Chapter 862: Concealment
The news of Lin Feng's return caused an uproar in the Imperial Palace. The news spread like a hurricane, sweeping through every corner of the palace at lightning speed, and even began to spread beyond the palace walls toward Yangzhou City.
At that moment, within the Monarch Hall of the Imperial Palace, because there was no monarch, only two girls resided there. One of them was none other than Princess Duan Xinye, whom Lin Feng had gone to marry on the day of Snow Moon's upheaval. If one were to ask who suffered the most in that battle, it would undoubtedly be Duan Xinye. The wounds inflicted upon her heart were heavier than anyone else's.
On one side were her family, the Snow Moon Imperial Clan.
On the other side was her beloved, Lin Feng.
On the day Lin Feng came to marry her, which should have been the happiest day of her life, an unbearable tragedy occurred instead.
Everything was a conspiracy orchestrated by her father and brothers to put Lin Feng to death. Her two elder brothers, Duan Wudao and Duan Wuya, her father and uncle, stood on different sides vying for power, while her beloved Lin Feng was caught in the eye of the storm, becoming the sacrifice.
That battle left the Imperial Palace drenched in blood, Snow Moon changed hands, Lin Feng fell into demonhood and vanished without a trace. She was overwhelmed with grief and even considered ending her own life, but she couldn't let go. She always hoped she might see her beloved again.
Fortunately, Yue Menghe and Lin Hai never blamed her. They treated her like their own daughter and allowed her to live in the Monarch Hall, her identity being the wife of the Snow Moon Monarch.
But now...
Duan Xinye sat by a river, staring blankly at the pool of water. Occasionally, when she recalled the time she spent with Lin Feng, a rare, warm smile would flicker in her pure, beautiful eyes. That period was the most beautiful time of her life. Even when Lin Feng wasn't by her side, she had a thought—remembering the longing scenes of painting Lin Feng's portrait, Duan Xinye felt as if she were in a dream.
"Plop!" A stone fell into the water, creating ripples. "Sister Xinye, Brother Lin Feng will come back. Trust me." Beside Duan Xinye, Xiao Ya's face had shed some of its childishness, becoming more mature, and she even knew how to console others.
"Mm, Lin Feng will come back." Duan Xinye murmured mechanically, as if this voice was the courage and faith that kept her alive.
At that moment, not far behind them, Lin Feng saw Duan Xinye's desolate silhouette and felt a pang of guilt in his heart. He had wronged too many people, debts he could never repay.
He had fallen into the demonic path and walked away, leaving behind endless pain for those he loved.
With light footsteps, he slowly approached Duan Xinye by the pool. When he was not far behind the two girls, Xiao Ya seemed to sense something and turned around. Her eyes froze, and her mouth opened, but Lin Feng smiled at her and made a shushing gesture. She immediately understood and nodded, quietly stepping away.
Lin Feng walked to Duan Xinye's side and slowly sat down. Still lost in thought, Duan Xinye didn't notice him at all, her gaze fixed on the water as she muttered, "He will come back, he will."
Lin Feng sighed inwardly, reached out, and gently wrapped his arm around Duan Xinye's slender waist. Her body trembled violently, and she struggled for a moment before her gaze fell on him. Then, as if struck by lightning, her eyes could no longer move away, fixed solely on that familiar figure.
One breath, two breaths... This single glance felt like a thousand years, carrying the traces of time, the lament of vicissitudes, and a love that would never change until death.
With a sob, Duan Xinye, who had held back for so long, could no longer contain her pain. She threw herself into Lin Feng's arms, her small hands pounding against him repeatedly. In that moment, she seemed to forget the nobility and restraint she once had as a princess, crying like a child.
Lin Feng held her soft body tightly, gently stroking her hair.
"Brother Lin Feng, I knew you would come back safely." Xiao Ya hopped over to Lin Feng's side and leaned against him with a smile. The innocent girl's smile was radiant and sunny.
"Mm, I'm back. Everything will be fine." A smile appeared on Lin Feng's face. After a long while, Duan Xinye finally pulled away from his embrace, her tears turning into a smile, breathtakingly beautiful.
