Chapter 42
There was some dampness in the nape of her neck. Sheng Ningyu lowered her eyes and stiffly raised her hand to pat Feng Xiaosheng's back.
"If you continue like this, and people find out that you're with me, I'm afraid that tomorrow there will be rumors of 'Young Master Feng being entangled with a demonic cultivator'."
They spoke in the same joking tone, relaxed and carefree, as if they had never been apart all these years.
But Feng Xiaosheng knew that wasn't the case.
Perhaps the bright moon shines as it has for millennia, but she is no longer the same Feng Xiaosheng who would be listless and dejected because of her white feathers.
So Feng Xiaosheng laughed and said, "I'm not afraid." She easily released Sheng Ningyu, raised her chin, and revealed a hint of pride. In the snow and ice, her white feathers were pure and flawless, as if she were still the proud and innocent little princess of the Phoenix Clan from back then.
"Let's see who dares."
From then on, Sheng Mingyue no longer needed to worry about these rumors.
Unbeknownst to Sheng Ningyu, who was being held by Feng Xiaosheng, beneath the pride in those narrow eyes lay a chilling and tyrannical aura.
Anyone who speaks out will have their tongue pulled out, anyone who interferes will have their bones broken.
Feng Xiaosheng said, "It's not convenient here. You should come back with me first."
Sheng Ningyu: "Go back where?"
Feng Xiaosheng: "Chasing the Moon City."
Sheng Ningyu raised her eyebrows slightly, and before she could question the meaning of the name, she was enveloped by the crimson spiritual power.
The phoenix wings, which blotted out the sky, were carefully unfurled. The white feathers resembled a net that covered the sky and the sun. Feng Xiaosheng actually transformed into his original form and placed her on his back.
She's still as domineering and unreasonable as ever.
Sheng Ningyu was comfortably wrapped in the flying feathers and didn't bother to care about Feng Xiaosheng's actions.
Anyway, she didn't take back the Phoenix Cry Sword.
As long as she had a sword in her hand, Sheng Ningyu always felt much more at ease.
She had already pushed herself to her limit by managing all of this.
Sheng Ningyu was extremely tired.
After that battle, Sheng Ningyu's spiritual power was completely depleted, and coupled with the injuries she suffered, she naturally needed time to recuperate.
Feng Xiaosheng settled her in his own palace. Feng Qingxing waited outside the triple gate. When Feng Xiaosheng came out, he whispered, "Young Master, the Grand Elder and the other six elders are still in the hall."
When Feng Xiaosheng left earlier, he left behind a restraint, forbidding any of them from stepping outside the palace.
Of course, aside from that, the elders of the Phoenix Clan need an explanation for both Feng Xiaosheng's act of returning to her original form within the clan and her unabashed act of bringing people back to the Weeping Dew Palace.
Feng Xiaosheng chuckled: "I was just about to go find them too."
She returned and dealt with some minor incidents, at which point Sheng Ningyu regained her senses.
The spiritual energy was re-infused into her body, and even though it was less than a quarter of what it used to be, Sheng Ningyu felt it was extremely precious.
She brushed aside the jumbled memories in her mind, her eyelashes fluttered, and she subconsciously rotated her right wrist without making a sound. She reached out and touched the edge of the bed.
What are you looking for?
Sheng Ningyu opened her eyes with a "whoosh" and met Feng Xiaosheng's slightly raised chin and somewhat uneasy expression.
The confession she made during their first meeting yesterday far exceeded the little phoenix's expectations. So much so that although she took great care of Sheng Ningyu after she fainted, Feng Xiaosheng was still somewhat at a loss when she woke up.
It's not that I don't know how to handle it, but rather that I don't know how to make this fragile "glass moon," which seems to shatter at the slightest touch, lie peacefully in my palm.
Seeing that she had been discovered, Sheng Ningyu simply stopped trying to hide her movements. She suddenly rolled off the bed, her long black hair spreading out behind her head and covering the jade bed.
"My sword."
Feng Xiaosheng looked at the hand outstretched in front of him, paused for a moment, and then raised his voice incredulously: "How did it become your sword?"
"It obeys my commands, so how can it not be my sword?"
"You think your sword is just obeying your orders? Sheng Jiuzhong, can't you be reasonable?!"
