73: Chapter 73 A Difficult Choice

In the center of the battlefield, the father and daughter finally calmed their emotions.

Chu Sheng took Chu Qinglian's hand, walked to a secluded corner, and sat on the ground.

The moonlight spilled down, illuminating his daughter's clear and beautiful face.

"Qinglian, tell Dad, how have you been all these years?"

Chu Qinglian leaned on his shoulder and began to narrate in a soft voice.

It turned out that after Commandery Governor Xia Nihuang took her away back then, she accepted her as a personal disciple and brought her back to Fengxian City to cultivate her with great care.

The Azure Lotus Sword Immortal Body has a natural affinity for the Sword Dao, and her cultivation speed is astonishing.

She underwent Qi Induction at eight, reached Ninth Grade of Qi Induction at thirteen, broke through to the Ju Zhen Realm at sixteen, and now at eighteen, she is already at the mid-stage of the Ju Zhen Realm.

"Master treats me very well."

Chu Qinglian said, "Although she is strict, she never mistreats me. The techniques, medicinal pills, and magical treasures are all the best."

She paused and looked up at Chu Sheng.

"Dad, Master, she..."

Chu Sheng nodded.

"Dad knows. If she were truly a bad person, you wouldn't be speaking up for her like this now."

He stroked his daughter's head, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

Commandery Governor Xia Nihuang had taken his daughter away for over a decade, causing him to miss her growth.

But she had indeed nurtured his daughter into a genius; this kindness could not be erased.

"Then what about your mother?" he asked. "Have you seen her since?"

Chu Qinglian shook her head.

"Master said that I can only see Mom when I am stronger. She said... romantic attachments will distract me."

Chu Sheng fell silent.

He could not refute this.

The path of cultivation indeed requires one to be single-minded.

But he understood in his heart that Commandery Governor Xia Nihuang not letting her see Li Zhiyi likely had other considerations.

"Dad," Chu Qinglian suddenly asked, "why didn't you come looking for me all these years?"

Chu Sheng felt a pang of pain in his heart.

He opened his mouth but didn't know where to begin.

In the end, he could only hug his daughter tightly.

"I'm sorry... It's Dad's fault..."

Chu Qinglian did not press further, just silently leaning in his arms.

After a long while, she whispered:

"Dad, I want to see Mom."

Chu Sheng watched this scene and let out a long sigh.

"This daughter is too sensible. So sensible that it makes one's heart ache."

He looked at the father and daughter in the scene, a complex emotion surging in his heart.

The problem now is—what to do next?

A great battle is imminent; Chu Qinglian is the disciple of Commandery Governor Xia Nihuang, yet she stands on the side of the Yan Kingdom.

What will Commandery Governor Xia Nihuang think?

Will she think her disciple has betrayed her?

And how should Chu Sheng himself handle this situation?

Triggered key choice: Father and daughter reunited, where to go from here?

1. Follow me back to the Yan Kingdom. Take my daughter away, and from now on, be reunited as father and daughter.

2. Escape back to Tianfeng Kingdom. Take my daughter and fly far away, staying away from this war.

3. Seek peace. Take the initiative to negotiate with Commandery Governor Xia Nihuang and strive for a peaceful resolution.

4. Delay. Wait and observe the attitudes of both sides before making a choice.

Chu Sheng looked at these options, remaining silent for a long time.

Follow the Yan Kingdom?

That is equivalent to openly breaking with Commandery Governor Xia Nihuang.

Can the Spirit Sea Realm powerhouse's rage be withstood by the Yan Kingdom?

Even if the Yan Kingdom protects me at all costs.

But if a Spirit Sea Realm powerhouse wants to kill him amidst the chaos, it would be as easy as flipping a hand.

Escape back to Tianfeng Kingdom?

Li Zhiyi is still in Jin Xiao City, and Yue Jianli and Lin Wanqing are still in the Yan Kingdom.

If he escapes, what will happen to them?

