Chapter 43 Tongue Cutting [First Update] A piece of flesh, dripping with blood, fell...
On this day, the Celestial Clan was completely dumbfounded.
The long-absent eldest princess suddenly returned, her movements hurried. Before dawn, she rushed into the Heavenly Emperor's Qian Yuan Palace, stating that the young princess was in trouble and that the crown prince was not of the Heavenly Clan bloodline, but rather the son of the Demon Clan, and even the murderer who harmed her years ago. Now, both of them were in the Demon Clan's desolate tomb.
This news was undeniably astonishing, but the eldest princess spoke with absolute certainty, and the Heavenly Emperor even brought out the four lamps of the young prince's Four Nine An to examine, and indeed they were extinguished. He immediately dispatched men to the desolate tomb.
His Highness the Crown Prince and the little princess were indeed there.
The matter was thought to be shrouded in mystery, but unexpectedly, His Highness the Crown Prince did not offer a single defense against the Princess's accusations. He admitted to everything, from the demon bloodline to the conspiracy of that year.
The Heavenly Emperor was furious and immediately imprisoned him in the Heavenly Prison after bringing him back to the Heavenly Clan.
**
Mu Luo's heart finally settled when she saw Mengmeng. The moment she learned that Mu Qingheng was the murderer who had harmed her, she immediately understood many things, and her heart clenched—not for herself, but for Mengmeng.
At this moment, Mu Qingheng had already been taken away, and she had no time to seek revenge. With a cold face, she grabbed Mu Meng's arm and examined her from head to toe.
Her plain white dress was stained with blood, but it all belonged to others; she herself was unharmed. Mu Luo carefully examined it twice before releasing Mu Meng's hand and staring at her with a displeased expression.
Her usually gentle and doting eyes were now clouded with rage. Mu Luo stared intently at her younger sister, her anger reaching its peak. She suddenly raised her hand—
Mu Meng shrugged, closed her eyes, her long, curled eyelashes trembling, but she didn't flinch.
Seeing her like this, Mu Luo hesitated for a moment before actually slapping her. But she was so angry that she gritted her teeth and raised her hand high again—but in the end, it trembled twice, and she couldn't bring herself to do it.
They pamper her too much to bear even a hair on her head.
"What did you say to me back then? What did you promise me?" Although I couldn't bring myself to hit you, I still had to scold you.
Mu Luo gritted her teeth, wanting nothing more than to teach her sister a lesson, but unsure how, she could only scold her sharply, "You told me you would secretly keep an eye on things, and when that person lowered their guard, you would tell me the truth so I could strike unexpectedly! I only knew you were always obedient and sensible, and I actually believed you! You said you would never get involved, I never imagined you'd be this bold now, that's the Desolate Tomb! What were you thinking? Do you know how dangerous it is?!"
Mu Luo grew angrier as she spoke, and finally couldn't help but stick out her index finger and poke her sister's forehead twice.
Mu Meng's head bobbed up and down as she was poked, and she looked at her with a wronged expression, her eyes a little red.
Mu Luo licked her lips, her arrogance subsiding unconsciously. "What are you doing? You're so resourceful, you even went to the demon's lair by yourself, and you're afraid I'll poke you a couple of times? Don't you have any backbone? What are you crying for?"
She frowned, staring blankly for a long time, then reached out and gently touched her smooth forehead: "Did I poke you too hard? Did it hurt?"
Mu Meng's lips curled down slightly. She grabbed Mu Luoluo's slender waist and nestled into her arms like a swallow, choking out, "Sister."
Mu Luo almost cried. She quickly hugged her slender body, and her anger subsided, leaving only tenderness. "Okay, I won't scold you anymore."
From childhood to adulthood, she had never said a harsh word to Mengmeng; she herself couldn't bear to.
"Do you know how I felt when I received your spirit message and saw what you told me? Do you know how worried I was about you?" Although she couldn't bear to scold her anymore, she still had to say what needed to be said. Mu Luo hugged her sister tightly and gently stroked her hair.
Her hands were gentle, but her eyes and tone turned cold. "How could it be Mu Qingheng? How dare he..."
Mu Meng pursed her lips and nestled in her sister's arms. She understood the pain her sister felt for her. Her brother, who had always loved Ru Mu, was the one who had hurt her sister. She must have thought that she would be sad about this, and not only sad, but probably conflicted and troubled.
But in reality, she experienced much more than her sister imagined.
She would no longer be saddened by what Mu Qingheng had done, nor would she ever put herself in a difficult position. The place Mu Qingheng held in her heart had long been gradually severed, and now there was nothing left at all.
I just feel sorry for the suffering my sister has endured.
