Chapter 303: Self-Injury

“Who goes there!”

The Burning Heaven Clan disciples in front roared and quickly advanced, forming a formation to block the way. A tight formation also quickly surrounded Feng Juecheng. Although they looked as if facing a formidable enemy, not a single person showed any panic, for they were the Burning Heaven Clan! Within the Azure Cloud Empire, they had no need to fear anyone. If this person truly intended to cause trouble, they were simply seeking death.

The powerful impact of the person landing from the sky caused the surrounding crowd to look on in horror. Most of them, let alone descending with such force, would have been instantly killed by the terrifying shockwave alone.

As the dust slowly settled, it revealed Yun Che's face, as cold as an icy abyss. A chilling glint flickered in his eyes, and the sight of his massive Dragon Fault sword was truly terrifying.

Although someone suddenly descending from the sky with such a powerful display clearly indicated a master, Feng Juecheng showed no panic. Instead, he watched with amusement. But when Yun Che's face and the Dragon Fault in his hand simultaneously entered his sight, his face instantly stiffened, and he cried out in shock, “Yun... Yun Che!!”

Yun Che's name was widely known throughout the Azure Cloud Empire; almost no one was unfamiliar with it, and his image had long since circulated widely. Upon seeing his face, people felt a sense of familiarity, and Feng Juecheng's words instantly caused the entire wide street to erupt in commotion.

“Yun... Yun Che? Which Yun Che? Could it be...?”“Which Yun Che could it be! This person's appearance and the uniquely shaped greatsword in his hand are exactly as described in legends!”“But wasn't he supposed to have died over a year ago? The Ten Major Sects witnessed it firsthand. It must just be someone who looks similar, right?”“Probably... right?”

The surrounding clamor drowned out all other sounds. While others might assume this clearly deceased figure was merely a look-alike, Feng Juecheng knew better. Appearances could be similar, but there was only one Heavenly Profound Heavy Sword in the world, a weapon of astonishing presence! Moreover, it had been sealed beneath the Sword-Holding Platform along with Yun Che. His gaze, his demeanor, and that unexplainable aura were all identical to the Yun Che he knew!

Staring at Yun Che, who seemed to have returned from the dead, Feng Juecheng was utterly flabbergasted: “You... you're not dead!”

“Heh!” Yun Che slightly raised his eyes, sneering as he looked at Feng Juecheng: “My life, Yun Che's life, is quite long. Since even you are still alive and well, how could I simply die... Is my being alive a disappointment to you?”

This voice, too, belonged entirely to Yun Che. Feng Juecheng's pupils contracted for a moment, then regained their calm. He then suddenly burst into laughter: “Hahahaha, how interesting. Your life, Yun Che, truly is tenacious. Mu Tianbei failed to kill you and was instead killed by you. Everyone thought you were slain by the fiend, and after all this time, you've actually crawled back out alive. I truly admire you to the extreme. As for disappointment, there's not much of that. Seeing you alive, I'm actually a little relieved, because your death that day was far too 'easy.' My Burning Heaven Clan hasn't properly settled the score with you for killing my second brother!!”

The few exchanges between Yun Che and Feng Juecheng caused the surrounding crowd to erupt into even greater uproar.

“Is he... truly that Yun Che who was clearly dead?”“His age, appearance, weapon... all match perfectly!”“Besides Yun Che, the top-ranked competitor from the ranking tournament, who else could possess such terrifying strength at such a young age, enough to shatter the ground just by landing!?”“Besides Yun Che, who else would dare to stand in front of the Burning Heaven Clan's procession!?”“I heard Yun Che was severely injured by a terrifying villain and then suppressed beneath the Sword-Holding Platform with that villain... But no one ever saw his body!”“Perhaps he didn't die at all back then, and now he's returned!?”“We might be mistaken, but can Young Clan Master Feng be mistaken!?”“Big news! This is earth-shattering news, enough to shock the entire nation!”

As an unparalleled legend of the Azure Cloud Empire, Yun Che had once caused an almost unprecedented sensation. Now, the news of this fallen legend returning alive was bound to be explosive. Among those present, almost everyone with a Sound Transmission Jade immediately began to send messages. Within mere tens of breaths since Yun Che's appearance, the news of his survival spread like pervasive ripples at an astonishing speed.

“Your Majesty! A grave matter... something serious has happened! We just received a sound transmission: Yun Che... Yun Che has returned! He's not dead; he's come back alive!”Cang Wanhe, who had just left the Moon Embracing Palace in his imperial carriage, was originally listless and dispirited. Upon hearing this news, he shivered all over: “What did you say? Yun Che? Impossible, that's utter nonsense! It's common knowledge that Yun Che perished at the Heavenly Sword Villa; how could he suddenly return!?”“It's absolutely true! He's currently outside the imperial palace, blocking the Burning Heaven Clan's procession... everyone present can see him clearly!”

