Chapter 425: Leaving Qifeng Valley

After a while, Yun Che finally figured out the next part of the story. He cleared his throat, just about to begin, when the Phoenix God Jade hanging on Feng Xue'er's chest suddenly glowed red.

Feng Xue'er picked up the Phoenix God Jade, and her expression suddenly became somber.

"Xue'er, what's wrong?" Yun Che asked immediately.

Feng Xue'er looked at Yun Che, her eyes brimming with sadness, and said, "It's Father... He'll be here soon to take me back to Phoenix City. Big Brother Yun..."

"...Why is he taking you back now?" Yun Che asked, somewhat puzzled. "Your father let you stay here alone precisely because he was busy with the Ranking Tournament and the Primordial Profound Ark. Now should be the busiest time."

Feng Xue'er gently shook her head. "Father said this is my first Seven Nations Ranking Tournament since I was born. He would take me to the venue, and if I wished, he could also take me onto the Primordial Profound Ark. Father coming to take me back now must mean everything is ready."

"You'll go... to the Ranking Tournament venue?" Yun Che's heart trembled slightly.

"Mm... Big Brother Yun, you should leave here quickly. If Father sees you here, it would be... it would be bad." Feng Xue'er stood up, looking a little panicked. She grabbed Yun Che's arm, but instead of pushing him away, she unconsciously tightened her grip.

There were still three days until the Ranking Tournament, and he should have left earlier. The reason he hadn't left was clear to him: he couldn't bear to part with Feng Xue'er. Her appearance, voice, spirit, every expression, and every glance captivated him, drawing him deeper and deeper as if into an infinitely beautiful starry sky.

In this world, no one could resist her charm. And Yun Che, by a fortunate coincidence, had become the first person to have such close contact with her.

"I really should go," Yun Che sighed to himself. Gazing into Feng Xue'er's sparkling eyes, he raised his hand and placed it on her head, his fingers slowly tracing down her long hair. Feng Xue'er's eyes only trembled slightly at this overly intimate gesture, but she didn't recoil. "Xue'er, I will remember these days forever. Thank you, and thank heaven for letting me meet you."

"...Big Brother Yun says such strange things." Feng Xue'er pouted her rosy lips. "We'll meet again later, won't we?"

"Of course," Yun Che smiled and nodded. "Because I've already promised to take Xue'er to see the 'Thousand Miles of Drifting Snow,' I will never forget my promise to you."

"Mm!" Feng Xue'er nodded, her expression finally brightening a little. Her eyes showed reluctance, but her hands gently pushed Yun Che. "Although I really don't want Big Brother Yun to leave, you really should go... Father will be here in less than fifteen minutes. If you don't leave now, he'll really discover you."

"...I'm leaving." Yun Che's hand left Feng Xue'er's shoulder. After a deeply serious look at her, he finally turned and called the Snow Phoenix Beast.

The Snow Phoenix Beast flew to him. Just as he was about to mount its back, Yun Che stopped. He turned around, his hands quietly clenched, and finally spoke softly, "Xue'er, if... I mean if one day you discover... that I deceived you about something, would you hate me? Would you still acknowledge me as Big Brother Yun?"

"Ah?" Yun Che's sudden words made Feng Xue'er a little bewildered. "Why would Big Brother Yun say such strange things? How could Big Brother Yun deceive me?"

"I mean, if... if I really lied to you about something, would you hate me?" Yun Che's voice dropped even lower, the short sentence spoken with extreme difficulty.

"I... I don't know," Feng Xue'er shook her head, her eyes a little lost, seemingly unable to comprehend Yun Che's question. She softly said, "But during these days with Big Brother Yun, all I've felt is your kindness towards me. You made it snow for me every day, taught me how to build snowmen, cooked delicious food for me, and told me many wonderful stories... Big Brother Yun's smile is so handsome, and your eyes are so gentle. These days, I've been so happy, and even the dreams I have when I sleep have become beautiful."

Yun Che was speechless.

"I don't believe such a Big Brother Yun would willingly deceive me. Even if... even if you truly did, it must have been out of necessity, not to hurt me." Every word from Feng Xue'er was gentle and sincere, a voice from her heart. "I will always remember your kindness to me, and the things you promised me... In the future, no matter what happens, I believe Big Brother Yun will never hurt me, and I will never do anything to hurt Big Brother Yun."

Feng Xue'er's last words made Yun Che slightly puzzled, but they touched his heart deeply. He said nothing more, for under Feng Xue'er's pure-as-snow gaze, anything he said would seem utterly pale. He leapt onto the Snow Phoenix Beast's back. Carried by the beast, he ascended into the sky, flying straight towards Phoenix Extinction Cliff. Feng Xue'er had already told him that the other three directions of Phoenix Dwelling Valley would likely have guards, so to leave safely without alerting anyone, he still had to go via Phoenix Extinction Cliff.

"Big Brother Yun, I'll come here often in the future... I'll wait for you to appear again..."

"Big Brother Yun, you can't forget our promise. After I turn twenty, you must take me to the Icy Extreme Snow Region..."

"Big Brother Yun, Little Snow White, I'll miss you very much..."

The wind whistled in his ears as Feng Xue'er's shouts came against the wind from below. Her last words even carried the sound of suppressed tears.