“Mengmeng, tell me the truth,” Mu Luo suddenly released Mu Meng, placed her hands on her shoulders, and stared intently at her. “How do you know it’s Mu Qingheng? His past actions and his identity are his deepest secrets. What has happened to you that I don’t know about?”
She was too arrogant. She thought she was just living in seclusion, but she was actually very knowledgeable about the outside world. Only now did she realize that perhaps her most beloved little sister had suffered unimaginable hardships without her knowledge.
Mu Meng knew her sister would definitely ask her, but she didn't want to tell her everything she had experienced. If her sister knew those things, her heart would probably ache terribly.
She wanted her to be happy every day from now on, and didn't want her to be reminded of the tragedy that had happened to her every time she saw her, and to feel worried and sad.
Mu Meng then picked up on what he could say: "It's because I overheard him talking to his subordinates once, and that's how I learned he was of demonic blood and plotted against you and the King of the East Sea..."
“Don’t lie to me,” Mu Luo interrupted her. “Who is Mu Qingheng? He is cautious and perceptive. Would he let you overhear his conversation with his subordinates? This is a highly confidential matter. If someone really heard it, would he leave any witnesses alive?”
As soon as she finished speaking, she licked her lips. "Mengmeng, that's not what I meant. I meant... you're not allowed to make up lies to deceive me." Seemingly realizing that she had slipped up with her statement that "no one should be left alive," Mu Luo offered a few words of explanation.
Mu Meng didn't think much of it; her sister was just too protective of her. Little did she know that Mu Qingheng had done far worse things, and this casual remark wouldn't leave any mark on her heart.
“It really is my sister, I overheard it,” Mu Meng explained to Mu Luo about Ling Wei’s identity and the method she used. “That’s how it was. It was a bit risky, but it worked. Maybe I was lucky. Mu Qingheng didn’t notice at the time. After all, it’s normal for Ling Wei to have some of my aura on her.”
Mu Luo frowned as soon as she heard Ling Wei's true identity. After listening, she touched Mu Meng's pale face with heartache, and after a long silence, she frowned again: "No, there must be something else."
She believed that even if Mengmeng knew that Mu Qingheng was a demon, she would never care about his identity and distance herself from him.
Mu Qingheng had wronged her—knowing her sister as she did, she would indeed be heartbroken, even hate Mu Qingheng and want justice for herself. But instead, she silently decided to cut off all of Mu Qingheng's paths to survival.
This matter is definitely not that simple. Mu Luo's expression was stern: "I know you have deep feelings for Mu Qingheng. Although these two matters are very big, you have remained calm and did not even ask him in person. You are directly determined to kill him. Mengmeng, you have always been soft-hearted. Even if you are disappointed in him, you would not be so murderous. What else is there? Don't hide it from me."
Mu Meng quietly clutched the hem of her clothes.
She had always known that her sister's intelligence was extraordinary, and that the two things she had mentioned wouldn't fool her. Thinking for a moment, she said, "Because...because there's also..."
"Anything else?" Mu Luo asked her softly.
"And I also heard them say..." Mu Meng tried to downplay the harm he had suffered, "Mu Qingheng had always been kind to me, but that was just a temporary measure. Their real goal was to get my Red Heart Pill, and they had a very meticulous plan, careful preparations, and even set a time to send troops. That's when I realized that he was indeed a completely evil person."
Mu Luo's eyes shone brightly; just hearing these words, she couldn't suppress the murderous intent coursing through her body: "This beast... how dare he? He actually tried to kill you?! I'll tear him to pieces!"
Who doesn't know that the Red Heart Pill can only be used by dissecting someone alive? Just thinking about this made Mu Luo feel as if her heart had been split in two, and she wished she could chop Mu Qingheng into pieces.
“Sister…” Mu Luo turned and left. Mu Meng was about to follow when she saw the Heavenly Emperor step in through the door with his hands behind his back.
His face was expressionless, his lips tightly pressed together, clearly showing deep anger. He took two or three steps to Mu Meng, then suddenly raised his right hand high and swung it at Mu Meng—
Mu Luo was instantly enraged. Before his slap could land on Mengmeng, she shoved the Heavenly Emperor's hand away. "What are you doing? Are you going to hit Mengmeng?"
She glanced at her sister, her heart aching, and became even more rude to the Heavenly Emperor, "What right do you have to hit her? As a father, how can you be so oblivious? If Mengmeng relied on you for protection, she wouldn't be alive today!"
The Heavenly Emperor calmed his initial rage and didn't raise his hand again, but his tone was urgent and sharp: "Shouldn't she have been hit? You really have a plan, a big plan! Does having a Red Heart Pill give you the right to be so lawless? What kind of place is that Desolate Tomb? How dare you venture there alone? Didn't you think of your father or your sister when you went there?! You've always been well-behaved and sensible, why are you being so willful today?"
