After Provoking the Mad Beautiful Deity - Chapter 40

“Drinking?” Hong Chen was puzzled. “Fine, let’s drink. I’m not afraid of you. Don’t you usually practice fasting?”

Yanlai shook her head. “Occasionally, I allow myself to indulge.”

Not a single jar of wine could be found on Phoenix Mountain, so Hong Chen had to go down to the city to buy some. She loved wine, but since getting injured and meeting Yanlai, she had nearly quit.

The Qilin followed the Demon Venerable with a wag of its tail, using High Goddess Yanlai’s presence as an excuse to scavenge plenty of roast chicken.

Hong Chen had gone down specifically for wine; she wouldn’t buy just a jar or two. Phoenix Mountain was vast, seemingly endless. She walked through half the city and emptied several wine shops.

When she returned to Phoenix Mountain, jars of wine filled the entire sleeping quarters. Hong Chen stood with her arms crossed while Yanlai felt a wave of dizziness. “Why did you buy so much?”

“Saves us from buying it again next time. I got it all at once. Wait here, I’ll have the Qilin bury the rest.” Hong Chen grabbed a jar and walked toward Yanlai.

The Qilin sensibly took its roast chicken and walked far away.

With a flick of her sleeve, Yanlai used her magic to move a wine jar through the air to her side. Hong Chen opened a jar, and the fragrance of wine filled the air. She took a sip first. Yanlai watched her and followed suit, taking a very shallow sip.

Yanlai’s posture was elegant and deliberate. Hong Chen was different, tilting her head back to drink more than half. Seeing this, Yanlai stopped moving altogether. Hong Chen glanced at her. Yanlai was naturally cool and detached; her fire-based arts hadn’t made her personality fiery at all. She was like the cold snow on a high peak, or more accurately, like a cedar tree in the human world’s winter—lonely and standing proud.

“What made you want to drink?” Hong Chen set down the jar, her gaze sharp. She liked the sense of justice Yanlai carried.

That justice emanated from Yanlai’s very bones, as if she felt a duty to save all living beings. She appeared indifferent to the affairs of the world, yet when the cultivators were in trouble, she still brought out medicinal pills to save them.

Hong Chen gazed at her features—brows like distant mountains, and beneath them, eyes that were cold yet contained a vast galaxy.

Yanlai’s lips were stained with wine, making that touch of red even more vivid, like a pot of boiling water poured onto snow—the winter snow melted, leaving behind a trace of passion.

Hong Chen gave a clever smile, and Yanlai smiled back. As their eyes met, Yanlai took another small sip in front of her. “My heart is restless.”

Hong Chen believed this. She felt restless too, but as long as the sky hadn’t fallen, she could continue to eat, drink, and flirt with Yanlai.

Hong Chen drank deeply. The alcohol began to rush to her head, and her face turned a rosy pink. Yanlai teased her, “You’ve barely had anything, and yet your face is already red.”

The alcohol rising was a sign of it dispersing through her system, which was good for the body. Yanlai’s teasing was without malice.

Hong Chen let out a hum and leaned close to her face. “Yanlai, are you trying to get me drunk because you want to practice dual cultivation?”

“In the Immortal Clan, we call it spiritual cultivation,” Yanlai said softly.

Hong Chen’s eyes widened. “Do you know how?”

“No.”

“You don’t know? Then what are you talking about?”

“Just a casual remark,” Yanlai said, deliberately changing the subject.

Indignant, Hong Chen tilted her head and took another drink, emptying the jar. Yanlai took the empty jar and, using magic, brought another jar over and handed it to her.

Holding the jar, Hong Chen tilted her head and gave a foolish smile. “Why won’t you dual cultivate with me… I mean, spiritual cultivate?”

Yanlai didn’t answer. She took a sip of wine, her gaze becoming somewhat ethereal. Hong Chen joked, “Tell me, if we spiritual cultivate, will we be struck by lightning?”

Last time, a single red string brought down a bolt of lightning. If they did spiritual cultivation… Hong Chen burst out laughing. Yanlai felt a sense of dread and said, “Don’t talk nonsense.”

“It’s not nonsense. The rules of heaven and earth are truly unfair. Immortals are born noble, while mortals spend their entire lives unable to reach what an immortal is born with.”

“The human royal families are born noble as well. It’s the same thing.”

