Chapter 1019: Heading Straight to Ice Wind
In the Ice Phoenix City domain, snow fluttered gently.
Yun Che had just left the Holy Temple area when he saw a figure waiting far away. The person had completely concealed his aura, standing silent and still, with a thick layer of falling snow on him, apparently having waited for a long time.
Seeing Yun Che, he quickly brushed off the snow and approached, smiling, and bowed properly to Yun Che: “Senior Brother Yun Che, we meet again so soon.”
“Senior Brother Hanyi, you have waited long,” Yun Che returned the greeting.
Mu Hanyi shook his head and said with a wry smile: “This title of senior brother truly overwhelms Hanyi. Please, Senior Brother Yun Che, do not call me that, or Hanyi will be filled with trepidation.”
“Hahaha,” Yun Che laughed freely. “Very well then. On this trip to the Ice Wind Empire, I shall have to trouble Junior Brother Hanyi to take much care.”
Mu Hanyi hurriedly shook his head: “Senior Brother Yun Che, what are you saying? Your personal attendance at my Imperial Father’s thousand-year birthday celebration is an unprecedented great surprise and honor for me, my father, and the entire Ice Wind Empire. The Sect Master’s grace leaves me so overwhelmed that I truly have no way to repay it.”
“Unprecedented?” Yun Che raised an eyebrow slightly. “There haven’t been such things before?”
“Senior Brother Yun Che has been in the Yin Xue Realm for a short time, otherwise, you would certainly not have such a question,” Mu Hanyi sighed. “Although Hanyi has always been proud of his birth from the Ice Wind Imperial Clan, a nation ruler’s birthday celebration—how could it be worthy of a personal disciple of the Sect Master attending in person?”
“I have not yet had time to transmit sound to my Imperial Father about this matter. I fear that when he hears it, he will be so excited and overjoyed that he won’t believe it,” Mu Hanyi said sincerely. “And if the various nations and sects of Yin Xue learn of it, they will probably die of envy, haha.”
“...I see.” Yun Che nodded slowly. The status of a Realm King’s personal disciple was indeed extraordinary. He had gone from a nobody who had just entered the Yin Xue Realm to a status far above the rulers of various nations in just a few months. This was likely the most exaggerated status leap in the history of the Yin Xue Realm.
“You just said you haven’t had time to transmit sound to your Imperial Father yet—meaning you also only learned of this recently?” Yun Che suddenly asked.
“Correct,” Mu Hanyi nodded. “Hanyi was supposed to have departed yesterday, but just as I was about to leave, I suddenly received a personal order from the Sect Master, so I waited until now. Little did I expect such a tremendous surprise.”
Yun Che smiled: “Frankly speaking, I only received Master’s order just now. It seems Master has always been concerned about Junior Brother Hanyi.”
Mu Hanyi looked up, his expression unreadable, but his voice clearly carried an excited tremor: “So you see, Hanyi does not know how to repay this. Senior Brother Yun Che may not be aware, but the Sect Master’s grace is not only a gift to Hanyi, but will also greatly change the status of the Ice Wind Empire within the Yin Xue Realm.”
Yun Che: “...”
“Oh! Look at me, getting so excited that I almost forgot an important matter.” Mu Hanyi took out a dazzling sound transmission jade. “I must immediately inform Imperial Father of this so he can prepare early.”
“Wait,” Yun Che extended his hand. “It would be better not to inform your Imperial Father in advance. After all, I am going to offer congratulations on behalf of Master. If they over-prepare and it leads to the guest overshadowing the host, that would be unfavorable.”
Mu Hanyi was slightly stunned, then put down the sound transmission jade and said sincerely: “Senior Brother Yun Che not only has astonishing talent, but also a breadth of mind that inspires admiration. Since that is the case, Hanyi will respectfully obey and give Imperial Father a tremendous surprise.”
Yun Che laughed: “When it comes to breadth of mind, I am far inferior to you.”
Mu Hanyi’s smile stiffened slightly, and he sighed softly: “Senior Brother Yun Che, Hanyi is not someone with a mind that encompasses all rivers. Frankly, I am very envious—no, I should say I am jealous of you. I have even harbored resentment for several days.”
