Chapter 55: Reaching for the Heavens?
As Gu Qing Yi spoke softly, her words carrying the weight of the past, Chen Yan felt a slight twitch at the corner of his eye. He muttered in a low voice, “The Domain Realm… is not at peace? This Hell-Suppressing Platform you describe—it sounds like a battlefield.”
“A battlefield, indeed.” Gu Qing Yi narrowed her eyes, as if trying to absorb the meager warmth of the sun. “How could it not be? If one does not fight, one dies. And if one dies… many more will follow. Many, many more.”
She opened her eyes then, her gaze carrying the weight of five years of bloodshed. “I was sent to the Hell-Suppressing Platform when I was fifteen. I stayed there for five years. Only when I learned to nurture my spirit through battle and broke through to the Heavenly Mortal Realm, did I earn the right to return to the Gu Family.
“I remember my first night there. A weapon was shoved into my hands before I could even understand what was happening.
“For five years, every day, I stood atop the Terrace City, wielding my blade in endless slaughter. Even in rest, I curled up in the cold, dark chambers behind the walls, clutching my weapon as if it were my lifeline.
“When the creatures outside did not attack, I still dared not relax. I would sit there, wrapped in silence, listening to the howling wind outside, shivering in the cold, waiting.”
Chen Yan furrowed his brows. “Who—what—was attacking the Hell-Suppressing Platform?”
Gu Qing Yi merely shook her head, unwilling to answer.
After a moment of silence, Chen Yan hesitated, then asked in a hushed tone, “Have you… killed many people?”
“No. I’ve never killed a person.”
Her response was resolute, yet carried an eerie chill. “What I killed… were not humans.”
A shiver ran down Chen Yan’s spine. “The Domain Realm… truly is in turmoil.”
Suddenly, Gu Qing Yi fixed her gaze upon him. “Chen Yan, do you plan to enter the Domain Realm?”
“I…” Chen Yan found himself at a loss for words.
If Gu Qing Yi spoke the truth, then this world had an insurmountable barrier—no one here could ever step into the Heavenly Mortal Realm. If he sought to transcend, he would have to venture into the Domain Realm.
Yet, after hearing her tale, the Domain Realm no longer seemed like a paradise for cultivators. It sounded like a battlefield drenched in blood, a place where death loomed over every step.
Seeing his silence, Gu Qing Yi spoke gently, but with a grave sincerity: “If you do not plan to step into the Domain Realm, then do not seek to understand it. Some truths are best left unknown.”
She paused, then added, her voice softening, “Also… thank you for this—this milk tea. It was sweet. Very sweet.”
—
For the rest of the morning, Chen Yan said little. He merely replayed her words in his mind.
Fifteen years old.
At fifteen, she had been sent into a nightmarish hell, where she had to fight every day just to survive. Five years in that abyss—what kind of life was that?
At fifteen, what had he been doing?
He had been in school, his biggest worries being grades and exams. After classes, he had strategized over securing a basketball hoop with his friends. He had eagerly waited for the next episode of Naruto, wondering how many consecutive shadow clones the protagonist could summon this time. At most, he had felt a sense of disappointment upon realizing that even Naruto, the so-called underdog, had been the son of a great warrior, born into a legacy far beyond the reach of common folk.
And what had the girls his age been doing?
They had been secretly painting their nails for the first time, sneaking off to concerts behind their parents’ backs, grumbling about homework, or giggling over the cute boy in the next class.
But Gu Qing Yi…
She had said: The blood that splattered onto my face… was warm.
—
It wasn’t disappointment in the Domain Realm. In truth, since the moment Gu Qing Yi had revealed its existence, Chen Yan had never once assumed it was some utopia for cultivation.
He had read enough fantasy novels to know the common trope—the idealistic world where everyone pursued enlightenment, where evil-doers were swiftly vanquished by righteous sects, where order and balance prevailed.
He had never believed in such a world.
As a philosophy major, he had studied the principles that underpinned civilizations. A society could only exist if there were laws and an iron hand strong enough to enforce them. Governments, police, military—these were the forces that ensured order.
