The two Gods stood their ground, neither willing to give an inch.
Meng Kongchan clung to Yun Che like a lifeline, his arms wrapped around him in a vice grip, refusing to let go, his body angled protectively. His head turned just enough to glare back at Hua Fuchen, whose expression had darkened into something just short of murderous, his hand still gripping Meng Kongchan's shoulder, his entire aura radiating an unmistakable warning.
Neither of them spoke.
Neither of them moved.
But the air between them crackled with the weight of their rising divine power, a standoff between two titans — one refusing to relinquish his son, the other demanding justice for his daughter.
"...."
Off to the side, a long, exaggerated sigh was heard.
Someone rolled her eyes — slowly, deliberately — before walking toward the two Gods, completely unbothered by their ridiculous posturing or the suffocating pressure between them.
With a casual stride that defied the tense atmosphere, she approached the two, her face emotionless, her presence calm. And before either of the two supreme beings could react—
Her hands moved.
One hand grabbed Hua Fuchen's head.
The other grabbed Meng Kongchan's.
"SMACKKKKKKK!!!!!"
A thunderous crack echoed through the air as their foreheads were forcibly smashed together with enough force to send ripples through the surrounding space. The impact left both Gods stunned, their eyes going wide as their vision buzzed, a faint ringing echoing in their divine senses.
"UGHHHHHHHHH!!!!"
Both clutched their foreheads in pain, reeling slightly as they stumbled back, the indomitable aura that had been rising just moments ago now flickering like a candle caught in the wind.
And then —
"YOU. DONE. YET?"
Hua Qingying's cold, commanding voice rang out, each word hitting with the weight of a divine decree.
The two Gods instantly stiffened.
Their auras dropped like stones.
"Yes..."
Both Hua Fuchen and Meng Kongchan answered at the exact same time, their voices low and sheepish, like two scolded children acknowledging their mistake. Their eyes avoided Hua Qingying's cold, narrowed gaze, and their auras had long since retreated back into silence.
Yun Che, meanwhile, stood quietly amidst the lingering awkwardness, his eyes slowly turning toward the figure of Hua Caili.
She stood just a short distance away, her delicate frame trembling, her hands clenched tightly by her sides as crystalline tears continued to stream down her cheeks. Her beautiful eyes, shimmering with sorrow and joy, were fixed entirely on him. And yet, despite her tears, her smile was radiant — genuine, pure, and filled with uncontainable happiness.
Something stirred deep inside Yun Che's heart. A warmth.
With a faint frown and a puzzled look, he spoke in a soft, uncertain voice.
"Caili...? Why are you crying? …Just what's going on here?"
He took a step forward.
Then another.
But before he could take a third—
Two overwhelming, ancient divine senses descended upon him like invisible storms.
Terrifying in their weight, precise beyond imagination.
In the time it took for a single breath, his body was scanned hundreds of times — each thread of divine sense searching, dissecting, evaluating every inch of his flesh, bone, and soul. The sheer pressure of it could have crushed lesser beings to death without them ever realizing what had happened.
Yun Che didn't flinch.
He simply walked forward, as if unaware.
And then… the pressure vanished.
As though something had silently deemed him safe — acceptable.
The divine senses retreated just as quickly as they had appeared, slipping away without a trace.
The two Ancient True Gods - had made their judgment.
And only then did Yun Che close the distance.
Step by step… he walked toward Hua Caili.
Maybe… that rejection earlier… was because the Fog Monarch left something inside Meng Jianyuan's body… and when Ling Xian's Divine Blood encountered it, it instinctively tried to burn it away…
Liu Xiao silently pondered to himself, his ancient gaze never leaving Yun Che's figure. It was the most reasonable explanation he could come up with — the only possible cause for that violent rejection from Ling Xian's Divine Blood Essence just moments ago.
And yet…
That still didn't explain it.
It didn't explain that ancient, terrifying aura.
It didn't explain that sword aura.
