Chapter 343: Ling Jie Arrives

After safely rescuing Xiao Lie and Xiao Lingxi, Yun Che desperately wanted to exact a brutal revenge on the Burning Heaven Clan. However, he couldn't disregard the safety of his grandfather and little aunt, with whom he had just reunited. They were still within the Burning Fire region, and engaging the Burning Heaven Clan now could put them in danger.

His top priority was to escort them to the safest possible location.

Before dawn, Yun Che, accompanied by Xiao Lie and Xiao Lingxi, left Burning Heaven Valley and gradually neared Cangfire City. It was then that he unexpectedly received a telepathic message from Ling Jie.

Soon, the cry of a Wind Phoenix bird echoed from the northern sky, and Ling Jie's intentionally projected aura entered Yun Che's spiritual perception. Yun Che, who had been enjoying the dawn breeze with Xiao Lingxi, stood up, and crimson phoenix flames flared in his hand.

The Wind Phoenix bird in the sky swiftly descended. Before it even landed, Ling Jie impatiently leaped off, stumbled, and rushed to Yun Che, urgently asking, "Boss, are you alright? Huh?"

Seeing Xiao Lingxi beside Yun Che and Xiao Lie not far away, he paused in surprise, then exclaimed with delight, "They're the two relatives abducted by the Burning Heaven Clan? You rescued all of them... That's wonderful! Just as expected of you, Boss, you accomplished it so quickly."

"Mm!" Yun Che smiled and nodded. He could tell that Ling Jie's anxiety and concern were genuine, and his heart warmed. "This is my grandfather, and this is my little aunt... He's my good friend, Ling Jie, the Second Young Master of Heavenly Sword Villa."

Ling Jie quickly stepped forward and said, "Hello, Grandpa Xiao. Uh... and... hello, Little Aunt... I'm Ling Jie; you can just call me Little Jie."

Seeing that Xiao Lingxi was about his own age, Ling Jie's address of "Little Aunt" sounded quite awkward. His identity as the "Young Master of Heavenly Sword Villa" undoubtedly astonished both Xiao Lie and Xiao Lingxi. Xiao Lie chuckled, his eyes filled with surprise and appreciation. Xiao Lingxi responded with a hint of shyness.

"Young Master Ling... Villa Master... save me... save me..."

Just as Ling Jie was about to speak, a dry, hoarse voice called out. Following the sound, Ling Jie saw a person sprawled in the dry grass to his right. The man's eyes were unfocused, his face was bloodless, his clothes and hair were disheveled, and his limbs trembled slightly. There was no profound energy aura left on him, indicating his profound veins had clearly been destroyed.

"Fen Juecheng!" Ling Jie exclaimed, recognizing the man's face. He glanced at Yun Che, utterly astonished. Alone, Yun Che had not only rescued two relatives from the Burning Heaven Clan but had also kidnapped Fen Juecheng in return. In the entire Azure Wind Empire, how many could achieve such a feat?

"Save me... save me..." A glimmer of hope flickered in Fen Juecheng's eyes as Ling Jie recognized him. He pleaded, "Our four great sects... we are connected by the same spirit... My Burning Heaven Clan and Heavenly Sword Villa have always been on good terms... Please... you must... save me... save me..."

Fen Juecheng was terrified of death, exceptionally so. Born with a silver spoon in his mouth, with a status and family background far superior to that of a prince, he had grown up surrounded by luxury and adulation. He had never imagined a day would come where he would be so miserable.

"Uh, well..." Ling Jie rubbed his nose and said apologetically, "Yun Che is my boss, and you and I... don't seem to be very close. For me to rescue you from my boss's hands, no matter how I look at it, it just doesn't seem appropriate."

Fen Juecheng's newfound hope instantly dissolved into complete despair.

"Little Jie, why are you here?" Yun Che asked.

Ling Jie turned his face toward Yun Che and said seriously, "Actually, four days ago, I received news that members of the Burning Heaven Clan had gone to Flowing Cloud City and were returning to their sect with two individuals who were very likely your relatives."

Yun Che's brow twitched. As expected of Heavenly Sword Villa, the Burning Heaven Clan must have kept this matter highly confidential, yet the villa still managed to get the news so quickly.

"At the time, I was both anxious and furious, so I tried to persuade my father to intervene..." Ling Jie's expression became slightly awkward. "But my father is not one to meddle. So, I personally left Heavenly Sword Villa, intending to come here and convince the Burning Heaven Clan to release your relatives. With my status, and mentioning my father's name, the Burning Heaven Clan should have granted me this favor. Otherwise, I was prepared to threaten them with exposing their ugly and despicable actions if they refused to release them. I even considered sending you a telepathic message with this news, but I worried that your impulsive nature might lead you to act rashly or interfere with what you were already doing. So, I decided not to tell you and planned to inform you only after their rescue. However, to my surprise, on my way here, I overheard people from the villa saying you had already arrived at the Burning Heaven Clan, engaged in a fierce battle there, destroyed the Heaven's Fire Burning Star Array — a formation even recorded in our villa's texts — and even forced out the long-hidden Grand Sect Master Fen Yijue and Grand Elder Fen Ziya."

Yun Che was speechless.

Heavenly Sword Villa seemed to be perfectly aware of everything that transpired at the Burning Heaven Clan. Clearly, the villa had spies embedded within the clan.

"Little Jie, thank you," Yun Che said sincerely. This person, who, years ago, with the unique naivety, innocence, impulsiveness, and passion of youth, had sworn to be his younger brother, was now mature. Yet, in this critical moment, he had traveled thousands of miles for Yun Che. This profound loyalty would be something Yun Che could never forget.

