Chapter 1415: Hard, Really Hard

Illusory Smoke City is comparable in size to Azure Wind Imperial City. While the latter is the imperial capital of a nation in the Lower Realm, Illusory Smoke City is a truly tiny, remote place in the Snow Song Realm—a small city that over ninety percent of its inhabitants wouldn't even recognize.

After a battle to defend the city, Illusory Smoke City suffered immense losses. In such circumstances, the City Master should have dedicated all his efforts to post-disaster arrangements. However, due to the presence of several terrifyingly distinguished guests, he spent the entire time accompanying them, leaving all recovery matters to others.

Mu Feixue began to concentrate on healing her injuries, while a group of Ice Phoenix female disciples guarded her.

Yun Che stood on a rooftop, silently gazing at the distant, scarred snowy region. What he witnessed today was merely the tip of the iceberg concerning the Snow Song Realm's current state. He couldn't even begin to imagine the current situation of the entire Eastern Divine Region.

And with the Blue Pole Star as a precedent, it was clear that if the situation continued to worsen, increasingly powerful profound beasts would be affected. Eventually, demons, humans, and spirits would also begin to feel the effects, and by that time, the Eastern Divine Region would truly become an incomparably terrifying land of disaster.

There was also a great possibility it would spread to the lower realms.

Regardless, this calamity had to be stopped.

"Brother Ling," Huo Poyun's voice suddenly came from beside him. Yun Che hadn't noticed when he had arrived. Dressed in red, with an extraordinary demeanor, Huo Poyun had completely transformed from the naive young man he once was into a reigning supreme being who looked down upon the world.

Yun Che turned his head and said, half-jokingly, "I heard that Young Sect Master Huo is one of the Divine Sons who experienced three thousand years in the Brahma Heaven God Realm. I can hardly be worthy of being called 'Brother' by you."

Huo Poyun smiled faintly. "Three thousand years in Brahma Heaven equate to only three years in the mortal world. Although my lifespan has increased, when it comes to seniority, one should still adhere to mortal world standards."

Yun Che also laughed. "It is said that those who become God Masters will possess the power to dominate heaven and earth and be revered by all living beings. A God Master like Young Sect Master Huo, without any overbearing aura, is probably the only one in this world."

Huo Poyun shook his head. "Brother Ling, you overpraise me. Speaking of which, I actually think you are the extraordinary one."

"Oh?" Yun Che turned his gaze. "How do you mean that?"

Huo Poyun casually sat down beside him, completely devoid of a God Master's dignity. "While Brother Ling says I lack the bearing of a God Master, you yourself show no reverence for the title. This alone makes Brother Ling extraordinary."

"..." Yun Che smiled. Indeed, faced with a God Master descending from the heavens, the Illusory Smoke City Master's reaction had been the most normal.

"And, I don't know why, but I feel an instant familiarity with Brother Ling," he said, looking at Yun Che seriously.

"If so, it is my honor."

"I am serious," Huo Poyun said with emotion. "I haven't felt this way for too long. Brother Ling, you must think that becoming a God Master allows one to stand proudly in the world, be revered by all beings, be omnipotent, and have everything go smoothly. But in reality... one can also lose a lot."

"Perhaps some troubles that ordinary people cannot understand?" Yun Che said.

"No," Huo Poyun shook his head. "On the contrary, they are things you would consider perfectly ordinary. For example... friends."

Yun Che: "..."

"A year ago, I left the Brahma Heaven God Realm and returned to the Blazing Heaven Realm. My achievement as a God Master shook the entire realm and brought boundless glory. But for over a year now, I haven't been able to find anyone with whom I can speak as an equal. My former senior and junior brothers and sisters, and those playmates and friends I cherished immensely, they have all changed... No, rather, I have changed. No matter how much I try to act as I used to, no matter how friendly I appear, they always treat me with such reverence and awe..."

"What's even more frightening is that I've started to find them childish, or even feel that they are lowly... No matter how much I suppress it, how hard I try, these feelings simply won't go away." Huo Poyun closed his eyes and let out a long breath.

