"If it isn't you, then who is it!!"
Qian Renxue's face was as cold as frost. With a slight turn of her fair hand, the Angel Holy Sword shattered the space around it and returned to her grasp. In a flash of light and shadow, the holy sword locked onto Yun Ming, divine power condensing along the blade as she struck once more.
Seeing Qian Renxue lose her composure like this, Yun Ming frowned slightly. He had known her for quite some time, yet this was the first time he had ever seen her in such a state. While shielding Ya Li behind him, he used his palm as a spear to parry the holy sword.
Clang, clang, clang—
Crack—
The angel sword light on the holy sword clashed repeatedly with the Atlas Spear radiance from Yun Ming's palm. The sound of metal striking metal rang out incessantly, and the furniture in the room was continuously shattered by the shockwaves. Even though Yun Ming was empty-handed, he still managed to block every strike of Qian Renxue's divine sword.
Qian Renxue was somewhat stunned by how easily Yun Ming was defending himself. Even Tang San, the Shura God who was touted as the top deity of the God Realm, had never dared to catch her sword with his bare hands. This display by Yun Ming caused her reason to return, if only slightly.
Seeing that they were fighting again, Ya Li hurriedly tried to help explain.
"That's right, Senior Sister! This definitely isn't what you think. Brother Ming wouldn't lie."
"I just arrived; I don't have the time for that."
"Besides, if I wanted Bibi Dong's life, I wouldn't need to go through all this trouble. I would have just killed her outright."
Yun Ming noticed the emotional fluctuations in Qian Renxue's eyes and added this clarification. It was true that his purpose in coming here was to resolve past grievances, but he hadn't even made a move yet, and Bibi Dong was already like this! He hadn't done anything, and he certainly wasn't going to take the blame for this.
Qian Renxue stared fixedly into Yun Ming's eyes, trying to discern the truth, but all she could see was an open, honest gaze. After all, Yun Ming really hadn't done anything!
"Then why are you here?" Qian Renxue asked as they remained in a stalemate. After all, the fact that Yun Ming had come to Martial Soul City to find Bibi Dong instead of Ya Li was, in itself, a very unusual situation.
Yun Ming: To kill.
That question left Yun Ming at a loss for how to answer. Although the process wasn't his doing, the current result was indeed what he had desired. But if he answered that way, it would feel like he was still taking the blame! Besides, was Qian Renxue really the type to focus on the details? Why did her brain seem to be working so differently from a moment ago?
Answering was difficult, and not answering was worse. With his thoughts racing, Yun Ming decided to change the subject, glancing at Bibi Dong.
"Compared to that, don't you think you should attend to Bibi Dong first?"
Qian Renxue also realized what was most urgent right now.
"Your words better be true, otherwise I will make you pay!"
Yun Ming replied calmly.
"As you wish."
After giving Yun Ming a deep look, Qian Renxue retracted her sword and returned to Bibi Dong's side. She looked at Bibi Dong, who was pale, weak, and silent, and with her beautiful eyes closed, she extended her divine sense to investigate Bibi Dong's condition.
Angel and Rakshasa were complete opposites. Qian Renxue's divine sense, carrying holy attributes, should have encountered resistance upon entering the body, but it moved without obstruction. This discovery made things easier for Qian Renxue, but it also worried her even more. Such a sign gave her a bad premonition.
With Yun Ming and Qian Renxue temporarily ceasing their fight, Yu Xiaogang was left in a panic. He had been terrified enough when the two of them caught him delivering medicine, but now that Qian Renxue was searching for the cause of Bibi Dong's condition, it would be disastrous if he were discovered. He hadn't reached the point of reaping his rewards yet!
Inch by inch, Yu Xiaogang crawled toward the door like a maggot. His movements were slow and light, aimed at avoiding any attention. Fortunately, the spot where he had been knocked over wasn't far from the door, so even at his slow pace, he would be able to get out before long.
One minute, two minutes. A quarter of an hour.
After a long search, aside from her soul, which she could not probe, Qian Renxue could not find any physical problems within Bibi Dong's body. She could feel the death-wish stemming from her soul; it seemed as if Bibi Dong simply didn't want to live anymore, but there had to be a reason.
"How could this happen? What on earth happened?!"
Everything had been fine before; Qian Renxue couldn't understand how things had suddenly turned out this way.
