Chapter 304: Cangfeng Mansion Lord

“Ah! Junior Brother Yun… what are you doing! Why are you hurting yourself!”

Yun Che’s actions instantly drained the color from Cang Yue’s face. Watching the blood beads rapidly flow from beneath the blade, she grew frantic, her heart aching and her hands trembling. Throughout, Yun Che’s expression remained unchanged. He looked at Cang Yue and slowly said, “Seeing me suddenly stabbed like this, your heart must ache, right? Just like when I saw you marry.”

Cang Yue shook her head violently, sobbing aloud, “No… it’s really not what you saw! I didn’t want to marry him at all, I just… I just…”

Yun Che shook his head and said, “I know. My heart aches not because of that at all, because I know that even if I truly died, your heart, Senior Sister, would always only be for me. My heart aches that you would degrade and harm yourself… just like I am now, stabbing myself!”

“I… I…”

“This stab is to show you my anguish… and also the punishment I deserve. I made you a promise, yet I couldn’t be by your side when you were most helpless, when you needed me most, forcing you to resort to harming yourself to try and save your father… and I almost lost you forever…”

Before she was to be taken to the Burning Heaven Clan, Cang Yue intended to end her life with that poisoned blade. If Yun Che had returned even a day later, he would never have seen her again.

Yun Che pulled the poisoned blade from his chest and tossed it far away onto the ground. The bleeding from the wound instantly ceased completely. He raised his hand and gently wiped away the tears on Cang Yue’s face. His voice could no longer maintain its calm, becoming incomparably soft and full of sorrow. All the longing and worry he had felt for her during this time poured out with his gaze and words: “Senior Sister… let me hold you properly… alright?”

“Ugh…” With a heart-wrenching sob, Cang Yue threw herself into Yun Che’s arms with all her might, clinging tightly to him and weeping uncontrollably. All the pain, longing, despair, confusion, and fear from the past year poured out completely in Yun Che’s embrace, her cries tearing at the hearts of everyone around them.

Yun Che embraced her back, but he shed no tears. Instead, he smiled with satisfaction and relief. He was grateful that he had returned in time, preventing an irreversible tragedy; otherwise, he wouldn't know how to face such a terrible outcome. He gently patted Cang Yue’s soft back and whispered, “Senior Sister… from now on, no matter what happens, never again do anything to wrong yourself or harm yourself, okay?”

“Ugh…呜呜… Never… I’ll never do it again…” Cang Yue sobbed.

“And don’t marry Fen Juecheng, okay?” Yun Che said with a smile.

“I… I won’t marry… I’ll never marry him… I only want to marry you… I don’t want to marry anyone else but you… not even if I die…”

The curve of Yun Che’s lips deepened slightly. “I’m back. Leave everything to me… Will you trust me… the man you have chosen for life?”

“…As long as you are here, no matter what we do, no matter where we go, no matter whether the outcome is good or bad, I’m not afraid of anything… With you here… I truly fear nothing…”

At that moment, people from the imperial palace rushed forward. The curtain of Cang Wanhe’s imperial carriage was pulled open, and the first thing he saw was Yun Che and Cang Yue embracing. Qin Wushang and Qin Wuyou’s eyes were already wide with shock and joy.

On the other side, Fen Juecheng’s lungs felt like they were about to explode, his face having turned completely liver-colored. On his wedding day, Princess Cang Yue, who was supposed to return to his clan with him for their marriage, had, in front of him and countless onlookers, jumped out of the phoenix carriage and embraced another man, weeping inconsolably and exchanging vows of eternal love…

This was a humiliation worse than wearing ten green hats!

No normal man could possibly endure such a thing… let alone the distinguished Young Master of the Burning Heaven Clan!

If this matter were to spread… Oh no! It was bound to spread! With countless eyes present, within two days, it would be known throughout the land. Fen Juecheng, the future master of the Burning Heaven Clan, would become a humiliating laughingstock!

