I can't, not that I'm not capable.
The bedchamber was dimly lit, and the eerie atmosphere emanating from Xie Jinhui's calm yet unsettling words was palpable.
He said he and I were very similar; I was the root of love that Su Ling abandoned to become the Holy Emperor.
He was a wisp of divine consciousness sacrificed by Emperor Su Ling 320,000 years ago to save the future immortal realm.
When Emperor Shengsheng opened the Sea of Time with his divine sense, his power was already weak. By the time he arrived in the past and found Emperor Su Ling, he had even forgotten how to open the Sea of Time.
Emperor Su Ling helped Emperor Sheng Sheng repair his divine consciousness and offered a wisp of his own divine consciousness to enter the Sea of Time to save the world in the future.
The process is too complex to explain in detail, but the fact that this wisp of divine consciousness, which had accidentally wandered out of the Sea of Time, had indeed become a speck of dust is enough to explain it.
I gathered the dust into form, Xie Jinhui.
Although the former Emperor Su Ling had not yet abandoned his emotional roots and the seven desires, this wisp of divine consciousness did not feel any lack.
But as soon as Xiao Weichen Xie Jinhui saw me, he gave himself the name Jinhui.
He said he didn't remember what the mission was, but a vague idea seemed to be forming in his mind: he wanted to pester me and take me "home".
After all this time, it turns out that we seem to share the same roots, but in reality, we're a mess, and I don't even know if we're related or not...
If we're talking about close relationships, Qi Yu is closer to me. I was able to meet Xie Jinhui if it weren't for the time sea that reversed the Heavenly Gang and brought him here.
I have absolutely no connection with him, not even if you connected all the bamboo poles in the celestial realm together, we still wouldn't be able to reach each other.
This connection is hard to come by.
Was it a coincidence or an inevitability that she could fall deeply in love with him? It certainly doesn't seem like it was all natural.
The taste was strange, but what was even stranger was...
I couldn't help but smile, then asked in a deep voice.
"Xie Jinhui, since you are only a divine consciousness, why don't you tell the immortals the truth?"
Xie Jinhui raised an eyebrow, and I continued with concern, "I know that the power of a wisp of divine consciousness is limited. Is your immortal power enough? Can you hold the fort?"
I felt really stupid after I asked the question.
That day, the demeanor and imposing presence of Emperor Su Ling when confronting Qi Yu not only intimidated the Immortal Realm, but even Mount Fei Kong was shaken by the ripples of his immortal power.
He was imposing and domineering, yet also relaxed and at ease.
Xie Jinhui flicked my forehead with his finger.
“Yuan’e, when I said I was Su Ling, even the immortals doubted me. If Xiao hadn’t known my true nature and confirmed it for me, I probably would have been hanging in the sky that day and wouldn’t have been able to come down.”
If I were to reveal my origins to them, those old fogies in the immortal realm would surely create rules, constraints, and ethical dilemmas to bind me, leaving me even less time to deal with the matters of the seven desires.
I nodded silently; he was right.
When he was bound to the Tai Su Wu Nian Stone, I wanted to use the Soul Lock to save him, but the Discipline Hall wrongly judged it as a violation of justice and stopped me.
Xie Jinhui smiled at me and continued, "There are differences between different kinds of divine consciousness. Has Yuan'e forgotten what Su Ling's true form is?"
I rubbed my forehead and replied, "It's purified water."
“Yes.” He smiled smugly. “I am also pure water. I come from a drop of water. Even though I later became as vast as the ocean, every drop of water is him, and every drop of his water is me.”
He possesses as much magical power as I do; in terms of magical power alone, I am Suomi.
I exclaimed twice, "Wow, my Huihui's magical power is boundless! But, putting aside magical power, is there a big difference between you and Emperor Su Ling?"
Upon hearing this, Xie Jinhui showed his fear and gave a vague answer.
"It's pretty much the same, except that some memories were too heavy for Mio to take with her, so she didn't let me bring the Sea of Time."
"Oh, Xie Jinhui is the amnesiac Emperor Su Ling." I seized the opportunity.
He pouted, unconvinced.
“It’s not amnesia. I remember everything I should remember, it’s just…” His gaze was focused as he looked at my divine seal, as if piercing through my sea of consciousness and looking back at my true self.
I couldn't help but recall the expression and words of Emperor Yifeng Qu when he infused me with immortal power.
He asked Suo Ling, "You chose her?"
The "she" the Emperor spoke of was, of course, me.
I vividly remember the relieved and eager expression on Yifeng Qu's face after receiving confirmation from Su Ling.
It's as if he finally got some permission to pursue his ideals.
As I thought about it, it suddenly dawned on me.
I stroked Xie Jinhui's gills, caressing them back and forth, and said with pity, "Xie Jinhui, have you forgotten who is very important to Emperor Su Ling?"
Xie Jinhui shook his head, placed his palm on the back of my hand, and looked bright and serene.
“Yuan’e, Xie Jinhui only has you.”
I don't think I can ever go back to Mio's world. Who he cares about, and what does it matter to me?
He tilted his head and brushed my palm with his long eyelashes.
