Chapter 683: Reunion (Part 1)

"Little Che, are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?" Xiao Lingxi finally breathed a sigh of relief after Feng Juechen departed. She quickly grabbed Yun Che's arm, checking if he had been injured by the recent attack. After all, she had personally witnessed how terrifying Feng Juechen had become.

"I'm fine, don't worry," Yun Che said with a comforting smile. "Not even a hair was harmed."

"That's good," Xiao Lingxi said, feeling slightly relieved, though her delicate face remained pale from extreme fright. Immediately, she added anxiously, "Little Che, please, you absolutely must not go looking for him in three months. He's become incredibly powerful now, far more formidable than you can imagine. Whatever you do, don't go, or he will truly kill you. Even the vast army of the Divine Phoenix Empire doesn't dare provoke him."

"...Auntie, you just mentioned he saved you and Floating Cloud City. What exactly happened?" Yun Che asked.

Xiao Lingxi tried to calm her thoughts. "A year and a half ago," she began softly, "Brother Feng... he came here seeking revenge against you. He killed many people from the Xiao Sect, but he stopped after I intervened. Since then, he's remained here and hasn't killed anyone else. Then, six months ago, an army of two hundred thousand from the Divine Phoenix Empire suddenly arrived. After their commander entered the city, I happened to cross paths with him, and he suddenly ordered my abduction..."

"Ordered your abduction?" Yun Che's expression suddenly darkened.

"Yes... thankfully, Brother Feng appeared just in time and saved me. He also killed one of the commander's guards. He didn't kill anyone else after that, but he warned the Divine Phoenix army not to harm anyone in Floating Cloud City. It's precisely because of his deterrence that the two hundred thousand Divine Phoenix soldiers have been stationed here for half a year without ever killing a single resident of Floating Cloud City; the army itself rarely even enters the city. Otherwise, given the Divine Phoenix army's brutality, even if Floating Cloud City wasn't massacred, it would surely have been trampled beyond recognition within six months."

"...He didn't continue attacking the Divine Phoenix army then because Auntie stopped him, didn't he?" Yun Che said, his brows furrowed, and a barely perceptible ruthlessness stirred in his eyes. At that moment, his regret over not killing Feng Juechen back then began to mix with a sense of fortune... If Feng Juechen hadn't intervened, Auntie very likely would have...The commander of two hundred thousand Divine Phoenix soldiers... no matter who you are... even if you're the most powerful person alive, you must die!

"Yes, if he had attacked the Divine Phoenix army, the relatively peaceful situation would have completely spiraled out of control, and Floating Cloud City would very likely have been plunged into immense disaster, so I had to stop him," Xiao Lingxi confirmed. "And he didn't kill anyone else. Brother Feng may seem very cold-blooded, and everyone fears him, but he truly isn't a bad person. I've always been very grateful to him. But... why is it like this between you two?" she murmured sadly and helplessly. Back then, in the Burning Heaven Clan, he had desperately protected her from Feng Juecheng. In Floating Cloud City, he had saved her again, and for her sake, he had also protected the entire city. Yet, between him and Yun Che, there was a hatred stemming from the annihilation of his clan.

"Auntie," Yun Che softly comforted her, "Don't worry, I'll handle things between him and me properly."

"Big Brother," Xiao Yun said, approaching slowly with Tian Xia Qi. He snuck a glance at Xiao Lingxi before nervously turning his gaze back to Yun Che, asking worriedly, "Who was that person just now? Is he your enemy?"

"Yes, you could say it's a deep-seated blood feud," Yun Che stated directly.

"That person's aura was terrifying," Tian Xia Qi said, still shaken. "Brother Yun, didn't you say the profound strength level of where you grew up was very low? How could there be such a powerful person there... I've never felt such a frightening aura in my life."

Xiao Yun nodded vigorously in agreement.

"It's a long story," Yun Che said, a mix of frustration and helplessness in his voice. "Anyway, let's not worry about him for now. He has extremely strong pride, and since he agreed to a rematch in three months, he shouldn't come looking for me before then."

"Little Che, you haven't introduced them yet. Who are they...?" Xiao Lingxi asked, looking at Xiao Yun and Tian Xia Qi with a polite and gentle smile.

"I... I... I... I'm Xiao Yun," he stammered, his tongue tripping over itself as he faced Xiao Lingxi's question and direct gaze. He had heard Yun Che constantly refer to her as "Little Auntie," and in the Illusory Demon Realm, he had heard that title from Yun Che's lips countless times. To Yun Che, she was the most important person in his life. And to Xiao Yun himself... she was one of only two relatives he had in this world! One was his grandfather, and the other, though technically an elder, was his "Little Auntie," who was actually a year younger than him.

Tian Xia Qi gave the extremely nervous Xiao Yun a firm nudge, then introduced herself gracefully, "I'm Brother Xiao Yun's wife, everyone calls me Seventh Sister. Brother Yun often mentioned 'Little Auntie' to us, and today I finally get to meet her... Little Auntie, you're truly more beautiful and charming than I imagined."