"Alright, Xinye, let's go find Mom and Dad." Lin Feng helped Xinye up, but upon hearing his words, her eyes froze for a moment, and her body trembled slightly.
"What's wrong?" Sensing Xinye's subtle reaction, Lin Feng's eyes narrowed, and a sense of foreboding arose in his heart.
"Nothing. Mom and Dad went to look for you; they probably won't be back for a while." Duan Xinye forced a smile and said softly.
Lin Feng frowned, looking at Duan Xinye. "Xinye, you're lying to me."
"No, they really went to find you." Duan Xinye stared at Lin Feng.
Lin Feng fell silent, his gaze flickering constantly.
"Lin Feng is back?" Just then, a voice came from nearby. Turning his gaze, Lin Feng saw a figure approaching.
It was an old man with white hair, looking extremely weathered. His aura fluctuated unevenly, as if he were very weak.
Lin Feng's pupils contracted sharply as he stared intently at the old man. His expression instantly turned cold. "What happened? What is this?"
The old man was none other than Yue Qingshan, the head of the Yue Clan. In the past, he was a formidable figure, the leader of one of Snow Moon's strongest forces. But now, with white hair and a faint aura, he had no trace of cultivation left—he had been crippled. Yue Qingshan's cultivation had been destroyed.
"Nothing. It's good that you're back, good that you're back." Yue Qingshan no longer had the spirit of his former self, like a hero in his twilight years, now just an ordinary old man. He felt relieved to see his grandson alive and well.
Lin Feng looked at his aging grandfather, feeling a deep melancholy. His lips moved, and he called out, "Grandfather."
Hearing Lin Feng's voice, Yue Qingshan's expression froze, and a glimmer of excitement flashed in his cloudy eyes, as if he had suddenly become much younger.
"Good, good." Yue Qingshan's eyes even reddened slightly, as if all the past had dissipated like smoke.
On that day of Snow Moon's great upheaval, he could no longer bear to watch his most beloved daughter be killed before his eyes, so he struck out in anger. All these years, he had persisted in cultivating Yue Tianming, hoping to prove that his initial choices were right. But in the end, what did it matter? Duan Renhuang would not spare them. Yue Tianming's future was unknown. Instead, it was Lin Feng who had done everything with such grandeur. He should have been proud to have such a grandson, but instead, he felt only guilt.
Because in the past, he had never acknowledged Lin Feng as his grandson. Yet the grandson he refused to acknowledge had already surpassed his parents and even himself, his grandfather, at a young age.
"Grandfather, where did my father and mother go?" Lin Feng asked the old man, causing Duan Xinye's heart to tighten. Sweat formed on her palms as she stared at Yue Qingshan.
Yue Qingshan's expression also stiffened, and he replied shakily, "Your mother's cultivation has reached a bottleneck. She's just one step away from breaking through to the Heavenly Martial Realm. Your father accompanied her away for a while to see if she could break through."
"Buzz!"
Hearing Yue Qingshan's words, Lin Feng's heart trembled. The ominous feeling grew stronger and stronger.
"You're lying to me. Tell me, where did my father and mother really go? And Grandfather, your cultivation—who did this?" Lin Feng's body exuded a fierce chill, causing the entire space to freeze, becoming extremely cold.
"Xinye, you will tell me." Lin Feng's gaze fell on Duan Xinye, but she avoided his eyes, stepping back and shaking her head repeatedly.
"Lin Feng, don't pressure Xinye. She has suffered enough." Yue Qingshan spoke up. Lin Feng turned his gaze again.
"Grandfather, then tell me, what exactly happened?"
"You cannot know." Yue Qingshan said firmly.
"Brother Lin Feng, don't ask anymore. They are all doing this for your own good." Xiao Ya spoke up from the side. Lin Feng's gaze wandered among them, and suddenly, a surge of powerful Heavenly Martial aura erupted violently, startling Yue Qingshan, whose body trembled as he stared at Lin Feng.
Heavenly Martial—this was the aura of the Heavenly Martial Realm. How terrifying!
Lin Feng had actually stepped into the Heavenly Martial Realm!
Such a young Heavenly Martial cultivator!
PS: Sixth chapter, continuing to ask for support!