novel against the - chapter 2049

ATG 2049

“Whoosh!” A faint but sharp sound of a sword slicing through the air echoed. A small abyssal beast was sliced into several pieces in mid-air, its body scattering far off with the momentum of its pounce, crashing to the ground. The young girl sheathed her sword and quietly moved forward. Half a month ago, she was already capable of striking without a trace or sound, yet this time, her sword strike had actually produced a sound that cut through the air. However, she seemed completely unaware of it, walking forward in silence, without direction or purpose.

It had been seven days since she and Yun Che parted ways. On the day Yun Che left, she felt as if a hole had been forcibly gouged out of her heart—an emptiness, a feeling of loss, a weight pulling her down… a sadness she had never experienced before and couldn’t even begin to describe.

Her rapidly growing awareness, though not fully mature, was enough to tell her that Yun Che’s decisive departure was logical, the most correct choice. As the supreme-rulerdess of the Zhetian Divine Nation, she could never allow herself to act on personal desires and do anything that might harm the nation. She thought that this uncomfortable feeling of emptiness was simply the result of being unaccustomed to the sudden loss, and as the supreme-rulerdess of Zhetian, she believed she would soon overcome it.

But one day, two days, three days… five days passed, and the hollow feeling in her heart still remained. Everywhere she looked—the gray wood she could lean against, the dim sky, the sword marks she had drawn, the abyssal land they had once walked on together—faintly reflected Yun Che’s figure. The cold wind brushing past her ears, the distant howls, and even the bleakest silence always seemed to carry traces of his presence.

Yun Che’s voice. Hua Qingying silently watched her. From beginning to end, she never appeared, nor did she offer any verbal guidance or comfort. She was like a blank scroll of white paper, while Yun Che was a brush soaked in the myriad colors of the world, painting layers of radiant hues on her once pure-white life. Every stroke of color etched itself deeply into her soul. She had been like a lark leaving its nest for the first time, and Yun Che had adorned her with vibrant plumage, making her deeply feel the beauty of the world for the first time. Yet, just when she wanted to fully immerse herself in it, he cruelly tore it away.

It seemed as though things had returned to their original state, but in reality, it left behind wounds and pain that would take who knows how long to heal.

“Perhaps it’s for the best,” Hua Qingying murmured softly. “After overcoming this tribulation, her heart will surely mature.” This was exactly why Hua Qingying insisted that Hua Caili journey alone before getting married—to experience life independently.

Hua Caili’s steps gradually slowed until she finally came to a stop, staring absentmindedly at a broken piece of black wood in front of her. She walked over and slowly sat down, leaning against it.

During their rests, Yun Che would always guard her, using his warm light-based profound energy to heal her wounds. He would sit quietly in meditation, occasionally sneaking glances at her, and would answer all her questions with a gentle voice. No matter how much she pressed him, he never showed the slightest hint of impatience. When the abyssal beasts appeared, his first instinct was always to protect her within his own aura.

While practicing swordsmanship, his gaze was never on the sword but on her. In the fierce battles with abyssal beasts, his sword strikes were always overwhelmingly powerful, yet he reserved his softest touch for her… never allowing even a drop of the beasts’ blood to touch her.

But now, he was gone, leaving her all alone.

She unconsciously stretched out her arms, gently hugging herself. The dimness in her eyes was enough to break anyone’s heart. When she first entered the Sea of Mist, she had been alone as well. Facing the vast and endless sea of mist, she felt a little timid, a little scared, but more than anything, she had felt anticipation and a hint of excitement. Now she was simply returning to being alone again—so why did it feel so painful?

The sound of footsteps on the sandy ground came from behind, drawing closer until they were within a hundred steps. Hua Caili, lost in her grief, only then realized someone was approaching. She quickly stood up, and the Li Yun Sword in her hand flashed with a sudden brilliance. The newcomers were two profound practitioners traveling together. Seeing Hua Caili suddenly on guard, the one in the lead asked, “Is the young lady injured?”

Hua Caili did not answer. She turned away and left without a word, quickly disappearing from their sight. The two looked at each other, both deeply struck by her hidden beauty, but neither pursued her. After all, in the Sea of Mist, most preferred to avoid unnecessary trouble.

As the supreme-rulerdess of the Zhetian Divine Nation, Hua Caili was pure and kind by nature, and her manners were impeccable. In the past, whether someone greeted her with good intentions or hidden motives, her upbringing would always prompt her to respond politely and kindly. But in recent days, it seemed as though her soul had been half-drifting, uninterested in responding to anyone.

At this moment, Hua Qingying’s brows suddenly furrowed, and her gaze followed a faint aura toward the distance. With a single glance, she locked onto Yun Che’s figure. He was walking in this direction, heading exactly toward where Hua Caili had gone.

These days, Hua Caili had been wandering the Sea of Mist in a daze, her soul seemingly lost, not even aware of her own movements.

