Chapter 919: Unstoppable Yearning
[6600 words, two in one.]
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The Sun Moon Divine Palace, Tian Wei Sword Domain, and the Xuan practitioners from various nations all hurriedly departed, none daring to come forward and greet Yun Che, this god of slaughter.
Xia Yuanba's constitution had always been extraordinary. After Yun Che healed him somewhat with the world's energy, his condition improved rapidly within a short time. Seeing the people around leave one after another, he strode over to Yun Che and, unable to contain his excitement, said, "Brother-in-law, you actually... actually became this powerful! How did you do it? Did your master come back?"
"I'll tell you the details later." Yun Che smiled and said, "Yuanba, Xue'er and I will return to the Illusion Demon Realm immediately, otherwise they'll surely worry. Do you want to come back with us?"
Xia Yuanba's eyes lit up, but then he hesitated for a while before shaking his head: "Forget it, I'll go some other time. This... suddenly becoming the master of the Saint Domain and then leaving abruptly isn't quite right. I'd better return to the Saint Domain first."
"Haha, that makes sense." Yun Che laughed heartily.
"Brother-in-law," Xia Yuanba lowered his voice, "you're not really... really just going to let the Sun Moon Divine Palace and Tian Wei Sword Domain off like that, are you?"
Yun Che chuckled and said, "Yuanba, rest assured. Everyone in the Huangji Sacred Domain is now under you, so I definitely won't do anything to them. And I fully believe that although you're still a bit green now, in the future, under your leadership, the Huangji Sacred Domain will only get better."
"..." Xia Yuanba scratched his head and murmured quietly, "Actually... I'm not confident at all."
"But I have complete confidence in you, after all, you have the heart of an overlord." There was a hint of mystery in Yun Che's words, then he changed the subject: "However, I'm very serious about the teleportation array. This month, lead the Huangji Sacred Domain to focus on building the teleportation array. Remember, when cooperating with the Sun Moon Divine Palace and Tian Wei Sword Domain, make full use of their resources. They are now leaderless, panicked and uneasy, and will be eager to perform on this matter I've instructed. Don't be reluctant to use them."
Although the Primordial Mystic Ark possessed immensely powerful space travel capabilities, it contained an incredibly vast independent world. Each traversal carried not just one or two people but a massive world, so the consumption was extremely high. Even the Nine Suns Jade could not support such unrestrained expenditure.
Especially after a round trip to the Cang Yun Continent, the remaining energy of the Primordial Mystic Ark was directly depleted to less than twenty percent. Since the Tian Xuan Continent and the Illusion Demon Realm were both his homes, and he would frequently travel between the two continents in the future, building a sufficiently large spatial teleportation array was imperative.
And the only ones with enough capability and resources to build a teleportation array connecting two continents were the Four Sacred Grounds.
"Uh, I understand." Xia Yuanba nodded in a daze.
"Also, help me keep an eye on two people from the Sun Moon Divine Palace and Tian Wei Sword Domain." Yun Che's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Who?"
"The young sword master of the Tian Wei Sword Domain, the one I crippled, Xuan Yuan Wen Dao, and the tenth-ranked elder of the Sun Moon Divine Palace, Ye Xuan Ge."
"Ah?" Xia Yuanba was startled and asked in confusion, "How should I keep an eye on them?"
"Just ensure nothing happens to let them die. I'll have a major use for them in a month." Yun Che said.
Xia Yuanba looked completely puzzled. He was about to ask further when he suddenly saw Dongfang Xiu and Qin Wushang walking side by side toward Yun Che from behind, looking quite nervous. He quickly called out, "Mansion Master Dongfang, Mansion Master Qin, you're here too?"
Dongfang Xiu and Qin Wushang walked over and simultaneously bowed. But before their bodies could lower, Yun Che and Xia Yuanba dodged at the same time. Yun Che immediately said, "Both mansion masters, we were once formal disciples of the Cangfeng Mystic Palace. We are in no position to receive such grand gestures from you."
"Yes, yes," Xia Yuanba quickly nodded.
Qin Wushang sighed deeply: "Our Cangfeng Mystic Palace has always been as humble as dust on the Tian Xuan Continent, even within the Cang Feng Empire it was a laughingstock among those powerful sects. Yet now, two people who came from our Cangfeng Mystic Palace — one has become the Divine Emperor of the Huangji Sacred Domain, and the other is already the most honored under heaven. As one of the mansion masters, countless words cannot describe this dreamlike glory."
