Matters of the Past Dissipate With the Wind

Matters of the Past Dissipate With the Wind...

Ye Wuque and Wu Chong found themselves gripped by a sense of foreboding as they witnessed the tragic demise of Wang Teng.

The trio had barely begun to close in on Qin Wentian when, in the blink of an eye, Wang Teng's life was extinguished.

As their eyes shifted back to Qin Wentian, fear crept into the depths of Ye Wuque and Wu Chong's gazes. Their once-confident expressions twisted into grotesque masks of dread.

Adding to the spectacle, the members of the Ye Clan who were spectating couldn't help but rise to their feet, their eyes fixed on the unfolding drama in the sky. Astonishment gripped their hearts.

"When did Qin Wentian become this formidable? If this continues, what fate awaits Ye Wuque..." the whispers rippled through the crowd.

Qin Wentian, with an imperious air about him, cast his gaze upon his two assailants. In that fleeting moment, Ye Wuque and Wu Chong exchanged a look, their eyes reflecting a shared determination to bring down this newfound adversary.

AWOOO~ An overwhelming aura of demonic power surged through the atmosphere as Wu Chong's Beast-type Astral Souls emitted a deafening howl. He transformed into a nightmarish, demonic figure descending from the heavens, his sights locked on Qin Wentian. More than ten thousand illusory demonic beasts materialized around him, charging alongside him with savage intent, all set on annihilating Qin Wentian.

Qin Wentian's arms appeared to be clad in an eerie, demonic armor, his eyes ablaze with violent resolve. Having reached the second stage of the Fiend Transformation Art and tapping into the power of his bloodline, he resembled an ancient demon monarch, his gaze unwaveringly fixed on Wu Chong.

The Dragon Subduing Fist he unleashed transformed into a legion of phantom demonic dragons, their roars echoing even in the spectators' hearts as they collided head-on with the multitude of demonic beasts.

Simultaneously, a pair of majestic wings sprouted from Ye Wuque's back, and he descended gracefully in an elegant arc. Clutching dazzling, multicolored swords in both hands, he thrust them toward Qin Wentian's throat with unparalleled precision.

Without deigning to spare a glance for Ye Wuque, Qin Wentian casually lifted his left hand, flicking his finger toward Ye Wuque. Instantly, an immense surge of sword Qi burst forth, materializing into a myriad of razor-sharp blades that coalesced into a dazzling beam of light hurtling straight for Ye Wuque.

Caught off guard, Ye Wuque's expression darkened as he swiftly adapted his strategy. Meanwhile, Qin Wentian's right palm moved with remarkable fluidity, the illusory dragons summoned earlier fortified as his potent counterforce shattered Wu Chong's assault. The lingering momentum of his attack pressed forward, resulting in a cataclysmic shockwave that obliterated Wu Chong's head.

As Qin Wentian's gaze locked onto Ye Wuque once again, a peculiar unease washed over the latter's face. Spreading his wings wide, Ye Wuque surged backward, propelled by newfound speed. The prior exchange had made it abundantly clear to him that prevailing against Qin Wentian was a futile endeavor. In the face of impending doom, he cast aside his pride and dignity, choosing survival above all.

Qin Wentian unfurled a pair of Garuda Wings, propelling himself through the air with astonishing swiftness, reminiscent of a true Garuda in flight. Closing in on Ye Wuque effortlessly, he initiated the Dragon Capturing Hands, ensnaring Ye Wuque within his grasp. Struggle as he might, Ye Wuque soon grasped the futility of pushing onward.

Ye Wuque's trajectory was inevitably leading him back toward the Ye Clan. Beyond the façade of determination, the Ye Clan members detected an undercurrent of sheer terror in Ye Wuque's eyes.

"No..." The countenances of the Ye Clan's members contorted in profound distress. Such an outcome was inconceivable to them.

Employing precise strikes that immobilized Ye Wuque's spine, Qin Wentian hovered in midair, clutching Ye Wuque's form. His expression retained its usual composure as he peered down at the assemblage of Ye Clan members.

