Chapter 66 Gentleness Zhe Qing's disgust was so obvious, as if mentioning Mu...

Mu Meng feigned a deep expression, looked up at Zhe Qing, and asked, word by word, "Are you trying to drive me crazy?"

These were serious words, but if it were someone else, they might not take them so seriously. But Zhe Qing was different. He blinked nervously and stammered, "I...I don't want to..."

He explained very seriously, but he didn't want to.

Mu Meng almost burst out laughing, but she managed to maintain her composure, her gaze indifferent and her expression detached.

"I asked you to call me 'Princess,' and you only said it once. You seem to understand what I mean quite well." Mu Meng crossed her arms, raised her chin, and feigned a slightly sarcastic, enlightened look. "Looks like I was too slow on the uptake. But now I understand, you never really wanted to be friends with me. You ran off twice without saying hello, and you hesitated so much when I asked you to call me by my name. You insisted on calling me 'Princess' to distance yourself from me. Fine, I won't force you then. I'll just be the one who's heartbroken!"

She spoke in a fierce and unreasonable manner, then tilted her head back, crossed her arms, and waited for Zhaiqing's reaction.

Zhe Qing was even more flustered than she had imagined: "No, no, I didn't want to make you angry, and it's not that I don't want to be friends with you... I actually—"

"Meng...Meng, Mengmeng," he licked his lips, then gently bit them, calling out twice cautiously, and whispered, "Don't be sad, okay?"

Mu Meng tightened her lips and said with an air of noble aloofness, "Heh."

She didn't look angry at all; she looked like a kitten that needed to be petted. A hint of helplessness appeared in her clear eyes, but it was also tinged with a very subtle, bright smile.

“It’s my fault, Mengmeng. If you’re unhappy, just hit me a couple of times,” he said again.

Hit him? Mu Meng thought to herself, she wasn't going to fall for it. His heart was made of glass and porcelain. If she really hit him a couple of times, he would probably look pitiful.

She ignored him, wanting to see how he planned to coax her.

Seeing that Mu Meng was still ignoring him, Zhe Qing didn't know how to cheer her up. He gently called her name again, but she didn't respond. He said palely and weakly, "I know I was wrong," but she still ignored him.

After thinking for a moment, Zhe Qing tilted the bamboo stick slightly and gently poked Mu Meng's shoulder with the top end.

The slight touch was a little itchy. Although it wasn't a direct physical contact, but rather the lifeless bamboo stick, it sent a tingling electric current through my shoulder and down to my fingertips, making me feel slightly weak.

For the first time, Mu Meng felt that the unremarkable bamboo stick Zhe Qing was strangely cute. At this moment, it seemed to come alive, as if it was silently speaking and gently comforting its owner.

But she was determined to see just how far Zhe Qing could go, so she gritted her teeth and held back, calmly suppressing her laughter and ignoring everyone.

Zhe Qing had no other choice. After thinking for a long time, she finally gently poked Mu Meng's shoulder with a bamboo stick.

He seemed completely incapable of comforting people. He was someone who remained calm in the face of danger and never panicked when encountering the most powerful enemy. But now he was at a loss, like a strangely silly child who couldn't speak and could only try to comfort people with a broken bamboo stick—if that's what you call comforting people.

The way he poked her had a strangely cute quality, and Mu Meng finally couldn't hold back anymore, curving her lips into a smile and saying, "Okay, stop poking me, what are you doing?"

Seeing that she smiled, Zhe Qing's expression relaxed slightly: "Don't be angry."

"Okay, I'll let it go since you behaved pretty well." Mu Meng finally took pity on Zhe Qing and let him go. She wasn't really angry; she was just annoyed because he didn't know how to cherish himself.

So although she was no longer angry, she still carefully reminded him, "But you must remember in the future, you are not allowed to admit your mistakes so easily. Don't say it's not a big deal. Even if you really did something wrong, just sincerely apologize. If it caused any losses, then try your best to correct them and make up for it. A man's knees are worth gold. How can you kneel down to others for such a small thing?"

Zhe Qing gently pursed his lips. His profile was gentle and delicate. Although he was pale, his eyes were clear and his expression was exceptionally gentle.

He spoke, his voice low, "There is no one else, only you."