His anger stemmed from love; though he spoke sternly, his eyes revealed deep anxiety and tenderness.
Mu Meng had never seen his father so angry since he could remember. Seeing him so upset, he quickly stammered and admitted his mistake: "Father, it's my fault. Please don't be angry with me anymore."
The Heavenly Emperor, his face grim, glared at Mu Meng for a long time before finally sighing and looking away.
His back was slightly hunched, and he seemed to have aged considerably.
After a long silence, he turned his head and spoke in a hoarse voice: "Mengmeng, since you knew that Mu Qingheng... was the son of the Demon Clan, and about Luo Luo, why didn't you tell me first? Why did you... take action directly?"
His tone was somewhat tired, though it was low and calm, but Mu Meng could detect a barely perceptible but undeniable questioning under his voice.
She was somewhat puzzled and asked softly, "Father, do you... resent me?"
"No, no, how could that be?" The Heavenly Emperor shook his head repeatedly, sighed, walked over and slowly put his arm around Mengmeng, gently patting and coaxing her, "No, how could I blame you? You didn't do anything wrong. Father knows you've been wronged, don't be angry with Father, I asked the wrong question."
Mu Meng only felt wronged for a moment. Seeing her father immediately apologize to her in a flustered manner, she didn't say anything more.
Although she didn't say anything, Mu Luo couldn't stand it. "Mu Qingheng's crime deserves to die ten thousand times over. Why did you speak up for him just now? Did Mengmeng tell you first, and you still want to find a way to protect him?"
The Heavenly Emperor's chest heaved, his lips pressed together, and he remained silent.
Mu Luo's anger had not subsided. Seeing that her sister was alright, and unwilling to stay with the Heavenly Emperor, she said, "Mu Qingheng has confessed his crimes, so he should be executed immediately. There's no need to bother choosing an executioner; I will kill him myself."
"Come back," the Heavenly Emperor called out to her in a deep voice.
He took two steps forward, standing in front of Mu Luo to block the door. "I will decide Mu Qingheng's fate. Before I deliver my verdict, no one is allowed to interfere. Luo Luo, I know you've suffered a great injustice. You can go to the imperial prison and do whatever you want to get revenge on him... I don't care. But you can't take his life."
Just as Mu Luo was about to speak, the Heavenly Emperor waved his sleeve and said, "Alright, I'm going to see him now, and none of you are allowed to come with me."
...
The Heavenly Prison.
The dim, damp cell floor was covered with messy weeds, and a sliver of light peeked in through a narrow skylight above the wall.
Mu Qingheng knelt in the corner, his arms hanging down on either side of his head by cold iron chains. He hadn't even changed his clothes, and his body was covered in dirty bloodstains that had dried into a dark color.
His hair was somewhat disheveled, with long, dark hair falling to his waist, and stray hairs hanging down his cheeks and neck. He looked disheveled and unkempt, which made his face appear even paler and more fragile.
Hearing footsteps, Mu Qingheng slowly lifted his eyelids, watching the person approach without saying a word.
"Why did you do this?" the Heavenly Emperor asked in a deep voice.
Mu Qingheng did not answer, and even lowered her eyes, no longer looking at him.
"You hate me, don't you? If you hate me, why don't you come at me?"
Suddenly, the Heavenly Emperor spoke in a deep voice. He closed his eyes, gritting his teeth as he spoke each word, "Why did you hurt Luo Luo? What has she ever done to wrong you? Just because she has high spiritual power and could threaten your plans? So... what was your original purpose in colluding with the Demon Clan? You wanted Meng Meng's life, you wanted to kill her, you wanted her Red Heart Pill, was that it?"
Mu Qingheng was silent for a while, then slowly raised her head and looked directly at him: "At the beginning, yes."
His gaze was unusually calm and profound; his miserable state had not broken his spirit. Despite being a prisoner, he looked at the noble and majestic Heavenly Emperor with a hint of mockery.
The Heavenly Emperor slowly took a step back.
"Fine...fine...you know everything now, that's why you hate me so much...you were so young back then, how could you know?! Who told you about the past? Who?! I'll kill him, kill him!!" The Heavenly Emperor trembled all over, spreading his hands and roaring angrily, like a wild beast with nowhere to vent its anger.
Mu Qingheng watched him roar loudly, her tone surprisingly calm, and casually curled the corners of her lips: "What's the point of asking these questions now?"
His words were like a bucket of cold water poured on the Heavenly Emperor, extinguishing his excitement and anger.
yes.
He looked at the pale, handsome young man covered in wounds before him, and finally closed his eyes helplessly.
It's come to this now.