"So, this is the vaunted 'genius' of the Ye Clan? Even before I embarked on the path of cultivation, his so-called brilliance cast a blinding radiance over Sky Harmony City, exerting pressure on both my Qin Clan and myself," remarked Qin Wentian, his gaze sweeping over the Ye Clan and Bai Qingsong.

"From then until now, a span of roughly a year, hasn't it?" Qin Wentian mused aloud, though his outward tranquility stirred profound ripples in the hearts of the onlookers.

In this mere blink of an eye, Qin Wentian had triumphed over Ye Wuque, leaving no room for doubt.

Even with the pitiful, beseeching expression etched onto Ye Wuque's face, Bai Qingsong couldn't fathom the reality of the situation.

"Release him," a commanding voice cut through the tense air. The speaker, perched upon the dragon seat, was none other than Chu Tianjiao.

His countenance remained as inscrutable as ever, concealing his true thoughts. But when he issued the order for Qin Wentian to release Ye Wuque, his voice bore an unmistakable authority.

A glimmer of hope ignited in Ye Wuque's heart, and the eyes of the Ye Clan members gleamed with anticipation. As the paramount authority in Chu, perhaps Chu Tianjiao could rescue Ye Wuque from this dire situation.

Yet, Qin Wentian didn't turn his head, his gaze unyielding. The sound of bones cracking shattered the silence, extinguishing the glimmer of hope that had briefly illuminated the Ye Clan members' eyes.

With deliberate slowness, Qin Wentian unclenched his hand, and Ye Wuque's lifeless body plummeted to the ground, crashing with a resounding thud. His response was not in words but in merciless action, extinguishing the final embers of their hope.

An unnatural gleam flickered in Chu Tianjiao's eyes. While he had anticipated that Qin Wentian might not comply, he had not expected such unwavering decisiveness, immediately snuffing out Ye Wuque's life after Chu Tianjiao's intervention.

To the spectators, Qin Wentian's actions were nothing less than a colossal slap across Chu Tianjiao's face, an affront delivered before their very eyes.

"Release him?" A sardonic grin crept across Qin Wentian's visage. "Mountain was nothing more than a student at the Emperor Star Academy. Tell me, who did he offend? Did his assailants ever consider showing him mercy? When we were enduring the Royal Academy and Nine Mystical Palace's oppression, did they ever entertain the idea of sparing our Emperor Star Academy's students? And during the Ye Clan's siege of Sky Harmony City, when countless members of my Qin Clan perished, did they extend an olive branch to us?"

Each word dripped with icy disdain as Qin Wentian spoke, his gaze firmly fixed on Chu Tianjiao. He couldn't be bothered to spare a glance for him.

In the Chu Emperor District, an eerie hush descended, as if the collective audience could sense the fiery wrath burning within Qin Wentian's heart. Without this fire, he wouldn't have unleashed such a relentless assault, thoroughly defeating his three attackers.

"Chu Tianjiao, if the opportunity arose for you to eliminate me, I doubt you'd show me any mercy, would you?" Qin Wentian inquired with an air of indifference.

Chu Tianjiao remained silent, tacitly confirming what Qin Wentian had asserted. If given the chance, he would undoubtedly show no mercy to Qin Wentian.

"Me too," Qin Wentian murmured softly, freezing the crowd's gaze. Those two simple words, "me too," conveyed his unwavering resolve.

Turning his attention to Bai Qingsong, Qin Wentian regarded him intently. At that moment, Bai Qingsong was gripped by genuine fear.

When the Ye Clan had come to Sky Harmony City with a marriage proposal for Autumn Snow and Ye Wuque, Bai Qingsong had been ecstatic. He saw in that proposal the ascent of his Bai Clan and a glimmer of hope. It had driven him to cast Qin Wentian aside without hesitation, betraying the Qin Clan.

But now, Ye Wuque had met his end at the hands of the very youth he had so readily discarded. It felt like an unbelievable dream, an almost surreal sensation. The tumultuous emotions coursing through Bai Qingsong were unfathomable.

