After Faking Her Death and Escaping, the Junior Sister Fell to the Demonic Path - Chapter 146

Seeing her cautiously drawing back, how could Qin Qingyi not know her thoughts?

But at this moment, her identity was that of a Goddess, how could she be excessively frivolous?

So, she could only maintain the Goddess’s composure and gently said, “Ten years have passed in a flash. You are now the mortal Emperor, your life is smooth, and the world bows to you. Why do you look like this?”

“Is there still something you desire but cannot obtain?”

Her tone was gentle, seemingly lingering on her tongue before finally being spoken.

At this moment, just by standing in front of Zhou Zhixue, she made the other’s eyes dart away, afraid to look directly at her.

Zhou Zhixue lowered her head, only seeing a stretch of the Goddess’s snowy white clothes. That fabric, unlike mortal weaving, shimmered with a flowing light. The Goddess was noble and inviolable, and it was in her heart that filthy thoughts had arisen.

She wanted to keep the Goddess.

“Goddess, if you ask this, if I speak my wish, will the Goddess grant it to me?” Zhou Zhixue asked, then clenched her fists tightly.

The mortal Emperor, who had fought on battlefields for years, escaped death countless times, competed with heroes for the world, and never felt nervous even when going alone to the Hongmen Banquet, was now uncharacteristically anxious.

She was even so nervous that she swallowed.

She was afraid the Goddess would not agree, afraid the Goddess would be angry at her presumption.

But—

What if the Goddess still remembered her words from her youth? What if the Goddess was willing to stay for her?

Zhou Zhixue’s heart was uneasy.

After a long while, she heard the other person chuckle softly.

“If you have a request, you must first state your request. How can you ask someone to agree without even stating the request? There is no such logic in this world.”

How could Qin Qingyi not know what she wanted, but she could not agree.

However, it was certainly fine to merely tease her Junior Sister a little.

So she took half a step forward, her fingertip lightly pressing against Zhou Zhixue’s collar, gently tracing the intricate embroidered python pattern on the lapel.

“Or… is Your Majesty’s request too great?”

The seemingly gentle sigh fell into Zhou Zhixue’s ears, causing a sudden urgency in her heart.

Why did she always feel that the Goddess would leave her the next moment?

Zhou Zhixue could no longer hold back. She was now the co-ruler of the world, but there was only one person who captivated her soul, whom she could not grasp and could not obtain.

She grasped the hand that was lingering on the lapel over her heart. The warm and soft touch gave her a sense of peace and finally allowed her to reveal the treasonous thought in her heart.

“I wish to ask the Goddess to stay, to remain by my side… and share the world with me.”

Qin Qingyi raised an eyebrow.

Was this the boldness that came with owning the world?

She had grown much bolder than before, actually daring to say it directly.

She merely smiled without speaking, which made Zhou Zhixue even more anxious.

“Goddess?”

Zhou Zhixue persisted, only wanting an answer.

Qin Qingyi’s other hand, tucked in her sleeve, was painfully hot from the black pendant. She knew it was because she was close to her Junior Sister, causing the demonic energy in the pendant to rapidly deplete.

Over the past ten years, she had delayed her departure many times just to see her Junior Sister a few more times, but the demonic energy in the pendant was still decreasing, until today, only a trace of it remained.

After today, she would have to leave.

Qin Qingyi looked up at her, her voice calm yet cruel: “My destiny with Your Majesty ends today.”

“After today, the bond between us will be exhausted.”

She did not explicitly refuse, but her words clearly told Zhou Zhixue.

She would not stay for her.

Zhou Zhixue’s face suddenly turned pale.

She spoke incoherently: “But, but before, you agreed…”

She remembered the kiss when she first met the Goddess, and the silk handkerchief the Goddess left her the second time.

As she thought, her face turned ashen, and she stumbled and sat on the ground.

The Goddess had never agreed to her.

Never… at all.

The Goddess had only told her her name and said she would come to see her after she had conquered the world.

But she had never promised to stay by her side.

It had always, always been her wishful thinking.

Zhou Zhixue sat on the ground, crying softly like a child who could not get candy.