Hong Chen’s head lolled to the side. Yanlai hurried to support her, and Hong Chen took the opportunity to lean against her shoulder, her nose twitching slightly. Yanlai was too startled to move. Hong Chen gave a low laugh and suddenly raised her head. Yanlai’s heart skipped a beat, her blood boiling.

Panic-stricken, Yanlai gripped Hong Chen’s sleeves and tried to steady her.

Hong Chen refused to sit properly. Having easily downed two jars of wine, she was tipsy but not quite drunk. Yanlai supported her back with her hands, feeling flustered. “You… sit properly.”

“Why is your face so red? You haven’t had much. You really can’t drink,” Hong Chen mocked. She took another large gulp from her jar and rubbed her head against Yanlai’s shoulder. Her hair brushed against Yanlai’s neck, like a pebble breaking a calm surface.

Yanlai looked down at her hands supporting Hong Chen’s back. The weight on her shoulders seemed to grow heavier. She felt a sense of trepidation under Hong Chen’s clear gaze.

An indefinable emotion began to take root in her heart. She slowly moved her hands down to Hong Chen’s waist, holding her gently to make her more comfortable.

Hong Chen smiled. “I like how you are both reserved and flustered.”

She had seen many fairies on the snowy peaks, but the only one who would bend for her was Yanlai.

Hong Chen’s smile was almost devout and humble. She didn’t let go of the wine jar, mumbling incoherently, “How can there be someone as contradictory as you? If you don’t like me, why do you cling to me? Are the secrets I carry that important to you?”

Yanlai’s contradictions made her seem more human.

Yanlai held her, sitting perfectly straight, while Hong Chen clung to her as if she had no bones. From Hong Chen’s vantage point, the perfect curve of Yanlai’s jaw was intoxicating. She leaned in quietly and bit the tender skin of Yanlai’s jawline. Yanlai let out a soft cry and looked down, meeting Hong Chen’s triumphant, watery eyes. In that moment, Yanlai felt a tingle in her heart.

The Heart-Cleansing Incantation lost its effect at that moment. The two stared at each other for a long time, and the “white veil” of lust did not appear.

In the next breath, Hong Chen collapsed into Yanlai’s arms. The wine jar in her hand began to slip. Yanlai caught it with her foot and slowly placed it on the floor.

Hong Chen slept peacefully, which was quite unlike her nature. Yanlai initially didn’t believe she was drunk and checked her closely—from her cheeks to her neck, and back to her ears, everything was a deep red.

Yanlai placed her on the bed and covered her with a quilt. Fearing she might be faking it, Yanlai cast a sleeping spell, turning her tipiness into true slumber.

After summoning the Qilin to guard the Demon Venerable, Yanlai went to San Meng’s quarters alone.

San Meng was in a deep sleep, with the Moon Goddess watching over her. Upon Yanlai’s arrival, the Moon Goddess became instantly alert. “What do you want?”

“I want to know what happened after San Meng turned demonic.”

The Moon Goddess refused. “I don’t want to know. That is her painful past. Why do you want to look? To build your happiness upon her pain?”

“Many things are only known to the demonic San Meng. I want to know what happened on Phoenix Mountain, to know why my people were destroyed.” Yanlai’s tone was sincere. “Today, you cannot stop me.”

With Hong Chen’s artifact in her hand, this was the best opportunity.

The Moon Goddess spread her arms, her brow furrowed. “I am here. I will block you even if it costs my life.”

“Moon Goddess, you’re afraid of seeing San Meng’s obsession with Hong Yan, aren’t you?” Yanlai looked directly at her. “We have known each other for years. I know your heart. You love her, but she doesn’t love you. Even with Hong Yan’s soul scattered, she still won’t look at you.”

The Moon Goddess’s face shifted. “Shut up. You always act like you’re on the side of justice. You think you’re right, but I don’t want to hear your reasons.”

As the Moon Goddess glared at her, Yanlai continued softly, “It is just the two of us here. If the Demon Venerable wakes up, would you dare to stop her?”

“Hong Yan killed so many High Gods. You’ve already made one mistake; why do you persist in your folly? Can’t you cast aside your love and think of the Immortal Clan and Phoenix Mountain for once?” The Moon Goddess stood firm. “Your mistake destroyed the people of Phoenix Mountain, leaving you as the sole survivor. Think of your past errors and turn back.”

Yanlai’s face paled. Trembling, she met the Moon Goddess’s gaze. “Once you see San Meng’s past, you will know the reason. This time, it is not up to you.”

With that, a light enveloped the Moon Goddess, trapping her. She was already injured and had no way to fight back.