The Heavenly Emperor slowly stepped forward and knelt down in front of Mu Qingheng. "Heng'er, I have always treated you as my own son. I have always—always regarded you as my own son. Don't you understand? I have never wanted to wrong you. When you were so young, I defied all opposition and gave you the position of Crown Prince of the Heavenly Clan..."
Mu Qingheng smiled: "Do you think I care about the position of Crown Prince?"
The Heavenly Emperor was speechless at his question.
He remained silent for a long time, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down. He opened his mouth for a long while before finally saying, "But even if you hate me, you should come at me. Why did you bully my daughters? Why? They weren't even born when those things happened."
His weary and powerless voice echoed in the cell, the pain within it clear to everyone.
Mu Qingheng moved his wrist, and the heavy, cold iron chain jingled. "Stop with the nonsense. You came here not just to criticize and complain, right? Let's get to the point."
"There should be less arguing between us. I don't want to hear your so-called teachings, nor can I be moved by your few words. Let's get straight to the point, which will save both of us some energy."
The Heavenly Emperor nodded and slowly stood up. He looked at the disheveled and wretched man in front of him, gazing at his handsome and otherworldly features. His gaze gradually deepened, as if he were looking through him at another person.
"If your parents saw you like this, how heartbroken they would be."
Mu Qingheng said, "You are not qualified to say such a thing."
The Heavenly Emperor took a deep breath, slowly exhaled, and his tone became extremely low, "Heng'er, I have always treated you like my own son, but I love my daughter even more."
He leaned down and whispered in Mu Qingheng's ear, "I'm sorry I can't grant you the request you made before. Your identity will forever remain hidden from the light of day, buried underground with those who have died. I will take this secret to my grave as well."
The Heavenly Emperor stepped aside slightly and carefully examined Mu Qingheng from head to toe twice—looking at his extremely pale face, colorless lips, blood-stained clothes, and his entire body in a pitiful state.
He sighed, “Look at you now. If the truth of what happened back then were really revealed to the six realms, how could I stand up? No… I can endure being condemned by thousands, and I can be infamous for eternity. If it were just for you, I wouldn’t care about my life or my reputation. But what about my daughters? I can’t let them suffer with me.”
The Heavenly Emperor slowly rose to his feet, gazing down at Mu Qingheng. "Heng'er, I have indeed been selfish. I have already wronged you, and since there is no way to make amends, I don't mind making this debt even greater. All the evil deeds I have committed in this life, I will repay you in the next life as your slave. But you—"
He reached out his hand and slowly shook it. "Don't ever dream of the truth in your life. I will never bring it to light."
Mu Qingheng listened in silence the whole time, without uttering any harsh words or rebuttals. He didn't even say a word until the Heavenly Emperor finished speaking.
The Heavenly Emperor finally stopped looking at him and quickly turned away.
After he left, Mu Qingheng slowly lowered his head, staring blankly at the messy withered grass on the ground. Suddenly, the corners of his lips curved into a very gentle smile.
It's better not to say anything.
Now that things have come to this, he no longer wants him to tell the truth.
If things had gone according to plan, he would have been unscathed after annihilating the demons, and that would have been negotiable. But now that he was in this predicament, it was best not to bring up those matters again. Just as the Heavenly Emperor had said, if things were to come to light, he would be unable to stand, and Mengmeng would suffer along with him.
The thought had barely formed when the footsteps gradually returned. It turned out that the Heavenly Emperor had returned and was standing before him again, his eyes calm and undisturbed.
Mu Qingheng looked up at him, meeting his gaze—he was so intelligent that he understood the Heavenly Emperor's thoughts with just a glance. In an instant, his eyes flickered, and his fingers, bound by iron chains, slowly curled up.
But the next moment, his fingers paused, then gradually relaxed and dispersed.
The Heavenly Emperor, unaware of Mu Qingheng's subtle movements, spoke in a deep voice: "I can't bear to see you die. Once I've worn down your spiritual power, I'll find a way to let you leave, but I can't let you go unscathed. You're a child I've watched grow up, and I know your capabilities very well."
"I won't tell you those things, and I will never let you tell you."
His eyes suddenly sharpened, filled with a resolute determination.
Mu Qingheng neither dodged nor flinched, nor even moved, watching as the Heavenly Emperor suddenly reached out and pinched his cheek—his other hand swiftly slid across his lips.
With a soft thud, a piece of flesh, dripping with blood, fell onto the pile of dry grass.
Mu Qingheng's breathing became rapid. His mouth was slightly open, and a torrent of blood instantly stained his chin, and even the area of his clothes on his chest was soaked in blood.
"Cutting out your tongue is better than taking your life." The Heavenly Emperor bit his lower lip hard, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he closed his eyes helplessly and turned away abruptly.
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