Chapter 1374: Appointed Maid
"Brother-in-law, why have you lost all your profound energy? Without profound energy, how did you manage to return from the God Realm?"
Xia Yuanba asked the question everyone wanted to know the answer to.
"This... it's a long story. I'll find another chance to explain it to you slowly." Yun Che could only answer like this. Not only was it complicated, but it was also beyond ordinary people's understanding... He couldn't exactly say that he died and came back.
"By the way, Yuanba," Yun Che said, "I found in the God Realm..."
The words just left his mouth when he suddenly stopped himself... He wanted to tell Xia Yuanba that he had seen Xia Qingyue in the Eastern Divine Realm, and also knew where his mother was. If he told Xia Yuanba now, driven by eagerness, he might very well break through to the Divine Profound Realm one day and go to the God Realm to find them.
Xia Yuanba possessed the Overlord Emperor Divine Meridian inherited from Yue Wugou's Stainless Divine Body. During his years in the God Realm, he had become even more aware of what the Overlord Emperor Divine Meridian truly meant. Although he was in the lower realm, breaking through to the Divine Way was really just a matter of time.
But thinking of the extremely high plane where they were—the Yue Shen Realm—thinking of the Eastern Divine Realm, where the laws of survival were far crueler than in the lower realm, thinking of the reasons why Yue Wugou and Xia Qingyue could not return... After a pause, he quickly changed the subject: "I found some profound arts that are very suitable for you to cultivate. I'll tell you about them another day."
"Wow! Really!?" Xia Yuanba's eyes widened with excitement. For those who possessed the Overlord Emperor Divine Meridian, once awakened, their craving for the profound way would penetrate their very soul and marrow, surpassing everything else. What Yun Che mentioned were profound arts from the God Realm—naturally, they ignited every flame in his heart instantly.
"Speaking of which," Yun Che looked up and down at Xia Yuanba's increasingly exaggerated physique, asking, "Have you started a family in these past few years?"
"Started a family?" Xia Yuanba looked puzzled. "No, why would I want to start a family?"
"...Forget it, pretend I didn't ask." Yun Che's face was filled with worry. In terms of age, Xia Yuanba was only one year younger than him. His own child was already eleven years old, but Xia Yuanba seemed to have not even touched a woman—and apparently had no interest either!?
As the Holy Emperor of the Huangji Sacred Domain and one of the top big shots on the Tian Xuan Continent, this was practically a disgrace to all Holy Emperors through the ages!!
Back then, Mo Li said that once the Overlord Emperor Divine Meridian awakened, the person would become completely obsessed with the profound way... It was indeed correct!
"Xue'er, Caiyi, I also obtained the complete divine scriptures of the Phoenix Ode Scripture and the Golden Crow World-Incinerating Record in the God Realm. I'll teach them to you when the time comes."
"Ah?" Feng Xue'er exclaimed in surprise. "Complete... Phoenix Ode Scripture?"
"Yes, the complete Phoenix Ode Scripture has a total of ten levels. In the God Realm, there was a star realm called the Yan Shen Realm, and I met a Phoenix soul spirit there. It was the one who bestowed the complete Phoenix Ode Scripture."
Not only had he obtained the complete divine scriptures of Phoenix and Golden Crow, but he had also cultivated their most extreme divine techniques—Splendid World Red Lotus and Nine Suns Heavenly Wrath... Yet all that had turned to smoke and clouds.
"We'll talk about these later." Xiao Yaohou didn't show any obvious excitement. "Let's return to the Demon Emperor City first and see Father and Mother."
"...!" Yun Che's heart surged. He turned his gaze and asked, "Father and Mother... do they know I'm back?"
"Before I arrived, I sent them a sound transmission," Xiao Yaohou said. "They must be eagerly waiting right now."
"Good!" Yun Che stood up and took Yun Wuxin's hand. "Xin'er, I'll take you to meet your grandparents."
Chu Yuechan's gaze flickered slightly. "I... want to go see the Bing Yun Fairy Palace."
Yun Che was startled at first, then a faint smile curled at the corner of his mouth. For someone with Chu Yuechan's temperament, she could actually be timid sometimes. He stepped forward and firmly grasped her hand. "I'll go with you to the Bing Yun Fairy Palace, but before that, going together to meet Father and Mother is the most important thing. Otherwise, my mother will scold me to death."
