Only I am Venerable-Chapter 52: The Cold and Warmth of the World
BOOM!
Their minds went completely blank.
There was no need for grand vows or eternal promises—only this stubborn insistence, this simple, quiet declaration: I am with you.
They had not weathered life and death together, nor had they spent countless years by each other’s side...
Like a gentle rain that nurtures things silently—that was the best description of their affection.
Shangguan Shiyu’s kiss was a silent confession of her feelings for Qin Li. Her eyes were misty with tears. When everyone else saw her as a monster, an ill omen, it was this man who had told her with a smile, "You are beautiful!" It was he who took her soaring through the sky, who played childish games with her in the snow, who stood with her above a sea of pine trees and clouds and shouted to the world, "I’m so happy!" It was he who had gradually changed the color of her skin, giving her more and more confidence to be a normal woman.
She looked forward to the day she could remove her veil in front of everyone. What kind of expressions would they have then?
’It’s just a shame he won’t be the first to see me become a normal woman. But... I will keep this veil on! I’ll wait. I’ll wait for the day he stands before me and removes it with his own hands!’
’In this world, he is the only one with that right!’
No matter how reluctant she was, Shangguan Shiyu still left with that Master Ye, the one who looked like the whole world owed her a great deal of money.
Qin Li still remembered the look of contempt on that woman’s punchable face when he had asked Master Ye how he could find them.
If not for Shangguan Shiyu’s pleading gaze, she surely would not have deigned to answer him at all. But even when she did grant Shangguan Shiyu some face, her reply was still just as grating.
"Find us? Kid, I suggest you give up on that idea! We are from a completely different world than you! Your aptitude might be so-so here in the Mortal Realm, but it’s nothing in my eyes. Understand? You are completely unworthy of Shiyu! From now on, she will be a proud swan. And you, while you may not be a toad, you’re not much nobler than one. Do you understand what I mean?"
Thinking of this, Qin Li’s eyes turned ice-cold. ’Noble? Lowly? Were you born noble? You self-righteous woman. One day, I’ll make you understand what true nobility is!’
But when he recalled Shangguan Shiyu’s reaction at that moment, a warm smile couldn’t help but spread across Qin Li’s lips.
Upon hearing Master Ye’s words, Shangguan Shiyu had immediately turned hostile. Producing a small knife from who knows where, she had pressed it to her own neck and stared coldly at Master Ye. Her tone was just as frigid as she said, "I call you Master, but not willingly. I have read the classics since I was young and know the principle that ’a teacher for a day is a parent for a lifetime.’ However, that does not give you the right to interfere in my life so crudely! I have a marriage contract with him, so in this world, I will marry no one but Qin Li! You have no right to stop me! Unless I die, I will only be Qin Li’s wife! And another thing—if anyone dares to harm him, I swear I will hunt them to the ends of the earth and make them pay in blood! Then I will join him in the underworld! Listen well. In life or in death, I will only be Qin Li’s woman!"
Her words were so full of genuine emotion and integrity that they could move heaven and earth.
Even the ice-cold Master Ye couldn’t help but be a little moved. How could a thirteen-year-old girl say such things? Past experiences had made Ye Qianyu completely distrustful of men, and she held no favorable impression of them whatsoever. This time, she had only been passing through Yellow Sand City on her way to Phoenix Lake to find something when she stumbled upon Shangguan Shiyu and immediately felt as if she had discovered a priceless treasure.
An Innate Spirit Body! A constitution so rare it might not appear in a hundred million people, and she had discovered one!
The Venerable’s Grand Tournament on Profound Island, held once every seventy years, was now only seven years away. Ye Qianyu, who had never given the competition a second thought, suddenly felt her heart stir with ambition after discovering Shangguan Shiyu.
After all, the rewards for the Venerable’s Grand Tournament were enough to make anyone green with envy, even drive them to madness!
Therefore, no matter the cost, she had to take this girl with her. And no one could stop her from taking Shangguan Shiyu!
For a normal child, thirteen was already a bit late to begin cultivating. But for someone with an Innate Spirit Body, even twenty-three wasn’t too late, let alone thirteen!
What’s more, to her surprise, Shangguan Shiyu already had a foundation at the Profound Level! What could possibly be better than this? For this reason alone, Ye Qianyu would not allow any harm to befall Shangguan Shiyu.