Tears fell one by one onto the ground, soaking the stone bricks beneath.

Qin Qingyi watched her like this, a flicker of distress in her eyes.

She wanted to step forward and hug her Junior Sister, but the burning pain in her palm brought her back to reality.

She could not do this, and she must leave.

Qin Qingyi sighed.

“Your Majesty, my journey in the mortal world ends today. Although I cannot fulfill Your Majesty’s wish, I am willing to grant Your Majesty an extraordinary experience.” Qin Qingyi said, bending down to help Zhou Zhixue up.

The next moment, under Zhou Zhixue’s astonishment, Qin Qingyi took her and flew up.

Avoiding the ministers and generals guarding outside, Qin Qingyi led her out through the back door of the temporary palace.

This temporary Fengchan (Imperial sacrifice) palace was built on a cliff. The back door was a winding, narrow path, originally left as an escape route for successive Emperors to prevent assassination during the Fengchan ceremony.

But they did not need to walk this narrow path. Qin Qingyi held her hand and flew straight over the mountains and rivers, towards the vast starry sky.

Crossing mountains and rivers, Qin Qingyi led her all the way to the capital.

Zhou Zhixue was still immersed in the shock of an immortal being able to fly freely, not yet realizing that the capital was already below their feet.

“We’ve arrived.”

Qin Qingyi said softly.

Zhou Zhixue recovered her senses, realizing she was now suspended in mid-air. The Emperor, who remained calm even with thousands of enemy troops before her, now had her eyes wide open, curiously looking down.

She even couldn’t help but lightly touch her toes, and although there was nothing there, she was steadily standing in mid-air.

“Is this the power of an immortal?”

She murmured softly.

“You must hold my hand tightly, or you might fall,” Qin Qingyi said gently.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhixue immediately gripped Qin Qingyi’s hand tightly, their fingers interlaced and firmly clasped.

Having experienced many things, and being an Emperor capable of playing chess with numerous heroes and emerging victorious, she quickly adjusted her mindset.

It was only natural that the Goddess was unwilling to stay for her.

It was merely the Prince of Xiang dreaming, and the Goddess being merciless; it was her own wishful thinking.

The Goddess should naturally be high above, revered by the world. If she stayed for herself, she would instead lose the demeanor of an immortal.

Although Zhou Zhixue thought this, her heart still felt heavy.

Qin Qingyi did not know what she was thinking. Seeing that the time had finally arrived, she smiled slightly and motioned for Zhou Zhixue to look down.

“Your Majesty, please look down.”

Zhou Zhixue followed her gaze.

It was late at night now, and the city was silent, without a trace of light.

Zhou Zhixue frowned in confusion: “What does the Goddess want me to see? There is clearly nothing below…”

The rest of her words caught in her throat and could no longer be spoken.

The mortal Emperor’s dark eyes were drawn by a weak glimmer of light that suddenly appeared in the city.

First one spot, then two, three… The weak lights, like fireflies, gathered together, illuminating the entire city, and also lighting up the depths of Zhou Zhixue’s eyes.

Qin Qingyi saw the shock in her eyes, and she smiled, pointing to the specks of light gradually floating up towards the sky to explain:

“These… are all your subjects, who, upon learning of your ascension tomorrow, spontaneously lit long-burning lamps for you.”

“They deeply love Your Majesty. The chaotic world ended in Your Majesty’s hands. Your Majesty has governed the army strictly and diligently, remaining so since the beginning of the uprising. They trust you and believe you will be a good Emperor.”

Zhou Zhixue’s eyes were filled with emotion. She opened her mouth, intending to speak, but her voice was hoarse when she did: “I haven’t done much for them.”

She did not consider herself particularly close to the people. To end the chaotic world, she had given up many things.

Her parents passed away from illness one after another in the fourth year after she raised her army. She was on the front line leading troops to attack a city at the time and could not return to mourn for her parents, which led to her being criticized and denounced by the enemy.

The strategists and generals by her side changed batch after batch over the past ten years, most of them dying on the battlefield or being killed by assassins who came for her, in order to protect her.

