Chapter Forty-Five: Innocence in Ignorance

Chapter Forty-Five: Ignorance Is No Crime

“Hey, wait for me.” Watching Keisha stride quickly toward something resembling candied fruit, Yunyang called out with a hint of resignation.

Seeing the man following behind, the vendor recognized the payer and addressed Yunyang, “A fair price, young man, one copper.”

Yunyang could only dig out a copper sphere, about the size of the marbles he played with as a child—the currency of this country. As for how he got it, don’t worry—he’s a technological god, after all.

Curiously, perhaps due to the reserves or extraction methods of precious metals here, silver was actually more valuable than gold.

He caught up with Keisha, who was walking ahead, and eyed the string of “candied fruit” in her hand with a hint of jealousy. “What about mine? Why is there only one?”

Keisha paused at his words, turned back to glance at Yunyang, then at her own treat, and said a little sheepishly, “I thought you’d get one for yourself. Do you want to share mine?”

Looking at the half-eaten treat held up to his lips, Yunyang’s face twitched, but with a sudden resolve, he took a bite as well.

Keisha hadn’t expected that he would actually eat it. Seeing one less piece on her skewer, she felt a pang of regret.

Ever since her body’s ascension, she hadn’t felt hunger for a very long time. Now, this sensation of hunger was something she relished. The food in her hand tasted even more delicious, and losing a piece naturally stung. As for any sense of distaste—they weren’t even eating the same piece of fruit. Besides, Keisha was long past the age of caring about such things. Would you mind sharing with a child?

She quickly snatched the treat back from Yunyang’s mouth and took another bite herself, savoring its flavor.

Yunyang was still a little dazed when he heard a nearby matron mutter under her breath, “Shameless and indecent.”

Yunyang was sure Keisha had heard, but seeing her completely unconcerned, he wisely refrained from bringing it up.

After wandering for quite some time, Yunyang regained his energy and suggested they move on. Keisha, however, refused, insisting on exploring the entire street.

Yunyang had no objections—he was a bit sick of traveling himself.

He spotted a small tavern ahead and, thinking that snacks wouldn’t suffice, motioned Keisha inside.

Once inside, Yunyang loudly ordered the best food and wine, indulging in the thrill of playing the spendthrift.

“I didn’t expect you to be so ostentatious,” Keisha teased.

“Why not? Earth is at war now—there’s nowhere to spend money anyway.” War was the pain of Earth, and for the rich, money was little more than wastepaper. Only Huaxia was faring slightly better.

“From what I’ve gleaned from your memories, you don’t own a thing on Earth. You’re penniless,” Keisha pointed out.

Yunyang wilted at her words. This wasn’t how the conversation was supposed to go. If he wanted money, he could get it easily enough—it just wasn’t of any use. (A loser’s lament.)

As Yunyang buried himself in his food, Keisha joined in, though with much more elegance compared to his ravenous eating.

While they dined, a lavishly dressed young man entered the tavern, flanked by a host of lackeys.

As he walked in, his gaze landed on Keisha (completely ignoring Yunyang), and his eyes lit up, clearly wanting to approach her.

But after a few steps, he froze. He had noticed Keisha’s golden hair. The admiration in his eyes vanished, replaced by a cold stare at Yunyang.

“Sir, why do you, an Imperial citizen, not wear Imperial attire, and allow a barbarian woman at your table?”

Yunyang hadn’t noticed at first, but as he realized everyone was looking at him, he understood the question was directed at him. He glanced up at the young man—pale-skinned, richly dressed, with a group of lackeys—clearly an official’s son.

He looked at the so-called barbarian woman across from him, then turned to the young noble and said, “None of your damn business.”

The young man’s face turned crimson at this, and with a sweep of his sleeve, he sneered, “Typical barbarian behavior.”

Ignoring Yunyang, he headed upstairs. His lackeys, however, remained behind, casting hostile looks at Yunyang and Keisha.

One of them jeered, “You dared speak rudely to the Prime Minister’s second son. You’re finished, kid.”

Without waiting for a reply, he called out to the other patrons, “Everyone out! I’m about to teach these barbarians a lesson on behalf of our young master. The Prime Minister’s residence will cover your tabs.”

The other diners left without protest, gathering at the entrance to watch the unfolding drama.

Yunyang was about to give these lackeys a lesson himself when Keisha, having just wiped her mouth, sighed and stood up.

“Let’s go. There’s no need to make trouble,” she said to Yunyang.

