# Chapter 1127: Illusory Dream
Feng Xue'er smiled: "This is indeed the title the world has given me, but you can just call me Sister Xue'er."
Facing the young boy and girl who had always been in Yun Che's heart, even though she had never interacted with them before, Feng Xue'er did not hold back her gentleness.
"Wow!!" Upon hearing Feng Xue'er's confirmation, Feng Xian'er covered her mouth with both hands and exclaimed in surprise.
The two of them had been restricted to leaving the Phoenix God's barrier only after reaching the King Xuan Realm. It had only been a few days since they first stepped out of the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range. They knew very little about this "outside world" they had always longed for, but the name "Phoenix Divine Maiden" had already become thunderous in their ears within just these few days.
After all, she was the number one person in the history of the Tian Xuan Continent, an existence comparable to a heavenly deity in the eyes of countless profound practitioners.
Having just stepped into the mortal world, Feng Zu'er was far more cautious and careful than Feng Xian'er. His heart was filled with shock and confusion, but he spoke rationally: "Regardless... regardless of who you are, how do you know us and our names? We have never told outsiders our names before."
"Because I have seen you before. Your names were told to me by Brother Yun." Feng Xue'er said with a radiant smile.
"Huh?" Feng Zu'er was stunned, then became so excited that he stammered: "The Brother Yun you mentioned... is... is Yun Che... is Benefactor Brother?"
"Of course." Feng Xue'er gently nodded. Feeling the Phoenix flame force within them that was still immature in her eyes but already quite powerful, she said happily: "Brother Yun is my fiancé, and we both belong to the Phoenix bloodline. So Brother Yun often tells me about you two."
"Benefactor Brother... he... he hasn't forgotten us?"
"Of course not. In fact, he has always been thinking about you." Feng Xue'er could clearly feel the surging emotions the two held toward Yun Che—gratitude, admiration, yearning, and perhaps even a support for some belief in their hearts: "Three years ago, he took me to visit you, but we found that the place where you lived was protected by a large barrier. Brother Yun chose not to disturb you, but coincidentally, the two of you were being naughty and went outside the barrier at that time, and you encountered danger. That was when I saw you and learned your names."
Listening to Feng Xue'er's words, Feng Xian'er's eyes grew misty, then sparkled with tears: "Benefactor Brother remembers us... he even came to visit us... Wuwu... wuwuwu..."
"..." Feng Zu'er was completely dazed. Three years ago, he had chased the willful Feng Xian'er outside the barrier, and they encountered a dangerous profound beast. At the critical moment, the flame he had flung out in panic and terror had directly killed that profound beast. Afterward, he had been puzzled about this incident many times.
And that same day, the complete Phoenix Ode Scripture suddenly appeared in their hearts and souls.
Originally, they thought it was a gift from the Phoenix God.
Only now did they realize that it was Yun Che who had saved them and bestowed upon them the six layers of the Phoenix Ode Scripture.
Seeing their tears of joy, Feng Xue'er felt happy for them as well.
"Where is Benefactor Brother now? Can we... see him?" Feng Zu'er's eyes also glistened with tears, flickering with deep longing.
Feng Xue'er's expression dimmed slightly, then she gently shook her head: "Brother Yun has already left the Tian Xuan Continent and gone to a very faraway place to do something very important to him. But don't be disheartened. Brother Yun said he would definitely return within five years. He has already been gone for three years. In at most two more years, you will be able to see him."
"Three years... so the legend is true." Feng Zu'er was momentarily lost in thought.
"It's okay, we can wait. As long as I can see Benefactor Brother, I'm willing to wait even twenty years." Feng Xian'er wiped the tears from her face, her cheeks still flushed: "Then... where can we find Benefactor Brother in two years?"
Feng Xue'er smiled: "After Brother Yun returns, I will have him take me to visit you early. I have also always wanted to pay my respects to the Phoenix God at your place."
"Alright, it's a deal." Feng Xian'er nodded happily and hooked her pinky finger toward Feng Xue'er.
"Ah! Xian'er, she is the Divine Maiden. That's too rude of you..."
Before Feng Zu'er could finish, Feng Xue'er had already extended her finger and gently linked it with Feng Xian'er's: "Mm, it's a deal!"
It had only been a little over ten years since the Phoenix remnant clan had their bloodline curse lifted. Hidden deep within the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range, carrying the bloodline curse for generations, they had no deep foundation, let alone abundant resources.
Under such circumstances, these two youngsters had gone from the Initial Xuan Realm to the King Xuan Realm in just ten years.
This could never have been achieved by relying solely on their thin Phoenix bloodline and extraordinary talent. They must have put in tremendous effort and hardship... and also had the support of a deep obsession.
Brother Yun, seeing how remarkably they have grown, you must be very happy.
Xue'er believes that more than half of their hard work is because of you.
Feng Xian'er's eyes curved as she looked at Feng Xue'er's immortal beauty with a hint of infatuation: "Sister Xue'er is the most powerful Divine Maiden, so beautiful and so gentle. No wonder you can become Benefactor Brother's wife."
Feng Xue'er smiled faintly: "Have your clansmen all come out as well? Just as you are integrating into the outside world, there will inevitably be many difficulties. I will inform my father. The Fenghuang God Sect will be very willing to help you."
"Thank you, Sister Xue'er, but... there's no need." Feng Zu'er said gratefully: "Because Father, Mother, Grandfather, and the others are all unwilling to leave our ancestral land."
