The Immortal’s "White Moonlight" Reborn - Chapter 63

“Kidnapping the Little Princess and getting an Immortal Empress as a bonus.”

“I wonder what urgent business brings you all to the Wushen Sect?”

Yun Heng sat regally in the seat of honor. When the Immortal Empress played it straight, she was incredibly convincing. She looked for all the world as if she had no idea why the Yao Kings were there. Her clear, aloof eyes were like the pristine snow of Cloud Mist Mountain; it’s said the eyes are the gateway to the soul, and at first glance, the Kings couldn’t help but feel that this Empress’s heart must be just as pure and stainless.

If the little Phoenix weren’t sitting right beside her, the Yao Kings might have actually believed she was clueless.

“The Immortal Empress has made off with the supreme treasure of our avian race, yet she asks what business we have?” The Bifang King fanned herself lightly, a sharp glint flickering in her seemingly gentle eyes.

With the Bifang King leading the charge, the other Kings chimed in. “Immortal Empress, we are grateful for your kindness in caring for our Little Princess, and the avian race will surely repay you. However, we must now escort Her Highness back to the Risheng Palace.”

The Kings fixed their gazes on Yun Heng, waiting for her rebuttal.

“Well, actually” Sensing the tension in the Great Hall, Wen Qiwu tried to step in and explain.

But Yun Heng gently pressed her hand down, silencing her before speaking herself. “The Phoenix Lord entrusted Qiwu to me within the tomb. I shall see to her care personally. There is no need for the Yao Kings to worry.”

The Kings had prepared for many excuses, but they hadn’t expected her to drop the “Phoenix Lord” card immediately. Even the most silver-tongued among them was momentarily stunned. Why would Her Majesty entrust the Little Princess to a human?

The Qingluan King, the only one who hadn’t spoken, sighed internally. She remained silent partly because she owed the Empress a debt for saving her life, and partly because she had actually heard the Phoenix Lord’s final instructions. With the sovereign’s last words backing her, this Empress was never going to let go.

The Qingluan King trusted that her sovereign’s choice was ultimately what was best for the Little Princess.

[Qingluan King, did Her Majesty truly say that?] The Bifang King’s voice rang in her mind. Since the Qingluan King had been closest to the Phoenix Lord at the end, the Bifang King suspected she knew the inside story.

The Qingluan King relayed fragments of the conversation to her fellow King, along with a warning: You want to fight the Empress for the Phoenix? Unless we all suddenly break through to the True Immortal realm this instant, we stand zero chance.

The Bifang King’s eyes flickered as a thought occurred to her, a meaningful smile playing on her lips.

“This was Her Majesty’s wish?” The other Kings looked at each other. They desperately wanted to “steal” the Phoenix back, but they couldn’t exactly defy their sovereign’s final decree. What now?

The Bifang King waved her fan. “Immortal Empress, it’s not that we’re trying to force her away. But tell me, have you seen the Little Princess’s true form? Compared to other Phoenixes her age, our Highness is a bit… thin and small.”

None of them had actually seen another Phoenix in ten thousand years, so whether she was “thin” or “plump” was entirely up to the Bifang King’s interpretation.

The previously impassive Empress finally looked over. A ripple of concern disturbed the calm of Yun Heng’s eyes until Wen Qiwu quietly squeezed her hand, allowing her to relax slightly.

Seeing that the fish had taken the bait, the Bifang King hid a smirk behind her fan. “Her Highness is still young. At this age, a Phoenix needs the nourishment of the Ancient Wutong Trees. Since she hatched in the outside world and hasn’t returned home, her growth has naturally been stunted.”

“The Risheng Palace is filled with Immortal Wutong Trees, the perfect habitat for a Phoenix. Why not let Her Highness stay there for a while? If the Empress is worried, she is more than welcome to come and stay as well. We are eternally grateful for your care of her; the avian race would welcome you with open arms.”

The Qingluan King glanced at her colleague. Welcome her? Not likely. None of the Kings present were particularly thrilled about her presence. The Bifang King’s invitation was clearly a gambit. She guessed the cunning bird wanted to use the Immortal Empress as a deterrent against the rest of the Yao world.

The Risheng Palace was the seat of the Yao Emperor. After ten thousand years, the dread of the previous sovereign had faded, and other powerful Yao Kings were eyeing the throne. If they brought the Little Princess back, word would eventually get out. A Phoenix’s bloodline was a peerless tonic for ambitious monsters; the bird tribes were strong, but they couldn’t guarantee victory if the other races allied against them.

They needed a powerful ally. Since they couldn’t find one within the Yao race, they had to look to the humans. And there was no candidate more perfect than Yun Heng.

The only question was: would the Immortal Empress agree to go to the heart of Yao territory?

As for what Yun Heng was thinking…

She reached out and felt her sister’s hand, then gave her wrist a little squeeze. Her expression darkened. She really is a bit thin. Is it truly because she wasn’t raised near Wutong trees?

Yun Heng felt a surge of self-reproach. How could I forget about the Wutong trees? I should have uprooted a few and brought them back to see if they’d grow here.

