Chapter 121: Going to Cangfeng Imperial City

Yun Che spent the entire morning burning away the bloodline curses of everyone in the Phoenix remnant tribe. Then, after bidding farewell to the crowd with Lan Xueruo, he mounted the Giant Snow Eagle and soared into the sky. All the members of the Phoenix remnant tribe came out to see them off, gazing up at the sky and remaining there long after their figures had completely vanished from sight.

"Father, did Brother Yun Che really come to save us as a messenger from the Phoenix God?" Feng Zu'er asked innocently, gazing reluctantly at the sky.

Feng Baichuan stroked his son's head and slowly nodded. "Yes. Our ancestors committed a great sin back then, and after so many years of atonement and repentance, the Phoenix God has finally forgiven us. However, I have a strange feeling that perhaps one day, we will see him again."

"Really?" Feng Zu'er and Feng Xian'er's eyes lit up, their faces filled with anticipation.

"Certainly," Feng Baichuan smiled. Without the bloodline curse, their profound energy was no longer restricted, and the phoenix mark on their foreheads could be hidden at will. This meant their next generation would no longer need to hide in these remote, treacherous mountains. "However, by the time we see him again, perhaps the level he stands at will be one that everyone looks up to. Therefore, Zu'er, Xian'er, if you truly wish to see him again, you must begin training diligently. Currently, we are not worthy of repaying his great kindness. But once you grow up and gain sufficient power, you can leave this place and become his aid... even if it's just a small help, it can still express our tribe's gratitude."

"Understood!" Feng Zu'er and Feng Xian'er nodded vigorously, determination etched on their young faces.

"How long will it take to get to Cangfeng Imperial City from here?"

"At Xiaoxue's speed, if we fly for seven hours a day, we should arrive in about ten days."

Cangfeng Imperial City was the capital of the Cangfeng Empire. While living in Floating Cloud City, Yun Che had never imagined he would one day set foot in the Imperial City. As the nation's capital, Cangfeng Imperial City undoubtedly stood at the pinnacle of the empire in terms of wealth, power, and profound energy. Magnates, influential figures, and powerful experts who might dominate in ordinary cities would at most be considered upper-middle class in the capital.

The sky gradually darkened. After the Giant Snow Eagle continued flying for a long time, they finally found a small town and descended.

"Hello, shopkeeper, do you sell Ten-Thousand-Mile Sound Transmission Talismans here?" Lan Xueruo asked politely as they entered the town's largest business establishment.

"Ten... Ten-Thousand-Mile Sound Transmission Talisman?" The shopkeeper was visibly startled by Lan Xueruo's words. Although Lan Xueruo was dressed simply, her innate nobility was undeniable. Coupled with her exceptional beauty and the fact that she immediately asked for a "Ten-Thousand-Mile Sound Transmission Talisman," the shopkeeper dared not be rude. He cautiously replied, "Young lady, in a small shop like ours, let alone a Ten-Thousand-Mile Sound Transmission Talisman, we don't even have a Thousand-Mile one. I've never even seen a Ten-Thousand-Mile Sound Transmission Talisman in my life... However, I do have a few Hundred-Mile ones. Would those perhaps suffice?"

"...No, thank you. Sorry to bother you." Lan Xueruo shook her head, a hint of disappointment in her voice. She wanted to transmit a message to the Imperial City, and a Hundred-Mile Sound Transmission Talisman was simply too short-ranged.

"Shopkeeper, are there any inns nearby?" Yun Che asked.

"Yes, yes," the shopkeeper nodded, pointing to his right. "Go one street north, and you'll find an inn. It's the only one in this town."

Yun Che nodded and said to Lan Xueruo, "Senior Sister, let's stay overnight at the inn here. Xiaoxue needs rest too."

It didn't take long for Yun Che and Lan Xueruo to find the town's only inn. It was already late, and the inn was quiet. As they entered, under the dim light, only the shopkeeper sat nodding off at the front desk, quickly opening his eyes upon hearing their footsteps.

Yun Che stepped ahead of Lan Xueruo, walked to the counter, crossed his arms over his chest, and stated matter-of-factly, "Shopkeeper, please prepare two rooms for us."

The innkeeper yawned and was about to speak when suddenly, a purple gleam caught his eye. His eyes widened instantly, becoming larger than an ox's.

Because Yun Che's right hand, which was crossed over his chest, had its index finger raised vertically, and clearly clasped between his middle and ring fingers was a shimmering purple... Profound Purple Coin!

