Against the Gods - Volume 08 - Cloud's End Mirage

by Mars Gravity

  “Mother, this child is not filial, always making you worry and spill tears,” Yun Che said guiltily.

  Yun Qinghong’s eyes were slightly watery. He felt that though Yun Che’s aura was a little frail and messy, he no longer had the anomaly from before. His heart and mind instantly loosened, as he bowed towards the Little Demon Empress and said, “Little Demon Empress, your body has injuries, please tend to them as soon as possible. You must not neglect your divine body.”

  The Little Demon Empress slightly shook her head. “This empress’ injuries are not severe, though that’s not the same for Yun Che. Though his injuries on the surface are light, his internal injuries are considerably heavy and it seems like his mental strength has been completely drained. It’s best to hurry and prepare a place for him to tend to his injuries. As for the other matters, we can talk tomorrow.”

  “Ah?” Before Mu Yurou could even wipe off her tears, she hurriedly grabbed onto Yun Che’s sleeves. “Che’er, are your injuries… really that severe?”

  “It’s not of concern.” Yun Che shook his head with a slight smile and consoled her. “My body’s self-recovery ability is extraordinary, injuries of this extent are not much… Though I am indeed a little fatigued and I wish to find a place to sleep for a while.”

  Little Demon Empress, “…”

  “Alright, alright… Mother has already tidied your room. Hurry and get some rest, if you need anything, let Mother know,” Mu Yurou anxiously said. After saying that, she turned around and pulled Feng Xue’er’s hand as she looked at her with a gentle gaze. “Xue’er, in these few months, I have always hoped to see you. Che’er having you by his side is truly a blessing that he had cultivated several lifetimes for… Even I don’t know how I should thank you.”

  Mu Yurou’s words threw Feng Xue’er into a slight panic. “Auntie, I… I did not do anything much for Big Brother Yun… These words of yours are pushing pressure onto Xue’er…”

  “Auntie?” Mu Yurou’s gentle smile carried a slight degree of warmth. “Let’s first head in, Che’er still needs rest. After I settle him down, I have many things I wish to speak with you about. Over here, you can just treat it as your own home.”

  “Thank you, Auntie,” Feng Xue’er gently said.

  “Xiao Yun, are Grandfather and the rest alright?” Yun Che asked Xiao Yun.

  “Don’t worry Big Brother. They are all safe and sound. The fairies of Frozen Cloud Asgard are all settled in the outer residences and usually, no one is allowed to approach there… After this, I will head over to inform them that you’re already safe and sound and have Grandfather and the rest put down their worries,” Xiao Yun nodded and said.

  “Mn…” Yun Che lightly nodded. “Help me apologize to Grandfather, Senior Master Murong and the rest in my stead… My present mental strength is a little heavy, once I feel better, I will definitely head over immediately to show that I’m in good health.”

  “…I understand. Big Brother, have a good rest.” Xiao Yun’s expression was a little astonished.

  Yun Qinghong had been looking at Yun Che, his expression, his eyes, his every word and movement. From the very beginning, he had felt that Yun Che’s condition was a little amiss and now, that feeling had turned even heavier. His brows furrowed and finally, could not help but voice out. “Che’er, you…”

  “Enough!” Mu Yurou however waved her hand. “Che’er is injured and his mental strength is not in a good state, let him first have a good rest. If there’s any matters, we can talk to him about them tomorrow.”

  “…” Yun Qinghong had no choice but to close his mouth; his emotions, however were much heavier than before.

  ————————————

  Returning to the mansion he had left for several months, he softly lay on the bed. All the noise outside were isolated by the door. Under this serenity, Yun Che did not immediately head to sleep, nor did he calm his heart and tend to his injuries either. Instead, he blankly looked up into the air, not a hint of focus could be seen from his eyes.

  Jasmine, what in the world should the current me do…

  Without you by my side, even living itself has actually become so difficult.

  When the devil origin orb broke out, I sensed death… The feeling of death never felt so clear even back when I fell down Cloud End’s Cliff.

