# Chapter 730: The Half-Year Agreement
"I never expected the Cang Feng Empress to be so silver-tongued. I truly see you in a new light!" Feng Hengkong's voice was quite cold, seemingly more sarcastic than appreciative.
"You know full well what Xue'er's status is, and yet you claim this move preserves the dignity of my Shenhuang Kingdom, yet you want my Shenhuang's most honorable princess to marry your Cang Feng imperial consort as a concubine. Not only does she humble herself, but she is also directly placed beneath you, Cang Feng Empress, which undoubtedly signifies that from now on, my Shenhuang is inferior to your Cang Feng."
"Oh?" Before Feng Hengkong could finish his roar, Cang Yue's leisurely tone interrupted him. She spoke with a faint smile: "So the Phoenix Sect Master's earlier fierce reaction was because you were unwilling to have Xue'er as a concubine. In that case, I will take a step back. After Xue'er marries my husband, she will be of equal status to me as a legitimate wife, on the same level! In the thousand-year history of my Cang Feng Kingdom, this has never happened before. It is also my great compromise in terms of imperial dignity for the sake of peace between our two nations. With this, the Phoenix Sect Master should be satisfied, right!"
Feng Hengkong's anger and expression both froze on his face. Halfway through Cang Yue's words, he suddenly realized that Cang Yue's proposal to have Feng Xue'er as a "concubine" was precisely to facilitate this "retreat to advance" at this moment! He had completely stepped into the trap set by Cang Yue.
Cang Yue continued unhurriedly: "Moreover, I was once the Cang Feng imperial princess and married Yun Che, with my husband as the greater authority. Although I have now ascended the throne as Empress, I still regard my husband as my heaven. Therefore, I am the Emperor of Cang Feng, and my husband Yun Che is the supreme figure of Cang Feng, not a mere former imperial consort! What Xue'er will marry is naturally not the Cang Feng imperial consort, but the most noble and respected person in the Cang Feng Kingdom! Where is the humiliation?"
"However, the Phoenix Sect Master's words remind me. Since Xue'er is the most honored and highest-status person in the Shenhuang Kingdom, she naturally has the highest right to speak. In that case, it seems more appropriate for me to ask Xue'er herself about this matter."
Feng Hengkong was silent for a long time. He found it hard to accept that he, the hundred-year emperor of Shenhuang, had been led by the nose by a weak kingdom's empress who had only been on the throne for three years and was barely twenty years old.
"Xue'er, would you be willing to marry Yun Che, stay with him forever, and thus put an end to the grievances between our two nations?" Cang Yue turned to Feng Xue'er, her sharp-as-a-blade demeanor softening into a gentle smile.
Throughout the confrontation between Cang Yue and Feng Hengkong, Yun Che had remained silent, and Feng Xue'er had also stayed quiet. From the moment Cang Yue said she wanted Feng Xue'er to marry Yun Che, she had been in a daze. She blinked her crystal-clear eyes and said softly, dreamily: "Marrying Brother Yun... is it forever?"
"Of course it's forever," Cang Yue said with a smile. "After marrying your Brother Yun, you will belong to him, and he will belong to you. You can have each other completely, forever relying on and accompanying each other, with no one able to stop or bind you."
"Then... Empress Sister, were all your earlier words also true?" Feng Xue'er's beautiful eyes became even more hazy.
"Of course," Cang Yue knew what she was asking. "I am the Emperor of the Cang Feng Kingdom, just like your imperial father. My words are as good as gold. As long as you are willing to marry your Brother Yun, then your Shenhuang Kingdom will not need to apologize, cede territory, or pay tribute. Your imperial father can return to Shenhuang anytime unharmed, and you can be with your Brother Yun, as long as you want to be together."
"..." Feng Xue'er had come to atone for her imperial father's crimes. As long as she could atone, she was willing to bear any punishment. But she never expected that the Cang Feng Empress would ultimately give such a "punishment." In her worldview, the picture being painted before her, this form of "atonement," was simply too wonderful.
"If, if that's the case," Feng Xue'er quietly turned her gaze to Yun Che, but as soon as she touched the edge of his clothes, she withdrew it under the impact of some unfamiliar and strange emotion. Her heart suddenly raced many times faster, and her voice grew smaller: "Then I naturally would—"
"Xue'er!" Feng Hengkong's low shout interrupted her. "You... this matter is not as simple as you think. This is a lifelong matter! It is the one thing in a person's life that must never be acted upon rashly!"
"I know," Feng Xue'er said softly. "Although I have rarely been exposed to the outside world, the memories the Phoenix God bestowed upon me have allowed me to vaguely understand many things. I know that if a girl marries a man, it is for a lifetime... but if it's Brother Yun, wouldn't a lifetime be wonderful?"
