Chapter 2069: Shadow of the Abyssal Monarch

Chapter 2069: Shadow of the Abyssal Monarch

“Afraid?” Hua Fuchen muttered, “Afraid...”

Hua Qingying continued, “Brother, it’s been ten thousand years since you inherited the throne. You may not have noticed your own changes for the past millennia, but I am well aware of them.”

“Yun Che is right about one thing. You... are becoming more and more like the previous divine regent.”

Hua Fuchen did not deny it. He sagged deeper into his seat and said softly, “I once thought that I would still be me even if I inherited the throne and became the divine regent. However, ‘identity’ turned out to be a more powerful word than I could possibly imagine. It was never just a simple title. It's a guillotine blade that, once suspended above your head, will change you in ways you cannot detect for eternity.”

“I still loathe the previous divine regent to this day, but as time passes, I've come to loathe myself even more. I loathe how naive, foolish, impulsive, childish, inflexible, and self-conceited I was. In fact, the more I am faced with decisions that may change the fate of the entire Kingdom of God, the more I grow to empathize with the previous divine regent...”

“Once, I believed that the previous divine regent was the root of all wrongs. Now, I've come to realize that the one who truly killed Wanxin... was me.”

“That's why you became scared,” Hua Qingying said. “That's why you did everything in your power—even if you knew that you were limiting her cognition as a result—to sever any wave, any possibility of a wave that may impact her life.”

“How... can I not be scared?” Hua Fuchen murmured.

Hua Qingying knew. From the beginning, she knew that the one who would bear the heaviest burden of Hua Caili and Yun Che’s relationship wasn’t either one of the affected parties, but Hua Fuchen.

The coldness in her voice faded. “If none of this had happened, I would’ve done everything in my power to see your arrangements for Caili through. Caili herself would be perfectly content to reside in your cocoon, never questioning or defying your decisions or words.”

“But... she encountered Yun Che and gave him her body and soul.”

Hua Qingying whispered, “‘Those who experienced the sea can no longer fall for another body of water’... I’m sure you understand this more than anyone.”

“Caili can no longer pull herself out of the quagmire she stepped into. Even if you force them apart, Caili would not return to who she was before. It would be as if someone had dug out her heart and soul... don’t you know how that feels already?”

“... Enough.”

Hua Fuchen’s face was hidden in the shadows, his tightly clenched fists shaking slightly.

Hua Qingying sighed. She knew she was deepening the hole in his heart with every word she spoke, but for Caili’s sake, she had to do it.

“Brother, I’m not trying to push you into making a decision. I just hope that you will give Caili and Yun Che a chance... or should I say, I want you to buy them some time.”

“Caili’s profound energy is growing tremendously. Since the day she encountered Yun Che, her sword heart has become increasingly bright, and her growth in the way of the sword is outright unbelievable.”

“As for Yun Che, he is a monster who can rival an early-stage Divine Extinction Realm profound practitioner as a level three Divine Master. I did not think this was possible until I met him.”

“Dian Jiuzhi has been waiting faithfully for Caili for many years, and today Caili is fully restored in body and soul. Three years from now, when it's time to have an audience with the Abyssal Monarch, he will surely bring up the matter of marriage. Even if you still cannot bring yourself to sever the engagement then, at least buy them some time so they may grow enough feathers to weather the coming storm a little better.”

“...” Hua Fuchen did not say anything. It was impossible to say if he decided to listen to the advice or not.

The long silence was so oppressive that every speck of dust was frozen.

Hua Qingying turned around and slowly walked toward the exit. It wasn’t until she reached the door that she said, “Even if the engagement were to be nullified, the worst you will incur is the wrath of the Boundless Kingdom of God. It's not impossible to quell this anger, right? All it will cost... is the dignity of a divine regent.”

“That’s all I’m going to say. You are Caili’s father and the divine regent of the Heaven Breaker Kingdom of God. The final decision lies in your hands[1].”

Hua Fuchen still did not say anything.

Hua Qingying looked up at the sky when she stepped out of the sword pavilion. For some reason, she felt as if she could see Qu Wanxin.

Wanxin... am I making the right decision, or...

Yun Che, I have given you my greatest trust. I will do everything in my power to eliminate all the obstacles in your path while you are still weak.

You must never, ever, betray her love.

......

Hua Fuchen remained seated where he was even after Hua Qingying was long gone. It was as if he had lost his soul.

The greatest pressure he faced had never come from the Boundless Kingdom of God.

There was one thing neither Hua Caili nor Hua Qingying knew about.

Back then, the Abyssal Monarch was the one who bestowed the engagement between Hua Caili and Dian Jiuzhi. Hua Fuchen and Dian Rahu might have been the ones who sowed the seeds of possibility, but it was He who sealed the deal. Since then, the union between the duo and the two Kingdoms of God became unshakeable. It was a momentous occasion that was celebrated by everyone.

