Master of Strange Dao

That was Ji Meng's own pain.

He was in agony over the incident he had caused years ago, bringing Silver Lake to extinguish the bright flames.

It was also the fear that lingered in his heart.

Yu Ziqing sighed silently, feeling utterly helpless about this predicament.

The flames slowly extinguished, and Yu Ziqing retracted his hand.

Ji Meng reverted to his original form, his strength plummeting back to the Fifth Tier; he collapsed on the ground, his body occasionally convulsing.

His consciousness was blurred, yet he still summoned the strength to prevent the rain from falling outside.

The drizzle outside had long since turned into a torrential downpour, filled with a restless unease.

"Senior, don't worry, he's fine now."

Yu Ziqing looked toward the storm and offered a word of comfort.

As the flames on Ji Meng's body slowly dissipated and his consciousness began to recover, the rainstorm gradually ceased, returning to the original gentle drizzle.

Ji Meng stood up, then sat down again, his appearance gradually changing back to that of a human. He massaged his head, his eyes still somewhat scattered.

"Senior, that last bit is something I cannot resolve.

It comes from within you, and only you can address it."

"Forget it, let it remain. It is a lesson, a scar that will remind me of that incident."

Ji Meng felt a lingering pain but calmly accepted it all.

If he was going to do it, he had to bear the cost, regardless of whether he could withstand it or not.

He dissipated his power, and immediately, the fine rain poured down, enveloping him.

He let the rain wash over his body, his expression tranquil yet tender.

"It's okay now, I'm fine, none of this was ever your fault, you shouldn't say that."

Yu Ziqing continued to drink his tea, absorbed in his thoughts.

"In fact, I can feel it, those people never blamed you either. Without you, the Divine Dynasty would have found a way to seal it.

They never targeted you, not even anyone else.

They just wanted to purify that world, nothing more.

A sincere apology is enough to soothe their final thoughts.

This requirement...is indeed very low..."

Yu Ziqing's words grew softer until they became indistinct mutterings.

He laughed at himself sardonically.

Perhaps this is why he wasn't burnt alive and could still attract such fiery Fire Qi.

He could empathize, understand those people.

Yet, ironically, the rulers of the Dadui at the time couldn't empathize or understand.

They just thought about extinguishing the fire.

What a bunch of fools, could such a fire be extinguished with water?

That would be adding fuel to the flames.

It needed fresh blood to be put out.

If only the rulers of the Dadui back then could have empathized, could have reacted correctly.

If they had dragged out the principal culprit and flayed him in front of everyone, his blood could have doused the flames – perhaps not completely, but to the extent that Emperor Dui wouldn't need to ask others for help.

Thinking of this, Yu Ziqing felt a profound disgust.

Some of the disasters he encountered in the An History Book, he was willing to resolve, because their County Magistrates dedicated themselves to their duties, and the locals were willing to work together.

So, when Yu Ziqing felt he could make a difference, he would act.

But those were the days of the Dadui.

Thinking of the Dadui's insidious Sealing Skill, he figured that by the Divine Dynasty's End Period, the entire dynasty might have been sealed.

Many of the Divine Dynasty's End Period nobles could be lingering within that Sealing, desperately clinging to life.

They were waiting for a day when the Sealing would be broken, longing to return to their former state of influence and privilege.

Considering this, Yu Ziqing lost all interest in continuing to resolve disasters.

Would it be possible that at the End Period, Emperor Dui and all the nobles were willing to sacrifice themselves, leaving behind the common folk and vital forces, to seal the entire Dadui?

Hardly likely.

If there had been such a possibility, it would not have reached the Divine Dynasty's End Period.

Yu Ziqing sat there, spacing out, not wanting to hear Ji Meng getting mushy with his wife.

When he came back to his senses, he saw Ji Meng walking into the rain. The water fell around him, outlining the vague figure of a person.

In the midst of the drizzle, there was a sense of joy and lightness.

Ji Meng danced in the rain with a smile on his face, as if, in this moment, he truly embraced his wife once more.

The sound of the wind and the raindrops hitting the ground and leaves seemed like their dance music.

At this moment, at least, they were genuinely happy.

Yu Ziqing, sensing the mood of the rain, couldn't help but show a faint smile himself.

This was the influence he had after resolving a disaster.

He thought of the Southern Sea and the rumors that it was always stormy, with few clear days.

Yu Ziqing felt, this was probably the doing of Ji Meng and his wife.

Now that Ji Meng had awakened, the Southern Sea might have more sunny days.

Not to say it would match the East Sea's conditions.

But if half the time throughout the year could be clear, calm seas,

then the Southern Sea would become a place many would vie for.

After all, the ocean is rich in natural resources, with unique bounties far greater than those on land's cave heaven blessed lands.

Just like Jinlan Mountain, unique with Jinlan Ore and the formerly exclusive Jinlan Mushrooms, they differ from other regions.

And the number of resources unique to the Southern Sea could probably fill an entire book just listing them.

Moreover, life is starting to return to the vicinity of Silver Lake Forbidden Land.