Chapter 717 - 377: Chen Qingmo
Chapter 717: Chapter 377: Chen Qingmo
Midnight.
Mingyu Lane.
Cheng Qingyu walked through the narrow alley.
Moments later, she arrived in front of a quiet courtyard.
She knelt at the courtyard gate: "Mother, I’m here."
The courtyard gate opened, and a woman who bore some resemblance to the Celestial Phoenix Maiden appeared. She helped Cheng Qingyu up and smiled:
"Daughter, you did very well today. I saw everything."
Cheng Qingyu was delighted: "Really? Mother, you were at the Celestial Tao Fighting Arena during the day too?"
The woman nodded, raising her hand to gently stroke the hair on Cheng Qingyu’s forehead:
"Back then, Zhu Yinrong and your father left the Celestial Phoenix Mountain to cultivate the ’Soul Separation Body Technique,’ which led to my existence. But that Zhu Yinrong, she changed her heart towards your father, preferring to turn to ashes rather than be with him."
"I absorbed her Divine Phoenix Flame, and it took me ten years to transform it into the controllable Black Phoenix Flame."
"And you mastered it in just half a year, although its power is still lacking, you’re a prodigy. I’m proud of you."
Cheng Qingyu joyfully said: "Thank you, Mother. So... what about Father? Did he see my performance today?"
"Your father was waiting here for someone today."
The Black Phoenix said.
"Waiting for someone?"
Cheng Qingyu’s expression slightly changed: "Father is waiting for..."
"Qingyu, come in."
A gentle and magnetic voice sounded from the wooden house in the courtyard.
The Black Phoenix immediately showed a respectful and admiring expression, stepping aside lightly and softly saying, "Go quickly."
Cheng Qingyu also felt somewhat nervous, with a hint of excitement, briskly walking into the courtyard. Seeing the door of the wooden house already open, she paused slightly, clenched her fists, and boldly entered the wooden house.
Immediately, a gasp of surprise sounded.
The wooden house was simply furnished: a table, a cabinet, and a bed.
It looked like a very ordinary room.
But lying on the bed was a woman in a plain white dress.
Cheng Qingyu gasped: "Tantai Mingyue!?"
Lying on the bed was the Deputy Sect Leader of Zhenyang Sect, Tantai Mingyue.
At this moment, she was restrained, unable to move, her eyes red, tears continuously flowing as she stared blankly at the man standing by the bed.
The man wore a Daoist robe, his hair neatly tied, refined and gentle. On the street, he would appear to be an amiable Daoist.
In the sect, he would be an ordinary cultivator.
Yet here he stood by the bed, while lying on the bed was a subdued Peak Nascent Soul Cultivator, making the scene both bizarre and shocking.
"Sect Leader Senior Brother, so Cheng Qingyu is truly your child with that Black Phoenix, and what about the Young Master of Spirit Corpse Mountain? Is he also your son?"
Tantai Mingyue’s face was full of tears, looking at the middle-aged man.
The man bowed his head, gently gazing at Tantai Mingyue:
"Junior Sister, I’m sorry, I’ve deceived you all these years, but I had no choice."
Tantai Mingyue’s eyes were red: "Senior Brother, are you really the Spirit Corpse Mountain Master who has harmed countless lives?"
The man did not speak, still gently looking at her.
"Senior Brother, every Northern Wilderness Trial, disciples would be captured by the Spirit Corpse Mountain. Some female disciples were turned into spirit corpses, having their souls scattered, dying without any dignity. Were those your deeds?"
"How could I, Junior Sister? How could I be so cruel?"
The man spoke softly: "Those were orchestrated by my subordinates. I would never dirty my hands with such matters."
"Senior Brother!!"
Tantai Mingyue’s voice was hoarse, struggling violently but unable to break free of the restraints. Her chest heaved as she loudly exclaimed:
"Why? You are already the Sect Leader of Zhenyang Sect, why do these things? Why did you deceive me?!"
"Zhenyang Sect Leader?"
The man sat down, gently stroking Tantai Mingyue’s hair:
"Junior Sister, do you really think I did all this just for the position of Zhenyang Sect Leader?"
