Chapter 695: The Belated Culprit

Yun Che stopped speaking, walked back slowly, and sat down in front of Zi Ji again.

"Regarding Chu Yuechan, this old man truly feels quite..."

"There's no need to speak." Yun Che raised a hand. Although his expression was now calm, his brow remained slightly furrowed. "I am now revoking my request for your Black Moon Merchant Guild to search for Chu Yuechan! As for the remuneration, I won't be paying it. You don't need to tell me your so-called 'results' anymore!"

"I retract anything I said that defamed your Black Moon Merchant Guild... However, there's one thing I must say again..." Yun Che declared with utmost conviction, "The fact that you couldn't find her only proves your intelligence gathering capabilities are mediocre at best! She isn't dead... Absolutely not!!"

My little fairy, you must be safe. Our child... is already four years old now... You must be living peacefully in a very hidden, very safe place... If he's a boy, he must have already started learning how to protect you... If she's a girl, she must be as beautiful as you...

Until I find you... even if the King of Heaven himself told me you were no longer in this world, I would never believe it!

"Heh heh, this old man can only hope that everything will turn out as you wish," Zi Ji said with a faint smile. "I am deeply ashamed of such a result. To express my apologies, I will freely share a piece of information I uncovered while searching for Chu Yuechan... This matter is related to her, and you will certainly find it interesting."

"Related to her?" As expected, Yun Che's gaze instantly sharpened. "Please tell me, Senior Zi."

Zi Ji took a small sip of tea and slowly said, "Back then, when you learned about Chu Yuechan after surviving and escaping from beneath the Heaven Sword Villa's Sword-Wielding Terrace, did you ever wonder why this matter became known throughout the world?"

Zi Ji's words caused Yun Che's expression to immediately change slightly. He said in a deep voice, "Of course I wondered! With Senior Zi's knowledge, you must know the prestige and status of the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace in the Azure Cloud Continent. Everyone in the Azure Cloud Continent knows that Ice Cloud women remain pure and untainted by worldly affairs throughout their lives. Chu Yuechan was even the leader of the Ice Cloud Seven Fairies of the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace. If news of her sudden pregnancy spread, it would undoubtedly severely impact the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace's reputation. Therefore, upon learning of this, the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace would surely do everything to seal the information, absolutely not allowing it to spread. Heaven Sword Villa Master Ling Yuefeng once deeply loved Chu Yuechan... And even if that weren't the case, he would still understand the serious implications and would immediately seal the news, preventing more people from knowing. Yet, when I saw the light of day again, the result was that everyone was clearly aware of it."

"Although I wondered about it back then, I didn't deliberately investigate further. Because even if the news was immediately sealed, there's no absolute guarantee of foolproof secrecy... Senior Zi, what you're about to tell me..." Yun Che's expression gradually darkened. "Could it be that this matter was deliberately spread by someone?"

From Yun Che's previous reaction to "Chu Yuechan is dead," Zi Ji could already anticipate the consequences of telling him this. He nodded slightly, "That's right. This matter was indeed not a lapse in sealing information, but was deliberately spread... And the one who spread it, and actively fueled it, was the wife of Heaven Sword Villa Master Ling Yuefeng, whom you just mentioned... Xuanyuan Yufeng."

Yun Che abruptly stood up, his slightly constricted pupils instantly flaring with cold fury and murderous intent.

Back then, precisely because Chu Yuechan's pregnancy became known to the world, Palace Master Gong Yuxian was forced to expel Chu Yuechan in order to uphold the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace's rules and reputation... In a more severe case, she could even have been put to death. However, if the matter had not been known to outsiders, upon Chu Yuechan's return to the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace, she would have been reprimanded and punished, but at least she would not have been expelled... and perhaps, with Chu Yuechan's insistence, the child in her womb could have been saved. She certainly would not have been left to wander alone with her unborn child... with no news until now...

So, there was actually a culprit behind all of this!

After a long while, Yun Che slowly sat down, his half-open eyes swirling with an almost inky gloom.

