Chapter 747: Return, Golden Token, Humiliation

"Phoenix Clan's Feng Wanxi, greetings to Elder He!"

"Elder, you are the most outstanding human prodigy Wanxi has ever met—without exception!"

Feng Wanxi still held her hands in greeting, her expression utterly sincere.

Her expression was perfectly calibrated—genuine and pure, her beautiful eyes clear and piercing, like a pool of autumn water.

"Greetings, Elder Feng!" He Pingsheng naturally did not neglect propriety; he also bowed to Feng Wanxi: "Elder overstates—compared to Phoenix Clan prodigies, I am but a glowworm's light."

"I cannot accept such lavish praise from the Holy Maiden!"

Feng Wanxi did not continue with these formalities; she waited quietly until He Pingsheng finished, then said: "I have a request."

He Pingsheng said: "Go on."

At these words, countless onlookers sighed in disbelief.

Come on, at a moment like this, shouldn't you say something like 'I would die ten thousand deaths for you,' or 'I hang on your every word,' or 'Holy Maiden, please command me'?

"Go on"?

This…

So dismissive?

Even Feng Wanxi, raised amid constant flattery from her clan, felt a twinge of discomfort hearing this from He Pingsheng.

She took a quiet breath and said: "I hear Elder has raised a phoenix—a sacred pet of our Phoenix Clan. Is this true?"

"Or…?" Feng Wanxi's gaze shifted from He Pingsheng to Xiao Feng: "Has our Phoenix Clan's prodigy been reduced to your servant?"

Xiao Tong shrank back, quickly hiding behind He Pingsheng.

She sensed a pressure stemming from her bloodline.

He Pingsheng shook his head: "Apologies—this phoenix does not belong to your Phoenix Clan. I raised her in the Mortal Realm's cultivation world, and she accompanied me to the Spirit Realm."

It has nothing to do with you.

"Elder is mistaken!" Feng Wanxi said coolly: "Any phoenix, no matter where raised, carries the blood of our Heavenly Phoenix Clan—she is one of our divine clan!"

"I will not allow anyone to enslave her—not even you!"

He Pingsheng said: "I have not enslaved her. Xiao Tong is neither my sacred pet nor my servant, nor has she ever signed a Heavenly Oath of Bondage."

"She is merely my close friend."

"That's right!" Xiao Tong gathered courage, peering out from behind He Pingsheng, her small head round, her hand still clutching his robe: "I am not a servant, not a sacred pet—I am He Pingsheng's friend!"

"We've always been friends!"

"Correct!" someone said: "This girl bears no binding rules of pet or servant—she is free!"

Others scanned Xiao Feng with their spiritual senses, finding no trace of enslavement marks.

Feng Wanxi could no longer accuse He Pingsheng. She nodded, still calm: "Good. Had you truly treated our divine clan as a servant, even as a human prodigy, you would have bled here today!"

"But since she is of our Phoenix Clan, she must return to our clan!"

"He Pingsheng, this is our Phoenix Clan's rule—and rest assured, this girl's talent is exceptional; once she joins us, we will devote our entire clan's resources to her cultivation!"

"I, Feng Wanxi, swear this on my honor and life!"

Feng Wanxi's face once again wore a look of sincere warmth.

He Pingsheng shook his head.

Clearly, he refused.

Long ago, He Pingsheng had considered this himself—but seeing Feng Wanxi's haughty demeanor today, he now felt unwilling.

You may negotiate with me—but you cannot pressure me!

"You refuse?" Feng Wanxi sneered: "He Pingsheng… the Phoenix Clan has a rule: all our disciples must return to the clan!"

"If you dare block Xiao Tong's return today, you will face the Phoenix Clan's thunderous wrath!"

"Not only will you die, but your little phoenix will suffer the consequences too!"

"You don't want Xiao Tong branded a traitor of the Phoenix Clan, do you?"

As Feng Wanxi spoke, surrounding prodigies were pushed aside.

Dozens of Phoenix Clan prodigies surrounded He Pingsheng and Xiao Tong.

Clearly, without surrendering Xiao Tong, there would be no peaceful resolution today.

"I agree!" Seeing so many encircling He Pingsheng, Xiao Tong suddenly raised her small, childish arm: "Don't trouble He Pingsheng—I'm willing to go with you, to return to the Phoenix Clan!"

On Xiao Tong's face was an expression of grievance.

He Pingsheng frowned: "Xiao Tong… don't worry about me. If you don't wish to go, I'll fight them to the end—these people… can't kill me. Don't fear."

"No!" Xiao Tong shook her head, tears welling in her large eyes: "He Pingsheng, we're not master and servant, I'm not your sacred pet—I'm your friend. Now I'm returning to the Phoenix Clan. Why do you try to stop me?"

"I'm going back!"

"But… you must come visit me often!"

Xiao Tong turned to Feng Wanxi: "Holy Maiden, will you allow He Pingsheng to visit me often in the future?"

Feng Wanxi smiled, nodding gently: "Of course."

"Come!" Feng Wanxi stepped forward, took Xiao Tong's hand, her expression tender.

This matter had slipped beyond He Pingsheng's control.

He knew Xiao Tong did this to spare him trouble—but since she had made her choice, before all these witnesses, he had no grounds to stop her.

The truth was, Xiao Tong was neither his sacred pet nor his servant.

Only a friend, a kin.

Besides, as fellow phoenixes, He Pingsheng did not believe Xiao Tong would suffer in the Phoenix Clan.

Enough.

All is fate—meetings, partings.

"Very well," He Pingsheng nodded to Feng Wanxi: "Since Xiao Tong wishes to return with you, I have no right to interfere."

"Hehe, splendid! Elder He, you are truly a man of wisdom!" Feng Wanxi, still Buwang humiliating him, drew forth a golden token: "This is our Phoenix Clan's Golden Token. With it, should you ever face hardship, the Phoenix Clan will lend you aid once!"

He Pingsheng reached out and took the Golden Token: "I have one more thing to say."

Feng Wanxi said: "I am all ears."

He Pingsheng said coolly: "If I learn you have mistreated Xiao Tong, one day I will ascend to the Phoenix Clan and slaughter every last one of you."

"Keep this Golden Token… I, the Young Master, have no need of it."

Shhh…

He Pingsheng flicked his wrist, hurling the golden token back—it nearly struck Feng Wanxi's face.

"Let me tell you one last thing: I, He Pingsheng, am no wise man, nor do I heed the times."

"Not everyone in this world kneels to lick the feet of divine clans!"

With that, He Pingsheng turned and strode away, sweeping his sleeves.