Chapter 1608 - Meiyin Enters the Moon (1/2)
Xia Qingyue’s words stunned everyone present, causing Shui Qianheng, who had already resigned himself to fate, to jerk his head upwards. “You… you can’t! This matter was my idea alone, it has nothing to do with anyone else.”
“Shui Qianheng, why bother lying to us and yourself?” Xia Qingyue said in a chilly voice. “As the Glazed Light Realm King, if not for your youngest daughter, whom you pamper and love the most, would you really risk the safety of the entire Glazed Light Realm and secretly hide the devil Yun Che for a whole twenty-four hours?”
“I don’t believe you would have, and neither does the Eternal Heaven God Emperor. In fact, it’s impossible for anyone to believe that.”
Indeed, anyone would be able to come to the realization that the only person who could cause Shui Qianheng, the Glazed Light Realm King, to disregard the safety of the Glazed Light Realm was his daughter.
“No.” Shui Qianheng violently shook his head. He, the person who had been calm and unafraid in the face of death, now wore an expression filled with fear. “Moon God Emperor, you said that you’d punish me alone just now, and that you definitely wouldn’t touch anyone else. As a mighty and exalted god emperor, how can you go back on your words?”
“This king only said that she would not kill anyone else. I never said that I would not investigate anyone else.” She glanced at Shui Meiyin. “Shui Qianheng, you should be well aware that if she did not possess the only Stainless Divine Soul in this world, if she was not the unique treasure of our Eastern Divine Region, the very first person this king would punish would not be you, Shui Qianheng!”
“But since it involves the devil Yun Che, there is no way that this king can simply let her off.” Xia Qingyue’s eyes turned slightly. “Eternal Heaven God Emperor, what do you think?”
The Eternal Heaven God Emperor did not meet Xia Qingyue’s gaze, but he understood her meaning well enough… Xia Qingyue had already relented when it came to the matter of Shui Qianheng and his punishment had been reduced to getting rid of his strength as a Divine Master. If he, the Eternal Heaven God Emperor, tried to force the issue and protect Shui Meiyin as well, this would not only enrage the Moon God Emperor, it would also cause the rest of the world to look at this matter strangely if it were to ever get out.
“Eternal Heaven God Emperor.” Shui Qianheng did his best to move forward even though his body was still transfixed by the Purple Pylon Divine Sword. It seemed as if he did not feel any pain or care about his injuries. He looked at the Eternal Heaven God Emperor and practically begged him. “Even if my humble daughter Meiyin has done wrong, it is due to her youth and inexperience. Everything… The authority to decide everything rests with this sinner Qianheng. Qianheng is willing to pay for his crimes with his life, but I beg that the Eternal Heaven God Emperor save my humble daughter. I beg… for the Moon God Emperor’s magnanimity. Even if this Qianheng dies, I will still be grateful for your act of mercy.”
He had calmly admitted his crimes and faced his own death, completely displaying the bearing and dignity of a higher realm king. But once it concerned his daughter, he had reverted into a father completely. He had become so panicked, helpless… and pathetic.
Given the mercilessness of the Moon God Emperor, especially her resolute determination towards Yun Che, he was unable to imagine just how she would treat Shui Meiyin once she had fallen into her hands… In fact, he did not even dare to imagine her treatment.
Xia Qingyue did not seem the least bit moved. She coldly said, “Since this king already promised the Eternal Heaven God Emperor that I wouldn’t kill you, then I definitely won’t do so. Otherwise, wouldn’t this king become a despicable and untrustworthy person?”
The Eternal Heaven God Emperor, “...”
“In fact, even if you desire death now, this king will not allow it. When you hid Yun Che back then, you should have thought of the price you would pay today!”
“Moon God Emperor,” the Eternal Heaven God Emperor suddenly spoke up. He continued in an unhurried manner, “I’ll have to trouble you to exact Shui Qianheng’s punishment, but how about you allow this old one to handle Shui Meiyin? Since it is imprisonment, then there should be no difference between the Moon God Realm and my Eternal Heaven God Realm, correct?”
The gloom in Shui Qianheng’s eyes lessened, and his eyes had now started to shine with some hope.
The Eternal Heaven God Emperor was extremely fond of Shui Meiyin, this was something the entire Eastern Divine Region knew. Long before the Profound God Convention, the Eternal Heaven God Emperor had not hesitated to pay a personal visit to the Glazed Light Realm just to take Shui Meiyin as his direct disciple… he had even wanted to make her his very last disciple, but Shui Qianheng had turned him down.
If she was imprisoned in the Eternal Heaven God Realm, even if she truly could not take a single step outside of it for the next millennia, given the righteousness of the Eternal Heaven God Realm and the fondness the Eternal Heaven God Emperor displayed toward her, she definitely would not come to any harm.
