Chapter 395: Vague Premonition
“You... you alone?” Cang Wanhe's face was full of surprise, but after a moment of thought, he suddenly found that this didn't seem so unacceptable after all. Among the profound practitioners under twenty-five in the Cang Feng Kingdom, the only one who could compare with Yun Che was Xia Qingyue. And if Xia Qingyue wasn't going, then there was simply no one else worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as Yun Che... not even Ling Yun, who had once been hailed as the number one figure among the younger generation.
Thus, even if the imperial clan were to select the nine strongest profound practitioners under twenty-five... let alone nine, even if they chose ninety, they would still be utterly incapable of comparing with Yun Che.
In that case, what essential difference was there between Yun Che going alone and taking nine other people with him? Those nine would merely be there to fill the numbers.
Though this was the reality, sending only one person to participate in the Seven Nation Ranking Battle... in the history of the seven nations, this seemed never to have happened before. Among the other six nations, the various great sects fought tooth and nail for those ten slots, wishing the number could be expanded to the tens of thousands. How could there ever be a situation where they couldn't even fill ten?
But in the Cang Feng Kingdom...
"Sigh!" Cang Wanhe sighed for the third time, clearly showing that he had deep shadows and helplessness regarding the Seven Nation Ranking Battle. "Fine then. You going alone versus forcing together nine other people is fundamentally no different. It would only badly wound the dignity of those nine geniuses of Cang Feng. But this way, you become a true lone warrior... When I say lone warrior, I don't just mean you have no companions to fight alongside. Even at the venue itself, there might not be a single person from the same nation. That place is a land of shame for the citizens of Cang Feng. In all previous Seven Nation Ranking Battles, no Cang Feng national was ever willing to appear there... Oh, no! This time, it might be different."
Cang Wanhe's eyes suddenly blazed with heat: "If the profound practitioners of Cang Feng learn that this time you will represent Cang Feng in the Seven Nation Ranking Battle, perhaps it will reignite their hope and longing for the glory of the battle between nations! Because you are the most outstanding genius in Cang Feng's history—someone who, at the age of nineteen, severely wounded Ling Tianni! With your Earth Xuan Realm profound strength, your combat power rivals that of a mid-stage King Xuan... there is no reason you won't shine brilliantly in the Seven Nation Ranking Battle!"
"Moreover, among the Cang Feng profound world—especially the young profound practitioners—your admirers are countless. This time, you are fighting for the honor of the Cang Feng profound world. Perhaps, when the time comes, many Cang Feng profound practitioners will appear at the venue to cheer you on, and even more so, to witness history!"
As Cang Wanhe spoke, he grew more and more excited. He slapped Yun Che on the shoulder and said, "I will immediately announce this matter to all of Cang Feng. But then, all the burdens will fall on your shoulders alone. However, although only you will be fighting this time, there will still be many escorts. I will personally accompany you as well."
Earlier, when Yun Che had publicly told Feng Xichen that he would go to the Shenhuang Empire to participate in the Seven Nation Ranking Battle, because that day's events were forbidden from being leaked in any way, the news had not spread.
"Father, you want to go with me?" Yun Che asked in surprise.
"Correct." Cang Wanhe nodded. "I believe in your abilities... Though you go alone, I believe you will create another piece of history for my Cang Feng Kingdom! How could I not personally witness such a historic moment?"
But Yun Che, without even thinking, firmly shook his head: "No! Father absolutely cannot go with me!"
"...Why?" Yun Che's resolute attitude startled Cang Wanhe.
"Father, if this were just a simple ranking battle, I would of course be happy for you to come. I might even want to bring Xueruo, Grandfather, and Little Aunt along. But this time, my journey to the Shenhuang Empire is only secondarily about the ranking battle. Otherwise, I wouldn't even bother participating in this Seven Nation Ranking Battle. My primary purpose in going to the Shenhuang Empire is to resolve the enmity with the Fenghuang God Sect. Until that enmity is settled, the attention the Fenghuang God Sect has placed on me will not fade. If one day they suddenly take action, it could very well affect the people around me. So, I intend to use this ranking battle to resolve the matter with the Fenghuang God Sect... During the ranking battle, with all seven nations present, and possibly even people from the Sacred Grounds, settling this grudge under the watchful eyes of the public will be far simpler than resolving it privately with the Fenghuang God Sect. It's a perfect opportunity for me... but at the same time, it comes with unpredictable risks."