Sheng Ningyu's face darkened immediately: "...Don't call me 'Sheng Jiuzhong'!"
Seeing her like this, Feng Xiaosheng seemed to have seized some kind of leverage, raising his eyebrows high and curving his lips, painted with crimson: "Why can't I call you that? I'll call you 'Sheng Jiuzhong,' I'll call you that!"
The Phoenix Clan servants outside the hall all lowered their heads, wishing they could cover their ears, and even Feng Qingxing glanced sideways.
It's rare to see the young master so childish.
Sheng Ningyu narrowed her eyes.
She's on someone else's turf, so she can't win a fight or an argument.
"That's true."
Sheng Ningyu turned her face away, let out a long sigh, her flamboyant features dimmed, and her profile suddenly became more desolate.
"I am still recovering from my injuries and surrounded by enemies, so naturally I can't worry about anything else."
Taking advantage of Feng Xiaosheng's momentary daze, Sheng Ningyu staggered to her feet, her body unsteady and her steps unsteady, as if she were about to fall at any moment.
Feng Xiaosheng quickly went to help her, but Sheng Ningyu waved him away.
She replied indifferently, "No need."
Even though she knew the guy was probably faking it, Feng Xiaosheng's heart still trembled violently.
Such a cold expression, such indifferent and simple words, it's as if we've returned to the time when they first had a falling out.
All the noise suddenly fell silent, as if the relaxed and cheerful atmosphere had never existed.
Silence.
Sheng Ningyu was slightly surprised that she hadn't noticed the movement of the person next to her for a while.
That shouldn't be the case. Based on her understanding of Feng Xiaosheng, the tactic of "showing weakness" should be extremely effective.
She glanced to the side, and just as she was about to turn around, something was presented to her.
"Give."
The Phoenix Cry Sword was currently hovering in front of Sheng Ningyu.
Its entire body was a glowing black, covered with a red phoenix with outstretched wings, its tail feathers raised high and wrapped around the hilt of the sword, while the outstretched wings enveloped the entire scabbard. Its crimson phoenix eyes were like a burning flint, as if staring back at her.
Sheng Ningyu decisively gripped the sword and looked up at Feng Xiaosheng.
"I'll give you the sword, and I won't call you by that name anymore." Feng Xiaosheng lowered his eyes, his tone softening. "But from now on, you're never allowed to speak to me in that tone again, no matter when."
Sheng Ningyu was slightly taken aback, then replied, "Okay."
She asked again, "How long did I sleep?"
"It was only a day."
The Phoenix Clan's young lord, who usually paid the most attention to rules, said, "The Phoenix Cry Sword was originally yours. If you want anything else, just tell me."
She can give it all to her.
Feng Xiaosheng's tone was soft, carrying a composure that was different from what Sheng Ningyu remembered, as well as some complex emotions that were hard to discern.
"Your spiritual bones are not complete, and... Anyway, don't think too much about it for now. One day is not enough. Rest a little longer."
Sheng Ningyu was forced to sit on the jade bed.
This jade bed, though called a "bed," is actually a small spiritual field brimming with pure spiritual energy. It is covered with intricate arrays drawn by powerful figures of the Phoenix Clan throughout the ages, all of which are excellent for gathering spiritual power and calming the mind. At first glance, the abundant spiritual energy resembles rippling blue waves and verdant mountains.
Sheng Ningyu raised an eyebrow, lifted her glassy eyes, and looked at Feng Xiaosheng jokingly. She used her spiritual power to tug at Feng Xiaosheng's sleeve, her eyes then turning to the pastries on the table: "You haven't examined my spiritual veins, so how do you know my spiritual bones are incomplete?"
Feng Xiaosheng brought over the snacks: "Guicanglou."
Sheng Ningyu casually picked up a piece of pastry but didn't put it in her mouth. She glanced at Feng Xiaosheng and said, "The news from Gui Canglou is always a mix of truth and falsehood."
Feng Xiaosheng chuckled and leaned closer to her: "But the former palace master of Yunwang Palace never lies."
After a little thought, Sheng Ningyu knew what was going on.
She chewed on her snack, then looked up with amusement: "You lied to Senior Brother Fei-fou again?"
It's truly unfortunate to have run into this group of people.
