Eternal Love Within A Smile - Chapter 43
Chapter 43
Xu Manman did not enter the nightmares in chronological order. These nightmares existed simultaneously, and she simply stepped into one at random.
The first scene she witnessed was Ao Xiu stealing the Chongming Pearl.
It must have taken place after the two parted ways at the cave. Ao Xiu had returned to Fubo Palace to steal the pearl. By then, his injuries were mostly healed, and he possessed a basic level of self-defense, yet sneaking into Fubo Palace was still fraught with immense danger. He slipped past the patrols and penetrated deep into the main hall, but while stealing the pearl, he still ended up alerting Ao Cang.
Ao Cang easily overpowered him, grabbing his throat with a cold sneer.
“It seems I underestimated you. After being locked up for ten years, you still haven’t given up and actually dared to escape. Since you escaped, why return?”
Ao Cang’s gaze swept over the treasures scattered across the floor. With a flick of his arm, he used a spear to pin Ao Xiu onto a dragon-carved pillar. Turning away toward the jewels, he nudged aside those priceless rare treasures with the tip of his boot, eventually leaning down to pick up a box made of eaglewood.
The moment the box was opened, radiant light bathed the entire hall, as though a full moon had risen within—cool, pure, and so brilliant one dared not look directly at it.
“Heh…” Ao Cang sneered. “You came back for this—the Chongming Pearl?”
Gasping for breath, Ao Xiu said raspy-voiced, “That is… my mother’s relic…”
“Nothing more than the inner core of a clam spirit,” Ao Cang spat dismissively.
“What of a thousand years of cultivation? A clam spirit is merely a clam spirit. Without a divine bloodline, all are lowborn.”
“She was not!” Ao Xiu denied furiously.
Ao Cang struck him across the face, leaving a vivid red palm mark on his pale, handsome face.
“I’ve always forgotten to tell you,” Ao Cang said with a cruel smile. “Haven’t you always wanted to know how your mother died?”
Ao Cang tossed aside the wooden box and toyed with the Chongming Pearl in his hands, walking toward Ao Xiu step by step. With a venomous smirk, he said slowly, “Years ago, I was eager to break through my realm and needed to cultivate at the core of the geothermal spring. But that place was utterly pitch-black, and ordinary pearls couldn’t illuminate it at all.”
Ao Xiu’s breath hitched instantly. He lifted his head in disbelief, his focusless eyes staring blindly in Ao Cang’s direction.
Ao Cang grinned maliciously. “So Father personally brought back a Chongming Pearl—dug out of your mother’s chest with his own hands. Brother, what is with that expression? Did you only learn today that the Sea Emperor is heartless? All these years you stayed by my side, acting humble and working tirelessly… did you really think that just because I showed you a bit of favor, I considered you a brother? A son of a lowborn breed—how could you possibly be worthy!”
Ao Xiu suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, splashing it across Ao Cang’s collar.
Ao Cang stepped back, his face darkening as he cast a spell with disgust to clean the bloodstains off his clothes.
“Your expression of rage and grief is truly amusing. What a pity you are blind, otherwise you should really look in a mirror to see what you look like right now.” Ao Cang sneered. Releasing his grip, the Chongming Pearl fell to the ground with a dull thud.
Panting, Ao Xiu turned his head, searching for the source of the sound.
“Ao Cang, give me back the Chongming Pearl!”
Ao Cang lightly raised his foot and stepped on the Chongming Pearl.
“Ao Xiu, you want the Chongming Pearl? I’ll give it to you. If you miss your mother, go meet her underground.”
With that, Ao Cang exerted force under his foot. A crisp, loud shatter echoed through the room as the moon-like Chongming Pearl instantly disintegrated, scattering like stardust.
“No—” Ao Xiu struggled desperately.
The spear pinned to his left shoulder loosened slightly from his movements, but blood gushed out like a spring.
Ao Cang carelessly stepped over the scattered stardust, bringing his right fingers together and aiming the tips directly at Ao Xiu’s abdomen.
“Though your divine bloodline is sparse, your dragon core can still be of use. Today, I shall cut out your dragon core, so you may share the exact same fate as your mother.”
As Ao Cang spoke, he plunged his fingertips into Ao Xiu’s abdomen. Fresh blood spurted out immediately; Ao Xiu’s body violently shuddered, all color draining from his face.
