Pan Buwang was momentarily confused. He and Shen Wuyi had crossed paths only a few times—what reason could she possibly have to spare him?
Could it be because of the Mist Emperor?
Yes... all of his darkness profound energy, his perfect godhood—it was the Mist Emperor who bestowed them upon him. Only someone like the Mist Emperor could possibly stir compassion in the cold heart of the Goddess of Eternal Night.
Pan Buwang mulled it over. This was the only plausible reason he could think of. But he would never willingly expose his connection to the Mist Emperor. So, in a cautious tone, he probed:
"Once, I fell into hell and lost myself. Later, by great fortune, I found my way to the Mist Sea, where I was granted the favor of the Mist Emperor. It changed me—transformed my state of mind. Could it be... that you too have been blessed by the Mist Emperor?"
Shen Wuyi was surprised. She hadn't expected Pan Buwang to have ties to Wu Huang. Yet, she maintained her composure and calmly shook her head.
"You hail from the Abyssal Divine Kingdom. How could you possibly be connected to the Mist Emperor? If others heard what you just said, even that single sentence would be enough to have you pushed into the spotlight. Lord Qi Heng might even strip you of your status as the Son of God."
Her voice was cold and emotionless.
Pan Buwang laughed mockingly.
"Shen Wuyi, don't act the saint. I've already died once. Now, I'm in your hands—a prisoner. What is there left for me to fear or hide?"
"It's well known that the Mist Emperor has never harmed the people of the Abyss. On the contrary, he's saved countless lives swallowed by Abyss Dust over the years. His virtues are boundless. Why can't he stand shoulder to shoulder with the Abyssal Emperor?"
"The Mist Emperor controls the Abyssal Beasts and the Dust. And yet, the Abyssal Emperor—whom we've revered all our lives—has no such power. Isn't that absurd? Maybe the stories of the Abyssal Emperor creating the world... are nothing but false legends."
His voice was defiant, fearless. Though he faced death, he held fast to his beliefs. To him, the Mist Emperor had already surpassed the Abyssal Emperor.
Yun Che, listening from afar, couldn't help but smile.
"This disciple of mine really dares to speak. He's still young—too blunt, too raw. But his loyalty... it's unwavering. He may be rough, but he can be used. I think it's time to change our plans."
Li Suo nodded thoughtfully.
"His devotion to you runs bone-deep. Even if you revealed yourself to him as the Mist Emperor, he wouldn't breathe a word. He'd follow you to the ends of the world. He is... a perfect chess piece. Your teachings weren't in vain."
A trace of weariness crossed Yun Che's face.
"I've become entangled with too many people in this abyssal world. Caili, my aunt, the God of No Dream, now Pan Buwang... I don't want to hurt them. I know I shouldn't think like this, but these feelings linger. I can only hope there's a path forward... a way to resolve it all."
"Don't burden yourself too much," Li Suo said gently. "I believe everything will find its place, eventually."
Meanwhile, Shen Wuyi remained silent, unmoved by Pan Buwang's rebellious tirade. She could see he had already resolved to die—his words were merely the cries of a doomed man. Such blasphemy against the Abyssal Emperor did not concern her.
But then, unexpectedly, she asked:
"After fighting me for so long... have you really not felt anything?"
Pan Buwang froze. It wasn't because of Wu Huang?
Then what was it?
Could it be...
"The ice-based profound skills you used—those were Wuqing's. Could it be... she once taught you? Helped you cultivate them?"
As his rage cooled, his memories stirred. Yes... now that he thought about it, Shen Wuyi's techniques—Frost Wall, Condensed Ice Lance, Snowfield Domain—were all the same ones Shen Wuqing had practiced.
"You remember them," Shen Wuyi said quietly, her tone tinged with sorrow. "But you couldn't even sense her aura. And yet you talk of deep love?"
"You chased vengeance, let hatred blind you, and couldn't even recognize her presence. Just as the Mother Goddess said... all men are unfaithful in love."
Her words pierced Pan Buwang's heart like ice-cold thorns. He had indeed been blinded by hate, had seen only the enemy in front of him—never once stopping to sense who she truly was.
But suddenly—
"You... what did you say? Her aura? You mean... she's still alive!?"
Pan Buwang's voice trembled with disbelief. He forgot the fight, forgot his pain, forgot everything but those words. His eyes locked onto Shen Wuyi, desperate.
Shen Wuyi's next words hit him like a thunderclap.
"Shen Wuqing... I did kill her. No trace of her body remained."
Pan Buwang's brief glimmer of hope was instantly extinguished. The agony hit harder than before. He fell silent, blood filling his eyes as despair consumed him once again.
But then...
"However," Shen Wuyi added calmly, "I preserved her soul. Were it not for her soul's violent reaction... I would've killed you long ago."
Pan Buwang slowly raised his head, disbelief written across his face. Shen Wuyi's presence was terrifying—her mercy, cruel. She gave him hope, only to snatch it away again and again.
Yet still, he chose to believe her... just once more.
"Wuqing... where is she?" His voice was hoarse. He coughed blood from the emotional upheaval, his soul wracked with pain.
A soft light glowed as Shen Wuyi opened the exquisite world within her body.
A wisp of a soul emerged, glowing faintly.
"Brother Pan... I never thought I'd see you again."
Shen Wuqing's voice was delicate, faint. Yet every word overflowed with emotion. She was crying—crying for their reunion.
"Wuqing! It's you! You're alive... you're truly alive! This... this is Heaven's greatest gift to me!"
Pan Buwang's tears flowed freely. He had suffered so much loss, so many shattered hopes... yet now, his soul was whole again.
"Don't forget what you promised me," Shen Wuyi said coldly. "I've kept my side of the deal."
"Thank you," Shen Wuqing replied softly, bowing despite her ethereal form. "I'll never forget the pact between us."
"You only have a few dozen breaths," Shen Wuyi warned. "Treasure the time you have."
She turned away, allowing them their final moment.
Pan Buwang knelt before Shen Wuqing's soul, overcome with emotion.
"Wuqing... do you know how much I missed you? When I thought you'd died, it was like my heart was ripped from my chest. I hated myself. I hated the gods. I drowned in alcohol just to numb the pain... I was nothing but a shadow. I never regretted loving you—only that we met too late. Maybe... maybe things would've been different."
Shen Wuqing's eyes shimmered.
"Brother Pan... if it weren't for Wuyi, I'd have disappeared forever. Don't hate her. She's not evil—only pushed to desperation. In her place, I might have done worse."
Pan Buwang nodded solemnly. He looked at Shen Wuyi with gratitude, no longer with hatred.
"In the Eternal Night's Abandoned Palace, I lost everything—my cultivation, my limbs, my will to live. But your memory gave me strength. You were the light that kept me going."
"Now, seeing you alive and well, even as the Son of the Owl Butterfly God... I'm proud of you. I truly am. And I hope that once I'm gone, you'll forget the sorrow, the hatred... even forget me. Just live well."
Her final smile was radiant. In that moment, Shen Wuqing's life felt complete.
"Brother Pan... forget me. One day, you'll meet someone better suited for you."
As her soul faded into the exquisite world, Pan Buwang reached out instinctively—
"No... no! Wuqing, don't leave me!"
But he caught nothing but air. He stumbled forward and collapsed, his body and soul both lost in dazed sorrow.
….
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