Chapter 1374: Reunion

A woman slowly emerged from the bedchamber below. Dressed in golden robes with a jade crown, her mere steps exuded an aura of majesty and nobility. She looked up, her head slightly raised, and smiled faintly at Yun Che: "Yun Che, you're back."

"Yes, I'm back," Yun Che replied, his gaze on her incredibly tender and fixed for a long time.

"Everyone, withdraw," she stated calmly. "Lord Dongfang, you too."

"Yes." At her command, everyone withdrew in an orderly fashion. However, news of Yun Che's return spread like a surging tide from that moment, and it wouldn't be long before it reached every corner of the Profound Sky Continent, and even the Illusory Demon Realm.

Feng Xian'er descended from the sky with Yun Che, landing before Cang Yue. With no one else around, Cang Yue no longer needed to maintain her imperial dignity. Her lips parted, and before she could utter a word, tears streamed down her cheeks. She rushed forward, throwing herself into Yun Che's embrace.

"Husband… you're back… you finally… returned…" The warm embrace, the longed-for figure and scent… she murmured, weeping. This empress of Cangfeng, who had supported her fallen kingdom for three years with her slender shoulders and earned the profound reverence of all her people, always seemed so delicate and vulnerable before Yun Che. It was true then, and it remained true now.

"I'm back," Yun Che whispered, holding her gently yet involuntarily tightening his arms. "You must have worried day and night all these years…"

Cang Yue shook her head, choking back tears. "As long as my husband is safe… nothing else matters…"

Her shoulders trembled violently, and her suppressed sobs continued for a long time before finally subsiding. She then suddenly remembered others were present and quickly pulled away from Yun Che's chest, but her hands still clung tightly to his arm, as if fearing he might suddenly leave again.

"Xian'er, thank you for bringing him back," she said, wiping away her tears with a smile. Just moments ago in the bedchamber, she had heard Yun Che's voice and the latter part of his conversation with Dongfang Xiu… but she neither mentioned it nor asked about it.

Feng Xian'er smiled and shook her head. "Empress Sister, please don't be so polite with me."

As she spoke, she instinctively glanced towards Chu Yuechan and her daughter. Following her gaze, Cang Yue finally saw Chu Yuechan's figure. Her beautiful eyes, still glistening with tears, froze simultaneously, as if in a dream for a moment. Her lips parted, uttering soundlessly, "Fairy Bingchan…"

Having descended from the sky, Chu Yuechan, holding her daughter's hand, nodded slightly. "Twelve years have passed since we last met. The former Princess Cang Yue is now an Empress, and her elegance far surpasses what it was then. Yun Che is truly fortunate."

"Ah, hehe," Yun Che chuckled.

"Mom, why… why is she hugging Daddy?" Yun Wuxin quietly asked from behind Chu Yuechan, her gaze discreetly darting towards Cang Yue. Though still young and with a limited understanding of fathers, she vaguely knew that… a father should belong only to her mother?

Looking at Chu Yuechan and the flawless, jewel-like girl beside her, an inexpressible warmth and excitement filled Cang Yue's heart. She whispered as if in a dream, "She is your daughter, isn't she?"

"Yes," Yun Che nodded. "Her name is Yun Wuxin, and she's mine and little… Yuechan's daughter."

"…" Cang Yue closed her eyes, as if caught in an illusory dream.

She and Chu Yuechan had experienced the events at Heavenly Sword Villa together. Cang Yue knew perfectly well the astonishing lengths Chu Yuechan, then leader of the Seven Fairies of Ice Cloud, had gone to for the "deceased" Yun Che. She also knew the profound pain and guilt Yun Che had always carried concerning Chu Yuechan. Today, he had returned, bringing Chu Yuechan and their child from those days… Everything was as perfect and flawless as a dream.

"Sister Yuechan, I…" she softly called out, then found herself unable to speak further. Though a woman and Yun Che's principal wife, she could not feel even a trace of jealousy towards Chu Yuechan. No woman who knew what Chu Yuechan had done for Yun Che could feel anything but endless gratitude.

"…" Chu Yuechan's eyes wavered, and her lips parted slightly as if to speak, but no words came out either. Cang Yue had always addressed her as "Senior" before. Now, calling her "Sister," as Yun Che's principal wife, was naturally an acknowledgment and acceptance of her. With decades of an icy heart, she should have been indifferent to worldly customs, yet under this soft address, she couldn't help but feel a ripple of emotion.

