Chapter 1130: 幻梦

Feng Xue'er smiled, "That is indeed what people call me, but you can just call me Sister Xue'er."

Facing the young boy and girl whom Yun Che always thought of, Feng Xue'er showed no hesitation in her gentleness, even though they had never met.

"Whoa!" Hearing Feng Xue'er's admission, Feng Xian'er gasped, covering her mouth with both hands.

They had been restricted from leaving the Phoenix God barrier until they reached the Sovereign Profound Realm. It had only been a few days since they first stepped out of the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range, and they knew very little about this "outside world" they had always yearned for. However, the name "Phoenix Goddess" was already widely known to them within those few days.

After all, she was the greatest person to ever live on the Profound Sky Continent, a supreme existence akin to a celestial deity for countless profound practitioners.

New to the mortal world, Feng Zu'er was far more cautious than Feng Xian'er. Though inexplicably startled, he rationally asked, "No matter... no matter who you are, how do you know us and our names? We've never told our names to outsiders."

"Because I've met you before, and your names were told to me by Brother Yun," Feng Xue'er said with a sweet smile.

"Ah?" Feng Zu'er was stunned, then struggled to suppress his excitement, stammering, "The Brother Yun you're talking about, is... is Yun Che... our Benefactor Brother?"

"Of course." Feng Xue'er nodded gently. Sensing the Phoenix flames within them, which were still very young to her yet quite powerful, she happily added, "Brother Yun is my fiancé, and we both belong to the Phoenix lineage. That's why he often tells me about you."

"Benefactor Brother... he... he hasn't forgotten us?"

"Of course not, he's always been very concerned about you." Feng Xue'er could clearly feel their surging emotions towards Yun Che: gratitude, admiration, yearning, and perhaps even a foundational belief that sustained them. "Three years ago, he brought me to visit you, but we found your dwelling protected by a large barrier. Brother Yun chose not to disturb you. However, you two mischievously wandered out of the barrier at that time and encountered danger. That's when I saw you and learned your names."

Listening to Feng Xue'er's words, Feng Xian'er's eyes grew hazy, then welled up with tears. "Benefactor Brother still remembers us... he even came to visit us... boo... hoo..."

"..." Feng Zu'er was completely stunned. Three years ago, he had chased the willful Feng Xian'er outside the barrier and encountered a dangerous profound beast. In that critical moment, the flames he frantically threw out in panic had actually killed the beast instantly. He had wondered about that many times since.

And on that very same day, the complete World Ode of the Phoenix had suddenly appeared within his and Feng Xian'er's souls.

Originally, they had thought it was a gift from the Phoenix God.

Only now did they realize that it was Yun Che who had saved them and bestowed upon them the sixth stage of the World Ode of the Phoenix.

Seeing them weep with joy, Feng Xue'er was happy for them too.

"Where is Benefactor Brother now? Can we... can we see him?" Feng Zu'er's eyes also glistened with tears, revealing a deep longing.

Feng Xue'er's expression became slightly somber, then she gently shook her head. "Brother Yun has already left the Profound Sky Continent and gone to a very distant place to do something very important to him. But don't be disheartened, Brother Yun said he would definitely return within five years. He has been gone for three years now, so in two years at most, you'll be able to see him."

"Three years... so the legend was true," Feng Zu'er murmured, momentarily lost in thought.

"It's alright, we can wait. As long as we can see Benefactor Brother, I'd even wait twenty years." Feng Xian'er wiped away her tears, her cheeks still flushed. "Then... then where can we find Benefactor Brother two years from now?"

Feng Xue'er smiled, "When Brother Yun returns, I'll ask him to take me to visit you early. I've also always wanted to visit the Phoenix God there."

"Okay, it's a promise!" Feng Xian'er nodded cheerfully and hooked her pinky finger with Feng Xue'er's.

"Ah! Xian'er, she's the Goddess, you're being too disrespectful..."

Before Feng Zu'er could finish, Feng Xue'er extended her finger and gently hooked it with Feng Xian'er's. "Mhm, it's a promise!"

It had only been a little over ten years since the Phoenix Remnant Clan was freed from their bloodline curse. Hidden within the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range and burdened by the curse for generations, they had no deep foundations or abundant resources.

In such an environment, these two youngsters had managed to reach the Sovereign Profound Realm from the Elementary Profound Realm in just ten years.

This certainly wasn't achievable merely with diluted Phoenix bloodline and extraordinary talent; they must have put in immense effort and hardship, supported by strong determination.

Brother Yun, you must be very happy to see their remarkable growth.

They worked so hard; Xue'er believes a large part of it was because of you.

Feng Xian'er's eyes curved into crescent moons as she gazed rapturously at Feng Xue'er's ethereal beauty. "Sister Xue'er is the most amazing Goddess, so beautiful and so gentle. No wonder you could become Benefactor Brother's wife."

Feng Xue'er smiled faintly. "Have all your clan members come out as well? Integrating into the outside world must bring many difficulties. I will inform my imperial father; the Phoenix Divine Sect would be very willing to help you."

