My Beast Is the 12-Winged Angel Chapter 497 - 498: What’s Missed Is Missed

With Long Qingyan's divine position now fully awakened, Gu Xing already held eight of the nine divine positions in his grasp.

Liu Li, Vera, Tushan Yueli, Sally, Long Qingyan, Qing Shuang, and even himself included.

Seven divine positions had now recognized their masters completely.

One more lingered within his Beast Taming Space...

He had initially planned for Lilith to take in this divine position.

However...

Maybe since this divine position hadn't yet merged with the world, Lilith's attempt to absorb it... simply didn't work out.

That crucial final hurdle remained uncrossed!

On this matter, Gu Xing found no superior way to help.

After all, earning a divine position's recognition relied solely on personal effort, with outside help offering only minimal influence.

For Lilith's predicament, he felt utterly helpless too.

So, after offering Lilith some comforting remarks, Gu Xing led the group back to the Human Race's domain.

By now, every Guardian Beast stayed close to him, save for...

Fei Yue!

Fei Yue's whereabouts lay in the Insect Realm, the very place harboring the last divine position.

As per that World Will's account.

She had once selected the Insect Race to battle the Demon Race.

This stood as the greatest accomplishment any race had managed back then.

Yet in the end...

The whole Insect Race met with utter defeat!

Devoid of feelings, they carried out orders with flawless precision.

Such a race could unleash tremendous power in combat, yet it carried severe flaws as well.

Namely, the lowly insects could never rise above the handful of Insect Emperors at the top.

This locked the race's potential ceiling right from the start.

Thus, while the Insect Race shone brightly in lower-level clashes against the Demon Race.

The moment the Demon God intervened...

The tide turned dramatically!

Reflecting on this, Gu Xing shook his head slowly.

Back in the Snow Domain, he had clashed with the Insect Race before.

He harbored no fondness at all for this devouring-obsessed species.

If possible, he preferred to avoid any dealings with the Insect Race entirely.

But at present...

Not only did Fei Yue remain in the Insect Realm, the ultimate divine position waited there too.

So, he faced no alternative path.

Prior to venturing into the Insect Realm, he encountered numerous familiar faces.

The thousand years spent in the river of time had ignited a fierce longing for his loved ones and companions.

Thus, returning to Human Race lands, he reunited with all those who had shaped his journey.

For Gu Qianqian... he set aside an entire day just to be with her.

Before long, the scheduled day for departure dawned.

Gu Qianqian, Long Zhenguo, Ying Bing, Shen Ruoxue, Veronica, Wei Yuan...

All those acquainted with Gu Xing gathered to bid him farewell.

Long Zhenguo gazed at Gu Xing's steadfast silhouette, unsure of how to begin speaking.

Clearly, life in the Alternate Space flowed peacefully, and the Demon Race's return remained unpredictable.

Still, Gu Xing opted to plunge boldly into the Demon Abyss.

He had meant to offer some劝阻.

But upon catching Gu Xing's resolute stare, he held back every word of caution.

He placed his faith in Gu Xing!

If he chose this path, reasons of his own must guide him.

Ying Bing stared at Gu Xing's form, appearing somewhat dazed.

The divide between them widened ever further; Gu Xing shouldered ever heavier loads.

Their bond faded into something more distant.

Now, she lacked even the bravery to approach and say goodbye.

Yet...

Gu Xing appeared to pick up on Ying Bing's subtle emotions.

So, he strode forward openly to her and spread his arms wide.

"A hug?"

With Ying Bing, a lingering warmth still stirred in Gu Xing's heart.

However...

As the days passed onward.

Faced with mounting responsibilities, that warmth slowly sank deep within him.

The longing persisted, undeniably!

But reconciliation seemed out of reach for them.

Ying Bing gazed at him in a stupor, tears streaming down without warning.

In that instant, she grasped the full significance of this embrace.

She bit her lips hard and forced a tearful smile.

Then, she moved closer and clung tightly to Gu Xing's waist.

She pressed her face deeply into his chest, savoring that cherished scent one final time.

This could mark the very last occasion...

The sole moment she might hold him so near.

Vera, witnessing the moment, nudged Liu Li with her elbow.

"You aren’t jealous?"

Liu Li gave the Elf a quick look but stayed silent.

Having shared a soul resonance with Gu Xing once, she instinctively understood the embrace's intent.

She enjoyed a bit of jealousy, sure, but not over something like this to stir resentment inside.

As Vera caught Liu Li's quiet demeanor, she shrugged and moved away.

Since the owner resonated once with this Angel, their connection had surged ahead like wildfire.

These days, she found no space to wedge herself in.

Though initially, it bothered her a touch.

Yet with Qing Shuang's gentle counsel, she learned to accept it gradually.

Whatever happened, she could remain forever at her owner's side.

Gu Xing and Ying Bing slowly pulled apart.

Beholding the girl with eyes rimmed red before him, a faint smile touched Gu Xing's lips.

"You’ve changed!"

From the cold peak she once embodied to a person who wept, laughed, and radiated true warmth.

But the sorrows and struggles endured.

Only Ying Bing herself could truly comprehend them.

Afterward, Gu Xing said his goodbyes one by one to Shen Ruoxue, Veronica, Wei Yuan, and the rest.

At last, he stopped before Gu Qianqian.

In truth, among all present, guilt weighed heaviest on him toward Gu Qianqian.

He sensed her love for him as pure and giving without end.

Nevertheless...

He was an intruder in this form, usurping the original owner's affections.

Because of that, a shadow of remorse always lingered in his heart for Gu Qianqian.

So, ever since departing the National Guardian Academy, he seldom reached out to her on his own.

And this journey to the Demon Abyss carried no guarantee of return.

Thus, he finally uttered the words long hidden inside.

"Sis, I’m sorry!"

Before the sentence finished, Gu Qianqian rushed forward into a fierce embrace.

"No need to apologize! You are my brother..."

"Perhaps, the original Xiaoxing has left this world, but Heaven has brought you to my side, so you’ll forever be my brother!"

At these words, Gu Xing's frame stiffened abruptly.

But right away, ease washed over him.

Yes!

As the nearest to this body's original self, how could she miss the shift in soul?

Understanding this, he drew Gu Qianqian into a soft hold.

"Sis!"

This came straight from the heart, utterly genuine.

Gu Qianqian offered no further speech, merely squeezing him closer before letting go:

She drew back then, fixed him with a piercing stare, and declared with rare gravity:

"No matter what, I’ll wait for your return!"

"You must bring me back something..."

Hearing that, Gu Xing first froze in surprise.

Then a radiant grin lit up his features.

"Okay!"

..."

...