The woman in the red dress looked pale and haggard. The light in her eyes looked like it was losing strength. Her illness was so severe that her countenance was beginning to show signs of age.
Even so, no one would doubt that she used to be devastatingly beautiful during her better days.
Yun Che knew immediately that she was the mother of Xia Qingyue, Yue Wugou.
He never thought that he would âmeetâ his mother-in-lawâa woman who once shook the God Realm with her beauty, and yet led a life that could only be described as miserableâunder such circumstances.
Yue Wuya rose to his feet and smiled gently at her. âThe healing process is growing smoother and smoother as of late. If you take about twenty four hours of rest and avoid using your profound energy during this time, Iâm sure youâll get better over time, Wugou.â
His expression was relaxed, but there was a flash of well-hidden pain in his eyes.
Yue Wugou knew that he was trying to console her, so she responded with a peaceful smile and said, âDonât worry, Wuya. Iâll do my best to recover. I still wish to accompany my daughter a couple more years after all.â
âThank you for your aid, senior.â
She had witnessed this scene countless times already, and yet she never failed to be touched by it.
Back then, her mother had suddenly regained her memories and even some of her profound energy. However, it really was just a case of terminal lucidity.
Yue Wugou was going to commit suicide, but she ultimately chose to return to the Moon God Realm with all her power just so that she could meet Yue Wuya one final time. She did this knowing full well she might be rebuked and shamed for her infidelity. She was even prepared to be killed by her old lover.
However, Yue Wuya did the opposite of her fears and tried almost every method he could think of to drag out her life until now. He even went so far as to expend his precious blood essence again and again.
It was almost as if her motherâs life was so tragic that even the cruel heavens couldnât help but shower her with a bit of good luck.
Yun Che was deeply moved by what he saw.
It was just an illusion, but he could still see that Yue Wugou was a candle in the wind that could be extinguished at any moment.
He found it difficult to believe that the god emperor of a king realm would go so far as to expend his blood essence to extend a loverâs life. It clearly wasnât even the first time he did it.
Anyone would be stunned in his place.
Suddenly, he recalled that Yue Wuya was the only god emperor to have died in Jasmineâs hands when the king realms of the Eastern Divine Region had ganged up on her. That Yue Wuya was one of Jasmineâs most hated enemies was of course one of the reasons he died, but the prolonged expenditure of his blood essence might very well be the other.
âQingyue,â Yue Wuya turned his gaze on Xia Qingyue, âI have something important I would like to speak to you about.â
âPlease speak, senior.â She could see that Yue Wuya was serious about this.
The Moon God Emperor took a moment to choose his words, but in the end he decided that he would speak frankly, âI wish for you to become the Moon God Empress.â
Yun Che had known about this back then, so of course he wasnât shocked by the revelation at all. However, Â the same couldnât be said for the Xia Qingyue of the time.
âWhat did you say!?â Her brows knitted, and the gratefulness in her eyes instantly became replaced by frigidness. She even took a step away from him.
âIt is not what you think it is. Please allow me the time to finish.â Yue Wuya wasnât surprised by Xia Qingyueâs reaction in the slightest. He continued in an indifferent tone, âTo put it simply, it will just be an empty title to you. You donât have to perform any of the duties that are expected of the Moon God Empress.â
âEmpty?â Xia Qingyueâs frown remained deep and frigid. âIf you are simply âbestowingâ me the title of an imperial concubine, then sure. However, the Moon God Empress is a different thing entirely! A great wedding must be held, and an invitation must be sent out to the entire God Realm! The title is anything but meaningless!â
âCalm down, Qingyue.â This time, Yue Wugou was the one who spoke up. She shook her head with a smile and spoke with a voice that sounded like the soothing wind, âI promise you that he has no interest in you that way. Just let him finish first, will you?â
Yue Wuya nodded. âYou are correct. I will be holding a great wedding, and I will send out invitations to all the realms⌠However, the bride who will be attending the marriage is your mother, not you. All I ask of you is to show your face one time.â
ââŚ?â Xia Qingyue grew even more confused. âWhat are you saying, senior?â
Yue Wuya explained, âWhen the time comes, I shall hold the greatest âdivine moon in the skyâ in history in Divine Moon City. Before the wedding ceremony, you will appear briefly so that the world will memorize your face, your aura and your name. They will realize that you possess the âHeart of Snow Glazed Glassâ and âNine Profound Exquisite Bodyâ and understand why I made you the Moon God Empress.â
âAfter that, I will execute the âMoon Star Substitutionâ technique and transfer your aura to your mother. It wonât last for too long, but combined with the rich moon aura of the âdivine moon in the skyâ, it will fool everyone long enough for us to finish the wedding ceremony with your mother.â
Yue Wuya slowly closed his eyes and said solemnly, âIt has always been my lifelong regret that I wasnât able to marry your mother back then.
