Chapter 49: The Choice

Ji Ning never doubted Senior Apprentice Sister Yu Wei's feelings for him. When their eyes met, he could sense her heart. Since his parents' passing, he had found in her the long-lost warmth of the heart—a warmth that transcended romantic love, possible only when feelings ran deep enough to warm each other.

But—

Ji Ning could not forget, either.

If not for the legacy of the Three-Life Daoist, he would have died when he was still weak.

If not for the Seven Gods, he would have died long ago.

If not for his master, Patriarch Subhuti, he would have died in the Realm of Extinction.

His master, Immortal Diancai, and his brother, Mu Zishuo, also bore endless hatred for the Alliance of No Return. His father and mother—perhaps even worse off than Yu Wei—their true spirits might have already entered the River of Fate... With Nuwa gone into the endless chaos, the scattering of the soul meant absolute death.

Hope for Nuwa's return?

Hope to reach Nuwa's realm?

Difficult!

This was even harder than defeating the Alliance of No Return!

...

The Godking, his misty eyes beneath the black robe gazing down at Ji Ning, awaited his answer. He knew this was perhaps the most promising moment to win Ji Ning over. For Yu Wei was now the most important person to Ji Ning, the deepest tie in his heart. And her death—while repaying the Godking—was also her unwillingness to burden Ji Ning further.

After all, as a disciple of a Dao Ancestor, Ji Ning would not be implicated in the loss of a realm war.

The vast, dark space was terrifyingly still, dead silent.

Ji Ning stared silently at the image of his senior apprentice sister, as if etching her into his memory.

"Make your choice," the Godking spoke. "Don't think of deceiving me. You cannot fool me."

Ji Ning's body trembled.

After a moment of suffocating silence, Ji Ning whispered, "Let me look at her a little longer."

If he chose to defect, they could be together forever. But now Ji Ning asked to look a little longer—was he about to refuse?

The Godking was furious!

The mist beneath the black robe on the ten-thousand-foot throne roiled, lightning crackling in his misty eyes. He suppressed his rage and said in a low voice, "You choose to be my enemy, the enemy of the Alliance of No Return? Your beloved will be cast into endless hell. You could have made her happy, together with you and your child. But now you send her to hell, never to be reborn!"

Each word from the Godking cut like a knife into Ji Ning's heart.

"The choice is yours!" The entire vast dark world trembled, the Godking barely containing his fury.

Ji Ning's eyes held deep, endless pain, but he only silently watched his senior apprentice sister.

Then—

Ji Ning turned to the Godking and, with a thud, knelt in reverence.

The Godking was overjoyed, even stepping down from his throne: "Haha, Ji Ning, this is wise—" But Ji Ning spoke, cutting him off.

"Godking, you are a Dao Ancestor," Ji Ning said, kneeling. "I know Senior Apprentice Sister suffered in her past life, and you must have shown her kindness. She has been loyal to you, and now she has destroyed Shennong's medicine, rendering a great service. I beg you not to hold it against a pitiful woman... I do not ask you to return her to me, only that she may live a simple life. If so, Ji Ning will be eternally grateful."

Kneeling, Ji Ning's voice was full of supplication.

The Godking, who had already descended to the ground, was stunned, then enraged: "Ji Ning!!! Grateful? Pitiful? This is war! You have only two paths. If you refuse, she will suffer endless hell!"

"Go! Take Yu Wei away and subject her to all the torments of endless hell. Never to be reborn!" the Godking roared.

His voice carried directly into the endless hell.

"Yes."

Immediately, two black-robed emissaries seized Yu Wei and led her toward a fiery purgatory...

Ji Ning remained kneeling.

"Godking," Ji Ning looked at him.

"You have only two paths: stand with me, or be my enemy!" The vast dark world brimmed with murderous intent.

Ji Ning stood up, silently watching the image of his senior apprentice sister suffering in the endless fiery purgatory.

Then—

Ji Ning turned.

Whoosh!

He vanished from the dream world.