"Welcome to Floating Cloud City. I apologize... for you to have been frightened just as you arrived," Xiao Lingxi said with a gentle smile. Three years ago, if she had been praised like this by people Yun Che brought, she would have unreservedly jumped with joy. But after three years of profound change, she was no longer that innocent, lively, and childlike girl. Every word and smile now carried a serenity and grace that had rarely been seen in her before.

"This is Xiao Yun, my sworn brother, the same age as me. And this is Xiao Yun's newlywed wife; they've only been married for less than a month. Besides that, they also have another... even more important identity," Yun Che said with a mysterious look.

"Another identity?" Xiao Lingxi asked, puzzled.

"You'll know soon enough." Without waiting for Xiao Lingxi to ask further, he quietly said, "Auntie, is Grandfather at home?"

"Yes, he's in his own courtyard." As she spoke of Xiao Lie, Xiao Lingxi's expression grew eager. She grabbed Yun Che's hand. "Princess Sister told us you were back, and your grandfather has been waiting for you ever since. He'll be overjoyed when he sees you."

"I've also been longing to see Grandfather... Let's go!" Yun Che nodded vigorously and walked out of the courtyard with Xiao Lingxi.

"Aren't you coming?!" Tian Xia Qi gave the dazed Xiao Yun a strong tug. He jolted as if waking from a dream and quickly followed behind Yun Che.

There weren't many changes within the Xiao Sect. He hadn't forgotten a single detail of his grandfather's courtyard. He could still instantly recall the names of the faces that continually appeared in his sight. And when others saw him, they were either stunned into silence or cried out in surprise, as if seeing a ghost or deity.

As his steps gradually brought him closer to Xiao Lie, Yun Che ignored the exaggerated reactions of the Xiao Sect members. He asked with deep concern, "How has Grandfather been these past three years?"

Xiao Lingxi gently bit her lip, an unconscious gesture that made Yun Che's heart clench. "Three years ago," she said softly, "after receiving the news of your death, Grandfather remained very calm. He constantly tried to comfort me and the Late Emperor, never shedding a single tear. But I knew he was suffering immensely inside... more than anyone else. Grandfather always had a good appetite when he was at the Azure Wind Profound Palace, but after that, he ate only one meal a day at most... and it's been like that until today."

"Later, when the Late Emperor was murdered, Grandfather helped Princess Sister handle the funeral affairs, then suggested bringing me back to Floating Cloud City. On the very day we returned, Grandfather suddenly fainted, remaining unconscious for a day and a night. After that, he was gravely ill for a long time. Although he eventually recovered, his health has been deteriorating day by day, and he's aged so rapidly. For the past year, he hasn't even... hasn't even been able to walk independently anymore..."

Yun Che clenched his hands tightly and took a deep breath. While in the Illusory Demon Realm, his greatest concern had been Xiao Lie's health. Three years ago, Xiao Lie had developed a will to die, having nothing left to live for. It was Yun Che who, with a resolute tone, gave him hope that his "biological grandson was still alive and would grow up safely," thereby dispelling his despair. Receiving the news of Yun Che's death, Xiao Lie must have suffered an immeasurable blow. He had endured too many cruelties in his life; this latest news would extinguish all his hope, plunging him into complete despair. The reality was even more severe than Yun Che had imagined, for it coincided with the downfall of the Azure Wind Nation... It was clearly Xiao Lie's grim and heavy will to die that was causing his health to deteriorate day by day.

"Grandfather will get better... he definitely will!" Yun Che said with force, his urgent steps quickening.

The courtyard where Xiao Lie resided was still the same one. The gate had been removed, likely at Xiao Lie's insistence. Standing at the entrance—a place he used to visit almost daily but hadn't set foot in for over six years—Yun Che immediately saw the old man sitting in the middle of the courtyard on an old bamboo chair. He had his eyes closed, basking in the still-warm sunlight. His peaceful face held a profound serenity... a detachment almost like that of someone who had given up on life. His hair was completely white, with hardly a trace of black remaining.

A bitter, stinging sensation spread from Yun Che's nose throughout his body. His heart filled with deep pain, guilt, and self-reproach. Xiao Lie was only in his sixties, and with his profound strength cultivation nearing the Earth Profound Realm, he should not have shown any signs of aging. Yet, after three years apart, he seemed to have aged over thirty years. At barely sixty, he presented the decrepit appearance of someone in their nineties.

They slowly walked in. Just as Xiao Lingxi was about to call out, Xiao Lie slowly opened his eyes. He looked at Yun Che, a faint, joyful smile appearing on his face. "Che'er," he said, "you're back."

Xiao Lie was very calm. His aged eyes held a hint of joy and comfort, but even more, an extreme depth of gloom. Yun Che quickly stepped forward and knelt heavily before Xiao Lie, placing his hands on his grandfather's knees. "Grandfather," he choked out, "Che'er has been unfilial and made you suffer."

Xiao Lie shook his head, smiling faintly. "Seeing you alive and safe, how could I feel bitter? Che'er is blessed by heaven; you always turn danger into safety, and surely great blessings await you in the future. Heh heh, as long as you and Lingxi can remain safe, I will have no regrets in this life."