After Betraying the Whole World, You’re Telling Me They Were All Real? - Chapter 15:

Chapter 15: Long-Lost Passionate Entanglement…

In the end… she still softened.

Xu Qingxue was inherently a kind-hearted girl. Naturally, she couldn’t bear to let her man truly do something so heartless. Ling Qi knew this well, which was why he left the decision to her, already expecting the choice she would make.

“You handle it however you see fit,” Xu Qingxue said. “But don’t forget—you’re Qiyue’s father.”

“Of course!” Ling Qi replied with a warm smile. All the responsibilities he should bear, he would now take on without hesitation.

“And don’t forget, you said… I’m your wife!” Xu Qingxue raised her head, her bright eyes locking onto him.

Ling Qi smiled, “I understand, my dear!”

“You have more than enough ‘dears’…” Xu Qingxue glared at him.

Still, he was her man, and Qiyue’s father. Now that things had come to this, all she could do was let Ling Qi make up for the mistakes he’d made in the past.

“You big scoundrel. How many good girls have you let down before?” she continued.

“Uh…” Ling Qi chuckled awkwardly, then said, “Too many to count. I can’t remember clearly.”

Back then, wherever he went, he basically never let a top beauty slip by. Sect Saintesses, wealthy heiresses, female warriors, cold and deadly assassins, even the little fairy from some remote village… there were many.

“Then you better start remembering them one by one,” Xu Qingxue pouted. “You’re my man, and your mistakes are my mistakes. We have to make it up to them.”

If the girls Ling Qi once wronged were willing to follow him again, then let them continue to follow. If they weren’t, then Ling Qi would have to compensate them.

After all, what he took was their youth and sincere affection. To any girl, that was more valuable than anything in the world.

Ling Qi nodded once more. He would definitely do everything he could to make it up to those he had wronged in the past.

“You big bad man!” Xu Qingxue reached up and pinched his cheeks. “From now on, you’re not allowed to do such things again. Who treats the whole world like puppets?”

“Yes, yes, yes…” Ling Qi nodded repeatedly. As he spoke, he loosened his embrace.

But Xu Qingxue quickly grabbed his hand and pressed it back around her, “We’ve said what we needed to say. And then? That’s it?”

Ling Qi smiled, “What else do you want?”

“You tell me,” Xu Qingxue glared at him, her pale face gradually turning red. “Don’t tell me… you’ve never missed me? Don’t tell me… I never made you linger in the past?”

Hearing that, Ling Qi chuckled. He raised his hand and gently cupped her face, “You’re still very weak…”

“You’re the weak one! What am I, a woman, supposed to be weak for? And so what if I am?” Xu Qingxue refused to back down. “Even if I’m weak, you’re still no match for me.”

“I remember someone once begging for mercy, though?” Ling Qi pinched her cheek.

“When? That was just… the first time!” Xu Qingxue’s pretty face flushed even deeper. “Why don’t you try again now?”

After all, she had been longing for this for years. Ling Qi had to fill the emptiness of all those years.

“You’re sure you want this now?” Ling Qi looked at her.

“I’m sure!” Xu Qingxue said without hesitation.

Seeing her like this, Ling Qi exhaled softly. Then, he leaned in and kissed her red lips deeply.

As Xu Qingxue responded to his desire, she also reached out to close the window.

Then began the long-lost passionate entanglement…

…

After passing Xu Qingxue’s test, Ling Qi finally breathed a sigh of relief.

If she truly refused to forgive him, things would’ve been much more difficult. She had given birth to his child, endured so much suffering. In every way, he owed her too much. He had to yield to her completely.

Thankfully, she understood him.

Now, Ling Qi could only hope that the women he had let down in the past hadn’t all gotten pregnant and had children like Xu Qingxue did. Otherwise, he’d have a lot on his hands.

After all, not every woman was as understanding as Xu Qingxue.

A long while later, Ling Qi and Xu Qingxue finally walked out of the room. Her once pale and weak complexion now carried a faint glow.

It really seemed that a man could nourish a woman in such a way…

Meanwhile, Xiao Chan and Qiyue had already finished decocting the medicine prepared by the divine doctor Bai.

Under Ling Qi’s careful care, Xu Qingxue began her recovery and healing. Ling Qi planned to stay by their side for a while longer before dealing with the issue of Ye Youluo.

After all, he still needed to get his hands on the second half of the medical tome. Or better yet… make Ye Youluo willingly help him.

Just then, a sudden urgent summons came from the palace.

The Empress Jiang Ling summoned Chu Xinyue, everyone else, and Ling Qi to the palace to discuss a major matter.

…

Meanwhile, in the Tianshan Snow Sect.

After returning, the Snow Sect members reported Ye Youluo’s response word for word to the Snow Sect Patriarch.