In that nightmare, it was Lang Yin and Xu Manman who killed Ao Cang, saving Ao Xiu. But what about in reality…
Xu Manman did not know how Ao Xiu had survived time and again under such circumstances.
There was another nightmare: he learned of his mother’s death and was plunged into despair, only to be bullied by his other brothers. At that time, it was Ao Cang who stepped in to stop the bullying. Perhaps it was that rare bit of shelter that mistakenly led him to believe there was still a sliver of warmth in Fubo Palace. Later, he followed Ao Cang for centuries with absolute loyalty. Even when Ao Cang doubted him, imprisoned him, and abused him repeatedly, he still believed Ao Cang was merely being deceived by others.
It was not until the Chongming Pearl was destroyed that he lost all his faith…
From beginning to end, it was nothing more than self-deception.
—
“Ao Xiu, why did you want to follow me?” Xu Manman sat down beside him, as relaxed and comfortable as if chatting with an old friend.
Her calm and relaxed demeanor seemed to affect Ao Xiu; his tense body gradually eased, and his focusless eyes searched in Xu Manman’s direction.
“I…” Ao Xiu’s voice was low and raspy, “I like you.”
“No, you’ve never truly seen me, so how could you like me?” Xu Manman laughed softly and shook her head. Somehow, she suddenly remembered Ah Heng and Prince Mo. The blind Prince Mo had fallen in love with merely an imagined version of Ah Heng, and as for Ao Xiu…
“Ao Xiu, what you like is merely the status of the Daozun.” Xu Manman looked at him gently, her voice carrying a naturally persuasive strength.
“You grew up in the Dragon Palace and became accustomed to the law of the jungle. For the weak to survive, they must attach themselves to the strong. In the past, you relied on Ao Cang. Having lost Ao Cang as your backer, you chose to rely on Lianyue Daozun. And after being rejected by me, you chose the Blood Sect…”
“Blood Sect…” Ao Xiu muttered the two words.
“One day in the future, you will fall into the hands of the Blood Sect. For the sake of revenge, you will join them and lead Ao Cang into their ambush, causing countless sea demons to perish. You will devour Ao Cang’s dragon core, refining and absorbing his power, and gouge out his eyes to place into your own sockets.”
Xu Manman let out a soft sigh as she spoke.
She had seen the young Ao Xiu in the nightmare. His eyes were supposed to be far more beautiful, whereas Ao Cang’s eyes always harbored an unpleasant fierceness. He killed Ao Cang, only to become Ao Cang…
Listening quietly to Xu Manman’s words, a sudden surge of turmoil broke across Ao Xiu’s focusless eyes. Black mist welled up within them, turning sinister and terrifying.
“Ao Cang… Ao Cang…” His shoulders trembled as he spat out the two words through gritted teeth.
“You remember now, don’t you? In truth, you possess all the memories.”
Xu Manman gazed intently at him as he slowly raised his lowered head, revealing a cold, pale face as his dark, shadowy eyes looked directly at her.
He saw her.
“You are Xu Manman,” he said coldly. “Lianyue Daozun, Xu Manman.”
Xu Manman smiled faintly.
“Ao Xiu, it’s me.”
“What are you here for?” Ao Xiu curled his lips into a smile, appearing detached and mocking.
“To kill me?”
“If I wanted to kill you, why go through so much trouble?”
Xu Manman looked at his guarded posture and said helplessly, “I came to save you.”
“You want to trick me into giving up intelligence on the Blood Sect,” Ao Xiu scoffed.
“Why do you think I would speak? And why do you think you can save me? If you want to save me, your only option is to kill me first.”
“I told you ten years ago that I saved you with no ulterior motives, and the same holds true today. Whether you believe it or not, I simply don’t wish to see you become an unwitting pawn of the Blood Sect.” Xu Manman sighed softly.
“Ao Xiu, I ask myself if I have ever harmed you, yet I do not know why you harbour such deep hatred toward me.”
“I do not hate you,” Ao Xiu said coldly.
“I just wanted to live well, but this world wouldn’t allow it. What I hate is this world. You are no different from the rest; you look down on me just as they do. No…”
He clenched his fists, trembling slightly as blue veins bulged on the back of his slender hands, the darkness in his eyes deepening.
“You are more despicable than them. You are just like Ao Cang… giving me hope, only to crush it underfoot.”
