# Chapter 1883: Lanji Snow Heart
Lan Ji Star, Tian Xuan Continent, Shenhuang Empire.
Within this Shenhuang Forbidden Ground that no one could approach, a massive crimson barrier had opened.
What surged and churned within the barrier was phoenix flame sufficient to incinerate the entire Shenhuang Empire. Even with the barrier isolating it, the blazing flame radiance dyed the sky as if soaked in blood.
Boom!!
Phoenix flames collided and burst, followed by a piercing phoenix cry that tore through the air. Then the sea of flame parted, and a streak of flame light flew into the distance. As the flames on her body rapidly extinguished, she revealed a slender, graceful maiden's figure.
Before her, the phoenix flame light also faded, revealing a woman's figure of peerless beauty, like an immortal illusion. Her red robes settled, and the crimson flame on her jade-white hand slowly died out. The corner of her lips curved into a faint smile capable of instantly bewitching all living beings: "Excellent. Wuxin, ever since your state of mind changed, your progress in the Phoenix Ode Scripture over these past six months has been astonishing. Before long, I won't need to teach you anything more."
The moment her words fell, a scorching wind suddenly rose. Yun Wuxin was clearly nearing the exhaustion of her profound force, yet the phoenix flame light on her body stubbornly reignited: "Master, I... can still continue."
Her faint smile slightly receded. Feng Xue'er spoke slowly: "You've been pushing yourself so hard lately. Are you planning to go to the Shen Realm to find your father again?"
"No!" Yun Wuxin clenched her hands, her jade teeth tight: "I just want... after he returns... to hit him harder... the more painful, the better!"
Feng Xue'er shook her head. Her figure drifted slowly as she walked before Yun Wuxin, a half-smile on her face: "Wuxin, when you see him, you'll be too overwhelmed with excitement to even think about hitting him. Since you've already decided to obediently wait for his return, don't torment yourself like this. After all, the day after tomorrow is your twentieth birthday. If you accidentally hurt yourself, many people will be worried."
"Hmph!" Yun Wuxin lowered her beautiful eyes and bit her lip lightly: "He can't see it... and he certainly won't worry."
Feng Xue'er: "..."
"Master," Yun Wuxin raised her head and suddenly asked softly: "It's been five years, and he still hasn't returned. You... do you really... not resent him?"
"No resentment."
The answer Yun Wuxin received came without a single hesitation—two gentle words, filled only with deep concern, but not a trace of blame.
"Not even... a little?" Yun Wuxin murmured.
"Not a single bit."
Feng Xue'er's reply was still calm and gentle. She spoke slowly: "Because there's one thing I'm very certain of. Even if it were not just five years, but a hundred years, a thousand years... and he still hadn't returned, it could only be because he was bound by unavoidable circumstances, never because he had abandoned us."
Yun Wuxin was stunned for a moment, then said softly: "Mother is like this, and Master is the same... Whenever it concerns Father, why... do you both become so foolish?"
Feng Xue'er shook her head with a faint smile and said: "He once risked trapping himself in the Primordial Mystic Ark for my sake... Back then, in the Dragon God Trial Realm, months passed, step by step between life and death. But even when he was only half a step away from death, he refused to let go of your mother."
"Every love, hate, kindness, and grievance in this world has its reason. Your mother and I know exactly what kind of person your father is. You say we're foolish—in truth, in many ways, your father is the most foolish person in this world... And that's why so many women are willing to give him their hearts for a lifetime."
"..." As she spoke softly, Feng Xue'er's vision suddenly blurred. Her peerlessly beautiful phoenix eyes quickly became hazy, like a dream veiled in mist.
"Master?" Sensing her master's suddenly disordered aura, Yun Wuxin looked up in surprise: "You... are you worried about him again?"
Feng Xue'er unconsciously reached out and grasped Yun Wuxin's slender wrist, as if seeking a real support amidst her daze.
"Wuxin, on your twentieth birthday... you will surely receive the best gift."
"As long as it's a gift from Master, no matter what it is, I will..."
The whisper was like a dream beside her ear. Her uncontrolled aura caused Feng Xue'er's crimson robe ribbons to flutter, brushing against her cheek.
