A Letter Arrived Late

Time slipped away quietly amidst recuperation, bickering, and the Snow Empress's cooking.

Qian Qizhou's injuries had finally healed completely.

Not only that, perhaps as a blessing in disguise, he had been pushed to his limits by several life-or-death situations.

Having also absorbed a portion of the lightning tribulation energy during the Snow Empress's ascension, his soul power level had surged to rank forty-five, marking a significant improvement in his strength.

On this day, he was familiarizing himself with his enhanced power, maintaining a delicate, undisturbed peace with the Ice Emperor, who was dozing on the sofa not far away.

Guang Ling walked over slowly, his expression complex as he asked, "Xiao Zhou, how are your injuries?"

"They are no longer a concern." Qian Qizhou ceased his movements and responded with a smile.

Suddenly, he realized that Guang Ling's mood was off.

"Has something happened?"

Guang Ling let out a heavy sigh, his face filled with a complex, indescribable expression.

Instead of answering the question directly, he took a letter from his robes and handed it to Qian Qizhou.

"Read it yourself," Guang Ling said, his voice low. "Once you've finished... perhaps you will understand."

He paused, then turned his gaze toward the Ice Emperor nearby and requested, "Lady Ice Emperor, I must trouble you to step aside for a moment and give Xiao Zhou some space."

The Ice Emperor lifted her head, a flicker of obvious confusion crossing her eyes.

However, she sensed the unusual gravity in Guang Ling's tone; it clearly wasn't a trivial matter.

She hesitated for a moment, but ultimately left, looking displeased.

Guang Ling watched the Ice Emperor leave, then departed himself, closing the door behind him.

Left alone in the room, Qian Qizhou stared at the uniquely textured letter in his hands, his heart filled with doubt.

What is this? So mysterious...

He took a deep breath, helplessly tore open the envelope, and pulled out the letter.

But as Qian Qizhou's eyes fell upon the words, he froze completely.

The content of the letter was not long, yet it struck his mind like a series of thunderclaps:

To my son Qizhou: Seeing these words is like seeing me in person.

Since the day you left in anger, I did not feel it at first, but as time passed and the hall grew empty, I finally realized how much I had grown unaccustomed to your absence.

Reflecting in silence, I feel deep regret for the scolding I gave you that day, and I have begun to wonder if I was too cold toward you in the past, leading you to...

Some time ago, I intended to take action myself to capture a hundred-thousand-year soul beast and imprison it, so that when you returned, I could bestow its soul ring and soul bone upon you—both to aid your cultivation and as a gesture of my apology.

I did not expect... that an accident would occur along the way...

Once I have recovered from my injuries, I will certainly seek out another suitable hundred-thousand-year soul beast for you; I will not break my word.

Qizhou, I was wrong.

Signed—Father, Qian Xunji.

Qian Xunji?!

The hand holding the letter trembled violently; Qian Qizhou could hardly believe his eyes.

This letter... was actually written by Qian Xunji?! Before he fell?!

The tone of the letter was filled with an unprecedented... almost humble apology, reflection, and a cautious, tentative attempt at fatherly love?

This was completely different from the image of the dignified, cold, and even tyrannical father in his memories...

He went to capture that hundred-thousand-year soul beast for him?! This...

A profound sense of absurdity and an indescribable, bittersweet complexity surged into his heart, washing away all his previous thoughts.

He suddenly looked up at the closed door and shouted, "Ling! What is the meaning of this?!"

Qian Qizhou gripped the letter tightly, his fingertips turning white from the pressure.

The soul power that had been peaceful moments ago began to fluctuate violently and uncontrollably, and purple arcs of electricity crackled in the air, revealing his inner turmoil.

The entire room was filled with a stifling and volatile energy.

The door was pushed open gently, and Guang Ling walked in.

He immediately sensed the violent fluctuations of soul power in the room and saw the look in Qian Qizhou's eyes.

They were filled with shock, confusion, and pain.

Guang Ling sighed deeply, his face full of complexity.

"Xiao Zhou... calm down."

He walked slowly to Qian Qizhou and fixed his gaze on the letter. "This letter... was found in a secret compartment while we were sorting through the late Pope's belongings."

"Judging by the ink and the content, it must have been written shortly before his incident."

"He seems to have... wanted to write this letter for a long time, but never found the right opportunity, or perhaps he couldn't bring himself to do it."

"Until he decided to go... perhaps he intended to present it to you along with the soul ring and soul bone of that hundred-thousand-year soul beast, as a way to make amends and apologize."

Guang Ling sighed, "It's a pity. After he returned severely injured, he wrote this letter, but before he could send it, he..."

He looked at Qian Qizhou's pale face and continued, "I only got it just now. I was hesitant to give it to you, afraid of disturbing your peace of mind."

"But... alas... I thought about it and felt you should know."

These words struck Qian Qizhou's heart like a heavy hammer.

This letter... was real.

Was it Qian Xunji's confession, something he wanted to express in his final moments but couldn't say himself?

An indescribable bitterness surged into his nostrils, and Qian Qizhou painfully closed his eyes.

In his mind, his father's usually stern yet indifferent face, and the clumsy, cautious, even slightly humble words in the letter, crisscrossed and overlapped, eventually turning into a chaotic vortex.

Resentment, confusion, a faint but undeniable touch of emotion, along with immense grief and regret... all sorts of feelings washed over him like a tide, drowning him.

He had once so desperately craved his father's approval and attention, even leaving in anger because of it.

But after losing his father in the most decisive way, he received such a late letter, full of regret...

This was simply too cruel.

Qian Qizhou slowly opened his eyes, his gaze bloodshot, and he murmured hoarsely, "...Why... not sooner..."

Why hadn't he told him sooner? Why did he only let him know after everything was irreversible?

The person was dead, what use was it for him to know? He had no power to bring the dead back to life...

Guang Ling watched him in silence, his eyes full of sympathy, but he didn't know how to comfort him.

The room was deathly silent, with only Qian Qizhou's heavy, suppressed breaths.

He tightly gripped the scorching letter, his knuckles turning white, his eyes bloodshot, and fierce emotions clashed wildly within him.

After a long while, he suddenly clenched the letter, and purple lightning erupted from his body.

"Xiao Zhou! What are you doing?!" Guang Ling sensed something was wrong and quickly called out, trying to stop him.

However, Qian Qizhou had already transformed into a streak of purple lightning, ignoring Guang Ling's shouts, and instantly left the Pure Land of the King.

Seeing this, Guang Ling was stunned for a moment, then rushed towards the spatial portal, wanting to catch up with Qian Qizhou.

After all, he wasn't Qian Qizhou and couldn't leave this space instantly like him.