He had planned for ten years, gathering his strength, and finally escaped from the Ocean-Heart Prison. Yet the moment he saw daylight, his eyes were pierced and blinded, and he collapsed into unconsciousness. After drifting for an unknown time, he was lifted by a pair of warm hands and gently placed into the water. Gentle spiritual energy wrapped around his broken body and damaged soul, awakening him from a boundless nightmare. He opened his eyes to see nothing, hearing only a pleasant voice speaking beside him with a faint smile: “I am Lianyue Daozun of the Siyi Sect. Surely you have heard my name.”
Naturally, he had heard of her legendary name—the virtuous and renowned Daozun known throughout the continent, revered by all. Even the vast ocean realms whispered tales of her grace.
Yet, unable to see, how could he easily trust her words? Hearing her voice, he immediately struck out in an attack.
She easily blocked his erratic attack, sighing with a gentle chuckle.
“Hey, hey, don’t thrash around, you’re bleeding again. I really am Lianyue Daozun, and I won’t harm you. If it puts your mind at ease, I’ll just leave.”
With that, she truly walked away.
Yet after a moment, she returned.
“Your injuries are too severe, and you’re blind. Without outside help and with continuous bleeding, I fear you’ll attract bloodthirsty sea beasts. Leaving you here alone is no different from killing you.”
She paced around him; he pricked up his ears, his body tensing defensively.
Before long, a steady stream of gentle spiritual energy surged toward his body.
“I’ve set up a Spirit-Gathering Array here. Healing your injuries with the array’s power will be much faster.” As she spoke, she moved a bit further away from him. “This array will only last three days. I’ll come check on you in three days.”
After saying this, she truly walked away without looking back.
Ao Xiu cultivated alone in the darkness. Nourished by spiritual energy, his body recovered rapidly, but the wounds on his heart were not so easily healed. He lived in constant fear and panic, terrified that upon waking up, he would be back in the Ocean-Heart Prison. When he heard footsteps again, he still launched an attack without hesitation.
The person chuckled.
“Mm, your spiritual energy has recovered quite a bit.”
Hesitating, he lowered his hands.
She walked another circle around the pool, reinforcing the Spirit-Gathering Array.
“Things haven’t been peaceful at sea lately. I don’t know what happened at Fubo Palace, but Ao Cang is nowhere to be seen, and sea demons are causing havoc everywhere, dragging fishermen into the trouble. I’ll stay here for a while and leave once the ocean turmoil is settled.”
Hearing her voice come closer, Ao Xiu subconsciously reached out, catching a corner of her soft robe.
She stopped in her tracks, squatting down by the pool, looking down at him with a smile.
“Don’t worry, I set a barrier at the cave entrance. The sea spirits won’t find this place.”
Sensing her warm presence, Ao Xiu trembled slightly. Only after a long silence did he speak, asking in a raspy voice, “Will you… stay…”
“Hmm? Are you not afraid of me anymore?” She let out a cheerful, light laugh.
“I have matters to attend to, but I’ll come see you at night.”
She left again after saying this, but she did not lie to him. Once night fell, she returned to the cavern to treat his injuries and tell him about her day’s experiences.
She was indeed very busy.
She had gathered the fourteen coastal sects, deploying them one by one, charging them with protecting the coastal fishermen and punishing the sea demons causing trouble.
She had also casually rescued several orphaned children, finding suitable sects for them to settle down in.
She cleaned up the pirates rampaging everywhere, handing them over to the local government while confiscating their ill-gotten wealth to return to the suffering common folk.
She even summoned a group of cultivators to help the fishermen rebuild their homes.
Ao Xiu listened in a daze. I
n his imagination, a Daozun should be high above, floating in the clouds, commanding the world with absolute obedience—how could she be so approachable…
She said with a smile, “Those who cultivate dao draw upon the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, so naturally we must return it to heaven and earth. The major sects receive offerings from the common people, so they ought to work for them.”
Though he could not see, he could feel the warmth and power radiating from her, making him involuntarily want to draw closer.
Perhaps this is the person I should rely on, the one worthy of my trust—such a thought subtly surfaced in the depths of his heart.
He told her in a hoarse voice that he was the hundred and ninth son of the Sea Emperor, but he did not tell her that he was merely a cloud dragon of impure blood. He feared she would look down on him just like Ao Cang did.
She smilingly called him Ah Jiu, casting a beam of warm light into his pitch-black world.
And he greedily wanted more.
Though his alluring voice had been ruined, he still possessed a handsome outer shell. Few could resist the temptation of a sea spirit. He intentionally and unintentionally seduced and flustered her, yet she remained utterly unmoved throughout.