Chu Yuechan softly tried to pull her hand away, but found herself unable to resist any longer.
"Benefactor Brother," Feng Xian'er suddenly spoke up at this moment, her voice small and timid. "C-can I... go with you to the Huan Yao Realm?"
"Eh?" Yun Che was slightly stunned, then said, "Of course you can. I've said it before—if you want to find me in the Demon Emperor City, you can come anytime."
"I mean..." Feng Xian'er lowered her head, her fingers nervously twisting her sash. "Lord Phoenix God ordered me... from now on... to be your personal maidservant, to protect you at all times... until the end of its existence."
Having said this with great difficulty, her head was already hanging down to her chest, not daring to lift it for a long time.
Xiao Yaohou: "?"
Su Linger: (￣.￣)?
Xiao Lingxi: "...Eh?"
Feng Xue'er: "→_→?"
Chu Yuechan: "..."
Xia Yuanba: (⊙o⊙)...
"..." Yun Che scratched the tip of his nose and glanced at the reactions of the women present. He said rather cautiously, "Your Lord Phoenix God probably doesn't explore the outside world much. The Yun Clan I belong to is the strongest Guardian Clan in the Huan Yao Realm; no one dares to provoke us. As for the Tian Xuan Continent, the Huangji Sacred Domain is Yuanba's, the Phoenix God Sect is Xue'er's, and the Bing Yun Fairy Palace... well, I guess it counts as mine? So whether it's the Tian Xuan Continent or the Huan Yao Realm, I think it's hard for any danger to befall me."
Feng Xian'er: "..."
"Moreover, you are a Phoenix descendant. With such an identity, there is no one in this world worthy of making you their maidservant." Yun Che said, while secretly thinking to himself: Make a Phoenix descendant with excellent bloodline and talent into a maidservant? Is that Phoenix soul spirit out of its mind!?
But Cang Yue spoke up with a smile, "Although it's a bit unfair to Xian'er, I think this is excellent."
"Hm?" Yun Che was stunned again.
Cang Yue glanced at Xian'er and smiled, "Sister Caiyi is the Little Demon Empress of the Huan Yao Realm and is busy with many affairs; Sister Yuechan has to take care of Wuxin; Xue'er is the Sect Master of the Phoenix God Sect and also has to manage sect matters; Lingxi has to take care of Grandpa Xiao; Ling'er has to practice medicine and save people; and I have to handle state affairs. Thus, none of us can stay by Husband's side all the time."
"And Xian'er comes from a secluded background, with a pure and unsullied heart, and no worldly affairs to bind her. Her cultivation has already reached the King Xuan Realm. If she is constantly by Husband's side, she can both take care of his daily needs and protect him. That way, we can truly be at ease."
"..." Yun Che's mouth hung wide open. Cang Yue's words left him momentarily speechless.
"Besides, since it is Lord Phoenix God's intention, there must be a deeper meaning." And that was what Cang Yue cared about most. She looked at Feng Xian'er with a warm and sincere gaze. "Xian'er, when we cannot be by his side, we entrust Husband to your care."
"Mm, I... I will do my best." Feng Xian'er said, her head still deeply lowered, not daring to meet anyone's eyes... especially Yun Che's.
"Alright, let's settle this matter for now. Father and Mother must be eagerly waiting. Let's go see them soon." As she spoke, Cang Yue gently pushed Yun Che toward the direction of the teleportation formation.
Back then, Yun Che had made the four Sacred Grounds bleed heavily and built an ultra-long-distance teleportation array connecting the Tian Xuan Continent and the Huan Yao Realm. At the same time, he had set up a few small teleportation arrays for their exclusive use, located respectively at the Yun Clan in Demon Emperor City, Cangfeng Imperial City, the Phoenix God Sect, and the Bing Yun Fairy Palace.
Afterward, he had discarded them like worn-out tools, destroying the Sun Moon Divine Palace and the Tian Wei Sword Domain.
Stepping out of the teleportation array, the scene before him was empty. Yun Che murmured anxiously in his heart and hurried forward. Passing through the courtyard gate, he saw at a glance Yun Qinghong and Mu Yurou waiting there.
