Chapter 1882: Yearning

"Xú Xiǎoshòu hasn't contacted you in a few days, has he?"

In the waters near Nanming, two graceful figures, one black and one white, waded through the water. Liǔ Fúyù suddenly spoke, a hint of worry in her brows.

The worry seemed to come from nowhere, unsettling her heart.

Perhaps it was because her own sword had acted strangely earlier, almost being drawn to the Central Region?

She wasn't sure.

Liǔ Fúyù lowered her head. At her waist was a pure white, three-foot-long sword, one of the Twelve Swords of the Jiàn Lóu, called Hù.

She gazed far into the northern night, clutching Hù tightly, and her heart felt a little more at ease.

"Yes."

Yú Zhīwēn nodded slightly.

She held up the hem of her black gauze skirt, her head bowed, feeling the coolness of the seawater with her toes, letting the fine, dense sand slip through her feet.

The night breeze was serene, and the waters near Nanming were exceptionally quiet.

In the distance, faint roars of sea beasts could be heard. Each time, waves would crash, and the bright moonlight would scatter across the shimmering surface, glittering and fading.

"Five days ago, he went out with Lǐ Fùguì to search for traces that Huà Jiànxiān left in the Guǐ Fó Jiè."

"Initially, when they found no traces, they occasionally communicated through Jīn Xìng. Once they made a discovery, no more messages came."

Yú Zhīwēn said, raising her head. Her long black hair, like a waterfall, reached her waist and swayed slightly in the sea breeze. She tilted her face to the side and softly asked, "Is something wrong?"

Liǔ Fúyù also glanced at her.

This young girl beside her, in the prime of her youth, should have been full of vitality like her peers.

But she wasn't.

She was too quiet.

Her eyes were bound with black silk, and under the bright moonlight, her skin seemed to glow like frosted jade.

Yet, such a delicate face, so beautiful it made people exclaim at the unfairness of creation, had little life left, only coldness.

"Whoosh!"

A high wave crashed.

Liǔ Fúyù took Yú Zhīwēn's hand and stepped back a few paces.

Human sorrow lasts as long as the eastward flowing water; perhaps she had endured too much hardship, for too long, and had grown accustomed to it.

Even though she had only recently heard the tragic news of Elder Yú, at this moment, there was little emotional fluctuation visible on Yú Zhīwēn's face. She seemed to have put the matter behind her.

Even being naive about the world, Liǔ Fúyù had matured greatly in the past six months and knew better than to bring up sore subjects.

She pulled Yú Zhīwēn, took her hand, and pointed north:

"Let's go to the Central Region, to the Guǐ Fó Jiè."

"Bā Zūn'ān seems to be in the Líng Yú Shān. That guy has also arrived."

"Xú Xiǎoshòu definitely won't let him go. He must be near the vortex. We'll go there and watch from a distance."

Yú Zhīwēn was naturally tempted.

But she knew that the gap between her and Xú Xiǎoshòu had become an insurmountable chasm.

Not to mention her.

Among their peers, in terms of cultivation, even Gù Qīngyī of Zàng Jiàn Zhǒng and Lèi Shuāngháng of Shèng Nú could no longer be compared to Xú Xiǎoshòu.

"If we're targeted, something bad will happen..."

She said softly, knowing that even with Liǔ Fúyù by her side, it would be impossible to protect each other under Shèng Dì and Zǔ Shén.

Unlike ordinary observers, their identities were extraordinary. They were "conspicuous" even in the eyes of the Zǔ Shén.

"It's not just because of you."

Liǔ Fúyù had her own thoughts. Looking at the moonlight, she rubbed her temples and said, "I have a bad premonition..."

"What?"

Liǔ Fúyù didn't say, shaking her head. "I need to see Xú Xiǎoshòu to perhaps resolve it. He can help me."

Yú Zhīwēn was exceptionally intelligent. With a turn of thought, she guessed it must be related to the Jiàn Lóu.

"Then let's go!"

She was extremely decisive. After some deliberation, she made her decision:

"We'll transfer through the Xìng Jiè and first visit the Four Ancestral Trees. I'll also ask Lord Jiǔ Jì Guì for a protective talisman for you."

"Xú Xiǎoshòu left a mark on me, and I've also mastered Xiāng Yí's summoning technique. Self-preservation isn't an issue, but we must see him in person before we can show ourselves."

