novelraw Chapter 390 - 126: Deep Bonds Between Father-in-Law and Son-in-Law
Chapter 390 - 126: Deep Bonds Between Father-in-Law and Son-in-Law
"Yue’e, I’m really not angry, it’s just that these two people with a mysterious background started talking nonsense as soon as they entered the room..."
In the main hall, Shen Ruoshi, with the appearance of a wealthy old man, was wiping the cold sweat off his forehead while desperately defending himself, like a death row prisoner pleading his case.
On the other side, "Shen Yue’e" remained unmoved by this defense: "So, just because of two mysterious people, you lost your temper and ignored the doctor’s advice?"
Shen Ruoshi smiled apologetically: "Oh, I didn’t ignore it, look at me, I’m perfectly fine now, aren’t I?"
"Shen Yue’e" stepped forward two steps, reaching out to grab Shen Ruoshi’s wrist: "I don’t believe you, I want to check your pulse, you’re definitely still angry, your heart must be pounding wildly."
Immediately, Shen Ruoshi hid his hand behind his back, assuming a posture ready to sacrifice his wrist courageously: "No, no, it’s all nonsense, Yue’e, you can’t wrongfully accuse... stay back, I’m warning you to not come any closer!"
The father and daughter in the main hall were putting on an awkward family drama, giving Wang Jiu a brand-new perspective on the diversity of human societal culture.
Li Fengyun, on the other hand, kept shaking his head.
In real history, Shen Yue’e had never frolicked so childishly, even with him, her lifelong beloved husband—according to Yue’e, they were all highly intelligent adults, and to act mischievously like children was an atavistic phenomenon in intellect, utterly unacceptable—how could she possibly play such a game of parental affection with Shen Ruoshi? In fact, not even Shen Yue’e, nor Shen Yueying or Shen Ziqiong, the other children, had ever had such overly intimate interactions with Shen Ruoshi.
Following Gu Yueqin’s educational philosophy, Shen Ruoshi played the role of the stern and unfeeling parent from when the children were very young, successfully cultivating an absolute reverence for him among them over the decades. However, Shen Yue’e never agreed with this low intellect suppressing high intellect mode of governance, refusing to cooperate with Shen Ruoshi’s education from a young age, always playing the role of a silent rebel.
Simply put, there’s no paternal affection, no filial piety, this was the relationship portrayal between Shen Ruoshi and his children.
The greater the disparity between reality and the dream, the more it shows how deep Shen Ruoshi’s obsession in this matter was.
No matter how absurd Shen Ruoshi’s actions were in his later years, he was after all a hero renowned worldwide, having accomplished countless astonishing feats in his century-long life, with remarkable wisdom and open-mindedness, he would not fall into such an illusory dream so easily.
It must be that his soul suffered enormous trauma, which allowed the Heart Demon to infiltrate his body, corroding his rational defense, leading to such a downfall.
"So, Mr. Wang Jiu, is there a way to wake him up?"
Wang Jiu pondered for a moment, then asked in return: "Why wake him up?"
Li Fengyun was puzzled: "Why?"
Wang Jiu explained: "Shen Ruoshi locked himself here to use the Heart Demon to torment and test himself. If he can successfully overcome the Heart Demon, he can achieve inner fulfillment, further refine his Primordial Spirit, and hope to make a breakthrough in the twilight of his Immortal Cultivation career. If not, he can spend the rest of his life leisurely in the dream; this can also be considered atonement for his past errors. Waking him now won’t help him refine his Primordial Spirit nor allow him to atone, no matter how you look at it, it’s not an ideal choice."
Li Fengyun nodded upon hearing this: "That makes sense, but with him like this now, I can’t communicate with him."
Wang Jiu asked: "What do you mean by communication?"
Li Fengyun explained: "I want to tell him that regarding what happened twenty years ago, neither Yue’e nor I have any guilt. Our union isn’t just a romantic relationship but a perfect fusion of two Immortal Dao paths. My Wind and Cloud Divinity Transformation Technique, the Sword God Body, all reached Great Success because of Yue’e, and I believe this must be a noteworthy feat driving the advancement of Immortal Dao civilization, deserving of remembrance in the Xiangzhou Immortal Cultivation history. As for the subsequent tragedy, we have come to terms with it, and I hope he won’t persist in this matter any longer."
Wang Jiu then asked: "Do you think he’ll accept your words?"
Li Fengyun pondered, then said: "If he possessed Yue’e’s extraordinary rational thinking ability, there’s no reason he wouldn’t accept it... but given my father-in-law’s usual temperament, he probably can’t accept it."
Wang Jiu continued to ask: "Since you know he can’t accept it, why did you come?"
Li Fengyun replied: "Whether or not my father-in-law is willing to accept is one thing; whether or not I try to express myself is another." After a pause, he said, "This is also the principle Yue’e taught me back then."
Wang Jiu said: "Since you don’t care if the other person can accept it, your so-called communication is just a unilateral expression of opinion, so why do you care if he’s awake or not? Just say what you want to say and leave, don’t disturb Shen Ruoshi’s personal cultivation."
