Chapter 692: Loss of Control
Thinking about Feng Xue'er's matter, Yun Che fell silent. So she hadn't failed to stop it—she had been unconscious all along, unable to do anything... This brought a sense of relief to a certain place in his heart, but when facing the Phoenix God Sect, how was he supposed to face Feng Xue'er, who had just woken up?
Zi Ji also said nothing, looking at Yun Che with a smile, his gaze gentle yet concentrated, as if trying to pierce through Yun Che's soul. At that moment, Yun Che slightly raised his head, his expression and eyes growing calm: "Senior Zi, this junior visits your esteemed chamber again with several important matters. I wonder if Senior Zi still remembers the 'Netherworld Brahma Flower' I asked you about three years ago?"
"Oh? You're still searching for this item?" Zi Ji slowly shook his head: "In these past years, I have occasionally inquired whether there are still any Netherworld Brahma Flowers in this world, but unfortunately, even those who know of this flower are few and far between, let alone those who have seen it. Over the years, as the human population on the Tian Xuan Continent has grown, the yang energy of the entire continent has far outweighed the yin energy. Such an extremely yin, evil, and sinister thing as the Netherworld Brahma Flower should have completely vanished from the Tian Xuan Continent a thousand years ago. And as time passes, unless a world-ending calamity descends, the yang energy of the Tian Xuan Continent will only grow stronger. In other words, the already extinct Netherworld Brahma Flower will never reappear in the future."
"At least on the Tian Xuan Continent, that is."
Last time, Zi Ji's answer was that the Netherworld Brahma Flower had already vanished and should not reappear. This time, the answer was the same... and even more definitive. A look of disappointment flickered across Yun Che's face, but he immediately asked again: "I remember, Senior Zi said last time that the last recorded Netherworld Brahma Flower on the Tian Xuan Continent was from thirteen hundred years ago. Then... could Senior Zi tell me where that last Netherworld Brahma Flower from thirteen hundred years ago grew?"
Yun Che asked this question, obviously wanting to go check the place where the last recorded Netherworld Brahma Flower grew. Since a Netherworld Brahma Flower could grow there, it meant the place was extremely yin and evil. Although over a thousand years had passed, it was still possible that the environment there had not changed drastically.
Of course, this possibility was extremely slim. After all, thirteen hundred years is not a short span in the long river of history. The Cangfeng Imperial Clan itself only had a history of a thousand years. He asked only because he didn't want to give up any glimmer of hope or possibility. However, to his surprise, when he finished speaking, he saw Zi Ji's expression stiffen visibly, and even the ever-present amiable smile disappeared from his face.
"...I cannot tell you." Zi Ji slightly shook his head and said slowly.
Zi Ji's reaction made Yun Che's brow twitch. He pressed his hand on the stone table: "Fine! Then I'll buy this information from Senior Zi! Senior Zi only needs to tell me the name of that place and its location! Name whatever price... as long as I can afford it!"
"No!" Zi Ji still shook his head: "This matter, I cannot tell you the answer, nor can I sell it to you as information."
"Why? Does that place have some special hidden circumstances?" Yun Che pressed aggressively.
Zi Ji slightly closed his eyes and said: "Because that place is a 'secret ground.' Since it is a 'secret ground,' let alone entering, even those who know of it are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns across the entire world... At least among the seven nations of Tian Xuan, including the Phoenix God Sect, no one knows of it. Moreover, within that 'secret ground,' there would be no Netherworld Brahma Flower now."
The "secret ground" Zi Ji mentioned was unknown even to the Phoenix God Sect, meaning it was definitely an extraordinary existence. Yun Che hadn't expected that asking about the Netherworld Brahma Flower with faint hope would lead to such a mysterious... and even somewhat eerie "secret ground."
Judging by Zi Ji's demeanor, no matter how much he pressed, he would never reveal it. Yun Che's brow furrowed, but he didn't waste more energy pressing further, nodding with unusual calm: "I see... Since it's such a 'secret ground,' this junior indeed should not inquire recklessly."
But he firmly memorized every word Zi Ji had said earlier.
"Then, regarding the matter of searching for Chu Yuechan that I entrusted to you three years ago... does Senior Zi have any news?"
Yun Che's words were spoken calmly, but his involuntarily clenched fingers revealed that his heart was far from as calm as his surface. Three years of searching for Chu Yuechan, who had such distinctive physical features... He believed that with the Black Moon Merchant Guild's intelligence network covering all of Tian Xuan, they should have some news. Even just a trace would be enough.
"Alas..." But as soon as Yun Che finished speaking, he heard Zi Ji let out a faint sigh, and his heart immediately sank.
"Three years ago, shortly after you entrusted our Black Moon to search for Chu Yuechan, you were buried in the Primordial Mystic Ark. At that time, everyone thought you were dead without a doubt, so the search for Chu Yuechan was discontinued by the Black Moon. Half a year later, Gu Cang Zhenren of the Huangji Sacred Domain suddenly arrived and entrusted us to search for Chu Yuechan... The search for Chu Yuechan was secondary, but there was a high possibility that she had your offspring with her. His disciple, Xia Yuanba, was filled with anger and resentment over your death, which lingered for a long time. Cultivating in such a state of mind could easily lead to a demonic deviation. After Gu Cang learned about all your past, he hoped to find your offspring to resolve Xia Yuanba's anger and resentment. Therefore, I personally mobilized the Black Moon intelligence network to search for Chu Yuechan's whereabouts, and the search scope directly covered all seven nations of Tian Xuan."
"And the result? Did you find her?" Yun Che held his breath.
