August 26, 2021
I have… finally finished this chapter!!! RoM next. Thank you for all the kind comments, especially kkp06, Lucia, as well as the review at NovelUpdates by CynicalStrawberry25 which reminded me why I fell in love with this story.
Originally posted on RBKTR Translations.
Author: The One Who Tells Stories Under the Bridge (天桥底下说书的).
Translated by: Yujuan
The banquet continued for the rest of the night, but Ji Mo did not remain in the hall for long, as he spotted Qing Ye quietly leave during Ye Junhou and Ye Po’s conversation. He was just an inconspicuous boy, with no powerful cultivation nor a special status. Apart from Ji Mo, who had been secretly observing him, and Su Ge, who knew everything, nobody noticed his exit. As he sent Ye Mingjun in to stall Su Ge, Ji Mo silently hurried after him.
Ever since the start of the banquet, Qing Ye had been keeping his head lowered. Ji Mo could still remember the boy’s wonder at anything new they chanced upon during the mission with him, and yet, now that he was within the Demonic Palace filled with rare and precious treasures, all he did was keep silent.
Qing Ye had been brought back to the Shrine by Chang Hui sixteen years ago, as an orphan who had lost both parents. To an ordinary child like him, he was extremely fortunate to be taken in by the Shrine in these troubled times and live a comfortable life there. This was the reason why he had always looked up to Chang Hui, his savior, and did his utmost best to serve the Shrine’s Priests. But what if this had been all a lie?
A Heavenly Demon’s enslavement contract was unbreakable, but it could be overridden by a new one. Ye Junhou never counted on winning the hearts of his people, using his Heavenly Blood to command his subordinates ever since the Demonic Continent’s establishment. This way there would be no betrayal in his kingdom built out of blood and iron, where the slaves completely submitted to their masters. There had been many Celestials who had tried their best and failed to find any weaknesses in him, until this day with the emergence of another Heavenly Demon.
There could only be one master of the Desolate Chasm, so each Heavenly Demon of every generation was equipped with the ability to control their own fertility, only producing an heir when they were close to death. Ye Junhou could not possibly forget such a weakness, nor would he have a second son. Ji Mo did not know why he would want an heir at the prime of his life, but knew that without the Demon Empress’ interference, no one could have snuck the Demon Lord’s son out of the palace.
Wuyan easily found Qing Ye hiding among the shrubs. Ji Mo recalled Qing Ye telling him that he would frequently feel saddened whenever he saw the civilian children with their parents. The Shrine housed too many children, and the divine attendants tasked with taking care of them were too busy. He hadn’t wanted to cause trouble for the adults, so he would hide among the shrubs in the courtyard to cry in silence.
“Which was why I thought I had to do my best to prevent any wars, so that the Godly Continent’s children would not suffer like I did. If I die because of it, consider me having repaid the Rising Sun Priest’s kindness.”
The boy had bashfully given him such an answer when questioned on why he chose to defend the city. At the time, while he had seen the Demonic Prince whose life was completely different from his, he had never envied anything about that person. He still believed in the Shrine, as well as the Rising Sun Priest, whom he regarded as a father, so he did not think he was any less fortunate than Ye Po.
But, now? When he discovered that he was not an orphan, that his mother had delivered him to the Shrine to kill his father. That his biological father cared very much for him, but all his love that originally belonged to him had been given to another, and his most respected Rising Priest had sent him to the frontlines to let him be hung at the city gates by the one who had replaced him, almost dismembered to death…
Was this a reality a sixteen-year-old boy could accept?
The reply was given in the form of an uncontrollable red demonic energy surrounding Qing Ye and a painful sob. Ji Mo sighed lightly, looking quietly at the boy trying to keep himself hidden in the shrubs, “Qing Ye, you’ll be taking the demonic path?”
“Morning Star Priest… It’s not fair.”
Hearing this slightly apathetic voice, the turbulent demonic energy surging within Qing Ye stagnated somewhat. He could still remember that it was this Morning Star Priest who had saved him. This White Robed Priest always looked upon the world with an indifferent outlook, as if the people’s joys and sorrows were unable to produce any emotions out of him, but at present, it was this person who had never used him for any gains.
