Chapter 342: Ling Jie Arrives
Having safely rescued Xiao Lie and Xiao Lingxi, Yun Che burned with the desire to inflict the most brutal vengeance on Fen Tian Gate, but he could not ignore his grandfather and little aunt, whom he had only just reunited with. They had not yet left the Cang Huo region, and if he were to engage Fen Tian Gate in battle now, it might bring danger to them.
His most pressing need was to send them to the safest possible place.
Before dawn broke, Yun Che led Xiao Lie and Xiao Lingxi out of Fen Tian Valley, gradually approaching Cang Huo City. At that moment, he unexpectedly received a voice transmission from Ling Jie.
Soon, the cry of a Wind Raptor came from the northern sky, and Ling Jie's deliberately released aura entered Yun Che's perception. Yun Che, who had been accompanying Xiao Lingxi in enjoying the dawn breeze, stood up, and a crimson Phoenix Flame ignited in his hand.
The Wind Raptor in the sky immediately dove down. Before it even got close, Ling Jie couldn't wait to jump off, stumbled as he rushed to Yun Che, and said urgently, "Boss, are you all right? Huh?"
Seeing Xiao Lingxi beside Yun Che, and Xiao Lie not far away, he was startled for a moment, then said happily, "Are they... the two relatives that Fen Tian Gate kidnapped? You rescued them all... Great! As expected of the boss, you managed it so quickly."
"Yeah!" Yun Che nodded with a smile. He could see that the anxiety and worry on Ling Jie's face came from the heart, without any pretense. A warmth filled his own heart. "This is my grandfather, and this is my little aunt... He's my little brother, Ling Jie, the second young master of Tian Jian Villa."
Ling Jie quickly stepped forward and said, "Greetings, Grandpa Xiao. Uh... this... greetings, Little Aunt... I am Ling Jie, a junior. Just call me Xiao Jie."
Seeing Xiao Lingxi's age, she was about the same as himself, so Ling Jie's address of "Little Aunt" came out rather awkwardly. However, his identity as the "young master of Tian Jian Villa" undoubtedly surprised Xiao Lie and Xiao Lingxi greatly. Xiao Lie chuckled at him, his eyes showing amazement and approval. Xiao Lingxi responded a bit timidly.
"Young Master Ling... save me... save me..."
Ling Jie was about to speak when suddenly a hoarse, raspy voice came. Following the sound, Ling Jie saw a person lying face down in a patch of withered grass on his right. His eyes were glazed, his face bloodless, his clothes and hair disheveled, his limbs trembling slightly... and his body no longer carried any aura of profound energy, clearly indicating his profound veins had been destroyed.
"Fen Juecheng!" Recognizing the face, Ling Jie exclaimed in shock. He glanced at Yun Che, his heart filled with astonishment... Alone, he had not only rescued his two relatives from Fen Tian Gate but had also captured Fen Juecheng in return... Throughout the entire Cang Feng, how many could accomplish that?
"Save me... save me..." Seeing that Ling Jie recognized him, a glimmer of hope flashed in Fen Juecheng's eyes. He begged, "Our four great sects are united as branches of the same tree... Fen Tian Gate and Tian Jian Villa have always been on good terms... Please... you must... save me... save me..."
Fen Juecheng feared death, feared it immensely. Born with a golden key, he had a status and family background far surpassing that of a prince. He had grown up surrounded by luxury and adulation, never imagining he would one day be in such a miserable state.
"Uh, well..." Ling Jie rubbed his nose and said apologetically, "Yun Che is my boss, and you... I don't really know you that well. No matter how I think about it, it doesn't seem right for me to rescue you from the boss."
The newfound hope in Fen Juecheng's eyes instantly turned completely to despair.
"Xiao Jie, why are you here?" Yun Che asked.
Ling Jie turned his face and said seriously, "Actually, four days ago, I got news that people from Fen Tian Gate had gone to Liu Yun City and were returning to the sect with two people, who were very likely your relatives."
Yun Che's brows twitched slightly... As expected of Tian Jian Villa. Fen Tian Gate must have been extremely secretive about this, yet Tian Jian Villa had still gotten wind of it so quickly.
"I was both anxious and angry, so I tried to persuade my father to intervene..." Ling Jie's expression turned slightly awkward. "But my father is the type who doesn't like to meddle in affairs. So I left Tian Jian Villa myself, intending to come here and persuade Fen Tian Gate to release your relatives... With my status, and if I also mentioned my father's name, Fen Tian Gate should give me face. Otherwise, I could threaten to spread news of their vile and despicable deeds if they didn't release them. I thought about sending you a message about this, but I was afraid that with your personality, you might act too rashly and affect what you were doing. So I didn't tell you, planning to inform you after I rescued them. But on the way here, I heard from people at the villa that you had already gone to Fen Tian Gate, fought a big battle there, destroyed the Heavenly Fire Star-Burning Array that was even recorded in our villa, and forced out the long-concealed Supreme Gate Master Fen Yijue and Supreme Elder Fen Ziya."
Yun Che: "..."
Tian Jian Villa knew everything that happened at Fen Tian Gate clearly. Obviously, they had informants inside Fen Tian Gate.
