Chapter 70 Hatred or Not "Our family wouldn't owe a dead person anything..."
Feng Xixue's expression remained unchanged, her voice calm and elegant: "Why do you suddenly ask this?"
"I can't quite put my finger on it."
Mu Meng rolled her eyes, thinking about how she felt when she watched him and Zhe Qing walk away. After a moment of thought, she said, "You and Zhe Qing didn't seem very close or familiar with each other, but when you stood together, I inexplicably felt that there was a tacit understanding between you two... Moreover, you mentioned wanting to chat with him back in the Northern Frontier."
Mu Meng glanced at him, scratched her head, and smiled apologetically, "I don't have any evidence, I was just asking casually, I hope you don't mind."
After all, Lu Zhaoxin had already scolded her, and she herself felt that she might have been overthinking things.
Feng Xixue remained calm and smiled nonchalantly, "How could that be? What does it matter? It's not accurate to say that we're old acquaintances. We didn't have any prior relationship. It's just that I had a rough idea of Young Master Zheqing's background, so I trusted him to some extent."
This time, Mu Meng was even more surprised, even more curious than with the previous question: "You actually—could guess the origin of Zhe Qing?"
This is certainly possible. Feng Xixue is older than her and was granted the highest official position in the Demon Realm when she was young. She climbed to the position of First Demon Envoy at a young age. Her vision and experience are something that even she herself cannot match now.
Feng Xixue remained calm and composed, nodding slightly, her voice deep and warm: "Yes, there are mountains beyond mountains in this world, and many secret realms beyond the Six Realms that people do not know about. I had heard of them before, but firstly, I had no interest in searching for them, and secondly, I just treated them as rumors and laughed them off. I never thought that there really were secret realms beyond the heavens."
So, Zhe Qing was actually someone cultivated by some mysterious realm? Mu Meng pondered this, recalling all the things that had happened since he met Zhe Qing, and felt that it made some sense—his temperament, his state, and the spiritual power within him were all extraordinary.
"Then... what kind of place is this?" Mu Meng pressed.
"The secret realm has no name, let's call it the Seventh Realm for now. This place is mysterious and low-key, it doesn't want to be made public, and it doesn't want outsiders to set foot and disturb it. So just now I only asked one question. Although Zhe Qing admitted it, he didn't say anything else."
Feng Xixue said in a deep voice, "The people who come out of here... are kind-hearted and not only rare masters in the world, but also take it as their responsibility to help the world. However, they are isolated from the world, so their personalities are a bit strange compared to ordinary people, their spiritual power is different from what we see in the world today, and they know some secret and biased magic arrays, but that is not strange."
Mu Meng listened very attentively. After each sentence, she would quickly go through it in her mind and think it over carefully. Every word Feng Xixue said was impeccable, and there was no flaw in Zhe Qing's background.
Mu Meng was already nine-tenths convinced, but still raised an eyebrow with a hint of a joke and said, "You're not lying to me, are you? You didn't just make up a story to fool me, did you?"
"Of course not, every word I said is true." Feng Xixue's eyes were clear and bright, and there was no guilty look on his face. However, in fact, a person as calm and composed as him would not feel guilty even if he lied.
But Mu Meng naturally had no doubts. Having known him for so many years, she knew Feng Xixue's personality well. She would rather remain silent than lie easily, so what he said must be highly credible.
As soon as Feng Xixue finished speaking, she added softly, "He wouldn't lie to you."
Mu Qingheng was incredibly intelligent and perceptive. If he hadn't been preoccupied with his deep love, he would have been more than capable of dominating the six realms for thousands of years, and would have been unparalleled in his fame. But now, he could only wander in the mud, painstakingly scheming to protect the girl he loved.
He dared not deceive her any longer, only telling her half of his story and keeping the other half hidden, but strangely enough, it presented a completely different picture.
Mu Meng smiled gently. She knew in her heart that Zhe Qing and Feng Xixue were telling the truth, but since that was the case, she still had one thing to ask: "Then, since Zhe Qing admitted that he came from... that Seventh Realm, did he say his real name?"
Feng Xixue shook her head: "He never told me that." That's right, he didn't tell her his name, so saying that doesn't count as deceiving her.