That sword aura… so primal, so boundless, so suffocatingly ancient that even he — an existence who had stood at the peak for countless eras — had felt a fear he hadn't tasted in immeasurable years.
He and everyone else present had felt it.
That was no illusion. No reaction from divine blood or worldly anomaly.
That was a sword aura capable of frightening even gods.
Just what in the abyss… was that?
Liu Xiao's thoughts grew heavier.
One thing was certain — when he returned to the Pure Land, he would definitely request an audience with His Lord. He had to. There were too many things about Meng Jianyuan — about Yun Che — that he could not explain, could not understand.
But deep inside… Liu Xiao already had an idea.
He already suspected why His Lord — the supreme ruler of the Abyss — the Abyssal Monarch himself — hadn't rushed here immediately after Ling Xian's death.
It wasn't negligence.
It wasn't indifference.
Most likely… His Lord was currently within the Cradle.
And if that was true…
Then it explained everything.
Time within the Cradle flowed incomparably different from the outside world. What was years or decades for them might only be mere breaths for His Lord. Even Liu Xiao and Wan Dao, despite being Ancient True Gods themselves, had no way of knowing when their Lord would step out from that timeless domain.
But when he did…
Liu Xiao knew — the first thing he would report…
Was everything about Meng Jianyuan.
The moment His Lord emerged from the Cradle…
There was no doubt in Liu Xiao's mind.
The death of Ling Xian — would absolutely shake the heavens.
And when His Lord learned that it was the doing of the Fog Monarch…
He would not hesitate.
He would not simply send someone.
He would hunt the Fog Monarch down himself.
No matter where he hid.
No matter what price it cost.
As these thoughts passed through Liu Xiao's mind, he slowly exhaled, putting all of them aside for now. He turned his gaze once again to Yun Che and Hua Caili — one standing awkwardly, the other standing tearfully — their emotions tangled yet quietly overflowing.
Without another word, Liu Xiao spoke, his calm and ancient voice carrying an unquestionable authority.
"Caili and Meng Jianyuan will probably have some private matters to discuss. The rest of you should leave."
Simple. Direct.
But absolute.
As his voice fell, he casually waved his sleeve.
Instantly, the ruined remnants of the Divine Son Palace — the shattered bricks, the broken tiles, the scattered debris that had been devastated by the previous storm — began to rise slowly into the air, reversing time itself as they reassembled.
Stone returned to stone. Walls returned to walls.
And in mere breaths, the Divine Son Palace — a place that symbolized the pride of the Dreamweaver Divine Kingdom — had been restored completely, without flaw.
Not only that…
Liu Xiao's divine power surged quietly, sealing the space around Yun Che and Hua Caili. A gentle, soundless barrier enveloped them, cutting off sight, sound, and divine sense from the outside world.
He had given them privacy.
Total privacy.
A space where no one — not even the most powerful gods — could disturb them.
Whatever words needed to be said…
Whatever emotions needed to be released…
Would belong to just the two of them.
"....."
Meng Kongchan and Hua Fuchen's expressions twitched almost simultaneously. Their mouths opened slightly, clearly wanting to protest — wanting to say something, anything — but before either of them could utter a single word…
That terrifying, sharp-as-a-blade glare from Hua Qingying swept over them like a tidal wave.
Cold. Silent. Dangerous.
That was enough.
Two supreme Gods — feared and revered throughout countless realms — immediately stiffened like scolded children. The words stuck in their throats turned to dust as both slowly, very slowly, retreated without another sound.
They didn't dare stay.
And as Meng Kongchan and Hua Fuchen began their reluctant retreat, the elders withdrew.
And soon… the sea of profound practitioners, who had been holding their breath and watching every moment of this extraordinary scene, followed quietly in their wake.
Within the restored Divine Son Palace, silence blanketed the world, leaving only the sound of soft sobbing that echoed faintly between the walls.
