Da Xuan Martial Saint

In her eyes,

Xu Yichuan was the best father in the world.

After so many years of arduous investigation, despite having long braced herself for the possibility, the sight of Xu Yichuan, now an Evil Corpse, still caused the icy walls she had built up in her heart to crumble instantly.

"..."

Eventually, Xu Hongyu closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she turned to look at Chen Mu, whispering, "Let my father, rest in peace."

Chen Mu nodded at her, then flicked his fingers.

A flame drifted out, landing on the body of Xu Yichuan. It quickly ignited into a fierce blaze that engulfed his corpse entirely. The full power of the Separating Fire Artistic Conception was unleashed, burning away the spreading black mist, engulfing flesh and piercing through bone, as the body slowly dissolved into ashes within the flames.

Xu Hongyu watched this scene, her gaze trembling slightly, then growing increasingly unsteady until a silent, crystalline tear fell, accompanying the last of all that was, turning to dust.

Chen Mu gently wrapped an arm around Xu Hongyu's shoulder.

Gazing at Xu Yichuan's body, which was disintegrating to ash in the Separating Fire, he sighed quietly to himself. Xu Yichuan, having been turned into an Evil Corpse, had no chance to return to his origins, nor could he be laid to rest as ordinary people are.

While his feelings were far from as deep as Xu Hongyu's, should his own kin fall to such a state, turned into a Corpse Puppet to be manipulated and humiliated… Whether it was the remnants of the Heavenly Corpse Sect or the Sect at its peak, he would ensure they all turned to dust.

Finally.

All disappeared in smoke.

...

"Hongyu sister."

In a courtyard of the County Government, Chen Yue greeted Xu Hongyu with cheerfulness.

In reality, she hadn't interacted much with Xu Hongyu, but having spent every day with Yu Ru and often hearing about Xu Hongyu from her, she was influenced by her surroundings and felt no discomfort at the thought of Xu Hongyu becoming her future sister-in-law.

Xu Hongyu nodded slightly towards Chen Yue.

Chen Mu said, "Yue'er, your sister Hongyu has just returned and is a bit tired. Let her rest."

"Mm-hmm."

Chen Yue blinked, glancing at Xu Hongyu and then at Xiao He. She seemed to sense something, obediently agreed, and then stood aside, watching Xu Hongyu and Xiao He enter the room prepared for them within the County Government.

She leaned close to Chen Mu, whispering, "Brother, what happened?"

"Something happened, I will tell you about it later."

Chen Mu looked at Chen Yue and said just that. Understanding, Chen Yue did not press further. She then kept him company, chatting about the things Chen Mu had encountered after he had left, as he listened attentively all the way back to his room.

He poured himself a cup of tea and took a few sips. Later, he stood up, left the room, and went to Xu Hongyu's room. Xiao He quietly opened the door for him, leading him to the inner room.

Xu Hongyu was sitting beside a table, staring blankly at the tea cup, lost in thought. Seeing Chen Mu come in and walk up to her, she involuntarily averted her gaze, "I was... rather unseemly today, wasn't I?"

"It happens to everyone."

Chen Mu looked at her and said.

Xu Hongyu lowered her head, "Is that so? But I might... not be such a good person, ever since I was little, I practiced the sword only to receive my father's praise, later on, I continued to swordfight only to investigate my father's affairs, but when I truly found out the truth, I was powerless to avenge my father, to set him free."

Chen Mu said in a calm tone, "A person who strives to do something is not inferior to the person who achieves it, they're merely lacking the opportunity, just lacking some fate, things that are beyond the control of human effort."

As he spoke.

Chen Mu slightly shook the teacup on the table, a drop of clear and round tea spilled out, heading toward Xu Hongyu, but it stopped abruptly three inches in front of her and hung in midair.

"You see, you have come to understand Kan Water Artistic Conception, who would you be worse than? With a bit more time, you could surpass your father, you could accomplish those things. Your father, seeing your Artistic Conception, must certainly be feeling comforted for you."

"Is that so..."

Xu Hongyu stared blankly at the suspended drop of tea.

She looked at Chen Mu, and suddenly, she didn't feel the shock she once had for Chen Mu's comprehending three kinds of Artistic Conception and stepping into the Five Viscera Realm in such a short time. Instead, a different emotion emerged as she said, "Are you, perhaps, also very tired?"

No matter how peerless one's comprehension, no matter how high their talent, Cultivation and Realm cannot simply materialize from thin air; they must undoubtedly have undergone indescribable arduous training and tempering.

To speak of hardship, she knew that she could in no way compare to Chen Mu, who was born into the lower strata of society—what kind of circumstances that entailed, orphaned parents, worrying about even clothing and food.

Compared to what Chen Mu had undergone, her own difficulties seemed to be nothing, yet Chen Mu had managed to rise step by step to reach such heights today... Sometimes she felt exhausted herself, but what about Chen Mu?

"A little, I suppose."

Chen Mu smiled.

In fact, compared to Xu Hongyu's efforts, his hardships were equally undeniable; not to mention living every day on tenterhooks, cautiously, before gaining the system panel.

Even after obtaining the system panel and becoming stronger step by step, when had he ever indulged himself?

Aside from training, it was still training; he did not visit brothels to listen to music, did not indulge his desires. Every day, he was contemplating the next step, thinking about what needed to be done afterward, the matters that required attention. The limitless glory in front of others—who knew of the hard work exerted behind the scenes?

Xu Hongyu finally realized this.

He was gratified.

A long time ago, Xu Hongyu hadn't felt anything unusual towards him; even after years of acquaintance, their relationship had always been of subordinate and superior. It wasn't until he faced the remnants of the Heavenly Corpse Sect and finally revealed the power he had forged through rough times, that he managed to complete the most important piece of the puzzle in Xu Hongyu's eyes.

From being young, composed, calm, steady, understanding the bigger picture, knowing the structure, having talent... to imperceptibly, his stature became even more towering than hers, and for the first time, it gave her the same feeling of protection she got from her father, Xu Yichuan.

And as for his feelings toward Xu Hongyu, it began with admiration, then moved to attraction, took advantage when her state of mind was in turmoil, and during the demon hunting, a series of protections that were more like filling the gap left by her father.

Although he didn't mind playing such a role, maintaining an image of near omnipotence, if Xu Hongyu could also understand him a bit, see things from his perspective, then he would... have no further demands.

Xu Hongyu looked at Chen Mu and suddenly said in a soft voice, "Is it true, have you concealed a lot of things you want to say?"

If she had so many things she wanted to say but never did, what about Chen Mu?

"What I want to say..."

Listening to Xu Hongyu's words, Chen Mu's eyes revealed a complex expression, flashing through numerous memories, he finally said, "I'll take the chance to tell you slowly in the future."

Xu Hongyu could now talk to him about anything, yet the many secrets in his heart might forever remain secrets.