Chapter 75

#Secrets

Behind the main seat of Queen Mother of the West in the main hall of Kunlun, there was a hidden space—a secret I had never known during my time in Kunlun.

In that secret space, Queen Mother of the West had hidden a Stone Mirror.

On the night of June 2nd, Xie Zhuo met Queen Mother of the West in front of that Stone Mirror, without telling the me of that time.

During the day, Xie Zhuo had stood beside “me” and paid his respects to Queen Mother of the West in the hall, but in private, he did not bow when they met.

Queen Mother of the West looked solemn as she saw Xie Zhuo. The first thing she asked wasn’t about my and Xie Zhuo’s marriage.

“You sealed him?”

Over the years, the main gods of the various peaks all knew of Xie Zhuo—some had met him, some had not.

It just so happened that Queen Mother of the West had never truly met Xie Zhuo before, but they were not complete strangers.

Xie Zhuo nodded simply in response to her question. Then he turned his gaze aside.

Seeing this, Queen Mother of the West glanced at the Stone Mirror.

“You can’t hide it from him. Come out.”

From behind the Stone Mirror walked out a smiling man—it was the sly old fox, Qin Shuyan.

“Young Master Xie Zhuo, I’ve long heard of your name. I am Qin Shuyan, Kunlun’s Keeper of Secrets.”

The Keeper of Secrets was a title given to those who served as the gods’ informants in the mortal world.

They were responsible for concealing matters related to evil spirits and sending those who accidentally learned the truth into the Undying City.

As a soul drifting beside Xie Zhuo, watching this scene, I finally understood why Xie Zhuo was willing to trust Qin Shuyan after our wedding.

Because… they were both people who walked through the dark, hiding from the world.

Qin Shuyan, Cuihu Terrace—a place that seemed chaotic and prone to breeding evil spirits—was actually gathering intelligence on them.

“A few months ago, you and the evil god suddenly disappeared from our sight. Both the main gods and us were quite panicked for a while,” Qin Shuyan said, fanning himself lightly. “If not for the fact that we noticed a decrease in evil aura across the world, we’d have assumed the worst.”

Xie Zhuo glanced at him and said, “I sealed him in a magma cave beneath Kunlun.”

Queen Mother of the West frowned slightly. “You can only seal him for now? Have you found a way to destroy the evil god completely?”

Xie Zhuo shook his head…

I, nearby, was getting a little excited.

I had a way! It’s just… the method I knew wouldn’t be available for another five hundred years.

Five hundred years from now, when Xie Zhuo could wield the Pangu Axe again—when he reached the peak of his cultivation—then he would be able to use this method!

Just a bit longer. Almost there!

But right now, I couldn’t tell them any of this.

Seeing Queen Mother of the West and Xie Zhuo fall silent, Qin Shuyan smiled again and broke the mood:

“Regardless, with the evil god sealed and the evil aura in the world decreasing, that’s already good news. A few days ago, those stationed outside the Undying City also sent word—they saw a message from Lord Ji above the snowstorm barrier. It said that the evil aura within the city has also dropped significantly. Young Master Xie Zhuo’s sealing has already averted many disasters.”

Xie Zhuo nodded silently.

“It’s going well for now, but we still need a permanent solution.”

“There’s just one thing I don’t understand,” Qin Shuyan said with a sly smile as he looked at Xie Zhuo. “With such a heavy burden on your shoulders, why would you still take a little immortal as your bride in Kunlun?”

As soon as Qin Shuyan said this, Queen Mother of the West also looked toward him, curiosity in her eyes.

I too quietly watched Xie Zhuo’s expression.

He paused, looked at Qin Shuyan, and said solemnly: “She is already a Celestial Immortal.”

Honestly, when I heard that, I was a bit stunned.

Xie Zhuo, of all the things to focus on… that’s what you chose?

“Jiuxia’s ascension is a good thing. But without your help, would she have succeeded in overcoming her tribulation?” Queen Mother of the West’s gaze was clear and sharp.

Xie Zhuo answered calmly and without arrogance, “She could have…”

“If she could, why did you help her?” Qin Shuyan chimed in, almost provocatively.

Xie Zhuo paused: “She could, but it would’ve been difficult.”

Qin Shuyan pressed further: “You didn’t want her to be severely injured by the tribulation?”

“I didn’t.”

“Why not?”

Xie Zhuo fell silent…

“Have you truly fallen in love with Fu Jiuxia?” Qin Shuyan pressed him relentlessly.

“I…” Xie Zhuo furrowed his brows, his expression hesitant, as if the answer was impossibly difficult. “I don’t know.” He looked confusedly at Qin Shuyan. “I don’t know. When the heavenly thunder struck, by the time I came to, I had already formed a blood oath with her.”

His uncertain answer left Qin Shuyan momentarily speechless. After a pause, he finally said:

“Then you must love her.”

