him, though Houmi’s reaction confirmed it.

“…” Houmi hadn’t expected Shi Luoyi to claim she was Bian Lingyu’s former Dao companion. Houmi had never seen Bian Lingyu’s past Dao companion, but if it were true, then Shi Luoyi wasn’t just a little spy—she was their fated empress?

Good heavens. Houmi felt dizzy. What had he done over the past two years? Hadn’t he wronged the Divine Lord? And offended the future empress!

Houmi had acted under the assumption that Shi Luoyi would never wake up again. Now, realizing he might have made a grave mistake, Houmi felt deeply ashamed. Though Shi Luoyi’s words had yet to be verified, he knew that Bian Lingyu’s attitude spoke volumes. The Divine Lord had never cared so much for anyone—except for the person from the depths of the Wandering Sea before his memories were sealed.

Shi Luoyi’s appearance had stirred intense emotional fluctuations in Bian Lingyu, much like in the past. Houmi was beginning to believe her claims. Thinking of how she had deliberately provoked him earlier, he felt immense regret. If this were true, he would need to sincerely apologize and seek Shi Luoyi’s forgiveness in the future.

“The Heavenly Mandate Jade Tablet is here. You may lift the seal, but I urge you to consider waiting another year. Previously, you consumed the Fruit of Forgetfulness, which remains effective for three years. One year remains. The Heavenly Mandate Jade Tablet suppresses your memories, coincidentally rendering the Fruit of Forgetfulness ineffective. If that girl truly is your Dao companion and you unseal your memories, you will no longer be able… ahem.”

He coughed twice, mindful of the presence of the other Great Priests, refraining from being too explicit.

The Fruit of Forgetfulness, ahem, would make it impossible for you to be close to her—not just physical contact, but even seeing her might cause pain.

Bian Lingyu understood the meaning behind his “ahem.” After a pause, he slowly acknowledged it with a sound.

Shi Luoyi’s earlier words still echoed in his ears. Now, Bian Lingyu realized that he might indeed have had a Dao companion in the past—and it was… her. He lowered his gaze to the Heavenly Mandate Jade Tablet. So, for now, he couldn’t unseal it?

The flower resembling those on Buye Mountain finally bloomed at dusk. Though Shi Luoyi had deliberately provoked Houmi, she also knew that Bian Lingyu still carried the demonic core within him. She felt that things couldn’t continue like this and resolved to ensure he got proper rest.

However, before she could act on her plan, a major event occurred in the divine realm. That evening, Bian Lingyu didn’t return promptly.

The eldest son of Zhong Hao had been assassinated in one of the divine realm’s territories!

Though Zhong Hao had many illegitimate children, his eldest son, Qing Zhan, was the legitimate heir he had openly groomed for many years.

Zhong Hao naturally felt closer to this child than to his other sons.

In the divine race, family members could sense each other’s life and death. Zhong Hao’s wife, upon sensing her son’s demise, nearly went mad and rushed to find him without hesitation.

Zhong Hao’s expression was grim, but he didn’t completely succumb to grief. His reaction was much quicker than his wife’s. On the same day, he entered the Divine Temple, pleading with Bian Lingyu to take action and severely punish the culprit.

At the time, Bian Lingyu was still in the main hall of the Divine Temple, along with several Great Priests.

Everyone watched with mixed feelings as Zhong Hao, disregarding his dignity, clung to Bian Lingyu’s leg, begging the Divine Lord to intervene.

“It must have been that rebellious son Qingxuan who did it, Divine Lord! You must avenge me!”

To be fair, the Great Priests found Zhong Hao’s behavior utterly shameless. His household was a mess of scandals, incomprehensible to most. While the divine race generally maintained purity, Zhong Hao’s affairs were a tangled web of disgrace.

The assassination of the eldest son by an illegitimate child sounded absurd.

Illegitimate children typically possessed far less divine power than the eldest son. For Qingxuan to kill Qing Zhan amidst the heavy guard of the divine race suggested that Qing Zhan was utterly useless.

The details of Zhong Hao’s family matters were unknown to everyone, but the fact that Qingxuan, who should have been in the Northern Realm, brazenly killed Qing Zhan in another of Zhong Hao’s territories was a slap in the face. They had just discussed how to handle the Northern Realm, and now, no one knew whether Bian Lingyu would side with Zhong Hao.

