Chapter 1600: I Won’t

Translator's Note: My creator mission posts are up. Check it out if you want to. In this case I basically wrote a small fanfic from the perspective of Ye Qing's storage artifact, Nine Heavens. He never stopped carrying it, you know?

https://forum.wuxiaworld.com/blogs/entry/13-chapter-7-i-am-nine-heavens/

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQ4fMW2kqKS/?igsh=MXFkbGt2cmh2cndlZA==

“I chose this?” Ye Qing looked puzzled.

The Earthly Sovereign replied, “That’s right. This is your choice. You’re the one who chose to inherit the Earthly Sovereign Bell and bear this responsibility. I have never done anything to influence your choice!”

Surprised, Ye Qing abruptly recalled his conversation with the Earthly Sovereign’s consciousness that existed inside the Earthly Sovereign Bell.

Back then, the consciousness had told him in no uncertain terms that inheriting the Earthly Sovereign Bell meant inheriting the responsibility of slaying the Four Evils.

At the time, he had asked, “Can I... refuse?”

“Of course you can.” The Earthly Sovereign’s spiritual intent had chuckled. “But would you?”

And he had answered, “... I guess not.”

Therefore, the Earthly Sovereign had never forced him to do anything. From the start until the end, it was his choice and his choice alone.

“You’re right. It was my choice,” Ye Qing admitted. “Did you know about this, senior?”

“Nope. Our consciousness is completely independent from each other. There is no connection between our spiritual intents.”

The Earthly Sovereign shook his head smilingly. “You’re wondering how I would know about your choice, right? It’s simple. I simply guessed.”

“We are consciousnesses derived from the original after all. We inherited his personality and character. We are open and aboveboard, and we would never do anything like coercion, inducement, or forced bargain. Therefore, it could only be your choice and decision.”

“If you haven’t chosen to bear this responsibility, then that means you are not fated with the Earthly Sovereign Bell. You would not have received its acknowledgement and become its master, much less receive my inheritance. But since you have, it could only mean that you have chosen to accept this responsibility.”

𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

“Is it really that simple?” Ye Qing asked.

The Earthly Sovereign smiled. “It is. Things aren’t always as complicated as you fear it to be.”

Ye Qing fell silent for a moment. “What if I tell you that my previous declaration is a lie?”

The Earthly Sovereign countered, “Is it?”

Ye Qing stuttered, “E-er... no.”

“Then?” The Earthly Sovereign laughed. “Besides, do you really think I’m stupid? That I can’t tell if you’re sincere or not?”

“If you were lying to me, I would have blown your head off and that’s it.”

“Uh... huh.” Ye Qing subconsciously scratched his head and smiled self-derisively. He thought that his question was kinda stupid as well. Who was the man opposite him? He was an ancient one who used to tower above all creation. At the time of his promise, he was worth less than an ant before the Earthly Sovereign. There was no chance he could have fooled the man.

“And if I tell you that I was foolish and arrogant back then, and I no longer want to bear the responsibility because I am scared, can you accept it?”

The Earthly Sovereign replied without hesitation, “Sure I can!”

There wasn’t a hint of anger in his voice. His expression did not look faked either.

“I... don’t understand, senior.” Ye Qing confessed, “You should be angry, so why aren’t you...”

The Earthly Sovereign smiled. “Because your reaction is perfectly rational. The Four Evils are already a major pain in the butt, but now you have to deal with King Taishan’s ugly face as well. It’s just ridiculous, isn’t it?”

“Frankly, I would want to put it all behind me and run like hell if I was in your shoes.”

“Uh... huh.”

So you do know how ridiculous your request is.

Ye Qing couldn’t help but ask, “But if I did run away, aren’t you worried that the Four Evils would break out of their seals and ravage humanity?”

The Earthly Sovereign laughed. “What’s there to be worried about?”

Just when Ye Qing thought that the Earthly Sovereign would explain how he had already prepared a backup plan or trump card that would resolve everything perfectly, the old man said, “If Butcher Zhang dies, does that mean that everyone can only eat hairy pigs from now? If the world doesn’t have you and me, does that mean that humanity is completely helpless against the Four Evils?”