"Big… Brother… Yun…"

From behind, a dream-like girl's voice drifted, as soft as a cloud, like the gentle weeping of the wind.

"Xue'er…" Yun Che murmured, turning sharply. In his sight, before the white-glowing teleportation array, stood Feng Xue'er in red robes, her snow-white hands pressed firmly over her lips. Her exquisitely beautiful face, which could make even heavenly immortals feel inferior, was completely wet with freely flowing tears.

Wherever Feng Xue'er appeared, all light seemed to dim. Chu Yuechan looked up, and with just one glance, she confirmed the woman's identity. That Phoenix Divine Robe and a face so beautiful it seemed ethereal—it could only be Feng Xue'er, the Phoenix Goddess, and the foremost Divine Maiden of the Profound Sky.

"So… beautiful…" Even Yun Wuxin's lips parted in a soft murmur.

A flash of fiery light, and red robes fluttered. Feng Xue'er had already thrown herself onto Yun Che. Her tear-soaked face pressed tightly against his shoulder as she closed her eyes, feeling Yun Che's unique scent and aura. She sobbed, "Big Brother Yun… you're finally back… you're finally back… *sob*… *sob sob*…"

When Feng Xue'er rushed forward, an innate phoenix spiritual pressure caused Feng Xian'er to involuntarily step back slightly, then freeze completely. It was widely known across the Profound Sky Continent that Feng Xue'er and Yun Che were betrothed. However, seeing the Phoenix Goddess, who commanded awe across ages, was the first to achieve the Divine Way, and was revered as a deity by all profound practitioners, crying like a little girl while clinging to Yun Che… this was a sight she could not have imagined, and no one else could either.

The tears soaking his chest almost melted Yun Che's entire heart. He held Feng Xue'er tightly and said tenderly, "Xue'er, I…"

"Little… Che…"

Another voice came from behind, powerfully tugging at Yun Che's heartstrings. Before the teleportation array, Xiao Lingxi and Su Ling'er stood side by side. Su Ling'er smiled, her jade-like face serene, eyes misty, while Xiao Lingxi, at the first sight of Yun Che, let crystalline tears fall like scattered pearls. After a brief moment of frozen time, she uttered a soft cry and, weeping, rushed towards Yun Che, holding him tightly from behind. Her flowing tears quickly soaked a large part of his back.

"Little Che… Little Che… Little Che…" she called out repeatedly. Unlike Cang Yue and Feng Xue'er, who had held back, Xiao Lingxi's emotions burst forth, and she quickly became choked with sobs.

The two women, one in front and one behind, refused to let go for a long time. Yun Che's chest rose and fell, and warm energy flowed through every part of his body. He had once vowed never to let them worry or shed tears again… yet, he had broken that promise time and again. He dared not imagine how many lifetimes it would take to repay the emotional debt he owed if he hadn't returned this time…

"Xue'er, Lingxi, don't cry anymore… I'm already back," he said softly.

"Let her cry," Su Ling'er walked over and said with a gentle smile. "Sister Lingxi often had the same nightmare after you left, because she worried about you. Now that you've returned safely, she can finally be at peace."

"…" Filled with endless guilt, he reached out and gently patted Xiao Lingxi's soft back. "Lingxi, dreams aren't real. See, not only am I back, but I haven't lost a single hair. If you don't believe me, you can check me over later."

"Hmph! Good thing you even bothered to come back!"

Amidst the heart-pounding atmosphere of reunion, a cold, piercing voice unseasonably rang out. Still before the teleportation array, a girl who appeared to be only fifteen or sixteen stood gracefully. She wore a luxurious, dazzling crimson-gold gown that swept the floor, cinched at the waist to accentuate her slender figure. Her face was flawlessly fair, her lips like powdered rouge, but her star-like eyes were cold and indifferent, yet seemed to faintly shimmer with moisture.

Chu Yuechan turned her gaze to her. From the girl, she felt a powerful majesty that surpassed anything she had ever known. This aura was not deliberately released; it was ingrained in her very bones. Cold… proud… vigorous… imperial… Following Yun Che's description, the girl's identity surfaced in her mind. The Little Demon Empress! Yun Che had said she was the Emperor of the Illusory Demon Realm and the most beautiful woman in that realm… it was truly so. As a woman herself, Chu Yuechan had no doubt that if this girl's beautiful eyes were to curve even slightly, she could enchant countless beings and captivate a thousand worldly glories.