Only after the malevolence emanating from him was slowly suppressed did Zi Ji calmly ask, "From your expression, you don't seem overly surprised."

"...Ling Yuefeng deeply loved Chu Yuechan back then, and it lasted for a full ten years. He even abandoned his dignity just to see her, but ultimately, his wish was not fulfilled." Yun Che seemed to have calmed down. "Everyone in the Azure Cloud Profound Realm has probably heard of this. As Ling Yuefeng's wife, Xuanyuan Yufeng had no reason not to know. Women are prone to jealousy, and this is especially true for those with greater power or background. Naturally, she harbored jealousy towards Chu Yuechan. It's even possible that during the days Chu Yuechan was at Heaven Sword Villa for the Azure Cloud Ranking Tournament, Ling Yuefeng did something inappropriate that made Xuanyuan Yufeng realize his feelings for Chu Yuechan were not extinguished, thus fueling her resentment even more. So, after learning that Chu Yuechan was pregnant..." Yun Che's voice became chillingly murderous again, "she did such a despicable thing!"

"Heh heh, the reason I know is indeed quite similar to your conjecture," Zi Ji chuckled blandly, continuing, "From your past experiences, you are someone who repays kindness and avenges grievances. How you choose to handle this matter, I am naturally not at liberty to ask... However, do you know anything about this Xuanyuan Yufeng?"

Yun Che calmly said, "I heard that she originally belonged to the Heavenly Might Sword Region... especially her surname! The surname 'Xuanyuan' only exists in the Heavenly Might Sword Region."

"The surname 'Xuanyuan' indeed currently exists only in the Heavenly Might Sword Region, but not everyone in the Heavenly Might Sword Region bears the surname 'Xuanyuan'," Zi Ji said slowly. Yun Che naturally knew this, as the Ling Kun he knew did not have the surname 'Xuanyuan'. "On the contrary, those with the surname 'Xuanyuan' are quite rare. In the entire Heavenly Might Sword Region, including Xuanyuan Yufeng, there are barely thirty individuals."

"And the Sword Master of the Heavenly Might Sword Region, Xuanyuan Wentian... as well as all previous Sword Masters, bear the surname Xuanyuan!"

"The progenitor of the Heavenly Might Sword Region... also had the surname Xuanyuan!"

"Are you saying that those with the surname Xuanyuan... are from the progenitor's lineage of the Heavenly Might Sword Region?" Yun Che asked with a frown.

"Precisely." Zi Ji nodded, his gaze deepening as he warned Yun Che, "Xuanyuan Yufeng's father is the ninth-ranked elder of the Heavenly Might Sword Region—Xuanyuan Jue. The Heavenly Might Sword Region reveres the sword; if one possesses sufficient swordsmanship mastery, there's a chance to enter the Heavenly Might Sword Region. However, if descendants have inferior talent, they will be expelled... This was the case with the progenitor of Heaven Sword Villa. But the 'Xuanyuan' lineage is entirely different. As the progenitor's lineage, they hold the highest and most esteemed status in the Heavenly Might Sword Region. Even a complete good-for-nothing can never be expelled; instead, they will always enjoy the top-tier treatment and resources of the Heavenly Might Sword Region."

When Yun Che first heard Qin Wushang mention that Xuanyuan Yufeng shared the same surname as Xuanyuan Wentian, the Sword Master of the Heavenly Might Sword Region, he knew Xuanyuan Yufeng's identity was far from simple, but he never expected it to be to such an extent. Zi Ji's words were undoubtedly telling him that if he were to harm Xuanyuan Yufeng... it would be akin to provoking the most central progenitor's lineage of the Heavenly Might Sword Region!

"Because the progenitor of Heaven Sword Villa originated from the Heavenly Might Sword Region, Heaven Sword Villa has been striving for a thousand years to re-establish contact with the Heavenly Might Sword Region... even a faint connection would mean securing a powerful backer for themselves. Although Heaven Sword Villa is unparalleled in the Azure Cloud Continent, it certainly wouldn't be regarded highly by the Heavenly Might Sword Region. However, later, in order to have an intelligence-gathering outpost in the Azure Cloud Continent, the Heavenly Might Sword Region stopped refusing Heaven Sword Villa's tributes, occasionally even providing some feedback. Naturally, this overjoyed Heaven Sword Villa. Thereafter, their annual tributes were meticulously prepared, never ceasing."