"Both mansion masters flatter us. Are you perhaps asking about the Empress Cang Yue?" Yun Che said.
The two nodded. Dongfang Xiu said, "Her Majesty the Empress has been away for several months. Witnessing Palace Master Yun's brilliance today, Her Majesty must surely be safe and well."
"Rest assured, both of you." Yun Che smiled. "Now that Xuan Yuan Wentian is dead, there is nothing under heaven that can threaten her safety or that of the Cang Feng Empire. During her time in the Illusion Demon Realm, she has always been thinking of the Cang Feng Empire. Once the teleportation array is completed in a month, she will return to the imperial family. For this month, we will rely on both mansion masters' hard work."
"Then we can rest easy." The two mansion masters smiled joyfully.
"Venerable Zi," Yun Che tilted his voice and spoke in a commanding tone, "arrange an escort to return both mansion masters to the Cang Feng Empire."
Venerable Zi turned around, paused for a moment, then quickly stepped forward and said with considerable respect, "Yes... two distinguished guests, please."
Addressed as "distinguished guests" by a Sacred Domain venerable and assigned personal escort, the two mansion masters were flattered beyond measure. Even their departing steps seemed unusually unsteady.
The people of the Fenghuang God Sect came over. Feng Hengkong, leading them, looked at Yun Che, then at Feng Xue'er. His lips moved for a long time before he said with a complex expression, "Yun Che, bring Xue'er back to Phoenix City often."
"Father, now that Brother Yun has become so powerful, there will never be any dangers like before. Brother Yun and I will return often." Feng Xue'er said with a light laugh.
"If you have the intent, you might try to set up a spatial array connecting Liuyun City or the Ice Extreme Snow Domain to Phoenix City. That way, if Xue'er wants to return, it'll be much more convenient." Yun Che said flatly.
Feng Hengkong's eyes brightened sharply, and he nodded slightly. Building a spatial teleportation array connecting two continents was absolutely impossible for the Fenghuang God Sect, but connecting two nations... it was hardly difficult.
"Xue'er..." Feng Hengkong hesitated for a long time, ultimately unable to bring up the matter of Feng Ximing. Reluctantly, he said, "We're leaving. There's still too much to handle back in Phoenix City. Take good care of yourself, and never let yourself be wronged."
The Huangji Sacred Domain, Sun Moon Divine Palace, and Tian Wei Sword Domain left one after another. The Supreme Sea Palace began cleaning up the mess. The Fenghuang God Sect left last. Unlike when they arrived, prepared to die, they left with unprecedented ease.
Because not only had their Fenghuang God Sect completely escaped the crisis of annihilation, the new Phoenix God had truly awakened — and was clearly more powerful than even their ancestral Phoenix God.
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After bidding farewell to Xia Yuanba, the new Divine Emperor of the Sacred Domain, Yun Che returned to the Illusion Demon Realm that very day with Feng Xue'er. He informed his parents and Little Demon Empress that Xuan Yuan Wentian was dead.
This news quickly spread through the Demon Emperor City. Unsurprisingly, the city, which had been suppressed in shadows for several months, erupted with cheers of joy. It wasn't just about the death of an enemy — it was about pulling the Demon Emperor City, and the entire Illusion Demon Realm, out of the abyss of destruction.
The Demon Emperor City completely lifted its defensive posture. Those who had fled the city also began returning one after another. The terrible disaster that everyone thought could descend at any moment dissipated into nothingness.
On the Tian Xuan Continent side, the Four Sacred Grounds began sparing no effort to build the spatial teleportation array Yun Che had requested.
With Xuan Yuan Wentian dead, his dream of becoming the heavenly venerable was utterly shattered. The Four Sacred Grounds had witnessed and personally experienced Xuan Yuan Wentian's terror. How much more powerful Yun Che, who killed Xuan Yuan Wentian, must be was even more imaginable. After today, they would be painfully aware that they were no longer the pinnacle of the Tian Xuan Continent. Above them, someone had appeared who could arbitrarily decide their life or death.
And that person was someone they had offended, even schemed against, multiple times before.