“Is this truly justice?”
To this day, the boy cultivated by the Shrine still retained some of his naivete, as he was still unable to accept such a cruel justice, seeking an answer from an onlooker. He was at a loss.
Bending down to gently sweep off the leaves on the boy’s clothes, Ji Mo’s answer was as tranquil as ever, “Yes, but it’s an unbelievably twisted justice.”
“Morning Star Priest, you’ve never once lied to me. I trust only you, so please give me an honest answer.”
Twisted as it was, it was also considered justice. Understanding the hidden meaning behind those words, Qing Ye hugged his knees tightly, at last choosing to face it head on, “Will the world be saved, as long as I go down the demonic path?”
“You could get rid of Ye Junhou, expel the Celestials, unify all five continents, but the world cannot possibly be at peace for long. Those wishing to thwart you will start exposing the many losses to life you have caused in battle, deeming your act of patricide as a crime, criticizing every single little blunder you make. If you wish to stabilize the world, you will be forced to shut up those who oppose you with an iron fist, and these people might not be all wicked.”
As he gave out this despairing answer in a flat tone, Ji Mo thought that perhaps this was the reason Su Ge hadn’t wanted Qing Ye to meet him. They needed a newly born Heavenly Demon to defeat Ye Junhou, but he just couldn’t lure a boy into battle with ideas of a glorious future.
He, who had once gone through this, knew better than anyone just how bumpy this road was to take, was very clear on how painful it was to be disillusioned. If there was no choice but to enter the chaos, he hoped that it would be something the boy chose for himself. This way, he would at least have no regrets in the future.
“A tyrant has to kill, and so does a wise king. Even if you did nothing, this world is bound to turn into a bloody battlefield. However, as long as you have the power, you may decide how to reshape this terrible world.”
It was merely a glimmer of hope, but this was enough for Qing Ye. After all, he was unable to turn a blind eye on the cruelties of the world, he was unable to stand the indifference exhibited by humans, so much so that he almost couldn’t breathe. Those who couldn’t bear to see the filth they perceived would always be the first to volunteer to clean it up, just like Qing Ye, just like Su Ge, just like Ji Mo of the past.
“This burden is too heavy to carry…”
The boy murmured, looking ahead, as if he had already foreseen the bloodshed he would ultimately encounter. Ji Mo was unsurprised to see him lift his head, imploring him with a soft voice, “Morning Star Priest, can I retain a fragment of my emotions? Just a little is fine, as long as I don’t become just like the Demon Lord.”
The Heavenly Demon’s bloodline could be awakened by sacrificing one’s own human heart. Ji Mo knew that Qing Ye could also sense the call from the Desolate Chasm. He had no idea how much had to be sacrificed to gain the powers of a Heavenly Demon, only remembered that Ye Junhou had abandoned all his human emotions to attain his cultivation.
Just as he hesitated on how to respond, Su Ge’s calm and gentle voice sounded from behind him, “Qing Ye, I believe that you will not become a second Ye Junhou.”
“High Priest…”
Qing Ye’s expression was slightly fearful upon seeing the High Priest’s gold-trimmed white robes, and Ji Mo immediately glanced at Ye Mingjun, who had been tasked to intercept him. The immortal merely smiled helplessly, “He convinced me.”
Alright, he had actually forgotten that Su Ge was a protagonist who could even take Chang Hui as his subordinate with the power of Talk no Jutsu.
With the realization that the normally unassertive Su Ge had a tongue that could argue heatedly with a group of learned men and that Ye Mingjun was no match for him, Ji Mo could only come to terms with this with a soundless sigh.
And Su Ge did not let him down, bending down slightly in front of Qing Ye to rub the boy’s head, his expression as gentle as ever, “The reason I chose you to unify the Demonic Continent, apart from your identity as Ye Junhou’s son, is that you are the child of a mortal and Celestial. Only you can establish a nation that allows both to coexist. And I will take the responsibility of teaching you to become a ruler who reigns such a tremendous nation.”
