Chapter 925: The Four Imagery Kiln Is Finally Complete

Chapter 925: The Four Symbols Kiln Finally Complete

“Think you’re something, huh?”

Having just put on a grand show outside, Zhao Changhe, who had only just returned to the Heavenly Book, found his ear twisted by a furious crowd: “Sneaking off for two days to indulge in romance—are you waiting for our home to be ransacked before you come back?”

“What kind of earth-sucking creature managed to keep you occupied for two whole days?”

“Why didn’t it just drain you dry?”

Zhao Changhe knew he was in the wrong, meekly lowering his head as he was tugged, forcing a smile: “I had no choice—the cultivation took that long. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have had the capital to fight so decisively, would I…”

“You’ve got nerve saying that. You must have wasted plenty of time on sweet nothings. Just flip her over and give her a good sausage-and-meat stir-fry—that would’ve been the end of it. You’re the one who makes everything complicated!”

Zhao Changhe couldn’t fathom such fierce words coming from the gentle and serene Piaomiao; it showed just how much he’d riled everyone up. He wanted to say that Ye Wuming, being the book spirit herself, would slip back the moment the Heavenly Book was in danger… but he dared not argue now, just drooping his head and taking the scolding.

In essence, no one was truly worried about danger—in fact, they’d be happier if there was a chance for them to act. The real sore point was that everyone felt Zhao Changhe showed special favor to Ye Wuming, sparking a surge of jealousy.

Ye Wuming didn’t fit in with them either. While Zhao Changhe was getting berated, she went off alone, trying to find the child.

Having fully opened her heart and accepted her relationship with Zhao Changhe, one of the greatest significances for Ye Wuming was that she could now openly be with her daughter, no longer needing to snatch the child as before. Heaven knows how much the thought of “giving the child a complete family” weighed in her surrender—perhaps more than Zhao Changhe imagined. All his relentless pursuit couldn’t match the power of a single child.

But before she could find Ling Ruoyu, she was blocked by Ye Jiuyou: “A word?”

Ye Wuming hesitated, glanced at her, and finally murmured, “Mm.” The sisters walked side by side through the garden of the Night Palace, silent for a long time.

Their relationship was peculiar. In theory, they were once one person; now independent, they could be considered twin sisters. But the grudges spanning two epochs were too many, and having seen each other as mortal enemies for so long, the knots in their hearts weren’t so easily dissolved.

The turning point might have been when Ye Wuming voluntarily gave up control and merged with Ye Jiuyou, letting her take the lead.

That was Ye Wuming’s concession for the greater good, but the result was Ye Jiuyou using her body for revenge, indulging in all sorts of shameless acts. Yet in truth, Ye Wuming owed Ye Jiuyou nothing—the debt was only to Zhao Changhe.

After a long pause, Ye Jiuyou spoke softly: “The way I treated you before… thinking it over these past two days, I went too far. You had the big picture in mind, knowing what you’d face but still forging ahead without hesitation… I let personal grudges cloud my thoughts too much.”

Ye Jiuyou actually apologized first… Ye Wuming was startled but replied coolly, “I merely went along with it. The repayment was for Piaomiao, and for Changhe.”

“If that’s the case, why don’t you just tell Piaomiao directly?”

Ye Wuming said nothing.

Ye Jiuyou sighed: “You’re always like this, hiding everything in your heart… That’s not good.”

Ye Wuming found it odd: “You’re saying things like that now?”

“When you marry a rooster, follow the rooster; when you marry a dog, follow the dog.” Ye Jiuyou smiled. “Besides, the rift between you and Piaomiao is the last knot left, and you need to untie it yourself. Changhe can’t say much about it. I tell you, you’re strangely stubborn—clearly willing to repay Piaomiao, even acting on it, but you won’t say it out loud. Just like your self-righteous scheming before—looked impressive, but Changhe’s been chewing you out for it ever since.”

