"Since you are the Heavenly Dao, isn't it your duty to sacrifice for the Three Realms?" Yue Zhiyin's gaze was firm. "Although I am the Heavenly Emperor, if I were asked to sacrifice for the Three Realms, I would be willing."
Qi Yu fell silent, gazing up at the sky. "Senior Brother, you are truly heartless. If you are willing to sacrifice for the Three Realms, have you ever thought about what would happen to us?"
"...You have a point," Yue Zhiyin turned to look at Qi Yu. "Although I speak grandly now, if I were truly to sacrifice for the Three Realms, I fear none of us could bear to let you go."
As he spoke these words, he treated the conversation as a simple exchange, without much thought.
But Qi Yu was made deeply melancholic by his words.
Her original intention in asking Yue Zhiyin these questions was merely to find an excuse to gauge his perspective. She had never expected that Yue Zhiyin's true thoughts would be so.
It wasn't that she thought Yue Zhiyin was bad.
Rather, she felt that she, who was already unsure of what to do, became even more perplexed after hearing Yue Zhiyin's words, with no solutions in sight.
Qi Yu admitted to her own selfishness.
After all, her roots were not yet severed; she had parents, a younger brother, friends, and a master. How could she be so benevolent as to willingly die for the Three Realms?
However.
Qi Yu lowered her gaze, thinking with a heavy heart, if she did nothing, would her mother and the others still be alive?
The more she thought about it, the more disheartening it became.
Seeing Yue Zhiyin still observing the human village from the side, Qi Yu casually looked up and told him she was going back to rest, then turned to leave.
Yue Zhiyin hummed in response, turning to gaze at Qi Yu's receding back. For some reason, he felt as if this parting would be their last.
"Perhaps I've developed a psychological shadow from Qi Yu's soul damage earlier," Yue Zhiyin muttered, shaking his head, and then he too turned to leave.
Within the territory of the South Sea Dragon Palace.
As soon as Qi Yu returned, she ran straight into Si Qing.
"Sister!" Si Qing had searched the Dragon Palace high and low for Qi Yu, and was frantic. Everyone in the Dragon Palace was searching for her, and they were all on the verge of panic.
Qi Yu hugged Si Qing. "I know, I know. I'm all grown up. Senior Brother said that you couldn't find me, but I just couldn't sleep earlier. My wound was healed, and I couldn't lie still, so I wanted to go for a stroll."
Si Qing nodded. Hearing Qi Yu say her wound was healed, he was stunned for a moment, then his face showed suspicion.
"Healed so quickly? How is that possible? A damaged soul, no matter how big or small, requires at least half a year of rest. How long has it been for you?"
As he spoke, he took Qi Yu's pulse.
It was strong and vigorous, her soul was complete, clearly indicating a state of full recovery. There was no issue with her soul whatsoever.
Si Qing, unwilling to believe it, re-checked her pulse. But the result was the same. This time, not only was her soul fine, but he even felt a powerful force emanating from within Qi Yu.
He looked at Qi Yu with disbelief. "Sister, what kind of miraculous elixir did you consume? How did you recover so suddenly? This is too fast."
The speed of recovery was truly unimaginable.
Even with the fastest recovery, it would take at least several months.
Yet, Qi Yu had recovered in almost the time it took for three sticks of incense to burn.
Si Qing couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. "Sister, did something else happen that you haven't told me?"