"Thank you, Sister Xue'er, but... there's no need." Feng Zu'er said gratefully, "Because Father, Mother, Grandpa, and the others aren't willing to leave our ancestral land."

Habit is a terrible thing. While bearing the bloodline curse and living in seclusion in the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range for generations, they had simultaneously atoned for their sins and longed for the curse to be lifted so they could return to the outside world. But when that day truly arrived, their long-accustomed isolation, the uncertainty and instability of the unknown world outside, and their deep attachment to their ancestral land led the elders to almost unanimously choose to remain isolated.

Those who yearned for the outside world day and night were the younger Phoenix men and women, like Feng Zu'er and Feng Xian'er. The elders, naturally, encouraged and even urged them to integrate into the outside world as soon as possible.

Feng Xue'er was initially surprised, then slowly understood. "I see... Well, if you ever need anything, you can go to Imperial City Blue Wind. The current Emperor of the Blue Wind Nation is your Benefactor Brother's wife, you know."

"I know, it's Sister Xue Ruo. Zu'er and I miss her very much too," Feng Xian'er chirped. "But Sister Xue'er, don't worry. The Phoenix God's barrier hasn't been lifted; it's still protecting us, and two..."

"Ah, Xian'er!" Feng Zu'er suddenly spoke up, forcefully interrupting Feng Xian'er.

Feng Xian'er instantly covered her mouth with both hands, stammering, "In... in short, Sister Xue'er, you don't need to worry about us at all. The Phoenix God is protecting us, and we'll protect ourselves too."

"Mhm, that's good then." Slightly surprised by their odd behavior, Feng Xue'er naturally didn't press further.

Even after Feng Xue'er left, Feng Zu'er and Feng Xian'er remained emotionally stirred, unable to calm down for a long time.

"Xian'er, let's go home first and tell Father and Mother that Benefactor Brother not only hasn't forgotten us but also bestowed the World Ode of the Phoenix upon us," Feng Zu'er said excitedly.

"Mhm, Father and Mother will be so surprised."

Unable to contain their excitement, the two no longer cared if others noticed them. They soared into the air together and flew towards the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range.

East of the Blue Wind Nation, Floating Cloud City.

Xiao Lingxi lay on her bed. She seemed to be asleep, but her sleep was not peaceful. From a certain moment, her eyelashes and lips began to tremble continuously, and a very slight, yet abnormal, pale hue appeared on her pretty face.

Her breathing also gradually became erratic.

"Who are you... why are you in my body... what do you want to do..."

In the dim world, she cried out helplessly.

In the world of her soul, another voice echoed, identical to her own.

Yet it was incredibly distant and ethereal, as if from an extremely remote antiquity, carrying the vastness tempered by endless ages.

"No! You're not! I am Xiao Lingxi... not you! Not anyone else! Get out! Get out forever!"

"No... I must be sick. You're just a figment of my imagination... Please leave... never appear again..."

"No! I don't want to! I am Xiao Lingxi, I'm not anyone else! I don't want to become someone everyone doesn't recognize! I don't want to become someone Little Che doesn't recognize... Please leave... If you can sleep, please sleep as you did before, and never, ever wake up again!"

Long silence...

The world of her soul quieted down, then suddenly a crimson flame ignited. Within the flames was a blood-soaked figure holding a vermilion greatsword. Covered in blood and riddled with wounds, he let out a roar of furious despair. Yet, his body was pierced by dozens of weapons and dozens of rays of light. His already broken form shattered like torn cloth, turning into countless ashes within the fire...

"Little Che!!!"

Xiao Lingxi screamed and abruptly sat up in bed, her eyes shrinking in fear, her body drenched in cold sweat, and her chest heaving violently as she clutched it with both hands.

Hurried footsteps approached. Su Ling'er pushed the door open and quickly came to Xiao Lingxi's bedside. But Xiao Lingxi was still in shock and showed no reaction.

"Sister Lingxi, did you have another nightmare?" Su Ling'er asked softly.

"It's still that dream." Xiao Lingxi remained dazed.

It had been three years, and that dream, that terrifying scene, reappeared time and again.

Even though it was repeated countless times, each instance filled her with dread and fear.

"You're just too worried about Brother Yun Che, afraid he might be in danger outside, which is why you keep having the same nightmares after he left," Su Ling'er comforted her. "With someone worrying about him so much, if he dares to come back late, I'll be the first to not forgive him."

As Su Ling'er spoke, she quietly averted her gaze, her vision blurred as if by mist.

Brother Yun Che, it's been three years. I miss you so much...

"Mhm... just a nightmare," Xiao Lingxi said softly. After a long while, she finally looked up, her face much brighter, devoid of its previous pallor. "Ling'er, after Little Che left, you've all been worried because of me. But I feel like I won't suddenly faint anymore."

"Eh?" Su Ling'er was startled.

"It sounds strange to say, but I just have this feeling," Xiao Lingxi said with a light smile. "I don't want Little Che to come back only to immediately worry about me."

Everything was just a dream.

Just a dream...

She looked out the window, muttering softly to herself.