âRidiculous!â The favors she owed to Yue Wuya were as heavy as a mountain, but she still couldnât stop herself from blurting the word. âIf you truly love my mother, if you truly wish to marry her, you wouldnât care about the opinions of the masses.â
Yue Wuya shook his head slowly. âI wonât defend myself. If one day you are in my position, you will understand that there are too many things which even a god emperor cannot resolve.â
âHowever, marrying your mother and eliminating one of my lifelong regrets is but the secondary objective of my proposal. Iâm doing this⌠for your sake.â
â⌠for me?â
âQingyue, you may have come from the lower realms, but you understand how special you really are, right?â Yue Wuyaâs voice deepened. âThe Heart of Snow Glazed Glass, the Nine Profound Exquisite Body. Both of these traitsâespecially the Heart of Snow Glazed Glass, which hadnât appeared again since six hundred thousand years agoâwould be considered an unparalleled gift from the heavenly way.â
âIn fact, the previous owner of the Heart of Snow Glazed Glass was the founding ancestor of the Eternal Heaven Realm herself.â
âHowever, for both the Heart of Snow Glazed Glass and the Nine Profound Exquisite Body to appear on the same personâŚâ Yue Wuya sighed a little. âI have gone through many scriptures in the past couple of years, so I can say with certainty that it is unprecedented in the entire history of the God Realm.â
She did understand what he was saying. She was no longer the child who knew nothing when she first arrived in the God Realm after all.
âFor the past few years, you havenât taken a single step from this pocket world. It isnât an imprisonment, but it may as well be one. It is because your existence will shake the entire God Realm the moment you reveal yourself to the world. The moment they learn that you have the Heart of Snow Glazed Glass and the Nine Profound Exquisite Body, you will never enjoy peace in your life ever again.â
âWill that title really protect me?â Xia Qingyue asked dubiously, âBack then, the entire world knew that my mother was your Empress back then, but she still failed to escape her villainsâ clutchesâŚâ
Xia Qingyueâs accusation dragged Yue Wuyaâs most painful memories into the light. His features contorted, and it took him a couple of moments before he finally calmed himself enough to say, âAnd I have learned my lesson. The empty title will not protect you, noâŚâ
He raised his arm and summoned a purple light that looked as pure as crystal. Â âBut my Purple Pylon divine power and my throne will!â
This time, even Yue Wugou was surprised by his declaration.
âHe wasnât joking after all,â Yue Wugou whispered to herself.
âYou want me⌠to inherit your Purple Pylon divine power?â Xia Qingyue could hardly believe her ears.
She was born in a lower realm, so of course she didnât possess the bloodline of her Moon God. However, her Nine Profound Exquisite Body allowed her to inherit any divine power perfectlyâeven if it was the divine power of a Moon God.Â
âAnd my throne,â Yue Wuya emphasized tirelessly. âQingyue, you are ultimately an outsider to the Moon God Realm, and even the fact that you carry both the Nine Profound Exquisite Body and the Heart of Snow Glazed Glass isnât enough to make my realm treat you like one of our own. If we are to make you the Moon God Empress, however⌠then the objections against me passing my powers and my throne to you will not be so overwhelming that I cannot force it to happen.â
Xia Qingyue shook her head slowly. âI donât understandâŚâ
Yue Wuya looked Xia Qingyue in the eye with none of the pressure a God Emperor should have, and only the purest sincerity. âBelieve me when I say that I havenât made this choice out of impulse. I have thought long and hard before I made up my mind.â
In summary, Yue Wuya was offering Xia Qingyue his Moon God divine power and the throne of a god emperor⌠for a time, even he couldnât believe that he would make such a decision.
