Chapter 62 – Comfort

“Yue-xiong, what did you gain from this trip?” Cultivators gathered near the exit, chatting with their friends around them as they waited in boredom for it to open.

“Enough. I can just barely show my face in front of my master. Zhou-xiong prepared for so long before coming here, so I’m sure he gained a lot from this trip, right?” The friend being addressed tossed the question back.

“Don’t even bring it up. I found a good-looking spiritual plant, but the earthquake struck just when I was about to pick it. It caused a landslide, and the spiritual plant slid right into the sea along with the layer of rock under my feet. Fortunately, I reacted in time and didn’t fall into the trench.” The cultivator surnamed Zhou sighed.

“Speaking of the earthquake, it was so bizarre. In all the years the Floating Island Secret Realm has opened, I’ve never heard of such a terrifying earthquake. It actually split the floating island in two!”

Many other cultivators echoed this statement, gathering around the two cultivators who had brought up the topic to join in: “That’s right! I heard from a Foundation Establishment shixiong in our sect that when he flew into the air, he found that the rift between the two halves was very smooth, as if it had been split by a sharp weapon!”

“Smooth? That must just be hearsay. I happen to have a flying magic weapon, and when I was up in the air, I clearly saw that the fracture was full of cracks that had no regular pattern. It was definitely caused by an earthquake!” Someone retorted.

Displeased at being refuted, the person said back: “My shixiong saw it with his own eyes! The seemingly uneven cracks you saw were actually from a secondary collapse and sliding of the rock layer caused by the continuous shaking after the initial fissure. When the floating island first split in two, it was indeed very smooth.”

The initial naysayer wanted to refute again, but before the words could leave his mouth, he felt that they were somewhat untenable. Because when the floating island split in two, he hadn’t flown into the air, but instead found an open space to wait for the tremors to end. He didn’t actually know whether or not those ragged fractures were from the initial quake or if they happened afterward.

But it would be embarrassing to say nothing, so he found another way to argue: “Then tell me, what kind of weapon could split this huge floating island? What kind of person could have such enormous power?”

The person being questioned was speechless. The power to break mountains and split the seas exceeded the limits of his comprehension. Even the most respected teachers of his sect would be unable to do so.

The topic fell into silence.

Hao Chen, who was listening out of boredom while waiting for a certain person, heard this and couldn’t help but say to himself: “That heartless man does.”

He still couldn’t forget how Feng Ye had attacked his incarnation and turned it back into its original form.

But even as he silently complained, another idea popped into his mind.

Yinglong could have done it.

Hao Chen intermittently waved his mini fan. The situation at the bottom of the sea had been so pressing. When Feng Ye drew his sword and pointed it at him, he had no time to think and could only raise his fan to block it.

Then a lot of other things happened, and he didn’t have time to think about it. Now that he had some free time, he couldn’t help but recall that scene again when the matter was brought up.

The sharp sword he summoned to slice the earth, which illuminated the deep, dark sea, was actually similar to the sword named Fleeting Shadow, the sword Yinglong had wielded to cut down Jianmu as recorded on the jade slip.

Could it be that Feng Ye was Yinglong?

Hao Chen was uncertain. He felt that the swords in the two people’s hands were similar, but they might not be the same sword. He hadn’t gotten a clear glimpse at the sword – only the dazzling light that made up the sword’s edge.

Yinglong’s sword had also been shrouded in light, and its specific appearance was also unable to be seen.

He couldn’t assume that they were the same sword just because they both glowed, right?

Of course, he also couldn’t assume that they weren’t the same.

In terms of strength, although Hao Chen had certainly not given it his all, Feng Ye fought against his incarnation with ease and seemed to have a lot of strength to spare.

If he were Yinglong, such strength wouldn’t come as a surprise.

Breaking mountains and splitting the seas was a piece of cake for the great god known as the God of War.

Yinglong severed Jianmu, and Feng Ye was pursuing Jianmu. Even their goals were shockingly similar.

Everything seemed to fall into place, except for one thing.

Their personalities were completely incompatible.

All of his knowledge of Yinglong came from hearsay, as he had never actually met him.

But in all of the rumors that spread from afar to his North Sea, Yinglong was utterly cold and cruel.