Seeing that he hadn't frightened Sheng Ningyu, Feng Xiaosheng straightened up somewhat boredly: "I can't fool him."
Yuan Bushu possessed remarkable cultivation and was the Palace Master of Linghuanwu Yunwang Palace. Backed by the powerful Yuan Daojun, her status and identity were equally extraordinary, no less than that of Feng Shaojun.
Feng Xiaosheng: "Yunwang Palace made a perfect identity for you, but the commotion outside Qingyi Academy was quite big, and I heard about it. In addition, Chu Jiye also had many doubts about your identity... Therefore, after you made a scene in the classroom of the Tianji Pavilion elders, I stopped Yuan Bushu."
At that time, Yuan Bushu openly asked the Chu family to borrow the Yin-Yang Mirror. Feng Xiaosheng, as a witness, saw something seemingly peeling off the Yin-Yang Mirror quickly, but she was too lazy to remind Chu Jiye.
Feng Xiaosheng used this opportunity to inquire about that special little disciple.
Originally, it was only said that because of his appearance, this young disciple's "spiritual bones were maliciously stripped away by others" and "he was trapped alone in darkness for six years." At that time, Feng Xiaosheng always felt that something was strange, but after trying to find out, he got nothing.
But now that she knows that "Wang Jiu" is Sheng Ningyu, what else is she still confused about?
Feng Xiaosheng reached out, but just as she was about to touch Sheng Ningyu's wrist, she saw Sheng Ningyu's slightly furrowed brows and her subconsciously curled fingers.
Feng Xiaosheng paused for a moment, then casually withdrew his hand and picked up a piece of pastry.
Ugh, it's so sour and a bit spicy, it's awful.
Has Sheng Mingyue's taste changed after being imprisoned for so many years?
Feng Xiaosheng tossed the pastries back onto the plate and asked, "Do you remember who took the spirit bone?"
Sheng Ningyu: "That person was extremely cautious and did not show himself. I was seriously injured at the time, so I don't remember much."
She thought to herself, not only do I not remember this, but there are many other things I can't remember either.
Feng Xiaosheng was most afraid of hearing the word "seriously injured," and his breathing became erratic for a moment. After composing himself for a few breaths, he tried his best to remain calm and said, "Since there is a piece of spiritual bone in the Chu family, it must be related to the Chu family. If we follow this clue, we will eventually find it."
She was about to say something when Sheng Ningyu pulled her hand.
"Don't be so serious. It's a good thing that I don't have a spirit bone right now."
Sheng Ningyu smiled and hooked her arm around Feng Xiaosheng's hand. Before Feng Xiaosheng could speak, she spoke.
"This is a perfect opportunity for me to recount the events of that year in detail."
The restored section of spiritual bone had some limitations, but for Sheng Ningyu, who was already used to enduring pain, it wasn't a big problem.
Perhaps the Sword Master of Bright Moon will keep his promise, but Sheng Ningyu no longer needs to hide it.
After listening, Feng Xiaosheng was slightly taken aback, and Sheng Ningyu did not disturb him.
She was prepared to be prepared by Feng Xiaosheng, but to her surprise, after he came to his senses, he didn't say anything. Instead, he asked her in a tone that was neither smiling nor laughing.
"Aren't you afraid that others will say you've betrayed your promise by confessing to me like this now?"
"It is the Sword Master Mingyue who has betrayed his promise. What does it have to do with me, Sheng Ningyu?"
Sheng Ningyu casually asked a question, her face still showing a nonchalant smile, but her eyes were fixed on Feng Xiaosheng, and her tone was somewhat subtle.
"You don't have any other questions? Just this one?"
For example, why didn't she return to Jian Ge? For example, why wasn't she in a hurry to acknowledge her at the beginning? For example, what else was she hiding about what happened back then?
"It's too late, I won't ask anymore."
Feng Xiaosheng casually used his spiritual power to pick up the fruit that the maids had just served on the table and placed it in front of Sheng Ningyu: "Do you want some more?"
Sheng Ningyu sprawled unceremoniously on the jade bed, propped her head up with her arm, lazily picked up a piece, and then chuckled.
“Feng Xiaohong, if word gets out that I’m here, not to mention others, I’m afraid even Lord Feng will come after you.”
