Chapter 851: Chapter 22: Mutual Affection
The sunset remained splendid, yet the cold of the Ice Cave of Accumulated Feathers grew even more intense.
As intense as the heat of the blood Zhou Yan spilled.
The blood on the white dress carried a scorching, boiling heat, bringing a sense of unease to Gongcheng Diewu.
She suddenly felt a fear, an unspeakable dread of the unknown.
The anticipation she originally had melted away, dissipated, like spring snow exposed under the fierce sun.
Gongcheng Diewu felt a sense of regret, regretting her impulsive decision to have Zhou Yan investigate Qing Wan’s father’s identity. This must have brought unimaginable harm to Zhou Yan, which might be exactly a calculation from the unknown enemy, an invisible strategy that left them defenseless.
"You... what’s wrong with you, don’t scare me."
Gongcheng Diewu’s voice trembled, carrying fear and unease.
She watched Zhou Yan anxiously, trying to see the outcome from his demeanor.
But she only saw a pale yet calm face, an ordinary, plain face that could still make any woman in the world infatuated like a moth to a flame.
"It’s nothing, just that the results I derived were somewhat unexpected."
Zhou Yan said softly.
A gentle, calm, and warm voice, like sunlight in winter, melted the worries in Gongcheng Diewu’s heart, as well as her restless unease.
"What about your injuries? Did someone scheme against you again? It’s all my fault, I should have thought that everything related to you would certainly have corresponding schemes involved. Yet, I always believed that after the Heavenly Destiny Plan, those matters were already far behind, holding onto a lucky heart..."
Gongcheng Diewu felt very sad, her voice filled with guilt and self-blame.
"My injuries are fine, you really don’t have to worry. When getting hurt becomes a habit, you’ll find that injuries that would nearly cause destruction and all hope lost for others are just very ordinary minor injuries to me."
Zhou Yan sensed Gongcheng Diewu’s self-blame, yet he sighed in his heart.
He knew the answer, but whether he could speak it out, he hesitated.
Gongcheng Qingwan was a very likable girl, and he didn’t want her to be entangled in unknown factors.
It’s just that perhaps this day is destined to come.
Happiness is often very short-lived, and the time belonging to her may not be much left.
"As long as you’re fine, that’s good, that’s good."
Seeing Zhou Yan’s words were solemn and without deceit, Gongcheng Diewu breathed a sigh of relief, lightly patting her chest, easing her tense emotions a little.
Though her actions were unintentional, this pat led to a momentary tumultuous display, which still caught Zhou Yan’s attention.
But this time Zhou Yan’s gaze was very calm, yet Gongcheng Diewu seemed to sense something, her face inexplicably blushing again.
"Zhou Yan, regarding my brother’s matter, I’m really grateful to you. Otherwise, I would have lost one of the only two family members I have left in this world."
Gongcheng Diewu saw Zhou Yan’s gaze become incredibly clear, no longer fascinated by her, and a sense of indescribable loss rose in her heart, along with a faint, inexplicable disappointment.
"Gongcheng Qingyang and I had some connections before, and I happened to witness that scene, so appropriately altering the True Illusion Scene to save him wasn’t difficult. However, for someone like Yang Family to emerge, it is more a curse than a blessing for them. Yang Family has already been on the decline, generation after generation."
Zhou Yan sighed.
"Planes and planets are different, Zhou Yan. For past acquaintances, you shouldn’t hold onto the mindset of the past. Recognizing reality as soon as possible is also very necessary. Things have changed, and those old ties aren’t remembered by anyone in this plane anymore. After all, upon breaking free from the constraints and suppression of the breeding ground, all cultivators face the choice of becoming sentimental or indifferent. Some become better, but more become worse."
Gongcheng Diewu explained.
"I understand. Well, regarding Wan’er’s matter, I can confirm that Wan’er is not my child, but who it actually is, I couldn’t see clearly. It seems when I observed, I triggered the mighty momentum of heaven and earth, suffered a backlash, and didn’t glimpse the truth."
Zhou Yan explained, shifting the topic.
"As for you saying that the male shadow derived from the blood resembling me passing on the Tao—it can only be said to be a coincidence. After all, I once slayed the Heavenly Tao with the Devil Heart Path, leaving behind numerous Lands of Enlightenment in the era of the Lei Yan King, so such incidents appearing is within reason.
Wan’er is the Child of Heaven, essentially the ultimate Tao Sword Body, with an unlimited future. Before her Life Chart awakens, let’s hold a wedding for her.
We don’t need something grand and extravagant, just within the Snow Cold Sword Sect, witnessed by you and me, let her marry Zheng. When happiness should happen, it must happen. Perhaps after he awakens his Life Chart, happiness will drift away."
Zhou Yan sighed softly, speaking with a slight sigh.
"Will they... agree to this? And, Wan’er hasn’t awakened her Life Chart, so she isn’t her complete self. Will she regret it after awakening?"
Gongcheng Diewu asked with some concern.
"They will agree. As for whether Wan’er would regret it, that certainly won’t happen. Wan’er’s nature is kind, and her essence won’t change because of the shift in Life Chart."
Zhou Yan explained.
His explanation finally allowed Gongcheng Diewu to completely relax, as if the pressure shackling her for a lifetime suddenly dissipated, even giving her otherwise unstable realm a brand-new transformation, becoming more stable and more perfect.
...
Cold night.
The Snow Cold Sword Sect was brightly lit, shining brilliantly.
After discussing with Gongcheng Diewu, Zhou Yan and Gongcheng Diewu held a wedding for Zhou Zheng and Gongcheng Qingwan, akin to a mortal’s wedding.