"Therefore, it will be enough for me to go to the Shenhuang Empire alone. I can do whatever I want without any constraints." Yun Che said calmly.
"But..."
"I know what Father means." Yun Che directly interrupted Cang Wanhe. "Father surely wants to use the meeting with the Shenhuang Great Emperor to mediate and calm the enmity between me and the Fenghuang God Sect. But matters of bloodline—the Fenghuang God Sect won't heed anyone's words. Moreover, even a mere thirteenth prince didn't take Father seriously. The Shenhuang Great Emperor... will take Father's words even less to heart."
Though Yun Che's words were blunt, they were undeniably true. Cang Wanhe's expression froze for a moment, then he let out a long breath and said, "Alright. Since this is your insistence, I naturally won't force you. Take these..."
Cang Wanhe handed Yun Che ten identical crimson badges. On the front of each badge was an image of a phoenix spreading its wings, and on the back were engraved the words "Cang Feng."
"These are the participation badges that came along with the invitation to the Seven Nation Ranking Battle that day. Wear them on your person, and they serve as the identifier of a participant from one of the seven nations. You will also use them to enter the venue and the accommodation arranged by the Shenhuang Empire. You only need to inject your profound force into one of these badges, and then that badge will serve only to prove your identity. Even if others snatch it away, they cannot erase the profound force aura within. Since only you will represent Cang Feng this time, I'll give you all ten. If you happen to lose one, you'll have spares, heh heh."
Yun Che nodded, injected his profound force into the top badge, then put all ten badges away.
"Speaking of which, this Seven Nation Ranking Battle has too many similarities to the Cang Feng Ranking Battle two years ago... Both times, you fought alone on behalf of the imperial clan. Truly, both times it was only you." Cang Wanhe looked up and sighed deeply. "In the Cang Feng Ranking Battle, you restored the prestige of my imperial clan across the land of Cang Feng. And now, you once again take great risks, fighting alone for the glory of my Cang Feng Kingdom... My Cang clan owes you far too much."
"Father mustn't say that." Yun Che smiled. "Xueruo is my wife, so I am half a member of the Cang family as well. It is only natural for me to strive for my own family, for my own loved ones."
Cang Wanhe nodded, then heavily patted Yun Che on the shoulder. "Go. Compared to any glory you might achieve in the ranking battle... I, your father, look forward more to your safe return. Even if the enmity with the Fenghuang God Sect is not resolved, even if it becomes more intense, it doesn't matter. No matter what, you must survive!"
"Father, rest assured. The risks this time are likely far smaller than I imagine. After all, during a ranking battle with all seven nations present, the Fenghuang God Sect won't be so reckless as to act without restraint." Yun Che said with a relaxed expression.
"When do you plan to set out?"
"Tomorrow."
That night, Yun Che stayed at the Moon Embrace Palace, spending half the night in intimacy with Cang Yue. The next day, after having breakfast with Cang Yue and Xiao Lingxi, he began preparing to embark on his journey south... Yun Che had never left the Cang Feng Empire in his entire life. What the outcome of this trip would be, he did not know.
"Husband, this is the purple gold card that Father just sent over. Take it with you... In the Shenhuang Empire, there is the headquarters of the Black Moon Merchant Guild. You're sure to find many things there that you might need." Cang Yue handed Yun Che a glittering purple gold card.
"Alright, thank Father for me." Yun Che took it and stored it inside the Heavenly Poison Pearl. "By the way, Xueruo, the whereabouts of Chu Yuechan and Yuanba... Hah, you can stop searching for now."
"Ah? Why?" Cang Yue asked, puzzled.