The Moon Goddess was furious. “Yanlai, you are unworthy of the Immortal Clan! You might as well go to the Demon Realm with the Demon Venerable and turn demonic yourself!”

Yanlai ignored the angry words. She took out the artifact, studied it closely, and after figuring out how to use it, she whispered an incantation.

In an instant, images began to surface before them. The Moon Goddess was in agony, but she froze in shock when she saw red silk ribbons.

“This is the place of San Meng’s deepest obsession.”

It was the wedding hall on Qingyan Peak.

The Moon Goddess looked up. A strange scene appeared: the various immortals of Phoenix Mountain were arriving at the peak in an orderly fashion to offer congratulations. She was astonished. “You were married?”

Yanlai didn’t respond but stared intently at the images, everything San Meng had once seen.

From San Meng’s perspective, the peak was decorated with lanterns and streamers, yet there were no smiles on the faces of those who came to congratulate.

San Meng stood guard in the hall. People instinctively avoided her as they walked by. After an unknown amount of time, the Protector Venerable of Phoenix Mountain arrived; she was Yanlai’s master.

Yanlai watched the images closely. She hadn’t seen her master in ten thousand years. She didn’t dare blink, staring without moving.

Hong Yan was the first to appear in the wedding hall, wearing red robes with her long hair flowing. The Moon Goddess immediately spoke up, “This isn’t right. How could your master agree to you marrying Hong Yan? Setting aside the master-disciple relationship, she is a demon and you are an immortal. It’s the most impossible thing.”

Yanlai remained silent.

In the images, Hong Yan was full of joy. She was tall and slender, standing elegantly. Her face still held a trace of youthful innocence, and her eyes contained playful stars. It was clear she was happy.

The Moon Goddess felt a chill. Watching this from a future perspective, she felt as if a hand were gripping her heart. She blurted out, “This is a conspiracy.”

Hong Yan stood in the hall, but no one spoke to her. Even San Meng only said a few words; after offering congratulations, there was nothing else.

Under everyone’s gaze, Yanlai slowly entered the wedding hall. As expected, she was also in red robes, similar in style to Hong Yan’s. As soon as she entered, the Protector Venerable followed. Yanlai bowed. “Master.”

The Protector Venerable had many disciples, but only Yanlai had broken through to become a High Goddess. Yanlai was her most outstanding pupil.

As the master of ceremonies, San Meng watched the two enter and called out for the wedding to begin.

The two stood together, their fingers intertwined, their faces glowing with joy. In Hong Yan’s eyes were pools of gentle water; in Yanlai’s eyes was a spring breeze. They saved their softest side for one another.

The joy masked the dark depths beneath.

The Protector Venerable walked over and took Yanlai’s hand. Yanlai smiled bashfully. In the next breath, the Protector Venerable suddenly reached out and gripped her by the throat.

The image suddenly shook. The Moon Goddess held her breath, looking at the current Yanlai with resentment. “Foolish! You were deceived by your master.”

Yanlai didn’t move, watching the images silently.

The scene shook with the observer’s emotions. After a moment of trembling, the image stabilized. The Protector Venerable held Yanlai by the throat while everyone else drew their swords.

Hong Yan was enraged. The stars in her eyes were replaced by darkness. She let out a helpless roar. “She is your disciple!”

“Hong Yan, your rebellion against the immortals to join the demons was born of necessity, but you should not have coveted your master. There is a boundary between immortals and demons; you should let go. Give up your cultivation, and I will let you both go.” The Protector Venerable looked remorseful, yet her hand on Yanlai’s throat didn’t move an inch.

“Master, I honored and respected you. You taught me about noble justice, taught me how to walk between heaven and earth with a clear conscience, and taught me the laws of the universe. What are you doing now?” In the images, Yanlai was perfectly calm, without a hint of panic, though her eyes betrayed her disappointment.

She knew it was a trap, yet she had walked into it without hesitation. She was gambling.

She had lost the gamble.

Hong Yan held a whip in one hand. The whip traced a fiery arc through the air before striking the ground. With her sleeves fluttering, she landed softly before Yanlai like a withered leaf. “Let her go.”

The Protector Venerable showed no triumph, advising her earnestly, “Hong Yan, I know you are kind-hearted. Give up your demonic arts, and you can still be a lively girl. Yanlai is a High Goddess and the future master of Phoenix Mountain. You shouldn’t hold her back…”

“Master,” Yanlai suddenly interrupted the Venerable’s words.