He was certain that Xia Qingyue would accept his offer though. There was no reason for her to reject the highest level of power and status available to the current universe be it for her own safety or control over her own fate.
However, he saw Xia Qingyue slowly but firmly shaking her head in clear rejection.
âSenior, the favors my mother and I owe you are as heavy as a mountain. If one day I have to die to repay them, I will still march to my death without a shred of regret or resentment in my heart.â Xia Qingyueâs eyes were as clear as a mirror, and there was almost no struggle or hesitation in her voice whatsoever. âHowever⌠I cannot agree to this.â
âWhy?â Yue Wuya frowned deeply in puzzlement. âBe it you, your mother or me, this arrangement is absolutely beneficial to all of us! Even if something were to happen during the wedding ceremony, I am the one who will be bearing all the consequences. What possible reason do you have to reject this?â
Xia Qingyue simply closed her eyes and said, âIâm sorry for disappointing you.â
No one could possibly know what she was thinking right then.
âQingyue, youââÂ
âEnough, Wuya.â Yue Wugou lightly interrupted her lover. âDo not force her if she doesnât wish to accept it.â
Her soft rebuke was enough to make Yue Wuya swallow his words back down his throat. He let out a quiet sigh and said, âMaybe I was too hasty. Do take your time to consider this, Qingyue⌠just know that I donât have much time left.â
âWhat do you mean?â Xia Qingyue looked up.
âIt is exactly what it sounds like,â Yue Wuya replied in an indifferent tone. âI have received a prophecy from the Heavenly Mystery Realm. I will be dead in five years at most.â
He wanted to tell her that her mother was running out of time as well⌠but he couldnât possibly say such cruel things in the presence of Yue Wugou.
Xia Qingyue frowned slightly. âSenior, you are the Moon God Emperor. How can you believe in suchââ
âI know what you mean.â Yue Wuya interrupted her before continuing in a low tone, âHowever⌠it is a prophecy from the Heavenly Mystery Realm.â
He ended his talk with Xia Qingyue on that ominous note before half-crouching beside Yue Wugou. After enveloping her in a blanket of gentle moonlight, he said, âRest well, Wugou. I will return to see you tomorrow.â
Yue Wugou looked at him and said, âYou are a busy man. You donât need to visit me so frequently.â
Yue Wuya simply smiled and brushed a finger across Yue Wugouâs cheek. His movement was so gentle that it looked like he was touching a warm jade that might shatter at the slightest touch. Finally, he rose to his feet and walked away from the pocket world.
After seeing Yue Wuya off, Xia Qingyue moved to her motherâs side and asked her in a soft tone, âWas what he said⌠your wish too, mother?â
Yue Wugou held her daughterâs hands and said in an even but weak voice, âYes. It is my lifelong regret that we werenât able to marry. ButâŚâ
Xia Hongyiâs image flashed across Yue Wugouâs eyes, pierced her heart and spread the pain across her entire soul. She shook her head to clear the image before smiling. âIt doesnât matter. You are my daughter, Qingyue. I want you to be able to live the life you wish to live. You donât have to force yourself to do something you donât want to do.â
Xia Qingyueâs lips parted, but she didnât say anything.