"Brother Yun and I both possess the bloodline and Phoenix Soul granted by the Phoenix God. Therefore, my soul can clearly feel the warmth his soul brings me. Three years ago in Qifeng Valley, the days I spent with Brother Yun were the happiest of my life. Brother Yun not only saved my life and awakened my Phoenix Soul, but also let me experience the most beautiful side of the world... Moreover, my soul can feel that in this world, there could never be a second person who can give me such a feeling."
"Like yesterday, when I saw Brother Yun again... it was an unprecedented, immense joy."
"So, if this is how I atone for my sins, I truly am willing to atone for an entire lifetime like this."
As Feng Xue'er spoke and murmured, she couldn't help but smile. The moment her smile bloomed, the entire solemn hall instantly became warm.
Cang Yue's expression was somewhat complicated, but it lasted only a brief moment. She cast a light glance at Yun Che, then smiled warmly again. She could see that Feng Xue'er harbored subtle feelings toward Yun Che beyond gratitude, but she never expected them to be so profound and pure. Perhaps, for Feng Xue'er with her purest heart, Yun Che's appearance was utterly fatal.
Feng Hengkong's face and entire body were filled with a deep sense of helplessness. Phoenix souls were inherently one, instinctively drawn to each other. He would rather attribute all this to the mutual attraction of the Phoenix Souls within their bodies.
"Xue'er..." Feng Hengkong spoke, his voice tinged with helplessness and deep pain: "Do you remember the words your imperial father said to you when you returned from the Phoenix God at the age of thirteen?"
"I remember." Feng Xue'er nodded lightly without thinking: "Father warned Xue'er that before the age of seventeen, she must not leave Shenhuang City or have contact with anyone outside her immediate family. Before the age of twenty, she must not leave the Shenhuang Kingdom. After twenty, she should begin to see and understand the entire world with her own eyes."
Feng Hengkong nodded slightly. Only when facing Feng Xue'er was the gentleness in his eyes completely without impurity: "Xue'er, you grew up by the Phoenix God's side. You are too pure and kind. Your father wants to protect you for life, but you must eventually grow up, and in the future, even bear the burden of the entire Shenhuang Kingdom..."
"Therefore, no matter how reluctant your father is, his protection of you will only last until you are seventeen. After seventeen, your father originally planned to take you to see all of the Shenhuang Kingdom, to understand the warmth and coldness of the human world. When you turn twenty, your father will completely let go, allowing you to understand the entire Tian Xuan Continent on your own and make all your own decisions independently."
"But for these three years, you have been unconscious. Now, although you look exactly the same as three years ago, seemingly not having grown at all, you are already nineteen. Yet your father has still not been able to take you to see our Shenhuang Empire... and in another half a year, you will be twenty."
"Father..." Feng Xue'er murmured softly.
"Although three years have been taken from you, your father's words from back then will not be retracted. After you turn twenty, you can decide everything for yourself, and no one can interfere. So, give yourself, and give your father, half a year." Feng Hengkong's eyelids drooped slightly. "In this half year, you will grow, you will recognize and see more things, especially whether you can clearly understand your feelings toward Yun Che."
"If half a year from now, you still feel the same about Yun Che as you do today," Feng Hengkong's hands clenched tightly beneath his long sleeves, "then your father will personally make the decision and grant your wish. Even if the entire sect opposes it, your father will bear it alone. But if your heart changes by then, you must never force yourself. As for Cang Feng, your father also has his own way to handle it."
"Mm." Feng Xue'er paused for a moment, then finally nodded gently: "Xue'er will obey Father."
"Empress Cang Yue, you have heard me. It is not that I or Xue'er are unwilling, but this matter concerns Xue'er's lifelong happiness and must be handled with care. I can entrust Xue'er to Yun Che, not to preserve Shenhuang's dignity, but for Xue'er's inner wishes. But at least... at least wait until half a year from now!"
"Good!" Contrary to Feng Hengkong's expectations, Cang Yue did not take this opportunity to make things difficult, but directly nodded in agreement: "The Phoenix Sect Master's word is as good as gold. With your words, I consider this as your acceptance! However, I will not take a step back for half a year for nothing! During this half year before your Shenhuang makes its final decision, Feng Xue'er must stay in my Cang Feng Kingdom! As for you, you may leave at any time!"
Cang Yue spoke resolutely, allowing no retreat!
Feng Hengkong's brows shot up. Feng Xue'er had grown up by the Phoenix God's side, never leaving Shenhuang City until yesterday. How could he easily accept leaving her in Cang Feng, especially near the extremely dangerous Yun Che? He was about to refuse firmly, but when he looked up, he saw Feng Xue'er's gaze, which showed no unease but rather anticipation. His heart suddenly ached and softened, and the words at his throat were forcibly swallowed back. He turned around, suddenly leaped into the air, and flew out of the hall.
