Mu Qinghe kneeled on the ground and didn’t get up for a long time. His voice was deep and weak. “She already knows that I betrayed her. There shouldn’t… be a need to meet her anymore, right?”
What else can I say even if we meet? In this world, there won’t be a person who would continue believing in someone that once betrayed them. Besides, every single thing I did back then was enough to push her to her grave.
“That might not be the case.” That voice laughed and said ambiguously, “She already knows that you betrayed her, but she still chose to let you live. It’s precisely because of this that makes things more interesting, right? She personally brought you up. Perhaps… she still can’t bear it?”
Mu Qinghe kneeled on the ground and fell into deep silence, his entire body cold and stiff. He closed his eyes and hid all the emotions in his eyes.
The surrounding air froze inch by inch.
“Too many people have come here, and it’s very chaotic. When it becomes quieter, you can just bring her over. If I haven’t recalled wrongly, the two of you haven’t seen each other in a long time, right? At the end of the day, both of you were master and servant, so you should reminisce about the past. Don’t forget—that item is still with her.”
Mu Qinghe’s pale lips trembled, and he finally spat out a few words with much difficulty. “I’ll listen to your instructions.”
Cold and sinister laughter sounded before it quickly disappeared.
After much time, Mu Qinghe finally straightened his body.
The blood color in the gigantic copper mirror not far away from him finally subsided, leaving faint dark-red stains by the edges.
The surroundings were dark, empty, and quiet.
Mu Qinghe slowly stood up, and his face was half-light and half-dark. One couldn’t see him clearly.
…
“Unfilial descendants greet the ancestor!” Within the barrier, the many legendary three-eyed eagles gathered together and respectfully greeted Zi Chen. They couldn’t hide their emotions.
Even though Zi Chen seemed calm, Chu Liuyue was connected to its aura and could naturally feel its rollercoaster-like emotions.
After being trapped for a thousand years, it could finally see its clansmen today. How could it not be agitated?
“Be at ease. Is everything alright in the clan?” Zi Chen composed itself and finally spoke.
Once Zi Chen said that, the legendary three-eyed eagle opposite it had a strange change in expression.
The one at the front looked helpless. “Ancestor… To be honest, the clan isn’t doing very well.”
Zi Chen’s heart sank.
“Ever since you suddenly disappeared back then, someone surrounded us and attacked us continuously. After a hard struggle, more than half of the clan died or got injured. In the end, to preserve our bloodline, we left our original place and came to this place after many twists and turns.”
“All these years, we never heard anything from you. We all thought that someone used that Heavenly Square Cauldron on you and—” When the legendary three-eyed eagle at the front said this, it glanced at Chu Liuyue.
Zi Chen’s expression was nonchalant. “Just continue.”
“…Yes. When you disappeared back then, you had left behind a bit of karmic fire from the Heavenly Square Cauldron, so we used this clue to investigate. It’s a pity that after so many years, we couldn’t find anything. It was only until this moment that we discovered that the item actually…”
Temporary silence.
The many legendary three-eyed eagles couldn’t help but look at Chu Liuyue again. If our instincts aren’t wrong, the Heavenly Square Cauldron seems… to be with this person!
“So this time, you actually purposely set up this trap to lure the person who truly holds the Heavenly Square Cauldron and think of a way to obtain it?” asked Chu Liuyue with a slight smile.
“…That’s right.” These legendary three-eyed eagles were honest and directly admitted to it.
“That’s also why when we first detected it was with you, we—” The legendary three-eyed eagle at the front spoke and glanced at Zi Chen uneasily.
They could all tell that their ancestor had an extraordinary relationship with this young man. Back then, the rumors clearly said that Ancestor was harmed by the Heavenly Square Cauldron, so we all hated it and held a grudge against the Heavenly Square Cauldron. But it now seems like… that this isn’t the case…”
“The Heavenly Square Cauldron has indeed recognized her as its owner, but the incident back then has nothing to do with her.” Knowing that they would misunderstand, Zi Chen directly explained it. “To be more accurate, without her, I might’ve already been destroyed.”
Once it said this, Chu Liuyue immediately felt many passionate gazes land on her.
“So this is what happened. Young Master Chu, sorry for being disrespectful!” Their attitudes instantly changed greatly.
Saving Zi Chen was an extremely huge favor for their entire clan, so they naturally had to thank him properly.
“Everyone, you’re welcome.” Chu Liuyue coughed. Actually, I’m not at a loss. After all… Zi Chen has become my legendary fiend…
“The incident back then is a long story. I’ll explain it to you in detail later on,” said Zi Chen while staring at the legendary three-eyed eagle at the front. “Did you decide on this matter yourself, or… Is there another plan? Did you release the news that the Heavenly Square Cauldron would appear here?”
Chu Liuyue’s gaze focused. This was one of the truths she wanted to know the most.
The legendary three-eyed eagle at the front shook its head. “Actually… Someone previously came to find us and said that he wanted to help us find the person who had the Heavenly Square Cauldron, so we agreed. Later on, it was basically the other party executing the plan, and we just waited here quietly…”
Zi Chen exchanged glances with Chu Liuyue. “Who is that person?”
“We don’t know him either. When the other party appeared, he didn’t meet us with his true appearance. Even his figure and looks were different, but… he should be someone extraordinary.”
That was a given. Being able to find the legendary three-eyed eagles and convince them to work with him stated too many problems.
Chu Liuyue thought for a moment. “Zi Chen, who knows that the legendary three-eyed eagle clan has conflicts with the person holding the Heavenly Square Cauldron?”
Zi Chen squinted its eyes and shook its head. “I originally thought that only the people in the clan knew, but it seems like it’s clearly not the case.”
“Could it be the person who harmed you back then? Or… the people who attacked the legendary three-eyed eagle clan after you were in trouble?”
Zi Chen was dazed, and a spark of complicated emotions flashed across its eyes. “There is that possibility… But after thousands of years, I don’t know where they are and what identity they would use to appear in this world…”
The world was ever-changing. After such a long time, anything could happen.
Chu Liuyue crossed her arms and lightly stroked her chin in a seemingly smiling manner. “The other party seems… to be coming for me.”
With the Heavenly Square Cauldron as the bait, I’m definitely the one being lured. However, I can’t confirm if the other party knows that the Heavenly Square Cauldron is with me.
After pausing for a moment, she looked up and asked, “Can you still contact those people now?”
The legendary three-eyed eagles shook their heads in unison. “They’re very meticulous. They would always be the ones who contacted us every time, and later on, all traces and evidence would be destroyed rapidly. We wanted to chase after them and check on them, but it was all to no avail. The other party is very cunning, but there’s something we can confirm—the other party is also in the Flood-Desert Northern Region!”