"Hahahaha," Yun Che burst out laughing after hearing Huo Poyun's words. "Brother Poyun, this is by no means your fault, nor your loss. Rather, as time passes and your cultivation and state of mind improve, the height you stand at and the world you see are already completely different from back then. It's perfectly normal for you to feel this way. Just like when you look at your 'three thousand years ago' self, aren't they also different, childish, and lowly?"

"..." Huo Poyun was slightly stunned, then smiled. "Perhaps you are right. I have thought so too, but..."

"You just haven't adapted yet," Yun Che said. "I think by this time next year at the latest, you won't have these kinds of troubles anymore."

Huo Poyun turned his gaze. "Brother Ling's lifespan aura should be less than a hundred years old, yet your mind is so broad-minded it makes me seem like a junior. It seems you must have had extraordinary experiences in this life."

Yun Che smiled, neither confirming nor denying.

"However, if one person were still alive, he would definitely still treat me as a friend. But he..." Huo Poyun tilted his head back, looking at the pale sky, his aura sinking, full of loss.

Yun Che: "..."

"When I became a God Master and left the Brahma Heaven God Realm, I thought I was fearless and could become the eternal pride of the Blazing Heaven Realm. However, I was still far more fragile than I imagined. After hearing that 'he' was no longer in this world, I cried bitterly; it took me several days to recover... Perhaps having someone like that in this world is also a kind of blessing."

Yun Che: "..."

Huo Poyun came back to his senses and hastily apologized. "My apologies, I seem to have spoken a lot of unnecessary words. He was a friend of mine back then and is no longer in this world. He also used to call me 'Brother Poyun,' which is why I was moved."

"You seem to admire Fairy Feixue?" Yun Che asked abruptly.

"Uh..." Huo Poyun was slightly stunned. If the Huo Poyun of yesteryear had been asked this, he would surely have blushed deep red and hastily denied it. But now, after a brief moment of surprise, he readily nodded. "That's right. Before meeting her, I never knew that such a beautiful woman could exist in this world."

"I'm not afraid you'll laugh at me," Huo Poyun smiled. "Even before entering the Brahma Heaven Pearl, I was deeply smitten with her at first sight. It was just that at that time, I was passionate yet timid, feeling I could never be worthy of such a fairy-like person, and naturally dared not show any hint of my feelings."

"During my three thousand years in the Brahma Heaven God Realm, my mind was solely focused, yet I alone could not forget her figure. That did not hinder my cultivation, but instead became one of my greatest motivations. It wasn't until I became a God Master and left the Brahma Heaven God Realm that I finally had the courage and confidence to approach her."

"However..." Huo Poyun shook his head with a bitter smile. "As you can see, she is completely indifferent to me, even at my current level."

Yun Che thought for a moment, then said, "With your current cultivation and status, as long as you wish, among the myriad realms, from a kingdom's princess to a realm king's daughter, all are yours to choose. Why are you so fixated on her?"

"A true stirring that touches the deepest part of one's soul perhaps only happens once in a lifetime," Huo Poyun whispered. "At least, in other women, I can no longer find that feeling, not even a trace. Don't you agree, Brother Ling?"

"..." Yun Che reached out and rubbed his chin, not knowing how to respond.

"My Master has warned me several times that the Ice Phoenix Divine Sealing Art cultivated by Ice Phoenix women freezes emotions. Many Ice Phoenix women lead lonely lives and are extremely repulsed by men bearing yang energy. Someone like me, cultivating flame profound energy, is especially repellent, but..." Huo Poyun sighed again. "I find it hard to control myself. Brother Ling, do you have any suggestions?"

"Well... only you can help yourself; no one else can," Yun Che could only answer.

Huo Poyun smiled bitterly and stood up. "Although we just met, I've unconsciously complained so much to Brother Ling. I hope you don't find it amusing or take offense."

"Not at all," Yun Che smiled. "For Brother Poyun to be so frank, I am only grateful and honored."

Huo Poyun nodded slightly. "Brother Ling appears to be someone who enjoys traveling extensively. If you ever visit my Blazing Heaven Realm, I will surely treat you as an honored guest."