Yun Che: “...”
Mu Hanyi shook his head with a wry smile: “Senior Brother Yun Che may have heard that in my years in the sect, the two things I desired most were, first, to become the Sect Master’s personal disciple, and second, to win the heart of Junior Sister Feixue. But in the end...”
“Losing to Senior Brother Yun Che at Minghan Heavenly Lake that day, I knew I was thoroughly defeated and deserved it, but I still held a grudge and was gloomy for several days. Then half a month ago, the Sect Master betrothed Junior Sister Feixue to Senior Brother Yun Che...” Mu Hanyi closed his eyes. Although he seemed quite calm, his tone and expression showed that he had not fully let go.
Mu Hanyi did not continue, but smiled wryly: “These words must make Senior Brother Yun Che laugh at me.”
“No,” Yun Che said. “When the two most important things in life are taken by others, even the legendary true sage would probably not be able to easily let go. I can only feel grateful and admire you for being willing to tell me frankly.”
Mu Hanyi still shook his head: “Although Senior Brother Yun Che’s profound force is still low, your talent far surpasses mine by an unknown margin. It is only right that the Sect Master chose you as her personal disciple. Junior Sister Feixue is a celestial being; in the Yin Xue Realm, only Senior Brother Yun Che is worthy of her. My thoughts of her have always been nothing but self-delusion. I have actually known this all along... but during this period, I have still been depressed and unable to find peace. Now, speaking these words in front of Senior Brother Yun Che, I finally feel much more at ease.”
“Senior Brother Yun Che,” Mu Hanyi faced Yun Che with an extremely sincere gaze. “Hanyi has a shameless request.”
“...Speak.”
“After an Ice Phoenix woman loses her primal yin, her cultivation progress will slow greatly. Coupled with Senior Brother Yun Che’s already extremely high talent,” Mu Hanyi took a light breath, “your cultivation will one day surpass Junior Sister Feixue’s. I only hope... that Senior Brother Yun Che will always treat Junior Sister Feixue well.”
The matter of Mu Feixue being rejected by Yun Che had not been made public. Moreover, Mu Feixue had rarely appeared in the Holy Temple during this period, so except for a few people, the entire sect believed that Mu Feixue was serving Yun Che in the Holy Temple... after all, that was the Sect Master’s personal order at the sect assembly.
“...” Yun Che nodded. “Rest assured, I never let my women suffer grievances.”
After saying this, Yun Che turned around and looked into the white vast distance. A strange glint flashed deep in his eyes.
This person...
“In that case, Hanyi can be at ease without regret,” Mu Hanyi sighed.
“By the way, Master said there would be another person accompanying us,” Yun Che said. “Does Junior Brother Hanyi know who it is?”
Mu Hanyi shook his head: “I do not know, but...”
He turned and looked to the rear. Soon, from the white sky, an ice boat pierced through the snow and arrived. On the ice boat stood two ice-blue female figures.
They were none other than Mu Bingyun and Mu Xiaolan.
With a flash of cold light, the ice boat stopped in front of them.
After not seeing her for many days, Mu Bingyun was as always. She was like an immortal descending to the mortal world, extremely beautiful, carrying a purity so cold and flawless that it was impossible to feel any desire to defile her. Behind her, Mu Xiaolan was dressed in blue, her delicate little face clearly showing excitement.
“Palace Master, could the person going with us to the Ice Wind Empire be...?” Yun Che asked with a surprised expression.
“That’s right, it’s me.” Mu Xiaolan stepped forward, beaming with pride. When she turned to Mu Hanyi, she immediately became much more respectful. “Senior Brother Hanyi, please take good care of me.”
“Yun Che, Hanyi,” Mu Bingyun said. “At the Ice Wind Nation Lord’s thousand-year birthday celebration, Xiaolan’s parents will certainly be present. Taking this opportunity, let Xiaolan go along to reunite with her parents. On the journey, you must protect her well.”
“Yes, Hanyi guarantees with his life that Junior Sister Xiaolan will arrive safely and return safely. Please rest assured, Ice Cloud Palace Master,” Mu Hanyi said respectfully and solemnly.