âSpeaking of whichâŚâ Yue Wugouâs gaze and smile suddenly grew warmer. âIt looks like your relationship with that Yun Che you spoke of was much deeper than you described.â
Startled, Xia Qingyue answered a bit dazedly, âWe were husband and wife, but we didnât consummate our marriage. Moreover, I left him after our wedding day, and the number of times we met each other again after that can be counted on two hands. With that in mind, how could it possibly be a deep relationship?â
âEven soâŚâ Xia Qingyue shook her head. âI find it⌠difficult to accept such a proposal even though he is no longer in this world.â
Yue Wugou watched her daughterâs eyes dotingly. âI am sad that your boy didnât survive the jealousy of the heavens, but I still think he is very lucky to have someone like you care for him.â
Yue Wugou then changed the subject and said, âHowever, you should understand just how great of a fortune and misfortune it is to possess both the Nine Profound Exquisite Body and the Heart of Snow Glazed Glass. Had you cultivated without guidance in this ambitious and dangerous world⌠heaven knows how long it wouldâve taken for you to leave this place.â
Xia Qingyue looked at the sky and said dazedly, âI didnât even realize so much time had passed.â
When she wasnât accompanying her mother, she was either reading up on the God Realm or cultivating. The latter took up at least eighty percent of the time she had been here.
âNow that he mentioned it, I actually feel like heading out to see how the outside world is doing.â
âOh, no you donât.â Yue Wugou shook her head smilingly. âEven if you somehow convince me to say yes, he was the one who set up the barrier at the entrance. Only those who are directly connected to him by blood are allowed to enter this place. Also, you know why he âimprisonedâ you here. It is so that you can enjoy the peace and quiet.â
âI understand.â
âSpeaking of the outside world,â Yue Wugouâs voice suddenly softened, and her eyes grew unfocused. âToday is your fatherâs birthday, isnât it?â
ââŚâ Xia Qingyueâs lips parted as she mumbled. âFatherâs⌠birthdayâŚâ
Suddenly, she realized that she didnât remember her fatherâs birthday.
Maybe it was because she had spoken for too long for the day, but Yue Wugouâs aura suddenly showed signs of weakening. Xia Qingyue hurriedly supported her mother, lay her down on the grass and said, âRest well, mother.â
âMn.â Yue Wugou responded and closed her eyes. A short time later, she had fallen into a peaceful slumber.
After watching over her mother for a moment, Xia Qingyue rose to her feet and walked almost aimlessly.
Xia Hongyi, my father.
It had been years since I met him, but I hadnât visited him even once after I entered the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace.
Today, I just realized that I didnât even remember his birthday.
He deeply loved my mother⌠he would cry soundlessly to himself watching images of her⌠He often mumbled her name beneath his breath⌠He never played the string again after she left⌠I wanted him to reunite with my mother⌠It was the reason I began cultivating in the first place.
So why⌠why do I remember so little about him� And why do I only have memories that are related to my mother�
During my time in the God Realm, I had thought about Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace, Yuanba, the fate of the Blue Wind Nation and many more things⌠but not him. Not even once.
I⌠donât even remember his face very well anymoreâŚ
He was my father for sixteen yearsâŚ
Sixteen years of memories⌠and they are so faint itâs almost as if they never existed in the first place.
Am I⌠really such a cold-blooded person?
She continued walking in this state for god knows how long. Before she knew it, she had arrived at the entrance of the pocket world.
The light purple barrier glowed with a gentle but tenacious light.
After staring at the barrier she couldnât step through for both tangible and intangible reasons, she suddenly found herself lifting a hand to touch it. She didnât know why.
Instead of the expected resistance and dissonant noise, her hand passed right through it like it never was.
ââŚâ For a long time, Xia Qingyue could only stare at her hand and the pierced barrier.
After she withdrew it, she abruptly flew all the way back to her motherâs side.
Yue Wugou was still sleeping peacefully. Nearby her was the pool of blood that Yue Wuya had spat not long ago.
Heart beating wildly for no apparent reason, Xia Qingyue summoned a bead of blood from her fingertip and another from Yue Wuyaâs blood.
When the two beads of blood made contact with each other and mingled perfectly with one another, her eyes lost focus entirelyâŚ
  ââââ
Authorâs Note: Who else dares to call me short? (âźăâź#)
T/N: To provide context, one of the most popular lines Chinese web novel readers like to spam their author is âshort and impotentâ.
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