Xiao Feng felt a pang of pain in his heart. He stepped forward and gently patted Liu Yueling's shoulder: "Yueling, don't cry."
Liu Yueling raised her head, looking at Xiao Feng with teary eyes. Her pitiful appearance softened Xiao Feng's heart.
However, he quickly regained his composure, took a deep breath, and said, "Yueling, listen to me. Between you and me... it's impossible."
Seeing Liu Yueling's eyes dim instantly, Xiao Feng continued, "However, we can become brother and sister. From now on, you will be my sister, Xiao Feng's sister, and I will care for you and protect you as always."
As he spoke, Xiao Feng took out a jade flute from his robes and handed it to Liu Yueling: "This flute is called 'Azure Phoenix,' which I obtained many years ago. It is said to have the magical power to summon divine birds. I am giving it to you now. If you encounter danger in the future, just play it. No matter where I am in the world, if I hear the sound of the flute, I will come to save you immediately."
Liu Yueling trembled as she accepted the jade flute, tears welling up in her eyes once more.
She understood that the flute carried Xiao Feng's care, but it also meant that there was no longer any possibility between them.
She forced a smile, suppressing the bitterness in her heart: "Thank you...Big Brother."
Upon hearing the word "elder brother," Xiao Feng felt both gratified and bittersweet.
He gently patted Liu Yueling's head, then turned and left the room.
Watching Xiao Feng's departing figure, Liu Yueling tightly gripped the jade flute in her hand, tears silently streaming down her face.
She knew that from now on, Xiao Feng's place in her heart would never change, but she also had to learn to let go and accept this brother-sister relationship.
After Xiao Feng led Zhao Yuwei out of the room, the two walked side by side, and an ambiguous atmosphere filled the air.
Zhao Yuwei secretly glanced at Xiao Feng, a sweet feeling welling up in her heart.
Xiao Feng noticed her gaze, a slight smile appeared on his lips, and he gently took her hand.
"When we return to the lower realm, I'll take you to see all the mountains and rivers," Xiao Feng said softly, his eyes filled with tenderness.
Zhao Yuwei blushed and said coquettishly, "Oh, you!"
As she spoke, she gently punched Xiao Feng's chest: "Let's talk about it when we really get back to the lower realm. Don't keep thinking about running away."
Xiao Feng laughed and was about to say something when his expression suddenly turned serious.
“Right, we can’t just leave like this. Jing Shen is still here. I brought him here in the first place, so we have to bring him back with us.”
Zhao Yuwei nodded upon hearing this: "You're right, we can't abandon him."
"He disappeared after saving me last time, and we don't know where he is now." Xiao Feng frowned and said, "How are we supposed to find him?"
Just as Xiao Feng was fretting, Zhao Yuwei's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Wait! I have an idea!" She took out a crystal-clear jade pendant from her bosom and said excitedly, "This is the 'Finding Jade' that I brought from the Upper Realm this time. As long as the caster focuses on the person they are looking for, they can sense the other person's location."
"So powerful?" Xiao Feng took the jade pendant in surprise and examined it carefully.
"This jade pendant is truly extraordinary. It is said to be a magical artifact crafted by a powerful being in ancient times, capable of traversing space to find people. However, it requires a large amount of spiritual energy to use, and ordinary people simply cannot control it."
Zhao Yuwei proudly raised her chin: "However, my Zhao family has a thousand-year-old heritage, how can we be ordinary people?"
Xiao Feng affectionately pinched her nose: "Alright, stop being so vain. With this, we're much more likely to find Jing Shen."
Zhao Yuwei took a deep breath, held the crystal-clear jade pendant in both hands, closed her eyes, and held her breath.
Her brows furrowed slightly as she intently imagined what Jing Shen would look like.
The jade pendant began to emit a faint light, and as the light grew stronger, an invisible force seemed to be drawing her mind.
Suddenly, Zhao Yuwei opened her eyes, a hint of surprise flashing in them. "Found it! In the northeast!"
Xiao Feng's eyes lit up: "This direction... is exactly where Jing Shen saved me last time!"
The two looked at each other and nodded in unison.
Xiao Feng grabbed Zhao Yuwei's waist, and with a light step, the two of them shot into the sky like a streak of light.
The feeling of flying on a sword is exhilarating, and the biting wind blows through their hair.
As they got closer, their heartbeats quickened.
Finally, they landed in a desolate valley.
The sight before them took them by surprise.
Jing Shen was covered in blood and looked utterly disheveled, leaning against a boulder.
His left arm hung down at his side, clearly broken.
His face was covered in wounds, and a trace of blood clung to the corner of his mouth.
A dozen or so people were staring at him menacingly, led by a woman dressed in green.
The woman in green held a long sword, her eyes flashing with the flames of hatred.
She pointed coldly at Jing Shen and roared, "You madman, today I will make you die a violent death!"
Before she finished speaking, her longsword had already pierced Jing Shen's heart like a venomous snake.
At the critical moment, a figure appeared like a ghost and stood in front of Jing Shen.
Xiao Feng caught the sword tip with one hand, and with a gentle twist, the sharp tip shattered like rotten wood.
He slightly raised his hand, and the fragments scattered in the air like a rain of metal.
The woman in green stared wide-eyed in disbelief as her divine sword was destroyed.
A storm raged in her heart: "This...how is this possible? My sword is an ancient divine weapon, yet he crushed it with his bare hands? Just who is this person?"
Xiao Feng coldly surveyed his surroundings, and wherever his gaze fell, everyone involuntarily took a half-step back.
He turned around and helped Jing Shen up, asking softly, "Are you alright?"
Jing Shen forced a smile: "Thank you for saving my life, Senior Brother."
Zhao Yuwei hurriedly stepped forward, took out a pill, and fed it to Jing Shen.
"Quickly take this bone-healing pill; it can temporarily relieve the pain."
Upon seeing this, the woman in green was enraged.
"Who are you? Why are you interfering in our feud?"
Xiao Feng sneered: "Grievances? A dozen people ganging up on a seriously injured person, and you still have the nerve to talk about grudges?"
The woman in green gritted her teeth: "Do you know what heinous crimes this madman has committed? He..."
"Shut up!" Xiao Feng interrupted sharply, "No matter what mistake he made, it's none of your business to treat him like this. I'm taking him away today. If you're not happy, then come at me!"
The woman in green wanted to say something, but she was intimidated by the powerful aura emanating from Xiao Feng.
She gritted her teeth and finally backed down.
"Jing Shen, what exactly is going on? Why are you being chased by these people?" Xiao Feng quickly asked.
Jing Shen gave a wry smile and rubbed his slightly aching shoulder.
"Well, it's a long story, brother. I've really had the worst luck ever this time." He paused, then continued, "Actually, the cause of the matter is very simple. I accidentally caught the green-clad woman's embroidered ball to choose a husband."
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