Chapter 202: The Tian Jian Villa Master
Qin Wushang was not at all surprised to receive such treatment. He had originally thought that Cang Yue would bring several expert guards as escorts, so he had dared not bring anyone of his own apart from the three participating disciples. Unexpectedly, Cang Yue had come alone, and of the three disciples, Yun Che had crippled two and driven away one. Counting Xia Yuanba, there were only four people in total. Even he found it somewhat ridiculous and laughable.
He stepped forward and said, "Young friend, I am Qin Wushang. We are here to participate in the Ranking Battle."
"You four... are here for the Ranking Battle?" The Tian Jian disciples guarding the mountain gate were all stunned. At this moment, Ling Haiya noticed Cang Yue, and after a momentary pause, quickly said, "This one here, could she be Princess Cang Yue of the Cangfeng Imperial Clan?"
"Indeed," Cang Yue nodded slightly, simultaneously presenting the invitation letter and the list. "We four represent the imperial clan and have come for this edition of the Ranking Battle. Here are our invitation letter and roster."
Naturally, the list only had four names: Qin Wushang, Cang Yue, Xia Yuanba, and Yun Che.
And in the participating disciples column, there was only the single name "Yun Che."
Ling Haiya's facial muscles twitched, then he stepped aside and said politely, "So it turns out honored guests from the imperial clan have arrived. Forgive our earlier discourtesy, please. The four honored guests may enter. Ten li ahead lies the villa itself. The Villa Master and his wife are personally waiting in attendance. Please proceed."
After the four passed through the mountain gate, the disciples on guard exchanged glances.
"Only bringing one participating disciple, and one at the True Xuan Realm at that... Speaking of the Ranking Battles I know of, there's never been a True Xuan Realm participating disciple before," one disciple said.
"Ever since Cang Wanhe fell gravely ill, the Crown Prince and Third Prince have been secretly snatching and pulling power to themselves, stirring up turmoil within the imperial clan. They probably have no mind for the Ranking Battle anymore. The imperial clan's results have always been dismal. This time, they're probably throwing caution to the wind. Having Princess Cang Yue personally lead the team is probably just to show how much they value our villa."
"Two things are certain," Ling Haiya said. "First, in this edition of the Ranking Battle, the imperial clan's results won't just be dismal — they'll almost certainly take last place. Second, at tomorrow morning's age and profound force test, the imperial clan is bound to make a big joke of themselves. Ah, to think that in years past, the ancestors of our Tian Jian Villa and the imperial clan's ancestors were brothers, supporting each other — one held power over the world, the other held influence over the world. Now, our Tian Jian Villa stands supreme over all of Cang Feng, unmatched by anyone, while the imperial clan steadily declines. They still hold authority among common folk, but in the eyes of those powerful sects, they grow less and less intimidating. This time, they will be looked down upon by even more people. Truly lamentable."
Yun Che and the others walked along the mountain path. Though there were still ten li to the Tian Jian Villa, they could already clearly sense a majestic aura mixed with sharpness emanating from ahead.
"As expected of the Tian Jian Villa. This aura makes it feel as if thousands of swords are dancing around us," Yun Che remarked admiringly.
"Wow... I never even dreamed that one day I would actually come to the Tian Jian Villa. My most admired Uncle Sikong never even made it here," Xia Yuanba said, looking up and down, left and right, his eyes wide open and refusing to blink even once.
Xia Yuanba's excitement caused Cang Yue to smile involuntarily. She said to Yun Che, "Junior Brother Yun, the Tian Jian Villa is unlike any other place. It can be called the sacred ground of the Cang Feng Empire, and the only sacred ground at that. Even the lowest disciples of the Tian Jian Villa are at the genius level to the outside world. Those disciples guarding the mountain gate earlier were all at the Spirit Xuan Realm. A Spirit Xuan Realm cultivator in their twenties would be qualified to be a mentor in various branch academies, but at the Tian Jian Villa, they are merely gatekeepers. The depth of the Tian Jian Villa's foundation and the magnitude of its power are beyond ordinary imagination."