Wherever this great god went, others would retreat – more out of fear than respect.

The heavy, mist-like murderous aura from the Endless Horizon was enough to make anyone who approached him tremble with absolute terror, not even daring to breathe loudly.

This evil qi was able to influence people’s minds. Although he was a god, his personality was not as moderate as most gods, which wasn’t surprising at all. It would only be surprising if he was soft-handed and lenient.

The events of a hundred years ago only confirmed Hao Chen’s impression of him. Yinglong hadn’t hesitated at all when he severed Jianmu, not even sparing the people climbing it a second glance.

The world was engulfed in flames, a scene as tragic as hell, but he maintained his indifference among the clouds.

Hao Chen himself was not a particularly gentle god. He did have some self-awareness. But Yinglong far exceeded his own ruthlessness. At least Hao Chen wouldn’t have killed those mortals who overestimated their abilities and dreamed of reaching the heavens.

But what about Feng Ye? He had been quite cold just now, but the rest of the time, he was incredibly soft-hearted. 

Not only had he allowed this uninvited stranger to get close to him and test him again and again, but he also repeatedly aided his fellow junior disciple whom he had only known for a month.

Would Yinglong do such a thing?

If he told anyone this, he feared they would laugh their head off. How could the God of War, infamous for his cruelty and brutality, risk exposing his identity just because he couldn’t bear to see one mortal die?

So Hao Chen still wasn’t quite convinced that Feng Ye was Yinglong. The more he thought about it, the more reliable this analysis seemed to him.

As for Feng Ye’s true identity, there were so many gods, major and minor. Hao Chen still couldn’t tell which one he was just based on an unclear glimpse of his sword.

But in short, it’s unlikely that he’s Yinglong! Hao Chen thought. Otherwise, he’d just slept with his head on Yinglong’s shoulder all night and ate his tofu openly and in secret. The mere thought made him shudder.

“Why hasn’t Shixiong come back yet?” As Hao Chen was strolling through the small theatre in his mind, Fang Yang turned back for the third time to look in the direction they had come from, anxiously waiting for the person who had promised to catch up with them.

The three of them hadn’t been moving fast to begin with. Even if he just walked, Useless Shixong should have been here already after such a long time. As more and more people gathered and the time until the exit opened dwindled, not even Feng Ye’s shadow could be seen. 

“Perhaps he was delayed by something. Let’s wait a little longer,” Cao Zirui consoled him.

Hao Chen listened to their conversation without comment.

What could possibly hold Feng Ye back? He had already killed that person, so he was probably trying to dispose of the body now.

Disposing of a corpse is indeed a physical job that takes some time, Hao Chen thought very considerately.

Sure enough, the three of them waited for a while, and about half an incense stick of time before the exit was to open, a familiar figure appeared in the distance.

Fang Yang noticed him in an instant. His eyes lit up and he stood in place, waving to him in greeting.

However, he didn’t receive the expected response. Feng Ye didn’t give him a smile or a wave as he usually would have.

He just looked up at Fang Yang, walking toward their position without saying a word. 

Hao Chen rested his chin on his mini fan, keenly sensing that something was wrong.

“Shixiong, you’re finally back! I was worried you would miss us!” Fang Yang watched as Feng Ye returned to their sides, letting go of his worries. 

Feng Ye’s lips rose in response.

It was a fleeting, perfunctory smile.

The simple Fang Yang didn’t notice anything. Seeing that his Useless Shixiong was safe and sound, he pulled Cao Zirui aside to discuss topics exclusive to young people.

Hao Chen remained in place. He said to Feng Ye, who seemed unwilling to pay attention to him: “Fellow Daoist Feng Ye’s smile just now was a little unsightly.”

Naturally, a forced smile would always look ugly.

Feng Ye raised his eyes to give him a somewhat irritable look. He still didn’t say anything.

Both his eyes and his actions revealed that he was currently in a bad mood, and that it would be best if no one bothered him.

But Hao Chen shamelessly insisted on speaking to him, and the topic took an unexpected turn: “Fellow Daoist Feng Ye, judging by your expression, you seem to have wronged me.”

Feng Ye: “…..”