At the Shrine, the High Priest was god. As these comforting words reached his ears, Qing Ye finally settled down. Seeing his anxiety fade away, Su Ge smiled softly, “We merely need the blood of a Heavenly Demon, you decide what you will sacrifice. Even if you become the weakest Heavenly Demon, I will teach you to become the most powerful High Priest. As for the world, I will take on whichever burden you deem too heavy to bear.”
The moment these words were spoken, Ji Mo knew that Su Ge had won. As expected, with the High Priests skills, Qing Ye took in a deep breath, having made his decision. “High Priest, please allow me some time.”
“The Demon Empress has just sent word that Ye Junhou and Chang Hui will be conducting the God-Summoning ritual at the shrine. You have half-an-hour’s time to decide what to abandon. Please do not emulate the Demon Lord; if you, too, become a cold and ruthless person, I’m afraid there will be no point in overthrowing the Demonic Continent.”
Successful in soothing the boy, Su Ge left him to make his choice, then turned his gaze upon Ji Mo. From what he could remember, ‘God’ had always been apathetic; he’d never expected them to interfere in mortal affairs. While surprised, he calmly answered the other’s doubts, “Morning Star Priest, I did not inform you of my plans, because I knew you would definitely try to stop them from summoning the gods.”
That was a spell Ji Mo had designed, and he naturally knew of its weaknesses. This spell could summon one’s blood relation to your side in their sleep, but took a lot to travel across time and space. In the past Ren Qingya had been forced back into his original form after summoning him and had taken three whole days to slowly recover. He had no idea what sort of improvements the Monster King had made to the spell after all these years, but Ye Junhou would definitely be weakened after participating in this summoning ritual.
This was the best opportunity to rid themselves of the Demon Lord, and Su Ge believed that, as ‘Gods’, they would not allow their kind to be summoned to this word, and so had only waited until this moment where it was too late before telling them.
After rationally analysing the current situation, Ji Mo did not waste any more time questioning him, merely presenting his own terms just like he did each time they had an exchange, “We will take care of the god who is summoned.”
“Naturally, I have never harbored any ill will towards the gods.”
Su Ge was stating the truth. He had never had the intention of doing anything to the gods, or he wouldn’t have rescued Ji Mo at the risk of offending the Monster King.
Ji Mo had never doubted his righteousness, but upon recalling Su Ge’s objective, he ultimately couldn’t help but frown, “High Priest, the Celestials will not be as easy to govern as you say.”
These days, there were very few protagonists who did not seek dominance over the world. With so many protagonists from other worlds in one place, it was extremely difficult to listen to the orders of another. He had no idea why Su Ge wished to take on such a challenging task.
“Morning Star Priest, I have no way of knowing the contention between gods, but I know for a fact that you do not wish to let the Celestials remain in this world.”
Softing stating the conclusion he had come to after years of observing Ji Mo, Su Ge refused to let up, staring at the god before him resolutely, and for the first time spoke his own thoughts,
“The lives of both mortals and Celestials are precious. They may be very different, but Celestials have feelings of their own. The gods are the ones who created us, so, please do not abandon us for the sake of the world.”
“Father, what am I to you? A puppet for you to control? A weapon you can use to conquer the world? Or an obedient and docile pet? But, I am neither of those.”
When the High Priest’s clear and warm eyes met his own, the voice he had deliberately erased from his memories suddenly surfaced in his mind; and he finally realized that his animosity towards Celestials had never faded away even after all these years.
Indeed, Ren Qingya’s betrayal was partially the reason why he distanced himself from the Celestials, but it seemed that he had viewed the other Celestials as his enemies from the very start. Although he knew everything about the Celestials, he had never once regarded these protagonists as living, breathing people, and had even forgotten that people changed in tandem with the environment they inhabited.
It was no wonder Emperor Xi’s Venus Pearl had yet to acknowledge the current him. So this was the part of him that had yet to mature that Ye Mingjun had mentioned.
The very reason why Su Ge had kept this from him was because he had known all along the prejudice he held against Celestials. But this High Priest, who viewed the gods favorably, had never called him out on it. Even if he knew this, he merely looked at him with an expression of slight sorrow and a hint of eagerness, with no intention of airing his complaints.