In a realm ruled by individual power, where no governing body could truly impose its will, how could stability exist?
Expecting such a world to be peaceful was absurd.
What could possibly restrain a cultivator who had gained absolute strength? Without an authority greater than the individual, what stopped them from acting on their every whim?
Certainly not morality.
Morality alone had never been enough to sustain a civilization. If it had, humanity would have never needed laws, nor the force to uphold them.
The first recorded text on education had emerged in Dragon Nation over two thousand years ago.
But whips and clubs? Those had existed long, long before that.
A world ruled by power alone, unchecked by any governing force—how could it be anything but chaos?
—
For lunch, Chen Yan ordered a pizza.
Then, he retrieved a phone he had purchased earlier and handed it to Gu Qing Yi—a simple device, along with a new SIM card registered under his name.
After connecting it to his home’s Wi-Fi, he patiently guided her through the use of the food delivery app. He linked the payment to his own account, disabled facial recognition, and shared the password with her.
This way, even if he had to leave for a day, his honored stepmother wouldn’t be left gnawing on instant noodles.
Once, he had quite enjoyed instant noodles. But after enduring his Seven-Day Great Calamity, living on them for an entire week, he now considered them the most cursed food in existence.
“I need to go out this afternoon. I might not return for dinner. If you’re hungry, just order delivery.”
Having settled that, he installed WeChat on the phone, registering an account with the new number.
A small step in modern survival, for a warrior forged in blood.
“Take this. With it, you may speak to me at any time. My name is the only one in your contacts list. If you need to reach me, simply write a message by hand, or press and speak to send a voice transmission… And here, you may even call me directly.”
Gu Qing Yi was no fool. A figure who had already ascended to the Heavenly Mortal Realm before the age of twenty was undoubtedly far wiser than most in this world.
In mere moments, she had mastered everything Chen Yan had taught her.
Then, Chen Yan left.
Today, he intended to visit Extreme Net Café in the University Town, seeking out its proprietress. The scheme he had laid upon Uncle Qing had already simmered for a full day—long enough to leave a lasting impression of fear upon that man’s heart.
Now was the time. He would go to the café, meet the Boss Lady, and then arrange for her to see Luo Qing once more.
This time, Chen Yan intended to face matters directly—no more hesitation.
After all, now there was a Heavenly Mortal Realm Legitimate Mother residing in his household.
What was there to fear?
Yet, unbeknownst to him, no sooner had he stepped out the door than Gu Qing Yi summoned Gui Geng, gave a brief instruction, and departed as well.
—
A hired carriage delivered Chen Yan to the roadside near Extreme Net Café. Even before the vehicle came to a full stop, his keen eyes caught sight of a business van parked right in front of the café’s entrance.
From within the vehicle emerged Luo Qing, his face still marred by bruises from his earlier misfortune. If anything, the wounds had worsened—grime and abrasions now tainting his countenance further.
But what truly astonished Chen Yan was what came next.
Luo Qing, upon stepping onto the street, did not immediately stride toward the café. Instead, he turned with remarkable courtesy and, with an obsequious smile, extended his hands to receive four figures stepping out of the van.
Among them was none other than the Boss Lady, her beauty as striking as ever.
Accompanying her, however, were her three younger brothers—each exuding a menacing presence akin to wolves prowling under the moonlight.
Chen Yan narrowed his eyes.
He did not immediately alight from his ride. Instead, while paying the driver, he offered an additional ten silver as a tip, instructing the man to linger at the curb.
Across the street, Luo Qing was the very image of deference, his manner steeped in humility, even subservience, as he exchanged polite words with the Boss Lady and her siblings. Only after several such pleasantries did he bow deeply before them, retreat to his car, and drive off without delay.
Chen Yan’s brow furrowed. Only then did he step out of the vehicle.
—
The Boss Lady had just turned the key in the café’s entrance when a familiar voice called out from behind.
“Boss Lady, you’ve returned?”