In that quiet space, Hua Caili clung tightly to Yun Che, her delicate body trembling within his embrace. Her face buried against his chest, her tears flowed freely, soaking his clothes, leaving wet stains over his heart — as if trying to imprint all her pain, her sorrow, her longing directly into him.
Every sob.
Every cry.
Every ounce of her pain, her fears, her helplessness over the years… all of it poured out like a broken dam.
Her words came between sobs, between gasps of breath — all the sleepless nights, all the prayers whispered into the void, all the nightmares that haunted her whenever she closed her eyes — she told them all to him.
And Yun Che… listened.
Without interruption. Without avoiding.
He listened to every word, every trembling whisper, as his arms gently held her closer, giving her the warmth she had yearned for so desperately.
From time to time, his voice would gently rise — soft words of comfort, simple reassurances, soothing her fragile heart in ways only he could.
And yet… deep within Yun Che's own heart…
He felt it.
That faint, aching pain.
A dull guilt that twisted somewhere within his soul — no matter how much he tried to suppress it.
After all… everything she had endured, every tear she shed… was because of him.
But he could not allow himself to break character.
No matter how much it pained him. No matter how much her sobs shook his resolve.
This wasn't the time to show weakness. This wasn't the time to falter.
Silently, Yun Che bit down on his tongue — hard.
So hard that the metallic taste of blood spread across his mouth, shocking clarity back into his mind, forcing his emotions down into the abyss of his heart.
When Hua Caili finally raised her tear-stained face to look at him — her eyes red, her breathing unsteady — Yun Che met her gaze with the gentlest of smiles.
A smile filled with calm, with patience… with the unshakable warmth of the man she had always loved.
Even if that smile… was forged through pain.
------
"So… that's what happened…"
Yun Che murmured softly, his voice carrying disbelief, as if everything he had just heard from Hua Caili sounded like some absurd dream — distant, surreal, and impossible to fully accept.
He lowered his gaze, his arms tightening gently around the girl trembling within them.
"Caili… I… I'm so sorry…"
His words were low, tinged with helplessness and regret.
"I couldn't remember anything… and yet… I've caused you pain again…"
Yun Che's voice trembled faintly as he spoke, his heart aching not from falsehood — but from the real weight of her suffering.
Within his embrace, Hua Caili desperately shook her head, the tears in her eyes glimmering like fragile crystals.
"It's not Brother Yun's fault."
Her voice was resolute.
Without hesitation. Without doubt.
How could it possibly be his fault? The one who suffered the most was him — the one stolen away by the Fog Monarch, the one forced into darkness all alone.
But still…
"Brother Yun Che, are you really okay?"
Hua Caili's voice was serious now — filled with worry, filled with the fear that still refused to leave her heart. She raised her teary eyes to meet his, her hands tightening unconsciously against his clothes.
After all, he had been kidnapped by the Fog Monarch for so many years… how could there be no injuries, no hidden dangers lingering within him?
It wasn't the first time she asked him this question.
In fact…
She had already asked him more than ten times by now.
And every single time — without fail — Yun Che would shake his head with a gentle smile, his voice as steady and reassuring as ever.
"I'm fine, Caili. Truly."
He would say the same words over and over again.
He could not sense any danger, any lingering curse, or any foreign power left within his body. Nothing strange. Nothing harmful. After all, Yun Che is the Fog Monarch himself, but he won't tell her, or anyone that.
Sometimes, just to comfort her even more, he would even deliberately release a soft radiance of Light Profound Energy from his body, enveloping himself in that gentle, purifying glow.
As if to say—
See? Even my mighty Light Profound Energy can't find anything wrong within me. There's nothing to worry about!
And every time he did so, Hua Caili would bite her lips, tears threatening to fall again — torn between believing him and being unable to let go of the fear carved deep into her heart.
Time slowly passed within the quiet Divine Son Palace, the heavy storm of emotions within Hua Caili's heart gradually calming down.