Fen Juecheng’s knuckles turned white and cracked, his face twisted grotesquely in extreme rage. Finally, his emotions spiraled out of control. Pointing at Yun Che, he roared, “Kill him… kill him on the spot!!”

The Burning Heaven Clan’s wedding procession had initially looked at each other, unsure what to do. Hearing Fen Juecheng’s furious roar, they snapped awake and instantly moved. The first dozen or so people simultaneously charged towards Yun Che. Just then, a strong gust of wind swept above their heads, and a figure, like a great bird, flew through the air, reaching Yun Che before them… It was the Thirteenth Elder, Fen Moran!

“Ah!!”

The crowd hastily retreated, many gasping in alarm. Seeing Fen Moran charging at Yun Che, people felt as if they were witnessing the miraculous return of Yun Che tragically perish on the spot… Yun Che’s strength was beyond doubt; having claimed the top spot in the ranking tournament, he was the foremost among the younger generation at that time. However, Fen Moran’s power was among the highest echelons in the entire Blue Wind Empire. Under his terrifying strength, reaching the seventh level of the Heaven Profound Realm, Yun Che wouldn't even have the ability to resist.

“Stop!!”

A low roar suddenly resounded. The voice was not loud, but it was like a muffled thunder to the extreme, making everyone’s eardrums hum. Amidst the roar, a grey figure flashed like a stream of light, blocking Fen Moran’s path. The overwhelming and astonishing aura made Fen Moran quickly halt. When he saw clearly who stood before him, a flicker of shock instantly crossed his face: “You… Dongfang Xiu!”

“Mansion Master Dongfang!!” Qin Wushang and Qin Wuyou, not far away, both exclaimed in unison.

The person standing before Fen Moran was precisely the First Mansion Master of the Blue Wind Profound Palace… Dongfang Xiu! He was also affiliated with the Blue Wind Imperial Family, and indeed, the strongest expert in the entire Blue Wind Imperial Family! His profound strength had reached the half-step King Profound Realm!

Although Dongfang Xiu was the Mansion Master of the Blue Wind Profound Palace, he rarely appeared in the mansion and was always elusive. Since Cang Wanhe fell seriously ill a few years ago, his appearances in the mansion had drastically decreased, sometimes not showing up even once in a year or half… Qin Wushang noticed where Dongfang Xiu had appeared from and whispered, “Could it be that Mansion Master Dongfang hasn’t shown his face all these years because he’s been secretly protecting the Emperor?”

“That must be it. Although the Emperor’s previous shadow guards were strong, how could they compare to Mansion Master Dongfang! When the Emperor suddenly fell ill back then, he must have sensed something amiss, which is why he summoned Mansion Master Dongfang to protect him.” Qin Wuyou also whispered.

In the eyes of the Burning Heaven Clan, the imperial family’s power was considerably weak. Although its vast army could demonstrate prowess on the battlefield, to the Burning Heaven Clan, they were like a group of ants that could be trampled at will. As for the imperial family’s experts, they were pitifully few, but there was one person they could not help but be wary of: Dongfang Xiu!

Dongfang Xiu appeared to be around fifty, with a refined and amiable face, completely lacking any imposing aura, looking more like a scholar. However, his words were anything but gentle: “Fen Moran, after more than ten years, you truly are regressing with age, to actually attack a junior who isn’t even twenty!”

“Mansion Master Dongfang!” Fen Moran snorted coldly, “This is an affair between my Burning Heaven Clan and this boy. You’d best step aside, lest you invite trouble upon yourself!”

Dongfang Xiu smiled faintly, “Yun Che is a disciple of my Blue Wind Profound Palace, and as the Mansion Master, of course…”

“There’s no need!”

The one who suddenly spoke up and interrupted Dongfang Xiu was Yun Che. He held Cang Yue’s hand, his eyes calm as still water: “Mansion Master Dongfang, this junior thanks you for your kindness, but what this old man said is correct. This is an matter between me and the Burning Heaven Clan, it has absolutely no relation to the Imperial Family or the Blue Wind Profound Palace! You don’t need to meddle… What you need to do most is protect those you should protect.”

