Ye Tiancheng spoke a great deal about Da Qing Snake, and recalling those memories brought him a sense of exhilaration. After all, in their past battles, they rarely suffered defeat and always fought with great satisfaction.
However, those glorious moments had ultimately become the past. One cannot live in the past. Looking ahead, he tragically discovered that everything had already become history, and the truth before him was so bloody that he could hardly bear to look.
"But Da Qing Snake died, died for the greater good, and left us forever. No matter where I go in this world, I can no longer find any trace of him."
Ye Tiancheng was heartbroken. What made him even more astonished was that a tear fell from his daughter's eye, and that tear emitted a faint green hue.
"Daughter, why... why do you react like this? Do you possess Da Qing Snake's memories?"
Ye Qingcheng's eyes now held a purity far beyond that of an ordinary child. They seemed to contain many stories, making one feel deeply saddened and instantly miserable.
Ye Tiancheng stopped asking. The moment he saw that look, he knew that everything had its answer, and no further explanation was needed.
Initially, tears flowed, but soon she smiled. Ye Tiancheng had realized that Da Qing Snake had not truly died, as he had initially thought, disappearing completely into the heavens and earth. Instead, it survived in another form, which was undoubtedly a great comfort to Ye Tiancheng.
Before, whenever he thought of Da Qing Snake sacrificing itself, enduring so much pain, and then dying so tragically, Ye Tiancheng would feel an overwhelming sadness, to the point of being unable to breathe.
But now, it seemed that after his daughter consumed Da Qing Snake's inner dan, it had merged with the child, completely different from what Ye Tiancheng had imagined.
"That's wonderful! I knew you wouldn't leave. I knew you would always be here, willing to stay by my side and accompany me."
This deep affection was beyond words, transcending the shallow bonds between ordinary people. They had shared life-and-death experiences. Ye Tiancheng, Da Qing Snake, the Nuwa Stone, and the little stone he had not known for long were all inseparable symbiotic entities.
Ye Tiancheng held his daughter, tears streaming down his face. "That's wonderful, Da Qing Snake, it's so good that you haven't left me. I knew you couldn't bear to leave me. We will continue to fight together."
Hou Mingzhu, slightly worried about Ye Tiancheng's emotional state, came to check on him. She found him looking quite emotional, gazing at his daughter with a reluctant expression and genuine tears. Everything seemed authentic, and she worried that Ye Tiancheng might not be able to cope, perhaps the separation was too great a blow.
"Ye Tiancheng, you must be strong. Our separation is inevitable, and I don't want you to be so pained. If there's a solution in the future..."
"It's not just that I have to separate from my daughter. There's another reason: my lost companion, Da Qing Snake, has now parasitized my daughter. Perhaps it is surviving in another way, and there's even a possibility of resurrection. Of course, I don't know the specifics of how it will be resurrected yet. That's why I was so emotional when I saw my daughter, indicating that I haven't lost Da Qing Snake; Da Qing Snake has simply become symbiotic with my daughter."
Ye Tiancheng and Da Qing Snake shared a profound relationship, so he naturally felt this was normal. However, Hou Mingzhu began to worry. After all, his daughter was his most cherished treasure, and Hou Mingzhu could not tolerate the slightest error. Now, hearing that Da Qing Snake had possessed her daughter and that there was a symbiotic relationship, she was completely bewildered. Her mind could think of nothing else but the safety of her daughter. If anything were to happen to her, Hou Mingzhu could not bear it.
"This doesn't seem right! I know that Da Qing Snake saved our daughter and deserves our respect. But our daughter is still so young. Her safety is a major concern. Ye Tiancheng, you are Ye Qingcheng's father, and you must guarantee one thing: your daughter's safety. Otherwise, I will resent you for the rest of my life."
Her words were true. Hou Mingzhu's priority was her daughter, and everything else could be cast aside. However, her daughter's safety had to come first; no one could desecrate that.
"Da Qing Snake is a benevolent divine beast. It has always protected me with its life while by my side. Its thoughts are very agile, and its abilities are strong, helping me fend off many disasters. It is a fortunate divine beast. It can also help my daughter ward off misfortune and solve problems, which is a great blessing. You should understand this."
Although Hou Mingzhu had many grievances against Ye Tiancheng, there was one thing she had never doubted about him: Ye Tiancheng was honest.
No matter the circumstances in the past, Ye Tiancheng always told the truth and never intentionally deceived Hou Mingzhu. He simply said whatever was on his mind.
Even in the worst-case scenarios, he would at least inform Hou Mingzhu and never keep her in the dark. It seemed that Da Qing Snake's situation was likely fine, and there was no need for her to worry excessively; she was being overly anxious.