While Su Ge was not a character he had created himself, this was an expression he as an author was unable to withstand. Exhaling slightly, Ji Mo did not try to stop him anymore, merely asking, “Are you sure there won’t be any problems on Chang Hui’s side?”
“All the Monster King gave him was a piece of letter, and I have partnered with the Rising Sun Priest for thirty years.”
Upon hearing those words, Su Ge knew that Ji Mo would not oppose him, and replied with a trace of a smile. He had been camping outside Chang Hui’s room for the past three nights ever since they arrived at the Demonic Continent, and while that person kept on refusing to show his face, he couldn’t help but open his door in the end.
He knew Chang Hui very well, and knew that even if this was everything the gods had arranged, that person’s love for his country was not false. Not only had he been managing government affairs for the past several years, he had also been passing on knowledge of the Fei Kingdom’s culture in the Godly Continent. He had also chosen to take in the Fei Kingdom’s survivors and confront the Demonic Continent, and this was a decision the gods had no power over.
As he recalled the sight of Chang Hui tossing his pigeon out of the window with an ugly look on his face, Su Ge sighed wistfully, “Morning Star Priest, hatred may deprive a person of one’s own judgement, but it cannot dispel the camaraderie forged in a battlefield.”
With that said, he realized that these words were slightly mystical, and smiled, “These words were not bestowed upon me by God, it’s a principle I came to realize after all these years.”
“Alright, you’ve convinced me as well.”
Leaning helplessly against Ye Mingjun, Ji Mo finally gave in. He’d never have thought that a protagonist could outtalk even an author.
Now that he had finally convinced a god to stand on his side, the usually unflappable Su Ge secretly released a sigh of relief. In truth, he had been a little lost when he realized that his thoughts clashed with Ji Mo’s own, and was unsure he should defy the gods’ will.
Fortunately, the gods ultimately approved of his actions.
These two were not the gods who had created him. However, he could now tell himself, even if he had long since lost the connection with his god, a day might come when God found him striving his best to move forward, then spontaneously arrive before him, offering him a gratified smile.
He hoped to become a follower that God could be proud of. That was all Su Ge wished to be, ever since the day he set foot on his journey.
August 26, 2021
I have… finally finished this chapter!!! RoM next. Thank you for all the kind comments, especially kkp06, Lucia, as well as the review at NovelUpdates by CynicalStrawberry25 which reminded me why I fell in love with this story.
Originally posted on RBKTR Translations.
Author: The One Who Tells Stories Under the Bridge (天桥底下说书的).
Translated by: Yujuan
The banquet continued for the rest of the night, but Ji Mo did not remain in the hall for long, as he spotted Qing Ye quietly leave during Ye Junhou and Ye Po’s conversation. He was just an inconspicuous boy, with no powerful cultivation nor a special status. Apart from Ji Mo, who had been secretly observing him, and Su Ge, who knew everything, nobody noticed his exit. As he sent Ye Mingjun in to stall Su Ge, Ji Mo silently hurried after him.
Ever since the start of the banquet, Qing Ye had been keeping his head lowered. Ji Mo could still remember the boy’s wonder at anything new they chanced upon during the mission with him, and yet, now that he was within the Demonic Palace filled with rare and precious treasures, all he did was keep silent.
Qing Ye had been brought back to the Shrine by Chang Hui sixteen years ago, as an orphan who had lost both parents. To an ordinary child like him, he was extremely fortunate to be taken in by the Shrine in these troubled times and live a comfortable life there. This was the reason why he had always looked up to Chang Hui, his savior, and did his utmost best to serve the Shrine’s Priests. But what if this had been all a lie?
A Heavenly Demon’s enslavement contract was unbreakable, but it could be overridden by a new one. Ye Junhou never counted on winning the hearts of his people, using his Heavenly Blood to command his subordinates ever since the Demonic Continent’s establishment. This way there would be no betrayal in his kingdom built out of blood and iron, where the slaves completely submitted to their masters. There had been many Celestials who had tried their best and failed to find any weaknesses in him, until this day with the emergence of another Heavenly Demon.