To Hua Fuchen, it was a choice to secure eternal peace and security for Hua Caili. To Dian Rahu, it was a decision to fulfill his son’s lifelong wish.

Her lightly pursed lips, her soft, silky voice, her misty eyes. Either one of them could have melted the toughest rock and stirred up the calmest seas, much less all three.

Yun Che walked up to her, but before he could say anything, Hua Caili grabbed him with both arms and—amidst a cackle of triumph—rolled him across her bed.

The two youngsters fooled around for a bit before Hua Caili finally calmed down. As she closed her eyes, her breathing slowly became steadier as if she had fallen asleep.

Yun Che too relaxed his movements and calmed his breathing. However, he had just gotten a few minutes of shut eye when he felt a pair of hands sneaking into his clothes. Before he knew it, the plotting temptress had successfully pinned him against her bed.

“Caili... this doesn’t seem like the right place and—”

“Like I care!”

Bang!

Inside the sword pavilion, the jade chair Hua Fuchen was sitting on blown to smithereens at the same time his long hair flailed wildly in the air like enraged snakes. “How... dare... they!”

BOOM!!

There was an explosion of profound energy, and a triggered Heart Painter Divine Regent flew straight toward Hua Caili’s residence.

Rumble!

There was another explosion, and he appeared in front of the residence barrier. However, when he released his divine perception and heard the quivering voice of a young woman, he recoiled like he had been stabbed in the heart and withdrew it in a hurry. He trembled all over while his face turned as black as the bottom of a frying pan.

Behind him, Hua Qingying spoke up, “It’s normal for a pair of youngsters to indulge in pleasure.”

Hua Fuchen turned around to face her. He felt like there was a universe’s worth of emotions stuck inside his chest, but there was nowhere he could vent it. He could only swing his arm again and again in frustration, yelling, “This is outrageous behavior! Simply outrageous!”

Hua Qingying said indifferently, “You say that as if you haven’t done the exact same thing with Wanxin.”

Her words shut Hua Fuchen right up. Unable to refute his sister’s words, he turned around again and stared at Hua Caili’s residence in rage and vexation, mind thinking furiously whether he should barge in and stop this nonsense or not.

“Fa... Fa... Fa... Father.”

It was at this moment Hua Lianzhi spoke up. It was a word she had said countless times in the past, and yet it took her a stupid amount of time to spit it out right now.

“Hmph! Spoil them all you want!”

In the end, Hua Fuchen swung his sleeves and left in frustration.

He didn’t go far when two Sword Sovereigns, Yuheng and Kaiyang sensed his presence and flew over to meet him. They greeted him from afar, “Supreme one—”

“Get lost!”

Hua Fuchen didn’t even look at them. He was gone in the blink of an eye, leaving Yuheng Sword Sovereign and Kaiyang Sword Sovereign feeling very confused.

Hua Qingying appeared the next instant. “What is it?”

Yuheng Sword Sovereign answered, “We heard that Caili had successfully broken through to the Divine Extinction Realm, so the seven of us came together to forge the Foundation Strengthening Great Formation. However, it’s taking the supreme one a surprisingly long time to give us the order, so...”

“Don’t worry,” Hua Qingying assured them, “my brother is feeling unwell as of late. It is best if you don’t disturb him for now. He will call for you when the time is right.”

“I guess so,” Kaiyang Sword Sovereign sighed, “this is the first time I've seen the supreme one acting like this.”

The two Sword Sovereigns were about to take their leave when suddenly, they recalled something. “There is one more thing. Two hours ago, we received a visitation letter from the Boundless Kingdom of God. It will be Caili’s twentieth birthday in twenty days, and the Boundless Divine Son Dian Jiuzhi will be arriving to congratulate her in person.”

Hua Qingying considered this for a moment before answering, “Please message the Boundless Kingdom of God and tell them that Caili’s ‘twentieth birthday’ defies common sense, which is why we have decided to keep it low profile. We will not be holding a birthday ceremony this year.”

“Caili has just accomplished a major breakthrough, and solidifying her foundation takes precedence above everything else. Moreover, Caili will be entering secluded cultivation in a couple of days, and it is unclear when she will be exiting seclusion. Thank the Boundless Divine Son for his passion, but inform him that he does not need to visit in person.”

“Er... I’m not sure if...”

Yuheng Sword Sovereign obviously had doubts regarding her order, but Kaiyang Sword Sovereign answered, “We shall do as you say, Sword Fairy. The message will be sent from the Kaiyang Pavilion immediately.”

After the two Sword Sovereigns were gone, peace finally returned to the area. Hua Qingying let out a small sigh and muttered to herself, “What troublesome kids.”

1. 站着说话不腰疼就是你了你了你了。 ☜