Chapter 0: 64. The Moon Is Before My Eyes
“Xiao Su, is that really what he said?” Qin Gou narrowed his eyes.
Su’s observation was quite thorough, though this was also partly because Qin Gou hadn’t tried to hide much of himself.
“It’s not the first time this child has had wild thoughts,” Ren Ci said with a laugh, shaking her head. “I just don’t understand how the two of you, who are worlds apart, could have caused her such a misunderstanding.”
“What? What does Xiao Ci mean by that?”
Qin Gou’s expression startled. The phrase “worlds apart” was quite a strong statement. Even if Ren Ci was blinded by love, he and the black-robed man were the same person at different points in time. There shouldn’t be such a huge disparity between them, right?
“Because Fellow Daoist Qin, you are a truly significant figure in this world. Even a slight frown from you can cause ripples throughout the Cultivation World…”
Ren Ci smiled faintly. “As for Fellow Daoist Yue, who is currently wandering somewhere unknown, he is someone who often hits walls. Although his starting point is always good, he always resolves problems with strange methods, causing many misunderstandings. Often, even when he does good deeds, he ends up being slandered. What a foolish idiot! Alas, my taste is peculiar, and I can never forget him.”
“Cough…”
At this moment, Qin Gou fully understood the mixed feelings of being praised to the heavens while simultaneously having his flaws exposed.
“Alright, I’ve finally persuaded Xiao Su, and she’s quietly fallen asleep. Fellow Daoist Qin, let’s go and meet the Abyssal Divine Bridge. Oh, right, Fellow Daoist Qin, you promised me that after everything is settled, you would teach me that profound secret art that can freely change bloodlines. You can’t forget that.”
“I know, but…”
Qin Gou fell silent for a moment.
Actually, for the secret art that Ren Ci desired, he could simply exchange for a Source of Bloodline Inheritance from the System using Merit points. While it might not be cheap, it wasn’t particularly difficult.
The key issue was that Ren Ci’s ultimate goal was to enable ‘Qin Yue’ to possess a dual bloodline without any drawbacks. Only then could she, together with him, overcome the ancient rule that she, as the sole spiritual pillar of the entire Abyssal Ren Clan, had to become Dao Companions with a cultivator who also possessed the Abyssal bloodline. And he, who had once thought he was an involved party and might even get to watch the fun, had now become one with Qin Yue and had to bear full responsibility. He didn’t need to add another Demonic Race bloodline.
“But? Do you have any concerns, Fellow Daoist Qin?” Ren Ci asked, confused.
“No, it’s just that I only had a partial understanding of ‘that matter’ before. Now that I’ve basically figured it out, I clearly can’t delay any longer. I need to explain it clearly to Xiao Ci.”
Qin Gou said something that Ren Ci didn’t quite understand, which was also him steeling his resolve.
“But first, I want to thank you for your trust, Xiao Ci. Those words just now were private matters between you and Xiao Su. Didn’t you always strongly dislike me knowing too much about your personal affairs? Now you’re willing to discuss them with me, which shows your increasing trust and recognition of me as Fellow Daoist Qin. Therefore, I cannot keep you in the dark any longer.”
“Fellow Daoist Qin, you flatter me. I told you those words from Xiao Su because I trust you, but I also had a selfish motive. This was actually a test!”
Ren Ci smiled slightly, and her tone suddenly shifted. “In fact, not only Xiao Su is surprised, but I am also a little confused! If that child can see it, would I be blind to it? Those undeniable commonalities, what is your connection to Qin Yue? I’ve been thinking about it alone for a long time. Before, I wanted to use Xiao Su’s words to test your reaction…”
“And, at this very moment, I am deliberately revealing this matter for the same purpose.”
As she spoke, Ren Ci carefully observed Qin Gou’s expression and aura changes. Then, she said with a knowing smile, “How is it? Fellow Daoist Qin, do you feel like you’ve underestimated me a little before? To be honest, I, a deeply scheming Abyssal woman, cannot compare to the gentle and virtuous talented women and fairies of your Human Race. You’ll have to be more careful with me in the future!”