She didn’t even know where she was headed. This unexpected encounter with Yun Che could only be described as an accident. In the vast Sea of Mist, to meet again so soon after parting could only be called a fateful entanglement. However, this was not the scene Hua Qingying had hoped to witness.

Just as Hua Qingying hesitated on whether to intervene in Hua Caili’s direction, a group of abyssal beasts suddenly rushed out near Yun Che, charging straight at him. These abyssal beasts were all at the Divine Master level, which would make for a tough battle for Hua Caili, but they posed no threat to Yun Che. The crimson greatsword known as “Yunli” flashed, and with a single swing, a violent ice storm erupted. In mere moments, the nearby abyssal beasts were shattered and destroyed one by one. His method was brutal and ruthless, a stark contrast to the person he had been beside Hua Caili.

As Hua Caili moved forward, she suddenly stopped and abruptly raised her head. Her beautiful eyes, which had been silent for so long, rippled with emotion. This aura… “Young Master Yun,” she softly muttered. Her body moved before her thoughts or reasoning could catch up, instinctively rushing toward the aura that had been haunting her dreams.

Hua Qingying, realizing she could no longer intervene in time, let out a faint sigh, helplessly watching as the two were about to meet again. But her “expectation” was soon dashed.

After defeating the last abyssal beast, Yun Che’s movement suddenly halted as he sheathed his sword. His gaze turned in the direction of Hua Caili, clearly sensing her presence. His face immediately showed surprise and joy, followed by a trace of painful hesitation and inner conflict.

Then, he suddenly turned and darted away in the opposite direction at full speed. He moved so quickly, far faster than Hua Caili, and the distance between them rapidly grew until he disappeared from her perception.

Hua Qingying sighed: “When Hua Caili arrived at the place Yun Che had been, all she saw were the frozen remains of abyssal beasts scattered across the ground. The distinct aura of ice confirmed that it wasn’t an illusion—he had stood here just moments ago.”

“Young Master Yun!” she called out repeatedly, turning and searching in all directions for Yun Che’s aura, her voice filled with desperation. “Come out! I’ve found you, please come out!” she shouted. “Even if we’re parting ways and will never meet again, we should at least have a proper farewell… Young Master Yun!”

But there was no response. She didn’t give up. Following the hurried sword mark on the ground, she chased in the direction where Yun Che had fled. She ran for a long, long time, through layer upon layer of abyssal dust, losing her sense of direction long ago, yet she didn’t stop. There was a voice in her heart that terrified her: if she stopped, perhaps in this lifetime, she would never see him again.

At that moment, in this eternally gray and hazy world, an inexplicable snowstorm suddenly appeared, so surreal it seemed like an illusion. Hua Caili’s eyes became dazed, and her steps unknowingly slowed as she gradually stepped into the snowstorm.

The snow carried the same aura as that day, with the same snowflakes. Shallow footprints marked the ground behind her. She stretched out her hand, letting the snowflakes fall into her palm, rest on her white robe, and settle in her dark hair.

Amid the snowstorm, on a stone platform lightly covered by snow, a long black garment ribbon fluttered in the wind. It carried Yun Che’s aura, clearly having just recently left his body. Hua Caili stepped forward and slowly reached out, taking the ribbon gently into her hands. On it, faint words were etched with light profound energy:

“To meet is already the best fate; why dwell on longing for the years to come?”

Her fingers trembled slightly, matching the faint quiver in her eyes. She turned the ribbon over, revealing more words inscribed in the same light profound energy:

“We’ve shared this snowfall today; this life, too, can be counted as having grown old together.”

Her hands, clutching the ribbon, pressed against her cheeks as she crouched down, her body trembling violently. The snow continued to fall, faintly covering her suppressed sobs.

A glint of sword light flickered in Hua Qingying’s eyes… a nearby abyssal beast, only ten meters from Hua Caili, was silently turned to dust, but she remained completely unaware.

“Alas,” Hua Qingying sighed softly. She knew that at this moment, she had to intervene. Hua Caili had nearly reached the limit of what her fragile heart could endure. Hua Qingying descended gracefully, landing lightly in front of Hua Caili.

When Hua Caili raised her tearful eyes and saw her aunt, it was as if a string inside her had snapped. She threw herself into Hua Qingying’s chest, and the tears and sobs she had been desperately suppressing finally broke free, pouring out in waves of heart-wrenching cries.

Hua Qingying said nothing. The hand that commanded the strongest sword in the abyss gently stroked the young girl’s back, allowing her to release and vent all her emotions without restraint.

She cried for a long, long time, almost more than she had in her entire life. She cried until the snowfall had nearly ceased, her sobs occasionally mingling with the distant wails of abyssal beasts. If anyone else had made this young girl shed tears, Hua Qingying would have punished them without hesitation. But with Yun Che, she couldn’t even muster the slightest desire to blame him, let alone consider punishment.