"Senior Sister, I understand. Rest assured, if I encounter any mockery or provocation, as long as it doesn't touch my bottom line, I will retreat," Yun Che said with a nod and a smile. He understood the meaning behind Cang Yue's words. She knew he was someone who would never tolerate a loss, and his profound force level was the very lowest among the thousand-plus participating disciples, making him prone to ridicule. If he retaliated on the spot, it might enrage the Tian Jian Villa, and even if Cang Yue personally intervened, it might not be enough to control the situation.
However, his premise was not crossing his bottom line. As for that bottom line, it was naturally for him to control himself. A gentleman takes revenge, ten years is not too late... but that was for gentlemen. He had never considered himself a gentleman.
At the same time, a party of five from the Bing Yun Fairy Palace was approaching the gates of the Tian Jian Villa.
"Sister, aside from that time you went to obtain three ice-type Heavenly Xuan Beasts' profound pills to refine 'Ice Heart Jade Liquid' for Qingyue, you haven't left the Bing Yun Fairy Palace in over a decade. Why did you take the initiative to come to this edition of the Ranking Battle?" Chu Yueli's beautiful eyes turned slightly as she voiced the question that had been weighing on her mind since they left the palace.
Chu Yuechan's gaze was crystalline, without a ripple, and her voice was like wind brushing over ice, gentle yet piercingly cold: "I have been in seclusion too long. I wanted to see whether the current younger generation is flourishing or declining."
Chu Yueli gave a slight shake of her head. "Sister, in this world, I am the one who knows you best. Others might believe that reason, but how could I?"
Chu Yuechan said nothing.
"You suddenly left the palace half a year ago and only returned last month. After you came back, you have often been unsettled. Sister, your Ice Cloud Art and Ice Heart Art have both reached the sixth level. Unless something monumental happened, it would never come to this. And now you suddenly propose to personally come to the Tian Jian Villa..."
"The Tian Jian Villa is ahead. Do not ask about matters you should not ask," Chu Yuechan said coldly, cutting off Chu Yueli's words. The chill in her voice made the three Bing Yun disciples behind her tremble in fear.
Chu Yueli immediately fell silent and dared not ask further. At this moment, the gates of the Tian Jian Villa appeared before them.
"Qingyue, put this on. Do not take it off until the very end," Chu Yueli said, turning around and placing a string of ice crystal necklace into the hands of the veiled young woman.
"Yes, Master." The young woman took the ice-crystal necklace and looped it around her snow-white neck.
Ling Yuefeng was over fifty, but he looked at most thirty years old. Upon reaching the King Xuan Realm, one's lifespan extended to four or five hundred years. Fifty was merely the beginning of youth for a King.
Ling Yuefeng had a face like polished jade, fair skin and no beard, handsome and refined features, a gentle and peaceful demeanor, without any of the imposing aura of a Sword Dao Supreme. His hands were like white jade, not at all like hands that often wielded a sword. When welcoming guests, he not only personally stood at the gate but wore a humble smile, his manner warm and polite, without a trace of the arrogance or pride of the Cang Feng Empire's number one overlord. Some of the young female disciples who came to participate gazed at him with admiration, even infatuation.
Beside him stood a woman in her early thirties, dressed in splendid garments. She was Ling Yuefeng's only wife, Xuanyuan Yufeng, and the biological mother of Ling Yun and Ling Jie. Her bearing was dignified and graceful, her face beautiful as a flower. In terms of looks alone, she was one in a thousand. But compared to Chu Yuechan, she was like a mortal woman versus a celestial fairy — at least a hundred thousand li behind.
For Ling Yuefeng, who was deeply infatuated with Chu Yuechan, to ultimately marry Xuanyuan Yufeng, it was certainly not because of her appearance but because of her family background... However, in the twenty-plus years of their marriage, no one had ever dared to inquire about the background of the Tian Jian Villa Master's wife, nor dared to investigate. Because her surname "Xuanyuan" alone, at the mere thought, instilled a deep sense of awe in people's hearts.
Because that was the surname of the master of one of the four sacred grounds of the Tian Xuan Continent.