Okay, Mu Meng blinked, feeling that she had nothing more to ask.
Although she didn't know Zhe Qing's real name, he had chosen it himself, which she considered a unique kind of fate. Besides, it wasn't that he disliked her or had any other reason for not wanting to tell her his name. If he could, she believed he would be willing to tell her everything about himself, but due to some concerns and constraints, he couldn't tell her the truth about Zhe Qing.
Although he didn't mention his origins at all, she could tell that Zhe Qing felt a little ashamed and sad because he couldn't tell her the truth.
Thinking this, Mu Meng felt somewhat happy again. The last bit of curiosity in her heart disappeared without a trace with Feng Xixue's answer.
...
The Kunlun Realm was secluded and tranquil, making it the perfect place to activate the magic array. Moreover, with Mu Meng protecting her outside, Feng Xixue made some preparations before entering the stone chamber to focus on activating the array.
No one could predict when the magic array would end. Mu Meng waited for Feng Xixue to come out while cultivating on his own outside.
Days passed by, and soon it was the third day of junior high.
Over the years, Mu Meng has shed her childishness and gradually developed her own ideas about birthday celebrations, no longer needing the Heavenly Emperor to arrange them for her. In fact, most of the time she doesn't even return to the Heavenly Clan, but stays in Kunlun Realm, spending her days entertaining and taking care of relatives who come to celebrate her birthday, which is enough for her to pass the time.
The same was true on this day. Although she usually lived in her own Kunlun Realm, her uncles, aunts and other relatives who loved her from her clan all came to give her birthday gifts. Mu Meng smiled and accepted them one by one, and arranged for them to stay here for the night.
It seemed that this birthday was no different from any other. At night, Mu Meng stood at the border, craning his neck slightly to look around, thinking to himself.
He really didn't come, so as he said, he probably... didn't have time.
She stood there for a while. Mu Luo came out to look for her sister after not seeing her in the front hall for a long time. She saw her sister's back in the distance—the moonlight shone on her slender figure, making her even more beautiful and charming. She watched her silently for a while, and then suddenly realized that someone was standing next to her.
"Your Highness, the Eldest Princess."
Mu Luo turned around and smiled slightly, "Lord Ghost King."
Lu Zhaoxin returned the greeting, his gaze following the direction Mu Luo had been looking, landing on Mu Meng's back. After looking at her for a while, he said, "Mengmeng is a very opinionated girl."
His tone was slightly somber, as if he meant something. Mu Luo listened and couldn't help but think, "Mengmeng seems to be waiting for someone. Is it a friend she met outside?"
"Yes... I guess so, we're friends who are very destined to meet."
Lu Zhaoxin's words were meaningful. As soon as he finished speaking, he smiled slightly and shook his head gently.
Mu Luo, being an experienced person, looked at Lu Zhaoxin's expression, pondered for a moment, and smiled, "Over the years, I have yet to thank Lord Ghost King for taking care of my little sister."
Lu Zhaoxin waved his hand dismissively: "What kind of preferential treatment is this? I just acted on my own whims, and it was Mengmeng who indulged me many times."
His speech and demeanor were both unrestrained. Mu Luo nodded slowly, then glanced at Mu Meng and couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Lord Ghost King is considered a close friend of Xiao Mei. Do you know what kind of person this friend she knows is?"
Lu Zhaoxin licked his lips slightly.
What kind of person? He naturally understood the deeper meaning behind Mu Luo's words.
She was content with her life and could easily handle any matter that the Celestial Clan had to deal with. Over the years, the heaviest burden and the thing she couldn't let go of the most in the heart of this princess was her younger sister, whom she had loved and doted on since childhood.
General Xuantian was deeply affectionate but reserved. He had asked his master to subtly propose marriage to him more than once, but he was never successful.
The second young master of Yunzejing and Mengmeng were childhood sweethearts, and they had all the advantages of timing, location, and people, but in the end, they were destined to be apart.
The demon prince Yue Liutian, it's even more possible that Mengmeng personally severed him;
He... there's no need to mention him anymore.
Zhe Qing – What kind of person is Zhe Qing? He has a crippled leg, two missing fingers, and is completely disfigured. He has no background whatsoever. Apart from his powerful spiritual energy, which he is very proud of, he is inferior to others in every aspect, including appearance and family background.
