It has always been his own unwillingness to give up!
Back then, he always believed that as long as Xuexue hadn’t fallen in love with someone else, he still had a chance!
“I know… I know you have no romantic feelings for me…
Just as you said! You see me as an elder brother, as the most important friend in your life.
And isn’t the same true for me?
Xuexue, you are the most special presence in my life. A presence of utmost importance!
So…”
Jin Lin once again shot a sharp glance at Feng Zihuang before continuing to Yun Qingxue, “Precisely because of our deep bond, I cannot stand by and watch you be deceived by someone with ulterior motives!”
“How does the Dragon King know Zihuang is deceiving Qingxue?” Feng Zihuang’s smile faded, a hint of displeasure flashing across his face.
“If the Dragon King claims to be Qingxue’s good friend and regards her as the most important person in your life, then now that Qingxue and I are deeply in love, and she has found the one she cherishes most, shouldn’t you, as her friend, be happy for her?!
Yet all I see from you, Zihuang, is suspicion at every turn, as if you’re determined to ruin her happiness!”
“If Xuexue has truly found a worthy man to entrust her life to, I would naturally rejoice for her from the bottom of my heart.
But as for you, Phoenix King…
Whether you’re a worthy man or a pit of fire—that remains to be seen!” Jin Lin narrowed his eyes coldly, locking gazes with Feng Zihuang. The air between them crackled with tension, thick with hostility.
“It seems the Dragon King harbors some prejudice against me,” Feng Zihuang suddenly laughed, though his tone dripped with animosity.
“No prejudice—just calling things as they are!” Jin Lin returned the hostile smile. They had all been in the Xuanling Continent for so long. Though their paths rarely crossed, which ruler didn’t have their own sources of information? What kind of person Feng Zihuang was—did he not know?
A bird that died and revived, revived and died, carrying memories from multiple lifetimes—how could such a creature be simple-minded?!
“Brother Ziqu, I heard you have guests at Luoyun Mountain!”
Just as Jin Lin and Feng Zihuang were at each other’s throats, Yun Ye and Mo Changxing approached swiftly from afar, entering the hall in the blink of an eye.
“I didn’t expect the Demon King to also be at Luoyun Mountain,” Feng Zihuang smiled, greeting Yun Ye.
Yun Ye gave him a critical look. “Phoenix King, what do you mean by that? Do you think my demon race is beneath you?”
“I meant no such disrespect!” Feng Zihuang quickly explained, though inwardly he sighed.
At this point, it seemed that aside from Yun Qingxue, not a single person in Luoyun Mountain welcomed him!
He truly didn’t know when he had become so unwelcome.
But… whether these outsiders accepted him or not didn’t matter much.
As long as Yun Qingxue loved him, that was enough!
“Phoenix King, your phoenix clan undergoes nirvana rebirth every five hundred years. Counting back, you’ve been reborn several times now, haven’t you?
Do you still remember how many times?” Yun Ye suddenly asked with a smile.
Feng Zihuang was momentarily taken aback. Why was the Demon King suddenly asking about his rebirth cycles? What was he plotting?
“Why does the Demon King ask?” he countered with a smile.
“No reason. Just making conversation.
What, is the Phoenix King too embarrassed to say?” Yun Ye’s smile carried a hidden meaning.
“Your words are rather excessive, Demon King. Phoenix nirvana, rising from the ashes, is a matter of great significance—nothing to be ashamed of. Why would I hesitate to speak of it?” Feng Zihuang’s gaze turned icy.
Yun Ye smirked coldly.
Damn bird! Trying to deceive my daughter and daring to take that tone with me…
I’ll teach you a lesson you won’t forget, you wretch who dares covet my tender little cabbage!
“Phoenixes are reborn every five hundred years. Without mishap, they live on indefinitely.
That means you, Phoenix King, have been cycling through life and death for tens of thousands of years, haven’t you?
Meanwhile, I’ve only cultivated for a few thousand years. That ‘senior’ you called me earlier—I dare not accept it!”
Feng Zihuang instantly understood—the Demon King was insinuating that he was old!
“Now that Brother Yun mentions it, I recall that I’m over eight thousand years old this year. As for the Phoenix King, dying and reviving, reviving and dying—after all those cycles, his age must far surpass ours!”
“Hmph! Old he may be, but I wonder—with all that dying and reviving, has his power grown alongside his years?” Yun Ye grinned slyly. “I’ve always been curious about this. Since we’re fortunate enough to meet today, why not spar? Let’s see if the Phoenix King has only aged without gaining skill!”
With that, Yun Ye lunged at Feng Zihuang.
Feng Zihuang swiftly dodged, and the two clashed.
“Hey! You two—!” Yun Qingxue rubbed her temples, trying to intervene, but before she could finish, Feng Zihuang and Yun Ye had already flown out of the hall to duel outside.
“Good! Haha… Fighting is fine, just don’t wreck the furnishings in my house!”
Saint Ziqu chuckled meaningfully, glancing at Mo Changxing before strolling out of the hall.
“Ugh!” Yun Qingxue stamped her foot in frustration and hurried after them.
Mo Changxing followed suit.
Jin Lin caught up quickly, his gaze at Mo Changxing now filled with unspoken meaning.
He had been puzzled earlier—why hadn’t this guy reacted when Qingxue brought Feng Zihuang back?
Now he understood. Mo Changxing hadn’t been idle—he had simply taken a roundabout approach.
Demon King Yun Ye was Qingxue’s birth father. If his daughter was being deceived, how could a father remain indifferent upon hearing the news?
Jin Lin looked up at the sky, where Yun Ye and Feng Zihuang were locked in fierce combat, and smirked coldly.
Judging by Feng Zihuang’s ruthless moves, he was holding nothing back.
But that fool would never dream that Yun Ye was Qingxue’s real father!
Trying to deceive someone’s daughter and then daring to fight them head-on…
Hah! He was practically begging for death!
Jin Lin’s previously gloomy mood lightened considerably.
In contrast, Yun Qingxue’s heart was shrouded in dark clouds.
She never imagined that bringing Feng Zihuang back would provoke such unanimous hostility from everyone!
The people of Luoyun Mountain were the family she had chosen, holding immense weight in her heart. And Feng Zihuang was the man she had confirmed she loved, equally occupying a vital place in her life.
Now, these two irreplaceable parts of her life were clashing violently, leaving her caught in the middle, her mind in turmoil and her heart in knots!
“Junior Sister Qingxue.” Mo Changxing approached her slowly, his gaze earnest. “It’s not that we’re deliberately targeting Feng Zihuang. It’s just that this man is deeply cunning.
We… all care deeply about you.”
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