“No. No they are not. After all, we no longer live in the ancient era. Back then, Strangers were everywhere, and gods and Buddhas were the orthodox ways. Humanity is weak and small, and even taking a single step forward costs tremendous amounts of effort. That is why people like me had to stand up and carry the fate of the entire humanity all by ourselves.”

“But it’s different now. Today humans are the dominant species, and countless geniuses and talents are being born every day. The days where the evils run rampant, and the divines rule the world are long behind us. Even if the ancient Four Evils and King Taishan did return to the world, I am sure that the heroes of humanity will rise up and fight them. They may be able to cause some harm, but I am sure they will ultimately fail in whatever ruination they’re plotting.”

Ye Qing fell silent. He had to admit that the Earthly Sovereign’s argument made a lot of sense.

Just look at the Chief Libationist. He alone had beaten the absolute crap out of the Six Ghosts and Gods. Not even King Taishan dared to challenge the man directly.

Of course, the Chief Libationist was a one-of-a-kind champion that did not appear even once in a millennium. The number of warriors who could be compared to the Chief Libationist could be counted on two hands.

But one hand wasn’t nothing. In fact, the

jianghu

never stopped arguing who was the true number one of the Heavenly Champions Ranking or the world. There were at least five or six people whom the

jianghu

thought were powerful enough to give the Chief Libationist a run for his money.

From this, one could tell that they weren’t inferior to the Chief Libationist. At best, they were slightly behind the man.

The Chief Libationist alone was enough to make King Taishan and his goons work like a dog. If these people were to join in the fight, then dismantling them would be easy peasy, wouldn’t it? Even if he pretended that this group of people did not exist, there were many other warriors on the Heavenly Champions Ranking. Was anyone on this list a pushover? Not a single one.

Every single person on the Heavenly Champions Ranking was either a once-in-a-millennium genius or a titanic champion who could warp the very world around them on a whim. If they were willing to join hands, then King Taishan and the Four Evils would surely be quaking in their boots.

It was at this moment the Earthly Sovereign continued, “Even if the unlikeliest worst case scenario were to happen, and it turned out that humanity is ultimately no match for King Taishan or the Four Evils, so what? There’s still the Heavenly Sovereign and the Human Sovereign, don’t we? Unlike me, they are both extremely adept in scheming and long-term planning. I am sure they have left behind a good number of backup plans. I am sure they won’t sit by and do nothing as humanity slides toward extinction.”

... So, you’re the only one who prepared nothing?

Ye Qing was speechless.

“Suddenly, your burden feels a lot lighter and manageable, isn’t it?”

The Earthly Sovereign gave Ye Qing a pat on the shoulder. “So don’t give yourself so much pressure. Just do your best and make sure you leave no regrets behind. That is all anyone can ask for.”

Ye Qing couldn’t help but nod in agreement. Then, he heard the implication behind those words. “You seem to think that I will still shoulder this responsibility despite everything, senior.”

The Earthly Sovereign nodded.

Ye Qing asked, “How are you so sure, senior?”

The Earthly Sovereign smiled. “Because you are the man I chose. Because you are my successor. Is my successor a coward who would back down just because the path ahead of him is thorny and full of hardships?”

“No, you are not!”

Ye Qing fell silent. He was right. From the moment he promised the Earthly Sovereign to shoulder the responsibility, he had never once thought of turning his back on it. Even after he learned that King Taishan was involved and had concocted a grand conspiracy to facilitate the Four Evils’ return, even after he fell into temporary self-doubt and worry, he ultimately stayed true to his resolve. He never once thought to turn his back on his promise.

He was no saint, but some things had to be done no matter what.

So, Ye Qing nodded seriously. “You’re right. I won’t back down.”

“Hahaha!” The Earthly Sovereign guffawed. “I knew I wouldn’t choose the wrong person.”

The tension and weight that had been accumulating in Ye Qing’s heart all this time suddenly disappeared after he had vocalized his resolve. He declared, “I cannot promise that I will absolutely succeed, but I do promise that I will give it my all and leave no regrets behind—even if I may die in the process.”