“Yes,” Yun Che responded, inwardly groaning: I’m going to the Ice Wind Empire to do something important! I still have no clue how to obtain that nation-stabilizing sacred artifact, and now they’ve sent along another big burden...
“Hanyi, you were supposed to depart yesterday. It’s already a bit late now, so take this ice boat. It should barely make it in time.” Mu Bingyun stepped off the ice boat and gave Yun Che a meaningful glance.
The ice boat rose into the air, fast as flowing light, heading straight north.
“Yun Che, what does it feel like to be the Sect Master’s personal disciple?” Mu Xiaolan asked with a face full of curiosity. “Is the Sect Master... very strict?”
“Of course she is strict,” Yun Che sighed leisurely. “Ice Cloud Palace Master is the gentlest.”
Although he said that, his heart was stirring with waves... Mu Xuanyin had obtained the Golden Crow World-Incinerating Record for him from Huo Rulie. She wanted the complete Flood Dragon Heart, also for him. Now that he thought about it, to rapidly increase his profound force, she was willing to sacrifice the primal yin of many Ice Phoenix women. This was probably an unprecedented great cost in the sect’s history. As for a heaven-defying item like the Qiankun Five Jade Pill, even if the materials could be gathered, it would certainly require enormous resources... but Mu Xuanyin did not hesitate.
Why is she so good to me?
Is it really just because I became her personal disciple and saved Mu Bingyun’s life?
“Eek! You can’t say that!” Mu Xiaolan was slightly startled. “If the Sect Master hears that, you’ll be in trouble.”
“Yes, yes, yes, I humbly follow Junior Sister Xiaolan’s teachings,” Yun Che said weakly, but his mind was always thinking about how to bring up the matter of the Qilin horn after arriving at the Ice Wind Empire.
“Hmph, even if you become the Sect Master’s personal disciple, you should still listen to your senior sister,” Mu Xiaolan pouted slightly. “If you truly remember Master’s kindness, then often return to the Ice Phoenix Palace to visit. Don’t just talk about it.”
“Yes, yes, yes,” Yun Che nodded mechanically.
Mu Hanyi looked at them with surprise, obviously astonished by how they addressed each other, and then sighed: “Senior Brother Yun Che is truly a charming person.”
“Tch,” Mu Xiaolan made a small sound of disagreement and retorted: “That’s because Senior Brother Hanyi doesn’t know his bad side... Hmph, in short, he’s a bad person. Good thing Senior Brother Hanyi is a man. If he were a girl, he would need to be careful.”
“Hahaha,” Mu Hanyi laughed heartily, then his gaze became distant. “A man should be romantic; otherwise, wouldn’t his life be wasted? However, since Senior Brother Yun Che has Junior Sister Feixue, it’s probably hard for any other woman to catch his eye.”
“Hmph, he must be extremely pleased with himself.” Mu Xiaolan unconsciously lowered her head and muttered very softly.
The ice boat traveled against the wind, swift as flowing light. Along the way, listening to Mu Hanyi recount the history and customs of the Ice Wind Empire, time passed quickly.
In less than a day, the ice boat finally flew into the borders of the Ice Wind Empire and then quickly approached the central imperial city.
At this time, Mu Hanyi took out a sound transmission jade and directly transmitted to the Ice Wind Nation Lord: “Imperial Father, your son is nearing the imperial city. I will arrive in a moment. There are also two honored guests from the sect accompanying me.”
It was the Nation Lord’s thousand-year birthday celebration. Today, the Ice Wind Imperial City was exceptionally lively. Countless guests had come from thousands of miles away, and the entire atmosphere of the imperial city was particularly different.
Just as Mu Hanyi put down the sound transmission jade, a small mysterious ark flew rapidly from the side, getting closer and closer, its direction also heading straight for the center of the imperial city.
Mu Xiaolan looked up. When she clearly saw the two figures standing at the front of that small mysterious ark, her beautiful eyes instantly widened, and she cried out in a trembling voice of surprise and excitement: “Father—Mother!!”