She sought an answer from Bibi Dong. But Bibi Dong just lay numbly on the bed, indifferent and speechless.
"Bibi Dong, look at me, please!"
"."
"Bibi Dong, I beg you, tell me what happened. Talk to me, please?"
Her tone shifted between urgency and weakness as Qian Renxue held Bibi Dong's hand, pleading with her. She knew that her senses hadn't been completely sealed and that she could still hear, but Bibi Dong just stared at the hole in the ceiling with vacant eyes.
"Mom—, answer me!"
The lack of response finally caused Qian Renxue's long-suppressed emotions to erupt. She grabbed Bibi Dong by the shoulders and pulled her up.
Yun Ming, Ya Li: Mom?!!
The two exchanged a glance. They had never heard of this relationship! There was gossip here, a story!
The word "Mom" finally caused some emotional fluctuation in Bibi Dong's deadened eyes. Maternal love was, after all, the greatest emotion in the world. Even though Bibi Dong hadn't heard that title in over twenty years, she was still moved by it.
"Ugh—"
A Purple-Red Rune formed and spread across Bibi Dong's forehead, forcing a muffled groan from her. Her emotional fluctuation acted like a switch; instead of saving her, it seemed to open the floodgates for her life force, causing her aura to weaken rapidly.
Huh?!!
All three were shocked by this turn of events. Yun Ming sensed a familiar aura emanating from the rune.
Qian Renxue had no time to worry about that. Seeing her mother's life force slipping away, she instinctively wanted to share her own life with her.
Holy Grace
But this time, just as the divine light began to rise from her hands, Bibi Dong used her Rakshasa divine power to forcefully push them away.
"It's useless, it's already too late."
Bibi Dong replied weakly.
Qian Renxue couldn't believe it and shouted in protest.
"How could it be too late? There must be a way. Tell me, how exactly can this mark be undone?"
"Yun Ming, I beg you, please help me."
Beyond just Bibi Dong, after realizing her own helplessness, Qian Renxue chose to set aside her pride, bowing her head to ask for help for the first time in her life.
Listening to the tearful tremor in Qian Renxue's voice, Yun Ming paused, ultimately deciding to step forward and take a look. He pressed a finger to the center of Bibi Dong's brow, and a point of golden light ignited. Compared to Qian Renxue, who was unable to investigate due to the nature of her abilities, he saw much more; the problem lay precisely within Bibi Dong's divine soul.
He saw a fragmented, crumbling little figure. If this were a human soul, Yun Ming's power might have been enough to save it, but as a divine soul, the realm was too high, and he was powerless to turn the tide.
Facing Qian Renxue's hopeful gaze, Yun Ming shook his head.
Qian Renxue froze.
"Ho... how can this be?"
As if she had suddenly lost all her strength, Bibi Dong's body went limp.
"Mom—" Qian Renxue caught her mother.
Bibi Dong had no intention of answering Qian Renxue's question; such things no longer mattered. She had already seen the end of her life and now needed to speak of more important things.
"Xue Er, I'm sorry. You are innocent; I shouldn't have projected that hatred onto you."
The mother and daughter's willingness to die for one another had thoroughly awakened her. Although it seemed a bit late, she at least hoped her daughter could face her future life with a lighter burden and fewer regrets.
Qian Renxue's body trembled, her lips quivering.
"No, no, no. As long as you are alright, nothing else matters to me."
Listening to Qian Renxue's words, a smile appeared on Bibi Dong's face. This daughter of hers was truly so much like her! It was a pity, truly too late.
"Don't be sad. My life has been too bitter. To me, death is not an end, but a release."
Before she could finish, the Rune at the center of Bibi Dong's brow grew brighter. A wave of excruciating pain tore through her divine soul; it began to shatter, and her Divine Body slowly crumbled along with it.
"Yun Ming—"
Qian Renxue wanted to stop Bibi Dong's disintegration, but her divine power could not touch her mother, so she had to call out to Yun Ming for help.
Yun Ming looked at the two of them, as if seeing space and time overlap. How similar! It was just like the scene when he first opened his eyes in this life. Even though his bond with his mother in this life was shallow, having only met her once, that profound emotion was etched into his bones.
"Brother Ming," Ya Li sensed the faint sorrow in the depths of Yun Ming's eyes and looked at the arm she was holding, hoping to give him some strength.