Lu Zhaoxin pondered for a moment, then shook his head and chuckled softly, "That person... is quite something, possessing a unique personal charm. Anyone who meets him would be unable to help but admire him."
Mu Luo was waiting for more to come, but after a long time, seeing that Lu Zhaoxin didn't intend to speak again, she understood.
Although she hadn't had much contact with this Ghost King, she had long heard of how shrewd and sophisticated he was. There's always a certain order to introducing and praising someone; you should at least explain their background and origins before mentioning their appearance and character. But Lu Zhaoxin didn't mention any of that. It seems he only praised what he could.
She understood and gave a slight bow: "I understand, Lord Ghost King, please do as you please. I'll go check on Mengmeng."
After greeting Mu Luo, she walked towards Mu Meng. When she reached her from behind, she touched Mu Meng's hand. It wasn't cold, so she smiled slightly and said, "Mengmeng, what are you looking at? It's so late. Did some guest inform you that they wanted to come over?"
Mu Meng pursed his lips, waved his hand and smiled: "No, um... it's a friend. He didn't say he wouldn't come, but I was afraid that if he came, no one would greet him, so I thought I'd come out and see."
Mu Luoxin understood perfectly. She glanced outside with Mu Luoxin, shook her head and smiled, "It's so late, almost midnight. What kind of visitor would be so rude? Your friend probably won't be coming. Come back quickly."
She paused for a moment, then said, "Maybe something came up and I didn't have time today. Maybe I'll come tomorrow."
Mu Meng sighed almost imperceptibly. In fact, she knew that Zhe Qing was so proper that if he really came, he would definitely show up during the day. Since there was no movement at the moment, it seemed that he really wouldn't appear.
Tomorrow? Probably not.
Mu Meng turned her head and looked again, finally giving up all hope, then closed the door and walked back.
The daytime was noisy, but the evening brought some peace. A thought suddenly occurred to her, and she took Mu Luo's hand. "Oh, right, sister, there's something I've been wanting to talk to you about, but I didn't have a chance during the day. Come with me to the study."
*
Mu Meng's expression was serious, her gentle eyebrows slightly furrowed. Upon seeing her like this, Mu Luo knew that her sister was about to discuss something serious. She composed herself and watched as Mu Meng closed the door and walked heavily to sit beside her.
Even though her younger sister was so serious, Mu Luo couldn't help but pinch her soft cheek. "What's wrong? Why is Mengmeng so worried? Come and tell your older sister, and we'll share the burden together."
Her tone was extremely doting. Even though she was already a mother and her younger sister had grown up and was capable of standing on her own, the older sister still treated her like a child.
Mu Meng smiled slightly, leaned gently on Mu Luo's shoulder, and whispered, "Sister, this matter is no small thing, and I shouldn't have bothered you with it. But after I found out, I thought about it several times and still couldn't make up my mind. I really had no choice but to come and discuss it with you."
"It's that serious?" Mu Luo naturally put her arm around her younger sister's delicate body. "I know, of course you should tell your older sister if something's wrong. Don't suffer in silence. What exactly happened?"
"Um... Sister, let me ask you a question first," Mu Meng hesitated slightly, then raised her head in Mu Luo's arms. Her expression was quite complicated, with worry and heartache mixed in her shimmering eyes. "Even now, do you still hate Mu Qingheng?"
Mu Luo was slightly taken aback.
This was the first time in so many years that her younger sister had brought up the name in front of her. Mu Luo didn't rush to ask anything, and after hearing it, she remained calm, gently rolled her eyes, and began to think seriously.
Before Mengmeng asked the question, she had already made some guesses based on her expression. Even after she asked, she did not have much emotional fluctuation. It seemed that after a long period of time, the name Mu Qingheng had gradually lost its initial sharpness in her heart and turned into a layer of faint gray.
If not specifically mentioned, he seemed to remain only a faint, transparent afterimage in her mind.
She wouldn't forget this person, but she also wouldn't think of him. Hearing his name again left Mu Luo feeling shrouded in mist, almost devoid of emotion.
