When it came to his attitude toward Martial Soul Hall, Yun Ming paused and fell silent.
Before his memories were restored, Yun Ming's stance on Martial Soul Hall had actually been quite conflicted.
Yun Ming could have followed the Soul Master World's standard path of swift vengeance. In a few years, he would have the power to slaughter everyone who had the blood of the Breaking Clan on their hands. Given his talent, he didn't believe anyone would be able to use the same methods against him in the future.
Yun Ming harbored some resentment toward Martial Soul Hall, but when he thought about his own childhood and the lives of other children in the clan who had lost their parents, and then considered what Ya Li had just told him—that the root cause of the conflict between the Breaking Clan and Martial Soul Hall was Tang Hao's Soul Beast Wife—he found it both ridiculous and tragic. He did not want to continue this meaningless cycle of hatred unless he was willing to be even more ruthless than Martial Soul Hall and exterminate those people's entire families. But Yun Ming would not do that; if he did, he would no longer be himself.
After long deliberation, Yun Ming let out a long sigh. He made his final decision and spoke to Ya Li.
"Help me investigate everyone in Martial Soul Hall who had the blood of the Breaking Clan on their hands back then."
"If they have committed other atrocities, resolve it according to the laws of Martial Soul Hall. If not, then let it end here."
Yun Ming decided to let it go. Since he couldn't bring himself to root out the evil for the sake of vengeance, and the primary culprit seemed not to exist, all he could do was let go.
"Alright, I promise you."
Ya Li gave a firm response.
Hearing the final decision Yun Ming had made, Ya Li was somewhat surprised. If it were the temperament of the Sea God Pavilion Master Yun Ming, he might not have engaged in a massacre, but he wouldn't have let go so easily just to protect his own faction. Living a second life seemed to have changed Yun Ming somewhat.
The Yun Ming who had lived a second life had indeed changed. It wasn't just because of the hardships he experienced in this life's childhood that he hadn't faced in his previous one; it was because his desperate attempt to ascend to godhood before his death in the previous life had helped him shatter the mental seal that Sea God Tang San had placed on all successive Sea God Pavilion Masters. It had stripped away that mask of hypocrisy, granting him new possibilities.
Old An felt relieved upon hearing Yun Ming's decision. Over the years, he had traveled everywhere doing good deeds with Ya Li, and he quite liked this kind-hearted young girl. Yun Ming was also the greatest genius he had ever seen in all these years; they were a perfect match, and he didn't want to play the role of the villain who tore lovers apart.
Seeing the unhappy expression on Yang Wutian's face nearby, Old An overstepped his bounds to make a promise.
"In the future, if we find that any of those people deserve the death penalty, we can let the Breaking Clan carry it out."
To trade a few pests within Martial Soul Hall for a better married life for Ya Li, Old An felt it was well worth it.
Yun Ming glanced at Yang Wutian, thought of the other clansmen, and did not reject Old An's promise. However, he added one sentence to Old An.
"If I discover in the future that there are other secrets behind this matter, I will certainly investigate it to the end and execute the true culprits!"
Old An did not take this to heart.
Having received Old An's promise, Yang Wutian could be considered to have barely accepted this result. After understanding the full story of what happened back then, his hatred had actually shifted more toward Tang Hao and the Clear Sky Sect.
Yang Wutian was not afraid of death, or rather, few Soul Masters of the Breaking Clan were. Dying on the battlefield was the final destination for many Soul Masters. If he were to die at the hands of an enemy in the future, he could only say his skills were inferior. But what Yang Wutian could not tolerate was the deception and betrayal by Tang Hao and the Clear Sky Sect.
Oscar, who had been standing on the sidelines eating his fill of drama, saw that Yun Ming and Ya Li had reached a consensus and that Yang Wutian had accepted the current outcome, so he jumped in to liven up the atmosphere.
"Yun Ming, we've been busy all night. Isn't it time to eat something and get some good rest?"
Seeing that Yang Wutian was no longer planning to leave immediately, Yun Ming picked up on Oscar's cue.
"That's right! Fifth Grand Uncle, you've been tired all night too. How about we rest first and continue our journey tomorrow?"
Yang Wutian looked at Yun Ming, who was changing the subject, and spoke with annoyance.
"I'll deal with you later!"
After saying this, he headed toward the residence of Duke Xavier in the Lockdown Zone. He had been running around all night, searching for people and fighting; he was exhausted and a bit hungry.
Yun Ming sent a voice transmission to Ya Li. After she nodded in agreement, she and Oscar chased after Yang Wutian.
Seeing the three of them leave, Ya Li glanced at Feng Dianchen, who was still kneeling, and spoke.
"Hall Master Feng, get up."
"Your issues will be decided by the Pope himself!"
Feng Dianchen stood up and said shamefully.
"Yes!"