Zi Ji gave him a deep look and said: "Gu Cang Zhenren and I have been friends for hundreds of years, and I have received his favors many times. This was the first time he personally entrusted me with a matter, so naturally, I spared no effort. But, deploying the full intelligence force of the Black Moon, covering all seven nations of Tian Xuan including Shenhuang, for a full ten months, there was absolutely no result. Therefore, the most likely possibility... is that she is already dead."
"What did you say!?" Yun Che shot up, and with a loud crack, a crack over a foot long split open on the stone table beneath his palm. His previously calm face twisted into a ferocious snarl, his eyes bloodshot: "You say she's dead!?"
"How powerful the Black Moon Merchant Guild's intelligence network is, I know far better than you. Chu Yuechan should have been an easy person to find, yet no trace could be found no matter what... Alas, this is indeed the worst outcome, but also the most likely, even the only possibility." Zi Ji sighed and said.
"You're lying!!" Yun Che's pupils dilated. He suddenly reached out and grabbed Zi Ji's collar, yanking him up from the stone chair: "You say she's dead!? On what basis do you say she's dead!? Do you know who Chu Yuechan is!? She is my woman, the foremost of the Ice Cloud Seven Immortals, the most beautiful fairy of the Cang Feng Kingdom! Whoever sees her will never forget her for life! Although she crippled her own profound art, her profound power remained. In the Cang Feng Kingdom, no one could kill her! On what basis do you say she's dead!"
"Young Master Yun!" Yun Che's actions made the three colorful-clad maidens lose their composure. What kind of status did Zi Ji have? Even Feng Hengkong would hastily perform a junior's courtesy when meeting him. Who had ever dared to grab him by the collar so violently... and on the Black Moon Merchant Guild's own turf?
Zi Ji had lived for nearly a thousand years. There weren't even a few people who dared to speak loudly to him, let alone treat him like this. But his expression remained calm, without any anger. On the contrary, after a brief moment of surprise, a hint of admiration and appreciation grew in his heart... The higher a profound practitioner's cultivation, the prouder and more indifferent their emotions became, especially towards women. Even those who dominated one side as Overlord Emperors or Emperor Lords would regard women merely as playthings to be had as many as they wished. Even if they cherished a particular woman, they could never compare it to their pursuit of the profound way.
But the young man before him, with deep eyes that were hard to fathom even at close range, had lost control of his emotions so thoroughly over the death of a woman.
"With Chu Yuechan's profound power, she would indeed have encountered few opponents in the Cang Feng Kingdom. However, when the Black Moon began searching for Chu Yuechan, Shenhuang had already invaded Cang Feng for several months. The Cang Feng Kingdom was already in chaos, disasters abounded, and the dead were countless. Every Shenhuang contingent had high-ranked Thrones or even Overlord Emperors. Chu Yuechan would have been no match for them, and if she encountered the Shenhuang army, she would have barely been able to escape. The Black Moon searched for so long without any results, and the only possibility our branches could think of was that during those months..."
"Shut up!!"
Boom!!
The stone table exploded, and Zi Ji was pushed back several steps. Yun Che's fists were clenched, his whole body trembling, his eyes as crimson as a bloodthirsty wolf. He pointed at Zi Ji and roared: "What a fine Black Moon Merchant Guild! Too incompetent to find my little fairy, yet you spout nonsense and curse that she's dead! I tell you, even if everyone in your Black Moon Merchant Guild dies off, not a single hair on her head will be harmed!"
"Hah..." Yun Che let out a heavy gasp, his voice suddenly dropping: "What bullshit Black Moon Merchant Guild! A bunch of fame-seeking incompetents, boasting of thousands of years of heritage, yet can't even find a single person... a complete waste of my time and feelings!!"
With his angry cursing, Yun Che shook his sleeves in fury and turned to leave.
Ever since the Black Moon Merchant Guild became renowned across Tian Xuan, thousands of years had passed. In those thousands of years, no one had ever dared to act wildly on the Black Moon's turf, nor had anyone dared to show disrespect to its members. On the contrary, the higher one's status, the more reverence they held for the Black Moon Merchant Guild.
And someone like Yun Che, who dared to curse at Zi Ji within the Black Moon headquarters—the seventh floor of the headquarters, no less—was absolutely the first person in history.
Zi Ji's brow twitched, tightening slightly before relaxing again. Still showing no anger, he gave a faint bitter smile, then said to the three maidens, who were already stunned senseless: "Alas, go bring him back."
The three maidens were taken aback, then leaped up one after another, like three butterflies flitting through flowers, catching up to Yun Che's side. One blocked his path, while the other two each grabbed one of his arms: "Young Master Yun, please calm your anger. Master Zi merely truthfully informed you of the results of the investigation; he had absolutely no intention of cursing her. Perhaps there was indeed a flaw in the intelligence network. We three sisters apologize to Young Master Yun on behalf of the Black Moon Merchant Guild. We only ask that you calm your anger."
If Yun Che took one more step forward, he would have collided directly with the blue-clad maiden's chest. He stopped there, raised his head, closed his eyes, and took several heavy breaths before gradually calming down... He had cursed loudly in the Black Moon headquarters, even including insults. If it had been anyone else, simply for insulting the Black Moon Merchant Guild, they would have died ten times over on the spot. But he had received such "preferential treatment." He was well aware that the main reason was his nonexistent "mysterious master."
He turned around, facing Zi Ji, his expression calm as before: "Senior Zi, this junior's emotions got the better of him, and I spoke disrespectfully. I hope you will forgive me."
"No need to take it to heart." Zi Ji shook his head with a smile. With a wave of his arm, the stone table Yun Che had shattered disappeared, replaced by an identical intact one: "If you don't mind, stay and have a few more cups with this old man."