What about the Yan Kingdom? What about his wives?

Seek peace?

As a Ju Zhen Realm cultivator, what qualifications does he have to negotiate with a Spirit Sea Realm powerhouse?

But would a Spirit Sea Realm powerhouse listen to someone in the Ju Zhen Realm?

"Difficult."

He muttered, "Too difficult."

"I can only choose 4."

Just at this moment, a cold aura came from afar.

Chu Sheng's heart tightened, and he looked up.

In the night, a figure stood in the air, with a faint firelight surrounding her body.

Xia Nihuang.

She stood quietly in mid-air, looking at them with a cold gaze.

Chu Qinglian trembled all over and subconsciously blocked in front of Chu Sheng.

"Master..."

Commandery Governor Xia Nihuang did not speak, just looked at Chu Sheng.

Chu Sheng took a deep breath, stood up, and patted his daughter's shoulder.

"Qinglian, don't be afraid."

He stepped forward and bowed to the figure in mid-air.

"Junior Chu Sheng pays respects to Commandery Governor Xia Nihuang."

Commandery Governor Xia Nihuang still did not speak.

The night wind blew, lifting her sleeves.

After a long while, she spoke.

"Do you know that with just one thought, I can take your life?"

Chu Sheng's heart tightened, but he remained calm on the surface.

"This junior knows."

"Then you still dare to stand here?"

Chu Sheng was silent for a moment, then raised his head and looked directly into her eyes.

"Because this junior wants to have a talk with Commandery Governor."

Commandery Governor Xia Nihuang's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly.

"Talk? As a Ju Zhen Realm cultivator, what qualifications do you have to talk to me?"

Chu Sheng did not retreat.

"This junior indeed has no qualifications. But this junior is Qinglian's father."

He paused and said word by word.

"For a father, one can risk their life."

A commoner's rage can splatter blood five steps away.

Commandery Governor Xia Nihuang looked at him, her gaze flickering slightly.

After a long while, she suddenly smiled, a cold smile.

"Good," she said indifferently. "Then I will listen to what you want to talk about."

She descended and stood in front of Chu Sheng.

The Spirit Sea Realm aura rushed towards him, like a mountain pressing down.

Cold sweat seeped from Chu Sheng's forehead, but he gritted his teeth and stood straight.

Chu Qinglian stood to the side, looking at the two of them nervously, her palms full of sweat.

Triggered choice: How to face Commandery Governor Xia Nihuang?

1. Beg for mercy. Kneel and beg for mercy, requesting the Commandery Governor to show grace and spare him and his daughter.

2. Soften. Lower his posture, acknowledge the Commandery Governor's kindness in raising his daughter, and implore her to allow the father and daughter to reunite.

3. Take her away by force. Directly state that he wants to take his daughter away, regardless of the cost of a battle.

Chu Sheng looked at these three options, his palms sweating.

He silently equipped [Strong Luck].

Beg for mercy?

Would that still be Chu Sheng?

In his life, when has he ever knelt?

If he knelt, Commandery Governor Xia Nihuang would only look down on him more.

Take her away by force?

That is courting death.

A Spirit Sea Realm powerhouse could slap him to death.

Soften...

"Choose 2."

He gritted his teeth and said, "Neither humble nor arrogant, explain the reasoning clearly. Although Commandery Governor Xia Nihuang is cold, she shouldn't be an unreasonable person."

Chu Sheng took a deep breath and began to speak.

"Commandery Governor."

He bowed and said, "This junior knows that you have raised Qinglian these years, taught her cultivation, and given her the best resources. This kindness is engraved in this junior's heart, and I will never forget it."

Commandery Governor Xia Nihuang did not speak, just looked at him.

"This junior does not blame you for taking Qinglian. You have given her a better future."

Chu Sheng continued, "But this junior is her father. We haven't seen each other for over a decade, and this junior just wants... to reunite with her."

He raised his head and looked directly into Commandery Governor Xia Nihuang's eyes.

