Chapter 584

If it truly is an inheritance, then the Ferry and Yu Nian should have a blood relation.

"What relation would the Ferry have to Yu Nian?" I asked, "And what does that have to do with the phoenix?"

Liu Junyan coaxed gently: "They say the phoenix is immortal, Xiao Jiu; in your view, does Yu Nian also possess this quality?"

My eyes widened instantly.

Yes.

Yu Nian has hovered on the line of life and death many times, yet miraculously survived each time.

Yu Nian's grandmother and mother both had cultivation foundations, yet they were successively harmed by Liu Zhengfeng and his group.

Yu Nian was such a young child, and her eyes were gouged out; how did she escape death at that time?

Was it a narrow escape from death, or a resurrection?

Later, her entire chest was opened, its insides hollowed out and filled with incense ash; yet she still lived.

At that time I was present the whole way, personally witnessing Yu Nian's "return from death," a complete transformation.

Such a miraculous and strange thing—if I hadn't seen it myself, I truly wouldn't believe it.

My heart stirred with unease: "You mean, the phoenix... might also have a blood relation with my senior sister?"

"It doesn't necessarily have to be a blood relation," Liu Junyan said, "body seizure, possession, abnormal reincarnation—we've seen many such cases."

I nodded: "That's right; no matter what, we can basically confirm that A Cheng's dream‑catching witchcraft and divination are correct, my senior sister indeed still exists in this world, which is enough. Since someone has already begun to act against me, I'll wait; as soon as I catch a clue, I'll follow the vine to the melon and surely retrieve my senior sister."

Liu Junyan rubbed my head and said reassuringly, "Xiao Jiu, you're not troubled by the attitude of the Nether Realm over there, nor have you impulsively wanted to confront them; you've truly become much more mature and composed."

"Because I know it's useless," I said. "The Nether Realm is too vast, with many departments; many upper levels and territories are beyond my reach. Even if I wanted to seek redress, to argue with them, who would I confront? Better to hold back and watch."

As the saying goes, barefoot fears not the shod; as long as I know Yu Nian is still alive and I guard the Yin Dang Hang, her clues will eventually surface.

My mindset is now calm, first because both I and my companions are far more capable than before—even if the sky fell, we could join forces to hold it up; second, because I bear the responsibility of inheriting the Feng Clan.

The Feng Clan has withered severely under the ravages of the phoenix and Dìshì.

Although times have changed, the Feng Clan that Tang Xun now guards can no longer be called a true Feng Clan.

What kind of general am I as the Feng Lord, with no troops?

I can only wait.

Wait for the next Feng Lord, as Granny Wutong said, to descend into this world, rekindle the Fire Seed, and establish a new clan.

Reproduction is extremely important for the Feng Clan.

Even at the very end, my mother did not forget to remind me of this matter.

Therefore, no matter how important other matters are, reproduction forever holds the top priority.

Thinking this, I said to Liu Junyan, "Ah Yan, let's have another child."

The topic shifted too quickly, and my blunt expression left Liu Junyan visibly stunned for a moment.

Then he curled the corner of his mouth and replied, "Good."

After an hour, I began to regret it.

We haven't been together for a long time; having gone through life and death, undergone several transformations, we are both familiar and strange to each other.

But the unfamiliarity and novelty are only temporary; after another round, there was already some dim light outside the window—calculating the time, it should be past five.

I kindly reminded, "Enough, Ah Yan, let me go; Qing Ying sister will be getting up soon."

Li Qingying is accustomed to rising early.

Upon waking, she first goes out to play whip by the river, then buys vegetables and returns to make breakfast.

If we continue, we'll be noticed.

Liu Junyan, however, said, "Don't worry, I've set up a barrier."

I inwardly muttered, "This isn't just a case of 'no silver here three hundred taels'."

At five-thirty, Liu Junyan held me as we took a hot bath; after he dressed, he left full of energy, and I went back to sleep, only waking shortly before eight.

Over the next few days, things were not peaceful; the other side made small provocations, which I saw through each time, not getting angry, but focusing all my energy on cultivation, waiting for them to lose restraint and reveal themselves.

At the end of the twelfth month, I received bad news—Shi Rou had been pregnant for several months, but the fetus died in utero.

When Jin Wuya spoke to me on the phone, he was sniffling and tearing up.

He felt sorry for the child, and even more for Shi Rou.

Although there was no formal marriage contract, both the Shi family and Shi Rou were sincere toward Jin Wuya.

Over these months, Jin Wuya has remained in Lingnan, gradually integrating into the Shi family's business; his status is recognized by the entire Lingnan business community and the Yin-Yang practitioners.

He himself is quite capable, and now with the Shi family's backing, he's rising rapidly.

It's a pity…

"Xiao Jiu, do you think we should resign ourselves to fate? Perhaps we truly don't deserve to have children in this life." Jin Wuya said painfully, "After that child was aborted, I went to take a look; it was already formed, tiny, and one could tell it was a little boy. If he could have come into this world smoothly, I would willingly give him my life."

I listened silently, and for a moment I didn't know how to comfort him.

I also have a child; as a parent, I can naturally empathize with his feelings.

I know that saying anything now would sound hollow, but I still said, "Don't lose heart; you will still have children. I have a younger brother who is versed in witchcraft and can divine; would you like to ask him for a reading?"

Jin Wuya said he would wait until Shi Rou finished her postpartum month, recovered her health, and then ask her opinion.

After hanging up, I went to find Li Qingying, told her about this, and asked her to pick some supplements and gifts from the store to be sent to Lingnan as a token of my feelings.

Li Qingying also sighed, "Ah, they're such fine people—why does heaven love to torment them so?"

Time flies; in the blink of an eye we've entered lunar February.

On the night of the first day of lunar February, I sat behind the counter of Nan Shu Fang, guarding the shop while drawing paper.

Since we've decided to continue operating and to run Yin Dang Hang well, the current business model must change; the pawnshop interior needs to be renovated, and the operating rules must be established—all of which require careful consideration.

Just as I was drawing the paper, footsteps suddenly came from outside the door.

Very light, very light.

If it weren't for my deep cultivation foundation now, I wouldn't have noticed at all.

I glanced at the time; it was only nine o'clock.

Around this time these days, hardly anyone comes.

I looked toward the door and saw a person completely wrapped in a black cloak walk in.

Only after he spoke did I realize he was a man.

He placed a pawn ticket from Yin Dang Hang on the counter and said, "I want to redeem..."