Chapter 1907 (1/2)
“Poyun!!”
Huo Rulie’s sudden, angry roar froze Huo Poyun before he could do anything else, and shocked both Yan Wancang and Yan Juehai.
The two sect masters were shocked because he had addressed Poyun by his name, not his title “Great Realm King”.
Right now, Huo Rulie’s complexion looked as red as blood, and it was difficult to tell if his fiery long hair was shuddering because of his anger or the hot air of the environment. One thing was certain though, those who paid close attention would realize that some of his hair was starting to gray.
“How much longer are you going to be willful and stupid!!?”
His voice sounded hoarse because he was shouting every word. He seemed to have forgotten that the man before him was no longer his disciple, but the Flame God Realm King all denizens of the Flame God Realm must submit to.
“Sect Master Huo!” Yan Wangcang and Yan Juehai warned at the same time.
“Shut up!” Huo Rulie waved his arm imperiously before walking forward until he was within touching distance of Huo Poyun. “Poyun, you have always been the greatest pride of my life. In a sense, I see you as a gift from heaven itself.”
“You may be my disciple, but you're just as important to me as Ye’er. Do you remember that day you came out of the Eternal Heaven Divine Realm as a Divine Master, and I laughed like a madman in front of you? You probably do, but you have no idea I cried for three days and nights when I was alone, do you?? I even boasted to countless people’s faces saying that I could pass on to the afterlife now with zero regrets!”
“...” Huo Poyun still didn’t move a muscle.
“Because of you, the Flame God Realm was able to become an upper star realm. Every one of us is proud of you, and we all look up to you as our king from the bottom of our hearts. But… look at what you’ve become after Yun Che came back! Look at what you’ve done and are still doing right now!”
“Where is your pride as the successor of the Golden Crow, or have you fed it all to your pathetic ego? Have you forgotten that your every word and action may decide the fate of the entire Flame God Realm? It’s not even the first time you have threatened to bury the Flame God Realm with your foolishness, and now you’re going to do it again!?”
“SECT MASTER HUO!!” Yang Wancang boomed, finally overcoming Huo Rulie’s full-throated shout with a fiery shout of his own. He let out a heavy sigh before saying, “Enough… no matter what happens, he is still our great realm king.”
“Great realm king, you say…” Huo Rulie let out a bitter laugh. “No, he is just my failure. Surrendering control of the Flame God Realm to him was the biggest mistake of my life, not my proudest moment.”
“The only reason the Flame God Realm is even standing right now is because Emperor Yun still values our former friendship… or maybe, we are simply beneath his attention now.”
Both Yang Wancang and Yan Juehai closed their eyes at the same time. Their expressions were of pain and grim acceptance.
Pain, because Huo Rulie had finally divulged every thought he had kept locked in his heart. Grim acceptance, because speaking the truth was often not without its consequences.
Huo Poyun lowered his arm slowly. Then, he turned around to face the sect masters.
To their surprise, the eyes that met them weren’t filled with rage, but a calm that was almost unfamiliar to them.
“Master, Sect Master Yan (焱), Sect Master Yan (炎),” he said slowly and softly, “this unworthy junior and incompetent realm king is aware that he has disappointed you all these years.”
His tone and expression were so different from what they expected that even the raging Huo Rulie was temporarily lost for words. “Poyun, you…”
“Even the most immature child must grow up some day.” Huo Poyun smiled derisively at himself. “And I have long since lost the right or the face to keep acting childish. I should’ve put down my pitiful obsession toward Yun Che… no, Emperor Yun a long time ago.”
Huo Poyun’s declaration shook all three sect masters greatly. Yan Wancang blurted with cautious hope, “Great Realm King, do you… do you really mean it…?”
“Mn.” Huo Poyun nodded with a small smile on his face. “After I have cultivated Nine Suns Heaven’s Fury to completion, the progress of my Golden Crow’s Record of the Burning World has slowed to a crawl. That is why I’m entering this forbidden barrier. It is to witness the ‘Nine Heavens Cry of Dead Crow and Shattered Jade’.”
“I am well aware that it’s a forbidden flame that burns the world at the cost of oneself, but it’s ultimately a part of the Golden Crow’s Record of the Burning World and the Golden Crow’s divine power. If I don’t cultivate it, then my Golden Crow’s Record of the Burning World will never be complete. As the successor of the Golden Crow’s power and will, that is simply unacceptable.”
“Nine Heavens Cry of Dead Crow and Shattered Jade?” Yun Che frowned.
The Golden Crow’s Record of the Burning World he first cultivated had come from the Golden Crow’s remnant spirit that resided in Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley of the Illusory Demon Realm.
Later on, Mu Xuanyin made a bet with the Flame God Realm and won him the complete version of the Golden Crow’s Record of the Burning World.
However, not only was there no “Nine Heavens Cry of Dead Crow and Shattered Jade” in the complete version of the Golden Crow’s Record of the Burning World, he had never even heard about it until now. Moreover, the name of the profound skill clearly hinted that it was the product of tragic determination and grim acceptance.
“It is most assuredly not to prove anything to Emperor Yun.” Both the smile and self-derision on Huo Poyun’s face grew at the same time. “If there comes a time where I am forced to use this skill, it will only be for the Flame God Realm.”
“So, there is nothing to worry about, master, sect masters.”
“...” The twisted and chaotic flames of anger that had been rising from Huo Rulie’s body faded away. For a long time, he could only stare at his former disciple with trembling lips, unable to muster a single word.
“Good. Good!” Yan Wancang said with a deep nod. Even his eyes had welled up with a bit of tears. “All three of us have always believed that you wouldn’t disappoint us forever.”
“But it is a fact that my earlier, foolish mistakes have put our realm in grave danger. If one day Emperor Yun were to lay down his judgment, I will kowtow before him and atone for my actions. I won’t allow my emotions to affect my decisions anymore. I will even cripple myself if that is the price I must pay to protect the Flame God Realm.”
“But…” He shook his head smilingly and before continuing in an even tone, “It is probably as master said earlier. Right now, Emperor Yun stands so high that he may find it beneath him to even look down on me.”
“Poyun, I am so glad that you have regained yourself,” Huo Rulie finally found his words, but his lips remained trembling uncontrollably. “My earlier outbursts… they were made in a fit of thoughtless anger. I want you to know that you are still, and will always be my greatest pride.”
“I know, Master. And there is nothing to apologize about. Your criticisms were completely correct.” Huo Poyun looked at his master and said sincerely, “When I have finished cultivating the Nine Heavens Cry of Dead Crow and Shattered Jade, and I have returned to you, I hope that my progress will make you laugh just as happily as you did back then.”
“...” Yun Che stopped watching then. Instead of investigating the so-called “Nine Heavens Cry of Dead Crow and Shattered Jade”, he turned away from the scene and said, “Let’s go, Wuxin.”
Yun Che sped up after they got far enough away from the barrier. They quickly exited the Ancient God Burying Inferno Prison.
Unlike his usual self, he didn’t say a single word during this time.
“Father, you don’t seem… well,” Yun Wuxin started softly.
She knew a little about the matters between her father and Huo Poyun.
Yun Che stared forward and said, seemingly to himself, “For everything you gain, you often lose something else.”
“... what is this ‘loss’ that concerns you, father?” Yun Wuxin asked.
“Friends. I will never have friends for as long as I live.”