The shopkeeper's drowsiness vanished without a trace, and he nearly drooled. Having run this small inn for half his life, he immediately understood. He quickly put on a troubled expression and said, "Distinguished guests, I'm truly sorry, but my humble establishment only has one room left."

"Only one left?" Yun Che turned to Lan Xueruo and said, "Senior Sister, should we try looking for another inn?"

The shopkeeper immediately adopted a serious expression. "Distinguished guests, I'm not trying to scare you, but our inn is the only one in this small town. And once you leave this town, you won't find anywhere to stay for two hundred *li* in any direction. My inn is usually completely full at this hour; it's your good fortune that there's even one room available today. Besides, both of you are talented and beautiful, like a match made in heaven. Traveling together late at night, it's clear you're a sweet young couple, aren't you? Wouldn't one room be just perfect? Why insist on two?"

Yun Che looked troubled as he turned to Lan Xueruo. "Senior Sister, how about we make do with one room? It seems there's no other option."

A man and a woman... one room? The sudden thought made Lan Xueruo's heart inexplicably race. She stammered, flustered, "But... but..."

Before she could finish, the shopkeeper loudly announced, "Alright! I'll take you to the room right away. Although our inn is small, I guarantee it's clean and comfortable to your satisfaction... This way, please."

Lan Xueruo's words were cut off. She bit her lip, and remembering what the shopkeeper had just said, she reluctantly complied.

A faint smile flickered deep in Yun Che's eyes. With a gentle flick of his pinky finger, the Profound Purple Coin silently landed in the shopkeeper's hand. The shopkeeper immediately beamed, happily leading the way. His inn did good business, earning him about ten Profound Purple Coins a year. Yun Che's single payment was equivalent to a full month of his net income. He had seen generous people before, but this was the first time in his life he had encountered such generosity.

He respectfully led them to the room, and when he left, he made sure to close the door properly. Inside, he sighed to himself: *This girl is unbelievably beautiful, and this young man is incredibly wealthy. I wonder which influential family these two are from, out traveling for pleasure.*

The room wasn't large, but it was clean and pleasant. The furnishings were simple, yet the bed was big enough for two people without any issue.

After being exposed to the wind on the Giant Snow Eagle's back all day, both of them were already exhausted. After Lan Xueruo entered the room, her heart pounded like a drum. Her expression was reserved, tinged with a hint of panic, completely devoid of her usual composed and graceful demeanor. A faint blush, like the glow of dawn, colored her beautiful cheeks, diminishing her usual noble elegance and adding a charming girlishness that could intoxicate any man. Yun Che smiled slightly. "Senior Sister, you must be very tired. Please go to bed and rest first."

"Then... what about you..." Lan Xueruo tried to act calm, but her heart wouldn't stop pounding wildly. Could he be thinking... thinking of...

"Of course, I'll sleep on the floor. I'm a man; how could I let Senior Sister sleep on the ground?" Yun Che's face was completely harmless, with a gentle and approachable smile. As he finished speaking, he walked to the corner opposite the bed, sat down on the cold floor, leaned his back against the wall, and said, "Senior Sister, rest easy. I'll be here to protect you."

Lan Xueruo's inner panic vanished, replaced by waves of warmth swirling in her heart. The smile on his face was exactly the same as when he had fallen from high above, seriously injured and lying on the ground, looking at her with gentle eyes. It was the first time she had faced him, and the first time in her life, that she felt an inexpressible stir in her heart.

The floor here was not wooden, but cold, ordinary stone. Even if one were to use a quilt as a cushion, a chilling cold would penetrate after a short while. Lan Xueruo shook her head. "No, that won't do. The floor is so cold; you couldn't possibly sleep there. Your injuries only recently healed... You sleep on the bed; I'll sleep on the floor."

Lan Xueruo's words made Yun Che pause, then he shook his head with extreme determination. "No, no! Absolutely not! I'm a man; how could I let Senior Sister sleep on the ground!"

"It's fine, I've often slept on the ground before, so..."

"That's different!" Yun Che's face remained resolute. "It's not about where Senior Sister prefers to sleep; this concerns a man's dignity! I'd rather Senior Sister stab me to death with a sword than let myself sleep on the bed while a woman sleeps on the ground."

As he said this, Yun Che muttered to himself: *Hmm? Why do these words sound so familiar? I feel like I've said something like this to another woman before...*

"Pfft..." Yun Che's stubborn insistence on "a man's dignity" subtly struck a soft spot in Lan Xueruo's heart, making her burst into laughter.