In front of the gate to the Divine Phoenix Ancient Ruins, Yu Xiyan and Ling Yuxuan stood side by side.
Thanks to Ling Yuxuan's careful arrangements along the way, the group under their command had arrived at the central ancient hall without much difficulty.
Everyone stood before the enormous ancient structure, filled with indescribable awe.
The building towered into the clouds, majestic and imposing, giving off an overwhelming pressure like an insurmountable mountain.
Its walls were thick and sturdy, seemingly untouched despite ten thousand years of erosion.
The surface was covered in weathered marks, traces left behind by history and the passage of time, as though silently telling stories of the past.
Especially the phoenix totem spreading its wings atop the building—it inspired reverence in all who looked upon it.
"Junior Sister, this is the inheritance site of the Divine Phoenix Ruins. Fortunately, the journey here was smooth."
"Thank you for taking care of me along the way, Senior Brother. I'm truly grateful."
Hearing her words, Ling Yuxuan's heart stirred.
He slowly lifted his head and turned his gaze toward Yu Xiyan.
At this moment, she stood there elegantly and silently, one jade-like hand lightly resting on the inconspicuous pouch hanging from her belt. A trace of determination lingered in her eyes.
The breeze brushed against her exquisite face, causing a few loose strands of hair beside her temples to sway gently.
Ling Yuxuan suddenly felt his heartbeat quicken.
Her current appearance carried an irresistible attraction that pulled him uncontrollably into a whirlpool of emotion.
He desperately wanted to pull Yu Xiyan into his arms, taste her fragrance, and spend the rest of his life protecting her and easing all her worries.
Once this thought surfaced, it grew stronger and stronger, impossible to suppress.
Yu Xiyan seemed to notice his gaze and turned her head slightly.
The moment their eyes met, she saw the burning passion in Ling Yuxuan's eyes.
Having lived through a previous life, she was naturally very familiar with such a look.
And for some reason, her heart trembled faintly.
"Junior Sister."
After a long silence, Ling Yuxuan finally gathered the courage to speak.
"You know very well that I don't need your thanks. Don't you understand why I've done all this?"
Yu Xiyan frowned slightly and subtly stepped two paces away, trying to calm her emotions.
"Senior Brother, I think I've already made myself very clear."
"I already have a fiancé. There's no need for you to waste your time on me."
Ling Yuxuan shook his head repeatedly.
"Junior Sister, have you still not seen your own heart clearly?"
"You don't truly love Shen Zhao. He doesn't deserve your love at all."
"He's only with you because of your power, status, and wealth."
"Are you really willing to sacrifice your entire life's happiness for a man like that?"
Yu Xiyan was stunned.
Because those words reminded her of countless scenes from her previous life.
Back then, the reason she treated Shen Zhao that way was not only because she misunderstood him, but also because her master and Ling Yuxuan constantly spoke badly about him behind his back.
As a result, her prejudice against Shen Zhao became deeply rooted, and emotionally she repeatedly tormented the man whose eyes had been filled only with her.
Thinking about it now, overwhelming regret surged through her heart once again.
No wonder Shen Zhao had spoken those cold and resolute words to her in Biyun Palace that day.
It was she who listened to slanderous words and ultimately forced him away.
"Stop talking, Senior Brother. He's not as terrible as you think."
"On the contrary, he's far more outstanding than any of us imagined."
"In this life, I recognize only Shen Zhao as my husband!"
Hearing Yu Xiyan's words, Ling Yuxuan's face filled with disbelief.
"No, Junior Sister, you're lying!"
"How could someone like Shen Zhao ever earn your favor?"
"You must only be saying this because of the imperial family's restrictions, right? He's just a commoner…"
"Senior Brother, if you continue speaking nonsense like this, I'd rather give up the Divine Phoenix inheritance altogether."
Seeing Yu Xiyan genuinely angry, Ling Yuxuan immediately shut his mouth and hurriedly softened his tone.
"Junior Sister, don't be angry. I won't say it anymore."
