Chapter 1513: Xuan Yin

“Palace Master Bingyun.” After Shui Meiyin left, Yun Che approached Mu Bingyun.

“The Sect Master just relayed many things to me,” Mu Bingyun said. “It’s truly hard to imagine that you could achieve such a result from a Devil Emperor. It’s predictable that after the Devil Emperor departs, you will become the universally known and acclaimed Child of Salvation, a name forever etched in history. The Snow Song Realm will also share in this glory.”

“This… I merely did my small part; the main credit goes to the Devil Emperor Senior’s sacrifice and fulfillment.”

Yun Che had always known that while this outcome was significantly related to him—even the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor told him to remember that he was the true Savior—in reality, Jie Yuan’s own will was the primary reason.

“By leveraging the aura and influence of the ‘Child of Salvation,’ you also perfectly secured the Heaven Smiting Star God’s return. I believe this is the best possible outcome for you, for her, and for the God Realm. Congratulations.”

She smiled, a very faint, subtle smile. He had only seen Mu Bingyun smile a few times in total.

Yun Che sighed, “If Palace Master Bingyun hadn’t brought me to the God Realm back then, today’s outcome wouldn’t exist. I might never have seen her again in my life. Therefore, I will never forget that Palace Master Bingyun is a profound benefactor in my life.”

Mu Bingyun shook her head slightly. “I merely lifted a finger; everything you’ve achieved is what you deserve. From now on, with the Heaven Smiting Star God present, the Azure Cloud Continent will become a forbidden zone no one dares touch. Your safety and the safety of the Azure Cloud Continent finally won’t require anyone’s concern anymore.”

“Palace Master Bingyun,” Yun Che asked, “Do you… have something to tell me?”

“Not exactly. It’s just something I’m not sure if I should remind you about… perhaps I shouldn’t,” Mu Bingyun said pensively.

Yun Che remained silent.

Mu Bingyun asked, “The Sect Master didn’t oppose your relationship with the Little Princess of Glazed Light; instead, she actively promoted it. Do you know why?”

Surprised by Mu Bingyun’s question, he pondered for a moment before replying, “Master once said that the Glazed Light Realm possesses great power and influence in the Eastern Divine Region, and Shui Meiyin is the Glazed Light Realm King’s most beloved daughter. Becoming the son-in-law of the Glazed Light Realm would greatly benefit my situation at the time and my future.”

Observing Mu Bingyun’s expression, he tentatively asked, “Could there be other reasons?”

Mu Bingyun’s beautiful eyes subtly shifted, looking into the distance. “On the Little Princess of Glazed Light… lies her spiritual solace.”

“Spiritual… solace?” Yun Che was startled. “What do you mean?”

“Back then, in the Eternal Heaven God Realm, after your battle with the Little Princess of Glazed Light, she became smitten with you. Despite her incredibly noble birth and world-renowned talent, she threw herself without hesitation towards you, who were relatively humble at the time.”

“Even after experiencing three thousand years in the Eternal Heaven, that remained unchanged… From beginning to end, she never cared about their respective statuses, never cared about anyone else’s opinions, and never showed any hesitation, doubt, or restraint… instead, she approached you with such initiative, courage, and fervor.”

“Any bystander could clearly feel her undisguised affection for you, and your feelings should have been the most genuine and intense. Even I have no doubt that even if you were fire and she were ice and snow, she would willingly melt into your flames.”

Yun Che stared intently at Mu Bingyun. “Palace Master Bingyun, what do you mean by all this…?”

“Although the Sect Master never said it, I know…” Mu Bingyun’s voice, carried by the wind and snow, gently drifted into Yun Che’s soul. “She… envies her.”

Yun Che remained silent.

“It’s just that she’s destined not to. She can only place this subtle yearning on another person, fulfilling a… somewhat humble dream.” Mu Bingyun’s voice grew softer and softer.

She was Mu Xuanyin’s sister, the person closest to her in the world, the one who understood her best. Mu Xuanyin had never spoken these things, these thoughts in her heart, to her, nor could she have, but how could Mu Bingyun not perceive them?

She didn’t know if it was right or wrong to tell Yun Che these things. In fact… she herself didn’t understand why she had suddenly told him all this.

“…” Yun Che’s lips parted, his mind suddenly in disarray. “Master… she…”

“Master, you say…” Mu Bingyun turned away, her beautiful eyes closing. “I think she must have told you many times that she is no longer your master, but you seem to have never truly understood the real meaning of that statement, or perhaps… you didn’t dare to believe it.”

“…” Yun Che’s mind suddenly buzzed.

“Given her nature and the burdens she carries, it’s impossible for her to ever take that step herself. Therefore…”

Amidst the wind and snow, a soft, faint sigh was heard, and Mu Bingyun’s figure had already drifted far away.

In the snow-white world, Yun Che stood motionless, a thick layer of snow accumulating on him without his notice.

Shui Qianheng and Shui Meiyin departed.

Shui Qianheng’s visit was to discuss the exact wedding date with Mu Xuanyin… still without consulting Yun Che for his opinion.

When Yun Che entered the Ice Phoenix Sacred Hall again, Mu Xuanyin was already waiting for him. Shui Qianheng’s arrival had also confirmed to Mu Xuanyin that Yun Che’s words contained no exaggeration or deviation. The Evil Infant, the Devil Emperor, the Demon God… these three successive immense calamities, in the eyes of the world, had actually returned to peace.

And all were facilitated by Yun Che.

She stood by the window, indifferently gazing at the world outside, not turning at Yun Che’s arrival, lost in thought.

Yun Che came up behind her and respectfully bowed as he always did.