Yú Zhīwēn tilted her head, remembering, and softly said:

"He said that the mark and summoning technique have only two possible ways to fail: one is Dào Qióngcāng, and the other is if he's not in the Five Regions, but in the Gǔ Jīn Wàng Yōu Lóu."

Liǔ Fúyù nodded, opened her red lips, and was about to speak...

"No need for such trouble!"

From behind, a clear voice came.

This made both of them alert, and they turned around in surprise.

The newcomer had a face like jade, a full forehead, casually tied black hair, and an extremely tall and straight figure.

Without even seeing the person, just hearing the voice, Yú Zhīwēn recognized who he was.

"Dào Diàn... Dào Qióngcāng!"

Yú Zhīwēn could no longer hide the turmoil in her heart.

A few traces of life finally appeared on her cold face, and then her cheeks flushed with anger, her slender hands clenched into fists, and her delicate body trembled slightly.

But she couldn't unleash it!

Not to mention Dào Qióngcāng alone, ten of her and ten of Liǔ Fúyù combined couldn't defeat him.

Xú Xiǎoshòu had even said that among the great enemies of the current era, the Ten Zūnzuò and the rest of the Ten Ancestors ranked behind him. The foremost was still that flashy old Daoist.

Why had he come?

How dared he approach her?

"Clang!"

Without a word, Liǔ Fúyù drew her sword and held it horizontally in front of Yú Zhīwēn, while also making a hand gesture behind her back.

Retreating quickly into the Xìng Jiè might still offer a sliver of hope!

Yú Zhīwēn did not retreat. On the contrary, she took a step forward, protecting Liǔ Fúyù behind her, which left both Liǔ Fúyù and Hù stunned.

"A mere King Stage Dao Realm..."

Yú Zhīwēn knew how terrifying the unpredictable Dào Qióngcāng was; he was a lifelong shadow!

Upon seeing him, their retreat was cut off.

And to him, Liǔ Fúyù was insignificant.

If he truly made a move, he could crush her with a mere flick of his hand, but while Dào Qióngcāng could act against anyone in the world, would he really stoop to attacking her?

"Crash!"

A fierce wave crashed onto the shallow beach, splashing water on both women.

Dào Qióngcāng strolled leisurely, holding a Tiānjī Sīnán, slowly approaching. As he walked, he slowly extended his fingers one by one:

"Firstly, Xú Xiǎoshòu is in the Gǔ Jīn Wàng Yōu Lóu. Even immortals wouldn't be able to save you. You're too lax. Remember, girls shouldn't walk out at night."

"Secondly, space isn't sealed, nor are you banished. The Xìng Jiè is always your fallback, but once you want to retreat, you won't want to retreat anymore."

"Thirdly, I've come without ill intent. You two don't need to brandish your swords angrily... er, at me. I just want to introduce someone to you and have a few words with Liǔ Jiànxiān."

Yú Zhīwēn showed no fear on her face. She reached out and stopped Liǔ Fúyù from moving forward, standing quietly on the shallow beach, the roar of the waves still in her ears.

"Dào Qióngcāng, don't you have anything to say to me?" she asked, appearing very calm.

"Yes!"

Dào Qióngcāng shouted heavily, stopping three zhang away. He bent down in a ninety-degree bow: "I'm sorry."

Yú Zhīwēn's face turned pale.

At that moment, countless words were choked in her throat, unable to be uttered. She was so angry her body tensed up.

If only Xú Xiǎoshòu were here!

Liǔ Fúyù was furious, thinking that if Xú Xiǎoshòu were here, Dào Qióngcāng wouldn't be able to silence her.

She had already learned that Yú Zhīwēn had lived in a closed "laboratory" since childhood, and even all the elders and relatives in the Dào Bù were actually played by Dào Qióngcāng!

To put it nicely...

There was no nice way to describe such heinous conduct.

This wasn't nurturing younger generations. Anyone who committed such deceptive acts should be killed, sent to the eighteen layers of hell, and subjected to the torture of a thousand cuts!

"Dào Qióngcāng, what are you here for?"

Liǔ Fúyù stepped out, shifting her position.

Little Yú was already protected behind her. Her sword intent surged, clearly indicating a willingness to fight at the slightest disagreement.