There could only be one master of the Desolate Chasm, so each Heavenly Demon of every generation was equipped with the ability to control their own fertility, only producing an heir when they were close to death. Ye Junhou could not possibly forget such a weakness, nor would he have a second son. Ji Mo did not know why he would want an heir at the prime of his life, but knew that without the Demon Empress’ interference, no one could have snuck the Demon Lord’s son out of the palace.
Wuyan easily found Qing Ye hiding among the shrubs. Ji Mo recalled Qing Ye telling him that he would frequently feel saddened whenever he saw the civilian children with their parents. The Shrine housed too many children, and the divine attendants tasked with taking care of them were too busy. He hadn’t wanted to cause trouble for the adults, so he would hide among the shrubs in the courtyard to cry in silence.
“Which was why I thought I had to do my best to prevent any wars, so that the Godly Continent’s children would not suffer like I did. If I die because of it, consider me having repaid the Rising Sun Priest’s kindness.”
The boy had bashfully given him such an answer when questioned on why he chose to defend the city. At the time, while he had seen the Demonic Prince whose life was completely different from his, he had never envied anything about that person. He still believed in the Shrine, as well as the Rising Sun Priest, whom he regarded as a father, so he did not think he was any less fortunate than Ye Po.
But, now? When he discovered that he was not an orphan, that his mother had delivered him to the Shrine to kill his father. That his biological father cared very much for him, but all his love that originally belonged to him had been given to another, and his most respected Rising Priest had sent him to the frontlines to let him be hung at the city gates by the one who had replaced him, almost dismembered to death…
Was this a reality a sixteen-year-old boy could accept?
The reply was given in the form of an uncontrollable red demonic energy surrounding Qing Ye and a painful sob. Ji Mo sighed lightly, looking quietly at the boy trying to keep himself hidden in the shrubs, “Qing Ye, you’ll be taking the demonic path?”
“Morning Star Priest… It’s not fair.”
Hearing this slightly apathetic voice, the turbulent demonic energy surging within Qing Ye stagnated somewhat. He could still remember that it was this Morning Star Priest who had saved him. This White Robed Priest always looked upon the world with an indifferent outlook, as if the people’s joys and sorrows were unable to produce any emotions out of him, but at present, it was this person who had never used him for any gains.
“Is this truly justice?”
To this day, the boy cultivated by the Shrine still retained some of his naivete, as he was still unable to accept such a cruel justice, seeking an answer from an onlooker. He was at a loss.
Bending down to gently sweep off the leaves on the boy’s clothes, Ji Mo’s answer was as tranquil as ever, “Yes, but it’s an unbelievably twisted justice.”
“Morning Star Priest, you’ve never once lied to me. I trust only you, so please give me an honest answer.”
Twisted as it was, it was also considered justice. Understanding the hidden meaning behind those words, Qing Ye hugged his knees tightly, at last choosing to face it head on, “Will the world be saved, as long as I go down the demonic path?”
“You could get rid of Ye Junhou, expel the Celestials, unify all five continents, but the world cannot possibly be at peace for long. Those wishing to thwart you will start exposing the many losses to life you have caused in battle, deeming your act of patricide as a crime, criticizing every single little blunder you make. If you wish to stabilize the world, you will be forced to shut up those who oppose you with an iron fist, and these people might not be all wicked.”
As he gave out this despairing answer in a flat tone, Ji Mo thought that perhaps this was the reason Su Ge hadn’t wanted Qing Ye to meet him. They needed a newly born Heavenly Demon to defeat Ye Junhou, but he just couldn’t lure a boy into battle with ideas of a glorious future.
He, who had once gone through this, knew better than anyone just how bumpy this road was to take, was very clear on how painful it was to be disillusioned. If there was no choice but to enter the chaos, he hoped that it would be something the boy chose for himself. This way, he would at least have no regrets in the future.
“A tyrant has to kill, and so does a wise king. Even if you did nothing, this world is bound to turn into a bloody battlefield. However, as long as you have the power, you may decide how to reshape this terrible world.”
It was merely a glimmer of hope, but this was enough for Qing Ye. After all, he was unable to turn a blind eye on the cruelties of the world, he was unable to stand the indifference exhibited by humans, so much so that he almost couldn’t breathe. Those who couldn’t bear to see the filth they perceived would always be the first to volunteer to clean it up, just like Qing Ye, just like Su Ge, just like Ji Mo of the past.