Inside the wedding hall, the red candles burned brightly, wax dripping slowly as the scarlet fire failed to banish the night.

Hong Yan gripped her fire whip tightly, her body like an arrow on a string, ready to fly at any moment. She stared intently at the Protector Venerable’s hand. “Let her go first, and I will agree to anything.”

“Hong Yan, think of your mother. Do you want to follow in her footsteps?” Yanlai’s lips trembled slightly as she spoke slowly. “I advised you to trust my master, but I was wrong. Hong Yan, immortals and demons do not represent good and evil. Immortals are just immortals, not the righteous path.”

She spoke very slowly, her hands gathering spiritual energy. Hong Yan was at a loss, but hearing her words, she still didn’t put down the fire whip.

“Yanlai, do you still persist in your folly? You and Hong Yan are a forbidden fate. Let go of all this, and I will act as if nothing happened.” The Protector Venerable spoke quickly, trying to persuade Hong Yan. “You should understand the principle of achieving enlightenment by putting down the slaughtering blade.”

Yanlai shook her head at Hong Yan. “When your mother gave up her cultivation, did she achieve enlightenment? She died, hounded to death. Do you want to be like her now? There is a boundary between immortals and demons. Your current cultivation was bought with the lives of your mother and Imperial Princess Qinggu; do not be deceived again. Remember, your cultivation is the source of your strength to roam the universe.”

Hong Yan held her breath, her eyes filled with pleading as she looked at the Venerable. “Let her go, and I will never set foot on Phoenix Mountain again. I won’t dream of her anymore. Venerable, she is your disciple, the one you raised. Her current cultivation is thanks to you.”

“It is precisely because I raised her that I cannot bear to see her walk the wrong path. I will not allow you to tarnish the ten-thousand-year reputation of Phoenix Mountain. Hong Yan, you can leave, and we will clean our own house.” The Venerable roared, clearly disappointed to the core with Yanlai.

Yanlai remained unmoved. She didn’t speak to her master, her eyes fixed on Hong Yan as if she could never see enough of her. She let out a soft laugh. “Hong Yan, don’t be so dull. Remember, do not trust others easily, especially those who are highly respected. Their hearts are the same as ordinary people’s—completely filthy.”

The Venerable snapped, “Stop this nonsense!”

Yanlai acted as if she hadn’t heard. She smiled gently as a breeze brushed her sleeves. As she laughed, her body suddenly erupted into flames.

The Venerable was shocked. “Yanlai!”

Hong Yan rushed forward but was thrown back by an invisible barrier. She screamed desperately, “Yanlai! Yanlai! Yanlai!”

The Venerable froze, watching her beloved disciple immolate herself. The Phoenix Fire burns all things.

Hong Yan collapsed, kneeling on the ground, weeping and shaking her head. The Protector Venerable suddenly moved, striking at her with a sword, but San Meng, who was at her side, moved to save her. She grabbed Hong Yan to lead her away from Phoenix Mountain.

Yanlai was burned to nothingness. Hong Yan watched as she became transparent until nothing was left.

As the last shadow of light dissipated, a dazed Hong Yan stood up, took her fire whip, and charged at the Venerable without regard for her own life.

Hong Yan was surrounded by demonic energy. Wherever the fire whip struck, a sea of flames erupted. The Venerable was forced into a corner as the disciples of Phoenix Mountain rushed up the steps. Hong Yan stood at the threshold with her whip. “Whoever dares step into the wedding hall, I will scatter their soul!”

Hong Yan was covered in fire, her wedding robes looking incredibly seductive. She flew down the steps while San Meng stood her ground, refusing to let anyone trample the wedding hall.

Hong Yan hadn’t flown far when a person in plain robes descended from the sky.

The Moon Goddess stared at the images, crying out in shock, “It’s the Empress! Why would the Empress appear at Phoenix Mountain?”

Hong Yan was crazed and bloodthirsty, the pain of losing her wife making her reckless. After the Empress descended, she defeated several people with one move. Hovering in the air, she was surrounded by ten thousand flowers.

The Protector Venerable cried out, “Empress! What are you doing? Are you helping the demon woman?”

The Empress didn’t answer but instead charged at her. Flower vines pierced through the air like sharp swords, penetrating the hearts of several people. Blood soaked the vines, turning the green leaves as red as autumn maples.

The Protector Venerable was confused. Initially, she fought back with some hesitation, but after seeing the Empress slaughter most of her disciples, she finally spread her wings and used her phoenix advantage to strike at the Empress.

