Free Web NovelChapter 755: Chapter 190: Mother, Father Can Be Saved
"You shouldn’t have fallen in love with me because I am just like you."
Mu Qingge’s words hit Xi Qianxue like thunder on a clear day. Her breath caught, and her pupils constricted, staring wide-eyed at the man before her.
No, not him, but her!
Xi Qianxue wasn’t foolish; she fully understood the meaning behind Mu Qingge’s words. She wore an Illusionary Artifact, and such artifacts could conceal the truth. If it wasn’t covering a difference in appearance, then there could only be one truth left.
Besides, Mu Qingge’s words had already made it very clear.
She was just like her, a woman!
Xi Qianxue felt a bitterness rising in her heart, looking at Mu Qingge in disbelief. The only person who had moved her heart turned out to be a woman? If this got out, she would likely become a laughingstock in the Middle Ancient Realm.
Yet, she didn’t care about these things.
What she cared about was the fact that Mu Qingge was actually a woman.
"You don’t need to deceive me, do you?" The intensifying pain in her heart made Xi Qianxue try hard to control her emotions verging on collapse.
Mu Qingge nodded.
Xi Qianxue staggered slightly.
She looked at Mu Qingge with some sorrow, "Yes, you don’t need to deceive me. I would never cling to you, and you don’t have to lie to deceive me."
To reject her by saying she was a woman?
Mu Qingge would never do such a thing! So, there was only one reason left, which was that Mu Qingge really was a woman, just that the Illusionary Artifact had concealed the truth, making her appear as a genuine man in the eyes of others!
Seeing her expression, Mu Qingge felt a bit guilty and said, "I wanted to tell you when I realized your feelings, but we were in the Ancient Battlefield, surrounded by dangers. I was worried that if I told you the truth, you would... So, I waited until now to say it."
"So, you willingly accompanied me through this emotional knot?" Xi Qianxue lowered her eyes, her long lashes shielding the emotions in her gaze.
Mu Qingge nodded, "Even though it was unintentional, I ultimately caused you to have feelings. If it’s your intention to refine your heart, I naturally wouldn’t stand by and watch."
"If I truly let go of everything today, would you have continued to hide this secret?" Xi Qianxue asked again.
"I wouldn’t have. I had long decided to confess to you before you left here. I don’t want your affections to be misplaced and harm you." Mu Qingge said.
Xi Qianxue pulled a smile at the corners of her mouth and lifted her gaze, her eyes regaining some of the chilliness, with a bit of the feeling of a Goddess when the two first met. "Tell me, why did you conceal your identity?"
She hoped that Mu Qingge didn’t do this just for amusement or because she liked seeing women like her placing their hearts on her.
Mu Qingge looked at her, understanding her thoughts clearly. "My paternal family isn’t in the Middle Ancient Realm, and the environment where I was born required me to be a man to balance various forces. So, from childhood, I lived as a man. I admit, often living as a man makes things more convenient, saving a lot of trouble."
"Living as a man from childhood?" Xi Qianxue was somewhat startled.
She imagined what it would feel like if she had been Mu Qingge, living disguised from a young age.
That feeling wasn’t good.
Xi Qianxue slowly shook her head, showing a bitter smile, "Do you think telling me you’re a woman would return the heart I’ve moved to its original state?"
Her words made Mu Qingge frown, a bit confused.
Xi Qianxue lifted her gaze toward her, "When I knew I had feelings for you, I never expected anything. Whether you’re male or female, what difference does it make to me? The person I like has always been just Mu Qingge."
"..." Mu Qingge was speechless, watching Xi Qianxue, not knowing what to say.
Xi Qianxue showed a gentle smile, "Rest assured, as I said before, I won’t cling to you, whether you’re a man or a woman. You’re my Heart Demon, and once I leave here, I’ll try to let you go. No matter if in the end there’s still a place for you in my heart, I will never let your existence become an obstacle that affects my thoughts."
Mu Qingge remained silent, asking inwardly, ’Does this count as having made it clear or not?’
At this moment, the light around Xi Qianxue brightened again.
Even though Mu Qingge had no experience with this kind of thing, she knew the time for her to leave was closer.
Xi Qianxue slowly walked up to her, suddenly smiled, and said to Mu Qingge, "Now that I know you’re a woman, what I want to do in my heart has fewer scruples. One last time, let me be selfish one last time."
After speaking, she stood on tiptoe, her red lips quickly brushing lightly across Mu Qingge’s cheek.
Mu Qingge was stunned.
But Xi Qianxue turned and ran to Wei Molili’s side, retrieved the Teleportation Talisman from him, and crushed it directly. Instantly, Wei Molili also glowed with the same golden light.
"Mu Qingge, I’ll do my best to forget you!" Xi Qianxue shouted to Mu Qingge.
Mu Qingge snapped out of her daze and turned her eyes to see her and Wei Molili’s figures becoming ethereal, disappearing before her eyes.
The faint fragrance still lingered on her cheek.
Mu Qingge raised her hand, wiping the cheek where Xi Qianxue had kissed, muttering, "This matter must not be known to that certain man, otherwise Xi Qianxue will die."
At this moment, a small head cautiously poked through the entrance.
Mu Qingge immediately saw him, put down her hand, and said in a bad mood, "Come in; they’ve all gone."
Ji Yaohua walked in with a playful smile, rubbing her hands together, and asked with a face full of gossip: "Qingge, what was that Goddess Xi shouting about just now? Who does she want to forget?"