Habit is a terrifying thing. When they bore the bloodline curse and hid in the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range for generations, they were atoning for their sins while longing for the curse to be lifted and to return to the outside world. But when that day actually came, the long-accustomed isolation, the fear of the unknown and instability of the outside world, and their attachment to their ancestral land made the elders almost unanimously choose to continue living in seclusion.
As for those who longed day and night for the outside world, they were all young Phoenix men and women like Feng Zu'er and Feng Xian'er. The elders naturally encouraged and even urged them to integrate into the outside world as soon as possible.
Feng Xue'er was initially surprised, then gradually understood: "I see... Then if you need anything, you can go to the Cangfeng Imperial City. The current emperor of Cang Feng Kingdom is actually your Benefactor Brother's wife."
"I know, it's Sister Xueruo. Both Zu'er and I miss her too." Feng Xian'er called out sweetly: "But Sister Xue'er, don't worry. The Phoenix God's barrier hasn't been lifted; it's always protecting us. And there are also two—"
"Ah, Xian'er!" Feng Zu'er suddenly spoke, forcefully cutting off Feng Xian'er's words.
Feng Xian'er immediately covered her mouth with both hands, stammering: "Anyway... anyway, Sister Xue'er doesn't need to worry about us at all. The Phoenix God is protecting us, and we will also protect ourselves."
"Mm, that's good." Slightly surprised by their odd behavior, Feng Xue'er naturally didn't press further.
Feng Xue'er left, but Feng Zu'er and Feng Xian'er's hearts were still surging, unable to calm down for a long time.
"Xian'er, let's go home first and tell Father and Mother that Benefactor Brother not only hasn't forgotten us, but he also gave us the Phoenix Ode Scripture." Feng Zu'er said excitedly.
"Mm! Father and Mother will definitely be shocked."
Unable to contain their excitement, and no longer caring whether others would notice them, the two soared into the air and flew toward the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range.
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Eastern Cang Feng Kingdom, Liu Yun City.
Xiao Lingxi lay on her own bed. She seemed to be asleep, but her sleep was not peaceful. At some point, her eyelashes and lips began to tremble continuously, and a faint but abnormal pallor appeared on her pretty face.
Her breathing was also gradually becoming erratic.
"Who are you... Why are you inside my body... What exactly do you want to do..."
In a dim world, she called out helplessly.
[Do you really not know who I am?]
In the world of her soul, another voice sounded—a voice exactly like hers.
But it was extremely distant, extremely ethereal, as if coming from a very ancient era, carrying the vastness of countless years of erosion.
[I am not your dream, nor your imagination. I am you...]
"No! You are not! I am Xiao Lingxi... not you! Not anyone else! Get away! Get away forever!]
[You are Xiao Lingxi, and you are also me. Xiao Lingxi is not the entirety of you, and I am not the entirety of you. Only when I and Xiao Lingxi are together are you complete. Why are you so resistant and so afraid of my existence?]
"No... I must be sick. You are just something I imagined out of thin air... Please leave... Never appear again..."
[You are afraid that I will replace your existence. You are afraid that I will change your will. But you clearly know that you are you, I am me, I am you, you are me. I cannot possibly replace the will of 'Xiao Lingxi,' and 'Xiao Lingxi' cannot erase my existence. Are you willing to have an incomplete will? Don't you yearn for that true self?]
"No! I don't! I am Xiao Lingxi, not anyone else! I don't want to become someone that everyone doesn't recognize! I don't want to become someone that Xiao Che doesn't recognize! Please leave... If you can remain asleep, please remain asleep as before, forever and ever, never wake up again!"
A long silence...
[As you wish.]
[...If one day, you long for the power to change everything, then reawaken this 'self.']
The world of the soul quieted down, and then suddenly a crimson flame ignited. Within the flame was a figure drenched in blood. He held a vermillion greatsword in his hand, his body dripping with blood, riddled with holes. He let out furious, despairing roars, but his body was pierced by dozens of weapons and dozens of beams of light. His already broken body shattered like torn cloth, turning into scattered ashes in the flame...
"Xiao Che!!!"
Xiao Lingxi let out a sharp cry and sat up abruptly from the bed. Her pupils contracted, her whole body covered in cold sweat, and her chest, which her hands were tightly clutching, heaved violently.
Hasty footsteps approached. Su Linger pushed the door open and quickly came to Xiao Lingxi's bedside. But Xiao Lingxi was still in shock, completely unresponsive.
"Lingxi, had another nightmare?" Su Linger said softly.
"Still that same dream." Xiao Lingxi remained dazed.
Three years. That dream, that terrifying image, appeared over and over again.
It was clearly repeated countless times, yet every time, it filled her with fear and panic.
"You're just too worried about Yun Che. Afraid he's in danger out there, that's why you keep having the same nightmare after he left." Su Linger comforted her: "Someone cares about him so much. If he dares to come back late, I'll be the first to not let him off."
As she spoke, Su Linger quietly averted her gaze, her vision blurry as if covered by mist.
Yun Che, it's been three years. I miss you so much...
"Mm... just a nightmare." Xiao Lingxi said softly. After a while, she lifted her head, her face becoming much brighter, no longer as pale as before: "Linger, after Xiao Che left, because of my situation, I've always made you worry. But I feel that from now on, I probably won't faint for no reason anymore."
"Huh?" Su Linger was stunned.
"It sounds strange to say it, but I just have this feeling." Xiao Lingxi smiled faintly: "I don't want Xiao Che to come back and immediately have to worry about me."
Everything was just a dream.
Just a dream...
She looked out the window, murmuring in her heart.