Xie Jinhui is so good. We are both powerful and insignificant, both independent individuals and branches of the gods.
The purpose of our meeting is unclear, and even the timing is contradictory, with things coming and going.
But the outcome is certain: we will perish together, and together we will restore clarity to the world.
I confided to Xie Jinhui that I had felt inferior because I was the root of Su Lingdijun's affections, and even felt that my feelings for Xie Jinhui were not pure.
Xie Jinhui, however, disagreed, saying, "Since we've already fallen in love, how we fell in love isn't important."
"Yuan'e, do you love me? Are you happy?"
I reached out and covered his eyes, then nodded in acknowledgment of his question.
"What do you think?" I asked him in return.
His voice was harsh as he replied to me.
"So it turns out that I only found out about Yuanhe's covetousness for me in the dark."
Then he sighed and said in a low voice, "I'm so sorry, Yuanhe."
He struck a meaningful pose, and I removed my hand from my eyes, looking at him with a puzzled expression.
Seeing that he was suddenly downcast, I quickly made a joke and complimented him.
We, the Huihui, possess noble sentiments and broad minds, and are willing to dedicate ourselves to the well-being of all people.
With boundless compassion, a savior of the world, his compassion is as small as a drop of water, yet his virtue is immeasurable as the Milky Way.
He smiled helplessly, then asked me seriously, "Since Yuan'e is determined to walk this path with me, does Yuan'e consider herself great, selfless, and compassionate?"
I paused for a moment, then said firmly, "I don't feel that way at all. I just want to be with you."
Xie Jinhui's tone was gentle yet firm.
"I was just doing what I had to do." He then spread out one hand, expressing a kind of indifference.
"My purpose in life was to complete the mission, but I never expected to win over a goddess along the way. I fell deeply in love with her and lived a life of pleasure."
This time, my eyes darkened as I thought about how such a beautiful water droplet in front of me was about to be burned dry and charred, and I felt extremely regretful.
"Xie Jinhui, when Emperor Su Ling separated you, was your initial task to bear everything and then face death?"
Xie Jinhui raised his gaze, the depth in his eyes absorbing the bitterness that welled up in me.
“Of course, I knew my fate all along, Yuanhe, let me tell you!” His tone became light, as if he were taking himself apart into a toy and teaching me step by step how to understand and assemble him.
"The identity that Suo Ling initially assigned me was not that of a god-king. Rather..."
He was keeping me in suspense, and I blinked and took the bait.
What is it?
"It's a stove."
"A stove?" I repeated in surprise.
Xie Jinhui patted his chest and said confidently, "It's a very sturdy and airtight furnace!"
As he explained, I understood.
Emperor Su Ling refined the wisp of divine consciousness he had separated into a furnace; his plan was swift, ruthless, and decisive.
Ah, those three words sound familiar! Quick, ruthless, and decisive!
Emperor Su Ling directed his divine sense to follow that of Emperor Sheng Sheng, and at the right moment, he jumped down.
He seized upon the seven desires that were causing trouble, summoned back the root of love, and added a wisp of the divine consciousness of the Holy Emperor to the furnace.
With a beeping sound, the divine consciousness furnace would automatically ignite inside, burning everything, including the furnace itself, to ashes.
No, not even ashes, nothing at all.
The furnace's divine consciousness is a solitary warrior. Because Emperor Su Ling had no idea how to open the Sea of Time, he was unable to retrieve the furnace from the future.
If it were in the same time and space, even if the furnace were launched into the vast universe, it would still have a chance to fall back down and return home one day.
But the furnace unexpectedly transformed into Xie Jinhui, and the originally refined and primal journey became the afterglow of inspiration.
After listening to Xie Luzi's story, I felt no sadness at all, but rather a sense of relief and understanding.
No wonder Su Ling's eyes were blazing when she wanted to kill me and Qi Yu; she was tending the boiler.
No wonder Xie Jinhui is always so passionate; that's his true nature.
Is there even the slightest obstacle or barrier between us?
It's gone now, it's gone!
His mission and wish, which remained unchanged from beginning to end, was to burn me!
Hahaha, I'll let him burn it, let him burn it, I'm just afraid he won't burn it to his heart's content!
I smiled and leaned over the edge of the table to stand in front of him, running my hand from his cheek to his neck with an extremely gentle yet cruel touch, caressing him back and forth.
He was brimming with energy, like those aloof and stubborn deities who adhered to dogma and remained unyielding.
I said, half-jokingly and half-seriously, "Stove, stove, do you need some firewood?"
I saw my own delicate and flawless reflection in his eyes. He smiled slyly, his eyes filled with a thunderous surge of passion.
But like a falling star, it dimmed instantly into a clear sky.
“Yuan’e,” he said calmly, neither urging nor resisting, “there’s something else I need to tell you.” He paused, a hint of regret in his voice.
“I am a furnace. The day I retrieved my memories from the Sea of Time, after I put on the skin that Suo Ling tailored for me, I became a furnace.”
I vaguely understood, and probably didn't understand, but I said confidently, "I know you're a furnace, but it doesn't matter. You're dust, you're water droplets, whatever you are, I'll cherish you all the same."