"Good. With your words, Brother Poyun, I absolutely must visit the Blazing Heaven Realm!" Yun Che laughed heartily.

"Mm, it's a deal." Huo Poyun nodded and smiled. With a flash of red, he disappeared from Yun Che's sight.

Yun Che let out a soft breath... Difficult, it's truly difficult. Of all people Huo Poyun could like, he had to choose the person in the entire Snow Song Realm most unlikely to fall in love. It wasn't just difficult, but extremely difficult.

Oh no, let's not even talk about whether it's difficult or not. Huo Poyun is a God Master now, a God Master! A figure at the highest level in this world, an existence like a deity wherever he goes. As long as he wishes, what kind of woman can he not obtain...? Yet he chose one who is almost devoid of emotion.

This isn't just a matter of being stubborn; he's practically got a hole in his head!

How many peerless heroes fear neither heaven nor earth, yet they stumble at the hurdle of a beautiful woman. Hopefully, Huo Poyun won't be like that.

Yun Che didn't move, remaining seated in place, silently watching the distant snowy region. His thoughts had long since drifted to an unknown place.

Having just returned to the Snow Song Realm, he would soon return to the sect. He had far too many things to consider.

Time passed silently. Several hours went by. Mu Feixue, who had been concentrating on healing, finally opened her eyes. Her injuries were completely stabilized. She dismissed the Ice Phoenix disciples guarding her and slowly walked out, her gaze slightly hazy, appearing to be preoccupied.

In the distance, Huo Poyun, who had been constantly observing her aura, stirred his gaze and hastily rushed over, wanting to be the first to inquire about her well-being. His figure darted a few times, and Mu Feixue's figure was already in his sight.

His heart rejoiced. Just as he was about to step forward, his foot suddenly froze there... remaining unmoving for a long time.

That blood-stained Ice Phoenix snow robe had been changed, and her body was once again pristine. Her face, already like ice and snow, now showed a touch of paleness and fragility due to her injuries, making her even more pitiable. Her pale pink lips glowed with a pearl-like shimmer, and a pair of icy eyes held a grace that others would not dare to dream of for a thousand lifetimes...

She stood there quietly, turning the world around her into a beautiful painting.

Her gaze was exceptionally hazy and dreamlike, like mist, like a dream. And where her gaze was directed... on that not-so-tall rooftop, Yun Che was seated with his back to her, completely still, clearly absorbed in thought.

She also remained motionless, just staring blankly and dazedly... for a long time, without a sound or word.

"..." Huo Poyun also froze there, likewise unmoving.

He saw such a gaze from Mu Feixue for the first time, yet it was not at all unfamiliar... because it strongly resembled the way he had so many times secretly watched her back and unconsciously fallen into a daze...

He suddenly lost the ability to think.

The world was long frozen by this scene.

Finally, after an unknown amount of time, Yun Che returned from his contemplation. He stood up and then stretched his somewhat stiff waist with a long reach. It was also at this moment that he noticed Mu Feixue's aura, turned around, and said with a smile, "Oh! Isn't this Fairy Feixue? It seems your injuries have recovered well. Are you preparing to return to the sect?"

"..." Mu Feixue, as if waking from a dream, her eyes fluttering violently. She didn't answer, but instead suddenly flew up and lightly landed in front of Yun Che, like a snow butterfly dancing in the air, breathtakingly beautiful.

The place she landed was only a step away from him.

Mu Feixue's action left Yun Che quite surprised and caught off guard. He widened his eyes and asked, "What are you doing? If you're going to thank me for saving your life, then don't bother. I didn't act because I wanted to save you; I simply can't stand to see a beautiful woman perish before me."

Mu Feixue looked at him, her lips moving slightly, her voice like a gentle breeze. "Senior Brother Yun... So you're still alive..."

"?!#!@%*&??" Yun Che was dumbfounded internally, but kept his face calm. "What Senior Brother Yun? What are you talking about? My surname is Ling, the Ling of Ling Yun, Ling Jie, Ling Chen! Not Yun, and certainly not your Senior Brother! You're not still recovering from your injuries... and thus your thoughts are a bit confused?"