Perhaps the years she had spent lying in the coffin had given her a certain capacity for spiritual power, for before Sheng Ningyu could say anything more, a hoarse male voice came from outside the door.
"Young Master, the Phoenix Lord requests your presence."
It really is true that what you say comes true.
Sheng Ningyu paused, then looked up.
Feng Xiaosheng had already turned to the side and stood there.
She stood in front of her, and layers of sunlight streamed in from the windows and doors on all sides, vying to adorn her face and the snow-white phoenix feathers draped over her body, as if coating her with a halo.
Sheng Ningyu had never seen Feng Xiaosheng like this before.
Every curve of her smile was perfect, and she exuded an aura of unapproachability, much like the immortals in those "old portraits" that they used to mock in private.
"I'll be right back."
Feng Xiaosheng did not respond to Sheng Ningyu's previous questions. She simply left the Phoenix Cry Sword behind and smiled at Sheng Ningyu.
"Don't worry, nothing will happen."
Looking at it this way, he does resemble the "perfect young lord" that those people praise so much.
But for some reason, looking at Feng Xiaosheng like this, Sheng Ningyu couldn't help but chuckle.
It's like being forced to kneel before the patriarch of the Sword Pavilion, only to find, upon looking up, that a familiar face is sitting at the head of the table.
She suddenly felt much relieved, lowered her head and chuckled a few times before forcing a serious expression, raising her head and saying solemnly, "Okay."
Feng Xiaosheng: "..."
The foot that was about to step out the door was pulled back.
Feng Xiaosheng turned her head and anxiously instructed the people inside, "If there's anything you need, you can tell them or send me a message. If you're thinking of fighting someone, just hold back for now and wait for me to come back and keep you company."
Feng Xiaosheng is, after all, the young lord of the Phoenix Clan. There are many arrays set up in this palace, as well as many mechanisms and magical artifacts that have been set up. He has not yet had time to explain them one by one.
He was afraid that he might hurt Sheng Ningyu if he was not careful.
If this continues, not only will Feng Xiaosheng's reputation be ruined, but her own will also be tarnished.
Sheng Ningyu's guess was correct.
Those who remain here are not only the elite of the Phoenix Clan, but also Feng Xiaosheng's confidants.
Even if they only overheard a fraction of the conversation, it was enough to stir up a storm in their hearts. Therefore, they were not only not going to be negligent, but they were also being extremely careful and treating Sheng Ningyu like a precious revered deity.
Putting everything else aside, who has ever seen the young lord speak so softly and gently to someone, or even patiently coax them?!
Even those of the Phoenix Clan's direct lineage don't receive this treatment!
Seeing Sheng Ningyu rise, the maids filed in and respectfully presented her with the robe.
"Immortal Lord, would you like to change your clothes?"
Sheng Ningyu looked at the row of different silver-white clothes and was somewhat surprised: "Has your young master liked this color in recent years?"
She remembered that the Phoenix Clan had a simple and elegant aesthetic, but their nature was passionate. For example, Feng Xiaosheng loved the color crimson the most.
The maids flinched and answered even more cautiously: "These were prepared by the young lord. They were specially taken out just now for the immortal lord to choose from."
Sheng Ningyu: "..."
Don't do that, it's too weird.
She couldn't stand this attitude, which was as if she were treating a fragile glass bead. She casually chose a robe and dismissed all the maids.
She put on her clothes, casually tied her hair up with a ribbon, looked at herself in the mirror, and felt a little regretful.
The lotus hairpin Xie Qianjing gave her was very beautiful, and Sheng Ningyu liked it very much.
Unfortunately, it was also destroyed in the illusion of inner demons.
Sheng Ningyu sighed, folded a few letter kites, and sent them to Sister Ayan and Yuan Bushu to let them know she was safe.
After thinking it over, she finally folded another one for Old Man Yuan.
Sheng Ningyu had previously thought that as long as the spirit bone was found, the truth would come out.
However, now that the demon seed is involved, along with her chaotic memories... that's a different matter altogether.
Although Yuan Daojun, this old man, probably had some reservations about her, in terms of stance alone, Sheng Ningyu believed that no one wanted the Demon Seed to be destroyed more than him.