“This burden is too heavy to carry…”
The boy murmured, looking ahead, as if he had already foreseen the bloodshed he would ultimately encounter. Ji Mo was unsurprised to see him lift his head, imploring him with a soft voice, “Morning Star Priest, can I retain a fragment of my emotions? Just a little is fine, as long as I don’t become just like the Demon Lord.”
The Heavenly Demon’s bloodline could be awakened by sacrificing one’s own human heart. Ji Mo knew that Qing Ye could also sense the call from the Desolate Chasm. He had no idea how much had to be sacrificed to gain the powers of a Heavenly Demon, only remembered that Ye Junhou had abandoned all his human emotions to attain his cultivation.
Just as he hesitated on how to respond, Su Ge’s calm and gentle voice sounded from behind him, “Qing Ye, I believe that you will not become a second Ye Junhou.”
“High Priest…”
Qing Ye’s expression was slightly fearful upon seeing the High Priest’s gold-trimmed white robes, and Ji Mo immediately glanced at Ye Mingjun, who had been tasked to intercept him. The immortal merely smiled helplessly, “He convinced me.”
Alright, he had actually forgotten that Su Ge was a protagonist who could even take Chang Hui as his subordinate with the power of Talk no Jutsu.
With the realization that the normally unassertive Su Ge had a tongue that could argue heatedly with a group of learned men and that Ye Mingjun was no match for him, Ji Mo could only come to terms with this with a soundless sigh.
And Su Ge did not let him down, bending down slightly in front of Qing Ye to rub the boy’s head, his expression as gentle as ever, “The reason I chose you to unify the Demonic Continent, apart from your identity as Ye Junhou’s son, is that you are the child of a mortal and Celestial. Only you can establish a nation that allows both to coexist. And I will take the responsibility of teaching you to become a ruler who reigns such a tremendous nation.”
At the Shrine, the High Priest was god. As these comforting words reached his ears, Qing Ye finally settled down. Seeing his anxiety fade away, Su Ge smiled softly, “We merely need the blood of a Heavenly Demon, you decide what you will sacrifice. Even if you become the weakest Heavenly Demon, I will teach you to become the most powerful High Priest. As for the world, I will take on whichever burden you deem too heavy to bear.”
The moment these words were spoken, Ji Mo knew that Su Ge had won. As expected, with the High Priests skills, Qing Ye took in a deep breath, having made his decision. “High Priest, please allow me some time.”
“The Demon Empress has just sent word that Ye Junhou and Chang Hui will be conducting the God-Summoning ritual at the shrine. You have half-an-hour’s time to decide what to abandon. Please do not emulate the Demon Lord; if you, too, become a cold and ruthless person, I’m afraid there will be no point in overthrowing the Demonic Continent.”
Successful in soothing the boy, Su Ge left him to make his choice, then turned his gaze upon Ji Mo. From what he could remember, ‘God’ had always been apathetic; he’d never expected them to interfere in mortal affairs. While surprised, he calmly answered the other’s doubts, “Morning Star Priest, I did not inform you of my plans, because I knew you would definitely try to stop them from summoning the gods.”
That was a spell Ji Mo had designed, and he naturally knew of its weaknesses. This spell could summon one’s blood relation to your side in their sleep, but took a lot to travel across time and space. In the past Ren Qingya had been forced back into his original form after summoning him and had taken three whole days to slowly recover. He had no idea what sort of improvements the Monster King had made to the spell after all these years, but Ye Junhou would definitely be weakened after participating in this summoning ritual.
This was the best opportunity to rid themselves of the Demon Lord, and Su Ge believed that, as ‘Gods’, they would not allow their kind to be summoned to this word, and so had only waited until this moment where it was too late before telling them.
After rationally analysing the current situation, Ji Mo did not waste any more time questioning him, merely presenting his own terms just like he did each time they had an exchange, “We will take care of the god who is summoned.”
“Naturally, I have never harbored any ill will towards the gods.”
Su Ge was stating the truth. He had never had the intention of doing anything to the gods, or he wouldn’t have rescued Ji Mo at the risk of offending the Monster King.