At that moment, her heart and soul shook violently. Her body turned around almost before her consciousness did.
The phoenix barrier that isolated everything had somehow gained an extra figure.
Still clad in white robes, black hair like night. Eyebrows carved like swords, but his eyes were so gentle they seemed to seep directly into one's heart. At the corner of his lips was that faint smile he always liked to curve when facing her.
Everything was as she remembered, exactly the same as back then, as if the separation had only been yesterday.
His feet truly stepped onto the soil of Lan Ji Star, his gaze filled with the figures of Feng Xue'er and Yun Wuxin so close before him. Even though he had rehearsed this moment countless times in his heart, the surging of his soul was still so intense that it nearly spiraled out of control.
Slowly, he extended his arms, his lips moving gently: "Xue'er, Wuxin... I'm back."
"..." Yun Wuxin stood frozen, her entire body stiff, utterly unresponsive.
Feng Xue'er stepped forward but stopped there. Her jade hand pressed on Yun Wuxin's slightly trembling shoulder, giving her a gentle push.
A warm breeze blew, pushing the bewildered Yun Wuxin forward, crashing heavily into Yun Che's chest.
Yun Che's arms closed in, holding Yun Wuxin tightly against his chest... At that moment, it was as if all the warmth of the entire world poured generously into his entire being.
All the pain and cruelty he had experienced over these years melted into smoke that would never wound his soul again.
One breath... two breaths... Yun Wuxin suddenly began to struggle. Her clenched fists flailed wildly, accompanied by chaotic sobs from her mouth.
Yun Che's arms held firmly and gently, refusing to let her break free from his embrace no matter how she struggled.
Finally, Yun Wuxin's struggling strength grew weaker. Her hands stopped at Yun Che's waist, her head resting against his chest. The chaotic sobs turned into a wail she could no longer suppress...
And all the emotions she had accumulated over these years were ignited by that wail. She had no more strength to struggle. Her entire body went limp against her father's chest as she burst into loud, unrestrained crying.
Five years of worry, longing, fear, resentment... poured out like crazily falling crystal pearls, quickly soaking Yun Che's chest.
The Yun Wuxin of now was no longer the naive young girl of the past. As Yun Che's only daughter and a cultivator of the divine path, she undoubtedly held the highest status on Lan Ji Star, revered and awed by all living beings.
Before her family, she was gentle and elegant. In the eyes of the world, she was as proud and cold as snow, just like her mother—so much that people dared not even let their gaze carry even a hint of disrespect when looking from afar.
But before her father, she seemed to have instantly become that young girl again, crying as if the sky were falling.
Feng Xue'er walked over slowly. She gazed at Yun Che's face... and finally, her eyes settled on his.
Five years apart—he appeared unchanged.
But...
Once, his eyes were like the vast starry night, deep and mysterious, making her curious and entranced. Now, his still pitch-black eyes were like endless black holes in the starry sky. With a single thought, they could instantly pull in all the souls of the world.
Her heart pained sharply. She couldn't imagine what he had experienced in these five years to cause such a drastic change in so short a time.
Suddenly, a hand firmly grasped her slender wrist. Their four eyes met. His gaze was tender, carrying deep guilt: "Xue'er, these years... I've made you worry again."
Feng Xue'er gently shook her head, her beautiful eyes veiled in mist, a faint smile on her jade lips: "Your safe return is worth more than anything in this world. Grandfather... Mother and Father... all of us... are all very, very well."
"Mm..." Yun Che managed to force out one word with difficulty, then tried to suppress the accompanying tremor in his voice. He raised his arm and cupped Yun Wuxin's cheek with one hand, looking at her tear-streaked face, murmuring: "My Wuxin has also grown up."
From birth to twenty years old, a girl undergoes beautiful growth and change every year—one of the most wonderful miracles bestowed by nature upon this world.
But... he had missed seventeen whole years.
And it was a permanent loss, forever impossible to make up for.
Yun Wuxin's face was completely drenched in tears, and her body was so weak from crying that she nearly collapsed. She was full of resentment and anger, and had planned to hit him as hard as she could when she saw him.