"Damn it!" The Godking's roar echoed through the vast dark world. "Damn it, damn it, damn it!!!"

"Your beloved will suffer endlessly, and you—soon you will die, you will die!" The Godking was truly enraged. He had wanted to recruit Ji Ning, but was refused. Humiliated and furious, he burned with murderous intent. But the Nuwa camp was strong; killing Ji Ning would not be easy.

...

"It was you who sent her to endless hell—you, you yourself!!!" The Godking's angry voice echoed in Ji Ning's mind.

"Boom."

Ji Ning's powerful mind-force shattered that thought. Though such subtle infiltration from the Godking was hard even for Dao Ancestors to detect, its power was weak.

The Zixia Pearl World.

"Creak." Ji Ning's true body walked out of the study and soon arrived at the room where his daughter, Mingyue, was kneeling in punishment.

The little girl in a bellyband was still kneeling, confusion and innocence in her eyes.

"Father," Mingyue said, brightening when she saw Ji Ning. "I was wrong, I really know now. Don't be angry, Father. I won't tease others with fire again."

Ji Ning walked to his daughter, crouched down, and silently embraced her.

Held by her father, Mingyue beamed and nestled into his chest. "Father isn't angry anymore? Hehe, Mother hugged me like this too, but then she said sorry, sorry to me? I didn't understand. Then she disappeared. Father, you said before that Mother's form here was an incarnation—why did it vanish?"

Ji Ning trembled.

So...

Senior Apprentice Sister had not only apologized to him but also to their daughter.

"Father?" Mingyue sensed something wrong.

Ji Ning held his daughter and whispered, "I am the one who wronged your mother." He closed his eyes, tears streaming down.

Yes!

I am sorry! Though the Godking forced the choice, it was I who chose the path that sent Senior Apprentice Sister into endless hell... It felt as if countless ants were gnawing at my heart.

The pain within.

The guilt.

The anguish.

Ji Ning had not shed a tear before—not when he saw her soul scatter, not when he learned she was alive only to face a desperate choice, not when he watched her suffer in the endless purgatory. Only when he held his daughter did he finally break down and weep.

Hot tears fell on Mingyue. She looked up, startled to see her father crying.

"What's wrong? Where is Mother?" Mingyue, clever as she was, pressed urgently.

"She is dead," Ji Ning said softly, holding her.

"Dead?" Mingyue was stunned. Though naturally bright, she was bewildered, only knowing to hold her father tightly.

"Mingyue, from now on, it's just you and me."

Ji Ning held his daughter.

His daughter had just been born; his wife was already gone.

"Senior Apprentice Sister... I'm sorry. I swear... I will take good care of our child. I will." Ji Ning held his daughter, knowing that what he could do for her—and for himself—was to protect and raise their child well.

"And the Alliance of No Return..."

In Ji Ning's tear-filled eyes lurked a murderous intent deeper than the Nine Abysses.

...

The Eight Dragons Cloudcity.

Ji Ning emerged from his dwelling.

"You're out?" The Xia Emperor, waiting outside, looked at him.

"Your Majesty has been here all along?" Ji Ning was startled.

"If I weren't here, would you have had peace? Many came to see you—some to comfort, others angry and wanting to curse you," the Xia Emperor shook his head. "Can't blame them. The realm war was nearly won, but now... alas. With defeat, many Celestial Immortals and True Immigrants lose their foundations of eons to the Alliance of No Return. How could they not be angry? Don't take it to heart. Once this passes, they'll gradually accept it."

Ji Ning looked at the Xia Emperor.

He could sense... a trace of melancholy in the Emperor's words.

Defeat meant the Xia Emperor would lose the Grand Xia world, the foundation of his Xiamang clan. All his efforts since the Age of Gods were poured into this land. How could he not be grieved? Yet he did not blame Ji Ning, and had kept others away so Ji Ning could be alone.

"Will we really lose?" Ji Ning asked.

"We will lose," the Xia Emperor sighed and nodded.

...