This made them fear Yun Che, forcing them to lower their postures as much as possible and tread carefully, not daring the slightest negligence regarding the spatial teleportation array he demanded.
After the Fenghuang God Sect returned to the Divine Phoenix Empire, they began rebuilding Phoenix City. And Feng Hengkong did not treat Yun Che's words as a casual remark at all. He immediately sent two teams to Liuyun City and the Ice Extreme Snow Domain to begin constructing spatial arrays connecting the three locations.
Yun Che's name, without a doubt, once again spread to every corner of the Tian Xuan Continent. But this time, it was a thousand times more earth-shattering than all previous times combined. Within a few days, he was already crowned the "Number One Person Under Heaven in a Millennium" of the Tian Xuan Continent.
Yun Che, however, paid no attention to any of this. After returning to the Illusion Demon Realm, he quietly recuperated. Seven or eight days passed, and his injuries had already healed.
Early morning, the sky bright. Light seeped through the bamboo window, falling upon Yun Che. His eyelids twitched, and he mumbled drowsily, "Mo Li, what time is it now?"
"..."
Receiving no reply, Yun Che's eyes slowly opened. He sat up from the bed, staring at the white wall, his gaze dazed.
Mo Li had been gone for several months.
But he still hadn't fully emerged from this reality... or rather, he still couldn't fully accept this reality.
Earlier, after Mo Li left, he first encountered Yu Luo's machinations and nearly died, then remained under the shadow of Xuan Yuan Wentian, with no time for anything else. Now that Xuan Yuan Wentian was dead and there was no one left in the world who could threaten him, his mind completely relaxed. The longing for Mo Li surged uncontrollably, unceasing.
The person closest to him in his life was Xiao Lingxi, but the one who understood him best was definitely Mo Li.
From their initial simple mutual exploitation, their feelings had qualitatively transformed without them realizing it. Later, they were no longer merely emotionally dependent on each other but had become an almost instinctive habit. And when Mo Li truly left him, he discovered that it wasn't just a separation in distance—it was clearly a sense of a large part of his body and soul being cut away.
And it could never be repaired, forever incomplete.
"Mo... Li..." he called out in a daze, lifting his head to look upward: "Where are you..."
This spiritless state lasted a full quarter of an hour before he got out of bed and walked outside the courtyard.
It was still early, and with the lifting of the combat readiness state, the Yun Clan disciples, whose nerves had been taut for months, were also resting during this time, sleeping much longer. So the surroundings were very quiet. Yun Che walked far and saw a middle-aged man in simple white clothes slowly practicing under an old tree.
When Yun Che saw him, he also happened to see Yun Che. The man put down his movements and said with a gentle smile, "Che'er, you're up early."
"Senior Su is the early one. Your injuries haven't healed yet, so please don't overexert yourself." Yun Che stepped forward and said.
Su Hengshan smiled easily and patted his chest: "It's no trouble at all. Senior Yun Gu truly lives up to the legend of the medical sage; his medical skills are nothing short of miraculous. For a severed heart meridian, I always thought that even a golden immortal reborn couldn't save it. But under Senior Yun Gu's skilled hands, I'm now almost as good as new."
"Of course." Yun Che also smiled. "In probably half a month at most, Senior Su's profound strength will fully recover as well. Senior Su, are you getting used to living here during this time?"
Su Hengshan's smile faded slightly but grew warmer: "To tell you the truth, I'm ashamed. Although I'm the head of a sect, the number of times I've stepped out of Jiangdong in my entire life can be counted on one hand. I thought it would be hard to adjust to a different way of living, but unexpectedly, during this time here, I've been incredibly at ease."
Su Hengshan shook his head with a smile. "I can even say these have been the most comfortable days of my life. I don't miss my life in Tai Su Men at all. It seems I'm really not suited to be a sect leader. Especially seeing that Ling'er is not only safe and sound, having found you, but also lucky enough to become the medical sage's disciple, smiling so warmly every day, I realize more and more how foolish I was to sever my heart meridian that day. If I had really died, I can't imagine what Ling'er's smile would have become. At the time, I was just... impulsive and foolish."
Thinking back to that day when, to avoid becoming Yun Che's burden and to allow him to rescue Ling'er without any constraints, he severed his own heart meridian—he still felt deep fear.