Dào Qióngcāng straightened up, his expression changed, then he narrowed his eyes and stared deeply at Liǔ Fúyù, who had received his bow.

For no reason, Liǔ Fúyù felt a chill spread through her body.

"Buzz!"

Hù was about to strike...

Liǔ Fúyù felt her thoughts blur.

Hù was still in her hand, not yet struck, but Dào Qióngcāng on the other side was chuckling and speaking:

"I've already said what I came for."

"I generally don't like to repeat the same words..."

With that, he didn't dwell on Liǔ Fúyù's very impolite act of receiving the bow on behalf of someone else, as he was not a resentful person.

He snapped his fingers.

Starlight scattered beside Dào Qióngcāng. A graceful woman stepped onto the water, walking slowly.

Liǔ Fúyù glanced sideways and immediately showed surprise.

Even with her eyes covered by black silk, obscuring her face, Yú Zhīwēn, though not yet fully mature, already possessed a beauty that could make fish sink and wild geese fall.

This woman, at first glance, was even more stunning, truly unparalleled in grace.

She wore a blue-white cloud-patterned silk dress, her cloud-like hair styled high, adorned with resplendent pearl hairpins. Her neck was slender and graceful, her skin like condensed fat, with a light dusting of powder on her face. Her demeanor was elegant and dignified, naturally akin to a celestial maiden from a cloud palace. With a glance of her beautiful eyes, her charm was unmatched.

One of her, one Yú Zhīwēn...

Caught between the two, Liǔ Fúyù had never been a worldly person, yet at this moment, she felt a sense of self-abasement.

The cloud palace woman walked gracefully, her hair ornaments swaying slightly, their luster dazzling. In stark contrast to her elegant demeanor, she was dragging a golden broadsword taller than herself as she emerged from behind Dào Qióngcāng.

"They look like two kind-hearted girls..."

The woman smiled gently, also moved by the beauty of the two girls before her.

Her eyes curved like crescent moons, full of goodwill. Suddenly, her willow-like brows furrowed, and she turned her head to stare at Dào Qióngcāng, a cold light flickering in her eyes:

"Sorry for what?"

"And 'I don't like to repeat the same words'..."

She raised her eyebrow high, dragging the golden broadsword, her large eyes sparkling with astonishment. "Dào Qióngcāng, your wings are very hard now, aren't they? Messing around in the Hán Gōng Dì Jìng was bad enough, but in the Shèng Shén Dàlù, you're walking sideways like a crab?"

"Uh, um, I..." Dào Qióngcāng wiped sweat from his forehead, shrinking his neck, bowing and backing away, his gaze occasionally sweeping towards the golden broadsword.

"Speak!"

"Ah, yes."

"Sorry for what?"

"Uh."

"Are you back to being a goose again? Uh uh uh, who are you honking for?"

"No, I..."

"Why are you looking back? Ā Lí isn't here. He's already reformed himself. Only you haven't changed for the better."

This woman could actually keep Dào Qióngcāng in check?

Under the moonlight, watching the unpredictable Dào Diàn Lord become timid on the beach, Yú Zhīwēn and Liǔ Fúyù were both astonished.

Who was she?

Among the Ten Ancestors, there seemed to be no women?

Among the Ten Zūnzuò, the only female, Xiāng Yí, didn't look like this, nor could she suppress Dào Qióngcāng!

She looked like Dào Qióngcāng's elder sister...

But Dào Qióngcāng only had one younger sister, Dào Xuánjī, who was nothing like him...

Regardless of who she was, Liǔ Fúyù easily perceived the goodwill emanating from this woman, and also saw that she intended to teach Dào Qióngcāng a lesson on their behalf.

Teach a lesson...

Was that word truly appropriate for Dào Qióngcāng?

Liǔ Fúyù's thoughts were still turning when the words slipped out: "The Dào Diàn Lord used an entire Dào Bù to nurture his junior niece, who is the sister beside me, but the entire Dào Bù was actually all his Tiānjī puppets..."

"Shut up!"

Before she finished speaking, Dào Qióngcāng's eyes shot out a fierce glare. The Tiānjī Sīnán in his hand spun with a clicking sound, about to strike.

He suddenly felt a chill on the side of his face and quickly stopped.

Turning around, he saw a cold gaze fixed on him from the side. The golden greatsword in her hand was incredibly sharp!

