Chapter 1109: Marry or Die! (Part 1)

Outside the Phoenix Tree Forest, the atmosphere had become tense.

Chu Nian leaned on Mu Qingge’s shoulder, trying to soothe the shock in her heart. However, this action led to a misunderstanding by the Phoenix Emperor, causing the Simurgh Guards to draw their swords.

Mu Qingge furrowed her eyebrows slightly, and before she could react, Chu Nian, leaning on her shoulder, took a step forward and stood in front of Mu Qingge and Yin Chen.

She angrily rebuked the Phoenix Emperor, “What are you doing!”

“Child, how dare this human treat you so rudely!” The Phoenix Emperor was taken aback and immediately explained to Chu Nian.

“He is my friend, and he accompanied me here. If you want to kill him, then kill me too.” Chu Nian’s heart was in turmoil, and she roared at the Phoenix Emperor in a venting manner.

The Phoenix Emperor’s body stiffened, and he hurriedly said, “No! Don’t be angry, my child.” With that, he waved his hand, and the Simurgh Guards retreated behind him.

The tension eased slightly. On Chu Nian’s face was a complex expression; there was an indescribable emotion in her eyes when she looked at the Phoenix Emperor.

At this moment, she didn’t know whom to trust!

Should she trust the Wuhua God Emperor, who raised her for thousands of years, or this man before her, who called her child, resonating with her bloodline?

Chu Nian was not naive. She was willing to follow the call in her heart to come here because she found that voice strangely endearing. It made her blood resonate, so she returned.

But…

Pain flooded into Chu Nian’s eyes, and her heart went through agony.

“Chu Nian.” Mu Qingge looked at her and said, frowning.

Although Chu Nian’s origin would eventually be revealed, the Phoenix Emperor was too eager, delivering the truth without giving Chu Nian time to prepare.

No matter the Wuhua God Emperor’s character, he sincerely treated Chu Nian well.

He truly treated Chu Nian as his own daughter!

“Qingge, I want to leave,” Chu Nian looked at Mu Qingge and pleaded with her.

“No! Child, you cannot leave! You’re about to experience Nirvana Awakening. It’s far too dangerous outside. Only here can no one harm you.” The Phoenix Emperor hurriedly said.

Chu Nian and Mu Qingge turned their eyes towards him. Mu Qingge said, “I once heard that during the Nirvana phase of the Phoenix Clan, it is the weakest moment, with many variables, and can easily be exploited by evildoers.”

Pain flashed through the Phoenix Emperor’s eyes, and he said with a heavy voice, “Indeed! The Phoenix Clan, also known as the Phoenix, each Nirvana is akin to rebirth. However, during the Nirvana process, it’s also when the Phoenix Clan is most vulnerable, the only chance to kill them.”

He looked at Chu Nian, with guilt and self-reproach in his eyes, “Back then, your mother couldn’t make it back to the Phoenix Tree Forest in time for Nirvana, and I couldn’t find her in time, leading to her disappearance and you growing up in the Divine Land.”

Chu Nian’s expression grew complicated, and she took a step back, avoiding the Phoenix Emperor’s gaze.

She couldn’t bear the affection, guilt, and joy in his eyes.

She turned her face towards Mu Qingge’s direction, and that dependency in her eyes was caught by the Phoenix Emperor.

Mu Qingge also looked at her and said, “Now, you can choose to believe nothing, but I suggest you stay in the Phoenix Tree Forest temporarily. If you are truly of the Phoenix Clan bloodline, once Nirvana Awakens, you might remember everything. By then, you will naturally know what is true and false, and it won’t trouble you. Moreover, you can feel there is a power awakening inside you.”

Chu Nian fell silent, contemplating Mu Qingge’s words seriously.

Indeed, if she can undergo Nirvana, it would prove she isn’t of the Human Clan but of the Beast Clan. After Nirvana, she may lose her memory but also might remember the past.

But, as long as her identity is confirmed, does it matter if she remembers?

“Child, this human speaks rightly. First, stay, and after Nirvana, we’ll thoroughly discuss it,” the Phoenix Emperor said eagerly.

Chu Nian raised her head, looking at the Phoenix Emperor, then at Mu Qingge. Finally, she said to the Phoenix Emperor, “I can stay, but she must stay as well.”

“She?” The Phoenix Emperor, initially delighted that Chu Nian had finally agreed to stay, turned gloomy when he heard her mention Mu Qingge.

“Humans cannot enter the Phoenix Tree Forest.” The Phoenix Emperor said with a darkened face.

“If she doesn’t enter, then I won’t either.” Chu Nian said firmly.

Instantly, the Phoenix Emperor’s expression grew even darker. Even the Simurgh Guards couldn’t help but take a few steps back, fearing they would suffer if the Phoenix Emperor lost his temper.

“Child, humans can’t enter the Phoenix Tree Forest, it’s the rule.” The Phoenix Emperor suppressed his anger and said patiently.

Unfortunately, at this moment, Chu Nian didn’t have much sentiment for him. Even though there was a blood bond, it wasn’t enough to change her decision. The mystery of her birth left her helpless, and now she needed someone she trusted to be by her side. How could she abandon Mu Qingge?

Chu Nian’s persistence made the Phoenix Emperor look towards Mu Qingge, signaling her secretly.

Seemingly wanting her to request departure herself, to avoid harming the father-daughter relationship.

But, who was Mu Qingge?

Having a rare chance to enter the Phoenix Tree Forest, how could she just give it up? Besides, she could see the Phoenix Clan’s rules weren’t inflexible.

Seeing Mu Qingge being uncooperative, the Phoenix Emperor couldn’t help but ask, “What is your relationship with my child?”

“What relationship? We are friends!” Chu Nian preemptively said.

However, the way Chu Nian protected Mu Qingge and relied on her earlier made the Phoenix Emperor feel their relationship was not that simple.

He looked into Chu Nian’s eyes and directly asked, “Do you like her?”

Chu Nian was stunned.

Mu Qingge was stunned.

Yin Chen silently watched the drama unfold.

The Phoenix Emperor seemed troubled, pacing back and forth, looking very agitated.

Suddenly, he stopped, turning his eyes sharply towards Mu Qingge, and said viciously, “You can enter the Phoenix Tree Forest, but the only condition is that you must marry my child.”

“Phoenix Emperor!”

The Simurgh Guards were shocked.

Mu Qingge and Chu Nian were also stunned.

What nonsense!

Chu Nian’s face flushed with both embarrassment and anger, not knowing how to respond.

Mu Qingge, however, kept a firm expression, saying to the Phoenix Emperor, “Sorry, I cannot marry.”

Mu Qingge’s unhesitant response made disappointment flash in Chu Nian’s eyes.

The Phoenix Emperor’s eyes filled with rage, and he roared at her, “What did you say? My daughter, with such noble bloodline, marrying you is already a huge concession, and you dare refuse?”

“My marriage is my business!” Chu Nian said, agitated.

The Phoenix Emperor felt wronged on her behalf, looked at Chu Nian, and said, “Since you like her, why not let you be together?”

He then turned his eyes towards Mu Qingge, threatening, “Marry or die, choose for yourself!”