" Wen Tai's death was somewhat related to Yi Zhisha, but in reality, it wasn't because of her betrayal."
Aurelia's body stiffened. She slightly raised her body, which had been nestled in Chen Lang, and looked at him with suspicion in her charming fox eyes, her eyes filled with incomprehension. Her tone was tinged with confusion. "What do you mean by that? Everyone knew back then that it was Yi Zhisha who betrayed my father. She was the one who caused my father's 'death'. How could it not be that she betrayed him?"
Over the years, the reason she hated Yi Zhisha and desperately fought for the position of Goddess was largely to avenge Wen Tai and expose Yi Zhisha's true colors.
But Chen Lang's words at this moment completely overturned her long-held perception.
Chen Lang gently raised his hand, his fingertips caressing her cheek. His tone was calm, yet carried a certain serenity. "Given Wen Tai's influence back then, his position in Parthenon, his immense power, and his unfathomable strength, do you really think Yi Zhisha was capable of betraying him?"
"Moreover, if he hadn't wanted to surrender, aside from anything else, just having the Black Dragon Emperor's help would have prevented him from ending up like that."
Aurelia opened her mouth, wanting to refute, but found that she couldn't utter a single word.
Yes, Wen Tai was so powerful back then. He was the pillar of Parthenon and was revered by magicians across half the world. No matter how cunning or strong Yi Zhisha was, she could never easily betray him.
Before she could react, Chen Lang continued, slowly revealing the truth of what happened back then. "The reason it turned out that way was because Wen Tai himself actively sought to enter the Dark Plane."
He didn't die, or rather, he chose another way to continue protecting this human world that survives in the cracks.
These words struck Aurelia's mind like a thunderbolt. She stared blankly at Chen Lang, her face filled with disbelief, her eyes vacant, as if all her strength had been drained away.
Wen Tai didn't die?
Did he enter the Dark Plane voluntarily?
Then what about all those years of hatred and obsession?
"Why... why are you suddenly telling me this?" Aurelia's voice trembled slightly, carrying a hint of panic and confusion. She subconsciously gripped Chen Lang's arm, as if only in this way could she grasp a sliver of reality.
"Because I know the whole truth about what happened back then, that's why I'm telling you," Chen Lang gently pulled her back into his arms, his tone soft yet firm. "As for you, now that you know the situation, if you still want to compete for the Goddess position, I will always help you and clear away all obstacles."
He paused, then added, with a hint of reminder in his tone. "Oh, it's worth mentioning that Yi Zhisha did indeed die once."
Her resurrection was entirely due to the help of Wen Tai, who had become an avatar of the Dark King.
Moreover, she had no way of becoming Goddess; any Goddess ritual would be a catastrophe for her.
"Actually, you don't need any powerful destructive magic to deal with Yi Zhisha; healing magic is her greatest nemesis."
"Then why did she come back, and why did she want to compete for the position of Goddess?" Aurelia looked up, her eyes filled with even greater confusion.
"The reason she revived and reappeared in Parthenon is because Wen Tai didn't understand Ye Xin Xia's situation," Chen Lang said slowly and calmly. "He wasn't sure what kind of person his daughter would become under Salang's tutelage, whether she would go astray, or whether she would endanger Parthenon and the human world. That's why he revived Yi Zhisha and kept her in Parthenon to secretly observe Ye Xin Xia, which can also be seen as protecting everything for him."
"Of course, whether Yi Zhisha had ulterior motives is unknown."
"Perhaps she was truly acting on Wen Tai's orders, fearing that he might be a member of the Vatican and a threat to the world."
"It's also possible that she herself is actually greedy for power."
Aurelia leaned against Chen Lang's chest, listening quietly, her mind a jumble of thoughts.
Looking into Chen Lang's earnest eyes, she knew very well that Chen Lang had no reason to lie to her, nor any need to lie to her.
He is now the strongest human being, and the man she loves; he has no need to deceive her with such a thing.
The clearer she became about this, the more absurd and ridiculous it seemed, and she even felt a touch of inexplicable grievance.
She had hated Yi Zhisha for so many years, regarding her as an irreconcilable enemy, and desperately tried to become stronger, just so that one day she could personally expose her "crimes" and avenge Wen Tai. But in the end, it was all just a scheme set up by Wen Tai. Yi Zhisha's "betrayal" was fake, Wen Tai's "death" was fake, and even her obsession and hatred over the years became so ridiculous.
The feeling was as if everything I had held onto for years had collapsed, and I had lost my sense of direction.
She raised her hand and gently pressed it against her chest, where a dull, indescribable feeling lingered.
My eyes were slightly red, not from sadness, but from the immense shock and absurdity brought about by this sudden truth.
"So... so it was all a lie..." Aurelia murmured to herself, her voice weak and tinged with self-mockery, "I hated her for so many years, and it was all just a trap he set up..."
Chen Lang sensed her dejection and confusion, gently patting her back, his tone tender and comforting. "Don't think too much. Wen Tai was forced into this situation. He chose to protect everything in this way, perhaps because he realized that this world was fundamentally unable to resist the invasion of darkness."
If the Dark Plane infiltrate this world, humanity might not even have the chance to survive in the cracks.
What you hold onto and what you hate are never meaningless. At the very least, it is through this conviction that you have become strong enough to stand where you are today.
Aurelia didn't speak, but buried her face deeply in Chen Lang's arms, letting her emotions surge within her.
She needs some time to process this shocking truth and to accept her long-held obsession...
Chen Lang didn't intend to disturb her.
But each time she tried to do it, her mind went completely blank!
Aurelia, which was already low, now pressed down on his shoulder in annoyance. "You're telling me all this, without letting me calm down..."
"I didn't say anything," Chen Lang said innocently.
"You..." Aurelia's eyes held a hint of shame and indignation as she stared at him.
Chen Lang seemed oblivious, continuing his work as if nothing had happened, and said, "Actually, you don't need to think too much. You just need to figure out, putting everything else aside, what your thoughts are about the position of the Parthenon Goddess..."