She spoke her mind freely, stroking her sister's long hair as she whispered, "I don't hate her. I live a peaceful and happy life now. I married the man I wanted to marry when I was young, and I have a sensible and well-behaved child. The clan is harmonious, and everything goes smoothly. With such a life, how could I possibly have the energy to hate Mu Qingheng?"
Mu Meng smiled slightly, but there was a hint of bitterness in his smile.
Yes, Mu Qingheng is just that kind of person.
All the good deeds he did have been forgotten by the world, while his wrongdoings and his bloodline were completely erased.
The bad things he did gradually faded with time, and even those who once hated him to the bone no longer cared about him, regarding his existence as a wisp of smoke in the past, casually erasing him from their lives.
In this vast world, no one remembers him, and no one even hates him anymore.
He is truly a pitiful person who makes one sigh deeply.
Mu Meng quickly composed herself, sat up straight, and looked into Mu Luo's eyes seriously, saying, "Sister, you must have already vaguely guessed that what I'm about to tell you is related to Mu Qingheng... I recently stumbled upon some secrets from back then, and after thinking it over, I've decided to tell you anyway."
She composed herself and, in a deep voice, recounted to Mu Luo what had happened that day in Tiancang Realm.
Finally, Mu Meng said, "Sister, I know in my heart that the reason you hated Mu Qingheng so much back then was not only because of the grievances and suffering you endured, but more so because of me. I know your character. If you didn't care about me, you wouldn't have hated me like that. Back then, you must have checked my memories when I wasn't paying attention."
Seeing Mu Luo remain silent, only glancing at her briefly, Mu Meng continued, "Then you should know that I was originally a dead person, and this rebirth was actually the work of Mu Qingheng."
She briefly explained the Rebirth Array and the price to pay for activating it. Only after she finished speaking did she realize that her initial reaction to these things was one thing, but explaining them all in such a straightforward manner gave her a completely different feeling.
Looking back on all that Mu Qingheng carried, it becomes clear that his life and his death were both so tragic and hasty.
After pouring out all the things that had been weighing on her heart, Mu Meng didn't immediately ask Mu Luo's opinion. She remained silent, waiting for her sister to come to her senses.
Mu Luo remained silent for a long time, her pale hand resting on the edge of the table, her fingers tapping lightly. After a while, she asked in a low voice, "Mengmeng, have you verified the truth of these things?"
Mu Meng nodded: "Yes. Although they are from two different people, they came to the same conclusion. Moreover... I once discussed the war between the Heavenly Demons and Mu Qingheng. At that time, I felt that his attitude was strange. He was objective and calm when talking about the demons, and even thought they were bloodthirsty and cruel. Later I found out that he was actually a member of the Heavenly Clan. His stance on the war between the Heavenly Demons was actually the same as ours."
After speaking in a low voice, Mu Meng slightly raised her eyes to look at Mu Luo. Her elder sister had been in charge of the Celestial Clan for many years and had the ability to keep her emotions hidden. However, although her expression remained as calm and composed as ever, a hint of hesitation still showed in the corners of her eyes and brows.
After all, these things were too shocking. Even though I didn't learn about them all at once, I was still deeply moved. I can only imagine what my sister must be thinking now that she has suddenly learned the whole truth.
Finally, after a long silence, Mu Luo licked her lips: "Mengmeng, you didn't just find out about these things. Now that you've thought about them repeatedly, what are your plans?"
Mu Meng pursed her lips, her lips turning slightly pale from the pressure. After a moment, she relaxed her lips and let out a long sigh. "Sister, I asked you before if you still hated Mu Qingheng. I thought that even if he was innocent, you were innocent too. If you are not willing to forgive him, even if he has suffered a lot of grievances, I plan to keep these things to myself and never let him see the light of day."
“But if you have already let it go, then I need to talk to you about it…” Mu Meng paused for a moment, then said in a low voice, “It’s my fault. I can’t just laugh it off and bury it deep in my heart, pretending I never heard it and continuing to live my life carefree; nor can I bravely expose it all to the world and put Father under the condemnation of others. I’m caught in a dilemma, which is why I came to you for advice, causing you to worry with me.”
Mu Luo smiled helplessly and gently tugged at her sister's ear with a touch of heartache. "What kind of talk is that? Don't always think you're all grown up and take on all the burdens. I'm your older sister, so naturally we sisters should share the responsibility. If you have something you can't handle, of course you should tell me. Why would you feel guilty about it?"