No sooner had the young eunuch finished speaking than a gold-armored guard captain rushed over, his footsteps hurried, and urgently announced: “Your Majesty! A major incident has occurred outside the imperial palace! Yun Che, who was supposed to be dead, has appeared alive and is blocking the Burning Heaven Clan's procession!”

Cang Wanhe, who had previously barely had the strength to move, suddenly straightened his upper body as if struck by lightning. He spoke with a trembling voice: “Quick... quickly! Carry me there... quickly!!”

Not far away, Qin Wushang and Qin Wuyou exchanged looks of shock and disbelief, then transformed into two gusts of wind, rushing towards the outside of the imperial palace.

The entire wide street had now devolved into complete chaos. Today's protagonist should have been Feng Juecheng, but Yun Che's appearance had drawn all eyes and attention to him. The immense influence he had accumulated during the period since his "death" was evident.

A figure flickered beside Feng Juecheng, and Feng Moran appeared, gazing at Yun Che. He said in a deep voice, “So he's Yun Che? Humph, it's better that he didn't die. If he had just died after harming the Young Clan Master, it would have been too easy for him! I'll apprehend him now and bring him back to the sect for punishment!”

“Wait!” Feng Juecheng, however, raised a hand to stop him, narrowing his eyes and saying: “Elder Thirteen, there's no need to act today. Today is a joyous day for me, Feng Juecheng, and Princess Cang Yue. It would be inauspicious if we were to accidentally shed blood. Yun Che, I truly don't know whether to admire your audacity or ridicule your arrogant foolishness. You miraculously escaped death, and instead of quietly hiding, you've delivered yourself to your demise! However, you're lucky. I'm in a very good mood today, so I'll grant you a few more days to live. As for my second brother's matter, I'll properly settle accounts with you after I've married Princess Cang Yue... Now, before I change my mind, get lost!”

Feng Juecheng's demeanor and tone were like that of a superior judge. After all, he was surrounded by two thousand elite disciples of the Burning Heaven Clan and eight Heavenly Profound Realm experts. This was a force capable of walking unchallenged across the entire Azure Cloud Empire. If he were alone, he would naturally be extremely wary of Yun Che, but with such a formidable group by his side, why would he ever put Yun Che in his eyes...? However, his decision to let Yun Che leave today was certainly not because he was "in a good mood." Rather, Yun Che's influence over the past year or so had been too significant. Even for his Burning Heaven Clan, it would be difficult to strike him down in front of so many people, as it would easily draw widespread condemnation.

No sooner had Feng Juecheng's voice faded than a trembling young woman's voice came from behind him: “Junior Brother Yun... it's really you... it's really you!?”

With a voice filled with extreme excitement, Cang Yue had already leaped from the phoenix carriage and, disregarding everything, rushed towards Yun Che. A fragrant breeze swept past as the speed she unleashed in her eagerness caused Feng Juecheng to instinctively extend an arm, but he was too late to stop her. He could only watch as she charged directly in front of Yun Che, her hands firmly grasping him.

“Junior Brother Yun... it's really you... you're still alive... Junior Brother Yun... Junior Brother Yun...”Standing so close, Cang Yue still couldn't believe her eyes. Tears streamed down her face like a gushing spring, and she was so excited she became incoherent. His appearance, eyes, sword, aura... everything told her that Yun Che, whom she had thought lost forever, had returned to her side, completely whole. The immense, dream-like surprise almost made her faint.

Yun Che's expression, however, was exceptionally calm, devoid of Cang Yue's excitement. He didn't even step forward to embrace her. Looking at her face completely wet with tears, he softly said: “It's me... I've returned alive, just in time... for Senior Sister's wedding.”

Cang Yue's delicate body trembled, and she frantically shook her head: “No... it's not like that... Junior Brother Yun, it's not what you see, I...”“No need to say anything, I understand,” Yun Che interrupted her, not letting her continue. His expression remained calm, a calmness that filled Cang Yue with dread and panic... He had returned miraculously, but the first thing he saw was her being wed. Even she, at this moment, felt how unforgivable she was. But she truly didn't want to marry Feng Juecheng. Yet, in her panic, she didn't know how to explain herself... but her wedding today was an undeniable, ironclad fact.

At this moment, Yun Che suddenly reached out like lightning, grabbing towards Cang Yue's chest. His hand directly slipped into her wide red robes, then swiftly pulled out... In his palm, there was now a slender, three-inch-long dagger. On its tip, a faint, pale green glow flickered... it was the luster of potent poison!

Yun Che's nose was extremely sensitive to poison; as Cang Yue approached, he had detected the scent of potent poison. And this dagger, smeared with a deadly poison, had been hidden by Cang Yue within the front of her robes!

Gripping the poisoned dagger, Yun Che performed an action that shocked everyone. Amidst widespread gasps, he flipped his hand and plunged the dagger into his own chest... Immediately, beads of blood splattered from his chest as the three-inch blade completely buried itself in his body.