But looking at her father, so close, holding her and refusing to let go, there was nothing in her heart but joy and uncontrollable sobbing... nothing else at all.
"Are you... going to leave... again?"
The sob that finally escaped her lips was not the angry tone she had rehearsed so many times, but the fear that he would leave again.
Yun Che slowly, but with unwavering firmness, shook his head: "No. Never again. I promise."
"Wuu... hmph..." Yun Wuxin tried her hardest to stop her sobbing: "Your promises... never count..."
"..." Yun Che's heart ached. His lips trembled as he looked into Yun Wuxin's eyes and said extremely softly: "Trust me one more time, okay? Because this time, there is nothing in this world that can force me to leave you."
---
Far above in the sky, two female figures stood in the distance.
"It seems our arrival was somewhat unnecessary." Chi Wuyue smiled faintly. "A reunion moment—having two superfluous people would only spoil the mood. Let's save the visit for Wuxin's birthday."
As she spoke, she sighed: "That little Wuxin from back then has grown so big now."
The Qianye Ying'er beside her did not respond.
Chi Wuyue glanced sideways: "You weren't touched by this, were you?"
"..." Qianye Ying'er's brow twitched slightly, clearly just snapping back to reality. She said coldly: "Some people treat their daughters like treasures, while others discard them like worn-out shoes. Human nature—truly interesting."
"Even more interesting is that I spent my whole life trying to become someone like Qianye Fantian, yet in just these few years, I'm desperately trying to cling to Yun Che." Qianye Ying'er gave a light snort. "I suppose in the eyes of the world—including you—this former 'Fandi Shennü' is probably the strangest woman in this world."
"No," Chi Wuyue shook her head. "You could never truly become someone like Qianye Fantian."
Qianye Ying'er: "?"
Chi Wuyue spoke slowly: "Qianye Fantian killed your mother. It was because your feelings for your mother ran so deep that you became the unparalleled Fandi Shennü in less than a thousand years—all to gain Qianye Fantian's approval. And later, to save his life, you willingly let Yun Che plant the slave mark on you."
"Clearly, your coldness and ruthlessness are only for others. But you care deeply about those you truly value."
"As they say, a leopard cannot change its spots. A person's character and beliefs might suddenly change drastically, but their fundamental nature rarely changes much, even over long periods. So, even without what happened later, you could never truly become a ruthless schemer like Qianye Fantian, who would sacrifice anything for self-interest."
"Just like Yun Che—the misfortunes he suffered were among the most brutal. Even so, his most fundamental nature has never truly changed."
As she said this, Chi Wuyue's smile suddenly stiffened slightly.
She thought of someone... someone she still could not understand or accept to this day.
Only that person had changed so completely.
"Still spouting those self-righteous words!" Qianye Ying'er said irritably.
"..." Chi Wuyue was thinking about Xia Qingyue.
"Let me ask you a question," Qianye Ying'er suddenly said.
"Mm?" Chi Wuyue tilted her head slightly.
"Tell me... if that child of mine had been born, what would it be like between him and me?"
Qianye Ying'er's voice was somewhat airy, and her golden eyes had unconsciously lost their focus.
Chi Wuyue smiled: "If you want to know the answer, then have one with him. Although what happened back then was a pity, at least the two of you have infinite time and infinite opportunities. There's no need to dwell on unnecessary sorrow."
Her gaze drifted to Yun Wuxin below, weeping freely in her father's arms, and Chi Wuyue couldn't help but think of that "Xi'er" who had never even seen her father. She sighed inwardly.
She only hoped this matter would remain known only to her and Mu Xuanyin.
"Hmph! I'm not that sentimental." Qianye Ying'er snorted dismissively. Sensing Chi Wuyue's figure suddenly moving away, she frowned: "Where are you going?"
"This small lower-realm planet was actually created by the Evil God and Jie Tian Mo Di. It holds many remnants of true gods. These divine legacies shaped Yun Che step by step."
"For such an existence, I naturally want to use my own eyes to properly behold every corner of this planet."
The demonic voice faded into the distance as Chi Wuyue's figure disappeared from sight.
But Qianye Ying'er did not follow her. She still gazed at Yun Che from afar, neither showing herself nor leaving.