"No need, no need," Ling Jie quickly waved his hand. "It's what I should do for my boss. Besides, I didn't even manage to do anything for you." As he spoke, Ling Jie's eyes lit up, and he exclaimed excitedly, "Boss! I can barely imagine how incredibly powerful you are now! You single-handedly turned the Burning Heaven Clan upside down, forced out their Grand Sect Master, and now you've even captured Fen Juecheng... Boss, every one of these feats is earth-shattering; people might not even believe it if you told them."

"This is their own doing... Soon, everyone in the world will know about it. I will not only destroy the Burning Heaven Clan's sect but also obliterate all their reputation and dignity."

As Yun Che spoke, his tone remained eerily calm. Ling Jie looked at him and involuntarily shivered. These words made it terrifyingly clear that Yun Che's relatives were his 'inverse scale'—utterly untouchable.

Ling Jie recalled how Yun Che had unhesitatingly risked his life for Xia Yuanba at the Sword Discourse Arena. He could be so utterly selfless for those he cared about, yet as cruel as a demon to his enemies. In that moment, Ling Jie suddenly felt immense gratitude that he was not Yun Che's enemy, and neither was Heavenly Sword Villa.

"Little Jie, I need your help with something," Yun Che said.

Ling Jie nodded. "Boss, just say the word. I'll do everything I can."

Yun Che turned to Xiao Lie and Xiao Lingxi. "Please help me escort my grandfather and little aunt to Azure Wind Imperial City. I had initially planned to return to New Moon City with them, but since you're here, I've changed my mind."

"Alright!" Ling Jie agreed without hesitation, then asked with a hint of doubt, "What about you...?"

"Little Che, aren't you coming with us?" Xiao Lingxi, sensing the unstated meaning in Yun Che's words, hurried over and grabbed his arm.

Yun Che gently clasped Xiao Lingxi's hand, looking at both her and Xiao Lie. "Little Jie is the Young Master of Heavenly Sword Villa; with his protection, you will safely reach Azure Wind Imperial City. I'll follow in a few days — just a few days, I promise you. I will definitely reunite with you all, safe and sound."

"You... you're going to stay behind to deal with the Burning Heaven Clan?" Xiao Lingxi whispered, her eyes subtly misting over. "But we've already escaped. Why would you return to such danger? The Burning Heaven Clan is so powerful; I'm afraid... I'm afraid..."

Yun Che smiled faintly, then said slowly and firmly, "Because I want the Burning Heaven Clan to know, and more importantly, I want everyone in the world to know, what kind of fate awaits those who harm my grandfather and little aunt! If they plot against me, or try to kill me, I might endure it for a time. But if anyone dares to touch you, no matter who they are, I will show them no mercy! I will use the annihilation of the Burning Heaven Clan to demonstrate to everyone in this world the consequences of harming you!"

True safety and peace are not achieved through constant compromise, endurance, or evasion. Instead, they come from an absolute deterrent that no one dares to challenge.

In his past life on the Profound Sky Continent, Yun Che had learned this lesson with absolute clarity.

He wanted Xiao Lingxi and Xiao Lie to be absolutely safe within the Azure Wind Empire, ensuring that no one would ever dare to bully or harm them again.

"But... but... oh, Daddy, please, quickly talk some sense into Little Che. I'm so afraid something will happen to him," Xiao Lingxi pleaded, turning her eyes to Xiao Lie.

"On this matter, I support Che'er's decision," Xiao Lie said with a soft sigh.

"Ah?" Xiao Lingxi's mouth fell slightly open, her face a mask of bewilderment.

"The Burning Heaven Clan has been provoked to this extent; if Che'er were to stop now, they certainly wouldn't let him off," Xiao Lie said, walking over and gently patting Yun Che's shoulder. "Your growth, to me, has been like a dream. Seeing you now, I would feel immense contentment even if I were to die immediately. Go ahead and do what you must. In just three years, your progress has been legendary. I believe that even the Burning Heaven Clan cannot stand in your way. Lingxi and I will explore the Imperial City while we wait to reunite with you."

"Good... good!" Yun Che nodded repeatedly. He parted his lips, about to speak, but then hesitated. "Grandfather, there's something I'm not sure if I should tell you."

"Heh heh," Xiao Lie chuckled gently. "In my life, I've endured countless physical wounds and just as many heartaches. There's nothing in this world that I cannot bear anymore. Whatever it is, just say it."

Losing a son, a grandson, and a wife... Yun Che felt a pang of bitterness in his heart, imagining the despair and sorrow Xiao Lie must have endured during those years. He nodded softly and said, "Grandfather, I now know who pursued and killed my biological parents, and who murdered Uncle Xiao all those years ago."

Xiao Lie's aura, which had been as calm and still as stagnant water, abruptly rippled. The moment Yun Che's words finished, his entire body trembled violently, and his eyes instantly clouded over. After a long silence, he slowly turned his head, his voice quivering as he asked, "You... what? You found... the killer?"

His proud and only son, Xiao Ying, had been cruelly murdered; his daughter-in-law had taken her own life, choosing to die with him; and his wife, after giving birth to Xiao Lingxi, had succumbed to overwhelming grief and longing. Xiao Lie's life had plunged into a fathomless abyss of despair. Had it not been for Xiao Lingxi and Yun Che needing him to raise them, he might have long since followed his wife.

The murderer of his son embodied all the resentment Xiao Lie had accumulated in his life. He had searched for over a decade, never ceasing his quest. Though naturally kind and gentle, and having never killed a soul in his life, he now wished he could tear that person limb from limb using the cruelest methods imaginable.