# Chapter 227: The Danger Quietly Planted
On ordinary days, many people would loiter in front of the Bing Yun Fairy Palace courtyard, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Ice Cloud Fairies' beauty. But not a single one would dare to strike up a conversation. No matter how powerful, prestigious, or promising a young profound practitioner was in his own territory, he would always be three points timid when facing a disciple of the Bing Yun Fairy Palace, even feeling an uncontrollable sense of inferiority.
As for those who dared to directly request an audience with Chu Yuechan—there were absolutely none.
The ice spirit drifted, and soon, a graceful, fairy-like figure appeared before him. It was Xia Qingyue. Her beautiful eyes calmly rested on Yun Che's face for a moment before she said, "Young Master Yun, if you wish to see Senior Uncle Bingchan, I'm afraid you'll have to turn back. Senior Uncle Bingchan has always preferred solitude and never wishes to interact with anyone outside the Bing Yun Fairy Palace. I believe Senior Uncle Bingchan has already heard your intentions."
Yun Che looked at her seriously and said, "Qingyue wife, I'll give you two choices. One: call me husband. Two: call me by my name. You are my wife, legally wed through proper rites! How can a wife call her husband 'young master'?"
Xia Qingyue showed no sign of anger at Yun Che's words. She nodded slightly: "Very well. Then Qingyue will directly call you Yun Che from now on."
The left side of Yun Che's face twitched. He let out a faint breath and said helplessly, "I'd honestly prefer it if you were still always looking at me coldly like before, and when I deliberately 'offend' you with my words, you'd show some anger... The way you are now, always so calm and indifferent, it's like you've become a completely different person."
Xia Qingyue's gaze shifted slightly. She said softly, "Our sect's Ice Heart Art allows one to calm the mind and restrain thoughts, free from desires and ambitions. Your words just now, Qingyue will take as a compliment."
"Free from desires and ambitions... then are you even human?" Yun Che shook his head and changed the subject: "Qingyue wife, congratulations on making it into the top four. After this ranking battle, your name will be known throughout the world."
"You should be saying those words to me," Xia Qingyue said, her gaze growing slightly complicated. "I never imagined that in less than two years, you could reach such a realm. You've given the most powerful retort to those who once mocked you, looked down on you, and even drove you out of your home."
"I want to see Bingchan Fairy. Qingyue wife, please just tell her. Maybe she'll be willing to see me," Yun Che said.
Xia Qingyue slowly shook her head: "Senior Uncle Bingchan will not possibly see you. Please go back. Tomorrow's ranking battle..."
"Qingyue, let him come to my room."
At that moment, a voice as light as smoke and as cold as ice drifted in from some unknown direction, slowly falling into both their ears. A look of deep surprise flashed through Xia Qingyue's beautiful eyes. Then she said, "Yes, Senior Uncle... Yun Che, come with me."
The layout of this courtyard was identical to the one where Yun Che was staying. Coincidentally, the room Chu Yuechan had chosen was in the same position as the one Yun Che had picked. Under Xia Qingyue's guidance, Yun Che stood before the slightly ajar door. After a brief hesitation, he pushed it open and entered.
A wave of cold, refreshing air greeted him. Before Yun Che's eyes was an exquisitely beautiful, fairy-like back view. She stood by the window, bathed in the bright moonlight streaming in from outside. Her white clothes were dyed the color of a crescent moon, and the snow-white skin exposed at her neck shimmered with flowing luster, even surpassing the moonlight and snow.
Yun Che was momentarily stunned, as if he thought he was seeing a heavenly maiden descending from the moon palace. He forgot how to speak for a moment. Chu Yuechan did not turn her head. Her voice came coldly: "Do you know why I agreed to see you?"
"Yes," Yun Che said, pulling himself together and replying softly, "Because you wanted to see me, just as I have been longing to see you again ever since we parted."
"...Nonsense!" Chu Yuechan's voice carried deep anger. "The reason I agreed to see you is only to tell you face to face that the grievances between us were settled when I left the Death Wasteland. We owe each other nothing, and there is no longer any connection between us! You had better wipe clean all memories of what happened between us. From now on, if we meet again, we will be complete strangers!"
