Chapter 59: The Void in Memory

The words could be interpreted in countless ways, and Qian Ye stood there, unsure of how to respond.

Ji Tianqing sat quietly, gazing at him without another word, not pressing for an answer, but also not letting go. Qian Ye tried to pull his hand away, but to no avail. Hesitating, he ceased trying and let his hand rest there, feeling the throb of new life.

“When did this… happen?”

“Could it be anywhere else besides the Great Vortex?”

“I mean, when exactly during the Great Vortex?”

“Do you really need to ask? Would you not remember?”

“I truly… wait, could it be…”

In the Great Vortex, Qian Ye’s memory had few blanks, and clearly, the event had occurred within those gaps.

Slowly, Qian Ye withdrew his hand, running it through his hair, feeling a tumult of emotions. At that moment, he sensed something unusual, as if something had been watching over him, now gone. This slight anomaly did not distract him; he was still recalling the events of the Great Vortex. Yet, those memory blanks remained voids.

Beyond the void, two figures slowly materialized in the seemingly empty space: Nighteye and Dusk. Dusk, as if nearly drowning, clutched her throat, gasping for air, finally catching her breath before bursting into a violent cough.

Regaining some composure, Dusk took a deep breath and said, “Although I must admit you are indeed very powerful now, I truly do not wish to travel with you, especially in such a manner.”

Nighteye responded, “Experiencing spatial travel early is your good fortune.”

“One time is already too much! I don’t want such luck! But, are you planning to leave like this, not stay to see more?”

Nighteye looked toward the distant floating island, her voice calm. “What needed to be seen has been seen. What is the point of staying here? I initially wanted to ask about your true purpose for bringing me here, but now, I no longer care. Let’s go!”

Dusk’s expression changed abruptly, but Nighteye’s hand was already on her shoulder. Her figure began to distort, as if enveloped by a bubble, gradually fading away.

At the moment of vanishing, Dusk screamed, “Stop! You can’t do this to me, let me go, I can return on my own…”

“The journey is still long…” Nighteye’s voice echoed and dissipated in the void.

On the floating island, Qian Ye had just recovered from his shock. Sitting opposite Ji Tianqing, he gazed at her, feeling both familiar and strange, at a loss for words.

“I’m sorry.”

Ji Tianqing smiled, stroking her bulging belly. “Perhaps it should be me saying sorry.”

Qian Ye took a deep breath and said, “If it weren’t for the Great Vortex, it would all just be excuses. Now, what can I do?”

Ji Tianqing looked at Qian Ye steadily and said, “Originally, I didn’t want you to know, but as she grew, my thoughts changed. I wanted to see you, to tell you. As for what you can do… what can you do?”

Before Qian Ye could respond, Ji Tianqing asked, “She is your daughter. What would you do for her?”

Qian Ye’s voice was low, “I will take care of her, protect her. And then…”

He looked at Ji Tianqing, unable to speak. She smiled gently and said, “Will you take care of me?”

“You come from the Zhi Ji Wang Fu, what could you possibly lack?”

“My child lacks a father.”

Qian Ye remained silent for a long time before saying with difficulty, “I’m sorry, I can’t do that.”

“Still for her sake?”

After a moment, Qian Ye nodded.

“I heard that her second awakening might be the consciousness of a significant figure from the Eternal Night before the Empire was established. The current her is not the one you met in the Eternal Night.”

“You know quite a lot.”

“During the Great Vortex, while you were unconscious, you often spoke about her. I heard enough to understand the situation between you two.”

“Were you conscious then?”

“How else would I know who her father is?”

“But why didn’t you resist?”

Ji Tianqing smiled again, “Do you think I could resist? It was the Great Vortex. Who could stand against a monster like you? Once you got your way, you wouldn’t let me go, leaving me half-dead.”

Instinctively, Qian Ye wanted to avoid the topic. After regaining his composure, he asked, “Why didn’t Kuanglan stop me when I…”

He stopped mid-sentence, thinking of a possibility he found even harder to accept.

Ji Tianqing didn’t give him a chance to escape. “How could she have stopped you? You dealt with her first, and when I tried to help, you got me too.”

“Then, did she…”

“How should I know? Ask her yourself.”

Qian Ye hesitantly said, “Maybe it’s not that simple.”

“Maybe.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You don’t remember, so why should we say anything?”

Qian Ye buried his face in his hands, sighing deeply.