Inside the grand hall, the Snow Sect Patriarch sat on the throne, his head supported by one hand. Upon hearing the report, his brows slowly furrowed.

From Ye Youluo’s tone… was she looking down on him?

Did she think he couldn’t compare to Ling Qi?

Yes, he had yet to fully reach the Supreme Limit Realm, but he was one of the closest in the world to achieving it. As long as he completed the final step—if Ye Youluo agreed to dual cultivate with him—he would certainly break through.

At that point… what need would he have to fear Ling Qi? Conquering the Great Yan Empire would be within reach!

“This Ling Qi… what’s his background?” the Snow Sect Patriarch asked coldly.

“Reporting to Patriarch, we don’t know. We’ve never heard of him before,” the others responded. “He’s only been to our Snow Sect twice. The first time, he took away the Saintess. This time… he destroyed our entire sect.”

Ling Qi was a true Supreme Limit Realm cultivator, but the name ‘Ling Qi’ wasn’t widely known. He rarely left his name wherever he went, so naturally, his fame was limited.

“Even if he’s reached the Supreme Limit Realm, I don’t think he’s anything special,” the Snow Sect Patriarch said coldly.

If he himself reached the Supreme Limit Realm, his power wouldn’t be any weaker than Ling Qi’s.

From what he could tell, Ling Qi, despite reaching the Supreme Limit Realm, seemed… unstable.

Of course, he didn’t know that after visiting the Forbidden Demon Region years ago, Ling Qi had been in a heavily wounded, near-death state all this time…

Yet even in that state—he remained invincible!

The Snow Sect Patriarch stood up slowly. “Prepare to depart. We’re going to the Demon Island. Since Ye Youluo won’t come to me, I’ll go to her!”

No matter what, he had to get Ye Youluo.

She was his best chance to break through to the Supreme Limit Realm. Besides, with a beauty like her, he naturally wanted to completely conquer her.

“But Patriarch… that Demon Island is the stronghold of the Demon Sect. All their disciples are gathered there. Our Snow Sect may not be able to match them…” someone suddenly said.

BOOM!

Before he could finish, the Snow Sect Patriarch waved his sleeve, and a blast of black energy exploded the speaker’s head into a mist of blood.

Everyone else instantly turned pale and stepped back, not daring to utter another word.

“Under your leadership, the Snow Sect has become cowardly and weak,” the Patriarch said coldly. “Now that I’ve awakened, the entire world… will belong to the Snow Sect!”

“Yes!” the others shouted in unison, not daring to oppose him even slightly.

Even offering a suggestion was now a dangerous act.

Soon after, the Snow Sect’s strongest members prepared to depart with the Patriarch, heading for the sea region’s Demon Island.

…

At dusk, on the plaza of the Great Yan Empire’s imperial palace.

The Empress Jiang Ling stood with many high-ranking officials of the empire, while Chu Xinyue led many martial world heroes. Everyone gathered here.

But the topic of discussion today wasn’t about the Demon Sect.

It was something far more serious—the matter of the Forbidden Demon Region.

From the high platform, Jiang Ling flung a letter in Chu Xinyue’s direction. Chu Xinyue caught it and, upon reading the contents, her face turned grave. She handed the letter to Ling Qi.

Honestly, neither Jiang Ling nor Chu Xinyue knew how to decide on this matter.

The only one truly qualified to make a decision now—was Ling Qi.

Ling Qi read the letter and chuckled.

It was from the Forbidden Demon Region… proposing peace talks?

They wished to coexist peacefully with the human race, and to open the entire Forbidden Demon Region. In exchange, the human territories must also open up to the demon race.

From now on, the long-hostile races would share both worlds.

“Interesting!” Ling Qi said. “Is this… a stalling tactic?”

The Forbidden Demon Region would spend the next three years reforging a blade capable of killing a Supreme Limit Realm cultivator. If they could delay the humans for three years, then their victory would be certain.

Everyone stared at Ling Qi, still unsure of the full situation.

Was this some scheme from the Demon Sect?

“Everyone,” Empress Jiang Ling stood up and said, “The Forbidden Demon Region wants peace with the human race. They wish for me to dismantle the border wall. From now on, humans and demons… shall coexist.”

“I’d like to know—what are your thoughts?”

This wasn’t something she could decide alone. It wasn’t even something the Great Yan Empire could decide alone.

After all, the human race had countless nations and forces. This matter involved the fate of all humanity.

Hearing this, everyone present was shocked.

So today’s gathering wasn’t about the Demon Sect?

It was about the Forbidden Demon Region?

The demon race wanted peace with humans?

This matter… was even more critical than the Demon Sect.

It concerned the life and death of the entire human race!

“If peace is truly possible, that would be wonderful.”

“There are countless rare treasures within the Forbidden Demon Region. Some have even obtained great fortune at its borders.”

“Many of the rare items that grow there are useless to demons, but extremely valuable to us humans.”