Chu Yuechan's words made Yun Che laugh: "If you were truly so resolute in wanting to sever all ties with me, then why did you personally come to Tian Jian Villa? Why did you act without hesitation to save me today when I was in trouble? This is something that the famously aloof Bingchan Fairy should never have done."
"I came to Tian Jian Villa only to represent the Palace Master. As for saving you, it was because I could not stand the shameless behavior of Fen Mo Li. It has nothing to do with you," Chu Yuechan said coldly.
"You can deceive me, but can you deceive yourself?" Yun Che smiled. "If your heart were truly so determined, why would you bother explaining yourself? Ask yourself honestly: during this time, have you found yourself uncontrollably thinking of me, thinking of the half year we spent together... The real reason you came to Tian Jian Villa this time—isn't it really just to see me? All other reasons are just excuses you made for yourself..."
As he spoke, Yun Che walked toward her. "I originally thought I wouldn't be able to see you again until I became powerful enough. But when I learned that you had also come to Tian Jian Villa, do you know how happy I was? Because I was absolutely certain that you came for me. You knew I would represent the Cangfeng Imperial Clan in this ranking battle."
"Shut up... Don't come any closer!" Yun Che's words threw Chu Yuechan's heart into chaos. Sensing Yun Che's footsteps approaching, this supreme powerhouse who had already stepped into the King Xuan Realm actually showed a trace of panic on her face. Just as she was about to turn around, a pair of arms gently yet firmly encircled her waist, embracing her from behind.
Chu Yuechan's mind went blank, and her entire body stiffened. In her ear came Yun Che's gentle voice: "I know you can never betray the Bing Yun Fairy Palace, and even more so, you can't get past your own heart. I have no right to force you or coerce you. I only hope that, until I am strong enough to break through all obstacles with you, you won't forget that you are not only Chu Yuechan of the Bing Yun Fairy Palace, but also Xiao Xiannü... the Xiao Xiannü who belongs only to me... Even if you want to forget your identity as Xiao Xiannü, well, then... my virginity was taken by you! You can't just use me up, refuse to take responsibility, and then plan to forget it all completely..."
Chu Yuechan's recent behavior had been full of oddities. Meeting an outer disciple at nightfall was something that would have been utterly impossible before. Xia Qingyue, who had led Yun Che to Chu Yuechan's door, stared at the flickering lamplight inside the room, filled with heavy doubts.
At that moment, the slightly ajar door was suddenly flung open—or rather, burst open. Yun Che's body flew out backwards amidst a surge of cold air. Although he managed to steady himself when he landed, he still looked quite disheveled. The door that had been flung open slammed shut with a "bang" as he touched the ground.
"You angered Senior Uncle?" Xia Qingyue shifted her gaze, finding his disheveled appearance amusing.
"Impossible. Even if I had ten thousand times the courage, I wouldn't dare anger her." Yun Che said with feigned seriousness, "Fairy Bingchan simply accepted my thanks and kindly sent me out... Yes, that's exactly it."
"Is that so..." Xia Qingyue's eyes lingered on his face for a moment, clearly not believing him. She said softly, "You've achieved your goal. If there's nothing else, please go back. In tomorrow's ranking battle, you will be facing Ling Jie. Master said that although Ling Jie is young and appears to be without guile, showing all his emotions on his face, he is actually a peerless genius whose talent even surpasses Ling Yun. Be careful in tomorrow's match."
"Alright, thanks for the reminder. Compared to that, your opponent tomorrow is the truly troublesome one." Yun Che paused, then suddenly asked, "Qingyue wife, have you ever heard of 'Ice Snow Glazed Heart' and 'Nine-Xuan Exquisite Body'?"
"'Ice Snow Glazed Heart'? 'Nine-Xuan Exquisite Body'?" Xia Qingyue's brows furrowed slightly in confusion, then she shook her head. "Qingyue has never heard of them."
From Xia Qingyue's reaction, it was clear she knew nothing about the Glazed Heart or the Exquisite Body. Yun Che quickly said, "Oh, nothing. I'll take my leave."
Just as he turned to leave, Yun Che's footsteps suddenly halted. He looked back and said, "In tomorrow's match between you and Ling Yun, I hope the victor will be you, not Ling Yun. That way, in the final match, your opponent... will be me!"