"The Heavenly Might Sword Region's actions were originally merely to use Heaven Sword Villa as an 'outpost' in the Azure Cloud Continent. However, what no one expected was... thirty years ago, when Ling Tianni took Ling Yuefeng to the Heavenly Might Sword Region to offer tribute, Xuanyuan Jue's only daughter, Xuanyuan Yufeng, fell madly in love with Ling Yuefeng at first sight."

"Although Xuanyuan Jue was over seventeen hundred years old, his daughter Xuanyuan Yufeng was then less than twenty, just when she was experiencing her first stirrings of love. Hearing that Ling Yuefeng was exceptionally handsome and heroic in his youth, it's not surprising that Xuanyuan Yufeng took a liking to him. However, as a descendant of the Heavenly Might Sword Region's progenitor lineage, Xuanyuan Yufeng's status was incredibly noble, while Ling Yuefeng was merely a descendant of a banished disciple. Their statuses were vastly different, and Xuanyuan Jue naturally absolutely disagreed with the match... But Xuanyuan Yufeng's temperament was extremely fierce; she first threatened to die, then went as far as crippling her own profound energy to permanently leave the Heavenly Might Sword Region."

"Heh, what a truly infatuated person," Yun Che sneered. "By marrying a descendant of a Heavenly Might progenitor, Heaven Sword Villa truly secured a massive backer. Even if Xuanyuan Yufeng were as ugly as a sow, Ling Tianni and Ling Yuefeng would absolutely not refuse... Given Xuanyuan Yufeng's fierce and resolute nature, Ling Yuefeng probably showered her with countless promises, sweet nothings, and vows of eternal love!"

"Heh heh heh," Zi Ji chuckled faintly, his expression clearly acknowledging Yun Che's words. "After that, in his rage, Xuanyuan Jue announced that he was severing his father-daughter relationship with Xuanyuan Yufeng, expelled her and Ling Yuefeng together from the Heavenly Might Sword Region, and declared that they would never meet again for all eternity."

"Heh, it seems although his name is Xuanyuan Jue, he wasn't completely ruthless towards his own daughter. Otherwise, he would have killed Ling Yuefeng long ago," Yun Che still sneered.

"After all, Xuanyuan Yufeng was his only daughter," Zi Ji continued. "Later, as time passed and his anger subsided, Xuanyuan Yufeng and Ling Yuefeng married and subsequently had two sons. Xuanyuan Jue then had no choice but to accept Ling Yuefeng as his son-in-law. A few years ago, Xuanyuan Yufeng returned to the Heavenly Might Sword Region with her two sons and Ling Yuefeng... I heard that Xuanyuan Jue was very fond of Xuanyuan Yufeng's two sons, especially the younger one, Ling Jie, and even offered to personally instruct him. Heaven Sword Villa's backing, naturally, became increasingly stable."

"If you cannot let this matter go and wish to punish Xuanyuan Yufeng... you must think very carefully and act cautiously." Zi Ji's gaze was distant and profound, speaking as an elder, calmly advising Yun Che, who was clearly deeply concerned about the matter.

"..." Yun Che's hand on the stone table subtly clenched. What he cared about more than Xuanyuan Yufeng's identity was... that she was, after all, Ling Jie's birth mother!

"What Senior Zi wished for me to know, I have largely understood," Yun Che said, looking up at Zi Ji with an almost detached calm. "I am indeed someone who repays grievances. Although I learned about this Xuanyuan Yufeng matter many years late, I will absolutely not let it rest. Every debt that needs to be settled will be paid in full. I am very grateful to Senior Zi for informing me of this free of charge, but please, Senior Zi, remember one thing..."

"I, for one, intensely dislike being schemed against or used... no matter who it is!"

Yun Che's gaze suddenly solidified like two sharp arrows, causing Zi Ji's breathing to momentarily falter.