“If the region opens up, it would become a new treasure trove for the human race.”

“But the key is… are they truly sincere about peace?”

“Your Majesty once sent 100,000 troops to expand the Great Yan Empire into the Forbidden Demon Region. None of them returned!”

“After something like that… how could we ever trust the demon race?”

Everyone spoke up, their voices loud and emotional.

Clearly, whether it was the imperial court or the martial world, no one in the Great Yan Empire trusted the demon race.

Peaceful coexistence?

What a joke!

“But sadly… this matter concerns the entire world. It’s not something the Great Yan Empire can decide alone,” Jiang Ling said.

“Even if the Great Yan Empire rejects the peace talks, the other forces and empires may not feel the same.”

After all, unlike her, the other empires never sent hundreds of thousands of troops into the Forbidden Demon Region. They didn’t understand the cruelty and danger of the demon race.

“So this is not just a stalling tactic—it’s also a strategy to divide us,” Ling Qi added.

While buying time, they were also sowing discord among the human factions.

It would all work in the demon race’s favor.

“The border wall built by the Great Yan Empire split the world in two,” Ling Qi continued. “Half belongs to the human race, and half to the demon race.”

“And the territory closest to the Forbidden Demon Region… is the Great Yan Empire.”

“The Great Yan Empire and the Forbidden Demon Region have always been at odds, but the other empires and factions have no real grudge against them,” someone said. “In fact… they’re not involved at all and have no idea how dangerous the Forbidden Demon Region truly is.”

“Most of them have never even encountered a single demon.”

“Naturally, there will be those among them who are willing to coexist peacefully with the demon race.”

“And then… the most powerful empire under heaven—the Great Yan Empire—could become everyone’s target.”

“If the world unites to attack, and the Forbidden Demon Region strikes from the other side, the Great Yan Empire would truly be in danger.”

This was clearly the demon race’s strategy.

Eliminate the Great Yan Empire, the leader of humanity, and human strength would be drastically weakened. Even if they failed to destroy the empire, causing chaos among humans would still be a guaranteed victory.

“What do you suggest we do?” Jiang Ling asked, her golden eyes fixed on Ling Qi.

Ling Qi smiled, “You’re the Empress. You’re asking me what to do?”

Everyone looked at Ling Qi in surprise. After all, most of them didn’t know he was at the Supreme Limit Realm or that he had ventured into the Forbidden Demon Region. So, speaking to the Empress this casually… felt arrogant.

At the very least, shouldn’t he call her ‘Your Majesty’?

Even the Martial Alliance Leader, Chu Xinyue, respectfully addressed her as ‘Your Majesty.’ But Ling Qi just said ‘you’?

Jiang Ling’s golden eyes shot him a glare. If I knew what to do, would I be asking you?

“You know the demon race best. And they fear you the most,” Jiang Ling said. “You decide this matter!”

With that, she suddenly flicked her sleeve. A dazzling golden sword shot toward Ling Qi.

“You now wield the Sword of the Emperor. Wherever it goes, it’s as if I am personally present,” Jiang Ling said. “All matters inside and outside the Great Yan Empire shall follow your command.”

Everyone present was completely stunned.

Wait… she was just handing over such immense authority to Ling Qi?

Why?

If she gave it to Chu Xinyue, at least that would be somewhat acceptable.

Wasn’t Ling Qi the one who lost to Chu Xinyue in the contest for Alliance Leader?

Why was the Empress suddenly entrusting him even more?

Ling Qi raised his hand and caught the imperial sword, shaking his head helplessly. “You’re really good at pushing everything onto others.”

Leaving all problems for me to solve?

Why?

“From now on, all matters related to the demon race are yours to decide,” Jiang Ling said, her gaze meeting his.

When it came to handling the demon race, Ling Qi was undeniably the top figure in the world. As long as it was his decision, she would fully support it—so would the entire Great Yan Empire.

“Fine then,” Ling Qi said with a smile, shaking his head.

Truthfully, if he didn’t step up, no one else could handle it.

“I’ll head to the border wall first and see if the demon race has made any moves,” Ling Qi said.

“You’re planning to enter the depths of the Forbidden Demon Region again?” Jiang Ling frowned slightly. You’re still injured. If you face the endless demon army again, that’s no joke.

If you die, and the demon race launches a catastrophe… who will stop them?

“Not that far. I just want to take a look and visit an old friend,” Ling Qi said with a smile. Then his gaze shifted to Chu Xinyue. “You’ll come with me.”

Chu Xinyue nodded softly. This concerned the fate of the world—of course she’d accompany him.

“Alright then. Make preparations. We set out tomorrow,” Ling Qi said, waving his hand.

The meeting was dismissed.

…

The next day, in front of the imperial palace, Jiang Ling had prepared a carriage and an elite escort for Ling Qi.

