"Is the Evil Star really that detestable?" Gu Hanxun spoke up.
Everyone looked in his direction.
He continued, "I just think that if the Evil Star isn't Mo Yan but someone else, who was only given the name of the Evil Star but never did anything evil, can this person still be considered the Evil Star?"
Yan Ruyu said, "The Evil Star is the Evil Star for a reason."
"Maybe, just as Gu Hanxun said, the Evil Star doesn't want to be one?" Zhao Shuning, who had been quiet all along, spoke.
Ye Xingchen said, "Sister, are you trying to excuse Mo Yan?"
"No, I just suddenly thought of it and asked. Besides, we're not sure yet that Mo Yan is the Evil Star."
"Sister Ling, the prophecy on the Astrolabe Formation showed that the Evil Star should be born in the Eastern Continent, with thousands of spiritual souls and a millennium stone soul as aids. Now that we've seen that all these have come true, Mo Yan should be the legendary Evil Star."
"Buran, is that so?" Yan Ruyu shook his head.
"Your Majesty, what do you mean?"
"According to my previous calculations, the Evil Star should be a woman."
Once upon a time, Yan Ruyu had wondered if that woman could be Luo Qiu, whom Ning'er had mentioned to him. But what happened tonight really caught him off guard. If Mo Yan wasn't the Evil Star and neither was Luo Qiu...
"This sounds a bit absurd. It's no exaggeration to say that all the powerful people on the Nine Provinces Continent are here. In our knowledge, who else could be the Evil Star? As a woman, who could have the talent like Sister Ling? If it's a woman, could it be Sister Ling?" Gu Zhiruo's voice carried a hint of jest.
But after she said it, no one laughed.
Gu Hanxun said, "Don't talk nonsense."
"Ancestor."
"Yes, yes, I was talking nonsense. No matter who the Evil Star is, it can't be Sister Ling. Sister Ling is the kindest person in the world. Maybe the Evil Star is a hermit who has been hiding his name and has been lurking in the dark."
"This joke isn't funny at all." Dongfang Yuxi spoke up and gave Gu Zhiruo a fierce glare.
Gu Zhiruo was already the monarch of a country, yet she spoke so thoughtlessly. Didn't she know that everyone's mental strength was highly tense at this moment, especially Sister Ling's expression, which had long been off?
Everyone looked at Zhao Shuning. Zhao Shuning gave a charming smile.
"I'm fine."
"Ning'er, don't think too much. You're the one destined for me. The Evil Star will never be you." Yan Ruyu tightened his grip on Zhao Shuning's hand, trying to give her some strength.
Strangely, Zhao Shuning's hand, which used to be warm, was a bit cold at this moment.
"Ning'er?"
"I'm fine, Buran."
"You?"
"Don't worry. I'm really fine. Everyone should kill the Evil Star. No matter whether she has done evil before or not, we'd better strangle her in the cradle. You're the founder of the Nine Provinces Continent. This is your mission, right, Buran?"
Yan Ruyu didn't answer. He just hugged Zhao Shuning and said, "Everything has its cause and effect. Sometimes, the so - called mission may not be able to compete with the choices deep in people's hearts."
"But the Evil Star deserves to die, doesn't she?"
"Ning'er, what's wrong with you? Why are you suddenly saying these strange things?"
"I'm fine. Maybe too many things happened tonight. My mind is a bit muddled, and I've lost my sense of propriety in my words."
Zhao Shuning gently pushed away Yan Ruyu's hand. Yan Ruyu grabbed her sleeve instead. But Zhao Shuning gently shook it off.
"Buran, you must remember your mission. I'll always be with you."
Although it was a passionate confession, Yan Ruyu always felt that there was something strange about Ning'er tonight.
"My brother may need some time to arrive. I have something to talk to Zhiyi now."
Song Zhiyi was the only one among the people Yan Ruyu had found who couldn't cultivate mental strength and spiritual power.
Hearing Sister Ling mention him, he seemed to be well - prepared and nodded.
"I also have something to talk to Sister Ling. I didn't handle some things in Haiyou City properly and need to ask Sister Ling for advice."
The two looked into each other's eyes. Song Zhiyi was quite quick - witted.
Yan Ruyu said, "Ning'er, if you have something to say, tell me."
"Okay."
Although Zhao Shuning was smiling, Yan Ruyu felt an inexplicable uneasiness in his heart. Two extremely powerful mental forces suddenly rushed into Ning'er's body, which made it impossible for him to peer into Ning'er's heart as before. The powerful mental forces formed a natural barrier. Although Ning'er was standing in front of him, Yan Ruyu couldn't see her true thoughts and didn't know if she was hiding something from him.
"I'm really fine, Buran. You should first come up with a plan. Later, when my brother arrives, how you're going to act. I'm a bit tired tonight and want to rest for a while. I'll just talk to this child, Song Zhiyi."
"Your Majesty, don't worry. I'm just a useless person and will never harm Sister Ling."
Yan Ruyu nodded.
"If you're not feeling well, go into the Mysterious Realm to rest for a while."
"No need."
After Zhao Shuning said that, she and Song Zhiyi walked to the other side of the city wall.
As soon as they stood still, Zhao Shuning's expression became solemn.
"Sister Ling—"
"Zhyi, just say it."
"Zhyi has limited knowledge and can only see a little. Moreover, I'm just an ordinary person, and what I see is only on the surface."
"Zhyi, Song Zhiyi, do you know why you have this name?" Zhao Shuning looked at Song Zhiyi with a smile.
Song Zhiyi wanted to refute, but Zhao Shuning continued, "All - knowing and extraordinary."
"Zhyi, although you can't cultivate mental strength, your talent in observing celestial phenomena has been unmatched since childhood. If you really want to help me, don't hide anything from me."
"But, Sister Ling—"
Zhao Shuning stretched out her right hand. Song Zhiyi stopped talking.
Zhao Shuning said, "Actually, I already know what I should know. Asking you now is just to confirm my thoughts."
Song Zhiyi said, "Celestial phenomena are inaccurate and not trustworthy."
"Zhyi, you study and observe celestial phenomena. You should understand best what you're saying now."
"Sister Ling, you clearly know—me—"
"I'm the Evil Star in Buran's mouth, right?"
The atmosphere dropped to freezing point. Song Zhiyi was stunned. He didn't move.
Judging from this, Zhao Shuning knew that her words and the content on the silver plate had been confirmed.
So it was true. She really was the heinous Evil Star.
"Sister Ling, maybe Zhiyi misread."
"Zhyi, can you do me a favor?"