"Xiao Jie, thank you," Yun Che said sincerely. This was the person who, back then, with the naivety, innocence, impulsiveness, and passion of a youth, had shouted that he wanted to be his little brother. He was now mature, yet still traveled thousands of li for him at this moment. This deep friendship would be hard for him to forget.
"No, no," Ling Jie quickly waved his hand. "Doing things for the boss is only right. Besides, I didn't really do anything for you." As he spoke, his eyes began to shine, and he said with great excitement, "Boss! I can hardly imagine how powerful you are now! You alone turned Fen Tian Gate upside down, forced out their Supreme Gate Master, and even captured Fen Juecheng... Every single thing you did is earth-shattering. If I told people, they might not believe it."
"They brought it upon themselves. Soon, everyone in the world will know about these things. I will not only destroy Fen Tian Gate's sect but also all its reputation and dignity."
When he said these words, Yun Che's tone was very calm. Ling Jie looked at him and couldn't help but shiver inside. These words made him clearly realize just how untouchable an inverse scale Yun Che's relatives were.
Thinking back to how Yun Che had unhesitatingly risked his life to save Xia Yuanba at the Sword Control Platform... He could be so reckless for those close to him, yet as cruel as a demon to his enemies. At this moment, Ling Jie suddenly felt fortunate that he was not his enemy, and that Tian Jian Villa was not his enemy.
"Xiao Jie, I have something I need your help with," Yun Che said.
Ling Jie nodded. "Boss, just say it. I will definitely do my best."
Yun Che turned around and looked at Xiao Lie and Xiao Lingxi. "Help me send my grandfather and little aunt to Cangfeng Imperial City. I originally planned to go back to New Moon City with them first, but since you came, I changed my mind."
"Okay!" Ling Jie agreed without hesitation, then asked doubtfully, "And you...?"
"Xiao Che, aren't you coming with us?" Xiao Lingxi sensed the hidden meaning in Yun Che's words and hurriedly came over to grab his arm.
Yun Che held Xiao Lingxi's hand back, looked at her and Xiao Lie, and said, "Xiao Jie is the young master of Tian Jian Villa. With his protection, you can safely reach Cangfeng Imperial City. I will come a few days later, but only a few days. I promise you that I will join you safely."
"You... are you staying to deal with Fen Tian Gate?" Xiao Lingxi said softly, a watery mist silently filling her eyes. "But we've already escaped. Why must you go back and take risks? Fen Tian Gate is so powerful. I'm afraid... I'm afraid..."
Yun Che smiled slightly and said slowly but firmly, "Because I want Fen Tian Gate to know, and let everyone in the world know, what the consequences are for touching my grandfather and little aunt!! I can temporarily endure being hated, schemed against, or even killed, but if anyone dares to touch you, no matter who, I will never let them off! I will use the destruction of Fen Tian Gate to tell everyone in this world the price of laying a hand on you!"
Safety and comfort came not from endless compromise, endurance, and avoidance, but from absolute deterrence that made others dare not touch you.
In his life on Cang Yun Continent, Yun Che had understood this very clearly.
He wanted Xiao Lingxi and Xiao Lie to be absolutely safe in Cang Feng Empire, with no one ever daring to bully or harm them again.
"But... but... Dad, quickly persuade Xiao Che. I'm so afraid something will happen to him," Xiao Lingxi said, turning her pleading gaze to Xiao Lie.
"I support Che'er's decision," Xiao Lie sighed softly. "Fen Tian Gate has been humiliated to this extent. If Che'er were to stop here, they would definitely not let him go." He walked over and gently patted Yun Che on the shoulder. "Your growth has been like a dream to me. Seeing you now, even if I were to die this instant, I would be immensely gratified. Go ahead and do what you want to do. In three years, your growth has been nothing short of miraculous. I believe that even Fen Tian Gate cannot stand in your way. Lingxi and I will tour the imperial city while waiting to reunite with you."
"Alright... alright!" Yun Che nodded, then nodded again. He moved his lips, about to say something, but then hesitated. "Grandfather, there's something I'm not sure if I should tell you."
"Heh," Xiao Lie smiled calmly. "In this life, I have suffered countless physical wounds and countless heart wounds. There is nothing left in this world that I cannot bear. Whatever it is, just say it."
Losing a son, losing a grandson, losing a wife... The despair and bitterness Xiao Lie had endured back then was unimaginable. A pang of bitterness struck Yun Che's heart. He nodded gently and said, "Grandfather, I have found out who it was that, back then, pursued my birth parents and killed Uncle Xiao."
Xiao Lie's aura, which had been calm as still water without a ripple, shook violently. His gaze suddenly became blurred. After a long while, he tremblingly turned his head and said in a shaking voice, "What did you say? You found... the murderer?"
His proudest and only son, Xiao Ying, had been murdered. His daughter-in-law had died of love. His wife, after giving birth to Xiao Lingxi, had passed away from excessive grief and longing... Xiao Lie's life had instantly fallen into a bottomless abyss of despair. If not for needing to raise Xiao Lingxi and Yun Che, he might have followed his wife long ago. The murderer of his son carried all the hatred of his life. He had searched for a full ten-plus years, never stopping... He, who was kind and gentle by nature and had never killed anyone in his life, wished he could slice and dismember that person with the cruelest means in the world!