Ye Wuming said flatly, “Those who know, know. What’s the use of saying more?”

“Stubborn as ever.” Ye Jiuyou sighed again. “But I think Piaomiao does know, deep down…”

Ye Wuming said, “Of course. Piaomiao is no ordinary person—her heart is like a clear mirror.”

“You always view everything from an observer’s perspective… But there’s something you don’t know.”

“What?”

“In the last epoch, Piaomiao was just beginning to develop emotions. Her first emotion was friendship, and she had one friend in her heart… only one friend.”

Ye Wuming stopped in her tracks.

At the end of the garden was a lotus pond, with pavilions faintly visible by its shore. Tang Wanzhuang, Sisi, and others from the Four Symbols Sect were holding a victory feast in one pavilion, filled with laughter and joy. Piaomiao stood alone in another pavilion, leaning on the railing, watching the water, her robes fluttering.

Amid the cheerful voices, she seemed somewhat lonely.

It was Piaomiao’s usual temperament—never one to blend in easily—but now, seen from afar by the two sisters, it struck them as inexplicably desolate.

A breeze swept across the pond, stirring her robes, making her seem even more detached from the world, ethereal as a dream.

Ye Wuming stared blankly. Ye Jiuyou patted her shoulder: “I’m going to find Changhe. You handle it yourself.”

With that, she vanished.

Piaomiao leaned on the railing, watching the water, listening to the distant laughter, her thoughts drifting.

Perhaps the greatest gain from following Zhao Changhe wasn’t finding a beloved partner, but having so many friends to walk side by side with, sharing laughter and joy. Even if she couldn’t quite blend in, it was soothing to hear.

In her daze, she always recalled that time—the only person she trusted had shattered her physical body with a single palm strike.

The resentment at that moment was enough to drive her to madness.

But now, it was time to end it. She had willingly let herself be posed in a kneeling, bent-over position, allowing humiliation… Piaomiao knew that for someone like her, that was a punishment worse than death, yet she endured it… Piaomiao understood what it meant—it was repayment.

Should she tell her that the past was over?

A familiar fragrance wafted beside her. Piaomiao instinctively tensed her divine powers.

Ye Wuming made no defensive move, standing quietly by her side, joining her in watching the water.

Piaomiao let her gathered power dissipate and said coolly, “What are you here for?”

Ye Wuming was silent for a moment, then said, “See that withered lotus over there?”

Piaomiao looked up. It was the very spot where the lotus platform had been “stolen.”

Ye Wuming said, “You should know… back then, I could have kept you here.”

Piaomiao said nothing.

“Because it was you, I let you take it.” Ye Wuming’s voice dropped low. “It was always meant for you.”

Piaomiao said coldly, “So I should be grateful? For you to arrange my future and my death with such self-righteousness?”

“I’m sorry.” Ye Wuming whispered, “Back then, the burden was too great. I couldn’t trust anyone. That was the only way I could think of.”

Piaomiao raised her voice: “But I dared to trust you!”

“Then you trusted the wrong person.”

Piaomiao: “…”

Ye Wuming paused, then said, “What will it take for you to let go of your anger? What I did before—was it not enough?”

“You’re being self-righteous again. Do you think the repayment you imagine is what I want?”

Ye Wuming said, “That’s why I’m here to ask you today.”

Piaomiao faltered. She didn’t know what would satisfy her anger. In truth, after what had been done—and broadcast—she had already calmed down…

Once the madness was dispelled, she was never one to hold grudges. The most vicious revenge she could conceive had already been exacted.

They stood in awkward silence for a long time. Finally, Ye Wuming murmured, “Thank you… for once considering me a friend.”

Piaomiao looked up, thinking, then suddenly pointed at the banquet: “If you can drop your haughty airs, call them ‘sisters,’ and drink and laugh with them, I’ll forgive you.”

Even Piaomiao herself found that difficult—she hadn’t done it yet. For Ye Wuming, it was even harder; she barely knew them, let alone call them sisters… But since Piaomiao had said it, Ye Wuming replied resolutely, “Fine.”