Before this, Zhou Yan reconfigured the Sect Protection Array for the Snow Cold Sword Sect, based on his understanding of the Heavenly Dao. It wasn’t strong but was very intricate and stable.
For the Snow Cold Sword Sect, the guardian was already sufficient.
After setting up the array, Zhou Yan used a trace of the Rule Power of the Immortal Divine to temporarily shield part of the Heavenly Mechanism.
He temporarily didn’t resolve the hidden dangers in Zhou Zheng’s body but allowed the two to marry first, becoming a Daoist couple, before unlocking the shackles within Zhou Zheng’s body.
While the enemy had their means, Zhou Yan also had his countermeasures, although these measures somewhat utilized Gongcheng Qingwan. Nonetheless, the love between Gongcheng Qingwan and Zhou Zheng was pure and immaculate.
Thus, it wasn’t really a strategy.
If either party was unwilling, Zhou Yan would never have done this.
The wedding wasn’t grand, but all the cultivators in the Snow Cold Sword Sect attended, delighted and ecstatic, the warm atmosphere dispelling the cold of this cold night.
The wedding proceeded smoothly, and lovers eventually became a couple. In the end, nothing hindered Gongcheng Qingwan and Zhou Zheng from coming together. Although they weren’t very old, in the world of cultivators, there were no restrictions; those with ability could find a Daoist couple anytime.
After three bows, Zhou Yan constructed a barrier around the couple’s new room, shielding it from Heaven and Earth, allowing the two to rely on each other in peace. Then, he and Gongcheng Diewu silently blessed the couple.
The black night quickly passed, and at dawn the next day, Zhou Zheng and Gongcheng Qingwan happily emerged, leaning against each other from the small space world isolated from Heaven and Earth. Their mutual spiritual support gave them a new understanding of each other.
Gongcheng Qingwan could better understand Zhou Zheng’s love and helplessness, while Zhou Zheng better realized Gongcheng Qingwan’s series of past actions—how she separated from her family and even buried her talents for him, deepening their relationship.
Physical and soul communication made them one in body and mind, their thoughts interconnected, and their hearts were filled with intense gratitude towards Zhou Yan.
It was at this moment that Zhou Yan thoughtfully glanced beyond the void, a hint of complexity flashing through his eyes.
"Uncle, Mother."
"Uncle, Mother."
Zhou Zheng supported Gongcheng Qingwan as they both paid their respects to Zhou Yan and Gongcheng Diewu, bowing in salute.
Zhou Yan and Gongcheng Diewu both nodded slightly, accepting their salute.
"From now on, you’re a family, so you should share happiness and hardship, together through honor and disgrace. Wan’er, your Life Chart will undergo some changes in the future, but you won’t lose your true self. Since you won’t lose your true self, then being with Zhou Zheng won’t bring any regret. No matter Zhou Zheng’s future achievements, you two will always be an inseparable pair of Heaven and Earth."
Zhou Yan said seriously.
Qingwan and Zhou Zheng nodded simultaneously.
"Now, I will unlock Zhou Zheng’s bloodline talent and remove the poison in his body, which will inevitably attract enemies. However... I won’t erase your memories then, so they will know that I, Zhou Yan, have returned."
"I’ve said, I’m not afraid of anyone, nor do I fear anyone, it’s just that I have no time to worry about you. But believe me, you will be fine. However, you may have to endure some hardships and face unimaginable challenges."
Zhou Yan contemplated, speaking in a solemn tone.
"Uncle, with Qingwan by my side, no hardship feels hard, no fatigue feels tiring."
"Uncle, Qingwan isn’t afraid of hardship or fatigue, because Qingwan knows that Senior Brother will always be by Wan’er’s side."
Zhou Zheng and Qingwan almost said simultaneously.
"Zhou Yan, have you discovered something, I..."
Gongcheng Diewu wasn’t foolish; she realized that Zhou Yan hurriedly let Qingwan and Zhou Zheng marry as if he was racing against time to give them happiness.
And Zhou Yan’s words seemed to confirm this point further.
"Don’t worry about anything. What should come will come, only sooner or later, so just face it calmly, without wavering when a mountain crumbles before you. Rest assured, I won’t harm you; I’m helping you."
Zhou Yan said sincerely, his eyes genuine, dispelling Gongcheng Diewu’s last trace of worry.
"I understand, Zhou Yan, thank you, you’ve worked hard."
Gongcheng Diewu was moved, feeling a strong urge to throw herself into Zhou Yan’s arms, but she understood that Zhou Yan had never loved her; everything was just her unilateral wishful thinking.
Moreover, she now had a daughter, and her daughter had found her most beloved Daoist couple, gaining happiness, which was enough to satisfy her.
She had a daughter, a daughter unrelated to Zhou Yan, and Gongcheng Diewu felt she no longer had the right to admire Zhou Yan.
But when she felt lost, Zhou Yan gently took her hand, softly drew her into his embrace, and comforted her, saying, "Don’t overthink and don’t have too many concerns. At the very least, now you have a lovely daughter, and a highly potential son-in-law, isn’t that very happy already? As for me... you know I’ve already been burdened with too many emotional debts and have no qualification to talk about feelings. I don’t know the current situation of the Holy Daughter Jiang Yuning, and as for the Goddess Mu Qingyan, even more so..."
Zhou Yan said with a bitter smile.
As he spoke, he had already let Gongcheng Diewu go.
This simple yet ceremonial gentle embrace suddenly filled the void in Gongcheng Diewu’s heart.