Bian Lingyu looked down silently as Zhong Hao wept and pleaded.

Zhong Hao, shameless as ever, clung to Bian Lingyu’s robes without regard for appearances. In terms of seniority, Zhong Hao was still Bian Lingyu’s uncle.

Sitting on the divine throne, Bian Lingyu observed Zhong Hao for a moment. Seeing that Zhong Hao refused to let go, tugging at his robes, he didn’t appear annoyed but simply said in a calm tone: “Guards, remove him.”

The divine guards stepped forward and pulled Zhong Hao away.

Gongxin glanced at the Divine Lord, secretly thinking that if not for the Divine Lord’s recent good mood and his consideration for his uncle’s loss, he might have coldly kicked Zhong Hao away without a second thought.

Even as he was pulled away, Zhong Hao continued to sob. Bian Lingyu finally said: “Enough. I will handle this personally—I’ll go and see for myself.”

Knowing that Bian Lingyu’s word was as good as law, Zhong Hao finally fell silent, no longer lunging to cling to his leg and weep. Others might not have been able to intervene in time or stop Qingxuan, but only the power of the Divine Lord could potentially intercept Qingxuan before he returned to the Northern Realm and make him pay for his crimes.

This matter had arisen urgently. Bian Lingyu glanced toward the direction of his chambers, where the Heavenly Mandate Jade Tablet still faintly radiated heat in his palm.

“Tell her I’ll return in two days,” he instructed.

The attending maid quickly acknowledged the order.

Bian Lingyu didn’t change into his battle armor, taking only the Heaven-Cleaving Sword with him. The people of Qing Zhan had tried their best to block Qingxuan immediately after the incident, but unfortunately, they hadn’t managed to hold him back for long. Qingxuan had been shielded by members of the Chifeng clan and escaped.

By the time Bian Lingyu sensed his presence, Qingxuan had already crossed the boundary of the divine realm.

Though there had been no warning winds in the divine realm, Qingxuan suddenly felt a chilling premonition. Sensing this ominous feeling, he turned back and drew his sword to meet the incoming threat, even as his clansmen were retreating to the Northern Realm.

Qingxuan’s jade flute had long been broken in the illusion; the weapon he now wielded was one left behind by his grandfather.

When his longsword clashed with the Heaven-Cleaving Sword that suddenly appeared in midair, the blade trembled and emitted a resonant hum. The spirit within the sword seemed to feel fear in that instant.

Qingxuan knew who had arrived and did not attempt to resist head-on. Instead, he immediately diverted his force and avoided the brunt of the attack.

At this moment, his clansmen also sensed something amiss and moved forward to assist: “Young Master!”

Qingxuan barked: “Stay back! Return to the Northern Realm at once.”

In just a few exchanges, Qingxuan had already crossed blades with the Heaven-Cleaving Sword several times. Silver light shimmered in the air, cold and swift. As Qingxuan felt the mournful wails of the sword spirit urging retreat, he looked up at the figure in the sky: “Divine Lord.”

The Heaven-Cleaving Sword returned to its master’s hand, and Bian Lingyu’s figure slowly materialized.

Qingxuan’s expression grew complex for a moment. He remarked: “So it’s true—the ancient bloodline prevails. I thought that after training for over three hundred years in the illusion, I wouldn’t be far behind you.”

He was relieved that Bian Lingyu wasn’t currently attacking the Northern Realm. Otherwise, the Chifeng clan wouldn’t have had enough strength to resist. If he fought to the bitter end, it would mean total defeat.

Bian Lingyu gazed at Qingxuan without finding him weak. After over three hundred years in the illusion, even Zhong Hao himself would struggle to withstand Qingxuan’s attacks now.

If Qingxuan weren’t a rebel general, Bian Lingyu, as the Divine Lord, would have considered promoting him.

Bian Lingyu discerned the telltale signs on Qingxuan: “A puppet avatar?”

Qingxuan wasn’t surprised that Bian Lingyu had seen through it: “With you here, I naturally wouldn’t dare use my true form. If I truly couldn’t return, the Chifeng clan would lose all hope. Killing that useless Qing Zhan required only a puppet.”

Bian Lingyu offered no comment.