Mu Xuanyin did not ask about the Devil Emperor or the Evil Infant. Instead, she said indifferently, “Your wedding date with Shui Meiyin is set for the end of next month, in the Glazed Light Realm. The Glazed Light Realm King will handle all arrangements, and the Snow Song Realm will cooperate accordingly. You only need to make yourself available during those days.”

“Yes.” Yun Che agreed without objection… Although this was vastly different from the marriage his parents had arranged for him with Feng Xue’er, which was a mutually affectionate and completely love-based union.

Ah! A man’s life is truly busy.

“You may go,” Mu Xuanyin said. “You likely have many things to do during this period; you don’t need to remain in the Snow Song Realm.”

“…” Yun Che stood up, but did not respond, nor did he leave.

“…?” Mu Xuanyin did not turn around, but her icy brows furrowed slightly.

Yun Che took a step, not backward, but forward. He was already close to Mu Xuanyin, and in just two steps, he was right beside her. Then he stretched out his arms and gently embraced her from behind.

“…!!?” Mu Xuanyin’s entire body stiffened abruptly… She forgot to struggle, forgot to speak, and her icy eyes instantly filled with panic and confusion.

With his hands wrapped around Mu Xuanyin’s waist, his upper body pressed tightly against her jade back, Yun Che closed his eyes, greedily inhaling her unique scent. He felt the icy, dreamlike aura of snow and ice directly enter his soul through his nostrils. He softly said, “Xuanyin, in a few days, I’m going to see the Devil Emperor Senior off. Will you come with me?”

He called her “Xuanyin,” not “Master.”

Calling his master by her given name—how utterly disrespectful.

“…” Still, she did not struggle or push Yun Che away. Mu Xuanyin remained frozen there, her chest rising and falling violently, her vision blurred. Among her five senses, there was nothing but his tightly embracing body and his voice.

“Okay?” Yun Che asked again, his arms around her slowly, subtly tightening… Even now, she hadn’t pushed him away. Yun Che’s soul also fell into a dreamlike world, a fantasy from which he never wanted to wake.

“Okay…”

She replied, the softest, most ethereal voice of her life escaping her lips.

Yun Che smiled. Her icy fairy body, though emanating the coldest aura, caused an incredibly strange and intoxicating warmth to spread throughout his entire being.

“I also want to… take you to meet my parents,” Yun Che said in an even softer voice. “There, it won’t be the God Realm, you won’t be the Snow Song Realm King, nor will you be my Master. You’ll just be you… okay?”

“…” Mu Xuanyin did not agree, but neither did she refuse.

The world fell into a prolonged silence. Neither of them spoke again, nor did they separate. In the air, which had grown exquisitely subtle with every breath, the scene froze… and remained frozen for a very long time.

Until a certain moment… a sudden burst of cold air erupted from Mu Xuanyin. Caught off guard, Yun Che stumbled backward, landing hard on his bottom.

Yun Che looked utterly dumbfounded. Just as he was about to speak, a female figure slowly entered the Sacred Hall through the doorway.

As Mu Feixue stepped in, she saw Yun Che sitting on the ground in a rather undignified posture, while Mu Xuanyin stood with her back to him, looking out the window. A flicker of surprise crossed her face, and she bowed, saying, “Disciple Mu Feixue respectfully greets Master. I just received invitations from over a dozen upper star realms simultaneously and came specifically to report this.”

Mu Xuanyin finally glanced sideways and said coldly, “Che’er, you may withdraw.”

“Ah… Yes, this disciple takes his leave.” Yun Che quickly got up and left with hurried steps… though his steps were somewhat light and airy.

As he passed Mu Feixue, she glanced at him, her beautiful eyes flashing with a strange look… She inexplicably felt that something was amiss.

Stepping out of the Sacred Hall, Yun Che let out a long sigh of relief, feeling an inexplicable lightness throughout his entire body.

“Master,” He Ling’s voice echoed in Yun Che’s mind, “You and Master… she… she…”

She spoke only half a sentence, then timidly trailed off, unable to continue.

After following Yun Che back to the God Realm, she had long sensed that the relationship between Yun Che and Mu Xuanyin was somewhat subtle, but she had never dared to think in that forbidden direction. But today… just now…

“Cough, cough,” Yun Che corrected her with a serious and righteous expression, “He Ling, the very first day I returned to the Snow Song Realm, she expelled me from the sect. So, she hasn’t been my Master for a long time. Therefore… nothing that happens is strange.”

“…Master is right,” He Ling whispered.

If Jasmine had been there, she would have cursed him as a “beast” tens of thousands of times by now. Although…

“As for Master Shen Xi, when will Master visit her? After a long time, I always feel a sense of unease,” He Ling said.

Yun Che’s expression grew serious. All information regarding Shen Xi indicated that she was in seclusion, but as he had told Xia Qingyue, given his “deep” understanding of Shen Xi, her simply being in seclusion was quite abnormal.

Shen Xi should have been the person least in need of worry in this world, yet he, like He Ling, also felt a sense of unease. Although it wasn’t strong, it was always present… He had never forgotten the Dragon Monarch’s gaze upon him that day in the Eternal Heaven God Realm.

“After seeing off the Devil Emperor and taking Jasmine back to the Azure Cloud Continent, we’ll go to the Dragon God Realm,” Yun Che said, glancing at Qianye Ying’er.

He soared into the air, heading north. He passed through the barrier and landed in the Netherfrost Divine Lake.

“The matter of the Devil Emperor Senior was the Ice Phoenix Divine Spirit’s last lingering concern. She will surely be very happy after knowing this outcome, won’t she?”

As he spoke to himself, Yun Che leaped down, his body passing through layers of the Heavenly Lake’s water until he reached the bottom. Following the azure light arc, he once again stood before the Ice Phoenix maiden… He knew this might be the last time.