Chapter 311: Straight to the Ice Cloud

Yun Che froze. "A child? Chu Yuechan's and my... child? What child? What do you mean?"

"You don't know yet?" Cang Yue was slightly surprised. Chu Yuechan's pregnancy was supposed to be a secret, but for some reason, it had become widely known, turning into explosive news, especially given Chu Yuechan's existing reputation. The news had spread everywhere over a year ago, leading to the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace closing its doors. Cang Yue had assumed that since Yun Che had returned alive, he would immediately learn of this public knowledge. Given his personality, she expected him to rush to the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace to find Chu Yuechan and resolve that major issue before concerning himself with anything else.

But judging by Yun Che's reaction now, he clearly knew nothing about it.

"I... I don't know," Yun Che said, shaking his head. He gripped Cang Yue's hand urgently. "I came straight here the moment I left the Sword Discourse Arena... What did you mean just now? 'My and Chu Yuechan's child'... What does that mean? Could it be..."

"...Junior Brother Yun, please don't get agitated. This isn't necessarily bad news," Cang Yue quickly reassured him, then softly continued, "After your accident that day, Chu Yuechan fainted at the Sword Discourse Arena. When Grandma Ji Mu of Heavenly Sword Villa took her pulse, she discovered Chu Yuechan was pregnant."

"!!!!" Yun Che's body swayed violently. His pupils constricted for a fleeting moment, and his mind went utterly blank with a roaring sound.

This was the first time his soul had trembled so intensely since his reincarnation back to the Profound Sky Continent.

Chu Yuechan... was pregnant.

That one time... it actually led to her pregnancy, to a child between him and Chu Yuechan!

Over seventeen months had passed since that day... By his reckoning, their child should have been born at least seven months ago!

Yun Che's heart was a tempest of emotions: shock, helplessness, confusion, joy... He had never imagined that their single encounter would lead to a continuation of their bloodline. He certainly hadn't expected to have a child without any preparation... But then, sudden dread and fear seized him.

Chu Yuechan... Fairy Icechan... Ice Cloud Immortal Palace!!

She was no ordinary woman; she was Fairy Icechan, as cold as profound ice, yet incomparably beautiful, renowned throughout the world. More importantly, she was the leader of the Ice Cloud Seven Fairies, the most celebrated figures of the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace! Her every action affected not only herself but also the honor and dignity of the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace. The Ice Cloud Immortal Palace strictly forbade its disciples from falling in love with men or marrying... Even Xia Qingyue's marriage to him was contingent on her not developing feelings for him and not consummating the marriage! For Chu Yuechan, as the leader of the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace, this rule was absolutely inviolable!

The fact of her pregnancy had been publicly exposed and was known by everyone. It was unfathomable how colossal a "stain" this would be on the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace's millennia of pristine reputation. For the Immortal Palace, this could be an indelible blemish... Even a common disciple committing such a "grave error" would be unacceptable to the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace, let alone Chu Yuechan, whose status was second only to the Palace Master.

So, what kind of treatment would she receive upon returning to the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace? Would she face extremely severe punishment?

And... their child... Would the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace allow Chu Yuechan to give birth to this child?

A tremendous fear suddenly welled up in Yun Che's heart... because the possibility of the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace allowing Chu Yuechan to give birth to this child... was almost nonexistent!!

Then... what then...?

Yun Che's heartstrings trembled violently. His mind was a mess, and amidst the overwhelming fear, his hands and feet instantly turned ice cold. This was the first time he had ever been so panicked, so utterly terrified...

Cang Yue immediately felt Yun Che's hand grow cold. Her heart trembled, and she quickly comforted him, "Junior Brother Yun, don't worry. She is the renowned Chu Yuechan. In the entire Azure Cloud Empire, no one can harm her. She will surely be able to protect your child."

Yun Che raised a hand to grasp his forehead, desperately trying to calm himself, but he couldn't. He asked anxiously, "How could this happen... How could something like this occur... Why was I trapped in a place I couldn't escape from when this happened... What should she do... How will the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace treat her... And... and what about our child...?" He grabbed Cang Yue's shoulders, asking frantically, "Senior Sister, tell me quickly. Has there been any news about her since then? How is she now? Did the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace allow her to give birth to the child?"

Cang Yue shook her head, her eyes clouded. "Soon after that incident, the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace completely closed its doors. Even disciples who were outside were recalled. To this day, the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace remains closed, with no further activity... Anyone attempting to visit has been turned away... And there has been absolutely no news of Chu Yuechan."

Yun Che's hands slowly clenched. After a long moment, he took a deep breath and spoke to Cang Yue in a calm voice, "Senior Sister, your imperial father's poison gu has been removed. Aside from a significant loss of profound energy, he has no other serious issues and will recover with proper care, so you don't need to worry anymore. Once his condition improves, the Crown Prince and Third Prince will surely have reservations, and combined with the deterrent I've created, they won't dare to make any major moves, at least in the near future. For now, stay safely in the palace and don't go anywhere."

"You... you're leaving?"