At that moment, Hong Yan broke through the circle of disciples and charged at her, striking the Venerable with her whip.

A sword from nowhere cut off the Venerable’s wings. With a scream, the Venerable fell to the ground, and the Empress landed before her.

The Venerable was covered in blood. “Empress, how has Phoenix Mountain offended you that you would strike so ruthlessly?”

The Empress was cold and proud. Looking into the void, she said, “The day Chu Rou died, ten thousand arrows pierced my heart. I shall let you taste that feeling as well. I want your Phoenix Mountain to be barren. Your beloved disciple is dead, and you are very sad, aren’t you?”

The Venerable hesitated, the pain leaving her no time to think. She watched as her disciples died at Hong Yan’s hands. Hong Yan was crazed one strike, one kill. With each stroke of her whip, more people died. Her murderous intent was bone-deep, and her demonic energy surged.

The Venerable was filled with remorse and closed her eyes helplessly. The Empress didn’t strike immediately but forced her to watch Hong Yan’s killing moves to watch Hong Yan slaughter her former uncles, aunts, sisters, and brothers with every strike of her whip.

Phoenix Mountain became a living hell. The sounds of screaming were unending. The Moon Goddess trembled as she watched, covering her mouth tightly for fear of vomiting.

Watching her own disciples die before her eyes, the Protector Venerable suddenly burst into laughter—a laughter that gradually dissolved into bitter, agonized wailing.

The Empress did not kill her. Instead, she flew toward the summit of Phoenix Mountain. The commoners and minor figures were here, but at the peak dwelled a Phoenix who had lived for tens of thousands of years.

 

Shortly after she flew away, Hong Yan walked up to the Venerable, her eyes crimson. There was no anger in Hong Yan’s gaze, no triumph only an all-consuming agony.

 

A single tear slid from the corner of Hong Yan’s eye, merging with the blood on her face as it trickled down her jaw. She raised her hand, and the fire whip coiled around the Venerable’s neck.

 

She did not speak. The fire whip tightened like a noose. The Venerable offered no resistance, allowing the flames to wrap around her.

 

Hong Yan did not even spare her soul. Using the fires of karma, she incinerated not only the Venerable’s soul but the souls and divine senses of everyone else present.

 

Even the chance of reincarnation was denied to them.

 

Hong Yan’s movements were swift as she watched the once-magnificent Qingyan Peak turn to a heap of ash. Finally, she stood atop the ruins, fire whip in hand, her silhouette as lonely and resilient as a winter cedar.

 

The vision snapped shut, dissolving into a void. The two observers remained silent for a long time. The Moon Goddess raised a hand to her cheek, finding her palm wet with tears. Yanlai’s gaze was indifferent, almost hollow.

 

After a long while, the Moon Goddess scrambled to her feet, her body swaying. She looked at Yanlai, a sudden panic seizing her. “You clearly died. The Phoenix Fire burns all things; even souls and divine senses vanish from the universe. Who… who are you?”

 

Yanlai lowered her eyes, looking at her clean, unstained hands. Her gaze suddenly turned sharp and fierce. “I am Yanlai.”

 

“But you’re dead!” the Moon Goddess roared back.

 

Yanlai clutched her chest. She could feel her heart beating rapidly. Her heart moved; she was a living person. She took a deep breath, struggling to suppress the surge of terror. The Moon Goddess continued to stare at her, trying to force a confession.

 

This Yanlai had not yet experienced that total despair. Unlike the ‘Yanlai’ in the vision, she was the Yanlai from before—the one who had not yet lived through the bloodshed. Because of this, her heart was still anchored in beauty.

 

From what point in time did Hong Yan bring her back? The Liu Guang (Flowing Light) was a demonic artifact. The Empress had said it required a blood sacrifice, and Hong Yan had lost a soul and a spirit, becoming the incomplete Demon Venerable Hong Chen.

 

The mysteries of Liu Guang were too profound; Yanlai could not yet analyze them, nor could she answer the Moon Goddess’s question.

 

Standing before the bed, Yanlai felt that Liu Guang was not as simple as she had seen. As she scrutinized the details, her unease grew. The Moon Goddess pressed her: “Yanlai, are you a celestial or a ghost?”

 

“What does it matter if I am a celestial or a ghost?” Yanlai let out a soft, helpless laugh. She looked up at the Moon Goddess. “Do you think Hong Yan is hateful?”

