Bingxuan Sect.
Gu Qingfeng, holding the scroll painting in both hands, had just stepped into the inner hall when the Ice Profound Ancestor behind him once again performed the ritual of respect for a superior. This time, however, she was not paying homage to a young master, but to a supreme lord.
Gu Qingfeng did not respond immediately. Instead, he strolled around, casually examining the elegant inner hall, and asked offhandedly, "How did you learn of my identity?"
"Reporting to the Supreme Lord, it was... it was the Empress who told me..."
"When?"
"Just recently, when the Bing Xuan Heart was being fused."
"Oh?"
Gu Qingfeng thought for a moment. When Leng Yanqiu was fusing with the Bing Xuan Heart, the seven souls of Yun Nishang had gathered and awakened at the Yunxia Sect. Upon awakening, she was both Yun Nishang and Hongxiu. Yun Nishang did not know her own identity, but Hongxiu did.
This painting was clear proof.
He recognized this painting. He had even fought over it back in the day, only for it to be snatched away by a mysterious woman.
He did not know that mysterious woman, but he knew that whenever he was in danger, she would always appear, as if she had been watching over him all along.
In the past, Gu Qingfeng had always been curious about the mysterious woman's identity. It was only upon seeing this painting that he realized she was none other than Hongxiu, who was also Yun Nishang.
She had been watching over him, from this world to the Heavenly Realm, and even to the Nine Nethers...
She had always been there...
It seemed Yun Nishang had truly exhausted all her efforts for the sake of this so-called karma.
"Supreme Lord, please rest assured. In this world, only I know your identity. I have never mentioned it to anyone, and... I have already extracted my Bing Xuan Origin, severing my own life..." The reason Zhu Xia had kept it secret from Wei Qing and Liu Piaopiao was precisely because Gu Qingfeng's identity was far too extraordinary. She understood clearly in her heart that once his identity was known, death was certain. She would rather die alone than involve Wei Qing, Liu Piaopiao, and the others.
"My identity isn't some forbidden secret. Knowing it is knowing it. I wouldn't kill you for it, so why go to the extreme of ending your own life?"
"Even if the Supreme Lord does not kill me, the Empress will. And even if the Empress does not, others surely will."
"Hmm?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Qingfeng raised an eyebrow slightly. "That sounds rather novel. Why?"
Zhu Xia shook her head. "The Empress told me this. I do not know the reason."
I won't kill.
Yun Nishang will kill?
If Yun Nishang doesn't kill, others will?
Who?
Gu Qingfeng sat down on a chair on the raised platform, lightly tapping his head with the scroll painting as he pondered. Suddenly, he recalled those decree-bearers always hiding in the shadows, and the Mother of Nature who had forcibly bestowed upon him the endless myriad colors. He sighed inwardly.
As expected, it seems I've been targeted long ago.
Since that bunch fears my identity being exposed, they must have other objectives.
Heh.
Gu Qingfeng chuckled and shook his head, too lazy to think further.
Ever since he defied the heavens and faced the judgment of the Heavenly Dao back then, he had never planned on living a peaceful life. Let them watch. He was already being watched by the Mother of Nature; a few more wouldn't make a difference.
"Has the Supreme Lord ever seen the reincarnation of the Empress's bloodline?"
"I have."
Gu Qingfeng asked, "You haven't?"
"When the Empress sought me out, she was only a soul."
"I see."
Gu Qingfeng nodded. "Well then, should I tell you?"
"No! No! Absolutely not!"
Zhu Xia shook her head vehemently, her expression complex. "It is enough for me to know that the reincarnation of the Empress's bloodline is safe and sound... safe and sound is enough..." As she spoke, she suddenly knelt on the ground again.
Gu Qingfeng, sitting in the chair, watched her kneel and said, "I came in with you solely because of this painting, but that is all. If you wish to speak of the dual cultivation matter, you need not open your mouth. Setting aside whether grafting karma is feasible or not, even if it were, I would not do it."
Gu Qingfeng had originally felt somewhat indebted to Hongxiu. However, upon learning that Hongxiu was Yun Nishang, that so-called sense of indebtedness gradually faded. Regarding the matter of karma, he was still bewildered and had no desire to blindly enter the game. At least until he understood things clearly, he did not want to take any proactive steps.
"Ah..." Zhu Xia sighed, the last shred of hope in her heart completely shattering at this moment.
She knew that since Gu Qingfeng had spoken to this extent, there truly was no hope left.
Perhaps due to her overwhelming disappointment, coupled with having already extracted her Bing Xuan Origin and being at the end of her rope, she now appeared utterly frail.
Seeing this, Gu Qingfeng waved his hand. A shimmering light flashed as he cast a life-force spell, enveloping Zhu Xia.
"Thank you... thank you, Supreme Lord."
"The karma between Yun Nishang and me—even she herself may not know how to face it. Why must you be so fixated?"
That Zhu Xia could devote her entire life's efforts to Yun Nishang with such dedication was truly rare and commendable.
Alas, she was not human, and having extracted her Bing Xuan Origin, even if Gu Qingfeng possessed the power to reverse life and death, it would be of no avail.
"Supreme Lord, you are unaware."
Zhu Xia knelt on the ground, her voice low with dejection. "My desire for Yanqiu to dual cultivate with you was not solely for the karma between the Empress and you. I also had selfish motives... If not for that, even if you gave me a thousand, ten thousand times the courage, I would never have dared to kidnap Huode to threaten you..."
"Selfish motives?" Gu Qingfeng was rather puzzled. "Explain."
"Yanqiu is the descendant of an old friend of mine. For three thousand years, I have hidden within the Bingxuan Sect, rarely interacting with the outside world, fearing that I might affect the karma between the Empress and you. However... some things are not as one wishes. In the end, I could not avoid worldly attachments and developed feelings for a man."
Hearing this, Gu Qingfeng was slightly taken aback. Upon careful thought, it was reasonable. Although Zhu Xia was not human, she still possessed the seven emotions and six desires; developing feelings was only natural. He remained silent, waiting for her to continue.
"I also cherished him, but for the sake of the Empress's matters, I had to part with him. For this, I have always felt deeply guilty, unworthy of all he sacrificed for me. Before his death, he entrusted Yanqiu to me, and I promised I would spare no effort to raise her to adulthood..."
"After I brought Yanqiu back to the Bingxuan Sect, I nurtured her meticulously, hoping that one day she could fuse with the Bing Xuan Heart. Fortunately, perseverance pays off. Through my efforts, Yanqiu finally succeeded in fusing with the Bing Xuan Heart."
"However, to achieve a perfect fusion with the Bing Xuan Heart and unlock its mysteries, the cooperation of the Yang Heart is essential."
"I had hoped to use the karma between the Empress and you to bestow a great fortune upon Yanqiu. In doing so, I could also resolve a long-held wish and regret of mine."
Zhu Xia shook her head, murmuring weakly, "I know I have no right to force the Supreme Lord, and I know I cannot threaten you. It's just... I truly had no other way."