Chapter 188: The Virtuous and Refined Yun Xi

Chapter 188: Chapter 188: The Virtuous and Refined Yun Xi

At this point, how could they possibly dare to hide anything?

The couple spilled everything, recounting the events of that year. They corroborated each other’s words, filling in the gaps in each other’s accounts.

Yet, after listening to their story, Chu Fan only grew more confused.

He had originally thought that by getting a clear picture of the past, he might uncover some clues about Yun Xi’s true parentage.

But after hearing their tale, he realized that was simply impossible.

The only clue was the butterfly-shaped piece of Jade that had been in her swaddling clothes when they took her in.

The abdomen of the butterfly on the Jade was engraved with the single character "Xi," which was the origin of Yun Xi’s name.

When the old beggar found Yun Xi all those years ago, it was in a valley. The ground was littered with bodies that were still warm. The beggar never said how many there were or how they were dressed.

Yun Keji and his wife, already acting on selfish motives, didn’t press for details. After paying a sum of silver to buy the swaddled infant from the old beggar, they later tracked the man down and killed him.

Their motive was clear: they didn’t want anyone else to know the truth of Yun Xi’s birth.

Because of this despicable couple’s shameless actions, the only clue to Yun Xi’s parentage was now this single piece of Jade.

But trying to uncover her identity with only this piece of Jade was even more impossible.

In all likelihood, Yun Xi’s entire family had died in that valley. As the sole survivor, she didn’t even know who they were, let alone who their enemies were. Revenge was completely out of the question.

Besides, twenty-seven years had passed. It was impossible to investigate now.

"Do you know what the valley where the old beggar found Yun Xi was called?" Chu Fan asked.

"Rising Sun Valley, in Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain," Yun Keji replied, though he didn’t sound entirely sure.

Yun Xi clutched the piece of Jade—the only clue to her identity—her heart heavy with a sorrow she couldn’t express.

Anyone who had lived for twenty or thirty years would be shaken to suddenly learn their entire life was built on a lie. No one could remain calm and composed.

Especially when that revelation included the fact that her true family had been murdered.

With every new detail, any lingering warmth Yun Xi felt for Yun Keji and Mrs. Chen evaporated into thin air.

The debt of raising her?

They had almost thrown her into a pit of fire over three years ago. Any debt she might have owed them was long since paid.

From this day forward, Yun Xi drew a final, decisive line between herself and the Yun Keji couple.

They no longer owed each other anything.

"Chu Fan, let’s go!"

Yun Xi said to Chu Fan, her voice filled with desolation.

"Alright," Chu Fan replied. He put an arm around her shoulder and led her out of Yun Keji’s courtyard home.

The moment they were gone, Yun Keji and his wife collapsed limply to the floor, overcome with the lingering fear of having just narrowly escaped death’s door.

"Chu Fan, I don’t want to stay on Lingyun Peak anymore. Can we go to Cuiyun Peak?"

Chu Fan would never deny any request from Yun Xi.

Chu Fan had given it careful thought before revealing the truth of her birth to an unprepared Yun Xi today.

He knew, of course, that she would find it difficult to accept at first, but he believed it was better to rip the bandage off quickly.

For some time now, especially at the Tengxing Grand Assembly, Chu Fan had sensed Yun Xi’s inner torment and pain whenever she saw Yun Keji and his wife, even though she tried to hide it.

It wasn’t worth suffering over such a selfish, heartless couple.

That was why Chu Fan had planned this entire confrontation.

The sooner she cut ties with them, the sooner she could be free from this agony.

As for how her true parentage might affect her, time would eventually heal all wounds. Besides, her family had died when she was too young to even know them.

From Lingyun Peak to Cuiyun Peak, if the two of them flew, it would take but a moment, but they chose to walk instead.

Chu Fan didn’t offer any words of comfort on the way. Sometimes, silence is more eloquent than speech, and his quiet presence was all she needed.

Because of her peerless beauty, many people overlooked her fortitude and intelligence.

But Chu Fan knew she would figure things out on her own.

As they descended Lingyun Peak, turned onto a small trail, and began the ascent up Cuiyun Peak, Yun Xi stopped. She turned to face Chu Fan, her eyes burning with intensity as she looked at him. "Chu Fan," she said, "from now on, you’re the only family I have. After the Grand Sacrifice... will you make me yours?"

"Yes!"

Chu Fan nodded solemnly.

"How did you know I wasn’t their biological daughter?" Yun Xi asked.

"At the Tengxing Grand Assembly, while you were fighting in the arena, they saw you from behind and started talking about you. I overheard their hushed conversation."

"I see. If they hadn’t been talking privately about my birth that day, I might have never found out," Yun Xi said, a hint of fear in her voice at the thought.

"Perhaps some things are simply meant to be. Heaven itself wouldn’t allow someone as intelligent and kind as you to have such selfish parents."

Yun Xi shot Chu Fan a playfully resentful look. "You certainly have a way with words. In the future, even if there are other women... if you break my heart, I swear I’ll die, just to show you."

Chu Fan gently tapped her on the nose. "What are you talking about? Am I that kind of playboy?"

"Chu Fan, you know... your achievements now... they scare me a little. I’m afraid I won’t be able to keep up, that you’ll leave me too far behind. There are so many exceptional women in this world. You’re bound to meet girls who are better than me..."

"That’s enough. Don’t think such foolish things. In my heart, no one is more exceptional than you. And even if there were, we were childhood sweethearts, and we’ve been through so much together. Do you really think I’m the kind of person to love someone and then cast them aside?"

"Of course not. Chu Fan is the best!" Yun Xi said, her eyes curving into crescent moons. The bright, vivacious Yun Xi from before was back.

On Cuiyun Peak, the three thatched huts had long since rotted and collapsed.

Zhegu Slave was dead, and Chu Fan hadn’t been back in over three years. Who would have repaired this place?

Yun Xi moved to prop up the collapsed fence gate, but Chu Fan stopped her.

"Forget it. We won’t be staying here for more than a few days anyway. After the Grand Sacrifice, we’ll go to Shuoyue City first. Once the Eastern Domain is truly unified, we’ll return to Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain."

"Really?" Yun Xi was overjoyed to hear they were going to Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain.

"I just hope Yan Jiuxuan won’t mind us imposing on her for an extended stay," Chu Fan said.

"Sister Yan will definitely welcome us," Yun Xi said.

"Right. But unifying the Eastern Domain won’t happen overnight. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Since we’re back, let’s go pay our respects to Zhegu Slave."

"Chu Fan, you still haven’t told me how Grandpa Zhegu died!"

"He used the last of his life force to rebuild my meridians. If not for him, I would have been a cripple for the rest of my life," Chu Fan said, his voice heavy with sorrow.

As Chu Fan spoke, he took Yun Xi’s hand and started walking towards Zhegu Slave’s grave.

But before they had taken more than a few steps, an unexpected guest appeared on Cuiyun Peak.

"Benefactor Chu, I knew I’d find you here! You’ve made this humble monk’s search quite difficult."

Hearing the voice, Chu Fan felt a surge of delight. It was, without a doubt, the Little Monk Hui Ke, with whom he had braved hardship in the Miracle Secret Realm.

They had originally agreed that after leaving the Secret Realm, Hui Ke would accompany him to the Eastern Domain. However, the realm’s teleportation mechanism had sent them back to their respective entry points instead.