Mu Meng took it as just a lip service, "Even if you've never knelt before anyone else, since I'm the first, I must be the last. You can't do it again. Understand?"

Seeing Zhe Qing slowly nod, she was still uneasy and stubbornly stared at him: "I want to hear your answer from your own mouth."

"I understand, I won't do it again." Zhe Qing's voice wasn't loud, but it was very heavy.

Seeing his earnest agreement, Mu Meng finally believed him. When she looked at him again, all the mischievousness and playful teasing in her heart disappeared. She only felt the sensation of an invisible hand gently twisting her arm. She said seriously, "Zhe Qing, there's nothing to be ashamed of. You are an upright and kind person. Why can't you live with your head held high?"

Zhe Qing was completely stunned. The next moment, he reacted, pursed his lips tightly, and turned his head slightly to the side. But Mu Meng still saw a glint of light flash in the corner of his eyes, which quickly disappeared.

She thoughtfully refrained from speaking immediately, waiting for Zheqing to calm herself down.

After going through such a long and winding road, this is what she really wanted to say to Zhe Qing.

A moment later, Zhe Qing's expression returned to its usual composure. He must have taken her words to heart. His face became even gentler, and his figure seemed to have gained a touch more charm.

Mu Meng smiled slightly and said, "Now may I ask what brings you here?"

Actually, she wasn't particularly concerned about how he got in. She knew the guards at the entrance of Tiancang Realm very well; this place wasn't an impenetrable fortress, and there were many ways to enter. So, more than how he entered, she wanted to know Zhe Qing's purpose in coming here.

But before she could even ask what she really wanted to ask, he was so frightened by the previous question.

This time, Zhe Qing was much better. He was no longer flustered by a single question and said gently, "I have been tracking the black aura that was in Yunze Realm a while ago. However, that monster is very cunning and there are very few clues to be found. I only found that he had been here before, so I came to try my luck."

"Oh..." Mu Meng nodded thoughtfully. Since Zhe Qing didn't say anything more, he must not have gained anything, otherwise he wouldn't have appeared at the suspension bridge so quickly.

After thinking for a moment, Mu Meng advised, "Zhe Qing, you don't need to investigate this monster anymore. You saw it that day, and neither of our spiritual power is a match for it. If you encounter it alone, you will suffer."

Although she knew that with Zhe Qing's intelligence, she would not confront him head-on under unfavorable conditions and would probably think of a way to outsmart him, that would be extremely dangerous. "This monster is coming for me. As long as I have what he wants, even if I don't find him in advance, he will eventually stand in front of me. You don't need to look anymore, go do something else."

Zhe Qing glanced at her, then shook her head firmly: "How can that be? If he really stands in front of you one day, he must have made thorough preparations. If that's the case, then we should find him and kill him beforehand."

"He came to me with all his might, so why shouldn't I be prepared to just sit here and wait to die?"

Mu Meng smiled and asked in return, then her gaze softened and she said gently, "Don't take the risk, listen to me."

To everyone's surprise, Zhe Qing was not so agreeable this time. He gave Mu Meng a deep look and said, "This won't do, Mengmeng. This is the only one that won't do."

His tone was so firm and left no room for refusal. Looking at his expression, Mu Meng thought for a moment and had no choice but to give up.

Well, Zhe Qing yearns to uphold justice and bring peace to the world. It would be a bit much for her to forbid him from tracking that dark energy anymore. In the end, she and Zhe Qing are just friends who admire each other very much, and she has no right to interfere with his ambitions.

He was willing to work hard for this, and she wouldn't hold him back either; they would be fully prepared to face this fierce battle that might come at any time.

Thinking this, Mu Meng changed the subject: "You came here to investigate, and although you didn't find any trace of him, did you find any other clues?"

Zhe Qing nodded and brought up the important matter. He finally exuded more confidence and his expression became more composed and resolute. "I saw traces of a magic array at the monster's dwelling place. According to my judgment, it should have been formed by the monster's transformation. That magic array was probably used by him to strengthen his spiritual power."

Mu Meng raised an eyebrow: "Transformed into a monster? You mean, the person wrapped in that cloud of black mist was actually a lifeless object that somehow encountered some fortuitous event, acquired spiritual power, and gained signs of life, thus becoming a transformed monster?"

"good."