After she finished speaking, she gently took her sister's hand, rubbed it in her palm, and sighed, "I know why you are so hesitant."
Mengmeng was concerned about something, and she understood perfectly well what it was all about. Ultimately, it was about her older sister – once their father's actions were exposed, Mengmeng and her sister would inevitably be affected. Mengmeng herself didn't care, but she had to consider the innocent victimhood she might suffer. And then there was Ze'er, such a young child; she had to consider whether her sister could bear the consequences, whether it was worth it for the sake of the deceased Mu Qingheng.
Mu Luo understood everything, but still gently held her sister's hand, "But in this world, grudges and debts must be clearly distinguished. Mu Qingheng has already paid the price for his wrongdoings, so why shouldn't Father pay the price for his wrongdoings?"
“Mengmeng, I don’t care about my status or the kind of life I live, and neither do your brother-in-law and Ze’er. One should live with a clear conscience. Mu Qingheng paid off his debt with his life. Although he is dead, our family will not owe a dead person anything.”
Mu Luo's expression was resolute, and her tone was firm. Although she didn't say much, or even explicitly say anything, her meaning was self-evident.
Mu Meng understood her sister's attitude and then realized with a daze that she had actually breathed a sigh of relief.
She nodded gently: "Since you support me, I will go to see Father after tomorrow."
Mu Luo tilted her head and thought for a moment, then pursed her lips and said, "There's no need to rush. Father's health hasn't been very good lately, and I don't know if he can handle this matter and the changes it brings. It's better to wait until he's feeling better before bringing it up with him."
"Is Father unwell?" Mu Meng had been running around these days and hadn't paid attention to the affairs of the Celestial Clan.
"It's nothing, he just caught a cold and has been bedridden these past few days, but he's in good health, he'll be fine."
Mu Meng felt a little relieved. She hadn't expected that the two people who had once been at loggerheads would now have such a gentle expression when her sister mentioned their father. Mu Meng felt a surge of comfort seeing this, and after thinking for a moment, she said:
“I understand, sister. I'll wait a bit before going. But even if I mention it to Father, I need to clarify a few things first. For some reason, although the truth of this matter is beyond question, I always feel that there are still some gaps in the truth—for example, why did Father suddenly leave without saying goodbye and disappear without a trace back then? Was it really just because of jealousy? And how did he become the new Demon Lord of the Demon Realm? And…”
She paused, "You and I both saw how Father mourned Mu Qingheng. Although he never mentioned it to anyone openly, countless details revealed his remorse and bitterness. Even putting all that aside, I believe he truly intended to make Mu Qingheng the Crown Prince. If he really wanted to kill him—to put it bluntly, Father had plenty of opportunities to do so when Mu Qingheng was young, why did he make him the Crown Prince and shower him with favor? It all seems very strange to me, but only Father can fill in the rest of the story."
“That makes sense, then you…”
Before Mu Luo could finish speaking, Mu Meng suddenly turned his head and looked out the window.
"What's wrong, Mengmeng?" Mu Luo interrupted her previous conversation, looking at Mengmeng who suddenly became wary and defensive, and couldn't help but frown and ask.
Mu Meng's eyes darted around quickly, and her hands, which were resting on her knees, slowly curled into fists. She stood up, walked briskly to the window, and slightly opened it a crack.
"Sister, I need to go out for a bit."
Mu Meng turned around and said, "You stay in Kunlun Realm and don't go out. Keep an eye on the people here. If I don't return by tomorrow morning, you can leave on your own. But please send a few capable people to protect Feng Xixue's magic array. I may have to go out for a few more days."
Upon hearing her say this, Mu Luo immediately knew something was wrong and quickly stepped forward, her face grave: "What's wrong, Mengmeng? What happened? You can't just leave without saying a word."
"It's nothing, it's just that the little thief who harassed Yunze Realm last time has reappeared," Mu Meng said casually, while holding Mu Luo's hand tightly. "Sister, you must do as I say and stay in Kunlun Realm to take care of Ze'er and the clansmen."
She glanced out the window, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Don't worry, I'll definitely come back safely."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
