Chapter 577: Her Words Ring True
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Within the Dawn Hall, a vast curtain identical to that in the Lingxian Hall drifted before Chu Youwei. Mengdie, her expression unreadable, tossed a peculiar-looking fruit into Chu Youwei's arms.
Truth be told, she was growing increasingly fond of Chu Youwei—so much so that she didn't even want to return her to Su Cheng~
If she hadn't seen the other disciples back then, that would be one thing. But after learning about them, she had indeed gained some indirect understanding.
In Mengdie's eyes, this Chu Youwei truly suited her taste—neither arrogant nor impatient, decisive yet measured in her actions, and remarkably steady in character.
Most importantly, Chu Youwei worked with such grace and beauty—even echoing the shadow of Xiao Ai from years past~
“Do you now understand what kind of man Su Cheng is?”
Indeed, behind this curtain stood not the amber of the Eastern Domain battlefield, but Su Cheng within the Lingxian Hall.
“He will never love anyone~ But this King is different. This King finds you quite to my liking~” In Mengdie's memory, it had been at least several centuries since she last addressed herself thus. Yet, to tease the young girl before her, Mengdie didn't mind. After all, given her status, calling herself “this King” was hardly inappropriate.
Yet Chu Youwei's gaze remained utterly fixed, her lips sealed in silence.
The murmurs at her ear persisted. Mengdie knew Chu Youwei was thinking.
“This is merely the performance of royal power, the game of a leader. Those around him never meet a good end. He's a bad man, and you know this well, don't you?”
“Not only you—he could even stand by and watch his beloved perish, witness the collapse of the world. Love?”
“You expect a man who's never known love to love you?”
“From the very start, this was a misunderstanding. Keeping his distance was merely to harm fewer people. He knows this well, yet the foolish child mistook it for care~”
Chu Youwei's face remained cold. “You're very noisy, Lord Mengdie.”
“Heh~ You can see it too. I never lie to children.”
“True. But I doubt your motives. I suspect you just want someone sitting here doing your work.”
Mengdie now pulled out the professional smile Xiao Ai often used—that carved, flattering grin that couldn’t help but make one suspect they were cut from the same cloth…
Chu Youwei saw it all, of course—Su Cheng's icy expression, the murderous intent in his eyes, and the sudden shift to that indulgent smile.
Chu Youwei believed that if she were in Miaomiao's place, her master would squeeze out the same cold indulgence, spouting sweet nothings without a hint of self-awareness.
Yet Chu Youwei didn't perceive this as deception, nor as a mask worn for the sake of the Supreme Master.
On the contrary, she felt this was precisely the Master she loved.
If he truly lost himself over some fleeting romantic entanglement, abandoning the path ahead and shedding the burdens on his shoulders—that would be the true betrayal.
“Lord Mengdie, you also love the Master, don't you?”
“Is this teasing, or provocation?” Mengdie clearly hadn't expected Chu Youwei to dare say such things to her—after all, she was Su Cheng's own aunt!
Reborn into this life, though this body was still young, this soul had undeniably weathered a thousand years of storms.
Chu Youwei understood well that the gaze of one who loves, like Xiao Ai's, was impossible to conceal.
“This is what you love, isn't it? If the Master truly placed a military order on your desk because of that sultry fox, wouldn't you have rebelled on the spot?”
“Rebelled? That very notion is laughable, don't you think?”
Chu Youwei knew Mengdie wasn't foolish, and she didn't feel the need to elaborate—for Mengdie had already risen to her feet…
“Heh, perhaps. But Lord Mengdie, your wine has spilled.”
Chu Youwei didn't dislike this Mengdie. Perhaps because she was the Master's relative, perhaps because Mengdie was quite charming. In any case, Chu Youwei knew the other party had no intention of harming her.
But what was the reason behind Mengdie's words? What was she truly trying to convey?
Did she hope Chu Youwei would back down? Was she jealous?
Or did she genuinely think Chu Youwei was just a naive little brat?
Or perhaps she wanted to keep Chu Youwei close to help with her work?
Chu Youwei didn't know, and she didn't plan to pry. That was precisely why she found Lady Mengdie so endearing.
“Lady Mengdie?”
“Hmm?”
“Truthfully, I only saw my master's helplessness.”
“Then you must be blind.”
Chu Youwei chuckled at the remark, but Mengdie's temperament was just like that—she was long accustomed to it.
Sighing deeply, she leaned back against the chair, gazing at the familiar face beyond the curtain and spoke softly.
“It seems everyone tells Master what to do, but Yuwei is different. Yuwei only cares about what Master wants to do.”
Mengdie froze, a fleeting emotion flickering in her eyes—perhaps relief, perhaps pity, or even envy—but it vanished in an instant.
Even that face, which held its own before the very authority of judgment, now wore an expression that was deeply intriguing. It was as if she'd bitten into a lemon, or as if someone had given her a sharp pinch on the buttocks…
“What are you talking about?”
Chu Youwei knew Mengdie was feigning ignorance. Since Mengdie showed no intention of continuing this topic, she naturally saw no point in pursuing it further.
Besides, she had already obtained the answer she sought.
Clearly, Mengdie also knew the so-called correct answer. Yet, much like Lord Gu Ai, many words required a certain status to be spoken aloud.
She, however, was the Godslayer King—a blade wielded by royal authority, a deity to countless subjects, one of the few remnants of the old kings within the Inner City.
Such weakness was unthinkable. Just as Su Cheng couldn't show vulnerability, she couldn't afford to bend.
If she could, she too wished to be a fragile girl, able to lean on Su Cheng's shoulder.
But she had already become the shoulders countless others leaned on, the future they could not afford to lose.
“Lord Mengdie, could you tell Youwei about Master's childhood?”
“Have you heard of the Iron Pot Project?” Childhood? He was a fool back then too—what's there to talk about? If we must chat, let's discuss something interesting~
“Of course. Youwei has heard Lord Gu Ai mention this plan, but knows nothing of its details.”
“Truthfully, Su Cheng never truly defeated that so-called Goddess of Fate. Even at the cost of six Fallen Gods, we never saw the dawn of victory.”
Chu Youwei remained silent, for it was clear Mengdie hadn't finished speaking. Today's story promised to be a long one.
“Yichen Valley never saw dawn. The smoke of battle over Linglang River never cleared. All of it—from beginning to end—was nothing but a deception. Your master deceived everyone, striking some pact with that deity.”
“He is a traitor through and through. From the moment he saw you, you—your master—had already stepped into a deadly trap.”
“No matter who wins this game, you will be disappointed. If I were you, I would choose to die just before witnessing the outcome.”
“Because you will never be able to face that truth. Because you haven't weaned yourself yet.”
Mengdie leaned lightly against the liquor cabinet, her jade-like hand twirling a wine glass. Her pupils dilated as she stared thoughtfully at the painting on the wall, then tilted her head back and drained the scalding liquid in one gulp.
“The Iron Pot Plan is your only chance. And the outcome of this Iron Pot Plan is not a good one.”
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