So, seeing how unyielding her new disciple was, her attitude softened surprisingly. She cast a meaningful glance at Qin Li and said coolly, "Profound Island. You are free to go there anytime—if you can find it. But I warn you, in that place, Celestial Level Martial Artists are a dime a dozen! If you enter Profound Island before breaking through to the Celestial Level and anything happens to you, I will not be held responsible!"
Ye Qianyu’s words left the members of the Shangguan family qualified to be present utterly speechless. Although they knew this woman must have an incredible background, likely from one of the legendary Hidden Sects, they never imagined that the Celestial Level, which they regarded as the pinnacle of power, was considered commonplace where she came from. This... this was simply terrifying!
Ye Qianyu sneered inwardly at their shocked expressions. ’A bunch of ignorant mortals! Once Shiyu sees the young geniuses on Profound Island, she’ll quickly give up on this Qin Li! It’s not comparison that’s scary, but a narrow worldview. How could a bumpkin like Qin Li possibly compare to the dazzling geniuses on Profound Island? Even if Qin Li manages to find his way there, so what?’
In truth, Ye Qianyu was being somewhat disingenuous. While Profound Island was powerful, Celestial Level experts weren’t exactly found on every street corner. She just wanted him to realize the difficulty and give up. Ye Qianyu knew very well what a sensation it would cause if word of an Innate Spirit Body spread on Profound Island. The true super-clans and major Sects, with their countless brilliant talents—how could they pass up the chance to pursue such a Top-Grade woman?
’At that point, if Qin Li shows up on Profound Island and someone discovers his relationship with Shiyu, he will surely die without a proper burial! His death doesn’t matter, but it would only cause Shiyu sorrow... It’s better to make him give up now. Hmph, breaking through to the Celestial Level? Is it really that simple?’
’Even if he could break through to the Celestial Level, the entrance to Profound Island is something people from the mortal world could search for their entire lives and never find! Then, I can choose a better husband for my disciple, which will also strengthen the power of my Sect!’
It had to be said that even though her affection for Shangguan Shiyu was clearly utilitarian, Ye Qianyu’s fondness for her was absolutely genuine.
Ye Qianyu would probably never have guessed, even in death, that the boy she completely disregarded not only knew of Profound Island’s existence but also had deep connections to it! Furthermore, he could easily obtain the method to enter Profound Island from his mother, Qin Hanyue!
Qin Li promised his mother again and again that he would absolutely not go to Profound Island until he had cultivated to the Celestial Level.
Standing alone atop the Ancient Tree, Qin Li thought to himself, ’Profound Island, it seems you and I are truly fated! Shiyu, just wait. I’ll come for you soon!’
’Celestial Level? I’ll work hard!’
Just as Qin Li resolved to cultivate desperately so he could enter Profound Island and see Shangguan Shiyu again, something he had already anticipated... happened.
After taking the elixir, Shangguan Tie saw his granddaughter off and immediately went into seclusion. The Shangguan Family was thus completely handed over to the new generation of leaders. They didn’t know Qin Li’s background and couldn’t understand at all why their father had insisted on marrying Shiyu to him. They already had a poor impression of this illegitimate son of the Qin Family, and now they were even more convinced that he was marrying far above his station.
The great Shangguan Family was related to the imperial family by marriage! How could they possibly accept an illegitimate son as their son-in-law? And so, just a few days after Shangguan Tie went into seclusion, the Shangguan Family began a full-scale assault on the businesses they had previously transferred to the Qin Family.
The Qin Family was already less powerful than the Shangguan Family to begin with; how could they withstand such an attack? Before long, those businesses had—quite magically—returned to the hands of the Shangguan Family.
As a result, everyone in the Qin Family was furious. They didn’t dare do anything to the Shangguan Family, so they could only vent their anger on Qin Li, hating this damn little bastard to the bone.
This was especially true for Qin Feng and Qin Hu, who had already returned to the Imperial Capital Academy. They hated Qin Li so much they wanted to flay him alive and eat his flesh. Seeing Qin Li become an abandoned pawn of both the Shangguan and Qin families, how could they possibly let such a god-given opportunity slip by?
With less than a month until the New Year, these two "geniuses" of the Qin Family took leave a half-month early and returned home.