"Alright, Ye Tiancheng. If something happens to you, I won't interfere. But if you remain alive, you must promise me one thing: you must guarantee our daughter's safety. If anything happens to our daughter, I will not let you live alone."
Knowing how formidable Hou Mingzhu was and that she could truly resort to murder at critical moments, Ye Tiancheng, no matter how brave, would never dare to transgress this boundary.
"Hou Mingzhu, don't forget, she is not just your daughter, but mine as well. How could I possibly watch my daughter be bullied? That is simply impossible. I will protect our child with my life and will not let her feel even a hint of unhappiness."
Seeing the sincerity in Ye Tiancheng's eyes, Hou Mingzhu felt reassured. She realized she was truly overthinking things. Ye Tiancheng should be capable of handling such minor matters, and there was no need to worry.
"Okay, time is almost up. I need to take the child. I will have her video call you later. If anything happens to the child, I will find you immediately. Please rest assured about this."
When Hou Mingzhu spoke, there was little pleading and more of a warning.
"Ye Tiancheng, you don't need to feel like I'm begging you for anything. I'm not. It's you who owes me. If it weren't for your special constitution, our daughter wouldn't be like this. It's all your fault. Everything you're doing now is just to atone for your mistakes."
Hearing Hou Mingzhu say this, Ye Tiancheng did not refute but nodded vigorously.
"Understood. I understand all your thoughts. I will do what I promised you, and I will not disappoint you."
As they were about to part, perhaps due to anxiety, she spoke some harsh words. This was not truly what Hou Mingzhu intended. It would be best if everyone remained at peace, but sometimes conflicts arise unknowingly, making it impossible to predict the next step.
"Alright, perhaps because I'm about to leave, I'm feeling a bit upset, and I've said some unpleasant things. I hope you can be understanding."
It was incredibly difficult for this imperious young lady to utter words of conciliation; it was as painful as killing her.
She had truly changed her ways. Ye Tiancheng felt that this was not easy and decided not to be too harsh, as it would be cruel to her.
"Okay, I understand you. I will be well, and you be well too. We will surely meet again. I hope we will both have become the best versions of ourselves by then."
Ye Tiancheng felt like crying but ultimately held back. He was a man, and if he cried in front of Hou Mingzhu, it would be utterly humiliating.
"Alright, I'll pack up. The car will be here in a few minutes. We'll meet again someday. We'll talk when we see each other again."
At the moment of true separation, he realized how heart-wrenching it was. The pain was indescribable, as if his heart were being torn apart piece by piece.
"Take care of yourself. Our daughter is very important to me, but you are equally important to me."
Hou Mingzhu also struggled to hold back tears, her eyes shining with a faint glow as she looked at Ye Tiancheng.
"You don't need to pity me. This is all my own fault, and I can't blame anyone else. Because of my actions back then, I caused a life to be lost with a single fire. These are debts I owe, and they must eventually be repaid, sooner or later. I am merely repaying my debts."
When Hou Mingzhu encountered difficulties, she would inexplicably recall her past mistakes. Back then, she felt she was a young lady, always arrogant and believing no one could do anything to her. What Hou Mingzhu said was the truth; anyone who stood in her way was seeking death.
But now, reflecting on those narrow-minded thoughts, she realized they had indeed caused much karma. Her child's current condition constantly kept Hou Mingzhu on edge.
Furthermore, their marriage with Ye Tiancheng, which had once seemed perfect, had tragically fallen apart, leaving no chance to start anew.
"No, don't think like that, Hou Mingzhu. Even if it's repaying debts, I'll repay them with you. After all, you are the mother of my daughter, and you are also a very important person to me."
Every word Ye Tiancheng spoke was an attempt at reconciliation. If Hou Mingzhu were willing to remarry someday, Ye Tiancheng would gladly agree, as he wanted to give their daughter, Ye Qingcheng, a perfect home. After all, children are happiest with both parents, and the absence of one is always a regret that words cannot compensate for.
"I know you're saying this for our daughter's sake, Ye Tiancheng. You really don't have to. Our relationship isn't that complicated."
"Okay, I don't want to pressure you, but I want to tell you that I will always be here waiting for you. As long as you're willing to turn back, you'll always find me here. I will never abandon you alone, not even when facing life choices."
Ye Tiancheng hoped that one day Hou Mingzhu would see him waiting for her. In the past, Ye Tiancheng had other ideas and even considered other options. However, with his daughter present, Ye Tiancheng absolutely could not allow her to be unhappy. He wanted to give his daughter everything she deserved.
"It's impossible. If our daughter is fine, then we'll part ways. If you truly wish to, I can arrange video calls with the child. As for you and me, our fate has long since ended."