Yun Ming received her intent and turned to smile at her. He flipped his palm, and surging Atlas Divine Spirit Energy poured into Bibi Dong's body.
For someone on the verge of death, it no longer mattered. Thinking of the regrets and reluctance his own mother felt before their parting, Yun Ming decided to give her a chance to finish her final words, if only to repay Qian Daoliu for his cultivation of Ya Li.
The crumbling of the Divine Body slowed, and Bibi Dong gained a moment to breathe. After thanking Yun Ming, she spoke intermittently.
"I am about to... leave. Promise me... that you and Na Na will both live... well."
"As long as... you can live... safely, I will be... satisfied..."
Bibi Dong smiled as she looked at Qian Renxue. Her eyes were filled with contentment and tenderness. She slowly raised her hand, seemingly wanting to touch Qian Renxue's head, but her hand only made it halfway.
Time seemed to stand still in that moment. When Qian Renxue suddenly felt the stiffness in her arms, she looked up just in time to see Bibi Dong's pale hand fall.
The peerless powerhouse who had shaken the Soul Master World for years and reached the pinnacle of the God Realm, Bibi Dong, had finally ended her sorrowful life.
"Mom—" The final result had arrived after all. Qian Renxue threw herself onto Bibi Dong's chest and wept bitterly.
Ya Li saw it; Bibi Dong had died with a smile. Although she didn't know what Bibi Dong's death was like in the original timeline, it certainly couldn't be worse than this.
It's over, it's all over.
The hatred of their Breaking Clan had finally reached its absolute conclusion today. Yun Ming looked through the hole in the ceiling at the sky, as if seeing a group of blurred figures smiling at him. His vow from all those years ago was finally fulfilled; there was relief, but also a touch of loss. Everything was in the past.
On the other side, seeing Bibi Dong die and vanish into specks of divine light, Yu Xiaogang froze, but immediately began to sneak away more carefully. If Qian Renxue discovered that he had anything to do with this, he would surely die today.
Yu Xiaogang's plan had been successful to a certain extent. Qian Renxue's attention was entirely on her mother and she hadn't noticed him. Yun Ming had noticed, but trash like Yu Xiaogang didn't catch his eye, and he couldn't be bothered to deal with him. With the active or passive indifference of the others, he had actually managed to move half his body out of the room.
Seeing that he was about to escape, Yu Xiaogang was ecstatic.
Almost there! Almost there! Yu Xiaogang thought to himself, but suddenly, a cold female voice rang out.
"Senior Sister, please restrain your grief. There is still one question left unanswered."
"Perhaps someone knows the reason why His Majesty suddenly suffered this calamity."
"For instance, Mr. Yu."
To help her Senior Sister pull herself together, Ya Li finally took action.
Yu Xiaogang's movements could not escape her perception. She sensed his racing heart and sweating, but that was nothing. It was normal for Yu Xiaogang to fear Yun Ming and Qian Renxue, given he had been dealt with before. The main point was that Bibi Dong's condition wasn't caused by Yun Ming; only two or three people could have gotten close to her, and Yu Xiaogang was the most intimate among them. He was the most likely to know the cause.
Yu Xiaogang: "!!!"
Hearing this, Yu Xiaogang felt his scalp tingle, but before he could stand up to flee, he felt a terrifying pressure lock onto him, nearly causing him to faint. Two giant golden hands dragged him back, pinning him in a cross shape before Qian Renxue.
"Speak. What happened these past few days?" Qian Renxue asked, her head lowered, her tone low.
"N-nothing happened."
Could he say it? Absolutely not! Yu Xiaogang had done many foolish things, but when faced with life and death, his brain was still sharp.
Qian Renxue slowly stood up, the Sun God Fire burning wildly in her eyes. Looking into those fiery pupils, Yu Xiaogang felt as if his soul were in the depths of Hell, suffering immensely.
"I will say it one more time. What happened!"
This time, Qian Renxue's question was significantly colder. Seven Divine Rings appeared one by one; the earth trembled, the sky wailed, and the magnificent aura belonging to the Angel God was revealed in full. She was truly enraged.
Only when facing the current Qian Renxue did Yu Xiaogang finally realize what he was up against, but unfortunately, his realization came too late.
───────────────
Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: DaoistReader