Li Ximing stiffened slightly. He had personally confirmed back then that the aura inside the cave belonged to Fu En. He could not help falling into thought, and Tinglan continued, "I... went to see Kong Guxi, as well as the soul lamps of Fu En and Kong Haiying. They were all mistaken. Kong Haiying's seclusion lasted far longer than we believed. The few later appearances before the Kong family juniors were played by Fu En. Moreover, the dharma artifact Fu En refined with his own blood was actually Kong Haiying's."
Li Ximing's expression darkened as Tinglan went on, "It is no wonder you misidentified him, Fellow Daoist Zhaojing, because what you were told was wrong. The one who had actually seen Kong Haiying at the time was the elderly Kong Guli, whose memory was then erased. All the other elders died one after another. Senior Changxi overlooked a single elder named Kong Yu, but fortunately, he took his own life on the spot." 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮
Her voice carried a cold edge, and shock gleamed in her eyes, "Senior Changxi arranged things early, confusing the identities of the two. Perhaps a substitute was intended from the start. Perhaps. After all, Kong Haiying did go to Douxuan that year."
Tinglan spoke vaguely, but Li Ximing silently heard the unspoken meaning beneath her words. Yehui had personally seen Kong Haiying. What meaning would a substitute hold? Would Yehui not verify Kong Haiying with his own eyes? Then there remained only one final possibility.
Daoist Master Changxi had coldly delivered Kong Haiying into Yehui's hands and had even kindly concealed it for both Yehui and Li Ximing by covering it up as Fu En.
Li Ximing was not as skilled at calculations as these people, but with the truth laid bare before him, he was not so dull as to miss its meaning. After Changxi's death, Yehui would inevitably bring the butcher's blade down on the Kong Family. Kong Haiying had to die. Not only did he hold the hatred of murdering his wife and destroying her family, but he was also tied to secrets of the Douxuan Dao lineage. If he lived, no one would feel safe taking in the Kong Family, nor would anyone wish to offend Yehui.
Only once Kong Haiying died would Yehui consider stopping. Only then would he reassess whether continuing to persecute the Kong Family was worthwhile. His improved attitude toward me at that time, believing I had yielded, was for this very reason!
Thus, Changxi's choices were frozen from beginning to end. Kong Haiying was still in seclusion within Profound Peak Mountain. If he succeeded before the time Changxi had bought with his life ran out, all would rejoice. If not, he would simply become the offering Changxi delivered into Yehui's hands.
Their identities being muddled was likely an idle stroke in the beginning, giving Profound Peak Gate room to advance or retreat at will while confusing outsiders and reducing their vigilance toward Kong Haiying. Who knew he would fail to cross his inner demons and remain lost in his mire, disappointing their expectations?
Later, when this move ceased to have strategic value, it was used to mislead my own judgment. After all, from my perspective, it was Fu En who died, while Kong Haiying was still alive somewhere with great hopes of breaking into Purple Mansion Realm.
No wonder the cultivation of that cultivator had felt deep and substantial, unlike Fu En, who was only a guest cultivator. It was Kong Haiying himself! In the end, the Kong Haiying who was somewhere unknown was delivered to slaughter by my own hands!
Cold shock filled Li Ximing's heart. He could not speak for a long time. At last he exhaled deeply and said, "Daoist Master Changxi... regardless of the power of his divine abilities, what he did after his death, whether cruel, cold, calculating, or deceitful, he used every possible means to protect his family. He can stand before his ancestors without shame."
Seeing that he had pieced the matter together, Tinglan said softly, "As for feelings toward Kong Haiying or Kong Yu, whether tears or regret, only you know them. Did he know when Kong Haiying entered seclusion? Did he consent? His failure to cross his inner demons... might Senior Changxi bear a share of responsibility?"
Li Ximing felt a chill spread in his heart and murmured, "Daoist Master Changxi... although he calculated against me often, he taught me much as well. In the end, he remains worthy of respect."
Tinglan stared quietly into the distance. Two autumn-yellow lines at the corners of her eyes glowed faintly. She propped her chin up with one hand and gazed out the window as she spoke softly, "He is indeed admirable. Before achieving their Fate Divine Ability, Purple Mansion Realm cultivators often hold many attachments to the mortal world. Once that divine ability is realized, especially the Earth Virtue Fate Divine Ability, they gradually set everything down. Sect or clan becomes merely a tool. Dao lineage or master disciple ties become merely steps toward ascension.
"Some Purple Mansion Realm paths... either pursue immortality with single minded devotion or become violently unrestrained. There is only one word to describe them: terrifying. Fellow Daoist Zhaojing, Radiance Under Heaven is not a divine ability with a good reputation."
Her voice lingered within the celestial carriage. The central incense burner released a cool fragrance, identical to the scent she carried, like standing amid autumn winds in a rice field. The mask of pleasantness on her face suddenly slipped away, revealing a faint and indescribable sorrow.
"Fellow Daoist Zhaojing, you shattered the Ignorance stage and broke through endless illusions in only a few years. That was a karmic burden endured through self suppression, unlike seeing one's own inner demons manifest. Before Emperor Wei attained the Dao, his Bright Yang was not bright at all and still bears remnants of its flaws. So tell me, do you truly have confidence in wielding the Fate Divine Ability?"