“Senior Sister, protect yourself!” As Yun Che’s voice fell, the hand holding Cang Yue gently pushed her towards Dongfang Xiu. Dongfang Xiu’s profound strength was at the half-step King Profound Realm, unparalleled in the entire arena. With his protection, no one could possibly harm Cang Yue.

Yun Che’s words stunned Dongfang Xiu, but he immediately understood that Yun Che clearly did not want the Imperial Family and the Blue Wind Profound Palace to fall out with the Burning Heaven Clan. He wanted to shoulder the enormous challenge of the Burning Heaven Clan alone. He was about to say something, but when his gaze met Yun Che’s terrifyingly calm eyes, he swallowed the words he was about to utter. He took Cang Yue and slowly flew back towards Cang Wanhe’s imperial carriage: “Since that is the case, I will not meddle… Heh heh, let me see what great storm you, the one hailed as the most outstanding disciple in the history of the Blue Wind Profound Palace, can stir up this time.”

Mansion Master Dongfang’s appearance had initially brought a great sigh of relief to many who admired Yun Che, but in a flash, Yun Che displayed an arrogance that people simply couldn’t comprehend, outright “sending away” Mansion Master Dongfang… A young man who was only nineteen, facing the Burning Heaven Clan alone? What would he use to face a full two thousand elite disciples of the Burning Heaven Clan… plus eight Heaven Profound Realm experts… including two peak experts in the late Heaven Profound Realm!

Did he think he was a god?!

“Hahahahaha! I’ve long heard you’re an arrogant brat who doesn’t know his place, and it truly lives up to your reputation!” Fen Moran laughed aloud and was about to make his move.

Yun Che didn’t even glance at him. He gripped the Dragon Fault, his gaze fixed on Fen Juecheng, and said coldly, “Fen Juecheng, you know best who killed Fen Juebi. Originally, I had no grievances with you, yet you plotted to kill me. I won’t settle that score with you today… However, Princess Cang Yue is my Senior Sister, my life-saver, and moreover, she is Yun Che’s woman! You, Fen Juecheng, are not worthy of even a single strand of her hair. If you want to marry my Senior Sister Xuewei, you’ll have to get past me first. Otherwise… tuck your tail between your legs and get back to your Burning Heaven Clan!”

As his voice fell, Yun Che suddenly made the first move. The Dragon Fault swung, and he advanced directly, attacking Fen Moran, who was at the forefront.

“Courting death!”

A junior actually dared to actively attack him, a supreme expert standing at the peak of the Blue Wind Empire. Fen Moran sneered, raising a hand. Purple flames erupted between his five fingers. Just as he was about to grab the approaching Yun Che, his eyes suddenly blurred, and the Yun Che before him instantly multiplied into four…

Without any warning, without any profound energy fluctuations, and all four figures were completely identical, with no difference whatsoever in appearance or aura!

Fen Moran had lived for decades and had never seen such a bizarre movement technique. In that brief moment of astonishment, Yun Che’s true body flashed past Fen Moran’s side, heading straight for Fen Juecheng.

A dignified elder of the Burning Heaven Clan was actually bypassed directly by a junior. Not only did he fail to capture him, he couldn’t even hinder him for a moment. He nearly burst a lung on the spot. Turning around, he roared exasperatedly, “Cunning junior… protect the Young Master!”

As Yun Che rapidly approached, the Burning Heaven Clan disciples immediately swarmed forward, wielding their flaming blades to unleash a sky full of fire dragons that enveloped Yun Che…

Among these two thousand Burning Heaven Clan disciples, a full thirteen hundred were at the Spirit Profound Realm, and seven hundred were at the Earth Profound Realm.

Such a vast and formidable elite force, with their ceaseless and incredibly dense combined attacks, was even more threatening than the combined might of eight Heaven Profound experts.

But today, they faced Yun Che.

Yun Che’s heavy sword was specifically designed to handle large numbers!

The more enemies there were, the more the power of the heavy sword could be unleashed to its utmost.