A laughter, equal parts triumphant and provoking, escaped her lips as she fixed her gaze on Xia Tian and the others. "It's already too late. The goddess should be descending upon us any second now. Apologize, and perhaps I might spare your lives," she suggested, her tone brimming with a false sense of benevolence.
However, her anticipation soon soured into disappointment, for Xia Tian's focus had shifted. His attention was no longer tethered to her, but rather, it was directed toward the impending arrival of the so-called 'goddess'.
In a sudden and dramatic shift, the night sky transformed into one of tempestuous turmoil, painted with lightning bolts that crackled and danced across the heavens. The spectacle was enough to rouse the entire city from its slumber.
And then, as quickly as the storm had materialized, it vanished, replaced by an intense burst of luminosity that radiated directly above Ye Qingyue. From within the ethereal light emerged a figure, a projection that exuded a commanding presence.
"Who dares to lay a hand on my disciple?" The voice carried an imposing authority, accompanied by an aura that enveloped the projection, projecting power and guardianship.
Xu Qing instinctively closed her eyes against the blinding brilliance, while Xia Tian and Nyx steadfastly gazed into the light, unwavering in the face of this celestial manifestation.
"It's growing rather tiresome," murmured Xia Tian, his annoyance evident. While he certainly enjoyed being the provocateur, he had no qualms about retaliating in kind when provoked.
"Hmm," Nyx concurred, understanding his sentiment well.
As the figure fully manifested before them, the expressions on Xia Tian and Nyx's faces shifted. The Goddess herself wore an expression that blended astonishment and confusion. The luminosity that once surrounded her had diminished, but the residual aura of power still clung to her form.
"Master! Save me!" Ye Qingyue's plea cut through the air, her distress palpable.
With a forced smile, the Goddess descended closer to Ye Qingyue. "Save you from whom?" Her question held a touch of bemusement as her hand gently rested upon Ye Qingyue's head, her fingers soothing and gentle. Her hope that the situation was not as dire as she initially perceived was evident in her demeanor.
"Them! Especially that woman, she's incredibly dangerous!" Ye Qingyue began pouring out her tale of woe to her savior.
However, as soon as she pointed towards Xia Tian, the look on the goddess's face transformed.
"He was bullying you?" she inquired, her tone brimming with certainty.
Ye Qingyue, her mind in a whirl, could only manage a nod.
Without delay, the goddess dashed towards Xia Tian, leaving Ye Qingyue dumbfounded.
To her astonishment, the goddess firmly grasped his hands and resolutely declared, "Darling, I swear on my life, I've never seen that woman before! I don't even know who she is!" Selene did her best to prove her innocence, her pleading gaze fixed on Xia Tian.
Meanwhile, she shot Ye Qingyue a searing glance, full of intimidation.
Unbelievable!
Did Ye Qingyue truly have the audacity to pit her against Xia Tian?
Selene had no intention of being entangled in whatever mess Ye Qingyue had conjured up.
In that moment, she resembled a little girl, desperately trying to ensure her own survival.
Ye Qingyue's mouth gaped open in disbelief. "M-master?" She spoke, her voice tinged with astonishment.
Selene, however, was swift in her denial. "Who are you calling your master? I've never met you!" Her words were a stark refutation of any connection between her and Ye Qingyue.
"...."
Ye Qingyue found herself rendered speechless, her gaze fixed on Selene, who was now engrossed in her efforts to convince Xia Tian of her innocence.
The reality of the situation was defying every expectation.
What was transpiring before her very eyes?
Frustration and confusion battled within Ye Qingyue, leaving her clutching at her own head in a display of exasperation.
The self-proclaimed goddess's behavior had taken a perplexing turn.
It was a turn of events that Ye Qingyue could never have foreseen.
"You don't know her?" Xia Tian inquired, his skepticism evident.
Selene responded promptly with a shake of her head, her denial resolute.
Satisfied with her answer, Xia Tian nodded. "Then why did you appear when she broke the stone in her ring?"
"I came to find you," Selene replied swiftly, having anticipated the line of questioning.
"Why is she referring to you as her master, then?" Xia Tian's counterquestion was direct.