Ji Mo had never doubted his righteousness, but upon recalling Su Ge’s objective, he ultimately couldn’t help but frown, “High Priest, the Celestials will not be as easy to govern as you say.”
These days, there were very few protagonists who did not seek dominance over the world. With so many protagonists from other worlds in one place, it was extremely difficult to listen to the orders of another. He had no idea why Su Ge wished to take on such a challenging task.
“Morning Star Priest, I have no way of knowing the contention between gods, but I know for a fact that you do not wish to let the Celestials remain in this world.”
Softing stating the conclusion he had come to after years of observing Ji Mo, Su Ge refused to let up, staring at the god before him resolutely, and for the first time spoke his own thoughts,
“The lives of both mortals and Celestials are precious. They may be very different, but Celestials have feelings of their own. The gods are the ones who created us, so, please do not abandon us for the sake of the world.”
“Father, what am I to you? A puppet for you to control? A weapon you can use to conquer the world? Or an obedient and docile pet? But, I am neither of those.”
When the High Priest’s clear and warm eyes met his own, the voice he had deliberately erased from his memories suddenly surfaced in his mind; and he finally realized that his animosity towards Celestials had never faded away even after all these years.
Indeed, Ren Qingya’s betrayal was partially the reason why he distanced himself from the Celestials, but it seemed that he had viewed the other Celestials as his enemies from the very start. Although he knew everything about the Celestials, he had never once regarded these protagonists as living, breathing people, and had even forgotten that people changed in tandem with the environment they inhabited.
It was no wonder Emperor Xi’s Venus Pearl had yet to acknowledge the current him. So this was the part of him that had yet to mature that Ye Mingjun had mentioned.
The very reason why Su Ge had kept this from him was because he had known all along the prejudice he held against Celestials. But this High Priest, who viewed the gods favorably, had never called him out on it. Even if he knew this, he merely looked at him with an expression of slight sorrow and a hint of eagerness, with no intention of airing his complaints.
While Su Ge was not a character he had created himself, this was an expression he as an author was unable to withstand. Exhaling slightly, Ji Mo did not try to stop him anymore, merely asking, “Are you sure there won’t be any problems on Chang Hui’s side?”
“All the Monster King gave him was a piece of letter, and I have partnered with the Rising Sun Priest for thirty years.”
Upon hearing those words, Su Ge knew that Ji Mo would not oppose him, and replied with a trace of a smile. He had been camping outside Chang Hui’s room for the past three nights ever since they arrived at the Demonic Continent, and while that person kept on refusing to show his face, he couldn’t help but open his door in the end.
He knew Chang Hui very well, and knew that even if this was everything the gods had arranged, that person’s love for his country was not false. Not only had he been managing government affairs for the past several years, he had also been passing on knowledge of the Fei Kingdom’s culture in the Godly Continent. He had also chosen to take in the Fei Kingdom’s survivors and confront the Demonic Continent, and this was a decision the gods had no power over.
As he recalled the sight of Chang Hui tossing his pigeon out of the window with an ugly look on his face, Su Ge sighed wistfully, “Morning Star Priest, hatred may deprive a person of one’s own judgement, but it cannot dispel the camaraderie forged in a battlefield.”
With that said, he realized that these words were slightly mystical, and smiled, “These words were not bestowed upon me by God, it’s a principle I came to realize after all these years.”
“Alright, you’ve convinced me as well.”
Leaning helplessly against Ye Mingjun, Ji Mo finally gave in. He’d never have thought that a protagonist could outtalk even an author.
Now that he had finally convinced a god to stand on his side, the usually unflappable Su Ge secretly released a sigh of relief. In truth, he had been a little lost when he realized that his thoughts clashed with Ji Mo’s own, and was unsure he should defy the gods’ will.
Fortunately, the gods ultimately approved of his actions.
These two were not the gods who had created him. However, he could now tell himself, even if he had long since lost the connection with his god, a day might come when God found him striving his best to move forward, then spontaneously arrive before him, offering him a gratified smile.
He hoped to become a follower that God could be proud of. That was all Su Ge wished to be, ever since the day he set foot on his journey.