If it were the original Sheng Mingyue, after clearing up the misunderstanding with Feng Xiaosheng, she would definitely tear away all the hypocrisy and gloom, and then discuss countermeasures together.
But the current Sheng Ningyu wouldn't do that.
Or perhaps, she simply didn't dare to.
Sixty years have eroded far too much.
Sheng Ningyu cannot bear another betrayal.
Not to mention that Feng Xiaosheng's every word and action after their encounter revealed the changes he had undergone over the years, the attitude of the Phoenix Clan alone was enough to make Sheng Ningyu wary.
Not to mention, if she had a conflict of interest with the Phoenix Clan, how would Feng Xiaosheng, as the young lord of the Phoenix Clan, choose between them?
All was quiet except for the soft rustling of leaves in the wind.
The incense burner was filled with the Phoenix Clan's unique "Rain Flower Terrace," its ancient and simple atmosphere like the clear sky after rain, instantly clearing my mind.
Sheng Ningyu closed her eyes.
She stopped thinking about these trivial matters and, taking advantage of the fact that no one was around and she had plenty of spiritual energy, began to carefully sort out her newly recovered memories.
When she first discovered that her memories were disordered, Sheng Ningyu suspected many people, but she almost forgot that there was one person who had the ability to modify her memories back then and who had earned her enough trust to get close to her.
Her master was Ning Guihai.
...
She doesn't believe her.
Feng Xiaosheng slowly thought about it.
Her long dress trailed on the ground, and under the illumination of the luminous pearl, she looked as light as a cloud floating in the sky.
However, just as this floating cloud landed outside the main hall of the Phoenix Lord, a tremendous spiritual power surged outwards from within, completely enveloping Feng Xiaosheng.
The clouds in the sky surged and changed suddenly, as if a storm was brewing.
When peace prevails, the world rejoices; when anger is unleashed, the world knows.
The fact that Feng Jun has not appeared for a long time does not mean that he has lost control of the Phoenix Clan.
The servants following behind Feng Xiaosheng were already kneeling on the ground, trembling all over. Only Feng Xiaosheng gritted his teeth and walked into the main hall of the Fengjun Palace alone.
Feng Jun sat upright at the head of the table, his face somewhat aged, yet one could still vaguely glimpse the former unparalleled brilliance he once possessed.
"You have given a divine decree to all the elders in the clan who know about this matter, forbidding them from speaking of the Demon Seed Illusion?"
"This is a matter of great importance. If we allow such nonsense to spread, it may harm the Phoenix Clan."
"Because someone questioned you, you cut off his tongue and threw him into the dungeon?"
“Reporting to Your Majesty, this person disobeyed orders and conspired with the Third Elder to sacrifice a human village. In addition, he has colluded with outsiders to cause trouble. According to clan rules, I have silenced him and handed him over to the Fifth Elder for further interrogation.”
"You transformed into your original form within the clan yesterday just to find her?"
"yes."
After a long while, the person at the head of the table suddenly laughed.
A weary laugh echoed in the room, not loud, but with a sense of desolation and loneliness.
"It seems my son is determined to protect Sheng Mingyue."
The hall was silent, save for the flickering of the candlelight.
Feng Xiaosheng closed his eyes and knelt down silently.
"……yes."
Once again, all was silent.
Feng Jun opened his crimson eyes.
After his son passed away and his wife fell seriously ill, his health deteriorated, and cracks appeared in the glass heart of the god.
But at this moment, a rare hint of interest appeared in those aged eyes.
His tone was filled with the loving tenderness one would show to a child: "My son, do you know that girl doesn't believe you?"
Feng Xiaosheng's expression remained calm: "This is not Mingyue's fault."
Feng Jun rose from his throne, which was bathed in golden light, and looked down at the person below him with his eyes lowered.
At the same time, an extremely intense spiritual energy emanated from the throne and swirled around Feng Xiaosheng.
"Then, my son, whose fault do you think it is?"
Whose fault is it?
They are those petty people who lurk in the shadows and bark wildly, those greedy people who are never satisfied, and those ridiculous people who always have ulterior motives and try to climb to the top in one step.
They made her cautious, forced her to be suspicious and thoughtful, and made her no longer dare to be as unrestrained and flamboyant as before.
Feng Xiaosheng knelt on the ground, but raised his head.
