Chapter 1512 - 103: Factions (Part 4)
Earlier at the mountain gate of the Great Saint Mountain.
The two of them had a brief moment of eye contact... Cui Zhen’s secret technique was flawless.
In that glance, Qilin Miaofa True Monarch did not notice anything unusual.
However.
A seed of suspicion was planted in his heart.
Logically speaking.
Qilin Miaofa True Monarch shouldn’t have gone out of his way because of this trace of thought, but fate sometimes works in such coincidences. He merely wanted to go out for a stroll and happened to see Cui Zhen in "Disguise and Change Clothes". If it were still just a woman’s form, he wouldn’t have paid much attention, just treating it as a chance encounter.
As things stood, having caught them in the act, there was no need for explanation.
"These years, I’ve settled in the North Swamp, uninvolved in worldly matters."
Qilin Miaofa True Monarch said hoarsely, word by word: "This time, it was because of Nether Sea’s invitation that I came to the Great Saint Mountain."
It indeed was an unexpected encounter.
"Do you intend to deliver me into Nether Sea’s hands..."
Cui Zhen looked around the Dao Domain and said calmly: "If you want to take action, I won’t resist."
Qilin Miaofa True Monarch shook his head.
He did have a relationship with Nether Sea, but that was many years ago.
This invitation was out of old friendship.
But...
He couldn’t bring himself to escort Cui Zhen.
If he really had such a thought, he wouldn’t have set up the Dao Domain and chatted leisurely.
"Explain it to me."
Qilin Miaofa True Monarch, with his hands behind his back, said coldly: "The reason you killed Sun Erosion... and the reason you disguised yourself to attend the feast."
...
...
Qilin Miaofa True Monarch had been in seclusion for a long time.
Ten years, twenty years for him, it was just a flick of the finger.
After the Battle of Poison ended, he returned to the North Swamp, uninterested in the "stories" that happened in the past, and lazy to investigate deeply.
In his view.
Since Mo Zhen was dead, everything lost its meaning...
The alliance among the Nine Venerable shattered, the blood oath broke, and the war between the Demon Country and the Human Race stalled.
His life seemed to have lost its "meaning" as well.
The only thing Qilin Miaofa True Monarch wanted to do was cultivation.
Thus.
He was in seclusion for nearly a century.
Once more he left the North Swamp, coming to the Great Saint Mountain...
He unexpectedly met Cui Zhen, and from Cui Zhen’s mouth garnered the "truth" of what had transpired over these years.
This Qilin Miaofa True Monarch’s demeanor changed from initial cold calm to shock, and finally to anger.
If not for this accident.
He should have been invited to attend Nether Sea’s banquet.
After that...
If not for an accident, at the banquet, he would have heard another version of the story.
"That’s about how things are."
Cui Zhen slowly finished speaking.
He didn’t speak quickly.
But the hundred years’ span spanned only the time it took for half an incense stick to burn in conversation.
"..."
Qilin Miaofa True Monarch’s expression was complicated.
He couldn’t look directly at this Mo Zhen big brother who had returned to youth.
After spending a long time.
He calmed the Heart Lake.
"So, it was ’Sun Erosion’ who leaked the information back then."
Qilin Miaofa True Monarch hoarsely said: "And ’Nether Sea’... was also an accomplice in stirring things up."
"Yes."
Cui Zhen laughed carefreely.
"I came to the Great Saint Mountain, to kill ’Nether Sea’.
He doesn’t like to lie.
And facing the North Swamp, he indeed did not need to lie.
The small mountain shrouded by the Dao Domain had a gentle breeze and snow drifting by. Qilin Miaofa True Monarch’s Magic Robe fluttered in the wind, appearing somewhat desolate. He looked sorrowfully at the handsome Great Demon in front of him and asked in a heavy voice: "If so, why didn’t you contact me?"
Cui Zhen called him by the name of North Swamp.
Years ago.
The two were intimate comrades in arms.
In that battle back then... he supported until the very last moment.
Sun Erosion, Nether Sea... and perhaps more, chose betrayal.
But he did not.
If the heavens had drawn a long line in that battle, demarcating two distinctly marked camps.
Then from the very start to the end, he stood with Cui Zhen.
Qilin Miaofa True Monarch felt a pang of heartache.
He should have been happy for Cui Zhen who lived a second life...
But at this moment.
The sorrow in the Heart Lake surpassed the joy.
"I’m sorry, North Swamp."
"I couldn’t contact you."
Cui Zhen spoke in an extremely calm tone: "I... cannot afford to lose."
Ye Ling spent countless lifespans to give him this second life.
He decided to take revenge on the Nine Venerable.
He decided to uncover the truth of the past.
These things... were destined to be done by him alone.
These burdens... were destined to be borne by him alone.
To rashly contact "North Swamp," would only lead to failure at the last moment.
"Indeed..."
Qilin Miaofa True Monarch’s face was somewhat pale.
He smiled softly, eyes reflecting self-mockery, more so loss.
After the Battle of Poison ended, he retired directly.
Faced with those "old friends" who greedily devoured Mo Zhen’s bones and blood, secret possessions, Grotto Heaven, Blessed Land, and old forces, Qilin Miaofa True Monarch did not investigate... although he did not covet, such a manifestation, how could it make Mo Zhen trust, and what right did he have to blame Mo Zhen for not coming to the North Swamp to seek him?
Of course.
Now things have undergone a heaven and earth flipping change.
Their meeting this time resolved all the misunderstandings.
Cui Zhen knew that Qilin Miaofa True Monarch was not in league with Nether Sea, and the North Swamp before him was still the North Swamp he knew.
There weren’t many he could trust.
But Qilin Miaofa True Monarch was undoubtedly one of them.
After a short silence.
"At this point, I still don’t wish to acknowledge you."
The handsome Great Demon clutched the Long Saber in his hand, his voice trembled, exhaled a breath of turbid air, and with difficulty smiled: "North Swamp... if possible, I wish you weren’t on the birthday banquet list."
"Why so?"
Qilin Miaofa True Monarch was taken aback.
He furrowed his brows, "Since you want to kill ’Nether Sea’, I can help you."
He could see it.
Cui Zhen was only at the Yin God Realm, killing Nether Sea, was as hard as reaching the sky.
But if he added himself...
The odds of winning would be greatly increased!
He had been painstakingly cultivating in the North Swamp all these years, his realm had greatly advanced, even here at the Great Saint Mountain, even though it was Nether Sea Venerable’s "home ground", he still had confidence to fight.
"Before setting off, I cast a trigram."
"It was an unprecedentedly ominous trigram—"
"The symbolism of this trigram was even more dangerous, several times more dangerous than Erosion Sun Swamp!"
Cui Zhen looked into the eyes of Qilin Miaofa True Monarch and said: "From the symbolism of this trigram... the grudge between me and Nether Sea, must be resolved by myself. Whether it’s you or anyone else... intervening, will not end well."
He needed to forcibly harmonize through this battle.
Qilin Miaofa True Monarch’s intervention might not be a good thing.
"What do you mean?"
Qilin Miaofa True Monarch asked, confused.
"I hope you don’t get involved in this torrent."
Cui Zhen took a deep breath and said earnestly, word by word: "This is my disaster, outsiders cannot grasp it."
"Although I want to kill Nether Sea, I want you to be safe, even more."
"If you are still willing to recognize me as this big brother, then act as if you saw nothing today, heard nothing... and let everything proceed as usual thereafter."
"Can you promise me that?"
...
...
(PS: A bit stuck with writing, so the update is quite late. There will be another update tomorrow at noon.)