Piaomiao watched Ye Wuming walk over, awkwardly waving and greeting everyone: “Hello, sisters…” “Pfft—” San Niang, who had just taken a sip of wine, sprayed it all out, nearly drenching Huangfu Qing across from her.

Seeing Ye Wuming standing there awkwardly, with no one responding, Piaomiao suddenly burst out laughing, and all her burdens dissolved like smoke.

Zhao Changhe appeared at the banquet just then, scratching his head in confusion, wondering why Ye Wuming was standing there so meekly: “What’s going on?”

“Nothing.” Tang Wanzhuang suppressed a smile and asked, “Where were you just now?”

“Repairing the Galaxy Sword… Poor thing—it sealed Luochuan and obliterated Haoyang, both high-intensity tasks, so it’s slightly damaged. Ruoyu was whimpering over there.” Zhao Changhe sat down, pulling the dazed Ye Wuming close beside him: “Allow me to introduce—our Heavenly Dao.”

“Heavenly Dao, huh…” Xia Chichi blinked. “Flash the Chaos Chronicle again, will you? I’ve never seen someone write a book on the spot.”

Ye Wuming said stiffly, “These battles have nothing to do with matters within the realm. I can’t write about them.”

"How is it irrelevant? The Night Emperor was held on someone's lap at the banquet—isn't that worth a grand account?"

Night Wuming wanted to flick his sleeves and leave, but glanced at Piaomiao, whose face alternated between green and red, and finally said nothing.

Moments later, the world again saw golden light flash across the sky:

"In July, Zhao Changhe gathered all his beauties, slew the outer realm demon Luochuan, ending the war that had stretched across two cycles."

"At that time, the Myriad Manifestations Star Domain took advantage to invade. Ye Jiuyou, Piaomiao, Yue Hongling, Yuan Sanniang, Huangfu Qing, Xia Chichi, Tang Wanzhuang and others defended outside the Night Palace. Zhao Changhe entered the heavy encirclement, beheaded the Emperor with his blade, suppressed the star domain, and the three realms were pacified."

"Initially, Zhao Changhe challenged Night Wuming, captured and released him three times, winning his heart completely. Once the Night Emperor Wuming, today a wife of the Zhao family."

"Gods and Buddhas all scattered, returning to the Heavenly Ranking."

"Heavenly Ranking First, Zhao Changhe."

The once-unknown first demon god, now no longer concealed.

Once the Night Emperor Wuming, today a wife of the Zhao family.

No verdict—this sentence itself is the verdict.

The three realms were stunned, staring at these few lines that seemed neither battle report nor surrender letter nor love letter, the whole world speechless.

Since when could the Chronicle of Chaos be written so casually... used to declare love? Even at the Night Palace banquet, all were silent, everyone looking at Night Wuming whose face was slightly red yet calm, unable to imagine that she would actually allow such words to be published before the world.

At this moment, Zhao Changhe's feelings... must be soaring with satisfaction.

...

"If you ask me, we shouldn't indulge him," the Four Symbols Sect members said after the celebration banquet, keeping Night Wuming behind for casual talk.

Those with some shared history began to feel indignant for their former Night Emperor, but their words turned into: "Sister Piaomiao as well—if the Emperor wants to compensate her, fine, but why let that Zhao gain so much..."

Night Wuming, however, took a sip of tea with equanimity, smiling slightly: "It's nothing. Since I've made up my mind, there's no need to hide anything. Publicly declaring love before the world—in their Zhao slang, it's called romance. I like it too."

"Romance..." Xia Chichi muttered. "So after getting your romance, he went to sleep with Sister Piaomiao?"

Night Wuming: "..."

At that moment, Zhao Changhe was indeed sharing a bed with Piaomiao. As the theoretical sovereign who pacified the Myriad Manifestations Star Domain, his mountain-river fortune had multiplied countless times. Piaomiao could indeed gain terrifying improvements, and Zhao Changhe naturally had to help her break through to the Other Shore.

