Chapter 87 Fear Mengmeng was angry; she would never forgive him again…
Mu Qingheng arrived a little late because he hesitated for a moment.
Upon hearing the Heavenly Emperor's decree to the Six Realms, he immediately understood who this so-called Mu Qingheng was. He also knew that if this matter were to be resolved perfectly, and all seeds of doubt were to be nipped in the bud, then his intervention would be the most reasonable and credible option.
But the problem is that this forces him to reveal his true identity to everyone, including Mengmeng.
It wasn't that he didn't want to talk; in fact, long before he made up his mind to accept Mengmeng's love and reciprocate with the purest and most sincere affection, he wanted to confess his feelings to her.
But the changes that followed came too quickly and too many times, and he lost his chance until fate pushed him into this situation.
If there's one last bit of selfishness left in his vibrant, beating heart, it's Mengmeng's love—he really, really, really wants it.
He didn't want to leave Mengmeng with any bad impression, but there was no better solution to the current situation, and he couldn't afford to be selfish.
The moment he removed the mask with his own hands, it felt as if he were tearing something important from his heart, flesh and blood gushing out, and the excruciating pain suddenly spread from his heart to every part of his body.
Mengmeng, the upright, kind, gentle and brave Zheqing that she liked so much, just like that—became Mu Qingheng.
Mu Qingheng thought, perhaps this is fate. His beautiful dream has ended, and he can no longer indulge in that softness and warmth, which never belonged to him.
The moment he ripped off the human skin mask from his face, everyone seemed to gasp – the person in front of them was none other than Mu Qingheng, with no difference in appearance or bone structure from the person in front of him a moment earlier, except that his face was completely disfigured.
The intact areas still reveal her fair and delicate skin, as flawless as jade porcelain. But what lies more prominently are the deep, crisscrossing scars that lie across her face, like a piece of shattered jade.
The crowd looked at the former, then at the latter.
It seems... to make sense, after all, so many of them watched as Mu Qingheng grabbed a sharp rock on the ground before falling off the cliff and frantically and desperately disfigured himself.
However, such a scar would be easy for him to remove. If it really is Mu Qingheng, why has he kept this scar?
"Hehehe..." Just as everyone was looking at each other in bewilderment, "Mu Qingheng" in front of them let out a casual chuckle: "You are really shameless. You say you are Mu Qingheng, but I really can't agree with your appearance."
His tone was light and gentle, but his words were full of biting sarcasm.
Mu Qingheng stared straight at him, not daring to look away from Mu Meng's expression, only staring at the face in front of him that looked exactly like his own—although the person seemed calm and collected, he still keenly sensed that there was a hint of panic in those eyes that were trying to maintain a calm demeanor.
After watching for a while, Mu Qingheng laughed and said, "You don't need to play tricks anymore. With me here, you have no chance of winning. Since you are a monster, I have a thousand ways to prove your monstrous nature."
Upon hearing this, everyone present suddenly realized the truth: everyone has their own standards, and a person's character and elegance are ingrained in their very being. These two men, one speaking and the other a single sentence, clearly demonstrated their difference in character. Although the latter appeared impoverished and crippled, his behavior and tone truly resembled the upright and virtuous Crown Prince of yesteryear. In contrast, the former seemed inexplicably sinister and wicked, unlike a truly upright person.
His words were true. "Mu Qingheng" knew very well that the reason he had been able to deceive everyone was only because of the blood flowing in his veins and the Heavenly Emperor's guilt. But now that Mu Qingheng had exposed his monster identity, the only question was whether he proved it or not; the result would be the same, and there was no point in him delaying any longer.
Thinking of this, Mu Qingheng smiled and said, "Is that so? Since you say I am a monster, then why don't you tell me what I really am? Do you dare?"
As he finished speaking, he revealed a vicious and gloomy smile.
"Why wouldn't I dare?" Mu Qingheng said calmly, "I did indeed have my heart replaced and become a demon. The Heavenly Clan did not wrong me. All monsters are transformed from lifeless objects. Back then, I cut out my own heart and threw it off the Endless Cliff. But by some twist of fate, it led to your creation."
"You were formed from my heart, so you have my appearance and the same blood as me, but you are ultimately a monster formed from an inanimate object, and your essence is just a lump of rotten flesh."
Mu Qingheng's brows and eyes were gloomy, his face full of hostility, staring at Mu Qingheng like a knife.
He never expected that Mu Qingheng was still alive, and that he was the ugly monster who had repeatedly hunted him down. His brilliant plan, which was supposed to be flawless, had unexpectedly crumbled and been exposed in less than half a day.