"Yun Che, come with me for a moment!"
"Wait for me a while." Yun Che looked up at Feng Hengkong, nodded to Cang Yue and Feng Xue'er, and followed him out.
Feng Hengkong flew straight up after leaving the main hall, all the way to the front of the Phoenix God Ark. He turned around, looked at Yun Che before him, expressionless, and said in a deep voice: "Yun Che... in my life, I have rarely felt grateful to anyone, but three years ago, I was indeed grateful to you because you risked your life to save Xue'er! For that alone, if you had still been alive three years ago, whatever reward you wanted, I would have given it without hesitation."
"What are you trying to say?" Yun Che asked indifferently.
"But from the moment Xue'er woke up after three years of coma, I began to want you dead... and now, I hate you to the bone!"
"Xue'er grew up by the Phoenix God's side. Her imperial brothers, combined, she hasn't seen even a few times. So when they die, she might not even feel slight sadness, let alone hatred toward you. But they were my own sons! You killed four of my sons. Even if I personally ground your bones to dust, it would not ease the hatred in my heart... But even that is not what I hate you for most. What I hate you most for is that you actually, actually..."
A strange sound of "crack" escaped from Feng Hengkong's mouth. Yun Che could tell that it was the sound of at least one tooth being crushed.
His true, gnashing hatred for Yun Che.
"As for me, it is the same toward you," Yun Che replied coldly.
Feng Hengkong turned away. At least not looking at Yun Che's face allowed him to somewhat control his emotions and hatred: "What I said to Xue'er earlier was not me compromising to preserve Shenhuang's dignity, nor was it me forgiving you. It was only because Xue'er has indeed developed true feelings for you. Hah, Empress Cang Yue truly knows how to strike my fatal weakness. If I forcefully stop this, it might indeed break Xue'er's heart... For Xue'er, I can compromise on anything!"
"Hah, did you call me out just to tell me how great you are as a father?" Yun Che sneered.
"..." Feng Hengkong did not get angry. Instead, his voice softened: "Just based on the fact that you risked your life to save Xue'er, at least I can believe you will not harm her. Now that Xue'er's Phoenix Soul has awakened, there are few in this world who can hurt her. Letting her stay in Cang Feng, close to you, I might not have to worry too much about her safety. She has indeed reached the time when she should get to know the world."
"However, during the time Xue'er stays here, you must promise me one thing!" Feng Hengkong's voice suddenly became stern and heavy. His meaning clearly indicated that he had agreed to leave Feng Xue'er in Cang Feng for this half year.
"Speak," Yun Che replied.
"With Xue'er's heart, half a year from now, her feelings for you should not change negatively. This half year, I am mostly giving my sect time to react. In the future, I might marry Xue'er to you. But before Xue'er's power fully awakens, you must never defile her Phoenix God body! You should know that would severely hinder her power awakening!" Feng Hengkong said harshly, his back still to Yun Che.
Yun Che twitched his brow and said calmly: "Rest assured, although the fate of the Phoenix Sect is none of my concern, I would not do something that would ruin Xue'er's future."
"Good, I can trust you." A person willing to risk his own life to save Feng Xue'er—though Feng Hengkong hated Yun Che to the extreme, deep down he could not doubt his care for Feng Xue'er.
"But I also have one thing for you to remember," Yun Che said coldly. "Even if I am with Xue'er in the future, I will never call you 'Imperial Father'!"
Feng Hengkong's body stiffened slightly. He said nothing more, walked through the air, and headed toward the Phoenix God Ark.
Standing at the ark's entrance, he paused his heavy steps, swung his arm back, and tossed a red jade stone toward Yun Che. Yun Che raised his hand and caught it, feeling a wave of heat from his palm.
"This Phoenix Stone allows you to transmit your voice to me three times within a distance of three hundred thousand li. During this half year, if Xue'er encounters any danger or unforeseen event..."
The ark door fully opened. Feng Hengkong did not continue speaking. Instead, he stepped inside. Only after entering the ark did he finally turn around and meet Yun Che's eyes.
"Aren't you going to say goodbye to Xue'er before you leave?" Yun Che said as he put away the Phoenix Stone.
"No matter how reluctant one is, daughters eventually have to marry." Feng Hengkong's brows were lost in thought as he murmured, whether speaking to Yun Che or to himself: "It's fine. At least it's better than the likes of Ye Xinghan."
The ark door closed completely. The Phoenix God Ark rose into the air and in an instant shot toward the horizon. A surging wave of air spread across the Cang Feng imperial palace.