 

Was Hong Yan hateful? The Moon Goddess’s gaze darkened. In San Meng’s memories, Hong Yan’s eyes were clear; even after turning demonic, she possessed the cleanest gaze in the world.

 

She slaughtered the mountain because Yanlai was forced to self-immolate.

 

Yanlai said, “If someone hounded San Meng to death, what would you do?”

 

The Moon Goddess closed her eyes in pain, her spirit trembling. She had to admit, “I would be just as mad as Hong Yan. But I don’t think the Empress’s arrival was simple. Hong Yan turned demonic and bloodthirsty, but what about her?”

 

In the final scene, the Empress went to find the Ancestor of Phoenix Mountain. The Ancestor did eventually fall—was she killed by the Empress alone?

 

Yanlai remained silent. The Empress was a High Goddess now and had been one ten thousand years ago, but a High Goddess could not kill the Ancestor.

 

“Perhaps Hong Yan helped her later,” Yanlai guessed. Without Hong Yan, the Empress could not have slain the Ancestor and scattered her soul.

 

The Moon Goddess remarked, “The Empress arrived too perfectly on time. It seems… suspicious.”

 

“Perhaps… it was the Empress’s plot all along.” Yanlai hesitated for a long time before speaking. In the vision, the Empress’s eyes were filled with hatred as she claimed Phoenix Mountain had hounded Chu Rou to death. This meant Phoenix Mountain had not only forced Yanlai to her end but Chu Rou as well.

 

How could Hong Yan not go mad?

 

At this thought, Yanlai’s heart throbbed with pain. The Moon Goddess moved to speak, but Yanlai cut her off: “Hong Yan was originally a Water-type spiritual root, following the Late Emperor. However, her spiritual root was given to the Crown Prince; she was a Medicine Human. Later, she joined Phoenix Mountain, but no matter how hard she worked, she could never catch up to others. Then, somehow, she mastered fire-based arts. She was once the Imperial Princess of the Celestial Tribe, yet she lived a life of misery. Moon Goddess, unless you have suffered another’s pain, do not preach kindness to them.”

 

“She… she is that ‘Medicine Human’ the celestials speak of?” The Moon Goddess was as shocked as Si Meng, unable to accept the truth. “Are you lying to me?”

 

Yanlai’s expression was indifferent, devoid of joy or sorrow. She slowly sat on the edge of the couch, her limbs feeling too weak to support her. She placed a hand lightly over her heart, a profound sadness rising in her eyes. “There is a boundary between celestials and demons. Where does it lie? People say it lies in the Great Justice of the Celestial Path—a path where one sacrifices for the common people. And what is a demon? A heart-demon that thirsts for blood and takes lives for selfish desire. Yet the celestials of Phoenix Mountain walked the path of demons.”

 

The Moon Goddess looked at her. Yanlai’s face was almost numb, yet she remained calm and steady, still the dignified and perfect High Goddess Yanlai everyone knew.

 

“You died. How do you explain that? You aren’t a soul; you’re a living, breathing person,” the Moon Goddess pressed, catching the key point. “Tell me, how are you alive?”

 

“I don’t know how I am alive. Someone cast the Wang Chen (Forgotten Dust) spell on me, and I forgot everything. I thought I forgot the Great War, but I finally realized I never participated in it.” Yanlai’s voice was low. She clutched her chest and asked, “Do I truly love Hong Yan?”

 

The Moon Goddess was stunned, unable to answer.

 

“I thought Hong Yan slaughtered my clan for her own selfish desires, but the truth is before me: they brought it upon themselves. So, what is the truth behind the Great War?”

 

“I thought I should hate Hong Yan. Even if I didn’t hate her, I shouldn’t love her. And yet, she sacrificed to Liu Guang to keep me alive until now.”

 

“I don’t know how to face her anymore.”

 

Yanlai’s face was pale and her expression numb, as if those words hadn’t come from her own mouth.

 

The Moon Goddess felt powerless. The past was gone; how to walk the path ahead was what mattered. Her mind was in a whirl as she asked, “What is the relationship between Hong Chen and Hong Yan?”

 

“Hong Chen is the Hong Yan of old. She has forgotten everything. All of it.” Yanlai looked up, her eyes meeting the Moon Goddess’s. The Moon Goddess was no longer surprised; how could Yanlai love anyone else? Except for Hong Yan, she loved no one.