The Celestial Clan members almost all understood by now, but they were also puzzled by another thing—it seemed that the person who was completely different from the real Mu Qingheng was indeed the real one, but why did he say that he had indeed fallen into demonic possession? Didn't the Heavenly Emperor just set things right and say that he had mistreated and wronged Mu Qingheng?
Which of the two of them is telling the truth?
Just as everyone was confused, "Mu Qingheng" suddenly sneered and rose up from the ground, rushing towards the Heavenly Emperor with lightning speed. Mu Meng and Mu Qingheng were both startled and immediately rushed forward to protect him.
Mu Meng pushed the Heavenly Emperor aside to save them, while Mu Qingheng stood in front of them and exchanged a palm strike with the monster.
The monster clearly did not want to start a war here. There were many experts here, and starting a war would not be a wise move. After exchanging blows, it used the force to move forward and disappeared in an instant.
Mu Meng gritted her teeth, her eyes filled with hatred, and was about to give chase when suddenly the Heavenly Emperor reached out and grabbed her, saying in a deep voice, "Mengmeng! Don't go, you are no match for him alone!"
Mu Meng paused, her thoughts suddenly shifting: among the Celestial Clan, only she could barely fight the monster, and with Mu Qingheng added to the mix, the odds of victory would be much higher. The two of them had fought it once before and had some experience; as long as they were careful, they should have a 70-80% chance of taking it down.
Thinking of this, she turned to look at Mu Qingheng, who was also gazing intently at her.
Those beautiful eyes seemed to speak volumes, filled with apology and tenderness, as well as sorrow and vulnerability.
He shook his head slightly, almost imperceptibly, his dark pupils filled with a look of deep remorse.
With just one glance, Mu Meng understood that Mu Qingheng did not intend to chase after him—not because he wanted to let the monster go, but because there were more important things to do right now.
She glanced at her father, whose temples were streaked with gray and who looked haggard and worn.
If they leave, leaving this mess behind, what will Father do? He's so disheartened, he'll surely let the Heavenly Clan attack him together.
Just then, he saw Mu Qingheng step forward and stand before the Heavenly Emperor. His voice was steady and powerful, and its echo reverberated throughout the hall: "Your Majesty, just now it was merely a monster that confused people's minds. You were simply caught off guard. Now, please issue another decree as soon as possible. Rest assured, I will cooperate with everything."
The Heavenly Emperor looked him up and down, his eyes growing redder with each glance. He asked in a hoarse voice, "How do you intend to cooperate?"
“You have always been the only Heavenly Emperor. The matter of the substitution is completely fabricated. I am indeed wicked and have abandoned my identity as a member of the Heavenly Clan to willingly become a demon. Whatever punishment I receive is deserved. You only need to speak, and I will testify to any statement you make.”
Tears welled up in the Heavenly Emperor's eyes, and he shook his head, croaking, "Nonsense! Nonsense!"
His eyes were filled with a deep and sorrowful paternal love, which Mu Qingheng could clearly see. Helplessly, she gently clutched the hem of her clothes and subconsciously looked away in a panic.
The Heavenly Emperor's lips trembled slightly. He suddenly turned to the Heavenly Clan and said sternly, "Everything I said before was true. I truly..."
“Your Majesty,” Mu Qingheng said in a deep voice, “you should still have the late emperor’s handwritten edict safe. You don’t need to worry about me or anyone else anymore. Just make the edict public. Let everyone know that the late emperor originally intended to pass the throne to Mu Gechuan, but Mu Ciyue murdered his father to seize the throne and even killed his two brothers. You did not voluntarily undergo a heart transplant and become a demon, but your heart was severely injured by Mu Ciyue, which is why you had no choice but to take this desperate action.”
His words were like a thunderclap.
Apart from Mu Meng, whose expression was deep and who showed no emotional fluctuation, even Mu Luo, Sheng Yuanting, and the others stood there dumbfounded, not to mention the others.
A rustling whisper came from below:
"Was Mu Gechuan the one the late emperor originally intended to pass the throne to?"
"If that's true, then his disappearance back then was a result of foul play... Could Mu Ciyue really be so ruthless...?"
"Why not? You can know a person's face but not their heart. Who knows if Mu Ciyue is a hypocrite?"
"Mu Guicheng had been traveling the world since he came of age, living a carefree and happy life. I thought he was still traveling far and wide all these years, but I didn't know he had passed away long ago..."
"If that's true, then the throne should have belonged to the current Heavenly Emperor from the very beginning..."
The Heavenly Emperor's eyes were bloodshot, "Heng'er..."
Mu Qingheng walked to his side, her tone soft yet firm, "Your Majesty, we are different. You were forced into this situation, while I went astray on my own. I am far inferior to you."