A thousand-zhang altitude was nothing for the Snow Phoenix Beast. Soon, the top of Phoenix Extinction Cliff appeared before Yun Che. He dismounted from the Snow Phoenix Beast's back and stood at the cliff edge. In the emerald, secluded valley below, like a paradise, he could vaguely see that fairy-like figure.

She was the princess of the Divine Phoenix Empire, the brightest pearl of the entire Profound Sky Continent. She was protected to the utmost... but at the same time, she must have been lonely... That's why, during these days when he unexpectedly intruded into her world, she had been so happy and joyful.

"Little Chan, do you want to stay by her side?" Yun Che looked down and suddenly asked.

"Chirp, chirp..." The Snow Phoenix Beast flapped its wings, let out a soft cry, and its noble head made several nodding motions!

Huh? Nodding?!

Yun Che glared fiercely at the Snow Phoenix Beast with an extremely resentful and indignant look. "Even if Xue'er's charm is irresistible, even if you truly want to stay by her side, you're still my contracted profound beast! Can't you be a little more reserved, even if it's just fake?!"

...Forget it.

Yun Che twisted his mouth, extended his wrist, and the profound imprint of the Snow Phoenix Beast appeared on the back of his hand. With a thought, he directly severed his profound energy connection with the Snow Phoenix Beast, and the profound imprint on his hand slowly faded away.

The Snow Phoenix Beast completely regained its freedom. It flapped its wings and flew up, circling above Yun Che's head, emitting a sharp cry that could have been excitement or reluctance.

Looking at the now-free Snow Phoenix Beast, Yun Che felt less sadness and more a sense of relief. He smiled slightly, "Little Chan, go. With me, you would only endure endless hardship and face constant danger. By Xue'er's side, she likes you so much; she will surely treat you well. You won't have to always suffer and toil with me... Go."

A long, clear cry pierced the sky. After flying for a long time, the Snow Phoenix Beast finally descended, flying towards Phoenix Dwelling Valley below. Soon, in Yun Che's sight, the two snow-white figures slowly converged.

Yun Che smiled. After a final, deep look, he took two steps back, then put away all reluctance and walked south.

"Why did you let the Snow Phoenix Beast leave?" Jasmine couldn't help but ask. "You can't fly yet. Without the Snow Phoenix Beast, what will you do when you need to fly?"

Yun Che shook his head and said, "I gave the Snow Phoenix Beast to Xue'er not just because she liked it. It's because I don't know if I'll survive this Ranking Tournament. If I'm unlucky... at least the Snow Phoenix Beast won't have to die with me. It will be safe, and it's also a small compensation to Xue'er... She has a pure heart towards me, and yet, I ultimately deceived her."

"Hmph..." Jasmine sneered. "Deceiving girls, hasn't that always been your usual trick? You've never felt this guilty before."

"That's different," Yun Che curled his lip. "Conquest and deception are two completely different concepts; a young girl like you wouldn't understand."

Jasmine scoffed and changed the subject: "Regarding whether you'll survive this time, I actually have some good news for you."

"Good news?"

Jasmine said indifferently, "If I'm not mistaken, after your Phoenix bloodline became known to the Divine Phoenix Sect, what you most feared wasn't actually the Divine Phoenix Sect itself, but the true ancestor of the Divine Phoenix Sect... another Phoenix Spirit, just like the one you encountered in the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range."

Yun Che paused, then slowly nodded. "You're absolutely right. Back then, when I left the Phoenix Trial Grounds, the Phoenix Spirit emphatically warned me to be wary of another Phoenix Spirit's existence. The Divine Phoenix Sect's Phoenix Spirit has always believed that the Phoenix Spirit who gave me the inheritance was long ago destroyed by it. If it were to know that the Phoenix bloodline in me came from another Phoenix inheritance... then not only I would suffer, but also the Phoenix Spirit of the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range, and the Phoenix clan that just escaped the curse, could all face immense disaster." Yun Che sighed softly, "But with my bloodline exposed, I had no choice but to confront the Divine Phoenix Sect as soon as possible. Otherwise, those around me would be implicated... So, on the way from Blue Wind Nation to here, I kept praying that the Phoenix Spirit would remain in the shadows and not be interested in matters concerning the Ranking Tournament."

"You no longer need to worry about this Phoenix Spirit," Jasmine said dispassionately.

"Why?"

"Because... it's dead!"

"What? Dead?" Yun Che's steps suddenly halted. "Are you sure? Wait! How do you know it's dead?"

"Heh..." Jasmine laughed eerily. "You don't need to know how I know, but while it might not have been dead for long, I can confirm it's dead! However, even though it's dead, its bloodline and memories could very well have been passed down. So, in this world, there might still be someone who can recognize that your bloodline comes from another Phoenix lineage."

Yun Che's spirits immediately lifted. He certainly wouldn't doubt words spoken with such certainty by Jasmine. "Excellent! If the Divine Phoenix Sect's Phoenix Spirit is really dead, then my biggest concern is gone! This way, I can unleash my full power in the Ranking Tournament without any worries!"

"So? What percentage chance do you have now of making the Divine Phoenix Sect stop bothering you and surviving?"

"Seventy percent!" Yun Che said confidently. "Perhaps I can even visit that mysterious Primordial Profound Ark!"