People came and went around her. At first, she would feel heartbreak, lose her appetite, and fall seriously ill.

But she was their leader, and she had to rally.

Later, her heart hardened more and more. Even when her closest general died in front of her, after shedding two tears, she had to quickly pull herself together and continue leading everyone forward.

Until now, she watched the long-burning lamps gradually float up to her side, looking at the congratulatory messages written on them for her.

Some wished her boundless longevity and good health; others wished for a peaceful and prosperous world, eternal peace…

These were the simplest blessings sent by the people of the city.

Zhou Zhixue’s eyes were filled with emotion.

So, she had done so well?

Qin Qingyi understood her expression and said softly, “Your Majesty has always done very well.”

“These past years, as I traveled in the mortal world, I naturally knew how well Your Majesty has done. Now, the people love you, and the ministers trust you. The current peaceful and prosperous age is all brought by Your Majesty to them.”

“Without Your Majesty, this chaotic world would likely have continued.”

Zhou Zhixue looked at her, her eyes sincere: “Thank you, Goddess, for being willing to grant me such a rare experience in my lifetime. If not for the Goddess, I would probably never know how much the people of the city cherish me.”

Her words were genuine. The Fengchan location was far from the capital. If the Goddess had not brought her here, she would not have seen these long-burning lamps lit for her, and naturally, she would not have known the people’s love for her.

It was precisely at this moment that she finally realized what she, as an Emperor, should do for her people.

The burning sensation in Qin Qingyi’s palm intensified.

She knew that the magic power in the pendant was almost completely consumed, reminding her to quickly leave the illusion.

As dawn approached, the two returned to the Fengchan location.

Qin Qingyi did not hide, leading Zhou Zhixue directly to land in front of the assembled ministers.

At this time, these officials were extremely anxious. After all, the auspicious time for the Fengchan ceremony was imminent, but there was no movement from within the hall. They bravely opened the door, only to find the hall empty.

Neither the Goddess who had entered earlier nor their Emperor was present.

They thought the Emperor had been assassinated and were just about to frantically organize a search party, when Qin Qingyi brought the person and lightly landed in front of everyone.

Although they were burning with anxiety, seeing the Emperor’s expression, they knew it was not the time to approach, and could only anxiously stamp their feet and sigh where they stood.

Qin Qingyi gently released Zhou Zhixue’s hand amid her lingering wistfulness, and whispered:

“Your Majesty, in half an hour, it will be dawn.”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhixue immediately looked up at her, with thousands of stars twinkling in her eyes, seemingly wanting to engrave her deeply into her heart.

“Goddess, are you going to leave?”

Qin Qingyi nodded, and her long sleeve lightly waved, bringing forth a burst of colorful, iridescent light.

This colorful glow illuminated half the sky, stretching from the Fengchan location to the capital. Along the way, auspicious birds (phoenixes) sang in the mountains, and all beasts submitted.

The surrounding generals and ministers were immediately filled with exclamations of amazement at this scene.

They were astonished by Qin Qingyi’s immortal power and even more excited by her subsequent words.

“Let this be my coronation gift to Your Majesty.”

“May Your Majesty obtain what your heart desires and have a smooth life.”

After Qin Qingyi finished speaking, her body lightly floated up. Seeing this, Zhou Zhixue immediately rushed forward, trying to grab the corner of Qin Qingyi’s clothes.

But it was too late; she grabbed nothing.

“Goddess! Do I still have a destiny with you in the future?!”

Zhou Zhixue urgently asked. At this moment, she no longer cared about the dignity of the Son of Heaven, only wanting to beg for a shred of hope.

She chased Qin Qingyi’s figure, stumbling to the edge of the cliff.

Any further, and she would be smashed to pieces.

Zhou Zhixue stopped reluctantly, her eyes still following Qin Qingyi.

If people have a next life, could the Goddess and she still have a chance to meet?

Qin Qingyi smiled softly. Her good Junior Sister, why was she so adorable?

But at this moment, she was already leaving, and promising her something was not out of the question.

So she said softly:

“When Your Majesty reaches a hundred years, I will naturally come to receive Your Majesty—”

“To return to the divine seat.”