“Merit points +10, +10, +10…”
“No, no, no, Xiao Ci has never changed in my heart, and I have absolutely never underestimated you!” Qin Gou waved his hand, looking at Xiao Ci’s proud and smug little face, while clearly hearing the continuous system prompts, he couldn’t help but chuckle.
At this moment, Qin Gou suddenly realized a fitting analogy for this girl, Ren Ci.
She seemed, from beginning to end, like a young boy walking in the dark wilderness with a girl he fancies. He was terrified inwardly but had to act tough and play the boss! His heart was treading on thin ice, and he couldn’t show any weakness on the surface, for fear of being looked down upon by the girl if he slipped up.
But the problem was, Old Qin wasn’t a stunning young lady, and you, Ren Ci, aren’t a young stud! This kind of situation, where he intended to show off but was seen through at a glance, yet was still considered endearingly childish, why did it completely reverse when it came to Xiao Ci?
“Moreover, you speak so confidently, have you really figured something out? And besides, if Xiao Ci has been troubled by this for so long, wouldn’t it be the easiest solution to just ask me directly?”
Hearing this, Ren Ci thought for a moment. “I do have a guess now, but I don’t know if it’s the same as what Fellow Daoist Qin is about to explain to me.”
“Then you don’t need to say it,” Qin Gou said decisively.
“Why?” Ren Ci was bewildered.
“You always say that Ren Su likes to have wild thoughts, but Xiao Ci isn’t much better. Let me explain first,” Qin Gou said seriously. He had already experienced Ren Ci’s bizarre whims several times. If he wasn’t careful, she might even mistakenly think he and ‘Qin Yue’ were brothers.
“The reason why there are so many unusual similarities between you and the Qin Yue you speak of, making it difficult for a familiar person like you to ignore, is because… that so-called Qin Yue is me.” After saying this, Qin Gou seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
Ren Ci said without hesitation, “Finish.”
“Finish what?” Qin Gou’s eyes were confused.
“What exactly is he to Fellow Daoist Qin, you’ve only said half of it? Anyway, based on your emotional reaction when I tested you just now, as well as your profound cultivation and many years of fame, he…”
Clearly, Qin Gou couldn’t stop Ren Ci. “He couldn’t be, Fellow Daoist Qin’s offspring, or perhaps a descendant from a younger generation of your clan?! The Human Race of Chu Zhou, surnamed Qin, I should have thought of it earlier! In that case, it’s no wonder Fellow Daoist Qin hesitated for so long before deciding to be open with me. This is truly quite embarrassing…”
“I, Qin Gou, take back my previous boast!”
For a moment, Qin Gou, as if defeated, reached out and patted Xiao Ci’s shoulder, his twin pupils devoid of life. “I truly underestimated you, Ren Ci!”
“You admit it?”
“Didn’t I tell you to just listen to my explanation?” Qin Gou said, wanting to cry but having no tears. “Let me say it again, the so-called Fellow Daoist Qin Yue is right before you, Xiao Ci. If you don’t believe me, wait a moment.” With that, Qin Gou was about to change his appearance to that of Qin Yue.
However, Ren Ci blurted out in surprise, “Could it be that Qin Yue is now one with Fellow Daoist? You two…”
Qin Gou’s eyes were startled. “It can indeed be understood this way, but how did you suddenly realize this?”
“That’s right! My guess just now was completely correct.”
“What was correct?”
Ren Ci’s pretty face flushed red, and her eyes looked at Qin Gou, but inexplicably, they gradually shifted downwards, her voice trembling. “Didn’t Fellow Daoist once prove to me that you are from another dimension like the Empty Illusory Snake, and are younger than the black-robed Qin Gou I fought before? In that case, as Qin Yue, your descendant, the Qin Yue from your world’s timeline might not have been born yet. This is the so-called ‘oneness.’ He, he only exists within your Dao Body, and is still merely…”
“Demoness, stop talking!” Qin Gou shouted in grief and indignation, hurriedly pressing his chest and concentrating his energy, guarding against the possibility of spitting out blood from despair.