The Heavenly Emperor shook his head repeatedly, and finally, tears streamed down his face. Through his blurry, tearful eyes, he looked at Mu Qingheng—how much he loved this child. He had lost his mother at birth and his father at a young age. He had thought he could protect him, but he never expected that Mu Qingheng would see through his disguise at such a young age and live in pain ever since.
Later, he went astray, and he should have given this child a chance—he, too, had been corrupted and made mistakes! Because of his mistakes, he deeply understood the value of having a chance to reform. During his many years in power, he gave countless people, countless unforgivable people, a chance to repent and start anew, but he never gave this child any chance at all.
For his daughter's sake, he cut off his tongue and sent her to fall into the endless abyss.
His father had repaid the debt with his life. Yet this child had taken his father's place and endured so much suffering and torment.
No matter how much Mu Qingheng tried to persuade him, the Heavenly Emperor refused to produce the edict to prove his innocence. As the unrest in the clan gradually subsided, the expressions of the crowd once again showed doubt. Mu Meng sighed and slowly stepped forward.
She first glanced at Mu Qingheng. Mu Qingheng noticed her gaze and looked at her expectantly like a child who had done something wrong. He didn't know whether to put his hands in front of him or behind his back.
He hadn't even seen the expression in her eyes before he lost his composure.
Mu Qingheng took two steps back in frustration, lowering his long, raven-wing-like eyelashes to hide the sadness and confusion in his eyes.
There was nothing more to say at this moment, so Mu Meng had no choice but to calm himself down, stand beside the Heavenly Emperor, lean closer, and whisper a few words in his ear.
The Heavenly Emperor's eyes widened slightly, and he glanced at her blankly, blinking as if deep in thought.
Mu Meng couldn't help but smile slightly and nod, a silent affirmation.
The Heavenly Emperor remained silent for a while before finally speaking: "Alright."
*
In the end, the Heavenly Emperor brought out both edicts and asked his respected clan ministers to identify them. He even revealed the deep, old wound on his chest to identify the traces of Mu Ciyue's sword strike.
Then Mu Meng took out the withered leaf that Yu Sheng had given her. She didn't say much about the origin of the withered leaf, only that it was a demon girl who saw injustice on the road and couldn't bear to let the truth be shrouded in dust, so she risked her life to record everything.
Finally, everything settled down. With the late emperor's edict in hand, the Heavenly Emperor once again took over the imperial seal.
Although he had his heart replaced with a stone, he was forced to do so after being murdered. Moreover, seeing that he had lived a lonely life with only his two daughters, one could tell that his heart had grown flesh and blood, making him no different from an ordinary person.
The Six Realms have no ill will toward demons who have developed flesh and blood. Since the Heavenly Emperor already has an ordinary flesh and blood and the blood of the Heavenly Clan, he has nothing to do with demons and is regarded as an ordinary member of the Heavenly Clan.
So now the only one left to deal with is Mu Qingheng, who has returned alive.
Although opinions differed, there was a clear stronger opposition to Mu Qingheng's return to the Celestial Clan and a call for him to be dealt with according to the law again.
The Heavenly Emperor looked at Mu Qingheng and saw that his handsome, star-like eyes were calm, obedient and composed, as if he would accept whatever punishment he was given.
His heart ached, and he finally closed his eyes and said in a deep voice, "It's over."
A moment of silence.
"Heng'er did make some mistakes in the past, but he has already paid the price. You have all seen how many injuries he has, and how much suffering he has endured is more than the mistakes he made. Furthermore, there is no need to mention the matter of bloodline anymore. He is the most orthodox Heavenly Clan bloodline. Although he once fell into demonic possession, his stone heart had already grown flesh long ago, and he is no different from me."
A moment after the words were spoken, someone questioned, "If that's really the case, then it's fine, but how can someone with a heart of stone and flesh say something without proof? He should at least provide some evidence, otherwise how can people feel at ease? What if it's not true, and he does something perverse again in the future..."
As soon as he said this, a chorus of agreement immediately arose. Although it was a question, their attitude had clearly softened—as long as Mu Qingheng could prove it, they would naturally accept him.
Mu Qingheng was stunned, a hint of joy flashing in his eyes and brows, which then deepened into a smile, as if he hadn't expected such a great stroke of luck to befall him. He didn't say anything, only lowered his head to draw the dagger from his waist—
“Wait a minute,” Mu Meng frowned slightly, “you don’t need to cut open your chest.”
Mu Qingheng was slightly taken aback, his face suddenly turned pale, and he stared at her silently.
The slender hand that had been gripping the hilt of the knife loosened its grip and slowly lowered its head.