"Is what she said true?"

"Ahaha, that..."

"You're still researching Tiānjī puppets, not only haven't stopped, but you've even delved into emotions and familial bonds?"

"Uh, that's not exactly..."

"Dào Qióngcāng, stand straight!"

"Yes!"

Liǔ Fúyù was merely testing, but she didn't expect the cloud palace woman to actually get angry. Her tone was reprimanding, aggressive, not like an act—she even dared to tell Dào Qióngcāng to stand straight.

And Dào Qióngcāng actually did stand straight, as if in a reflex, his hands pressed against his trouser legs.

But only for a moment, then he hunched over, his face twitching slightly: "Before the juniors, I at least brought you back to the Shèng Shén Dàlù, give some..."

The golden broadsword was raised high.

Dào Qióngcāng's pupils suddenly widened.

Liǔ Fúyù and Yú Zhīwēn both showed surprise, still thinking it was unlikely to develop this way, until...

"Boom!"

The broadsword slashed across his waist.

A thunderous roar erupted from Dào Qióngcāng's body. Countless waist jewels and jade shattered, and he was nearly cut in half.

This sword strike was not only for the two girls but also seemingly to vent her own frustration.

Dào Qióngcāng already regretted how he had treated this wicked woman in the cold prison. Just as he felt the pressure on his waist lessen, thinking he could endure it.

"Hmph!" The two girls only heard a cold snort from the immortal wielding the sword. Frost sprayed from her eyes, and the broadsword in her hand actually shot out silver sword intent, accompanied by the power of Ancestral Origin.

"Are you insane?!"

Dào Qióngcāng's face turned to terror, and he quickly formed a hand seal.

With a tearing sound, the golden broadsword cut through without delay, its force penetrating bone and back, slicing the unpredictable Dào Qióngcāng into two halves, and tossing both halves into Nanming, to sink and feed the fish.

"Phew."

With that, she put down the heavy sword and smoothed her hair from her forehead, as if a great weight had been lifted from her heart.

Turning back, the woman plunged her sword into the sand and said with a smile:

"Jiànxiān, Liǔ Fúyù?"

Liǔ Fúyù was slightly startled, nodding blankly.

Her gaze still lingered on the spot where Dào Qióngcāng's corpse, cut in half by a single sword, had sunk in the distance. Then her sight fell upon the golden broadsword...

She hadn't mistaken it.

It was indeed the Fó Jiàn Nù Xiān from the painting!

But this woman was absolutely not an ancient sword cultivator!

However, the power of Ancestral Origin was one thing, but she had even comprehended sword intent—the sword intent of Bā Zūn'ān and Xú Xiǎoshòu?

"Then this younger sister must be Yú Zhīwēn, how cute!"

The woman walked gracefully forward, smiling as she glanced at the young girl with her eyes bound by black silk, and even reached out to pinch her cheek.

Liǔ Fúyù finally snapped out of her daze.

She absolutely dared not let this person approach.

Protecting Xú Xiǎoshòu wasn't her business, as it wasn't needed. But protecting Yú Zhīwēn was her sole duty after being forced to become a member of the Tiān Shàng Dì Yī Lóu.

Liǔ Fúyù stretched out her hand, blocking between the two, and asked hesitantly, "You are..."

Before the woman could speak, Yú Zhīwēn seemed to have figured something out and softly called out:

"Yuè Jiějie!"

The woman smiled faintly, nodding slightly to Liǔ Fúyù: "Yuè Gōngnú."

Yú Zhīwēn also broke into a smile: "Xú Xiǎoshòu mentioned you to me. He also said that during the Divine Relic, when Bā Zūn'ān helped him, he mentioned you. He... misses you very much."

The Nù Xiān Fó Jiàn trembled.

Yuè Gōngnú's body also trembled, and she suddenly felt a ringing in her ears.

The two girls before her suddenly blurred, but the whole world seemed to brighten by three points.

The waves of Nanming crashed from behind, the rushing sound of water and wind were all unheard by her, and even the other things Yú Zhīwēn spoke in her gentle voice were completely unheard.

Nothing else existed.

In the entire world, there were only those few words.

Yuè Gōngnú was as if her soul had left her body, completely lost, standing stranded on the beach of Nanming:

"Little Bā... misses me..."