"Senior Su likes it here, that's good. From now on, feel free to treat this place as your home. And," Yun Che smiled mysteriously, "actually, what Ling'er worries about most is your 'life's great matter.' Since you've started a new life in a new world, after your injuries heal, you should also consider finding a soulmate in this new life."
"..." Su Hengshan was taken aback, clearly never having considered this question. Somewhat awkwardly, he said, "This... Ling'er's mother passed away early, so I..."
"Eh? Father, Brother Yun Che, why are you both up so early?"
As the two men talked, a voice like a clear spring from a secluded valley reached them. Su Linger walked over lightly, smiling as she looked at the two most important men in her life: "What are you two discussing?"
"Of course, man talk." Yun Che said with a grin.
Su Linger parted her pink lips slightly, then wrinkled the tip of her nose: "You guys aren't discussing... something bad, are you? Brother Yun Che, you... you absolutely must not turn my father into a playboy like you."
"..." Yun Che was instantly speechless, while Su Hengshan burst into loud laughter.
"Father, you're still laughing. You don't even know, Brother Yun Che has Sister Cang Yue, Sister Xue'er, and even Little Demon Empress is... and at just sixteen years old, he married another sister..." Su Linger didn't need any defenses in front of her father and began listing Yun Che's "crimes." Finally, she added cautiously, "He's nothing like the Brother Yun Che I used to know..."
"Hahaha..." Su Hengshan laughed even more heartily. Who in the Demon Emperor City didn't know Yun Che's name? These days, he had already learned all about Yun Che's various circumstances. He laughed and said, "Linger, when you first knew Che'er, you were only ten years old, so of course he'd be different."
"...You wouldn't understand anyway!" Su Linger stepped forward and took Yun Che's arm: "Brother Yun Che, I want to go outside the city to gather herbs. Will you come with me?"
"Gather herbs?" Yun Che asked, puzzled: "The Yun family has all kinds of herbs. Why go outside the city to gather them?"
"Gathering herbs is secondary; the main thing is to learn about the hundred plants." Su Linger said earnestly. "Master said that to become a true healer, knowing all sorts of exotic medicinal herbs, poisonous plants, and venomous insects is the most basic skill. Master is resting now and cannot be disturbed. Brother Yun Che, you're naturally the most suitable temporary teacher. Let's go!"
Having said that, Su Linger winked playfully... She was the only one in the world, besides Yun Che, who knew that he had once been a disciple of the Medicine Valley.
"Ah... okay."
Yun Che said goodbye to Su Hengshan and left hand in hand with Su Linger.
Watching the two of them being so intimate and close, Su Hengshan kept smiling. Having arrived in the Illusion Demon Realm only ten days ago, he had already begun to feel that this kind of life might suit him better. No more responsibilities to bear, no more precautions to take, no more pressure, heartache, retreat, anger, sorrow... A long time ago, he felt he was completely unfit to be a sect leader, and now he was even more convinced.
"It seems it really is time to find myself a companion again." Su Hengshan murmured to himself with a smile. "At least it will make Linger worry less."
East of the Demon Emperor City, there was a small wooded area with a profusion of grasses and plants. Entering it, Su Linger started from the edge, picking and identifying various flowers and plants one by one, her expression very serious.
"Bluestone flower... Phoenix tree grass... Cold silk seed... this is called... seems like Yiyi grass?"
"No, this is fishy rattan." Yun Che immediately corrected. "It looks very similar to Yiyi grass, but there are subtle differences on the leaf surface. If you smell it closely, the odor will be distinctly different. Fishy rattan has a faint fishy smell."
Su Linger gently picked it up and sniffed, exclaiming softly, "It really is! Brother Yun Che, how can you recognize it from so far away?"
Although Su Linger had inexplicably recovered memories of her previous life, her disposition clearly leaned toward this life... without the unending melancholy of her past life, but rather the innocent, lively spirit of a sixteen-year-old girl. Yun Che put on an old-fashioned air: "Linger, you've just started learning medicine. Being able to recognize this many is already quite impressive. There's no need to rush. After all, I traveled the Cang Yun Continent with my master for twenty years, dealing with all kinds of medicinal ingredients every single day. It would be harder not to be familiar with them. Later on, any medicinal ingredient I came into contact with—I didn't even need to use my eyes. Just a slight sniff of the scent and I could immediately tell what it was."
