Hong gazed into Ji Qing’s eyes. Eyes are the windows to the soul, especially for someone like Hong, whose cultivation in the heart’s path is extremely high, and whose observation is exceptionally sharp. He could completely judge from the subtle reactions in Ji Qing’s eyes whether she had been affected by hypnotic or soul-manipulating secret techniques, or whether her words were spoken from her true heart.
“What’s going on?”
“What did Princess Qing mean by saying those things?”
“What else could it mean? Breaking up, of course.”
“How come they suddenly broke up? Previously, Princess Qing refused to yield at all, so she was imprisoned in the pavilion. How come she suddenly changed her mind?” On the corridor far away, watching the scene, the female members of the Chimera Clan whispered among themselves in low voices. They were also puzzled. Clearly, what should have been a great joy had turned into this current situation.
Hong silently looked at Ji Qing.
Ji Qing also looked at Hong.
From her eyes… Hong could determine that Ji Qing had not been hypnotized or had her soul manipulated.
“Why did you suddenly decide to leave me?” Hong asked Ji Qing.
“You told me before that some things should be done, and some shouldn’t. When making a decision, one must be resolute; what needs to be sacrificed should be sacrificed.” Ji Qing spoke softly. Though her voice was gentle, even Luo Feng, standing behind Hong, could clearly sense the firmness in her words.
“So you’re sacrificing our feelings for each other?” Hong pressed.
Ji Qing didn’t speak, only gritting her teeth and nodding.
“Sacrifice?”
Hong stared at Ji Qing, his voice low and heavy. “Why didn’t you say these things when your clan ancestor and your teacher tried to stop you? You stubbornly resisted them. But now, after I asked my brother for help, finally managed to meet your teacher, the Illusion King, and after risking my life to pass through the Eighteen Lustful Illusions, when I succeeded and came back joyfully to find you, you tell me this?”
“Why?”
“Why have you suddenly changed your mind?”
“Why didn’t you say this before?” Hong stared at Ji Qing.
Ji Qing remained silent.
Hong’s anger was already rising.
Standing beside him, Luo Feng also felt somewhat indignant. How could everything have turned out like this? Ji Qing had always persisted in resisting her clan ancestor and teacher, yet at the final moment, she suddenly changed her mind.
“Look, Hong is about to lose his temper.”
“Anyone would lose their temper. I heard he risked his life to pass through the Eighteen Lustful Illusions. If he had slipped up even slightly, he might have lost his life in reality. Now Princess Qing suddenly says such things—how could he not be furious?”
“If it were me, I’d be furious too. How could I let go of such a good man?”
The female members of the Chimera Clan whispered among themselves, watching the unfolding scene.
…
Hong looked at Ji Qing.
Ji Qing lowered her head: “I must make a choice. Love is important, but there are things more important than love. This is also what you told me.”
Hong took a deep breath.
“Are you really decided?” he asked softly.
“Yes.” Ji Qing nodded.
Hong gave a faint bitter smile: “I never thought that after so many years, when I fall in love with a woman again, it would end like this.”
Ji Qing bit her lip.
Although she was a strong woman, and in many matters within her family she could make her own decisions—even believing herself far superior to her father—in front of those senior immortal cultivators, she had never shown the slightest sign of submission. Yet in front of the only man she truly loved, she always felt weak.
“Ji Qing.” Hong looked at her.
“Yes.” The short-haired woman lifted her head, gazing at the man she loved most.
“I hope you can achieve your goals and dreams.” Hong smiled slightly. “And also, let me say… I’m sorry for disturbing you during this time.”
With that, Hong turned directly and walked toward Luo Feng.
“Brother Three, let’s go.” Hong said to Luo Feng, then—*whoosh*—he vanished into thin air.
Luo Feng silently watched the scene, then glanced at the short-haired woman in the distance, who was barely holding back her tears. He sighed softly.
*Whoosh.*
He also vanished, his consciousness returning to the real world.
“Brother Hong.” Ji Qing watched Hong turn and disappear. In her mind echoed his final words: “I’m sorry for disturbing you during this time.”
“Disturbing me?”
“Did he really disturb me?”
Ji Qing murmured silently in her heart.
She clearly knew Hong’s character. That seemingly calm and simple sentence—”I’m sorry for disturbing you during this time”—spoken before he turned to leave, concealed an indescribable pain.
Moreover—
Ji Qing understood that once Hong left, he probably would never return.
Because she understood him so well.
“I’m sorry.” Ji Qing whispered silently in her heart.
…
The watching female members of the Chimera Clan were all somewhat stunned. Originally, they had thought that Hong, who had gained an opportunity by risking his life to pass through the Eighteen Lustful Illusions, would be heartbroken, angry, or show some extreme emotional reaction. But none of them expected that he would simply say, “I’m sorry for disturbing you during this time,” and then turn and leave.
…
Just like the palaces of the immortal cultivators under the Virtual Universe Company, all located on Thunder Island.
Similarly, the palaces of the immortal cultivators under the Galactic Mercenaries’ Alliance were gathered in a certain dimension. What happened in the Illusion Palace spread quickly through the servants’ gossip.