  Perhaps, when it breaks out again next time, it will be the time of my death.

  After I die, Caiyu, Xue’er, and Yue’er, what will happen to them… What will happen to Father and Mother… What will happen to Grandfather and Lingxi… What will happen to Illusory Demon Realm… What will happen to Frozen Cloud Asgard…

  Could it be that they are all destined to die at Xuanyuan Wentian’s hands…

  Caiyi will definitely choose to die along with the destruction of Demon Imperial City. She will definitely be more willing to die than to choose abandoning the Illusory Demon Realm and flee.

  Father and Mother are the same as well…

  For me, Xue’er has left Divine Phoenix Sect and Yue’er has abandoned the entire Blue Wind Empire, all to accompany me to this Illusory Demon Realm which is completely foreign to them.

  Right before her death, with tears in her eyes, Gong Yuxian entrusted Frozen Cloud Asgard to me…

  Grandfather and Lingxi, I have so many times sworn to definitely protect them well and have them live safely and peacefully, never again allowing them to be bullied by anyone else.

  However, if I die…

  Yun Che let out an extremely heavy sigh. He began to grow fearful of death, incomparably fearful of it. However, the devil origin orb that existed in his profound veins, had already allowed him to see his approaching day of death.

  What exactly should I do to live…

  If I’m destined to die, then how should I exterminate Xuanyuan Wentian right before my death…

  Jasmine, just what should I do?

  After leaving you, what else am I capable of doing…

  Three months ago, the scene of when Jasmine decisively left surfaced before his eyes. Though it had already been three months, it was still causing his chest to feel heavy and stifling. He had clearly remembered her every word, every tone, every gaze, and every expression she had back then.

  “Within this memory fragment are all the words that I am unable to say to you right now.” Jasmine’s delicate face was still cold and detached but her eyes faintly shimmered for an instant, “Twenty four hours from now, the seal on this memory fragment will automatically undo itself. At that time, you will know what I want to tell you.”

  This morning, I had resolved myself for this moment to come the moment I had sensed Moonflower’s aura. So, I handed something to Hong’er and she carried it back with her into the Sky Poison Pearl. After I have left, you can take it from her… Even though it will not be able to increase your cultivation by too much, it will at least be able to increase your lifespan by several thousand years

  “…”

  Yun Che instantly flipped up from the bed as if he had been electrocuted.

  The memory fragment Jasmine left him!!

  The moment Jasmine left, he suffered from Moonflower’s scheme. Even when he returned to Illusory Demon Realm, he had been unconscious and close to death the entire time. After that, in Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley, he was “forced” to undergo three months of dual cultivation with Feng Xue’er and the Little Demon Empress and the entire time so he did not have the opportunity to read the memory fragment Jasmine left him.

  Chapter 866: Jasmine’s Message (2)

  Yun Che quickly gathered his concentration, found the memory fragment Jasmine left behind in his sea of consciousness, and gently touched it. Instantly, a voice rang from deep within his heart.

  “Yun Che…”

  Just two short words that were completely emotionless, yet they caused Yun Che’s entire body to feel numb and his eyes instantly became warm. His soul that was now hollow was also instantly filled up by something warm—because tha
t was Jasmine’s voice.

  During the past seven years, this was the voice that he had heard the most everyday. In this lifetime… and perhaps even including his previous life, the voice that he had heard the most was definitely Jasmine’s voice. Now, although it had only been three short months, hearing Jasmine’s voice again caused his soul to tremble violently; it was as though it had been centuries since then.

  “…After our separation this time, we will not reunite again. In our fate of seven years you have saved my life and I’ve sculpted your life. Following this separation, our debts are cleared and our relationship shall end. From today onwards, I will no longer be your master. You don’t have to miss me, just treat it as if I had never appeared before… I will do the same.”

  Jasmine’s voice was ice cold and heartless, just like what she personally said when she left him that day.

