The Immortal’s "White Moonlight" Reborn - Chapter 54

“Phoenixes love warmth; the Immortal Empress is far too cold.”

Wen Qiwu had originally planned to find a private spot to have a serious talk with her Senior Sister once this ordeal was over. Although she was angry, she had kept in mind that Yun Heng was a patient plagued by inner demons. Discovering that Yun Heng had followed her had mostly elicited a feeling of “of course she did” in Wen Qiwu’s heart.

She had already talked herself into being forgiving, but she hadn’t expected the situation to spiral so quickly. Seeing her Senior Sister still stubbornly maintaining her facade, she had exposed the truth in a fit of pique.

Yun Heng’s back stiffened instantly. Wen Qiwu gave a small, huffy snort.

Flapping her wings, she flew from the Qingluan King’s hands and landed directly on Yun Heng’s shoulder. She gave her Senior Sister a sharp peck, though she couldn’t bring herself to use any real force; it was no more painful than a light tickle.

Yun Heng likely wouldn’t try to argue her way out, unless she could concoct a perfect excuse, she was the type to simply admit defeat once caught. Besides, if she actually had the ability to successfully fool Wen Qiwu, she wouldn’t have exposed her identity so early.

“Ah Que” Yun Heng’s voice held a touch of pleading, like a child who knew they’d done wrong. She raised a hand to her shoulder, hoping Wen Qiwu would hop into her palm.

Wen Qiwu didn’t budge. Does a disobedient Senior Sister really think she gets to touch the fluff? She pecked Yun Heng’s fingertip, refusing to let her head be patted.

Yun Heng withdrew her hand dejectedly. “Ah Que, I was wrong.”

She simply couldn’t bear the thought of Wen Qiwu entering a place as dangerous as the Sea of Trees alone. The moment her Junior Sister had left, Yun Heng had placed a puppet at the sect to distract the Medical Immortal and used a secret method to reach the Wansen Domain in half a day.

While she was ill, she had coaxed her sister into telling stories about the forest. That was how she’d learned about Gao Fu. After arriving, she’d staged a “chance encounter” with the woman and naturally joined her sister’s journey under the guise of Yu Hengwei.

She had planned to help her sister get what she needed, escort her out of the forest, and then find an excuse to vanish. The identity of Yu Hengwei was supposed to disappear forever, leaving her sister none the wiser.

Unfortunately, she had been in such a rush that she’d failed to cover her tracks perfectly. One small accident, and she was exposed. Her sister was clearly furious; how was she supposed to coax her back into a good mood later?

For a moment, Yun Heng wasn’t sure which was the more difficult problem: the fallout with her sister or the rampaging True Demon.

Yun Heng was always the first to apologize, but whether she actually intended to change her ways was another story entirely. Wen Qiwu looked away; her Senior Sister was getting far too good at playing the “pitiful” card, and Wen Qiwu was far too prone to softening up because of it.

“I’ll come back for my punishment once I’ve dealt with the True Demon remnant, alright?” Yun Heng asked softly.

“Senior Sister, do you even remember how many injuries and illnesses you’re carrying?” Wen Qiwu replied. “A hundred years ago, I wouldn’t have said a word. But how can you face an enemy alone like this?”

The True Demon remnant was temporarily trapped, but the barrier was already wavering. It wouldn’t be long before the creature broke free. The air was thick with a terrifying pressure. The only reason Wen Qiwu, a mere Earth Immortal, could stand here unaffected was because Yun Heng was shielding her from the True Demon’s aura. She could see the other birds nearby trembling in fear.

This monster wasn’t a standard True Immortal; it was the remnant of a Divine Realm being. That half-baked Ten Thousand Souls Demon Lord from a century ago couldn’t even compare to its pinky finger. A century ago, a healthy, sane Yun Heng could have handled this easily. Now? Even if she won, she likely wouldn’t escape unscathed.

“It’s just a fragment…” Yun Heng paused, changing her tone. “If it isn’t stopped now, it will leave the forest and regain its strength. The entire Cangwang Realm will become a living hell.”

Yun Heng was currently the only True Immortal in the realm capable of standing against it. If the monster escaped, the responsibility to clean up the mess would inevitably fall to her. It was her duty as an Immortal Empress, but it was also personal. Because her sister lived here, she wanted the world to be peaceful and safe.

Wen Qiwu understood the consequences of letting the remnant grow. That was why she hadn’t told her not to fight.

“I’m going with you,” Wen Qiwu said.

“No!” Yun Heng rejected the idea instantly. She couldn’t guarantee her own safety; how could she let her sister go? If Wen Qiwu got hurt, Yun Heng wouldn’t be able to live with herself.

“Senior Sister.” Having rested enough to regain her strength, Wen Qiwu shifted back into human form. She embraced Yun Heng from behind. The soft, sweet scent of her sister made Yun Heng’s gaze daze for a moment.

She couldn’t bring herself to push her sister away. Her resolve began to melt uncontrollably.

