“I was originally formed from the manifestation of the primordial pure qi of the Underworld, so I do not strictly belong to either the Immortal and God Realm or the Demon and Devil Realm. In my eyes, all living beings in the Linxu Realm are actually the same, with no inherent, fundamental difference between them.”
Yan Qinyu’s eyes curved slightly into a smile.
“Back when I first took human form, my strength was not particularly formidable. When I traveled to the territories of the Immortal and God Realm, my companion magical treasure caught the covetous eyes of others. It just so happened that Feng Yuan was there at the time, and he helped me beat back that trouble.”
“Granted, I could have resolved that issue on my own, but the opponents had safety in numbers, so I inevitably would have suffered injuries and losses. Feng Yuan helped me and showed me kindness. In return, I helped him suppress the calamity of the ferocious beasts in Xuyun Valley.”
“Furthermore, after joining the Divine Court, I received the assistance of its providence, and he aided me significantly with matters regarding my cultivation. Based on this alone, I cannot possibly do something like killing Feng Yuan to usurp his throne.”
“If I did such a thing, wouldn’t I be completely ungrateful?”
The various entanglements involved were far too deep to be explained in just a sentence or two.
“Several centuries ago, I used my powerful cultivation to suppress their minor ambitions, which openly wounded Feng Yuan’s pride. That was already a mistake on my part. He showed me kindness, yet I constantly block him at every turn and ruin his grand plans, so he must be quite annoyed with me as well.”
“This entire matter, truly, can never be cleanly settled.”
The deep eyes of Yuan Ruoshen trembled slightly. He suddenly felt a bit uncomfortable, experiencing an indescribable, complex emotion.
“So that’s how it is.” He lifted his wine to take a sip, remarking casually, “You certainly look out for him. However, your current situation essentially leaves you stuck right in the middle of both sides. You cannot let go of the common people, and your heart holds far too many things: gratitude, guilt, and hesitation.”
“No matter which side you lean toward, you will only plunge yourself into an awkward dilemma, pleasing absolutely no one.”
“If you were a bit more resolute and a bit more ruthless, you wouldn’t find yourself in such a difficult position.”
Yan Qinyu froze, not expecting that Yuan Ruoshen would accurately point out his hidden thoughts so easily.
He then heard the other man’s flamboyant voice drift over with a light chuckle: “However, if you truly went as far as to kill Feng Yuan without a single care for anything else, then you wouldn’t be Yan Qinyu anymore.”
A sudden spark flared in Yan Qinyu’s heart. He lifted his gaze toward Yuan Ruoshen, locking directly into his smiling, crimson eyes.
Yan Qinyu’s face grew somewhat warm. Feeling entirely self-conscious under Yuan Ruoshen’s intent gaze, he quickly averted his eyes and cleared his throat softly. “I will take that as a compliment.”
A vibrant laugh spilled from the corners of Yuan Ruoshen’s mouth. Hearing his laughter, even Yan Qinyu’s ears turned completely red.
To cover up his embarrassment, he raised his cup and took a quick sip of tea.
Seeing this reaction, the smile on Yuan Ruoshen’s face deepened even further.
Yan Qinyu changed the subject, stating, “No one can truly declare who is right or wrong in all of this; it is merely a matter of differing stances.”
“I genuinely hope that he can truly settle down from this point onward. Even if he managed to unify the Six Realms, he wouldn’t be able to govern them properly anyway. It is completely unrealistic, yet he is terribly obsessed with it.”
Upon hearing this, Yuan Ruoshen offered neither agreement nor disagreement. He leaned forward, speaking with a serious expression, “Regardless of what you think, the blood feud Feng Yuan shares with me and my elder brother can never be erased. The moment I find an opportunity, I will absolutely kill him!”
Yan Qinyu did not know what to say in response.
Feng Yuan had committed many detestable acts, which was an undeniable fact. For Yuan Ruoshen to want to kill him was completely natural and justified.
From beginning to end, Feng Yuan had never truly trusted him, nor had he trusted anyone else.
Although it remained a mystery whether Feng Yuan had truly abandoned his ambitions this time, or whether he genuinely felt compassion for the common people, as long as he could keep up the act for a single day, govern the Immortal and God Realm properly, and stop thinking about starting wars, it would be enough.
Naturally, Yan Qinyu was also well aware that the conflict between Yuan Ruochen’s side and Feng Yuan had already escalated into an endless fight to the death.
But as long as the struggle between the two sides did not drag the common people into it, Yan Qinyu would not interfere in their private vendetta.
Although Yan Qinyu desperately wanted Feng Yuan to settle down, he had known Feng Yuan for many years after all. To strike down a friend, especially a friend who had shown him great kindness, was something he simply could not do, nor could he bring himself to violate his own conscience.
