Chapter 737: Tender Affection
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"So that's how it is. I've always found Brother Yun's profound force very strange too. Even though his cultivation level is low, he can be so incredibly powerful."
In the snowlight, Feng Xue'er turned her face to look at Yun Che, stars shimmering in her eyes: "Brother Yun is not only powerful and mysterious... but also truly kind-hearted."
"Kind-hearted?" Yun Che turned his face to look at her as well. He rarely heard anyone use those two words to describe him. He could already imagine Mo Li's expression of utter disdain when she heard this.
"Yes." Meeting Yun Che's gaze, Feng Xue'er laughed: "Brother Yun was clearly very angry about the wrongs Father Emperor committed, but in the end, he still chose forgiveness. For the sake of the Bing Yun Fairy Palace, Brother Yun has given so much, so much. The medicinal power radiating from those Overlord Pills is even higher grade than the finest pills in our Fenghuang God Sect. Brother Yun not only took out so many at once, but when he was enhancing Uncle-Master Murong's profound force, he exerted such tremendous effort that he almost collapsed from exhaustion."
Yun Che shook his head with a smile, his voice lowering slightly: "Although I don't consider myself a wicked person, I also never consider myself a good person, let alone a kind-hearted one... It wasn't me who forgave your Father Emperor, but your Sister Cang Yue. If we're talking about forgiveness, it's actually your Father Emperor who 'forgave' me."
"Ah?" Feng Xue'er looked confused.
"I killed four of your Father Emperor's sons, your four elder imperial brothers... You grew up by Lord Phoenix God's side since childhood, with very little contact with your imperial brothers and no emotional attachment, so their deaths don't weigh heavily on you. But your Father Emperor is different. He only feels hatred for me, and it's a very pure hatred. If it weren't for you, he would certainly have used the cruelest methods to tear me apart piece by piece. But he loves you, just as purely, and his love for you far surpasses his hatred for me. Coupled with his knowledge that I would never harm you, he chose to follow your wishes, leaving the person he loves most by the side of the person he hates most."
"Speaking of which... when I went to your Fenghuang God Sect to avenge Father Emperor and Cang Feng, if it weren't for you, I would have directly taken your Father Emperor away and killed him before my Father Emperor's tomb. But because of you, I could never bring myself to deliver the killing blow. It's the same for your Father Emperor now. Even if he hated me ten times more, even if he had the absolute power to kill me, he would no longer do so now..." Though he was speaking of resentment and vengeance, Yun Che's face held a very warm smile: "Xue'er, the two of us men who share a blood-deep grudge, because of you, neither of us can kill the other."
"Brother Yun..." Feng Xue'er slowed her steps, a mist gathering in her eyes as she murmured dazedly: "Father Emperor gave me my first life, and Brother Yun gave me my second life... Being able to meet Father Emperor and Brother Yun is the greatest fortune of my life."
"It's the same for me and your Father Emperor." Yun Che said with a smile. He looked up at the Bing Yun Fairy Palace under the night sky, his voice dropping again: "As for my kindness to the Bing Yun Fairy Palace... in truth, it's also for myself."
"Ah?" Feng Xue'er was confused again.
Yun Che was silent for a moment, then slowly began to speak, telling Feng Xue'er about his and Chu Yuechan's story — from their first meeting in the Cangfeng Imperial City, to the agreement he made with her for his own survival, to the "karmic fate" in the Death Wasteland, to their reunion at Tian Jian Villa, and...
Yun Che was an extremely cautious and suspicious person, but before Feng Xue'er, he couldn't raise any defenses. He poured out everything between him and Chu Yuechan to her. [www.aiquxs.com] Their shoulders pressed together as they walked very, very slowly. By the time he finished telling the entire story, there was still a considerable distance to the Ice Pavilion.
"Brother Yun's... little child?" Feng Xue'er murmured softly, as if she couldn't immediately accept this existence that had caught her off guard.
"He's four years old now." Yun Che said with hazy eyes: "I hope even more that he's a boy, so that before I find them, he can protect his mother like a little man. But I've lost them for five years... Five whole years, and still no news at all."
"Back then, your Sister Cang Yue did not hesitate to mobilize the entire Cang Feng's military strength to search. Three years ago, I commissioned the Black Moon Merchant Guild to search... The Black Moon Merchant Guild has the most powerful intelligence network on the entire continent, but after three years of searching, they've found nothing. It's as if they completely vanished from the Tian Xuan Continent."
"Brother Yun..." Feng Xue'er's heart ached. From Yun Che, she sensed deep oppression, self-blame, and pain he was trying hard to hide.
"Every day I can't find them, my heart grows heavier by one degree. The biggest reason I try so hard to be good to the Bing Yun Fairy Palace is that this is where Xiao Xiannü grew up, where her deepest feelings and memories lie. Only like this can I barely alleviate some of my guilt toward her... In the end, it's just to comfort myself." Yun Che's voice was filled with bitterness.