“It looks like the Eternal Heaven God Emperor is kind and benevolent to the end. You are even so merciful and compassionate to the sinners who hid away the devil Yun Che,” Xia Qingyue said.
“Ultimately, their actions were a result of their natures. It was not because they desired to help the devils in any capacity,” the Eternal Heaven God Emperor said. “Otherwise, this old one would also not be so ‘compassionate’. I am sure the Moon God Emperor is well aware of this.”
“That is indeed true,” Xia Qingyue said. “If not, why would this king even be willing to take half a step backwards. However, a mistake is still a mistake. If no price is paid for it, then wouldn’t it be unjust to the people who will suffer the consequences of their wrongdoings!?”
“Ah.” The Eternal Heaven God Emperor let out a long sigh and said, “Saying anything more would be meaningless. How about imprisoning Shui Meiyin in my Eternal Heaven God Realm? The Moon God Emperor need not worry, this old one absolutely will not allow her to take a single step out of the Eternal Heaven God Realm before a thousand years has passed. I will ensure that she reflects on her wrongdoing every day. After a thousand years have passed, this old one will also be responsible for ensuring that she uses her powers to make up for her crimes.”
The Eternal Heaven God Emperor knew that it was likely that the Moon God Emperor would reject his words. It could be said that everyone in the universe knew about his intense desire to take Shui Meiyin as his disciple back then. However, after she thought about it for a brief period of time, Xia Qingyue slowly nodded her head and said these words that greatly surprised him, “Since the Eternal Heaven God Emperor is so insistent, then this king… will give Shui Meiyin the chance to make a choice.”
Choice?
“Shui Meiyin.” Xia Qingyue slowly turned around and looked straight at the girl who had been silent the whole time. “Even though hiding the devil Yun Che was your father’s doing, you are the most important reason for his actions. Being imprisoned in a king realm for a thousand years is the most compassionate punishment that this king can think of. Moreover, this punishment would also save your father’s life.”
“You do not have the right to reject. But right now, this king will give you the chance to choose.” Xia Qingyue’s beautiful eyes grew relaxed and her voice became gentler. “The Moon God Realm or the Eternal Heaven God Realm, I will let you choose!”
“Of course, if you want to go to the Brahma Monarch God Realm, that’s acceptable as well.”
It seemed as if it did not matter to Xia Qingyue which king realm in the Eastern Divine Region carried out the punishment… As for the Star God Realm, they had been quietly kicked out of the ranks of the king realms.
Once she said these words, everyone present breathed a deep sigh of relief. Both Shui Qianheng and Shui Yingyue looked towards Shui Meiyin. Their eyes trembled, but they did not utter a word… Because this was a choice that could not be any simpler.
After a brief period of silence, Shui Meiyin’s gaze came into contact with Xia Qingyue’s own. They only beheld each other’s eyes in this moment… Both pairs of eyes were deep and boundless. It was just that one pair of eyes looked like a dark night sky that was dotted with countless bright and resplendent stars, while the other pair was clearly a dreamy purple color but resembled a purple abyss that held no other light.
Shui Meiyin’s lips softly moved and she spoke as if she were in a dream, “I will follow you… to the Moon God Realm.”
Shui Meiyin’s reply stunned all three people at the same time. Shui Qianheng could not help but blurt out, “Meiyin! You… what sort of foolishness is this!? Go to Eternal Heaven… that is the place that’s more suited for you!”
The Eternal Heaven God Emperor was even more mystified… Could she really not see the one who was trying to protect her? The one who had desperately protected the entire Glazed Light Realm?
Shui Meiyin’s gaze turned toward them and she let out a very soft laugh as she said, “The Moon God Emperor is right. No matter what reasons we had, in the eyes of the Eastern Divine Region, we did commit a grave sin. Since we were wrong, then we should make up for our crimes. Since we are paying for our crimes… if I were to choose the Eternal Heaven God Realm, then Father… and the Glazed Light Realm will have to endure countless criticisms from now on. Because once today’s matter is spread to the rest of the world, everyone will know that is Grandpa Eternal Heaven who protected me.”
“It’s fine, it’s absolutely fine,” Shui Qianheng anxiously said. “Your safety is far more important than that!”
Shui Meiyin shook her head and said to Xia Qingyue, “Moon God Emperor, I will return with you to the Moon God Realm. I request that you honor your words and let my royal father off.”
“How can this king go back on her words?” As Xia Qingyue said those words, the purple sword projection that pierced Shui Qianheng’s body suddenly swelled up explosively and a flash of purple light exploded in front of Shui Qianheng’s chest, directly striking at his profound veins.
“Father!”
Shui Qianheng let out a heavy moan, but he did not struggle or resist. He knew that those actions would only make matters worse. He allowed that fearsome power to surge into his profound veins and mercilessly destroy the strength that had allowed him to stand proudly over all creation...