This is strange. Looking across the Six Realms, which place overflowing with spiritual energy could nurture such a powerful transformed monster? There are countless transformed monsters in the world, at most they have some spiritual energy, and if they are lucky enough to cultivate into human form, that is already a great fortune.

Mu Meng shook his head and sighed, "Under a ten-thousand-year-old tree on Wine Fragrance Mountain in the Demon Realm, there is a black stone. After transforming into a monster, that stone took human form, and its spiritual power was almost comparable to that of a great demon. However, as a transformed monster, it was unmatched among its kind, but its spiritual power was not even considered average in the Six Realms. Yet, it is already the most remarkable transformed monster recorded so far. But when it encounters this cloud of black energy, even the stone monster would have to give way."

Zhe Qing smiled slightly: "That's right. Although it's not a major discovery, it's still a clue, and it gives us some insight into his identity."

After chatting for so long, Zhe Qing slightly turned her head to look at Mu Meng. She saw that Mu Meng's expression was normal, but her eyes were like a calm lake, making it impossible to see what she was thinking.

He blinked, a hint of worry showing between his brows.

Mu Meng noticed that Zhe Qing was hesitant to speak. "What's wrong? Just say what you have to say. You don't need to keep it bottled up inside."

Zhe Qing hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Mengmeng, I know this question is a bit offensive, I hope you won't take offense. I want to know what you think about what you learned tonight..."

So that's what he wanted to ask. Although it wasn't like him, Mu Meng still answered honestly, "I don't know, I haven't thought about it either."

She glanced at Zhe Qing and suddenly a thought popped into her head—in the room just now, whether it was her, the Lou family father and daughter, or Feng Xixue and Sheng Yuanting, they were all practically involved, except for Zhe Qing, who was a complete outsider. She really wanted to hear his opinion on this matter.

Thinking this, Mu Meng asked, "Zhe Qing, what is your opinion on this matter?"

Zhe Qing remained silent for a moment, seemingly considering his words, before finally speaking, but what he said surprised Mu Meng:

"If you ask me, I think we don't need to pay attention to what the Lou family father and daughter say, whether it's true or false."

What? Regardless of whether it's true or false?

Such a cold and resolute attitude is unlike Zhe Qing's usual personality.

Moreover, Mu Meng had already confirmed that what they said was true, but Zhe Qing did not know that yet. However, she did not intend to tell him too many details, and only asked, "If it is true, why not pay attention to it?"

Zhe Qing said, "Although I keep a low profile, I am not completely ignorant of worldly affairs. I have heard some things about the deposed Crown Prince Mu Qingheng of the Heavenly Clan."

"Since Mu Qingheng has fallen into demonic possession, he has abandoned his identity as a son of the Heavenly Clan. Since he abandoned his own clan first, what is there to pity about him? Besides, every wrong has its perpetrator and every debt its debtor. If he truly hated someone, he could have openly and honestly fought his real enemy. But he acted in secret. What crime has Her Highness the Princess committed that she was plotted against and suffered this calamity? Since he abandoned his clan, colluded with external demons, and schemed against the Princess, each of these acts, taken individually, is an unforgivable crime. Therefore, Mu Qingheng's death is truly not an injustice."

"Furthermore, even if the Heavenly Emperor's methods of seizing the throne were not honorable, he has never made a single wrong move since taking office, and his actions can be described as benevolent and chivalrous. In that case, why stir up trouble in the Heavenly Clan over past events? If this matter is exposed, the ministers will be outraged and jointly depose the Heavenly Emperor, and the Heavenly Clan will be in chaos. The two princesses will also be affected. If there is no one in charge for a long time, with internal and external troubles, the Heavenly Clan may decline and fall into obscurity."

Finally, Zhe Qing concluded in a deep voice: "After such an assessment, since Mu Qingheng's crimes are unforgivable and he truly deserves to die, exposing this matter would damage the foundation of the Heavenly Clan and destroy the father-daughter relationship. It would be entirely detrimental and without any benefit, so why hold a grudge and keep this matter in mind? It's better to just laugh it off and let it go."

He spoke fluently and logically, every word and sentence was extremely rational, and even quite correct—if this matter were made public, it would not only bring no benefit, but would also bring many negative consequences.