She said, "It's your fault."
It was because Feng Jun had failed to properly educate his elder brother, and it was also because Feng Jun, for the sake of the clan's reputation and fearing Lady Lanxi's tears, demanded that Sheng Ningyu not reveal the truth of the matter, thus preserving the Feng clan's honor.
She said, "It's my fault too."
She was naive and childish back then, and just because of what others said, she deliberately distanced herself from Sheng Ningyu. Moreover, for the sake of so-called "face", she deliberately made a defamatory and estranged gesture.
Feng Xiaosheng's voice was extremely cold and indifferent, yet his few words caused the phoenix flames surrounding Feng Jun to intensify even more.
Even so, Feng Jun's tone remained unhurried.
“Wen’er treated you very well back then, and your Aunt Lanxi treated you like her own daughter.”
Feng Xiaosheng thought for a moment, but did not refute Feng Shiwen's attack on her by deliberately using "Bai Yu" back then, nor did she mention Lady Lanxi's coldness all along. She stood up from the ground and said, "You have many wives."
The Phoenix King remained silent.
"The Phoenix Clan also has enough juniors."
Feng Jun frowned slightly, somewhat puzzled: "Why are you saying all this?"
Feng Xiaosheng laughed.
"But Uncle, there is only one bright moon in the world."
How dull the world would be without Sheng Ningyu.
Feng Jun gave Sheng Ningyu a deep look and said in a deep voice, "It seems you are determined to protect her."
As he spoke, streaks of crimson spiritual energy shot out like sharp swords!
Feng Xiaosheng stood calmly in place, letting the scorching spiritual energy engulf his body without backing down.
Even now, she wonders if Sheng Ningyu felt this much pain when her spiritual bone seal was removed.
Feng Jun: "For her sake, you're going to expose Wen'er's affair to the public? Feng Xiaosheng, as the young lord of the Phoenix Clan, do you know that this action will bring shame upon the Phoenix Clan?"
Feng Xiaosheng was under the weight of the spiritual power, and blood seeped from between his fingers.
She swallowed the bloody taste in her throat and stubbornly said, "Knowing but not changing will only bring shame to the Phoenix Clan."
It's still the same as it was back then.
Stubborn, naive, and inflexible.
How can he feel at ease?
Feng Jun closed his eyes slightly, his aged voice echoing heavily in the hall, carrying endless majesty.
"What if I refuse?"
Even with Feng Xiaosheng's exceptional talent, his cultivation level was still far inferior to that of a true Phoenix Clan God.
Back then, Feng Jun once dueled with Gui Hai Sword Master, losing by three moves, and from then on recognized him as his elder brother. But now Gui Hai Sword Master has passed away, and no one knows what level of cultivation Feng Jun, who seems to have retreated from the world and whose divine heart is broken, actually possessed.
However, Feng Xiaosheng laughed again.
She had considered many methods, such as threatening Lady Lanxi, threatening the place where Feng Shiwen was buried, threatening the improper behavior of the Feng clan elders...
But now, a guest has arrived.
"What does the Phoenix Lord forbid?"
The moment that light, airy voice rang out, the entire hall fell silent.
The red spiritual energy emanating from the feather fan suddenly broke off, and Feng Jun looked up sharply!
In the stillness of the night, amidst the flickering light of the pearl fire, a young man slowly entered, his eyes wide with fear as all the Phoenix Clan guards stared in disbelief, unable to move.
With a graceful posture, serene expression, and pristine clothes, he seemed like a banished immortal who had gracefully descended from another world.
"It's been many years since we last met. Is Uncle Feng still well?"
Feng Jun could no longer laugh.
He stared intently at the person in front of him, his voice sounding as if it were being squeezed out from between his teeth.
"Who are you?"
"Uncle Feng doesn't remember me?" Xie Qianjing seemed somewhat surprised, then sighed, "This is truly heartbreaking."
He continued walking forward, stopping at the table in front of Feng Jun, leaning slightly forward, standing only an arm's length away from him.
The young man with snow-white skin and bamboo-like bones smiled slightly, his eyes captivating and mesmerizing.
"The eleventh continent, the Bodhi Xie clan, Xie Qianjing."
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The author's note: The value of "I cannot lie" is still rising.
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