"I'm only worried you won't be happy in the future. I got too emotional just now. Please don't take it to heart."
Yu Xiyan sighed softly and ultimately chose to forgive him.
"Forget it, Senior Brother. I know you mean well."
"This time, I won't argue with you over it."
"But I don't want to hear you speak badly about Shen Zhao ever again."
"He is my man."
As she said this, her jade-like hand unconsciously touched the pouch at her waist once more.
Ling Yuxuan clenched his fists instantly.
The words "He is my man" nearly drove him into a frenzy.
Why?
Why did it turn out this way?
His junior sister would rather choose a useless man than spare him even an extra glance.
Why exactly?
"Shen Zhao… I must meet you someday and see what qualifications you have to compete with me for Junior Sister."
Ling Yuxuan roared inwardly.
At this moment, the maidservant Wen Ruyu standing beside him spoke up unhappily to Yu Xiyan:
"Your Majesty, my young master treats you so well, yet you hurt him like this. Isn't that too excessive?"
"Do you know how much my young master cares about you?"
"Everything in his residence was crafted according to your preferences."
"He even specially built an entire manor made from spirit stones just for you."
"Tell me, is there anyone else in the world who would treat you better than my young master?"
"Enough. Ruyu, stop talking."
Ling Yuxuan hurriedly interrupted her.
"But Young Master, I just can't stand it!"
"You clearly love her so much, so why won't she appreciate your feelings?"
"And when Her Majesty was poisoned back then, you even damaged your own foundation to force the poison out of her body. How can she treat you like this?"
The moment those words came out, Yu Xiyan was shocked.
"What did you say?"
"The poisoning… was it from the Azure Scale Serpent King back then?"
Ling Yuxuan spoke softly,
"It's all in the past now. You were still young at the time. As your senior brother, helping you detoxify was only natural."
Wen Ruyu said painfully,
"After saving you, my young master was poisoned himself and nearly lost his life. If not for Venerable Jiudao Xuanzun stepping in, my young master would have already…"
"Stop talking. It's all over now."
Ling Yuxuan quickly cut her off before smiling at Yu Xiyan.
"Junior Sister, that was all in the past. There's no need to bring it up anymore."
Hearing this, Yu Xiyan felt deeply guilty.
"I'm sorry, Senior Brother. I truly didn't know it was you who saved me back then. I…"
"As long as you were safe, what does a little poison matter?"
"After all, we are fellow disciples, aren't we?"
Yu Xiyan bit her lower lip lightly, unsure of what to say.
"Junior Sister, for your sake, what does it matter even if I lose my life?"
"As long as you can be happy, any sacrifice is worth it."
"And I've never expected anything in return."
"Really… in my heart, you'll always be perfect."
"Senior Brother, I understand your feelings toward me, but…"
"Junior Sister, there's no need to rush your answer."
"I'll give you time to think carefully."
"Truly—as long as you can be happy, no matter what choice you make in the end, I'll sincerely support you."
Yu Xiyan fell silent.
The atmosphere instantly became somewhat intimate.
Yet at that very moment, some troublemaker mercilessly shattered the beautiful mood.
"You insignificant mortals dare rob the Arbitration Council?!"
"Let me see how many heads you've got to dare something like this!"
"Today I'm going to imitate the ancient sages and shake the heavens barehanded! First, take this ultimate move as an appetizer!"
Liang Hao's domineering voice echoed through the sky.
The next moment, Frost Dragon Breath swept through the area, instantly turning over a thousand of the Nether Phoenix guards brought by Ling Yuxuan into ice sculptures.
"Who dares cause trouble here?!"
"Tell that bastard Ling Yuxuan to get his ass out here and kneel obediently so I can kill him!"
Ling Yuxuan was instantly furious.
He had been only one step away from breaking through Yu Xiyan's emotional defenses, yet this idiot ruined everything.
One could imagine his rage.
"Junior Sister, wait here for me. I'll be back shortly."
With those words, Ling Yuxuan shot into the sky as a streak of light and sped toward the source of the voice.
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(End of Chapter)