CHAPTER 175
A New Fox Life
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Time slipped by like a swift arrow, decades vanishing in the blink of an eye.
The little fox of yesteryear had blossomed into a graceful young woman, nestled in the man's embrace, now too grown to be held so tenderly.
"Qinghan, consider this: whether it's true or false, your mother has fulfilled her wish, hasn't she?"
Ye Qinghan snapped awake as if from a dream. Moments ago, she had puzzled over why her master called this a scheme, but now…
When the Northern Frontier General chose to return to the capital, the vast snowy plains finally found true peace.
Snowflakes could finally settle upon the earth. Though the people might not live in abundance, they no longer faced displacement or the ravages of war.
The price paid was the fall of the Demon Emperor, and a little fox losing her mother, her eyes blinded by vengeance.
"Master, are you saying this was Mother's choice?"
Su Cheng let out a cold laugh, as if mocking himself.
He took a moment to choose his words, another to let them settle. After much thought, he finally found a way to explain it that might make his disciple understand.
"In my view, this is a process of survival of the fittest, another form of balance, a manifestation of strategic maneuvering."
"After the lead sheep guides the flock, it remains behind alone. That is its choice—but is it not also a choice born of necessity?"
Ye Qinghan didn't understand at all. She had never been a Demon Emperor and couldn't comprehend such actions.
Moreover, her master hadn't answered her question.
If that was the case, then should they still seek revenge?
Was the master implying it wasn't their fault?
If it wasn't their fault, then whose fault was it?
Did her mother die for nothing?
Ye Qinghan couldn't accept it. Even if it meant becoming a villain, she would slaughter every last one of those who betrayed her mother!
Blood for blood, tooth for tooth!
"Master, Qinghan still wants revenge. Qinghan believes Mother was innocent! Qinghan wants every one of those criminals to die a horrible death!"
Su Cheng ruffled Ye Qinghan's hair, hoping to ease her tension. Revenge was inevitable.
"Revenge is inevitable. Those men were short-sighted and treacherous—they deserve no mercy."
"But I only hope Qinghan's eyes aren't filled solely with hatred. I wish for Qinghan to be happy."
"Since arriving in the Northern Realm, have you ever truly laughed from the heart?"
The young Demon Emperor foresaw his own demise. How could the millennia-old rift between humans and demons be bridged overnight?
Ending a war was never that simple.
Standing at the center of the storm, the eyes upon her far outnumbered those she could see.
So many eyes were watching, yet her stance could never truly represent the Demon Clan.
Even if she swept across the snowy plains with sheer strength, unifying the North, peace gained through forceful tactics was like the hypocritical smile of a deceitful person.
Even those who bowed three times and kowtowed nine times before her could not guarantee their hearts harbored no hidden thoughts.
The man who fell like a shooting star became her pawn in shifting the tide.
The immortal had nowhere to go, and besides, she owed him a life-saving debt. The immortal, however, paid little heed to such trivialities.
His immortal status would undoubtedly draw countless eyes, freeing his hands to act.
She intended to meet the Human Emperor, but alas, he refused any dealings with the Demon Clan.
Of course, this was due to someone's meddling behind the scenes, though she was unaware of this and didn't care.
She sought out the Northern Frontier General, slipping alone into his military tent at midnight and conversing with him all night long.
Clearly, the Northern Frontier General was far more astute than the Human Emperor. She struck a deal with him.
In the Northern Frontier General's view, expanding territories was not inherently wrong, but only if it ensured prosperity under his rule and stability for the people.
Given the current situation, the human race wasn't faring much better either. Facing the powerful Demon Clan, the humans found it difficult to gain the upper hand.
She traded her position as Human Emperor for stability in the Northern and Southern Realms, a deal the Northern Frontier General naturally had no reason to refuse.
Yet her joy was short-lived. An unexpected turn came when that immortal sought her out, claiming someone was plotting against her.
This, however, was precisely what she had anticipated. Her heart remained utterly unruffled, and she even felt a slight urge to laugh.
If not for her turning a blind eye, they were merely a rabble—what waves could they possibly stir?
The entire Northern Realm was already crawling at her feet—what threat could a few clownish troublemakers possibly pose?
She struck a second deal with the immortal: as long as he promised her subjects would be treated well, she would no longer interfere.
Just as the court officials had once speculated, even a fallen immortal was beyond the Demon Emperor's control. At least that immortal had granted her some semblance of dignity.
The Human Emperor was destined to fall, and so was she. Yet virtue did not dwell where it should.
This differed from what Su Yan had said—that the immortal, upon learning the truth, had gone to confront the mastermind behind it all.
But according to Su Cheng's knowledge, that immortal was the very culprit. The so-called "suppression of immortals" was a fabrication from the start.
He was merely a rat cast out of the Immortal Realm, descending to the mortal world to lord over others.
Yet this self-staged charade deceived the entire world.
Using the guise of a mediator, it raised the banner of rebellion on one hand while posing as a friend to the Demon Clan on the other, playing the role of a peace envoy.
Immortals weren't all that great either. Su Cheng believed that before ascending, many hadn't learned how to be decent human beings.
Truth be told, that immortal was merely a lowly nobody in the immortal realm. He was hunted down for sleeping with someone else's dao companion and fled to the mortal world.
Heh, but such matters weren't worth dwelling on, so Su Cheng didn't elaborate further for the First Disciple.
After Su Cheng finished speaking, the First Disciple remained silent for quite some time.
Su Cheng simply let the little fox nestle in his embrace, allowing her fox head to rest against his chest. As her master, this was his duty.
"Master, I think I understand what you mean now."
Su Cheng smiled. He didn't know exactly what Ye Qinghan had grasped, but the storm clouds had lifted from her clear eyes—the hysterical, childish madness had faded.
"I never intended to convey any particular meaning. I never sought to prevent you from seeking vengeance—otherwise, I wouldn't have come to the Northern Realm. I only hoped hatred wouldn't blind you."
This was never a matter of all-or-nothing; there was no need for haste.
To Su Cheng, Ye Qinghan resembled a child clamoring for a doll.
What Su Cheng sought was for her to learn to view things with calm detachment—not that life lost all meaning without a doll.
"You do not live solely for vengeance. Qinghan, you have a future ahead. Revenge is but a minor footnote in your journey as an immortal."
"I know full well that even after revenge is taken, you might not find happiness. It won't change anything."
"I wish for you to be happy, to embrace a new life, and find your true path."
At that moment, Ye Qinghan thought her master was so mean, so very mean!
Yet she was profoundly grateful to have encountered her master.
"Qinghan remembers."
"For me, this journey to the Northern Realm serves two purposes: to handle matters here, and secondly, for Qinghan's mother."
[After all this groundwork, it should be enough. Judging by her state, she should be able to calmly accept the news about her mother.]
【Better to finish explaining first before giving her the bottle. What if she's emotionally unstable?】
Ye Qinghan had already pieced together the gist of it. Truthfully, she was too stunned to speak.
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