Her sobs softened, her trembling slowly ceased, but her gaze — her eyes that had never once looked away from Yun Che since the very moment he awakened — only grew deeper, only grew more tender.
This was the man she had missed day and night.
The man whose face had filled her dreams and haunted her sleepless nights.
And now — he was here. Right in front of her. Warm. Real. Alive.
As her worries, her fear, and her pain slowly drained away, what rose quietly in their place… was another emotion.
An emotion that had been buried too long, suppressed for far too many years.
Longing.
Yearning.
A longing so deep, so fierce, that she could no longer hold it back.
Without hesitation, Hua Caili leaned closer.
Closer… and closer still.
Her delicate face approached his, her eyes shining with undisguised affection, stunning Yun Che slightly as he instinctively froze, caught off guard by the sudden shift in her gaze.
And then —
Her lips touched his.
Soft. Gentle. Longing.
"I missed you… so much."
She whispered against his lips, her words fragile and heartfelt, carrying the weight of countless lonely days and countless tear-filled nights.
But how could Yun Che possibly let her pull away after such a kiss?
The very next instant — before her lips could part fully — Yun Che moved.
His arms tightened around her waist, his body leaning in, and he returned her kiss without hesitation, pouring everything into it — warmth, longing, comfort, and unspoken emotions buried deep within his heart.
The kiss deepened almost instantly.
It was no longer just a reunion of bodies — it was a reunion of souls.
A passion born from endless loneliness.
A love long suppressed and now bursting free.
Time seemed to blur, the world around them fading away.
And within the secluded Divine Son Palace, the once-cold air was now quietly filled with the warmth of love, the scent of longing fulfilled… and the sound of hearts finally finding their way back to one another.
-------
"Ying'er, come… the food is ready."
In the quiet and peaceful house, Yixin's gentle voice rang out, calling softly to the young woman seated not far away.
"....Yes..."
Qianye Ying'er answered slowly, her voice distant, as if her thoughts were lingering elsewhere — as if even such a simple call required her to think for a long while before responding.
Eventually, she rose from her seat, her graceful steps light yet hesitant, and slowly made her way toward the humble dining table within the modest home. Quietly, without a word, she sat down.
"No need to hold back," Yixin said with a warm smile, noticing the slight stiffness in Qianye Ying'er's movements. Her tone was casual, but filled with genuine care. "It's rare for us to have a guest here. There's no need to be reserved. You must still be hungry after enduring such heavy injuries."
As she spoke, Yixin personally reached out, placing a few dishes onto Qianye Ying'er's plate with gentle care.
Her actions were natural, motherly — carrying no pretense, no awkwardness, only kindness born from sincerity.
At the same table, Dian Xiang and his master, Master Chen, were quietly seated as well. In fact, this was their first time since returning home that they had gathered like this, eating the simple, homemade food.
As Yixin picked up her chopsticks and began eating, Dian Xiang quickly followed suit, placing food onto his own plate and bringing it to his mouth.
Master Chen, too, without saying much, calmly picked up his chopsticks and joined them.
"....."
Lifting her mask and putting the food into her mouth, Qianye Ying'er's expression under the mask froze slightly.
The taste…
It was unbearable.
It wasn't poisonous. It wasn't harmful. But the taste… it was so bitter, so strange, so utterly foreign to her refined palate that she instinctively wanted to spit it out right then and there.
This… this was food?
Yet, just as that thought surfaced in her mind—
"Ah~ It's so tasty! My cooking is still the best!"
Yixin exclaimed proudly, her face lighting up with genuine delight as she took a bite of her own cooking, completely satisfied as though she had crafted a masterpiece worthy of divine praise.
"...."
Dian Xiang quietly lowered his head, wordless.
"...."
Master Chen's expression didn't change, but deep within, his heart let out a long, heavy sigh.
Is this… is this really what Ye'er has to go through every single day…?
Master Chen quietly thought to himself, his heart filled with an indescribable complexity — half sympathy… half helpless resignation.