"Yes! I must leave!" Yun Che's brows furrowed as he spoke decisively. "I must go to the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace immediately. Otherwise, I won't be able to find peace of mind. I know this is very unfair to you, but after I return, I promise..."

"Don't say it," Cang Yue said, reaching out to press her fingers against Yun Che's lips, looking at him affectionately. "Even if my Junior Brother Yun can be a little sentimental, he is also the most devoted. This is the choice my Junior Brother Yun should make... Go with a clear conscience. I believe there's nothing in this world you can't resolve. I can imagine that your fate together is filled with many coincidences and difficulties, but since heaven destined your bond, it surely won't allow a bad outcome. She will be fine, and your child will be fine. I only hope that no matter what happens, you prioritize your safety. I will stay in the palace, not going anywhere, waiting for you to return every day... And your family back in Flowing Cloud City, they are also waiting for you to come home."

Cang Yue's words swept through Yun Che's heart like a warm breeze. He embraced Cang Yue's soft body, nodded heavily, then pressed a strong kiss on her forehead... After that, he turned and quickly departed.

Yun Che didn't have his own contracted profound beast, so he had to travel on foot. He pushed his speed to the absolute limit, dashing out of the palace like a madman. Guards along the way only felt a gust of wind rush past them; by the time they reacted, they couldn't see a trace of him.

Yun Che wasn't entirely clear on the precise location of the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace, only knowing it was in the Ice Extreme Snow Region of the Azure Cloud Northern Territory, even further north than the Death's Edge Desert. Yun Che quickly exited the imperial palace, rapidly resupplied himself with enough food, medicine, and water within the imperial city, then headed straight north... His first stop was the Death's Edge Desert. This desert lay directly on the shortest path from Azure Cloud Imperial City to the Ice Extreme Snow Region. To take the quickest route to the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace, he would have to traverse the Death's Edge Desert. However, due to its extreme danger, almost everyone chose to take a detour.

Yun Che, however, headed directly for the Death's Edge Desert. He intended to reach the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace as quickly as possible.

As he traveled against the wind, with the northern breeze biting slightly, his mind gradually calmed. A furious question also began to form in his thoughts.

After the earth-shattering news of Chu Yuechan's pregnancy was discovered, the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace would undoubtedly have compelled those who first learned of it to keep it secret. Grandma Ji Mu, who first detected it, was nearly two hundred years old and certainly not a gossip. If others were present at the time, even Heavenly Sword Villa would have respected the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace's reputation and understood the shocking impact this news would have if it spread, and the enormous effect on the Immortal Palace's millennium of pristine reputation...

So why did this matter still manage to spread... and become known by everyone under heaven?!

According to Cang Yue's description, it seemed to have become widely publicized shortly after, almost as if... someone was deliberately ensuring the news spread as quickly as possible!

Whether this matter spread or remained secret made an undeniable world of difference to the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace and to Chu Yuechan.

Someone must have deliberately spread it and fueled its dissemination.

Who could it be?

Yun Che secretly gritted his teeth... If this was truly the case, then no matter who it was, he would make them pay a tremendous price!!

Although Yun Che was fast, he couldn't compare to high-level flying profound beasts. As evening approached, Yun Che, having traveled at full speed, began to feel exhausted. He bought a relatively high-grade profound horse by the roadside and rode it through the night. When the profound horse was exhausted, he simply abandoned it and bought another... By the afternoon of the next day, he was already two thousand li away from Azure Cloud Imperial City.

Yun Che began to regret his haste, realizing he had forgotten to ask Cang Yue to lend him her giant snow goose.

Three days later, the familiar small town finally appeared before his eyes. In the distant front, the high-pitched roars of profound beasts occasionally echoed... That was the Death's Edge Desert, stretching for eighteen hundred li.

This was the closest town to the Death's Edge Desert. Previously, it had taken Yun Che ten full days to travel from Azure Cloud Imperial City to this point, but this time, he had done it in less than three days.

The profound horse Yun Che was riding was panting heavily and completely exhausted. Yun Che leaped off its back, ignoring it, and walked into the town. To cross the Death's Edge Desert, which was teeming with dangerous profound beasts, a mount would not only be useless but also a hindrance.

The town was as bustling as ever, with adventurers and training groups from various places moving through its somewhat narrow streets. Yun Che looked around, searching for a place to buy a mount. But after only a few steps, he suddenly sensed a strange aura.

Yun Che frowned slightly, quickly concentrated his mind, and silently spread out his spiritual perception... Instantly, he sensed seven or eight unusual gazes and extremely subtle killing intent flickering from in front, behind, to the left, to the right... and even diagonally above him.

Although they were hidden exceptionally well, even if they were ten times better, they wouldn't escape Yun Che's spiritual perception, honed through countless pursuits.

The aura of one of them, the strongest one, was very familiar to him.

The Great Elder of the Burning Heaven Clan... Fen Moli!!

The speed of the Burning Heaven Clan's actions far exceeded Yun Che's expectations; they had clearly anticipated his movements and arrived at this inevitable path before him.

Yun Che, without betraying any emotion, calmly walked into the inn where he had stayed last time.