But this help—anyone could guess it was dual cultivation.

Night Wuming sipped her tea, suppressing the sour feeling in her heart, pretending to be calm: "Dual cultivation is the most convenient path. Piaomiao indeed needs to improve now. There's nothing to say..."

The Four Symbols Sect members exchanged glances, thinking that their former sovereign had fallen rather thoroughly. Judging by this template of falling, she must have liked that Zhao long ago, only now recognizing her heart and letting go of everything.

Xia Chichi said, "Forget them, let's talk about us. Sister knows that our Four Symbols Sect used to worship you. According to the original unamended doctrine, the Four Symbols Sect has no leader—only one core: the Night Emperor. I was pushed into the position of leader later... Now that Sister is on our side, I'll resign as leader and return it to you?"

Night Wuming said, "We don't need such a sect now... Or if we must have one, we should select new representatives from the mortal world. All of us should resign."

Huangfu Qing laughed: "Does Your Majesty mean you still consider us one of us?"

Night Wuming sighed: "Regardless, we share a continuous bond. The question is whether you recognize me, not whether I recognize you... Jiuyou said I need to be more sociable. If we're talking about that, I'm far more sociable than them—after all, I have you all."

Sanniang seemed about to speak but stopped.

Night Wuming asked curiously, "What do you want to say?"

"Nothing." Sanniang's face was expressionless. "The Four Symbols Sect really shouldn't be called a sect anymore... How can a sect and the deity it worships all be swept away by one person? What kind of sect is that?"

Night Wuming opened her mouth, then closed it again.

It was heartbreaking to hear, tear-jerking to see. The Four Symbols Sect is not...

Forget it.

Sanniang rolled her eyes and said, "Back then, when we summoned Your Majesty, we still owed a sacrifice. What do you want? We'll help you."

Night Wuming laughed: "Aren't sacrifices always given at your discretion? How can I ask for them?"

Sanniang grinned: "If we give, will Your Majesty accept?"

Night Wuming was very nonchalant: "What can you give?"

Sanniang said, "Has Your Majesty not noticed that someone is missing after the banquet?"

Night Wuming had certainly noticed—besides Piaomiao, that little vixen Ye Jiuyou was also gone.

Piaomiao's absence was excusable for breakthrough, but what was Ye Jiuyou doing? Xia Chichi pointed out: "We help Your Majesty compete for favor and sabotage Sister Jiuyou's fun—does that count as a sacrifice?"

Night Wuming wanted to say no need, but the words didn't come out, as if tacitly agreed.

She knew clearly that these little vixens wanted to compete for favor themselves, using her name... but it seemed acceptable. From now on, everyone's war would revolve around this matter...

She should watch more Zhao-style TV dramas, like "The Legend of Zhen Huan" or "The Golden Chamber of Desire"...

Just as she thought this, the Four Symbols Grand Array began to glow.

Night Wuming was startled: "What are you doing?"

"The array to summon the Night Emperor—but now our target is clear: not you, but that Zhao." Sanniang grinned. "Don't worry, we have it under control. We'll wait until Sister Piaomiao finishes her breakthrough and enters meditation, then drag him over, not letting Jiuyou get the advantage."

Night Wuming: "..."

Yue Hongling, who had been silent: "..."

She felt something was off. Were they trying to trick him or themselves? Didn't they realize that summoning him stark naked like this would turn the Four Symbols Sect into... what? Before Yue Hongling could voice her objection, Xia Chichi shouted excitedly: "I sense it—it's over over there. Sister Piaomiao has entered meditation for breakthrough."

"Now."

Night Wuming: "Don't..."

With a flash of light, Zhao Changhe appeared stark naked before them, staring at the Four Symbols plus the Night Emperor in shock: "So this is the complete Four Symbols Sect?"