Li Fengyun was silent for a long time and nodded, "It makes sense, sorry I didn’t think of this earlier, give me a moment, and we’ll leave right after I finish speaking."
Then, Li Fengyun took two steps forward and candidly said, "Yue’e and I are truly in love. Because of this love, our lives finally have true meaning. We do not indulge in mere physical pleasures of men and women, nor do we dwell in the simple happiness of a single home. Instead, we combine our wisdom and experience to dedicate our lives to advancing the Xiangzhou Immortal Dao. Now, everything I possess is related to Yue’e; her life has integrated with my True Essence, my Primordial Spirit, and my Three Souls and Seven Spirits, becoming inseparable."
After speaking, Li Fengyun cupped his hands towards Shen Ruoshi, "Though our love holds regrets, it is without resentment or remorse. Even if we lived a thousand or ten thousand times over, we would make the same choice. Father-in-law, forgive my boldness, but one’s life is not measured by its length alone; this is the belief Yue’e and I share. Therefore, please respect Yue’e’s choice and let go of this matter."
Finished speaking, Li Fengyun turned around and said to Wang Jiu, "I’ve said my piece, let’s go."
Behind them, Shen Ruoshi remained immersed in playful banter with his daughter, completely indifferent to what Li Fengyun had said.
——
After the two left Shen Ruoshi’s home, they soon reached the edge of the small town.
The Heart Demon Illusion Realm is not boundless. Once you leave the town, it doesn’t take long to see a clear boundary— the forest.
The town is situated within a dense forest, connected to the outside world by only two stone roads, where traders regularly come to exchange goods. Yet, in reality, the town’s residents never venture into the forest, nor do they take the stone roads out. Their activities are confined to the town’s limits, never stepping beyond the Thunder Pool— for beyond the forest lies reality, and for those in the dream to enter reality spells certain death.
Wang Jiu and Li Fengyun, as outsiders, naturally aren’t bound by this rule; crossing the forest would return them to reality. Yet just as they were about to cross it, Wang Jiu suddenly stopped in his tracks.
Li Fengyun, moving almost in sync, turned his head to ask, "What’s wrong?"
"...Due to Shen Ruoshi just being stimulated by external information, the structure of the illusion has changed again. Now, Shen Ruoshi’s immersion rate has exceeded 90%," Wang Jiu replied.
Li Fengyun asked, "What does an immersion rate over 90% mean?"
Wang Jiu said, "Without external assistance, the person will not be able to wake from the dream. In other words, Shen Ruoshi’s plan to conquer his Heart Demon and forge his Primordial Spirit has failed."
"Truly regrettable." Li Fengyun said and stepped forward.
However, the next moment, the scene before him blurred, and instead of returning to reality, he once again saw Shen Ruoshi’s small town.
The small town before him, the forest behind him— it was as if he had simply turned around in place. Stunned, Li Fengyun heard Wang Jiu’s voice from behind.
"Moreover, when the immersion rate exceeds 90%, the illusion becomes completely sealed off, isolated from the outside world. Unless the illusion is shattered, or one masters the Dao of Dream Realization, allowing free passage between illusion and reality, anyone entering the illusion realm will be unable to leave." Wang Jiu continued, summarizing in a way Li Fengyun could understand, "We’re trapped here."
Li Fengyun activated his Spiritual Vision, carefully observing his surroundings. Indeed, the temporal and spatial structures within the illusion now seemed entirely foreign to him. He asked, "Mr. Wang Jiu, what should we do now?"
This was where Wang Jiu’s expertise lay.
"There are three options. First, I guide you in the cultivation of the Dream Realization Dao. With your innate talent and my teaching ability, I optimistically estimate you could succeed in just 30 years."
Li Fengyun hesitated, "Achieving the legendary Dao in thirty years would indeed be a rare chance for a cultivator like myself, but staying thirty years in the illusion realm..."
Wang Jiu replied, "If you wish for efficiency, your second option is to completely blood-sacrifice yourself, using all of your True Essence, Primordial Spirit, and Magical Treasures to enhance my Sword World. It would take roughly two days for me to gain the strength to break the illusion." Saying this, Wang Jiu looked encouragingly at Li Fengyun.
Li Fengyun, deep in thought, was genuinely curious about the enhanced Celestial Divine Sword but wasn’t foolish enough to sacrifice his own flesh and blood to refine the Divine Sword. He quickly changed the topic, "Let’s consider the third option."
"The third option requires some finesse— using the power of the illusion’s master to break it. Generally, this involves creating a logical paradox within the illusion, causing it to lose coherence. The resulting momentum would instantly collapse the illusion."
Hearing this, Li Fengyun pondered for a moment and nodded, "I understand. It’s about making the illusion’s master realize that everything seems too unreal, prompting the entire illusion to collapse... In other words, we have to make Shen Ruoshi realize that his daughter couldn’t possibly be so adorable!"