He glanced at her in surprise. After being called a barbarian, she was still this calm? Was this really the same Sacred Keisha who once ruled over the gods of the cosmos?

As if reading his mind, Keisha said lightly, “They’re just a bunch of kids. I don’t care.”

At that, Yunyang lost any desire to deal with them. Doing so would only make him seem petty.

He tossed his remaining coins—gold, silver, and copper—onto the floor, took out his device, and prepared to teleport.

But to his surprise, Keisha didn’t enter the virtual space. Just as he was about to ask why, a pair of pure white wings suddenly unfurled behind her.

“Listen well. Angels are not barbarians, but the guardians of known cosmic order.” With lofty pride, Keisha spoke these words and then vanished into the virtual space.

Yunyang looked at the lackeys, whose expressions now bordered on existential collapse, and stood there, bewildered.

Outside, people were shouting about monsters and bird people as they rushed in. With a wry smile, Yunyang faded from sight, leaving behind the legend of a “bird man” in the empire’s capital.

When he reappeared in an unknown star system, Yunyang teased Keisha, who had materialized beside him, “Bird woman.”

Before he could laugh, Keisha flicked him hard on the head, turning his laughter into a cry of pain.

Crouching and clutching his head, Yunyang heard Keisha say, eyes narrowed, “Only those who are ignorant are without guilt. To knowingly break the law is a crime compounded.”

Without another word, she activated her Eye of Insight, scanned the star system, found nothing of interest, and returned to the virtual space, leaving Yunyang alone in the silent vacuum of space to recover his energy.

Heavenly Angel Nebula, Merlot Court.

Having received authorization from Sacred Keisha, Angel Yan had just returned to Merlot Court. After composing herself, she made her way to the grand council hall.

Today was the day of Angel Yan’s coronation. With a heart full of commitment to justice—and an undertone of anxiety—she entered the hall.

On either side stood two rows of fully armored angels, but on the throne that symbolized royal power sat a silver-haired angel.

She had sapphire eyes, wore argent armor, and draped behind her was the cloak that marked her as one of the Triarchs of the angels, the Celestial King.

Seeing her, Yan’s already uneasy heart filled with even greater anxiety, and beneath the worry, a surge of anger.

With cold voice, she declared, “Celestial King He Xi, you shouldn’t be sitting there.”

Indeed, it was none other than He Xi, the Celestial King who had answered Keisha’s request—the other pillar of Merlot Court.

She gazed calmly at the new Angel Queen before her and replied mildly, “What? Are you bristling?”

“Are you here to seize the throne?” Feeling the contempt in He Xi’s gaze, Angel Yan’s anger blazed, and she flung a heavy accusation at her.

He Xi, unconcerned by the charge, retorted, “I’m just sitting here. What am I seizing?”

As Yan was about to respond, He Xi, still on the throne, interrupted her.

“I ask all the other angels here to leave.”

Once the angels flanking the hall had departed, He Xi looked at Angel Zhui and Angel Mo Yi, who stood nervously behind Yan.

With authority, she said, “Well? Zhui, Mo Yi?”

Though He Xi was Celestial King, as the new Queen’s winged guards, they would not act without Yan’s command—not even for the Celestial King.

Seeing their loyalty, He Xi nodded slightly in approval, though her expression grew more severe. “Leave. Now.”

Hearing He Xi’s order, Yan knew she couldn’t put her guards in a difficult position. They had already shown their trust and support, so she nodded slightly, signaling them to leave her alone with the Celestial King.

With their Queen’s permission, Zhui and Mo Yi turned and departed.

When all the angels had left, only He Xi on the throne and Yan standing below remained in the vast council hall.

Feeling wronged, Yan was the first to speak, her tone icy. “What is the meaning of this?”

Seemingly unfazed by Yan’s coldness, He Xi responded coolly, “Today is your coronation, yet not a single angel over twenty thousand years old has come—except for me.”

Yan now understood the subtext: the elders refused to acknowledge her. Fortunately, she had prepared herself for this and replied with steely resolve, “Should I invite them personally?”

Before He Xi could answer, Yan pressed on, “I know you have your prejudices. Sacred Keisha was destroyed by evil, and you did nothing?”

He Xi’s delicate nose wrinkled in disapproval as she explained, “This has nothing to do with it.”

Yan, unconvinced by her explanation, grew even angrier, her tone sharp, “You also swore to uphold the order of justice!”