As soon as he finished speaking, Yun Che froze... He could show off these things to other women, but Linger—she had known all of this clearly for a long time.
"Hehe..." Su Linger stuck out her tongue at him: "Yes, yes, Brother Yun Che is so amazing. So why don't you come and teach me?"
Under Su Linger's eager thirst for knowledge, Yun Che activated his mentor mode.
"This red flower is called Dragon Blood Vine. It's useless for treating illnesses, but can be used to refine medicine that aids cultivation."
"This is Zuo Ling Zi, cold-natured. You can eat it directly..."
"This is Que Chi Hua. It's a medicinal flower that can be crushed and applied externally. It can also neutralize some mild snake venom."
"This is..."
"I know this one... It's jasmine!"
"..." Yun Che's soul felt as if something violently stabbed it. He froze on the spot.
"Wow! Such a large patch of jasmine! Growing in a place like this—it almost looks like someone carefully planted it."
Ahead was a patch of damp ground. A vast expanse of pure white jasmine flowers bloomed in competition. At a glance, there were hundreds of plants. The flowers were small, flawlessly white, and their fragrance was faint but so elegant it could almost cleanse the soul.
Su Linger of the "previous life" loved jasmine, and the present Su Linger loved it just as much. She nearly intoxicatedly admired the sea of blooming jasmine, even her usually strong thirst for knowledge suppressed. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath of the jasmine fragrance for a while, then turned around and said with a smile, "Brother Yun Che, do you think the jasmine here might be..."
She had been facing away from Yun Che and hadn't noticed anything unusual. When she turned, she saw Yun Che's face completely dull, his eyes hazy, wearing an expression that seemed tinged with sorrow. Worried, she quickly rushed to his side: "Brother Yun Che, what's wrong?"
"..." Su Linger's call snapped him back. He quickly forced a smile and said, "It's nothing. I just suddenly thought of something."
"Did you think of... someone?" Su Linger looked up, sensing his somewhat chaotic heartbeat, and said softly, "Is it a girl... related to jasmine?"
"..." Yun Che opened his arms and gently pulled Su Linger into his embrace, saying guiltily, "Linger, you're right here beside me. I know I shouldn't be thinking of others, but I..."
"Brother Yun Che," Su Linger shook her head, a tender smile appearing on her face. At this moment, she seemed to shed her sixteen-year-old innocence and become the Su Linger from long ago, who always spoiled him endlessly: "It's okay. I like the way you are now. Do you still remember what I said in your arms back then?"
Yun Che: "..."
"Never again betray the girls who are willing to give everything for you... and never give up on the girl you are willing to give everything for. If your heart cannot be complete because of some regret, then my heart will never be complete either." Su Linger murmured softly, her voice like a dream.
Having experienced two lifetimes, and having truly faced life-and-death separation and recovery, she knew clearly what she wanted, and she understood all too well what it felt like to have a soul that was incomplete.
"She was my master..." Yun Che said softly.
Su Linger: "..."
"She left. When she left, every word she said was very cold. She severed our master-disciple relationship, said we would never see each other again, and told me never to try to find her." Yun Che closed his eyes. His words were calm; in front of Su Linger, he could vent the suppressed feelings deep in his soul. "But I know those words were all fake. She must miss me. Although there are many things about her that I don't know, her personality, her thoughts, her concern for me, and the occasional dependence she showed—I understand her better than anyone in this world. But... the place she went is too far. Maybe... I really will never see her again in this life."
"I planned long ago for the day we would part, but... I overestimated myself. I didn't expect that after she was no longer by my side, I would be so unaccustomed to it. Her shadow flashes through my mind countless times every day. I don't know what's wrong with me; it's like I'm under some strange spell."
Su Linger silently pictured what that girl might be like in her heart and said softly, "I believe in your intuition, Brother Yun Che. She must have had her reasons or difficulties for saying those things. Even if... truly, you can never meet again, you still have us, you still have me. At least, I will never leave you... Even if one day you try to drive me away, I will shamelessly cling to your side."
Yun Che said nothing more. He only held Su Linger tighter, and the two of them stayed together in front of the jasmine bushes for a very, very long time.
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[Martian’s ten-thousand-year routine — there must be a huge landmine in the newbie village!]