Mu Qingge glanced at him sidelong, raising an eyebrow, "Really want to know?"
Ji Yaohua nodded immediately, the gossip light in his eyes growing even brighter.
However, Mu Qingge just coldly smiled and said to him, "Wait until you leave here, then go to the Central Continent to ask her yourself."
Uh!
Running off to the Divine Hall or the Xi Family to find Xi Qianxue?
Forgive him for not having that much free time.
"One more day and we’ll be out. What are your plans next?" Ying Ze walked in and asked.
This topic also made Ji Yaohua stop joking around.
He was the first to say, "Since we know that the Divine Tomb will open again in five years, I might stay in the family to cultivate for a while, and strive to improve my cultivation within these five years. By then, I’ll go and take a chance at the Divine Tomb." After saying this, he looked at Ying Ze and Mu Qingge.
Ying Ze said, "After leaving, I’ll head straight back to the West Continent, deal with some family matters, and also focus on breaking through to the Golden Realm. Afterward, I might go for some training."
"After I return, I need to visit the Sang Family first, then head to the East Continent Alchemy Academy." Mu Qingge sighed. She didn’t have as much time as the two of them to focus solely on cultivation.
"You’re going to the Alchemy Academy?" Ji Yaohua asked in surprise.
Ying Ze also looked at her.
Mu Qingge nodded, "Two years ago, Yao Xinghai issued me a challenge in Luoxing City."
"He challenged you!" Ji Yaohua was even more surprised.
Mu Qingge shook her head, "Not a challenge, but Dan Fighting. Actually, even without his invitation, I would have gone to the Alchemy Academy anyway. I have a few senior brothers and sisters there practicing Alchemy, and I’m also very interested in the Alchemy Conference."
"Alchemy Conference? It’s about half a year away." Ji Yaohua’s family, because of Ji Pianpian, was close to the Alchemy Academy and naturally knew about the Alchemy Conference.
"Mm." Mu Qingge nodded.
Ji Yaohua immediately got excited, placing his hand on Ying Ze’s shoulder, and said to her, "When it’s the Alchemy Conference, the two of us will cheer you on."
Ying Ze silently nodded.
Yao Xinghai wanted to challenge Mu Qingge in Alchemy, and Ying Ze believed he could break through to the Golden Realm in this half a year, so he also wanted a chance to challenge Yao Xinghai.
"And after that? After the Alchemy Conference, what will you do?" Ji Yaohua again asked curiously.
Mu Qingge replied casually, "Perhaps I’ll find a place to cultivate. I haven’t thought that far ahead, many plans can’t keep up with changes."
On the last day in the Ancient Battlefield, the three of them stayed in the cave without cultivating, just chatting. Occasionally exchanging insights into cultivation, or sparring a bit on techniques.
A day passed quickly, and when they reappeared at the gap at the entrance of the Ancient Battlefield, they truly felt that the three months had come to an end.
At the entrance, the figures of Xi Qianxue and Wei Molili were nowhere to be seen.
Ji Yaohua looked disappointed, "I thought the battle camaraderie of these three months might make Goddess Xi graciously wait here for a day, so we could bid farewell and then leave separately. Turns out, I was overthinking it all."
Ying Ze said calmly, "Wei Molili’s condition isn’t good, she naturally needs to get him back to the Wei Family as soon as possible."
Ji Yaohua nodded and didn’t dwell on the matter. He looked at the two, "You’re both going back to the West Continent, at least you’ll have company."
Saying this, his eyes rolled playfully as he said to Mu Qingge, "Why not give me a ride along the way? You’ll head to the West Continent, the quickest way is to first go to Roubei Prefecture and use the Teleportation Array. Just drop me off when you pass through Wankai City."
...
Five days later, Mu Qingge, riding on Little Cai, directly landed at the Sang Family.
After reaching the West Continent, she and Ying Ze parted ways; he went back to the Ying Family, and she returned to the Sang Family. Little Cai’s landing startled the Sang Clan members.
Mu Qingge put away Little Cai and walked towards the courtyard where Sang Lanruo lived.
Walking into the courtyard, Mu Qingge found Sang Lanruo alone at home. Mu Xuewu wasn’t there, probably off cultivating or refining artifacts. Sang Lanruo was turned away from her, sorting through some materials with her hands.
Hearing the sound of metal clashing, Mu Qingge guessed she was selecting materials for artifact refining.
Mu Qingge looked at her; her silhouette still carried the grace of a young woman, but her silver hair was particularly striking.
"Mother." Mu Qingge’s eyes flickered, and she gathered her emotions to greet.
Upon hearing Mu Qingge’s voice, Sang Lanruo immediately put down what she was holding and turned around. Seeing Mu Qingge’s face, she broke into a joyful smile, "Ge’er, you’re back."
Over the past two years, Mu Qingge sent numerous elixirs that could mend lifespan to Sang Lanruo. And Sang Lanruo, not wanting to make her feel guilty, had been diligently training to improve her realm and compensate for her lifespan. Today, her features had returned to how they originally looked, but her hair could only remain silver due to the damage at its roots.
Sang Lanruo quickly walked toward Mu Qingge, muttering, "If you were coming back, you should have told me in advance so I could prepare your favorite dishes."
Mu Qingge smiled, stepped forward, supported her arm, and said, "Mother, father can be saved."