"Chu Yueli of the Bing Yun Fairy Palace, along with my senior sister Chu Yuechan, and disciples Shui Wushuang, Wu Xuexin, and Xia Qingyue, have come to pay respects to the Tian Jian Villa. On behalf of our Palace Master, we extend greetings to Villa Master Ling and Lady Ling." Chu Yueli walked at the front, offering a slight bow to the couple.
Even before they had approached, Ling Yuefeng's mind had already been thrown into chaos, because he had seen Chu Yuechan. Even though her face was covered by an ice veil, even though he had not seen her for thirty-one years, he recognized those eyes at a glance. However, he dared not be certain, because he could not believe that Chu Yuechan would personally come to the Tian Jian Villa. It was only when Chu Yueli spoke the name "Chu Yuechan" aloud that he dared to believe it.
Thirty-one years had passed. No one could have imagined that he had been dreaming of her for thirty-one years. Even after marrying and having children, his two sons now at marriageable age, he had still not let that exquisitely beautiful shadow depart from his heart and soul.
This great overlord of the realm, for the first time in decades, had his mind in turmoil. After Chu Yueli announced their arrival, he was dazed for a full three seconds before forcing a self-deprecating smile and returning the bow. "Welcome, five fairies, to my humble villa. It has been several years since I last saw your Palace Master. I trust she is well?"
"The Palace Master is in good health. Thank you for your concern, Villa Master Ling." Chu Yueli gave a slight nod.
"Oh? And this one here — is she the famed 'Ice Cicada Fairy' Chu Yuechan?" Xuanyuan Yufeng fixed her gaze on Chu Yuechan, a meaningful smile curling on her face. "I have heard of the great name of the Cang Feng Empire's number one beauty, the Ice Cicada Fairy, for decades. I never thought I would have the fortune to meet her today. Might I ask the Ice Cicada Fairy to remove her face veil, so that I may behold the splendor of the Cang Feng number one beauty and fulfill a lifelong wish?"
The words of the wife of the Cang Feng Empire's supreme overlord — who in the entire empire would dare refuse? But these words were clearly directed at Chu Yuechan, yet her gaze did not deviate in the slightest. Her clear, cold eyes stared straight ahead, utterly undisturbed, as if she had not heard a single word.
Xuanyuan Yufeng's brows suddenly furrowed.
Ling Yuefeng let out a light laugh and spoke, "My dear, these fairies are our honored guests. I understand your eagerness, but to make a request before they have even entered the gate is somewhat disrespectful."
Xuanyuan Yufeng smiled and nodded. "Indeed, I was too hasty. I hope the Ice Cicada Fairy will not take offense. Please, fairies, enter. Someone will arrange lodgings for you. Should you need anything, feel free to inform the disciples of the villa. If there is any negligence, please forgive us."
"You are too kind, Lady Ling." Chu Yueli bowed once more. The party of five then entered the Tian Jian Villa.
Xuanyuan Yufeng's expression darkened after they entered. She glanced sidelong at Ling Yuefeng and said with a cold laugh, "Ling Yuefeng, your feelings truly run deep. You begged for ten years back then and didn't even catch a glimpse of her shadow. Now, after twenty years of marriage, you still haven't forgotten her. Now that she has come to your door herself, I suppose your heart is blooming with joy?"
"My dear, you misunderstand me," Ling Yuefeng said, grasping Xuanyuan Yufeng's hand with a bitter smile. "In my youth, I was bound to do some foolish things a young man would do. We have been married for twenty-one years. How could that naive yearning from back then compare to even a fraction of the twenty-plus years of our bond? A man like me, with a wife like you, has nothing more to wish for. I have not even taken a concubine in over twenty years; how could I have any other thoughts? The reason I was distracted earlier was only that recalling the foolish things of the past stirred some emotions."
Xuanyuan Yufeng seized his hand in return, and the clouds on her face immediately dispersed. But she did not know that while Ling Yuefeng spoke those words, the voice in his heart was far fiercer than the one that came from his lips...
She came... she actually came...
Finally, I see her again...