He was blind, but she was not…
He never received her outstretched hand; instead, he heard her say, “I should go,” and “It is not suitable for you to follow me”…
The warmth she gave was taken back entirely. Even when he humbly offered up his most precious reverse dragon scale from his heart to demonstrate his loyalty, she didn’t care for it.
Saving him was merely something she did in passing. She had saved thousands of people; in her eyes, he was no different from those orphaned children.
At that time, there was no resentment in Ao Xiu’s heart, only a sense of desolation.
It was not until Ao Cang crushed the Chongming Pearl and revealed the truth of his birth mother’s death that he suddenly understood.
So…
All those people who had offered him warmth were nothing but illusions.
They had never truly respected him, never truly pitied him. They merely enjoyed the pleasure of saving someone, watching him express deep gratitude, watching him act humble and devout, watching him be kept in the dark, mocked like a fool!
Ao Cang, Lianyue—they were all the same: lofty, arrogant, and hypocritical!
In the countless days and nights that followed, he would repeatedly recall how he had humbly bowed his back in that cave, tearing out the dragon scale from his heart with excruciating pain—and what did it bring him in return!
He couldn’t see, but he knew: she must have looked down at him coldly and contemptuously, stepping on his heart’s blood just like Ao Cang!
—
“Is that your reason for hating me?”
Hearing his bitter, resentful accusations, Xu Manman felt a slight shock, yet she was not angry—only feeling sad for him.
“Ao Xiu, you are right. In my eyes, you are indeed no different from anyone else.”
Ao Xiu stiffened, the dark mist in his eyes surging thick and unabated, on the verge of erupting.
“However, I have never looked down on you, nor have I looked down on anyone else.”
Xu Manman sighed, reaching out to gently stroke his temple.
“Life makes no distinction between noble and lowborn; all carry equal weight. Every life that strives to survive should not be looked down upon.”
The soft, warm touch caused the black mist in his eyes to tremble, revealing a small crack.
“Besides, the person you truly hate isn’t me.”
Xu Manman smiled faintly.
“Otherwise, why wouldn’t the nightmare be rooted in me? Ao Xiu, the one trapping you here is yourself. What you hate is your past humble self. Even if you become the Sea Emperor, you cannot untie this knot in your heart. When you view all things in the world through Ao Cang’s eyes, all you see is nobility and lowliness, ignoring the very essence of life.”
“Do not become the kind of person you hate.”
Xu Manman extended her hand to him.
“Ao Xiu, this time, I will take you with me.”
Ao Xiu looked down at her outstretched hand—soft, fair, delicate, yet warm and firm. It was something he had once yearned for so deeply…
Trembling, he extended his slender hand and held hers.
The black mist in his eyes quietly vanished.
—
Xu Manman departed from Ao Xiu’s sea of consciousness. When she opened her eyes again, she met Langyin’s worried gaze.
“How is it? Are you alright?” Langyin frowned.
“That final nightmare was far too cunning, unexpectedly separating the two of us.”
Xu Manman said, “It disguised itself as Ao Xiu.”
“So you killed it?” Lang Yin asked.
“No.”
Xu Manman looked toward the slumbering Ao Xiu.
“I simply made it disappear.”
Ao Xiu’s breathing deepened, and he slowly opened his eyes, meeting Xu Manman’s gaze directly.
He clearly remembered everything experienced in the dream; a lingering warmth seemed to remain in his palm, though he knew it was merely an illusion.
“Manman…”
Ao Xiu called out softly in a raspy voice.
Xu Manman did not respond, but Langyin beside her said coldly, “Show some respect and address her as Daozun.”
Xu Manman: “…”
Mingxiao: “…”
Ao Xiu froze for a moment, his gaze shifting back and forth between the two.
After dry-coughing twice, he said, “Ask whatever you wish to ask. My body is fine.”
Seeing that his expression was back to normal, and knowing that the safety of Fuyue Shenzun and Misheng Xingzun brooked no delay, Xu Manman did not decline.
She turned to Langyin and said, “You fought consecutive enemies today and sustained no small amount of injuries. Go back and rest first. I still need to discuss matters with the sect masters.”
Langyin’s brows furrowed as if he wanted to object, but recalling something, he could only nod and say, “Come find me after the discussion.
” Leaning close to her ear, he lowered his voice and said, “Take back your original vessel.”