 

“Yanlai, if you let go and enter the Demon Realm…” the Moon Goddess mused. At least the demons would accept her. If a celestial and a demon stayed together, neither realm would acknowledge them.

 

Yanlai shook her head. “I still have a marriage contract with Qingfeng. It’s time I brought that contract up.”

 

“Yanlai, what are you doing?” The Moon Goddess shuddered. “You don’t love him. Why involve the innocent? No… he is not innocent.”

 

Qingfeng had never been innocent. His current cultivation and achievements were stolen from Hong Yan; he was simply the one who received all the favor.

 

Yanlai suddenly laughed, her eyes cold as ice. “I am simply fulfilling a marriage contract. What are you afraid of?”

 

She stood up, her frost-like face showing a trace of weariness. She looked at San Meng again, certain that Hong Chen would never innocently kill a celestial. At this moment, she trusted Hong Chen far more than she trusted herself.

 

If someone is willing to give up their life for you, that is the greatest happiness.

 

“I don’t want to see the truth of the Great War. I’m afraid I won’t be able to control myself from birthing a heart-demon. Yanlai, let it go.” The Moon Goddess was in agony, her worldview collapsing.

 

She wanted to escape, but Yanlai gave her no chance. She activated the artifact again, commanding: “Appear!”

 

The light was blinding. In the dark hall, the sudden intensity stung their eyes. It was firelight. They were back on Qingyan Peak, where the flames were consuming everything explaining why the peak was now a wasteland.

 

The Empress’s voice echoed. The Phoenix Ancestor flew into the frame. Yanlai’s eyes flickered. The Ancestor looked at the corpses on the ground, her face twisting in pain. In the next breath, the Phoenix spread its wings, which blotted out the sun and moon, almost covering the entire Qingyan Peak.

 

The Empress said, “You have entered the array. You cannot escape.”

 

The Phoenix Ancestor’s hair was white as snow. She looked at Hong Yan. “You are a disciple of Phoenix Mountain. How could you commit such a grave wrong?”

 

Hong Yan was covered in blood, fire whip in hand, her hair stained red. She sat on the ground, looking lost and broken. Hearing the Ancestor, she raised her numb eyes to meet her gaze. “My mother turned demonic, and you say she deserved her fate. But what about Yanlai? She was your disciple. What did she do wrong?”

 

Hong Yan wailed, clutching her head, unable to look up as she questioned again and again why they wouldn’t let Yanlai go.

 

The Ancestor said nothing, but the Empress spoke: “There is a boundary between celestials and demons. Yanlai chose to fall, and that was her crime. It is only that you two were foolish enough to believe them. They said they accepted you, that they would hold a wedding for you, and you believed it? You were foolish. How can you blame others?”

 

“Empress, though you are a celestial, your heart has long since turned demonic. You slaughter the disciples of my Phoenix Mountain; you will surely face heaven’s retribution.” The Ancestor cut the Empress off and continued to urge Hong Yan to turn back.

 

Hong Yan was in a daze, her eyes scarlet. Outside the vision, the Moon Goddess said, “Hong Yan has already birthed a heart-demon. She can’t turn back.”

 

A heart-demon disturbs the mind and increases demonic energy. How could she return?

 

Yanlai remained silent, watching the scene. The Hong Yan in the vision was heartbreaking like a small, helpless child lost in a storm. Yanlai couldn’t help but sigh. Perhaps it was better that she forgot, to spare her such pain.

 

Yanlai stared at the vision, the ice in her eyes melting into an abyss of sorrow.

 

Compared to Hong Yan’s confusion, the Empress was incredibly composed. Holding her long sword, she walked toward the Ancestor step by step. “You claim to be the righteous celestial sect, taking the world’s well-being as your duty, slaying demons to save the people. Yet you commit such treacherous acts. If you are to slay a demon, you should do it with honor. But you…”

 

The Empress shrieked, her black hair suddenly turning snow-white. Her body was drenched in a murderous aura, radiating a heavy pressure.

 

Amidst the sea of fire and blood, her white hair added a touch of desolation. She looked at the Ancestor with hatred. The Ancestor sighed, her hands forming a seal, attempting to purify the Empress’s malice.

 

The Empress charged at the Ancestor recklessly. Hong Yan watched them blankly, as if it had nothing to do with her. The Ancestor was trapped in the God-Trapping Killing Array; her spiritual power was blocked, forcing her to use physical techniques to meet the Empress’s moves.