"You ask me why?"
The man’s hand stroked Tantai Mingyue’s cheek, her shoulder... Tantai Mingyue trembled all over, the corner of her mouth bleeding, but the man still gently smiled, softly said:
"What does a cultivator seek?"
"You think it is just to live a few thousand more years, have a few Dao partners? Have a few offspring?"
"You are wrong!"
"What I want is to ascend to the Upper Realm, become an eternal immortal, and live as long as heaven and earth!"
"And you, are but a fleeting romance of mine in the Lower Realm."
"Giving birth to a daughter for me should fill you with pride."
"Stop it!" Tantai Mingyue’s eyes widened, her beautiful eyes full of bloodshot, unwillingly yelled:
"Senior Brother, I can help you ascend, why do you do these evil deeds?"
The man shook his head and chuckled: "If it were easy for me to ascend, why would I linger in Zhenyang Mountain? If it were easy to ascend, why would it be that no one has dared to enter Divinity Transformation for five hundred years?"
"Junior Sister, there are many things you do not understand."
"I do not understand how you turned out like this, Senior Brother?" Tantai Mingyue, her face full of tears, blankly gazed at the man:
"Senior Brother, where did the you who once cared for the world and felt compassionate for all go?"
The man smiled: "Junior Sister, you are truly foolish. Of all my women, you are the second most foolish. I never changed; it was you... who kept deceiving yourself."
The man stood up, spoke to Cheng Qingyu, who had been kneeling on the ground: "After the Immortal Ascension Ceremony ends tomorrow, bring Su Xin, Ruo Mei, and Wu Yiren here."
"Yes, Father."
"Senior Brother, Senior Brother! What do you plan to do?" Tantai Mingyue panicked, struggling once more but unable to move.
The man tenderly said: "Junior Sister, rest assured, I merely wish for our family to be reunited."
"Then why are you capturing Ruo Mei and Wu Yiren? Senior Brother, you’re hiding something from me, aren’t you?"
Tantai Mingyue struggled, bitterly pleading: "Senior Brother, Xin’Er is your biological daughter, she knows nothing, please don’t harm her."
"Junior Sister, you are too foolish, I hope our daughter won’t be as foolish as you."
The man stood up, and at this time, the Black Phoenix also came in from outside, nestling to the man’s side along with Cheng Qingyu on either side, the three walking out of the house.
Tantai Mingyue screamed harshly: "Chen Qingmo!!"
Bang.
The three stepped out, and the door closed.
The room returned to darkness.
...
Chang’an Palace.
The courtyard where Tantai Mingyue resided.
"Mother, Mother?"
Su Xin stood outside the door, gently knocking, but there was no response.
She pushed the door open and found the room empty.
"Where did Mother go?"
Su Xin was a bit worried. Since the second round of the Immortal Ascension Ceremony ended during the day, Tantai Mingyue had been missing.
Su Xin used a Sound Transmission Talisman to send a message to Tantai Mingyue but received no reply.
"Mother is at the Nascent Soul Peak, no one in this world can harm her, she must have gone out for something."
Su Xin muttered to herself, suddenly turning back, her delicate brows slightly furrowing: "Junior Sister Lin, why are you here?"
Lin Qingchou entered the courtyard, followed by Chun Ningzhi. Su Xin was startled: "Junior Brother Chun, why are you with Junior Sister Lin?"
Chun Ningzhi did not answer her, simply following behind Lin Qingchou, who chuckled lightly and extended her hand toward Chun Ningzhi: "Kneel."
Chun Ningzhi immediately knelt on one knee, placing Lin Qingchou’s hand on his face, eyes revealing infatuation.
Su Xin’s eyes widened in disbelief: "Junior Brother Chun, what are you doing?!"
Then she coldly looked at Lin Qingchou: "Junior Sister Lin, what did you do to him?!"
Lin Qingchou laughed: "Senior Sister Su, the master wants to see you, let’s go."
"Master? Who?" Su Xin frowned deeply.
Lin Qingchou chuckled: "Turns out Senior Sister Su is still in the dark? My master, of course, is Junior Sister Ruo!"