She turned, her face lighting up at the sight of Chen Yan, who approached with his usual easy smile.
“Little Yan! What brings you here?”
“I heard things weren’t settled yet, so I came to see if there was anything I could do to help.”
Relief shone in her eyes. Compared to two days ago, her demeanor was noticeably lighter, her expression free of the burdens that had plagued her. The joy of having overcome an ordeal was impossible to conceal.
“Little Yan, it’s all taken care of,” she said, pushing open the door. “Come in and have a drink.”
“Alright.”
Chen Yan nodded, following her inside, his curiosity piqued—how had this matter been resolved?
The three brothers offered only a brief, indifferent greeting before ascending the stairs without further conversation.
Chen Yan did not care for them.
His reasons for aiding the Boss Lady stemmed from four years of camaraderie—
For all the nights of free internet access, for the countless bowls of steaming noodles she had served him without charge, for the unspoken warmth with which she had, in her own way, treated him as though he were a younger brother lost to the past.
Chen Yan had grown up without parents, raised by an Old Madam.
It was no stretch to imagine the hardships he had faced in childhood and during his school years—the scorn, the alienation, the unspoken exclusion from those who reveled in their comfortable homes and families. In the ruthless hierarchy of the academy, he had been at the lowest rung.
A kindness given freely was something he cherished deeply.
But that kindness belonged to the Boss Lady alone.
Her three brothers?
Chen Yan held them in no regard.
They were not irredeemable villains, true—but they were men who strayed at every opportunity, forever dabbling in mischief and petty violence.
Who could possibly find favor in such company?
—
Seated inside the café, Chen Yan accepted the chilled spirit cola the Boss Lady handed him. Taking a sip, he listened as she recounted the morning’s events.
At dawn, she had received an unexpected call from Luo Qing.
His tone was markedly polite, even conciliatory.
He expressed his desire to settle things peacefully—offering not only to withdraw the case but also to draft a letter of forgiveness, ensuring there would be no lingering disputes.
A meeting at the city constabulary was swiftly arranged.
There, Luo Qing personally rescinded his complaint, absolving the three brothers of all wrongdoing.
Since their altercation had not escalated to a level demanding severe punishment, and considering they had already spent several days in detainment, the constables chose to close the case.
The Boss Lady had even offered compensation for medical expenses—
But Luo Qing refused it outright.
Not only that, he went so far as to personally drive the four siblings back home.
Throughout the journey, the Boss Lady could scarcely believe what was happening.
At one point, she even entertained an absurd notion—
[Could it be that Luo Qing has developed feelings for me?]
[Is that why he’s being so accommodating?]
Throughout the ride, she remained guarded, engaging as little as possible in conversation with him.
Meanwhile, Chen Yan considered the matter in silence.
Had his earlier warning left such an impression on Luo Qing that he now sought to cut all unnecessary entanglements?
It was a reasonable possibility.
Yet, that he had specifically targeted the Boss Lady’s brothers in his suspicions—that, even Chen Yan had not anticipated.
Still, it was convenient. He had avoided further entanglements, saving himself the effort of intervening again.
With the matter settled, Chen Yan rose to leave.
The Boss Lady, in high spirits, walked him to the door.
Chen Yan, for his part, saw no need to lecture her on disciplining her brothers.
After all, he was but twenty-two, and those three were older than him. Who was he to speak like some aged patriarch, rattling off rebukes that would only breed resentment?
With this chapter closed, Chen Yan turned his thoughts toward home—
Had Little Lady Gu ordered takeout yet?
Yet before he could summon a ride, his phone rang again.
A familiar, weighty voice filled his ears.
“Teacher Chen,” intoned President Fang. “I have a matter to discuss. Might you be available?”
“Please, speak,” Chen Yan replied, his tone amiable—
After all, the previous night’s festive banquet and generous gifts were still fresh in his mind.
“I’ve been thinking,” President Fang continued, “that our previous renovations were… insufficient. I would like to expand the project.”
Chen Yan froze.
“Expand…?”
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation