Chapter 41
Sheng Ningyu slowly opened her eyes.
The moment she opened her eyes, besides the vast expanse of white snow before her, she immediately sensed the aura of a high-ranking demon.
"Hey hey hey hey! It's a misunderstanding! Immortal Lord! It's a misunderstanding!!!"
"Immortal Lord!!! Don't treat a demon's life like dirt, Immortal Lord! Waaah!"
The three high-level demonic cultivators dared not fight back at all, and fled in panic, begging for mercy as they ran.
Sheng Ningyu: "..."
Judging from his tone, he certainly didn't sound like those demonic cultivators who used to laugh "hehe" all the time.
She stood with her sword at her side, her face cold, and asked, "What are you doing here?"
When Sheng Ningyu looked back, she saw that the remaining demonic energy had indeed been completely wiped out.
She sheathed the Phoenix Cry Sword and nodded, saying, "Thank you."
Seeing Sheng Ningyu sheathe her sword, the two high-level demonic cultivators breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the cold sweat from their foreheads.
For some reason, the person in front of them, who was clearly a cultivator of low cultivation level, exuded an aura of intimidation that was just as powerful as that of the Venerable One!
Wow, to be so highly regarded by His Majesty, one must indeed be extraordinary!
The three demonic cultivators, who were once the undisputed rulers of the demon race, were now as docile as lambs.
They waved their hands repeatedly, saying, "We don't deserve such thanks from the Immortal Lord. It was His Excellency's divine foresight that detected the unusual activity here..."
really.
Her spiritual power was exhausted, and she fell into a coma due to the impact of the memories brought by the spiritual bone. If no one guards her, she could be in great trouble if someone with ulterior motives takes advantage of this.
However, there is one more thing.
Sheng Ningyu raised an eyebrow: "Your Excellency? Are you talking about Xie Qianjing?"
The three demonic cultivators gasped in unison, stammering, "N-no, we wouldn't dare offend Your Excellency's name!"
"Oh, that's it." Sheng Ningyu touched the hilt of the sword. "Then why didn't he do it himself?"
Upon hearing this, the three demonic cultivators immediately knelt on the ground.
"His Majesty is also within the Demon Seed Illusion, and thus used a divided spirit to send us here to guard it!!! Please, please do not blame His Majesty!!!"
Sheng Ningyu: "..."
He was crying his eyes out.
All they mentioned was Xie Qianjing's name.
It's like she's going to do something.
Sheng Ningyu waved her hand helplessly: "Alright, you can all get up now."
She paused, then asked, "Did you treat my injuries as well?"
A tall, thin female demon stepped forward and said cautiously, "We are all demons, and we are imbued with demonic energy. Although we can disguise ourselves normally, it is different when we use it on our bodies. Your injuries were healed by the spiritual energy that His Majesty ordered us to squeeze out from the spiritual herbs."
Sheng Ningyu looked down at the ground and, sure enough, there was a pile of unprocessed herbs.
They even thought of these things.
Sheng Ningyu smiled and said, "Thank you. Since things aren't going well on his end either, you should head back quickly."
The three demonic cultivators were taken aback: "Aren't you going to perish with us?"
Sheng Ningyu shook her head and looked at the vast expanse of white snow in the distance.
"The person I'm waiting for is almost here, you should hurry up and leave."
...
On this day, two demonic beings appeared across the fourteen continents, along with the puppet barrier they brought.
Yuan Bushu and others dealt with the puppet obstacle, while the remaining two demon seeds, one in the East Sea and the other in the former Bodhi Immortal City.
Feng Xiaosheng was leading people to deal with the puppet barrier that had broken out outside Zhuyue City when he heard the news that Feng Jiutian was trapped in the illusion of the demonic seed.
Even with Feng Pianpian's tearful eyes, she remained unmoved: "Order the Third Elder to handle it."
The other elders nodded secretly.
"Young Master, you are truly becoming more and more like the Phoenix Lord."
"Yes, no wonder the Phoenix Lord can concentrate on cultivation and breakthroughs and has not appeared for a long time. The young lord is majestic and handsome, and is very suitable to lead the Phoenix Clan."
"Yes, although the young lord was somewhat... in the past, now he truly possesses virtuous character and an innate noble bearing!"
"You, still talking about the past?"
"It seems that my Phoenix Clan has hope!"
Hearing these praises, Feng Xiaosheng's expression remained unchanged, though a slight weariness was evident in his eyes.
Everyone praises her present, but everyone frowns when her past is mentioned.
Little did they know that the Feng Xiaosheng of the past was the real Feng Xiaosheng, while the "Young Master Feng" they praised now was nothing more than a clumsy imitation of that person from the past.
It's not even close to one in ten thousand.
Feng Xiaosheng returned to Zhuyue City and sat in a high position.
She closed her eyes and gave clear and organized instructions: "The priority is to remove the obstacles and protect the people of Zhuyue City. Once the obstacle of the puppet in the west is resolved, I would also like to ask the Fifth Elder to go to the vicinity of that demonic seed... As for me, I will stay in Zhuyue City."
The Fifth Elder knelt down, his face full of satisfaction: "I will obey the Phoenix Lord's command."
It wasn't that Feng Xiaosheng didn't want to go, but that she couldn't go.
She is the high and mighty young lord of the Phoenix Clan, the pillar of everyone's hearts. She must ensure her safety and prevent any loss to herself.
...Sheng Jiuzhong, were you this tired back then?
Feng Xiaosheng's weariness suddenly changed after hearing one thing.
"You mean, you saw the Moonlit Sword Master in the Demon Seed Illusion, and she became a demon?"
The atmosphere inside the hall was extremely oppressive.
Everyone lowered their heads in fear, not daring to make a sound.
Feng Xiaosheng's gaze swept over them inch by inch, and everyone who was looked at by her trembled.
Finally, his gaze fell upon the disheveled Feng Jiutian.
Feng Xiaosheng said calmly, "You tell me."
Feng Jiutian dared not say anything more.
He saw Feng Shaojun's eyes.
Bright and fiery, like a long-extinguished flame being reignited.
She stepped outside.
As the scepter struck the ground, an aged yet majestic voice rang out.
"With the Phoenix Lord still alive, one must not act recklessly."
Unless it is a matter of life or death for the Phoenix Lord, the Phoenix Clan members must not speak or act recklessly. The palace is restricted from moving quickly with spiritual energy.
Feng Xiaosheng said calmly, "I know."
Watching the white feather cloak disappear around the corner, the Grand Elder sighed, "The Sword Master has fallen into demonic possession. To die at the hands of the Phoenix Lord is not a disgrace."
Feng Jiutian got up from the ground, turned his head in confusion, and whispered, "Is Young Master going to kill Sword Master?"
Feng Pianpian sighed and affectionately patted his head: "Are you scared out of your wits? You've even forgotten this? Our young lord and the Bright Moon Sword Master have a blood feud."
Is that so?
For some unknown reason, Feng Jiutian inexplicably shielded the villagers at the end, and was also seriously injured.
He touched the blood clot on his head, thinking vaguely, but just now when he looked at it, it didn't seem like it.
...
Feng Xiaosheng walked through the long corridor, past palaces, and down the long steps.
Feng Qingxing stood behind her without saying a word.
A cool breeze brushed my face, and ripples spread across the pond beside me, its clear waters reflecting the autumn chill.
Do you know what I'm thinking right now?
Feng Xiaosheng's calm voice came through.
Feng Qingxing hesitated for a moment: "Is Young Master wondering if that news is true?"
"No."
Feng Qingxing shook his head, then, realizing he was behind her and she couldn't see him, said again, "I don't know."
The answer was extremely rigid, but Feng Xiaosheng chuckled softly.
She lifted her robes and walked faster and faster, the white feathers draped over her body seemingly crystal clear in an instant, turning into a sky full of white snow.
“I was thinking that there are forty-nine white jade steps leading down from the main hall of Qingyi Academy. When passing Qiutang Hanyu Pond, the two crane sculptures next to it are a bit old. The third tail feather of the crane on the left is half an inch shorter because it was affected by the talisman when I was playing with Mingyue back then.”
Feng Qingxing listened quietly.
He knew that Feng Xiaosheng was not referring to the current Qingyi Academy, but to the one from back then.
That is, the "Qingyi Academy" with the Bright Moon Sword Master Sheng Ningyu.
"Unfortunately, with her disappearance back then, the academy was also affected by the demonic energy and collapsed into the ground, never to be rebuilt."
The accelerated pace slowed down.
Feng Xiaosheng was somewhat lost in thought.
Back when she was at Qingyi Academy, Sheng Ningyu was unruly and the least disciplined of them all.
She had been summoned to the main hall and reprimanded by her teachers countless times, but Feng Xiaosheng couldn't be bothered to remember.
There was one time, though she remembered it clearly.
Feng Xiaosheng is the only white phoenix in the Phoenix Clan. Although her parents dote on her and her uncle never shows any favoritism because of her white feathers, outsiders do not see it that way.
...Even within the clan, there were rumors and gossip.
Feng Xiaosheng still remembers that time when he was ridiculed by a member of his noble clan.
Not wanting to be ridiculed by others, nor wanting to violate the Phoenix Clan's rule against harming its own members, she could only turn and walk away with a cold face. But she hadn't gone far when she heard exclamations and the man's furious voice behind her.
"Sheng Ningyu, what's wrong with you?!"
Feng Xiaosheng, who had been leaving, immediately turned back and grabbed Sheng Ningyu's hand without thinking.
Her tone was urgent and rapid: "Qingyi Academy forbids its disciples from fighting in private!"
"It forbids so many things, and I've done them all, haven't I?"
Feng Xiaosheng looked at her steadily and said, "Then I'll go with you."
"Hey? No way!" Sheng Ningyu grabbed her and whispered in her ear, "You should go find a reliable elder of your Phoenix Clan and file a complaint first, that's the most important thing!"
"That way, I've already hit them, and they still have to be punished. Isn't that wonderful?"
The girl, wearing a lotus crown with pearl tassels swaying on her head, raised her eyebrows triumphantly at her, then turned to look at the man and his friends in front of her, and sneered: "Come on if you dare! I, Sheng Ningyu, have practiced swordsmanship for many years just to avoid this kind of nonsense!"
Feng Xiaosheng eventually summoned the Phoenix Clan elders, but it wasn't just the Phoenix Clan elders who came; Ning Guihai, the former leader of the Sword Pavilion, and others also arrived.
Someone laughed and said, "Guihai, these forty-nine rules of Qingyi Academy are prohibitions for others, but for your disciple, they seem like a code of conduct."
Later, Feng Xiaosheng learned that this person was the head of the Chu family, Yuan Dao Zhenren Chu Yuandao.
So on that snowy day, Sheng Ningyu was punished by kneeling in the main hall to reflect on her mistakes, and was not allowed to use her spiritual power to protect herself.
Feng Xiaosheng stood outside the hall.
That day, for as long as Sheng Ningyu knelt, Feng Xiaosheng waited outside.
Separated by a carved wooden door, neither Sheng Ningyu nor Feng Xiaosheng used their spiritual power.
Ignoring the strange looks from passersby, she idly watched the snow. But even as the snow whitened her eyebrows and eyelashes, Feng Xiaosheng still couldn't understand what was so interesting about the snow that so many literati in the mortal world loved to write about.
Even Sheng Ningyu liked it.
But in her opinion, no matter how swirling and pure the snow was, it couldn't compare to the bright moon.
Feng Xiaosheng was bored. She had grown tired of watching the snow, so she started counting the white jade steps at the entrance of the main hall, over and over again, until finally the gate behind her opened.
Sheng Ningyu stretched and came out from inside. When she saw her, she was indeed stunned for a moment. She quickly ran towards her and took her hand.
"Feng Xiaohong, what are you doing here?"
The frozen hands finally regained their warmth, and Feng Xiao replied in a stiff voice, "Just bored, counting the steps."
Feng Xiaosheng guessed that he must be in a terrible state after being exposed to the cold wind for so long, but the person did not expose him.
She simply clung lazily to her, her chin brushing against her shoulder, subtly melting away the snow with her spiritual power, then turned her head with a smile and asked, "So how many steps are there?"
"Forty-nine steps."
A warm body temperature came through, and Feng Xiaosheng paused for a moment: "How are you inside?"
"It's pitch black," Sheng Ningyu yawned and complained. "They deliberately didn't light any lamps, and they won't let me use my spiritual power! Damn it, it's all because I read those ghost stories before..."
Feng Xiaosheng narrowed his eyes, disbelievingly saying, "You dare to kill even ghosts, what are you afraid of?"
Silence lasted for a long time.
Sheng Ningyu trampled the smooth snow in front of her into a mess before she was satisfied and nodded in approval.
At this moment, she suddenly realized the silence beside her, turned around, and looked at the little princess of the divine race behind her: "Feng Xiaohong, what's wrong?"
At that moment, dawn finally broke, and the gentle light of the rising sun shone down, much like the faint moonlight in the night, yet far less bright and clear, illuminating the world.
Feng Xiaosheng strode forward and whispered, "From now on, I'll stay with you."
"Ha, that's great! I love being around people, and I hate being alone!"
The person in front laughed out loud, turned around and continued to tread on the snow, jumping and skipping on the snow, making a "crunch crunch" sound.
"However, you can keep me company when things are going well, but why should I stay with you when you're being punished? The fewer people you have, the better!"
The young man was very concerned about his reputation, and when his feelings of remorse were exposed, his conscience vanished in an instant.
Feng Xiaosheng sneered and said defiantly, "Of course I'll accompany you on good occasions, but I'll avoid bad ones like the plague!"
...
“From that time on, not only these white jade steps, but even though it’s only a five-hundred-step journey from the main gate of Qingyi Academy to the Sword Pavilion, I have accompanied her for almost a hundred years.”
Feng Xiaosheng will only leave after sending her back to the Sword Pavilion and seeing her safely enter it.
"And now, those people have actually left her alone on the mountain, in the snow."
Feng Xiaosheng turned his face away, and after a long while, he chuckled softly. This chuckle was unlike that of the calm and dignified Lord of Zhuyue City, who had even gained a reputation for "kindness" over the years.
If the Grand Elder were still here, he would surely discover that in those eyes, which seemed to be burning with intense fire, lived the proud and spirited little phoenix princess from sixty years ago.
"How dare they do that?"
Feng Qingxing listened quietly until Feng Xiaosheng suddenly stopped, turned around, and spoke in a cold voice.
"After I leave, if there are any important matters, handle them according to my previous instructions, and do not let them cause any more trouble."
Feng Qingxing was her man, and Feng Xiaosheng was not worried that he had any ulterior motives.
As expected, Feng Qingxing did not stop him at all, and nodded, saying, "Don't worry, young master."
Almost simultaneously, a clear and melodious phoenix cry rang out, and a snow-white figure gracefully took flight.
Within the Phoenix Clan, everyone could hear that their young lord had set out.
...
Amidst the pristine white snow, a lone figure stands atop it.
In an instant, the sky and sun were obscured by enormous wings. As the light disappeared, Sheng Ningyu tensed up, but then relaxed.
That's all.
There's no escaping it now.
Thinking about it, Sheng Ningyu raised an eyebrow at Feng Xiaosheng and said loudly, "This phoenix feather cloak is really nice, quickly put it on me."
This sound made it impossible to tell what day it was.
Feng Xiaosheng paused for a moment, then said in a low voice, "How can you ask for someone's clothes as soon as you meet them?"
good.
It seems that Feng Xiaosheng has truly cultivated his character and temperament over the years, and his temper has improved considerably.
If it were the Feng Xiaosheng of yesteryear, she would probably have sneered and directly called her "shameless."
As Sheng Ningyu thought about it, her expression relaxed even more. She was bathed in the swirling white snow, which covered her shoulders and collar.
She still had that same lazy look on her face: "Give it to me quickly."
Feng Xiaosheng subconsciously reached for the closure of the phoenix feather cloak, but at the last moment, he let go.
Why should we do everything she says?
Feng Xiaosheng sneered and stopped a few meters away from Sheng Ningyu, determined not to follow her lead this time and not to be manipulated by her again.
This is a location that's neither too far nor too close.
They weren't exactly estranged, but they were nowhere near as close as they used to be.
What do you need my clothes for?
Sheng Ningyu smiled and said, "Feng Xiaosheng, I'm cold."
The young Phoenix Lord, who had previously maintained his pride and composure and intended to win this meeting, suddenly froze on the spot.
Yes.
She was murdered, losing her cultivation and spiritual essence, and lay in a coffin for sixty years.
...Sixty years.
This guy, who used to complain about being afraid of the dark and needing someone to accompany him when he got out of school late, has been lying alone in a coffin for sixty years.
The body reacted much faster than the brain. Before Feng Xiaosheng could react, not only the cloak, but also its owner had already embraced her.
Behind the phoenix, white as floating clouds, spread wings that could almost blot out the sky, and the scorching heat melted away all the ice and snow.
The proud gods lowered their noble heads and, with tenderness and affection, embraced the mortal before them completely.
"It doesn't matter."
Feeling the warmth nestled in her neck, Sheng Ningyu's heart beat again after a long time.
But at the same time, Sheng Ningyu knew that there was a blood feud between her and Feng Xiaosheng.
"It doesn't matter."
Feng Xiaosheng suddenly laughed. She turned her head and her voice brushed against Sheng Ningyu's neck, carrying a heat so intense it could burn everything, yet trembling with humility.
"Sheng Ningyu, even if you give me a sword right now, it doesn't matter."
Feng Xiaosheng once thought she cared.
She cared about Sheng Ningyu's attitude towards her, about the secrets he kept from her, and about how he always refused to tell her the reasons behind things, habitually bearing everything alone.
She thought she had ten thousand years to argue with the arrogant and ignorant Sheng Mingyue and find out who was right.
But Sheng Ningyu died.
She died in that chaotic place, died in the gossip of the crowd, died in the silence that followed every time the words "Sword Master" were mentioned.
The Realm of Boundless Heaven has flowed with the blood of countless cultivators and demons, and it has also left behind countless footprints of Feng Xiaosheng.
She measured every inch of land that Sheng Ningyu had ever walked, step by step, trying to find any trace she might have left behind.
...Sixty years have passed.
Sixty years have passed, and the proud and innocent little princess of the divine race has never felt that time has been so long.
The past is entangled, like mountains and rivers, and right and wrong are like a caged beast.
"Sheng Ningyu." Feng Xiaosheng hugged her tightly, speaking slowly and deliberately, "I don't care anymore."
Love is endless.
It permeated all right and wrong, pierced all anger, and wore down all disputes. In the long days and nights, all the clamor turned into silence, only it raged wildly within her, reminding Feng Xiaosheng again and again.
She is the unparalleled master of swordsmanship in this world, she is the bright moon revered by all, she is the voice that only Feng Xiaosheng knows, that suddenly arises in his heart when all is silent and all is noisy.
[Feng Xiaohong, don't just sit here all the time, let's go out for a walk together, shall we?]
Back then, I was young and knew nothing of love or hate; I only felt the dawn breaking and the sun rising at daybreak.
But she disappeared.
Thus time is bitter, all things are empty, and the mortal world is desolate.
It wasn't until then that Feng Xiaosheng realized that there really was someone in this world who could rival countless beauties, who could settle all right and wrong, and who made her willing to give up the rules and regulations she had followed since childhood and the principles of conduct ingrained in the Phoenix Clan, and to engrave her name on the crystal-like heart of the God Clan.
For only one person.
Every word and phrase will be etched in my memory for a lifetime.
-----------------------
The author says: There are many kinds of love in the world.
There are only differences, not superiority or inferiority.
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