"Brother Yun, don't worry. Your Xiao Xiannü and your little child will definitely, definitely be safe and sound. A person as good as Brother Yun — Heaven wouldn't bear to do something cruel to him." Feng Xue'er gripped Yun Che's hand with both of hers, comforting him softly: "Oh! I'll immediately send a sound transmission to Father Emperor, asking him to send people to search the entire Shenhuang Kingdom..."
"There's no need." Yun Che gently shook his head: "Even the Black Moon Merchant Guild can't find any trace. Ordinary methods... In another two or three months, I can use a special method, and then I'll definitely be able to find them."
Even the Black Moon Merchant Guild couldn't find any trace — anyone understood what those words more implied. But Yun Che stubbornly refused to believe it... Even if there was only a one in ten thousand chance, he would only believe in that one in ten thousand possibility!
Mo Li would be completely free of the demon poison soon, and then she would definitely be able to find them... Definitely!
Feeling Yun Che's low and oppressed mood, Feng Xue'er gently bit her lip, then pulled his arm and pointed to the highest ice peak in the Bing Yun Fairy Palace: "Brother Yun, will you accompany me there to watch the snow?"
As night fell, the two didn't return to the Ice Pavilion. Instead, they sat atop that tens-of-zhang-tall ice peak, gazing at the boundless snowscape under the night sky.
"The sky above Shenhuang City is light red. The sky above Cangfeng Imperial City is deep blue. But the sky here is white." Feng Xue'er looked up at the gray-white night sky without stars: "The scent of the air is different too. Even the white snow presents different scenery during the day and at night. The world is truly more colorful than I ever imagined."
Feng Xue'er watched the snow and the night sky, but Yun Che spent more time watching her. He said with a smile: "But all of that combined isn't as beautiful as Xue'er."
Under the night sky, the Bing Yun Fairy Palace was as beautiful as a dreamscape, but Feng Xue'er, illuminated by the snowlight, was the most dazzling pearl within that dreamscape. Her presence suppressed all the radiant brilliance between heaven and earth.
"Hehe..." Feng Xue'er laughed happily, resting her head on Yun Che's shoulder: "Before, people would always say I was beautiful, but I never felt much about it. But now, I'm more and more grateful... and I hope that when I grow up, I can be even more beautiful."
"Why?"
"Because then I can earn more of Brother Yun's affection and praise." She gently lowered her head, not quite daring to meet Yun Che's eyes.
Warmth filled Yun Che's heart. He reached out and gently encircled Feng Xue'er's waist, as soft and slender as a willow, causing her whole body to tremble slightly: "Xue'er, do you remember that day after we were reunited, how many tears you shed while holding me?"
"...Ah?"
"You cried while holding me for so long. My entire back could feel your tears." Yun Che said softly: "So many tears. Back then, I was truly afraid I wouldn't be able to repay them in several lifetimes... So, no matter what happens in this life, I will always, always be good to you."
"Just... because of tears?" Feng Xue'er lifted her starry eyes, looking at him with a misty gaze, though a warm hint of teasing lurked deep within her eyes.
"Of course, even more because you are my Xue'er!" Yun Che laughed and hugged Feng Xue'er tighter, his single arm completely enveloping her slender waist. The depression and oppression born from Chu Yuechan quickly dissipated.
The overly intimate physical contact made Feng Xue'er moan softly. Her body tensed up slightly from nervousness, but she showed no resistance at all. She whispered softly: "Before, Lord Phoenix God told me that if I could find someone, someone whose company made me very happy, whose presence made my heartbeat uncontrollably quicken, and who would be willing to risk his life for me, then that person would be the one who could accompany me forever. And I met such a person so quickly."
"Just... because I risked my life to save you?" Yun Che put on a melancholy expression.
"Pfft..." Yun Che's words and tone made Feng Xue'er laugh involuntarily, and she tried hard to mimic his voice: "Of course, even more because you are my... Brother Yun!"
The moment she said those words, Feng Xue'er felt her face burning. She had to close her eyes and bury her head deeply into his chest, while the man holding her laughed very proudly.
Inside the Heaven Poison Pearl.
Mo Li floated quietly in the air. Her blood-red long hair danced high, and her favorite red flowing celestial skirt billowed, revealing two pale, delicate calves. Outside her dress, a layer of black vapor slowly swirled. This black vapor overflowed from her body, quickly dissipating once it emerged.
Then, all the black vapor disappeared. Mo Li opened her eyes and descended from the air. Her blood-red hair stopped dancing, falling naturally to her petite bottom. She extended her palm, looking at her snow-white hand, murmuring softly to herself: "The poison force is getting weaker and weaker. The purification speed increases every day. At this rate, in about two months, before he fights Fen Juechen, it should be completely purified..."