Xie Jinhui smiled sweetly.
"That's not what I meant. I meant I'm a furnace, an airtight furnace."
Right now, my body still contains a part of the seven desires...
That's right, I can't leak a drop, not even a single drop, otherwise..."
Before he could finish speaking, I, who only half understood, said in a haphazard way, "Oh, then I'll dress you in more layers, make sure you're all bundled up, like a roaring fire in a stove."
Xie Jinhui let out a laugh, but his expression held a hint of melancholy and shame.
“Yuan’e,” his voice became serious, “I confess, in this lifetime, I will never be able to cultivate with you!”
Boom! A bolt from the blue! The lightning in my brain crackled and popped, throwing me into a frenzy.
I gave a short laugh. This must be a sad thing, right?
But it doesn't seem like a big deal, in fact...
A thought flashed through my mind, and I immediately raised one eyebrow and gave him a wicked smile.
Then I got up and pulled up this Heavenly Emperor who, having just finished speaking, had already deflated psychologically.
With a light touch and a gentle push, he was seated in a spacious armchair beside the bed.
His dismissive smile turned into a thuggish act, leaving me defenseless and wary.
At this moment, Xie Jinhui slumped in his chair, looking innocently amazed.
I'm incredibly bold now. Before he could react, I straddled his lap, facing him directly, and scrutinized him.
I breathed softly, each breath a whisper of unspeakable love and tenderness for him.
"Xie Jinhui," I said, "Oh dear, it's impossible!"
If that's the case, does it mean that from now on I can do whatever I want to you, torment you at will, and not have to worry about you fighting back?
Hehehehe..."
Xie Jinhui was stunned. His eyes were unfocused. He surrendered without resistance. For the first time in his life, he couldn't beat me!
Hahaha!
I think I'm mentally ill, but I'm enjoying it.
To receive love, to receive a person, to receive a life, to receive an end.
In the end, you gain nothing; the only thing you can hold onto is the happiness of the present moment.
"Xie Jinhui, I am very happy!"
I put my arms under his armpits and hugged him tightly.
He buried his head in my hair, and there was a sense that he wanted to take from me and give to me.
But after hugging him for a while, I felt something was off, so I stepped back and stared at his beautiful face and the silent furnace.
Is he truly silent? I kissed his brow.
Because of his sitting posture, his breath gradually sank into the soft vortex of the mountains.
I could feel the rise and fall of his chest muscles, the suppressed breathing, and...
I paused for a moment, then stopped my blasphemous touch and kiss.
Xie Jinhui tilted her head slightly, her face flushed, her eyes sparkling.
He seemed to have locked himself in a dream, just waking up. He remained motionless, smiling gently.
Then, with a sorrowful expression, he sighed and gritted his teeth, saying, "Yuan'e, I can't, no, it's impossible."
No wonder, no wonder I felt something bad growing there earlier.
"I'm sorry!" I was so scared that I lifted my skirt and ran away.
I was filled with lingering fear: if he had provoked me to the point of losing control, it could have resulted in the deaths of countless people.
Run, run quickly!
Just as I was running, Xie Jinhui grabbed me with a double entendre and pulled me back.
Where are you going?
I slumped onto him, resting my head on my arm against the armrest of the chair, and looked up at him shyly.
"Yuan'e, Yuan'e, I'm perfectly safe. You don't need to look at me like that." Xie Jinhui smiled and leaned down.
"With such beauty before us, we should still indulge in what we can, Yuan'e, don't you think?"
What is not, you already...
You can even turn the tables! Waaaaaah...
That's enough, that's enough!
Every kiss is a farewell.
How much longer? The future, how far away is it?
Enjoy life to the fullest when things are going well, and even more so when things are not going well. Love others in any way you can.
However, this goddess sometimes worries about the country and its people. While we were kissing, I thought of something important.
"Xie Jinhui, what will happen to the Heavenly Emperor's throne after we both perish?"
In an instant, I felt Xie Jinhui's cold aura invade me, and the hall was filled with dust and noise.
"Don't worry, Yuanhe." He smiled warmly.
"I thought of this problem when I was binding the Tai Su Wu Nian Stone."
I have a backup plan. After I leave, whether Xiao likes it or not, he will be the Heavenly Emperor.
My face was filled with disbelief.
"You mean, when you bound the Primordial Nothingness Stone, you secretly bound the Ancestor Lord as well?"
“Yes,” Xie Jinhui smiled mischievously, “He’s been his son for so many years, he’s not at a disadvantage, he should repay him.”
I nodded silently.
After all, 320,000 years ago, it was the Ancestor who abandoned the position of Heavenly Emperor, forcing Emperor Su Ling to sever his emotional attachments and seven desires to become the Heavenly Emperor.
Then, the Heavenly Emperor lost his true nature, and the seven desires caused chaos. I wandered aimlessly, and Xie Jinhui became a furnace.
It cannot be said that Zu Jun was the culprit, but his days of only thinking about returning to nothingness and living a carefree life outside the world are coming to an end.
He should also shoulder the destiny that he is meant to bear.
Yes, that's right. Xie Jinhui and I still have a while to work on, to find all the ingredients for our stew.
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