…
“He managed to pass through the Eighteen Lustful Illusions set by the Illusion King. This young man is quite impressive. At least in dealing with lustful illusions, he’s very strong. His abilities in other areas probably aren’t bad either.”
“Oh, he’s also a top elite of the Axe Battlegrounds? You go and arrange for someone to recruit him into the current training camp.”
“Yes, my lord.”
…
In the Qiongyu Star, one of the nine first-tier administrative stars of the Qianwu Cosmic Nation.
The Luo Estate.
Luo Feng looked at Hong before him, sighing inwardly. Ever since three days ago, when everything seemed destined for a happy ending, unexpected complications arose. At that time, Luo Feng was already certain, and even directly told Hong: “I’m sure she resisted her teacher and ancestor so firmly, yet suddenly changed her mind at the last moment. This is very unusual. Either the Silver Snow Marquis is behind it, or the Illusion King is scheming!”
But Hong had replied at the time: “Of course I understand that either the Silver Snow Marquis or the Illusion King influenced Ji Qing.”
“But why did you just leave like that? Why give up so easily?” Luo Feng had pressed.
“Perhaps someone influenced her, but the decision was made by Qingqing herself.”
Hong smiled faintly. “Besides, I know Qingqing’s personality very well. She’s very much like me; once she makes a decision, it’s hard to change. And I could tell… she truly made that decision from her heart.”
“Why?” Luo Feng asked again.
“Either for herself, or for her clan.” Hong sighed softly. “I know her very well. She is a very strong-willed person. Her dream and determination to become a supreme warrior are no less than her longing for love! And… she is also very determined about inheriting her clan.”
…
Standing within the estate, Luo Feng looked at Hong, recalling their conversation three days ago, sighing inwardly.
No matter what, his elder brother had truly ended in tragedy this time.
“Brother Luo, don’t feel wronged for me,” Hong smiled at Luo Feng. “Life naturally has its joys and sorrows, its reunions and separations… Besides, this time I passed through the Eighteen Lustful Illusions, which actually drew the attention of the Axe Battlegrounds’ high-level officials. They specially ordered me to be transferred into the current batch of top elite trainees. If not for this special order, I would have had to wait several more decades before entering the training camp.”
“Right.” Luo Feng nodded.
“Take care.” Hong smiled and nodded.
“Brother Luo, my master and I will leave first,” also spoke the old man with gray hair, ‘Luo’.
Luo Feng nodded.
Immediately, Master Luo and Hong stepped into a circular, 620-meter-diameter, purple and golden-colored flying saucer-shaped spaceship parked on the grass nearby. This was the spaceship specially sent by the Axe Battlegrounds to pick up Hong.
“Brother, make a name for yourself and show that Illusion King what you’re made of!” Luo Feng shouted.
“Haha…” Hong, dressed in black, turned at the cabin door and smiled. “Making a name for myself? I’ve never doubted that! Brother Three, you can’t slack off, or maybe one day I’ll catch up with you!”
“Try your best to catch up!” Luo Feng laughed.
Then Hong laughed aloud and stepped directly into the spaceship.
A moment later,
The giant flying saucer slowly lifted off, leaving the Luo Estate, and soon soared into the sky, vanishing into the deepest clouds.
On the grass, Luo Feng looked up, watching the spaceship disappear.
“Your Highness.” Dylan stood behind him.
“Brother Hong has gone to the top elite training camp of the Axe Battlegrounds.” Luo Feng sighed. “No matter what, my brother’s matter is settled. This matter ends here! I have no reason to stay on Qiongyu Star any longer… Dylan, make the arrangements. We’re going back to my hometown.”
“Yes.” Dylan nodded.
Luo Feng looked up at the sky.
Home.
The Milky Way! Earth!
It had been over two hundred years since he last returned. The Luo family had already become a large family.
“It’s time to go back and take a look.” Luo Feng murmured.
…
On the same day, Luo Feng, accompanied by his guards, boarded the Yimo Star Ship and left Qiongyu Star, heading toward his hometown, the Milky Way!
…
On a rather ordinary life-bearing planet called Varo, located about tens of thousands of light-years away from Qiongyu Star in the Qianwu Cosmic Nation.
Inside an underground base on Varo Planet.
“Team Leader, the intelligence has been transmitted through the virtual universe network. After 369 layers of chained translation and character replacement corresponding to cosmic coordinates, the content of the intelligence was deciphered: Luo Feng has just left Qiongyu Star aboard an F-class spaceship with his guards. His destination is unknown. The Intelligence Department’s analysis suggests… the probability that Luo Feng is heading to his hometown is as high as 72%.” A bald, three-eyed man in a silver uniform respectfully reported.
“Understood.”
Another bald, three-eyed man in black uniform was looking at the screen in front of him.
On the screen was detailed information.
It was Luo Feng’s file.
“The intelligence on Subject No.9 is still very limited. We must gather sufficient information. Only when we have absolute certainty can we carry out the assassination. Every operation we conduct within the Human 1008 Cosmic Territory comes at a great cost. We must ensure… that we succeed on the first attempt. Our last failed assassination attempt on Subject No.1 cost us dearly. We cannot afford another failure this time.” The black-uniformed, bald, three-eyed man said.
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