Furthermore, analyzing the overall situation, Feng Yuan had safety in numbers on his side. If an outright brawl occurred, Yan Qinyu would not gain any advantage on his own and wouldn’t be able to touch the man at all.
However, having taken form within the Underworld and being shaped by the power of Samsara, he possessed a deeply benevolent heart by nature, making it impossible for him to bear the sight of living beings suffering in misery.
It was far better to remove himself from the situation to avoid unnecessary worry, which was why he chose to completely detach himself from the Divine Court.
As deities, they were originally supposed to prioritize the welfare of the common people with complete impartiality, yet far too many individuals were ultimately blinded by power, losing their sanity entirely.
Feng Yuan was exactly like that; he did not care about the survival of the common people at all.
Yet Yan Qinyu could not bring himself to be indifferent.
Yuan Ruoshen stared at Yan Qinyu, seemingly understanding why the man enjoyed such an impeccable reputation within the Immortal and God Realm.
Because this person, Yan Qinyu, was far too much of a gentleman and possessed a heart that was simply too soft.
He desperately wanted to save everyone, but how could perfect outcomes exist in the affairs of the world? He couldn’t save every single person, yet he still put forth his absolute best efforts to protect the remaining survivors.
He was the one who truly embodied a deity.
A deity loves all living beings.
Yuan Ruoshen studied Yan Qinyu for a moment, before flashing a brilliant smile once more.
“Alright, let’s not mention those matters that ruin the mood. Since you came out here to find me, it proves that you treat me as a friend. Come along, I will take you to visit my Demon and Devil Realm.”
Yan Qinyu did not refuse. “Very well.”
The Demon and Devil Realm did not possess those seemingly complex and tedious rules found in the Immortal and God Realm.
The lesser demons and devils adopted the lifestyle and survival methods of the mortal realm. In truth, for the living beings at the bottom of society, the way of survival was identical everywhere.
Running teahouses, setting up street stalls, all sorts of trades flourished in a colorful display of life.
The faces of these creatures were all painted with bright smiles, showing that they lived very comfortable lives.
Yan Qinyu nodded his approval in silence.
A life like this was very wonderful.
“How is it? How does my Demon and Devil Realm compare to the Immortal and God Realm?”
Yan Qinyu replied, “It is very good.”
Yuan Ruoshen teased, “This ‘good’ you speak of, does it refer to the Demon and Devil Realm, or the Immortal and God Realm?”
Yan Qinyu replied, “Both sides are very good.”
With Feng Yuan refraining from causing trouble and Yan Qinyu keeping a lid on things from above, the living beings at the bottom naturally would not have a terrible time.
Arriving before a small street stall selling pastries, Yuan Ruoshen tossed a spirit stone over. “Give me a portion of hawthorn cake.”
The stall owner deftly scooped up the spirit stone, wrapped seven pieces of hawthorn cake in oilpaper, and handed them over with a face full of smiles. “Here is your hawthorn cake.”
Yuan Ruoshen took the pastries, picked out a piece, and popped it directly into his mouth.
This hawthorn cake was crafted using spiritual hawthorn herbs that grew naturally within the Hundred Thousand Mountains, which helped with digestion and nourished the stomach.
It was typically only purchased and consumed by lesser demons with meager spiritual power.
He hadn’t expected that Yuan Ruoshen would enjoy it as well.
A piece of hawthorn cake was suddenly held up to Yan Qinyu’s lips, causing him to look at Yuan Ruoshen in complete surprise.
Yuan Ruoshen nudged it a little closer against Yan Qinyu’s mouth.
He smiled and said, “This little pastry is my absolute favorite, it is delicious.”
Swept up in the moment, Yan Qinyu opened his mouth. The hawthorn cake tasted sweet and tart, carrying a subtle, pleasant herbal fragrance. The texture was soft and chewy, an exceptionally wonderful flavor.
Having fed Yan Qinyu a piece of the hawthorn cake, Yuan Ruoshen asked, “Does it taste good?”
Yan Qinyu nodded his head.
The corners of Yuan Ruoshen’s mouth curled upward slightly, revealing a smile that was even larger than before.
His mood appeared to be exceptionally bright, as though warm sunshine were spilling all over his body, causing his entire presence to radiate a relaxed and joyful aura.
He gently gathered up the remaining hawthorn cake, easily handed it over to Yan Qinyu, and placed the pastries directly into Yan Qinyu’s hands, a trace of tenderness surfacing within his eyes that he himself had not even noticed.
Yan Qinyu froze for an instant. “You-”
“If it tastes good, eat a bit more.” Yuan Ruoshen’s voice was low and gentle, much like a warm spring breeze brushing past the ear, making one feel incredibly comfortable.