"I implore Commandery Governor to fulfill this."

Commandery Governor Xia Nihuang was silent.

Under the moonlight, her expression showed neither joy nor anger.

"Chu Sheng, do you know why I took Qinglian away?"

Chu Sheng shook his head.

Commandery Governor Xia Nihuang looked at him, her gaze deep.

"Because she not only has the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal Body, but she was also chosen by that person."

Chu Sheng was stunned.

That person?

Which person?

Commandery Governor Xia Nihuang did not explain, just turned around and looked at the distant night sky.

"I have raised her for fifteen years just to wait for this day."

She said indifferently, "If you want to take her away, you are ruining my great plan."

She turned her head, looked at Chu Sheng, and narrowed her phoenix eyes slightly.

"Are you sure you still want to take her away?"

The night wind howled, causing Chu Sheng's sleeves to flutter loudly.

Chu Sheng stood in place, looking at Commandery Governor Xia Nihuang's cold eyes, remaining silent for a long time.

Chu Qinglian stood to the side, her face pale with nervousness.

"Dad..." she whispered.

Chu Sheng turned to look at her, looking at her face that closely resembled Li Zhiyi, and looking at the anticipation and worry in her eyes.

He suddenly smiled.

"Qinglian," he whispered, "are you willing to go with Dad?"

Chu Qinglian nodded vigorously.

"I am willing."

Chu Sheng turned around and looked at Commandery Governor Xia Nihuang.

"Commandery Governor."

He said word by word.

"This junior does not know what your great plan is, nor does this junior know who chose Qinglian. But this junior only knows one thing—"

"She is this junior's daughter."

"This junior has owed her for over a decade. In the days to come, this junior wants to accompany her."

He bowed again, deeply.

"I implore Commandery Governor to fulfill this."

The night wind howled, kicking up dust all over the sky.

Commandery Governor Xia Nihuang looked at him, her gaze as cold as frost.

After a long while, she suddenly smiled.

There was a hint of complexity in her smile.

"Good," she said indifferently. "Then let Qinglian choose for herself."

She looked at Chu Qinglian.

"Qinglian, are you willing to go with him, or return with your master?"

Chu Qinglian was stunned.

She looked at Chu Sheng, then looked at Commandery Governor Xia Nihuang, her eyes gradually turning red.

"Master... I..."

She opened her mouth but couldn't speak.

On one side is the master who raised her for over a decade, on the other is the father she just reunited with.

How to choose?

Chu Sheng looked at her, a feeling of heartache surging in his heart.

He walked over and gently hugged his daughter.

"Silly girl, no need to choose."

He whispered, "You go back with your master. When Dad handles the matters here, I will go see you."

Chu Qinglian was stunned.

"Dad...?"

Chu Sheng released her and looked into her eyes.

"Your master is right; only here can you get the best cultivation resources. What can Dad, a Ju Zhen Realm cultivator, teach you?"

He smiled.

"Don't worry, Dad won't run away. When the war is over, Dad will go see you every day."

Chu Qinglian's eyes turned red, and tears flowed uncontrollably.

Commandery Governor Xia Nihuang stood to the side, watching this scene, her eyes flickering slightly.

She suddenly spoke.

"Chu Sheng, you actually... make me look at you in a new light."

Chu Sheng turned around and looked at her.

"Commandery Governor, this junior has only one request."

"Speak."

"Let Qinglian see her mother once a year."

Commandery Governor Xia Nihuang was silent for a moment, then nodded.

"Granted."

Chu Sheng breathed a sigh of relief, turned around, and hugged his daughter again.

"Qinglian, cultivate well. When Dad becomes stronger, I will come to pick you up."

Chu Qinglian nodded while crying.

"Dad, you must come..."

"I will."

Under the moonlight, the father and daughter parted reluctantly.

In the distance, Commandery Governor Xia Nihuang watched quietly, her gaze deep, not knowing what she was thinking.

This night was destined to be sleepless.