Though this was only a puppet, for it to possess the strength to kill Qing Zhan meant that Qingxuan’s divine soul must reside within it.

While Bian Lingyu couldn’t capture Qingxuan in his entirety, he could bring back his divine soul.

Seeing Bian Lingyu’s cold demeanor, Qingxuan prepared to fight without hesitation. He said: “It’s been so long since we last met. Won’t you let me reminisce a little before we begin?”

Bian Lingyu glanced at Qingxuan. In terms of seniority, Qingxuan was his cousin. However, Bian Lingyu’s parents had never shown him an ounce of familial affection. To him, these so-called “cousins” were no different from ants beneath his feet.

Upon hearing Qingxuan mention reminiscing, a flicker of emotion passed through Bian Lingyu’s eyes. He thought of his lost memories.

Without further ado, Bian Lingyu asked Qingxuan: “Will you fight, or will you surrender?”

Qingxuan was surprised that Bian Lingyu gave him a choice. In his memory, the Bian Lingyu who had fallen to the mortal realm over a decade ago had been blank and naïve, like an untouched sheet of paper.

Now, he had gradually grown into a capable Divine Lord.

“Did you guess what I’m planning to do?” Qingxuan asked.

Bian Lingyu replied: “You shouldn’t have crossed the boundary to kill Qing Zhan.”

But Qing Zhan had to die. The humiliations of his youth were etched deeply in Qingxuan’s mind. Moreover, his mother’s tragic death was inextricably linked to Qing Zhan. Zhong Hao’s wife had only this one child—if Qing Zhan died, she likely wouldn’t survive either.

How many of the Chifeng clan had been cruelly trampled to death by this mother and son?

Qingxuan didn’t regret his actions; he only felt a sense of satisfaction. Torturing Qing Zhan had been satisfying, and thinking of how the lady would be devastated, Qingxuan’s lips curled into a cold smile!

If the lady somehow survived, Qingxuan would ensure she joined her son in death.

Qingxuan looked at Bian Lingyu and sheathed his sword. He chose not to fight, signaling his clansmen to retreat and allowing Bian Lingyu to extract his divine soul.

If someone else had come today, Qingxuan would have resisted to the best of his ability and fled back to the Northern Realm. But today, it was Bian Lingyu, and Qingxuan’s true body wasn’t here. Though he could try fighting Bian Lingyu, victory was nearly impossible.

Thus, it was better to preserve his divine soul from harm. By offering this choice, Bian Lingyu showed that he had his own considerations.

Qingxuan intended to lead his clan in breaking the curse—they couldn’t remain rebels forever.

Perhaps today’s events were an opportunity.

Bian Lingyu didn’t stop the few Chifeng clansmen from leaving. These individuals carried no karmic burdens or traces of bloodshed.

The extraction of a divine soul from a puppet was excruciating. Qingxuan’s face paled, but he endured the pain without uttering a sound.

When Bian Lingyu returned to the Divine Temple late at night two days later, he ordered Qingxuan’s divine soul to be imprisoned with divine power.

As he passed by the Phoenix Parasol Tree, its leaves fluttered down in droves, disintegrating into fine powder upon touching the ground.

Bian Lingyu approached the entrance to his chambers, hearing the rustling sounds of the girl turning in her sleep inside.

The Heavenly Mandate Jade Tablet was still in his arms. Since learning two days ago that Shi Luoyi might be telling the truth, the unfamiliar feelings within him had grown stronger.

Dealing with Qingxuan’s affairs beforehand had been manageable—his duty had kept him focused on the task at hand. But now, returning to this place, his emotions were different.

He recalled what Shi Luoyi had said to Houmi two days prior.

Her tone had been mischievous at the time—was she joking, or was she serious? If she truly meant it… should he refuse her? Or, as her Dao companion, should he allow her to act on her intentions?

Bian Lingyu stood outside the door for a long while, waiting until Shi Luoyi’s breathing nearly steadied before stepping inside.

Shi Luoyi had almost fallen asleep, but upon seeing a figure enter in her drowsy state, she immediately became more alert and sat up on the bed: “Bian Lingyu, you’re back?”

Standing behind the water curtain, Bian Lingyu silently watched as the embroidered blanket slid off her shoulders: “Yes.”