  “The only reason why left behind this memory fragment is because I only want to say some stuff that I couldn’t say to you face to face… There are two matters in which I’ve lied to you.”

  “Firstly, what I told you, was really not my actual name. I am the eldest princess of the Star God Realm. ‘Jasmine,’ is not my name but my title.”

  Yun Che, “…”

  “Jasmine” was just her princess title and not her name. But hat was all that she said; she did not reveal her real name.

  However, this wasn’t important to Yun Che. Because, no matter what her real name was, she would still be Jasmine.

  “Secondly…”

  Jasmine’s voice paused for a very long moment as though even using this method, it was difficult for her to say what she wanted to say.

  “…is regarding Chu Yuechan.”

  Yun Che’s heart suddenly clenched.

  “That day, after completely getting rid of the devilish poison, I proceeded with my promise and searched for Chu Yuechan within the Profound Sky Continent.”

  “There is much life on the Profound Sky Continent and even with my powers, it is not possible for me to search through all the life. However, it could still search the auras of those above the Emperor Profound Realm… however, among them, Chu Yuechan’s wasn’t present.

  Jasmine voice was very calm but the speed of her talking was obviously slower than usual.

  As for Yun Che, his heart sank ferociously and an ice cold feeling spread across his chest, suffocating him.

  That day, what Jasmine said to him was… although her devilish poison had been cleansed, the strength of her soul was still insufficient for her to search for Chu Yuechan at a place like the Profound Sky Continent and she needed to wait until her body was reconstructed.

  “Chu Yuechan is your heart’s greatest worry and pain. After much consideration, I chose to lie to you.

  “When I reconstructed my body, although I did not hold much hope, I searched for Chu Yuechan’s aura once again. This time, the aura I searched was not just those above the Emperor Profound Realm, I also searched those in the Sky and Earth Profound Realm as well. However, I still could not find her aura.

  “Although Chu Yuechan’s profound arts were self crippled then, her Emperor Profound power should still remain. Even if her profound strength did not improve and deteriorated instead, her profound strength should not have fallen by more than one realm… unless she had been crippled by someone else.

  “Therefore, she’s either dead or her profound strength has been crippled. Given her looks, if it were the latter, the consequences would be worse than death. With Chu Yuechan’s temperament, she would undoubtedly end her own life.”

  Yun Che, “!!!!!”

  “When you know this, you’d be devastated. However, remember, this isn’t your fault. Beside you are people who share the same bloodline as you, friends who would die for you… and a huge herd of women. Do not let the passing of one affect all of this. I’ll give you three days to grieve but after three days, you have to forget everything. Treat it as though there was no Chu Yuechan and no me in your life.”

  “…”

  In the fragment, all the voices of the memory were released and Jasmine’s voice finally stopped.

  Bang!!!

  All of Yun Che’s strength left his body and he slumped down weakly, the back of head knocking violently against the wall.

  He closed his eyes, his face trembling with pain. His arm twisted and his palm grabbed firmly onto his chest. Within the sounds of meat tearing, his fingers dug deep into his flesh leaving behind streaks of blood.

  However, he could not feel the pain at all as his consciousness and soul had long since been consumed by immeasurable grief.

  “This isn’t… real… isn’t real…”

  His body trembled until it spasmed and all the aura within him was a mess, relapsing the already calm internal injury within him. His body collapsed and he fell off the bed…

  Knock! Knock knock…

  Outside, gentle knocking noises entered the room which was followed by Cang Yue’s voice, “Husband, may I enter?”

  Cang Yue stood quietly in front of the door and held a bowl of dessert that she had just made. After knocking and not getting a response, she lifted up her hand again but stopped in midair this time. After some hesitation, she chose to put down her hand, turn around, and prepared to leave.

  However, after just taking two steps, her heart suddenly felt an inexplicable strong feeling of unease. She swiftly turned around and pushed open the room door… The scene before her eyes caused her to be dumbstruck.

  Streaks of blood spread from the bed all the way to the wall. Yun Che shrunk to the corner, his head between his knees and his right hand clutching his chest. All five fingers were deep in his flesh, dripping with blood.