Did he regret his decision? He couldn't say. Yet, even if he did, what good would regrets do now? In this moment, he felt as though he had aged significantly. He couldn't help but envy Qin Chuan; why did he have such an exceptional adopted son? In contrast, his own daughters hadn't fared so well. Autumn Snow, once a 'genius,' had fallen from grace, while Bai Qing, his younger daughter whom he had once looked down upon, had astonishingly manifested a 4th Heavenly Layer Astral Soul as her first. However, due to his betrayal, Bai Qing had severed their father-daughter relationship, discarded their family ties, and vanished without a trace. To this day, no news of her had surfaced.

After enduring the weight of these events and witnessing Qin Wentian's meteoric rise firsthand, a deep bitterness festered within him.

"Qin Wentian," Autumn Snow finally spoke. Her smile, directed at him, seemed to signify that she had finally lifted the immense burden that had weighed on her heart for so long.

"I know that our Bai Clan has let you down. I, too, have let you down," she began. "Sometimes, in the dead of night, I find myself haunted by regrets for the choices I made in the past. You made me the radiant prodigy of Sky Harmony City, and yet, my response to your kindness was betrayal. Not only that, after the academy selection, my Bai Clan joined forces with the Ye Clan to besiege and slay members of your Qin Clan. I understand that I have no right to beg for your forgiveness, but I must still say it."

The Autumn Snow of this moment had unburdened her heart, and she continued with composure, "All the wrongs that were done, I did with my own hands. However you choose to deal with me, even if you choose to end my life, I will accept your decision wholeheartedly. But I beseech you, spare my father. He's aged now, and I am no longer the radiant 'genius' I once was. Even my little sister, Bai Qing, has abandoned our family because of you. My father is truly elderly."

"Do you know that Bai Qing's talent surpassed even mine? Her first Astral Soul manifested at the 4th Heavenly Layer. That day, she wept as she released her Astral Soul before my father, declaring that she was leaving because of her 'Wentian gege.' For your sake, she severed all ties, forsaking her clan. To this day, there has been no word of her. You must understand how deeply she cared for you. I may lack the right to plead with you, but please, for the sake of my dear sister Bai Qing, spare my father. If she were to learn that her beloved 'Wentian gege' had taken her father's life, how could she face you in the future?"

Autumn Snow's sincerity tugged at the hearts of the onlookers. The rumors were confirmed—her talent was a gift from Qin Wentian. The Bai Clan had indeed betrayed him.

Yet, the revelation that the Bai Clan's youngest daughter had manifested a 4th Heavenly Layer Astral Soul as her first was nothing short of astonishing.

Qin Wentian's heart trembled as he envisioned the image of a young girl. He recalled the day when she had handed him a dagger, offering herself as a hostage to secure his escape from her father's grasp. He could still feel the depth of her anguish at that moment.

"Wentian gege," Bai Qing's voice echoed in his mind. Taking a deep breath, he tried to clear his thoughts. Today, he had fully intended to end Bai Qingsong's life. However, Autumn Snow's words had unexpectedly swayed his resolute heart.

How could he ever face Bai Qing if he were to kill her father?

Qin Wentian turned his gaze back to Autumn Snow, who still wore a gentle smile but was shedding silent tears. She, too, was reminiscing about the cherished memories they had once shared. Now, those memories had dissipated like mist, leaving behind only the pain of their loss.

"Bai Qingsong, cripple your own cultivation, and this matter shall be concluded," Qin Wentian finally declared, choosing not to take Bai Qingsong's life.

Bai Qingsong's expression faltered, but he nodded. With resolve, he raised his palm and ruthlessly struck his chest, shattering his meridians. In an instant, he appeared to have aged a decade, with streaks of white running through his hair.

"Father," Autumn Snow cried out, looking to Qin Wentian for mercy.

However, all she witnessed was Qin Wentian's departure from the platform, making no move against her. Autumn Snow's legs gave way, and she collapsed onto the ground, tears streaming down her cheeks. The agony in her heart was indescribable. Watching Qin Wentian grow more distant, she couldn't help but question herself: What had she lost? She should be free, rejoicing in her newfound freedom, and yet, she felt an overwhelming sense of loss.

Qin Wentian departed, and this chapter of his past, once etched in his heart, dissipated like smoke, leaving behind only the memory of a bright-eyed and innocent girl named Bai Qing, who remained ensconced in the warmth of his recollections.