Chapter 219: Chapter 219: Returning to the Beastman Continent
Ao Yin had also heard what the Beast God said. He tried to run, but he was caught.
Upon learning that he was to be beheaded and his head displayed publicly, Ao Yin felt a strange sense of calm. He requested to see Yu Huang one last time, but his request was denied.
Yu Huang’s world revolved around Fuzai. All she wanted was to make up for the time she had lost with Yu An by doting on Fuzai and the other Zaizai. How could she have the spare time to see him?
Ao Jin, however, did pay him a visit. But when Ao Yin saw it was him, the flood of words he had prepared suddenly vanished.
"If you have any last words, say them now. I have to get home to cook for A Huang and the children."
Ao Jin urged him from outside the cell, but Ao Yin simply closed his eyes, making it clear he didn’t want to speak to him.
But just as Ao Jin grew tired of wasting time and turned to leave, Ao Yin suddenly spoke. "I was clearly the one who met Huang’er first. Why does she only love you?"
Ao Jin turned back to face him. "There’s no reason why. Love is love."
"Instead of dwelling on that, you should have a decent meal and prepare for your journey tomorrow."
He pushed the food container on the ground further into the cell. "For the sake of the brotherhood we once shared, I brought you a meal."
"Ao Yin, you were never suited to be the Clan Leader. No matter how much you resent it, you would never have been chosen."
This just proved that the original choice had been the right one.
After Ao Jin left, Ao Yin suddenly burst out laughing. He opened the food container; inside were some light porridge and side dishes.
He slowly ate every last bite, then sat cross-legged on the ground, muttering to himself.
A moment later, he suddenly coughed up black blood, collapsed, and died.
After Lord Mo vanished, the poison afflicting all the Beastmen of the Invincible Alliance disappeared. Ao Yin was the only exception.
He was dead, but death didn’t erase his debts. The furious residents of Invincible City made all sorts of demands to vent their anger.
Yu An knew nothing of this. She had already set out for the Treasure Pearl Sea.
Aside from Ao Jin, who was forced to stay behind in Invincible City to clean up the mess left by the Invincible Alliance, the entire family went along—including Yu Huang, Ao Yi, and his brothers.
Ao Jin was so furious he cursed them for being unfilial, but they, emboldened by the fact that Yu Huang had her memories back, had nothing to fear. They left the whole mess for their old father to handle and went off to enjoy the sights with their little sister.
For once, Yu An didn’t rush. She took her time, enjoying the scenery along the way. Once they freed the Beast God, they would return to the Beastman Continent.
"Female Mother, after we get back, let’s make a trip to the exiled land. Aunt Bai, Aunt Su, and their families are all there."
"I don’t really know that many people in Beast Emperor City. Besides my aunt and Aunt Qiuyue... oh, and Chef Jiao, there’s really no one else..."
"And Uncle Lei Wang! Female Mother, you have no idea how hilarious he is..."
Yu An chattered on and on with Yu Huang, telling her all about her time on the Beastman Continent. They hadn’t had much time to talk before, but now they finally did.
Mo Yan and the other four exchanged glances. Holding or carrying the Zaizai, they followed resignedly behind.
They traveled for more than ten days, sometimes walking, other times driving the stall carts.
There were many stall carts stored in her space. Seeing them all traveling down the road together was a sight that seemed both out of place and yet strangely fitting.
"Oh, right," Yu An suddenly recalled. "Female Mother, there’s a mission console in my space. It gives me missions periodically..."
She explained the situation to Yu Huang, who said she had no idea who was issuing the missions. In fact, she had never even known such a thing existed.
"An’an, you must know by now about the deal I made with the Beast Emperor. To prevent Lord Mo from seizing your body, the Beast God sent you to an Otherworld."
"I was so worried about you, worried that you wouldn’t be okay in the Otherworld. I’m just so glad you’ve returned safely to my side."
Yu Huang lovingly stroked her head. "We’ll never be separated again."
Yu An nodded emphatically. But when Yu Huang mentioned her deal with the Beast God, she recalled the conversation she’d had the first time she met him.
"Female Mother, what was your part of the deal? The first time I met the Beast God, he said that if I wanted to know what you gave up, he would tell me after you regained your memories."
"Nothing," Yu Huang said, looking confused. "The Beast God was the one who guided me to him. He said he was sending you away to prevent Lord Mo from obtaining a suitable vessel and destroying the world."
In reality, it wasn’t much of a deal back then. It was more like a one-sided favor from the Beast God.
’Could it be... he was trying to preserve a spark of hope for this world?’
Yu An was utterly baffled. It seemed this was a question only the Beast God himself could answer once they met.
They soon reached the Treasure Pearl Sea. Yu An gathered everyone except for herself and Yu Huang into her space, and the two of them entered the water.
When they reached the place where the Beast God was sealed, Yu An posed her question.
The Beast God was silent for a long time before finally apologizing to both Yu An and Yu Huang.
"The truth is, I wasn’t completely honest with you back then."
He sighed and confessed his selfish intentions from that time.
"I only sent the child to the Otherworld temporarily. She was always meant to return when the time was right. The journey was simply to keep her hidden from the Demon for a while and to give her a chance to become strong enough to protect herself."
"Once she returned, the Demon would find her quickly. That’s why I deliberately leaked the method for strengthening a body and soul to the Demon. The goal was for the Demon to activate that Array after possessing the child’s body, creating an opportunity to eliminate it for good."
In other words, it was inevitable that Yu An’s body would be possessed by Lord Mo. This was all part of the Beast God’s plan.
Yu Huang’s expression darkened. "You never told me any of this."
’But what if the plan had failed? Then my child would have...’
Yu An was silent for a moment before she spoke. "Female Mother, regardless, the outcome was good. Besides, Lord Mo’s goal was to destroy the world. Even if she hadn’t possessed me, I wouldn’t have survived its destruction anyway."
Logically, Yu An was right. But Yu Huang couldn’t stop herself from thinking that if the plan had failed, it would have been better for Yu An to never return at all.
She would rather have gone her entire life without seeing her daughter than allow her to be harmed in any way.
But what was done was done. Following the method the Beast God had taught her, Yu An broke the seal. The Ice Coffin began to crack, piece by piece, until finally, the Merfolk within... no, the Beast God, opened his eyes.
His Merfolk form vanished, but his face remained unchanged.
The Beast God smiled. "As the Beast God, I don’t have a fixed appearance. But since this face has been with me for countless ages, I might as well keep using it."
"It’s all over now. With me in control of the two continents, there will be no more chaos. What are your plans?"
Yu An replied, "Beast God, we plan to return to the Beastman Continent. After all, that’s home for my Female Mother and me."
"Excellent," the Beast God said with a faint smile. "Would you mind if I joined you? I can open the passage between the two continents for you."
"The passage the Invincible Alliance used was created by the Demon, at the cost of sufficient fresh blood. That passage vanished when the Demon did."
Yu An was overjoyed. She had just been worrying about how they would get back.
"Then we’re in your debt."
The Beast God chuckled and waved his hand. "Not at all, not at all. How does departing in five days sound?"
The Dragon Clan could fly incredibly fast. The only family member missing was Ao Jin. Yu An thought for a moment. ’Ao Jin should be able to make it here within five days.’
And so, she agreed.