 

The Empress was also a celestial and could not use spiritual power within the array either. She used her sword to tear through the void, striving to kill the Ancestor, all while goading Hong Yan: “Hong Yan, this array is useless against you. Do you not want to avenge Yanlai?”

 

Hong Yan acted as if she hadn’t heard, sitting on the ground like a hermit. She never replied to the Empress’s calls.

 

The Empress and the Ancestor fought with swords, blood staining their white hair. Hong Yan became the key. She sat there foolishly, thinking of who knows what. She had stopped crying. Only when blood splattered onto her face did she silently look up.

 

“Hong Yan, kill her, and I will help you resurrect Yanlai,” the Empress roared.

 

At those words, the light in Hong Yan’s eyes suddenly brightened. She was shocked. The Empress continued, “Trust me. I will help you.”

 

The Moon Goddess laughed bitterly. “Truly, the Empress, you were all her pawns. Hong Yan had no choice but to listen. If it were me, I would have gambled everything to trust her just once.”

 

Rather than spend a half-life alone, it was better to stake everything on one throw.

 

Sure enough, the Hong Yan in the vision grabbed the fire whip from the ground and stood up like a puppet. Closing her eyes, she channeled her spiritual power. In an instant, the fire whip coiled around the Ancestor’s body like a rope.

 

The Empress stopped, her body covered in countless wounds. She walked straight toward the Ancestor, her long sword scraping the ground.

 

“You killed one Chu Rou; I shall make the entire Phoenix Mountain pay.”

 

The Empress raised her sword, but Hong Yan shifted to block the Ancestor, her aura just as powerful. “Your revenge has nothing to do with me. How do I resurrect Yanlai?”

 

“Kill the Ancestor first,” the Empress said.

 

Hong Yan was not stupid. “Tell me the method of resurrection first.”

 

The Empress looked Hong Yan in the eye. “You are in no position to bargain.”

 

“You are the Empress. If you slaughter the Celestial Tribe, you will die too.” Hong Yan gripped the fire whip.

 

The Empress sneered. “You think I fear life and death?”

 

Hong Yan said, “But you cannot kill the Ancestor alone. You cannot have your revenge.”

 

At this moment, Hong Yan was neither clumsy nor foolish; she pierced through the Empress’s thoughts with a single sentence. The Empress raised her long sword, pointing it straight at Hong Yan. Hong Yan took three steps forward, the tip of the sword poking into her chest. She taunted, “You think I fear death?”

 

The Moon Goddess was frantic as she watched. “Two lunatics. They are both lunatics.”

 

Hong Yan took another step forward. The Empress suddenly withdrew her sword. She had lost.

 

The Empress said, “The Demon Clan has an artifact called Liu Guang. You can go find it. Liu Guang can return you to the past; perhaps it can turn back the tide.”

 

At the mention of Liu Guang, the Phoenix Ancestor’s face changed drastically. “That is forbidden magic, reversing time and space. Hong Yan, do not pile mistake upon mistake. If Yanlai were alive, she would never let you do this. Child, wake up.”

 

Hong Yan did not listen. Her fire whip struck the Ancestor. In an instant, the Ancestor, stripped of her spiritual power, turned to ash.

 

Hong Yan looked at the Empress. “If this is a lie, I will storm the Heavens and take your life in exchange.”

 

The Empress did not reply. She dropped her sword, walked to where the Ancestor had fallen, knelt, and wept silently.

 

Hong Yan split the killing array with one strike. The once-elegant Qingyan Peak was a ruin. She looked back at the Empress and gripped her fire whip, but her words were for San Meng: “San Meng, I do not like you. I hope you understand. Go back. I am a monster; I do not deserve your kindness.”

 

With that, she ascended and flew away, moving further and further into the distance. From the vision, it was clear San Meng did not follow.

 

The image lingered on the Empress, still kneeling on the ground, her face buried in her hands as she sobbed.

 

Yanlai flicked her sleeve, dismissing the vision. Just as she was about to run it again, footsteps echoed outside. She immediately hid the artifact.

 

Hong Chen came running in and walked to Yanlai’s side. She let out a soft “Eh?” and asked, “Moon Goddess, why are you crying?”

 

Yanlai said, “San Meng doesn’t love her, so she naturally had to have a cry.”

 

Hong Chen was thoroughly disgusted. She pulled Yanlai and left. “Ignore her. Let’s go to a better place.”

 

“What for?”

 

“Dual cultivation, shall we?”

 

Yanlai suddenly pushed Hong Chen away. “Are you sober now?”