Yun Che's eyes trembled. He knelt on both knees and murmured softly, "Father... Mother, your son is unfilial, making you worry for so long again."
"Mm," Yun Qinghong nodded with a smile. "Coming back safely is the greatest filial piety."
"Che'er!" Mu Yurou stepped forward, reached out to help him up, but as soon as she spoke, her voice choked. "It's good that you're back. All these years, I have every day..."
"Alright, alright," Yun Qinghong said cheerfully, "Che'er has already returned safely. Don't dwell on those unnecessary worries anymore."
Mu Yurou wiped away her tears and smiled through them. "Caiyi said that your profound energy is gone. That's good too. In the past, you protected the Yun Clan and protected us, your parents. From now on, Mother can finally protect her own child."
"Mm!" Yun Che nodded heavily, his eyes misty. "From now on, your son will stay under the wings of his parents, and never let you worry again."
From Yun Che's expression and words, Yun Qinghong did not find the gloom he had feared. He was both greatly relieved and full of admiration, even somewhat unable to imagine how Yun Che had overcome such a cruel twist of fate. His gaze turned to the Phoenix maiden behind Yun Che, and he asked, "Che'er, who is this young lady?"
Feng Xian'er stepped forward and bowed gracefully. "This junior is Feng Xian'er, personal maidservant of Benefactor Brother... Greetings to Uncle and Aunt."
"Maidservant?" Yun Qinghong's brow twitched slightly, and a look of surprise appeared on his face.
Feng Xian'er's countenance was like a delicate flower, her aura like a secluded orchid. The Phoenix aura gave her a kind of indescribable nobility, far surpassing even the daughters of prince mansions, and her cultivation was also astonishing. How could such a woman be a personal maidservant?
"As for this... it's a long story." Yun Che grinned. He hadn't even accepted it himself.
But Mu Yurou revealed a meaningful smile. "No need to explain. Mother understands everything. Since you are a personal maidservant... Xian'er, from now on, please take good care of Che'er. Consider this place your own home."
"...Yes." Feng Xian'er bowed again.
"Eh?" Yun Che looked up. "Mother, are you misunderstanding something?"
"Everything is as you wish, so what misunderstanding could there be?" Mu Yurou said with a smile, then turned her gaze behind Yun Che. "Che'er, who are the people who came with you?"
Yun Che looked back and realized that Chu Yuechan and Yun Wuxin had not followed up... They were only partially visible behind the courtyard gate, with a little bit of clothing showing.
Yun Che slapped his forehead, quickly stood up, and ran back. He took the hands of the mother and daughter and brought them into the sight of Yun Qinghong and Mu Yurou.
Chu Yuechan had always been cold and indifferent, never caring about worldly etiquette—at least that was what she thought. But facing Yun Che's parents, she felt a timidity in her heart, an incredibly strong timidity.
In comparison, Yun Wuxin was only three parts shy, but seven parts curious.
"Father, Mother." Standing before his parents, Yun Che said solemnly, "This is Yuechan, and this is Yuechan's and my daughter... I lost them, mother and daughter, for twelve years, but finally found them."
Yun Qinghong and Mu Yurou's bodies jolted violently at the same time.
"Yue...chan..." How could Mu Yurou not know that name? Back when she happened to learn of this matter from the women of the Bing Yun Fairy Palace, it became a knot in her heart that she could never untie. Looking at Chu Yuechan, looking at the girl they held hands with, who shared their bloodline, Mu Yurou's eyes blurred instantly. She slowly raised her hand, but her vision swam, and she collapsed backward.
Yun Qinghong quickly reached out to support her... And Chu Yuechan slowly knelt down. "Chu Yuechan of the Cang Feng Kingdom, pays respects to Uncle and Aunt."
"..." Yun Qinghong supported Mu Yurou. This lord of the Yun Clan, who faced the threat of clan extinction without changing his expression, at this moment had a face full of turmoil and was silent for a long time.
"Yuechan..." Mu Yurou cried out. She pushed Yun Qinghong aside, stepped forward, and helped Chu Yuechan up. "Finally... Che'er has finally found you... But how can our Yun Clan... ever make amends to you..."
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Above the clouds, Mu Xuanyin's gaze finally withdrew from Yun Che. She turned around and silently left.
Like a wisp of light cloud that a gentle breeze could scatter, she left no trace behind.