Back then, purifying all the demon poison in her body was her greatest desire. She had thought that even with the incredible luck of encountering the Heaven Poison Pearl, it would take a long time — decades, or even centuries — and that period would be an agony she'd have to endure.
Now, less than seven years had passed, and the complete purification of all demon poison was within sight. Yun Che, whose life force she depended on, had reached the strength she required, and because of his extremely powerful bloodline and profound veins, the effects far exceeded her expectations. She had already obtained fifty jin of Purple Vein Divine Crystal out of seventy. Gathering the remaining twenty jin would be easy with Yun Che, who now had a large number of Overlord Pills in hand. The three Overlord Xuan Beast profound pills were even less of a problem... In fact, Yun Che had directly asked the Black Moon Merchant Guild for three Sovereign Xuan Beast profound pills.
Even the Netherworld Brahma Flower, the hardest to find, now had news and a target.
Everything was going far more smoothly than she had anticipated. So much better than even the best-case scenario she had once fantasized about.
She should have been ecstatic.
But as the demon poison on her body grew less and less — to the point where she could even slowly purify the residual demon poison on her own without relying on the Heaven Poison Pearl — she didn't feel joy. The most she felt was a strange emptiness.
Mo Li lowered her little hand. As usual, she habitually looked out at Yun Che's situation, and the first thing she saw was Yun Che and Feng Xue'er hugging each other, exchanging tender affection...
Every single word they spoke seemed to make her whole body tingle for half the day.
"Another one fallen into the demon's clutches!" Mo Li snorted, speaking angrily: "Are the women of the Tian Xuan Continent all incurable idiots!"
"Mmm..." Hong'er was awakened by Mo Li's uncontrolled voice. She opened her eyes, which flickered with vermilion light, and mumbled vaguely: "Sister Mo Li, are you angry... Did master do something wrong again?"
"I'm not angry at your master, but at those idiot women!" Mo Li said irritably.
"...Mmm?" Hong'er sat up from the bed and stretched: "Sister Mo Li, I'm hungry. I want to go find master for something to eat."
"It's not suitable for you to go out now. You'll see things that aren't suitable for you."
"But, I really am hungry." Hong'er obediently listened to Mo Li. Since Mo Li said she shouldn't go out, she sat docilely on the bed, touching her little belly pitifully.
Mo Li waved her hand, and a sparkling purple space ring was drawn to her. She took out a piece of Purple Vein Divine Crystal from the space ring and placed it in Hong'er's hand: "Alright, quickly eat it."
"Wow!! Sister Mo Li is the best!!" Hong'er's eyes sparkled. She picked up the Purple Vein Divine Crystal and took a big bite, chewing loudly with a blissful expression.
To prevent Hong'er from sneaking food, Yun Che always kept the crystals in a space ring, then placed it back inside the Heaven Poison Pearl. But, if he were to check regularly, he would find that the ring, which should have held fifty jin of Purple Vein Divine Crystal... now only had a little over forty-seven jin.
...That was why Hong'er always listened to Mo Li's words.
Mo Li casually tossed the space ring aside, sat down by the bed, and silently watched Hong'er's happy feasting. Gradually, her gaze became somewhat hazy...
"Cai... Zhi..." An unconscious murmur escaped her lips.
"Cai Zhi?" Hong'er, hearing the sound, looked up with a curious expression: "What's that? It sounds delicious! Is it something good to eat?"
Mo Li was startled and quickly came back to her senses. She shook her head and said: "It's not food. It's a little sister like Hong'er, who also calls me sister."
"Oh..." Hearing it wasn't food, Hong'er instantly lost interest. She swallowed the last of the Purple Vein Divine Crystal in one gulp, muttering as she chewed: "Then she definitely isn't as cute as I am."
Mo Li: "..."
"Mmm ah..." After eating all the Purple Vein Divine Crystal, Hong'er's body flickered faintly with purple light. She let out a satisfied, coquettish cry, then flopped limply onto the bed: "Full now! Going back to sleep!"
"Sleep well." Mo Li stood up from the bed, but after just one step, Hong'er's sound of deep sleep came from behind her.
Time flowed silently as the night quietly faded. Neither Yun Che nor Feng Xue'er returned to the Ice Pavilion. Instead, they nestled together, watching the snowscape all night long. Inside the Heaven Poison Pearl, Mo Li also silently watched the outside world for the entire night.
"He has so many women around him; he'll never be lonely." Mo Li muttered to herself, then gave a light snort: "A person who has to listen to me scold him several times a day — he'll definitely be eager for the chance!"
Turning her attention away from Yun Che, Mo Li's expression returned to indifference. She closed her eyes, slowly guided the power of the Heaven Poison Pearl, and once again entered the purification state.
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[It's time to decide whether to sleep or not again...]