Yun Che's chest rose and fell slightly as he said, "With my current influence, there is hardly anyone within Cang Feng who doesn't know my name. If they knew I was alive, they would have come to find me immediately. But they have never appeared. Yuechan is as beautiful as a fairy, and Yuanba has a robust build—their physical features are extremely distinctive. Yet after all this time, there has been no trace... There's only one possibility: they are no longer in the Cang Feng Kingdom. Continuing to search within Cang Feng would likely be in vain. On this trip to the Shenhuang Empire, I will entrust the headquarters of the Black Moon Merchant Guild to search across the entire Tian Xuan Continent... The Black Moon Merchant Guild's intelligence capabilities are universally acknowledged as unparalleled. As long as I give them enough money, they should be able to quickly find the whereabouts of Yuechan and Yuanba."
This, in fact, was also one of the reasons he was heading to the Shenhuang Empire. The little fairy, whose whereabouts were unknown, and their child... How could he not worry day and night?
"Mm." Cang Yue nodded gently. "I believe they are both safe and sound right now."
Xiao Lingxi stepped forward and earnestly instructed, "I've prepared twenty sets of clothes for you. Remember to change them often, or you'll stink to high heaven... Don't ever forget to eat. All the prepared meals, made by Princess Sister and me, must be finished before you come back... Don't do anything dangerous, don't pick fights with others for no reason. After the competition, come back immediately... Don't turn off the sound transmission jade anytime, and you must send us a voice transmission every day. Hmph! Princess Sister told me that the Black Moon Merchant Guild headquarters sells ten-thousand-mile sound transmission talismans! And most importantly, most importantly of all—no flirting with other women outside! If you dare bring back a little vixen, I-I-I-I... Princess Sister and I will both ignore you!"
"Yes, yes, yes... yes, yes, yes..." Yun Che nodded repeatedly in agreement.
Once Cang Yue and Xiao Lingxi had finished their instructions, Yun Che summoned the Snow Phoenix Beast, turned around, and said, "Xueruo, Little Aunt, I promise you—whether the result is what I want or not—I will return safely within two months. I'm off!"
Yun Che smiled, waved to them, and walked toward the Snow Phoenix Beast.
Worry and reluctant gazes trembled in the two women's beautiful eyes. They said nothing more, because they knew that no matter how reluctant they were, no matter how much they wanted to hold him back... he would still leave in the end. And this time, he was leaving the Cang Feng Kingdom.
Xiao Lingxi silently watched Yun Che's retreating figure, her gaze dazed, her lips trembling repeatedly... Suddenly, her vision blurred violently, and through Yun Che's body, she faintly saw the Snow Phoenix Beast that should have been blocked from view by his frame.
"Ah..." She let out an involuntary gasp, and her vision instantly returned to normal. The name in her heart almost uncontrollably burst from her lips: "Xiao Che!!"
Yun Che stopped in his tracks and turned around. Before he could even speak, Xiao Lingxi had suddenly rushed over and tightly embraced him.
Yun Che was momentarily startled, then smiled. He wrapped his arms around Xiao Lingxi and gently said, "Little Aunt, don't worry. I've already promised you that I will return safely within two months. When I come back, I'll be your good little Che again, never running off everywhere... Just like before, alright?"
Xiao Lingxi's heart was deeply stirred. When she lifted her face, her eyes were already blurred with tears. Gazing at Yun Che with a dazed expression, she nodded lightly. But the reluctance in her heart only grew stronger and stronger... Accompanying that reluctance was a hazy sense of unease that came from nowhere.
Chirp~~~~~~
With a piercing cry that tore through the sky, the Snow Phoenix Beast carried Yun Che into the air, soaring straight into the clouds, quickly becoming a white dot on the horizon... Xiao Lingxi watched the departing Yun Che, her hand unconsciously pressed to her chest, unable to lower it for a long time...
Why... do I have this fear that I might never see him again?
Is it just because I can't bear to part with him?
Xiao Che... you must come back safely...
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