He was suddenly thrust out of his depressed mood and into one of speechless incredulity.

What had he done to offend Hao Chen?

No, the question should be: “Why should I care about wronging you?” Feng Ye asked rudely.

When he heard this, Hao Chen pressed his mini fan against his chest with an exaggerated expression of disbelief: “You did it but you don’t want to admit it?”

Feng Ye: “? ? ?” What did he do?!

Hao Chen patiently prompted him: “Under the sea.”

What about under the sea? Was this about their fight?

Hao Chen went on: “You caught me.”

That was indeed what he had said. What did this have to do with denying his guilt?

Hao Chen directly pointed out: “Since you caught me, shouldn’t you take responsibility for me?”

Feng Ye: “……”

After a stunned silence, Feng Ye realized that Hao Chen was referring to when he caught the fish with his giant claws made of water. Why should he be held responsible for catching a fish?

But according to Hao Chen’s words, the situation was completely different. He argued: “Didn’t Fellow Daoist Feng Ye touch me directly with his hand?”

His control of water could just barely be considered a physical touch. Thus, Feng Ye nodded.

“And wasn’t I naked?” Hao Chen asked again.

Feng Ye: “……” He realized something was wrong, but had no way to refute him.

Hao Chen directly concluded: “You and I have experienced physical intimacy. I’m not a frivolous person. If Fellow Daoist Feng Ye doesn’t take responsibility for me, I will have no choice but to hang myself from a tree branch.”

Feng Ye: “……” He stared in amazement at Hao Chen, this person who claimed he wasn’t frivolous but was actually the most frivolous person he had ever met.

How could the Lord of the North Sea, who was said to be dominating and tyrannical, be this kind of person? Hao Chen had lived for so long – had age given him nothing but increasingly thick skin?

He couldn’t help but retort: “Has Fellow Daoist Hao Chen considered if he’ll be able to find a tree branch thick enough to hang himself from?”

“This…..” This question truly stumped Hao Chen. His expression turned to one of frustration as he was unable to argue.

Feng Ye couldn’t help but smile, and it was no longer a forced or perfunctory one.

Seeing this, Hao Chen smiled as well.

Their eyes met, and it couldn’t be clearer.

“Thank you,” Feng Ye said softly.

Hao Chen waved his fan and said: “Saying thank you puts too much distance between us. I think it would be better if you pledge your heart to me.”

Feng Ye laughed out loud. Although Hao Chen’s method of comforting someone was rather unconventional, it was unexpectedly effective.

He was no longer immersed in the depression he fell into after dispersing the souls that had perished unjustly.

He’d had no other choice.

No matter how unwilling these vengeful spirits were, no matter how they wailed, there was no escaping one fact.

They were dead.

They should have dissipated together with their bodies a hundred years ago, but were captured by someone with ulterior motives and forced to be used as materials to suppress heavenly fire.

Their resentment grew stronger over that century, and their shared hatred of a common enemy  made them indistinguishable from one another, creating a strange, eerie monster.

It had no hands or feet – just thousands of twisted, hideous faces.

If someone else had been enveloped by such a monster, they likely would have fainted on the spot.

Even though they were innocent, there was no other way to deal with such resentful souls but to disperse them and set them free.

He absolutely couldn’t have let them go. They hadn’t attacked him, but simply wailed inside his mind – not because they didn’t want to, but because they knew they couldn’t defeat Feng Ye.

Were they to encounter someone weaker, these souls would tear the living person to pieces without sparing a single shred of flesh or blood.

Feng Ye couldn’t allow them to leave, and the inferno was growing increasingly fierce. If this stalemate dragged out any longer, these resentful souls would perish in the same heavenly fire that had taken their lives a hundred years ago.

But before that could happen, Feng Ye chose to take it into his own hands. Rather than let them suffer the pain of being burned by heavenly fire once more, it would be better for Feng Ye to do it.

But Feng Ye didn’t have an easy time of it. He still felt that….it was too cruel….

That was why he was in such a low mood. He hadn’t expected Hao Chen to notice and come up with such a method to comfort him.

He didn’t know whether to say it was ridiculous or ingenious…..

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Chapter 61 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 63