Afterward, Ya Li and Old An took the Martial Soul Hall subordinates back to the Martial Soul Main Hall in Saga City; she still had work to do.
At noon, in Saga City, by the side of Tianmu Lake.
A handsome young man with an elegant temperament was by the lake, admiring the scenery. The lake view was picturesque, with rippling green waves and the blue sky reflecting in the water, making one feel refreshed and relaxed. However, to the pedestrians passing by, the sight of the young man admiring the lake was more like a beautiful painting.
Not long after, a stunning young girl in a white dress with a gentle temperament also arrived at the lakeside. Seeing the young man by the water, a smile appeared on her face.
Sensing someone behind him, the young man turned around. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, and his eyes narrowed into crescent moons, revealing a warm smile as he asked the girl.
"Is everything handled?"
The girl walked up, looked at the young man in front of her, and said coquettishly.
"No, so I dumped it on Old An to handle."
The young man's smile remained unchanged as he praised her.
"Well done!"
As he spoke, he reached out to stroke the girl's soft hair.
The people by the lake were none other than Yun Ming and Ya Li, whom Yun Ming had invited via voice transmission before they left earlier.
Ya Li felt the head-pat from Yun Ming, and her pretty face flushed slightly. Perhaps it was because she hadn't felt it for a long time, or perhaps it was because of their current age; regardless, her heart was beating unusually fast.
Seeing Ya Li's face turning redder and redder, Yun Ming stopped teasing her and naturally took her jade-like hand, saying.
"Let's walk together! This is our first date in this life!"
Without Yun Ming's rule-breaking head-pat, Ya Li was initially a bit reluctant, but she quickly suppressed her shy thoughts and began to regain the poise of the Saintess, holding Yun Ming's hand back as she said.
"Great!"
Afterward, the two opened up and chatted about many things. Yun Ming spoke of the interesting anecdotes from his years of cultivation, his life, his family, and his kin. Ya Li spoke of the moving people and events she encountered while healing the sick and saving the dying, the life she led at home and within Martial Soul Hall, and her teacher, Sky Invincible Qian Daoliu!
After hearing about Ya Li's life experiences over the years, how should he put it? Yun Ming felt a sense of familiarity! It was as if it were his own life from his previous existence! Born into a reclusive family, apprenticed to the leader of a top-tier faction! Regarding this, Yun Ming felt that it was truly wonderful that Ya Li had not had to endure a life of hardship!
Later, the two talked about Yun Ming's experiences at Shrek Academy. When Ya Li heard Yun Ming say that he had caused Shrek Academy to cease existing, she gripped his hand even tighter. She knew very well the position Shrek Academy held in Yun Ming's heart; even if the Shrek Academy in Yun Ming's words was terrible, she was still somewhat worried. Ya Li asked softly.
"Then, are you doing alright now?"
Yun Ming turned his head, looked at Ya Li, whose eyes were filled with concern, and responded with relief.
"Although that was a decision I made before my memories had fully recovered, I feel that it is actually quite good now. Since a transcendent Shrek Academy had serious problems at its core, it would have been better if it had never existed in the first place!"
Seeing Yun Ming's expression, Ya Li knew that he had truly let go, and she was very happy for him. Ya Li's feelings for Shrek Academy were essentially an extension of her love for him. As long as Yun Ming could come to terms with it, the founding and collapse of Shrek Academy were acceptable in her eyes; after all, the continent was not lacking in Soul Master Academies.
Watching Ya Li, who rejoiced and worried for his sake, Yun Ming felt that he was very lucky to have met her again in this second life. As if thinking of something, Yun Ming stopped in his tracks. Seeing him stop, Ya Li also halted, looking at him with questioning, wide eyes.
Yun Ming looked at Ya Li. His gaze was as brilliant as the stars, filled with deep affection, as if it could melt the entire world. Ya Li felt a bit embarrassed under his gaze and spoke up with a hint of shyness.
"What are you doing!"
Yun Ming did not answer; he took a transparent, ethereal ring from his neck and said to Ya Li.
"This was left to me by my parents: Phoenix Seeking Phoenix."
"I have always carried the Phoenix Cry Ring, but the Phoenix Song Ring never found its new owner until I saw you again."
"Awakening my memories because I fell in love with you again, I realized that its owner had long been destined!"
"So Ya Li, are you willing to accept it, and at the same time, accept me as your partner?"
Ya Li looked at him in surprise; she had not expected Yun Ming to be so sudden. At that moment, her heartbeat seemed to stop. She knew she was willing; she wanted to spend the rest of her life with the young man before her.
Ya Li extended her jade-like hand, her eyes brimming with happy tears, and said with a smile.
"I do!!!"
ps: The Yun Ming Returns arc has officially concluded.
Seeking monthly tickets, seeking recommendations.
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: DaoistReader