With that, he started walking ahead on his own.
Clutching the bundle of hawthorn cake, Yan Qinyu felt a strange sensation blossom in his heart.
He hurried to catch up to Yuan Ruoshen. “Weren’t you supposed to show me around? Why are you walking so fast?”
Yuan Ruoshen replied, “Well, haven’t you caught up now?”
Looking at Yuan Ruoshen’s smiling, exquisite profile, Yan Qinyu’s ears grew inexplicably warm for some reason.
He turned his gaze away, his fingers unconsciously tracing the creases of the oilpaper wrapper.
This person certainly loved to smile, possessed a rather sinister charm, and was also a little mischievous.
Yan Qinyu thought to himself.
After spending an entire day wandering around with Yuan Ruoshen, Yan Qinyu discovered that the living beings of the Demon and Devil Realm deeply revered their Emperor, Yuan Ruochen.
Yuan Ruochen truly held the hearts of his people.
When Yuan Ruoshen returned several centuries ago, Yuan Ruochen had searched for all kinds of heavenly materials and earthly treasures to help Yuan Ruoshen nurse his injuries.
While it was described as nursing his injuries, it was actually a period of secluded cultivation to restore his strength.
Yuan Ruoshen dual-cultivated both the divine and demonic paths; with the presence of demonic qi, his recovery progressed very rapidly.
Yuan Ruochen was entirely different. He had to handle the administrative affairs of two entire realms every single day, leaving him without much time to practice cultivation and heal his wounds, so his recovery was incredibly slow.
Nevertheless, over the course of several centuries, his injuries had mostly healed, though his cultivation level remained damaged.
However, he did not care about it at all, merely using government administration and various other tasks to numb the pain inside his heart.
Regarding the deep sorrow buried within his elder brother’s heart, Yuan Ruoshen was completely helpless.
His lover had perished, and even their own child had.
There was absolutely nothing in existence more painful than that.
At the cost of losing half his own life, Yuan Ruochen had only managed to preserve a single wisp of his lover’s divine consciousness.
It represented hope, yet it also represented despair.
It was an obsession, yet it was also a cherished memory.
Alas, the affairs of the world were fickle after all.
…
Yuan Ruoshen was exceptionally skilled at taking care of others. He brought Yan Qinyu back to his own Eastern Emperor Palace and prepared an excellent guest room for him.
Yan Qinyu’s gaze slowly swept across the surroundings.
He saw that the room was arranged in an extremely elegant manner; the windows were bright, the counters were clean, and it was entirely spotless, designed in a style that was nearly identical to the living environments found back in the Immortal and God Realm.
Yuan Ruoshen lived completely alone within the Eastern Emperor Palace. For the majority of his time, he was entirely absorbed in his cultivation, making his domain exceptionally quiet and serene.
A ripple of warmth welled up within Yan Qinyu’s heart; it was obvious at a glance that Yuan Ruoshen had meticulously arranged this place specifically for him.
He turned around to face Yuan Ruoshen, offering his sincere gratitude: “To go to such trouble, thank you very much.”
Yuan Ruoshen smiled and shook his head, saying, “There is no need to be polite. I guessed that you would definitely prefer this style, so I had it arranged accordingly. It seems my guess was not wrong.”
The two men looked at each other and shared a smile.
Yan Qinyu suggested, “Why don’t we engage in a discussion of the Dao?”
Yuan Ruoshen responded, “That works.”
With a wave of his hand, Yuan Ruoshen manifested meditation cushions, and he sat down with Yan Qinyu to discuss the Dao.
Through their mutual exchange and deep exploration of insights, both of them felt that they had gained an abundance of knowledge, advancing their comprehension of cultivation by another step.
As their conversation grew lively, the sky gradually deepened into night.
Yan Qinyu and Yuan Ruoshen unanimously decided to enter meditative cultivation to consolidate the rewards of the day. Each regulated their breathing and quickly entered a state of deep meditation, absorbing the insights they had gained.
Over the next few days, Yan Qinyu remained entirely focused on his cultivation. When he emerged from his meditative state, he did not see any sign of Yuan Ruoshen.
Just as he was planning to go out and search for him, Yuan Ruoshen suddenly appeared.
Yuan Ruoshen was dressed in a gold-and-white robe with wide sleeves, a tasseled jade piece hanging from his waist, his white garments fluttering elegantly, and the image of the Three-Footed Golden Crow embroidered along his cuffs.
He had not tied his hair into the high ponytail that Yan Qinyu had seen a few days prior; instead, it was simply gathered together using a black-and-gold hair ribbon. His dark hair fell loosely over his shoulders, and his eyes had also reverted back to their normal black color.