“Ah Que, you aren’t ready to face a True Immortal level threat yet. In the future,” Yun Heng was cut off.

“I wasn’t asking for permission.” Wen Qiwu, usually as gentle as cotton, spoke with a voice like cold silk. She had seldom shown such a dominant side to her sister. Yun Heng’s lips parted slightly, but she found herself unable to argue.

“Relax. I know my limits. I won’t engage the demon directly,” Wen Qiwu softened her tone again. “I’m just going to help you control your injuries.”

Her fingertips brushed over Yun Heng’s chest. Her sister had suffered a grievous wound there once; Wen Qiwu had seen the faint scar left behind. Physical wounds could be healed, but the obsessive, deluded thoughts born from the wounds of the heart had no medicine. They could only be managed by Yun Heng herself.

Flames erupted from Wen Qiwu’s body, pure white fire tinged with green. It wasn’t hot to the touch, but it possessed a powerful purifying effect against evil, including inner demons. She had been studying the Phoenix heritage lately, and she had just the technique for this.

Her physical form blurred and vanished, turning into a spark of light that dove into Yun Heng’s heart.

CRACK! The barrier above shrieked. The True Demon remnant was breaking through.

The Qingluan King, having served the previous Demon Emperor for many years, recognized the Phoenix secret art immediately. She just didn’t understand why Wen Qiwu was using it at this exact moment.

It wasn’t until the human before her exploded with the aura of a True Immortal that the Qingluan King realized. As she frantically ushered the younger birds to the rear, she stammered, “Immortal Empress… Yun Heng?”

That sword intent, sharp as ice and bright as the stars, was an unmistakable signature.

The person who’s been trying to snatch our Phoenix all this time is the Immortal Empress?

Tsk, what a headache.

A few of the more rebellious birds clicked their tongues in annoyance. It seemed their plan to “steal back” the little Phoenix would have to be shelved, for now. If the opponent had only been a Golden Immortal, they might have tried something. But an Immortal Empress? That was a different story.

Still, they didn’t give up entirely. Even an Immortal Empress couldn’t just keep the avian race’s Phoenix all to herself. The birds would never allow it.

With Wen Qiwu suppressing her internal injuries and mental instability, Yun Heng felt a lightness in her body and a clarity in her mind that she hadn’t experienced in a century. The time was limited, but without the drag of her sickness, this remnant was no longer a threat to be feared.

She pressed a hand to her warm chest, a small smile playing on her lips a sight that made the Qingluan King shudder.

She drew her divine sword and pierced through the barrier from the inside.

Caught off guard, the True Demon remnant was skewered. Its body was largely formless, but even the void could be frozen by Yun Heng’s ice.

Under her relentless assault, the remnant was driven back. Half its body was shattered into chunks of ice. The crimson mist bleeding from its form froze along with it, and even the “clouds” raining down black sludge were turned into solid blocks.

Yun Heng’s sword intent sliced through the sky, cutting off the monster’s ability to replenish itself through the “rain.” The creature let out a piercing shriek, but its mental attacks were all neutralized by the Phoenix’s protection.

The bird tribes had retreated to a safe distance. Many of the weaker birds had shifted back into their avian forms, huddling in their feathers for warmth. The Immortal Empress’s moves were breathtaking to watch a world of silver and white, but it was incredibly cold.

“It’s so cold near the Empress. Do you think the little Phoenix is freezing?” one worried bird chirped.

“The remnant won’t last much longer. When the Empress comes back, we have to make sure our little Phoenix gets some warmth. Atchoo!” A bird at the Earth Immortal level sneezed.

Phoenixes loved warmth, while the Immortal Empress was like a block of ice. She’s definitely not fit to raise a Phoenix, the tribal Kings thought, exchanging glances. They were more determined than ever to bring their Phoenix home.

As the final piece of the True Demon’s body turned to ice, Yun Heng delivered a final strike, shattering it into a million snowflake-sized fragments.

She sheathed her sword. The flames around her heart materialized back into human form. As the light left her chest, Yun Heng felt a sudden, hollow sense of loss.

Wen Qiwu’s face was pale. Nourishing the souls of the birds while maintaining the secret art had drained her immortal essence significantly.

Still, as long as her sister was unhurt, it was worth it. Seeing Yun Heng’s worried face, she instinctively started to offer a reassuring smile, but then she remembered the deceit and the secret following. She quickly schooled her expression back into a stern, cold look.

“Ah Que” Yun Heng didn’t dare say much. She reached out to take her sister’s hand, but Wen Qiwu dodged, leaving her only a handful of sleeves.

The sleeve is fine, Yun Heng comforted herself. She’s still soft on me. At least she didn’t leave me here.

Clinging to the sleeve like a lifeline, Yun Heng stepped forward to speak.

However, in that instant, a monster’s eye, one that should have been extinguished, flared with a sudden, baleful light inside a fragment of ice. The ground beneath their feet plummeted.

Simultaneously, the entrance to the Phoenix Lord’s Tomb swung wide, and an endless torrent of fire erupted from the depths.

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