Seeing his expression, Mu Meng knew he must be heartbroken.
He really is something else. How could someone so smart act so stupidly at this moment? Can't he see that the emotion in her eyes is clearly heartache? Mu Meng smiled helplessly and couldn't say much at the moment. She just raised her voice to everyone and said, "When Mu Qingheng was executed back then, I was the executor who examined his heart. At that time, his heart was already a normal flesh heart."
These words, spoken by Mu Meng, carry more weight than those spoken by anyone else. After all, Mu Meng was the first to accuse Mu Qingheng of the matter back then, and now that she can testify for Mu Qingheng with her own heart, she should be able to see that the matter is true.
For a moment, the noise in the hall subsided considerably, but it didn't disappear completely. Mu Qingheng raised his eyes and glanced at everyone, pondered for a moment, and said softly, "While that's true, it's still more convincing for everyone to see it with their own eyes, and it will also prevent any future..."
He paused briefly, his voice lowering as he struggled to conceal his sadness and vulnerability, "I'm sorry to have troubled Your Highness."
As soon as he finished speaking, without giving anyone a chance to react, he suddenly drew his dagger and, without hesitation, plunged it into his own heart, slashing open a deep gash.
"Heng'er!" The Heavenly Emperor was startled and snatched the knife from him, but it was too late. Mu Qingheng had already cut open his chest, and his beating heart could be faintly seen inside.
Mu Meng was also extremely shocked. For a moment, she couldn't tell whether the feeling that rushed to her head was heartache or anger—why was he always like this? Was he trying to drive her crazy? Why couldn't he learn? When would he finally learn not to hurt himself so easily?
She was so angry she wanted to just abandon him, but seeing his pale, bloodless face, she couldn't bear to do it.
Mu Meng was so angry she wanted to bite him, but her body betrayed her. She immediately went over and pressed two acupoints on Mu Qingheng's chest. The powerful and clear spiritual energy flowed into his meridians, and in an instant, the surging bleeding from his wounds stopped.
"misty……"
Mu Meng was both angry and annoyed, and sneered in a low voice: "Who gave you permission to call me that? Didn't you just call me Your Highness? Don't think I want to bother with you. I'll settle accounts with you later. I'm just afraid you'll faint from blood loss."
Mu Qingheng's long eyelashes drooped down, and although his tall and upright figure could completely envelop her, he exuded a deep sense of fragility and pitifulness.
Mengmeng got angry.
Yes, she will never forgive him again.
Even though he knew in his heart that this outcome was inevitable, when it actually came, he still felt unbearable pain—how could physical wounds compare to the excruciating agony? In an instant, everything before his eyes blurred, everyone disappeared, and only the god in his heart remained.
Her smile was enigmatic, her expression icy.
"Mu Qingheng, you lied to me."
"Mu Qingheng, what is your purpose in staying by my side so meticulously? Is it just to steal my heart?"
"What a brilliant way to get revenge! You are a disgusting and despicable thing, not even as good as that monster from before. At least he was more pleasing to the eye than you."
"Love? You're delusional. You've never deserved any love."
"I regret telling you I like you so much. I was blind. Stop dreaming. I could never, ever like you."
"..."
Mu Meng sensed something was wrong. Logically speaking, with her spiritual power surging so fiercely, Mu Qingheng's wounds should be almost healed, so why did his complexion look even worse than before?
Before she could figure out what was going on, Mu Qingheng opened his mouth, and a stream of bright red blood silently flowed from his lips. Mu Meng was startled and, forgetting her anger towards him, grabbed his wrist: "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Mu Qingheng seemed not to hear her question, his mind completely distracted. He parted his lips slightly and asked her in a voice so soft that only the two of them could hear, "Mengmeng, do you really... really never like me again?"
What utter nonsense! I did scold him, but when did I ever say I didn't like him? What kind of thought process is this? What kind of comprehension is he?
Mu Meng's heart was filled with both anger and pain. How could she say this in front of everyone? But seeing Mu Qingheng's expression, Mu Meng had no choice but to steel herself and say, "I..."
But after uttering only one word, Mu Qingheng suddenly gave a bitter smile, as if he had already heard her reply. The faint light in his eyes vanished abruptly, and the despair within them was as thick as ink that could not be dissolved.
He suddenly leaned forward and spat out a mouthful of dark red stagnant blood with a "pfft".
"I'm sorry, Mengmeng..." Before losing consciousness, Mu Qingheng saw that his blood had accidentally smeared on Mu Meng's white flowing fairy dress.
He still got her clothes dirty... He felt cold all over in his dazed state, then closed his eyes and fainted like a withered flower that had faded away, lifeless.
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