Those few short words were filled with intense pride and an unquestionable confidence. It was as if the outcome of tomorrow's match against Ling Jie was already settled in his eyes. Watching Yun Che's retreating figure, Xia Qingyue fell silent for a moment, then murmured to herself, "In this less than two years, what exactly has he gone through..."
At the same time, in another part of Tian Jian Villa.
Ling Kun was one of the administrators of the Tian Jian Court within the Tian Wei Sword Domain. In the Tian Wei Sword Domain, his status was only mid-to-lower tier. But in the Cang Feng Empire, his status and strength were enough to make all the great sects tremble in awe, never daring to offend or defy him in the slightest.
In the eyes of the Four Sacred Grounds, these small nations were nothing more than third-rate lands too lowly to even bother setting foot in.
The courtyard that Tian Jian Villa had prepared for Ling Kun was also extremely lavish. There were over a dozen servants attending him alone. Now, he had dismissed all of them. In the dimly lit room, he took out a blue-violet jade—an extremely rare and special Sound Transmission Jade.
As he infused his profound energy, the blue-violet Sound Transmission Jade emitted a faint glow, and the sound transmission array contained within began to spin rapidly.
"Young Palace Master, it's been a while. Do you still remember this old man?" Ling Kun narrowed his eyes and spoke softly into the jade.
"Elder Ling Kun of the Tian Wei Sword Domain? What a rare occurrence. It seems you must have something interesting to discuss with this young master?"
"Indeed," Ling Kun said slowly. "This old man wishes to make a deal with the Young Palace Master. I believe this transaction will greatly interest you."
"Oh? Let's hear it."
"Hehe. I've heard that the Young Palace Master has been searching for a woman with a 'Nine-Xuan Exquisite Body' all these years. As luck would have it, this old man has encountered just such a remarkable woman. I wonder if the Young Palace Master is interested?"
"What?" The originally calm, smoke-like voice suddenly became urgent, then fell silent again. "With Elder Ling's discerning eye, this young master naturally has no doubts. But since the 'Nine-Xuan Exquisite Body' is a once-in-ten-thousand-years rarity, why doesn't Elder Ling enjoy it himself, or offer it to your Tian Wei Sword Domain's Holy Lord?"
"This old man knows his own limits. I truly don't have the courage to enjoy the Nine-Xuan Exquisite Body. Offering it to the Holy Lord would only earn me what is called 'great merit.' But offering it to the Young Palace Master... heh, I trust that with the Young Palace Master's boldness and wisdom, this old man can obtain far greater benefits."
"Hahaha! Elder Ling is truly a wise man. This young master enjoys speaking with wise men. It seems that leaving that Sound Transmission Jade with Elder Ling back then was the wisest decision this young master ever made. Whatever benefits Elder Ling desires, just say the word. If it really is the Nine-Xuan Exquisite Body, no amount of benefits would be excessive."
"The Young Palace Master is indeed forthright." Ling Kun laughed. "This old man wants only one thing... three jin of Purple Vein Divine Crystal."
"...Three jin. Elder Ling, your request is quite substantial indeed."
"Hahaha! For others, let alone three jin of Purple Vein Divine Crystal, even obtaining three jin of Purple Vein Heavenly Crystal would be as difficult as reaching the heavens. But for the Young Palace Master, I believe procuring three jin of Purple Vein Divine Crystal should not be too difficult. Moreover, compared to the Nine-Xuan Exquisite Body, three jin of Purple Vein Divine Crystal is utterly insignificant."
"Fine! Within two years, this young master will prepare three jin of Purple Vein Divine Crystal. I hope that when the time comes, Elder Ling will not disappoint."
"Young Palace Master, rest assured. Unless this old man has grown tired of living, I would never dare to deceive the Young Palace Master in the slightest. Then, this old man will await the Young Palace Master's good news..."
The glow of the Sound Transmission Jade faded. Ling Kun raised his head, smiling silently, and muttered softly, "That girl's profound energy characteristics match the records of the Nine-Xuan Exquisite Body in the secret texts exactly... Heh, I never imagined that such a lowly place could produce such a divine physique. Heaven is truly helping me!"
...
...