All of them were Profound Earth Realm cultivators, capable of assisting Ling Qi and Chu Xinyue if needed.

But Ling Qi simply waved his hand, “The carriage is enough. No need for the others.”

He didn’t need any helpers. Even if he did, Chu Xinyue alone would suffice.

The rest… were just burdens.

Jiang Ling nodded lightly and waved her hand, dismissing everyone except the carriage.

“Xiao Chan, you stay here this time. Look after Qiyue for me,” Ling Qi said, turning to her.

She had once been one of the Seven Kings of the demon race. It was better not to let them know she was still alive and siding with humanity.

“Okay!” Xiao Chan nodded obediently.

“Papa, can’t Mommy and I go with you?” Qiyue pouted.

She had just reunited with her father and didn’t want to be separated again.

“It’s too dangerous. Taking you along would only make things harder,” Ling Qi squatted down and pinched her cheek. “You don’t want to become a burden to Papa, do you?”

Qiyue nodded obediently. If she would only slow them down, then of course she shouldn’t go.

“Then stay in the capital with Mommy and wait for me to come back,” Ling Qi said with a smile.

“Mhm!” Qiyue nodded seriously.

Fine, she wouldn’t go. After all, Papa wasn’t going to disappear like before.

Ling Qi then stood up and looked at Xu Qingxue, who was clearly reluctant to part.

Honestly, she feared that he would once again leave and never return.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon,” Ling Qi said softly, easily seeing through her thoughts. “Unless I die, I won’t…”

Xu Qingxue immediately covered his mouth. “Don’t say such things.”

Die? If you die, what happens to Qiyue and me?

And what about all the women you’ve wronged?

Ling Qi smiled and nodded. Then he took out a scroll. “Here… these are the names I remember. Take a look.”

Xu Qingxue accepted the scroll and nodded gently.

Ling Qi and Chu Xinyue didn’t linger further.

“Everyone, see you later.”

“Papa, Master, see you later,” Qiyue waved her little hand.

Ling Qi and Chu Xinyue both ruffled her head.

Then they got into the carriage.

“Be careful!” Xu Qingxue and Jiang Yao said in unison.

Ling Qi gave a light nod, then drove the carriage away with Chu Xinyue.

Only when the carriage vanished in the distance did everyone lower their gazes.

Xu Qingxue took a deep breath and slowly unrolled the scroll left behind by Ling Qi.

Then her brows furrowed slightly.

So many? The entire scroll was filled?

Other people had a list of crimes; his was a list of women he had wronged!

This man… had really been a scoundrel in the past.

Many names were well-known figures with special backgrounds. Some she had never even heard of. It was a complete mix.

And then… wait!

Just then, when Xu Qingxue’s gaze landed on the final three names, her expression instantly changed.

Because they were—Chu Xinyue, Jiang Ling, and Ye Youluo!

These three names shouldn’t have been on the list.

But after some thought, Ling Qi had written them down anyway—consider it a heads-up for Xu Qingxue.

“This…” Xu Qingxue’s brows tightened further, her face full of disbelief.

What kind of joke was this?

Heroine Chu—Chu Xinyue, Empress Jiang Ling, and Demon Sect Master Ye Youluo.

He had wronged them too?

This man… was truly something else.

No wonder Ye Youluo had acted oddly during their time in the Snow Sect.

No wonder both Jiang Ling and Chu Xinyue took Qiyue as their disciple and treated Ling Qi with such indulgence.

Seriously…

Xu Qingxue put the scroll away and turned to look at Jiang Ling.

Sensing her gaze, Jiang Ling raised an eyebrow. What was that look?

“Your Majesty, I think… we need to talk,” Xu Qingxue said.

Jiang Ling nodded lightly and led her and the others into the palace, toward the rear garden.

“Qiyue, go play outside with Sister Xiao Chan for a while,” Xu Qingxue waved her hand.

“You’re going to whisper secrets again!” Qiyue pouted. Why do adults always whisper?

Still, she obediently left with Xiao Chan.

“You too,” Jiang Ling looked at Jiang Yao.

She could tell Xu Qingxue wanted to speak in private.

“Mhm,” Jiang Yao nodded and turned to leave as well.

Now only Xu Qingxue and Jiang Ling remained in the rear garden.

“Let’s sit and talk,” Jiang Ling said, sitting at the stone table and pouring tea.

“Your Majesty!” Xu Qingxue began, “No matter what Ling Qi did to you in the past, I’d like to apologize to you on his behalf.”

Jiang Ling looked confused. What was that supposed to mean?

What did Ling Qi ever do to her?

“He had his reasons. He’s wronged too many women in the past,” Xu Qingxue continued. “I just didn’t expect… that Your Majesty was one of them.”

Jiang Ling froze. “???”

What… what nonsense was this?

When had he ever wronged her?

What the hell?