  His entire body gave off a dark aura of despair.

  “Hus… husband!!”

  Cang Yue lost her composure, the dessert smashing to the ground as she ran towards Yun Che while screaming in shock and hugged him tightly. The moment she opened her mouth, she had already started crying, “Husband… Husband, what happened… don’t scare me… husband…”

  Cang Yue’s voice seemed to have awakened the soul of Yun Che who was trapped in an abyss of despair. He slowly looked up… The corners of his mouth, his nose, his eyes and his ears… there were trails of blood from all these orifices.

  “Yue’er…” His mouth cramped as a raspy voice was filled with immense pain.

  “Husband… What… has happened to you…” Cang Yue was so frightened that she was almost going to sob loudly, “I… I… I’ll go call for Father and Mother…”

  A hand held onto Cang Yue as Yun Che gradually shook his head, “I’m alright… Just let me hug you for a while… and I’ll be fine…”

  He embraced Cang Yue and laid his head on her chest. Initially, his grip was light. However, it soon became tighter and tighter unconsciously, as though he was a baby that has lost its sense of safety.

  Feeling the chaotic aura within Yun Che starting to slowly calm down, Cang Yue’s panicking heart started to calm down as well. She stuck her soft body even closer to him and placed her petite hand on his back, softly holding him.

  Their numerous embraces had always been her lying on his chest and that had always been when her life felt the most safe and most satisfied. This was the first time Yun Che laid on her chest looking weak like an injured child.

  “Husband, no matter what happens, I’ll always be by your side,” Cang Yue muttered. “Even if you lose everything, you’ll never lose me.”

  “…” Yun Che hugged Cang Yue even more tightly.

  Yun Family Great Hall. Mu Yurou was talking to Feng Xue’er.

  In terms of appearance, Mu Yurou had always firmly believed that the Little Demon Empress was the most perfect woman in the world and that there could never be a woman that could be placed on a similar level. However, now that she met Feng Xue’er, even as a woman, she felt as though she was in a trance from meeting a deity. Not only that, even her profound cultivation did not pale in comparison to the L
ittle Demon Empress. Most importantly, she was extremely devoted to Yun Che.

  Although this was only their first meeting, she felt an unexplainable liking for Feng Xue’er. She held her hand and had not let go ever since.

  Following an icy cold aura, Murong Qianxue and Chu Yueli entered and paid respects to Mu Yurou, “Madam Yun, we heard that Asgard Master has returned. We wonder if he’s well… We sisters would like to go pay our respects.”

  Senior Master Murong, Senior Master Chu, you all don’t have to worry. Big Brother Yun is fine already and is resting now. His body should fully recover in a few days,” Feng Xue’er smiled as she consoled.

  “That’s good.” Murong Qianxue and Chu Yueli heaved a sigh of relief. The worry on their icy faces finally seemed to alleviate slightly.

  Mu Yurong looked at them and smiled gently, “You all tire yourselves for Che’er, abandoned your ancestral grounds and came to this foreign land. Yet, you still show such care towards him. For Che’er to receive such treatment from you all is his fortune.”

  Mu Yurou’s words caused to two of them to be slightly afraid, “Madam Yun, please don’t say that. Asgard Master has once saved our Frozen Cloud Asgard. If it weren’t for him, our Asgard would have long since ceased to exist.”

  “That’s right.” Murong Qianxue nodded slightly in agreement, “Asgard Master has saved us numerous times from the perils of extinction and we are in his debt for still existing today. If it weren’t for Asgard Master, we sisters and the other disciples would have already passed away in the Profound Sky Continent. Furthermore, back then… we did not protect our senior sister, nor did we protect the child of Asgard Master and our senior sister. However, Asgard Master did not blame us and treated us kindly. Not only did he save us numerous times, he never viewed us as burdens and even when his life was threatened, he never gave up on us. The debt we owe Asgard Master is something that we cannot repay in this life…”