The sobbing in the girl’s embrace finally began to subside. The Sword Immortal lowered her gaze slightly and said, “That time when I punished you the most severely, you stubbornly shed only two tears. Today, it seems you’ve cried all the tears you’ve held back since then.”

Hua Caili raised her head from her aunt’s chest, her slightly reddened eyes filled with a misty light that tugged at one’s heart. “Aunt, I… I feel so sad.” As soon as she spoke, the tears she had fought so hard to hold back once again flowed down.

“I know,” Hua Qingying said softly. “Don’t feel ashamed, and don’t doubt or deny yourself because of this. Though it hurts, it was still a beautiful experience, wasn’t it?”

The girl’s tear-filled eyes gazed at her aunt. “Aunt, have you ever experienced this?”

Hua Qingying shook her head. “No. But I can never forget what your mother went through back then.”

The mention of her mother left Hua Caili stunned, and her aura became slightly unsettled. Hua Qingying closed her eyes briefly and said, “Caili, do you remember the question I asked you before this journey?”

The young girl’s lips trembled, and with tear-filled eyes, she replied, “Was it the question about how far my resolve could go?”

Hua Qingying shook her head, though she wasn’t surprised by Hua Caili’s response. She knew that when she had asked the question before, it hadn’t truly resonated with her niece.

“What I asked was whether you truly liked Dian Jiuzhi.”

Hua Caili’s teary eyes froze, the trembling of her tears ceasing.

Hua Qingying spoke for her, “You said you liked him. I asked you how you liked him, and you said that he had excellent looks and talent, and he treated you very well. Especially since he was someone even Father supreme-ruler approved of.”

At this moment, Hua Caili vaguely recalled that her aunt had indeed asked her this, and she had indeed responded that way.

“I then asked you: before you met him, did you ever think of him with longing? Do you remember what you answered?”

The girl, following her memory, softly replied, “He is the supreme son of Senluo Divine Kingdom. Naturally, everything about him is fine; why would I think about him?”

“Yes.” That was precisely Hua Caili’s answer at the time, and it was this response that made Hua Qingying decide to send her niece out into the world alone.

“But before you met Yun Che, you thought of him day and night, didn’t you?”

Hearing Yun Che’s name from her aunt’s lips, Hua Caili’s beautiful eyes immediately reddened, and she sniffed hard, barely holding back her tears. “Aunt, I… I…”

“It’s alright, no need to say anything.” She knew that Hua Caili had already understood. Using the gentlest tone she could muster, Hua Qingying continued, “Your body has now fully recovered. There’s no need to return to the Pure Land for ‘slumber’ again. When you left the Pure Land for the last time, Senluo Divine Kingdom was already aware.”

“Divine Son Dian Jiuzhi of Senluo has waited for you with deep devotion for so many years. Now that they know, when he next meets with the Abyss Emperor, he will be eager to bring up your marriage arrangement. When that happens, the wedding will not be far off.”

“But it’s clear that what you feel for Dian Jiuzhi isn’t the love between a man and a woman. I can’t bear to see you bind your life in such confusion.”

“Is it because of my mother?” the girl asked softly.

“Yes.” Hua Qingying raised her eyes. Though she was an emotionless Sword Immortal, a trace of deep sorrow flickered in her usually stoic gaze. “Your mother was gentle as water, but her emotions were as fierce as fire. Her life, though short, was filled with love and regretlessness. Even in death, she had no regrets for her love and hatred.”

Her voice gradually faded, and she found herself unable to continue. After a brief pause, she resumed, “You are her… Qu Wanxin’s daughter. Perhaps, deep within your soul, you are like her.”

“So, before you marry, I hope you use your own eyes to witness the myriad aspects of the mortal world, to understand what true love between a man and a woman is, rather than being lost in confusion.”

She knew very well that Hua Fuchen had always hoped that Hua Caili would avoid experiencing romantic love, and that Dian Jiuzhi was the most suitable partner for her in this life. He never wanted his daughter to follow in his or her mother’s tragic footsteps. Whether this action was right or wrong, Hua Qingying didn’t know herself. She only knew that her stubbornness stemmed from her unresolved feelings about what had happened all those years ago.

“But… I didn’t expect you to throw yourself into this tribulation.”

“Perhaps this is for the best.” Hua Qingying wiped away the tears on the girl’s face with her fingers. “Although it hurts, once you get through this tribulation, your emotions and soul will become more complete. When you marry Dian Jiuzhi in the future, you may have regrets and sadness, but at least you won’t be left with feelings of emptiness and regret.”

“Get through this tribulation…” the girl whispered softly, then shook her head. “But I…”

“You will,” she comforted gently. “The first time is always unforgettable, but time will heal everything. You will forget, you will let go, and you will learn to be rational, to make choices, and to weigh your options. This is the growth that comes from walking through thorns, as he once said.”