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

Previously on My Beast Is the 12-Winged Angel...
Gu Xing returned from the river of time to the real timeline, elevated to Totem Tier Seven after repairing all temporal anomalies with Sally's aid, and unraveled the central mysteries of his existence as the savior who orchestrated the resurrection of the Dragon Emperor, the salvation of Guardian Beasts, and the slaying of the Tenth Demon God. Glimpsing the inevitable Demon God invasion across countless possibilities, he had fortified the Alternate Space's defenses through the Time Spirit Race, sealing the abyss channel to secure its future as long as he endures, though he vows to amass all Divine Positions for a decisive counterstrike. Back in Human Race territory after a mere day's passage, he confronted the shocked Long Qingyan and Feng Ni, then forged a binding contract with her, awakening her dormant Divine Position in a surge of draconic essence and golden light.

With Long Qingyan's divine position now stirring to life, Gu Xing had secured eight of the nine divine positions.

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

Seven divine positions had already recognized their masters.

One more lingered within his Beast Taming Space...

His initial plan was for Lilith to take in this divine position.

However...

Maybe since this divine position hadn't fully merged with the world, Lilith's attempt to absorb it... ended in failure.

The last hurdle proved impossible to overcome!

On this matter, Gu Xing lacked any superior approach.

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

For Lilith's predicament, he remained helpless.

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

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

Fei Yue!

Fei Yue's whereabouts lay in the Insect Realm, home to the ninth and final divine position as well.

As per that World Will's account.

She had selected the Insect Race to clash with the Demon Race.

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

Yet ultimately...

The whole Insect Race met defeat!

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

Such a race could unleash formidable power in combat, yet it carried severe limitations.

Specifically, the lowly insects could never outstrip the handful of Insect Emperors at the top.

This effectively capped the race's potential right from the start.

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

The moment the Demon God intervened...

Fate turned against them!

Reflecting on this, Gu Xing shook his head.

During his time in the Snow Domain, he had clashed with the Insect Race before.

He harbored no fondness at all for these devourers who knew nothing else.

If possible, he would avoid any dealings with the Insect Race.

But at present...

Not only did Fei Yue dwell in the Insect Realm, the last divine position resided there too.

Hence, he faced no alternative.

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

The millennium spent in the river of time had ignited a fierce longing for his kin and companions.

Thus, returning to Human Race territory, 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 departure day dawned.

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

Everyone acquainted with Gu Xing gathered to bid him farewell.

Long Zhenguo gazed at Gu Xing's steadfast silhouette, unsure where to begin.

Clearly, the Alternate Space offered peace, and the Demon Race's return remained uncertain.

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

He had meant to urge him otherwise a little.

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 faintly dazed.

The divide between them widened ever more; Gu Xing's responsibilities weighed immensely.

Their bond had faded into something distant.

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

Yet...

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

So, he strode forward to her without hesitation and spread his arms wide.

"A hug?"

With Ying Bing, a flicker of fondness lingered in Gu Xing's heart.

However...

As years passed.

Confronted by mounting challenges, that flicker slowly sank deep within him.

Longing persisted, undeniably!

Reconciliation seemed out of reach for them.

Ying Bing gazed at him in a stupor, tears streaming down unchecked.

In that instant, the full weight of this embrace dawned on her.

She bit her lip hard and forced a tearful smile.

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

She pressed her face deep into his chest, savoring that familiar scent one final time.

This could mark the end...

The sole occasion for such intimate closeness with Gu Xing.

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

"You aren’t jealous?"

Liu Li glanced at the Elf but offered no reply.

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

Jealousy was her trait, yet not over something like this to stir resentment.

As Vera caught Liu Li's quiet demeanor, she gave a shrug and moved away.

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

These days, no space remained for her interference.

Initially, it bothered her somewhat.

But thanks to Qing Shuang's counsel, she had slowly accepted the reality.

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

Gu Xing and Ying Bing slowly pulled apart.

Beholding the girl with tear-streaked eyes, a gentle smile touched Gu Xing's lips.

"You’ve changed!"

From the cold peak she once embodied to a figure who weeps, laughs, and radiates true warmth.

Still, the sorrows and struggles.

Only Ying Bing could truly comprehend them.

Next, Gu Xing took his leave from Shen Ruoxue, Veronica, Wei Yuan, and the rest one by one.

At last, he stopped before Gu Qianqian.

In truth, among all, guilt toward Gu Qianqian gnawed at him most.

He sensed her love for him as pure and giving.

Yet...

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

So, a shadow of remorse always shadowed his feelings for Gu Qianqian.

Because of this, after 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 hidden in his soul.

"Sis, I’m sorry!"

Before the phrase fully landed, Gu Qianqian surged 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!"

These words struck Gu Xing, his frame stiffening abruptly.

But soon, ease washed over him.

Indeed!

As the nearest to this vessel, how could she miss the shift in its soul?

Awakening to this, he drew Gu Qianqian into a tender hold.

"Sis!"

This call rang true, free of any facade.

Gu Qianqian fell silent, merely tightening her grip before letting go:

She retreated a step, fixed her eyes on him with fierce intensity, and declared with rare gravity:

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

"You must bring me back something..."

At these words, Gu Xing first froze in surprise.

Then a radiant grin lit his features.

"Okay!"

...

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