As Mu Meng listened to the story, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Zhe Qing was indeed an outsider, even too outsider. Her analysis of the situation was incredibly sharp, devoid of any personal feelings, and every single thing she did was driven by self-interest—and moreover, it was all for the benefit of her and the Celestial Clan.

No, it wasn't that he was completely devoid of personal feelings. Although he was cold and rational, Mu Meng could still hear the disgust he felt for Mu Qingheng in his tone—that deep disdain and contempt, as if mentioning him would taint his own mouth.

Mu Meng glanced at Zhe Qing slightly, his expression calm and composed, and he seemed somewhat indifferent when the topic was brought up.

That's true. A man like him, upright and honest, with a strong sense of justice and a deep hatred for evil, it's no wonder he's so biased towards Mu Qingheng.

Mu Meng remained noncommittal, but slowly asked, "So you think I shouldn't dwell on this matter any longer, but should just let it go? Even if the deposed crown prince suffered many humiliations and grievances, are we just going to ignore them?"

Zhe Qing said decisively, "Yes. Ignore it."

His tone softened, and he said softly, "Just treat it as a dream. When you wake up, forget everything."

Mu Meng nodded slowly, smiled slightly, clasped his hands together, and gently placed them on the railing outside. "It's strange, Zhe Qing. I thought that with your personality, you wouldn't say such ruthless and decisive words."

Her tone was relaxed and comfortable, but it also carried a subtle hint of probing.

Zhe Qing moved her lips slightly, lowered her eyes and said in a low voice, "Since you have asked me, I will naturally tell you my thoughts frankly. I hope Your Highness will consider this carefully, as this is the only rational course of action."

He called her back to the princess, probably because her question had made him nervous. Mu Meng chuckled and said, "You don't need to be so careful. I was just a little curious. I could tell from your tone that, although you didn't say it directly, why do you dislike Mu Qingheng so much?"

Zhe Qing was silent for a moment, then said, "Doesn't he deserve to be hated?"

Maybe.

Zheqing and everyone else in the world only know about Mu Qingheng's many mistakes, but they don't know that all of that is just the tip of the iceberg. The truth is far more enormous than people imagine.

If he hadn't lost his family at such a young age.

If he hadn't endured immense pain to undergo a heart transplant and become possessed by a demon.

If he hadn't activated the Rebirth Array to make amends for the past.

If he hadn't softened his heart time and time again, he would have ultimately succumbed to the heartbreak of love.

Perhaps... he deserves to be loathed and hated without reservation.

But at this moment, Mu Meng couldn't quite describe his feelings. He simply stared into the distance and sighed, "I didn't understand before. I just thought that people in the world were clearly good and bad. But only now do I realize that things can't be judged in such a simple way. We once worked together to eradicate the snake worms. In our own eyes and in the eyes of the world, we were doing a good deed. But in the eyes of the snake worms, weren't we also cold-blooded executioners? If everyone in the world acted from their own perspective, then the black and white dichotomy in this world would be completely reversed."

“Actually, Mu Qingheng…” Mu Meng paused, then swallowed all her words back, “Never mind, I’d better not tell you.”

Zhe Qing smiled slightly, his handsome features becoming even more striking. Finally, he said softly, "Mengmeng, don't worry anymore. These things aren't worth your troubles. Since that person is dead, let him return to dust. What humiliation or grievance is there to talk about? People live for themselves, not for others. Stop thinking about it and forget about it."

Stop thinking about it, just forget about it.

The gentle night breeze seemed to carry his tender words far away.

These words lingered in her mind, his soft voice echoing in her ears. Gradually, as if she were in a secluded valley, the hoarseness and roughness in his voice slowly faded away, transforming into a familiar and clear tone.

The person seemed to be standing right in front of you, with a faint light emanating from him, so soft and dim that it made you squint.

His eyes were as deep and beautiful as ever, like a vast blue sea, revealing an overflowing affection and tenderness.

He seemed about to leave, his breath carrying the dust and vastness of a distant journey, as he whispered a helpless yet gentle word of comfort in her ear:

Stop thinking about it, just forget about it.

Mu Meng's hands, which were resting on the railing, gradually curled up and slowly clenched into fists. She used force, and her knuckles turned bluish-white.

Finally, she lowered her hands, and her tightly clenched fingers slowly loosened.

No one knew what she was thinking, and she said nothing.