Su Ling'er and Xiao Lingxi—the former tied to him across two lives, the latter having grown up with him and being the closest person in his life. Their deep affection for him was perhaps natural. But the other three women… Cang Yue, the Empress of Cangfeng; Feng Xue'er, the Phoenix Goddess and foremost figure in Profound Sky; and the Little Demon Empress, the Emperor of the Illusory Demon Realm, the supreme ruler of an entire continent… It could be said that the most exceptional women in the world were all gathered around him. Upon learning of his return, regardless of their status, they had arrived without delay… even the Little Demon Empress, who seemed cold-spoken and cold-eyed, yet exuded overwhelming majesty. *He must have earned all of this with his life…* Chu Yuechan thought to herself, recalling the time her own heart was melted by Yun Che.

"Caiyi!" Yun Che's gaze shot like lightning to the Little Demon Empress.

Facing his gaze, the Little Demon Empress turned her head slightly and coldly snorted, "Four years… and you don't seem to have lost any limbs. Hmph, I suppose you didn't break your promise! If you dared to return even a year later… I would personally go to that so-called God Realm and drag you back by your broken legs!"

The Little Demon Empress's tone was cold and severe, but in her last sentence, anyone could detect a distinct tremor.

"Uh…" Yun Che secretly glanced at Yun Wuxin, who was still hiding behind Chu Yuechan, and whispered, "Caiyi, we can talk about these things slowly back in our room. You know… please save me some face as a father in front of my daughter."

"…" The Little Demon Empress froze, her beautiful eyes turning back. Feng Xue'er, Xiao Lingxi, and Su Ling'er were all equally astonished. "Your… daughter?"

In their surprise and doubt, their gazes simultaneously fell upon Yun Wuxin. Looking at the cute, doll-like girl, a similar, indescribable emotion welled up in their hearts. Su Ling'er softly asked, "Big Brother Yun Che, the daughter you spoke of, could it be…?"

"Yes," Yun Che smiled and nodded. "This is Yuechan's and my daughter. Her name is Yun Wuxin, and she's eleven years old."

"Ah!!" Identical gasps escaped their lips. Then, something occurred to them, and they looked at Chu Yuechan beside Yun Wuxin. "Could she be… Sister Yuechan?"

Among them, only Cang Yue had met Chu Yuechan before, but being by Yun Che's side, how could they not know the name Chu Yuechan?

The Little Demon Empress descended from the air, gently landing before Chu Yuechan and Yun Wuxin. The coldness in her eyes melted into a softness that Yun Che rarely witnessed. "Sister Yuechan, your safety is the best news in all these years. You and your daughter must have suffered greatly. If you are willing to accept us as sisters, we will, along with Yun Che, compensate you for everything he owes you in the future."

"…" Yun Che smiled, but felt a touch of jealousy in his heart… because he couldn't recall the Little Demon Empress ever speaking to him with such tenderness!

"No need," Chu Yuechan shook her head. "I haven't suffered these past years, nor do I have any regrets or grievances."

The Little Demon Empress smiled, filled with endless emotion. She knew, and they all knew, that Chu Yuechan had always been a burden Yun Che could never truly release from his heart. Now, he had returned and found Chu Yuechan safe and sound, along with their safe and sound daughter. There was no more perfect outcome in the world.

Under so many gazes, Yun Wuxin's body shrank back even further. Chu Yuechan leaned down slightly and said softly, "Xin'er, go say hello to your aunties."

"…" Yun Wuxin didn't move forward, timidly whispering, "They… they all seem to really like Daddy."

"Yes," Chu Yuechan nodded. "Being liked by so many people means Daddy is very capable. You should be happy for him."

"…" Yun Che's old face flushed slightly.

"…Mm," Yun Wuxin nodded, seemingly understanding a little, yet vaguely not understanding at all.

However, none of them noticed that high above, in a place even more distant than the clouds, a pair of eyes was silently watching them.

"…" Mu Xuanyin's snow-white hand pressed against her chest, her immortal body trembling as if standing in an unbearable cold wind. She was watching Yun Che, but her gaze was blurred as if shrouded in a misty dream.