If it was for Wen Qiwu’s benefit, Yun Heng would live anywhere. As for the Wushen Sect, she could leave the daily business to others. She had already chosen a successor back when she thought she wouldn’t survive; her absence would be the perfect time for them to gain some experience.

“Ah Que, do you want to stay at the Risheng Palace for a while?” Yun Heng asked softly.

She spoke in a low voice, but every King there was a Golden Immortal; they all pricked up their ears, waiting for Wen Qiwu’s answer.

The Kings looked so eager as if a rejection would turn them all into wilted, dejected birds—that Wen Qiwu couldn’t help but smile.

“It was my mother’s home… If there’s a chance, I’d like to see it,” Wen Qiwu told her.

The birds practically buzzed with excitement. The Little Princess was coming home!

“Then I’m coming with you,” Yun Heng declared. If her sister was walking into a nest of birds, she was absolutely going to be there.

“Alright. But we’re not moving until you’re feeling better,” Wen Qiwu added with a note of firm authority. Until then, you’re staying right here on the mountain to recover—no going anywhere!

With everything that had happened, Wen Qiwu decided the only way to be safe was to keep her Senior Sister under her wing to prevent any more “surprises.”

Yun Heng immediately promised to be a model patient and recover as quickly as possible. She wanted to be well, too the sooner she recovered, the sooner she could ask her sister for an official status. Just thinking about it made her heart race.

The Qingluan King looked at the Bifang King with newfound respect. Not only had she talked the Little Princess into returning, but she’d secured a True Immortal human protector in the process. What a crafty bird, she thought. I’m telling my kids to stay far away from Bifang!

Yun Heng gently rubbed her sister’s palm, placed a candy in her hand, and then asked casually, “The Risheng Palace is the Phoenix Lord’s residence, but it is also the Emperor’s Palace. If Ah Que stays there…”

She suspected these birds intended to push Ah Que onto the throne.

“The throne rightfully belongs to Her Highness!” the birds declared without hesitation. “The throne of the Shiling Domain has been vacant for years because no Yao could command enough respect. Her Highness is of noble blood, and her future strength is guaranteed to reach the True Immortal realm. Who else is more suited?”

“However, she is still young,” the Qingluan King added, being more level-headed. “Even if we announce it, it would be safer to wait until she reaches the Golden Immortal realm.”

Actually, even Golden Immortal might not be enough. It would be best to wait until she reached the True Immortal realm. In the Yao world, might makes right; once her strength was absolute, the other races would have no choice but to bow.

Wen Qiwu frowned slightly. She wasn’t particularly interested in that troublesome seat.

The birds sensed her shift in mood, and their excitement cooled.

“If Your Highness doesn’t want the throne… then we shall just claim the Risheng Palace. It was built by Her Majesty; it is only natural you inherit it.” The birds were incredibly indulgent toward their Phoenix. If she didn’t like it, the throne wasn’t that important.

However… if one of the other Yao Kings took the throne, the avian race—as the vassals of the previous Emperor, would find themselves in a very difficult position.

“Qingluan King, do you have some concern?” Wen Qiwu noticed her hesitant expression.

“No, not at all!” The Qingluan King gave her a warm smile. The Little Princess is even gentler than Her Majesty was. With a personality like that, she’s going to be swarmed by the youngsters every single day.

Wen Qiwu didn’t buy it. She knew the birds loved her and likely didn’t want to burden her.

She played the emotional card, showing genuine, daughterly concern for the Qingluan King, who had served her mother the longest. The Qingluan King’s eyes grew watery; her psychological defenses crumbled under the Little Princess’s kindness. Finally, she confessed the awkward situation the bird tribes were in.

The Yao King most likely to take the throne a peak Golden Immortal, was a bitter enemy of the bird tribes. He was famously tyrannical; if he took power, he would undoubtedly target the previous Emperor’s vassals as a show of force to cow the other tribes.

“Oh, that guy…” Wen Qiwu had heard of him.

She hadn’t realized the bird tribes were in such a bind. Just as the birds loved their Phoenix, a Phoenix has an instinct to protect the avian race. Wen Qiwu’s expression turned cold. In that case, she wouldn’t just take the throne; she’d make that ambitious King a tool to keep the rest of the Yao world in line.

Coming back to the present, Wen Qiwu noticed that her Senior Sister, who had been at odds with the Kings just moments ago, was now chatting amicably with them. The Kings’ expressions had softened; they even looked eager. The only topic that could make them get along so well was, of course, herself.

“If it belongs to Ah Que, there is no reason to hand it over to anyone else. Anyone who objects can be sent to their next reincarnation,” Yun Heng said. She didn’t care about the throne, but if it belonged to her sister, no “messy” Yao had the right to sit on it.

The Kings didn’t like the human who had “stolen” their Phoenix, but they loved that sentence. They wanted to give their Phoenix the absolute best, but they were limited by their own power. Even if they forced her onto the throne, it would be a dangerous position.

In this context, an alliance with this human wasn’t bad. If only she’d stop holding the Little Princess’s hand… Can you just touch a noble Phoenix’s wings whenever you want?!

Noticing the burning glares directed at her hand, Yun Heng smirked. She hadn’t just held her hand she’d kissed her, hugged her, and she fully intended to ask for a formal title from her Little Princess in the future.

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