“What is love?”

Qin Shuyan was stumped.

Xie Zhuo continued, still confused: “What if it’s not? What if it’s just a moment of chaos, an unknown impulse? Does that count too?”

Queen Mother of the West and Qin Shuyan both fell silent.

Even I, in my soul form, was silent.

I…

I never imagined this!

All those times I asked Xie Zhuo this question during our marriage, all the times I thought the answer was so obvious—and yet, when he finally hears it, it turns into a philosophical dilemma!

This…

If love is truly this deep and elusive, then maybe I too can’t be sure—was what we had during our marriage just fleeting joy, impulse, desire… or something as profound as “love”?

I…

I composed myself, looked at the confused Xie Zhuo, and suddenly, I understood.

Why he’d ask such a question.

Because in all these long years, not one person had ever given him truly lasting, steadfast, and unconditional love.

Not his mother, nor his clan—all had been cold to him. Even the main god Ji and the people of Que Mountain had only briefly passed through his life.

He had experienced the mortal world, its sorrows, its fleeting pleasures. He’d learned tenderness, read books, walked thousands of miles, but had never felt steady, unwavering love.

He…

Was doubting himself.

He couldn’t fit his emotions into any single word recognized by the world.

“Then… if it were someone else, in a moment of crisis, would you also form a blood oath with her?”

Queen Mother of the West, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, finally spoke.

“Over all these years, Young Master Xie Zhuo, you’ve met so many people—faced so many life-or-death moments. Why have you never given the Snow Wolf Clan’s blood oath to anyone else?”

Xie Zhuo frowned.

Qin Shuyan nodded. “Yes—why is it only Celestial Immortal Jiuxia that you treat differently?”

I studied Xie Zhuo’s expression.

He seemed to be thinking. Thinking for a long time.

And I… I had a vague feeling I knew what his answer would be…

“She…” he said, “is like a dog.”

I knew it!!

Well, thank you very much!

I could guess Xie Zhuo’s familiar style of reply, but Queen Mother of the West and Qin Shuyan were clearly caught off guard.

That single line—“like a dog”—plunged the entire secret chamber into utter silence.

After a long while, the Queen Mother of the West solemnly spoke, “Young Master Xie Zhuo, all that you’ve done to slay the Evil God—we have seen it with our own eyes. The Four Directional Main Gods are all grateful to you. But when it comes to personal matters, I do not wish for you to marry Jiuxia for any reason other than love.”

Right—what kind of Main God could tolerate that kind of answer? You’re getting married, yet you treat your own wife like… a dog?

My spirit sighed in the air.

Although I knew what Xie Zhuo meant—because I… had indeed once been a dog—

Still, to others, his words were likely completely incomprehensible.

The Queen Mother of the West continued seriously, “She is a cultivator of Kunlun, raised here since childhood. I don’t want her to be hurt in this matter. If you… if you’re only treating this as a game, then it’s better to dissolve the blood oath.”

Qin Shuyan nodded beside her, seemingly also feeling that Xie Zhuo’s words had gone a bit too far.

Qin Shuyan said, “Moreover, Young Master Xie Zhuo’s identity is special. You formed a blood oath with Fu Jiuxia. Even if you’re unsure of your feelings toward her, if the Evil God were to learn of this, he would surely target her. It would be better to dissolve the oath and keep it from her.”

“I will keep it from her. She will not know. But the blood oath of the Snow Wolf Clan cannot be undone.”

The Queen Mother frowned. “If that’s the case, and Jiuxia remains unaware, then there’s no need to tell her about the oath. As long as you don’t hold a wedding ceremony in Kunlun—”

“I will hold a wedding ceremony with her.”

Xie Zhuo interrupted the Queen Mother’s words.

“Since we’ve formed the blood oath, she is my wife. There will be a wedding. And I will protect her well.”

Xie Zhuo spoke with unwavering conviction. The Queen Mother and Qin Shuyan exchanged glances. Seeing his resolute attitude, he truly didn’t seem to be treating marriage as a joke.

The Queen Mother paused in thought. “Young Master Xie Zhuo, I am the Main God of Kunlun. Even if you have done great service in eradicating evil from this world, when it comes to Jiuxia—I will not allow you to treat her as you please.”

Xie Zhuo nodded without a word, clearly showing he respected her stance.

Qin Shuyan looked at Xie Zhuo with growing curiosity.

With the conversation having reached this point, the Queen Mother had little more to say. In the end, she merely reminded him, “You’ve sealed that person in Kunlun. It’s best that you stay here as well. Just… these matters—”

“I’ll keep them from her. I understand.”

The Queen Mother nodded. “Let’s hope that in time, you can be certain of your true feelings.”

Xie Zhuo paused for a moment, said nothing more, and left the secret space.