Ji Tianqing wouldn’t have it. She tapped Qian Ye on the head with a book, saying, “Hey, we’re the ones at a disadvantage, why are you the one looking so miserable?”

Qian Ye lifted his head, looking at Ji Tianqing’s belly, and said, “Tell me, what can I do?”

“What do you think she needs?”

As the daughter of Qian Ye and Ji Tianqing, the little one would never lack for innate talent. In the Zhi Ji Wang Fu, what secret techniques or resources would be lacking? And who could guide her better than the current Human Emperor, Zhi Ji Wang?

Thus, the little one truly lacked nothing. Everything Qian Ye could offer, she already had. What she needed, Qian Ye could not provide.

Ji Tianqing sighed, “I wonder why it had to be a fool like you. How about this, stay with me tonight, and we’ll call it even.”

“That’s not possible.”

“Not willing to stay?”

“No, it’s different. I will take care of her in the future.”

“Actually, I don’t need that. Just stay here tonight, read books, and chat with me. That’s all.”

Sitting beside her, Qian Ye felt a jumble of emotions, ultimately entangled in confusion.

The floating island drifted in the void, from day to night, from night to dawn.

When the morning light shone into the valley, Ji Tianqing put down her book, rubbing her eyes, feeling tired. Qian Ye emerged from the house with a tray, bearing a simple meal of porridge and small dishes.

“There wasn’t much in the kitchen, so this is all I could make.”

Ji Tianqing smiled, tasting the porridge and a bite of the dish, satisfied. “I didn’t expect you to have such skill.”

“Back in the Eternal Night, with no other means of survival, I ran a tavern. That’s where I learned to cook, though the resources were limited, so my skills are somewhat basic.”

“Join me for a bit?”

“Alright.”

They sat facing each other, silently finishing their breakfast. Qian Ye felt that after this meal, it might be a long time before they met again.

After a while, Ji Tianqing put down her empty bowl and said, “It’s about time. You should go, and I should return.”

“When is she due?”

“I don’t know. This little one is quite troublesome. Maybe next month, maybe next year. I hope she comes later, that way, I’ll worry less in the future.”

True geniuses often take longer to be born. Humans, unlike the Eternal Night, may experience a delay of a month or two.

As Qian Ye prepared to leave, he hesitated and asked, “Do you think I should visit Kuanglan?”

“If she hasn’t said she wants to see you, what would be the point? It would only add awkwardness. From what I know, she hasn’t been seen in social circles since the Great Vortex. The Li family must have hidden her somewhere. Don’t worry about her, she has an imperial sister. Focus on yourself. I heard you’re going back to Yonland, be careful. Don’t get yourself killed, or the little one will lose her father.” Ji Tianqing’s words, though well-intentioned, sounded oddly out of place.

“Will you be okay in the family?”

“Few people know, and even if they did, who would dare to criticize? The little one’s father is already a god general!”

Time came, and Qian Ye left the courtyard, feeling a sense of loss. Ji Ruofei was still standing there, motionless for the entire day and night.

As the floating ship ascended, it quickly left the floating island behind. On board, Qian Ye felt restless and asked, “Does she always live there?”

“Something I cannot reveal,” Ji Ruofei said, unwilling to share any more information.

Qian Ye’s heart felt heavy, and he fell silent. The ship traveled in silence until it reached Pengcheng.

Pengcheng was an important arms distribution center. In the two days Qian Ye was away, Song Zining had already gathered the listed supplies and arranged for their shipment. This demonstrated Zhao Jundu’s firm grip on power, as his orders had the highest priority, surpassing others.

In the cargo yard, Qian Ye and Song Zining stood side by side, watching the crates being loaded onto the ship, but neither felt happy.

Song Zining held the list, checking items one by one, too busy to notice Qian Ye. But Qian Ye suddenly said, “You knew, didn’t you?”

“Knew what?” Song Zining looked innocent, but under Qian Ye’s gaze, he conceded, “Alright, I knew. But I was afraid telling you too soon would be too much for you.”

“How could you keep such an important thing from me? What am I supposed to do now?”

“Would knowing sooner change anything?”

Qian Ye opened his mouth but had no words.

Song Zining glanced at him and said, “Isn’t this actually a good thing?”

“Good? Ji Tianqing isn’t even married, and she’s pregnant. People will talk.”

“If they knew it was your child, they’d be envious, not judgmental.”