Selene's expression wavered, her features contorting as she grasped the need to offer an explanation that would placate Xia Tian and absolve her from any association with Ye Qingyue's actions.
However, she swiftly adjusted her approach. "Darling, how about I present you with another woman in exchange for my release this time?" Selene's proposition was sudden, her tone a mixture of desperation and negotiation.
Xia Tian responded with a feigned pondering expression. He pointed toward Ye Qingyue. "Do you have someone of the same level as her?"
Selene's gaze turned toward Ye Qingyue, her expression a whirlwind of shifting emotions as she sized up the woman who had thrown their interactions into chaos.
ραndαsΝοvεl ƈοm 'Would I have to sacrifice my poor disciple again?'
The turmoil within Selene was evident, her thoughts flickering across her features like shadows cast by a passing storm.
She couldn't help but consider the possibility of having to sacrifice her disciple once more, a prospect that stirred a complex array of emotions within her.
She knew the number of diviners under her guidance was limited, and at this point, Ye Qingyue's connection with Xia Tian appeared irreversible. Selene had little hope for her disciple's deliverance.
Yet, the other disciple, the one who had not yet made contact with Xia Tian, still had a chance to be spared.
Xia Tian's question cut through her thoughts, and Selene's response was swift. "Darling, how about I offer you the company of two more women, instead of sacrificing my other disciple? I have only two diviners under me. If you take them both, what will become of me?" Her words held a plea, laced with a hint of seduction, as she attempted to negotiate a way out of this predicament.
However, Xia Tian shook his head in response. "Do you understand why she's here?" He gestured toward Ye Qingyue, who was caught in a whirlwind of emotions.
As he hinted at the revelation he was about to make, Ye Qingyue's curiosity was undeniably piqued. The turmoil within her shifted into an intense focus on his words.
Curiosity mirrored in Xu Qing's expression as well. Despite Xia Tian's tendency to appear frivolous, she knew that beneath his playful demeanor lay a shrewd and calculating mind.
And so, Xia Tian divulged the reason behind Ye Qingyue's captivity. "She is the daughter of the Eternal Seer of Destiny."
!!
'Is this for real?' Selene's thoughts raced, her mind seemingly on the edge of imploding. Xu Qing, though having heard the name before, remained composed.
Ye Qingyue herself was the most bewildered by this revelation. "Y-You know my father!?"
Xia Tian confirmed with a nod. "Yes, he's the old sage who posed as your mentor."
Ye Qingyue's brow furrowed, skepticism evident in her voice. "You're lying! How can my father still be alive?"
She was convinced that Xia Tian was merely fabricating stories, a notion supported by the fact that she had witnessed her parents' deaths herself. The memory of their final moments was etched into her mind, their mortal lifespans coming to a close.
Xia Tian, however, shook his head in response. "Don't jump to conclusions so quickly."
He went on to reveal a twist in the tale that shattered Ye Qingyue's understanding of her family history. "Your father and mother did indeed 'die,' but it was a carefully crafted illusion. The Eternal Seer grew attached to a mortal woman, concealing his true identity to lead a mortal life with her. The outcome of their union was you."
Xia Tian continued to unravel the intricacies. "When he eventually revealed his true self to your mother and offered her eternal life, she declined. She chose to embrace her mortality and passed away naturally, along with your father, in the memories of those around them. However, the Eternal Seer possesses a form of immortality, and it's highly likely that he faked his death."
Xia Tian's voice turned mocking. "Such a romantic tale, that 'whitehead' is truly foolish."
"I don't believe you!" Ye Qingyue exclaimed, her mind on the verge of explosion.
The man, who had always silently guided her, inexplicably revealed himself as her father. It seemed utterly impossible!
Xia Tian burst into laughter. "I can't believe it either! How could that clueless fool allow someone else to defile his own blood? Surely, old age has ruined his brain."
Selene immediately nodded in agreement, her astonishment mirrored in her eyes.
The Eternal Seer not only allowed Ye Qingyue to have a relationship with the Great Demon King, Xiao Chen, but it also unraveled the shocking truth that Xia Chen, in his past life as an avatar, was connected in such an unexpected way.